|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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)
|
|
Note:
Shaded boxes show updates and comments from members of our B-29 mailing list, many of whom were there. |
1 November 1944 (page 484)
No actions reported.
2 November 1944 (page 485)
CAROLINE ISLANDS
Seventeen of 20 73rd BW B-29's dispatched from the Marianas attack the submarine pens on Dublon Island, Truk Atoll.
JAPAN
A Saipan based F-13 of the 20th AF 3rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron becomes the first American airplane to fly over Tokyo since the Doolittle raid of April 1942.
3 November 1944 (page 486)
BURMA
Forty-four 58th BW B-29's based near Calcutta, India, attack rail yards at Malagon; approximately 45 B-29's attack alternate targets.
|
4 November 1944 (page 487)
No actions reported.
5 November 1944 (page 487)
EAST INDIES
Seven B-29's from the 58th BW attack a refinery on Sumatra when they were unable to reach their primary target at Singapore.
MALAYA
Fifty-three of 76 B-29's dispatched from the Calcutta area attack the Singapore naval base putting the King George VI Graving Dock (one of the world's best drydocks) out of operation for 3 months. Two B-29's are lost and among the missing is Col. Ted S. Faulkner, the 468th BG commanding officer.
|
VOLCANO ISLANDS
Twenty-four of 36 B-29's dispatched from the 73rd BW on Saipan attack two of Iwo Jima's three airfields. This is the beginning of tactical operations against the island in preparation for the US invasion in Feb '45.
6 November 1944 (page 489)
No actions reported.
7 November 1944 (page 490)
No actions reported.
|
8 November 1944 (page 490)
VOLCANO ISLANDS
Of 17 73rd BW B-29's dispatched against Iwo Jima from bases in the Marianas, only six are able to drop their bombs through holes in the heavy cloud cover. A Japanese A6M drops a phosphorus bobm on the B-29 formation, damaging one B-29. Also, one B-29 ditches on the return flight, the XXI's first operational loss. Only two crewmen are eventually rescued.
|
9 November 1944 (page 491)
No actions reported.
10 November 1944 (page 491)
No actions reported.
11 November 1944 (page 492)
CAROLINE ISLANDS
Eight of nine B-29's dispatched from the 500th BG make their unit's combat debut with an attack against the IJN submarine base on Dublon Island at Truk Atoll. (This is the last of the 73rd BW's six combat-familiarization missions.)
JAPAN
Failing to receive a recall order, 29 of 96 58th BW B-29's dispatched from Chengtu attack Omura with radar through heavy clouds. More that 40 others bomb the target of last resort Nanking and various alternates targets and targets of opportunity. Results are negligible, and five B-29's are lost in the day's operations, including one that lands in the Soviet Union.
|
12 November 1944 (page 494)
No actions reported.
13 November 1944 (page 494)
No actions reported.
|
Lee Florence's Diary:
"Arrived Saipan Island Marianas Island Nov. 13, 1944." (Later notes: "We were advised to dig foxholes next to our Quonset hut as soon as possible. Our hut contained the officers of our crew and those of Capt. Brashear's crew.") |
14 November 1944 (page 495)
No actions reported.
15 November 1944 (page 495)
No actions reported.
|
Lee Florence's Diary:
Saipan Nov. 15, 1944 "Ist briefing for 'TOKYO' Nakajima Engine Plant" |
16 November 1944 (page 496)
No actions reported.
17 November 1944 (page 497)
MARIANAS
The initial combat mission against Japan by the 73rd BW is grounded by bad weather over Saipan.
18 November 1944 (page 497)
MARIANAS
The initial combat mission against Japan by the 73rd BW is again grounded by bad weather over Saipan.
19 November 1944 (page 498)
MARIANAS
The initial combat mission against Japan by the 73rd BW is again grounded by bad weather over Saipan.
20 November 1944 (page 499)
MARIANAS
The initial combat mission against Japan by the 73rd BW is again grounded by bad weather over Saipan.
21 November 1944 (page 500)
JAPAN
Sixty-one of 109 B-29's dispatched from the 58th BW at Chengtu attack an aircraft factory at Omura with 199 tons of bombs; 13 B-29's bomb Shanghai and several others hit alternates and targets of opportunity. Six B-29's are lost in the day's operations, including one that lands in the Soviet Union and 27 Japanese fighters are claimed shot down. (This mission turns out to be the XX BC's largest of the war.)
|
MARIANAS
The initial combat mission against Japan by the 73rd BW is again grounded by bad weather over Saipan.
22 November 1944 (page 500)
MARIANAS
The initial combat mission against Japan by the 73rd BW is again grounded by bad weather over Saipan.
23 November 1944 (page 501)
MARIANAS
The initial combat mission against Japan by the 73rd BW is again grounded by bad weather over Saipan.
24 November 1944 (page 502)
JAPAN
Of 111 73rd BW B-29s dispatched on the XXI BC maiden attack against targets in Japan, 24 attack the primary target, the Musashino aircraft plant in Tokyo, 59 attack port facilities and urban areas in Tokyo, five attack targets of last resort, 17 abort on their way to the target, and six are unable to release their bombs owing to a variety of mechanical problems. (The mission is led by 73rd BW Commanding General, BGen Emmett O'Donnell Jr., piloting DAUNTLESS DOTTY, copiloted by Major Robert K. Morgan, formerly the pilot of the famed B-17, MEMPHIS BELLE).
Several 3rd Photo Recon Sq. F-13s support the attack by confusing Japanese radars. One B-29 crashes into the sea off Honshu after being rammed by a Japanese fighter, shearing off it's elevator and right horizontal stabilizer (the first XXI BC B-29 lost to action against the Japanese); and another ditches after running out of fuel; B-29 gunners claim 7 aircraft downed. Also, 8 B-29's are damaged by ground fire and 3 others are damaged by fire from other B-29's. Personnel losses are 1 killed, 11 missing and four wounded.
|
|
Lee Florence's Diary:
"Saipan Nov.24, 1944 Tokyo Mission Returned short of target. Engine failure." |
Navigator's Notes: "After every one of our thirty five missions our navigator would immediately recap the trip on a small 3X5note pad. Each trip we made was numbered and included the date, target, altitude, type of mission, take off and landing times, flight time, cumulated time. type and strength of enemy opposition and other revent remarks. Some of them are quite interesting. Demo = demolition bombs. Mission 1:
| |
25 November 1944 (page 502)
No actions reported.
26 November 1944 (page 503)
No actions reported.
|
Lee Florence's Diary:
"Saipan Nov. 26, 1944 Briefing for Tokyo Nakajima Engine Plant" |
27 November 1944 (page 504)
JAPAN
Of 81 73rd Very Heavy Bombardment Wing B-29's dispatched from the Marianas against two Tokyo area aircraft plants, 19 abort, 49 attack cloud-obscured port facilities and urban areas (secondaries) with the aid of radar; seven B-29s attack Hamamatsu (target of opportunity); and six attack targets of last resort. Results are negligible and one B-29 is lost with its entire crew.
|
MARIANAS
At 0005 hours, two Japanese G4Ms based at Iwo Jima attack the B-29 base at Saipan Isely Field. One 499th BG B-29 is destroyed and eleven are damaged.
At 1210 hours, 17 Japanese A6Ms based on Iwo Jima attack the same target. Nearly all the attacking aircraft are downed by AA or defensive fighters, but 3 B-29s are destroyed or damaged beyond repair.
|
|
|
Lee Florence's Diary:
"Saipan Nov. 27, 1944 0300 Two Jap twin engine bombers strafed field and demolished our plane. Neither enemy was seen destroyed. Alert lasted one hour." (1995 Comments: "Our plane was Model # B-29-15 Serial # 42-63438 mfgd by Bell, Marietta. We had called the plane "Hell's Bell. Plane was fully loaded with fuel, bombs, all our gear and flight clothing.") "Nov. 27, 1944 1215 Another enemy raid on our field, and three B-29s were destroyed. Raid was accomplished with Jap pursuit planes-'Zekes'. One was seen to crash on field, and another crashed in flames 100 yds from barracks." (1995 comments: "After trying to get into someone else's fox hole, we decided we had better dig our own. I don't remember who else was involved, but we dug a hole big enough for three, and put a roof over it to protect from falling shrapnel.") |
| |
28 November 1944 (pg 505)
No actions reported.
29 November 1944
JAPAN
During the night of 29-30 November, 24 of 29 73rd BW B-29s attack port areas and industrial targets around Tokyo with the aid of radar; and 2 B-29s attack targets of last resort in Namazu and Yokohama. Results are negligible, and 1 B-29 is lost.
|
|
Lee Florence's Diary:
"Nov. 29th, 1944 0115 Two hour air raid alert, evidently caused by high flying Jap observation plane. No planes downed." (Later comments: "We don't have a plane, so our main activity is dodging the Japanese bombs ... Used the foxhole.") |
30 November 1944 (pg 506-507) No actions reported
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||