War Stories: The first Allied Bombing of Singapore

 

Aerial photograph taken by Americans of Singapore on 5 November 1944

It was no secret that the British used Singapore as a military base. Thus it was also no surprise that the Japanese used Singapore similarly when they annexed Singapore. The importance of Singapore as a naval base grew after the battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, in which the Japanese suffered a major defeat. Philippines was then unviable as a base to protect Japan's Southeast Asian possessions.

As such, Singapore was highlighted by the Allies to be bombed.

5 November 1944

Seventy-six B29 bombers known as "Superfortress" left Kharagpur to bomb targets in Singapore and Indonesia. At 0644 on 5th November 1944, the first bomb hit Singapore Naval Base, destroying its gate. Later bombs wrecked King George VI Graving Dock that it took three months to repair. This hindered the Japanese ability to repair any returning ships.

Civilian casualties were reported during the bombing, although the actual number is unknown. Overall fifty-three B29s bombed Singapore Naval Base on that day.

Aftermath
The Allied bombing of Singapore raised the morale of the occupied people. They had heard rumours of Japanese losses in Asia and the Pacific, but such news were suppressed by the Imperial Japanese occupiers. The bombings confirmed those rumours.

The successful bombings also revealed the Japanese inability to defend Singapore, much like the former British colonial government.