YELLOW SCORPIONS - P-51 Mustangs rule the skies in China

Using Chinese airfields, the 311th Fighter Group was the first to take World War II to the Japanese. The 311th’s 530th Fighter Squadron, which became known as the “Yellow Scorpions,” was the first squadron based in China. During their combat tour, they flew A-36 dive bombers along with all versions of the P-51 (A, B, C and D). However, it was their expertise with P-51 B and C models that earned them the respect of Japanese pilots.

- WARREN E. THOMPSON

The pilots of the 530th were formidable. They flew long distances to engage enemy forces and handed out more than the Japanese could handle, with huge victories over enemy airmen who were only a few minutes from their home base. During one early mission, gunners on the bombers had trouble identifying the Mustangs from the opposing forces, so the 530th decided to paint their prop spinners yellow. That solved the problem because from that time on, the gunners on the bombers were sure they were friendly to the yellow-nosed fighters. The squadron’s outstanding kill ratio gained them a lot of publicity from “Tokyo Rose,” and in her broadcasts, she referred to them as “Yellow Scorpions.” The moniker stuck for the duration of the war.

“The Tojo whipped over, trailing a long plume of flame ...”

On October 21, 1943, the Group launched eight aircraft along with four Mustangs from the 530th on a big Japanese supply dump at Kamaing in Burma. The enemy wasn’t ready to take them on, and the target was completely destroyed. This triggered many raids in central and southern Burma. While the Allied aircraft were ready for any resistance in the air, they concentrated on ground targets such as rail centers and supply dumps. The 530th squadron’s P-51As met numerous Mitsubishi Zeros when they accompanied B-24s and B-25s on bombing missions.

On Thanksgiving Day, 1944 the squadron flew their longest mission to date, all the way to Rangoon, Burma. They were briefed to rendezvous with B-24s south of Akyub and refuel at a primitive strip at Ramu that had no outside communications. That flight was led by squadron Operations Officer Captain James J. England, and he describes what happened.