This was a daylight tactical support mission involving 6 planes from the 6th Bomb Group:

During April, eight such tactical missions were flown with an average attacking force of twelve B-29’s.  * * * Miyakonojo Airfield was attacked twice – on the 27th and 28th.

 

[Pirate’s Log, p. 38]

According to the DFC Citation for Cpt Herbert A. Frank, Jr., Aircraft Commander (39BS):

Captain HERBERT A. FRANK, JR, 39th Bombardment Squadron, 6th Bombardment Group, Air Corps, United States Army. For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 28 April 1945. Captain FRANK was Airplane Commander of a B-29 on an important mining mission, the first of a series of highly successful operations against Japanese shipping and in direct support or our naval forces engaged in the Okinawa Campaign. He performed his assigned duties with such a high degree of skill and devotion to duty that, notwithstanding heavy, accurate and intense anti-aircraft fire, he successfully and accurately laid the mines as briefed, seriously interfering with the enemy’s shipping and causing them great losses in men, ships and material both directly and indirectly. Throughout the long and difficult mission he achieved great precision in every detail and brilliantly lead his crew in carrying out their assault to a successful conclusion. By his skill and devotion to duty, Captain FRANK who has completed more than twenty-five combat sorties reflected great credit on himself and the Army Air Forces.

 

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

According to the DFC Citation for Cpt Clayton L. Anderson, Aircraft Commander (40BS):

Captain CLAYTON L. ANDERSON, 40th Bombardment Squadron, 6th Bombardment Group, Air Corps, United States Army.  For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Airplane Commander of a lead B-29 aircraft on two highly successful bombing missions against airfields on Kyushu, Japan, 22 April 1945 and 28 April 1945. Successful accomplishment of these missions was made under adverse weather conditions, in the face of difficult navigational problems, in view of the ever present danger of ditching while crossing thousands of miles of ocean from the base in the Marianas Islands. The flights were subjected to enemy anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition. In spite of these obstacles, he so skillfully led the raid that ninety-seven percent of the bombs on both missions fell within 1000 feet of the designated point of impact. The excellence of his work occurred at a time when every bomb against these airfields helped destroy enemy aircraft which were seriously interfering with the allied campaign on nearby Okinawa. His actions reflect great credit on himself and the Army Air Forces.

 

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