Wen Bon: A Naval Air Intelligence Officer behind Japanese Lines in China in WWII

War and the Southwest Series

by Byron R. Winborn

Winborn was a Naval lieutenant attached to the 14th Army Air Force to serve as a Technical Air Intelligence inspector. Learning that an enemy plane was down, a team of one or two Americans plus a Chinese interpreter would sally forth to wherever the plane might be, bringing back intelligence of the capabilities of enemy airplanes. Compilations of this data made it possible to keep tabs on Japanese manufacturing plants, indicating which were the most suitable bombing targets. Winborn tells his story in an informal, understated, conversational style that ranges from the humorous to the poignantly tragic.

Each American was given a Chinese name, i.e. a transliteration in Chinese characters which when spoken sounded something like his name in English. Winborn’s was “Wen bon,” typically pronounced “Wunbun.” The best interpretation of its meaning is “the pen is mightier than the sword.” A small neat stone “chop,” or stamp, with “Wen bon” and characters for “his chop” carved in it, served as Winborn’s legal signature anywhere in China.

At the end of World War II, Winborn was ordered to Shanghai, where he and other junior officers steeped in the unconventional ways of southeastern China contributed their “can-do” talents to the Naval Air Priorities Office.

253 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1994

Reviews

[Phrodrick slowed his growing backlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wen Bon was the Chinese approximation of Byron R. Winborn's name. It was given to him to facilitate his ability to perform as a member of the United States Navy's Tactical Air Intelligence Unit. As a member of the TAI assigned to 14th Air Force he served out his assignment in a remote, more or less allied held forward area in China. His assignment was to track into the wilds, locate downed Japanese aircraft and conduct intelligence gathering including salvage. The purpose was to provide America with up-to-date information on Japanese aircraft technology and production.

Mr. Winborn is a competent storyteller. Much of what he writes reads more like the travelogue of a particularly adventurous traveler. There is just enough threat of violence from the Japanese Army, local bandits and a certain flexibility among his usually reliable Chinese allies. How often his life was directly at risk either from the environment or from ` human factors 'is for the reader to judge. His service while not exactly front line is certainly deserving of our respect.

I bought this book at the National Museum of the Pacific War/Adm. Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, Texas. For those of you with the opportunity to visit Fredericksburg and in interest in World War II; I highly recommend the museum complex and its small but stocked museum shop. A simple online search will connect you to the museum site and shop if you choose to select a few items from them you are supporting support a very worthy nonprofit.

Wen Bon is not your typical wartime history of firefights and explosives. It is a rather straightforward kind of storytelling of the kind you would expect adults to share more likely over a cup of coffee then with the kinds of exaggerated flourish that's comes after a six-pack of beer. It is quite possible that Winborn indulges in "sea story" exaggeration it's just that his story is unusual enough without. If you are interested in first person narratives of wartime service or are seeking out some of the more atypical missions you should enjoy this book.