Bong Center hosts program on WWII air intelligence

Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center hosts a program entitled C.S.I. Pacific: Technical Air Intelligence Units and the 5th Air Force 1942-45 presented by Jim Hencinski at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Hencinski provides another of his fascinating programs on little-known aspects of military history, this time focusing on the Technical Air Intelligence Units-South West Pacific Area (TAIU-SWPA) which located and salvaged wrecked Japanese aircraft from the jungles of New Guinea and other islands for testing and evaluation. It was the TAIU that provided confirming evidence that Dick Bong had broken WWI fighter pilot Eddie Rickenbacker’s record of 26 victories when it located the wreckage of Bong’s 27th victory in April 1944.

The TAIU-SWPA rebuilt and test flew more than 30 different examples of Japanese aircraft to learn their strengths and weaknesses. The TAIU also developed the simple system of identifying Japanese aircraft by using common names like ‘Betty,’ ‘Val’ or ‘Tony.’

Jim Hencinski is a retired U.S. Army Warrant Officer and military history enthusiast who enjoys uncovering and sharing obscure aspects of military history. The program is free and open to the public. The Center’s exhibition galleries will be open for tours at regular admission prices.

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