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 British Army March 1942 |
Location Lat 16° 48' 19N Long 96° 9' 22E Rangoon is a port city in southern Burma at the convergence of the Yangon River the easternmost portion of the Irrawaddy River and Bago River that form the Rangoon River (Hlaing River). Borders Rangoon Harbor at the edge of the Gulf of Martaban and beyond the Andaman Sea. Prewar and during the Pacific War known as Rangoon and was the capital of British Burma. During 1989, the military junta changed the city's English spelling from "Rangoon" to "Yangon", along with many other changes in English transliteration of Burmese names. Today known as Yangoon, Yangon, Dagon located in the Yangon Region in Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Myanmar). Wartime History On March 3, 1942 the British Army 63d Brigade Group arrives in Rangoon. On March 5, 1942 British Army General Thomas Hutton was removed from command of Allied forces in Burma and replaced by General Sir Harold Alexander. On March 7, 1942 the British Army retreats from the Rangoon area as the Japanese Army enters the city the same day and fully occupy the city two days later. During the Japanese occupation, the city was used as a base for operations elsewhere in Burma. As early as April 1942 American heavy bombers from India began conducted bombing missions against Rangoon, until the the start of the monsoon that prevented missions from being flown until December 1942. Bombing mission resumed in 1943 including aerial mining of the Rangoon River and mission by Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers. By November 1943, medium bombers and fighters were in range of Rangoon and joined the aerial campaign. American missions against Rangoon December 29, 1942–March 22, 1945 On April 1, 1945 the British Army 36 Division begin to push from Mandalay down the railroad line southward towards Rangoon. On May 3, 1945 the British Army 26 Division (Indian) supported by the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) 10th Air Force (10th AF) and Royal Air Force (RAF) liberates Rangoon. Afterwards, pockets of Japanese resistance remained west of the Irrawaddy River and in the Mandalay-Pegu area. On August 26, 1945 the initial Japanese surrender negotiations were held at Government House, Rangoon. On October 26, 1945 the Japanese formally surrender in Rangoon with Japanese Army General Kimura surrendering his sword to Brigadier Edward F. E. Armstrong, OBE. Postwar On January 4, 1948 a ceremony at Government House, Rangoon for the British handover over Burma as the independent Union of Burma with Rangoon as the capital. Today During 1989, the military junta changed the city's English spelling from "Rangoon" to "Yangon", During 2006, the capital was relocated to Naypyidaw. Today, Yangon is the capital of Yangon Region. Mahlwagon Marshalling Yard Wartime rail road station and train yard in Rangoon. Government House Designed by British architect Henry Hoyne-Fox and built between 1892–1895 at the corner of corner of Prome Road and Ahlone Road in Rangoon for use as a the residence of the British colonial governors of Burma. Also known as Government House, Rangoon or simply Government House. The building survived World War II. On August 26, 1945 the initial Japanese surrender negotiations were held at Government House. On January 4, 1948 a ceremony for the British handover over Burma was held on the lawn and was the residene of Burmese presidents. In the 1970s damaged by an earthquake and demolished in 1985. Rangoon Prison (Rangoon Jail, Rangoon Central Jail) Also known as Rangoon Central Prison, Rangoon Jail or Rangoon Central Jail. During the Pacific War, a approximately 600 Allied Prisoners Of War (POW) were detained at Rangoon Prison including 313 Americans were held at Moulmein and Rangoon Jail (Burma Camp #5). Rangoon War Cemetery Includes 1,331 identified burials administered by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission (CWGC). Taukkyan War Cemetery Located in Taukkyan at Mingaladon includes Taukkyan Memorial Rangoon Airfield (Yangon Airport) Located to the north of the city B-24M Liberator 44-50335 Pilot Wiley shot down March 29, 1945 over Rangoon, all crew captured Liberator VI "Daring Diana" BZ962 Pilot Arnold crashed February 29, 1944 Contribute
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