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

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) and, “USAAF Chronology: Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces” by Jack McKillop (Piscataway, NJ). Also on line at Rutgers University.

Note: Shaded boxes show updates and comments from members of our B-29 mailing list, many of whom were there.

16 JUNE 1945 (pg 663)

No actions reported.

17 JUNE 1945 (pg 664)

INDIA:

The XX BC headquarters begins a movement from Kharagpur to Okinawa.

JAPAN:

Five missions were flown:

(Mission 205) Twenty-five B-29's mine the Shimonoseki Strait and waters around Kobe; 2 others mine alternate targets.

(Mission 206) One hundred seventeen B-29's attack the Kagoshima urban area and 1 hits an alternate target. Two square miles of the city are destroyed. One B-29 is lost:

44-69845, 19th Bomb Group, MACR 14893, Brewer Crew, 11 KIA. Crashed in the sea near Kashiwa Island, Ouchi Town, Katta County. Kochi Prefecture.

(Mission 207) One hundred sixteen B-29's hit the Omuta urban area and 3 hit alternate targets. Only .2 square mile was destroyed or 4.1% of the city.

(Mission 208) One hundred thirty B-29's hit the Hamamatsu urban area; 2.5 square miles were destroyed.

(Mission 209) Eighty-nine B-29's attack the Yokkaichi urban area; 1.25 square miles are destroyed.

Lee Florence's Diary: T.O. 1945 for incind raid on Hamamatsu. Bombed at 0325, June 18. Undercast over city. Results unobserved. No fighters. Very little flak. Smoke over 20,000'. Bombed at 10,000'.

Ray Brashear's Navigator Notes: (Beginning of small town raids and milk runs.) Mission 26: 6/19/45 (?) Hamamatsu Night incend 8400' 1935-0815 1240 40155 Opposition --nil 76% burned out.

T Square 54: Mission #27: Capt. Cruce, Hamamatsu Urban area, 70% destroyed.

18 JUNE 1945 (pg 665)

No actions reported.

19 JUNE 1945 (pg 665)

JAPAN:

Four missions were flown during the night of 19-20 June:

(Mission 210) One hundred thirty-six 58th BW B-29's hit the Toyohashi urban area destroying 1.7 square miles.

(Mission 211) Two hundred twenty-one 73rd and 313th BW B-29's attack the Fukuoka urban area destroying 1.37 square miles; 2 other B-29's attack other targets.

(Mission212) One hundred twenty-three 314th BW B-29's attack the Shizuoka urban area destroying 2.25 square miles; 1 other hits an alternate target. One B-29 is lost.

(Mission 213) Twenty-eight 505th BG B-29's sow mines in the Shimonoseki Strait and off Maizuru, Miyazu and Niigata. One B-29 is lost.

42-65373 39th BG, MACR 14833, Hopkins Crew, 11 KIA 44-69881 29 BG, MACR 14880, Everdon Crew, 12 KIA 42-63396 "Pretty Baby aka Marietta Belle" 40th BG crashed Tinian ran off runway According to the "History of the 39th BG" by Robert Laird (P-5): "Two of the aircraft did not return with the others. One was Crew 42 of the 39th Bomb Group and one from the 29th Bomb Group. They collided and crashed near the Abe River, about 150 miles south of Tokyo. A Japanese citizen Mr. Ito found two surviving crewmen and tried to help them. These two men died of their injuries so Mr. Ito buried the two flyers at a Shinto Shrine at the base of Mt. Sengen and gave them a Shinto burial. This act took great courage because it was the violating the military law; all enemies, dead or alive were to be turned over to the authorities. For this act, Mr. Ito was labeled a traitor and forced to live in disgrace until the war's end. "Following the war, Ito built a monument to the Japanese citizens killed in that raid and wanted to erect one for the airmen who lost their lives. He needed to inscribe their names, and according to his religion, the matter had to be resolved within thirty (30) years. The efforts to get the names began a warm and strong relationship between the Japanese and the Americans that still continues today." 42-65373 39th BG MACR 14833 Hopkins Crew 11 KIA Crew 42 Capt Donald G. Hopkins - Airplane Commander F/O William G. Joyce - Pilot F/O Kenneth E. Durham - Navigator F/O Maurice E. Powsner - Bombardier F/O Maurice E. Long - Radar Specialist M/Sgt Gerald J. Kuehler - Flight Engineer S/Sgt Edward J. Mose - Radio Operator S/Sgt Thomas G. Ulrich - CFC Specialist Sgt Kenneth Colli - Right Gunner Sgt Justin J. Patsey - Left Gunner Sgt Raymond E. Barczak - Tail Gunner 29th Bomb Group they collided with: F/O Tim Arhutick Sgt Ernest D. Bergeron F/O Monroe M. Cohen Cpl Herbert A. Kellogg Sgt John Puciloski Cpl William B. Stockburger, Jr. Cpl John W. Cameron 1st Lt Waldo Carl Everdon Cpl Arthur J. Morretta 2nd Lt John J. O'Connor 2nd Lt Edwin A. Rodeheffer, Jr. 2nd Lt Newton Earle Towle, Jr.

	Lee Florence's Diary: T .0. 1745 for incind raid on Fukuoka. Bombed at 0115. Clear over target. No fighters. Moderate flak. Large fires observed on target. Bomb alt. 9000'.	Ray Brashear's Navigator Notes: Mission 27: 6/20/45 9400' Fukuoka, Kyushu Night Fire 1720-0700 1340 41535 Opposition-Mod to intense light flak CAVU over target. Lost life raft on take-off. The boys worked an hour getting the door closed. Ours and the 313th Wing did a good job on the A.P.s
	T Square 54: Mission #28: Capt. Cruce, Fukuoka urban area.

20 JUNE 1945 (pg 667)

No actions reported.

21 JUNE 1945 (pg 667)

JAPAN:

22 JUNE 1945 (pg 670)

JAPAN:

Six missions are flown:

(Mission 215) One hundred and sixty-two 58th and 73rd BW B-29's attack the Kure Naval Arsenal and 12 others hit alternate targets. Seventy-two percent of the roof area of the arsenal is damaged. Two B-29's are lost.

(Mission 216) One hundred eight 314th BW B-29's hit the Mitsubishi plant at Tamashima destroying half the machinery and buildings. Ten other B-29's hit alternate targets. Two B-29's are lost.

(Mission 217) Fifty-two 314th BW B-29's hit the Kawanishi aircraft plant at Himeji destroying the majority of the buildings and all the machinery; 4 hit alternate targets.

(Missions 218 and 219) Thirty-four 314th BW B-29's hit the Mitsubishi and Kawasaki aircraft plants at Kagamigahara and 10 hit other targets. One B-29 is lost.

(Mission 220) Twenty-five 313th BW B-29's hit the Kawasaki aircraft factory at Akashi and 1 hits an alternate target.

Aircraft lost: 42-93955 330th BG, 458 Sq, K-32, Crashed attempting to return to Guam after engine problems soon after take off. CFC 1st Lt Wallace F Howard (survived) AC Capt Carl R Bauer P 1st Lt James D Gilbert N 2nd Lt Gordon E Kimball B 1st Lt Jett W Foster RDR 2nd Lt Leslie A Evans Jr FE MSG Luther M Justice RO SG Ralph W Dugan RG SG Richard A Morell LG SG Elmer Kalman TG SG Donald A Olson (More info on recent recovery of wreck and bodies here.) 44-69893 "Maximum Effort III", 19th BG, MACR 14918, Miller Crew, 11 KIA: Shot down offshore Gobo City, Wakyama Prefecture after bombing Mitsubishi Aircraft Factory in Mizushima, Okayama Prefecture. 42-24882 504th BG, MACR 14907, Bugge Crew: Kawasaki Aircraft Factory, Kagamihara, Gifu Prefecture. Attacked by Japanese fighters and crashed in Nagashima Town, Kuwana County, Mie Prefecture. - 2 KIA, 9 POW: Moved to Tokai Army Headquarters and beheaded there on 14 July. 1st Lt. Robert H. Bugge 1st Lt. William C. Muldoon 2nd Lt. John H. Nuttman 2nd Lt. Walter S. Roper 2nd Lt. Roger W. Squire M/Sgt. George N. Davis S/Sgt. Jack K. Merrill S/Sgt. Billy J. Nichols Sgt. John H. Cox Sgt. Maurice W. DuBois Sgt. Thurman E. Newland 44-70084 468th BG, MACR 14672, Melson Crew: Shot down by AA fire and crashed in Yoshino, Kanda-cho, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture. 7 KIA, 4 POW: Sgt. Theodore Prince died of his wounds the night of his capture. The remaining 3 POWs were moved to Kure Naval Headquarters then to Ofuna POW Camp and imprisoned there. The were liberated after the war. 42-93955 "Colleen", 330th BG, Bauer Crew: Crashed landed on Guam; all survived.

Lee Florence's Diary: T.0. 0300 for demo raid on Kure Naval Base. Bombed at 1115. No fighters--intense flak-purple, yellow, red, white, and black. We led group. No damage to our plane. Results excellent. Alt. 18,000'

T Square 54: Mission #29: Day attack on Kure Naval Arsenal, 72% destroyed. 1(?) B-29 lost, 16 damaged.

RYUKYU ISLANDS:

The final major Kamikaze attack of the Okinawa campaign severely damages two landing ships. (Organized Japanese resistance on Okinawa collapses.)

23 JUNE 1945 (pg 672)

JAPAN:

(Mission 221) During the night of 23-24 June, 26 505th BG B-29's mine the harbors of Fukuoka, Karatsu, Sakai, and Niigata. One B-29 is lost.

One B-29 crashed on take off; all survived.

24 JUNE 1945 (pg 672)

No actions reported.

25 JUNE 1945 (pg 673)

JAPAN:

(Mission 222) During the night of 25-26 June, 26 505th BG B-29's mine the Shimonoseki Strait, Maizuru Harbor and off Obama Island.

26 JUNE 1945 (pg 673)

JAPAN:

Five hundred and ten B-29's and 148 P-51's fly 9 missions against aircraft factories, industrial targets and arsenals in Southern Honshu and Shikoku. Six B-29's and one P-51.

(Mission 223) Sixty-four 58th BW B-29's hit the light metal industry at Osaka and 4 hit other targets.

(Mission 224) One hundred nine 73rd BW B-29's attack the Osaka Arsenal; 3 others hit alternate targets.

(Mission 225) Thirty-one 313th BW B-29's hit the Kawasaki aircraft plant at Akashi; 5 others hit alternate targets.

(Missions 226 and 227) Fifty-eight 314th BW B-29's attack the Nagoya Arsenal; 6 others hit alternate targets. One B-29 is lost.

(Missions 228 and 231) Eighty-five 314th BW B-29's hit the Kawasaki aircraft plant at Kagamigahara; 23 others hit alternate targets. Two B-29's are lost.

(Mission 229) Fifty 313th BW B-29's attack the Aichi Aircraft Plant at Eitoku and 14 others hit targets of opportunity. Two B-29's are lost.

(Mission 230) Twenty-nine 313th BW B-29's hit the light metal industry at Nagoya and 2 hit targets of opportunity. The B-29's claim 20 Japanese fighters destroyed. The Osaka and Nagoya missions are escorted. P-51's claim 2-0-5 aircraft. One P-51 is lost.

(Mission 232) During the night of 26-27 June, 33 B-29's from the 16th BG, in their first mission, attack the Utsube Oil refinery at Yokkaichi; one B-29 hits an alternate target.

44-69655 499th BG, MACR 14911, Newell Crew. Shot down by Japanese fighter in Miyama Village, Hidaka County, Wakayama Prefecture after bombing Osaka Army Arsenal. 2 KIA:        James P. Newell      John S. Combs 9 POW - They were moved to Osaka Kempei Tai Headquarters: Sgt. Richard H. Willis: Executed or died from the disease. 1st Lt. David W. Cobb: Executed 1st Lt. Paul L. Sephen: Executed M/Sgt. Leo G. Copulos: Executed Sgt. John N. Wall: Executed Sgt. Francis R. Jiber: Executed Sgt. Robert L. Pellicott: Executed 1st Lt. Louis W. Lehnen: Executed at Jonan rifle range in Osaka City on or about 5 August 1945. 1st Lt. Harold Cobb: Executed at Sanadayama Military Cemetery in Osaka City on 15 August 1945. 44-69873 (M-13), 19 BG, Kordus's crew. 9 or 10 KIA, and 1 or 2 POW: A/C: 1st Lt Ben Kordus Pilot: 2nd Lt Phillip DeFrates Nav: F/O Harold Blake Jr Bombardier: F/O Edwin Kushner Radio: 2nd Lt Albine Baltrus FE: Cpl James McCord Radar: Cpl Lamar Valmont CFC: Cpl Frank Benuska RG: Cpl Dudley Harkins LG: Cpl Robert Gaffney TG: Cpl Lester Shelters POW: executed on 14 July 1945. from a letter from Yasuo Kumoi 09-08-93: "The air combat took place in the prefecture where I live. The ramming pilot was 2Lt Yutaka Nakagawa of the 56 fighter regiment, Army. He flew a Japanese Army fighter 'Tony'. He dived and rammed the B-29. He was 24 years old. Eleven American officers were on the B-29. Nine were killed, two parachuted and were sent to Nagoya." In a second letter dated 12-02-93, Yasuo said "Cl Lester Shelters (tail gunner) had survived the crash and was taken to Nagoya where he was executed." Yasuo Kumoi 44-69936, 504th BG, MACR 14996, Pitts Crew 4 KIA: Maj. John Carr S/Sgt. Robert P. Demeritt Sgt. Paul H. Wilbern 1st Lt. Gilbert J. Finn 7 Rescued: Capt. William Pitts 2nd Lt. Theodore Romak 2nd Lt. Robin Stevenson 2nd Lt. Burton C. Coit Cpl. Robert W. Thomas Cpl. Robert G. Roberts S/Sgt. Charles D. O'Grady 44-70109 504th BG, MACR 14940, Crowe Crew 4 KIA Maj. Edwin B. Crowe 2nd Lt. Alcide L. Shaw S/Sgt. Austin D. Ryer, Jr.A Sgt. Walter R. Westphal 8 Rescued 1st LT. Chester G. Kiesel 1st Lt. James R. Kennedy 1st Lt. Robert E. Conner S/Sgt. Leonard R. Poterck S/Sgt. Guy C. Winks S/Sgt. Dono J. Ruggeri S/Sgt. Donald M. Sinclair Lt. Col. Howard F. Hugos

Ray Brashear's Navigator Notes: Mission 28: 6/26/45 Osaka Arsenal Day demo 23000' 0250-1640 1350 42925 Opposition -nil Solid undercast. Lead the squadron and had pretty good run. But no pictures.

27 JUNE 1945 (pg 674)

JAPAN:

(Mission 233) During the night of 27-28 June, 29 505th BG B-29's mine the harbors of Hagi, Kobe, and Niigata.

28 JUNE 1945 (pg 674)

JAPAN:

During the night of 28-29 June, four hundred and eighty-seven B-29's fly 4 missions against secondary cities. One B-29 is lost.

(Mission 234) One hundred thirty-eight 58th BW B-29's attack Okayama destroying 2.13 square miles or 63% of the city. One B-29 is lost.

(Mission 235) One hundred forty-one 73rd BW B-29's attack the hit Sasebo destroying .97 square miles or 48% of the city area; two others hit alternate targets.

2 B-29s lost, mission #234: 44-61573 Triangle I 6, 468th BG, MACR 14691, Morris Crew, Crashed in Miyaura, Koura Village, Kojima County, Okayama Prefecture. 11 KIA. 44-61537 58th BW, 468th BG, Crashed in Miyaura Koura Village, Kojima County, Okayama Prefecture. 11 KIA: 1st Lt. Melvin W. Morris - KIA Pfc. Robert F. Ardeleau - KIA 2nd Lt. Vernon B. Black - KIA 2nd Lt. Ernest B. Drew - KIA S/Sgt. Francis B. Hexder - KIA Cpl. Rixby J. LeBare - KIA 2nd Lt. Bernard S. O'Neil - KIA Cpl. George B. Patty - KIA Cpl. Augustus L. Polacco - KIA Sgt. Charles R. Shaler - KIA 2nd Lt. Thomas N. Wells - KIA

	Lee Florence's Diary: T .0. 1845 for incind raid on Sasebo on Kyushu. Bombed at 0214 the 29th. Mod. flak-no fighters. Large fires over target. 10,000' Bmb. Alt.	Ray Brashear's Navigator Notes: Mission 29: 6/29/45 Sasebo Night incend. 10,500 1835--0910 1435 44400 Fighters--Nil Flak--Moderate inacc 8/10 undercast We had the jamming datail and circled the target at 15.000 for 40 minutes.
	T Square 54: Mission #30: Capt. Cruce, Sasebo urban area.

(Mission 236) Ninety-one 313th BW B-29's hit Moji destroying .3 square miles or 27% of the city. Three attack alternate targets.

(Missions 237) One hundred seventeen 314th BW B-29's attack Nobeoka destroying .52 square miles or 36% of the city area.

29 JUNE 1945 (pg 674)

JAPAN:

Two missions are flown during the night of 29-30 June:

(Mission 238) Thirty-two 315th BW B-29's drop 209 tons of bombs on the Nippon Oil Company refinery at Kudamatsu.

(Mission 239) Twenty-five 505th BG B-29's sow mines in Shimonoseki Strait and waters around Maizuru and Sakata.

30 JUNE 1945 (pg 675)

MARIANAS:

The Guam based 502nd BG makes it's first combat mission to the bypassed Japanese base at Rota Island.

(The 509th Composite Group begins combat flight training from Tinian. For most crews this involves 5 - 6 practice missions and navigation training flights to Iwo Jima, bombing Rota Island and Guguan Island, Truk Atoll and Marcus Island.)

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