This was a daylight incendiary mission involving 28 planes from the 6th Bomb Group:

Early morning on 1 June found twenty-eight of the Group’s B-29’s airborne against Osaka. Between the assembly point and the target a front was encountered forcing the formations to breakup and reform haphazardly beyond the weather block. In spite of this unexpected difficulty, Osaka had an additional 31.5 square miles burned out while enemy opposition by fighter and flak was only moderate. Six planes were damaged and all returned with no personnel casualties suffered.

 

[Pirate’s Log, p. 44]

According to the DFC Citation for Crew #2415:

For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 1 June 1945. These individuals were combat crew members of a B-29 aircraft which flew on in a daylight high-altitude incendiary raid from a base in the Marianas Islands against important industrial facilities in the city of Osaka, Japan. Despite extremely unfavorable weather conditions causing difficult navigational problems, they joined the formations at the briefed assembly point off the coast of Japan and proceeded to the primary target. During the course of the strike ten aggressive fighter attacks and heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire were encountered. Despite the battle damage caused by both flak and interceptors they maintained their position in close formation, pressing home their bombing of important industrial facilities, including machine shops, iron works, chemical factories, and harbor installations. By the high degree of skill each member of the crew displayed in performance of his assigned duties by devotion to his job and coolness, courage, and teamwork in the face of great danger, these veterans of more than twenty two combat missions, contributed materially to the success of the mission, thereby reflecting great credit both on themselves and the Army Air Forces.

• Captain GEORGE J. SCHWAGER as Airplane Commander
• First Lieutenant WALTER BEREZNOFF as Pilot
• First Lieutenant ROY A. SEFTON as Navigator
• First Lieutenant HARRY K. MASON as Bombardier
• First Lieutenant LYNN C. SHERRILL as Flight Engineer
• Staff Sergeant JOHN BERARDINELLI as Radio Operator
• Technical Sergeant HAROLD C. CHAPMAN as Central Fire Control Gunner
• Staff Sergeant WILLIAM R. DENSON as Radio Operator
• Staff Sergeant LOUIS G. ATHANAS as Right Blister Gunner
• Staff Sergeant IRVING DRYMAN as Left Blister Gunner
• Sergeant DONALD E. LUND as Tail Gunner

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

According to the DFC Citation for Crew #4014:

For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight 1 June 1945 from a base in the Marianas Islands. These individuals were members of the combat crew of a B-29 aircraft on a daylight, high-altitude, incendiary strike against important industrial facilities in the city of Osaka. This second largest city in Japan was one of the principal centers of heavy industry and it was known that its destruction would hamper considerably the enemy’s ability to wage effective warfare. The importance of this objective rendered this mission particularly hazardous, since the area was well defended by fighters and anti-aircraft batteries. During the course of the raid, their formation received thirteen attacks from enemy fighters and encountered heavy flak. Despite formidable opposition, they maintained close formation and pressed the attack home, cascading their bombs precisely on the briefed aiming point and inflicted severe damage. As a result of this raid more than three square miles of the city was destroyed and eleven crucial industrial targets were damaged, including Osaka harbor facilities, which were eighty-five percent destroyed. By their high degree of aeronautical skill, their devotion, superior performance, and their calm efficiency in the face of extreme danger, these veterans of repeated missions over Japan reflect great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.

• First Lieutenant PAUL N. REED as Airplane Commander
• First Lieutenant HAROLD R. WAKEFIELD as Navigator
• First Lieutenant IRVIN D. MORRISON as Bombardier
• Master Sergeant LOYD G. CRAWLEY as Flight Engineer
• Staff Sergeant ROBERT E. REED as Radio Operator
• Staff Sergeant GEORGE N. LEAVESLEY as Radar GunnerStaff Sergeant WILLIAM M. LITZENBERG as Tail Gunner

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