Scenes of the aftermath of a raid by Japanese aircraft against the motor transport of 123rd Brigade and the Tactical HQ of 5th Indian Division on the road to Yamethin, Burma.

Distant view of motor transport burning fiercely. A lorry drives away. Secondary explosions as fuel catches fire and ammunition detonates; at one point a small object, burning brightly, blasts skywards trailing smoke. Men and vehicles.

Notes

The dopesheet identifies the Japanese aircraft as 'Zeros' (Mitsubishi A6Ms). This is probably a generic identification as Allied soldiers tended to refer to Japanese fighters as Zeros regardless of type. In this case they are more likely to be Nakajima Ki-43s (the 'Hayabusa' or peregrine falcon) of 64th Sentai, Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. Japanese air attack was becoming less common by this point as Allied air forces had obtained a functional level of air superiority. The official history gives the material cost of this attack as 28 vehicles, mostly as a result of a petrol lorry exploding. See references below.

Location is probably near Pyawbwe or Yamethin, north of Pyinmana on the Meiktila-Rangoon road.

The dopesheet is marked with the triangular stamp of the SEAC Field Press Censor and labelled 'NOT to be published'.

This scene also filmed by Sergeant Higgins. See related items.