330th Bombardment Group
Encyclopedia
The 330th Bombardment Group ("Empire Busters") was a bomber group of the United States Army Air Forces
during World War II
. It constituted on 1 July 1942 at Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah
. The unit fought in the Pacific Theater
. Its lineage and honors are now carried by the 330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing
.
The unit was organized in 1942 as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator Replacement Training Unit (RTU) in New Mexico
and Texas. In 1944, the group was equipped with the B-29 Superfortress
and was assigned to the 14th Air Division|314th Bombardment Wing, training in Kansas
for deployment to the Pacific Theater
. Flying from North Field, Guam
as part of the Twentieth Air Force
, it entered combat in April 1945. The group received two Distinguished Unit Citations for incendiary
raids on the homeland islands of Japan
. The group returned to the United States in late 1945, and was inactivated on 3 January 1946.
as a B-24 Liberator
Replacement Training Unit (RTU). The group performed this training at Alamogordo Army Airfield in New Mexico
, then later at Biggs Field near El Paso
, Texas. On 1 April 1944, the group was redesignated as the 330th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), assigned to the Second Air Force
and was designated as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress operational bomb group being assigned to the 314th Bombardment Wing. The group was assigned to Walker AAFB
, Kansas
, for equipping and training.
The group began its deployment to North Field, Guam
in early 1945, and was assigned to the XXI Bomber Command
of the Twentieth Air Force
. It entered combat on 12 April 1945 with an attack on Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama
, Japan. The group received a two Distinguished Unit Citations for incendiary raids on the homeland islands of Japan. The 330th Bombardment Group returned to the United States during November and December 1945, and was inactivated on 3 January 1946.
On 27 June 1949, the unit was redesignated as the 330th Bombardment Group (Medium), activated and assigned to the United States Air Force Reserve. On 1 May 1951, the unit was ordered to active duty, its personnel transferred to Korea, and the unit (less personnel) was deactivated on 16 June 1951. On 14 June 1952 the unit was redesignated as the 330th Troop Carrier Group (Medium), but was inactivated on 14 July 1952.
The unit is credited with the American Theater, Air Offensive – Japan, and the Western Pacific campaigns.
, 458th and the 459th Bomb Squadron plus the 26th Photo Lab was activated in April 1944 at Walker Army Air Field, near Victoria
, Kansas.
Two months later its cadres split, part of the group remaining "on line" at Walker and part setting up manning headquarters at Dalhart
, Texas. After a rapid filling up of both echelons, they were reunited at Walker AAF, Kansas
in August 1944. The newly assigned air crews joined them in late September and early October 1944. As a complete Bomb Group, they were ready for their brief period of intensive flight and ground training in slightly used B-29 Superfortress
es. At Walker, they continued to hone their skills, flying and maintaining this new aircraft. This was a brand new aircraft pushed into service while still being modified; maintenance and flying techniques being developed even as the aircraft was already in active service. This coupled with a 24 hour-a-day 'maintenance mod' schedule outdoors in the bitter Kansas winter of 1945, crystallized deep feelings of comradeship.
The group's advanced ground echelon left Walker AAF, Kansas
by train on 7 January 1945 for the Fort Lawton
Staging Area in Seattle, Washington. On 17 January 1945, they left on a 30 day journey on the Army transport Ship Howell Lykes en route to Guam
. The air crews and the aircraft mechanics support technicians would not join them until mid-March.
, Guam
on 18 February 1945, loaded up on waiting trucks and jeeps and headed off on a dirt road up the island and through the dense jungle. The 854th Airfield Construction Battalion was still busy putting the finishing touches on the parking aprons and taxi ways for the 330th, which they had been working on since late November 1944. There were two other Bomb Groups of the 314th just settling into North Field; the 19th Bomb Group and the 29th Bomb Group had been there for several weeks. The 330th's area on the Southwest corner of the air field was still mainly jungle. While the 845th continued work, the ground echelon along with the 502nd Engineering Squadron of the 89th Air Service Group (ASG) began the detailed work of bringing this air field to life. From early dawn until way into the night they battled mosquitoes, rain, knee deep mud, occasional snipers and began to lay down the foundations of dozens of Quonset hut
s, along with the mess halls, chapels, workshops and showers. The armorers began their task of uncrating thousands of bombs and ammunition. The clerks set up offices and began the paper trail that is the 'army'.
The Air Crews continued to commute between Walker Army Air Field and Batista (Cayuga) Field
in Cuba, to sharpen their combat training. Once back in Kansas in early March, they picked up their new Boeing B-29 Superfortresses (some of the aircrews actually signed for them at the factories) and headed West. Way West! First to Mather Field, California
, then Hawaii, Kwajalein
and finally Guam
. The first 330th aircraft set down at North Field, Guam on 25 March 1945. Even before the last squadron arrived, the 330th was already a veteran of combat. The 330th first flew against the Empire of Japan
on 12 April 1945. Its forty-seventh and final bombing strike was in the air at the hour the Japanese surrender was announced on 15 August 1945. The result was a bomb group with the lowest overall abort rate on the ground, and the highest over-the-target rate of any Bomb Group in the entire 20th Air Force. The 330th BG flew 1,320 combat sorties, 18,978 combat hours and had dropped 7039 short ton of high explosives and incendiary bombs into the heart of the Japanese industry.
On their vertical stabilizers they wore a 12 feet (4 m) square black box with a large BMF capital letter K carved out of it. This was to assist with identifying squadron aircraft out of a crowded sky to form up on during the daylight missions. Just below the tails and up a little on the fuselage were the aircraft numbers. These were solid black on BMF background and about 4 feet (1 m) high. The sixty or so aircraft that made up the 330th were divided into three Bombardment Squadrons (BS):
In late summer the BMF 'K' was infilled with a bright orange–yellow paint for better recognition. Also on the outside engine cowls were the aircraft numbers in orange/yellow lettering within a black box. In late summer in 1945, it was ordered that all aircraft would have their undersides painted a glossy black. The intention was to mask them from the searchlights that otherwise would light up their shiny undersides like a new nickel with their BMF.
to a predesignated "rallying" point about 100 miles (160.9 km) off the coast of Japan. There, they would form up on a "lead" aircraft and proceed in smaller formations of 10 aircraft or so over the target. They would then drop when they witnessed the "lead" aircraft drop, then return individually to Guam. The aircraft flew thousands of miles for 12 or more hours, and had to conserve as much fuel as possible in order to make it to Guam, Iwo Jima
or into the Pacific. Flying individually gave the pilots allowance for particular conditions.
On a daylight mission, squadron visibility was the key to a successful mission – the reason for the large tail letters and individual aircraft numbers on fuselages. For some missions, it was imperative that the aircraft commander (AC) found his designated squadron and proceeded over the target at the briefed time, the briefed altitude, and hit his target. If he could not find his particular formation, he would join another group and bomb their target.
On a typical night mission, the first to take off 10–15 minutes ahead of the squadrons, would be several 'Pathfinder'B-29's. The rest of the squadron's aircraft would take off thirty seconds apart, on alternating runways (so one minute apart on any one runway). Instead of 'Rallying' off the coast of Japan, each aircraft would have their own pre-assigned altitude and heading over the target. Minutes before the rest of the squadron were due over the target the 'Pathfinders' would drop incendiaries marking it for the rest to drop on.
Whether on a daylight or nighttime mission, if the primary target was obscured, they would either drop by RADAR
or attempt to bomb a predesignated secondary target.
The 330th (BG) arrived in the middle of an intensive bombing campaign by the Twentieth Air Force
with the strategic objective of knocking the Japanese aircraft industry out of the war. To date, this campaign did not appear to be very successful since several major plants, such as the Nakajima
Musashino
Aircraft Plant north of Tokyo and the Mitsubishi Plant near Nagoya, seemed to be little damaged as a result of persistent daylight precision raids by B-29s flying in formation. A major reason was the weather which hindered both assembling in formation at a remote point and then flying to the target, which might be covered in clouds or haze making visual bombing difficult or impossible. The first strategic objective of the 314th Bomb Wing (BW), to which the 330th BG was under, was to knock out the Hodogaya Chemical Plant (Target #6129), located north of Koriyama City. This plant was one of only two plants in Japan thought to be producing Tetra-ethyl lead
an important additive in aviation gasoline. To that date, the mission would be the longest, both in time and distance, from the Marianas. The mission took almost 18 hours. Finding and hitting this plant was no small navigational feat.
Twenty B-29s were scheduled to participate in this mission with each plane carrying eight 500 pounds (226.8 kg) general purpose bombs
of Composition B
high explosive. The group averaged 2.2 short tons (2 t) of HE per aircraft and 7425 gallons (28,106.7 l) of fuel. The total weight of each aircraft averaged 71 short tons (64.4 t). The planes took off in the early morning hours of 12 April, between 0331-0353G (1731Z to 1753Z) at one-minute intervals, normally adhering to radio silence. The assembly point was Aogashima
(an island about 250 miles (402.3 km) south of Tokyo) and while circling at up to 1500 feet (457.2 m), the aircraft were fired upon by a Japanese ship, described as a Destroyer Escort
.
Two formations were formed consisting of 12 aircraft and 5 aircraft. One B-29 was late in taking off, never made it to the assembly point in time and dropped its bombs on a Target of Opportunity (TO). Two other planes aborted. The 12 plane formation, at an altitude of up to 8000 feet (2,438.4 m), was off the briefed heading on the first bomb run and had to make a second run on a heading of 140 degrees with visibility at 8 miles (13 km) in haze. The 5 plane formation attacked the plant on a heading of 234 degrees. Bombs were dropped between 12/1233G-12/1328G. At this low altitude, they were counting on surprise and it apparently was achieved. Japanese flak was described as meager and inaccurate and there was absolutely no fighter opposition. During landing at Guam, rain showers lowered ceilings at North Field, Guam but 13 planes made it that late evening and landed from 12/2157 -12/2325G (1157 to 1325Z). Three planes were diverted and landed safely at Harmon Airfield.
Bomb results were excellent; all the main buildings in the 330th's target area were damaged or destroyed, comprising 73% of the target roof area. Losses were two aircraft. K-59 ditched roughly 215 nautical miles (398 km) SSW of Guam at approximately 2330G. The crew were in the water for 18 hours. Two were presumed killed in the crash and two from drowning after the crash. K-14 crashed and caught fire on landing at Agana after suffering damage trying to land at North Field on instruments. Only one crewman, the radio operator survived. As a result a second beacon was added at North Field helping in instrument landings.
This mission was classified as a precision night mission. The night was clear and the aiming point
(AP) was the Tokyo Arsenal complex. In the bigger picture, it was a three-wing effort by the 73rd, 313th and 314th Bomb Wings. Combination loads of HE and incendiary
bombs were used. The reported burned out area was estimated as 10.5 sq mi (27.2 km²). The 330th BG contributed 16 planes that deposited 47.5 tons on or near its aiming point (AP) described as the Tokyo Artificial Chemical Fertilizer Plant (Target #204). Antiaircraft fire was intense and altogether 7 planes were lost, one from the 458th Bomb Squadron.
K-43 was hit over Tokyo and went down in Tokyo Bay
. The 330th BG sent out 36 planes on these two missions and lost three planes, 8.3 % of the attacking force. The casualties included the Commanding officer of the 458th Bomb squadron on board as an observer.
Giving the Tokyo industrial area no let up, 20 B-29s from the 330th BG were again-part of a larger effort by the 73rd, 313th and 314th BWs against the southern Tokyo suburb of Kawasaki, between Tokyo and Yokohama
. The Bomb Group deposited 95.2 tons on 1he suburb. The planes left at 15/1700G and returned at about 16/0900G. Photo analysis indicated that approximately 8 sq mi (21 km²) of Tokyo was burned out that night. It was a clear night in the area and the searchlights, enemy flak and fighters were particularly effective, resulting in a loss of 13 planes, fortunately none from the 330th BG.
All remaining missions by the 330th BG in April except a mission against an aircraft plant on 24 April 1945, were against airfields on Kyūshū
. This was part of the XXI Bomber Command anti-Kamikaze
campaign requested by Admiral Chester Nimitz I due to the clobbering the U.S. Navy was taking from Japanese suicide planes. Japanese suicide missions were well known in the Southwest and Central Pacific combat areas, where Marines and Army encountered fanatical charges of trapped and encircled Japanese garrisons. But, starting with the Philippine Campaign, the Japanese Navy utilized Kamikaze
planes against American warships and carriers. As the noose tightened around the Japanese home islands, what was initially a sporadic effort, became with the Okinawa campaign, an organized Japanese Naval effort to thwart the Okinawa invasion. During the period 6–28 April 1945, armadas of Kamikaze planes were directed at the American Okinawa Invasion Armada.
The 330th BG played an important role in these raids, although few in the organization realized it at the time. Six of the nine Kyūshū
Airfield raids were against the Kanoya Air Drome complex and code named 'Checkbook'. Kanoya airfield was the headquarters of Admiral Matome Ugaki who skillfully directed the Kamikaze campaign from this base. He also kept a diary, which was not always complimentary of some airfield raids. Checkbook #1 took place on 17 April 1945 against the Kanoya Air Drome by 11 B-29's, which dropped 16.27 tons of HE on the complex. The aiming point (AP) for the group was a row of hangar type buildings on the SW corner of the base. Crew reports stated hangar buildings at the base were hit and burning and, in general, bomb results were reported as good to excellent. These were the airfields from which the Kamikaze planes and their escorts emanated. So, Admiral Nimitz directed General Curtis LeMay
to knock out the airfields.
To give the Kamikaze
pilots no rest, the 330th BG bombed the Kanoya Air Drome the following day. This time 11 planes took off at 18/0100 to 18/0205G (17/1500 t 17/1605Z) with one plane aborting. The remaining 10 planes assembled in formation over Ioa Shima (probably Io Jima on later maps 55 nautical miles (102 km) from Kanoya) and proceeded formation to Kanoya where they dropped 26.80 tons HE at 18/0857G. The bomb load consisted of 134/500 Ib. HE bombs. This is 33.5 tons for this mission. Fighter opposition was reported as nil and flak meager and inaccurate. One aircraft could not transfer fuel from the bomb bay tank and landed at Iwo. The remaining planes landed from 18/1505 -18/1730G. From the first plane off the last plane down, it was a 16 hour 30 minute mission.
For a change of pace the 330th BG was assigned the Kushira Air Drome and 11 planes struck the airfield. The 330th BG was joined by other BGs from the 314th BW. The AP was described as 750 feet (228.6 m) west of the apex of the lower of two east-west runways that intersect a north-south southeast trending runway. Bombing results from crew reports ranged from unobserved to excellent. The center of the runways were reported hit and black. Thick oily smoke and flames were seen south of the east-west runways. In all 40.25 tons of GP HE bombs were deposited on this airfield.
There were no planes lost and no casualties.
The 330th BG supplied 11 planes to a composite Group A to hit the top priority Kanoya -Air Drome complex on this day. The AP was described as the east end of the south running runway. The 11 planes deposited 48.2 tons of bombs on the Air Drome with crews reporting unobserved to excellent results. This day, LeMay sent the full might of his command, 217 planes, against nine airfields on Kyūshū. Ugaki described the raids as follows: "... some 280 B-29s came to attack the naval air bases on Kyūshū from 0630 to 0800 (0730 to 0900G) and inflicted considerable damage. Especially at Kakamigahara (maybe the airfield we called Nittigahara), Usa and Izumi were holed and made unusable. It was quite troublesome, that some time fused bombs were included." The Japanese could quickly repair the holes the bombs were making in the runways so we started to drop bombs with delayed action fuses, which complicated repair work (they blew up the repair crews).
No planes lost and no casualties on this mission.
This was the second daylight precision bombing raid against a strategic target by the 330th BG. The target was the Hitachi aircraft factory located at Tachikawa (a suburb west of Tokyo). Planes were off at 24/0211 to 24/0257GI and were back at approximately 24/1700G. Ten 330th BG planes deposited 46.5 tons of bombs on the target with results described as poor. Anti-aircraft fire was reported as generally moderate to intense and accurate. This was confirmed by the six aircraft receiving minor flak damage. Eight Japanese fighters were sighted and two attacked the formation. One B-29 was lost.
K-63 was returning from the secondary target, which they had bombed, and was seen to ditch off the Japanese coast, sinking in about four minutes. Two crewmembers were seen parachuting over enemy territory. Three crewmen survived the war as POWs.
This raid was planned as a precision daylight raid on the Miyakonojo airfield on southern Kyūshū
, but it was frustrated, as were many such raids, by the weather. Twenty planes took off at 26/0315 to 26/0344G and headed for the assembly area, Yakushima
, an island off the southern coast of Kyūshū
. The assembly area was 10/10 in clouds so there could be no formation assemblage. Each plane proceeded individually and dropped their bombs by radar. Two aircraft bombed the primary target, 15 planes bombed the secondary target, Miyazaki Prefecture
airfield, and three planes dropped bombs on targets of opportunity (T/O). No enemy planes were encountered and only one plane experienced flak at the secondary target, flying at 11000 feet (3,352.8 m). There were no plane losses but seven planes stopped off at either Iwo or Saipan for fuel. The 20 planes dropped about 90 tons on these targets. Ugaki observed the results of these days' raids as follows: "About 30 enemy planes raided Kyūshū persistently, flying in small numbers over thick clouds. Even with the help of pathfinders, targets must have been very hard to find... but some damage was inflicted on Kiyotake
and Miyazaki
and others.
The 330th BG contributed ten planes to a composite bomb group of the 314th BW to bomb an old favorite, Kanoya Air Drome. The ten planes left at 27/0121 to 27/02100G and dropped 197 x 500 lb GP for a total of 49.25 tons. Bombing results were described as good to excellent. No planes were lost but five received minor battle damage from flak and the landings occurred from 27/1630 -27/1755G from beginning to end, almost a 17-hour mission for some crews.
Trying to keep Matome Ugaki's Kamikaze pilots holed up, the 330th BG contributed one squadron of planes to another squadron from the 19th BG to form a composite group to attack Kanoya Air Drome again. Twelve planes left North Field between 28/0111G to 28/0200G. The planes assembled at Tanegashima
, the larger island south of Kyūshū. One plane had a malfunction on the prop governor of engine #4. Another joined the wrong squadron and bombed Miyakonojō Airfield instead. The ten planes dropped 1000 x 500 lb instantaneous fuse bombs and 97 x 500 lb delayed fuse bombs for a total of 49.25 tons on the target, with reportedly excellent results. Planes landed from 28/1621 to 28/2156G, with one plane landing at Iwo Jima
to take on 12000 gallons (45,424.9 l) of fuel and another landing at Saipan
to take on 100 gallons (378.5 l) of fuel.
There were no casualties and no planes lost, but four planes reported minor flak damage.
The daily operations were making it difficult for the ground staff to keep all the planes in the 330th BG operational. Thirteen planes were scheduled for Kanoya this day but four failed to take off due to mechanical problems. Nine planes were airborne between 3010115 to 3010123G and assembled into formation on the southeast comer of Tanegashima
. They proceeded to the initial point (IP), Toi Saki. But the bomb run was made south of the briefed course due to an unreported wind shift. Bombs were dropped from 18000 feet (5,486.4 m) at 30/0925G with 158 x 500 lb GP instant fuse and 9 x 500 lb GP time delay fuse with a six-hour delay. Bombs fell 1200 feet (365.8 m) from the briefed AP with fair results.
For the last mission of the month, the selected target was Tomitaka airfield on the East coast of Kyūshū
. Take off time was 30/0248 to 30/0258G for twelve aircraft, but one aircraft aborted due to an oil leak in engine #4. Ten planes assembled around Iwo Jima and departed at 30/0656G arriving at the IP at 30/1100G and reached the target at 30/1114G. Bombs were dropped from 17000 feet (5,181.6 m) visually through haze. Bomb load was 112 x 500 lb GP instant fused and 84 x 500 GP fused" with 1 and 2 hour delay. Reported results were good to excellent with bombs falling in the hangar area and walking across the airfield to the buildings on the west side. There were no losses or enemy opposition. One plane had engine trouble, which delayed its arrival at the assembly point, so it joined the formation of 29th BG and dropped its bombs on Oita airfield. All aircraft were back at North Field at 30/1752 to 30/1823G with no personnel casualties or plane losses.
Continuing with the anti-Kamikaze campaign, the 457th BG contributed nine planes and the 458th BS contributed ten planes to a strike against the Matsuyama Naval Air Station on Shikoku
Island, the smallest of the four Japanese Home Islands, in an attack to neutralize this airfield. The 314th BW summary states that 17 planes attacked this air field between 4/0909 -4/0925G from an altitude of 18,000 -18,900 feet in clear weather restricted by haze, depositing 90.3 tons on the air field. In all 21 aircraft dropped 82.25 tons on Matsuyama. The anti-aircraft fire was weak but 18 enemy fighters attacked the formations, resulting in four enemy aircraft damaged. Two of our planes landed at Iwo. The bombing results ranged from poor to excellent, with bombs falling on the upper edge of the field and among the barrack-type buildings.
There were no casualties.
Eleven aircraft assembled in formation off an island south of Kyūshū, probably Io-Jima, and proceeded to Ōmura Naval Air Station. The formation reached the IP at 4/1019G with bombs away at 4/1025G from 18000 feet (5,486.4 m). A Ki-61 Tony dropped a phosphorus bomb in the formation and then had about six fighter attacks in all. They were finally able to release the five bombs hanging in the bomb bay before they landed at Iwo at 4/1330G. The plane had been over the Empire on the two bomb runs for about two hours. It finally landed on Guam at about 4/2030G. The 314th BW summary states that the Ōmura formation had ten enemy attacks with one enemy plane destroyed by the 459th BS gunners. Flak was heavy caliber, meagre and 90% inaccurate, and five to eight enemy aircraft made up to eight inaccurate phosphorus bomb attacks.
There were no planes lost or casualties and no planes suffered battle damage.
After the Kamikaze
Campaign, the 20th Air Force returned to its strategic attacks on key war making industries, this time the oil industry. One hundred and twelve aircraft attacked the Ōtake Oil Refinery on Honshu
in a precision daylight bombing raid in formation. The 457th BS contributed 12 planes; 458th BS contributed 12 planes and the 459th BS contributed 9 planes. In all, 34 planes dropped 160 tons on the refinery. The bomb run was at an altitude of 14600 to 19700 ft (4,450.1 to 6,004.6 m) between 10/1048G to 10/1114G in clear weather. It was estimated that 45 % of the refinery unit and finished product storage areas were destroyed and the plant was probably put out of operation. A question remains whether the plant was receiving any crude oil to refine at this stage of the war. Opposition was stiff. Enemy fighters made 54 attacks, damaging five B-29s. On the briefed route, anti-aircraft fire was heavy caliber but meager and inaccurate, but a few formations received intense naval fire while leaving the target. Twenty three B-29s suffered flak damage. Planes took off at 10/0200G and returned at about 10/1800G.
High on the list of strategic targets was the aircraft industry; therefore the XXI BC next hit the Kawanishi
Aircraft Plant, near Kobe
. This factory was turning out flying boats for the Japanese Navy, and was steadily being enlarged. Its activity was to be seriously hampered by the XXI Bomber Command. This was a three Bomb Wing effort, with the 314th BW contributing 40 planes with 11 planes from the 330th BG depositing 50 tons of bombs on the Kawanishi Aircraft Plant. The plant was attacked between 11/1036G -11/1103G at 15,200 -20,000 feet in 4/10 -8/10 weather. The BW Report states that 39 % of the plant was damaged or destroyed and collateral damage was received by adjoining Merchant Marine College, residential and manufacturing areas.
There was anxiety but no casualties and no planes were lost.
In LeMay's big fire blitz week during 9–17 March 1945, five cities were attacked, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka and Kobe. Nagoya was hit twice and still seemed to have considerable life left in her. It was not an easy city to attack since the only reasonable approach was up Nagoya Bay and this had the reputation of being "Flak Alley". Therefore, the XXI BC subjected the city, on 14 and 16 May/17 May 1945, to a one-two punch by the 58th, 73rd, 313th and 314th BWs. The 14 May strike was a daylight-bombing mission in formation with the 330th BG contributing 32 planes of the 135 planes from the 314th BW that hit the city between 14/0905G to 14/1025G from an altitude of 16,500 to 20500 feet (6,248.4 m) in 1/10 weather. B-29s from the 330th took off at 14/0100G and returned at about 14/1700G. The 330th dropped 152.4 tons, adding to a total of 632 tons of bombs dropped by the 314th BW.
In this night raid, the 330th BG had 32 planes dropping 176.95 tons of bombs on the South Nagoya Urban area. The planes left North Field, Guam at 16/2100G and returned at about 17/1200G with bombs away at 17/0305 to 17/0558G from 6,600 through 18340 feet (5,590 m). Altogether, the 314th BW deposited 707.5 tons on the city. Damage to Nagoya from Missions # 174 and 176 were 6.97 square miles (18.1 km²) or 13.7% of the cities built up area. Damage ranging from slight to complete destruction was inflicted on 29 numbered industrial targets and 7 unnumbered industrial targets. This analysis was partially in answer to critics of such raids, which led to indiscriminate killing of civilians. These twin raids show clearly LeMay's tactics that he would use to the end of the war. If weather permitted, it was a daylight raid with selected targets as aiming points; otherwise it was a night area-bombing raid except in the case of the 315th BW, which had precision radar for night bombing of selected industrial targets.
K-41 was lost.
This was to be a precision daylight-bombing raid in formation with the 330th BG contributing 22 planes to attack industrial targets in the Tokyo area. But, defying predictions, Tokyo had 10/10 cloud cover so the bombs were dropped on the primary radar target, the city of Hamamatsu. This was a favorite radar target since it was on the coast and easily identified by radar. It was reported that the four BW efforts damaged 0.22 square mile (0.5697973842 km²), 5% of the city. One industrial target, Suzuki Loom Work was 20 % destroyed; not an illustrious mission since the bomb loads were for industrial targets rather than area bombing where incendiary bombs were more effective.
P-51's from Iwo Jima accompanied this mission roundtrip.
Taking off at 23/2000G, 35 aircraft from the 330th BG attacked the heavily defended Tokyo South Urban Area. An area relatively unscathed from previous fire raids. The 330th BG was part of a combined four BW attack on the city between 24/0259G to 24/0438G from altitudes ranging from 7,800 to 15100 feet (4,602.5 m) on a relatively clear night. One aircraft was missing and the other remaining 34 planes landed at about 1100G.
K-1, with the 314th BW Operations Officer flying as an observer, was lost with the entire crew.
In the last major strike of the war against Tokyo, the 330th BG contributed 24 planes and 106.8 tons of incendiary bombs. The south central Tokyo area was the general area of attack, which included the Imperial Palace and bombardiers, and Rad Obs had explicit orders not to hit Hirohito
' s residence. But, this was sometimes impossible in the heat of battle and some incendiaries fell within the Tokyo Imperial Palace grounds. BG planes took off at 25/1800G and landed at about 2510900G. The BW reported that bombs were away at 25/2338G to 26/0213G at altitudes ranging from 7915 feet (2,412.5 m) to 22000 feet (6,705.6 m). Total area damaged as a result of BC Missions:181 and 183 was 22.1 square miles (57.2 km²). Most of the bombs fell south and west of the Imperial Palace. Numerous buildings within the Palace grounds were destroyed as well as areas adjacent to the Palace. A minimum of 31 numbered industrial targets were damaged or destroyed. The total city area damaged as a result of all incendiary raids was 56.3 square miles (145.8 km²) or 50.8% of the cities built up area; in the night raid 9/10 March 1945, 15.8 square miles (40.9 km²) were damaged or destroyed and 88,000 persons died. This compares to the atomic bomb damage to Hiroshima
of 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²) destroyed and 70,000–80,000 killed and to Nagasaki
where 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) were destroyed and 35,000–40,000 persons died. The difference was that these were one bomb, one-plane missions. The 9/10 March Tokyo raid required 279 planes and 1,129 tons of incendiary bombs, one of the most effective incendiary raids of World War II.
Closing out the month of May, the 330th BG contributed 38 planes to a Japan daylight raid against the Yokohama urban area. The planes took off at 29/0400G and returned about 29/1800G with bombs away between 29/1014 to 29/1129G from 17,500 to 21000 feet (6,400.8 m) in 9/10 weather. They dropped 203 tons of bombs on the target out of a total of 621 tons of bombs dropped by the Bomb Wing total of 131 planes. Keyes, in his personal account, states that they took off at 29/0340G and assembled at 18300 feet (5,577.8 m) into formation over a small island north of Iwo Jima. The 11-plane formation reached Mt. Fujiyama
, the IP, at 29/1056G and bombs were away at 29/1115G.
. After that mission the 330th returned to strategic bombing of major urban areas on Honshu
, participating in three strikes against Tokyo, two against Nagoya and one against Yokohama. The BG also participated in one precision daylight raid against the Kawanishi Aircraft Plant near Nagoya. Total casualties were: one plane lost with 12 persons listed as MIA, one person lost in the water near Iwo Jima and two injured gunners.
The BG contributed 37 planes that dropped 150 tons of incendiaries and 6.4 tons of fragmentation bombs on Osaka urban area. Keyes identified the target more euphemistically as "Home Industries". It was believed at the time that many of the major industrial plants were supplied by factories in homes. This was found to be untrue after the war. What was true was that many small feeder factories were intermingled in residential districts as they are down to the present day in Japan. The BG was part of a 457 plane armada from the XXI BC in its continuing campaign to knock out the major Japanese industrial cities. Keyes states that they took off at 1/0240G and assembled in loose formation at Iwo Jima and proceeded through soupy weather to the empire. They climbed to 20600 feet (6,278.9 m) where they reassembled. Proceeding to the IP, they saw flak ahead and many fighters, some in pairs, which they presumed to be P-51s. Many Japanese fighters; Irvings
, A6M Zero
, and Tojos
attacked their formation, and one attacked their plane from 12 O'clock and came within 25 yards of the plane before going over it. Bombs were away at 1/1254G and more flak was seen on the way out. Keyes states that it was the most flak he saw to date. The BG recorded a total enemy fighter toll of 16 down, 9 probable and 24 damaged by B-29 and P-51 fighters (some of these were not verified in post war analysis of Japanese records). Planes landed at North Field at about 1/1740G.
The mission was "Black Friday" for the 20th Air Force when 24 P-51 Mustangs were lost. The P-51s used B-29s to guide them over the long overwater flights. Upon entering an unpredicted very large severe weatherfront the fighters lost contact with the B-29 and ditched when they ran out of fueld
Continuing the strategic fire raids against major Japanese cities, the BG contributed 31 planes to a 473-plane armada against Kobe. The BG planes deposited 170.1 tons total, of which 5.6 tons were fragmentation bombs to keep the fire fighters away from the 164.5 tons incendiary bombs deposited. This was a daylight raid with take off between 5/0100G -5/0140G. Planes proceeded to the Japanese mainland at about 10000 feet (3,048 m) and, in the case of Keyes, arrived early and circled for 30 minutes before finding their formation. The formation proceeded to the IP climbing to 16500 feet (5,029.2 m). The target was the rail center and bombs were away at 5/0930G. Passing over the city, the formation encountered fairly accurate flak and passed to the left of a large smoke column rising up to 21000 feet (6,400.8 m). It was a costly mission for the XXI BC which lost 11 planes, 2.3 % of the attacking force.
K-57 was lost and all crew were listed missing in action.
Not giving Osaka a chance to recover, the 330th BG contributed 27 planes to a 409-plane armada that struck Osaka again in a daylight raid. According to Keyes, they left Guam at 7/0450G and proceeded to Minami Iwo Jima and assembled into formation at 6000 feet (1,828.8 m) in clear weather. After the clobbering that some formations took from Japanese fighters on 5 June 1945, Keyes was happy to see a flight of 46 P-51s escorting the formation to the Empire that day. The 330th BG planes deposited 152.38 tons of incendiary bombs and 0.8 tons fragmentation bombs on Osaka from approximately 20700 feet (6,309.4 m) at 7/1258G. It was 10/10 cloud cover and bombs were dropped by radar. Flak was coming up close to the formation as well, so the Japanese were using radar to fire their anti-aircraft guns. In addition, crews were dumping lots of chaff
to deceive Japanese RADAR. This was effective since no planes were lost from the BG and only two planes (0.5%) were lost from the entire armada. Aircraft landed at North Field between 7/2000G to 7/2100G.
This was a precision daylight raid on the Kasumigaura Naval Seaplane base 50 miles (80.5 km) northeast of Tokyo. Thirty-two airplanes were airborne at 10/0100G and returned at 10/1600G. Two planes aborted and 26 planes bombed the primary target and four planes bombed the secondary target, the city of Gifu. The Group deposited 143.75 tons of high explosive on the seaplane base. The presumed reason for this strike was to neutralize the base's capability of launching reconnaissance seaplanes to monitor the movements of the U.S. Third Fleet. This was Adm. Halsey's mobile naval task force and he was preparing a major sortie against the Empire starting on 1 July 1945.
While no planes were lost, several crewmen were wounded by gunfire from enemy aircraft over Tokyo. Slightly wounded were 2LT Richard Nowicki, K-66, B, and SGT Bernard Yudin, LG on K-62. More seriously wounded was 2LT Gerald Chosen, Rad Ob on K-62, who ended up as a patient in the field hospital on Iwo Jima. All were later awarded the Purple Heart.
As part of a large armada of 494 B-29s from the XXI BC that attacked the Amagasaki urban area northwest of Osaka, the 330th BG contributed 26 planes to the raid. The planes departed at 15/0230G and landed at 15/1800G. One plane from the 330th BG hit a secondary target and six planes aborted. The bomb load was as follows: 88.75 tons from the 457th BS, 65.5 tons from the 458th BS and 48.0 tons from the 459th BS. The average bomb load for each squadron was as follows: 457th: 7.4 tons per AC; 458th: 9.4 tons per AC; 459th: 6.9 tons per AC. The surprise in these figures is the heavy bomb load per AC carried by the 458th BS. There were 33 planes hitting the primary. This fire raid was the last of the major raids that laid waste to the industrial heartland of Japan and certainly must have convinced any doubters among the Japanese military that Japan's days as a military power were rapidly diminishing. Despite the heavy bomb loads, no group planes were lost. Osaka, as a result of these fire raids, as well as the strangulation on their food and raw materials caused by mining, ceased to function as a viable city by the end of July 1945.
This was the first in a series of night fire raids against minor Japanese cities (cities with a population of less than 300,000 persons). At this juncture in the bombing campaign against Japan, the XXI BC had four Bomb Wings to draw upon but attacking the urban areas of minor Japanese cities normally required only one BW to do the job. Therefore, on attack night, each BW was assigned a separate Japanese city. On this date, the 330th BG joined the three other BGs of the 314th BW to attack the city of Kagoshima on the south coast of Kyūshū with a population of 182,000. The BG deposited 203 tons of IE and the average tons per aircraft were as follows: 457th Squadron 7.4 tons per AC, the 458th Squadron 9.2 tons per AC and the 459th Squadron 7.3 tons per AC These average masked large individual plane differences. Planes departed at about 17/1700G and returned at 18/0800G. These night missions typically lasted 14 to 15 hours. In this case, later photo analysis of damage to Kagoshima indicated that approximately 44% of the built-up area was burned out. Keyes indicated that on this night mission the AP was military installations and staging areas. The night was clear over the target for K-58 with bombs away at 18/0033G from 8100 feet (2,468.9 m). The 314th BW History states that 74 planes bombed by radar, 8 visually and 21 by radar with visual correction. There were no planes lost and no casualties from the 330th BG.
Continuing the offensive against the minor Japanese cities, the 314th BW attacked the city of Shizuoka, located on the coast on the main rail line between Tokyo and Nagoya. It was presumably an easy target to identify by radar. The 330th BG contributed 33 planes and with three aborts 30 planes deposited 189.22 tons of incendiary bombs on the city. The tons per AC by Bomb Squadron were as follows: 457th: 5.8 per AC; 458th: 7.1 tons per AC and 459th: 6.2 per AC. They were aloft at 19/2030G and climbed to 7000 feet (2,133.6 m) up past Iwo Jima and then up to 9500 feet (2,895.6 m) over the city at a speed of 250 mph (CAS). Bombs were away at 20/0314G. They experienced little flak over the target but they received flak from naval ships in Suruga Bay where a major port is located. There was smoke up to 15000 feet (4,572 m) but a stiff breeze was blowing it away from the city. Of the 123 planes hitting the target from the 314th BW, 54 planes bombed visually. 31 planes bombed by radar with visual correction and 37 planes bombed by radar; 1 plane could not see the target but could see the offset reference point. It was estimated that 66% of the city's built up area was consumed in the fire started by the incendiary bombs. The raid effectiveness factor was 0.0026 square miles (6,734 m²) per ton. Two planes from the 314th BW were lost but none from the 330th BG. The elapsed time of this mission was 13 hours, a short mission relative to some of the daylight missions.
On this mission, the BG went back to precision daylight bombing in formation against the Japanese aircraft industry. The 330th BG sent 33 planes aloft, four of which aborted. The 29 planes assembled in formation and attacked the Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Tamashima, which produced. the Mitsubishi G4M
'Betty' aircraft. The BG deposited 174 tons of high explosive, with aircraft loads as follows: 457th: 4.9 tons per AC; 458th: 6.4 tons per AC and 459th 6.7 tons per AC. Planes were aloft at 22/0200G and returned at 22/1'715G.
K-32 was lost on this mission
Another clear day was predicted over Honshū and a number of strategic targets that could , only be attacked in daylight were chosen for attack by the XXI BC. The 330th BG attacked the Sumitomo Duralumin Plant near Nagoya. Other BGs of the 314th BW attacked other industrial plants in the Nagoya area. The Sumitomo plant produced duralumin, the hard aluminium alloy used in airframe construction. The 33 planes took off from North Field at 26/0200G and landed at 26/1800G. Two planes aborted. two planes hit secondary targets and the remaining 29 planes dropped 155.5 tons of high explosive on the plant. The tons per aircraft were: 457th: 6.7 per AC; 458th.1: 3.5 per Aircraft and 459th: 5.6 per Aircraft. The planes were over the target at 26/1020G at 22.3 feet (6.8 m). But, whatever the weather predictions, the weather at the target was otherwise. Weather in the assembly area made assembly difficult.
CPL James McCormack was wounded by anti-aircraft fire and was the only casualty on this mission.
Continuing with the night attacks against minor Japanese cities, the 330th BG contributed 246.6 tons of incendiary bombs on Nobeoka, a relatively small city on the east coast of Kyūshū and on the main rail line running along the east coast of the island. This seemingly insignificant raid was in fact the start of an intensive bombing campaign of cities and the railroad system on this coast since it was directly in the path of the projected invasion of Kyūshū by Gen. Douglas MacArthur
on 1 November 1945. The 32 planes were airborne from North Field, Guam at 28/2000G and landed at 29/1100G with bomb loads per AC as follows: 457th: 6.1 tons per AC; 458th 8.9 tons per Ac and 459th: 8.4 tons per Ac. One notes the dramatic increase in bomb loads permitted by these night incendiary raids compared to the early daylight raids over Tokyo at 30000 feet (9,144 m) with planes averaging 2 to 3 tons per AC. The consensus of the crews was that this was a good mission. The target area was burning well. Scattered fires were seen with smoke rising to 14000 feet (4,267.2 m). But, later crews started their bomb run in clouds and smoke.
For the first seven missions in July, the Bomb Group attacked minor Japanese cities with incendiary bombs (IB). The first city to be attacked was Shimonoseki. The important city with a population of 196,000 adjacent to Shimonoseki Strait, which was being mined almost nightly by the 313th BW. Thirty-eight planes took off at 1/1900G and 37 planes returned at approximately 2/1100G. One plane aborted. On this 16 hour mission, the BG deposited 180.5 tons of incendiary bombs with bomb load distributed as follows: 457th: 4.5; 458th: 5.1; and 459th: 5.2 tons per AC. The greater distance that the planes had to travel to this city necessitated the modest bomb loads. The four bomb groups in the 314th BW attacked Shimonoseki this night and together deposited 833 tons of bombs, burning out an estimated 36% of the built up area. Due to the defenses around Shimonoseki, bombing altitude were raised to 15000 feet (4,572 m) for the Wing on this particular mission. Lt. Fred Nibling, Group RADAR countermeasures officer, was in a RADAR Counter Measures (RCM) B-29 dubbed "Porcupine" at 33000 feet (10,058.4 m) for 90 minutes jamming Japanese radar.
Despite the heavy concentration of anti-aircraft guns in and around Shimonseki, the radar jamming and dispensing of chaff
led to no planes lost or casualties.
On this mission, the Bomb Group deposited 328.5 tons; another reference gives 314.9 tons of incendiary bombs (IB) on Tokushima, a railroad hub on the eastern shore of Shikoku
Island, the smallest island of the four Japanese home islands. The bomb loads were the highest of the war to date with the 457th: 10; 458th: 9.8; and 459th: 10 tons per AC. The total 314th BW deposited 1,051 tons of bombs, burning out an estimated 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) of the town. This was 74% of the total built up area of the town for a bombing efficiency factor of 0.0016 square miles (4,144 m²) per ton. Take off time on this mission was 3/1900G and the planes returned at about 4/1100G.
There were no planes lost or casualties.
Continuing with the fire raid blitz against the minor Japanese cities, the 314th BW attacked the city of Kōfu, an inland city west of Tokyo and probably a rail hub for access to the west coast of Japan. At this time, with the Straits of Shimonoseki blockaded, Japanese imports of essential food and raw materials from Korea and Mainland China were being funneled through the ports on the Japanese west coast bordering the Sea of Japan
. The 330th BG sent up 33 planes with one abort. The incendiary bombs were divided between the M-47
, petroleum based incendiary bomb and the E-46 incendiary cluster bomb, a jelly-napalm based incendiary bomb. The latter was composed of a cluster of 47 small incendiary bomblets, which burst open between 1,000 to 2000 feet (609.6 m) and blanketed a wide area. It was these bombs, which contributed to the Tokyo conflagration of 9/10 March 1945. For this mission the take off time was 6/1800G returning at 7/0800G. Bombs were away between 7/0059G to 7/0144G at an altitude between 13,400 and 14600 feet (4,450.1 m). Due to the cloud cover over the target on this night mission, most planes released their bombs by the synchronous radar method, which relied on the close coordination between the radar-N and the B. Most bombs were released in the target area, but one aircraft had some bombs, which did not release and another aircraft had three shackles installed backwards. This night, the BW deposited a total of 970 tons of incendiary bombs, burning down 64% or 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) of the town with an effectiveness factor of 0.0013 square miles (3,367 m²) per ton. The 330th BG flew as BW lead and received the Distinguished Unit Citation for this mission. The citation stated: " This source of power was permanently eliminated as a target and 2/3 of its industrial region was leveled in this magnificent demonstration of determination and bombing skill." The calculated fuel usage was 6117 gallons (23,155.4 l) and the average fuel used was 5816 gallons (22,016 l), but the averages masked the one B-29 which used 6260 gallons (23,696.7 l) due to the need to fly on three engines with the fourth feathered.
The 330th BG contributed 243.4 tons of incendiary bombs, all E-46 cluster bombs, to the 899 tons of incendiary bombs deposited by the 314th BW this night on Gifu. Thirty-four planes were aloft with three aborts and the average bomb loads were distributed as follows: 457th: 7.8; 458th: 7.8; and 459th: 8.0 tons per AC. The planes left at about 9/1700G and returned at approximately 10/0800G with bombs away between 10/0117G and the last at 10/0200G at an altitude of 14.000 -16.000 feet resulting in the bombs for the 31 planes being dropped in 43 minutes. This equates to an average time interval of 1.4 minutes between planes. This interval is important in determining the overall effectiveness of a fire raid. Later analysis indicated that 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) (74%) of the city were burned out. The bombing efficiency factor was 0.0016 square miles (4,144 m²) per ton. There was only meager, inaccurate, heavy caliber anti-aircraft fire (15,000–25,000 feet), but inaccurate and intense automatic weapon fire (2,000–5,000), which was ineffective at the bombing altitude. Again, the estimated and actual fuel consumption was very close. The calculated value was 5922 gallons (22,417.2 l) and the actual average used was 5987 gallons (22,663.3 l).
There were no planes lost or casualties.
This mission was planned as a night mission against a relatively small city, Uwajima, of 50,000 population on the west coast of Shikoku
. Thirty-three planes from the 330th BG took off at 12/1700G and landed about 13/0800G. Weather was the determining factor in the poor results of this mission. There was a weather front which was 100 miles (160.9 km) north of the predicted position and close to the target, so crews flew at 14,000 -17,000 feet in the soup on instruments for 55 minutes from the front to the target and back to the edge of the front. The lower cumulus clouds over the target confused the radar pictures making identification of the target difficult. Bombs were scattered all over the countryside as only 0.14 square mile (0.3625983354 km²) (16%) of the target area was burned as a result of the 873 tons of incendiary bombs dropped by the 314th BW on this target. The efficiency factor for this mission was 0.00016 square miles (414.4 m²) per ton. The target had to be revisited at the end of July to complete the job. Radio discipline was good as no one broke radio silence in the 330th BG, but three planes in the other BGs did break radio silence. Cruise control worked out very well with the calculated average fuel consumption of 5908 gallons (22,364.2 l) comparing favorably with the actual fuel consumption of 5879 gallons (22,254.4 l). One plane had 22 of its 187 M-47
incendiary bombs hang up in the bomb bay and they were dropped on Rota (island)
before landing.
There were no planes lost or casualties.
The target for this night's mission was Hiratsuka, a relatively small town south of Tokyo with an estimated population of 53,000, on the main railroad line linking Tokyo and Nagoya. Crews were off at 16/1800G and returned at approximately 17/0800G. Bombing was at an altitude between 11,200 and 12500 feet (3,810 m). With the target completely cloud covered, all bombing was by RADAR. The BG dropped 335.75 tons, M-17 type Incendiary Bombs (IB) and the 314th BW dropped a total of 1,163 tons of bombs on the city. This resulted in about 1 square miles (2.6 km²), or 41.9% of the city destroyed for an efficiency factor of 0.00086 square miles (2,227.4 m²) per ton. Later, crews reported a glow in the clouds with smoke mushrooming up to 12000 feet (3,657.6 m) and explosions in the target area. Visibility was up to 15 miles (24.1 km) in the target area between a lower and upper cloud layer.
There were no planes lost or casualties.
The 330th BG, with 31 planes, teamed up with the 19th and 29th BGs to attack Okazaki: a town lying 20 miles (30 km) to the southeast of Nagoya. The 330th BG planes were loaded with 184 M-47
IB's, each weighing about 100 lbs for a total bomb Ioad of 196.2 tons. The other BGs used M-17 and E-46 incendiary devices. The total incendiary bomb load dropped on the town was 850 tons, burning down 0.65 square miles (1.7 km²) or 68% of the total built-up area for an effectiveness factor of 0.00076 square miles (1,968.4 m²) per ton. There were scattered clouds above the target above 17000 feet (5,181.6 m). This permitted nine planes to bomb visually and 22 by synchronous radar from 14,200 to 15400 feet (4,693.9 m). Bombs were away between 20/0152G to 20/0234G. All aircraft were back at North Field at about 20/0830G. Crews reporting on the bombing results indicted that the bombs dropped in the target area causing fires and one reported a large explosion lighting up a city block. One crew reported five trains of bombs burning in the river. Another crew saw a string of bombs north of the course near Koromo
. While radio discipline appeared to be good overall, communication with the weather ship on the VHF channel appeared to leave room for improvement. Only four sightings were made of enemy aircraft and no heavy anti-aircraft fire was experienced and meager, inaccurate automatic weapon fire at lower altitude was observed. But with three BGs, totaling 94 aircraft, in the area and apparently scheduled fairly close together, mistakes were made.
This was the only daylight precision bombing mission in formation by the 330th BG during July. Elaborate plans had been worked out for this mission. There were primary and secondary visual targets and a primary radar target. In fact," the primary visual target was an old favorite near Nagoya, the Nakajima
aircraft plant. Assembly was over Minami Iwo Jima, the small island south of Iwo Jima. With the use of different color smoke guns, each squadron was able to assemble easily. But, some crews complained that the time allotted for assembling was too short. The weather ship indicated that the primary visual target was clear, but when the formation got there it was cloud covered. The formation then traveled to the secondary visual target and it was cloud covered as well. The formations then proceeded to the city of Tsu, Mie
, about 38 miles (61.2 km) southwest of Nagoya, the primary radar target. The bomb loads were peculiar. For the first time the 330th BG was loaded with one of the largest high explosive bombs in the AAF arsenal, the 4000 pounds (1,814.4 kg) high explosive (HE) bomb. Presumably, to test the effect of dropping them out of an aircraft, some aircraft were loaded with one, some with two and others with three of these two-ton bombs. When the bombs detonated, one could see the pressure waves traveling through the cloud layer. What the population in Tsu, Mie thought was not known. The bombing altitude ranged from 18,000 to 20000 feet (6,096 m). The bombing technique was by synchronous radar, with bombs dropped when the lead aircraft dropped. Out of the 36 planes, four had trouble with their bomb bay doors. Two salvoed their bombs and two jettisoned their bombs in the ocean. Bombs were away at 24/1139G to 24/1141G with the formations traveling at average speed of 270 mph. Two planes landed at Iwo short on gas and no bomb-bay doors. One plane landed at Northwest Field (Guam)
. On this day mission gas consumption was 700 gallons (2,649.8 l) over what was normally used on a night mission. The calculated fuel was 6339 gallons (23,995.7 l) and the average fuel consumption 6446 gallons (24,400.8 l). This was not the ideal mission. The weather ship sent the formation to the primary target, which was socked in when the formation arrived and even the secondary visual target was cloud, covered. In reassembling and going to the radar target, the formations passed over Kyoto
(off limits to bombing due to its cultural importance) and the formation took flak from the city.
This mission also had what the RAF called a "Master of Ceremonies". K-63, Talmon Mager, A/C, took off before the other planes and was over the various targets to direct traffic. The problem was that the plane was waiting over the target for two hours before the formations arrived. Also, the VHF channel for K-63 was cluttered with P-51 pilots using the same channel. Fortunately, despite flying to three targets in formation and new ordinance. There were no casualties or planes lost indicating the improved crew performance of the 330th BG and an opponent "on the ropes".
As with most night missions during July, there were scattered clouds from the base up to 6,000 to 8000 feet (2,438.4 m) and a clear sky with visibility up to 10 miles (16 km) between 8,000 to 17000 feet (5,181.6 m), and clouds above that altitude. Ōmuta
was a major town on the west side of Kyūshū
. The 58th BW attacked it on 17–18 June 1945 with only minor damage. It had a population of 177,000 and was the focus of the 314th BW's efforts with all four bomb groups participating this night. The 330th BG had 33 planes scheduled with 11 from each Bomb Squadron. K-15 blew its front nose wheel tire on take off and scratched and K-33 aborted at Iwo with one engine out. The remaining 31 planes dropped 252.84 tons of M-47
and M-17 incendiary bombs on Omuta from 14,000 to 15500 feet (4,724.4 m). Altogether, the four BGs dropped 965 tons of IB on the town, burning 2.65 square miles (6.9 km²) or 46.6% of the total built up area. The efficiency factor was 0.0027 square miles (6,993 m²) per ton. Despite the complaint about the weather, it was an efficient bombing strike. Its strategic value lay in the fact that Omuta was a rail hub and a port on the western side of Kyūshū
and would need to be isolated before the Kyūshū invasion. The raid was planned as a classic night area-bombing mission with Pathfinder planes. This concept works only if the Pathfinders correctly mark the town and the follow-on aircraft can see the marker bombs. Otherwise, the crews were on their own. There were six Pathfinder Planes over the target between 27/0113G and the last 27/0133G and the main force was over the target from 17/0133 – 27/0201G. On many past missions, there were complaints that the weather planes provided weather information that was outdated by the time the planes reached the target. In this case the reverse was true, K-35, Foster B. Huff, A/C, a Pathfinder, was on its bomb run when the wind data came in. The Nav's complained that the forecasted wind directions and actual wind directions between Iwo Jima and the target were off by 90 to 100 degrees. These late and inaccurate weather reports may be the reason that the 457th BS, Pathfinder K-3, almost had its wing torn off by bombs falling on it from a plane 200 feet (61 m) overhead.
The Japanese were aware that this was an important target as well; they sent up night fighters (they had very few) and shot down one B-29 and badly damaged another -neither plane from the 330th BG -but the demise of the B-29 was vividly described by the returning crews. Several crews saw a B-29 with one engine flaming, fired on by two sets of tracers 10 miles (16.1 km) beyond the target area; it exploded once in the air and again when it hit the ground at 27/0158G. Heavy and medium anti-aircraft fire was observed over the town but it was meager and inaccurate.
There were no planes lost or casualties on this mission.
This was a memorable mission for the 330th Bomb Group. The target was Ōgaki urban area with a population of 56,000. In the first instance, K-28, City of Omaha, and Howard McClellan, A/C had on board Ray Clark, a newsman from Station WOW, Omaha who broadcast live back to Guam and the States. He gave a running account of the anticipation and excitement of the bomb run. This unprecedented broadcast was sent out live over three networks and recorded for repeat broadcast by two other networks. Later, Ray Clark was able to get K-28's crew and plane back to Nebraska in October 1945 to participate in a Victory Bond drive. The second highlight of the mission was that the City of Ogaki was part of a 20th Air Force Psychological Warfare Effort involving the Japanese people. Certain cities, Ōgaki being one of them, was the recipient of propaganda leaflets stating it would be, along with 10 other cities, firebombed in the near future and the civilians were warned to evacuate the city. But, in modem warfare, psychology is used and in some instances very effectively. Hitler's Germany made no bones about it, they had a Ministry of Propaganda and believed firmly in the dictum that if you say black is white often enough people will believe you. (Remember the Minister of Information in Iraq) For the Americans, there was Tokyo Rose
. In any case, Americans had, at the start of World War II, voiced opposition to area bombing as used by the Japanese on Nan King in 1937. In prosecuting total war, we were using the B-29 in its most efficient and effective manner on centers of production and transportation; but in the late stages of a bombing campaign, the Japanese morale became a legitimate target. The pamphlets warned that certain cities were to be bombed and they should evacuate the cities. Therefore, many Japanese cities in July and August 1945 were forewarned, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki (although the warning to Nagasaki may have come too late since the date of that mission was moved up a day due to weather predictions). The 330th BG sent 33 planes against Ogaki, dropping 227.26 tons of bombs consisting of E-46 and M-47
incendiaries. The 330th BG was joined by the 29th and 39th BGs; the 19th BG hit a different target. The total bomb load dropped on the town was 659 tons IB, burning 0.54 square miles (1.4 km²) of Ogaki for an efficiency factor of 0.0008 square miles (2,072 m²) per ton, not a very effective mission. Planes left North Field, Guam at 28/1807 -1940G and returned between 29/0900G -29/1000G. Bombs were away between 29/0201 – 29/0318G. Bombing results as reported by crews was good to excellent, with the last crew over the target reporting smoke up to 14000 feet (4,267.2 m). Enemy opposition was stronger than met on previous night raids. Enemy fighters teamed with search lights in attacking planes with 5 passes made at three planes from the 330th BG. Meager to moderate heavy caliber anti-aircraft fire and meager to intense medium caliber anti-aircraft fire was encountered in the area with 15 to 20 searchlights with planes caught in the lights catching the most flak. The crews due to the pamphlets forewarning the Japanese of the attack and the clear night, which made a raid likely, believed the aggressive defenses. Calculated gas consumption was 5974 gallons (22,614.1 l) and the mission average was 6075 gallons (22,996.4 l).
Three planes landed at Iwo Jima for fuel. The 330th BG lost no plane and no casualties.
In commemoration of Air Force Day, the 330th BG scheduled a maximum effort with 43 aircraft −2 scratched due to an inoperative carburetor in one and an inoperative actuator switch in another. The remaining 41 planes bombed the primary target, Mito urban area, which made an excellent radar target. An estimated 73.1 % or 1.22 square miles (3.2 km²) of the town were burned for an efficiency rating of 0.0011 square miles (2,849 m²) per ton. The town was located about 65 miles (104.6 km) northeast of Tokyo. The 330th BG contributed 289.71 tons of M-47
and EA-46 IB's to the 314th BW total of 1,145 tons lbs. The average bomb load was 7.1 tons per aircraft. The aircraft left North Field between 01/1907 -O1/1952G. Bombs were away between 02/0205 -02/0300G at an altitude of 12500 feet (3,810 m). While this town was notified along with other towns not attacked this night, enemy opposition was meager. Two searchlights were observed with meager and inaccurate heavy anti-aircraft (HAA) and medium anti-aircraft (MAA) fire. Six enemy aircraft were observed in the target area but made no attacks. The last plane landed at 02/1048G and the mission was notable in that 41 planes took off and landed at North Field. Cruise control was almost perfect, a rarity. The calculated gas consumption was 5826 gallons (22,053.8 l) and the average gas consumption was 5850 gallons (22,144.7 l). The average gas load was 6600 gallons (24,983.7 l) so the highest gas consumer landed with about 300 gallons (1,135.6 l) to spare.
There were no planes lost or casualties.
A minor city, Nishinomiya, population 112,000 between Kobe and Osaka was attacked this night with 6/10 cloud cover over the target during the bomb run. Thirty-three aircraft were scheduled for the mission with one 'Super Dumbo' (a group B-29 temporarily stripped of ammunition and filled with extra fuel tanks, liferafts, BC-778 "Gibson Girl"
rescue radios and supplies that could be dropped to a downed crew), K-8, and one radar countermeasure (RCM) aircraft, K-55. Six Pathfinder aircraft carried mixed loads of M-47
and one 500 pounds (226.8 kg) T4/E4 and one 100 pounds (45.4 kg) M-46 bomb while the main force J carried 500 pounds (226.8 kg) E-46 incendiary clusters. The average bomb load was 7.5 tons per aircraft. The bomb run was made between 06/0125 -06/0208G at an average altitude of 13400 feet (4,084.3 m). Of the 27 aircraft returning directly to base, 14 bombed by radar and 13 bombed visually with crews reporting good to excellent results. Later analysis indicated that 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) (29.65%) of the built up area was burned down. This was a joint mission with the 314th and 73rd BGs participating, dropping a total of 2,004 tons IB for an efficiency factor of 0.0014 square miles (3,626 m²) per ton. It called for an average gas consumption of 6238 gallons (23,613.4 l) and the average used for the 26 planes that returned to North Field was 6150 gallons (23,280.3 l). One plane lost an engine on the way up and bombed a target of opportunity instead of the main target.
There were no planes lost or casualties.
This was the last daylight raid of the war for the 330th BG and it was an old favorite of the XXI Bomber Command. The target was Nakajima Aircraft Engine plant northwest of Tokyo. The first strategic target hit by the B-29s in November 1944 from the Marianas and had been hit 12 times previously by the 73rd. 58th BWs and Navy Carrier Task Force planes. Just to show how sometimes the larger picture reports are misleading as to what was actually bombed, this mission is a good example. The 314th BW summary reports that 60 planes from the 314th BW bombed the Tokyo arsenal, the radar target for the Bomber Command Mission #320. The Tokyo arsenal was the primary radar target and secondary visual target. The 330th BS's assembled into four formations over a small volcanic island due south of Tokyo, called Torishima, Toshima
. They then proceeded to the target with the 458th BS in the lead followed by 459th BS, 457th BS and a composite formation. Flak was encountered from landfall to the target with heavy anti-aircraft (HAA), meager to moderate and generally accurate as to altitude. Approaching the target, HAA fire increased in intensity and accuracy and continued until the formations climbed out of the target area. The 458th BS formation attacked on an axis of 70 degrees and dropped its bombs from 22000 feet (6,705.6 m). The 459th attacked on an axis of 175 degrees, overran the 458th BS formation, made a 360-degree turn and went over the primary target again. But, the formation could not see the target the second time around and went for the secondary visual target -Tokyo Army Arsenal. The 457th BS formation, on a heading of 72 degrees, dropped its bombs from 22200 feet (6,766.6 m) and the composite formation on a heading of 73 degrees dropped its bombs from 22900 feet (6,979.9 m). Why the 459th BS was on a heading of 175 degrees is not known. The weather over the primary target was almost ideal for a precision daylight-bombing raid with a few scattered clouds and visibility of 20 miles (30 km). Despite some snafus the 330th BG received its second DUC for its performance on this mission.
There were no planes lost and no casualties.
Since 12 April 1945, when the 330th BG went into action, until 8 August 1945, the normal time interval between missions was 2 to 3 days, sometimes one day and on rare occasions, 5 days. The time between the Nakajima mission and the Kumagaya mission was six days. Two atom bombs were dropped earlier this month. One on 6 August and the other on 9 August, and there were reports that the Japanese were thinking of surrendering, but this did not materialize in any concrete message from the Japanese. So the 330th BG was forced to go out again. This time against the Kumagaya urban area with a population of 47,000 located northwest of Tokyo but it was on a main rail line to the West Coast. Departure was at 14/1800 to 14/1907G and return was 15/0814 to 15/0915G. While some of the planes were landing the ROs reported that Japan had accepted the surrender terms offered by the Allies. Forty planes had taken off from North Field with four aborts due to trouble with the Wright Cyclone
engines (three aborts lost an engine and one had an engine backfire). The remaining 36 aircraft included one Super Dumbo and one RCM craft. The RCM plane carried two 2 ton HE bombs and the other 34 aircraft carried E-46 and M-47
incendiary bombs. The average bomb load depending on the reference was 7.5 tons per aircraft or 6.3 tons per aircraft. Bombs were dropped by radar as the target was completely cloud covered. There was only meager and inaccurate flak and no enemy aircraft sighted. This was a joint mission with the 313th BW and a reported total of 593 tons of IB were dropped on Kumagaya burning 0.27 square mile (0.6992967897 km²) for an efficiency rating of 0.00046 square miles (1,191.4 m²) per ton -not one of the most efficient area bombing missions.
Although this was the last official 'Combat' Mission for the 330th, it did not end the war for some crews. Until the Armistice was signed aboard the USS Missouri
on 2 September 1945, crews flew food packages to POW camps and participated in show-of-force missions for which they got combat mission time (important in the point system that sent troops back to the US in the following months).
So ended the war, which started for the Americans on Monday, 8 December 1941 (Tokyo time; Sunday, 7 December 1941 Washington, D.C. and Hawaii time) and ended 15 August 1945 (Tokyo time).
North Field, Guam
An important function of aircraft in wartime is reconnaissance. There were four main types: weather, photography, RADAR scope photo and measuring the enemy's RADAR signals. The BG also provided navigational escort for P-51s from Iwo Jima to the Empire and back. Occasionally a crew would be called upon to conduct a sea search for a downed aircraft. A memorable reconnaissance mission occurred on 6/7 August 1945 by Howard McClellan, K-28 A/C. He and his crew saw the still-smoldering ruins of Hiroshima at twilight on 6 August 1945. They were on a RADAR scope photography mission of various cities in southern Honshū
. Upon their return, they described the devastation seen at Hiroshima stating that there must have been a large raid on the city to cause such damage. However, McClellan was not aware of any scheduled air raid on that city. Later the same night, McClellan was awakened and he personally had to describe what he had seen to General Power.
In another mission, the 330th BG provided on-the-job training for three crews from the 463rd BS of the 8th Air Force that were relocating from Europe to Okinawa under General Jimmy Doolittle. Dickinson, A/C, flying K-7 completed eight combat missions with the 330th BG before the war ended. Roy B. Reeves, Jr. and James W. Ferry, A/Cs of crews assigned to 458th and 459th BS at the end of the war were not deployed back to the States but were sent to Okinawa where they continued with the 8th Air Force.
The job of the 330th BG Radar Countermeasures Section (RCM)
was to ensure that this was the case. The dramatic fall in 330th BG losses to zero in July and August 1945 was due, no doubt, to luck, but also to the work of this section. The RCM participated in all BG missions from 4 May 1945 till 15 August 1945. They searched for Japanese radar, spot jammed individual Japanese radar units and barrage jammed target areas with specially equipped B-29s called "Porcupines". Searching Japanese radar required specialized electronic equipment, which was installed in these aircraft. The equipment included; a) a tuner-analyzer to measure the radar frequencies and strength and presumably the pulse width and pulse repetition frequency and b) four to five transmitters producing static noise, in effect drowning out Japanese radar signals.
Based on this information, one could determine whether the signals were emitted by gun laying RADAR or RADAR-directing searchlights or air-to-air RADAR in Japanese fighters. The RADAR countermeasures observer also noticed the coincidence of enemy signals with enemy action and the weather. What was not observed was just as important. The Japanese night fighters had no airborne radar. In a few cases, they were observed to have air-to-surface vessel (ASV) type radar. The Japanese radar operated on 75 and 200 megahertz bands but no 540-megahertz band RADAR was observed. The latter was the frequency of German Wurzburg radar
with produced devastating results for the 8th Air Force in the European theater.
On BG missions from 4 to 25 May 1945, RADAR signal analyzers were carried, but no RADAR jamming was permitted. Only chaff
was used during this period. Due to the concentration of gun-laying RADAR around Tokyo, jamming was requested but it was denied. The 20th Air Force lost the largest number of B-29s over Tokyo on 25–26 May 1945. On all subsequent missions, either spot jamming or barrage jamming of enemy RADAR signals was done. 1LT Fred Nibling amplified in a recent communication how the chaff was supposed to affect Japanese RADAR. The chaff
consisted of spools of foil packaged in breakout containers and each spool gave the impression on enemy RADAR of a B-29. On daylight missions one always saw hundreds of foils floating down. B-29 gunners stated that search light beams sometimes followed the chaff as it floated down. A variation on the foils were packets of "straws" -straw shaped strips coated with aluminium- packed 20 to a packet and dropped by the Navigator, which gave the impression on enemy RADAR of 20 B-29s.
Further "reports" stated that the foils falling across bare electric power and communication lines shorted them out, further complicating Japanese existence.
There were 42 RCM missions starting on 4 May 1945, which included 35 regular BG missions; two missions to assist the 315th BW, which had no RCM capability, and five special RADAR signal search missions. During this period, 440 enemy RADAR signals were observed and analyzed and this information was forwarded to higher echelons for collation with information from other sources. On the regular BG missions, the RCM observer would spot or barrage jam the detected Japanese signals but, since the aircraft would be in the area for only 10 to 15 minutes, it was not effective during the entire time that the group was over the target. The BG had six Porcupine Aircraft and more were being added when the war ended. These B-29s were dedicated mainly to analyzing and jamming Japanese RADAR signals. They were used over targets with heavy concentrations of gun-laying and searchlight-controlled RADAR. They would stay in the target area during the entire bombing period. 1LT Fred Nibling stated that the RCM activities were very effective based on numerous crew reports of searchlights frantically searching the sky with little degree of accuracy when there was partial under cast cloud cover. At times of completely under cast skies, the anti-aircraft fire was totally inaccurate when RADAR jamming was employed. Two particular instances were worthy of note. Over Shimonoseki, with over 200 anti-aircraft guns, a Porcupine was in the area and no BG planes were lost. The 315th BW planes, employing the AN/APQ-7 Eagle RADAR, had a 70 nautical miles (129.6 km) bomb run lasting 15 minutes, ideal for gun-laying RADAR. But, at the heavily defended Kawasaki Oil Refinery, no B-29's were lost thanks to the 330th BG Porcupine Jammers.
to pick up the supplies. The following day, 31 August 1945, they flew to the Empire and dropped the supplies on POW camps around Osaka Flying back over Tokyo, one crew, K-3 got a close look at the devastation in Tokyo and a view of the naval floatilla steaming into Tokyo Bay
with the USS Missouri
on which the surrender took place two days later. The crew of K-5 were given the task of dropping supplies to a POW camp near Hong Kong. To accomplish this feat, they had to fly to Clark Field in the Philippines and pick up supplies and information on the location of the camp.
Missions for the 330th BG are listed as follows:
Robert Willman and the crew of K-1 were asked to fly medical and food supplies to Okinawa which had been struck by an enormous typhoon days before. They did this with wooden platforms devised to be hung in the bomb bays. These platforms were loaded with supplies and lashed into place. Upon reaching Okinawa they were met by a crew of GI's who unloaded the supplies. After topping off the gas tanks they would head back to Guam. When they flew the aircraft to the states during the Sunset Project, they used the platforms again. This time they had about six passengers. Five Army enlisted men and one officer, all of whom had priority to return to the States. They had been in the Pacific area since before Pearl Harbor.
The 330th BG lost no planes in this effort, but the 73rd BW lost four planes in the effort, including one to the Russians who forced down a B-29 over Korea. The Cold War
started early in the Far East.
to Washington as quickly as possible. So a composite crew, consisting was formed for K-52. Since there was no runway around Tokyo long enough to land a B-29, the crew picked up the photos at Iwo Jima where they had been delivered by a B-17. The B-29 flew to Hawaii where the crew had four hours of sleep and then headed to Washington, DC. The plane lost an engine over the Rockies so they landed at Wright-Patterson AAF, Dayton, Ohio, and the photos were taken on by train to Washington, D.C.
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It constituted on 1 July 1942 at Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. The unit fought in the Pacific Theater
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
. Its lineage and honors are now carried by the 330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing
330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing
The 330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.-Mission:...
.
The unit was organized in 1942 as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator Replacement Training Unit (RTU) in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and Texas. In 1944, the group was equipped with the B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
and was assigned to the 14th Air Division|314th Bombardment Wing, training in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
for deployment to the Pacific Theater
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
. Flying from North Field, Guam
Andersen Air Force Base
Andersen Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately northeast of Yigo in the United States territory of Guam....
as part of the Twentieth Air Force
Twentieth Air Force
The Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
, it entered combat in April 1945. The group received two Distinguished Unit Citations for incendiary
Incendiary ammunition
-World War I:One of the first uses of incendiary ammunition occurred in World War I. At the time, phosphorus—the primary ingredient in the incendiary charge—ignited upon firing, leaving a trail of blue smoke. They were also known as 'smoke tracer' for this reason. The effective range of...
raids on the homeland islands of Japan
Japanese Archipelago
The , which forms the country of Japan, extends roughly from northeast to southwest along the northeastern coast of the Eurasia mainland, washing upon the northwestern shores of the Pacific Ocean...
. The group returned to the United States in late 1945, and was inactivated on 3 January 1946.
Lineage and honors
Upon activation 6 July 1942, the 330th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was assigned to Second Air ForceSecond Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
as a B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
Replacement Training Unit (RTU). The group performed this training at Alamogordo Army Airfield in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, then later at Biggs Field near El Paso
El Paso
El Paso, a city in the U.S. state of Texas, on the border with Mexico.El Paso may also refer to:-Geography:Colombia:* El Paso, CesarSpain:*El Paso, Santa Cruz de TenerifeUnited States:...
, Texas. On 1 April 1944, the group was redesignated as the 330th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), assigned to the Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
and was designated as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress operational bomb group being assigned to the 314th Bombardment Wing. The group was assigned to Walker AAFB
Walker Army Airfield (Kansas)
Walker Army Airfield is an abandoned airfield located north of Interstate 70 in Ellis County, 4 miles northeast of Victoria, Kansas....
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, for equipping and training.
The group began its deployment to North Field, Guam
Andersen Air Force Base
Andersen Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately northeast of Yigo in the United States territory of Guam....
in early 1945, and was assigned to the XXI Bomber Command
XXI Bomber Command
The XXI Bomber Command was a unit of the Twentieth Air Force in Guam for strategic bombing during World War II.- Lineage:* Constituted as XXI Bomber Command on 1 Mar 1944, and activated the same day.-Assignments:...
of the Twentieth Air Force
Twentieth Air Force
The Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
. It entered combat on 12 April 1945 with an attack on Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama
Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama
is one of the 18 wards of the city of Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, Hodogaya Ward had an estimated population of 205,887 and a density of 9,400 persons per km². The total area was 21.91 km².-Geography:...
, Japan. The group received a two Distinguished Unit Citations for incendiary raids on the homeland islands of Japan. The 330th Bombardment Group returned to the United States during November and December 1945, and was inactivated on 3 January 1946.
On 27 June 1949, the unit was redesignated as the 330th Bombardment Group (Medium), activated and assigned to the United States Air Force Reserve. On 1 May 1951, the unit was ordered to active duty, its personnel transferred to Korea, and the unit (less personnel) was deactivated on 16 June 1951. On 14 June 1952 the unit was redesignated as the 330th Troop Carrier Group (Medium), but was inactivated on 14 July 1952.
The unit is credited with the American Theater, Air Offensive – Japan, and the Western Pacific campaigns.
History
When activated in 1942, the group functioned as an RTU, training in both New Mexico and Texas. On being designated as an operation bomber group, it was assigned to the 20th Air Force. The group consisted of the 457th457th Airlift Squadron
The 457th Airlift Squadron is part of the 375th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. It operates C-21 aircraft providing executive airlift.-History:...
, 458th and the 459th Bomb Squadron plus the 26th Photo Lab was activated in April 1944 at Walker Army Air Field, near Victoria
Victoria, Kansas
Victoria is a city in Ellis County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,214.-History:A group of English and Scottish colonists led by a Scotsman named George Grant founded Victoria in 1873 on land he had purchased from the Kansas Pacific Railway. They named the...
, Kansas.
Two months later its cadres split, part of the group remaining "on line" at Walker and part setting up manning headquarters at Dalhart
Dalhart Municipal Airport
Dalhart Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located three miles southwest of the central business district of Dalhart, Texas, a city straddling the border of Dallam and Hartley counties in the northwest corner of the Texas Panhandle.The airport is not served by any commercial...
, Texas. After a rapid filling up of both echelons, they were reunited at Walker AAF, Kansas
Walker Army Airfield (Kansas)
Walker Army Airfield is an abandoned airfield located north of Interstate 70 in Ellis County, 4 miles northeast of Victoria, Kansas....
in August 1944. The newly assigned air crews joined them in late September and early October 1944. As a complete Bomb Group, they were ready for their brief period of intensive flight and ground training in slightly used B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
es. At Walker, they continued to hone their skills, flying and maintaining this new aircraft. This was a brand new aircraft pushed into service while still being modified; maintenance and flying techniques being developed even as the aircraft was already in active service. This coupled with a 24 hour-a-day 'maintenance mod' schedule outdoors in the bitter Kansas winter of 1945, crystallized deep feelings of comradeship.
The group's advanced ground echelon left Walker AAF, Kansas
Walker Army Airfield (Kansas)
Walker Army Airfield is an abandoned airfield located north of Interstate 70 in Ellis County, 4 miles northeast of Victoria, Kansas....
by train on 7 January 1945 for the Fort Lawton
Fort Lawton
Fort Lawton is a United States Army fort located in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. The fort was included in the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure list.-History:...
Staging Area in Seattle, Washington. On 17 January 1945, they left on a 30 day journey on the Army transport Ship Howell Lykes en route to Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. The air crews and the aircraft mechanics support technicians would not join them until mid-March.
Guam 1945
They arrived in the Port of AganaHagåtña, Guam
Hagåtña , formerly English Agana and in Spanish Agaña, is the capital of the United States island territory of Guam. It is the island's second smallest village in both area and population. From the 18th through mid 20th century, it was Guam's population center...
, Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
on 18 February 1945, loaded up on waiting trucks and jeeps and headed off on a dirt road up the island and through the dense jungle. The 854th Airfield Construction Battalion was still busy putting the finishing touches on the parking aprons and taxi ways for the 330th, which they had been working on since late November 1944. There were two other Bomb Groups of the 314th just settling into North Field; the 19th Bomb Group and the 29th Bomb Group had been there for several weeks. The 330th's area on the Southwest corner of the air field was still mainly jungle. While the 845th continued work, the ground echelon along with the 502nd Engineering Squadron of the 89th Air Service Group (ASG) began the detailed work of bringing this air field to life. From early dawn until way into the night they battled mosquitoes, rain, knee deep mud, occasional snipers and began to lay down the foundations of dozens of Quonset hut
Quonset hut
A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel having a semicircular cross section. The design was based on the Nissen hut developed by the British during World War I...
s, along with the mess halls, chapels, workshops and showers. The armorers began their task of uncrating thousands of bombs and ammunition. The clerks set up offices and began the paper trail that is the 'army'.
The Air Crews continued to commute between Walker Army Air Field and Batista (Cayuga) Field
San Antonio de los Baños
San Antonio de los Baños is a municipality and city in the Artemisa Province of Cuba.It is located 26 km from the city of Havana, and the Ariguanabo River runs through it. The city was founded in 1802....
in Cuba, to sharpen their combat training. Once back in Kansas in early March, they picked up their new Boeing B-29 Superfortresses (some of the aircrews actually signed for them at the factories) and headed West. Way West! First to Mather Field, California
Mather Air Force Base
Mather Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force Base located east of Sacramento at Rancho Cordova, California on the south side of U.S. Route 50....
, then Hawaii, Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
and finally Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. The first 330th aircraft set down at North Field, Guam on 25 March 1945. Even before the last squadron arrived, the 330th was already a veteran of combat. The 330th first flew against the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
on 12 April 1945. Its forty-seventh and final bombing strike was in the air at the hour the Japanese surrender was announced on 15 August 1945. The result was a bomb group with the lowest overall abort rate on the ground, and the highest over-the-target rate of any Bomb Group in the entire 20th Air Force. The 330th BG flew 1,320 combat sorties, 18,978 combat hours and had dropped 7039 short ton of high explosives and incendiary bombs into the heart of the Japanese industry.
Aircraft
The aircraft themselves "Bare Metal Finish" aluminium. The crews would polish them up as well they could in the belief that a clean aircraft was a fast streamlined aircraft and would therefore fly farther on its supply of fuel.On their vertical stabilizers they wore a 12 feet (4 m) square black box with a large BMF capital letter K carved out of it. This was to assist with identifying squadron aircraft out of a crowded sky to form up on during the daylight missions. Just below the tails and up a little on the fuselage were the aircraft numbers. These were solid black on BMF background and about 4 feet (1 m) high. The sixty or so aircraft that made up the 330th were divided into three Bombardment Squadrons (BS):
- 457th Bombardment Squadron
- Numbers: 1–16
- 458th Bombardment Squadron
- Numbers: 26–43
- 459th Bombardment Squadron
- Numbers: 51–69
In late summer the BMF 'K' was infilled with a bright orange–yellow paint for better recognition. Also on the outside engine cowls were the aircraft numbers in orange/yellow lettering within a black box. In late summer in 1945, it was ordered that all aircraft would have their undersides painted a glossy black. The intention was to mask them from the searchlights that otherwise would light up their shiny undersides like a new nickel with their BMF.
Nose art
As it was part of the 314th BW, the 330th used the "City of ..." stly for naming their aircraft. This was a large 4 ft (1.2 m) diameter Navy Blue globe with a bright orange/yellow footprint of North America. Within this would be a thick white flagpole with a wavy white "City of..." flag attached depicting either the hometown of the Aircraft Commander or one of the crewmen whose name was drawn out of a hat. They were allowed to also have 'other' names and or artwork on the starboard side. Pinups were allowed but any "bloodthirsty" art would have to be scrubbed off for fear that if the aircraft was shot down, subsequent Japanese propaganda would reinforce the belief that they were flown by "barbarians" and potentially harm future downed airmen.Aircraft of the 330th
| B-29s lost in combat | 6 |
| B-29s lost in accidents | 3 |
| Air crew killed in action Killed in action Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to... |
|
| Air crew wounded in action Wounded in action Wounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight.... |
|
| Air crew missing in action Missing in action Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively... |
|
| Air crew captured Prisoner of war A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict... |
| Aircraft model | Serial number: |
Sqdn | K # | City of " " | Aircraft name | Crew # | Original aircraft commander |
2nd Crew # | 2nd A/C | 3rd Crew # | 3rd A/C | A/C for Sunset | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-29A-15-BN | 42-93969 | 457 | 1 | – | – | 711 | Neill | 976 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | lost 24 May 1945 Missing aircrew report 14492 | |
| B-29A-20-BN | 42-93976 | 457 | 1 | 705 | Willman | Willman | ||||||||
| 2 | Red Bank, NJ | The Happy Savage | 702 | Matthews | Replaced Neill's K-1 | |||||||||
| B-29A-25-BN | 42-94048 | 457 | 2 | Kellogg | ||||||||||
| B-29-55-BW | 44-69696 | 457 | Red Bank, NJ | The Happy Savage | 702 | Matthews | Wilson | |||||||
| B-29A-20-BN | 42-93982 | 457 | 3 | Fort Worth, TX | 707 | Wallace | ??? | Riesman | Ryder | aircraft used to fly photo of A-Bomb drop to Washington DC | ||||
| B-29-65-BW | 44-69872 | 457 | 3 | Bryant | Flew back as K-3 | |||||||||
| B-29-65-BW | 44-69817 | 457 | 4 | Roanoke, VA | Ready Bettie | 706 | Smith, H. L. | McNamara | Destroyed | |||||
| B-29A-15-BN | 42-93957 | 457 | 5 | Duluth, MN | She Wolf | 705 | Willman | |||||||
| Lynchburg, VA | Don't Worry bout'a thing | Woolwine | Hinzman | Matthews | ||||||||||
| B-29A-15-BN | 42-93971 | 457 | 6 | Council Bluffs, IA | The Germ | 713 | Erwin | Zimmerman | Eby | |||||
| B-29A-20-BN | 42-93978 | 457 | 7 | Jacksonville, FL | Miss Take | 715 | Bradford | Reed | Dickinson | Bradford | ||||
| B-29A-20-BN | 42-93980 | 457 | 8 | St. Petersburg, FL | My Gal | 717 | Hiles Jr. | |||||||
| Williamsport, PA | Miss Annabelle | Zimmerman | Hinzman | |||||||||||
| B-29A-25-BN | 42-94062 | 457 | 9 | Chattanooga, TN | PLUTO | ??? | Freeman | Reed | Myers | |||||
| B-29A-15-BN | 42-93935 | 457 | 10 | Bedford, OH | Shillelagh Highman | 703 | O'Neill | Hinzman | Lock | |||||
| B-29-70-BW | 44-69928 | 457 | 11 | Berkeley, CA | Je Revien | 708 | West | McDonald | Kimball | Coblentz | ||||
| B-29A-25-BN | 42-94024 | 457 | 12 | Clayton, MO | Our Baby | 709 | Barthels | Johnston | Dickinson | Johnston | ||||
| B-29A-20-BN | 42-94016 | 457 | 13 | Jersey City, NJ | McNamara's Band | 701 | McNamara | ??? | Johnston | Wallace | ||||
| B-29-60-BW | 44-69795 | 457 | 14 | 712 | Ziegele | crashlanded 12 April 1945 | ||||||||
| B-29A-25-BN | 42-94032 | 457 | 14second aircraft to carry this number | San Jose, CA | 710 | Locks | ||||||||
| St. Petersburg, FL | My Gal II | 717 | Hiles, Jr. | |||||||||||
| 44-61669 | 457 | 15 | Kinnaird | |||||||||||
| B-29-70-BW | 44-69996 | 457 | 15 | Gary, IN | 714 | Abbring | Crashed on Iwo Jima 8/8/45. No casualties. | |||||||
| B-29A-25-BN | 42-94029 | 457 | 16 | Kankakee, IL | Lucky Strike | 718 | Lock | Abbring | Crashed on Johnson Island 11/4/45. No Casualties | |||||
| B-29A-15-BN | 42-93970 | 458 | 26 | Palm Beach, FL | 801 | Stowell Jr. | ??? | Kriemer | ||||||
| B-29-60-BW | 44-69790 | 458 | 27 | Birmingham, AL | Ole Boomerang | 807 | Wells | |||||||
| B-29-30-MO | 42-65371 | 458 | 28 | Omaha, NE | Yonkee Dollah | 817 | McClellan | |||||||
| B-29-60-BW | 44-69800 | 458 | 29 | San Francisco, CA | Little Rae | 813 | Smisek | |||||||
| B-29A-15-BN | 42-93943 | 458 | 30 | Portsmouth, VA | Beats Me | 808 | Blanchard | Ormand | Blanchard | |||||
| Springfield, IL | Janie | 815 | McDonald | |||||||||||
| B-29A-10-BN | 42-93908 | 458 | 31 | Cedar Rapids, IO | Battlin Bulldozer | 814 | Baker | Riggs | ||||||
| B-29A-15-BN | 42-93955 | 458 | 32 | Cedar Rapids, MI | Colleen | 809 | Bauer | Suffered engine trouble and crashed attempting to land | ||||||
| B-29-65-BW | 44-69887 | 458 | 32second aircraft to carry this number | Niagara Falls, NY | Knipps vs. Nips | 815 | Knipp | Knipp | ||||||
| B-29-65-BW | 44-69814 | 458 | 33 | Indianapolis, IN | Mary Kathleen | 802 | Rice Jr. | 10/29/45 | ||||||
| B-29A-15-BN | 42-93954 | 458 | 34 | Portsmouth, VA | Beats Me Too | 806 | Gibson | Vick | ||||||
| B-29-70-BW | 44-69997 | 458 | 35 | Spanish Fork, UT | Heavenly Body | 811 | Huff | 816 | Brown | |||||
| B-29A-25-BN | 42-94052 | 458 | 36 | Terra Haute, IN | Star Dust | 803 | Myers | Smith, E | ||||||
| B-29A-20-BN | 42-93995 | 458 | 37 | Osceola | Behren's Brood | ??? | Behrens | Lost 6/1/45. missing aircrew report 14915 | ||||||
| B-29A-20-BN | 42-93996 | 458 | 37 | Richmond, CA | Rebel's Roost | Crimmins | ||||||||
| B-29-70-BW | 44-69995 | 458 | 38 | Knoxville, TN | Ernie Pyle | 810 | Walker | |||||||
| B-29A-25-BN | 42-94037 | 458 | 39 | Hershey, PA | The Willful Witch | 816 | Brown | |||||||
| B-29-75-BW | 44-70016 | 458 | 40 | Quaker City, PA | Sentimental Journey | ??? | Gilbert | Gilbert | now preserved in museum | |||||
| B-29-75-BW | 44-70010 | 458 | 41 | Pacific Palisades, CA, Hatch, ID | Cue Ball | 804 | Higginson | ??? | Vick | Higginson | ||||
| B-29-25-BA | 42-63539 | 458 | 42 | Bel Air, CA | Round Robin | 820 | Ormand | 586 | Groves | Ormand | ||||
| B-29-60-BW | 44-69799 | 458 | 43 | 804 | Carle | MIA, Tokyo on 4/13/45 Missing aircrew report 14240 | ||||||||
| B-29-60-BW | 44-69741 | 459 | 51 | Columbus, OH | Ten Under Parr | 904 | Parr | |||||||
| B-29A-15-BN | 42-93964 | 459 | 52 | Rock Island, IL | Baby's Buggy | 901 | Wilson | This airacraft was being flown by another unidentified crew and shot up over target beyond repair | ||||||
| B-29A-40-BN | 44-61618 | 459 | 52second aircraft to carry this number | Rock Island, IL | Baby's Buggy | 901 | Wilson | Gunther | ||||||
| B-29-60-BW | 44-69786 | 459 | 53 | Reno, NV / Detroit, MI | Here to Stay | 902 | Tibbs | ??? | Budlong | |||||
| B-29-60-BW | 44-69774 | 459 | 54 | Patterson, NJ | Keohane's Kulprits | 903 | Keohane | Fisher | Post war was 'Waltzing Matilda' and flew victory tour in Australia. | |||||
| B-29-30-MO | 42-????? | 459 | 55 | Miami Beach, FL | Ol' Smoker II | 906 | Lawrence | 908 | Cox | |||||
| B-29-30-MO | 42-65363 | 459 | 56 | Akron, OH | Lady Jane | 912 | Strong | 806 | Gibson | |||||
| B-29-60-BW | 44-69766 | 459 | 57 | Burbank, CA | Old Soldier's Home | 915 | Heid | 381 | Schiltz | Missing in action 6/5/45 over Kobe. Missing aircrew report 14602 | ||||
| B-29-60-BW | 44-69801 | 459 | 58 | Medford, OR | Lightning Lady | 917 | Wheelock | |||||||
| B-29-65-BW | 44-69857 | 459 | 59 | Miami Beach, FL | Ol' Smoker | 908 | Cox | Ditched 12 April 1945. Missing aircrew report 14238 | ||||||
| B-29-70-BW | 44-69911 | 459 | 59second aircraft to carry this number | Richmond, VA | Vivacious Lady | 911 | Scruggs Jr. | 905 | Stalnaker | |||||
| B-29A-15-BN | 42-93961 | 459 | 60 | Aberdeen, WA | 907 | Bowerman | ??? | Smith | Gunther | |||||
| B-29A-25-BN | 42-94059 | 459 | 61 | Farmington, MO | Lonesome Polecat | 905 | Stalnaker | Budlong | ||||||
| B-29A-10-BN | 42-93912 | 459 | 62 | Glendale, CA | Motley Crew | 910 | Stoddard | |||||||
| B-29A-25-BN | 42-94047 | 459 | 63 | Jamestown, NY | Throbbing Monster | ??? | Mager | Strong | ||||||
| B-29A-25-BN | 42-94040 | 459 | 64 | Rochester, NY | Feather Merchant's | 914 | Stevenson, Jr. | |||||||
| B-29A-25-BN | 42-94071 | 459 | 65 | Gainsville, TX | Johnson | ??? | Budlong | Budlong | 10/31/45 | |||||
| B-29-50-BW | 42-24917 | 459 | 66 | Oklahoma City, OK | Alhambra, CA | Duty | May | This was the Bomb Group's Weather ship | ||||||
| B-29-25-BA | 42-63539 | 459 | 67 | Highland Falls, NY | Infant of Prague | ??? | Flanagan, Jr. | |||||||
| B-29A-40-BN | 44-61664 | 459 | 68 | Lynn, MA | 592 | Gunther | ||||||||
| B-29A-15-BN | 42-93953 | 459 | 908 | Cox | ||||||||||
| B-29A-15-BN | 42-93967 | |||||||||||||
| B-29A-35-BN | 44-61537 | 458 | Ormand | 11/01/1945 | ||||||||||
| B-29-70-BW | 44-69984 | 459 | ||||||||||||
| B-29-85-BW | 44-87639 | 457 | Reed | |||||||||||
Missions
On a typical daylight mission, aircraft flew individually, one minute apart, from GuamGuam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
to a predesignated "rallying" point about 100 miles (160.9 km) off the coast of Japan. There, they would form up on a "lead" aircraft and proceed in smaller formations of 10 aircraft or so over the target. They would then drop when they witnessed the "lead" aircraft drop, then return individually to Guam. The aircraft flew thousands of miles for 12 or more hours, and had to conserve as much fuel as possible in order to make it to Guam, Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
or into the Pacific. Flying individually gave the pilots allowance for particular conditions.
On a daylight mission, squadron visibility was the key to a successful mission – the reason for the large tail letters and individual aircraft numbers on fuselages. For some missions, it was imperative that the aircraft commander (AC) found his designated squadron and proceeded over the target at the briefed time, the briefed altitude, and hit his target. If he could not find his particular formation, he would join another group and bomb their target.
On a typical night mission, the first to take off 10–15 minutes ahead of the squadrons, would be several 'Pathfinder'B-29's. The rest of the squadron's aircraft would take off thirty seconds apart, on alternating runways (so one minute apart on any one runway). Instead of 'Rallying' off the coast of Japan, each aircraft would have their own pre-assigned altitude and heading over the target. Minutes before the rest of the squadron were due over the target the 'Pathfinders' would drop incendiaries marking it for the rest to drop on.
Whether on a daylight or nighttime mission, if the primary target was obscured, they would either drop by RADAR
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
or attempt to bomb a predesignated secondary target.
Mission: 1
- Date: 12 April 1945
- Target: Hodogaya(Yokohama) Chemical Plant
- Bomber Command Mission: 65
- Code Name: Lunchroom # 1
The 330th (BG) arrived in the middle of an intensive bombing campaign by the Twentieth Air Force
Twentieth Air Force
The Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
with the strategic objective of knocking the Japanese aircraft industry out of the war. To date, this campaign did not appear to be very successful since several major plants, such as the Nakajima
Nakajima Aircraft Company
The Nakajima Aircraft Company was a prominent Japanese aircraft manufacturer throughout World War II.-History:...
Musashino
Musashino, Tokyo
is a city located in Tokyo, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 137,222 and a population density of 12,788.63 persons per km². The total area is 10.73 km².The city was founded on November 3, 1947...
Aircraft Plant north of Tokyo and the Mitsubishi Plant near Nagoya, seemed to be little damaged as a result of persistent daylight precision raids by B-29s flying in formation. A major reason was the weather which hindered both assembling in formation at a remote point and then flying to the target, which might be covered in clouds or haze making visual bombing difficult or impossible. The first strategic objective of the 314th Bomb Wing (BW), to which the 330th BG was under, was to knock out the Hodogaya Chemical Plant (Target #6129), located north of Koriyama City. This plant was one of only two plants in Japan thought to be producing Tetra-ethyl lead
Tetra-ethyl lead
Tetraethyllead , abbreviated TEL, is an organolead compound with the formula 4Pb. An inexpensive additive, its addition to gasoline from the 1920's allowed octane ratings and thus engine compression to be boosted significantly, increasing power and fuel economy...
an important additive in aviation gasoline. To that date, the mission would be the longest, both in time and distance, from the Marianas. The mission took almost 18 hours. Finding and hitting this plant was no small navigational feat.
Twenty B-29s were scheduled to participate in this mission with each plane carrying eight 500 pounds (226.8 kg) general purpose bombs
General-purpose bomb
A general-purpose bomb is an air-dropped bomb intended as a compromise between blast damage, penetration, and fragmentation in explosive effect.-Characteristics:...
of Composition B
Composition B
Composition B, colloquially "comp B", is an explosive consisting of castable mixtures of RDX and TNT. It is used as the main explosive filling in artillery projectiles, rockets, land mines, hand grenades, sticky bombs and various other munitions...
high explosive. The group averaged 2.2 short tons (2 t) of HE per aircraft and 7425 gallons (28,106.7 l) of fuel. The total weight of each aircraft averaged 71 short tons (64.4 t). The planes took off in the early morning hours of 12 April, between 0331-0353G (1731Z to 1753Z) at one-minute intervals, normally adhering to radio silence. The assembly point was Aogashima
Aogashima
is a village located in Hachijō Subprefecture, Tokyo, Japan.-Geography:Aogashima Village covers the island of Aogashima, the southernmost and most isolated populated island in the Izu archipelago in the Philippine Sea, south of central Tokyo, and south of Hachijōjima, its nearest populated...
(an island about 250 miles (402.3 km) south of Tokyo) and while circling at up to 1500 feet (457.2 m), the aircraft were fired upon by a Japanese ship, described as a Destroyer Escort
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
.
Two formations were formed consisting of 12 aircraft and 5 aircraft. One B-29 was late in taking off, never made it to the assembly point in time and dropped its bombs on a Target of Opportunity (TO). Two other planes aborted. The 12 plane formation, at an altitude of up to 8000 feet (2,438.4 m), was off the briefed heading on the first bomb run and had to make a second run on a heading of 140 degrees with visibility at 8 miles (13 km) in haze. The 5 plane formation attacked the plant on a heading of 234 degrees. Bombs were dropped between 12/1233G-12/1328G. At this low altitude, they were counting on surprise and it apparently was achieved. Japanese flak was described as meager and inaccurate and there was absolutely no fighter opposition. During landing at Guam, rain showers lowered ceilings at North Field, Guam but 13 planes made it that late evening and landed from 12/2157 -12/2325G (1157 to 1325Z). Three planes were diverted and landed safely at Harmon Airfield.
Bomb results were excellent; all the main buildings in the 330th's target area were damaged or destroyed, comprising 73% of the target roof area. Losses were two aircraft. K-59 ditched roughly 215 nautical miles (398 km) SSW of Guam at approximately 2330G. The crew were in the water for 18 hours. Two were presumed killed in the crash and two from drowning after the crash. K-14 crashed and caught fire on landing at Agana after suffering damage trying to land at North Field on instruments. Only one crewman, the radio operator survived. As a result a second beacon was added at North Field helping in instrument landings.
Mission: 2
- Date: 13–14 April 1945
- Target: Tokyo Artificial Chemical Fertilizer Plant (Target #204)
- Bomber Command Mission: 67
- Code Name: Perdition # 1
This mission was classified as a precision night mission. The night was clear and the aiming point
Aiming point
In field artillery, the accuracy of indirect fire depends on the use of aiming points. In air force terminology the aiming point refers to holding the intersection of the cross hairs on a bombsight when fixed at a specific target....
(AP) was the Tokyo Arsenal complex. In the bigger picture, it was a three-wing effort by the 73rd, 313th and 314th Bomb Wings. Combination loads of HE and incendiary
Incendiary ammunition
-World War I:One of the first uses of incendiary ammunition occurred in World War I. At the time, phosphorus—the primary ingredient in the incendiary charge—ignited upon firing, leaving a trail of blue smoke. They were also known as 'smoke tracer' for this reason. The effective range of...
bombs were used. The reported burned out area was estimated as 10.5 sq mi (27.2 km²). The 330th BG contributed 16 planes that deposited 47.5 tons on or near its aiming point (AP) described as the Tokyo Artificial Chemical Fertilizer Plant (Target #204). Antiaircraft fire was intense and altogether 7 planes were lost, one from the 458th Bomb Squadron.
K-43 was hit over Tokyo and went down in Tokyo Bay
Tokyo Bay
is a bay in the southern Kantō region of Japan. Its old name was .-Geography:Tokyo Bay is surrounded by the Bōsō Peninsula to the east and the Miura Peninsula to the west. In a narrow sense, Tokyo Bay is the area north of the straight line formed by the on the Miura Peninsula on one end and on...
. The 330th BG sent out 36 planes on these two missions and lost three planes, 8.3 % of the attacking force. The casualties included the Commanding officer of the 458th Bomb squadron on board as an observer.
Mission: 3
- Date: 15–16 April 1945
- Target: Kawasaki, KanagawaKawasaki, Kanagawais a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, between Tokyo and Yokohama. It is the 9th most populated city in Japan and one of the main cities forming the Greater Tokyo Area and Keihin Industrial Area....
- Bomber Command Mission: 68
- Code Name: Brisket # 1
Giving the Tokyo industrial area no let up, 20 B-29s from the 330th BG were again-part of a larger effort by the 73rd, 313th and 314th BWs against the southern Tokyo suburb of Kawasaki, between Tokyo and Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
. The Bomb Group deposited 95.2 tons on 1he suburb. The planes left at 15/1700G and returned at about 16/0900G. Photo analysis indicated that approximately 8 sq mi (21 km²) of Tokyo was burned out that night. It was a clear night in the area and the searchlights, enemy flak and fighters were particularly effective, resulting in a loss of 13 planes, fortunately none from the 330th BG.
Mission: 4
- Date: 17 April
- Target: Kanoya Air Drome
- Bomber Command Mission: 74
- Code Name: Checkbook # 1
All remaining missions by the 330th BG in April except a mission against an aircraft plant on 24 April 1945, were against airfields on Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. This was part of the XXI Bomber Command anti-Kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
campaign requested by Admiral Chester Nimitz I due to the clobbering the U.S. Navy was taking from Japanese suicide planes. Japanese suicide missions were well known in the Southwest and Central Pacific combat areas, where Marines and Army encountered fanatical charges of trapped and encircled Japanese garrisons. But, starting with the Philippine Campaign, the Japanese Navy utilized Kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
planes against American warships and carriers. As the noose tightened around the Japanese home islands, what was initially a sporadic effort, became with the Okinawa campaign, an organized Japanese Naval effort to thwart the Okinawa invasion. During the period 6–28 April 1945, armadas of Kamikaze planes were directed at the American Okinawa Invasion Armada.
The 330th BG played an important role in these raids, although few in the organization realized it at the time. Six of the nine Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
Airfield raids were against the Kanoya Air Drome complex and code named 'Checkbook'. Kanoya airfield was the headquarters of Admiral Matome Ugaki who skillfully directed the Kamikaze campaign from this base. He also kept a diary, which was not always complimentary of some airfield raids. Checkbook #1 took place on 17 April 1945 against the Kanoya Air Drome by 11 B-29's, which dropped 16.27 tons of HE on the complex. The aiming point (AP) for the group was a row of hangar type buildings on the SW corner of the base. Crew reports stated hangar buildings at the base were hit and burning and, in general, bomb results were reported as good to excellent. These were the airfields from which the Kamikaze planes and their escorts emanated. So, Admiral Nimitz directed General Curtis LeMay
Curtis LeMay
Curtis Emerson LeMay was a general in the United States Air Force and the vice presidential running mate of American Independent Party candidate George Wallace in 1968....
to knock out the airfields.
Mission: 5
- Date: 18 April
- Target: Kanoya Air Drome
- Bomber Command Mission: 78
- Code Name: Checkbook # 2
To give the Kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
pilots no rest, the 330th BG bombed the Kanoya Air Drome the following day. This time 11 planes took off at 18/0100 to 18/0205G (17/1500 t 17/1605Z) with one plane aborting. The remaining 10 planes assembled in formation over Ioa Shima (probably Io Jima on later maps 55 nautical miles (102 km) from Kanoya) and proceeded formation to Kanoya where they dropped 26.80 tons HE at 18/0857G. The bomb load consisted of 134/500 Ib. HE bombs. This is 33.5 tons for this mission. Fighter opposition was reported as nil and flak meager and inaccurate. One aircraft could not transfer fuel from the bomb bay tank and landed at Iwo. The remaining planes landed from 18/1505 -18/1730G. From the first plane off the last plane down, it was a 16 hour 30 minute mission.
Mission: 6
- Date: 21 April
- Target: Kagoshima Air Drome
- Bomber Command Mission: 87
- Code Name: Aeroscope # 1
For a change of pace the 330th BG was assigned the Kushira Air Drome and 11 planes struck the airfield. The 330th BG was joined by other BGs from the 314th BW. The AP was described as 750 feet (228.6 m) west of the apex of the lower of two east-west runways that intersect a north-south southeast trending runway. Bombing results from crew reports ranged from unobserved to excellent. The center of the runways were reported hit and black. Thick oily smoke and flames were seen south of the east-west runways. In all 40.25 tons of GP HE bombs were deposited on this airfield.
There were no planes lost and no casualties.
Mission: 7
- Date: 22 April
- Target: Kanoya Air Drome
- Bomber Command Mission: 93
- Code Name: Checkbook # 4
The 330th BG supplied 11 planes to a composite Group A to hit the top priority Kanoya -Air Drome complex on this day. The AP was described as the east end of the south running runway. The 11 planes deposited 48.2 tons of bombs on the Air Drome with crews reporting unobserved to excellent results. This day, LeMay sent the full might of his command, 217 planes, against nine airfields on Kyūshū. Ugaki described the raids as follows: "... some 280 B-29s came to attack the naval air bases on Kyūshū from 0630 to 0800 (0730 to 0900G) and inflicted considerable damage. Especially at Kakamigahara (maybe the airfield we called Nittigahara), Usa and Izumi were holed and made unusable. It was quite troublesome, that some time fused bombs were included." The Japanese could quickly repair the holes the bombs were making in the runways so we started to drop bombs with delayed action fuses, which complicated repair work (they blew up the repair crews).
No planes lost and no casualties on this mission.
Mission: 8
- Date: 24 April
- Target: HitachiHitachiHitachi is a multinational corporation specializing in high-technology.Hitachi may also refer to:*Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan*Hitachi province, former province of Japan*Prince Hitachi and Princess Hitachi, members of the Japanese imperial family...
Aircraft Plant - Bomber Command Mission: 96
- Code name: Cat Call # 1
This was the second daylight precision bombing raid against a strategic target by the 330th BG. The target was the Hitachi aircraft factory located at Tachikawa (a suburb west of Tokyo). Planes were off at 24/0211 to 24/0257GI and were back at approximately 24/1700G. Ten 330th BG planes deposited 46.5 tons of bombs on the target with results described as poor. Anti-aircraft fire was reported as generally moderate to intense and accurate. This was confirmed by the six aircraft receiving minor flak damage. Eight Japanese fighters were sighted and two attacked the formation. One B-29 was lost.
K-63 was returning from the secondary target, which they had bombed, and was seen to ditch off the Japanese coast, sinking in about four minutes. Two crewmembers were seen parachuting over enemy territory. Three crewmen survived the war as POWs.
Mission: 9
- Date: 26 April
- Target: Miyakonojo Airfield
- Bomber Command Mission: 107
- Code Name: Dripper # 1
This raid was planned as a precision daylight raid on the Miyakonojo airfield on southern Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, but it was frustrated, as were many such raids, by the weather. Twenty planes took off at 26/0315 to 26/0344G and headed for the assembly area, Yakushima
Yakushima
, one of the Ōsumi Islands, is an island of about 500 km² and roughly 15,000 islanders to the south of Kyūshū in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The Vincennes Strait separates it from Tanegashima. The highest point on the island is Miyanoura-dake at 1,935 metres...
, an island off the southern coast of Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. The assembly area was 10/10 in clouds so there could be no formation assemblage. Each plane proceeded individually and dropped their bombs by radar. Two aircraft bombed the primary target, 15 planes bombed the secondary target, Miyazaki Prefecture
Miyazaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Miyazaki.- History :Historically, after the Meiji Restoration, Hyūga Province was renamed Miyazaki Prefecture....
airfield, and three planes dropped bombs on targets of opportunity (T/O). No enemy planes were encountered and only one plane experienced flak at the secondary target, flying at 11000 feet (3,352.8 m). There were no plane losses but seven planes stopped off at either Iwo or Saipan for fuel. The 20 planes dropped about 90 tons on these targets. Ugaki observed the results of these days' raids as follows: "About 30 enemy planes raided Kyūshū persistently, flying in small numbers over thick clouds. Even with the help of pathfinders, targets must have been very hard to find... but some damage was inflicted on Kiyotake
Kiyotake, Miyazaki
was a town located in Miyazaki District, Miyazaki, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 28,937 and the density of 605.25 persons per km². The total area was 47.81 km²....
and Miyazaki
Miyazaki, Miyazaki
is the capital city of Miyazaki Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū in Japan. Located on the coast and perforated by several rivers, Miyazaki City enjoys scenic views of both ocean and nearby, verdant mountains...
and others.
Mission: 10
- Date: 27 April
- Target: Kanoya Kushira Air Drome
- Bomber Command Mission: 112
- Code Name: Checkbook # 7
The 330th BG contributed ten planes to a composite bomb group of the 314th BW to bomb an old favorite, Kanoya Air Drome. The ten planes left at 27/0121 to 27/02100G and dropped 197 x 500 lb GP for a total of 49.25 tons. Bombing results were described as good to excellent. No planes were lost but five received minor battle damage from flak and the landings occurred from 27/1630 -27/1755G from beginning to end, almost a 17-hour mission for some crews.
Mission: 11
- Date: 28 April
- Target: Kanoya Kushira Air Drome
- Bomber Command Mission: 118
- Code Name: Checkbook # 8
Trying to keep Matome Ugaki's Kamikaze pilots holed up, the 330th BG contributed one squadron of planes to another squadron from the 19th BG to form a composite group to attack Kanoya Air Drome again. Twelve planes left North Field between 28/0111G to 28/0200G. The planes assembled at Tanegashima
Tanegashima
is an island lying to the south of Kyushu, in southern Japan, and is part of Kagoshima Prefecture. The island is the second largest of the Ōsumi Islands....
, the larger island south of Kyūshū. One plane had a malfunction on the prop governor of engine #4. Another joined the wrong squadron and bombed Miyakonojō Airfield instead. The ten planes dropped 1000 x 500 lb instantaneous fuse bombs and 97 x 500 lb delayed fuse bombs for a total of 49.25 tons on the target, with reportedly excellent results. Planes landed from 28/1621 to 28/2156G, with one plane landing at Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
to take on 12000 gallons (45,424.9 l) of fuel and another landing at Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
to take on 100 gallons (378.5 l) of fuel.
There were no casualties and no planes lost, but four planes reported minor flak damage.
Mission: 12
- Date: 29 April
- Target: Kanoya Kushira Air Drome
- Bomber Command Mission: 124
- Code Name: Checkbook # 9
The daily operations were making it difficult for the ground staff to keep all the planes in the 330th BG operational. Thirteen planes were scheduled for Kanoya this day but four failed to take off due to mechanical problems. Nine planes were airborne between 3010115 to 3010123G and assembled into formation on the southeast comer of Tanegashima
Tanegashima
is an island lying to the south of Kyushu, in southern Japan, and is part of Kagoshima Prefecture. The island is the second largest of the Ōsumi Islands....
. They proceeded to the initial point (IP), Toi Saki. But the bomb run was made south of the briefed course due to an unreported wind shift. Bombs were dropped from 18000 feet (5,486.4 m) at 30/0925G with 158 x 500 lb GP instant fuse and 9 x 500 lb GP time delay fuse with a six-hour delay. Bombs fell 1200 feet (365.8 m) from the briefed AP with fair results.
Mission: 13
- Date: 30 April
- Target: Tomitaka Air field
- Bomber Command Mission: 131
- Code Name: Skewer # 3
For the last mission of the month, the selected target was Tomitaka airfield on the East coast of Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. Take off time was 30/0248 to 30/0258G for twelve aircraft, but one aircraft aborted due to an oil leak in engine #4. Ten planes assembled around Iwo Jima and departed at 30/0656G arriving at the IP at 30/1100G and reached the target at 30/1114G. Bombs were dropped from 17000 feet (5,181.6 m) visually through haze. Bomb load was 112 x 500 lb GP instant fused and 84 x 500 GP fused" with 1 and 2 hour delay. Reported results were good to excellent with bombs falling in the hangar area and walking across the airfield to the buildings on the west side. There were no losses or enemy opposition. One plane had engine trouble, which delayed its arrival at the assembly point, so it joined the formation of 29th BG and dropped its bombs on Oita airfield. All aircraft were back at North Field at 30/1752 to 30/1823G with no personnel casualties or plane losses.
April summary
The 330th BG had its baptism of fire and it was a costly one. Fifty percent of the total combat plane losses occurred this month. The BG experienced the frustration of assembling at distant points and proceeding to the Empire to bomb a strategic target only to find the target obscured in clouds. It then had to drop its bombs by radar, which in many instances required reassembling and proceeding to another IP and, thence to the radar aiming point. In one mission, this occurred three times with the 459th BS. Further, the higher headquarters staff at the XXI BC on Guam and the 20th AF in Washington believed that the advantages gained in their Air Offensive had been whittled away in a diversion to help the Navy and Marines around Okinawa in the Anti-Kamikaze campaign. As in most wars, the unexpected became the expected and the strategic 20th Air Force was diverted to bombing airfields to assist Admiral Nimitz' Okinawa Campaign.Mission: 14
- Date: 4 May
- Target: Matsuyama Naval Air Station on ShikokuShikokuis the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
- Bomber Command Mission: 143
- Code Name: Mopish # 2
Continuing with the anti-Kamikaze campaign, the 457th BG contributed nine planes and the 458th BS contributed ten planes to a strike against the Matsuyama Naval Air Station on Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
Island, the smallest of the four Japanese Home Islands, in an attack to neutralize this airfield. The 314th BW summary states that 17 planes attacked this air field between 4/0909 -4/0925G from an altitude of 18,000 -18,900 feet in clear weather restricted by haze, depositing 90.3 tons on the air field. In all 21 aircraft dropped 82.25 tons on Matsuyama. The anti-aircraft fire was weak but 18 enemy fighters attacked the formations, resulting in four enemy aircraft damaged. Two of our planes landed at Iwo. The bombing results ranged from poor to excellent, with bombs falling on the upper edge of the field and among the barrack-type buildings.
There were no casualties.
Mission: 15
- Date: 5 May
- Target: Ōmura Naval Air Station, Nagasaki, Kyūshū
- Bomber Command Mission: 141
- Code Name: Vamoose # 1
Eleven aircraft assembled in formation off an island south of Kyūshū, probably Io-Jima, and proceeded to Ōmura Naval Air Station. The formation reached the IP at 4/1019G with bombs away at 4/1025G from 18000 feet (5,486.4 m). A Ki-61 Tony dropped a phosphorus bomb in the formation and then had about six fighter attacks in all. They were finally able to release the five bombs hanging in the bomb bay before they landed at Iwo at 4/1330G. The plane had been over the Empire on the two bomb runs for about two hours. It finally landed on Guam at about 4/2030G. The 314th BW summary states that the Ōmura formation had ten enemy attacks with one enemy plane destroyed by the 459th BS gunners. Flak was heavy caliber, meagre and 90% inaccurate, and five to eight enemy aircraft made up to eight inaccurate phosphorus bomb attacks.
There were no planes lost or casualties and no planes suffered battle damage.
Mission: 16
- Date: 10 May
- Target: ŌtakeOtakeOtake may refer to:* Ōtake, Hiroshima, a city in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan* Otake , a volcano on Nakanoshima in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan...
Oil Refinery - Bomber Command Mission #165
- Code Name: Fainter # 1
After the Kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
Campaign, the 20th Air Force returned to its strategic attacks on key war making industries, this time the oil industry. One hundred and twelve aircraft attacked the Ōtake Oil Refinery on Honshu
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
in a precision daylight bombing raid in formation. The 457th BS contributed 12 planes; 458th BS contributed 12 planes and the 459th BS contributed 9 planes. In all, 34 planes dropped 160 tons on the refinery. The bomb run was at an altitude of 14600 to 19700 ft (4,450.1 to 6,004.6 m) between 10/1048G to 10/1114G in clear weather. It was estimated that 45 % of the refinery unit and finished product storage areas were destroyed and the plant was probably put out of operation. A question remains whether the plant was receiving any crude oil to refine at this stage of the war. Opposition was stiff. Enemy fighters made 54 attacks, damaging five B-29s. On the briefed route, anti-aircraft fire was heavy caliber but meager and inaccurate, but a few formations received intense naval fire while leaving the target. Twenty three B-29s suffered flak damage. Planes took off at 10/0200G and returned at about 10/1800G.
Mission: 17
- Date: 11 May
- Target: KawanishiKawanishi, Hyogois a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the northwestern part of the Kansai Region of Japan, about 5 km north of Osaka Itami Airport. It is bordered on the west by Inagawa River.-History:...
Aircraft Plant - Bomber Command Mission: 172
- Code Name: Leafstalk # 1
High on the list of strategic targets was the aircraft industry; therefore the XXI BC next hit the Kawanishi
Kawanishi, Hyogo
is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the northwestern part of the Kansai Region of Japan, about 5 km north of Osaka Itami Airport. It is bordered on the west by Inagawa River.-History:...
Aircraft Plant, near Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
. This factory was turning out flying boats for the Japanese Navy, and was steadily being enlarged. Its activity was to be seriously hampered by the XXI Bomber Command. This was a three Bomb Wing effort, with the 314th BW contributing 40 planes with 11 planes from the 330th BG depositing 50 tons of bombs on the Kawanishi Aircraft Plant. The plant was attacked between 11/1036G -11/1103G at 15,200 -20,000 feet in 4/10 -8/10 weather. The BW Report states that 39 % of the plant was damaged or destroyed and collateral damage was received by adjoining Merchant Marine College, residential and manufacturing areas.
There was anxiety but no casualties and no planes were lost.
Mission: 18
- Date: 14 May
- Target: North Nagoya Urgan Area
- Bomber Command Mission: 174
- Code Name: Microscope # 4
In LeMay's big fire blitz week during 9–17 March 1945, five cities were attacked, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka and Kobe. Nagoya was hit twice and still seemed to have considerable life left in her. It was not an easy city to attack since the only reasonable approach was up Nagoya Bay and this had the reputation of being "Flak Alley". Therefore, the XXI BC subjected the city, on 14 and 16 May/17 May 1945, to a one-two punch by the 58th, 73rd, 313th and 314th BWs. The 14 May strike was a daylight-bombing mission in formation with the 330th BG contributing 32 planes of the 135 planes from the 314th BW that hit the city between 14/0905G to 14/1025G from an altitude of 16,500 to 20500 feet (6,248.4 m) in 1/10 weather. B-29s from the 330th took off at 14/0100G and returned at about 14/1700G. The 330th dropped 152.4 tons, adding to a total of 632 tons of bombs dropped by the 314th BW.
Mission: 19
- Date: 16–17 May
- Target: South Nagoya Urban Area
- Bomber Command Mission: 176
- Code Name: Microscope # 5
In this night raid, the 330th BG had 32 planes dropping 176.95 tons of bombs on the South Nagoya Urban area. The planes left North Field, Guam at 16/2100G and returned at about 17/1200G with bombs away at 17/0305 to 17/0558G from 6,600 through 18340 feet (5,590 m). Altogether, the 314th BW deposited 707.5 tons on the city. Damage to Nagoya from Missions # 174 and 176 were 6.97 square miles (18.1 km²) or 13.7% of the cities built up area. Damage ranging from slight to complete destruction was inflicted on 29 numbered industrial targets and 7 unnumbered industrial targets. This analysis was partially in answer to critics of such raids, which led to indiscriminate killing of civilians. These twin raids show clearly LeMay's tactics that he would use to the end of the war. If weather permitted, it was a daylight raid with selected targets as aiming points; otherwise it was a night area-bombing raid except in the case of the 315th BW, which had precision radar for night bombing of selected industrial targets.
K-41 was lost.
Mission: 20
- Date: 19 May
- Target: Tokyo Industrial Targets
- Bomber Command Mission: 178
This was to be a precision daylight-bombing raid in formation with the 330th BG contributing 22 planes to attack industrial targets in the Tokyo area. But, defying predictions, Tokyo had 10/10 cloud cover so the bombs were dropped on the primary radar target, the city of Hamamatsu. This was a favorite radar target since it was on the coast and easily identified by radar. It was reported that the four BW efforts damaged 0.22 square mile (0.5697973842 km²), 5% of the city. One industrial target, Suzuki Loom Work was 20 % destroyed; not an illustrious mission since the bomb loads were for industrial targets rather than area bombing where incendiary bombs were more effective.
P-51's from Iwo Jima accompanied this mission roundtrip.
Mission: 21
- Date: 23–24 May
- Target: Tokyo South Urban Area
- Bomber Command Mission: 181
Taking off at 23/2000G, 35 aircraft from the 330th BG attacked the heavily defended Tokyo South Urban Area. An area relatively unscathed from previous fire raids. The 330th BG was part of a combined four BW attack on the city between 24/0259G to 24/0438G from altitudes ranging from 7,800 to 15100 feet (4,602.5 m) on a relatively clear night. One aircraft was missing and the other remaining 34 planes landed at about 1100G.
K-1, with the 314th BW Operations Officer flying as an observer, was lost with the entire crew.
Mission: 22
- Date: 25–26 May
- Target: South Central Tokyo
- Bomber Command Mission: 183
In the last major strike of the war against Tokyo, the 330th BG contributed 24 planes and 106.8 tons of incendiary bombs. The south central Tokyo area was the general area of attack, which included the Imperial Palace and bombardiers, and Rad Obs had explicit orders not to hit Hirohito
Hirohito
, posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to...
' s residence. But, this was sometimes impossible in the heat of battle and some incendiaries fell within the Tokyo Imperial Palace grounds. BG planes took off at 25/1800G and landed at about 2510900G. The BW reported that bombs were away at 25/2338G to 26/0213G at altitudes ranging from 7915 feet (2,412.5 m) to 22000 feet (6,705.6 m). Total area damaged as a result of BC Missions:181 and 183 was 22.1 square miles (57.2 km²). Most of the bombs fell south and west of the Imperial Palace. Numerous buildings within the Palace grounds were destroyed as well as areas adjacent to the Palace. A minimum of 31 numbered industrial targets were damaged or destroyed. The total city area damaged as a result of all incendiary raids was 56.3 square miles (145.8 km²) or 50.8% of the cities built up area; in the night raid 9/10 March 1945, 15.8 square miles (40.9 km²) were damaged or destroyed and 88,000 persons died. This compares to the atomic bomb damage to Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
of 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²) destroyed and 70,000–80,000 killed and to Nagasaki
Nagasaki
is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. Nagasaki was founded by the Portuguese in the second half of the 16th century on the site of a small fishing village, formerly part of Nishisonogi District...
where 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) were destroyed and 35,000–40,000 persons died. The difference was that these were one bomb, one-plane missions. The 9/10 March Tokyo raid required 279 planes and 1,129 tons of incendiary bombs, one of the most effective incendiary raids of World War II.
Mission: 23
- Date: 29 May
- Target: YokohamaYokohamais the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
Urban Area - Bomber Command Mission: 186
Closing out the month of May, the 330th BG contributed 38 planes to a Japan daylight raid against the Yokohama urban area. The planes took off at 29/0400G and returned about 29/1800G with bombs away between 29/1014 to 29/1129G from 17,500 to 21000 feet (6,400.8 m) in 9/10 weather. They dropped 203 tons of bombs on the target out of a total of 621 tons of bombs dropped by the Bomb Wing total of 131 planes. Keyes, in his personal account, states that they took off at 29/0340G and assembled at 18300 feet (5,577.8 m) into formation over a small island north of Iwo Jima. The 11-plane formation reached Mt. Fujiyama
Mount Fuji
is the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
, the IP, at 29/1056G and bombs were away at 29/1115G.
May summary
On 10 May 1945, the 330th BG made its last contribution to the anti-Kamikaze campaign in a precision bombing raid on the Otake Oil Refinery on KyūshūKyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. After that mission the 330th returned to strategic bombing of major urban areas on Honshu
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
, participating in three strikes against Tokyo, two against Nagoya and one against Yokohama. The BG also participated in one precision daylight raid against the Kawanishi Aircraft Plant near Nagoya. Total casualties were: one plane lost with 12 persons listed as MIA, one person lost in the water near Iwo Jima and two injured gunners.
Mission: 24
- Date: 1 June
- Target: West OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
Urban Area - Bomber Command Mission: 187
The BG contributed 37 planes that dropped 150 tons of incendiaries and 6.4 tons of fragmentation bombs on Osaka urban area. Keyes identified the target more euphemistically as "Home Industries". It was believed at the time that many of the major industrial plants were supplied by factories in homes. This was found to be untrue after the war. What was true was that many small feeder factories were intermingled in residential districts as they are down to the present day in Japan. The BG was part of a 457 plane armada from the XXI BC in its continuing campaign to knock out the major Japanese industrial cities. Keyes states that they took off at 1/0240G and assembled in loose formation at Iwo Jima and proceeded through soupy weather to the empire. They climbed to 20600 feet (6,278.9 m) where they reassembled. Proceeding to the IP, they saw flak ahead and many fighters, some in pairs, which they presumed to be P-51s. Many Japanese fighters; Irvings
Nakajima J1N
-See also:-Bibliography:* Francillon, Réne J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970 . ISBN 0-370-30251-6....
, A6M Zero
A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the , and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. The A6M was usually referred to by the...
, and Tojos
Nakajima Ki-44
The Nakajima Ki-44 Shōki was a single-engine fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II. The type first flew in August 1940 and entered service in 1942...
attacked their formation, and one attacked their plane from 12 O'clock and came within 25 yards of the plane before going over it. Bombs were away at 1/1254G and more flak was seen on the way out. Keyes states that it was the most flak he saw to date. The BG recorded a total enemy fighter toll of 16 down, 9 probable and 24 damaged by B-29 and P-51 fighters (some of these were not verified in post war analysis of Japanese records). Planes landed at North Field at about 1/1740G.
The mission was "Black Friday" for the 20th Air Force when 24 P-51 Mustangs were lost. The P-51s used B-29s to guide them over the long overwater flights. Upon entering an unpredicted very large severe weatherfront the fighters lost contact with the B-29 and ditched when they ran out of fueld
Mission: 25
- Date: 5 June
- Target: KobeKobe, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
Urban Area - Bomber Command Mission: 188
Continuing the strategic fire raids against major Japanese cities, the BG contributed 31 planes to a 473-plane armada against Kobe. The BG planes deposited 170.1 tons total, of which 5.6 tons were fragmentation bombs to keep the fire fighters away from the 164.5 tons incendiary bombs deposited. This was a daylight raid with take off between 5/0100G -5/0140G. Planes proceeded to the Japanese mainland at about 10000 feet (3,048 m) and, in the case of Keyes, arrived early and circled for 30 minutes before finding their formation. The formation proceeded to the IP climbing to 16500 feet (5,029.2 m). The target was the rail center and bombs were away at 5/0930G. Passing over the city, the formation encountered fairly accurate flak and passed to the left of a large smoke column rising up to 21000 feet (6,400.8 m). It was a costly mission for the XXI BC which lost 11 planes, 2.3 % of the attacking force.
K-57 was lost and all crew were listed missing in action.
Mission: 26
- Date: 7 June
- Target: OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
Urban Area - Bomber Command Mission: 189
Not giving Osaka a chance to recover, the 330th BG contributed 27 planes to a 409-plane armada that struck Osaka again in a daylight raid. According to Keyes, they left Guam at 7/0450G and proceeded to Minami Iwo Jima and assembled into formation at 6000 feet (1,828.8 m) in clear weather. After the clobbering that some formations took from Japanese fighters on 5 June 1945, Keyes was happy to see a flight of 46 P-51s escorting the formation to the Empire that day. The 330th BG planes deposited 152.38 tons of incendiary bombs and 0.8 tons fragmentation bombs on Osaka from approximately 20700 feet (6,309.4 m) at 7/1258G. It was 10/10 cloud cover and bombs were dropped by radar. Flak was coming up close to the formation as well, so the Japanese were using radar to fire their anti-aircraft guns. In addition, crews were dumping lots of chaff
Chaff (radar countermeasure)
Chaff, originally called Window by the British, and Düppel by the Second World War era German Luftwaffe , is a radar countermeasure in which aircraft or other targets spread a cloud of small, thin pieces of aluminium, metallized glass fibre or plastic, which either appears as a cluster of secondary...
to deceive Japanese RADAR. This was effective since no planes were lost from the BG and only two planes (0.5%) were lost from the entire armada. Aircraft landed at North Field between 7/2000G to 7/2100G.
Mission: 27
- Date: 10 June
- Target: Kasumigaura Naval Sea Plane Station
- Bomber Command Mission: 195
This was a precision daylight raid on the Kasumigaura Naval Seaplane base 50 miles (80.5 km) northeast of Tokyo. Thirty-two airplanes were airborne at 10/0100G and returned at 10/1600G. Two planes aborted and 26 planes bombed the primary target and four planes bombed the secondary target, the city of Gifu. The Group deposited 143.75 tons of high explosive on the seaplane base. The presumed reason for this strike was to neutralize the base's capability of launching reconnaissance seaplanes to monitor the movements of the U.S. Third Fleet. This was Adm. Halsey's mobile naval task force and he was preparing a major sortie against the Empire starting on 1 July 1945.
Casualties
While no planes were lost, several crewmen were wounded by gunfire from enemy aircraft over Tokyo. Slightly wounded were 2LT Richard Nowicki, K-66, B, and SGT Bernard Yudin, LG on K-62. More seriously wounded was 2LT Gerald Chosen, Rad Ob on K-62, who ended up as a patient in the field hospital on Iwo Jima. All were later awarded the Purple Heart.
Mission: 28
- Date: 15 June
- Target: Osaka Amagasaki Urban Area
- Bomber Command Mission: 203
As part of a large armada of 494 B-29s from the XXI BC that attacked the Amagasaki urban area northwest of Osaka, the 330th BG contributed 26 planes to the raid. The planes departed at 15/0230G and landed at 15/1800G. One plane from the 330th BG hit a secondary target and six planes aborted. The bomb load was as follows: 88.75 tons from the 457th BS, 65.5 tons from the 458th BS and 48.0 tons from the 459th BS. The average bomb load for each squadron was as follows: 457th: 7.4 tons per AC; 458th: 9.4 tons per AC; 459th: 6.9 tons per AC. The surprise in these figures is the heavy bomb load per AC carried by the 458th BS. There were 33 planes hitting the primary. This fire raid was the last of the major raids that laid waste to the industrial heartland of Japan and certainly must have convinced any doubters among the Japanese military that Japan's days as a military power were rapidly diminishing. Despite the heavy bomb loads, no group planes were lost. Osaka, as a result of these fire raids, as well as the strangulation on their food and raw materials caused by mining, ceased to function as a viable city by the end of July 1945.
Mission: 29
- Date: 17–18 June
- Target: Kagoshima Urban Area
- Bomber Command Mission: 206
This was the first in a series of night fire raids against minor Japanese cities (cities with a population of less than 300,000 persons). At this juncture in the bombing campaign against Japan, the XXI BC had four Bomb Wings to draw upon but attacking the urban areas of minor Japanese cities normally required only one BW to do the job. Therefore, on attack night, each BW was assigned a separate Japanese city. On this date, the 330th BG joined the three other BGs of the 314th BW to attack the city of Kagoshima on the south coast of Kyūshū with a population of 182,000. The BG deposited 203 tons of IE and the average tons per aircraft were as follows: 457th Squadron 7.4 tons per AC, the 458th Squadron 9.2 tons per AC and the 459th Squadron 7.3 tons per AC These average masked large individual plane differences. Planes departed at about 17/1700G and returned at 18/0800G. These night missions typically lasted 14 to 15 hours. In this case, later photo analysis of damage to Kagoshima indicated that approximately 44% of the built-up area was burned out. Keyes indicated that on this night mission the AP was military installations and staging areas. The night was clear over the target for K-58 with bombs away at 18/0033G from 8100 feet (2,468.9 m). The 314th BW History states that 74 planes bombed by radar, 8 visually and 21 by radar with visual correction. There were no planes lost and no casualties from the 330th BG.
Mission: 30
- Date: 19–20 June
- Target: ShizuokaBombing of Shizuoka in World War IIThe on June 19, 1945 was part of the strategic bombing campaign waged by the United States of America against military and civilian targets and population centers during the Japan home islands campaign in the closing stages of World War II.-Background:...
Urban Area - Bomber Command Mission: 212
Continuing the offensive against the minor Japanese cities, the 314th BW attacked the city of Shizuoka, located on the coast on the main rail line between Tokyo and Nagoya. It was presumably an easy target to identify by radar. The 330th BG contributed 33 planes and with three aborts 30 planes deposited 189.22 tons of incendiary bombs on the city. The tons per AC by Bomb Squadron were as follows: 457th: 5.8 per AC; 458th: 7.1 tons per AC and 459th: 6.2 per AC. They were aloft at 19/2030G and climbed to 7000 feet (2,133.6 m) up past Iwo Jima and then up to 9500 feet (2,895.6 m) over the city at a speed of 250 mph (CAS). Bombs were away at 20/0314G. They experienced little flak over the target but they received flak from naval ships in Suruga Bay where a major port is located. There was smoke up to 15000 feet (4,572 m) but a stiff breeze was blowing it away from the city. Of the 123 planes hitting the target from the 314th BW, 54 planes bombed visually. 31 planes bombed by radar with visual correction and 37 planes bombed by radar; 1 plane could not see the target but could see the offset reference point. It was estimated that 66% of the city's built up area was consumed in the fire started by the incendiary bombs. The raid effectiveness factor was 0.0026 square miles (6,734 m²) per ton. Two planes from the 314th BW were lost but none from the 330th BG. The elapsed time of this mission was 13 hours, a short mission relative to some of the daylight missions.
Mission: 31
- Date: 22 June
- Target: Mitsubishi Aircraft Plant, TamashimaKaratsu, Sagais a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan. Its name, formed from the Japanese word roots 唐 kara , and 津 tsu , signifies its historical importance as an ancient trading port between Japan with China and Korea...
, KyūshūKyushuis the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands.... - Bomber Command Mission: 216
On this mission, the BG went back to precision daylight bombing in formation against the Japanese aircraft industry. The 330th BG sent 33 planes aloft, four of which aborted. The 29 planes assembled in formation and attacked the Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Tamashima, which produced. the Mitsubishi G4M
Mitsubishi G4M
The Mitsubishi G4M 一式陸上攻撃機, 一式陸攻 Isshiki rikujō kōgeki ki, Isshikirikkō was the main twin-engine, land-based bomber used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. The Allies gave the G4M the reporting name Betty...
'Betty' aircraft. The BG deposited 174 tons of high explosive, with aircraft loads as follows: 457th: 4.9 tons per AC; 458th: 6.4 tons per AC and 459th 6.7 tons per AC. Planes were aloft at 22/0200G and returned at 22/1'715G.
K-32 was lost on this mission
Mission: 32
- Date: 26 June
- Target: Sumitomo Dural Aluminium Plant, Nagoya
- Bomber Command Mission: 230
Another clear day was predicted over Honshū and a number of strategic targets that could , only be attacked in daylight were chosen for attack by the XXI BC. The 330th BG attacked the Sumitomo Duralumin Plant near Nagoya. Other BGs of the 314th BW attacked other industrial plants in the Nagoya area. The Sumitomo plant produced duralumin, the hard aluminium alloy used in airframe construction. The 33 planes took off from North Field at 26/0200G and landed at 26/1800G. Two planes aborted. two planes hit secondary targets and the remaining 29 planes dropped 155.5 tons of high explosive on the plant. The tons per aircraft were: 457th: 6.7 per AC; 458th.1: 3.5 per Aircraft and 459th: 5.6 per Aircraft. The planes were over the target at 26/1020G at 22.3 feet (6.8 m). But, whatever the weather predictions, the weather at the target was otherwise. Weather in the assembly area made assembly difficult.
CPL James McCormack was wounded by anti-aircraft fire and was the only casualty on this mission.
Mission: 33
- Date: 28–29 June
- Target: Nobeoka Urban Area
- Bomber Command Mission: 237
Continuing with the night attacks against minor Japanese cities, the 330th BG contributed 246.6 tons of incendiary bombs on Nobeoka, a relatively small city on the east coast of Kyūshū and on the main rail line running along the east coast of the island. This seemingly insignificant raid was in fact the start of an intensive bombing campaign of cities and the railroad system on this coast since it was directly in the path of the projected invasion of Kyūshū by Gen. Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
on 1 November 1945. The 32 planes were airborne from North Field, Guam at 28/2000G and landed at 29/1100G with bomb loads per AC as follows: 457th: 6.1 tons per AC; 458th 8.9 tons per Ac and 459th: 8.4 tons per Ac. One notes the dramatic increase in bomb loads permitted by these night incendiary raids compared to the early daylight raids over Tokyo at 30000 feet (9,144 m) with planes averaging 2 to 3 tons per AC. The consensus of the crews was that this was a good mission. The target area was burning well. Scattered fires were seen with smoke rising to 14000 feet (4,267.2 m). But, later crews started their bomb run in clouds and smoke.
June summary
This month saw the conclusion of the strategic bombing campaign against the major Japanese urban centers on Honshū and a shift in the bombing campaign to raids against minor Japanese cities, normally in BW strength of from 100 to 180 planes. Four raids were against major cities, two against Osaka, one against Kobe and one against a suburb of Osaka -Amagasaki. Three daylight precision bombing raids were conducted, one against an important naval air station outside Tokyo, one against an aircraft factory and one against an aluminium alloy plant. The BG lost three planes, the worst month for casualties after April 1945 were 88.Mission: 34
- Date: 1–2 July
- Target: Shimonoseki Urban Area
- Bomber Command Mission: 243
For the first seven missions in July, the Bomb Group attacked minor Japanese cities with incendiary bombs (IB). The first city to be attacked was Shimonoseki. The important city with a population of 196,000 adjacent to Shimonoseki Strait, which was being mined almost nightly by the 313th BW. Thirty-eight planes took off at 1/1900G and 37 planes returned at approximately 2/1100G. One plane aborted. On this 16 hour mission, the BG deposited 180.5 tons of incendiary bombs with bomb load distributed as follows: 457th: 4.5; 458th: 5.1; and 459th: 5.2 tons per AC. The greater distance that the planes had to travel to this city necessitated the modest bomb loads. The four bomb groups in the 314th BW attacked Shimonoseki this night and together deposited 833 tons of bombs, burning out an estimated 36% of the built up area. Due to the defenses around Shimonoseki, bombing altitude were raised to 15000 feet (4,572 m) for the Wing on this particular mission. Lt. Fred Nibling, Group RADAR countermeasures officer, was in a RADAR Counter Measures (RCM) B-29 dubbed "Porcupine" at 33000 feet (10,058.4 m) for 90 minutes jamming Japanese radar.
Despite the heavy concentration of anti-aircraft guns in and around Shimonseki, the radar jamming and dispensing of chaff
Chaff (radar countermeasure)
Chaff, originally called Window by the British, and Düppel by the Second World War era German Luftwaffe , is a radar countermeasure in which aircraft or other targets spread a cloud of small, thin pieces of aluminium, metallized glass fibre or plastic, which either appears as a cluster of secondary...
led to no planes lost or casualties.
Mission: 35
- Date: 3–4 July
- Target: Tokushima Urban Area
- Bomber Command Mission: 250
On this mission, the Bomb Group deposited 328.5 tons; another reference gives 314.9 tons of incendiary bombs (IB) on Tokushima, a railroad hub on the eastern shore of Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
Island, the smallest island of the four Japanese home islands. The bomb loads were the highest of the war to date with the 457th: 10; 458th: 9.8; and 459th: 10 tons per AC. The total 314th BW deposited 1,051 tons of bombs, burning out an estimated 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) of the town. This was 74% of the total built up area of the town for a bombing efficiency factor of 0.0016 square miles (4,144 m²) per ton. Take off time on this mission was 3/1900G and the planes returned at about 4/1100G.
There were no planes lost or casualties.
Mission: 36
- Date: 6–7 July
- Target: Kōfu Urban Area
- Bomber Command Mission: 254
Continuing with the fire raid blitz against the minor Japanese cities, the 314th BW attacked the city of Kōfu, an inland city west of Tokyo and probably a rail hub for access to the west coast of Japan. At this time, with the Straits of Shimonoseki blockaded, Japanese imports of essential food and raw materials from Korea and Mainland China were being funneled through the ports on the Japanese west coast bordering the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
. The 330th BG sent up 33 planes with one abort. The incendiary bombs were divided between the M-47
M47 bomb
The M47 bomb was a chemical bomb designed during World War II for use by the U.S. Army Air Forces.-Design:The bomb was designed for aerial bombardment and maximum efficiency after being dropped. Therefore, the bomb had a very thin metal sheet as its only cover, as little as 1/32 of an inch. The...
, petroleum based incendiary bomb and the E-46 incendiary cluster bomb, a jelly-napalm based incendiary bomb. The latter was composed of a cluster of 47 small incendiary bomblets, which burst open between 1,000 to 2000 feet (609.6 m) and blanketed a wide area. It was these bombs, which contributed to the Tokyo conflagration of 9/10 March 1945. For this mission the take off time was 6/1800G returning at 7/0800G. Bombs were away between 7/0059G to 7/0144G at an altitude between 13,400 and 14600 feet (4,450.1 m). Due to the cloud cover over the target on this night mission, most planes released their bombs by the synchronous radar method, which relied on the close coordination between the radar-N and the B. Most bombs were released in the target area, but one aircraft had some bombs, which did not release and another aircraft had three shackles installed backwards. This night, the BW deposited a total of 970 tons of incendiary bombs, burning down 64% or 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) of the town with an effectiveness factor of 0.0013 square miles (3,367 m²) per ton. The 330th BG flew as BW lead and received the Distinguished Unit Citation for this mission. The citation stated: " This source of power was permanently eliminated as a target and 2/3 of its industrial region was leveled in this magnificent demonstration of determination and bombing skill." The calculated fuel usage was 6117 gallons (23,155.4 l) and the average fuel used was 5816 gallons (22,016 l), but the averages masked the one B-29 which used 6260 gallons (23,696.7 l) due to the need to fly on three engines with the fourth feathered.
Mission: 37
- Date: 9–10 July
- Target: Gifu, GifuGifu, Gifuis a city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. During the Sengoku period, various warlords, including Oda Nobunaga, used...
Urban Area - Bomber Command Mission: 260
The 330th BG contributed 243.4 tons of incendiary bombs, all E-46 cluster bombs, to the 899 tons of incendiary bombs deposited by the 314th BW this night on Gifu. Thirty-four planes were aloft with three aborts and the average bomb loads were distributed as follows: 457th: 7.8; 458th: 7.8; and 459th: 8.0 tons per AC. The planes left at about 9/1700G and returned at approximately 10/0800G with bombs away between 10/0117G and the last at 10/0200G at an altitude of 14.000 -16.000 feet resulting in the bombs for the 31 planes being dropped in 43 minutes. This equates to an average time interval of 1.4 minutes between planes. This interval is important in determining the overall effectiveness of a fire raid. Later analysis indicated that 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) (74%) of the city were burned out. The bombing efficiency factor was 0.0016 square miles (4,144 m²) per ton. There was only meager, inaccurate, heavy caliber anti-aircraft fire (15,000–25,000 feet), but inaccurate and intense automatic weapon fire (2,000–5,000), which was ineffective at the bombing altitude. Again, the estimated and actual fuel consumption was very close. The calculated value was 5922 gallons (22,417.2 l) and the actual average used was 5987 gallons (22,663.3 l).
There were no planes lost or casualties.
Mission: 38
- Date: 12–13 July
- Target: Uwajima, EhimeUwajima, Ehimeis a city located in Ehime, Japan. In 1595, what is now Uwajima was known as Itajima village. Takatora Tohdo became lord of the Uwa region, and ordered the restoration of Marugushi Castle...
Urban Area - Bomber Command Mission: 266
This mission was planned as a night mission against a relatively small city, Uwajima, of 50,000 population on the west coast of Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
. Thirty-three planes from the 330th BG took off at 12/1700G and landed about 13/0800G. Weather was the determining factor in the poor results of this mission. There was a weather front which was 100 miles (160.9 km) north of the predicted position and close to the target, so crews flew at 14,000 -17,000 feet in the soup on instruments for 55 minutes from the front to the target and back to the edge of the front. The lower cumulus clouds over the target confused the radar pictures making identification of the target difficult. Bombs were scattered all over the countryside as only 0.14 square mile (0.3625983354 km²) (16%) of the target area was burned as a result of the 873 tons of incendiary bombs dropped by the 314th BW on this target. The efficiency factor for this mission was 0.00016 square miles (414.4 m²) per ton. The target had to be revisited at the end of July to complete the job. Radio discipline was good as no one broke radio silence in the 330th BG, but three planes in the other BGs did break radio silence. Cruise control worked out very well with the calculated average fuel consumption of 5908 gallons (22,364.2 l) comparing favorably with the actual fuel consumption of 5879 gallons (22,254.4 l). One plane had 22 of its 187 M-47
M47 bomb
The M47 bomb was a chemical bomb designed during World War II for use by the U.S. Army Air Forces.-Design:The bomb was designed for aerial bombardment and maximum efficiency after being dropped. Therefore, the bomb had a very thin metal sheet as its only cover, as little as 1/32 of an inch. The...
incendiary bombs hang up in the bomb bay and they were dropped on Rota (island)
Rota (island)
Rota also known as the "peaceful island", is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the second southernmost of the Marianas Archipelago. It lies approximately 40 miles north-northeast of the United States territory of Guam...
before landing.
There were no planes lost or casualties.
Mission: 39
- Date: 16–17 July
- Target: Hiratsuka Urban Area
- Bomber Command Mission: 274
The target for this night's mission was Hiratsuka, a relatively small town south of Tokyo with an estimated population of 53,000, on the main railroad line linking Tokyo and Nagoya. Crews were off at 16/1800G and returned at approximately 17/0800G. Bombing was at an altitude between 11,200 and 12500 feet (3,810 m). With the target completely cloud covered, all bombing was by RADAR. The BG dropped 335.75 tons, M-17 type Incendiary Bombs (IB) and the 314th BW dropped a total of 1,163 tons of bombs on the city. This resulted in about 1 square miles (2.6 km²), or 41.9% of the city destroyed for an efficiency factor of 0.00086 square miles (2,227.4 m²) per ton. Later, crews reported a glow in the clouds with smoke mushrooming up to 12000 feet (3,657.6 m) and explosions in the target area. Visibility was up to 15 miles (24.1 km) in the target area between a lower and upper cloud layer.
There were no planes lost or casualties.
Mission: 40
- Date: 19–20 July
- Target: Okazaki, AichiOkazaki, Aichiis a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of August 2011, the city had an estimated population of 373,339 and a population density of 964 persons per km². The total area was 387.24 km².-Geography:...
Urban Area - Bomber Command Mission: 280
The 330th BG, with 31 planes, teamed up with the 19th and 29th BGs to attack Okazaki: a town lying 20 miles (30 km) to the southeast of Nagoya. The 330th BG planes were loaded with 184 M-47
M47 bomb
The M47 bomb was a chemical bomb designed during World War II for use by the U.S. Army Air Forces.-Design:The bomb was designed for aerial bombardment and maximum efficiency after being dropped. Therefore, the bomb had a very thin metal sheet as its only cover, as little as 1/32 of an inch. The...
IB's, each weighing about 100 lbs for a total bomb Ioad of 196.2 tons. The other BGs used M-17 and E-46 incendiary devices. The total incendiary bomb load dropped on the town was 850 tons, burning down 0.65 square miles (1.7 km²) or 68% of the total built-up area for an effectiveness factor of 0.00076 square miles (1,968.4 m²) per ton. There were scattered clouds above the target above 17000 feet (5,181.6 m). This permitted nine planes to bomb visually and 22 by synchronous radar from 14,200 to 15400 feet (4,693.9 m). Bombs were away between 20/0152G to 20/0234G. All aircraft were back at North Field at about 20/0830G. Crews reporting on the bombing results indicted that the bombs dropped in the target area causing fires and one reported a large explosion lighting up a city block. One crew reported five trains of bombs burning in the river. Another crew saw a string of bombs north of the course near Koromo
Toyota, Aichi
is a city located in the Mikawa region of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, east of Nagoya.Toyota's main plant, the Tsutsumi plant, is located here. The longstanding ties between the Toyota Motor Corporation and the town of Toyota-shi, formerly known as Koromo, gave the town its current...
. While radio discipline appeared to be good overall, communication with the weather ship on the VHF channel appeared to leave room for improvement. Only four sightings were made of enemy aircraft and no heavy anti-aircraft fire was experienced and meager, inaccurate automatic weapon fire at lower altitude was observed. But with three BGs, totaling 94 aircraft, in the area and apparently scheduled fairly close together, mistakes were made.
Mission: 41
- Date: 24 July
- Target: NakajimaNakajima Aircraft CompanyThe Nakajima Aircraft Company was a prominent Japanese aircraft manufacturer throughout World War II.-History:...
Aircraft Plant - Bomber Command Mission: 290
This was the only daylight precision bombing mission in formation by the 330th BG during July. Elaborate plans had been worked out for this mission. There were primary and secondary visual targets and a primary radar target. In fact," the primary visual target was an old favorite near Nagoya, the Nakajima
Nakajima Aircraft Company
The Nakajima Aircraft Company was a prominent Japanese aircraft manufacturer throughout World War II.-History:...
aircraft plant. Assembly was over Minami Iwo Jima, the small island south of Iwo Jima. With the use of different color smoke guns, each squadron was able to assemble easily. But, some crews complained that the time allotted for assembling was too short. The weather ship indicated that the primary visual target was clear, but when the formation got there it was cloud covered. The formation then traveled to the secondary visual target and it was cloud covered as well. The formations then proceeded to the city of Tsu, Mie
Tsu, Mie
is the capital of Mie Prefecture, Japan. The city of Tsu is located on Ise Bay, east of the city. Tsu is bounded to the north by Suzuka and Kameyama; to the west by Iga, Nabari, and Nara Prefecture; and to the south by Matsuzaka city.-History:...
, about 38 miles (61.2 km) southwest of Nagoya, the primary radar target. The bomb loads were peculiar. For the first time the 330th BG was loaded with one of the largest high explosive bombs in the AAF arsenal, the 4000 pounds (1,814.4 kg) high explosive (HE) bomb. Presumably, to test the effect of dropping them out of an aircraft, some aircraft were loaded with one, some with two and others with three of these two-ton bombs. When the bombs detonated, one could see the pressure waves traveling through the cloud layer. What the population in Tsu, Mie thought was not known. The bombing altitude ranged from 18,000 to 20000 feet (6,096 m). The bombing technique was by synchronous radar, with bombs dropped when the lead aircraft dropped. Out of the 36 planes, four had trouble with their bomb bay doors. Two salvoed their bombs and two jettisoned their bombs in the ocean. Bombs were away at 24/1139G to 24/1141G with the formations traveling at average speed of 270 mph. Two planes landed at Iwo short on gas and no bomb-bay doors. One plane landed at Northwest Field (Guam)
Northwest Field (Guam)
Northwest Field is a former World War II airfield on Guam in the Mariana Islands. It was closed in 1949 and is unused.-History:Northwest Field was constructed in 1944–45 near Ritidian Point on the northwest end of the island of Guam as a base for Twentieth Air Force B-29 Superfortresses to carry...
. On this day mission gas consumption was 700 gallons (2,649.8 l) over what was normally used on a night mission. The calculated fuel was 6339 gallons (23,995.7 l) and the average fuel consumption 6446 gallons (24,400.8 l). This was not the ideal mission. The weather ship sent the formation to the primary target, which was socked in when the formation arrived and even the secondary visual target was cloud, covered. In reassembling and going to the radar target, the formations passed over Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
(off limits to bombing due to its cultural importance) and the formation took flak from the city.
This mission also had what the RAF called a "Master of Ceremonies". K-63, Talmon Mager, A/C, took off before the other planes and was over the various targets to direct traffic. The problem was that the plane was waiting over the target for two hours before the formations arrived. Also, the VHF channel for K-63 was cluttered with P-51 pilots using the same channel. Fortunately, despite flying to three targets in formation and new ordinance. There were no casualties or planes lost indicating the improved crew performance of the 330th BG and an opponent "on the ropes".
Mission: 42
- Date: 26–27 July
- Target: ŌmutaOmuta, Fukuokais a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 127,126 and the density of 1,558.87 persons per km²...
Urban Area - Bomber Command Mission: 295
As with most night missions during July, there were scattered clouds from the base up to 6,000 to 8000 feet (2,438.4 m) and a clear sky with visibility up to 10 miles (16 km) between 8,000 to 17000 feet (5,181.6 m), and clouds above that altitude. Ōmuta
Omuta, Fukuoka
is a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 127,126 and the density of 1,558.87 persons per km²...
was a major town on the west side of Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. The 58th BW attacked it on 17–18 June 1945 with only minor damage. It had a population of 177,000 and was the focus of the 314th BW's efforts with all four bomb groups participating this night. The 330th BG had 33 planes scheduled with 11 from each Bomb Squadron. K-15 blew its front nose wheel tire on take off and scratched and K-33 aborted at Iwo with one engine out. The remaining 31 planes dropped 252.84 tons of M-47
M47 bomb
The M47 bomb was a chemical bomb designed during World War II for use by the U.S. Army Air Forces.-Design:The bomb was designed for aerial bombardment and maximum efficiency after being dropped. Therefore, the bomb had a very thin metal sheet as its only cover, as little as 1/32 of an inch. The...
and M-17 incendiary bombs on Omuta from 14,000 to 15500 feet (4,724.4 m). Altogether, the four BGs dropped 965 tons of IB on the town, burning 2.65 square miles (6.9 km²) or 46.6% of the total built up area. The efficiency factor was 0.0027 square miles (6,993 m²) per ton. Despite the complaint about the weather, it was an efficient bombing strike. Its strategic value lay in the fact that Omuta was a rail hub and a port on the western side of Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
and would need to be isolated before the Kyūshū invasion. The raid was planned as a classic night area-bombing mission with Pathfinder planes. This concept works only if the Pathfinders correctly mark the town and the follow-on aircraft can see the marker bombs. Otherwise, the crews were on their own. There were six Pathfinder Planes over the target between 27/0113G and the last 27/0133G and the main force was over the target from 17/0133 – 27/0201G. On many past missions, there were complaints that the weather planes provided weather information that was outdated by the time the planes reached the target. In this case the reverse was true, K-35, Foster B. Huff, A/C, a Pathfinder, was on its bomb run when the wind data came in. The Nav's complained that the forecasted wind directions and actual wind directions between Iwo Jima and the target were off by 90 to 100 degrees. These late and inaccurate weather reports may be the reason that the 457th BS, Pathfinder K-3, almost had its wing torn off by bombs falling on it from a plane 200 feet (61 m) overhead.
The Japanese were aware that this was an important target as well; they sent up night fighters (they had very few) and shot down one B-29 and badly damaged another -neither plane from the 330th BG -but the demise of the B-29 was vividly described by the returning crews. Several crews saw a B-29 with one engine flaming, fired on by two sets of tracers 10 miles (16.1 km) beyond the target area; it exploded once in the air and again when it hit the ground at 27/0158G. Heavy and medium anti-aircraft fire was observed over the town but it was meager and inaccurate.
There were no planes lost or casualties on this mission.
Mission: 43
- Date: 28–29 July
- Target: Ōgaki Urban Area
- Bomber Command Mission: 301
This was a memorable mission for the 330th Bomb Group. The target was Ōgaki urban area with a population of 56,000. In the first instance, K-28, City of Omaha, and Howard McClellan, A/C had on board Ray Clark, a newsman from Station WOW, Omaha who broadcast live back to Guam and the States. He gave a running account of the anticipation and excitement of the bomb run. This unprecedented broadcast was sent out live over three networks and recorded for repeat broadcast by two other networks. Later, Ray Clark was able to get K-28's crew and plane back to Nebraska in October 1945 to participate in a Victory Bond drive. The second highlight of the mission was that the City of Ogaki was part of a 20th Air Force Psychological Warfare Effort involving the Japanese people. Certain cities, Ōgaki being one of them, was the recipient of propaganda leaflets stating it would be, along with 10 other cities, firebombed in the near future and the civilians were warned to evacuate the city. But, in modem warfare, psychology is used and in some instances very effectively. Hitler's Germany made no bones about it, they had a Ministry of Propaganda and believed firmly in the dictum that if you say black is white often enough people will believe you. (Remember the Minister of Information in Iraq) For the Americans, there was Tokyo Rose
Tokyo Rose
Tokyo Rose was a generic name given by Allied forces in the South Pacific during World War II to any of approximately a dozen English-speaking female broadcasters of Japanese propaganda. The intent of these broadcasts was to disrupt the morale of Allied forces listening to the broadcast...
. In any case, Americans had, at the start of World War II, voiced opposition to area bombing as used by the Japanese on Nan King in 1937. In prosecuting total war, we were using the B-29 in its most efficient and effective manner on centers of production and transportation; but in the late stages of a bombing campaign, the Japanese morale became a legitimate target. The pamphlets warned that certain cities were to be bombed and they should evacuate the cities. Therefore, many Japanese cities in July and August 1945 were forewarned, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki (although the warning to Nagasaki may have come too late since the date of that mission was moved up a day due to weather predictions). The 330th BG sent 33 planes against Ogaki, dropping 227.26 tons of bombs consisting of E-46 and M-47
M47 bomb
The M47 bomb was a chemical bomb designed during World War II for use by the U.S. Army Air Forces.-Design:The bomb was designed for aerial bombardment and maximum efficiency after being dropped. Therefore, the bomb had a very thin metal sheet as its only cover, as little as 1/32 of an inch. The...
incendiaries. The 330th BG was joined by the 29th and 39th BGs; the 19th BG hit a different target. The total bomb load dropped on the town was 659 tons IB, burning 0.54 square miles (1.4 km²) of Ogaki for an efficiency factor of 0.0008 square miles (2,072 m²) per ton, not a very effective mission. Planes left North Field, Guam at 28/1807 -1940G and returned between 29/0900G -29/1000G. Bombs were away between 29/0201 – 29/0318G. Bombing results as reported by crews was good to excellent, with the last crew over the target reporting smoke up to 14000 feet (4,267.2 m). Enemy opposition was stronger than met on previous night raids. Enemy fighters teamed with search lights in attacking planes with 5 passes made at three planes from the 330th BG. Meager to moderate heavy caliber anti-aircraft fire and meager to intense medium caliber anti-aircraft fire was encountered in the area with 15 to 20 searchlights with planes caught in the lights catching the most flak. The crews due to the pamphlets forewarning the Japanese of the attack and the clear night, which made a raid likely, believed the aggressive defenses. Calculated gas consumption was 5974 gallons (22,614.1 l) and the mission average was 6075 gallons (22,996.4 l).
Three planes landed at Iwo Jima for fuel. The 330th BG lost no plane and no casualties.
July summary
The 330th BG ran 10 missions and this was the first month that no planes were lost. Vitiation of the oppostition and, perhaps,the factor of luck do contribute-no doubt. However due recognition must be given to the leadership and training of the combat crews which provided the necessary crew discipline and skill to accomplish their duties so expertly, with such minimum losses overall.The only injury was SGT Leroy Peters, TG on K-8, from friendly fire. Nine raids were against minor Japanese cities and there was one planned daylight precision bombing raid against the major Japanese aircraft plant near Nagoya, although this raid was frustrated by the weather. The month also saw the intensification of a psychological warfare campaign by the 20th Air Force, warning the population in certain Japanese cities to clear out as the city was to be fire bombed. This campaign, at least initially, was not looked upon with equanimity by many crewmembers.Mission: 44
- Date: 1–2 August
- Target: Mito, IbarakiMito, Ibarakiis the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan and has a central location, moderately offset towards the coast in that prefecture. As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 263,748 and a total area is 217.45 km², giving a population density of 1,212.91 persons per km²...
Urban Area - Bomber Command Mission: 309
In commemoration of Air Force Day, the 330th BG scheduled a maximum effort with 43 aircraft −2 scratched due to an inoperative carburetor in one and an inoperative actuator switch in another. The remaining 41 planes bombed the primary target, Mito urban area, which made an excellent radar target. An estimated 73.1 % or 1.22 square miles (3.2 km²) of the town were burned for an efficiency rating of 0.0011 square miles (2,849 m²) per ton. The town was located about 65 miles (104.6 km) northeast of Tokyo. The 330th BG contributed 289.71 tons of M-47
M47 bomb
The M47 bomb was a chemical bomb designed during World War II for use by the U.S. Army Air Forces.-Design:The bomb was designed for aerial bombardment and maximum efficiency after being dropped. Therefore, the bomb had a very thin metal sheet as its only cover, as little as 1/32 of an inch. The...
and EA-46 IB's to the 314th BW total of 1,145 tons lbs. The average bomb load was 7.1 tons per aircraft. The aircraft left North Field between 01/1907 -O1/1952G. Bombs were away between 02/0205 -02/0300G at an altitude of 12500 feet (3,810 m). While this town was notified along with other towns not attacked this night, enemy opposition was meager. Two searchlights were observed with meager and inaccurate heavy anti-aircraft (HAA) and medium anti-aircraft (MAA) fire. Six enemy aircraft were observed in the target area but made no attacks. The last plane landed at 02/1048G and the mission was notable in that 41 planes took off and landed at North Field. Cruise control was almost perfect, a rarity. The calculated gas consumption was 5826 gallons (22,053.8 l) and the average gas consumption was 5850 gallons (22,144.7 l). The average gas load was 6600 gallons (24,983.7 l) so the highest gas consumer landed with about 300 gallons (1,135.6 l) to spare.
There were no planes lost or casualties.
Mission: 45
- Date: 5–6 August
- Target: Nishinomiya Urban Area
- Bomber Command Mission: 314
A minor city, Nishinomiya, population 112,000 between Kobe and Osaka was attacked this night with 6/10 cloud cover over the target during the bomb run. Thirty-three aircraft were scheduled for the mission with one 'Super Dumbo' (a group B-29 temporarily stripped of ammunition and filled with extra fuel tanks, liferafts, BC-778 "Gibson Girl"
Survival radio
Survival radios are carried by ships and aircraft to facilitate rescue in an emergency. They are generally designed to transmit on international distress frequencies...
rescue radios and supplies that could be dropped to a downed crew), K-8, and one radar countermeasure (RCM) aircraft, K-55. Six Pathfinder aircraft carried mixed loads of M-47
M47 bomb
The M47 bomb was a chemical bomb designed during World War II for use by the U.S. Army Air Forces.-Design:The bomb was designed for aerial bombardment and maximum efficiency after being dropped. Therefore, the bomb had a very thin metal sheet as its only cover, as little as 1/32 of an inch. The...
and one 500 pounds (226.8 kg) T4/E4 and one 100 pounds (45.4 kg) M-46 bomb while the main force J carried 500 pounds (226.8 kg) E-46 incendiary clusters. The average bomb load was 7.5 tons per aircraft. The bomb run was made between 06/0125 -06/0208G at an average altitude of 13400 feet (4,084.3 m). Of the 27 aircraft returning directly to base, 14 bombed by radar and 13 bombed visually with crews reporting good to excellent results. Later analysis indicated that 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) (29.65%) of the built up area was burned down. This was a joint mission with the 314th and 73rd BGs participating, dropping a total of 2,004 tons IB for an efficiency factor of 0.0014 square miles (3,626 m²) per ton. It called for an average gas consumption of 6238 gallons (23,613.4 l) and the average used for the 26 planes that returned to North Field was 6150 gallons (23,280.3 l). One plane lost an engine on the way up and bombed a target of opportunity instead of the main target.
There were no planes lost or casualties.
Mission: 46
- Date: 8 August
- Target: Nakajima Aircraft CompanyNakajima Aircraft CompanyThe Nakajima Aircraft Company was a prominent Japanese aircraft manufacturer throughout World War II.-History:...
Engine Plant, Tokyo - Bomber Command Mission: 320
This was the last daylight raid of the war for the 330th BG and it was an old favorite of the XXI Bomber Command. The target was Nakajima Aircraft Engine plant northwest of Tokyo. The first strategic target hit by the B-29s in November 1944 from the Marianas and had been hit 12 times previously by the 73rd. 58th BWs and Navy Carrier Task Force planes. Just to show how sometimes the larger picture reports are misleading as to what was actually bombed, this mission is a good example. The 314th BW summary reports that 60 planes from the 314th BW bombed the Tokyo arsenal, the radar target for the Bomber Command Mission #320. The Tokyo arsenal was the primary radar target and secondary visual target. The 330th BS's assembled into four formations over a small volcanic island due south of Tokyo, called Torishima, Toshima
Torishima (Izu Islands)
, literally meaning "Bird Island", is an uninhabited volcanic island at the south end of the Izu Islands in the Pacific Ocean, administered by Japan.-Geography:...
. They then proceeded to the target with the 458th BS in the lead followed by 459th BS, 457th BS and a composite formation. Flak was encountered from landfall to the target with heavy anti-aircraft (HAA), meager to moderate and generally accurate as to altitude. Approaching the target, HAA fire increased in intensity and accuracy and continued until the formations climbed out of the target area. The 458th BS formation attacked on an axis of 70 degrees and dropped its bombs from 22000 feet (6,705.6 m). The 459th attacked on an axis of 175 degrees, overran the 458th BS formation, made a 360-degree turn and went over the primary target again. But, the formation could not see the target the second time around and went for the secondary visual target -Tokyo Army Arsenal. The 457th BS formation, on a heading of 72 degrees, dropped its bombs from 22200 feet (6,766.6 m) and the composite formation on a heading of 73 degrees dropped its bombs from 22900 feet (6,979.9 m). Why the 459th BS was on a heading of 175 degrees is not known. The weather over the primary target was almost ideal for a precision daylight-bombing raid with a few scattered clouds and visibility of 20 miles (30 km). Despite some snafus the 330th BG received its second DUC for its performance on this mission.
There were no planes lost and no casualties.
Mission: 47
- Date: 14–15 August
- Target: Kumagaya, SaitamaKumagaya, Saitamais a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 203,089 . The total area is 159.88 km². The city is one of the biggest in northern Saitama Prefecture. It is the administrative, business and commercial centre in northern Saitama Prefecture. Eight...
Urban Area - Bomber Command Mission: 329
Since 12 April 1945, when the 330th BG went into action, until 8 August 1945, the normal time interval between missions was 2 to 3 days, sometimes one day and on rare occasions, 5 days. The time between the Nakajima mission and the Kumagaya mission was six days. Two atom bombs were dropped earlier this month. One on 6 August and the other on 9 August, and there were reports that the Japanese were thinking of surrendering, but this did not materialize in any concrete message from the Japanese. So the 330th BG was forced to go out again. This time against the Kumagaya urban area with a population of 47,000 located northwest of Tokyo but it was on a main rail line to the West Coast. Departure was at 14/1800 to 14/1907G and return was 15/0814 to 15/0915G. While some of the planes were landing the ROs reported that Japan had accepted the surrender terms offered by the Allies. Forty planes had taken off from North Field with four aborts due to trouble with the Wright Cyclone
Wright Cyclone
Wright Cyclone was the name given to a family of air-cooled radial piston engines designed by Curtiss-Wright and used in numerous American aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s.-Background:...
engines (three aborts lost an engine and one had an engine backfire). The remaining 36 aircraft included one Super Dumbo and one RCM craft. The RCM plane carried two 2 ton HE bombs and the other 34 aircraft carried E-46 and M-47
M47 bomb
The M47 bomb was a chemical bomb designed during World War II for use by the U.S. Army Air Forces.-Design:The bomb was designed for aerial bombardment and maximum efficiency after being dropped. Therefore, the bomb had a very thin metal sheet as its only cover, as little as 1/32 of an inch. The...
incendiary bombs. The average bomb load depending on the reference was 7.5 tons per aircraft or 6.3 tons per aircraft. Bombs were dropped by radar as the target was completely cloud covered. There was only meager and inaccurate flak and no enemy aircraft sighted. This was a joint mission with the 313th BW and a reported total of 593 tons of IB were dropped on Kumagaya burning 0.27 square mile (0.6992967897 km²) for an efficiency rating of 0.00046 square miles (1,191.4 m²) per ton -not one of the most efficient area bombing missions.
Although this was the last official 'Combat' Mission for the 330th, it did not end the war for some crews. Until the Armistice was signed aboard the USS Missouri
USS Missouri (BB-63)
|USS Missouri is a United States Navy Iowa-class battleship, and was the fourth ship of the U.S. Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of Missouri...
on 2 September 1945, crews flew food packages to POW camps and participated in show-of-force missions for which they got combat mission time (important in the point system that sent troops back to the US in the following months).
So ended the war, which started for the Americans on Monday, 8 December 1941 (Tokyo time; Sunday, 7 December 1941 Washington, D.C. and Hawaii time) and ended 15 August 1945 (Tokyo time).
Miscellaneous missions
12 April 1945 to 2 September 1945North Field, Guam
An important function of aircraft in wartime is reconnaissance. There were four main types: weather, photography, RADAR scope photo and measuring the enemy's RADAR signals. The BG also provided navigational escort for P-51s from Iwo Jima to the Empire and back. Occasionally a crew would be called upon to conduct a sea search for a downed aircraft. A memorable reconnaissance mission occurred on 6/7 August 1945 by Howard McClellan, K-28 A/C. He and his crew saw the still-smoldering ruins of Hiroshima at twilight on 6 August 1945. They were on a RADAR scope photography mission of various cities in southern Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
. Upon their return, they described the devastation seen at Hiroshima stating that there must have been a large raid on the city to cause such damage. However, McClellan was not aware of any scheduled air raid on that city. Later the same night, McClellan was awakened and he personally had to describe what he had seen to General Power.
In another mission, the 330th BG provided on-the-job training for three crews from the 463rd BS of the 8th Air Force that were relocating from Europe to Okinawa under General Jimmy Doolittle. Dickinson, A/C, flying K-7 completed eight combat missions with the 330th BG before the war ended. Roy B. Reeves, Jr. and James W. Ferry, A/Cs of crews assigned to 458th and 459th BS at the end of the war were not deployed back to the States but were sent to Okinawa where they continued with the 8th Air Force.
Radar jamming missions
The observation was made early on that the Japanese had sophisticated radar, but that it was not used effectively.The job of the 330th BG Radar Countermeasures Section (RCM)
Electronic countermeasures
An electronic countermeasure is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar or other detection systems, like infrared or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy...
was to ensure that this was the case. The dramatic fall in 330th BG losses to zero in July and August 1945 was due, no doubt, to luck, but also to the work of this section. The RCM participated in all BG missions from 4 May 1945 till 15 August 1945. They searched for Japanese radar, spot jammed individual Japanese radar units and barrage jammed target areas with specially equipped B-29s called "Porcupines". Searching Japanese radar required specialized electronic equipment, which was installed in these aircraft. The equipment included; a) a tuner-analyzer to measure the radar frequencies and strength and presumably the pulse width and pulse repetition frequency and b) four to five transmitters producing static noise, in effect drowning out Japanese radar signals.
Based on this information, one could determine whether the signals were emitted by gun laying RADAR or RADAR-directing searchlights or air-to-air RADAR in Japanese fighters. The RADAR countermeasures observer also noticed the coincidence of enemy signals with enemy action and the weather. What was not observed was just as important. The Japanese night fighters had no airborne radar. In a few cases, they were observed to have air-to-surface vessel (ASV) type radar. The Japanese radar operated on 75 and 200 megahertz bands but no 540-megahertz band RADAR was observed. The latter was the frequency of German Wurzburg radar
Würzburg radar
The Würzburg radar was the primary ground-based gun laying radar for both the Luftwaffe and the German Army during World War II. Initial development took place before the war, entering service in 1940. Eventually over 4,000 Würzburgs of various models were produced...
with produced devastating results for the 8th Air Force in the European theater.
On BG missions from 4 to 25 May 1945, RADAR signal analyzers were carried, but no RADAR jamming was permitted. Only chaff
Chaff (radar countermeasure)
Chaff, originally called Window by the British, and Düppel by the Second World War era German Luftwaffe , is a radar countermeasure in which aircraft or other targets spread a cloud of small, thin pieces of aluminium, metallized glass fibre or plastic, which either appears as a cluster of secondary...
was used during this period. Due to the concentration of gun-laying RADAR around Tokyo, jamming was requested but it was denied. The 20th Air Force lost the largest number of B-29s over Tokyo on 25–26 May 1945. On all subsequent missions, either spot jamming or barrage jamming of enemy RADAR signals was done. 1LT Fred Nibling amplified in a recent communication how the chaff was supposed to affect Japanese RADAR. The chaff
Chaff (radar countermeasure)
Chaff, originally called Window by the British, and Düppel by the Second World War era German Luftwaffe , is a radar countermeasure in which aircraft or other targets spread a cloud of small, thin pieces of aluminium, metallized glass fibre or plastic, which either appears as a cluster of secondary...
consisted of spools of foil packaged in breakout containers and each spool gave the impression on enemy RADAR of a B-29. On daylight missions one always saw hundreds of foils floating down. B-29 gunners stated that search light beams sometimes followed the chaff as it floated down. A variation on the foils were packets of "straws" -straw shaped strips coated with aluminium- packed 20 to a packet and dropped by the Navigator, which gave the impression on enemy RADAR of 20 B-29s.
Further "reports" stated that the foils falling across bare electric power and communication lines shorted them out, further complicating Japanese existence.
There were 42 RCM missions starting on 4 May 1945, which included 35 regular BG missions; two missions to assist the 315th BW, which had no RCM capability, and five special RADAR signal search missions. During this period, 440 enemy RADAR signals were observed and analyzed and this information was forwarded to higher echelons for collation with information from other sources. On the regular BG missions, the RCM observer would spot or barrage jam the detected Japanese signals but, since the aircraft would be in the area for only 10 to 15 minutes, it was not effective during the entire time that the group was over the target. The BG had six Porcupine Aircraft and more were being added when the war ended. These B-29s were dedicated mainly to analyzing and jamming Japanese RADAR signals. They were used over targets with heavy concentrations of gun-laying and searchlight-controlled RADAR. They would stay in the target area during the entire bombing period. 1LT Fred Nibling stated that the RCM activities were very effective based on numerous crew reports of searchlights frantically searching the sky with little degree of accuracy when there was partial under cast cloud cover. At times of completely under cast skies, the anti-aircraft fire was totally inaccurate when RADAR jamming was employed. Two particular instances were worthy of note. Over Shimonoseki, with over 200 anti-aircraft guns, a Porcupine was in the area and no BG planes were lost. The 315th BW planes, employing the AN/APQ-7 Eagle RADAR, had a 70 nautical miles (129.6 km) bomb run lasting 15 minutes, ideal for gun-laying RADAR. But, at the heavily defended Kawasaki Oil Refinery, no B-29's were lost thanks to the 330th BG Porcupine Jammers.
POW missions
The Americans had a pretty good idea where the Japanese POW camps were located and they also knew about the atrocious living conditions in the camps since the liberation of the POW camps in the Philippines and South East Asia. The Air Force launched a humanitarian effort to immediately relieve the POWs suffering by dropping food supplies to the camps, which were spread all over the Far East. The 330th BG participated in this effort. The 73rd BW Service Center on Saipan made up the packages and the appropriate mechanism to effectively parachute drop these supplies. It was a massive effort and the 73rd BW alone dropped 2,000 tons from 472 effective sorties to POW camps on the Japanese home islands, Korea and China. Ten planes from the 330th BG flew to SaipanSaipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
to pick up the supplies. The following day, 31 August 1945, they flew to the Empire and dropped the supplies on POW camps around Osaka Flying back over Tokyo, one crew, K-3 got a close look at the devastation in Tokyo and a view of the naval floatilla steaming into Tokyo Bay
Tokyo Bay
is a bay in the southern Kantō region of Japan. Its old name was .-Geography:Tokyo Bay is surrounded by the Bōsō Peninsula to the east and the Miura Peninsula to the west. In a narrow sense, Tokyo Bay is the area north of the straight line formed by the on the Miura Peninsula on one end and on...
with the USS Missouri
USS Missouri (BB-63)
|USS Missouri is a United States Navy Iowa-class battleship, and was the fourth ship of the U.S. Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of Missouri...
on which the surrender took place two days later. The crew of K-5 were given the task of dropping supplies to a POW camp near Hong Kong. To accomplish this feat, they had to fly to Clark Field in the Philippines and pick up supplies and information on the location of the camp.
Missions for the 330th BG are listed as follows:
- 29 August 1945: POW supply drop
- 30 August 1945: POW supply drop
- 31 August 1945: POW supply drop
- 31 August 1945: POW supply drop and reconnaissance -Hong Kong
Robert Willman and the crew of K-1 were asked to fly medical and food supplies to Okinawa which had been struck by an enormous typhoon days before. They did this with wooden platforms devised to be hung in the bomb bays. These platforms were loaded with supplies and lashed into place. Upon reaching Okinawa they were met by a crew of GI's who unloaded the supplies. After topping off the gas tanks they would head back to Guam. When they flew the aircraft to the states during the Sunset Project, they used the platforms again. This time they had about six passengers. Five Army enlisted men and one officer, all of whom had priority to return to the States. They had been in the Pacific area since before Pearl Harbor.
The 330th BG lost no planes in this effort, but the 73rd BW lost four planes in the effort, including one to the Russians who forced down a B-29 over Korea. The Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
started early in the Far East.
Show of Force missions
When Col. Reynolds moved up to Chief of Staff, 314th BW, the 330th BG continued to get important assignments. One such mission was to ferry the photographs of the Japanese surrender signing aboard the USS MissouriUSS Missouri (BB-63)
|USS Missouri is a United States Navy Iowa-class battleship, and was the fourth ship of the U.S. Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of Missouri...
to Washington as quickly as possible. So a composite crew, consisting was formed for K-52. Since there was no runway around Tokyo long enough to land a B-29, the crew picked up the photos at Iwo Jima where they had been delivered by a B-17. The B-29 flew to Hawaii where the crew had four hours of sleep and then headed to Washington, DC. The plane lost an engine over the Rockies so they landed at Wright-Patterson AAF, Dayton, Ohio, and the photos were taken on by train to Washington, D.C.
- 30 August 1945: BS strength
- 31 August 1945: BS strength
- 1 September 1945: BS strength
- 2 September 1945: BG strength