More WW II artefacts discovered
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 18 2013:
A number of weapons, artefacts and articles used during Second World War have been discovered from a hillock located just opposite to the Pallel airfield where Japanese and British forces fought pitched battles.
A team of the Second World War Imphal Campaign Foundation explored some hills located just opposite to Pallel airfield in Machi sub-division of Chandel district yesterday.
The team discovered LMG ammunition, 303 rifle ammunition and Three Inch mortar propellants from Khunbi village, located at the eastern part of the then Pallel airfield used by RAF.
Bunkers, foxholes and trenches dug and built during the war were also discovered without much changes in their original structures.
Recharger Yumnam Rajeshwar said that Maj Gen Yamamoto commanding 15th Division and 33rd Division of the Japanese army together with the 14th Tank Regiment and advanced into Manipur from Thaungdut, Burma in April 1944 .
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The advancing Japanese columns included INA soldiers.
The British army reacted swiftly and entrusted the task of guarding the hillocks surrounding Pallel airfield to the Patiala Regiment.
In their efforts to take control of the airfield, some Japanese soldiers sneaked into the airfield and destroyed eight Oscar Aircrafts in the intervening night of July 3 and 4, 1944 .
Had the Japanese soldiers succeeded in taking over the airfield, it could have provided a huge and a reliable supply route.
The time also saw air battles between Japanese forces and British forces at Imphal.
Altogether 100 aircrafts belonging to the two sides were lost either due to crash-landing or dog-fights, Rajeshwar said.