490th Bomb Squadron

[The Enforcer!]

Here is a history link ....http://pages.prodigy.com/jing_bao/sqdrn490.htm

The Enforcer!

[jpatokal]

Could the bridge in the photo be the famous Bridge of the River Kwai? It's "near Bangkok" if you're in an airplane, the size & style of the bridge sections seems to match and you can see that the two collapsed segments in the photo have been rebuilt in a different style:

http://www.edu.pe.ca/sourishigh/Shane/Asia/Thailand/Kanchanaburi/bridge-2.jpg

[ttaaee]

Could it be Rama VI bridge?


Pacificwrecks.com (http://www.pacificwrecks.com/)

WEDNESDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 1945 (http://www.pacificwrecks.com/60th/today/1945/2-45.html)

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): ...Mission 35: 64 B-29s are dispatched to hit the Rama VI bridge at Bangkok, 58 bomb and effect the collapse of most of middle span of the bridge (this is the 3d strike at this target) and destroy the NE approach...

[airlana]

490th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (MEDIUM)

The 490th has a proud and distinguished history dating back to its beginning in India on 15 September 1942, when the 490th Bombardment, Squadron (Medium) was activated. The first combat mission was flown on 18 February 1943 in B-25 Mitchell bombers bearing the now famous "Skull and Wings" insignia, an adaptation of the personal insignia of the commanding officer at that time, Major James A. Philpott. The squadron's aircraft bombed bridges, locomotives, railroad yards, and other targets to delay the movement of supplies to the Japanese troops fighting in northern Burma. Many bridge-bombing missions were initially unsuccessful. High-level, low-level, dive bombing, and skip-bombing all proved ineffective against these difficult targets. The 490th changed all that on New Years Day, 1944, when Major Robert A. Erdin, squadron leader for the day, accidentally discovered a very effective method for destroying bridges. Once perfected, his hop-bombing technique became so successful that the 490th earned the nickname "Burma Bridge Busters" from the commanding general of the Tenth Air Force. In the words of one war correspondent, the 490th became "one of the most specialized bombardment squadrons in the world." After the war ended, the squadron came home to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, where it was deactivated on 2 November 1945. During its three years of activities, the fightin 490th destroyed 191 major bridges in Burma, Thailand, and southwest China; received 1280 individual citations; and was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations. These achievements cost the squadron 185 crew members killed in action.
--------------------------------------------------------------

I've almost 800 files on the C.B.I. theater and one of my ongoing projects is compiling a complete list of aerial warfare activity in Thailand during WW2. Not just USAAF but also British and Japanese. There was much more action than most people realise. Most bombing raids were by RAF and USAAF based in India by B24 Liberator aircraft and later B29's.

Apart from the bombing of River Kwai area, there were numerous raids in the Bangkok area with bridge, rail, and power station targets. Also bombing raids by RAF on rail targets in the Chiang Mai and Lampang areas. Then there were the many fighter missions over Thailand by the USAAF, RAF and AVG.

I'll check on what I have and see if we can identify the bridge.

[waerth]

It looks like the river Kwai bridge to me as well.

Waerth

[zero]

My first impression would also be the River Kwai Bridge.

Is there any information available on which date, or even at what time of the day the bridge was bombed? The direction and the length of the shadow, as well as the (as it seems) rather low and narrow water below could then either rule out or strengthen the theory.

[waerth]

Actually it is the form of the bridgeparts that do it for me. It is identical to the remaining (not the rebuild part) part of the bridge which comes from Java.

W

[airlana]

Agree the bridge is similar to River Kwai bridge, but I'm not too sure.

Here are three photos for comparison, first the bridge just after bombing (http://cas.awm.gov.au/pls/PictionPRD1/cas_disp_pkg.pr_detailed_scr?surl=1234406566ZZQZYZ ELJRSF&acid=2000&pi_query_id=2435621&pi_umo_id=360097&ps_selected_coll=ALL&ps_view_type=BRIEF&current_page_number=1&ps_access_level=Public) and secondly the destroyed bridge (http://www.gunplot.net/kwairailway/hellfirepass.html)and another view (http://www.mekongexpress.com/thailand/photoalbum/images/400kwai04.gif)

Assuming the caption is correct, then what worries me is that I can find no reference to the River Kwai bridge and the 490thBS. That's not to say of course that the 490th didn't bomb that bridge.

The 490th bombed many bridges, particularly in Burma. One of their missions was bombing the Mu River bridge. That is a possibility.

Also the caption says "near Bangkok". That's not always correct . Here's a bridge being bombed on the Bilin River at Hninpale, Thailand. (http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/4807/bilinrr.html). The Bilin River is in Burma between the Sittang and Salween rivers.

Any other clues or thoughts?

airlana

[airlana]

re post above.

The link "bridge just after bombing" may show a 'timed out' message.

If so, please go to http://www.awm.gov.au
then click "search our collections" in the Quick Links in the right hand panel.
Then enter into the search box

P00502.001

The photo is clickable to enlarge.

Sorry for any trouble.

airlana

[Jromerz]

It is quite interesting that not too many people seem to know how much Thailand, and Bangkok in particular, were bombed during WWII, as airlana said. In fact there were several bomb shelters built in the city during that period. There was one in the Dusit Zoo, which is actually open for viewing now, and a few others in the Chitralada/Dusit area, as well as a large one built in front of the main building of Hua Lampong train station. There was even a bomb that landed in Vimanmek Mansion, and the marks can still be seen.

[The Enforcer!]

As far as I am aware the Bridge over thevRiver Kwai was actually bombed by the US 493rd Bomb Squadron, not the 490th.

Whilst this Bridge may be the Rama VI, it could also be any number of bridges in Burma which they hit!

The Enforcer!

[Wisarut]

After taking a look at the Bridge, it would DEFINITELY NOT Rama 6 Bridge at all ... Look more like the Bridge over River Kwae though ...

[waerth]

And so the mystery continues ..... the river definately seems to small to be the Chao Phraya though.

W

[airlana]

And so the mystery continues ..... the river definately seems to small to be the Chao Phraya though.

W


Agreed. Do we know the origin of the photo?

Book? Website?

airlana

[admin]

someone was trying to sell it on ebay--not sure if was an original photo or what...

[airlana]

The item is still on ebay and the description reads:-

"Hi there and thanks for stopping in. You are bidding on one non-original, 8x10 photograph depicting a 490th Bomb Squadron B-25 raid on a rail bridge near Bangkok, Thailand in '44. The "Burma Bridge Busters" as the 490th was known, have already dropped two spans of this important target, and more bombs can be seen splashing around the wreckage."
--------------------------------------------------------

So the only extra info we have is B-25 Mitchell aircraft and the year 1944.

There was some bombing around Nakhon Sawan at that time.
I've no idea if bridges were targeted and if so what the bridge looked like.

airlana
.

[The Enforcer!]

Maybe yesterday's Nation gives us a clue.

It had a feature article on Saphan Phra Phuttha Yotfa and noted that it was heavily damaged in WWII.

The Enforcer!

[GWR]

This article is about the building of the Mergui road, which seems to have been primarily intended as a 'bolthole' when the Japanese realised the tide was turning. It might provide some clues about this bridge:-
http://www.cofepow.org.uk/pages/asia_burma3.htm

Quote:-

The rest partially revived me and although the fever was still with me I began to take notice of events around me. Kirikan had changed; it's hive of activity being replaced by an air of desolation. Frequent air strikes by Allied aircraft had left a train of destruction. Buildings had been flattened and the ground was pock-marked with craters. A few smiling Siamese came over and chatted to us in the universally used pidgin English, completely ignoring our guard. They brought us coffee, bananas and tobacco which we accepted gratefully. They told us the news of the end of the war in Europe and the headlong flight of the Japanese in Burma.

We entrained that evening, slowly making our way to Ratburi. Allied planes were sweeping the skies almost continuously. Many times we stopped and took to the paddy, running helter-skelter away from the train which presented a sitting target. Fate was with us and we wended our way slowly towards Ratburi and into a scene of utter chaos. The town had been blanket-bombed the previous day. The railway track was the focal point of utter wreckage. The bombers had scored a direct hit on a troop train. Pieces of carriages and metal lay everywhere and a gaping hole presented what had once been the station. A span of the giant steel bridge that carried the railway over the river was missing and hastily erected to bridge the gap was a crazy, swaying, narrow bamboo construction.

End of Quote:-

Map of the 'Mergui Road':-
http://www.cofepow.org.uk/pages/asia_burma1.html

[Wisarut]

The railway bridghe in Ratchaburi referred by 'Mergui Road' is
Chulachomklao Bridge across the Mae klong river.

This bridge has been onced cut down by the local people to
derail Japanese Military Train though

[GWR]

http://www.2bangkok.com/images/490th.jpg
This thread may be relevant too. The photo doesn't appear to show a train on the bridge. The width tends to suggest a single track, but a photo zoom doesn't show enough to confirm or deny that:-
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=4179&postcount=15

[GWR]

This account by a Canadian Airman allocated to the RAF seems to suggest the British Airforce destroyed or at least badly damaged the bridge at Ratchaburi at the end of the war. It also details other attacks on the Moulmein railyards:-
http://www.rquirk.com/ewstory.html

QUOTE:
A week later, on January 8, the destination was again South Moulmein, with the engine sheds and sidings and fuel stores as the targets for their 8000 lbs bomb load. Freddie now flew with a new aircraft, Liberator KH255, with the latest turret and .50 ammo to replace the previous .33. This mission, which took 11 hours, 55 minutes, and the next were uneventful. On January 11 it was off to South Moulmein once more, to lay eight mines and drop their eight 100 lb bombs. They were twelve and a half hours in the air on this, the second-last of Freddie's operations.

The last op, and the one that Freddie remembers all too well, was the longest and most frightening of his sorties. They took off at 1700 hours in the sturdy KH255. The target was complicated, for there were allied prisoners of war in the vicinity. The Primary objective was the Rajburi bridge, which the Japanese had to cross to get to a merchant vessel that had food stores for them. The target was heavily defended. At the pre-op briefing the Intelligence Officer warned the crews:

"Gentlemen, there are six of you going out, but there are only three of you coming back, because it's a heavily fortified target".

In the event, Fredddie's plane was late on target and the crew decided to bomb not the bridge but the road leading to it. In his logbook Freddie even stated that they jettisoned their bombs. They also strafed the Japanese ship. Freddie later recalled:

"When we did the Rajburi bridge, we went to strafe the merchant ship.
UNQUOTE:

[Wisarut]

Saphan Ratchaburi (now Saphan Chulalongkorn) had been damanged once whne the localSeri Thai had used the hacksaw to chom the iron bridgeso the C56 Loco of IJA fell in to MaeKlong river.

howevber, the overall damage of Saphan Ratchaburi was minimal compared to the 3 main bridges (Paramin Bridge, Sarat Thani bridge and Rama 6 bridge). Therefore, they could make aquick repair without relyign the raft.

[GWR]

More from Elliot McMaster, the Oz who described the bomb damage to the junction at Chumpon. There is a possibility that Elliot might be talking about the Tapi Bridge here; as he is describing a river crossing significant enough to warrant the use of cargo barges:-
http://greatlakeshistorical.museum.com/burmarailway/recollections.html

[KP1958]

There seems to be much talk about what the USAAF or RAF achieved over the sky of Thailand during 1942-1945. Here are some accounts of how the understrength Thais, with their limited air power and inferior machines, responded to the Allies' attacks.

http://aeroflt.users.netlink.co.uk/waf/aa-eastasia/thailand/thai-jap-history2.htm#fight

Quote:

Upon delivery, the Otas were allocated to the Foong Bin 16, supplementing Hawk 75Ns. From February 6, 1942, when the first mission was flown, the Ki-27bs flew escort for the Ki-21s and Ki-30 bombers during bombing and reconnaissance missions over the Shan states, as well as maintaining combat air patrols over northern Thailand. In late 1943, Foong Bin 16 was based at Lampang in northern Thailand. During the closing months of 1943, Consolidated B-24s of the Chinese based 308th BG on three occasions raided Chiang Mai and Lampang. During the third raid, on December 31, six Ki-27bs tried to intercept the US bombers. No actual attacks on the B-24s by the Thai fighters seem to have been carried out. The US crews later reported that the fighters veered off and did not return return fire. During 1944, more and more raids were flown against targets in Thailand. On November 11, 1944, nine P-51 Mustangs from the 25th FS and eight P-38 Lightnings flew an offensive reconnaissance mission over northern Thailand. Their targets included the railway line between Chiang Mai and the Ban Dara bridge, as well as the airfields in the area. A locomotive was attacked, and damaged, and the American fighters also attacked Lampang airfield, destroying a single-engined aircraft on the runway.

The Thai defences had been alerted to the raid, and scrambled five Ki-27bs from Foong Bin 16. After the Lightnings and Mustangs had completed their strafing run, the RTAF fighters were bounced by the US pilots. Although the Otas were more nimble than the P-38s and P-51s, they could not match the speed and arnament of the US fighters. During the rather one-sided melee, the Thais claimed one P-38 as shot down, but in turn lost all of their Ki-27bs. The five RTAF fighters split into two sections, with Pilot Officer Kamrop Bleangkam and Chief Warrant Officer Chuladit Detkanchorn attacking the Lightnings. P/O Kamrop claimed one P-38 before his own aircraft was badly hit, and he was forced to crash land. The P-38s shot down Chief W/O Chuladit as well. As the other three Thai pilots tried to fend off the P-51s, all of them were shot down. Flight Lieutenant Chalermkiats Ota was hit in the engine. He made a forced landing, after which his Ki-27b was strafed and destroyed by one of the Mustangs. Of the other two Thai pilots, Chief W/O Nat Thara Kaimuk crashed nine miles from Lampang, while Chief W/O Nat Sunthorn was the only Thai pilot killed. All the other Thai pilots were injured, though. The USAAF lost one aircraft, most probably the P-38 claimed by P/O Kamrop. According to Thai sources, three Mustangs were damaged during the dogfight, two of which crashed in northern Thailand and the last in the Shan states.

As eight Ki-27bs (of which two were serviceable) are listed in the RTAF Order of Battle for April, 1945, it is possible that the RTAF received a few Ki-27bs as attrition replacements. By November 1945, only one Ota was serviceable.

Incidentally, the Ki-27b wreck at the RTAF Museum has no connection to the Royal Thai Air Force. The wreck is a former IJAAF Ki-27, and was discovered by local fishermen near Nakhon Si Thammarat in January 1981.

During 1943, the first of 24 Nakajima Ki-43II b Hayabusa fighters were delivered, the first of which were handed over in Singapore. The Ki-43 was the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force most numerous fighter, being known under the Allied code name "Oscar." The Ki-43s, although already outclassed by Allied fighters, represented a great increase in performance (as compared to the old Curtiss Hawks and even the Ki-27bs). In RTAF service, the Hayabusas were designated B.Kh13, Fighter type 13, and in the paralel classification system as Type 14. The RTAF pilots usually referred to the Ki-43 with its Japanese name, Hayabusa (Peregrine Falcon). Most Hayabusas went to a specially formed fighter squadron, Foong Bin 15, being based at Don Muang. During the summer of 1944, the RTAF asked for more Hayabusas, to equip a further two or three squadrons. As the Japanese forces were on the retreat on every front, few aircraft of any type could be spared. However, three more Ki-43s were delivered as attrition replacements. Several intercept missions were flown by the RTAF Hayabusas. The first of these occured on June 5, 1944, when, during a raid on Bangkok, three Ki-43s made an unsuccessful attempt at intercepting 55 USAAF B-29s. On November 18, 1944, ten USAAF B-24s attacked Bangkok, and of the three Ki-43s sent to intercept the raiders, FS 1st Class Wichien Buranalekha managed to inflict damage to one of the B-24s. The biggest raid on Bangkok during the war occured on November 2, 1944, when the marshalling yards at Bang Sue were raided by 55 B-29s. Seven Hayabusas from Foong Bin 16, along with 14 Ki-43s of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, IJAAF, attempted to intercept the huge B-29s. One of the Hayabusa pilots, Flt Lt Therdsak Worrasap, attacked a B-29, damaging it. However, Therdsak was shot down by return fire. He managed to bail out of his stricken Hayabusa over Petchburi, having received severe burns. The B-29 crews reported 45 attacks, with seven enemy fighters shot down. One of the B-29s was lost, possibly the one damaged by Flt Lt Therdsak. Flt Lt Therdsak, as well as Pilot Officer Kamrop, were later awarded with their second Medal of Valour. Both pilots had received their second Medal of Valour during the Franco-Thai air war. On January 3, 1945, 44 USAAF B-29s attacked the Rama VI bridge in Bangkok. The RTAF sent a number of Ki-43s, and, amazingly, Hawk III's to intercept the raid. The RTAF fighters were unable to reach the B-29s, however.

The RAF and USAAF bomb raids put the RTAF in an awkward position. As the Air Force was engaged in transporting Allied secret agents to Don Muang, it also had to counter the Allied air raids. To suppress Japanese suspicions, the RTAF continued to try to intercept Allied bombers. As the Allied air supremacy grew even more, most airfields in Thailand were attacked by USAAF fighter-bombers. Even though the RTAF was secretly supporting the Allied cause, the Allied pilots had no way of distinguishing RTAF aircraft from Japanese operated aircraft. In one such raid, on April 7, 1945, Don Muang was attacked by USAAF P-51 Mustangs. In this attack alone, the RTAF lost seven aircraft destroyed and seven personnel killed. During another raid on Don Muang two days later, two RTAF Ki-43s attempted to intercept about 40 USAAF P-51 Mustangs. Both Ki-43s were damaged, and the Thai pilots had to force land their Hayabusas. The strafing attack cost the RTAF yet another four aircraft, including one Ki-30. Several IJAAF aircraft were claimed as destroyed or damaged as well.

End of quote:

It was like a dog against lions. I think we should be proud of those very brave Thai airmen who served their country so well.

[Wisarut]

Yes, those survived RTAF officers who passed through that WWII is the backbone for both RTAF revitalization as the foundation fo THAI Inter.

Now, the Thaiversionof the same story ...5 RTAF fighting against 21 Allied planes at Lampang are here:

From RTAF museum
http://www.rtaf.mi.th/museum/images/paint02.jpg

On November 11, 1944, during the Second World War (1941-1945), nine P-51 Mustangs and seven P-38 Lightnings attacked Lampang. The RTAF sent five Ki-27 Ota fighters to intercept. Although they fought courageously all Thai fighters were shot down. Pilot Officer Kamrob Plengkham could shoot down one P-51 and a P-38 was heavily damaged as well.

[KP1958]

Thanks for your comments, Wisarut.

The courage of the Thai airmen during that difficult time was astonishing.

Lightly equipped, the RTAF was perhaps the first second-rate Asian airforce to have ever had encountered the numerically, technically and technologically far superior USAAF and RAF. Keep in mind that that was years before the Chinese and North Koreans in Korean War and two decades before the North Vietnamese with endless supply of modern Soviet jets in Vietnam War. In fact, the Thais had engaged in an air war against the French beforehand with good results during the Franco-Thai conflict over Indochina from late 1940 to early 1941.

Following is another example of their valour.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Prachuab_Khirikhan

Quote:

Battle of Prachuab Khirikhan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Battle of Prachuab Khrikhan was a battle of the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II. It was fought on December 8, 1941 at the airfield of Prachuap Khiri Khan in Thailand, on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand along the Kra Isthmus. The Japanese intended to use Thailand as a base from which to strike at British possessions in Burma and Malaya. The garrison of Thai troops were overwhelmed and on December 9, 1941 the Thai government agreed to cease all resistance and allow the Japanese Army to use Thailand as a base. On December 25, 1941 Thailand allied itself with Japan and on January 25, 1942 declared war on the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Battle

At around 03:00 on December 8, 1941, the 2nd Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment of the 55th Division of the Imperial Japanese Army, under the command of Major Kisoyoshi Utsunomiya, began landing troops at Prachuab Khirikhan. When news of the Japanese attack reached Wing Commander M.L Prawat Chumsai, the commander of Kong Bin Noi 5, he immediately gave orders to resist the invaders. The air force units on the airfield had six heavy and two light machine guns, which they turned against the Japanese troops trying to surround the airfield. The small garrison of ground crews and pilots were further reinforced by members of the constabulary and the Yuwachon Thaharn who had managed to escape from the nearby town of Prachuab Khirikhan once the enemy captured the telegraph office and the police station. Despite the fact that the Japanese troops have taken part of the airfield, at first light Kong Bin Noi 5's pilots attempted to take off to bomb and strafe the advancing Japanese.

Chief Warrant Officer Prom Chuwong got off in a Hawk III, but Japanese groundfire quickly shot him down, killing him. The Japanese shot down two more Hawk IIIs, killing both pilots, while they were attempting to take off and wounded a third pilot as he brought his Hawk III onto the runway. Only one pilot got airborne. Flying Officer Man Prasongdi managed to get off in a Hawk III armed with four 50 kg bombs and attempted to attack Japanese transports in Manow harbour but missed due to heavy fog and rain.

By 08:00, most of the northern hangars were in Japanese hands. The isolated airfield control tower had its instruments smashed and was summarily burned down, as the runways were being abandoned. A new perimeter was set up, while the withdrawing airmen were successfully covered by the machine gun positioned in the clubhouse?s tennis court, manned by Airmen Singto Saensukh and Kasem Wongkangya. The machine gun would keep on firing throughout the morning, and into the afternoon.

Pilot Officer Somsri and his men, whose strength now came up to around thirty, were also forced to withdraw, upon seeing their northern flank threatened by the abandonment of the runways.

Having successfully secured a beachhead, the Japanese quickly proceeded on to occupy what was left of the burnt down hangars and runways, while reinforcements, including artillery and ten tanks, also landed.

The families of the airmen took refuge on the guesthouses on Mount Laum Mwuak; the evacuation of the living quarters was supervised Pilot Officer Phol Thongpricha.

A new perimeter was set up by the Thais, who divided themselves into three groups. One was positioned by the guest houses on Prachuab Bay, which opened fire on anything that came up the road from the guardhouse.

The second group, under the immediate command of Wing Commander Pravasd, quartered itself up inside the area around the Command and administrative buildings, while the third and last group was situated at houses facing Manao Bay. These two groups based their area of fire on the hangars and the runway.

The fighting continued on into the afternoon and late evening, but with less intensity. The machine gun at the tennis court persisted in firing on, while the one light machine gun held in reserve was moved about to plug any gaps in the perimeter.

Rumours that sailors were fighting their way through to relieve the airfield kept the Thais? spirits up and through the night. Ammunition was already running low, and, at one point, the airmen had to contain the Japanese by firing blank rounds.

The following morning saw the exhausted Thais receive a telegram from the Ministry of the Interior, brought up by a postman during a lull in the battle, ordering the defenders to cease fighting, as an armistice has been arranged between the two countries.

The telegram was ignored as the Thais thought it was a trick by the Japanese, thus further infuriating the invaders. Fighting again erupted with the Japanese mounting assaults with renewed vigour, forcing the defenders back. It was around this time that the lone machine gun in the tennis court was taken out; the crew severely wounded.

By 10:00, with the Japanese closing in, Wing Commander Pravasd ordered the Command Building to be burned down, along with all documents. As flames engulfed the building, Flying Officer Prayhad Kanchonwiroj, the head medical officer, had the hospital building evacuated and set on fire.

With hopes of relief fading away, the Wing Commander ordered that all officers should save a bullet each for themselves, and that those who wish to could and should attempt to break out and head for the forests. The rest, including the wounded, were to fall back on Mount Laum Mwuak.

At noon, a motorcar came up. On its windshield was placed a small white flag. The Japanese had allowed the car to pass through the lines, and a number of Thai officials, including the province?s undersecretary, Mr. Jarunphan Isarangun na Ayutthaya. Mr. Jarunphan handed Wing Commander Pravasd a direct order from Field Marshal Phibunsongkhram to cease all forms of resistance.

Fighting officially ended at 12:35 on December 9, 1941.
Losses

The Thais suffered 38 dead and 27 wounded.

Japanese sources stated that the Japanese suffered 116 dead.

Estimates of Japanese losses by the Thais were put at 217 dead and over 300 wounded, although exact details are not known.

End of quote:

It is regretful, however, that, unlike their French, British or American opponents, our little brave men have now been much forgotten, their stories barely mentioned and their faces have never appeared even on any postage stamps.

Sorry, I did not answer the question about the destroyed bridge. However, I hope someone may find these true stories to be somehow related to the topic, interesting and worth reading.