The Story of WWII When 15 Japanese Falcons Attacked 4 Burma Banshees in a Daring Aerial Clash

Mission over the Burma Jungle

On May 17, 1944, four Curtiss P-40 fighters of the Burma Banshees lifted off for a dangerous mission. Their aircraft were painted with fierce skulls across the nose, a design that gave them an unmistakable presence in the skies. Lieutenant Phil Adair, a seasoned pilot, led the formation. Their target was a cluster of Japanese positions hidden beneath the dense canopy of Burma’s jungles. Below them, Chinese forces trained by American advisors were fighting desperately against advancing Japanese troops.

The Banshees lined up their bombing run, diving low through the haze. Adair released his bombs on target, sending violent explosions across the ground. As the Americans pulled away from their attack, Adair suddenly spotted movement above. Fifteen Japanese fighters had arrived, sweeping down in tight formation. The four Banshees, spread out in pairs, were about to be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

The First Clash in the Clouds

Adair quickly warned his wingman, Lieutenant O’Connor, whom he called “Little Okie.” The younger pilot struggled to release his external fuel tank while Japanese planes closed in. Four enemy fighters locked onto him, forcing both men into a frantic dive into a cloud bank. Adair tried to keep sight of his wingman, but when he emerged from the mist, O’Connor had vanished. Instead, Adair found himself alone against another group of Japanese fighters.

Diving toward them, Adair fired a burst, but the Japanese broke away before he could score a hit. Moments later, four more aircraft appeared. Three turned off, but one pressed the attack. Adair waited until he had a clear shot, then pulled the trigger. His rounds struck directly, and the enemy plane broke apart in mid-air. Without pausing, Adair swung back into the clouds to shake the others off his tail.

Deadly Encounters at Close Range

Emerging once more, Adair saw another fighter racing toward him head-on. Both pilots opened fire, tracers crisscrossing the sky. The enemy passed so close that Adair felt the impact of the airframe rushing overhead. Moments later, he spotted a bright green fighter circling below. Using his altitude advantage, Adair dived in and struck with a deflection shot. The Japanese plane’s wing tore apart, sending it spinning toward the ground. By now, Adair had destroyed two aircraft and scattered several others, but his own fighter was battered, and fuel was running dangerously low.

Trying to break away, he turned north, only to find another group of five Japanese fighters cutting across his path. With no choice but to run, he dove toward cloud cover near a rocky outcrop. Tracers streaked past as he forced the P-40 into a shuddering defensive turn, plunging into the mist. By luck and skill, he avoided the rocks and emerged safely, though still alone.

The Survivors Reunite

Believing himself the only survivor, Adair turned for base with heavy heart. Then, through the haze, he spotted a familiar P-40 limping home. It was O’Connor, his canopy shattered and his body wounded by shrapnel. Despite his injuries, O’Connor had managed to stay airborne. Soon after, a third Banshee pilot, Tom Rogers, called in over the radio. His fighter was also damaged, its landing gear nearly useless. Adair, though low on fuel, refused to leave him and guided the group toward their airfield at Sadiya.

One by one, the battered P-40s descended. O’Connor landed first, bloodied but alive. Rogers followed, his flat tires forcing the aircraft to skid to a halt. Martinez, the fourth member of the flight, was already down safely. Against overwhelming odds, all four had returned, though their aircraft bore hundreds of bullet holes. O’Connor’s wounds ended his flying days, yet his survival was remarkable given the punishment his fighter endured.

At the end of that day, three damaged planes rolled to a stop on the runway, while Adair stepped out of his own battered fighter knowing he and his men had faced fifteen attackers and lived to tell their story.