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The basic chronology and general information on these pages is a composite of entries excerpted from “Air War Pacific Chronology: America’s Air War Against Japan in East Asia and the Pacific 1941-1945” by Eric Hammel (Pacifica, CA: Pacifica Press, 1988 ISBN 0-933353-26-6)
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Note:
Shaded boxes show updates and comments from members of our B-29 mailing list, many of whom were there. |
16 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.
17 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.
18 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.
19 August 1945 (pg 702)
WESTERN PACIFIC
Two B-25J's of the 345th BG intercept two Japanese "Betty"
bombers North of Ie Shima. The Japanese aircraft carry a delegation from
Tokyo enroute to Manila to meet General MacArthur's staff to work out details
of the surrender. The "Betty's" are painted white with green crosses on the
wings, fuselage and vertical tail surface and use the call signs Bataan I and
Bataan II. The Japanese land on Ie Shima and transfer to C-54's for the
flight to Manila.
20 August 1945 (pg 702)
WESTERN PACIFIC
On the return flight from Ie Shima to Japan, the Betty's run out of fuel and ditch in Tokyo Bay but the delegation is rescued and completes the mission.
21 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.
22 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.
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Departed Honolulu harbor on Army Transport Ship SHAWNEE at 1500. Last entry |
23 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.
24 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.
25 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.
26 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.
27 August 1945 (pg 702)
MARIANAS:
XX AF B-29's begin supplying prisoner-of-war and internee camps in Japan, China, and Korea with medical supplies, food, and clothing. The first supply drop (to Weihsien Camp near Peking, China) is followed by a concentrated effort of 900 sorties in a period of less than a month. 4,470 tons of supplies are dropped to about 63,500 prisoners in 154 camps through the end of September. (Eight B-29's were lost along with 77 crewmen during this operation. In addition, one B-29 was attacked by Soviet fighters while flying over North Korea and was forced to land).
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28 August 1945 (pg 702)
JAPAN:
The first Allied occupation units are delayed in reaching Japan by a typhoon.
As mentioned in my post of August 28th (Message 19131), the 35 aircraft from the 497th BG went to 10 different POW Camp Areas in Japan. My source document (microfilm) is very difficult to read, but I will do my best to provide details with respect to each camp. TOKYO (TOKADANA HABA) 35 Deg 43' N - 139 Deg 42' E Four different camps were dropped on by the 13 aircraft scheduled to drop on the above camp. It is not certain which if any were the correct camp. Coordinates below refer to Tokyo Area mosaic 90.17-201-209. a. 05103(8?) The following six aircraft dropped on this camp: A-5(6?) Cardone, A-52 Brown, A-43 Mourning,
All supplies fell in camp or in area immediately adjacent thereto. Camp consisted of a yellow brick "L" shaped building. Letters PW in black on the roof. One crew reported letters in white panels. About 200 people were seen. b. 059025 A-9 Lt. Martin All supplies dropped in camp area. Camp consisted of a four-story gray building. c. 130080 A-57 Lt. Voigt,
All supplies landed within 100' of camp. Camp consisted of one "V" (?) shaped building. On roof was US flag and in yellow the words THANKS, PW - YORKTOWN. Approximately 100 men in dungarees and white shirts were seen. d. 078085 A-46 Maj. Judd,
One aircraft dropped in camp and the other in nearby wood. Camp was yellow "L" shaped brick building with yellow PW on roof. 200 men were standing at attention in compound. NOTE: A-5 Col. Johnson - Lt. Lee was briefed to attack this target also, but since most of crew was still at Iwo Jima, it was not established which camp they dropped on. SAKATA 38 Deg 55' N - 139 Deg 50" E A-25 Lt. Carroll,
All supplies landed within 200 feet of camp. There were large PW signs in yellow on the buildings. Both the American Flag and the Union Jack were seen. There were 260 POW apparently in good condition. Natives were seen pushing barrels toward the camp. TAIRA 37 Deg 05' N - 140 Deg 48' E A-34 Lt. Stitt,
All supplies fell in clearing within 500 feet of camp. Aircraft apparently dropped on two different camps near Taira. One camp consisted of three buildings in "U" shaped arrangement. Two of the roofs were marked PW and one was marked NICE WORK, THANKS, L(?)X PW CIGS. Natives were seen bringing supplies into camp. The other camp was surrounded by hills, some of which were marked PW in rocks. One roof was marked 563 MEN. British and U.S. flags were seen flying. ICHINOSEKI (?) 3(6?) Deg 50' N - 140 Deg (5?)1' (90?)'' E A-22 Capt. Moore,
About one-third of all supplies dropped landed within the camp area. The remainder fell no more than 100 yards away. Camp consisted of four to six two-story, 100' x 60' gray or brown, wooden buildings with wood or tin roofs. Camp surrounded by a high wooden fence. Two buildings had letters PW in orange-yellow on roof, and there was one set of letters PW in orange-yellow on the ground. A minimum of 150 POW were seen apparently in good condition. Apparently POW's had freedom since they ran out of camp to retrieve cans and packages. KAWAISHI 40 Deg 19' N - 140 Deg 46' E A-21 Capt. Stuart,
A-35 did not locate camp due to cloud cover. A-21 dropped all supplies in camp or in area adjacent to camp. Camp consisted of two wooden, gray-black, barracks, barracks with letters PW in yellow on roof. PW 325 MEN was seen in white on a hill just west of camp. 150 men were seen in camp yard and 70-75 men outside. All appeared in good condition and very active. HASAWA (?) 40 Deg 09" N - 140 Deg 45' (8?)0" E A-31 Lt. Betz (?),
Eighty-five percent of supplies fell in the camp and the rest nearby. Camp consisted of about 50 prefab size barracks in an area of 2 or 3 acres. Area was fenced and had two sentry posts. Two buildings had PW on roof in yellow. Other roofs had in yellow on black US SULFADIAZINE AND C(O?)ROZONE. Approximately 200 POW seen in fair condition. O(D?)AT(E?) STATION 40 Deg 19' N - 140 Deg 33' E A-14 Lt. Criswell,
Eighty percent of supplies landed within 600' of camp and 20% within 2,000' of camp. Camp consisted of one two-story barracks-type building with two or three sets of PW on roof. Area surrounded by wooden fence. Camp located near quarry and mine. About 100 men in shorts observed. One aircraft dropped into buildings, causing two large holes in roofs. In an open field within stockade, this message was spelled out in white rocks: DROP OUTSIDE - 2 KILLED.
A37 497 BG, crashed in mountain near Oga City, Akita Prefecture, Northern Honshu. Only Cpl. Norman H. Martien, Jr., tail gunner, survived. The crewmembers lost were: 1st Lt. John M. Cripps, Jr. (KIA) Capt. Horace R. Falk (KIA) 2nd Lt. Saul Kolodner (KNB) 2nd Lt. Hugh D. Priestley (or Prestley) (KNB) 2nd Lt. Hiram G. Backman (or Bachman) (KIA) SSgt. Virgil G. Lanning (KIA) SSgt Carol (or Carl) A. Wildner (KIA) Sgt. J.A. Clouser (KIA) Sgt. William A. Blair (KIA) Sgt. Earl E. Heddens (KIA) Pfc. Charles F. Glynn (KIA) The citizens of Oga City erected a memorial for the deceased B29er's and have been keeping in touch with Norman Martien. (from Bill Grindell and Sparky Corradina)
TIAWAN (?) (TAIHOKU CITY) 25 Deg 02' N - 121 Deg 31" E A-42 Capt. Whyte,
At least one-third of supplies landed within stockade and all landed within 200'. Buildings were marked PW. One building had a red cross. 100-150 POW's seen in apparent good condition, waving and giving victory signs. SO. OF LAKE OGAWAHARA (?) 40 Deg ?0' N - 141 Deg 20' E A-30 Lt. Davidson Camp was not located after more than an hour searching in briefed area. Visibility (un?)limited. Supplies returned. KUROSAWAZIRI (?) 39 Deg 16' N - 141" 42' E A-15 Lt. Steele,
All Supplies dropped in rice paddy near camp and prisoners went out to get supplies. Camp consists of one "V"-shaped, two-story building with a small building at each end. Not marked by signs but was marked by six smudge pots. The 300 PW's seemed in good shape.
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Final Note: T Sq 54 may have flown POW relief missions, but the records for these missions are sparse. This airframe returned to the U.S. on 3 Oct 45, was converted to a tanker in 1949, and finally retired in 1956. She was resurrected from China Lake NAWS in 1986 and restored as a static display at Lowry AFB, CO, in 1987. When Lowry AFB closed in the early 90's she was sent to the Seattle Museum of Flight, where she is currently undergoing further restoration |
29 August 1945 (pg 702)
JAPAN:
The occupation of Japan officially begins as an advance party arrives in the Home Islands. When the news of the Japanese proposal for surrender came on 15 Aug, the 68th Army Airways Communications System (AACS) Group, 7th AACS Wing, received orders to fly into Atsugi Airfield near Tokyo and set up the communications equipment necessary to guide in the first contingent of occupation troops. AACSs mission was to provide navigational aids, point-to-point communications with Okinawa, air-to-ground communications for planes in flight, weather data, and air traffic control.
Colonel Gordon Blake quickly assembled a special unit of 5 hand-picked men. Colonel Blake and his AACS men, part of a 150 man task force, flew from Okinawa to Atsugi with 24 C-47 aircraft laden with equipment. In order to carry as much equipment as possible, the load was lightened by carrying only enough fuel to reach Atsugi. Although the Japanese had surrendered unconditionally, Blake and his communicators still did not know whether some might still be hostile.
The sight of hundreds of Japanese Navy guards lined up along the airfield was not encouraging to the occupants of the first aircraft to land, but they were met by a group of courteous, English-speaking Japanese military personnel. The navy guards were in their honor. The AACS-men lost no time in getting operations into full swing, and by 29 Aug, the Atsugi control tower was completed.
The first planes to arrive on 30 Aug were 5 additional C-47s carrying components to set up the first airborne radio station in Air Force history. Within a few hours, the first C-54 aircraft of the official occupation forces landed at Atsugi and by mid-afternoon Blake's AACS crews had directed 340+ takeoffs and landings at the rate of 1 every 2 minutes. On 30 Aug, Atsugi was the busiest airport in the world.
Brief summaries of drops on each camp as follows: FUKUOKA #27 33 Deg 36' N - 130 Deg 58' E A-7 Capt. Walker The camp was identified by the letters PW in red on a tin roof. Supplies were dropped in a cinder pile just outside the stockade. Roofs were lined with prisoners who waved and who apparently expected aircraft. FUKUOKA #22 33 Deg 37' N - 130 Deg 44' E A-2 Lt. Warren This camp consisted of one building about 30' x 50'. It was identified by the leters USPW in white on the ball field adjacent to camp. All supplies landed in camp. The camp was full of people waving and jumping about. POW seemed in good condition. Quarters looked rough. TOKYO #10 35 Deg. 38' N - 140 Deg 07' 30'' E A-45 Capt. Francis Camp was located although not at coordinates given. Those above are correct. Most supplies landed in camp and the remainder in close proximity to camp. POW camp had two separate buildings with red crosses on roofs. About 50 POW were seen. TOKYO #12 35 Deg 16' N - 137 Deg 10' E A-12 Lt. Melody,
Camp was not marked in any way. All supplies landed in clear field adjacent to target. At least 100 POW were seen apparently in fair condition. All ran towards supplies. TARGET OF OPPORTUNITY 35 Deg. 05' N - 136 Deg 58' E A-11 Lt. Werther This crew searched 1 1/2 hours in vain for the Aichi Camp, but located this camp and dropped on it. All supplies landed within 300 yards of camp and the prisoners went directly to them. Camp consisted of 6-8 barracks type buildings surrounded by a wooden wall. Cloth letters PW were seen on top of a building and on the ground. There were approximately 150 POW apparently in good shape. They were climbing buildings and running about.
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30 August 1945 (pg 702)
JAPAN:
The occupation of Japan in force begins when the 11th Airborne Division is flown to Atsugi Airfield and US Marines land at Yokosuka naval base. The 159th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group [attached to 5th Air Liaison Group (Provisional)] moves from Mangaldan, Luzon to Okinawa with UC-64s and L-5s.
Ninety-eight B-29's and 56 P-47's and P-51's fly the first "Display of Force" mission over the Tokyo area.
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31 August 1945 (pg 702)
Ninety-nine B-29's and 60 P-51's fly the second "Display of Force" mission over the Tokyo area.
TOKYO-YOKOHAMA #3 (TOKADANA HABA) A-10 Capt. Wagner,
Evidently this camp had been evacuated since there were no signs of life in the vicinity and the camp appeared deserted. Early aircraft advised other on VHF of this condition and most aircraft dropped on other camps. The following aircraft dropped on this camp: A-7, A-8, A-12, A-31, A-45, and A-53. It is believed that Japanese picked up their supplies. YORKTOWN The following aircraft dropped on the camp marked YORKTOWN: A-10,
All supplies fell within 100 yards of camp. However, most of these crews felt that this camp had also been evacuated and that the people getting supplies were Japanese. Roofs marked PW, ROGER, YORKTOWN, THANKS and one American flag. OTHER CAMPS A-2 and A-4 dropped in other camps south of briefed camp. FUKUOKA #2 - KOYAGE (?) ISLAND A-46 Major Judd,
All aircraft dropped all supplies within 100 yards of camp. Camp consisted of six gray barracks and a yard. There were three PW on the roofs. Both Dutch and French flags were displayed and waved by POW. After drop OK was displayed. Estimates 150-300 POW apparently in good condition. FUKUOKA #3 - KOKURA CITY A-6 Lt. Melody,
Camp was located 2-5 miles northwest of briefed location. All supplies landed in marked area. Open field adjacent to camp marked PW, 1200 MEN DROP HERE. PW also marked on some 20-30 two-story barracks. Some POW may have lived in nearby caves. 400-500 men were seen in apparent good condition. TOKYO-YOKOHAMA #20 - SHIBA (?) PARK A-55 Lt. Davis All supplies returned. Camp area entirely weathered in. OSAKA-KOBE AREA #2 - UMEDA BUSHU (?) A-27 Maj. Ragland,
Nothing was found at briefed coordinates but camp was found at 34 40 30 N - 135 26 E or 34 39 30 N - 135 28 E. Consisted of building 50' - 75' wide and 200' - 300' long. Large PW in white, small PW in yellow. Red, white and blue panels painted on north end. 25 - 40 POW observed. Not much activity. S. HONSHU SHIKOKU (?) #6 - INNOSHIMA (?) ISLAND A-28 Lt. Fetz,
All supplies of A-36 and half of those of A-28 dropped in designated area. Buildings marked PW, 400, PLEASE DROP HERE with arrows about. Some 100 POW were seen in apparent good condition. The other camp in vicinity, dropped on by A-28, was marked PW on ground plus a sign X CREW 23 HERE. FUKUOKA #14 - NAGASAKI A-57 Lt. Wright All supplies within 200 - 300 feet of camp. POW could be seen carrying supplies back to camp. Approximately 40 POW. Camp was an "H" shaped building marked with two sets of PW in yellow plus French Tricolor. After drop OK was displayed. HIMAJI (?) CAMP - HIROHATA (?) VILLAGE A-32 Lt. Stitt All supplies returned. Got within 20 miles of camp but could not continue search due to low overcast. KAWASAKI SUB CAMP #25 A-22 Capt. Moore All supplies returned as 10/10 cloud condition in target area. Base less than 1,000 feet. OFUNA - YAMANOUCHI TOWN A-21 Capt. Stuart All supplies landed on road 50' from camp. Camp consisted of one large building and two smaller ones. PW and 103 in yellow on large building. Wire fence enclosed area. 75 - 100 POW seen. ROSS - 498 on ground. OSAKA (?) - KOBE #6 - AIOSHI A-25 Lt. Hill (Abort),
All supplies returned. A-33 encountered 10/10 cloud condition with base at 400'. Visibility one-quarter mile. HONSHU SHIKOKU, SUB CAMP 8 - ??? MOTOYAMA A-41 Lt. Foster Did not locate camp as briefed but dropped in two other camps nearby (coordinates on Ube Area Mosaic #90.32 (1) 013097 & (2) 008137. All supplies dropped in camps. (1) 25-30 POW seen. In while on roof: PW - DROP SUPPLIES HERE. Camp consisted of eleven dark brown buildings, ten percent of which had French Tricolor on roof. (2) Roughly 400 PW. PW and 400 in white on roof. Parachute spread out on ground plus three arrows. 20 large barracks surrounded by wall.
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