This was a night mining mission involving 26 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 282
| Date: | 23/24 July 1945 |
| Target: | Shimonoseki Straits Rashin Fusan-Masan |
| Participating Units: | 313th BW |
| Number of A/C Airborne: | 29 |
| % A/C Bombing Primary: | 79.31% (23 Primary and 3 Alternate) |
| Type of Mines and Settings: | 1,000 lb. and 2,000 lb. mines with various settings. |
| Tons of Mines Dropped: | 156 on Primary and 21 on Alternate |
| Time Over Primary: | 240137K – 240257K |
| Altitude of Attack: | 7,600 – 8,300 |
| Weather Over Target: | 3/10 – 10/10 |
| Total A/C Lost: | 1 |
| Resume of Mission: | All mines dropped were believed to be effective. Some A/C staged at Iwo Jima. Three A/C were non- effective. Meager and inaccurate flak reported in Shimonoseki Straits area. Three E/A sighted did not attack. Eleven crew members picked up approximately 15 miles from Saipan. A/C lost due to lack of fuel and mechanical malfunction. One RCM A/C and 1 Super-Dumbo not included in above totals. Eleven B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average mine load: 13,332 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 609 gallons. |
