I flew only one combat mission to the Japanese Empire. You will note I said TO the Empire - THAT mission was terminated shortly after our bombs were dropped on a flaming fire-bombed target in Kawasaki the night of April 15, 1945
News of the world’s first atomic bomb-drop by a Tinian-based B-29 known as the ENOLA GAY that devastated the city of Hiroshima was fresh in our minds on August 8, 1945 [two days after atomic bomb drop], as we made our way toward our target of the day, the steel manufacturing city of Yawata