This was a night incendiary mission involving 36 planes from the 6th Bomb Group:
What proved to be the final phase of the war began on the night of 26-27 July. With mining missions completed, the Group returned to night incendiary strikes against the Jap’s industrial cities. On that night the target was the urban area of Tokuyama. Thirty-four Superforts were effective; dropping over 1250 five hundred pound clusters. The result was 53 per cent of the built-up area destroyed. The pattern of light enemy opposition continued. One Baka was sighted and was shot down by the tail gunner of Aircraft No. 9857 of the 40th Squadron.
[Pirate’s Log, p. 52]
20th AF Mission 294
| Date: | 26/27 July 1945 |
| Target: | Tokuyama Urban Area (90.32) |
| Participating Units: | 313th BW |
| Number of A/C Airborne: | 102 |
| % A/C Bombing Primary: | 95.09% (97 Primary and 1 Opportunity) |
| Type of Bombs and Fuzes: | E46 (50lb incendiary clusters set to open 5,000 feet above target) M47A2 (100lb incendiary bombs with instantaneous nose) T4E4 (500lb frag. clusters set to open 1,000 feet below A/C.) |
| Tons of Bombs Dropped: | 751.5 tons on Primary |
| Time Over Primary: | 270122K – 270235K |
| Altitude of Attack: | 11,000 – 12,500 |
| Weather Over Target: | 3/10 – 10/10 |
| Total A/C Lost: | 0 |
| Resume of Mission: | Last crews over target reported entire dock area covered with fire which appeared to have a good start throughout the city. One E/A sighted made 1 attack. Claims: 1-0-0. A Baka was reported between the target and land’s end. It exploded after being fired upon by a B-29. Flak was heavy and medium, meager to intense and inaccurate. Twelve A/C were pathfinders. Four A/C were non-effective. Target was visible to 55 A/C and not visible to 40. Two RCM and 1 Wind-Run A/C also took part. Twelve B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 16,406 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 580 gallons. |
