(Mission 43) During the night of 16-17 March, in the heaviest raid to date, 307 of 330 B-29's dispatched from units of the XXI BC attack the Kobe urban area with incendiary bombs at altitudes between 5,000ft and 9,000ft. The attack lasts 2 hours and 8 minutes and approximately 2.9 square miles or about 20% of the city's area is destroyed. Three B-29's attack other targets.

B-29 crews see 314 enemy aircraft which make a total of 93 individual attacks. The AAF claims 1-0-? Japanese aircraft. Three B-29's are lost, none to fighters.

3 B-29's are lost:

42-65242 504th BG, MACR 14246, Major Shaffer crew, lost between Kobe and the Marianas Islands.

A/C George W. Shaffer - KIA
Floyd A. Woodring - KIA
Harold H. Gaskell - KIA
John T. Burke - KIA
Arthur E. Christian - KIA
Harold O. Washington - KIA
Reynold J. Fanguy - KIA
Arthur C. Mills - KIA
James G. Doucette, Jr. - KIA
David E. Becker - KIA

42-63546 9th BG MACR 14272 Christie crew. Shot down in Oshibe Village, Akaski County, Hyogo Prefecture.

A/C George S. Christie - KIA
Boutwell H. Foster, Jr. - KIA
Billy J. Sullivan - KIA
Horace C. Roop - KIA
Otto Fletcher - KIA
Roger Bischman - KIA
James - A. Given, Jr. - KIA
Carlton C. Henley - KIA
Kenneth W. Snyder - KIA
John L. Wright - KIA
Arthur J. Roth, 99th Squd. Navigator - KIA

42-24849 500th BG MACR 13079 Fitzgerald crew lost. Rammed by a Japanese fighter and crashed in Saido Mountain, Ikutaku, Kobe City, 9 KIA, 2 POWs: Lt. Nelson and Sgt. Auganus were taken to Osaka Kempei Tai Headquarters, put on a military trial on 18 July 1945 and executed the same day at Yokoyama training ground near Osaka.

Maj. Robert J. Fitzgerald
Lt. Erwin A. Brousak
Lt. Robert E. Copeland - Bill Copeland's Uncle
Lt. Robert W. Nelson
Lt. James C. Bond
Sgt. Algy S. Augunas
Sgt. Robert D. Cookson, Sr.
Sgt. David W. Holley
Sgt. John L. Cutler
Sgt. Ruben A. Wray
Sgt. John T. Barry

Lee Florence's Diary
Briefed for incendiary raid on Kobe. at 6800'.
T .0. 9:00 PM. Bombed at 0400--17th. Large fires-no flak-no fighters. Ellington's crew lost.
T Square 54
Mission #4: Lt. Dufford's crew hit Kobe with 36 500 lb bombs. Sgt Lawrence A. Tonnies wrote that the incendiaries "... started lots of fires and explosioins. We gained 4,000 feet in ten seconds due to the heat of the fires ... and could see fires after we were 150 miles away."

(Almost 500 industrial buildings are destroyed and 162 are damaged; 65,951 homes are lost leaving 242,468 civilians homeless. Casualties are 2,669 dead or missing and 11,289 injured.)

17 MARCH 1945

BURMA

(Mission 44) Seventy of 77 B-29's dispatched hit a storage dump at Rangoon; two others bomb targets of opportunity, the Saghi Airfield and warehouses at Bassein without loss.

18 MARCH 1945

JAPAN

(Mission 44) During the night of 18-19 March, 290 of 313 B-29's dispatched from units of the XXI BC attack the Nagoya urban area with incendiary bombs at altitudes between 4,500ft and 9,000ft for the second time in as many weeks. An additional 3 square miles are burned including the Nagoya Arsenal, Aichi Aircraft Engine Plant and freight yards. The Mitsubishi plant escape with minor damage. One B-29 is lost.

1 B-29 is lost:

42-24797 505th BG MACR 13694 Shipp crew rescued by USS GATLING

Ray Brashear's
Navigator's Notes: (This was not one of our nicer missions. It was a poor way to earn a living!! Ray)
Mission 13:
5th and last of the blitz missions
3/18/45
Nagoya (1st fire zone no visual corrections)
Night fire 5.000ft
2030-10451345 20805
Lots of lights and flak. In the lights for fifteen minutes 5.5 sq. mi. burned out. Total of 31 or more sq. mi. of Jap Indust. area burned out.
T Square 54
Mission #5: Capt. Carl Floyd crew

Lee Florence's Diary:
Saipan Briefed for incendiary raid on Nagoya at 5000'
T.O. 9:00PM Bombed at 0415--19th. Large fires. Heavy flak. No fighters.
(This mission ends the March fire raids.)

19 MARCH 1945

No actions reported.

(In support of the upcoming invasion of Okinawa, US Navy Carriers Enterprise, Intrepid, Yorktown, Wasp and Franklin are damaged by Kamikaze or bomber attacks while operating around Kyushu and central Honshu. Casualties aboard Wasp are 302 dead and aboard Franklin are 722 dead.)

20 MARCH 1945

No actions reported.

(Antiaircraft fire and Carrier Air Patrol successfully fight off 18 Japanese G4M aircraft carrying manned MXY7 Oka rocket-propelled bombs and approximately 30 other aircraft - this is the first time the Oka's have been seen in action at Okinawa.)

21 MARCH 1945

No actions reported.

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR

(Fourth Air Force) A P-63 from Walla Walla AAFld, Washington, intercepts a Japanese ballon near Redmond, Washington and, after a chase that includes 2 refueling stops, shoots it down near Reno, Nevada.

22 MARCH 1945

BURMA

(Mission 45) Seventy-six of 78 B-29's dispatched from the 58th BW attack stores at Rangoon in tow waves with 519 tons of bombs without loss.

23 MARCH 1945

No actions reported

CAROLINE ISLANDS

Following a great deal of indecision about how to employ Royal Navy carriers into the US Navy's fast carrier task forces, the newly designated Task Group 57.2 sorties from Ulithi Atoll to join Task Force 58 for the upcoming Okinawa invasion. (Task Group 57.2 consists of: HMS Indomitable, HMS Victorious, HMS Illustrious, HMS Indefatigable)

24 MARCH 1945

JAPAN

(Mission 45) During the night of 24-25 March, 223 of 248 XXI BC B-29's dispatched attack the Mitsubishi aircraft engine plant at Nagoya and three B-29's attack alternate targets. Five B-29's are lost.

This was to be a night, single-plane type radar mission. The mission involved approximately 248 airborne aircraft from the 73rd, 313th, and 314th Bombardment Wings. Ultimately, about 223 of these aircraft bombed the primary target with some 1,526 tons of incendiary and general purpose bombs.
The 30 planes from the 73rd BW were armed with 185 tons (85%) of general purpose bombs and 31.25 tons (15%) of incendiary bombs. They took off at 17:52 and 18:47 (Guam Standard Time) on March 24, 1945. 42-63526 was last contacted at time of takeoff.
Because of the restricted time over the primary target (no more than 1 hour and 17 minutes), approximately 50 aircraft circled off the coast near Nagoya awaiting time for the attack. At landfall they were greeted by approximately 100 searchlights and significant amounts of flak as they flew through the smoke and clouds at an altitude of 6,600' to 7,200'. There was also some evidence of rockets and phosphorus. Many aircraft could not make final course corrections due to the proximity of other B-29's. This was not a particularly successful mission.
Details of the raid on Mitsubishi Aircraft Engine Works in Nagoya on 24 March:

1. Primary Target(Mitsubishi Aircraft Engine Works) 126 aircraft bombed by rader and 98 made visual release, dropping 1507.6 tons of bombs on the target from 1500Z to 1617Z at altitude ranging from 5650 to 9600 feet.
2. Last Resort Target Three aircrafts of the 73rd Wing bombed Toyohashi and Shingu from 1504Z at altitudes from 6000 to 7000 feet.
3. Target of Oppotunity One airplane of the 313th Wing bombed an unknown target at an unknown time.
4. Twenty-two aircraft were non-effective. Primary Target Bombing time "1500Z to 1617Z" noted above is represented by Greenwich STD ime. If we convert it to Japan STD time, we have to add nine(9) hours. Therefore, 2400 to 2517 24 March, or 0000 to 0117 25 March is bombing time in Japan.]

The five B-29's that were lost are:

42-63526 497th BG MACR 13446 Shaffrath crew (see below)
42-63493 499th BG MACR 13826 Timmon's crew, 2 survivors
42-65241 504th BG MACR 13380 Lt. Col. Riley crew (see below)
42-65210 498th BG MACR 13447 Tobey crew lost
44-69748 9th BG MACR 13448 Hardgrave crew (see below)

42-63526 ("Teaser")
Shaffrath Crew, 871st SQ, 497th BG, 73rd BW, Saipan

Aircraft Commander: 1st Lt. Paul W. Shaffrath (Wife - Mrs. Gloria E. Shaffrath)
Co-Pilot: 1st Lt. John J. Swisshelm (Wife - Mrs. Jane T. Swisshelm)
Navigator-Bombardier: 2nd Lt. Robert L. Green, Jr. (Mother - Mrs. Jamie G. Tatom)
Bombardier-Navigator: 2nd Lt. Eric M. Meding (Father - Mr. Erich H. Meding)
Flight Engineer: 2nd Lt. Benjamin L. Harris (Father - Mr. Aaron T. Harris)
Radar Operator: Sgt. Robert G. Smith (Mother - Mrs. Vera Ruth Smith)
Radio Operator/Gunner: S/Sgt. John M. Ray, Jr. (Wife - Mrs. Wilma M. Ray)
Central Fire Control: S/Sgt. Harold Sheshansky (Mother - Mrs. Lillian Sheshansky)
Left Gunner: Sgt. Dale D. Wright (Mother - Mrs. Roxie W. Wright)
Right Gunner: Sgt. Robert L. Tramp (Mother - Mrs. Marie E. Tramp) (Also Bill Grindell's uncle)
Tail Gunner: Sgt. Robert G. Sumner (Wife - Mrs. Josephine M. Sumner)

...
crashed at approximately 00:30 Japan Standard Time on March 25. She came to rest in a residential area at Gokiso-cho Showa-ku Nagoya-shi, approximately 3.2 miles south southwest from Nagoya Dome, on line between the offset aiming point and the target. Reports indicated that 5 to 9 homes were destroyed, and 3 others were damaged. The eleven crew members died along with at least 4 (perhaps 5 or 6) civilians in the residences. "Teaser" was upside down on top of a roof which had caved in. Her bomb load remained intact and fuel was all over the area; however, there was no fire after the crash.
While the MACR indicates the crash could have been due to flak, enemy aircraft or B-29 collision, eyewitness accounts from Japanese witnesses indicate a direct hit on the tail by flak. Lt. Touchi Minakawa, former Company Commander of the 11th Company, 72nd Battalion, 124th Anti-Aircraft Regiment stationed at Tsurumai Park, Nagoya stated that the B-29 crashed about 1000 meters away from his unit's location, and he watched the plane from the time it was hit until it crashed. None of the crew members parachuted from the plane. It was alleged that three of the flyers fell out of the plane when it crashed, and the people threw rocks at them and killed them.
It was also alleged that two bodies were placed on the ground, while a third body was placed upright supported on poles and exhibited to the public. These allegations were never proved, and I firmly believe that the 3 alleged murders never took place. It is a known fact that the aircraft and crew remained at the site for approximately 10 days, perhaps 2 weeks. About 2 or 3 days after the crash, the body of one crew member (other than 2nd Lt. Harris) was in fact removed from the plane and placed on the wing for exhibition. For the next 10 days or so, a barrel was placed near the road, and pedestrians donated money to the 11th Company, 72nd Battalion, 124th Anti-Aircraft Regiment. They raised about 10,000 yen (roughly $80 at today's conversion rate). About 70% of this was donated to Division Headquarters and 30% was used to purchase sweet potatoes for the Anti-Aircraft Unit.
The wreckage was eventually cleared away, and the remains of the crew members were buried in a common grave on the grounds of Jogen-ji Temple. This is a very peaceful setting on Gokiso Hill. The original temple was built between 1558 and 1570; however, it was also destroyed by the B-29 bombings, and had to be rebuilt after the war.
My Uncle Robert had lived in Coos Bay, OR, attended the University of Oregon, and was a member of Signa Chi fraternity before enlisting from Eugene, OR. He was finally put to rest on January 24, 1949, at Lincoln Memorial Park, Portland, OR. Coincidentally, this is also the final resting place for Cecil T. Laird, Tail Gunner of "The Rover Boys Express."

42-65241 "Life of Riley" Riley Crew, 398th SQ, 504th BG, 313th BW, Tinian, MACR 13380

AC: Maj. Jack B. Riley (Father: Mr. Mervyn S. Riley)
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. William G. Weber (Wife: Mrs. Patricia J. Weber)
Nav: Capt. Walter W. Homer (Wife: Mrs. Jacqueline P. Homer)
Bombardier: 1st Lt. John G. Kelly (Wife: Mrs. Betty J. Kelly)
FE: 2nd Lt. Ralph E. Worthington (Wife: Mrs. Lorraine L. Worthington)
Radio and/or Radar Operator: S/Sgt. William R. Bass (Mother: Mrs. Lora F. Bass)
CFC: S/Sgt. Carl J. Trulove (Wife: Mrs. Vera A. Trulove)
Left Gunner: Cpl. James J. Dannaher (Father: Mr. Michael J. Dannaher)
Right Gunner: Cpl. Alfred J. English, Jr. (Mother: Mrs. Ruth W. English)
Tail Gunner: Cpl. George R. Ellis (Wife: Mrs. Mary E. Ellis)

The following message was received by Ground Station, Tinian: "2103K 24 Mar 45. Engine on Fire, Position, Course, Speed and Altitude, 17Deg N, 144Deg 55' E, 138 Deg, 130MPH, 2500 Feet. Keep you informed." No other message was received.

42-63493 "Star Duster" Timmons Crew, 878th SQ, 499th BG, 73rd BW, Saipan, MACR 13826
(Note: name "Star Duster" is in question.)

Aircraft Commander: 2nd Lt. Charles E. Timmons (Mother: Mrs. Osella Timmons)
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Richard R. Riggs (Wife: Mrs. Dorothy M. Riggs)
Navigator: 2nd Lt. Vernon W. Duncan (Wife: Mrs. Norma M. Duncan)
Bombardier: 2nd Lt. Melvin M. Personett (Father: Mr. Lewis F. Personett)
Flight Engineer: M/Sgt. Manuel Fernandez, Jr. (Father: Mr. Manuel Fernandez)
Radar Operator: Sgt. Donald J. Harris (Wife: Mrs. Janean B. Harris)
Radio Operator: Pfc Lewis e. Johnson (Mother: Mrs. Grace C. Johnson)
Central Fire Control: S/Sgt. Robert H. Renollet (Father: Mr. Harley C. Renollet)
Left Gunner: Sgt. John E. Allison (Wife: Mrs. Jean W. Allison)
Right Gunner: N/A Tail Gunner: N/A

This crew took off at 1818W (Guam Standard Time) on March 24, 1945, and were last contacted at time of takeoff.
Remains believed to represent the bodies of six persons, two of whom were identified as M/Sgt. Manuel Fernandez, Jr., Pfc Lewis E. Johnson, were recovered from a communal grave at Public Cemetery #3, Nodano, Honshu, Japan. Identification of the other remains had not been established, and they were subsequently interred in USAF Cemetery Yokohama No. 1, as unknowns X-614 through X-617.
Reports "indicate their plane crashed at Nagakute-mura, Honshu, Japan, 25 March 1945, which should establish the place and date of death of the entire crew. Japanese witnesses state the plane, which caught fire in the air, exploded upon impact with the ground; that one crew member whose parachute failed to open bailed out and that his body was buried with the other crew members. Since only one unidentified member of the crew, who failed to survive, is known to have bailed out it is evident that the remaining eight crew members were in the burning aircraft when it struck the ground and exploded.
It is possible that following the explosion insufficient remains were collectible to establish the existence of nine bodies or that the remains of the crew which were interred by the Japanese were in such an incomplete state that it was not possible to establish the number of bodies upon subsequent disinterment. It, therefore, seems logical to conclude that the subject persons, the remaining crew members not accounted for, were killed in the crash and explosion of the plane." Nagakute-mura is now called Nagakute-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi-Ken. Nagakute-cho is adjacent to the East side of Nagoya-city, and approximately 4 kilometers west of Nagoya Dome.

42-65210 "Fay" Tobey Crew, 874th SQ, 498th BG, 73rd BW, Saipan, MACR 13447

AC: 1st Lt. Floyd O. Tobey, Jr. (Wife: Mrs. Edith C. Tobey)
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Clarence J. Flood, Jr. (Father: Mr. Clarence J. Flood)
Nav/Bomb: F/O Frank G. Albritton (Father: Mr. Ford D. Albritton)
Bomb/Nav: 1st Lt. Murrel H. Scott (Father: Mr. C. Scott)
FE: 2nd Lt. John A. Day (Wife: Mrs. Betty Day)
Radio: S/Sgt. Charles O. Murrell (Wife: Mrs. Shirley V. Murrell)
Radar: T/Sgt. John H. Musser (Mother: Mrs. Carrie L. Musser)
CFC: Sgt. Elwood R. Kinzer (Father: Mr. Albert A. Kinzer)
Left Gun: Sgt. Samuel N. Forsey (Mother: Mrs. Gertrude A. Forsey)
Right Gun: Sgt. Henry C. Shelton (Mother: Mrs. Mira E. Shelton)
Tail Gun: Sgt. Leslie E. Reilly (Father: Mr. Buell E. Reilly)

This crew took off from Saipan at approximately 18:30 Guam Standard Time. Aircraft and formation flew individually to the target. 42-65210 ("Fay") was not sighted nor was radio contact made with the aircraft after take-off. Air-see search failed to reveal any traces of the missing crew. Likewise, radio contact with nearby islands proved unsuccessful in locating Lt. Tobey's crew. It was hoped that he may have landed at Iwo Jima.

44-69748 Hardgrave Crew, 1st SQ, 9th BG, 313 BW, Tinian, MACR 13448

AC: 1st Lt. Murel W. Hardgrave (Wife: Mrs. Mary Jo Hardgrave)
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Ernest P. Deutsch (Father: Mr. Peter J. Deutsch)
Nav: 2nd Lt. Donald Reed (Father: Mr. William T. Reed)
Bomb: 2nd Lt. William V. Brabham., Jr. (Mother: Mrs. Blanche V. Brabham)
FE: M/Sgt. David C. Nesmith (Wife: Mrs. Frances J. Nesmith)
Radio: S/Sgt. Robert W. Driscoll (Mother: Mrs. Georgiana Driscoll)
Radar: 1st Lt. Lowell H. Dotson (Father: Mr. Jesse T. Dotson)
CFC: S/Sgt. John R. Schoonmaker (Wife: Mrs. Kathryn L. Schoonmaker)
Left Gun: Sgt. William T. Cocke, Jr. (Wife: Mrs. Margaret L. Cocke)
Right Gun: Sgt. Elroy C. Albrecht (Mother: Mrs. Elsie A. Albrecht)
Tail Gun: Sgt. Richard A. Gilman (Father: Mr. James F. Gilman)

These 11 individuals took off from Tinian at approximately 18:05 Guam Standard Time. Lt. Hardgrave and Crew were not contacted after take-off time.

Further Notes:
Japanese witnesses reported seeing two aircraft explode in the air (not necessarily together). 44-69748 was probably one of these, while the other was probably 42-65210 "Fay." A third aircraft, 42-63493 "Star Duster," exploded when it crashed to the ground.

From Yaichiro Hayashi:

"Fukubayashi Report 'B29s lost over Japan main land (Tokai Army District)' wrote as follows:

'On 25 March 1945, B29(No. 42-65210, 498BG, 73BW or No. 44-68748, 9BG, 313BW, Mission No. 45) was shot by AA fire and exploded in mid air and crashed in Nakashinden, Yatomi-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya City.'

11 KIA."

42-65241 "Life of Riley" was not lost over Nagoya.

42-63526 "Teaser" did not explode or burn.

Lee Florence's Diary:
Briefed for strike against Engine Factory 193 at Nagoya. Alt. 5000'. T .0. 1800. Bombed at 0128--25th. Heavy flak--slight damage to plane. Target hit. Timmons crew lost.
Ray Brashear's
Navigator's Notes: (For some unknown reason our crew was given a two weeks stay in Honolulu. Oh happy day. After two weeks we ready to return to Saipan only to learn that we would have to stay an extra two weeks. It seems that all traffic bound for the Marianas was delivering a higher priority than us crews. Incendiary bombs no less. ... By the time we got back several crews had completed their tours and were ready to go home. There were not enough new crews to make up for their loss so the cut off was raised to 35 missions. Ray)
REST LEAVE
3/29/45 to 5/2/45
A month in Oahu and good old Coconut Island
Latimer was lost on a night mission and Hibbard was shot down on a day mission to Tokyo while were gone

25 MARCH 1945 (pg 600)

No actions reported.

CHINA- Two P-51's from the 530th Fighter Squadron attack an airfield in Nanking and become embroiled in a melee with 22 Japanese fighters. Squadron Commander 1st Lt. Leonard Reeves achieves ace status by shooting down two aircraft but is shot down and killed when his plane crashes into the Yangtze River. The second pilot bails out over friendly territory when his airplanes engine fails during the return flight.

26 MARCH 1945

No actions reported.

VOLCANO ISLANDS - The battle for Iwo Jima is declared over. USAAF MajGen James E. Chaney becomes island commander.

27 MARCH 1945 (pg 605)

JAPAN

(Mission 46) As part of the bombardment campaign leading to the upcoming Okinawa landings, more than 151 of 161 B-29's dispatched from the XXI BC attack an aircraft factory at Omura, Oita Navy Airfield, Kyushu and Tachiarai Army Airfield, Kyushu; three B-29's attack other targets. The B-29's claim 1-2-4 Japanese aircraft.

(Mission 47) During the night of 27-28 March, 92 of 102 B-29's dispatched from the 313th BW sow mines in Shimonoseki Strait between Honshu and Kyushu, and two B-29's mine other waters. (This is the first mission of a long-term night-mining campaign aimed at blockading Japanese shipping. The B-29's claim 1-0-0 Japanese aircraft. Three B-29's are lost.

Lee Florence's Diary:
Took off for Demo strike on airfield on Kyushu. T .0. early morn. Land 1730. Slight flak. No fighters. Target hit. Alt. 18000'

28 MARCH 1945 (pg 606)

CBI
Three mining missions were flown during the night of 28-29 March without loss:

CHINA
(Mission 46) Ten of 10 B-29's dispatched sow mines at the mouth of the Hwangpoo River and the South Channel of the Yangtze River at Shanghai.

FRENCH INDOCHINA
(Mission 47) Seventeen of 18 B-29's dispatched mine the waters off Saigon and Camranh Bay.

MALAYA
(Mission 48) Thirty-two of 33 B-29's dispatched mine the sea approaches to Singapore.

29 MARCH 1945 (pg 608)

MALAYA
(Mission 49) During the night of 29-30 March, in the last mission undertaken by B-29's based on the mainland Asia, 24 of 29 B-29's dispatched from the 40th BG attack oil storage facilities on Bakum Island, Singapore; and two B-29's attack alternate targets on the Malay Peninsula.

MARIANAS
The 58th BW headquarters arrives at Tinian/West Field from India to oversee combat operations by former XX BC B-29 groups.

30 MARCH 1945

JAPAN

Two missions are flown during the night of 30-31 March:

(Mission 48) Twelve of 14 B-29's dispatched from the 314th BW mount a diversionary strike against the Mitsubishi aircraft engine plant in Nagoya shortly after 0000 hours without loss.

(Mission 59) Eighty-five of 94 B-29's dispatched from the 313th BW sow mines in Shimonoseki Strait. Two other B-29's drop mines in other areas. One B-29 is lost.

42-65283 "The Big Wheel," 9th BG. Experienced mechanical trouble en route to Japan and jettisoned their mines. Made it back to Tinian but crashed on the shore. 11 KIA, 1 Survived.

Captain Marvin L. White, AC - KIA
1st Lt. Frank K. Bachelder, 9th BG Staff KIA
2nd Lt. Howard E. Crawford, Jr. - KIA
2nd Lt. William J. Frank KIA
2nd Lt. Kenneth C. Lobdell KIA
2nd Lt. Edward P. Maycumber KIA
Sgt. Forrest H. Wadsworth KIA
Sgt. Howard R. Winters KIA
Cpl. Victor Deeb KIA
Sgt. Joseph C. Trullo, Jr. KIA: Died of injuries April 4th
Sgt. James Langraf - Injured and recovered

31 MARCH 1945

JAPAN

(Mission 50) In preparation for the upcoming Okinawa invasion, 137 of 149 B-29's dispatched from the 73rd and 314th BW's attack Omura airdrome, Kyushu and the machine works at Tachiarai which is completely destroyed. AAF claims 11-5-3 Japanese aircraft. One B-29 is lost and 15 are damaged.

Lee Florence's Diary:
Demo raid on Kyushu airfield. T.0. 3:30 AM. Light flak--light fighters. Target hit. Alt. 15000'
T Square 54
Mission #8: Lt. John White crew.

1944:

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1945 1st ½:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

1945 2nd ½:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

	Ray Brashear's Navigator's Notes: (This was not one of our nicer missions. It was a poor way to earn a living!! Ray) Mission 13: 5th and last of the blitz missions 3/18/45 Nagoya (1st fire zone no visual corrections) Night fire 5.000ft 2030-10451345 20805 Lots of lights and flak. In the lights for fifteen minutes 5.5 sq. mi. burned out. Total of 31 or more sq. mi. of Jap Indust. area burned out.	T Square 54 Mission #5: Capt. Carl Floyd crew
		Lee Florence's Diary: Saipan Briefed for incendiary raid on Nagoya at 5000' T.O. 9:00PM Bombed at 0415--19th. Large fires. Heavy flak. No fighters.

	Lee Florence's Diary: Briefed for strike against Engine Factory 193 at Nagoya. Alt. 5000'. T .0. 1800. Bombed at 0128--25th. Heavy flak--slight damage to plane. Target hit. Timmons crew lost.	Ray Brashear's Navigator's Notes: (For some unknown reason our crew was given a two weeks stay in Honolulu. Oh happy day. After two weeks we ready to return to Saipan only to learn that we would have to stay an extra two weeks. It seems that all traffic bound for the Marianas was delivering a higher priority than us crews. Incendiary bombs no less. ... By the time we got back several crews had completed their tours and were ready to go home. There were not enough new crews to make up for their loss so the cut off was raised to 35 missions. Ray) REST LEAVE 3/29/45 to 5/2/45 A month in Oahu and good old Coconut Island Latimer was lost on a night mission and Hibbard was shot down on a day mission to Tokyo while were gone