Historian: Bombs in Quarry Bay believed to be dropped by US B-24 bombers targeting Taikoo Sugar Refinery

Hong Kong

2025.09.21 15:30

Kwong Chi-man, the head of the Department of History at Hong Kong Baptist University, stated that the recently discovered 1,000-pound AN-M65 bombs are believed to have been dropped by the US military during an air raid on Hong Kong on April 2, 1945. (FB)

According to Ming Pao, Kwong Chi-man, the head of the Department of History at Hong Kong Baptist University, stated that the recently discovered 1,000-pound AN-M65 bombs are believed to have been dropped by the US military during an air raid on Hong Kong on April 2, 1945. He referenced historical records indicating that on that day, 24 B-24 bombers from the US Army Air Forces' 380th Bombardment Group were dispatched, each equipped with six 1,000-pound bombs, totaling 144 bombs, which are believed to be the AN-M65 type found now. The bombers were on a mission from the Philippines to Hong Kong, originally targeting naval vessels, but as no ships were spotted during the mission, some bombers diverted to attack the Taikoo Sugar Refinery.

Production or Dropping Angle Issues Prevented Detonation

Kwong displayed aerial photographs taken around 2:20 pm on the day of the air raid, showing many bombs being dropped into the sea. Some of that area has since been filled in and turned into the Riviera Gardens, Quarry Bay.

Kwong noted that at the time, the US military commonly used 500-pound, 1,000-pound, and 2,000-pound bombs. Historical records indicate that 2,000-pound bombs were dropped in the Taikoo area and exploded. According to previous news reports, unexploded bombs were also found in the Quarry Bay and Taikoo area in 1946. He explained that bombs that did not detonate immediately after being dropped might have production issues or could be due to the angle of the drop, which failed to trigger the bomb's fuse.

He explained that bombs that did not detonate immediately after being dropped might have production issues or could be due to the angle of the drop, which failed to trigger the bomb's fuse. (FB)

Estimated Over a Thousand Bombs Dropped in Hong Kong During WWII

Kwong added that globally, about 10% of bombs from the World War II era did not detonate immediately. In places like Japan and Germany, unexploded bombs have unexpectedly detonated during construction work decades after the war. He conservatively estimated that Hong Kong experienced dozens of air raids during the war, with over a thousand bombs likely dropped in the area.

In 2018, three wartime bombs of the same type were discovered at the Exhibition Station construction site for the Shatin to Central Link in Wan Chai, which Kwong said were related to two separate air raids. The bombings related to the Shatin to Central Link were believed to have occurred in January 1945, targeting vessels in Victoria Harbour.