This was a night mining mission involving 31 planes from the 6th Bomb Group:
Other missions flown in this period were * * * to the Jap ports of Fushiki, Nanao and Niigata. * * *
[Pirate’s Log, p. 49]
20th AF Mission 268
| Date: | 13/14 July 1945 |
| Target: | Shimonoseki Straits Seishin Masan Reisui Fukuoka |
| Participating Units: | 313th BW |
| Number of A/C Airborne: | 31 |
| % A/C Bombing Primary: | 96.77% (30 Primary and 1 Alternate) |
| Type of Bombs and Fuzes: | MK 26-36 (1000lb) MK 25 (2000lb mines with various settings.) |
| Tons of Bombs Dropped: | 199 tons on Primary and 1 ton Alternate |
| Time Over Primary: | 140012K – 140327K |
| Altitude of Attack: | 6,900 – 8,600 |
| Weather Over Target: | 0/10 – 10/10 |
| Total A/C Lost: | 0 |
| Resume of Mission: | It was estimated that of the 254 mines dropped, 249 were effective. Flak was meager, moderate, and inaccurate. Mine laying was by radar. Nine E/A sighted made 1 attack. One RCM A/C was also airborne. Eighteen A/C landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 13,211 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 561 gallons. |
