The Earthquakers

Text: Jan Bobek

Illustration: Gareth Hector

Cat. No. 548001

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.