Date	Place	Target	Type
02-25	Tokyo	Urban area	D-G
02-27	Tokyo
03-04	Musashino	Nakajima AC	N-G
03-06	Kobe	Radar-Photo	RP
03-09	Tokyo	Urban	N-I
03-11	Nagoya	Urban	N-I
03-13	Osaka	Urban	N-I
03-16	Kobe	Urban	N-I
03-18	Nagoya	Urban	N-I
03-24	Nagoya	Mitsubishi AC	N-G
03-27	Kyushu	Omura AC	D-G
03-30	Nagoya	Mitsubishi Eng	N-G
03-31	Kyushu	Omura AF	D-G
04-03	Shizuoka	Shizuoka AC	N-G
04-07	Kyushu	Mitsubishi Eng	D-G
04-12	Koriyama	Koriyama Chem	D-G
04-13	Tokyo	Arsenal	N-I
04-15	Kawasaki	Urban	N-I
04-17	Nittagahara	Nittagahara AF	D-G
04-18	Nittagahara	Nittagahara AF	D-G
04-21	Nittagahara	Nittagahara AF	D-G
04-22	Miyazaki	Miyazaki AF	D-G
04-24	Tachikawa	Hitachi AC	D-G
04-26	Kanoya	Kanoya AF	D-G
04-27	Kanoya	Kanoya AF	D-G
04-28	Kanoya	Kanoya AF	D-G
04-29	Kanoya	Kanoya AF	D-G
04-30	Kanoya	Kanoya AF	D-G
05-03	Kanoya	kanoya East AF	D-G
05-05	Chiran AF	Chiran AF	D-G
05-10	Otake	Oil Refinery	D-G
05-11	Kawanishi	kawanishi AC	D-G
05-14	N.Nagoya	Urban	D-I
05-16	S.Nagoya	Urban	N-I
05-19	Hamamatsu	AC	D-G
05-23	Tokyo	Urban
05-25	Tokyo	Urban cw18?	N-I
05-26	Tokyo		D-I
05-29	Yokahoma	cw19?	D-I
06-01	Osaka		D-I
06-05	Kobe	Urban	D-I
06-07	Osaka	Urban	D-I
06-10	Kasumigaur		D-G
06-15	Amagasaki		D-I
06-17	Kagoshima		N-I
06-19	Shizuoka		N-I
06-22	Tamashima	Mitsubishi AC	D-G
06-26	Kawasaki	Kita-Shioya AC	D-G
06-28	Nobeoka	Urban	N-I
07-01	Shimonoseki		N-I
07-04	Tokushima		N-I
07-07	Kofu		N-I
07-10	Gifu		N-I
07-13	Uwogima		N-I
07-17	Hiratsuka		N-I
07-20	Okazaki		N-I
07-24	TSU		D-G
07-27	Omuta		N-I
07-28	Uwajima		N-I
08-02	Mito		N-I
08-05	Nishinomiya		N-I
08-10	Nakajima	AC	D-G
08-15	Isesaki		N-I
08-29	Tokyo	Show of Force
08-30	POW
08-30	Tokyo
08-31	POW
08-31	POW
09-02	Tokyo
09-30	Korea

Known 28^th Sqd Participants – Aircraft & Crew Chief top, Pilot mission # in column

Date

M-1

M-2

M-3

M-4

M-5

M-6

M-7

M-8

M-9

M-10

M-11

M-12

M-13

M-14

M-15

M-16

M-17

M-19

M-20

JMc

44-69685

44-69680

44-69913

42-93923

44-69678

44-69681

42-24873

44-69684

44-70013

44-69689

42-63569

44-94003

42-94015

44-69860

42-94026

42-94039

61547

42-94098

44-70017

02-25

JC1

02-27

03-04

VC1

ES1

CW1

JHab

JS1

JC2

03-06

JH1

03-09

VC2

ES2

CW2

JH2

JS2

JC3s

<RA2>

44-69815

03-11

VC3

ES3

CW3

VP2

JS3

FM1

03-13

VC4

FM1

CW4

VP3

JS4

JC4

03-16

VC5

ES4

CW5

JH3

JS5

VP3

03-18

ES5

VP4

JC5

FM2

03-24

CW6

JH4

JS6

03-27

VC6

ES6

CW7

VP5

JS7

JC6

FM3

03-30

ES7

CW8

VP6

03-31

FM4

04-03

VC7

ES8

VP7

JS8

JC7

04-07

VC8

ES9

CW9

JH5

FM5

04-12

VC9

ES10

JH7

JS9

JC8

FM6

04-13

CW10

JH8

JC9

FM7

VP8

04-15

VC10

ES11

CW11

JS10

JC10

FM8

VP9

04-17

04-18

CW12

JC11

VP10

04-21

VC11

ES12

JH9

FM9

VP11

04-22

04-24

JH10

JC12

FM10

<MF_>

44-61794

04-26

VP12

04-27

RSalt

JH11

VC12

FM11

04-28

04-29

04-30

CW14

JC13

VP13

05-03

JH12

<RS_>

JC14

ES13

44-70103

05-05

CW15

FM13

JC15

05-10

VC14

FM14

VP14

05-11

CW16

JH13

JC16

05-14

VC15

CW17

FM15

VP15

JD_BO

<KC_<

44-69873

44-69984

05-16

VC16

JC17

FM16

VP16

05-19

05-23

JSt1

JC18

VP17

05-25

JA9

FM17

05-26

JA10

05-29

JSt2

JA11

JC19

FM18

VP18

<GO_>

06-01

JSt3

JA12

FM19

06-05

JSt4

JA13

JC20

FM20

VP19

06-07

JA14

JC21

FM21

06-10

JSt5

JA15

JC22

FM22

VP20

06-15

JSt6

JC23

FM23

06-17

JSt7

JA16

JC24

FM24

06-19

JSt8

JA17

FM25

VP21

06-22

JSt9

VC21

JC25

FM26

06-26

JA18

RLalt

JC26

FM27

VP22

JSt10

06-28

JSt11

VC22

JC27

FM28

07-01

JSt12

JC28

FM29

VP23

07-04

JSt13

JA19

VC23

FM30

VP24

07-07

JSt14

JA20

JC29

FM31

07-10

JSt15

JA21

JC30

FM32

07-13

JA22

FM33

VP25

JC31

07-17

JSt16

JA23

JC32

FM34

07-20

JA24

JSt17

JC33

FM35

VP26

07-24

JSt18

JA25

JC34

VP27

07-27

JA26

JC35

VP28

JSt19

07-28

JSt20

08-02

JA27

VP29

JSt21

08-05

JA28

VP30

08-10

JA29

VP31

08-15

JA30

08-29

08-30

JA31

08-31

09-02

VP32

09-30

03-09/10-45 Tokyo

300 B-29s Incendiary Explosives Hit Tokyo in Greatest Air Raid

Largest Force of Giant Bombers Ever to Take to the Skies,

Fly from Marianas Base to Set Aflame the Enemy’s Main City.

Guam, March 10. (UP) The heart of Tokyo was aflame today after more than 300 B-29 Superfortresses poured over 1,000-tons of incendiary explosives into the center of the capital in the war's greatest raid against Japan.

Flames leaped through the great metropolis in the wake of the first great fire raid on the enemy's capital, 21st bomber command headquarters announced. Radar Scope Picture; note Emperor’s Palace with moat, also, Tokyo river. It was the largest number of B-29s ever sent on a single mission to this date. The great bombers found clear weather over the center of Tokyo and bombed visually, unloosing their explosives into a 10-square mile area of the city

Tokyo radio admitted that the Superfortresses had struck the city early Saturday morning, Tokyo time. Numerous fires were started, Tokyo said, and fire-fighting units "are now displaying brisk activity in bringing the resulting fires under control."

The first "all-incendiary raid” on Tokyo was designed to attempt to burn out a large area of the city, headquarters announced. The last B-29 strike against Tokyo two weeks ago left 240 city blocks burned out, destroying 667 acres of buildings, previous communiqués had reported.

The target for today's strike was the teeming 10-square mile near the center of Tokyo. The big bombers started droning over the area at 2 a.m. Guam time.

Tokyo outskirts, light shaded areas destroyed by fire.

Half an hour later, Maj. Gen. Curtis LeMay, commander of the 21st bomber command said early reports indicated that "conflagration" already was raging in the city. No more destructive air raid has ever been carried out against Japan. It was the 11th time Tokyo had been hit. But today's force of more than 300 bombers far exceeded …....

04-12-45 Hodogoya Chemical, Koriyama, Honsu, Japan

RUNNING OUT OF GAS!

19th BG Field Order #28, 20th AF Mission #59, April 12, 1945, 314 wing, General Purpose bombs, 7-9,000 ft altitude, Target Hodogaya Chemical, Koriyama, code name “Lunchroom #1” (85) aircraft airborne, 7 aborted, 2 lost (1 ditched on return, 1 crashed at Agana Guam), (11) airborne from 28th Sqd including: J Simmons, V Chandler, E Seitz, J Hancock, H Gammel, R Spencer, J Carrol, F Maupin, B Kordus, T Readheimer, G O’Leary.

No war machine in the modern age can operate without fuel. With the ever tightening noose on Japan's oil supply by the converging ring of allied submarine activities, tanker ships Japan bound from the oil-rich Dutch East Indies were being sunk with increasing frequency.

With each protective island group lost by the Japanese, its air protection afforded by those islands to their shipping was further reduced. By late 1944, allied submarines were on station in Japanese waters almost constantly and the vital supply ships were being sunk as they neared their home ports.

After the fall of the Marianas Islands (Saipan, Tinian and Guam), in the summer of 1944, the Japanese realized that major airfield construction on those islands meant the Empire was in imminent danger from consistent enemy air attacks. It is understandable that the Japanese would fight with more tenacity as the invaders attempted to take islands even closer - Iwo Jima in the Bonins and Okinawa in the Ryukyus chain.

With the establishment of units from the 20th Air Force on the newly won Marianas by late 1944 and early 1945, long range B-29 aircraft of the U. S. Army Air Corps were in striking distance of virtually every part of the Japanese home islands.

By November 1944, the 73rd Wing had commenced operations against the Empire from its base at Saipan. The airfields on nearby Tinian were being constructed and soon the 313th Wing would arrive and by mid 1945, the China-India based 58th Wing would be brought to the Marianas forefront. The Guam based airstrips would open in early February 1945 and the 314th Wing would join the attacks.

As in the European war, the priority targets were enemy aircraft manufacturing with oil and shipping a close second priority. On those few clear winter 1944/45 days, daylight precision bombing missions were scheduled. These missions were flown from very high altitudes with limited success because winter wind currents are very strong over Japan.

After the very successful March 1945 fire raids on the Japanese major cities, Gen C. E. LeMay received an SOS from the U. S. Navy requesting assistance in neutralizing the Kyushu airfields that were delivering the devastating suicide kamikaze flights against the fleet units landing troops and supplies on the Okinawa beachhead. LeMay divided his resources - sending some Wings to bombard the airfields by pitting their runways and trying to catch some of these aircraft on the ground while refueling and being bomb loaded. They had come from more remote fields in Japan and were making only a short stop there prior to their final effort for their Emperor.

The other Wings of LeMay' s 20th Air Force (as weather permitted) were sent to destroy aircraft and oil and oil related targets. The Guam based 314th Wing in action since Feb. 25th, 1945, was by 12 April at near full strength operating from two parallel 8500 ft. long runways at the northeast tip of Guam and most crews having several missions under their belts. On 11 April, the teletype in the 19th Bombardment Group operations, intelligence and other stations clacked out a "frag order" announcing that the weather forecast was favorable over parts of Japan and that the 314th's mission for tomorrow would be the [Hodogaya} Chemical Works [at] Koriyama numbered target 9O.10-6129 located about 425 miles due north of Tokyo on the island of Honshu.

The City of Koriyama was site of two chemical plants (perhaps the only source) that manufactured tetra-ethyl lead, an important ingredient in the refining process of aviation gasoline. The TWX also cranked out information that the Hodogaya Chemical Plant also sited in another section of that same city was to be attacked on the same day by the Tinian based 313th Wing. By 2:00am on 12 April, eighty five aircraft were winging their way toward the target. Shortly after lift off, malfunctions caused seven planes to abort and return to base. Seventy aircraft of the 314th led by 19th Group planes bombed the target with 555,000 sq. ft. and 70% destruction to the principle buildings. Two aircraft were lost before returning to base. The 313th did almost as well with 60% destruction to their target. It is interesting to note that the 313th Wing with 71 aircraft carried a load of 284 tons of HE ordnance while the 314th carried only 172 tons. The difference being perhaps because of the greater distance from Guam and heavier fuel had required.

Less than one month later, the 314th Wing again struck a significant blow to the .Japanese oil industry. On 10 May 1945 the Drake Oil Refinery was attacked by 115 aircraft carrying 564 tons of GP HG bombs. The Drake refinery was perhaps Japan's largest source of aviation gasoline cracking and storage. It was located about 20 miles west of the Kure Naval Base on the Inland Sea. A large smoky fire was ignited and better than one half of the structures were destroyed by this one mission putting the plant completely out of commission. After successfully bombing the target, the crews were subject to intense AA fire from shore batteries as well as naval vessels in the inland Sea.

By late spring of 1945, still another Bomb Wing became committed to action. That was the 315th Bomb Wing on a new air field built at the northwest corner of Guam. Their equipment was quite different from the other B-29s in service prior. Their aircraft had more sophisticated radar equipment and other equipment fitted for night precision bombing missions and the oil refinery and storage facilities in Japan became almost excessively assigned to them. The loss of refinery and fuel storage facilities as well as the supply of incoming crude oil seriously affected Japan's ability to continue the war after mid -- 1945. With the B-29 airfleet gaining in numbers, the Japanese air defense was weakening. Many defensive fighter planes were parked on airfields with no aviation gasoline to fuel them and few could, therefore rise to do battle to protect the Japanese homeland.

JSimmons#9; by J. Brasfield M-7, Lead airplane, flt time 18:05 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1945

They started our infernal briefing for our trip tonight. This raid. is to be a long one--about 17 or 18 hours round trip. Our ship, now "City of Dallas",. has been chosen to lead. the 19th Bomb Group. That means Col. Roberts, the Group C.O., will be our passenger. The pressure will truly be on Yours Truly as I have to navigate for the entire formation.

Regular briefing came at 1300--finished my preflight work--several hours of sleep after supper--despite the fact that a new replacement crew was moving into our hut. We are badly crowded for living space, but I guess that it is necessary.

We got up a little before midnight in order to get those fresh eggs. Might as well start out on the longest bombing raid in history with a full stomach. One never knows what one will experience before one gets home again. The last minute briefing came just after midnight.

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1945 Our takeoff was at 0245 for KORIYAMA, a small town about 125 miles north of Tokyo. Our target was a new tetraethyl lead plant just north of the city. Actually, we were "decoys" going in to this town. The 73rd Wing ships were going to Target #357 in a daylight strike in western Tokyo. They planned that our formation would draw off the Jap fighters to the east and north of Tokyo while the 73rd came in from the south and. west. That was the possibility set up for us.

Aoga Shima, a hunk of rock jutting out of the Pacific about 100 miles south of Tokyo Bay, was assigned as our Group Assembly joint. Our trip that far was flown right on the "deck", i.e. 800 feet. We were given a controlled time to arrive there as the other planes were to form on our wing. Stars and Loran made navigation easy until we passed. Iwo Jima and daylight came upon us. For a couple of hours, I could do only DR. I can truly say that I was thankful and relieved to pick up Aoga Shima on the radar scope only five miles off our course. We flew a box course until all our planes assembled.

We had to dogleg around the island of Hachijo Jima--too many Jap guns--

as we climbed to 8,000 feet. Then we changed to a northerly heading to pass east of Chosi Point. Weather was rotten. There had been a weather front around Iwo Jima. Then there was a heavy haze on the Jap coast. Thanks to radar, we kept our position accurately as we passed almost parallel to the coastline to go to our I.P..

Once we got on the bomb run, the haze cleared. Bishop spotted our target and took over. He put those bombs, 500 lb. "demos" this time, right down their smoke stacks. The plant literally blew up. We could hear the explosions and see smoke columns come up as high as 5,000 feet. We got no flak and no fighters. We wondered what the boys were finding over at Tokyo. The Colonel watched our bombs strike the target squarely. Was he happy! He was acting almost like a little kid, bubbling over. He complimented Bishop; later, he came back and complimented me on a very good navigation job.

It was a long trip home. How those hours dragged by. But everyone was in a good humor. As we neared the Marianas, it got dark. We now had seen the sun rise and set while we were flying this mission. As luck would have it, some bad little rain squalls had set in at our base on North Field. We had to go around the pattern three times before we got on the ground. Joe Simmons was sweating plenty. Planes, all desperate to land, were cutting in and out of those cumulus clouds. We finally were on good. old terra firma exactly 18 hours and 05 minutes after takeoff, having flown about 3,800 miles on this single mission. They gave us a steak dinner for a job well done!

***** O *****

05-03-45, Target: Kokuba Airfield, Kyushu, Island Japan

“Daylight fragmentation bombing of Kokuba Airfield where Japanese suicide pilots trained. led Group and Etchinson’s bombing was Superior (picture of point of impact on map). Received credit for this mission on one DFC (included is OTAKE mission). Lots of bad weather and gas was low. Had to make a long shallow approach to runway to keep gasoline pumping to engines. Fighters were plentiful and aggressive; however, none tried to suicide dive into us -- as they did occasionally” R Hemmig

Suicide Pilot Training Field, Kokuba Airfield, Kyushu, Island, Japan; Center right shows bombs at time of impact.

E Tobin crew mission #14, by R. Hemmig Nav 30^th sqd: Daylight bombing of Otake Oil Refineries. Led 314th Wing -- bombing was superior. Target was totally destroyed, smoke rising to our altitude (21,000 ft) before we could get out of area. Turned sharply south after bombs away to avoid flak from much defended Kure Naval Base across the bay. However, to our surprise and their astonishment, we flew smack over the remains of the Jap Navy. They threw everything but the kitchen sink at us. They would have knocked some of us down had they not been taking evasive action (too) -- guess they figured we were bombing them.

05-24-45 Shinagawa, Greater Tokyo, Honsu

Mightiest Raid On Tokyo Capital Fired by 550 B-29s

700,000 Bombs Dropped in 105 Minute Attack

GUAM, Thursday, May 24. (UP) American air power struck it’s greatest blow against Japan today when more than 550 Superfortresses dropped 700,000 fire bombs on the industrial Shinagawa district of Tokyo during the early morning hours.

Wave after wave of Superforts, guided by flames touched off by pathfinder planes, unleashed the tremendous fire attack. It was the 23rd major B-29 mission against Tokyo and it was designed to burn out a congested area of small war machinery plants and factories manufacturing tools of resistance of the hard-pressed Japanese. At least 4,500 tons of incendiaries were dropped on the jam-packed target area, starting about 3 a.m. The armada, greatest ever assembled by Maj. Gen Curtis L. LeMay and his 21st Bomber Command, paraded over Tokyo for an hour and 45 minutes.

[Tokyo claimed 10 of the planes were shot down by intercepting fighters.]

More than 6,000 American airmen from Marianas bases swarmed in the skies over Tokyo.

Raid Perils Enemy Economy

A successful attack would put hundreds of thousands of Tokyo small industry workers out of jobs and add to the general bewilderment already admittedly prevalent among Japan’s civilian population.

The first important incendiary raid on Tokyo was carried out Feb 25. It destroyed or damaged more than 240 city blocks, or approximately on square mile. Two hundred B-29s took part in that attack.

On the morning of March 10, a low-level incendiary blitz by more than 300 raiders brought the damaged areas of the metropolis up to almost 17 square miles.

Burned-Out Area Enlarged

Then early on the morning of April 14, another incendiary assault by more than 300 B-29s increased the burned out area by another 11 miles. Tow days later, two separate forces, totaling more than 300 Superforts, partially destroyed another five-square-mile area, and an additional area totaling 3.7 square miles in the Kawasaki suburbs.

The latest all-out incendiary attacks before the record-breaking mission today were directed against Nagoya on May 14 and May 17. In each flight, the B-29 fleets totaled more than 500 planes.

Pathfinders planes manned by veteran pilots preceded the main fleet today. Their objective was to light up the target with 100 lb oil bombs. If previous raids are any criteria the heat generated by today’s record load of fire-bombs will wreck havoc not only in flimsy housing districts but also among the modern concrete buildings.

05-29-45 Yokohama, Honsu

More than 450 Superforts spread flaming ruin through Yokohama, Japans second port and fifth largest city, in a 3,200-ton daylight raid today. Shipyards, war plants, naval installations and block after block of business buildings and dwellings were reduced to charred wreckage in the 21st bomber command’s third all-out incendiary attack in six days.

Yokohama (circled fig1), Jap industrial and shipping center, was hit by more than 450 Marianas-based Superfortresses yesterday in the greatest daylight raid yet attempted by the B-29s. The map shows Yokohama’s proximity to Tokyo, hit twice by the Superfortresses in the last week. An INS dispatch said Maj. Carl H. McNeesse, of Fort Wayne, whose plane led Guam based elements across the target, did not mention much initial opposition and had time to observe smoke still visible over Tokyo.

Yokohama a city of 1,000,000 was one of Japan’s principle naval bases and the main port for Tokyo and northern Japan. Devastated Tokyo itself, just north of Yokohama, still was smoking from the disastrous B-29 fire raids of last Thursday and Saturday.

Big Cargo of Death

The big bombers struck from medium altitude at the 9 a.m. morning rush hour and, Tokyo Accounts said, unloaded their cargoes of death of destruction in a steady rain for two and a half hours.

Mustang fighters from Iwo -- estimated by Tokyo at 100 to 150 strong -- ran interference for the Superfortresses and tangled with enemy fighters high over the port city. Tokyo said Japanese anti aircraft batteries also were in action.

A Japanese communiqué said 30 B-29s were shot down and 40 heavily damaged out of a force it estimated at 500 B-29s and 100 Mustangs. It said the raid lasted an hour and a half with some bombs also falling on Tokyo and Kawasaki, midway between Tokyo and Yokohama.

“Considerable damage was caused in the city of Yokohama,” the communiqué said.

Marianas-based Superfortresses on a mission against Jap homeland fly by picturesque Fujiyama. The sacred mountain of Japan, 60 miles west of Tokyo, is 12,395 feet high and has a crater 500 foot deep and 2 1/2 miles in circumference.

The raid was the first in strength on Yokohama, a modern city of 72 square miles packed with shipyards, motor vehicle plants, steel plants and associated aircraft, rubber, radio and petroleum works.

Hit Three Main Areas

Bombs were aimed at three main areas, Yokohama harbor with its docks and breakwaters, the modern commercial and residential sections to the southeast, and the northeast district, where numerous war plants lie on reclaimed land jutting out into Tokyo bay.

Among the plants in the northeast section were the Mitsubishi heavy industries and the Tokyo Electric company. The population in the southeastern district averaged 30,000 persons to the square mile.

The raid was the largest in daylight since 500 B-29s dropped more than 3,500 tons of bombs on Nagoya May 14. It boosted the number of B-29s over the Tokyo-Yohohama area in the past six days to 1,500 and the tonnage of bombs dropped to 12,000/

Mustang fighters from Iwo also visited the Tokyo are in daylight yesterday. They bobbed and strafed the Kasumigaura naval air station 32 miles northeast of central Tokyo and destroyed or damaged 42 enemy aircraft.

A dispatch from Iwo said two other airfields northeast of Tokyo -- Imba and Yachimata -- also were strafed in the raid. The Mustangs flew their deepest mission yet into Japan, a round trip of 1,589 miles. Smoke rose to 4,000 feet after the attack.

One enemy plane was shot down and another damaged in the air and five more were destroyed and 35 damaged on the ground. One American plane was shot down over the target.

Yokohama in Flames after Bomb Attack

Superforts Leave Big Japanese Port City Blazing Inferno

GUAM, May 29, (INS) Yokohama was described today as a blazing inferno with a smoke rising to some 20,000 feet after more than 450 Superforts, escorted by 150 Mustang fighters, ranged over the city for nearly two hours by daylight today dropping 6,400,000 pounds of fire bombs.

Returning pilots said visibility was good and described flak fire as heavy “in spots.” The American planes beat off what interceptor opposition the Japs had to offer.

“The southern part of the target area ( probably the commercial core of Yokohama adjacent to principal piers) was burning like hell,” said First Lieut. Frank Klassen, Ford City, Pa.

Klassen piloted the Superfort “City of Oklahoma City” over the target.

“A strong wind seemed to be blowing the fires,” he said. “Heavy black smoke billowed up from an oil storage beneath us.”

Sgt Edward Bender, Newcastle, Pa, gunner aboard one of the Superforts, said: “Smoke was higher than 20,000 feet. Their flack fore was moderate but not too accurate.”

This was the first B-29 smash at Yokohama, lying 20 miles south of Tokyo, which was still smoldering from two terrific Superfort raids last week.

Daring Daylight Raid

The strike against Yokohama’s maze of vital warehouses, docks, canals and railroad systems was a daring daylight sweep of 72 square miles along the western shore of Tokyo Bay. The only other daylight incendiary assault by the Superforts was against Nagoya.

It was the third time in six days that the sky giants have lashed with flaming destruction at the heart of Japan’s war machine. The strikes against Tokyo last week were made on Thursday and Saturday -- within a 48 hour period.

Yokohama is Japan’s second largest port and the most modern target yet hit by Maj. Gen. Curtis LeMay’s 21st Bomber Command Superforts in the steadily rising crescendo of American aerial might.

The Marianas-based B-29s soared over the three vital sectors of Yokohama in mid-morning, raining their fire cargoes down on the city’s great automotive industry to the north; docks, piers and warehouses of Yokohama harbor in the center, and the modern commercial and residential section to the southeast, where the population numbers 30,000 per square mile.

Admitted by Tokyo

(Radio Tokyo belatedly acknowledged the Yokohama strike this morning, declaring that the raid continued for an hour and a half.

(The “extent of damage caused” was being “checked up,” the enemy radio declared and then added that Japanese interceptors and anti-aircraft batteries had “fiercely and effectively” counterattacked.

(The “enemy raiders lost a considerable number of planes to out interceptors before they fled toward the sea from the direction of Kashima straits,” the enemy broadcast claimed.)

In the center of Yokohama’s great harbor is the vast Mitsubishi Industrial plant, Japan’s forth largest shipbuilding yard, built on a reclaimed strip of land.

The targets of the Superforts, however, were primarily the automotive industry to the north and the priority targets along the bay shore within the city limits.

Strung along the bay shore are such highly inflammable targets as the Standard Oil Company, the Rising Sun Petroleum Company, and the Ogura Company refineries and oil storage tanks. Twenty eight of these tanks are clustered on one area.

Aircraft, steel, rubber, radio and telephone plants also dotted the target areas plastered by the Superforts. Less than two miles south of the city is the Yokohama Naval Air Station.

05-29-45, Target = Yokohama; 19th BG, 30th Sqd, Maj Tobin crew 51, mission 17

“Lead crew daylight incendiary raid bombing from 10,000 ft. Results were Excellent. City and factories mostly destroyed. Flak was heavy and thick. Base was one of the largest in the Tokyo area. Pre-war Yokohama was Tokyo’s main port, handling one-fourth of all Jap foreign trade. Its three railway yards are vital repair center for Japan’s urgently needed locomotive and rolling stocks.” R Hemmig Nav.

***** O *****

06-05-45 Kobe, Honsu Island, Japan

Gallant Fight by ‘Santa Monica’ Told

Capt. Tobin’s Report Gives Battle Details

The city of Santa Monica,” B-29 Superfortress, and her crew, tow of whom are from Santa Monica, played leading roles in one of the most dramatic stories to come out of the Pacific air fighting in recent months, according to a release received today by the Evening Outlook from a B-29 base on Guam.

These Men Came Through -- Herewith is pictured the “City of Santa Monica” and here crew, which fought an epic air battle that raged after a mission over Kobe and managed, with help from other Superforts, to get back safely to Iwo Jima. Two Santa Monicans -- Capt Eliot C. Tobin and Sgt Charles L. Holder -- are crew members. Capt Tobin, who was in command, is standing a the extreme left; Sgt Holder, kneeling, is third from the left. wives of Capt Tobin and Sgt Holder reside together at 1621 Ashland Ave.

The “Santa Monica” made news in dispatches from war correspondents last May 23 as one of the 550 Superfortresses which participated in the big fire raid over Tokyo. Her Commander was Capt. Eliot C. Tobin and Sergeant Holder had star parts in the sky drama which came close to being the end of the Santa Monica.

Story of Teamwork

As told by crew members on their return from a mission over Kobe, the story is one of teamwork by B-29s over the target to same the crippled “Santa Monica,” help her shake off fighters and creep back to Iwo Jima on two engines but with three fighters to her credit shot down during the melee.

While the “Santa Monica” was on her bomb run, according to the story from her base, flack bursts put one engine out of commission and badly damaged another which , however, was kept running until bombs were away.

Smoke from the damaged engine attracted Jap fighters and there were six attacks on the “Santa Monica” before she could release her bombs over the target. Huddling around the stricken plane in tight formation, other Superforts used their guns to keep off the fighters. After Bombs away, more fighters came in.

“Every time I looked up there was a fighter coming in from some direction, Captain Tobin is quoted as having reported.

Flank Left Exposed

One of the wing planes was hit and dropped back leaving the “Santa Monica’s” flank exposed. Another Superfort farther back in the formation pulled into the breach and, jockeying back and forth -- depending on the direction from which the fighters were coming -- shepherded the “Santa Monica” through the remainder of the 15 minute fight.

While the battle was going on the “Santa Monica” had been loosing altitude. When it reached 8000 ft., Captain Tobin and 1st Lt John W. Kelly, pilot, from North Hampton Mass, were able to keep it at this level and headed for home, accompanied by another Superfort. The trip was made through 300 miles of soupy weather with the navigator reading the Santa Monica’s drift on clouds.

But the “Santa Monica’s” troubles were not over. Running short of gasoline, Captain Tobin decided a landing must be made on Iwo Jima. Unable to see the landing strip because of rain, the pilot swung the Santa Monica over the island.

Three Attempts Fail

Increasing downpours foiled the first three landing attempts, Changing direction, Captain Tobin flew in 200 ft just below the thickening overcast and sighted the runway but did not have sufficient time to lower the landing gear. The fifth attempt was successful and the “Santa Monica” settled down on the strip in almost a perfect landing.

Captain Tobin has been in service four years and overseas six months. He formerly was flight instructor at the Greenville, Miss, and Smyrna, TX, Air Fields. His wife and their daughter, Judy Ann 2 1/2 and son, Eliot C. Jr, 6 months and Sgt Holder’s wife live at 1621 Ashland Ave.

In addition to the tree fighters shot down by other gunners, two probables were credited to Sgt Holder in the Kobe flight.

Crews story

06-05-45, Target: Kobe , E Tobin Crew’s mission #19

“Led Group on daylight incendiary raid on Kobe. During bomb run encountered heavy flack, resulting immediate loss of two engines. By maintaining led, the formation had to stay with us and enabled us to fight off the numerous Japanese fighters -- destroying three and damaging two others. See DFC orders for confirmation.

The necessary landing at Iwo Jima was made difficult by the low (200 ft) clouds. On the initial approach we broke our of the clouds to left of the runway; go-around was accomplished by skimming over the island. On next two passes didn’t have time to lower the landing gear. On the fourth try we were lined up with the runway but couldn’t land because of a B-29 crash on the runway. Flew out to sea to get under the cloud layer; then on the fifth attempt skimmed over the main area and landed on Minami south fighter field just below Mount Suribachi. Damage to M-24 was two engines out, one tire flat and numerous holes.

Days later returned to Iwo to pick up M-24; however, due to damages the plane was not considered combat worthy. Flew M-25 couple missions before dedication of “3rd Marine Division” (M-30), which we flew on the remainder of tour.” R. Hemmig

City of Santa Monica’ Crew Mans New Air Fort

Shift made after Crash at Iwo Jima

Evening Outlook, Santa Monica, CA: That the Supfortress, “City of Santa Monica,” was wrecked in an emergency landing on Iwo Jima became known today through a United Press dispatch from Guam announcing that the Superfortress, “Third Marine Division,” named in honor of the role played by that division in the capture of Iwo Jima, had made its first strike at Japan manned by the crew which made a spectacular record for the “City of Santa Monica.”

Last Thursday a Guam dispatch announced that the crew of the “City of Santa Monica” was to be transferred to the “Third Marine Division” Superfort, but no explanation was given relative to the plane the crew members were leaving. Today’s dispatch gave no details fo the “City of Santa Monica,” other than it was wrecked in an emergency landing after more than 20 missions.

The new plane is commanded by Maj Eliot Tobin, of Santa Monica, who piloted the “City of Santa Monica” on its devastating missions against the Japs. On the “Third Marine Division,” for its first bombing raid against the enemy Maj Gen Graves B. Erskin, commander of the division for which the superfort is named in the raid, he became the first Marine General to blast the Japanese from a Superfortress. Flying 17,000 ft above a by passed island somewhere in the Pacific, according to the dispatch, General Erskine pulled the switch on five 500 pound bombs which blasted a Jap airfield.

Although no mention was made in the dispatch of Sgt Charles L. Holder, another Santa Monican who helped establish the proud record of the “City of Santa Monica,” it is assumed he also is a member of the crew of the new Superfortress, since he served as gunner aboard the “City of Santa Monica”.

Major Tobin’s wife and Sergeant Holder’s wife live together at 1621 Ashland Ave. in Santa Monica.

***** O *****

06-22-45 Tamashima, Honsu Island, Japan

QQQQQQ TAMASHIMA -- TOO PERFECT! QQQQQQ

By R Michaud: Col. (John A.) Roberts smiled for the first time, in my recollection, on the morning of 24 June 1945. He had called a meeting in the briefing room that day to critique the results of the daylight attack on 22 June by the 314th Wing led by planes from his 19th Bombardment Group command.

The colonel, usually had little reason to smile because his burden was heavy in sending his aircrews those long hours over vast ocean spans to Japanese targets and with knowledge that some might fail to return. The colonel seemed to live a very morose life in his quarters - his light burning well into the night, probably writing letters to the families of his fallen airmen. His only recreation seemed to be to slip into the outer fringes of the open air movie theater on rare occasions when no night mission was scheduled. He carried his own folding chair and was gone before the lights came on following the film showing.

The occasion of Col. Robert's seemingly joyous moment was the result of the post strike photographs of the 22 June morning mission against the Mitsubishi Aircraft Assembly Works at Tamashima in central Honshu Island on the northern shore of the Inland Sea - numbered target #90.27-1681.

One hundred eleven B-29 aircraft arrived from an easterly direction in brilliant morning sunlight (a rare operating advantage) and from an altitude of 16,000 ft. dropped 611 tons of high explosive bombs. The post-strike photos revealed that over 2 million sq. ft. of the assembly plant had been damaged or destroyed - an 86% of the total planned target area.

The Colonel was pleased to show his gathered troops the result of their work by exhibiting slide photos. As the briefing room lights came back on, his smile turned to a chuckle as he chided the bombardiers for TOO CLOSE a bombing pattern. A wider pattern would have inflicted much more damage to the final assembly plant and nearby airfield where the twin engine "Betty" Japanese bombers were produced.

Our success, sadly, came at some cost! The 314th lost two airplanes on this mission. One plane from the 19th Bombardment commanded by Capt. Miller was shot down by a lone Japanese fighter that penetrated our gunners air defenses.

Toyokawa Naval Arsenal, as bombs strike and explode

08-07-45, Target = Toyokawa Naval Arsenal, 19th BG, 30th Sqd, Tobin crew 51 mission #30

“Leading 314th Wing -- assembled at Iwo Jima. Best navigation mission I had. Hit landfall at exact place and only 1/4 minute off controlled time of arrival for receiving P-51 escorts -- only time we had escorts -- wish we had them more often. Lt Col Chadwell (new Deputy Group CO) was passenger with us. Etch dropped his bombs perfectly -- lowest C.E. known. Etch rated as best bombardier in 20th Air Force. The mission was rated as Top Superior -- in other words perfect. Put in for DFC #3.

Approaching landfall, ahead and to the left, we noticed a big cloud (supposing) however, it was dark at the base and got lighter in color above our altitude. At top, approximately 40,000 ft., it assumed a corkscrew shape -- very odd indeed. located position of cloud on map. As we neared Iwo Jima on return, we heard over the radio of the atom bombing of Hiroshima. Checking the location of Hiroshima, we discovered that the peculiar cloud was the result of the bomb -- 1/4 hour after it was dropped.” R Hemmig

-------------------O------------------

HEADQUARTERS TWENTIETH AIR FORCE

APO 234, c/o Postmaster

San Francisco, California

GENERAL ORDERS 12 September 1945

No........................61

SECION XXXII

AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED-FLYING CROSS (OAK LEAF CLUSTER) -- By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress Approved 2 July 1926 (Bull 8, WD, 1926), and pursuant to authority delegated by Headquarters United States Army Strategic Air Forces in letter, file AG 323, subject; "Definition of Administrative Responsibilities", dated 6 August 1945, announcement is made of the award of the Bronze Oak-Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished-Flying Cross to the following named officers of the 30th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group.

For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 6 August 1945. These individuals were combat crew members of an entire bombardment wing of B-29 aircraft on a bombardment mission against the Toyokawa naval arsenal in Japan. Assigned to important task of touching off the bombing by their own release of projectiles, they successfully navigated the long over-water flight to the objective and made assembly with the formation. Reaching the target through severe opposition, this crew located the aiming point accurately, dropping their bombs with such synchronization that eighty percent of the entire formation’s explosives struck within 1000 feet of the aiming point. the leadership and determination of these crew members, together with their superior airmanship, reflect great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.

Major ELIOT C. TOBIN, 0428524, Air Corps, United States Army, as Airplane Commander.

First Lieutenant CRESCIENZIO G. BELLINFANTE, 02065703, Air Corps, United States Army, as Radar Observer.

First Lieutenant VERN L. ETCHISON. 0695591, Air Corps, United States Army, as Bombardier.

First Lieutenant RALPH B. HEMMIG, 02060284, Air Corps, United States Army, as Navigator.

***** O *****

08-14-45 Osezaki, Honsu, Japan

The Last Mission

story by T/Sgt Bob Speer

The war was over and yet it stayed in business a few days, so the Superforts were called upon to provide a maximum effort nudge that would help the Japanese make up their Imperial minds.

VJ Guam The strike was two-thirds in when Nora IV a Group Superfort, called the tower at North Field on Guam. "Request permission to buzz the field," came the word from the B-29. "This is our 35th and final mission." It was just after 0900 on Aug 15 and the tower was in a commotion. Men were slapping each other on the back, a Corporal punched a full Colonel -- a Group Commander -- on the shoulder hard. The man at the mike raised his voice above the din and murmured in the flat hollow tones of all tower operators: "Come ahead, Nora. This will be your first peacetime landing."

To Nora this was extra special -- the 35th mission. So Nora buzzed the tower while others just landed.

"Say that again," said the shocked voice of the pilot. The tower repeated, adding, "It's official. The President just announced it." The men in the Nora IV wormed back and forth in the plane, congratulating each other. The plane commander spoke again. "Oh, brother," he said. "Hang on to your hats, tower."

Nora came in fast and low across the hardstands. She seemed to wriggle when she slid over the gun crews at the end of the field, her four big engines snarling as the pilot poured on the coal. Hot and straight and sweet and like something out of a gun, Nora shot lower and lower the full length of the taxiway almost grazing her sister ships that had already landed. Ground crews, flushed with the excitement of the most tremendous moment of the war, still had to stop and watch as she came, their hearts riding with her at 250 miles an hour, knowing that the wonder of the moment was being matched by the most beautiful sight the Air Forces can offer an all-out, low-level sweep by the biggest, most powerful bomber in the world.

So Nora flashed by while the tower men looked down upon her, and at the end of the field the pilot stood her on a wing, hooking the big ship around in a zooming turn that a fighter pilot might have envied. Nora climbed and wheeled until a trick of perspective made the ground men think she stood still like a stopped newsrell poised to make the kind of a picture a man can rub into his brain and turn to without any trouble, no matter how many years roll by. She hung there climbing, and then the newsreel seemed to start again and she was wheeling out of sight. Each man sighed to himself and only then did realization begin to seep in that this was peace. The long, far war was over, the last mission of the B-29s was history.

All the time the big planes kept landing two a minute -- the last of a flock that left the night before to deliver the final punch of the war they had done so much to win. They had left their mark by destroying two more cities -- Isezaki and Kumugaya and hitting an oil refinery at Akita. They had come home safe. But the B-29 men agreed they had sweated more over this mission than any other of the war.,

The story of the last B-29 mission began four days before, with the first Domei flash that Japan had accepted the Potsdam ultimatum. The announcement, hard on the heels of the second atomic bombing of Japan, caught everyone by surprise, which was expressed by delirious celebration. B-29 men throughout the Marianas settled down to see what peace was like -- yet as time went on they grew uneasy.

Something was holding up negotiations. maybe the war was still in business. As the exchange of messages dragged on, airmen cursed diplomatic channels even more than they had ever cursed military __es. As they heard of heavy fighting continuing in Manchuria, of fleet aircraft hammering at Honshu, of Jap aircraft attacking the Ryukyus, the B-29 crews damned the war and the Japs. As days went by and the Japs still stalled, the bitterness and hatred of Marianas airmen hit a new high for the war. "If those bastards are trying any tricks," 'they said, "God have mercy on them. We won't." In every crewman's mind was the same thought. It might take only one more strike to end the mess, but to lose your life in the last

mission, after surviving all the others, would be the cruelest irony of any war. They waited, and worried, their nerves by and their hatred for the Japs mounted.

Did Japan need a last minute “nudge?” This was what could do it, surpassed only by the atomic bomb. Ready bombs, ready B-29 and ready if not eager crew wait on hardstand except in this case it was a virgin crew making a “last” flight. Ground crews could also hope for mission’s being canceled but, still, might go out, despite the news. The word form above is “mission according to schedule.” This scene took place all over the Mariana. By nightfall, seconds apart, they’re Empire-bound.

After three days came the bad news. As everyone had expected, the Japs were to be given one last nudge to help them make up their minds. One of the biggest strikes of the war was scheduled for the next day, a maximum effort involving every- B-29 that could take the air, hurling 820 bombers against the Empire within 24 hours. Three of the five Marianas wings were to strike by daylight at prime targets -- the Marifu railroad yards, the Osaka Army arsenal and the big Navy arsenal at Tokuyama. Early on the 14th of August, 443 Superforts took off from Tinian and Saipan the 58th or India Wing, the 313th

Wing, and the old 73rd Wing that had pioneered against Tokyo last Thanksgiving Day. They hit hard, accompanied by Mustang and Thunderbolt fighters from Iwo, and got good coverage in nearly perfect weather. Every one of the B-29s returned, but four fighter planes were lost. Three of the pilots were picked up, by Air-Sea Rescue craft -- one was lost over the target. And an Army Dumbo was shot down over Tokyo Bay with unknown casualties.

Meanwhile, on Guam, preparations went on for the night mission. Two Guam based wings were to take part in the night show, along with 39 planes from the 313th Wing on Tinian, which were scheduled for a night mining job in Shimonoseki straits and the harbors of Nanoa, Maizuru and Hamada. At Northwest Field, mechanics spent the day grooming the ships of the 315th Wing. And on North Field, the planes of the 314th Wing were readied for the job everyone hoped would never come off.

Cramming the bomb bays of the big planes with 100-pound incendiaries, armorers swore at the necessities of war. "This is one burn job I don't like," said a Bronx Corporal. "This is a trip I hope they never make. I'd unload this plane with pleasure -- just give me the word. Hell, I'll unload her alone and carry everyone of them damn bombs a mile to the cliff and throw 'em in the ocean. This is one burn job I don't like at all."

It was like that all over North Field. T/Sgt Tea Roach of Lakeland, Fla., CFC gunner on the City of St. Louis, checked his guns that afternoon, a frown creasing his forehead. "Any late news?" he asked anxiously. "Anything from Japan, or Washington? Or anywhere? I can do with out this mission just fine. Think they'll call her off?" Nobody knew. He frowned and went back over his guns, carefully.

A little after 1600, Tokyo radio came through with an announcement that final terms had been accepted, and the field went wild. But a few minutes later the AFRS stations in the Marianas cautioned that the announcement was still not official. The war would go on until the Tokyo acceptance was cleared through diplomatic channels, was checked over at Washington and officially announced from there and all of this would take many hours. The strike would go ahead, but takeoff time would be pushed back from 1730 to 1800, just in case word came through to cancel the mission.

Now the real sweat began. Briefed and ready, the crews lolled on the hardstands in front of their planes, speculating. They chewed over all the angles, hoping, debating. One bunch was not flying their regular ship that night and they took it as a bad omen. "We should be flying Thunder bird," said the bombardier. "This clank hasn't even got a name." The gunner grinned cynically. "We oughta call her

The Purple Shaft," he said. The crew's official optimist kept a cheery view. "We'll never take off," he said. "If we do take off, they'll call us back an hour out. If they don't do that, they'll cancel it before we hit the target. We'll jettison in the sea and come home. Hell, we'll never make landfall."

Down the line another crew climbed into Mae Wests and parachutes, checking each other's gear anxiously, just as it says in the manuals, while the mechs applied a few last touches to their plane, The City of White Plains. "We're virgins," said Lt Joe Prescott of Memphis, the co-pilot; as he helped a fellow Tennesseean, Lt J. F. Boone, straighten his chute harness. "This is our first mission." Boone, the bombardier, nodded. "I'll settle to stay a virgin," he said. “Like a real virgin, I may not know what I'm missing but if I don't know, I'm just as happy in my ignorance. Still I think we're luckier than that bunch down there. This is their 35th. My God, if anything happens to them...

But 1800 crept nearer. The crews crawled in and engines started, belching blue clouds of exhaust, and the big bombers waddled down the taxiways and took off. The planes lurched past -- Kilroy, and Boeing's Boner, and Easy Aces, and the ones named for home towns. They took their turn and then roared down the runways at 60-second intervals, using every inch of asphalt before they eased their huge loads in the air and curled their undercarriage up under them. They hugged the ground for a hundred yards or so, then plunged off the high cliff at the end of the island and dropped out of sight as they dived to gain airspeed.

A sober crowd sat motionless at the end of the runway, watching the planes roar past. They were ground men and clerks from the Wing for the most part, with a sprinkling of visitors and close friends of

the crew. Once in a while, if a man recognized a plane, he stirred involuntarily, half rose to his feet, waved a clenched fist, and then subsided. But little was said and most of the spectators just sat, as the night came down and the runway lights went on, and the planes kept dropping into blackness off the cliff. The dark throbbed with the sound of engines and like all night takeoffs before it, this one was the most spectacular and moving show of the war, something no movie could capture and no witness could ever forget. Finally all the planes were off and quiet came, and the crowd got up silently and moved off to sweat out the radio.

The crews sweated too. Radio operators clung to their sets all the way up, waiting for the word to come home. A few planes had to turn back with engine trouble, or dropped off at Iwo. About a hundred miles from Honshu, The City of Boise feathered an engine and the crew had a big debate. Hell, they decided, this is the last show of the war to hell with the engine, let's go on. They went in with the rest.

Night passed and still the war was on. At 0800 on the 15th, the first planes began to land. Among the first in was the headman of the 314th, Col Carl R. Storrie, the only Colonel in the Marianas commanding a Wing. Formerly CO of the 29th Group which he dubbed the Bee-Twenty-Niners. Storrie was known to his men as the Fire Chief, for his part in developing the technique of low-level fire raids. He was one of the few to urge the low-level technique when many experts thought it would be suicide. Storrie elected to fly the last mission with his own crew from his old group, in the lead spot.

"We had a special cargo," he said, grinning as he climbed down from The Big Gear. "We played alarm clock. All the rest of the aircraft carried fire bombs, but we had four 4000-pounders and went in first to wake up the population of Kumagaya. They were fixed to salvo, and hod fuses for aerial bursts at about 100 feet above ground, to get maximum blast effect. First time over they hung up, and somebody suggested dumping them out I said hell no, we'd pull the wires by hand and dump 'em out on Tokyo on our way back, if necessary. But on the second pass they went out all right and really made a roar. We were at 16,000 and could feel the concussion. It was a dirty trick. We figured the Japs would think it was another atomic bomb.

Little flak was seen, and all of it was low and ineffectual. The planes dumped their fire, a great glow grew beneath the clouds that screened the target, and smoke was at 15,000 feet within three minutes after the bombs hit. Tokyo lay dark and passive 40 miles away as the bombers passed, and soon they were at sea and on the way home safely.

Final Interrogation

Some of the latecomers heard the peace news from Saipan radio as they approached the field. When they streamed from their planes they cheered and waved. The crew of Capt M. J. Lawless of Kankakee, Ill was jubilant. They piled into a truck and hardly paused to turn in flight equipment hurrying to the Group briefing room to the interrogation.

The crews hit the Red Cross counter first and gulped coffee, while a band wandered in, blared a brazen tune and then wandered out to find another celebration. The men kidded the girls and tried to kiss a couple and would have pinched them if the counter hadn't intervened. Then the line formed at the Bomb Rack Bar across the room, where a worried Lieutenant checked them off as they claimed the shot of whiskey they had earned on the mission. But nobody tried to chisel a second snort. The crews hurried to the interrogation past a "Hot News" stand where a Tech Sergeant waited for really significant news before the crews went on to a detailed report inside. Somebody rushed into the waiting room and hollered and the crowd ran to the door to watch a truck load of beer go by for the celebration that night. Then they surged back, gradually breaking up into more orderly groups as the work went on. Finished, the crews realized that they were bushed, and headed off for chow and the sack.

One crew was unreported a virgin bunch on their first mission. The word went around in whispers, out of the side of mouths. In a corner, stragglers were congratulating two men of the Group who had rounded out their 35th mission that day, Lt Israel Smith of Springfield, Mass. a bombardier, and S/Sgt Byron Riley of St. Paul, a radio operator. "I don't know," said Smith. "I really sweated this one. If I'd finished two weeks earlier, I'd be home. Now I suppose I'll have to wait. Or if I'd been scheduled to finish my 35 a couple weeks from now, I'd be spared those last few missions. Not that I'm kicking-I'm a lucky guy and I'm glad this was the last for everyone." Someone interrupted. The missing crew had just reported in from Iwo. Of 808 B-29's over the Empire during the 24 hours, 808 had set down safely.

08-14-45, Target = Isezaki, E Tobin crew 19th BG, 30th Sqd mission #31

“Code word “UTAH” never received by radio operator -- so bombs were dropped 2 hours after President Truman announced war was over. The story from “Brief” Air Force magazine clearly tells of the last mission and the anxiety of waiting for the end of the war. We were skeptical when the Tower said, “This will be your first peacetime landing.” However, our ground crew erased our doubts. We were on orders to report to Muroc, CA as lead crew instructors as we had completed our tour (35) missions for regular crews). The orders were canceled by the end of the war and we had to wait a couple weeks to return home -- but we didn’t mind.” R. Hemmig

***** O *****

Targets and Commentary by R. Michaud

TOUGH NUTS TO CRACK!

As was done in the European theater against Germany, detailed studies were made of Japan and its war industries. In Dec. 1941, there was little current information available of strategic importance. Few recent air photos existed in the files of the U.S. War Dept. and Navy Bureau of Aeronautics and none could be produced easily due to the vast distance between Japan and the United States. Satellite imagery didn't exist in those days. Prior to WWII, Intelligence gathering in foreign countries by the United States was nearly nil. In our foreign service offices, diplomats expedited commerce and assisted our visitors at the Embassy. Army and Naval attaches were selected for the staff of the Ambassador largely for social skills in contact with the host country and were spectators at ship launchings, air races, etc.; but rarely invited to view an aircraft manufacturing plant nor research facilities -- particularly in Japan!

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, urgent and intensive research was begun on a Crash basis by the U.S. Army intelligence (G2) Section and the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence (UNI). The facilities of the National Geographic Society were perhaps the best source of accurate maps and details of Japan. A nationwide search was made for every scrap of information about Japan. Visitors to Japan in those recent years from the passport records, were solicited and encouraged to produce their box camera photos, journals etc. Soon, a nation that seemed so remote and mysterious began to become more familiar. New maps were created in Washington, DC and details of shipyards, aircraft manufacturing center's, arsenals and other strategic locations were pinpointed.

As early as the April 1942 Dolittle Raid, new maps and some targets had been identified and this information became available to the first crews to drop bombs on Japan.

A committee of military and Naval officers known as the Joint Target Group was formed to sift through the mountain of new information and to set priorities for the destruction of targets of importance to Japan's ability to prosecute the war. As with Germany, aircraft manufacturing and storage (airfields) was the number one priority. shipbuilding, armaments and munitions, oil and food storage, communications and transportation (railroads, yards, bridges), power dams and plants all received a priority classification.

Patterning on the British Intelligence system that the US AAF had utilized in the European Theater of operations, a numbering system wars utilized for Japanese targets. Japan proper was prefixed by the number 90. Following the number 90 was a zone ID as 17 for the Tokyo area, 20 for Nagoya, etc. The zone Number was followed by a dash and three or four digit number to identify a Specific target. Hence, # 90.17-357 was the Nakajima Aircraft Co. Musashino Tama Plant in the west suburb of Tokyo. As more information was learned about each target -- the file grew thicker.

As soon as over flights at Japan became possible (first from our China bases and later the Marianas Islands), specially equipped photo airplanes remapped the entire Japanese island surfaces. These new photos confirmed locations or corrected errors the former maps contained. The art of photo intelligence perfected and shared by the British Royal Air Force allowed the U.S. Army and Navy to study the enemy's military supply and war production and prepare for the bombardment of these to prevent resupply for the troops and ships on distant battle fronts.

Initially, the air war was to be conducted as in Europe by daylight precision bombing. Our first B-29 penetration of the Japanese airspace came from remote bases in central China -- in the Chengtu area. These airfields built by thousands of Chinese human hands were the closest airfields to the Japanese islands, yet our superfortresses were still over 1500 miles from the edge of the westernmost island of Kyushu and the western tip of Honshu. Analysis of the China based 20th (XX) Bomber Command operation showed that it was a large disappointment to the Allies. Great efforts were required to supply the XXBC. Fuel, bombs and all other supplies had to be flown in to Chengtu over the highest peaks in the world -- the 20,000 ft. plus Himalayas from bases in India.

Not until the Marianas Islands were secured from the Japanese and new airfields constructed could a real and sustained strategic bombing offensive begin. The 73rd Bombardment Wing was the first B-29 unit to commence operations in November 1944 from the Marianas island of Saipan with bombing tactics similar to the USAAF operations in Europe. Daylight high altitude (20-30 thousand ft. altitudes) missions were flown with disappointing bombing results. In the winter months over Japan, high altitude wind speeds are well over 100 knots and this factor was significant in the failure of bombing accuracy. Airfields, and aircraft manufacturing plants were attacked many times and escaped major harm. As was noted in other chapters, winter season terrible weather patterns over Japan, mechanical failures from newly designed engines, the climb to high altitudes with heavy loads all added to mission failures. Not until the change in tactics in March 1945, would the real strength of the new superfortress attack begin to realize its expectations.

Some of the highest of the high priority targets proved to be -- tough nuts to crack! Target #90.17-357 the Nakajima Aircraft Musashima-Tama Plant in the Tokyo area had been identified and was attacked nine times by all Wings from Nov. 1944 to Aug. 1945. A total of 505 airplanes dropped 2600 tons of bombs at that target before it was effectively rendered inoperative. Weather, highly accurate AA fire and Japanese fighter plane tenacity protected this target and cost the United States the loss of (47) B-29's. The second most frustrating target for US forces was the Mitsubishi Aircraft Engine Works in Nagoa #90.20-193. That target in the northern par of the city was attacked seven times by a total of 570 aircraft and caused the loss of (18) aircraft by the USAAF. The large plant was finally damaged or destroyed to the extent of 94% of its total roof area.

The above two targets proved to be the most costly to destroy. By contrast. other important targets were attacked only once and struck with such intensity that they were effectively destroyed or put out of commission and with few and in some case no loss of aircraft by the US. Some of our successes, as the air war progressed over Japan, was due to crew experience and proficiency with improved equipment. The Wright R-3350 engine had several modifications that increased it's efficiency and it's failure rate dropped significantly. The primitive airborne radar equipment had become more reliable and the operators more experienced. Targets near identifiable waterways -- rivers and seacoast areas became more vulnerable even in poor weather conditions as viewed thru the scope of the APS-13 Radar. This radar equipment aided the nighttime fire raid attack approaches.

TACTICAL USE 0F THE B-29

The enemy was at the gates! The moment - of US invasion of Okinawa and Ie Shima in the Ryukyu Islands on the doorstep of Japan's southernmost home island - Kyushu; all Japanese knew the enemy was at the gates! On 26 March 1945, the first landings were made on small islands (Kerama Retto) adjacent to Okinawa and slight resistance was offered. On 1 April, landings on Okinawa's west shore were made and by one week, four U.S. Divisions of Marines and Army troops were ashore. The Marines pushing northward against light resistance, and the Army to the south of the island facing entrenched strong forces protecting the principle city of Naha.

As at Iwo Jima, the Japanese had allowed the landing forces ashore with light interference with massive counterattacks to come later. These counterattacks would include attempts by the remnants of the Japanese fleet units and heavy air attacks against the US fleet standing off-shore and unable to leave the beachhead. Among the surface units of the Japanese fleet that came out to attack the American armada was the super battleship YAMATU, the flagship of the late Admiral Yamamoto. The dreadnaught met its doom after coming out of the Inland Sea of Japan and was intercepted mid-way to Okinowa. Torpedo planes from the US carriers finally sank it before it could get within reach of the US fleet and beachhead with her big guns.

Perhaps more serious, were the air attacks by the Japanese suicide squadrons flying against the beachhead and US fleet offshore. These kamikaze airmen were to crash dive their aircraft into the ships. From April through the end of the Ryukyu campaign in June 1945, some 3,400 Japanese aircraft were shot down over the fleet or over southern Kyushu while in route to battle over Okinawa. Another 800 combat airplanes of the Japanese were destroyed on the ground while refueling or being armed for flight at their final jump-off bases in lower Kyushu.

It was at these Kyushu bases that the 20th Air Force B-29s were directed. In April 1945, with the first of the kamikaze planes attacking the fleet, not all these attacks could be repelled and some were penetrating the heavy ship born AA fire and USN fighter plane patrols. During the three month campaign, most of the capital ships -- battleships, cruisers and carriers received at least one serious hit from the Japanese suicide pilots.

Admiral Chester Nimitz, in overall command of the U.S. Navy forces in the Pacific asked General Curtis E. LeMay to suspend strategic bombing operations over (mainly Honshu) Japan and to concentrate his forces by tactical air strikes against the southern Japan airfields that were being used as staging or final jump-off bases against the beleaguered fleet. LeMay complied with the request by reducing the concentration of his efforts from his primary mission. He divided his forces by sending at least one Wing to Kyushu missions each day that weather was clear enough to operate. The mission was to pit the runways of the those fields and make them unusable and to destroy enemy aircraft on the ground if possible.

Success of these missions is dependent upon who is asked the question. The Navy felt that token help was offered and hardly slowed the kamikaze avalanche. The Army Air Corps felt that it did all it could to neutralize the Japanese strike force, but its mission really was to give the Japanese no breathing room by fire bombing their cities and destroying the aircraft where they were being produced.

Following is a summary of missions flown by the 19th Bombardment Group in support of the US Navy and the Okinawa invasion beachhead. This summary is taken from the journal of this writer:

** O **

27 March 1945 Omura (Kyushu) Aircraft Factory #90.36-1627 (23) B-29s of the 19th BG bombed the secondary target and destroyed about 20% of the buildings. Also, on this day -- 27 March -- aircraft from the 21st Bomber Command attacked the (primary target) Kanoya Air Field in lower Kyushu in coordination with naval bombardment of Ryukus islands prior to landings.

31 March Omura Naval Air Base #90.36-849 (12) aircraft from the 19th BG bombed hangers, parked aircraft.

16/17 April Nittagahara Air Field (what follows are all Kyushu targets). Journal gives no further detail.

18 April Nittagahara Air Field

21 April Nittagahara Air Field -- "(40) B-29s from 19th BG. In 3 above raids in support of Naval action at Okinawa."

22 April Miyazaki Air Field -- "(22) Aircraft from 19th BG. Hangers and Administration buildings hit Tarmacs and runways also struck."

26 April Kanoya and Kikuba Air Fields -- "(22) A/C bombed by radar -- results undetermined."

27 April Kanoya Air Field

28/29 April Kanoa Air Field

30 April Kanoya and East Kanoya Air Fields -- "(54) A/C 19th BG Runways rendered inoperative."

3 May Kanoya, Kikubu Air Fields and Ibusuki Naval Air Station. "Latter target #90.38-2507 completely disrupted by 93rd. Sqdn. Lt. John Handwerker led flight." (26) A/C from 19th BG participated.

** O **

Intermittent strategic missions to other Japanese targets were scheduled during the above series. After 3 May 1945, tactical support strikes by the 19th Group's aircraft were suspended and returned to full schedules of strategic bombing missions.

WAR'S END & A 50 YEAR RETROSPECT

As the airplanes of the 19th Bombardment Group were landing at Guam on 15 August 1945, the first news that the war was over came from someone in the 29th Group area firing his grease gun into the air. (A hand held 45 cal. machine gun.) The last combat mission of WW II had been flown against the small city of Isezaki.

Only five missions had been flown in the month of August because there had been hints that the Japanese were attempting to negotiate a peace settlement. We now know that a furious inside battle was being fought by Japanese leaders -- military and civilian. A blood bath was occurring as numerous military figures committed suicide, not being able to face up to facts that Japan had been defeated and had no hope of victory by continuing the war.

The Japanese Emperor, in a radio broadcast announced the acceptance of the Potsdam terms and urged has people to lay down their arms in surrender and to save their lives.

Communications between military headquarters on both sides were soon established and a first meeting by emissaries was made. The Island of Ie Shima, scene of a then recent fierce battle in the Ryukus, was selected as the meeting point. A Japanese "Betty" bomber especially painted white with green green cross markings landed and delivered the spokesmen for Japan. At the meeting it was agreed that the formal surrender documents would be signed aboard a U.S. warship in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. Immediate orders were issued to the Japanese concerning disarmament of troops in the home islands and the immobilization of all combat aircraft.

Prisoners of War camp locations were to be made known to the Allies immediately and to be identified with bold markings to be readily seen from the air. The Japanese airfield at Atsugi in the western Tokyo area was to be prepared to receive U.S. aircraft bearing the first occupational troops as well as the Supreme Commander of the United States forces - General. Douglas MacArthur.

Air reconnaissance flights were commenced to locate the POW camps and a system of delivery of emergency food and medical supplies was developed for air drop of these supplies to the POW camps.

During the period following the Ie Shima conference in mid-August until POWs had been liberated, daily flights were made to deliver food and medical aid to allied prisoners-of-war. Included in the armada of naval ships that entered Tokyo Bay to accept the surrender documents were U.S. Navy hospital ships to evacuate the former prisoners-of-war. The POW survivors were treated and brought to Guam hospitals for evaluation and preparation for the long trip back home.

One POW airman, a former 19th Bombardment man captured in the Philippines, hearing of the 19th Group then stationed on Guam, was given a pass from the hospital and hitchhiked his way to North Field to visit. I am guilty of the unpardonable sin of not having recorded his name while I visited with him. He had weighed 160 lbs when captured and was at about 90 lbs in September 1945 when released from captivity. He remarked that if he had known how long his imprisonment would be, and the suffering that he and his fellow POWs had endured, that he would have fought to the death rather than be captured. "Where there is life -- there is hope."

As U.S. occupational troops were pouring into Japan through Atsugi, unarmed flights over Japan were scheduled by the 20th Air Force and were known as the "Snooper Missions. " On one of the first of these flights, my colleague and friend Capt. Robert Meltzer, 93rd Sqd. Intelligence Officer, accompanied a LIFE magazine photographer. Meltzer pointed out the various targets destroyed as they flew over the Japanese cities at low level. Upon the return to Guam, the photographer gathered his gear, climbed into a staff car and departed the airfield without even a thank-you to Meltzer. The photos appeared soon after in the popular weekly magazine and bear no acknowledgments.

The purpose of the "Snooper Missions" was to remind the Japanese that the might of the 20th Air Force was still present. while MacArthur's small force was being built up for the occupation and disarmament of Japan. MacArthur and his forces met no resistance and were welcomed by most of the civilian population that was pleased that the horrible war was over and received the American forces as their saviors.

To conclude this narrative, I must tell the reader about the Yankee Traders. On each of the above "Snooper Missions" twelve to fifteen airplanes were dispatched over various sections of Japan. Some airplanes contained crew members that carried a musette bag with cigarettes, chewing gum, candy and soap. At least one or two of these planes would develop "mechanical problems" and have to land in Japan and remain a day or two to make repairs. Upon their return, beautiful Japanese kimonos, dishes, swords, flags, rifles etc. began to appear with requests for clearance to ship these trinkets home.

***** O *****

Nearly fifty years have passed since I left Guam at war's end to return to civilian life. My journals, declassified photo collection and maps have lay in a storage box these many years and today these memories come alive again in the recounting of this history. I cherish the memories of the camaraderie and the recorded thoughts of missions flown, and life among the members of the 19th Bombardment Group.

In about July 1945, after the conclusion of the European war, there were personnel changes made in the command structure of the 20th Air Force. These changes were made because it was anticipated that an invasion of Japan would be necessary. The United States Strategic Air forces (USSTAF) was created and Gen. Carl Spaatz, (former European Air Commanders was placed in command of all strategic bombing efforts in the Pacific.

20th Air Force (the Global Air Force) headquarters was moved to Guam from Washington, D.C. Lt. General Nathan Twining, 15th Air Force Commander based in Italy was also transferred to the Pacific war zone and placed in command of the 20th Air Force at that time.

The Air Force and its Commander, Lt. Gen. James Doolittle was moved over to the newly constructed air fields at Okinawa in the Pacific from its former location in the United Kingdom in Europe. The 8th Air Force was also to be re-equipped with the B-29 and the newly designed and slightly larger B-50.

Maj. Gen. Curtis E. LeMay was named Chief of Staff to Gen. Spaatz and received no promotion. It may be mere conjecture on my part, but it appeared that LeMay had ruffled the feathers of the hierarchy in Washington by his unilateral combat decisions. At wars end and retirements of seniors in command positions, LeMay's efforts were recognized and rewarded by advancement -- first to become the chief of the newly created Strategic Air Force (SAC) and finally to become the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.

Scores of books have appeared since 1945 and continue to be published in attempt to second-guess the wisdom of the use of nuclear weapons and to usher the world into the Nuclear Age. My intention is not try to add to this never ending debate.

I will again borrow from the wisdom of T/Sgt. Frank Martius, who after learning of the Hiroshima bomb drop observed that Japan had been beaten for a long time and knew it -- and this gave them the perfect (face saving) way out of it. It was regrettable that the Japanese warlords forced their people to endure so much suffering with so little hope of victory. For us, the men chosen to deliver the ultimate weapons in the B-29, the decision to destroy the enemy's war machine was not difficult remembering Pearl Harbor and the Bataan death march; where so many of our predecessors from the (old) 19th Bombardment Group suffered and many died. It was entirely fitting that the 19th Bombardment Group in action on the first day of hostilities in 1941 also be in action on the last day -- and to be the only such Group in the U.S Army Air Corps.

***** FINIS *****

Enola Gay: A Profoundly Moral Mission

by George F. Will, August 1985

Suitland, MD This nation needs a spacious attic, and one corner of it is here.

Some corner: 25 buildings house the Smithsonian’s reserve collection of aircraft. A Soviet anti-aircraft missile sits next to John Kennedy’s campaign plane, Caroline. There is a Grumman Avenger of the sort the Young George Bush was shot down in. But the sight that causes a visitor to catch his breath is the dull silver fuselage of a B-29 bearing the stenciled name ENOLA GAY.

THE ATOMIC AGE, which began in secret in a New Mexico desert at dawn 40 years ago July 16, announced itself 21 days later when the Enola Gay’s bomb bay opened. The fuse -- unleashed neutrons that created in 2 pounds of uranium an explosion that occurred in one-tenth of a millionth of a second.

The flight of the Enola Gay began, in a sense, in 1932 in Cambridge, England, is Cavendish Laboratory, when James Chadwick discovered the neutron, the key to penetrating the atom’s nucleus and unlocking energy from matter.

Thirteen years later, when the B-29 fliers asked what they volunteered for, they were told their 509th Composite Group was “going to do something different.”

When they reached Tinian, in range of Japan, Tokyo Rose was on the radio reading the doggerel that Americans on Tinian had written to ridicule the 509th’s strange training mission:

But take it from one who knows the score, the 509th is winning the war.

Well, Yes. At the stunning moment in New Mexico, when Robert Oppenheimer hat thought of “the shatterer of worlds,” a general simply said, “The war is over.”

As the Enola Gay approached Japan the copilot was writing a letter to his parents. He wrote the sentence: “There will be a short intermission while we bomb our target.” Next, he wrote this in a wild hand: “My God.”

The government committee that had kept the secret of the bomb project (neither Adm. Chester Nimitz nor Gen. Douglas MacArthur knew about the bomb until July) said it should be considered not just as a weapon but "in terms of a new relationship to the universe."

Forty years on, it would be extravagant to say the new technology of mass destruction has had such a transforming effect, spiritually or practically. Why should it have? Conventional munitions on the ground at Verdun killed many more people than nuclear weapons have. The same was true at the Some 17 years before the neutron was discovered.

PUG HENRY, protagonist in Herman Wouk's War and Remembrance says: "Either war is finished. or we are." It is too soon to say whether we are, but war certainly is not. It flourishes beneath, the nuclear umbrella.

However, the first two bombs were war-enders and life-savers. They prevented perhaps a million American casualties and probably spared Japan at least 10 times the 210,000 deaths they caused.

Each bomb killed fewer people than were devoured in each of two B-29 raids on Tokyo. [March 9-10 and May 24-25]

Those raids were previews of what the autumn would have brought, but for the bomb. Japan had 2.3 million regular army soldiers, 250,000 garrison troops, 5,000 kamikaze aircraft.

Children were being trained to strap themselves with explosives and roll under tanks. There were potentially 30 million partisans with the will to die shown by Japanese soldiers on Okinawa and Iwo Jima.

U.S. officials were too uncertain of the new technology to risk a non-lethal demonstration for Japan that might have been a dud, producing hardened Japanese resolve. There were just two bombs. Until after the second bomb fell, Japan's regime remained resolved to have a face-saving (and perhaps compromise-achieving) bloodbath.

THE USE of the bombs was seized upon by persons eager to portray America as a crude giant whose technological power is disproportionate to its moral maturity, a nation with a cold Machiavellian heart beating slowly beneath a thin lacquer of idealism. But Machiavelli's bad reputation is the unjust price he paid for being unsentimental moralist in a world addicted to moral evasions.

He said that a material and mental capacity far violence underlies a great nation’s power. The moral imperative is to economize violence by distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate uses. Legitimate uses are to reduce violence and preserve or promote good objectives.

In a few years, the Enola Gay is to be displayed with other aircraft at a new museum at Dulles Airport in Virginia. It will be visited by hundreds of thousands of fathers and their children and grandchildren who would not be alive had the two bombs not made unnecessary an invasion of Japan. The museum will be a school teaching sobriety, where Americans can ponder the Enola Gay's role in a deed profoundly Machiavellian and moral.

***** O *****

Targets

Tokyo

Koriyama

Otake

Tokyo

Yokahoma

Kobe

Tamashima

Isesaki

300 B-29s Incendiary Explosives Hit Tokyo in Greatest Air Raid

Big Cargo of Death

Hit Three Main Areas

Daring Daylight Raid

Admitted by Tokyo

Gallant Fight by ‘Santa Monica’ Told

City of Santa Monica’ Crew Mans New Air Fort

Final Interrogation

Enola Gay: A Profoundly Moral Mission