This was a daylight precision mission involving 12 planes from the 6th Bomb Group:

Three precision attacks with high explosive GP bombs were made in April. * * * Another, against the Hitachi aircraft engine plant at Tokyo on the 24th * * * [was] carried out with only twelve * * * aircraft * * *.

[Pirate’s Log, p. 38]

According to the DFC Citation for Crew #2413 “Jake’s Jernt”:

For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight 24 April 1945. These individuals were combat crew members of a B-29 airplane based in the Marianas Islands, leading a formation in a daylight medium altitude strike against a high priority target, the Hitachi aircraft engine works, near Tachikawa, Japan. Taking their heavily loaded bomber off smoothly at night, this crew effected assembly at the designated point. On the approach to the target, intense flak was encountered, so deadly that all planes in the formation suffered hits. Twenty-seven aggressive and determined attacks by enemy aircraft were encountered. Their plane had more than forty holes shot in it’s engine nacelles, wings, and fuselage, and all aileron controls were jammed. Despite this battle damage, the crew maintained close formation, pressed home the attack, and assisted in destroying a considerable part of the factory. Reconnaissance photographs showed more than fifty percent of the roof burned out. The flight back to base in the crippled plane was skillfully and successfully accomplished by alternately cutting the power in the several engines. By their coolness and determination in the face of great danger, their individual skill, and their efficiency and teamwork, these veterans of more than twenty-three missions against Japan, reflected great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.

 

• Captain JACOB R. SCHAD as Airplane Commander
• First Lieutenant CLARENCE E. REIN as Navigator
• First Lieutenant MARSHALL E. SEDDON as Bombardier
• First Lieutenant CHARLES A. SCHLOSSER as Flight Engineer
• Staff Sergeant WILLIAM G. BUCKLEY as Radar Gunner
• Staff Sergeant JACK W. HIGHFILL as Radio Operator
• Staff Sergeant WILBUR D. KITTINGER as Central Fire Control Gunner
• Staff Sergeant THOMAS J. FISHER as Right Gunner
• Staff Sergeant WEBSTER SINGER JR, as Left Gunner
• Sergeant RICHARD G. LUCAS as Tail Gunner

[Transcribed by David Wilson, son of Sgt Bernard E. Wilson (Gunner, “Anonymous IV”)]

According to the DFC Citation for Crew #3905 “Look Homeward Angel”:

For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight 24 April 1945. These individuals were combat crew members of a B-29 based in the Marianas Islands attacking an enemy installation, the Hitachi aircraft company, located near Tachikawa, Japan. Taking off in darkness, this crew flew on the briefed course and effected assembly at the designated time and place off the coast of Japan. Upon making landfall at Numazu, heavy, intense and accurate flak opposition was encountered. The lead aircraft was severely damaged, necessitating its withdrawal from the formation. The plane flown by this crew was likewise damaged, as were all other aircraft in the formation. In addition, they underwent twenty-seven aggressive attacks by fighters. Despite this determined opposition and a cover of haze over the target, they pressed home their attack, making a well-controlled bomb run and dropping their projectiles accurately on the target. They played a large part in the destruction of this aircraft factory, as proved by photographs which show fifty-four percent of the total roof area destroyed. By their coolness and courage in the face of great danger, their determination to accomplish their mission successfully despite all opposition, and their high degree of individual skill, these veterans of repeated assaults against the Japanese homeland reflect great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.

 

• First Lieutenant JOHN D. RALPH as Airplane Commander
• Second Lieutenant JOHN J. ULLMAN as Navigator
• First Lieutenant LESTER SCHWARTZ as Bombardier
• First Lieutenant VICTOR A. STEINMETZ as Flight Engineer
• Technical Sergeant PAUL F. SAVAGE (then Staff Sergeant) as Central Fire Control Gunner
• Staff Sergeant RAYMOND J. RADOMSKI as Radar Operator
• Staff Sergeant WILLIAM T. HAMER as Radio Operator
• Staff Sergeant JERRY S. BENESH (then Sergeant) as Right Blister Gunner
• Staff Sergeant WILLIAM S. SANTAVICCA (then Sergeant) as Left Blister Gunner
• Staff Sergeant RICHARD M. SIDDERS (then Sergeant) as Tail Gunner

[Transcribed by David Wilson, son of Sgt Bernard E. Wilson (Gunner, “Anonymous IV”)]