Strana 36
BOXART STORY #82108
World War II gave rise to many unusual
situations, events, and units. Among these
was the Connecticut National Guard's
reconnaissance aviation unit, which ultimately
achieved over 70 confirmed aerial victories on
the Chinese battlefield.
The first U.S. aviation unit with the number 118
was the 118th Aero Squadron, formed on August
31, 1917, at Kelly Field, Texas. After moving to
France, it was redesignated as the 639th Aero
Squadron in February 1918 and served as
a transport and supply unit.
In 1923, the 118th Observation Squadron was
established as part of the Connecticut National
Guard. Initially equipped with Curtiss JN-4
"Jenny" and Curtiss OX-12 aircraft, it assisted
during floods and worker riots. Gradually, it
began using O-17 Courier aircraft, Douglas O-38
and O-46, O-47 medium planes, and Stinson
O-49, among others.
In March 1941, the 118th OS was placed under
Army command and moved to Jacksonville
Army Airfield in Florida, where it participated in
anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic. After
the attack on Pearl Harbor, it continued this
mission from Charleston, South Carolina. Its
equipment eventually included not only L-4 and
L-5 observation aircraft but also P-40, A-20,
and P-39 combat aircraft. In the first half of
the year, however, it was ordered to relocate to
India and later to China.
By June 1944, this unit, now designated the
118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS),
became the fourth fighter squadron within the
23rd Fighter Group, carrying on the legacy of
Chennault's "Flying Tigers." Under the command
of Maj. E.O. McComas, the squadron began flying
combat missions with P-40Ns from Kweilin
Airfield, China. In late 1944, it rearmed with
P-51B and especially C versions. The squadron's
first two victories came when 1/Lt Oran Stanley
Watts shot down two Oscars near Anking on
July 7. The main adversaries of the American
pilots on this battlefield were Japanese Army
aviators flying Ki-43 and Ki-44 planes, with
some Ki-84s appearing later in the war. Watts
went on to achieve five victories, becoming
one of the unit's three aces, Maj McComas and
1/Lt Russell D. Williams also achieving five
kills each. Members of the 118th TRS returned
to the U.S. after completing 100 combat sorties,
typically after about six months of operational
intensity.
When the 118th TRS arrived on the Asian
battlefield, Chinese and Allied forces were
facing Japan's Operation Ichi-Go, aimed at
establishing a land link between the occupied
eastern part of China and present-day Vietnam.
The second goal of the operation was to seize
Allied airfields from which the U.S. Air Force
was launching raids on Japan. For the 23rd FG,
this meant operating under extremely difficult
logistical conditions and undergoing several
evacuations of their own bases.
By October 20, the 118th TRS had flown nearly
6,000 operational hours, shot down 24 aircraft,
probably destroyed 15 others, and damaged
22 in aerial combat. Its pilots had also destroyed
14 bridges and damaged 27 more, destroyed 296
vehicles and damaged 422, sunk 404 cargo
vessels and damaged 1,439, and killed over
3,000 soldiers and 1,500 draft horses.
In November 1944, the 74th FS and 118th
TRS found themselves in an extraordinary
situation, tasked with operating from areas
surrounded by Japanese forces. Maj McComas'
brightly colored Mustangs flew from Suichuan
Airfield. Until January 1945, the pilots attacked
enemy logistics on land, sea, and rail, scoring
numerous additional aerial victories and
destroying aircraft on the ground.
By 1945, Japanese Army aerial activity in
China had dwindled, with anti-aircraft fire
becoming the main danger to Mustang pilots.
During one such action in the spring of 1945,
a Mustang was photographed bearing the
names "Dottie N' Butch" and "Roxie" on its
nose. This aircraft's chief mechanic was R.D.
Anderson, and it was assigned to two pilots,
Lt. L.D. Monaghan and Lt. G.J. Kaplanek.
The final commander of the 118th TRS, Maj
Martin Lubner, who had six confirmed victories
and three probable ones from his time with the
76th FS, was photographed in his flight gear
with this aircraft.
Central European readers may find it
interesting that Gerald J. Kaplanek was the
son of a Czech father and a Polish mother.
Another pilot with Czech ancestry, Edward
J. Vanecek, also served with the unit. He died in
April 1944 in a crash in India. More details about
this unique unit can be found on the website
www.118trs.com.
Text: Jan Bobek
Illustration: Piotr Forkasiewicz
With the National Guard in China
INFO Eduard36
October 2024