Us Official Photographs

Mitchell medium bombers of the 14th U.S

storage dump on the mainland opposite the former British Crown Colony of Hongkong, which has been in the hands of the Japs since Christmas Day, 1941. Large fires broke out immediately after the bombs had been dumped squarely on the target area, shooting flames to a height of 3,000 ft. Hours after the bombers had left the target, the smoke cloud had risen to 15,000 feet and had drifted hundreds of miles down the China coast. Area at lower left of Photo is part of the city of Kowloon. The island to left of smoke column is Stonecutter's Island, former British Naval Ammunition dump. Three Jap Zeros were confirmed as shot down by the bombers and their fighter escort, while all U.S. planes returned safely.