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    Rangoon (Yangoon, Yangon, Dagon) Yangon Region Burma (Myanmar)

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 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. 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 Rangoon as the Japanese enter 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) liberated Rangoon. Afterwards, pockets of Japanese resistance remained west of the Irrawaddy River and in the Mandalay-Pegu area.

Postwar
On January 4, 1948 the city became the capital of the independent Union of Burma. During 1989, the military junta changed the city's English name to "Yangon", along with many other changes in English transliteration of Burmese names.

Today
During 2006, the capital was relocated to Naypyidaw. Today, the city is the capital of Yangon Region. Known as" Yangon" or "Yangoon".

Mahlwagon Marshalling Yard
Wartime rail road station and train yard in Rangoon

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

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Last Updated
March 16, 2024

 

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1944-1945

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