Today I met an ex-railwayman by the name of Raleuk Dunn (perhaps Dun) who was present in Hat-Yai during the WW2 era. (He must have been very young.) I asked him about the demolition of the bridge at Khlong Ngae and his comment was that the damage was so limited that trains were still able to pass over it.
Raleuk had some other rather interesting things to tell me. His Scottish grandfather, W.N. Dunn (No one seems to know what the initials stood for), was the first British Consul in Songkhla. (I'm doubtful about him being the first.) He married locally, and his son - Somboon Dunn - became a railway engineer at Kaeng Koi and some other places in the North-East before returning to work at Hat-Yai Junction. I was shown two pictures of Somboon: One as a boy in the compound of the British Consulate in Songkhla (He went to high school in Penang) and a later one in a Thai Railway uniform.
W. N. Dunn and other locally-based expats were interred during WW2. He was separated from his family and probably taken to either one of the military camps near Kanchanaburi or the civilian camps near Bangkok. Before they left Hat-Yai, the internees were put to work digging air-raid shelters. Somboon was treated with suspicion by the Japanese, but his Thai railway uniform and engineer status was enough to protect him for the duration of the war.
Now, I didn't really have enough time to get the full story, but it appears that W.N. Dunn was eventually knighted by Queen Elizabeth 2 for his assistance to POWs and expat internees. The family were able to send food parcels to the camp.
I promised the family I would try and find some photos and extra information on W.N. Dunn. So far I have found some internet evidence that a W.N. Dunn was at the Consulate in this approximate era, but no real detail. I am a bit hampered by the lack of a first and middle name. And because there were a lot of other subjects also to be talked about, I didn't get to ask that many questions.
Posted: 02/11/2008 6:28 pm Post subject: Bombing of Thailand by US Army Bombers Year 1941
Bombing of Thailand by US Army Bombers
Year AD1941/BE2484
22 December 1941 British Bombers bombing Songkla, Chumporn, Nakhon Srithammaraj and Surat Thani at 2155 all have been occupied by IJA
23 December 1941 British Bombers bombing Chumporn at 2000
24 December 1941 British Bombers from Mautama assaulting Mix 61 (Pheetburi - Chumporn) while carring IJA form Bangsue Prachuab Khirikhan
Posted: 02/11/2008 6:29 pm Post subject: Bombing of Thailand by US Army Bombers Year 1942
Year AD1942/BE2485
8 January 1942:
Bombing Bangkok fir the first time - hitting Yaowaraj (the 7-floor building at Chaloem Buri intersection), Ministry of Interior and the sawmills along with Charoensawat Bridge in front of bangkok railway station at 0200.
3 bomb hitting - 1 is a dude bomb
24 January 1942: Bombing of BKK and Thonburi at Night - the bomb has damaged Anantasamakhom Throne hall
28 January 1942: SHotting down Havilon plane by the Navy at Thonburi
10 February 1942: Bombing Chiangrai municiple - 14 Thailanders Killed
6 March 1942: Bombing Chiang Mai for the first time
28 November 2485 Bombing BKK
26 December 1942: B24 from the 10th Fleet bombing Bangkok station, Klong Toei Port (arealy have rail links), Bangsue Ordinance, Samsen Power Plant, and Wat Liab Power Plant
Posted: 02/11/2008 6:30 pm Post subject: Bombing of Thailand by US Army Bombers Year 1943
Year AD1943/BE2486
19 January 1943: B24 photographing Thai-Burma Railway in Kanchanaburi
4 April 1943: 24 B24 bombers bombing IJA camps at Nakhon Sawan at night.
21 April 1943 (Some said 14 April): 16 B24 bombers from the 10th Fleet bombing Bangsue Ordinance - ONLY 4 did bombed Bangsue - the rest bombing Bangkok-Thonburi area
19 December 1943: 20 B24 bombers from the 10th fleet bombing Klong Toei Port at night.
21 December 1943: 29 B24 Bombers from the 14th fleet bombing Chiang Mai station at 1500 - nearly whipe out Chaing Mai station Yard. Chaign Mai station building and cargo depots demaaged beyond repair - 300 people died.
This has copelled TSR to terminate the Northern Trains to Pa Sao station until it was moved further to Pa Yang Loeng (now Saraphi station).
23 December 1943: 19 B24 Bombers from the 492nd Squardron, the 10th fleet bombing Hua Lamphong and Klong Toei Port at night by using the 5000-Candelar flares to lighting up before the Fire bombs ... but most of the bombs hit Silom, Surawongse, Sathon, and Surasak areas (4 Sor area).
31 December 1943: B24 Bombers from the 308 Squardon of Chongqing
bombing Lampang Station - damaging the yeard but the main station building of Lampang was still intact. The 16 Squardron of RTAF (Lampang) righting aginast B24 but B24 refused to engage
Posted: 02/11/2008 6:34 pm Post subject: Bombing of Thailand by US Army Bombers Year 1944
Year AD1944/BE2487
9-10 January 1944: 7 B24 bombers from the 10th fleet carpetting the marine mines at Pak Nam - Mot until 15 Jan 1944 did Thai Navy could clear all the marine mines out. At the same day, B24 bombers bombing Bangsue Railway Yard and Donmuang AFB at day.
10 January 1944: Thai govement start movign Cadets to be at the new Army Academy at Phetchabun - taking special train form Samsen to Taphan Hin and then take a truck to Phetchabun
11-12 January 1944: B24 bombers from the 14th fleet Bombing both Bangsue Yard and Bangkok Railway Station. Rajadhani Hotel damaged. Bangkok Stationmaster killed in action.
19 January 1944: 16 B24 bombers from the 10th fleet Bombing Bangsue Railway Yard and Donmaung station - damaging Chulalongkorn Hospital, Grand palace, and Samsen Power station.
5 - 6 February 1944 (Some said 25 Feb 1944): 8 B24 bombers from the 10th fleet bombing Bangkok at Night.
10 February 1944: 9 B24 bombers from the 10th fleet bombing Ban Ma Ordinance and Donmaung Airport - Hitting Ki-21 (Hayabusha).
22 February 1944: Phisanuloke - loampang Mixed train and Bandara - Sawankhaloke NOI runnign due to hte bombing of Ban Dara Bridge by B24 bombers from the 492nd squardron.
5 March 1944: 8 B25 bombers bombing Ching Mai Airport - damaging 9 fighter plane - while bombing Chiagn Mai station and Pa Yang Loeng station. The bombing also damaged Fort Kawila area
6 March 1944: Bombing Bangkok at night
15 March 1944: 8 B24 bombers from the 10th fleet bombing existing Army and Navy bases in Bangkok area
23 March 1944: B24 bombers from the 10th fleet bombing Thai- Burma railway the bridge damaged 2 area and knocked 2 IJA trains
23 April 1944: 2 P38 strapling Army trucks and Fort Kawila area.
24 April 1944: The 492nd Squrdron Bombing Paramin Bridge (AKA Ban Dara Bridge) across Nan river - cutting down the bridge
Even worse at that day, the bombers were strapling Wang Kaphi station - and bombing Wang Kraphi sugar mill. The .50 calibere bullets cuttign the legs of a teacher, killing a baby in hammock, and a chineseman.
25 April 1944: 6 B24 bombers making Second Bombing that cut down Paramin Bridge (AKA Ban Dara Bridge) across Nan river - killing construction workers who come to repair the bridge ... Furthermore, Huay mae Tar Brige near Kaeng Luang - Ban pin was bombed away ..
Even worse, the bystanders who are watching the repairing of Ban Dara Bridge alogn with those who live in Ban Tao hai, Rai Oy, and Phichai were strapling ... The Mixed train from Phisanuloke to Uttaradit was also bombed away and strapled.
This has forced Thai govemrnet to move Uttaradit Provincial Hall to Lablae district and move the priviuncail schools for boys and giles to othere schools.
3 May 1944: 20 B24 Bombing of IJA camps at Ban Pong and Nong Pladuk Railway station at 0920-0930
7 May 1944: B24 Bombers from the 10th fleet Bombing Sattahip Naval station - after bombing IJA camps and Paknam railway at Phra Khanong at 1000
5 June 1944: 77 B29 bombers (out of 98 B29 Bombers) from the 58th Squardron of 20th fleet (now the 444th Bomb Group) bombing Makkasan Maintainance center, Bangsue Yard, Memorial bridge, but it is also hitting Japanese Hospital/IJA Kempaitai station at Ban Moh area of BKK - cutting the power lines of Bangkok trams - bombing from 1058 - 1232.
These B29 bombvers equipped with guiding radars for bombing the targets. However accidents has damaged 5 B29 bombers beyond repair 15 pilots KIA or MIA.
3 hayabusha fighter tring to fight against B29 but B29 bombers are bombigb from much higher levels ...
Quote:
June 5, 1944 Bangkok, Siam
2261 miles, 9 aircraft hit primary target. Daylight mission at 23,000 feet. 430, 500 lb. GPs on target Results poor. First B-29 mission of the war.
This has forced Thai goverment to run the evacuation trains alogn with shutting down the schools and universities - after 140 Killed 842 Injurred .
8 June 1944: B24 bombers from the 10th fleet carpetting the marine mines around Samut Prakarn and Mergui port.
6 -7 September 1944:12 B24 Bombers Bombing Thai-Burma railways but the bombs hit POW camps from 0020 - 0400 of 7 September 1944.
90 KIA, 300 WIA (However the real count found that there are 300 POWs 200 IJA and 200local Thai people killed in action) since IJA had set up POW camps near railway tracks and askign POWs to put Blue cross on the roofs.
28 September 1944: P38 fighters strapling Uttaradit railway yard and Talad bang Pho and Talad Tha Sao near Downtown Uttaradit.
5 October 1944: 2 B24 bombers bombing Uttaradit station at 6 AM One B24 has been hit by the machine gun bullet of IJA stationed at Ban Dara Bridge .. The B24 Bomber hit the groudn at Ban Moh in Phichai - 4 bomber pilots KIA (should be 8) and ther other 4 pilots have been sent to Thai Police since it will be safer to be in the hand of Thai police instead of IJA.
The other 8 B24 Bombers bombing Uttaradit station at 1600 - Anti Aircraft gun bullets hitting 1 B24 bombers - and make them hittign the ground at Mon Dondaeng - 9 Pilots burnt to dead - the otehr 3 jumped - 1 KIA since the parachute was malfunction - hittign the stump while the otehr 2 were survived - One was British pilot (photographers) who was arrested at Nam Rid. The otehr was arrested Lap Lae. Both of them were under the custody of Thai Police.
The other B24 bomber wer also hit by the Anti Aircraft bullets - and hit the kround at Sopprab Subdistrict of Lampang - all 12 pilots were burnt to dead.
6 October 1944 Lopburi station and Chakkri Bridge bombed away.
28 October 1944 (Some said 15 october): B24 bombers from The 95th Squardron bombing Nong Pladuk Yard at 0020
2 November 1944:
55 B29 bombers bombing Bangsue - 7 hayabusha from the 6 squadron and 14 KI43 (Ota) fighter from IJA fighting - Lt. Toedsak shot 1 B29 doen - but lost his Hayabusha - and got burnt -> he has been award the second medal - afte the frist one at Indochina war.
At the same day, 18 B24 bombers from The 95th Squrdron bombing Makkasan at night. 6 Anti Aircraft crew injurred.
11 November 1944: 9 P51 from 25th Squardron and 8 P38 recon in the North and straping Lampang AFB and Lampang - Chiang Mai railway line and Ban Dara Bridge - 1 RTAF plane and 1 SLM loco damaged
5 KI-43 (Ota) fighters of RTAF engage fighting against 9 P51 fighters and 8 P38 Fighters - ONLY shot down 1 P38 but all 5 KI-43 (Ota) fighters shot down - Killing Sgt. Master. Nat Sunthorn - the rest including Lt. Chaloemkiat Watthanakul just wounded.
13 November 1944: At least 60 P38, P40 and P51 from China surveying China, Burma, Thailand to bomb the Military bases and railway lines in Thailand and Burma
16 November 1944: B24 bombers from the 95th Squardron bombing Bombing Pak Nam Pho Railway station yard.
At the same day, 6 B 24 bombers bimbning away Uttaradit station - the main building blown away alogn with Uttaradit workshop at 1700. Nearly 100 Thailanders killed by the bomb of that day.
27 November 1944:
55 B29 Bombers from the 20th fleet (now the 444th Bomb Group) bombing Bangsue yard and Makkasan Railway yard from 1000-1050 - Siam Cement factory Bombed away
Quote:
November 27, 1944 Bangkok, Siam
2261 miles 14 aircraft hit primary target. Daylight mission at 22,500 feet 444, 500 lb. GPs on target results were excellent.
the other 3 B29 bombers bombing the areas nearby including Mergui.
The result: 114 KILLED 150 Injurred 149 Building damaged 15 Loco + 120 Carriages damaged One Hayabusha shot down at Phetburi
At the same day, 56 P38, P40 and P51 from the 14th fleet bombing and stapling Lampang and railway track nearby
2-3 December 1944 (Saturday - Sunday): Bombing of Bangkok from Saturday Night to Sunday Morning - along with Nong pladuk station
12 December 1944: P38 fighters and recon fleet straplign and bombing railway lines and roads in Burma and Chiang Mai
13 December 1944: P38 fighters and P51 fighter straping bridges aroudn Chaing Mai
14 December 1944 (Thursday):
48 B29 Bombers from the 58 Bomber Squardron of the 20th fleet (Calcatta) bombing Rama 6 Bridge for the first time -at 0935 - killing 71 Bangkians and injurred 75 Bangkokians. Furthermore, Memorial Bridge is another casualty of the bombing at that day.
33 B29 Bombers bombing the target, 14 B29 Bombing the areas nearby - shooting 1 IJA fighter plane but 4 B29 had been damaged but bombing accident that damage one B29 beyodn repair.
At the same time, 33 B29 Bombers from the 58 Bomber Squardron of the 20th fleet (Calcatta) bombing Memorail Bridge at 0950
Quote:
(HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 20: 48 B-29s, flying out of the Calcutta, India area, are sent to bomb a railroad bridge at Bangkok; 33 hit the primary and 14 others hit targets of opportunity and alternate targets; they claim 0-1-0 enemy aircraft; 4 B-29s are lost.)
Quote:
December 14, 1944 Bangkok, Siam
2261 miles 11 aircraft hit primary target. Daylight mission at 20,000 feet 126 1,000 Ib. GPs on target results were excellent.
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