本月歷史事件: 1945/01/03美軍轟炸台中飛行場
This Month in History: 1945/01/03 US Navy Bombed Taichu Airdrome

Source： NARA via Fold3.com

1945年1月3日清晨，14架第80轟炸機中隊的SB2C-3、6架第80魚雷機中隊的TBM-3，以及擔任護航的12架第80戰鬥機中隊F6F-5，分別從提康德羅加號航艦（USS Ticonderoga, CV-14）起飛，準備攻擊後來成為水湳機場的台中飛行場。根據第80艦載機大隊的戰報，參與這次任務的尚有蘭利號航艦的F4U、艾塞克斯號航艦的F6F、聖哈辛托號航艦的TBM，但除了上面這張蘭利號航艦飛機拍攝的台中飛行場航照，目前我找不到後者這三艘航艦的相關任務敘述。如果這次攻擊任務發生在現代，蘭利號航艦飛機拍到的照片就會跟下圖類似。
On the morning of January 3, 1945, fourteen SB2C-3 dive bombers of VB-80 and six TBM-3 torpedo bombers of VT-80, escorted by twelve F6F-5 fighters of VF-80, took off from the deck of USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). Their predesignated target was Taichu (Taichung) Airdrome, which became Suian Airport after the war. The action report filed by CVG-80 indicated that F4U from USS Langley, F6F from USS Essex, and TBM from USS San Jacinto were also employed in this operation. But other than the above photo taken by Langley aircraft, I could not find official written reports about this missions filed by the associated units from these three carriers. If the attack took place today, the above photo would look like below:

Source： Google

每一架SB2C-3上掛了兩枚500磅炸彈及一枚250磅炸彈，TBM-3則掛載了12枚100磅炸彈，就連負責護航的F6F-3也各自掛了一枚500磅炸彈。不過在起飛後，其中6架SB2C就因為惡劣的天氣跟主要的機群失散，這6架飛機彼此會合後就返回航艦上，沒有繼續執行任務。有一架F6F在飛抵台灣前與機群失散，後來加入胡蜂號航艦飛機攻擊新竹附近一列火車的行動。另有兩架TBM在失散後加入其他的機群，進行對蘇澳的攻擊任務。
Each SB2C carried two 500-lb bombs and one 250-lb bomb. The TBM were armed with twelve 100-lb bombers each. Even the escorting F6F each carried one 500-lb bomb under the belly. Bad weather prevented sixe SB2C from rendezvousing with the strike group. They rendezvoused with each other and then returned to the aircraft carrier. One F6F was separated on the way to Formosa but went north to Shinchiku (Hsinchu) with fighters from USS Wasp to strafe a train. Two TBM that became separated joined another group to attack Suo (Suao) on the east coast.

順利飛抵台中的飛機分批對台中飛行場發動攻擊，SB2C和F6F主要對東南角的營舍與棚廠轟炸，攜帶小磅數炸彈的TBM則以對角線的方向在跑道和大坪投彈。下圖是當天的攻擊示意圖：
The SB2C and F6F that reached Taichu Airdrome dropped their heavier bombs on the buildings and hangars on the east corner of the airdrome. Carrier 100-lb bombs, the TBM bombed the mat and runway diagonally from northeast to southwest. All planes returned safely.

Source： NARA via Fold3.com

營舍與棚廠爆炸的照片：
Explosions from buildings and hangars:

Source： NARA via Fold3.com

現代的同一角度照片：
“What-if” photo if the attack took place today:

Source： Google

下面這張照片除了可以看到爆炸的營舍與棚廠，左下角還可看到一連串TBM小磅數炸彈引起的爆炸：
In addition to the explosions from the buildings and hangars, smaller explosions resulting from the bombs dropped by the TBM can be seen on the lower left corner of the photo below.

Source： NARA via Fold3.com

現代的同一角度照片：
Another “what-if” image:

Source： Google

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