點擊上圖可放大。Click to enlarge
中央研究院海外歷史圖資與典藏 (Via Academia Sinica)
上面這幅高雄市的局部地圖來自美軍在1942年12月的一份報告《Air Objective Folder – Taiwan (Formosa)》，其目的是讓航空部隊裡的大隊長、中隊長或作戰幕僚用來規劃任務，或是對參與任務的機員簡報。地圖上的紅框是目標的位置，紅字標記的數字則代表目標的編號（就我個人所知，數字的大小跟目標的重要程度並無關連）。以下是其中幾個目標的名稱：
The Takao area map above was included in the intelligence report, “Air Objective Folder – Taiwan (Formosa)”, December 1942. It was primarily for the use of group and squadron commanders and intelligence officers in the planning of operations and briefing of crews. The chosen targets were marked in red, including: (As far as I know, the numbers do not imply importance or priority.)
- 1 Steam Power Plant （火力發電所）
- 2 Chemical Fertilizer Plant （化學肥料工場）
- 3 Nippon Aluminum Co. （日本鋁株式會社）
- 4 Mitsubishi Oil Storage （三菱油槽所）
- 6 Industrial Alcohol Plant （酒精工場）
不過由於當時美軍尚未開始對台灣實施空中偵照，這份報告的情報來源主要來自美國國內，並非參考偵照的結果，所以內容不盡正確（因此美軍在報告加註了下圖所示的警語）。舉例來說，日本鋁株式會社並不在上圖標示 3 的位置，而是在右下角註記 Reigaryo Airport & Seaplane Base 的地方。不過這也衍伸出一個有趣的問題：被註明為 Reigaryo Airport & Seaplane Base 的區域早期曾是苓雅寮不時着陸場，但是在昭和10年（1935年）左右改建為日本鋁株式會社高雄工場。美軍既然沒有當地的空照，他們是如何獲得苓雅寮着陸場位置的情報？
Since Formosa had yet to be covered by aerial reconnaissance at the time, the target map was not 100% correct and the following warning was printed at the beginning of the main text. For example, Target 3 (Nippon Aluminum Co.) was not located in the area marked as such on the map but actually in the area referred to as “Reigaryo Airport & Seaplane Base.”
美國陸軍第14航空隊的偵察機從1943年後期開始對台灣實施空中偵察，因此在1944年2月的情報分析報告《Formosa Interim Report》中，就用以下的高雄地區偵察照片取代了最上面那張地圖：
The 14th Air Force began to photograph Formosa in late 1943. The aerial reconnaissance photos obtained were used to update the intelligence on Formosa. In “Formosa Interim Report,” February 1944, the following Takao area photo replaced the top map:
點擊上圖可放大。Click to enlarge
中央研究院海外歷史圖資與典藏 (Via Academia Sinica)
跟最上面的地圖比較，可以發現以下幾項改變：原本的 1 （火力發電所）不見了，可能美軍從空照發現這裡根本不是發電所（其實是電力會社的出張所）；化學肥料工場雖然仍標示出來，但是原有的目標編號 2 不見了，同一份文件的目標清單裡也不見這一項； 3 （日本鋁株式會社）的位置被標在正確的位置；多出來 177 Power Plant（發電所）。
Some updates are noteworthy: Target 1 (Steam Power Plant) was deleted from the photo. In fact, the location marked in the 1942 map was occupied by an office of the electrical company. The photo interpreters might have noted the discrepancy between an office and a power plant and decided to delete the target. In addition, although the Chemical Fertilizer Plant was marked on the photo, it was no longer numbered, meaning it had been deleted from the target list. Also, the location for Target 3 (Nippon Aluminum Co.) had been corrected. Finally, a new Target 177 (Power Plant) was added.
上面這張空照雖然有各項目標的位置，但因解析度不高，難以清楚看見它們的樣貌。所幸美國海軍飛機在1944年10月12日拍下了珍貴的高雄地區空照，我從這批空照裡找到了美軍選定的幾個主要攻擊目標，接下來分成幾篇跟大家分享。
I have found these targets on the 1944 reconnaissance photos taken by the US Navy aircraft. I will share my findings in the next few posts. Let’s start with the Chemical Fertilizer Plant.
2. 台灣肥料株式會社高雄工場 Chemical Fertilizer Plant
儘管美軍後來已經把這個目標從攻擊清單中拿掉，但因為這是個美軍誤判的例子，所以我仍然拿出來說明。下圖是昭和10年（1935年）左右繪製的高雄市街圖局部，在美軍所謂 Chemical Fertilizer Plant 的位置就是台灣肥料株式會社：
Although Chemical Fertilizer Plant had been deleted from the target list in the 1944 report, it is worth some analysis because this is a clear example of mis-identification by American intelligence analysts. The center of the next map, dated circa 1935, corresponds to the location for Chemical Fertilizer Plant marked by the American intelligence analysts. The Kanji characters stand for Taiwan Fertilizer Company.
下圖是1944年同地區的美軍空照：
The following is the 1944 reconnaissance photo of the same area:
2. 台灣肥料株式會社高雄工場（誤）。(Mistaken for) Chemical Fertilizer Plant
中央研究院海外歷史圖資與典藏 (Via Academia Sinica)
如果跟下面的Google衛星照片比較，就可以發現兩張照片裡的主建物是一樣的，只是現在稱為高雄市立歷史博物館。不過很多人都知道這座博物館的前身是高雄市役所，而高雄市役所是於昭和14年（1939年）遷到新建的榮町現址，顯然當時美軍並沒有更新到這項情報，以致繼續稱之為化學肥料工場。但美軍會不會因為發現空照裡的建築不像肥料工場，卻又不知道它的確實用途，所以把它從目標清單中剔除呢？
If you compare the 1944 photo with the following Google satellite image, you will see that the main building is the same, which is now Kaohsiung Historical Museum. Some of you may be aware that the museum was converted from the old Takao City Hall, which was inaugurated in 1939. So the building in the 1944 photo was not a fertilizer plant at all. Obviously the American intelligence analysts had not been updated with this information and thus kept identifying it as a fertilizer plant. But these analysts might have noticed that the “plant” lacked the high smokestack as described in the 1942 report and then decided to delete it from the target list.
未完，待續。
To be continued.