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First air raid on Singapore

Bombing of Singapore
Part of the Malayan Campaign, Pacific War
The Far East- Singapore, Malaya and Hong Kong 1939-1945 KF199.jpg
A dead civilian lying on the floor of a five-foot way along South Bridge Road, victim of the Japanese air attack on Singapore.
Date 8 December 1941
Location Singapore
Result
  • First Japanese attack on Singapore
  • No significant tactical or strategic victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Straits Settlements Straits Settlements
Dalforce

Empire of Japan Empire of Japan

Units involved
Malaya Command Mihoro Air Group
Strength
Various number of anti-aircraft guns
1 battleship
1 battlecruiser
17 aircraft
Casualties and losses
61 killed
700 wounded
N/A

Empire of Japan Empire of Japan

The bombing of Singapore was an attack on 8 December 1941 by seventeen G3M Nell bombers of Mihoro Air Group (Mihoro Kaigun Kōkūtai),Imperial Japanese Navy, flying from Thu Dau Mot in southern Indochina. The attack began at around 0430, shortly after Japanese forces landed on Kota Bharu, Malaya. It was the first knowledge the Singapore population had that war had broken out in the Far East.

The attack on Singapore was assigned to 34 bombers of Genzan Air Group (Genzan Kaigun Kōkūtai) and 31 bombers of Mihoro Air Group. Their targets were RAF Tengah, RAF Seletar, Sembawang Naval Base and Keppel Harbour.

Six squadrons from both air groups took off from southern Indochina on the night of 7 December 1941. However, bad weather conditions were encountered while over the South China Sea. Thick clouds offered poor visibility for the pilots, while rough winds caused most of the formations to become separated. After several attempts to regroup failed, Lieutenant Commander Niichi Nakanishi, Wing Commander of Genzan Air Group, ordered them to abort mission and return to base, thereby reducing the impact of a much heavier raid. Only seventeen G3M bombers of Mihoro Air Group reached Singapore on schedule, unobstructed by bad weather.


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