Lanna-ww2^[1]

Japan in Northwest Thailand during World War II

---

ANNOTATED TABLE OF CONTENTS (this is a working outline, subject to major changes) Notes for this page are located at the bottom.
Introduction with graphical map index                       (clicking location names on the map will lead to subordinate tables of contents).
Content
	Northwestern Thailand general[2] history
	Chiang Mai town was attractive to the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) for several reasons, including:     Air access into Central Burma to support an IJA land invasion north from Rangoon         via an established airport, the largest in northern Thailand     An all-weather supply link via the Thai railway system     An existing Thai military garrison
		Air facilities:
			Chiang Mai Airport
			Thai air mail service network reached northern Thailand in 1940
			Events just before the war: surveillance flights
			24 March 1942: Flying Tiger air raid                     Bond: Leader of the attack                     Neale: Squadron leader                     Newkirk: killed in crash                     McGarry: bailed out & captured
			Various aerial photos of Chiang Mai, including RAF mosaic in April 1944
			Wat Rampoeng Road: IJAAF aircraft were hidden under trees along the road                     connecting the wat and the airfield
			Satellite airport: San Kamphaeng
		Rail facilities
			Railway
			History relevant to Chiang Mai before WWII
			21 December 1943: Allied air raid on Chiang Mai railway station, 300+ killed                     View from the air                     View from the ground                         General                         Chiang Mai railway station destroyed                         Sangthai rice mill damaged
			Transport between railroad station and airport
		Military facilities
			Pre-war: Kawila Barracks
			Thai Army actions on start of war
			IJA arrival and expansion in Chiang Mai
			Headquarters: Wattanathaipayap School
			Probable senior officer quarters
			Queripol residence
			Donavanik residence
			Troop concentrations
			Nong Ho Camp
			Wat Muen San
			Wat Sri Supan
			Wat Umong
			Health services
			American Hospital: status during war, as yet unclear
			McCormick Hospital: occupied by Thai troops at beginning of war
			McKean Hospital: relatively uninvolved with the IJA who generally feared leprosy
			Chiang Mai (IJA): as yet, not located
			Don Kaeo (IJA): near Nakornping Hospital (Route 107), it is unmarked today
			Huai Kaeo (IJA): as yet, not located
			Defense systems
			Anti-aircraft batteries: Sources include Thai narratives & USAF aerial photos
			Church: machine gun in steeple
			Air raid early warning system manned by Thai military
			Bunkers built throughout the city
		Other Japanese facilities
			Japanese consulate
			Tanaka's shop / residence
		Other points of interest
			Only power source for city: Diesel engine - electric generator located near Gymkhana Club
			Saw mill (east of Wat Phra Singh): Owned by Donavanik Family
			Saw mill (west of RR sta)
			Samranchon shop: Bicycle repair shop personnel assisted Allied POWs at Wat Muen San
			Gymkhana Club
			Schools closed:           Prince Royal's College: closed during the war; at war's end, it became British Army HQ           Yupparaj Wittayalai School: closed during the war; it was an anti-aircraft battery site           Montfort College: closed during the war           Wattanathaipayap School: closed during the war --- it became IJA HQ           Dara Academy: closed during the war
			Coffee shop: at east end of Nawarat Bridge, Witchit Jarawan, Proprietor
			Ping River Bridges: research on the older bridges in Chiang Mai was necessary         in order to try to determine the source of the six spans of the "Bridge on the River Pai":                Nakhon Ping Bridge                Foot Bridge                Nawarat Bridge                Iron Bridge
	Chiang Mai province, of which the town was the administrative center,        had these additional points of interest with regard to WWII:
			0107[3]	024[3a]	Mae Taeng
			0107	081[4a]	Connection to Route 1178
			0107	---	1178: 040+[4a]  Arunothai
			0107	---	050+[4a]  Doi Pha Wok/Boundary Pillar No 16 Crossing Point
			0107	145[4a]	Fang oil field
			1099	040[4a]	Om Koi IJAAF aircraft wreckage
			1322	056[4a]	Wiang Haeng Allied aircraft wreckage
	Mae Hong Son province: west of Chiang Mai province, with Central Burma to the west of Mae Hong Son,        it became especially relevant during WWII because of several towns:
		Mae Hong Son town, the provincial seat
			Mae Hong Son Airstrip
			Land transportation hub
		Khun Yuam, the eventual IJA gateway from Burma
			Khun Yuam Airstrip
			Land transportation hub
		Mae Sariang, gateway to Papun, Burma
			Mae Sariang Airstrip
			Land transportation hub
		Mae Sam Laep / Tha Ta Fang, border point
		Pai, the main settlement between Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai towns
		Muang Noi, Reported site of mass burial of IJA troops
	Route choice by IJA within Thailand to Burma for invasion of India planned for 1944 Three alternate routes were considered, and each of them played a significant role in WWII.               1. Tak - Mae Sot (border point)               2. Lampang - Chiang Rai - Mai Sai (border point)               3. Chiang Mai - Mae Hong Son - Khun Yuam - Border Point 13 Each is reviewed below:
	1.	Tak - Mae Sot (an existing trail into Burma and Rangoon)
			----	---	General: 1942: most northerly IJA invasion point into Burma
		(000)	0105	000	Tak: motor vehicle road to west ends; continues as caravan trail
		(080)	0105	080±[4a]	Mae Sot: road ends at Moei River on Thai-Burma border;          across river: Myawadi, Burma, leading ultimately to Rangoon
	2.	Lampang - Chiang Rai - Mai Sai Road (an existing road into Burma and Kengtung,         with access to Mandalay, Burma, to the west and Yunnan, China, to the east)
			----	---	General:         1941: north-south road served as an escape route for                  foreigners from northern Thailand         1944: it was used to support the IJA invasion of India                  through Burma
		(000)	0001	601±[4a]	Lampang:         HQ of IJA forces in northern Thailand         Main transshipping point for goods coming by rail from south                 to Thai Route 1 & points north (Mae Sai & Burma)         Airport with satellite fields at Kohga, Hang Chat, & Mae Mo
		(184)	0001	785±[4a]	Chiang Rai:         On Thai Route 1 between Lampang & Mae Sai                with bridge over the Mae Kok River         Airport with backup airstrip
		(245)	0001	846±[4a]	Mai Sai: north end of Thai Route 1, connecting with Burma Route 4         to Kengtung & Meiktila, 125 km south of Mandalay
	3.	Chiang Mai - Mae Hong Son - Khun Yuam - Border Point 13       (a combination of existing roads and local trails not previously used to access Burma        and leading to Toungoo with its major north-south road, rail, and river connections)
			----	---	General
		(000)	0107	000	Chiang Mai (travel north)
		(036)	0107	xxx	Mae Malai (tee-intersection with east end of Route 1095)
		(036)	1095	000	Mae Malai  (turn west, eventually travel south)
		(251)	1095	215[4a]	Mae Hong Son (junction with Route 0108b)
		(251)	0108b	265[4a]	Mae Hong Son (continue south)
		(318)	0108b	198	Khun Yuam (tee-intersection with Route 3007)
		(318)	3007	000	Khun Yuam (turn, travel west)
		(334)	3007	016	Pratumuang (tee-intersection with Route 1337)
		(334)	1337	042[4a]	Pratumuang (turn, travel southwest)
		(342)	1337	034[4a]	Huai Ton Nun (tee-intersection with unnumbered road)
		(342)	0000[4a]	010[4a]	Huai Ton Nun (turn west)
		(352)	0000	000[4a]	Border Point 13 (leave Thailand: enter Burma, travel west to Toungoo)
	The IJA attempted invasion of India turned into a disastrous defeat in July 1944 with Japanese troops retreating on a massive scale. One of the destinations for those troops was Thailand. Roads documented as used to enter Thailand include:               1. Loikaw - Daw Hse-kawle - border point - Mae Hong Son               2. Loikaw - Daw Hse-kawle - border point - Huai Ton Nun (ホヲトン　?) - Khun Yuam               3. Toungoo - Namman - Border Point 13 - Khun Yuam               4. Toungoo - Mese Atet - border point - Takaun (ターカウン ?) - Mae Sariang               5. Papun - Dagwin - border point - Tha Phang - Mae Sariang The best organized and most heavily used was Number 3. Each is reviewed below:
	1.	Loikaw - Daw Hse-kawle - border point - Mae Hong Son
				---	General
	2.	Loikaw - Daw Hse-kawle - border point - Huai Ton Nun (ホヲトン　?) - Khun Yuam
				---	General
					l
	3.	Toungoo, Burma to Thai Border Point 13 and on to Khun Yuam, Thailand
				---	General
		(000)	B005	000[5]	Toungoo:         Burma Railway stop         Transshipment point for Mawchi tungsten ore concentrate         Crossing point on the Sittang River         Airport built by the RAF in 1940
		(155)	B005	155[5ä]	Mawchi: largest tungsten ore (wolfram) mine in the world in the 1930s
		(186)	B005	186[5a]	Kemapyu on west bank of Salween River: Route 5 here turns north         towards Taunggyi
		(186)	Bxxx[6]	186[6a]	Chiyaupeniko (? チャウペニョ[6a]) on east bank of Salween River:         unnumbered Burmese road continues generally eastward
		(217)	Bxxx	217[6a]	Mesenan
		(241)	Bxxx	241[6a]	Mese Ale / Mese Atet
		(252)	Bxxx	252[6a]	Nammam
		(268)	Bxxx	268[6a]	Thai Border Point 13
		(268)	Txxx[7]	000[7a]	Thai Border Point 13
		(278)	Txxx	010[7a]	Huai Ton Nun (Txxx ends at intersection with Route 1337)
		(302)	1337	034[8]	Huai Ton Nun (travel continues, northward, on Route 1337)
		(307)	1337	039[8]	Nam Yuam Camp
		(310)	1337	042[8]	Pratumuang (Route 1337 ends at intersection with Route 3007)
		(310)	3007	016[9]	Pratumuang (travel continues, eastward, on Route 3007)
		(321)	3007	005	Wat To Phae
		(326)	3007	000	Khun Yuam (intersection of Route 3007 with 0108 at Sta 198)
	4.	Toungoo - Mese Atet - border point - Takaun (ターカウン ?) - Mae Sariang
				---	General
	5.	Papun - Dagwin - border point - Tha Phang - Mae Sariang
				---	General
	Within Thailand, from Khun Yuam, there were three major routes for IJA troops withdrawing to Chiang Mai.      Within each of the three, locations are listed in direction of Chiang Mai
		1. Northern Route: Khun Yuam - Mae Hong Son - Pai - Mae Malai - Chiang Mai
				---	General
		(000)	0108b[10]	198	Khun Yuam
		(004)	0108b	202	Nong Ka Po
		(006)	0108b	204	IJA Road
		(014)	0108b	212	Mae Surin
		(032)	0108b	230	Huai Pong
		(060)	0108b	258	Pha Bong
		(067)	0108b	265	Mae Hong Son
		(067)	1095	215	Mae Hong Son
		(069)	1095	213+	Mae Hong Son Airport
		(069)	1095	213	Wat Chong Kham
		(082)	1095	200	Wat Phra
		(089)	1095	192	McGarry crash site
		(093)	1095	188	Huai Pha
		(114)	1095	168	Mae Suya
		(114)	1095	168-157	Forest Protection Unit 15
		(125)	1095	157	I J A road
		(144)	1095	138	Pang Mapha
		(148)	1095	134	Pha Mon
		(149)	1095	133	Mon Mai camp
		(152)	1095	130	Nam Rin
		(172)	1095	110	Soppong
		(182)	1095	100	Pai airport
		(185)	1095	097	Pai city
		(194)	1095	088	Pai bridge
		(282)	1095	000	Mae Malai
		(282)	0107	036	Mae Malai: medical facilities
		(303)	0107	015	Mae Rim
		(305)	0107	013	Wat memorial
		(309)	0107	009	Don Kaeo: medical facilities
		(318)	0107	000	Chiang Mai
		(318)	0000	000	Chiang Mai
		(320)	0000	002	Wat Muen San
			0121: Chiang Mai Outer Ring Road: paralleling Rte 107 (see Route 0107)
				000	General
				004+	Don Kaeo medical facilities (see Route 0107 Sta 009)
		Central Route: Khun Yuam - Mae Na Chon - Mae Wang - Ban Kat - San Pa Tong - Chiang Mai
			----	---	General
		(000)	1263	000	Khun Yuam
		(068)	1263	068[4a]	Mae Na Chon
		(068)	1088	xxx[4a]	Mae Na Chon
		(072)	1088	xxx[4a]	Turn off to east on unnumbered route
		(072)	0000	xxx[4a]	Start unnumbered road to east
		(098)	0000[4a]	xxx[4a]	Small unnamed[4a] damsite
		(115)	0000 ----	xxx[4a] ---	End easterly unnumbered road at T-intersection; Stem of T is unnumbered road S/SE to Santi Suk on Route 108
		(115)	1013	xxx[4a]	Westerly end of Route 1013 (?)
		(117)	1013	xxx[4a]	Mae Win
		(129)	1013	xxx[4a]	Mae Wong
		(134)	1013	009	Ban Kat
		(143)	1013	000	San Pa Tong
		(143)	0108a	143	San Pa Tong
		(153)	0108a	153	Hang Dong
		(163)	0108a	163	Beginning Route 108 (Sta 000) at intersection with Route 1141
		(163)	0000	163	Unnumbered road (Thipanet Road)
		(165)	0000	165	Wat Muen San
		Alternate Central Route: Old Elephant Trail
				---	General
		Southern Route: Khun Yuam - Mae Sariang - Hot - San Pa Tong - Chiang Mai
			-----	---	General
		(000)	0108b	198	Museum
		(000)	0108b	198	Wat Muai To
		(000)	0108b	198	Khun Yuam
		(001)	0108b	197	Khun Yuam airstrip
		(010)	0108b	188	Muang Pon
		(045)	0108b	153	Mae La Luang
		(094)	0108b	104+	Mae Sariang airport
		(094)	0108b	104	Mae Sariang
		(159)	0108b	039	Bo Luang
		(198)	0108b	000	Hot
		(198)	0108a	088	Hot
		(286)	0108a	000	Chiang Mai
		(286)	0000	000	Chiang Mai (Thipanet Road)
		(288)	0000	002	Wat Muen San
		Other routes / points of interest
			Chiang Mai - Lamphun - Pasang: Stationing may rezero at Pasang
			----	---	General
			0106	182±[4a]	Chiang Mai
			0106	131	Fujita memorial
			Uttaradit
			----	---	General
			0011	xxx[4a]
			Phrae
			----	---	General
			0101	xxxx[4a]
Appendices
		Map Information
			Locations cross-referenced in Thai, English, & Japanese, with GPS coordinates
			Mapping terminology cross-referenced in Thai, English, & Japanese
			Thai map abbreviations
			Northern Thai airports
			Diagrams for assembling mosaics of aerial photos in Williams-Hunt Collection
			Difficulties encountered in this effort
		Summaries of translations of relevant portions of Thai language references
			Antique article
			Japanese soldiers cemetery project
			Japanese-Thai relations in Mae Hong Son
			Khun Yuam museum publications
			RTA History
			RTAF History 1913 ff
			RTAF History WW2
			ThaiNews70
			Chanilpan columns
			Chiang Mai Air History
			Chiang Mai Chronicle
			Japanese-Thai Friendship in WW2
		Summaries of translations of relevant portions of Japanese language references
			Journal colecting IJA war dead
			Senshi Sosho
				vol   5:   Burma Campaigns
				vol 15: Imphal Operation
				vol 25: Collapse of the Defense of Burma
				vol 32: Defeat on the Burma Front
				vol 34:
			Chao interviews
			Wandering the Burma Front by Inoue
		Summaries of relevant portions of English language references
		Miscellaneous
			IJA Unit Nicknames
			Interviewees
			Calendar, Japanese
			Calendar, Thai
		Payap photo index
		Bibliography

 

NOTES

1.^ While the website name includes "Lanna", most attention is devoted to the provinces of Chiang Mai & Mae Hong Son.

2.^ In most cases, a 'General' topic includes a map.

3.^ Route numbers and kilometer stationing were not used to designate roadways during the war. The current road numbering system is here used for convenience. Numbered roads today generally follow long-established roads and trails, though subsequent highway improvements may have considerably changed road alighments.

Explanation of format:

Thai route number: Station number (eg, 0107: 024). In number pairs like this, the first number, four digits, is the Thai route / road number, and the second number, three digits, is the "station number", which is displayed on the nearest kilometer monument along the road. In many cases, the station number includes a tenth of a kilometer, which may have been determined by car odometer, or Highway Department markup on the pavement. Hence, in this case, Mae Taeng is on Thai Road Number 107 near kilometer post 24.

Thailand: this name was adopted by the Phibun government in 1939.

Burma: the country's old name is here used because it applied during this period of history. Road numbering and stationing follow the format described above with current Myanmar route designations. The method of highway stationing, if any, is unknown, and assumed for convenience. Some areas discussed are combat zones and not currently available for field verification.

3a.^ Number on kilometer post monument along Thai Route / Road (see explanation in Note 3 just above)

4. (deleted)

4a.^ Number needs field verification.

5.^ Myanmar route number was identified from maps. No information is available on highway stationing; so "000" station was arbitrarily assumed to be at Toungoo, with stationing increasing in easterly direction. Field verification is not possible.

5ä.^ Distance was taken from Crozier, S, "Memories of the Shan States", Argus Week-End Magazine. 13 Oct 1945, p 12.

5a.^ Arbitrary station numbering assigned (see Note 5 directly above)
Distances were taken from Google Earth path T-K Burma Rte 5.kml.

6.^ Maps do not show any route numbers assigned for these roads: this cannot be field verified.

6a.^ Road station numbering is arbitrarily continued from Toungoo-Kemapyu road. Distances are taken from 戦没者遺骨収集の記録 ピルマ・インド・タイ [Journal on Collection of War Dead: Burma, India, Thailand] (Tokyo: All Burma Comrades Organization, 1980), map p 427. Field verification is not possible.

7.^ Available maps do not show any numbers assigned for these roads: this should be field verified.

7a.^ Stationing for the unnumbered Thai road is arbitrarily started at "000" at Border Point 13, and increases in a generally easterly direction. This should be field verified. Distances are taken from Google Earth path K-Y.kml.

8.^ Stationing on Thai Road 1337 is assumed to begin at "000" at its intersection with Thai Road 0108b near Muang Pon, and increase in generally westerly and northerly directions. Distances are taken from Google Earth path Thai_Route_1337.kml. Stationing needs field verification.

9.^ Note that stationing in this sequence on Thai Road 3007 is real and not assumed, and the stations actually decrease because the road is stationed east to west, while actual travel traced here is in the opposite direction. Stationing needs field verification.

10.^ Thai routes 108a and 108b: Route 108 begins in Chiang Mai, with Station "000" and goes in a southerly direction with stations increasing. Near the town of Hot at Station 88, Route 108 turns west; but also starts again with Station "000". Hence there are two locations for all points on Route 108 up to Station 88. To differentiate the two, the first series is relabeled "108a" and the second series is relabeled "108b".

 

Revision List
Rev	Date	Description
0	2012 May 15	First published on Internet
1	2013 Apr 29	Toungoo-Mawchi distance revised
2	2022 May 24	Page restored, with minor changes