Investigation Summary
The Kweilin was operated by the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC), a joint venture between the Chinese government and Pan American Airways. The flight departed Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport at 8:04 am. Approximately 26 minutes into the flight, as the aircraft entered Chinese airspace, it was intercepted by eight Japanese pontoon-fitted fighters. Pilot Hugh Woods attempted to hide in a cloud bank, but the Japanese pilots opened fire, forcing him into a steep dive. Woods successfully landed the DC-2 on a river, but the swift current prevented the passengers from escaping to the shore. As the aircraft drifted, the Japanese fighters repeatedly strafed the fuselage. Woods, one of the few who could swim, reached the shore to find a boat, but by the time the attack ended, the aircraft was riddled with bullets and had sunk. Among the dead were three prominent Chinese bankers whose loss significantly impacted the Chinese wartime economy. The Japanese government later claimed the aircraft was behaving suspiciously and refused to accept responsibility for civilian aircraft operating in a war zone.
Final Conclusions
The destruction of the Kweilin was a deliberate act of military aggression against a clearly identifiable civilian target. While the Japanese Foreign Office claimed their pilots only 'chased' the aircraft, survivor testimony and the physical condition of the wreckage proved a sustained machine-gun attack occurred both in the air and on the water. The aircraft was later salvaged, rebuilt, and renamed the Chungking, only to be destroyed by Japanese fighters again in October 1940. The 1938 incident led to a major shift in civil aviation safety in the region, as CNAC began utilizing German-developed Lorenz radio-beacon technology to conduct night flights, which were less vulnerable to Japanese interception.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
24th August 1938: The Kweilin incident marks the first ever civilian aircraft to be shot down — A historical overview of the Kweilin incident, the first time a civilian airliner was targeted and destroyed by military aircraft during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Systems & Failure Modes
Lorenz beam
An auditory radio homing-beacon technology adopted by CNAC after the incident to facilitate night flights and avoid Japanese fighters.
Douglas DC-2 Airframe
An all-metal transport aircraft; the Kweilin was unpainted duralumin, making it highly visible to interceptors.
Interesting Facts
- 01This was the first recorded instance of a civilian airliner being shot down by hostile military aircraft.
- 02The aircraft was a Douglas DC-2, registration 32, named 'Kweilin', owned by CNAC and managed by Pan American personnel.
- 03The pilot, Hugh Leslie Woods, was an American citizen who survived the attack.
- 04Three high-ranking Chinese bankers, including the Chairman of the Bank of Communications, were killed.
- 05The aircraft was later salvaged, repaired, and returned to service as the 'Chungking' with the new registration 39.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Implementation of Night Operations
Following the attack, CNAC shifted its flight schedules to nighttime to reduce the risk of interception by Japanese military aircraft.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Targeting of Sun Fo
Reference ↗It is widely believed the Japanese attacked the flight to assassinate Sun Fo, the son of Sun Yat-sen. Sun Fo had reportedly booked the flight but switched to an earlier Eurasia Aviation flight, possibly intentionally leaking the wrong flight details to ensure his safety.