This was a radar search for enemy shipping mission involving 8 planes from the 6th Bomb Group:
Following the Truk mission the Sixth flew a series of three radar search missions on the 11th, 12th and 14th of February in cooperation with the Navy to determine the amount and type of Jap shipping between Tinian and the Empire. This was in preparation for the Navy’s carrier-based strikes. Observations were made visually and by radar.
[Pirate’s Log, p. 29]
20th Af Mission 30
Date:
11 February 1945
Code Name:
Sea Search # 1
Target:
60 miles each side L 135 degrees east - 148 degrees east L 30 degrees north
Participating Units:
313th BW
Number of A/C Airborne:
9
% A/C Bombing Primary:
88% (8 A/C)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes:
Tons of Bombs Dropped:
Time Over Primary:
111518K (ETA over search area)
Altitude of Attack:
3,000 feet
Weather Over Target:
10/10 overcast
Total A/C Lost:
0
Resume of Mission:
Nine aircraft to search for enemy picket boats. One early return. Search area 10/10 overcast radar used. AA - Sofu-Gan heavy, meager and inaccurate. Enemy convoy - heavy, meager and inaccurate. No enemy fighter opposition. Enemy convoy of 4 DD, 2 tankers, and 5 freighters sighted at 29 degrees, 29 minutes north - 140 degrees 20 minutes east. No bomb load. Average gas reserve: unavailable.
