16 - 31 MAY 1945 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

16 MAY 1945 (pg 649)

JAPAN: - During the night of 16-17 May two missions were flown:

(Mission 175) Twenty-five B-29's mine Shimonoseki Strait and two others hit targets of opportunity.

(Mission 176) Between the hours of 0300 and 0600 local, 457 of 522 B-29's attack the Nagoya urban area in the last great attack on this city; the south part of Nagoya, the site of the Mitsubishi Aircraft works, Aichi Aircraft Company's Atsuta Plant and the Atsuta Branch of the Nagoya Arsenal, the Nippon Vehicle Company and other targets were targeted from the aircraft flying at low-level. Eleven other B-29's hit targets of opportunity. Three B-29's are lost.

The three B-29's lost are described in this report: Tactical Mission Report No. 176 (target: South Nagoya Urban Area, 16-17 May 1945) records three lost aircrafts as follows: 58WG: (first loss) One aircraft #3 engine caught fire after take off. All 11 crew members abandoned aircraft before it crashed. One aircraft was attempting early return with 1 engine out. On landing approach, aircraft lost second engine and fell shore of field. Six crew members killed, 5 injured. 313WG: (second loss)One aircraft was taxing for take-off when inverter failed and plane ran off runway, crashed and burned. 11 crew members abroad, none injured. 42-24801 (third loss) 462nd BG "Phony Express" Abranovic Crew All bailed out safely Rudy Thompson the Flight Engineer and Paul Myers the Radio Operator were on "Phony Express" on the night of May 16, 1945, Rudy and Paul finished their 35 missions in July 1945. They started in the CBI in April 1944 flying the RAMP TRAMP to India. They also were on RAMP TRAMP II and PHONY EXPRESS. On takeoff number three engine caught fire forcing the crew to bail out. Capt. Abranovic expert flying enabled the crew to bailout on to Tinian or in the water. They have told me that they would fly with him anywhere. Rudy ended up on the East end of Able Runway. Paul about a mile off of Tinian. Phony Express crashed on Tinian.

Ray Brashear's Navigator's Notes: Mission 17: 3rd Blitz mission 5/17/45 Nagoya Nite incend. 15,000 2130--1100 1330 26620 Flak-nil fighters-nil Lights 2 Nearly dawn at target. Easy mission.

17 MAY 1945 (pg 650)

No actions reported.

18 MAY 1945 (pg 650)

JAPAN:

(Mission 177) During the night of 18-19 May, 30 B-29's mine Shimonoseki Strait and Tsuruga Harbor.

MARIANAS:

The advance air echelon of the 509th Composite Group arrives at North Field on Tinian. The 509th has trained to deliver atomic bomb attacks on Japan.

(The Commanding Officer is Colonel Paul W. Tibbets Jr., a pilot with a distinguished record in the 97th BG in Europe and North Africa.)

19 MAY 1945 (pg 651)

JAPAN:

(Mission 178) Two hundred Seventy Two B-29's make an abortive raid on the Tachikawa Aircraft Company and bomb the city of Hamamatsu; 14 others hit targets of opportunity. Four B-29's are lost.

One of the lost aircraft was: 44-6991 505th BG MACR 14474 Obert Crew Ditched after takeoff - 2 KIA, 5 MIA, 4 survived 3 with minor injuries and one with major injuries. KIA: Harold W. Schmidt Darrah M. Pomery MIA: Anton Obert Earle Hendrickson Raymond Taylor Charles E. Kreiner Francis J. Kavecsenszky Minor Injuries: Arthur H. Stolz Melvin G. Lusby Orville F. Crane Major Injury: Ernest R. Nyberg Report of Accident - From the statement of the copilot, which is the basis for this report, this accident board concludes that the flaps were raised too soon after takeoff causing the airplane to settle in.

	Ray Brashear's Navigator's Notes: (Other than losing an engine while over Japan this was a fairly easy mission.) Mission 18: 5/20/45 Tokyo (357) to Hamamatsu 24,000 0340--1800 1420 28040 Flak--nil Fighters----nil Lead squadron but lost all but Scarbrough in overcast Blew a head in #1 and had to return on 3 engines. No opposition because of weather	Lee Florence's Diary: T .0. 4:30 AM for G.P. raid on aircraft factory west of Tokyo. Tachikawa. Bad weather encountered before reaching coast. Formation broke up. Brashear and we bombed secondary target, by radar. Results unobserved. Alt. 23,000'
		T Square 54 Mission #19: Capt. Cruce, Hamamatsu.

20 MAY 1945 (pg 651)

JAPAN:

(Mission 179) During the night of 20-21 May, 30 B-29's mine Shimonoseki Strait, Maizuru Harbor and He-Saki anchorage. Three B-29's are lost.

21 MAY 1945 (pg 652)

No actions reported.

22 MAY 1945 (pg 653)

JAPAN:

(Mission 180) During the night of 22-23 May, 30 B-29's mine Shimonoseki Strait and approaches. One B-29 is lost.

The B-29 that was lost was: 42-63509 "Long Winded" 9th BG MACR 14480 Lewis Crew 7 KIA 3 Rescued. Lt. Lewis and crew from the 99th Squadron, due to heavy flak damage over the target, had to bail out into heavy seas. Only three were picked up by a submarine.

23 MAY 1945 (pg 653)

JAPAN:

(Mission 181) During the night of 23-24 May, 520 of 562 B-29's sent against Tokyo bomb an urban-industrial area south of the Imperial Palace along the west side of the harbor; 5 other B-29's hit targets of opportunity. Seventeen B-29's are lost.

(This is the largest number of B-29's participating in a single mission during World War II.)

The aircraft lost include: 44-69734 462nd BG MACR 14479 Mouser Crew 9 KIA 2 POW 42-24759 6th BG MACR 14482 Boynton Crew 11 POW 42-24870 6th BG MACR 14481 Snyder Crew 11 KIA (Unidentified aircraft, 6th BG Anderson Crew lost) 44-69777 498th BG MACR 14489 Zweiffel Crew 7 MIA 4 POW 44-69852 498th BG "Filthy Fay III" MACR 14491 Olds Crew 11 MIA Lost between Tokyo and the Marianas. 44-70075 498th BG MACR 14485 Nilsson Crew 11 MIA 42-24751 498th BG "Antoinette" MACR 14487 Ross Crew lost 44-69742 500th BG "Sting Shift" MACR 14489 Hughes Crew 10 MIA 1 POW 42-63486 500th BG MACR 14488 Thomas Crew, Shot down in the sea near Tokyo. 10 KIA, 1 POW: imprisoned in Tokyo Kempei Tai Headquarters and survived the war: 1st Lt. Eugene M. Thomas, Jr., KIA 2nd Lt. Francis L. Clacken, KIA 2nd Lt. Norman B. Bassett, KIA S/Sgt. Sam M. Bradford, KIA T/Sgt. Bishop K. Mitchell, KIA M. Sgt. Richard M. Armstrong, KIA Pfc. George A. Demers, KIA Cpl John F. Slater, KIA 2nd Lt. William H. Hain, KIA Pfc. Louie A. Doria, KIA 2nd Lt. Robert R, Phillips, POW/Survived 42-65362 39th BG MACR 14490 Paquette Crew 9 KIA 2 Rescued Right Gunner: Corp Lloyd R. Hill (POW, Survived) Left Gunner: Corp Sherwood C. Kiernan (POW, Survived) Airplane Commander: Capt Richard E. Paquette, KIA Pilot: 2nd Lt Joe B. Medina, KIA Navigator: 2nd Lt Jack B. Covington, KIA Radar Specialist: 2nd Lt Gerald N. Levinson, KIA Bombardier: 1st Lt Robert C. Martin, KIA Flight Engineer: 2nd Lt William Keith, KIA Radio Operator: Corp Robert J. Sabol, KIA CFC Gunner: Pfc Milton F. Haines, KIA Tail Gunner: Corp Lewis Howard, KIA 42-63498 40th BG "B-Sweet III" MACR 14493 Kerstner Crew 1 KIA 10 Rescued 42-65266 504th BG MACR 14483 Gran Crew 7 KIA 3 POW 42-93969 K1, 330th BG, 457 Sq, MACR 14492 Neill Crew, Shot down over Tokyo bay, 12 KIA AC Capt Douglas H Neill P 2nd Lt Robert D Harklerode N 1st Lt Clarence A Davis B 2nd Lt Arthur V Howe RDR 2nd Lt Rowland S Wilson Jr FE MSG Donald O Stoner RO SSG Samuel M Mikill CFC SSG Richard R Berg RG CPL James P Finucane LG CPL Jacob A Fisher TG CPL James N Fisher Cpl. Merritt M. Fogel (not on some lists) (From Chris Howlett with Smisek's data) John A. Faas, 498th BG, 875 Squadron,flight engineer was part of the crew that were acting as Pathfinder on this incendiary May 23rd attack over Tokyo. These are notes regarding a citation his crew received by Brigadier General Kissner regarding this May 23rd Mission: "On the bombing run the central fire control system was shot out by a hostile fighter. They fought their way to the target through intense anti-aircraft fire although held in the cone of searchlights and an easy prey to attacking aircraft. Immediately following bombs away a shrapnel burst tore away a portion of the right wing flap and part of the number three nacelle, and they narrowly avoided collision with an exploding B-29,which had received a direct hit.. The main force of B-29 aircraft bombing on the illuminated targets delivered a devastating blow to the enemy."

	Lee Florence's Diary: T.O. at 2100 for incind raid on Tokyo. 11000' Bombed at 0402 May 24. In search lights and fired on for 20 min. Slight flak damage to plane. 2 fighter attacks. Very rough mission!! Clear over target. (Later note: [Tokyo had} ... huge fires. We had warned them to get out of town. Bombed from 7000 ft. bright as day in the cockpit. Could see other 29s around- tried to have plenty of space from them when we entered the smoke cloud on downwind side-- very turbulent but you were out of the lights. We came across west to east and turned south down Tokyo Bay.)	Ray Brashear's Navigator's Notes: (We were very fortunate as these notes indicate. Not so true of the next one. Ray) Mission 19: 5/23/45 Tokio (south dock area) night incend. 9,000 2030-1015 1345 29425 Flak--intense in area Fighters----few to nil Lights-- 50 or more We went right between the flak and light batteries, but not a flash of light or a burst of flak on us. We stayed on the dotted line that night. Swell fires that night. Bomb bay door trouble.
	T Square 54: Mission 20: Lt. Dufford, Tokyo urban area, part of 520 plane force, dropping 3,640 tons incendiary & gp bombs. In at 7,800' & 15,000', intense flak, lost 17 bombers, damaged 69 including T Sq 54. Sgt Tonnies said, "Target was clear and fires were all aglow when we arrived. Search lights caught us and they shot out one of our engines. Saw about 150 searchlights. We returned from target on three engines. No. 1 engine caught a 50 cal. slug in the oil cooler (and) had to feather it over target."

24 MAY 1945 (pg 653)

JAPAN:

(Mission 182) During the night of 24-25 May, 25 B-29's laid mines in Shimonoseki Strait and at Niigata, Nanao and Fushiki.

25 MAY 1945 (pg 654)

JAPAN:

(Mission 183) During the night of 25-26 May, 464 B-29's dispatched from the XXI BC attack Tokyo urban areas immediately south of the Imperial Palace and just north of that bombed on 23-24 May with 3262 tons of incendiary bombs which destroyed financial, commercial and governmental districts as well as factories and homes; six B-29's attack other targets. The AAF claims 19 Japanese fighters. Twenty-six B-29's are lost (the largest loss of B-29's and crews in a single day).

More than 60 American POW's died in the firestorm or were beheaded by guards while escaping the inferno during the fire bomb raid. Some of the aircraft lost were: 42-63537 "Male Call" 444th BG, MACR 14498, 9 MIA 42-65273 "Big Ain't It" 444th BG, MACR 14497, Dubose Crew 11 KIA 42-65327 "Princess Eileen IV" 444th BG, MACR 14496, Pathfinder Siler Crew 7 KIA 5 POW 42-24724 "Hollywood Commando" 444th BG, MACR 14404, Bright Crew 11 MIA 42-24826 "Shanghai Lil Rides Again" 444th BG, MACR 14516, 11 KIA 42-63538 "Winged Victory II" 40th BG, MACR 14507, Pathfinder Papson Crew 7 KIA 4 POW 42-65269 40th BG - MACR 14508, Harte Crew 10 KIA 1 POW 42-63521 462nd BG - MACR 14506, Ellerbe Crew 11 MIA 42-63529 468th BG - MACR 14517, Hinkle Crew 11 KIA 42-63536 "Mammy Yokum" 468th BG, MACR 14518 44-69964 "Mary Anna II" 505th BG, MACR 14502, Decker Crew 8 KIA 42-63508 "Peachy" 505th BG, MACR 14500, Putnam Crew 11 KIA 42-24826 "In The Mood" 505th BG, MACR 14513, Brooks Crew 8 MIA 3 Saved 42-24828 505th BG, MACR 14514, Helfert Crew 12 KIA 44-69978 504th BG, MACR 14503, Hitt Crew 6 KIA 5 POW 42-94002 504th BG, MACR 14501, Edgerton Crew 11 KIA 44-69755 500th BG, MACR 14509, Luran Crew 3 KIA 8 POW 42-63513 V5 "Ramp Queen" MACR 14512, 499th BG, Burrell Crew 11 KIA 42-94050 497th BG, MACR 14525, Swenson Crew 5 KIA 6 Saved 42-63558 6th BG, MACR 14505, Fox Crew 10 MIA 1 POW 44-69728 29th BG, MACR 14510, Mansfield Crew 42-94079 39th BG, MACR 14511, Kobler Crew 10 MIA 42-65211 "Lady Eve" 498th BG, Crew Survived May 25 Night Fire Raid - Recollection of Hap Halloran: "On this massive fire raid on Tokyo 26 B 29's were lost. Also on this early AM 62 B 29 Prisoners of War were being held in the wooden Tokyo Jail in western suburb of Tokyo - Shibuya. Flames engulfed the jail - our guys either died in the ensuing fire or were killed (beheaded) when they attempted to escape the flames. Many of these B 29ers were previously held in the cages of Kempei Tai adjacent the north Moat of the Imperial Palace grounds, and subsequently relocated to Tokyo Jail in Shibuya. There was no logical reason as to why certain B 29ers were relocated from Kempei Tai to Tokyo jail prior to the May 25th raid. In late January and early February I was confined alongside two of these individuals in the basement cages in the main Kempei Tai building. They had gone down SW of Mt. Fuji shortly after Coast penetration on 1/27/45. Our target on that daylight high altitude mission was the infamous Target 357. We were shot down on EB bomb run -- heavy cloud cover obviously precluded bombing #357 by other 73rd Wingers. "On my last visit to Japan last Fall (2000) I was shown photos and my Historian friends provided specific details and walked me thru the specific area of downtown Tokyo that was severely impacted on that "must have been" radar drop by the 73 guys that afternoon. Severe damage to major buildings including major Historical structures resulted with many casualties. The photos of that incident were very dramatic. Such is War. Subsequent interrogations in KempeiTai dwelled on this "cruel act of barbarism" by B 29 crews. "I frequently think of those two 29ers who were moved from cages adjacent to mine and moved to Shibuya - where they died in the 5/25/45 fire raid. Sad - sad. "There were approximately 300 Japanese prisoners (probably conscientious objectors or non military friendly) in Shibua jail that terrible night. They were all moved from the Tokyo jail to a nearby park; all survived that night. "None of our B 29 prisoners in Shibuya jail survived that night. "May 25, 1945 was a very sad day --all 29ers gave their best always; some gave their all." Hap Halloran This from Sandy Amell, first about the previous May 23rd mission: "Another mission, and it was a good one. Didn't see much at all except a bunch of searchlights and a lot of fires. Tokyo just isn't what it used to be although quite a few of the guys were shot up." But Sandy said about two nights later: "Back to Tokyo again. It certainly was different from the night before. Don't know if they found out we were coming or what but they certainly were ready. They really were pouring up the old fire at us. It's been three or four missions since we've seen any like it. It looked like a solid sheet when we started in. I'm telling you, Ma, everyone in that plane was scared. Sounds as though we had switched dates! But both missions turned out pretty bad for a lot of the crews." Sandy Arnell From Robert Inman, " ... concerning the plane my brother, Sgt. Grover A. Inman, was on. The Aircraft number was 42-63536, "Mammy Yokum" ... the crew members were as follows: Pilot: Capt. James H. Johnson Co-Pilot: 1st Lt. Harold D. Holst Nav: 1st Lt. Howard Bollerud Bomb: 1st Lt. Donald M. Lurie Flt Eng: M/Sgt. Arthur F. Noelle Radio Op: Cpl. Henry Hepfner Radar Op: Sgt. Grover A. Inman L. Gun: T/Sgt. Henry G. Brogdon, Jr. Sen. Gun: Sgt. Richard D. Pastick R. Gun: Sgt. Homer B. Locklar T. Gun: Sgt. Francis T. Kent Robert Inman

	Lee Florence's Diary: T .0. 1745 for incendiary raid on Tokyo--9000'. Bombed at 0047, May 26th. Kept out of search lights and had light flak. No fighter attacks.	Ray Brashear's Navigator's Notes: (This trip and the 5 June Kobe raid really started to put gray hair on my head. Ray) Mission 20: 5/26/45 Tokyo (dock area at NW corner of Tokyo Bay) Pathfinder Nite demo. 8,000 1725-0705 1340 30805 This was a real purple heart mission if I ever saw one. If it hadn't been for for a bit of experience on these deals and some damn good flying by Ray We'd never have been telling about this one. The mission before, 4 out of the 8 pathfinders were shot down. Being among the pathfinders nearly all the early arrivals at the target were picked up in the lights individually and entire or a large part of the defences concentrated on him. We were in the lights on the entire run and heard and saw too much flak. A night fighter scored hits on us but couldn't be spotted because of the lights. Bombs were on the target and good fire started. and fanned by 70 mile gale on the ground in Tokyo. Bomb doors stayed open all the way back. Saw 6 B-29s go down just while we were in the target area. We watched the fires grow and could see it still well over 100 miles out when we hit a cloud layer -"still climbing"
	T Square 54: Mission #21: Lt. Donald H. Sutherland, Tokyo w/501 other B-29's, dropping 3,260 tons incendiaries on commerial & gov't centers. 26 B-29's downed, 100 others damaged. Devastated another 21 sq. miles of Tokyo; because of this as well as 36 sq miles burned in Mar & Apr, Tokyo removed from target list for remainder of war. Japanese called this the "Raid of the Leaping Tigers." Per Sgt Kevin Herbert, another 498th tail gunner, it was "... a netherworld scene worthy of the imagination of a Virgil, a Dante, or a Milton: roiling columns of smoke thrust up from lurid red and yellow lakes of fire; murk and haze swept aloong amid the darkness visible; random bolts of light piercing the gloom in search of victims; tracer lines, flak bursts, thermal buffetings; the pandemonium of weaponry, tornadic noise, and urgent calls to comrades; and epiphanies and vanishings of other craft, friendly and hostile, from the dim shores of this molten sea."

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

The VII Fighter Command is assigned to the administrative and operational control of the XX AF.

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR

The JCS approves the plan for Operation OLYMPIC, the invasion of the Japanese Home Islands, which is scheduled to begin on 1 November 1945.

26 MAY 1945 (pg 656)

JAPAN:

(Mission 184) During the night of 26-27 May, 29 B-29's dispatched from the 9th BG sow mines in the Shimonoseki Strait and off Fukuoka, Fushiki and Karatsu.

27 MAY 1945 (pg 656)

JAPAN:

(Mission 185) During the night of 27-28 May, 9 B-29's dispatched from the 9th BG sow mines in the Shimonoseki Strait and the Moji area. One B-29 is lost.

The lost B-29 was: 44-69811 "Tinny Anne" 9th BG MACR 14522 Black Crew 11 KIA

28 MAY 1945 (pg 658)

No actions reported.

29 MAY 1945 (pg 658)

JAPAN:

(Mission 186) Four hundred fifty-four B29's escorted by 101 VII FC P-51's attack large parts of Yokohama with 2570 tons of incendiary bombs and destroy the main business district (a third of the city's area) along the waterfront; and 21 B-29's attack other targets. The B-29's claim 6 fighters and the P-51's claim 26-9-23 Japanese fighters. Seven B-29's and 3 P-51's are lost when the formation is attacked by an estimated 150 Japanese fighters.

We show eight B-29's lost, not seven: 44-69867 "Mary Fortune," 39th BG, MACR 14537, Kilpack Crew, 8 MIA, 3 Saved 1st Replacement Crew P-1: Airplane Commander: Capt Reece N. Killpack MIA Pilo:t 2nd Lt Joseph B. Neden MIA Navigator: Capt John C. Wilkin MIA Bombardier: Capt Harris E. Collins MIA Radar Specialist: 2nd Lt Austin L. Wible MIA Radio Operator: Cpl Eugene C. Reck MIA CFC Specialist: Cpl Joseph P. Miller Survived Flight Engineer: S/Sgt Fred N. Dunn Survived Left Gunner: Cpl George C. Tilghman Survived Right Gunner: Sgt William T. Findley MIA Tail Gunner: Cpl Myron D. Williams MIA 44-69889 39th BG MACR 14539 Grear Crew 4 MIA 7 Saved Crew P-46: Airplane Commander: 1st Lt Edgar B. Grear Survived Pilot: F/O Richard F. Wilcox Survived Navigator: 2nd Lt Howard L. Howes Navigator Survived Bombardier: 2nd Lt Arland Christ-Janer Survived Radar Operator: 2nd Lt Ralph V. Hayenga Survived Flight Engineer: M/Sgt Clare Lovelace, Jr. MIA Radio Operator: Cpl Elias T. Schutzman Survived CFC Specialist: S/Sgt Frank E. Williams Survived Left Gunner: S/Sgt Lawrence J. Toeppe MIA Right Gunner: Sgt William T Davenport MIA Tail Gunner: Sgt Charles Markowitz MIA 42-24894 40th BG, MACR 14543, Clark Crew, 11 KIA. 9 KIA, 2 POW (both executed): Crashed on Fujikawa Higashi, Kawane Village, Shita-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture at 9 o'clock on the morning of the 29th. Nine crewmen killed and buried near crash site. Sgt. Elgio Robertson and 2nd Lt. Richard Hurley parachuted in the forest of Fujikawa, was arrested and sent to Tokai Military Command. They were sentenced to decapitation by the command on 28 June in the forest of Akatsu-cho, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture with nine crewmembers of the 444th Bomb Group. (9 members were from the "Black Jack Too" crew.) 1st Lt. M.R. Clark, Jr. - KIA Lt. M.B. Montgomery - KIA 2nd Lt. O.P. Donohue - KIA FO E.H. Gray - KIA S/Sgt. R.B. Haynes - KIA S/Sgt. E.O. Rogers - KIA S/Sgt. S.S. Polansky - KIA S/Sgt. F.E. Rutledge - KIA Sgt. W.I. Douglas - KIA T/Sgt. S.L. Robertson - POW (executed) 1st Lt. P.R. Hurley - POW (executed) 42-94039 19th BG, MACR 14548, O'Leary Crew, 11 KIA, ditched. 42-94056 504th BG, MACR 14541, Worde Crew, 11 POW (all liberated): Crashed in Oikawa, Otaki Town, Isumi County, Chiba Prefecture. 9 were imprisoned in Tokyo Kempei Tai Headquarters and 2 were imprisoned in Ofina POW Camp. Capt. Marcus H. Worde 1st Lt. Arthur P. O'Hara 2nd Lt. James P. Martin 2nd Lt. Wallace Moritz M/Sgt. Oliver C. Thomas S/Sgt. Allan G. Keniston S/Sgt. John F. Ryan. Jr. Sgt. Ward B. Lyons Sgt. Abraham B. Ginsberg Sgt. Bruce A. Yungclas Sgt. William K. Johnston 44-69867 "Mary Fortune" - 39th BG - MACR 14537 - Kilpack Crew 8 MIA 3 Saved 1st Replacement Crew P-1: Airplane Commander: Capt Reece N. Killpack MIA Pilo:t 2nd Lt Joseph B. Neden MIA Navigator: Capt John C. Wilkin MIA Bombardier: Capt Harris E. Collins MIA Radar Specialist: 2nd Lt Austin L. Wible MIA Radio Operator: Cpl Eugene C. Reck MIA CFC Specialist: Cpl Joseph P. Miller Survived Flight Engineer: S/Sgt Fred N. Dunn Survived Left Gunner: Cpl George C. Tilghman Survived Right Gunner: Sgt William T. Findley MIA Tail Gunner: Cpl Myron D. Williams MIA 44-69889 - 39th BG - MACR 14539 - Grear Crew 4 MIA 7 Saved Crew P-46: Airplane Commander: 1st Lt Edgar B. Grear Survived Pilot: F/O Richard F. Wilcox Survived Navigator: 2nd Lt Howard L. Howes Navigator Survived Bombardier: 2nd Lt Arland Christ-Janer Survived Radar Operator: 2nd Lt Ralph V. Hayenga Survived Flight Engineer: M/Sgt Clare Lovelace, Jr. MIA Radio Operator: Cpl Elias T. Schutzman Survived CFC Specialist: S/Sgt Frank E. Williams Survived Left Gunner: S/Sgt Lawrence J. Toeppe MIA Right Gunner: Sgt William T Davenport MIA Tail Gunner: Sgt Charles Markowitz MIA 44-69970 504th BG, Cornwell Crew, 12 KIA: Shot down by AA fire and crashed in Yaehara, Kimitsu Town, Kimitsu County, Chiba Prefecture. Capt. James W. Cornwell - KIA 1st. Lt. Bernard E. Gerstner - KIA 2nd Lt. John J. Barcynski - KIA 2nd Lt. Roy A. Lear - KIA M/Sgt. Donald W. Brolliar - KIA S/Sgt. James W. Bagley - KIA S/Sgt. Eugene B. Woerner - KIA Sgt. Ernest J. Fox - KIA S/Sgt. Thomas J. Daigneault - KIA Sgt. Billy L. Gallup - KIA Sgt. James H. Fuller, Jr. - KIA Col. James T. Connally - KIA

	Lee Florence's Diary: T .0. 0400 for incind raid on Yokahama. Led Sqdn formation of six ships. Bombed at 1128.Moderate, accurate flak. One small hole in wing. No fighter attacks. Smoke from fires above 20,000'.Bombed at 22,000'.	Ray Brashear's Navigator's Notes: I did not like these weather strike missions at all. Flogging around over Japan all by yourself, you never knew if you were totally ignored or were really going to be pounced on. Ray Mission 21: 5/28/45 Tokio Day WSM & Recon 30,000 0600-1905 1305 32110 Flak- Nil Fighters-nil McCabe got perfect hits on railyard: but alas the pictures were too poor to prove it.(Nomazu) Then we had a perfect run in CAVU weather and thus were the first to see and photograph total destruction of Big T. Landed on Guam after averaging nearly 300 MPH GS coming home.
	T Square 54: Mission #22: Capt. Cruce, attacked Yokohama urban area south of Tokyo. Due to heavy losses on past 2 Tokyo raids, made high alt. incendiary attack with P-51 fighter escort from Iwo Jima. Over 7 sq miles burned, 20 numbered industrial targets removed from target list.

The burned area of Yokohama now amounts to almost 9 square miles)

MARIANAS - The 509th Composite Group arrives at North Field Tinian from the United States.

30 MAY 1945 (pg 659)

No actions reported.

31 MAY 1945 (pg 659)

No actions reported.

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