This was a radar incendiary mission involving 25 planes from the 6th Bomb Group:
June 15 found the Sixth returning to the incendiary missions with an attack on Amagasaki, just west of Osaka. Weather again played havoc with the formation and made visual bombing impossible, but fortunately eliminated most of the Jap opposition. Damage was small with only 0.76 sq mi of the urban area destroyed.
[Pirate’s Log, p. 47]
20th AF Mission 192
| Date: | 15 June 1945 |
| Target: | Osaka-Amagasaki Urban Area |
| Participating Units: | 58th BW 73rd BW 313th BW 314th BW |
| Number of A/C Airborne: | 511 |
| % A/C Bombing Primary: | 84.36% (444 Primary and 25 Opportunity) |
| Type of Bombs and Fuzes: | AN-M17A1 E46 (500lb. incendiary clusters set to open 5,000′ above target) AN-M47A2 (100lb. incendiary bombs with instantaneous nose) |
| Tons of Bombs Dropped: | 3157.3 on Primary and 176.1 on Opportunity |
| Time Over Primary: | 0944K – 1155K |
| Altitude of Attack: | 16,300 – 26,900 |
| Weather Over Target: | 10/10 |
| Total A/C Lost: | 2 |
| Resume of Mission: | Cloud coverage has prevented photo reconnaissance pictures from being taken of the target. Flak was heavy, meager and generally inaccurate. One hundred P-51s were airborne as escort but turned back because of poor weather conditions. One B-29 crashed off the runway and 1 crashed into the sea 4 miles north of Guam. Thirty-two B-29s were non-effective. Forth-three B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 13,577 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 708 gallons. |
