River Kwai

Discussion in 'WW2 Battlefields Today' started by Christina, Apr 9, 2004.

  1. Christina

    Christina Junior Member

    During a visit to the River Kwai we walked over the bridge. Two of the spans were bombed by the Japs during the war, it was ironic to see printed on the two replacement spars "Made in Japan". Has anyone else noticed this. :eek:
     
  2. Wise1

    Wise1 There We Are Then

    I am going to take a wild stab and suggest there was some motive behind this, maybe a "we broke it, so we will fix it for you" type issue.

    But maybe thats being a bit too hopeful or probably silly. :)
     
  3. angie999

    angie999 Very Senior Member

    The bridge was actually bombed in January 1945 by the US 493rd Bomb Squadron, which at that time carried out extensive bombing raids on the Thai-Burma railway.

    Check these links:

    http://home.att.net/~oldchinahands/azon_bomb.htm
    http://www.455th.ukpc.net/tomfeise/455th/458azon.htm

    The Azon (azimuth only) bomb was a very early type of smart bomb and was used successfully against the railway, but the raid on the bridge which destroyed it was from low level using conventional bombs.

    The bridge was a steel and concrete construction, not the wooden structure depicted in the movie.

    And of course the reason why it was not bombed by the Japanese is that it was their bridge.
     
  4. krieghund

    krieghund Junior Member

    Just out of interest, I visited the movie site of the bridge in Sri Lanka two years ago. All that is left are the piling holes in the stone banks. interesting talking to the area residents whose parents where extras in the film.
     
  5. scott1964

    scott1964 Junior Member

    I remember that film, it was one of my early favorite war movies when i was growning up.

    B) :)
     

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