This was a daylight precision bombing mission involving 19 planes from the 6th Bomb Group:
The next bombing mission was another attack on Truk – the airfield on Moen Island. Nineteen aircraft with 500-lb general purpose bombs completed the mission, however results were poor, as disclosed by strike photographs.
[Pirate’s Log, p. 29]
20th Af Mission 36
Date:
18 February 1945
Code Name:
Panhandle #5
Target:
Truk Airfields One and Two
Participating Units:
313th Bombardment Wing
Number of A/C Airborne:
36
% A/C Bombing Primary:
100%
Type of Bombs and Fuzes:
Tons of Bombs Dropped:
Time Over Primary:
181227K - 181340K
Altitude of Attack:
24,000 - 25,900
Weather Over Target:
1/10 - 4/10
Total A/C Lost:
0
Resume of Mission:
Bombing results poor. Slight cratering of runways. AA and enemy air opposition nil. Average bomb load 9492 lbs. Average gas reserve 1335 gallons.
