Correct Dean! Over to you.

Thank-you, Doppelganger...

Ok, then here we go. In late 1943, the British were finally beginning to fight back against the Japanese in South East Asia. Things did not go well until early 1944, when the British and their allies finally won their first victory over the Japanese. What was the name of the battle, where was it fought, and how did it get it's name?

Dean

Was it the 'Battle of the Boxes', by the 1st Queen's in the Arakan?

Units were ordered to hold their ground and form defensive boxes, 7th Division headquarters box became known as the Admin Box. The remainder of the Battalion formed the Braganza Box.

I think this was more of a defensive victory with a follow up, resulting in heavy Japanese casualties

Oh, man, you are more than half right. The battle has become known as the Battle of the Admin Box, but the name had nothing to do with the defensive boxes. How did it get the name?

The Japanese concentrated on 7th Division's Administrative Area, defended mainly by service troops.

Yes indeed. The area that the 7th division was defending was notated on the maps simply as the admin box, as the divisional adminstrative area was there. The Japanese attacked it without worrying about their rear areas, whick cost them dearly when they were attacked by the 5th Indian division, which inflicted heavy casualties and forced the Japanese to withdraw.

Go for it, Perseus.

Dean.

A number of nations were investigating in-flight refuelling techniques during the war, including Germany which conducted successful trails during 1944.

What aircraft were being considered (bomber + refueller) and what was the intended mission or target?

Why was the idea abandoned?

As a bonus what alternative unconventional method of extending aircraft range was attempted in Germany?

As a matter of interest 600 Lancaster's were converted to tankers for the long range bombing of Japan. These were not necessary though due to the subsequent advance of US forces.

Here is an unusual picture of a Lancaster!

Google Earth appears to have encountered a problem

Originally Posted by perseus

A number of nations were investigating in-flight refuelling techniques during the war, including Germany which conducted successful trails during 1944.

What aircraft were being considered (bomber + refueller) and what was the intended mission or target?

Why was the idea abandoned?

As a bonus what alternative unconventional method of extending aircraft range was attempted in Germany?

Ok I will go with a Ju390 as the tanker and the Ju290 as the bomber (although there is talk of the Me264) and the mission was to bomb targets on the east coast of the USA (some say to deliver an atomic bomb).

Oddly enough though I cant find a definitive answer as to why the program was abandoned but 2 reasons seem to be listed:
1) Lack of fuel and resources.
2) A refocusing of Germany's research and resources into figter development and Reich defence.

As a bonus what alternative unconventional method of extending aircraft range was attempted in Germany?

Well although there were several unconventional options for extending range from flying wings to piggy backed aircraft I will go with Dr. Eugen Sänger's "Silverbird" a manned, winged vehicle that could reach orbit.

http://www.luft46.com/misc/sanger

I realise this is not a complete answer and I am sure someone will come up with a more concise one but hopefully this will get the ball rolling.

Monty

You have probably answered most of the question(s) and am tempted to accept you answer.

All the aircraft types mentioned are correct, (the Me 264 was indeed considered as well) was this a guess?

The target was (according to my source) New York, although I suppose other east coast targets were considered.

Your alternative method was not quite what I had in mind (although the US used a fuel glider called the Cornelius XGG-1 ). How was the tank used in conjunction with a conventional aircraft.

Economic and more pressing factors may have played a role in abandoning the project, but there was a specific practical reason, which you could possibly work out. Any ideas?