Siege of Myitkyina

Part of the Second Sino-Japanese War of the Pacific War

An American M1A1 75-mm pack howitzer supports GALAHAD's operations at Myitkyina.

Date	17 May – 3 August 1944
Location	Myitkyina, Burma
Result	Allied victory; Myitkyina airfield and town taken.

Belligerents

Republic of China

United States

Empire of Japan

Commanders and leaders

Wei Li-huang

Joseph Stilwell

Genzo Mizukami †

Strength

Chinese Expeditionary Force
Northern Combat Area Command

Garrison from 56th division (3,000)

Casualties and losses

Chinese
972 killed
3184 wounded
188 invalid
U.S.
272 killed
955 wounded
980 invalid

2,400 killed or captured

The siege of Myitkyina was an engagement during the Burma Campaign of World War II. The Allied victory was part of the larger operation of North Burma & Yunnan which succeeded in opening the Ledo Road.

Joseph Stilwell intended to make a rapid march against Myitkyina prophesying it to be a "feat which will live in military history", wanting the town for the nearby airstrip, strategically vital to the campaign as it would be an invaluable source of supplies and aerial support in the notoriously difficult jungle fighting in the China-Burma-India theater. Chinese Expeditionary Force commander Wei Lihuang also played a fundamental role in striking the Imperial Japanese Army. Sun li-Jen,as the second commander of the new Chinese 1st Army, one of the best of the Chinese National Revolutionary army. The 1st Army has since changed their equipment from old, unsuitable-for-combat caps into US-supplied M1 helmets, and had exchanged their bolt-action Type Zhongzheng rifles for newer American and British rifles weaponry. In addition to that, the Chinese Expeditionary Force (CEF) had finally received artillery and air support from the US and British forces, as well, giving them a distinct advantage against the now-malnourished, low-morale Japanese forces around Myitkyina. The US and British played a relatively minor role during the battle, although they also had combat units, such as the famed 'Merrill's Marauders', active in the fighting.

Stilwell gave the Chinese 22nd Division orders to advance against the bridges held by the Japanese on March 15. After two months of fighting, Myitkyina was in reach. With the arrival of the rainy season, the incessant rain didn't stop until May 17. On that day, at 10:00 p.m., the Chinese Expeditionary Force launched an attack with the U.S. Army's 'Merrill's Marauders' against the Japanese airstrip at Myitkyina, supported by artillery. Eight Japanese planes were destroyed at the beginning of the battle. The Japanese were caught by surprise, and, not knowing where their enemies were, poured gasoline onto the airfield in an attempt to disable it and retreated into Myitkyina proper, intending to fight the Chinese and Americans on more favorable terms there. The Chinese and the Americans quickly overran the field intact, and, immediately, U.S. Army Air Forces and Royal Air Force C-47 transport aircraft moved the Chinese 89th Regiment of the 30th Division to the battlefield to supplement the exhausted C.E.F. and Marauder units at Myitkyina. Afterward, some Chinese units attacked the town itself, but the attack was soon called off when two Chinese battalions, in the confusion and excitement of the battle, mistakenly engaged each other in a fierce firefight, and when 2 other battalions were moved in, they too repeated the mistake. On August 3, General Genzo Mizukami ordered the town abandoned and took his life in a literal compliance to "defend Myitkyina to the death" as the Chinese and US forces gradually cleared the city and the surrounding area of Japanese troops.

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Wikipedia