30 Mar 1944

Burma
  • Japanese troops attempted to capture Nhpum Ga, Burma against the 2nd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), with infantry attacking in waves throughout the day and artillery pieces bombarding in-between. ww2dbase [Battle of Myitkyina | Nhpum Ga | CPC]
31 Mar 1944

Burma
  • At 0530 hours, Japanese artillery on the American positions at Nhpum Ga, Burma intensified, paving way for a second day of infantry assaults. Meanwhile, another group of Japanese troops moved toward the clearing at Hsamshingyang and set up a roadblock, cutting off Nhpum Ga's main supply route; this roadblock was discovered by troops of Orange Combat Team of 3rd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), but the Americans were unable to break the roadblock. Lieutenant Colonel George McGee, Jr., commanding officer of 2nd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), reported 3 men dead, 9 men wounded, and many mules killed; though casualties were relatively few, McGee nevertheless feared that the supply situation would become impossible to overcome by the next day. Colonel Charles Hunter, in command of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), at Hsamshingyang, began to organize a mule train to leave for Nhpum Ga the next day, to ensure his own position did not get surrounded by the Japanese, and to request fresh water to be delivered by air. ww2dbase [Battle of Myitkyina | Charles Hunter | George McGee | Nhpum Ga | CPC]
1 Apr 1944

Burma
  • The Japanese attempt to capture Nhpum Ga, Burma slowed as heavy rain poured. Lieutenant Colonel George McGee, Jr. at Nhpum Ga was informed by his superior Colonel Charles Hunter that Hunter was expecting a delivery of two 75-millimeter howitzers by air on the next day, which would hopefully relieve the pressure that the Japanese had been placing on McGee's 2nd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional). ww2dbase [Battle of Myitkyina | Charles Hunter | George McGee | Nhpum Ga | CPC]
3 Apr 1944

Burma
  • Lieutenant Colonel George McGee, Jr., whose 2nd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) had been under near constant attack by the Japanese at Nhpum Ga, Burma for several days, sent a warning message to his superior Colonel Charles Hunter at the clearing of Hsamshingyang nearby, noting that the constant pressure by the Japanese and the lack of fresh water were about to break the morale of his men. With 1st Battalion five or six days away and Chinese allies more than ten days away, Hunter only had the tired troops of the 3rd Battalion to attempt to rescue the besieged 2nd Battalion. He planned to strike out from Hsamshingyang toward Nhpum Ga at 1200 hours on the next day, with Orange Combat Team at the front and Khaki Combat Team ready to flank the first Japanese position that Orange Combat Team would encounter. ww2dbase [Battle of Myitkyina | Charles Hunter | George McGee | Nhpum Ga | CPC]
5 Apr 1944

Burma
  • The Japanese launched a frontal assault at Nhpum Ga, Burma before dawn, in multiple waves. The 2nd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) was able to stop the attacks, inflicting heavy casualties on the Japanese. During the day, the 2nd Battalion received a supply of ammunition by air, though the badly needed drinking water would only come later. Meanwhile, to the north, 3rd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit continued their offensive toward Nhpum Ga, gaining 300 yards of jungle. ww2dbase [Battle of Myitkyina | Nhpum Ga | CPC]
6 Apr 1944

Burma
  • Troops of Chinese 38th Division advanced to about 10 miles north of Hsamshingyang, Burma, relieving pressure from the rear of 3rd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional). On the 3rd Battalion's front, it had reached about 500 yards north of Nhpum Ga by the end of the day. ww2dbase [Battle of Myitkyina | Nhpum Ga | CPC]
7 Apr 1944

Burma
  • The 1st Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) arrived at Hsamshingyang, Burma at 1700 hours after marching through 30 miles of jungle, which took 5 days. The 800 men were exhausted, and 200 of them were suffering from acute dysentery. Colonel Charles Hunter immediately organized an offensive toward Nhpum Ga for the next day, and Osborne of 1st Battalion committed 254 of his men who were in decent enough of shape to fight. ww2dbase [Battle of Myitkyina | Charles Hunter | Nhpum Ga | CPC]
8 Apr 1944

Burma
  • Troops of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) assaulted Japanese positions north of Nhpum Ga, Burma, making use of the pack howitzers that had just arrived recently. ww2dbase [Battle of Myitkyina | Nhpum Ga | CPC]
9 Apr 1944

Burma
  • At 0700 hours, US aircraft dropped supplies at Nhpum Ga, Burma. At 1000 hours, a patrol from 3rd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) began to advance up the hill, observing a great number of Japanese dead from the recent artillery barrage. At 1100 hours, a patrol from Orange Combat Team pushed toward the western edge of Nhpum Ga. At 1200 hours, the 3rd Battalion reached Nhpum Ga. ww2dbase [Battle of Myitkyina | Nhpum Ga | CPC]
18 Apr 1944

Burma
  • Charles Hunter started drills and parades to reinstate military organization to the US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) in Burma after difficult fighting at Nhpum Ga, Burma. ww2dbase [Charles Hunter | Battle of Myitkyina | Nhpum Ga | CPC]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Share this article with your friends:

 Facebook
 Reddit
 Twitter

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds

Search WW2DB
News

Random Photograph

Il-2 Sturmovik aircraft resting at an airfield, circa late 1940s


Current Site Statistics

Famous WW2 Quote
"All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us... they can't get away this time."

Lt. Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, at Guadalcanal


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!