21st Bomber Command Tactical Mission Report 215, 220

8/6/2019 21st Bomber Command Tactical Mission Report 215, 220

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:B y eut.hor1 ty of'C.G Twentieth Air Foroe~-L_~~i{:L G 2 . : _ { ) ( } _ ~ _ . - , . -I,;,,~e) (Inl'.ial:l)

U I S S I O N N O . 215 220F L O W N 2 2 JUN 1 9 4 5

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i!~!iIFOR !ON J .

th1ll reoport cov~rs xu Bomber Com-mallidMissions 215, 216, 217, .216. 219a.nd 220 against targets o.n the UlIa.ndof Honshu on 22 June 1965.

Missions 213 and 2l4. were miningoperations and will be reported in aseparate Tact.iaal.Mission nport whiohreceives only limitecl distribution .


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SEC RET I:By auth of the C.G.:IJOCIBomber Commands: 22 June 45 . 1 Q G:Date Initials

HE! . ' ,DQ,UmTrnsX X I B OM BER O CM IA NDA PO 23 4

STIBJEOl' Report of Attaoks on 6 Predsion Targets, 22 JUne 1945.TO Commanding Gen.era1. Twentieth Air Faroe, Washington 25. D.O.

1. IDENl'IFICATION OF MISSIONSIa. Field 'Order Number 89., HeadqUarters xrr Bomber Oo!lllllllId~dated 21 Jun.e 1945. directed the 58th, 13rd, 313th,and 314th Bomb-ardment Wings t,o participa~e in ooordinated d.:aylight attacks ,against6 precision targets. on Hoo.shuin XXI Bomber CoIlllIl13D.d.Missions N.unber215 through 2200-b.. Targets Eecified:

(1) Primary Visual Targets:,Missi on Target ForceNips Assigned.

l~ 2 Groups4 Groups314th 4 Groups58th 6 Squaorons313th 1 Group313th 1 Grollp313th 1Group

215 Kure Naval Arsenal (90.30-657A)216 Mitsubishi Aircraft Com;pany(90.27-1681)217 Kawanishl Aircraft Compalzy (90.29-2047)218 M1subishi Aircraft Company (90.20~1833)219 Kawasaki Airaraft Compa:qy (90.20--240)220 Kawasaki Aircraft Company(90.25-1547)

(2) Other Targets:(a) MissioIl.9.N..unber 215. 216. 217, and 220:

1. Primary radar targets for these missions weret.o be the same as those speoified as primary visual targets.g. No liIecondary or last reso.rt targets lVere named,

(b) Missions Number 218 and. 219:1. The seooIldary visual am primary rad.8.I' targetfor these missio.na was to be the Otsube River Oil. Refinery (90.20-1684)

Locaned in the Yo.kkaichi area.g. No last reso..rt targets were nsmed ,

2. .S l'R ATEG Y A ND PLA _JIE O F O PEBA TIO NS .Ia. strategv: These missions vlere to be the third in a seriesof simultaaeous strikes against high':'priori ty precision targets. (forthe 2 previous strikes in the series, see Tactical Mi.ssi.on .Reports far

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Missions Number 191 through 193. and 195 through 200). kJ in theprevious 2 strikes in this series, it was planned to apply a minimum.orce to each target in an effort to take maxi.mnnadvantage of thegood weather area. on the basis o.f a favorable weather forecastfor this general area. firm deoision was m".ldeto attack on 22 June.

b. Importance of the Targetslu ) The'Kure Ns.ve.l Arsenal, one of the principal arsenals

of the Japanese Navy, rnamf'acture s a wide varie ty of naval' ordnanceequipment. It is located on the south sid.e of Kure Harbor, approx-imately 2 miles southwest of the city of Kure.

(2) The Tamashima Plant of the .LfitsubiBhi Aircraft Companyis a new unit ofthiscompnay am. is primarily e.ngaged in airframenamu:facturing and in the final assembly of twin-engine bombers. notablyBettys. This plant was considered to be one of the largest and mostmOdern of the Japanese aircraft assembly plants. This plant is locatedapproximately .hal1' way between Kure aoo Kobe on the in.lattl sea and isapproximately 15 miles southwest of Okayama

(3) The Hiihe;i Plant of t he Kawanishi Aircraft Company.formerly a textile rull" was taken over by thiscompJ.OY for airframeproduction. It is devoted to the manuf'icture ani assembly of the.Japanese Navy single.engine fighter George am 109cred.i ted with asubstantial percentage of the output of this plane. This plant is10cat ed on the l1es tern edge of the t o.V'n Of HiID3 ji whi.ch La a1tuat edabout halfway between Okayalll9,and Kobe.

(4) The Kaeami gahara Plant of the Mitsubi afti Aircraf'tCompap,y. one of this compa!U'a smaller uni ta, is be Heved to bee.ngaged mainly in the re3..ssembly of planes built and brought up fromMi t subiBhi 'a Nagoy.aPlant.

(5) The Kagamigah3rE!.Plant of the Kawasa.k.iAircraftCompanYis beHeved tobe principally eng.aged in the assembly ofKaV7ssak:i aircraft, including fightersTony and. Ntok. There areindications that roodification and armor plating are also done here.This plant is located in the Gifu city area and is only 800 feetnorthwest of target 90.20-1833 (1fitsubishi Aircraft Pls.m listed inparagraph (4) above).

(6) The .Akashi Plant of the Kailasaki lli.rcraft Companyis thia company's principal aircr'li't engine plant. It is also creditedwith the production of airframes and thefino91 assembly of single andtIVin-engi ne aircraft (Tony. Nick, am Li ii, However, only engi nes forTony are believed to be produced here . Thie plant is located approx~imately 2 miles northrlest of Akashi and is adjoined by a large airfield.

c. .Detai 1.5 of Planning- -Operat ional:(1) Bombing Plans:

(a) Determination of Bomb Load.:

1. For use against the Kure Naval Arsenal, air~craft of the 58th Wing were to carrylOOO~pound ganeral-purpo.se bombsand those of the 7:3rd l'Ting were to caITY 2000...poond general-purposebombs. Both types of bombs were to be fuzed O.l-second deley noseand .025 ..second delay tail. The 2000-pound generahpurpose bomb \V'9.Sconsidered to be the bsst type of weapon for employment against heavyindustri es of this type 8M would have been selected for use by the58th lUng also. but for the fact that bomb racks required tor this size

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bomb were not available to this Wing. The lOOO-llOUlldomb scheduledfor use by the 58th Wing was considered the best altern~te weapon forUse against this type of target. The O.l-seqond delay nose fuze ~asselected as it would allow detonation of bombs at the optimum depthwithin the target. This depth is below the floor level of the tar6etbUildin$s ani a fUnctioning delay of O.l ..second after fuze initiationat the building roof is required to allo1Vpenetration to that depth.The .025-second delay tail fuze was selected :IS a secondary fuze. Itwas believed that it would not be activated by the roofs of the targetbuildings but that it ,'fOuldbe in! tiated by bOmbimpact \'I'ith the groundautside of the buildings and would, therefore, give better crateringeffect to near miss bombs than a delay of 0.1 second ,

2. Far use a~~inst the Tam~shima P11nt of theMitsubishi Aircraft Company, aircraft of the 3l4th Wing were to beloaded with 500-pound general-purpose banbs fuzed .025-second delay noseand non-delay tail. Twenty-five per cent of this target area is builtup aoo. contains buildings of long and short span, and of saw-toothconstruction. The 5OD-pound general-purpose bomb is more effectiveagainst short span buildings am larger size bombs are ordinarilymore effective against long span buildings. However, since dispersalof installations within this target area indicated that a substantialpercentage of bombs falling therein would be near misses, it wasdec.ided that the use of 500-pound bombs would allow a greater numberof dire ct hi t s which i.n turn \roU ld inf 11ct a higher percentage ofdam:tge. The .025-second delay nose fuze was selected as the alternatefuzing since the .Ol-second delay !fuze was not available. This fuzingwould gi.ve bomb burst just above the floor level which would beeffective against the building contents. The non-delay tail fuzewas selected to give ground level burst to near miss bombs.

1. For use against the Himeji Plant of theKawanishi Aircraft Company. aircraft of the 58th Wing were to beloaded with SOD-pound general-purpose bombs fuzed .Ol-second delaynose and non-delay tail. This bomb was selected for use since alarge percentage of the primary buildings and almost all of thesecoDdary buildings in the target area were of short span con.structlon.Itwas believed that the greater effectiveness of larger size bombson the buildings which were of long span construction would be out-weighed by the added destruction of the target as a whole that couldbe achieved by the multiple hits obtainable by use of the SOD-poundaize. The .Ol-second delay nose fuze was selected 98 it would allowbomb penetration 6 to 10 feet beneath the roof level, where bomb,burst would inflict maximumdamage to both buildings am their contents.The non-delay tail fuze was selected to give ground level burst tonear miss bombs.

~. For use against the targets specified inmissions 218. '219. and 220 (Kagamigahara Plant of the Mitsubishi Air-craft Company, Kagamigahara Plant of the Kawasaki Airc.taft Company,am the Akashi Plant of the Kawasaki Aircraft Company). airCraft ofthe 3l3th Wingwere to be loaded with 4000-pound Light Case, high-e.xplosive bombs fuzed instantaneous nose and non-delay tail. These3 missions were planned to obtain maximumdam1ge to the target withthe employment of a minimum amount .of force (1 Group, each from the3l3th Wing, was to be employed against each of these 3 targets). Itwas beleived that this damage could best be obtained by blast sincethe primary buildings in the target areas were of light metal andtypical saw-tooth r06f construction. The 4000-pound Light Case Bombwas selected because. rrith its high-charge weight of approximately75 per cent, it has at least 25 per cent more explosives per ton thanany other type bomb. The instantaneous nose and non-de Lay tail fuzingwere selected since the characteristics of this type bomb are suchthat delayed fuzings should not be employed.


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(b) flCgbiM Data: (See AnneX A, Part n, farlocation or mean poiats of impact ani aJOOUIltf force to be appliedto each point).

1. Axes or attack were planned so that fulladvant~e could be 'takin of surf!:l.cewinds and winds at altitude. Allattacks were to be madein the direction of the predicted surface wi.oos80 that smoke caused by the earlier banbiDgs uou1d DOt obscure themean points of impact aDd thuS allow good sighting by later formationsover the target areas. Drift, rrhLch l7as not expected to exceed 11degrees on any of the selected axes of attack, ilas DOtconsidered tooexcessive for accurate bombi~ Bombingaltitudes (15.000 to 18,000feet) were selected from the atandpaint of known antiaircraft defensesin the target areas.

?. The average bombload per aircraft, for alltargets. was to be approximatoly 6.5 tons . 3 . . Axes of attack, i.nitial points, bombingaltitudes, am other pertinent banbing data far all missions were asfollows I

Mission Axis or Bombi.ng Length TimeAttack Ini tid Point AltUUile of Run Of RunDeeg;:e!ils Feet Miles ~Sec.,28 3346N-1216E 18,000 35 6 45272 3431N-1S4l0E 15-18,000 27 7 3036, 3426N-1342lE 15.000 34 6 5081 351630N-1360100E 16,000 4% 9 3081 351630N-1360100E 16,000 4% 9 303bt 3419N-13441E 18,000 27 5 30

215216217218219220

(2) Navigation: All forces were to use Iwo J:imaon theroute out ani on return in acccedance with XXI BomberCanmand TacticalDoctrihe. From Iwo Jima to the targets and return, route phn.s wereto be as follows =(a) Mission 215:

Route Reasons for SelectionReassembly (off coast of.Japan)to3320N-1320lE(Departure Point)to3346N-13216E.:Unitial Point)

A n easily identified peninsula in the Isao-Nadamaking s direct approach to the Inith.l Point.

toTarget

Higasl)..1maoint on the island of Heigun-Shimamaking a straight line between departure and t"h.etarget .Kure Arsenal. Abreakaway to the right afterbombaaway to avoid flak areas.

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(b) Mission 2161:Reasonsfor Selection

:Reassembly(aff coast of japan)to.3 42bN-142l.E(Departure Point)

to343lN-13410E(Initial Point)toTarget

Okudo Saki Point on SlodoShima. The soutbern tipcould be easily identified.Northwest tip of Shedo Shima. Provides tbebestappxoaoh to the target.Tamasbima Plant of the Mitsubishi .Aircraft Company.A breakaway to the left aft"er bCllibsaway to avoidflak areas.

:Route Reasons for Selection(e) Mission 21.7:

:Reassembly (off coa!:!tof Japan)to3426N-13421E(Dcparture aIdInitial Point)toTar~t

Southeast carner of ShOdo Shima. Easily identified.for banh run.Himeji Plant of the Kawanishl Aircraft Company.A breakaway to the left after bombs away to avoidflak areas.

Route Rcasons for SelectionCd) Missio.ns 218 an:J. 219:

Reassambly (off coast of .Japan)t o ., 345BN-13555E(Departure Point)to3516.30~1360100E(Initial Point)

toTargetto3520N-l,3710Eto3437N~13717E

Southern tip of Bil7a-Ko L9.ke~ Ea.8i1y identifiedfor turn to the iOiHal point.;\point on the left side ef Bil7a~KoLake aboutmidway up the lake making a. good approach to the,targetKagamigahara,.Plants of the Mitsubi shi aod Kawasaki.Aircraft Cbmpanie.s.Breakauay to the right after bombs 9!wayo avoidfla.lc areas.laMS end ,

Route Reasons for SGlection(e) Mission 2201

Be.assembly(off eca st of Japan)to3S50N-l3445E(Departure Point)to34l9N-13441E(Initial Point)toTargetto

Southeastern tip of'Shikoku. Easily identified.

Aprojecting tip of lam on the 1e.ft side of Aw.ajiShima. Easily identified for bombrun.,\kashi Plant of the Kawa-eak:ilircraft CompaQj-.

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SECRET------3 4 5 Cfi -13503Bto345 .5N -13430E

A breakaway to the left af'ter b~ 3.way to a.voidflak: areas.A left turn to avoid flak areas.

(3) Flight Rnglneeripe:~(a) Altitudes -am s'Peeds, except for the bombing

run ani compression of striki.ng farce, l70uld be used in accordancewi th X X I Banber Ccm:Da Id Tactical D : : l ctr ine. Group assemblies wouldbe effe.cted ..

(b) Fuel reserve data indicated that no bomb baytanks would be required by any aircraft participating on this missi.on.It 1i'asestimated that each aircraft \1ould carry a. fuel Ioadofapprox-imately 6700 gallons.

(c) No max imum or min imUm bOlIlbloads were .speci!ied ..Estimated bomb loads were as fol1owslMission Wing Potential Capaciw ~pected Averag!!l-

12,000 pouni.s. S K l O O po~13,000 powxls

215 58th and 73rd216 314th217 58th218..219-220 31,3th

13~OOOpounds13 ,000 pounds, 13,000 pounds14,000 pounis 13.000 poUJ:d.s

(d) Ammu n i ti on load per airc:r9.ft was estim" ted. at

(4) Radar:(a) All initial points for these missioIll!! were

cho.sell. f'Dt" good r.adar reception in ord.er to .accanplish precision turnsat the initial points.. JUI assembly or reassembly points were locatedapproximately 10 miles from good coastal checkpoints r u n it was expectedthat rader cOUld be used without dif'ficulty to position all aircraftin th.eir respecti va zones..

(b) The Kure l.rsenal was considered. agoo::l radartarget.. locat'ed on a projection on the westerll si4e of tbe peninsulasouth of !fure,. t-Ile target was eXpected to show up well for directra.dar acd. offset banbing.

((l) Th.e Tamashina Plant of the Mitsubishi Ai.rc;raftOompaIzy'"Wasalso considered a good ra.dar target. This tauset-islocated on the coast in the center of the MigJlShima-Nada and: 'flasexpectedtoshOI1 up very well O D . the radar .scope. The initial pointwas loce ted on the Dat'thcast tip of S::todo~Siima wi tb. severalexcallel11;.checkpoints frem departure through to the initial point and on to thetarget.

fd) The H : i . . l l I e ji Plant 'of the Kaflanishi ..urcraft CompaIzy'was not ecnsidered a good radar target, however, it w.as re 1t that theeastern p.art of t_Il.eci ty signal of the city of Him.eJi, in which thet.arget is located, could be bombed by r-9.dar.

66 ) The Kagamigahara Plants of the Mitsubishi an:!Kawasaki .\ircraft Companies were not considered gpod r3dartarget.g.Tbe Utsube River Oil Refinery, located south of the city of Yokkaichi,was designated as both the secondary visual and prima:ry radar target

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SECRET------for both of these missions. 1he oil refinery is located on Ise Wanand ~as expected to sbo~ up very well as a separate radar return.The initial point 'lor this target laS to be the town of Okazaki. It"as expected that this target would be goc:d for direct synchronous radarbombing.

(f) '!he Akashi Plant of the Kawasaki Aircraft Canpaoywas Considered a good radar target; Located on. the eoast and fiith agOOd in! tial point on A\7aji Island. no difficulty was expected in bomb-iI!8 by radar or by offset aiming points.

(5) Radar Counter Measures: Itwas planned to D/F earlywarning and gun-lng rad.ars 3 .Dd to conduct a general search in the38-3000 megacycle region. It was also planned to barrage jam the190-210 megacycle en d 72-84 IOOgacycle regions and to spot jam 9 I JYeneDly' gun-laying signals that might a,;lpear outside the barrage.Twenty-eight Rndedn ardm- to avoid the daf"anses a.t Akashi and Kobeco

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(d) Missions 218 am 219: It 17as estimated that thelCagamisahara area was defended by 12 ho9.'Vy guns.. The ana of attackavoided alknoml defended areas exeept far a small p'll't of the K;yctodefenses at tbe south end at BirraLake.. HO'l7ever,only meager and veryinaccurate flak: had been encountered here on pt'evious missions. Abreakavay to the srutho!lst attar bombs suay UM recoomendedin orderto avoid the defenses at Nagoya am Toyohashi.(e) Mission 220: It 17aaestimated that there ware19 heavy guns in the zlk:ashi area. 'lnd 78 heavy guns at Kobe, iDmediatelyeast of Akashi. All knOlm rrute flak uould be avoided on the approach

and a breakallay to the west 'l7Ouldavoid tho Himeji defenses.

b. ' Route Out: Long r'Ulge navigltion 17S 3.ccomplished byaircraft proceeding individually to the assembly points. Assembliesware acccmplished and formations made good.departure times wi thinthe limi ta of navig3tional accu1'3.CY. '

c. Over Tar~I,(1) Primaij'rargets: Target area navigation wasaccanplished by both visual and radar lll:lans. Wind in the targetareas was ostimated at 40 knots from 245 degrees. 'A total of 382B-29's, 1 of V1hichUaB a Master of Ceremonies B29. dropped 210.3 3tons of high-exp10sives on tl'le primary'targets from 212336z to22014.32 at altitudes from 15,250 to 26.250 feet.(2) Secondary Target: Six B-29's dropped 3 4 torus ofhigh-explosi ves on the Utsube Riv r o ; . Oil Refina.ry.(3) Targets of Opportl,lnity! Atotal of 32 B-29' a, 1

of nhd ch 17asa ueather control ai. rc:raft. dropped 183 tons of high-explosives on various targets of opportunity ..(4) Ramalndar of Force; There were 28 noneffective

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d. Route Baclp ~turn to base i71lS ~eeallPlished wi thou' ,incident. Loran. Celestial. and R3dio uere used B8 aids to navig1tlon.Thirty-liTe IS-29's lamed at 1\10Jima..e . lm!d!!lBi1 Aircraft landed at the homebases as follows:.

1tiasioD !a First landing Last Landin&215 58th 22070lZ 22081%

73rd 220602Z 220853Z216 3l4th 2206o.5Z 22080:;Z217 58th 220728Z 2210092-218 3l3th 22055& 220747Z219 3l3th 220636z 2207l7Z220 3l3th 220705Z 22075%XXIB.C. Total 220558Z 221009Z

t. losse81 P'ive B-29' 8 flare lost on these missions t 01 :!the following reaSOns: Enemyaircra:ft - 2, enemy ant1at rQl"aft - 1;mechanical - 1; UDknoml - 1.

s. Operational Summary I(1) NavigatioBI (See AnnexA, Part I, for track chart).No major navigational doficiencies l7ere noted on these missions. Timecontrol was goOd for tho most part. Metro information Viasfairlyaccurate.(2) Bombi!lB1 (See Jumc.x A, P.:l.rtIII, for details).Banbing accuracy on these missions \7a.sconsidered fair to excellent.", ,(.3) Flight Eggineering:' (See AnilaxA, Part IV'. tor charts,

am Conso!id.atad Stet i ati cal SUJmIary, AnnexE, for detai Is).J (a) Narr,qtive of the Missions as Flo\7n:

1. Qruiae to the Mainhnd and Assembly'Individual cl~bs w~re m&deimmediately after take-off to altitudesbetween 5000 IUJi 10,000 feet 17here the initial cruise l7as ,10\711.Group assemblies l7ere accomplished just prior to the olimb to bombingaltitudes.~ BombingRun: Bombingwas oonducted bysquadron fqrmations at an averF.lgclOlli tude of 18,000 feet . 1 . . Return to Baaes The best return \7aS madeby descending slowly ftom bombingaltitudes at lBO'miles per hour(as 11bratod air speed). using 1866 gallons of fUel.

(b) COllDllenta ,Urcraft bombingKure and Tam shima,carried 1 bombbay tank of fuel in addition to the regular tuel load.JUl other airoraft carried Ilnormal fuel load (ful11""iingand oenter17108Tmks).. Moat aircraft oarried the full capaoity of bombs.. .(4) Radar I (See Annex A. Part. V, f"ar details). Most ofthe bombing was accomplished by visual me os.


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(5) Gunnery: (See AnnexA. Part VI, tor details).(6) Air-sea Rescuel There were no ditchines on

these missions ..h. Weather: (See Annex B, for details). The weatherencountered on these missions was approximately as predieted.1. Conmunieaions:

(1) Radar Counter Measuresl (See Annex C, Part I,tor details). Twenty-five ROMObservers participated on thesemissions but because of varied clouq cover it was not possibleto evaluate the effeotiveness of the jamming.( 2 ) Radio: (See Anne~C , P a r t I I , for details).Net discipline and~ity were recorded as exoellent duringthese missions.

j. Intelligen.oe S lmnarz l(l ) Ene!IIY Air apposition: (See Annex D. Part I,tor details). Japanese aircraft made 137 attaclts against B-29formations on these missions. Two8-29'15 were lost end 10 weredamagedas a result of taeee attaeks~ 8-29 crews claimed 2enemyfighters destroyed, 2 probably destroyed, and 8 daJnllG6d.(2) Enem.vAntiairoraft: (See Annex D. Part II, fordetails). Most of the enerrtYantiaircraft opposition on thesemissions was encountered by formations bombingthe Kure Arsenal(Mi.ssian 215). -Allore.7s 'bceibi ng this target repcrted antiaircraftfire as intense; accurate, aDdheaVy. Of -the 162 aircraft bcmbingt.his tarGet. 96, or 59.26 per cent, sustained fla It damage asagainst an overall damage rate of 280.4 per cent~ The ~tremelyhigh damagerate for this target was undoubtedly due to thesupplementing of the Kure defenses by a numberof na ~a1 vesselsin the harbor. In spite of this high rate of danuge, only 1B-29 was lost to enemyantiaircraft on tbis mission. No. B-29'swere lost as a result of antiaircraft fire on aIzy' of the other

missions,details).follows:

(3) Damage Assessment: (See Annex D, Part III. forDanege to targets as a res'ul t of these mi ss ions is as(a) Mission 215. Kare Naval Arsenall 2,879,510square feet or 72 per cent of the total roof area.(b) Mission 216, 'TamasbimaPlant. of tbeM i tsubishi Aircraft Company: 2,287.950 square feet or 86 per centof the total roof area.(0) 'Mission 2lAircraft Company: 915.450 square feet ,or .1 pertotal roof. This plant was virtually destroyed.(d), Mission 218. Kagamigahara,Plant of th0Mitsubishi Aircraft 99mpaqy; See Damage Assessment Report

Number 144 in Tactical Mission Rep>rt for MissiollS Number223through 231.

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llltll

41rqqt' C'mmany . (t) ' f t W O P 220.A:IC!h1 Plant o f tbe Kamakitotal r o o t - - . r . a . 611, 6 4 .quare teet or 18 I!f,U'. ceJ1't of the .

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Pan I .. NBYisai1on'l'raok 0bU't:fort II .. . Y & a D Poinh or ~otP a r t I t I . . ! o m b l aslIart 'N- rUsht _IDElerlna' Ohtll'te~ V Radar

M 10 61ou ' N O. 21S~216,2],7. 218. ?19.,;,Z4 2~

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APRIL1945 , PART . INAVIGAT ION SECRET

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a

- - - K E l y : - -3!5!58th. Wing----~73rd. "_- 13th."---x-x 14th. "

'.

. .

1st. Last5Sth.- 211620l 211752.l7'3rd-211641 r211812l313th.-211619i! 2.117411.3 1 4 th . - 211S15l 2116501

1st. La.t.2207011 221009Z220602l 220853l~20558l 2207531220605! 220803Z.T'RA(;I \ C;I1ART "'''''1 eOMSC:" GO"'lMANO SEORET 7 36-00 REP~OOUCEO 35 til.P t u.


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PlIRT II I .. BOMBlm1. Mission N; ) , 215 Xilre Naval ~\rsenal'

a, '!he Xure Naval l\rsenal "as attacked by 4 Groups of the73rd Wing ani 2 Groups of the 58th Wing in a daylight offort \7ith 1M.P.I,. designated as the primary visual ind radar target .

b. Bombing altitude was 18,000 feet b rse for the lead squadronin each Group with the sacoad and. third air squad.rons stacked at intervalsof 5 00 feet above the lead squadron. A total of 166 aircrof't 170ze o.1r-borne with 1.62 airoraft releasing banhs at the primary target. Anaverage of 5 .5 ton.s ot bombs was carried per' airoraft. A total ot935.3 tons of banbs _ 8 . airborne with 795.8 tons releded at theprimary target. The banb load consisted of M..64 (500#), M-65 (1000#),and ~66(2000#) demolition bombs.

c. Th e greatest difficulty encountered W3S from ene~ actionon the target run. One format ion leader of the 73 rd Wing lost anengine on the targot run due to a direct flak hit ani had to relinquishthe lead. The dop\1ty leader l:n one t'ormation was hit in the forwardcompartment by flak a few seconds prior to the bomb release line, whichresulted in the bombardier inadvertently pressing the release switoh.Two other aircraft in the formation released on the accidental releaseof the deputy leader. The practice of wing formations dropping onthe deputy leader is in direct violation of the XXI Bomber CommandTaotical Doctrine. One lead aircraft made a manual run as the C-lautopilot failed atter the turn at the IP. This decision is sanctionedae a second approach would have been necessary had the Lead beenrelinquished to the deputy leader. Some difficulty uas enoounteredwhen gray smoke covered the aiming pOint. Reference point bombing\las Used.

d. Generally the first farnations over the target had clearvisual runs. Later f~mations encountered smoke over the M.P.Ie. The 73rd Wing experienced malfunctioning of . A - 4 releases.The 58th Wing encountered mall'unction of bomb bay doors in three air-craft.. Few other malfunctions were reported.f. Tho southernmost tip of Heigun-Shima was used as theInitial Point am reports indicate it as being satis.fac1Pry 1 1 0 0 easilyidenUfiad. No canments were made on the axis of attack. Averagedrift reported was 6 right... Compressibility for this attack W8.S 7 2minutes.g. Bombing accuracy fqr this mission was fair with 2 .6 per

cent of all releases within 1000 feet af the 8lining point.2. Mission N


19/89

c. The greatest diffieulty was tram smoke over the M.P.I.oncountcred b;y formlltions bombing late. Of'fset methOd of bcmbi~was used rri.th good. results. Two airoraft reported r~ck ma~eti.oJlSand a tot al of 14,300 pounds of bombs Wall released l . ? B ffe ch vely.Onoaii'crafte:x:porioncod malfunctioning of the electrlcal systemand. 12,100 pouodc s of bombs \lOrO re 10asod lIl3nuaJlyover water. Fewothar malfunc.t.ions wore reported. Eleven aircraft bombed targetsot opportunity .

d. Shodo-Slima, a small island in the inlam sea, UBa usedas an IP endues reported AS satisfactory. The axis of' attack wasvery satisfactory as it provided numerousoheck points on the southernshores of Honshu. The average drift reported was 20 left. .Ililformations were over the target wi thin a period of 5 4 minutes.,

e. Bombing aecuzacy was fair, with 29 per cent releasedwithin 1000 feet of the aiming poin.t.

f Unlimited uel;lther conditions in the t.3rget area ,,"s acontributing fa.ctor in the success o.f this mission.

3. Mission No. 217Ka.wanishi Ale Co., Himejil.a.The Kawanishi aircraft company 1.78S attacked 'b y 2 groupsat the 58th Wing in a daylight strike with 2 M.P.I.s de.signated as

primary visual aOO radar targets.b. The banbi1'l.g altitude was 15,000 feet base for the lead

squadron at each group, with the 2nd and 3rd air squadrons stackedat intervals of 1000 fect.

c. Heavy smoke covering the target area r-losencountered bythe fo:mtahons bombing late. Lead bombardiers used off-.set ro.ferencepaints with unit of tangency roll-back method of bombing ..

d. The southeastern tip of Shodo-Shima (3426N-1342lE) '178.8used. as the Im tiel Paint. .N o camnentl'l"eatheroondi.tions in the target area was 1?he contributing factor.

4. Mision No. 218 Kasam:i;gah.!ilra Phnt of the Mit subishi tJ( j Co. I,a. The Mitsubishi Airel"a:ft Ph.nt. IDlgamigahm-a., l7aaattacked by I group of the 313tb 1Il':Lng\"I'i th 1 M.p.I. designated asthe primary visual target.. The Utsube River Oil Rofinery was

designated as the seoondary visual andprimory redo'll" targe.t ..b. The bombing altitude was 16,000 feet base fot t he leadsquadron nith the second and third. air squadrons iiitrail, eta ekedat intervals of 500 feet above the; lead I!quadro n.c. ,\total or 28 aircr:l.ft wacsairborne with 17 bombing

the primary aodb bombing the seeooo.ary visua.l target. An.averageof 6 .5 tons of M"56 (4000#) demolition bombs was.: carried per air-c.raft.

.. 15 -


20/89

4 . Six-tenths undercost in the tltrget ar ea '7'1S the onl,.difficulty enoountor(l)d. TI10 air 9qu~drOna. lead and third airsquadrons, l7ere ablla' to bomb the prlm~. The second air squ'ldronencountored underoaat, smoke am haze, on the target run and fl'.'l8unable to perform aqy visual ai. ghtins. An approach fl'Q8 then madeon the secondary visual target g1thout diffioulty.

a. N :> malfunction of bombing equipment was reported. Oneairoraft in the second air squadron mistook a r11lk burst fer bodlb8e:way at the lead aircraft on the approach to tho primary target,and 2 othar aircraft released on the aircraft 1.n error.

t. Th e Initial Point (351630N-1360IE), B smnll strip ofland projecting into Biwo..Ko between the small to\V1lSot Qni.zo amK1te.-Xomatsu, was reported as satisfactory. N o cOIIJllentswere maderegarding the axis or attack. The average drift reported tor theload and third air squadron was 20 right. The 3 squadrons weroover the primary target within a period of 2 minutes.

8 Bombing accuracy for the primary deual target rrB81Unobserved. The accuracy far the secondary visual target W.:lSexcellent \7ith 75 per ccnt of all bombs hits within 1000 toet ortho aiming point.

S.Mission No. 219 Kns:amiAAaraPhnt of the K:3\rreseki A l e Co.:. .a. The Kawasaki Aircr:.lft Works, in the Kagronigo.hara. area,

was attacke~ by 1group of the 313th Wing in a d:zyligbt effort with1 M.P.I. designated as the prionry visual target. The Utsube RiverOil Refinery i7as dasignated as the seoond~ visual and primary radartarget.

b. The bombing illi tude was 1(,,000 fcet base for the lead.equadron with the second elM third air squ3dron in t.rail stacked atintervals of 500 teet above the lead squadron.

c. Twenty-one strike aircr,ft and 1m,ster of ceremonia.es.1rcr:l:ft wore airborne with 18 bombing the primary visua,l target.ThQ bomb load consisted of M - 4 6 ( 4 0 0 0 # ) , and'M-66(200Q#) demolitionbanbs. The aver3ga boob load oElrried was 15,000 pounds.

d. Six to 7 tenths cloud ooverage was the only diffioultyencountered. Lead bolDbl)rdiors had difficulty picking up andaccurately identifying the aiming points because of underc3.st.No canmonts were made on the Initial Point (351630N-1360lE) or theaxis of attack. Tho 3 squadron formations wore over the targetwithin a period of 4 minutes. Avera{adrift reported was 30 right e. Bombing accuracy on this strike was poor, ~s only 1 9por cont o t the rele~eos woro scored within 1000 feet of the M.P.I.

6. Mission No. 220 Ko.WllSl'lkiAirc1}aft Qo., Ak....hlJB. Tho I{avlllso.ki ~\iroraft Co., in the Akashi area; waa

attacked by 1 ~oup of tho 313th Wing in 11 d8light effort. withone M.P.I. deslgn ted aa the priIll.3.ry visual and radar target b. Tho bombing altitude w s 18.000 foet b~se tor the lead

squadron with tho seoond and third air squadrons in trAil staoked a~intervals o r 500 feet above the lc d squ:ldron.

- 17 -


21/89

_ _c. Thirty aircraft were airborne with 25 bombingtheprimary target. An average of 6 .5 tou of banbs wu. carried peraircraft. The bc;mb load oonsisted of M.56 (4000#) bombs.d. The greatest diffioulty encountered was haze over thetarge1!.. The lead bomb8rdiers had difficulty identifying the a.imiilgpOint, end a.s a ~esult. the ~is ot attack for the formations varied.No malfunctions of banbing equipment 'i1erereported.e , Tbe Initial Point (3419N-1344lt) located on the westerncoast of Awaji-shima cloud be easily identified and the numerouslandmarks on the wostern perimeter of the i81300 were helpful on thetarget run. The average drift reported was 4 right. ,All tornntionswer~ Over the target within a period of 2 mdnutes.t. BombiD8aecuracy for this mission was fair with 29 118rcent of the hits within 1000 teet of the aiming point.

- is _.!.QE~I


22/89

j : i !i i i : J:iL,,.,--~'

j j I :i

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23/89

~ooo

()P'lBIt J . 7 J T I J P ( "t T i - e f )

C')"UF/. .JOPR~/I~


24/89

P A R T V - R .A D A R

1. Radar BombinsAN/APQ-13:a. Numberor sets operative on take-ott: 4 2 3 b. Of A le bombing- numberot sets operative over target: 398~e. Percentage operative tor Ale banbing targets: 95 .E f 'd. Numberof sets operative on return to haaG' 391.e. Number of A le using Azi~th Stabilization: 'Z27.f. Average maximum range of Targets: 6 5 . 5 at 16,300 ft.61 NM a t 11; 000 ft.64 N M at 2 1~000 ft.5 4 NM at 16, 8 00 ft.7 0 N M at 0- 5 000 ft.g. Average max imum range o f beaeons: '154 ,m at l2,400 ft.135 N M at 8 0 00 ft.130 m at 0- 5 000 ft.14 8 NM at 5-10,000 ft.16 0 m at 10~20,OOO ft.h. meraga maximum range of Japanese Coast: 5 4 .1 N. miles.i. Number of failures in lead ships: 6 A/O.j. Light interference encountered.

2. Radar Navigation APN-4;APN-9:a. NUmberof loran fixes reported: 2 3 1 3 .b. Antennaused am. usable maximum range for each type.

TraUil'!B.(1) GroundWave:(2) Sky Wave I

60 8 4 7 160 7

e. N Q interference reported.d. 8 sets reported a s inoperative.

3 . I F F s C R - 6 9 5 :a. Sets were turned ONand OFFas per SOP.b. Sets were checked on an average of 37 times per .\lC.c. 4 sets were reported as inoperative.

4 . Absolute $Ut imete r - S CR-7I8 :a. 202 eets were operative.

- :11 -


25/89

b. 2 sets were inoperati T~h.5. Co_ntsl One radar release was reported.

Kure was reported as a difficult radar target due to the contusionot many islands in the target area .. ' " ' " ' " ' " . .

P A R I ' VI .. G U N N E R Y1. No. of A le Firingl 201.,2. Average turret 10adl

800g800

lZ7 5000 0

3. Average No. of rounds fired in Combat pe r turret I

80

y6 5

16 6

4. No r rou.nds fired i n co mba t: 76,161.5. No. of rounds used tor test tiring: 36.748.

6. Guns Load ad :58t h W i n s 73r d WinsHot Cold

3l3th.W ing 314 th W ingHot Cold

7. Malfunctions I C . F e C , CAL 5 0 M ,G .illarger failures .. 2 Broken Extractor - 3lunplidynea out .. 2 Ammunition Jam - 2Elev. Circuit out - 1 Broken Driving spring - 3Broken Ejector ..4

8. Eq u ipme nt o pe ra t io n (Total p er ce nt a ge o pe ra t iv e) .,O .F .e . C A L. .50 M . Gt9 8 . 7 %

9. Remarks: The enemy made q u i t a a few attacks and.sane werevery asgres aive e' Most all. brea~aways wera low. Evidently they keepfrom coming into the oone of firi;:l of the 4 gun upper forward turret.

.. 22 ..


26/89

SECRTAPRIL 1945 PART:yn: AIR-SEA

OKINAWA

e- SUBMARINE -0- SURFACE VESSEL.. - NAVY OUMBO

IIIII---.-T-IIII

MISSION N0215-22QDATE 22 J UNE 1945X X I BOMCOM. __

~ AIR- A RE

I___ -1-' -35IIII

;'lCHICHI JIMA~ .- --r--+- .--250JIMA I " ,

I'IJI~0' \ \ ' I ",~ 1220430r.. TO\ ' 2 : 0 ~ 0 2

CRASHBOATS AsSIG~ED f f iNiAN I5IN VICINITY Of COMMANDBASES FOR TAKE-OfF I UAND LANDINGS.GUAM. III

. . . . '

SUBMARINES S o S'U'FiFA'CE"VE*ELS - -- --WERE T O REMAIN ON STAT! FORTHE ENTIRE MISSION..uPER-DUMB05 WERE TO B E : ONTATION FOR THE PASSING1 0 fLL STRIKE AIRCRAfT.

140REtRODUCED 35th.1? T . U.RACK CHART XXI BOMBER COMMAND SECRET 7- :36~ COO


27/89

B

DM ' I BPart I Weather . 9 u D a u : vPart II Chart - Foreoast va...a,8er,,-ed Weather

, Part III ..Procnostio MapPart IV' .. S;ynopt 10 Map

M :l slttona 'No. :ns, 216,217.218,219. aM. ? iQ

22 June 194 , 5

- 24 _.


28/89

W E A T H m s t J M M 1 3 XJlbsions No. 215. 216, 217. 218, 219, am 220

P L A N N I N g FORECtnDate: 22 June 1945

Basest 4-6/10 low cloud base 1800 it,top 6-8000 ft with scatteredshowers and increasing'middle cloud to 5/10 at 12-14.000 It I3/10 high clouds at 30.000 tt.

Route: A s bases.5/10 low cloud base 2000 ft. t6ps 6000 it withscattered built up cloud to 30,000 tt 1n thundershowers.10/10 multi-layered cloud in front with tops to30,000 tt breaking to scattered low, middle emhigh north of 26N to west or 13'fE.Rapidly decreasing cloud amounts west of l;~with broken layers east of that line.

Targets I TokyoI 8/10 low aloud base 2000 ft. tops 6000 t't with5/10 high 'alouds at 30,000 tt.Xure-Nagoyal 3/10 low cloud. base 2000 tt, tops 6000 t~

with 3/10 hig h cloud at 30,000 ft.Xushu: 3/10 low cloud base 2000 it. tops 6000 rt withb/lO hish cloud at 30, 000 ft anI 3-5/10 middlecloud thin at 15.000 tt afternoon.

To Coast:

OPEHATION.'lLORECA~Bases: Broken 10\1, middle and' high clouds with showers at take-ottbecoming scattered low, middle rod high clouds on return.Route: Broken low clouds with bu.ilt up eumulus to 18,000 it; broken

middle and high clouds and heavy ra.inshowers to 20~. From20~ to 26N there will be scattered low. middle 'and highclouds. Amoderate cold front at 26N will give braken lowclouds and overcast middle am high clouds with moderateshowers and light rime icing to 2t:pN. Fl-an 2cfNto targetarea there will be broken low, middle arxl high clouds becaning.scattered 100' and high clouds. The route returning will besimilar to the route outgoing.

Target.!: 3/10 low clouds, base 2000 ft. top 5000 tt; J/IO high cloudat 28,000 tt; winds at 15.000 ttwill be 280 at 35 knots.

O B S E R V E D W E A T H ERBases: Overcast low ani middle cloudtlJ wi th heavy rain at take-off

becaning scattered low olouds. and overcast middle clOUd.!on return.Route: Broken low, middle and high clouds with light to heavy showers

a00'moderate turbulence to 24N. A cold front gives overcastlow, middle a .m high clouds with heavy rain to 26N. From 26to the target there were broken low clouds and scattered middleand high clouds. The route returning was the sane as the routeoutgaing.

Targets: Himeji: 3-9/10 low clouds (patchy); 5/10 high clouds at25.000 it; winds at 16.000 ft were 2700 at 25 kaot~,_

- 25 -


29/89

~.. 2-.3110 low clouds, top 5-&000tt; 10/10 high oloudsat 25.000 ftj winds at 20,000 it were 2500 at 30 knots.Tpm'sb11M1 0-2/10 low olouds, top 5000 iti 7/10 high cloudsat 25.000 f't;ii1.nds at 15,000 were 2650 at 25knots.XagamigaharQI 5-7/10 low clouds. top 4-5000 ttt 10/10 highclouds at 25,000 tt; winds at 16,000 tt were2900 at 28 knota .4 k a S b l t 3/10 low olouds, top 3000ttJ 10/10 high cloudsat 25,000 ttj winds at 16,000 tt were 2900at 28knots.

. .2 6 -


30/89

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31/89

~ IW O J IM .A

SAIPAN

,',

. 35PTU 7__""''''0

TRUK ..C,I.'~_/~


32/89

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33/89

MisSions 'No. 215. 216,217, 2*8, 212,8114 22.922 JUno 1945

- 3 0 -

.


34/89

1. Pluyos21a. To D/r enell\Yearly \Yarningan4 gun-laying radars.b. To continue search ill the 38-3000mc bam.c. To barrage jam the enemygun-laying and searchlightradar. 1n the 78 and 190..210 mc and to spot jam an,y gun-layingsignals that appear outside the barrage in an effort to render theen8IJ\Yadars defenses ineffective.

2. Mth04:a. ~'enty.five observers participated and used the tollowingequipment to accomplish the search a.nd.jamningl

476. APl'-1 and APQ.-26 .ARQ,-816 ~\PT-3(Modified)3 1 1M- l a

22 A PR -4 -2 J \ P R - S12 JlPA-ll5 APA -&3 APA-24

b. Nearly every airplane was equipped.\rlth an electroniojBlDlleraM someairplanes had two jammersinstalled.3. Results:

a. Since these missions were daylight raids with variedcloud cover it is not possible to evaluate the effeotiveness ofjamming. Spot jammersreported that rew of the enemyradars wereturned ott'when jammed as they had done previously and 3.ttempted,apparently, to tract through the jamming.b. Forty-three intercepts were madeand aJ!'elisted at the

end of this section.

a. A3290/225/1.5 signal was heard at 2900N.. 14025Eandis bel~eved to be from an allied source.b. Anumberof OWignals were heard over the mainland inthe Kagamigaharaarea both on the route in ard out. The frequenciesare as follows: 308, 3 4 2 . 31:6-418. 486-509 and .51.5me.c. 1wosignals which appear to b~ airborne radar w~e1nterepted; 299/490/08 at 3 3 0 0N .. 1 3 5 3 0E, 2 9 5 / 4 8 3 / 1 1 at 3 3 0 0 N -13420E. There Was a difference in time of three hours betweenthese intercepts.

- 3 1 . .


35/89

SECRE!r------L i s t o f I n t e r c e ~ t 8

O l U R A c ! r I R I S ' l ' I C S LOaA! r ION ~ It T I!D J ~ l!Q! B Q!!TYP!000'12 0975 15 3400N 13507E OS224l5 1352 21 12 2 P EI' O R I000 7 4 0978 32 33Q5N 13545E 062245 0858 21 1 21 S E li e E l000 7 4 1000 30 MOON 13440E 062245 0948 21 12 1 S . . CHI000 7 5 0400 15 - 3350N 13715E 062245 0937 21 12 1 6 E I T C H I000 7 6 1900 07 3417 N 13411E 062245 1105 21 122 P GL 0UQ300077 1900 08 3345 N 134521 062245 1032 21 12 2 P G L Ol'AD3o o o 7 ? 1500 07 3415N 13650E 062245 0945 21 12 1 5 G L OTAC300078 15 00 07 ~445N 136151 062245 0955 21 1 21 S G L OT.A03OOO?S 0510 30 3300N 13530E 062245 0918 21 1 21 S l ! l \ V C H I000'18 094'1 10 3355N 13505E 062245 0928 21 12 1 S Eli C H I00080 0495 40 3l10N 139431 062245 0804 21 12 2 P EW C H I00080 0480 32 3133N 13704E 062245 0927 21 1 22 p E W C H I00080 3000 10 350~N 13555E 062245 1004 21 12 1 S00080 1250 08 341 5N 13715E 062245 1040 21 1 21 S GL O ! r A D 300093 0370 5 0 3350N 13510E 062245 0857 21 12 1 S - 00101020200094 07 20 30 3300N 13530E 062245 0920 21 12 1 S E W C H I00096 1280 -20 3340N 135151 062245 0855 21 12 1 S EW 00101000200097 0350 14 335 0N 13730ll 06~45 1044 21 12 1 S Ei 00101020200096- 1700 20 3300N 13530E 062245 0915 21 12 1 500099 07 7 0 30 3220N 13600E 062245 0910 21 12 1 m w C H I00099 0485 13 M50N 13644E 062245 1 252 21 12 2 P Ell 00lO'1020200100 0450 18 3330N 1 35 2 {) E 0 6 22 4 5 0 850 21 12 1 S Eli 00101020200101. 0300 15 3330N 13740E 062245 1050 2 1 12 1 S : B m ' 00 10 10 20 200102 0 7 5 6 30 3258N 13245E 062245 10 5 2 "21 1 22 P E W C H I0011 8 0366 08 3303N 134051 062245 1059 21 12 2 P I'ii 0010102020014 2 1010 05 MOON 132 10E 062245 1056 21 12 1 S ! l I T 0060400030014'7 1000 10 3300N 13320E 062245 1316 21 12 1 S E I 7 00604000300148 0492 20 332 8N 1354 5E 062245 1352 21 12 2 P E W 0010300{)300148 1001 16 3305N 13545E 062245 0 855 21 121 S l i f C H I001:50 0495 10 3355N 1350 5E 062 24 5 0905 21 121 S 1 ' I ' f 001030003001 5 0 Ma5 22 3315N 1352 0E 062 24 5 1403 21 121 S E V ( 001030003001 5 0 0 7 7 0 22 3140N 13610E 062 24 5 0905 2 1 121 S E I ' I ' 0010300030015 5 1 490 06 3334N 13333E 062 24 5 1127 2 1 122, P E I 7 00603000300158 05 00 05 3310N 1375 0E 062 24 5 1056 2 1 1 21 S iW 001030003001 5 9 0500 Q7 332 0N 1375 0E 06224 5 10 55 21 1 21 S E W 00103000300159 0480 06 3303N 13150E 062245 1308 21 12 2 P J f i 7 0010300030016 2 0000 00 3230N 1MOOE 1116 2 2 4 5 13 2 8 2 1 1 21 S00164 0000 13 3245N 1335 0E 06224 5 1324 2 1 "121 S00195 0 500 05 3255N 13S00E 062 24 5 1100 2 1 1 21 S00200 20 00 10 3515N 13600E 062 24 5 1008 21 121 S00295 0483 11 3300li 13420E 062 24 5 12 26 2 1 12 1 5 A V 0060300299 0490 08 SOOON 135 30E 062 24 5 0925 2 1 12 1 5 A V 0060303260 0225 OS 2 900N 140 25Jl 062 24 5 0735 2 1 12 1 S

- ,32 ..


36/89

PlIR T I I - R A D IO1. Strike Reportss A total of' 54 Strike Reports l1B.8 receivedby wing ground stations during this mission. Nineteen were received

from the aircraft of' the 73rd Wins; 14 from 58th planes i 13 fromaircraft of' ,,14th; am 6 f'rom the 313th.

2. Fox Transmissions I There was only 1 .,. type messagetransmitted during this mission. The 7.3rd Wing reported that 110to 120 operators copded a "DI.umlyI message from the ground station.Weather and time signals were transmitted accc:n:ding to Bomber CouIlaDdregulations.

3. Frequencies: The 73rd Wing enoountered heavy ene~ inter-ference on all their strike frequenoies during this mission. 'Effeotiveness ranged from partially effective to effective. O W , 'voice. and buzzsaw types of interferenoe were used. The 3lJth Wi~,in a report of jamming on the Saipan CW I station, said that Buzzsawand hunming noises were used in'effectively jamning the frequencyabove Iwo Jima, over the Empire, and on the route b~ck to Iwo.Followil'lg i.s a percentage br-eakdown of traffic per frequency: 8per cent on 3 megacycles; 29 per cent on 7 megacycles and 63 percent on 11 megacycles.

4. Navigational Aids: Five HF /DF bearing requests nerereceived aOO '7 were furnished aircraft. The extra 2 b,earings \veretransmitted to an aircraft indioating possible emergenoy. N O V H F / D Fbearing facilities \vere Used. The 58th Wing reported using Air to.lirHoming successfully with 65 aircraft.5. Net Discipline and Security: Ne\7 Disoipline and Security~as reoorded as excellent during these missions. A few instancesof radio operators breaking in on other aircraft tranmnissions were

reported. Corrective action has been taken in eaeh'instanae. The7')rd Wing reported some aircraft gave course. speed, and al titudein the clear over V H F channels.6. Enemy Transmissions: The follOlving incidents of ena~jamn~ng aoo. interference were reported during these missions:

a. 3020 KeSI c ; , N fran 1830Z to 2115Z "'as partially effective.b. 6615 Kos: m r from 2200Z to 0300Zwas inetfective.o. 10305 Kes: O W fram 2300Z to 0130Z was ineffeotive.d. 3145 Kes: Jap net operating between 1700Z and 2100Z

was effective (Believed to be unintentional,but effective.)e. 6055 Ko.s:

(1) 0 . 1 / signals at 2l30Z was partially effective.(2) S~rles of' dit~ at l730Z were very effeotive. (St~s1gnal strength and blocked out ground station)(3) Q lN at 2300Z was very effective. and blocked groundstation .(4) Jap 00t intermittent throughout mi ssion wae ineftecti veto partially effective.

.. 33 ..


37/89

f. 10880 Kcsi(1) strong buzzing sound, varying in aignal ~trengtb.from 0100Z to 0900Z was partially effect1ve,Bearing from Sa ipan 285 degrees,

O W signals at 0730Z were very effective and blockedg ro un d st at io n.Voice transmissions at 0448Z were ineffective,Voice station using call sign 'ABlE MIKE YOKEMIKE'intermittent throughout mission wa s pa rtia llyeffective.

(2)

g. 3290 Kcs: Negligible.h . 7415 Kcs:

(1) 'Put-Put jammer at 0346z was partially effective.(2) Keyed CW and tone at 1632Z and 2200Z w ere ineffective

to very effectivo.1. 10820 Kcs:

(1) Tone and long dashes at 1052Z were very effective.(2) Keyed e m from 0100Z to 1014,2 w as very effective.

7. Distress: The 7Jrd Wing reported the following distresstraffic: 1 OPlSH massage was received from 34V607 by the Wingstation. The' aircraft radio operator gave the aircraft's posi tioD,course, speed, and altitude. 3.lprad was alerted in order to Ifix't he a ir cr af t. , l'b fix was obtained due to frequency trouble. T'liotrue courses to steer were given to the plane. This pla ne madebase but crashed on landing. The 3l4th Wing reported receivingseveral massages concerning a B-29 crashing in the sea. giving theposition and sighting on 5 parachutes. The 58th Wing had 4 I1distrass"reP9rts from aircraft giving positions and oonditions. One messagewas a sighting of 4 survivors in Mae West. am t he ir po si ti on s.

8. 'Equipment Malfunctions: 'AN/ART-13, 4 inoperative, 1 nosidetone, 1 Cna nnel 3 inoperative, 1 fixed antenna shot off; BO-348,3 inoperative. 1 bad OW'oscillator tube; SCR!522, 4 inoperative;A N / l l R N - 7 . 1 inoperative, 1 indicator hunting, 7 se nse a n1 te nn asbroken; SCR-274. one ~ntenna shot 'off; interphone, 1 inoperative,'6 mier ophone sw ltcbes inoperati ve , 1 foot mi croswi t ch inoperat iva. 4 systems leaking and intermittent operation; RL-42, 15 inoperative,4 l ost w ei gh ts. 3 sticking.

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D

JV1; I ..... . A 1 1 ' Oppoait1onPut II ~ .mt;iairol'att aDd Jd.r-to-AU" BallbiDC

Part III D e l m a . AeaessmeDt

MisSions'Nb. 215. 216,2.11. 218. 212. a n d 220

22J'une 1945

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PA R T I - E N l ! 2 4 Y ' A IR O PPQS IT IO N *1. WDma r y 1 Two B-29's wore lost to Japanese fighters ontho early 1l]rning .trikes on 22 June 1945. Ten other supertortawora d a m a g e d by tho interceptors; who made 137 attacks; C r e w s

ola~ 2 en~ fighters de.tro,yed, 2 pobably dostroyed. and 8damased. fighter escort was nat available 'because of poorope.ationsl weather between Iwo J1mB and Japan.

2 . . Early Warning and Operational Weather I Intelligenceindioates that the Japanese \7erO aware of our approach, althoughthe ItUltipl1city of targets may have oonfused the fighter controllers.Good operational weather existed over the targot areaS so that Iapfighters could have ll8de maximumsorties. The oomparatively taw1nteroeptors airborne m a y be attributed in 1 a r a e p a r t to the probableconsorvation polia,y of the Jmpanose in an antioipation of a futureAllied ~phibious operation.

,3. Mission 215. 58th and 7)rd Wings, Xure Naval Arsenal I

a.. 73rd WinsI(1) No ene~ fighters were sighted and no attacks

WGresustained .(2 ) From 1 8,0 0 0 feet, a right gunner observGd asemicircular pit or revetment just .N W of Kochi Airfiold (3330N-

13241E). The observing gunner did not see the airfield but itsllosi tion was called by anathor crew member at approximately thosame time. Tho revetment wae described as much larger than anantiairoraft revetment ~i th a thin straight ramp running acrosethe oenter. The obs01'vor thought there may have been 2 suchobjeots but uas n o t positive.. It was the gunner's opinion thatthe object closely resembled the lau.nching sI. te illutJtrated inXXI Bomber Command Air Intelligence Report, Volume I, No,. 10.

b. 58th ?Tine;:

(1) There were no attacks roported by the 2 groups'partioipating on this mission. A total of 5 .5 airoraft were seen,3 5 of which wore seaplanes on the w a t e r .(2) Three B-29's reported sighting an enem;yairoraftplummeting to earth and the Japanase pilot was seen to bailout

and his papachute opened." However, the parachute was on tire.(3) Ten S/E float type planes ware observed on the

water at Ya\vatahama.. They \vere painted blue and had long elliptical>tings. Three of the 10 were thought to be taxid.ng for take-ofr .o

4. Mission 216. 3l4th W inp j!= M1tsubjishill'omashitnala. APprOXimately 5 0 enemy aircraft were si ghtcd and they

made 4 1 attaoks .b. Singlo-engine fighters attacked the formations at the

assembly area > t1 th phosphorus banbosand gun fire. Zekes ,verereported making attacks 171th phosphorus bombs. About 20 pho&l'horWibomb bursts lVore obsorved. Aircraft #893 \1a.8 belioved lost tofighter action over the assembly area_, Othar planes of the 19thGroup made the following report, ftThe enemy tighter attacked atthe assembly point 11 0clock high and went through the formation .. 0 \ . phosph01TUsbomb burst \'76$ seen in front of A/c #893 just prior tothe diving attack. Tho actual eauee of the B-29 loss is not known.,.' Based on evaluated informa.tion not A.v.


40/89

0 ; . U L ! ' t ,y P 0 8 ~f fig~ters rrote roported encountered, zake,1'oj., Tony, Jack, osear , Niok, Irving, Frank and Georgo. ThC Jfighters folloVioo tho :formations through the tar~et aroa althoughmost ot the attacks were made before bcmbs array. The attacks inmost O'lSeBl'1ere not pressed. The fightors h9il a tendenoy to paoothe formations '3lld often feinted attaoks but came no closer than1000 yam1s. Tho 29th Group reported. 11 attacks b(:ling broken oftat about 700 yards as a result of the B-29 openins firo beforetho fighter had opened fire.

5. Mission 217. 58th Wins. Kawanishi/HilDeji:a. A total of 17 attacks was reported by the 2 groups onthis mission. The attacks ,Tere scattered :from banbs a.rray to beyoJllam' s end. NOt'tTin-enginG aircraft 'tTeroenoountered, although 2tTlin-engino aircrl3.ft rrere sish,ted botween lqndfall and tho lni tielPoint .b. One straggler, not in f'ermatlon, experionced . 5 indivi-dual attaoits and clai.m.a1 Tony damaged.c. Tho only unusual occurrence was :from;.3 single-ongineunidefltificd enemy aircraf't; i7hich leolted like the F6F. They 'I7ero

black, with square ITingtips, rl'ldial engine, and short nesos. Theyclimbed above the B-29 formation and rrent toward tho formationbehind the ono roporting. APp~ently thoy did not attack. Theirraw e:f climb ',7as dGscribed as "terrific", and done TIith great ease.6. Mission 218, 3l3th 1.111n6.MitsUbishi/KaSaT,ugabara:

a. .\n estimated 3 0 to 3 . 5 aircraft made 5 4 attacks. FightersWOl'o concentrated in areas ..here C A V U i'l'oathcr prevailed. On somaattacks twin-ongine and single-engino aircraft i'l'orked togethercomine; in from' front quarters slightly high at 1 0clock almostsimulta..'leously, both breaking under tho B-29 formation.'6. .1 . Nick came up from'very low at 10 o'clock. hung on-hia props, strafed tho formation, and dropped off beroro he could

be fired on.c. . ' l . tlvin-engino md 2 single-engine airora.ft oa.mein

aimul tane ously j the tlllin-engine aircraft at 11 0clo ck above andthe 2 single-engine at 1 and 2 o'clook level respe6tively. Theattack VIasaggressive, going through the formation, but no scoredhits vere roported.d. One 3 plane ooordinated attack from 12-l2-2 o'olockabove and nearly resulted in an accidental ramming of tho B-29involved.o. Front quartor high attacks wore 6fton used , attacksfrom above greatly prodOOlinating. In general, attacks \,erE!

modorately aggrossive.7. Mission 219, 31qth Wing, Kaw8saki/Kagem1gahare.,

a. Between the Initial Point and land's end, about 18sightings wore roportod. Approximately 15 anomy air6raft wereoncount cred , They includod . 5 Nicl!:s/rrvings, 4 TOjos, 3 Zekos,and a possible Tony; Oscar and Frank. One Zeke TIes observedacting as a pacer", and flaIl parallel to tho first formation forseveral miles bet170ell tho Initial Point ald the target. .\. tot.alof 14 attacks 71ero executed. Ship #882 tlas unable to keep up

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uith tho formation and i7as last observed turning south and losingaltitude to obtain cloud cover from 4 attacking enomy aircraft.Enemy aircraft fire was fairly accurate and sevoral B-29' s receiveddirect hits from 20-mm cannon fire.

8. Mission 220. 3l'3th Winpj, Ka'l1asaki/ ..UcashilIll'. 'lIfui ~ tlghtor roaeUon to thiS mission vas sliGht.

Four air-to-air b o D h 4 - u o r e d r o p p o d - b y T o n y a o n 2 of tho s q u a d r o n sbetu90n tho Initial Point and the target, but dropping was inaccurate.-b. one ene~ aircraft acted as a DpacerWflying along with

the formations, but out of range, into the target.9. Tactics:

Direction ani !.Elval of Approachof Enemy AircraftTotal NJmberof Attacks 2 %

1%

1 0 %

F ROM .. BOllE8%F RO H LE VE L 2 5 %FR0M BELOW 18%

10. Breakdorm of ~\ttacks:EnemyAircraft No.. Attacks Per centUnidentifiedZokeNickTonyTojO

38221 71 51 2

291 612119

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EnemYAircraftIrvingOecarGeergeJackFrankRamp

NO. Attacks Per cent

Tetal

87644_j136

654.3.3~

10011. Claims:

B.. De8tlwyad (2): 1 Hemp, 1 U/I by ROO.b. Prebab1y Destreyod (2): 1 N'ick by Nose; 1 Irving by ~.c. Dannged (8): 1 Irving, 1 Tejo, 2 U/I by Nose. 1 Tony,

1 u/I by LB; 1 Nicic, 1 Tony by REn.

1. Mission No. 215 - Xure Naval Arsenal:a. The pri!ll.!U"y"arget USB banbod by 162 airoraft (104 tromthe 7.3rd " lVing I!Ild58 from tho 58th Wing) bet>leen 0031Z-014.3Z tran18,000-26,250 foet.. lI.ircrl'lft of the 58th Wing attacked first on anaxis o .f 200.-290. l7ith >leather ropo.rted as CAVU-3/10 undercast. Air-craft o.f the 73rd Wing attacked ]a st on an axis cf 150.-400.' Under-cas~rep~ted as 2/10-3/10 cn bcth sides cf most fcrmatio.ns, with

CAW conditions directly under the fcrmatio.ns. Winds varied from30-35 knots at 270~-275.

A tctal C . r 12 Aircraft bcmbed targets cf opportunity.b. Flak E n Route to. Target; E n ll'oute to. the target flak

was first encountered at the I.P. end ccntinued to . the target areaas tabulated below:Ipcatio.n Coo.rdinates Remarks

Vi cini ty cf Shone 332lN-13202E( I . F . ) Meager and inaccurate., Heavy t'IIldoontinuo.usly pointed fOr all grou.psexc.ept 497th 'which i'epcrted inteneeand accurate, heavy, continuo.uslypainted and barrage fira.,

I.P. to. Targl)t Genorally sporadic, meager mdLnaccuzaae to fairly accurate, heavyald continuously pOinted. some flakemanated from surfaco craft. Burst!!!17iJre I l 1 U l ti-colored .

On e group encountered intense and accurate, heavy flak duringthe last 8 minutes of the bonb run.OShima 3355N-13210E

3424N . .13228EMeager and inaccurate, heavy.

Hiro.shima Meagor 2 1 M inaccurate. heavy. Based on W in g Of fi oe rs' F la ~ R~ports.

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. .

IQarabaahi Shima 3408N-13232E Land based batteries observed inaotion bare.KawaJiri 3402N-13200E Meager am inaccurate, heavy.

e. Flak over Target .\roa:(1) ..\11 crevs reported that tlak: over the target l1aB

intense, accurate and heavy. Each formation recoived tran 2-3minutes ot continuously pointed fire with a teu instances ot b~ageend ptadicted cono6ntratiob. typos.' Bursts wore'reported as .mite,black, brol1Il, grey, yoll0\7, purplo, blue, groen, orange aIrl red.This indicatod that much of tho tlak ~as caning from naval vossels1n tho harbor, since the navy uses colorod bursts tor fire adJustmontpurposes.

(2) One Group (499th) reported a terrific barrago1umed1ate1y after bcmb release. It was descrioed as intense andaccarate aiId filled a volume of sk;y bettmen 15.000 and 22,000 feetaltitude and 2500 feet across. All bursts ~ere black.

d. Flak on W i thdranal: :lfter breaka~ay flak >ras encountereda s tabulated be10\7:Location Coordinates Romarks

Niihama 3359N-13320E MeagGr and inaccurate to accurate.heavy.Imbari 3405N-13300E Meager and accurate, !'Bavy.Mitsugahama 3350N-1240E Moderate and accurate,. heavy.. ,Mihara 3425N-l3305 E Mediwn flak. reaching to 20,000 feet.

e. swmnar:(of Los.s and Damse: One aircraft was lost toflak on this mission, and of 162 aircraft banbing t.he primary target.96 or 59.26% sua~ainad flak damage. This extremely high damage rateis undoubtedly due to tbe supplementing of the Kuro flak defenses bya number of naval vessels in the harbor. The "Sl'I.ipp::'ngSituationReport- sh~s that on this date there wero 2 e v a , 2 CVLs. 1 BB. 1 CA,2 DDs am. 3 Escorts in the harbor and vicinity. Ships of these typesand nwubers are capable of gt"Elatly increasing the effectiveness ofthe Kure flak defenses.

f .. Miscellaneous . V . 1 . Obsorvations:(1) Se~ral creus reported 2 - 5 bursts ot phosphorus

flak over tha target. Somaof thesG were normal phosphorus bursts.1 1 th the usual dispers ion of streamers. but a feu wero unusuallydifferent. They threw out pellets about the size of small orangeswhioh burned as they fell. The burst was described as about 5tiroos the size of an ordinary heavy flak burst. No damage wasreported from phoBphorUB~lak.

(2) One aircraft reported 8-9 barrage balloons attachodby cables to ships at 3407N-13252E. They were estimated to be about5000 feet above tho "nater.(3) Only one rocket was reported in the target area,bursting at 18.500 feet.

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SECRET. . . . -- . . . . . --(4) A possible .paceI'" aircraft was observed on B

parallal eeurec and lovel with e . B-29 formation Just before bombreloase.

(5) Tho first t01'JD8tions over the target reported.SllCu-screens in the target arat'.. .\t least e smoke generatorsvore obsorv~. A snoke screen was also reported along tho shoreot Hiroshima !ay'

2. Mission No. ,216 .. Mi tsubishi t\ircraft Oompany. Tamash1malB. ..\ total of 10 8 aircraft of tM 314tb'WiD8 bombed thoprima ry ta rg et betwo on 2 3 3 6 z - 0 0 3 O Z from 1 5 . 4 0 - 1 8 , 3 0 0 teet. Axisof attack variod from. 26 00-27.,c. Ten aircraft bombod various tarPts

of opportunity.b. En route to the target flak was encounterod as tabulated

balon,Location Coordinates R e m a r k s

Tanabe (near 3 3 4 0 N - 1 3 5 2 O Eroassembly area) Meager and inaccurato. hoavy. Twoaircraft sustained minor damage.Tokushima 3 4 0 5 N - 1 3 4 3 5 E Meager to moderate md inaccurate,heavy. Tno aircraft hit.Muya 341ON-13435EShudo Shima (Near 3430N-1341& i :I,F.)Kushimoto (banbad 3330N-1 .3 . 55OEas T . O . b y ana A / C )

Meager and inaccurate, heavy .Meager end inaocurate. heavy.

Meager Iild accurate, heavy.

c. OVer the target area am during the banb run flak wasdescribed es wager to IOOderate, inacc\U'ato to accurate and heavy.Fire was too scattered to permdt identification ot type or firecontrol

d. o n withdrawal a faw aircratt encountered flak at'1'Bllotsu, Ohama, Toyohama and Kannpnji on the NWooast of Shikokusouth of the targot. No oarmnents on intensity or accuracy. Oneaircraft was hit near Ohama.

e. No aircraft twre lost to flak on this mission, IIld of1 2 8 al . rcraf't bombing (all targets), 1 8 or 1 4 . 0 6 % . sustai.ned flakdamage. ApprOXimately 7J1. or thC:lflak damage was sustained in thetarget area.

f. M i scellaneous . ' V A Observations I(1) One Group reported a Nick acting B..S a .pacer" air-

craft t '1 'c#- 'ti1 departure point to the target.3. Mi,s1on No. 2 1 7 - Kawanishi Aircraft Company, Himeji:

a. Tho primary target Was attacked 'by 5 2 ai rcraft of the.s8th Wing 'between 0046z -0137Z from. 15,200-18 ,000 feet. .Axis ota tt ack varied from 31' -430 weather was r epa- 1 ; 0 0 . as CAW to 4/10undGrC8.Bt.

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\

b. En route to tha target maager and inaccurate heaVYflak vas encountered at lIKO( 3 4 44N -1,3422E).

6. OVer tho tarBet all bombing formations described flakas mager, gonerally inacourate and heavy.. Continuously pointedfire oontrol \7aB employod. Most firo was encountered about oneminute beforo bomb reloase and appeared to be emanating from batte~ieaalong tho coast south of Himoji.

d. (1) 'i1ithdrawal vas made after a sharp brealca\7ay tothe North and doubling back on the approach route. Meager andinaccurate heavy flak uas encounte~ed at Ku~ama.

(2) Tanns&imawas bombed as a. T.O. by toro aircraft.Flak flas nil. Tokushima (Eastern coast of Shikoku) was bombed asa T.O. by ono aircraft. MGa.gerand inaccurate heavy flak uasroported.

e. S1.lmnEgY'ofLoss and DamaSO ' No aircraft wera lost toflak on this mission, and of 56 aircraft attacking (all targets) I2 or 3-51%" sustained i'lak damage.

f. Thoro uora no reports of miscellaneous .Vl~observations_4. Mission No. 218 - Mitsubishi ;.ircraft Qompany, Kasamigahara:

a. The primary t.arget uas bOthbedby 17' airoraft of the31,3th Wing botvreen 0016z-001& from 16,000 to 18,400 foot. Theme of attack uas 810 Weather uas reported as 5/10-7/10 under-cast with winds of 28 knots at 290.

b. Tl1e second squadron (6 aircraft) after flying over theprimary targot,~lectcd to attack the secondary target, Utsube OilRefinery on the Southorn Edge of Yokkaichi. The axis of attack was2700 Sl d the bombing was accanplished from 17,900 feet.

c. En route to the target meager and inaccurate, heavyf 1alc \'1as encountered at Kyoto (lm of Osaka) em otsu (NE of Osaka).

d.' Flak over the primary target was described as n:eagerto moderate, accurate and heavy by the fir~ squadron, Tho secondand third squadrons dosoribed it as meager, inaccurate and heavy.This indicates possible saturation of the defenses. Duration offire was 30 :,econds to one miwte.

e. Flak over the secondary target was described as intense.very accurate, and heavy" Duration of fire uas about 3 minutes. Abattery of heavy " V A guns wea reported located along the river justSouth of the target area.f'. Oniiithdra\,al from the primary target area flak wsreported at ~oyohashi and Okazaki. It vIas meager, inaccurate aniheavy. No flak: was reported upon withdrawal from the secondary

target area.g. No aircraft were lost to flak on this mission, and of

23 "lircraf't attacking (both targets), 10 or 43 5 % . sustained flakdamage. Most of this damage was sustained by the aircraft attackingthe secondary target ..h. No miscellane-ous A/A observations were reported.


46/89

5. m . a 1 C I D . N o . 212 - l{aWMald Aircratt. Company . KeSamiSah!,e.1a.. Tho primary target waS bamboo by '17 airoraft ot tho313th Wing betweon ~19Z-1423Z' f10an16.100-16.200 teat. Ads otattack was SOo-6lo. Weather was reported as being 4/10-6/10 under-

oast with winds of 30-34 knots from 2aao-2~.b. En route to the target flak mas tirst enoountered' at

Otsu e m of Osaka). Itwas dosaribed ~8 moager aDd inacourate,he~v,y and oontinuously pointed.'0. Ovor the ttn'get aroa flak was desaribed I1SmGBgortomodorate, vary aoourqte, and hoavy. 'l'ho duration of 1.ro variedit-au 1 5 - 4 . 5 seoonds boioro bombroleaso to a tOil seconds after bombr010a80.d. Onwithdra'>7al moderate W accurate . ho'1VYflak was

enoountered near Okazaki (3lCi7N-13710E).a. N o airoraft ware lost to flak on this'misl!lion. mdof 21 airoraft attaoking (all tar,gets). 7 or ~3.3.l".sustained flak

damage.1. No miscellaneous . V l l . ebservatioQS were repa-ted 6. Mis8ion No. 220 - KaWlsald Airoraft Qompan.y \kash11a. The primary target was botflbed by' 25 airor~ft of tho3 1 , 3 t h W i n g betweon 0 0 5 1 Z - 0 0 5 3 Z trom 1 8 , 0 0 0 - 1 9 . 6 0 0 feet. . \ X i s ot

athck varied from 35 -38 " . 'Weather 'Ilas reported as OAW 'IiithwiIlde of ,30knots trom 27jJ.b. En route to the targot tlak was ancQuntered as tollows:

L ooat10lj Qoordinates RemerksTanabe 3 3 4 0N-1352OE Mea ger to ma dera te and inaccurato.,heavy.Kush.inwto 332BN-13545K Meagpr to moderato aDd inaccurate .fteavy.Tokushlma 3 4 0 5 N - 1 3 4 3 2 E Meager to malsra.te and inaccurate,h e a v y .Minato 3 4 2 0 N - 1 3 4 4 O E Me a g a ~ t o moderate and iD.3ocurate,heavy,

, o. OvElf the target talk was described as meager tomodorato, inaocurate to accurate and hoo.vy. Fire was ot barragetype l asti ng 1-2 minutos.d. On withc1rawal moager to nnierate,. inacourate. heavyflak was encounterod at like!) (3445N-13422E).e. No aircraft MIre lost to flak on. this'!niss1on, &4Of 26 airoraft attaoki~ (all targets), j or 11~,sustalDed flaXdame.~,.f. No rolsQallaJlElous Alii. observations were reportoo",

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47/89

DAMM. \ ! J I ! iA S S E S E f . U i : N l ' REPOM' 14 2 - M ISS ! ON 2 1 5 , 4 l J 'OIX 1945 :9O.30-657AH l J R E N AVA L A RS EN AL1. Ii.uIpJ.a1z *

a. Original roof' area: 3.955.200 sq. ft.b .Qurrent dama@!: 2.879.510 sq. ft., ?;!'/. (Note:inasmuch as there were no preVious strikes and no roof removal,the figures far current damage alsb rep-osants the total)c. Damage to the Kure ~val .i:'ssnal" raBUltiIIG f1'Ollltheabove bomb strike uas extensive.. A total c : r '1 6 . . 6 % of the target1s destroyed or structurally damaged. Every major buildingsustained SOmEo damage. rBllging fran minor roof to structuraldamage. Damage WaB heaViest in the center and Sf1 sections of'the plant. Several or the overhead cranes and conveyors weres8verelr damaGed.d. Photos used for this report were of good quaH tYJ

a small amountof cloud cover hindered study by stereo-vision.2. statietical Summa r y of DamageI

a. Damagefrom Mission 2151Square feet Per cent ofof' roof or16!nal roof area

Destroyed 250,100 6 . 3Structural damage 411,515 1 0 . 3Superficial

Gutted 1,804~125 4 5 .Minor root damage 4 1 3 . 7 7 Q 10.4Total damage 2,879.510 72.0Total rggt,; ares: '.955,200 sq. ft.

Original roof area is that on first coverage aDd willbe used unless additional roof area has been constructed.

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49/89

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51/89

LEGENDD es tro ye d o r S tru ctu ra lly D am a ge d

~-GuttedV ? 2 2 1 - M i no r R oo f D am age

o 500'J MScal e in fee tCONF ID ENT IAL


52/89

~< D>- ~o C D'--IIII)oI -:s(!)~'"'


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D. liMA-GE~ l .SSESSMENI'REPORT . .. 105 .. MISSION 216. ?7 JUNE 1945 :90.27-1681, 2619MIT SUB I SH I .i/a co M IS HIM A PLA N !'KUR.\SHIKI AIRFIEID3 4 3 l N - 1 3 3 4 4 E

1. Sumlnazy Ie. Damage to the 'Mi tsubishi .i/o Co. resulting f'r6m XXI

Bomoor CommandMission 216. 22 June 1945. amounts to 2,287,950 sq.ft or 8 6% of tho roof area which was destroyed or damaged. About2.5% of the pl'll'lt is oompletely dostroyed. Eight BErTY aircraftwere destroyed. and throe dalllat,;ed 'I1ihin the plant area.

b. The large hmgars and five shop type buildings locatedOn Kurashiki Airfield were destroyed. Dam:age to aircraft on thefield include 13 B E T I ' Y S " . 1 T-ABBY and 2 unidentified slE pla.nssdestroyed, and 1 B ETTY damaged. No craters were noted in the landingarea and 'the field is considered to be probably operatl va. F1ve TIEand 3 s l E aircraft remain operative.

(1) Total A l e d~aged or destroyed:21 BE'ITYdestroyed.4 . BETTY damaged1T_'ffiBYestroyed

2 S I E destroyed(2) Important units severely dam.aged (Mish1ma Plant):

2 final assembly buildin@S3 sub-assembly buildings1 sheetmetal fabricating building(3) Important ~its destroyed (Mishima Plant):

Die foundry. woodworking am pattern shopsSnell boile.r houseLarge admi1u.stra tion buildiIlgLarge engineering office

(4) Importm t units apparently undamaged (Mishima Plant).1Water storage buildingPump house (slightly damaged)Large machine shopLarge storage warehouses (3)

. NOTE: The t6tal roof area listed in (RM. A l. 4.313.800 sq.ft., is inoorrect. the actual figure being 3.658.600 sq. ft. Thisfigure includes buildings under construction but which were notcompletGld at the time ofthe> strike. The actual roof area at thetime of the strike was 2,671,100 sq. ft. Tl1is figure exaludes672,600 sq . ft. under construction, md 377.700 sq.' ft. of roofthat had been removed. However, it does inolude 62,800 sq. ft.of I1fnV roof area.>

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C O N F I D E N T I A L

S T . ' : . . T I S TI C ALUMMARYOF Dl.M:.GED a m n r e fro~ our rant str ikel sq ua re f ee tof roof peroent of roof nrenn t timo of 8t rike 'DestroyedS tr uo tu rn l d~&eSuperfioial:

4 9 2 , 9 0 0 18.5

1 . Gutted2. Minor roof drunngeTotnl d::unnge

1,088,67553~.4352,287,950 86.0

Note; Totn1 roof a rea listpd in Ref. A (4,313,800 sq. ft.) is incorroct.~rror8 notod in B Uilding D ~ensions (Ref. A )tB UILD IN G N C . REF A- C O R R E C T I O N2 2 0 .

2 2 -280. 28b _182,000182,000182,0001112,000728,000

18,20018,20018; 20016,20072,800ITEMI~ATION OF DAMAGE. (SeE! next pngel

C O N F I D E N T I A L


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CONFIDENTIAL- - - - - - - _ . _ - - -

pML\CE .lSSESa.Nl' REPOR!' NO. 102 .. MISSION217. 25 JUNE 1245'90.27-2047

K.l.\7/.NISHI AIRCR:.F!' CO., HIMEJI PL.AN!'3450N - 13443E

1. SummaryIa. This report assesses damage to Target 90.27-2047resulting from X K I Bomber CoIlm!lIn Mission 217 of 22 June 1945.b. The target may be considered as being completelydestroyGd.c. Damage totaled about 915,450 sq. ft. I 17hich reprs-sents 9 6 . : 1 % of the total original roof area.d. .~out 789.100 sq. ft. of roof area uas destroyod

0:1' structurally dAmaged- this figure amounts to 82.~ of thetotal original roof area.2. StatistiMl Sulmnary of Demases

a. Dem}BElran current strike:Original roof area:Removedprior to strike: 953;10033,200Roof area at time of strike: 919.900

Per cent ofSq.Ft. of Par cent of original roof priorRoof roof area to strike

Destroyed or structural 789.100 82.8 85.8damage

Superficial:Gutted 120;800 1 2 . 7 13.1Minor roof damage 2 1 2 2 0 ~ ~

Tot a1 damage 915.450 96.1 9953. Itemization of Damage: (See following page)


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t;!A MA OE A SSE SS wE Nl' - MtrmON 2113".90.20-1833M I'l 'SO BISB I A lR CR AF1' ~ct&PA NY .K AG AM IG AHA RA PUN l'

I., See Damage AsSeSslJ.Ien' Report Number 1 4 4 inTacticalMission Report far Missions Nmi'ber 223 through 2.31.

. ..2 . ..


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A l e final assembly buildingWing and parts manufacturing .buildingW ing a nd fusela ge a ssembly building

80g85 %100%

D ~ lM : 1G E A S S E S S M ! :N r R E PO R T 109 ... M I S S I ON 219. 29 J ' U N E 19459 0 . .20-240KAWAS;IKI A le PL:.Nr. KAGAMIGAHlIRA PUN!'3524N - 13652E

1. S.mlmary Ia. This report assesses damage to Target 90.20-240

rasul ting from XXI Bomber Collllll9.00Mission 219. 22 June 1945.b.. Dalliage inflicted by the above strike amounta to529.800 sq. ft or 33 .5% of the total r60f area of the plant(1.582.000 sq. ft.). or this pez-cent.aje , 12.6% of the total

roof area was destroyed or rece! vod structural damage.0., Primary objectives wi thin the pim t receiving damage:

d. Prior to thO strike, 4.2% of the total roof area had.been r emo ve d. T he ~e fo re . the per cent of o ri gi na l r oo f a r e adamaged or removed, following the strike, was 3 7 . 7 % .

e . One TIE aircraft was destroyed.2.. Statistical Summary of Damage:

a. Damage from current StrikelS qua re feetof roof Per cent ofOriginal roof area

DestroyedStructural damage 52,000Superficial

GuttedMinor roof damage 206~700124.000

529,80069,100

Total damageRoof area removed

~: The total oru lnal roof aroia used in this report is1.582,000 sq . ft, (Ref B). The tota l roof area listed in (Ref. A)vias found to be erroneous - erro~s being noted in the "Total"column. plan area, sheets 1 and .8.

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CON F I D E N T I A L------------

DAM . ' l G E 1 1 S S E 9 3 I OO J TR E POR I ' 104 - M IS S IO N 220. 28 JUNE 194590.25-1547K. . ' .WAS . . . \KI s/ co , - A KA SHI PLA N!'3439N - 13457E

1.- S U n m a r : y ; :a. This report assesses damage to tlie above targetresulting from XXI Bomber CommandMission 220, 22 June 1945.b. Ne~ d~e to the target totals about 611,654 sq.tt., reprosenting 18%of the total original roof area of the .plant. (Total original root aroa, according to Ref :. - 3,371,100

sq.. ft,)o. TWelve buildings, TIith a total roof area of about256,800 sq. ft. I wore destroyed .. sui'fered severe structural

d::llllaga ... Building No.. 83 (sub-assembly) ',1as r.\bout 20% gutted.d... Total damage infli cted on the target to' date isabout 4 5 . 1 . % of the total original roof area.. (1,527,366 sq. ft ..)

2. Statistic3.1 SuIllinary of Damage~a. Damap;e from current strike:

Squ."ireFeotof roofP3r cent oforiginal roof area

Destroyed and Structural DaLlage 353,676 10.4Superficial:

Gutted. 195~758 5.8Minor roof damage 62,220 . 1.8 Total damage 611.654 18.0.lliIT!' Total roof area of original plant is 3.371,100 sq. ft. -Ref A.

b. Total D.amage to Dat'j:Destr.ycd and Structural Damage 616,624Superficial:

GuttedMinor roof damage 848~52262,2201 . 527,366otal damage

' .. 6 6 -C O N F ID E N T I l.L------- -----


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aE -da~.(a) lIPI

1 3 3 0 8 : 6110079

Force Required2 S q u ad r o n s4 S q u ad r o n s

(b) MPI References XXI BomComLith~oaaic H1meji Area90.29 - 2047.

S E C R E T----- --


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SECRET- - - ---FIELD ORDERNUMBm 89 CONTINUED

(0) Route:BaseIwo Jima3330N- 13430E (Reassembly Area)3 426 N - 13421E (Departure Point and IP)TargetLeft TurnIw o J ima.Base

(d) Base Altitude o f Attack: 1 5 , 0 0 0 feet.(e) A l t i t u d e E n r o u t e to Target: 2,000 - 2,000 f e e t ald6 , 0 0 0 - 6 , 8 0 0 f~et.(f) Bombload: 500 1b GP'a fused 1/100 nose and non-dela1

tail.(g) Time Control at Departure Point: D-Hour plus 30 minutes.,.

b,. 7Jrd Wing: _;

(1) Target: 90.30 - 657A. Primary Visual and Radar.(a) M P I

037055Force Required

Norma .1 "Sffort(b) MPI Reference: XXI BomComLitho-Mosaic Kure Urban.(c) Route:

BaseIwo Jima3240N - 13225E3 3 2 0 N - 1 3 2 0 l E3346N - 1 3 2 1 6 ETarget .Right Turn avoiding flak areasIw o JimaH"l.se

(Reassembly A r e a )(Departur e Point)(IF)

( d ) B a s e A l t i t u d e o f A t t a c k : 1 8 , 0 0 0 f e e t .(e) Altitude Enroute to Target: .3 ,OOO_ 3-,800 feet am7,000 - 7 , 8 0 0 feet.,(f) BombLoad: 2..000 1b GPts fused 1/40 noae and 1/40 tail.(g) Time Control at Departure Point:. D-Hour..

c_ 313th Wing:(1) Target i' 90.20 - 1833/240 Mmary Visual.

(a) M PI088070079078

Foroe Required1Group1irOUp

(b ) M PI R eference: X X I B'orrQomLitho-Mosaic Kagamigahara'I~aa 9 0 . 2 0 - 2 4 0 .

(0) Secondary Visual: 90.20 - 1684.


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UPI Force Required

'!QS!!FIEID ORDERNUMBER9 CONTNUED

062018 1 Group075026 1GroupMPI References XXI BomComLitho-Mosaic Yokkaichi AreaUtsube River Oil Refinery.

(d) Primary Rnd.arS 90.20 - 1684 ....

21st Bomber Command Tactical Mission Report 215, 220

Documents

Transcript of 21st Bomber Command Tactical Mission Report 215, 220