| Original caption: “One less bomber will fly with the Jap Air Force as parafragmentation bombs are strewn across it in a sweep over Aparri Airdrome on Northern Luzon by North American B-25s of the Fifth Air Force. The new fighter-reconnaissance plane nearby will be riddled by bomb fragments and will need repairs before taking to the air again.” North American B-25 Mitchells of the 345th Bomb Group, 5th Air Force drop parafragmentation bombs on an Imperial Japanese Army Ki-21 “Sally” heavy bomber (right) and a Ki-45 “Nick” heavy fighter (left). 4 B-25Js of the 500th Bomb Squadron led the 345th Bomb Group delivered 276 23 pound (10 kilogram) parafragmentation bombs across Aparri Airfield. Built as an emergency airfield before the war, Aparri was occupied by the Japanese on December 10, 1941, and used to support their drive through Luzon in early 1942. On June 23, 1945, the United States Army 11th Airborne Infantry Division landed at Calamaniugan, near Aparri, jumping from Douglas C-47 Skytrains. Then, Curtiss C-46 Commandoes towing Waco CG-4 gliders landed the 188th Glider Infantry Regiment. Neither operation encountered Japanese resistance. The paratroopers connected with local Filipino guerrillas and marched southward to link up with the United States Army 37th Infantry Division. When Aparri was captured, 20 wrecked Imperial Japanese Army and Navy aircraft were recovered by Allied intelligence. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2282.jpg |
| Image Size | 380.56 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2500 x 1683 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Air Force |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | January 14, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | Aparri |
| State or Province | Luzon |
| Country | Philpiines |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | 342-FH-3A31139-56350AC |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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