Introduction
REPORT BY THE
AIR OFFICER COMMANDING.
At the time of the capitulation of Japan on 15th August, 1945, the nearest body of British troops which could be made available to implement the surrender of the Japanese armed forces in Hong Kong was the first convoy of Tiger Force which consisted of some 3,500 R.A.F. personnel and stores and equipment en route to Okinawa. This convoy, known as "Shield" Force, had reached Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands and was immediately diverted by the Chiefs of Staff to Hong Kong to act initially purely in a military capacity to assist in the re-occupation of the Colony.
Arrival and Deployment of R.A.F.
*2. "Shield" convoy arrived in Hong Kong in the S.S. "Empress of Australia" on 4th September, 1945. The eight "Sam" ships carrying equipment, M.T. and plant followed closely after. Not- withstanding the fact that the majority of the R.A.F. personnel in this convoy belonged to an airfield construction unit and were primarily artisans, they went ashore in Kowloon in the role of combat troops and, full of enthusiasm for an unusual task, acquitted themselves with distinction. The primary tasks undertaken by "Shield" personnel were:—
(a) The rounding up of Japanese armed forces.
(b) The restoration of law and order.
(c) The prevention of looting by the Chinese. (d) The restoration of certain public services.
3. The remaining elements of "Shield" undertook their own specialist task in accordance with their particular function. No. 80 Mobile Field Hospital established a hospital for all services and civilians and opened up medical inspection rooms in various quar- ters of Kowloon. No. 100 E.U. established themselves in the dock- yard and proceeded with the task of unloading the freight ships. 'The nucleus of 200 and 201 Staging Posts moved to Kai Tak airfield and the nucleus Headquarters of R.A.F. Hong Kong established themselves in requisitioned property on Hong Kong Island. It is interesting to note that air operations began on 7th September, 1945, when the first Dakota arrived from Kunming and took off on the following day with a load of RAPWI.
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