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This was a night incendiary mission involving 37 planes from the 6th Bomb Group:

The Group’s second mission in August, flown on the 5th, was also a night incendiary attack.  The target was Maebashi, a city of 87,000, fifty miles northwest of Tokyo.  Thirty-eight planes were airborne at 1642, carrying a mixed load of E-46 clusters and GP bombs.  Results showed 71 per cent of the planned target area destroyed.  Only two aircraft reported fighter attacks and anti-aircraft fire was only meager.  Jap resistance was becoming less and less.

[Pirate’s Log, p. 53]

 

20th AF Mission 313

 

Date: 5/5 August 1945
Target:Maebashi Urban Area ( 90.13 )
Participating Units: 313th BW
Number of A/C Airborne: 102
% A/C Bombing Primary:90.19% (92 Primary and 4 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes:M-19 (500lb incendiary clusters set to open 5000 feet over the target.)
T4E4 (500lb frag clusters set to open 3000 feet below A/C)
M64 (500lb G.P. bombs with proximity nose and non-delay tail fuzings.)
Tons of Bombs Dropped:723.8 tons on Primary and 30.6 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary:052328K - 060108K
Altitude of Attack:15,200 - 16,900
Weather Over Target:0/10 - 9/10
Total A/C Lost:0
Resume of Mission:Results were reported as unobserved to excellent. Eighty-two A/C made radar sightings and 10 A/C made visual sightings. Six A/C were non-effective. 30 to 35 E/A made 14 attacks and damaged one B-29. No claims. Flak was heavy and light, nil to meager and inaccurate. One Wind-Run and 3 RCM A/C also took part in this mission. Total A/C A/B does not include 3 RCM and 1 W/R. Fifteen B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 16,840 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 498 gallons.