This was an aerial night mining mission involving 24 planes from the 6th Bomb Group:
Two days later another mining mission was flown. This time the “drop area” was Mine Fields “B” and “F” in the Bingo Sea just north of Shikoku Island. Twenty-five airplanes were airborne – one lost an engine after takeoff and was forced to jettison its loan and return early – and planted 201 mines in the Inland Sea. These mines were largely 2,000 pounders with a few 1,000 pounders for shallow water. It was a night operation with mines laid by radar and the radarscope showed excellent results. No aircraft were damaged and all returned without mishap.
[Pirate’s Log, p. 41]
20th AF Mission 150
| Date: | 5 May 1945 |
| Target: | Tokyo Bay Ise Bay Inland Sea |
| Participating Units: | 313th Bombardment Wing |
| Number of A/C Airborne: | 98 |
| % A/C Bombing Primary: | 86% (86 primary and 4 alternate) |
| Type of Bombs and Fuzes: | |
| Tons of Bombs Dropped: | |
| Time Over Primary: | 060015K – 060419K |
| Altitude of Attack: | 4925 – 8400 |
| Weather Over Target: | 7/10 – 8/10 |
| Total A/C Lost: | 0 |
| Resume of Mission: | Mining results were considered good. Operation adds considerably to Japanese shipping problem. The blockade established at Kobe-Osaka area 3 Maj. areas strengthened with additional blockades across the Inland Sea which are expected to last from one to two weeks. Attrition fields were also laid at Tokuyama, Aki, Noda, Hiroshima, Kure, Nagoya and Tokyo. All of these fields are expected to harass, sink and damage Japanese shipping for several weeks. Eight A/C non-effective. Enemy air opposition – 11 E/A sighted with 1attack made. A/A meager and inaccurate. Two aircraft landed at Iwo Jima. Average mine load: 13,078 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 992 gallons. |
