Strana 35
#548001
BOXART STORY
The box art of this B-25 limited-edition
kit released in cooperation with HKM depicts
a gunship of the 12th Bombardment Group
attacking a Burmese airfield in 1945. The unit,
bearing the combat nickname The Earthquakers,
had, however, spent a significant portion of its
wartime career on an entirely different battlefield.
The 12th BG was activated on 15 January 1941
and from the spring of 1942, aircrews and ground
personnel began converting to the B-25 Mitchell
medium bomber in the A and C variants. In July
and August of that year, the group deployed to the
Mediterranean and was assigned to the 9th Air
Force. Throughout its service in this area, the unit
operated B-25C and D models.
At the beginning of 1943, two squadrons of the
12th BG came under the 12th Air Force, supporting
the Allied advance across North Africa, while
the remaining squadrons continued under
9th Air Force command, striking enemy positions
in Tunisia.
For its combat operations in North Africa and
Sicily between October 1942 and August 1943,
the 12th BG was awarded the Distinguished Unit
Citation. In August 1943, the entire formation was
formally reassigned to the 12th Air Force and, until
January 1944, operated primarily against targets
in Italy, with some missions extending over the
Balkans.
Between February and April 1944, the 12th BG
redeployed to India and was incorporated into
the 10th Air Force. The first elements arrived
at Tezgaon and Kurmitola airfields between
20 March and Easter Sunday. The foresight of the
technical personnel, who had brought complete
tool sets with them, enabled a rapid return of the
aircraft to operational status. By 16 April, the 81st
Bombardment Squadron was combat-ready and
carried out its first raid against Mogaung.
The arrival of the 12th BG in the theater came at
a critical juncture. Japanese forces had captured
Kohima, encircled Imphal, and threatened
Dimapur, the key supply base of the British 14th
Army. Severing the Burma-Assam railway would
have gravely endangered Allied supply lines to
China. The reinforcement of strategic air power by
more than one hundred aircraft thus carried not
only military but also profound moral significance.
Systematic attacks followed against supply
depots at Mogaung, Kalewa, and Kalemyo; railway
traffic between Mandalay and Myitkyina was
disrupted; bridges were destroyed; and the Tiddim
Road was subjected to repeated bombardment.
Operational tempo did not slow-down even during
the monsoon season.
In July, the crews were ordered to support
the capture of Myitkyina. Intensive bombing
significantly weakened the city’s defenses and
enabled advancing Chinese forces to press their
assault. After its fall, General Stilwell formally
commended the 12th BG for its contribution.
In addition to strike missions, the 12th BG
performed substantial supply duties. More than
600,000 pounds of ammunition were delivered to
Imphal and Palel in over 1,200 flying hours. Some
pilots also attached themselves to transport
units, logging additional dozens of hours to help
maintain the continuity of the vital air bridge.
Over two years of combat, the 12th BG flew more
than 550 missions, carried out over 7,000 combat
sorties, and dropped in excess of 10,000 tons
of bombs. It consumed more than eight million
gallons of fuel and, even before its transfer to
India, had logged over 40,000 flying hours above
North Africa and Europe.
In the summer of 1945, the group began
conversion from B-25H and J variants to the more
modern A-26 Invader, while at least one P-61 Black
Widow night fighter also appeared on its strength.
Encounters between 12th BG Mitchell crews
and enemy aircraft were relatively rare, and
losses over hostile territory in India and Burma
amounted to only about a dozen machines.
One of these was B-25J (43-3964) of the 83rd
Bombardment Squadron, commanded by Lt.
John R. Coach. On 6 October 1944, it was part of
a twelve-aircraft formation tasked with bombing
a bridge at Nyaungyan. As the formation
descended toward the target in the late morning,
it was attacked by Ki-43 fighters of the 64th Hikō
Sentai, led by Captain Nakamura. In a head-on
pass, the Japanese fighters damaged five aircraft,
including the lead machine. Coach’s bomber was
hit hardest and caught fire; one or two parachutes
were observed before it crashed.
Nakamura was compelled to press his next
attack from the rear but flew into the crossfire
of two defensive gunners and was killed by
a bullet striking him in the forehead. His aircraft
disintegrated, and his parachute deployed
automatically. It was a serious loss: Nakamura
was credited with twenty aircraft shot down or
damaged and had been engaged in training novice
pilots.
Illustration: Gareth Hector
The Earthquakers
Text: Jan Bobek
INFO Eduard
35
March 2026