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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. |
1 FEBRUARY 1945 The final assault: (VJ - 213 days)
MALAYA
(Mission 33) Sixty-seven of 113 B-29's dispatched from the 58th BW attack the Admiralty IX Floating Drydock (and a vessel moored next to it) at Singapore; 21 B-29's attack the West Wall area of the Singapore naval base; and 21 attack several alternate targets at Martaban, Burma and George Town, Maylaya. The B-29's claim 3-4-14 Japanese aircraft. Two B-29's are lost.
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2 FEBRUARY 1945
No actions reported.
3 FEBRUARY 1945
No actions reported.
4 FEBRUARY 1945
JAPAN
(Mission 26) Sixty-nine B-29's of the 110 dispatched from the 73rd and 313th BW's attack the Kobe urban area; and 30 B-29's attack targets of opportunity and last resort including 15 hitting Natsusaka. This is the first mission over Japan by groups of the 313th BW (30 B-29's from the 504th and 505th BG's). Almost 200 attacking fighters down one B-29 and damage 35 others. One other B-29 crashes on landing at Saipan. B-29's claim 4-20-39 Japanese aircraft.
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5 FEBRUARY 1945
No actions reported.
6 FEBRUARY 1945
No actions reported.
7 FEBRUARY 1945
FRENCH INDOCHINA
(Mission 34) Forty-four of 67 B-29's dispatched from the 58th BW attack Saigon (11 drop prematurely and 33 hit a residential area); 19 attack targets of opportunity in and around Phnom Penh; and two B-29's attack a marshalling yard at Martaban (Burma) as a target of last resort. B-29's claim 0-0-1 Japanese aircraft. One B-29 was lost.
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THAILAND
(Mission 35) Fifty-eight of 64 B-29's dispatched from the 58th BW attack the Rama VI in Bangkok causing most of the middle span to collapse and destroying the NE approach (this is the 3rd strike at this target); one B-29 attacks a marshalling yard in Martaban (Burma) as a target of last resort.
8 FEBRUARY 1945
CAROLINE ISLANDS
(Mission 27) Thirty of 31 B-29's from the 313th BG Airfield No. 1 on Moen Island in Truk Atoll. CBI - In India, HQ 58th BW moves from Kharagpur to Higli Base Area.
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Saipan Briefed for aircraft factory at Ota near Tokyo. |
9 FEBRUARY 1945
CAROLINE ISLANDS
(Mission 28) Twenty-nine B-29's from the 9th BG attack Moen Island in Truk Atoll for the second consecutive day, bombing airfield number 2.
10 FEBRUARY 1945
JAPAN
(Mission 29) Eighty-four of 118 B-29's dispatched from the 73rd and 313th BW's attack the Nakajima aircraft plant at Ota and 14 attack other targets. Gunners claim 21-15-26 Japanese aircraft. Eleven of the 12 B-29's lost on the mission succumb to operational accidents and mechanical failures.
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Took off for Ota at 0730. Trip made OK to IP. We were leading third element, 1st squadron. Fighters attacked at IP. Explosive cannon shell hit below radio operator, severely wounding radio man Sorth. Engine control cables were severed. Engines 3 & 4 were out. On way out to coast we were continually attacked. Guiot managed to get engine 4 started by manipulating cables. We were ready to ditch plane 600 miles from base. Guiot managed to transfer enough gas to get us in. Sorth received multiple shrapnel wounds in both legs and left arm. He will recover OK. Plane was V-12. Flight time 15:15. Sorth was professional pianist. Guiot received Silver Star Medal and Scarbrough a DFC. |
11 FEBRUARY 1945
BURMA
(Mission 36) Fifty-six B-29's of 59 dispatched from the XX BC along with B-24's from the 7th BG bomb storage dumps around Rangoon; they claim 0-0-3 Japanese aircraft.
MARIANAS
(Mission 30) Nine B-29's carry out a reconnaissance mission for the US Navy; 1 B-29 returns early; the area searched covered 135-00N to 148-00E to 30-00N.
12 FEBRUARY 1945
VOLCANO ISLANDS
(Mission 31) Twenty-one B-29's from the 313th BW using radar guidance and from high altitude attack defensive gun emplacements on Iwo Jima with 84 ton of bombs in preparation for the amphibious invasion scheduled for 19 Feb. Results are negligible.
MARIANAS
(Mission 32) Ten B-29's fly a reconnaissance mission for the US Navy covering from 135-00E to 148-00E and to 30-00N. One B-29 is lost.
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In its first combat mission since returning to the war zone as a B-29 unit, the 314th BW's, 19th BG attacks ground targets on Rota Island.
13 FEBRUARY 1945
No actions reported.
14 FEBRUARY 1945
MARIANAS
(Mission 33) Six B-29's again carry out a reconnaissance mission for the US Navy, covering the area northward from the base line at 28-02N 145-55E to 28-44N 148-00E. One B-29 was lost.
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15 FEBRUARY 1945
JAPAN
(Mission 34) Thirty-three of 117 XXI BC B-29's dispatched attack the Mitsubishi aircraft engine plant at Nagoya; 54 B-29's attack Hamamatsu (target of last resort); and 16 B-29's attack various targets of opportunity and last resort. B-29's claim 7-8-23 Japanese aircraft. One B-29 is lost.
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Morning--Briefed for Weather Strike mission to Tokyo. Took off at 1930 in V- 30 with 12- 500 lb bombs. Took off on instruments and stayed on them until coast was reached. Dropped radar rope from 150 miles out from the coast. Radar went out and we bombed target of opportunity near Nagoya. Few search lights and no ack-ack. Rope was evidently screen for naval task force that strafed and shelled Tokyo at dawn. Our bombs were dropped at 0330 the 16th. Return uneventful. Flight time 13:15 (Note: Rope was a tinfoil like material which confused enemy radars.) |
WESTERN PACIFIC
As the Iwo Jima invasion fleet and Task Force 58 move toward their objective, XXI BC B-29's and USN PB4Y's based in the Marianas scout ahead in order to clear the air and sea lanes of Japanese aircraft and shipping.
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