21st Bomber Command Tactical Mission Report 26, Ocr

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H E A ~ Q U A R T E R

. XXI BOMBER COMMANDA P O 2 3 ...

00 / C. SJrviJt 8

M I S S I O N 26

TACTICAL MISSION REP o r ~and Built-up Urban Area.KOBE.JAPAN . . F E B . I H 5

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FORm>RQ

This i n i t i a . l Tac t i c a l 1418510n Rspor t

of th e XXI B"omber Command, th e f i r s t

published fo r general dis t r Ibu t ion .

i s the r epor t of the f i r s t aa jo r

s t r ike employing two Bolllbardll8nt l n ~ l.

Prior s t r ikes had e i the r beoD . taa iona

01' e. nature fo r wbich DO tor l l l l l r epor t

wus necessary or effor t s by e. 810&1.

Bombnrdment 1r1Dl;1 whoae repor ts re_

oel ve d 11m! ted d i s t r I b u t i o n .

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• HEADC/;UART$.SXXI BOlolBJillt COWAND

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 11 , " I I I I

I I SECRET I I

: ,By o.ut h. o r t he C . 01 I; , XXI Bomber COmmo.n411I I 1 5 . ' ~ 4 ' » U I I

I I Do.tII Initill18 I j

I I ; I : ; I I : t I I I I ; ; I : 1 1 1 1 I

SUBJECTI Report of Operlltion8 . 4 Pebr unry 1945 .

TO Commanding Qener D.l , Tw en t h t h Air Porce, 'ffuhing t on 25 .D. C.

1. IDENTIFIC ATION OF MISSION :

a.. Field Orde r Number 22 . HeadquClr t ers XXI Bomber Command. dated 31 J!lIluary 1945, di r ecte d th e 73rd and 313th Bombardment Wings to po.rticip a h in the f i r e t coo rd ino.tod D.tta.cic by twowings of' thio command on 0. to.rge t in Honsh u .

b. Io.re;ets Spectr ied;(lY Primar y Target: Port IU'l.d built-up urbc.n areer

of th e c i ty of Kobe: Objoct iv e f o ld or 90 . 25 Vap V-9 .( 2" Secondary Tar ge t : None

(3 ) Last Resort Targe t : Any industrial c i ty.

2. STRAT8QY AND PLAN OF OPERATIONS :

a . Reasons for Se l ec t i on of Teu-got;

( l J The weather for ecas t pr e sented to the CamQAnding General on 3 February prognostica ted three to four - tentha cloudcove roge in the Kobe area, with fav orabl e oond i t i ons en r out e and a tbas e s f or tlllc:e ..off o.nd lo.nding. COnle quent ly . deoision .... s made toattack Kob e on 4 February. This command bad been continually s t r iking th e Tokyo and N ~ o y aareas and the e n e~ hAd pos.1b l y conCent ra ted defenses in these two areaS. An at tac k on Kobe, in additionto damaging the urban Qrens. would possibly f or ce the e n e ~y tospre.,d his def e nses_ ..o.1rcraft and ont1o.ircro.ft- -wenkenint h il p os i t ion in the Tokyo and Nagoya creaa.

b. Importanoe or Targetl

(1)' Kobe. s ix th l a r t e s t Oity i n Japan w i t h .population of a p p r o x i m ~ t o l y1.000,000. 1 . Japan's p rinoipal p or t .I t . ship yard. represent Japan 's l a r t es t ooncentrati on of ship.bui ldins and marin e engine o ~ p a c i t y .At lob e . the Snnyo &Gin r a i l l i n .trom the western Up of Honshu j o in . with the ToIr:Qido .lll.un Una , . . tto Oso.ka nnd TOkyo. key industr ia l plan t • • • 1oh u . t o e l . nU. . ,equipment. ma.chinery. rubber and ordnanC •• are olo • • ly in tecr a te4with l ob . ' s trwnsportation ao t iYi t les . A natiOnAl h i t b w ~ ,~ oa17notably good r oa d In and out at lobe. a l .o rUD. t h r o ~~ oon

p s t a d .oo t ion . o t the Oity. The area • • ected for atta.ok . . . . theh15hly cOlli e . ted core o t the oi ty. ba.YiDC ! l po pula.t1oD a " r ~ e010 . . 100.000 per 'CUlare a U . ,

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( H Bombing P lo . ns I

(0.) Pe t e r m l n p , t l o n o f Bomb Lond ,

(1 ) Be CII.USEI o f t h e h igh dElUGe o f 1 n _f l nnrno.bl l1 ty of the Kobo urb o. n nrao. . nn i ncend ia ry ntto.ck ~ 8 c on -sidored most effeo t iv e . Tha S- 26 . 50 0 p o und lncendlo.ry c lus te r( ac t u a l weigh t . 350 I bIS." wee s e l e c t e d beall- Ul e i t i s the b e s t o.va.llab l e l ncend l n ry we np on . Th e T4 £4, 5 00 po und fra.gplI!Into.t l o n c l u s t e r(o. c tulU weigh t . 4.20 Ib e . ) W,lliS used III o.n a n t i - p e r . c n ne l wea.p on t oh i nder poten t i a. l f i r e f l ~ h t e r 8 .thu l lnCr eo.elng the e r r ec t l ven e eeof the lnCendio.ry n t t o. Ck .

(2 ) Ineend lnr iea we r e fused t o opena.t 5000 f ee t beco.use th e b e s t p a. t t e r n s a re obta.1 n ed f r OD tha..t 1Il. -t i t u d e . Fro.gmento.t1 o n o l u s t e r s we r e fused t o op e n 1000 t e e t belowt h o a i r c r a f t f or th e SMla r Bnsons .

(3 ) I n t e r vo.l omoter se t t ings of 500f ee t (o r maximum p oss i b le under pr edicted winds) were uled t o g i v epr ope r sp r eo.d t o i ndiv idu o. l inc end1c. r y b OClbs in e o.ch t a rge t lU'eo. .Pr oper dens i ty of bombs wo.s ob t o. ined th r ough nUClbe r or e.1rcrot t bcc.b -I ng I n oc.ch f or mc.t l on.

(4) A mix ed lond insured even d i s -t r i bu t i on o f fro.gmentntion c lus t e r s an d i ncandior ies on the t c rge t .The f r ~ m e n t c . t io n o l u s t e r s wer G l oo.ded to drop lws t b 3 c ~ u s e tbe actu n l r o.nge fo r the fro.gmento.tl on bombs wo.s l e ss thru1 tho.t f or incendi a ry b ombs an d i t WaS d e B ir ~ b l e t h o.t the frngoento. t i on bombp n t t e rn coinc ide wi th the i ncendiary b omb po.tto rn .

NO TE : The e n t i r e missi on Wo.8 p l c.nned in o.ccorda.nce w i t h

the AhF Board Repcr t ' l nc endio. r y Atteck cn J ~ ~ e s eC i t i e s ~ 'd ~ t e d 1 Sept . 1944. Only devic t i oQl in p l ~ i n g

wore) t h o se necess i to . ted by ope r o.ti onn l llClito.tion.e: Mdo..vo..1lo.bllIty of o.ircrs.f ' t .

(b ) Bomb o. rd ler ' s P lanni ngJ

(1) Tako.tuski was or Ig i na l l y . e l ec t edo.s an in1t ic . l poin t , beat II I ohrLng e In f or ecas t wind direotioD t r om. 0J lQ . v e r n g ~of 260 deg ro os t o 29 2 deg r ees ns cessi to. ted a change t o Ott"In or de r t o ou t d own e xcess i ve d r i f t on the b omb run. The upwind

appr o ac hWCB

u sed beoause the l owe r gr ound speed , o.s oon t ra l t ed _i tbCl. downwind run , a l l owed the bombardier more t ime i n the 1auDed1o.t et a r g e t v i c I n i t y f or Qcol1ra.te aynohr o nila . t1 o n.

(2 ) ' Since t he ob j ec U.., . . . . . CLD a.reamensured in miles , vulnera.ble or e na I , ~ by 6 .000 t e e t wore ae lect ad . The de s i g no.te d approaoh, o.xh o f a.tto.ck o t 318 dap-eea , W'tI.I

us ed eo tha.t the t or h t i oD wol.lld be on th e 1 0a g t l tudlDlLl lUis o t t b tse lec ted area.s. F our aiming p o i n t s , c l ear ly d l1Oarnlb1 e t o th o

bomb:lJ'd i e r l on th e 31 6 degree a.xta Of attll.Ok, n r e del1sna'tOd so . .

to cover four vuln e r a .bh a . r e ~ ,lnd1clo.t . d Of t oUt Bcaber C ~ , n d

Litho-Mosaio No. gO.25 a. 058111, 071123, oe21Sa and 111111.

(:5) The s t r eng th ot tb e . . t h o OD \ :M

neoeBaary o.xls of o.tto.ok _ u not beUeved to b e , r e n t . n o u p t o Il100_p 1 1 s ~dee t ruo t ion of in o en d ia ry 10no I Crerar t o .ppen4ed l D O a a 4 1 ~

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~ n l l Dl&p of ltobll). Consideration of pedJcted high 1I'in411 and in terva.10J11l1ter se t t i n , indiofitedl"tlie lfomb p· . t e rn of .. squadron w0l114oover an CLre.. a.pproximatll1y 1700 by 3500 feet . Consequently. to ob~ n mnximum destruction, tb s effor t against each a i m 1 ~point WIledis t r ibut ed IlS follows: 058115. 3 squadrons; 071123. 2 equadrone;092132. 2 squlldrons , and 119128. 3 IIquadrons. Thie placed the e fforte of 5 equa.drons r easonably concentrated in the la.r,e Dre .. westor tb e main ra i l ro ad lltation and five a ~ u c d r o n 5l ess concentrated inth e lo ng na.rrow ar e ll to th e weet.

Bnse1700 N _ 14000£2900N _ 13545E

3328N _ 13 5 4SE

3431N ... 13523£(IP )

TlU'get

( . ) Navlglltion Plllnning!

Reasona for Choice

Wing departur e po i nt,A westarly course a t low a l t i tude to u t l l i umost favorable ~ n d sin climb end pr event 1I1owground sp ee d r eBul t ing from ex ce8llive Ma d winds .

Center ofponinllulo., o.llowing leewo.y

for na. ..i -go..tlon erro r on ei ther aide of course,

£o..II11y ident i f ied ro..dnr Ilnd vi lual check pointon the Const,

A southea4terly o ~ a. to baae to u t i l i l . t a l lwind .

2300N - 14500E A southerly r oute close to the northern W a r l n n ~t ~ t l i4li t Cheek pOirlft i s 1I'ell lUI a. toOl. u h r _enco point fo r ditchod a i r c r a f t .

(3) F l i g h t Engineer 's Plo..nningj

(aY Fl i gh t plan, speeds and a l t i tudes wereused as outl ined in XXI Bomber Command Regulation Ho, 55-3 to o b t ~ i n

ma.ximum fuel econo!lly.

(b) Fuel reqUirements were calculated fa r II A

o.vernge o.ircrnft f ly ing the wors t po s i t i on in the tormati on withu n t i c i p ~ t e dwind condit ions. Tho fue l c o n s ~ t i o nelltimate ind icated the be s t snte minimum bocb load was 6,000 pounds. However . th i sWD.S reduced to 5,000 pounds fo r the 3l3 th B o ~ b o r d m e n t. i ~ since t h i s

was the i r f i r s t lorge-scale oporation ~ n dan ex t ra tue l load . ..deemed desirahlo in Case of e r r or s which would l e ~ h t . nplanned t l y -ing t1.me.

(4) Badar Plp.Mlpgl lAndf . l l on th o sou.thern o o u t -l ine o t Honahu a t lashimoto and na . i s a t i on north to tho OODAtilooi n i t i a l po in t or Otsu proyidod exoel lent radar ohock pOints. ThOin i t ia l . po in t would be cleo.r ly Yis1ble on the soope a.nd th e u p i a srun of 318 0 Could be acoomplisbod with l i t t l e or no d r i f t . The torg e t i t s e l f would show u.p . s Q. long no.rrcw re turn , with Q. det i l l i tebrIght re turn shOWing j u a t southwest o t the center at l o b . . Ua. at( r def in i t e wa.ter . la.nd, radar c o n ~ tmade t or 00.8y identitlOa.tJ. oJl at '

aiming pOint , wbother t o r Yisua.l or radar b ombin s .

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( 5) B§4or Count er Meas ur os , A 4 l . ors i onnry Qtt aokWos not 4e&.cled nece ssClry because of th e d iv er s i ona r y u pecte of th es e l ec t ed r cu t e t o ~ o b e . Coun t er measu r es ago.inst e nemy r a dClr con ·t r ol l ed ant i a i rc r a f t wer e not c cnsid e r ed s i nce i nt ens e o.Ccuratef i r e f r om such c ont r ol l ed weQPons was not exp oc t ed .

( 0. ) Tho Navy was fu.rniah ed with t he de t c.l h o f

th e mi ss i on a nd requ. oa t ed t o fu. r nis h av a i l ab l e f a c i l l t ies f or a uSOa r escue purp os e , . The f o l l owi ng f ac l 1 l t i es wor e ~ d e av a l labl e.(See Annex A . P u t VI , f or Air - Sea Ro . cu.e map ) .

(1 ) Two su bmarin es wer e d iv e r t ed f r om thei rr ou t ine pat r o l ag n in s t Ja pn nes e Sh i pp in g c.nd ware s u t i oned o.sf ol l ows clur in g a nd a f t or t he m1ss t on unti l r e le l\sed b y Supe rCumbos: 3 10 30 ' N - 136 0 4S ' E a na 30 °00 ' N _ 13S015 'E .

( 2) Ona p a t r o l J!e s t r oya r we.s dir ect ed t ot h e f ol l owin g po s i t i ons on t he fol l owi ng t i me sc h edul e: 2 ~ OO ' N-

141°30 ' E f r om 03234S Z t o 040 100Z an d t o proc eed to 22°0 0' N_l 44,o30 ' E f r om 041 030 Z t o 04 l 400 Z.

(3 ) Two Oumb o o.i rp l o.nell were IlllSi g.ned t o

t he f ol l OWin g s t a t i ons f o r o.i r - seo. r e s cue work d ur i ng tb e mi s s i on:azoSO ' N - 140000 ' E f r om 040030Z t o 040 230Z. an d 220 QQ' R _ l 4200C ' Ef r om 0 3~ O O Z t o 04020CZ.

( ~ ) P i c ke t bo a t s and c r as h boats we r e ass _i gned t o th e 1mmedi nt e v i c i n i ty of So.ipc.n a nd Tinian t o c o.rry outAJ r -d en r e scue wor k du r i ng t he c r i t i c a l ? e r i od s of to.ke -o f f ~ d

l o.ndin g as f ol l ows: 0. p ick e t b Ol.t i n So.1pc.n cb:mne l Q2C30Z t o

00 2Z3 0Z c.nd 0411 00 Z t o 0 415 00Z t o g uo.rd 6 970 kc s . , o.n1 0. c r ll.5bbOa t of f west end of Tinio.n no r t b s t r i p C41 l COZ to C4l5 00 Z t ogu ard 697 0 kcs.

(b)" This commnnd as s i gn ed 2 Supe r - I)J.mbc d r ...plan e s ( B -2 9 1 ~ )to or b i t s ubmo.r in e po s i t i on 3 l ~ O ' N _ 13 6 04 S ' Etoas s i s t in sp ot t i ng , rec a iving d i s t r eS B S ig na l s . dr op eme r te ncyequ i pment . an d d i r ec t tb e submarin es i n e ve n t a i r - s e ~ r ellcue r ~ ci ...l i t i e s we re r equlr Gd . The Sup e r ...Cumbo s ~ r a i ns t r uoted t o r e l e ~. e

submo.rines to routine pa t r o l duties whe n 0.11 pl o.nas b o.d pc .u edGn r out 6 bo.ck t o bnse.

e. Det a i l s of Plennlng--Int e l l i ge nce

(1) EnemY Fight e r Re a c t i on: Kobe , whIcb f o.l 1 .within th o K u r e - N~ g oy a . regi on f or p ur po s es or e ne my f ig ht e r an a.lys i s , ha s an estimnted 3 02 e n e ~ a i r c ro. t t i n i t s ar ea , and ~ , s U Di D &

70 p er cent would b e o pa r a t i onGl. 211 n i r e r a f t woul d b e a v a.i l a b l ef or tb3 e nOl!ly's defens e sys t e m. This r not or p lus p u t exp e rienc ein d ioa t e d e nemy a i r oppo s i t i cQ would b e no no r e th an n ~ r D C I .l f or anop er a t i on in th e K u r e -N ~ o y aar en o.n d . e l e c t i on of tc.r ge t , r ou t . ,o.l t l tud e . nnd t i l'll8 of b ombing w u no t . .rf eo ted by enea y f i£h t e rr e not i on c o n s ld e r ~ t i Q n s .

(2) §pelN IOt l &i r o t n l t l A hen d in g of 31 0 to330 de g re es would br ing the o.tto.OkiDf; &1rcr..rt into ro.ns. or th eKobe -Qsaka. defens s . f o r th e leo.st aa ount of ti m e sino . th e approaOkwaS ov e r Oso.ka. Bay. Furtb e rmore , winds wer e .uob tha.t t h i . be ndiDCcoul d be used w it ho ut exp e r ienoing ex c . ss ive d r i f t •

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EXECUTION:

~ s 3 c h e Q~ l e d toWing Cl.t Ol22S5Z,

(.1" TCl.ke. Off; Th e f i r s t g r o ~ p or the 73rd WingtAke off ~ t 0322 l 0Z a n ~ th e f i r s t or th e 313th

Actual t ~ e - o r r wns acc omplished ns folloW81

Airorutt Fi rs t Lo.st

~ Ai r

borne Ai rcn f t Takeoff Ai r cra f t Takeoff73r d 7' 032C56Z 032l 37Z

3l 3 th ~ 032129Z: 032155Z:

Totn l 11 0 032056 Z 0321552No :lSSombl y d itficu.lt1 es - " exp6rienced by e i ther ·wing,

b, Route Out : The B o m b o .r ~ e n tWings ' form:l.tionsmo.do l a . n~ f a l 1 wi t hi n 10 mi l es of th e brief &d po i nt on Honshu. withth e excep t i on of tho 500t h and 504t h Bombo.rdment Groups . No.vigo.t -

i ono.l e r r or · · f a i l u r e t o estima t e co rre c t ly tllrn pos i t i on p r i or toc l i mb o.nd compe nso.t e fo r i ncreo.sed vol oC i ty of cross winds eXileI' .

ionc ed in th e climb t o bombing o.ltitude - - r esultod in th e 5COtbBombardmen t Grou p mak in g l :lndfo l l 50 mi l e s etl.st of th e br ie f edco ur se , Consequen t l y. th i s gr o up W08 UMble to r ea.ch Kobe becauseof the strong heo.d winds on 0. due wester l y course. which cc.do foroxc e ssive fue l c onsumpti on. and th e formation t urned eo.stwo.rd tobomb ~ o . t s u a o . k a. II. lll. s t resor t t o.rge t . The 50 4th Bombar dment Groupovo rc o rrected t o th e wast and was abollt 3 0 miles west of br iefedcourse a t l andfa l l .dOwnwind h ea din g . i t

However,wns ab l e

be oo.uss the g r ollp WO.S f l y in g on 0.

t o bomb th e assigned Object ive .

c . P T i m ~ J ykA&!ot: ? ~ r ~ o . t i~ n s erriYod i n th eta r ge t areo. an a ve ro.ge of 40 minutes l o.te b e c~ u so of wind vel o.

o i t i e sg r e ~ t e r

th o.n f o reo ast .

The o.ircrnft atto.cked the targetin seven formati ons. with · S f o r m~ t i o n sof 49 a i r c r n f t - ~t o 10a i r c r a f t per formation . . . drop ping on the lo a ders who bcmbed byr ada r o.nd 2 formati ons of 20 a i r c r a f t dropped on leaders w h~ beabedvisua l ly. From 5/10 to 6/10 s t ra to .cumulus c l oud ~ d s eve r al th inla yers of cir rus c l o uds between 23. CCC nnd 30, 000 f e e t wer e expe l ' .ienced in th e t a r ge t ar ea . Atotnl of 69 8 .. 29's dropped 159.2 tonsof incendiary c lus te rs ~ d 13 . 6 t c bs of rragment c t i on c lus te r s onKobe from 2 4 , 5~ 0 t o 27, OCO f e e t from 04ryS57Z t o 040656Z. (SeeAnnex E, Par t I,C ona o l i do.ted S tn t i s t i c a l Summo.ry. for d e t ~ il l . )

Owmage a ssessm ont r epo rt& s ta te 2.651. 000 squar e f se t wer e do.mo.gedin the tnrg e t crea ,

d. Secondsry tg rge t : Nona a ssigned.

o. La8t Re80rt t a rg e t : One formo.ti oD or 158 .29 's of th e SOOth Bombcrdment Group b o ~ b e d~ Q t 8u l o . k a fo r th erell.80nS givon above in paragraph 3b . F ou r t ee n other B-29 I • bombedoth e r l a s t r elo r t t:ll"g e ts . Atoto.1 of 6 9 . ' tons 1ncendi" .r) ' C1U8-t e ra and 5.8 ton . fragment o.t i o n c lua t e r s were 1ro ? ped by 29 8-ZU'8.(F or detni ls seo Annex E. P a r t I , Cons o l i d a ted S t o . t i s t i c~ l SummAry).

f . To.rget. or Opportunityear ly dro?ped 2.6 t ons incendiary c lus te r s andto.ti on c lus te r s on Pagan h l a n d .

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Ona B-2S re turnins0.2 tonI r r ~ e f t -



g . Routo B;C k: Afte r bomb in g . f ormo.t i o n .broke up beyond e ne my f i g h t e r r o. nge n nc r e turned 0.5 b r i e f ed . u t i ·l i t i n g ato.ra o.nd p l nnots dur i ng th e l o.5t 3 ho urs of f l i g h t . Th enorth e r n ldc. rio.n lls were 11.18 0 u t i l i z e d II.EI r o.dnr ch e c k O>0 i n t s . Oll&8 · 29 of th e 73 r d Bombo. r dmon t Wing . ",hln i t r a.n o u t of fue l 12 l :I i l l .from Sll. i pa.n a.ft o r suf f er in g ~ ~ t t le dll.MlI.ge in th e Xcb e a r ea. , wa. s f o ra ldto d t t ch . T h l " n -ot ' ha e be l n k i l lo:! p r i o r to d i t ch i l l6 . Tho r ema.in -ing t e n crew memblrs wo r e p ic k ed up b y o. i r / sell. rescu e .

h . Landing' Ai r cro.ft lo. nded o.t bd.es undergo od we a th e r c o n d i t i ons aEl f ol lows :

73r d W ng313 th \'l1ng

To t n l

Numb l r At rc r a f t F i r s t Lo.nd in g Lo.st t l . nding

71

..1L109

0 41 1 0 4.2C41225Z

0 4 1 3~ 2 Z

041:nn

One nircr a f t of th e 73 r d Bcmba r dment Wing hnd i t s number 1 eng in ecatch f i ro nnd th e o .i r c r o . ~ tbu rn ed a f t er lo.nding a t Sni pan . I twas class i f i ed 0.5 'L ost to surv ey . 1

i . Oper ntiona Summary:

(1 ) Navig o.tion : (S ee Annlx A, Pa r t I f o rde t a i l s ) . Winds w e r e 30 knots mo r e ~ ~ a n? r edi c t e1 ~ d th e n av i t ~ t

i on p r oblem wnS p rimar l ly one ot ? r ope r d r i f t c or r ec t i on 1n t heclimb phase on th e r oute out . The ne ed fo r incre o.sed t rAi ning anddisCiplino in th e use of r adar equipment in th e tnrget areo. 0.8 annvigational aid was indiCated since gr oups f ~ i l e ~ t o f l y d i rect lyov e r th e i n i t i n. l po i n t des?1te i t s eas i ly c',i s t i ng uishable brightr e turn on th e scope.

(2 ) Bombing: (See Annex A, Par t I I . forde t a i l e ) . The mnjori ty of bomb runlS and relens es were accompliShedby r ad o.r with shor t visual checks. Errors in bombing were a t t r ibu t a b l e to both pe r sonne l and eqU i pment mnltuncti olls . The cost; r eva l en t personne l arro r waS th o l nck of a i r ~ i s c i p l i n e .The useof r o.dio bomb r eleases would h e lp t h i s s i t un t i on . $ 6 v e r~ l ~ 1 -

funct ions of the A- 2 releo.s e system necessito.to d sa lv o ing o t bombs .

(3) Fl igh t Engineering: (S ee Annex J ..P a r t I I I for de t a i l s ) . Becaus e o f unexpected head winds, more timewaS taken to r each planned a l t i t u d e n t the t a rg e t . thus using an

o.veraga of a?proximo.tely35

0 moreg o . l l~ n s

of gasc l lne? 8 r

o. i rerar tthan plnn ned. 8 - 29 A' s were employ ed f or th e f i r s t time by t h i scommo.nd n.n1 due to the sm:\ller center win g sec t i C'n. these nirern.t tope ra te on 200 gallons l es s fu e l . On future missi o ns, these ni r-planes were to be g iven more advnntngeous posi t ions 1n th e f o r -mations .

(4) Rnderl (See Annex ~ . Pa r t IV to r d e t A 1I . ) ~

ANlA?Q-13 equipment Wn8 u8ed f or targ e t &Tea n ~ v i g n ti o n . windde t e r minn t i on ~ n d n p~ r o a c b to r visuftl ~ n 4 r a dn r boobing . ~ l o y-ment o t SCR 716 r adio al t imeter ~ d SCR-695 IFF equipment wns normal .Fixes w ~ r etaken us ing ANVAPN-4 . q u i p m e n t ~A ma j or i t y were a t a

r nnge between 6(.'0 t o9 0

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de ta i l s ) ,using th e

(5 ) GypntrYI (See Annex A. rmrtV f orGunner s sh owed iapro . . . . t 1n contr o l l i ng t h . i r bur s t . .

in te r phone , and d.signnt1ng the i r tnrgete .

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H E A D Q U A R T ~ S

XXI BO).!BEll. Cww.N OAP O 234.

TACTICAL LlISSION REPORT

Fie ld Orders No . 22 1oI1 ss10 n !To , 26

Targe t ; po r t an d b u l l - up urba.n tU'ea. ,

KOBE . J;"pAN

4. Februo.ry 19 4.5

Tab l e of Cont ent e

Ta.ctic a l Nor rat1vl) Report

Annex A- - Ope r a t i ons Repo r t8

Par t 1-- Navigatio n

P a r t 11 - Bombardier

Pa r t I I I _-F l i g h t Engineering

Po r t IV - Radal'

Par t V-- Gunne ry

Pa r t Vl - Air-Sea Res cu e

Annex B- ... Po.rt I __Wea.ther

Annex C-- Communications Reports

Port 1 - - Radnr Counter Uea.8u r es

Port 11-- Communica.tion ' s Ot:t:i eor ' s Repor t

Annex 0-- Intel l ig enoe Repor t .

Par t 1 - - Enemy Air Oppoli t i on

Par t I I - -E nemy Antla.1rorat t

Part III-Boabins' Re.u l t . ~ d ~ e l • • • • .aat

Annex & _ Consolidated Stat l . t loa l Su..ary

Annex F_ .. r i eU Ord . . .

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H E A D Q U A R T ~ S

XXI BO).!BEll. Cww.N OAP O 234.

TACTICAL LlISSION REPORT

Fie ld Orders No . 22 1oI1 ss10 n !To , 26

Targe t ; po r t an d b u l l - up urba.n tU'ea. ,

KOBE . J;"pAN

4. Februo.ry 19 4.5

Tab l e of Cont ent e

Ta.ctic a l Nor rat1vl) Report

Annex A- - Ope r a t i ons Repo r t8

Par t 1-- Navigatio n

P a r t 11 - Bombardier

Pa r t I I I _-F l i g h t Engineering

Po r t IV - Radal'

Par t V-- Gunne ry

Pa r t Vl - Air-Sea Res cu e

Annex B- ... Po.rt I __Wea.ther

Annex C-- Communications Reports

Port 1 - - Radnr Counter Uea.8u r es

Port 11-- Communica.tion ' s Ot:t:i eor ' s Repor t

Annex 0-- Intel l ig enoe Repor t .

Par t 1 - - Enemy Air Oppoli t i on

Par t I I - -E nemy Antla.1rorat t

Part III-Boabins' Re.u l t . ~ d ~ e l • • • • .aat

Annex & _ Consolidated Stat l . t loa l Su..ary

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(6 ) AI, ~ S & «a. '99 '1 (S• • &nnex ~ . r - . tO ~ B-29 diUSheQ. IloPJMxir;.ll'1sdy 1& . 1 1 • • hOl l

Cl"ew lIIo511ibSl'S _r. p icked IlP by a i r / . . . 1 " I ' 1 0 ~

_ r; . Weath!!£: (See't\nDox B, Par t I to r de-te. l l . ' .rhe · t u , e t . area hll4 0. 611 0 to e / lO d to!;,"IiU}v.e c loud b,tl.tld . . H .

O O ~t e e t with tepa o.t 16 . 000 l • • 0.8 contr o. l t . d ·wlth ~ rOyeonat '.. or 3 /10 to 4110 Clo u.d c o . e _ ~ e .Wlndl OYer tcM t u & e t "arl. • • ,-oa

'; • 260 d e v ' e . " . U S k no t . t o 28 0 degr • • • • 18 0 kn o t . . "o . th l ' l l oon41t1.01Wo.t ~ a • • f d r - th e t c l t ... o!:r «n d 1. . 1n g .,..re &6 04 .

,( 1 ) ROodill' Counter M u , u r e ' I , ( ~. . .J\nax C.P a r t I fo r a e t . .i l . ) . Four RO M aea.reh d r _ r a f t , e o . c ~wtt.h on e Rcnl _observe'r . pox t1cipo.t e4 '1:n t h i s mls.alon. Soarch "0 .1 II'1II.41 f or enemyEo.rly Warning Ro.do.r equipment u.nt1l the JlllI.lnl Ill'Id w'" reo.chad. wherelUI.reh .W l I . llIG.de f or. Ge l :.J::.'nd GL ,ro.do.u o.nd enlllltY f igh te r ..communico.ti ona cho.nnels. Atoto.l or 51 ro.da r signals WOoSl ogged o.nd :.\ enemyVHF voic e tro.nsmiS$i one were r eco r ded .

(2 ) Com m unlco.ti ona: (See Annex C, PQ.r t 11for deta i l s ) . All B t r i k~ f.requencles were jo..rnmed or in t ert" eredwith o.t di f te ren t pe r i ods dur ing the missi on . The percentc.gebreo.kdown o t t ra ff ic per trequoncy f o l l ows: 45 pe r cent on 3145kilocycles; 28 p er cent on 11 080 k i l oc ycl e s , And 27 per cent on6055 k i l ocycles . Radio s i l ence was m ~ i n t a i n e dto th 5 t a rge t o.ndove r o.11 seouri ty wns go-xi; . _ _ _ _ _ . .

- . - i . Intel l igenc e Snm"'ry:

(1 ) From Reil in t ercepts o . n ~th 5 presanceo t paCer o. l rcrat t . 1.t is 'belt.eved ' \hnt . the ehellY hs.:f eal-ly pr iorwarnln -g o t the o.ttc.ck lind was able to a:1ert h is deteMe. .

-'

(2) Enemv Air O;!posit1on: (See Annex DfPor t J to r d e t a i l s ) ; Enemy a i r oP I}osi t ion 1mB strong. with anestimated 205 enemy ' a i r c rn f t mo..king 273. o.ttacks . Using a v a r a ~ s ,

eaoh 8-29 susto.ined 2.6 at tacks, whioh Is 10S8 thnn tho.t experienced on preVious mJ.ss1o_DAL·.Ea.ch .lnpClllue f ighter IfIIlde 1 .3 atta.cks,which Is about normal. One per oent o t th e 8-29 torce wns deatroyed nnd 12 par cent 4 ~ g e d_b y_ J ~ p a n o a er 1 g ~ t o r a .Jojoa andTonya made 61 per C.ent or a l l at tacks. The n080 c.ttack . t H l pre ·dominated o.s the enemy's tnvor l te , being uao d in 61 per cont at theat tacks. A breo.kdown of a p ~ r o o . c ht ac t ios sho.ad 41 per c&nt to rap;roache. trgm belOW; as per cent trom a b o ~ e ,and 34 p er cen tlevel . Five co ordino.ted at tacks . . o reported. Some Tony •• Tojo.Gnd Nicks wore obsorved to lower t he i r lAnding gear pr ior to at tack,po.s ib ly to reduce Spe6d and i m p r o ~ eapproaCh e t rec t ivene . . . Are w enemy a i r c r ~ r tmet the 8.29 'a a t lea Qnd t ra i led the t o r . - t .iona, probably c o m m u n i c o . t i n ~. i t h th e i r o . . D t i ~ i r c r n l tand t igh tercont ro l le rs .

(3 ) Aptiairoraf t : (See AAftex D. Par t I I

to r deto.l la). There. .

'$ no 10. . . .

to I\nt1airorcJ't, bl.lt 21 8 ...28'aor JG per cent o t the a t t n o k l n ~toroe. . u t t e r . d bat t le d ~ .J .nt1alrorat t n •• w u no cSeterrent t r a a lAndfall to t.bI t a r , . t aDdtroll ta.rcet to lcmd'. eDd. OYer t t . t a rce t , aoourate, IIOderlllte tointense f i r e throUih the overcl l . t . . experlonoed by a l l to r.a t ioDa,One 1Il1rcro.tt o b l e r v e ~III ph08phorou. bur a t. de.oribe4 Qa -whiteu.mbrella..,hapod pat te rn , - il l the lobe IU"ICl. Tho burat . . . ~ p r o x..1Ila.te1y one mile to the roar or the report ing ni l 'on t t .

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(4 ) B"J:lb1ns; R e sul t ! ; ,",0"; P"p :\!;O 'SSOSSI:l'Jot:

(5 0 0 l .noox D, i"n r t I I I r " r ",et ""l l s ) . ! 'hoto I nteryrot" l . t i "o ,..,ri"h ot o Roo non ...1s ,"'.oco Un1 t ph ':l t Cls . , bt ~ ,l ne ( l . on 5 th nn1 6 t h Fobru,", r y .1945 , showo:\ v i s1b l e ·:"'..Cl f'.f.;e c ove r1 ng 2 . 65 1 , (" C squ"..J'o f 0 6 t . Thot h ro e i llQo r t n n t In :!us t r lC".l t r,r £:ot s io t h o n r o ~ , wo r e ~ lf ' . m t \ , g e dasro l1 0wa:

Targe t 16 9 . lU t s u b i s h l He!\v y In ' us t r i : J s . Ltd , . - - : , ? , r ox i!:Iato l y 68 , 0 ( ( squ r, re fo e t ( 2. p O l ' c e n t ) " f t h o p 1 c.n t wc\s ~ os t ro y e d.

To.r g e t 785, Knno L"r. fuch i Sot.r, In-:' ,u s t r y - - i " , r ox1mr. t e l ya 2 C, C ~ ( squ c.r e fo o t ( 49 p Ol' c o n t ) of t h e ? l n n t wr,s d es t r o y tid .

Tnr g Elt I I . Kr.w(',s:l.k:1 Locomot i ve n o "! Cor COl!!jlnny - . . p-.,r ox lmately 2.2, CCC. squ ",ro f6 a t of r oo f n r e~ wr.s ~ e st r o y e : : l ..

I n o.dr.:!l t i o n , u l s c ell::c noous dnon!;e cn !'lunt1n.g t o c,;>p r OX 1 -mately l , 7 U , CO( squ(',ro f e o t wns sus t r.1ne d b y 6m(\1 1 1n e.u Btr1Elsnnd housing n nd b u s i n e s s d 1 s t r i c t s c e n t e re ~ c.bou t t h o t h r o e t a r ge t sl i s t e d ('.hove .

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OPERSIONS REPORTS

Exhi b i t · Tr ".ck Cbo.rts

Par t 1 ... N ~ v 1 b n t or ' a R o p~ r t

P ';:.r t I I ... Bomb::t rd i e r ' a R e ~ or t

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Pa.n • - GuM"« 1 1 • • ." aepon.PCLr' VI .. Ai r s a ' : ' Rouuo Repo r t

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OPEiRATIONS REPORTS

UBI....l - NAYIG!.TcmS REPORT

1. N a . 1 ~ a t 1 0 non thls ml1i11i110n lI'as ma1nly a problelll or maklnr;proper d r l f t oorrect1on 1n th e c11mb pha se . Three groups of th e73rd W1ng made landfall aa briefed. 1I'1tb the n a . i ~ a t o rapplying ..

proper additional l e f t corr ection to cOlllpene .. te tor th o 30 -knot inereaee in pr ed1cted w1nd velocity. Metro winda were eettmated a t290/130 knots and experienc ed a t 270/160 knote .

2. The 500th Group of the 73rd Wing made landf i l l 50 mll • •etl.at of course, th e ln i t 1 d error haTing be.n melds in th e f 1 n tphase or th e f l igh t botora tho Climb pbllu. The lead llATlglLtor"ostimo.tod po81t1on of turn 1fQ.G 30 mllss e u t or ths briefed turnII,.t 2900N _ 13 545 8. Not beIng " W I U ' S or h h error In poal t i on. tbe

llATiga.tor I!Ul.de corr ec t ion cn the a.8sumption be WD J on th e br ie t .drout e . Hi8 finell lancifnll erro r wtt.8 a. combin tl.t1on at th e i n i t h lerror and 0. fa i lu r e t o correct for th e 1ncre:t.8ed 'n loci ty of thecroes ..w1nd oxperienoed in th e climb. Hia rll.dll.J' JJt -APQ-l3 go.v .

poor roturne, and th e navigo.tcr fa i l ed t o obaerv e h h e r r or 1nsuff i c ien t time to mo.ke tho;, necessary correct i on to th e briefedlo.ndtall point . Upon discovery of hia er r or . the formation l . a d no.ttomptad to r ea oh Kobe. but tho excoS8ive head wind on th e du .westerly course neoessary to reach the to.rg et r es ulted in . x ce s .iv o fuol oonsumption and th o formation turned enstward and bombedthe l a s t reaor t t a rge t .

3. The 313th Bomba.rdment Wing navigat i o n ~ s good. considering tho oxeessive wind problem expori enced on i t s f i r s t operationalmission. Nllvigo.tors in the 504th Group overcorr octed to th e we.t .Nnvlgation errors to the west Can be e . s i ly oorr ec t ed on ~ down

wind h e ~ d i n g .bu t errors to th e oast make corr ec t i ons to the i n i t i a lpoint impo • • ible becnuse of excessive hendwinds.

4. The 504th Gr oup made l n n d f ~ l l30 miles west o f course ~ 4

correctod to th e I n i t i u l poin t . The 505th Gr oup mnde landfnl l 10milas welt o f br ie fed point .

5 . NQvigntion in tbe tn rge t aren wne .ade with the AR·APQ-13.Crews were s t i l l no t makIng proper use of thIs eqUi pment to r ~precis ion navlt;ation nece.s(il'Y in t a rge t a.rena. The I n i t h l pointWnS ea. l1y di. t ingulsho.ble on th o rndar .oope. but group. rn i l edto pnS8 di rec t ly over i t a . br le red , A program bns bee n in . t I tu ted

to give inorea.ed turn wnd t a rg e t t rn ining t o of t se t th e hnndioap.of high wind veloci t le ••

6. The 3l3th W1ng o r i t i c i s ed a i • • i on planning nnd expres.edth e desire t or 0. down wind run, rho high ra te or ol o. \ l re w i t h

ground epeeda up to 50 0 UPH with ~ oon.equent ' b or t enint at t l aeto r t a rg e t ident i f icat ion. bOllhaigbt. and radar adJuatMntl: - " eupwind run. nooe .. ry CD .. n t a r, e t l l . except in c . . . . . wbere theprobabi l i ty at t l ak d ~ g eo u t w e i g ~~ addit ionnl po • • i b i l i t y atincreased bombint o.oourncy. Cri t io i .m ft.' a l .o aade or the dogl eg . to ADd r raa the t a rg e t , Utaaion. are p l ~ n n . dto u t i l i , e ~wind. OD. a l l rou te . . During th e oUab pha.e .. . nor ther ly bud1a&Gut. d ~ w n ' )t h e ' e f f ..c t of we&torly h,,_d ·w1f\.de, A ' scuthw,uter l '"b ~ _ d ~o " ' ~ r outo'hol:lB lnoreQJI e a th e groW\d 'Pe ad o.nd c.otwLllydiminisho. th e t o t ~ lt1me flown.

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S K C R E T

' . Navigators in th e 313th Wing c r i t i c i ~ & dLoran in acouraoy.but an i n ve s t l g ~t i o nor the 73rd Wing r eturns indicate t ha t 313thWing N ~ V i g a t o r sneed add i t ion al t ra in ing in f ix in t erp re ta t i on.The smnll angle of coincidence of the G u ~and Ulith chains make apoor cut , and mny res u l t in a 1 0 - ~ i le plo t t in g errcr.

8 .The

route hOllle wusflown

Q 8 briefed.

with 0.11no.vigQ.torsut l l1 t ing th e s t ~ r sand plo.nets during the l a s t 3 hours af' f l1sht .

The north ern Ma.rlnnas were also u t i l i te d Q 8 radar check points.

p . Tho to ta l t l ~ e to tlvJ ta rget tLnraged 40 minu.te. le te t o r

a l l units as 0. resu l t af' th e increo.aod 'ff1nd velocit ios experienced.Howeve r . units of ' the 73rd Wing III:I.de us e of previous experionce Inut i l iz ing t a i l winds a t fD.vorabl e a.l t i tudes. nnd a.r r i vad a.t basewith M o.vero.ge toto.1 time or 1, ,12, 4 minutes 1D.ter tha.n e stimll.ted.

10 . Units of tho 313th Wing were naturD.lly inexperi encod inut i l i z ing th e most fo.vorable winds Md hAd an. o.verage t o u l t imoof 14146.

PARI I I - BOMBARDIER'S REPORT

1 . Bombing r esul t s on t h i s missiOn were considered fni r.based on th e number of a i r c r a f t b o ~ bi n g e nd. th e predominntin&e i ght - t enths c lou d ove r t a rge t . The mc.jority of b o ~ br une :mdreleases were accomplished by r nd o.r with shor t visu a l cheCKS. Inn Il Cases i n ~ d e q u a te s t r ik e photography made i t iDpossible to

const ruct 0. bomb pl o t . However. 0.11 visu a l damAge was w1th1n7000 fee t of th e briefed aiming po i n t s . destroying a p p r o x i ~ t e l y

2,651,000 square f e e t in th e c i t y of Kobe .

2. Errors in bomb in g were a t t r ibu ted t o both personnel o.ndeq u i pment malfunctions . Th e most prevalent o f pe r sonns l e r r orswoos l ack of n i l' disc ip l ine . Seve r a l i n s t nnces were noted whereo . 1 r c r ~ tdropped on a i rcro . f t othe r thnn le ad and doput¥ l end, i . e .when one element le o.de r experienced t r ouble before rea.ching t b tt a r ge t and dropped his bombs o.nd l ef t f orco.tion, both w 1 ~DOndropped on hie and others in the f ormntion dr opped o1so • l Go.vingfe w e ffec t ive nircra.f t in tho forlD8.tion to drop on th e l end o.irc r a f t o.t to.r ga t time. Another o.1rcra.ft dropped i t s bombs uponbearing IBombs Awayl OYW' VlF, Q.D.d !\glll:n numor ous o.1rcra . f t dropped

on him. The -Bombs Awtrf· repor t heQrd on VEF WIlS from o.n oo.r l lerf ormo.t i on ove r the to rge t . Tho Qbove showed the imcediete Doodfo r ro.dio bomb r e l enses , ( o r . . t l s h ) A shipment of theso roloo.so.i ~ - en rou te . One Group, due t o n major e r r or in nnvlgo.tion o.ndpoor judgment 1n seloct ing a t a rge t or o p p o r t u n i ~ W Q stoto. l ly i n -

e ffoc t Ive .

3 . Severnl malfunotion. in tho A-2 r o l eo.so systolD Dacl3as1 -t i l ted th e So.lvoing or b ombs.

- ..111.£111:



PART I I I _ FLIGHT ENG I NEER ' S REPORT

A. COCllllonta on oTlli s e c on tr ol during tlvJ lIIisai on u e o.sf o l l olll'S r

1 . ~ A1t1tllde Crllis o !

( 0.) The low I l lUtl l de or uiao to the p o i n t or climb r e ·qpired o.pp r oximo.t e ly 6r hOllTa or 10 minlltee l ese than p1o.nnad f orb o t h the 73rd o. nd 313th W1n gs . which indic o.te s tbo.t p r o.c t ico . l ly nounOxp oc t od wi n d c on4 i t i ona wero onc o l lnt e r e d on t h i l l e g or thef l i g h t p lo.n,

(b ) The powe r n t t i n g l r equ i r ed o.t th o I t o r t of th oini t i ( l . l cru ise we r o nor m0. 1 f or t h e 73rd ."ing. H,"""v e r . l ome u rplo.nes of t h e 313th Wing r oqu i r ed Il.llto r i c h pow e r IOt t ing s f or th ef i r s t h o. l f ho ur durin g Il.ssemb l y . Sllbsequ e n t power n t t i nge ; werenormn i .

2. Climb t o Bombing Al t i tude! The time fo r c l i ab . o.so.ppr o ximo.tely 75 mi nut e s , Il S pl anned; ne i t h e r wing r equ.lred r o.tedpower se t t i ngs to lIID.into.ln the formo.ti o n .

3 , Cr uise o.t Bomb ing Al t i ude ;

( D.) BecD.use of un exp ec t e d ho o.d winds. bo t h wings s pentnpp r ox i mo.te l y 77 minutes n t b ombing n l t i tuda p r i or t o r ouching thet n r ge t . Th i s was 30 mi n u t e s l ongo r thAn plo.nned , o.nd caused thec onsumpti on or ~ add i t i ona l 350 gul lons of f uo l pe r ~ r er c r t.

( b ) Power s e t t i ngs fo r b o t h wi ng s in t h i s c ru i se ~ •on t h e bombing ru n wer e o.S pr ed i c t e d , In n o i n l t ~ n c ewns core tbnnra:te d power nec es sa ry to mainto.in f o rm o. t i o n po s i t i o n .

4 , Return 12 ~ Good ta.1l win ds o. i ded cC'nsidero.bly 10a o.vin g fu e l on th e r e tu rn to bo.se . Th e two typ e s of Q O . X ~ U J : 1r a.nger e t urn p r o ce du re s emp l oyed , - Cons t an t Letd own and High A l t i t udeBe s t W nd - work ed eq u a l l y we l l ,

5 . Gen e r a l Comments;

(a ) T h i s miSSion waS· t ~ ~ d D ~ l n tof f l i g h t ene i n se r l n g ,d ic t ed f ~G l ~ o n8 u m p t i o nwa s cnusedc ond i t i on e .

e x t r eme l y sucoess fu l frcm tho

The o n ly de vio.t1 on f r om th e preby u n e x p e o t o ~hi gh ILl t1 tu de wind

(b ) 8 - 29A ' s we r e employ ed fo r the f i r s t t i me by t b 1 .COllllDCUld. Du G to th e smnl le r c en t e r wing seot ion . t b e n ILircro.ttop e ro.te on 200 go.l1 o n8 l os s f u e l . On f u t u r e m 1 s s io ~ , the l " a ir _p i llno s ware t o be g i9 ' e n tho lII or o advo.ntAgo ou , p011t10M i n the f o rIIlO.tiona .

PARt IV • R e P " OFFICA'S W a t t

1 . AaMt 1ijpm1gymept!"

-.i l J U . l l



(a ) Tho r ada r equ.lpmont WI).S u.so d fo r ta . rget a r e ..nl).vi gClt1on. wind d e t e rmin l).t i on . an d r l).dl).ro.pprol).oh t o v1su. l).l bombin!; I).nd complete ro.dlll'bomblng .

(b ) Ro.dlll' wus employed by 5 l e o.d o . l r e r ~ t .witb 44dro pp lng on thom.

2 . sea na (ReAl0 Altim e t er ) : Employment 'II1'II.5 nor lllo.l .

3 , AN/APN - 4: " F1 x a s we r e U k o n a t 0. mo.xImUD of 1000 mllelS.A lIIo.jor1ty r o n ge d between aOO - 900 miles , w1th o ne f I x be ing I\ t 1400

milos .

4. SCR-695 ( I FF)I Employment wtlS norlW- l .

2 . Ro.do.r Egu.l pmont Performo.nce;

1 . 73rd W1ngj

(0.) 71~ C

wore r ndo. r oqu1pped.

(b) 61 Ale r eported r ndnr opero.tion eo.t t s f l lCt o ryf o r bombing .

( a ) 38 Ale we r e ro . dor equ i pped ,

( b) 21 Ale reper ted ndo. r opero.tion BD.t16fo.oto r yfe r bcmbing .

( 0) 7 Ale with r adnr were allorted Ale. Two. wer e dueto. r ad or mal funct i en ,

3 . Mo.lfunct i on s l

a . AN/APS - l 3 t

(1) Two: No. s igna l s a t a l t i t u d e .

(2) One: In ope r o.tivo on r e t urn. no data .

(3 ) One: Low c r y s t a l o.nd t ro.nsmlt ter ou r r e a t .

(4) Thr o e I Tr ansm i t t e r cur r en t ou t cut .

(5) One r Hc sweep

( 6 ) Thr ee : No. 8igno. l s ,

( 7 ' One: T i l t DeobG.ft1am , tuck.

b . JJJI APB-4,

(1) One; He e1gnal l .

( 2 ' 0 .. Une teo.dy in ver to r vol t a.go .

•• SCB-7l8, OnD Al t1ae t er t a t h r e ,

4. §gu.a9§1 0 - m repor t -d out .

-.-



PART V _ GUNNERY0FTI Crn 'S REPORT

1. The missi on fr om the gunnery s t ~ d po i n t ~ . highly sucCUsaf u1. The C.P.C. syst e m ~ s 96% o p er ~ t i ve ~ n d the cachine gunsware g 7% o p er ~ t i V G. Gunnars b e g~ n t o shaw r e c & rk ~ bl e i mpr ovementi n Con tr ol l in g th e i r bursts , use of th e in te r phone , am to.rget 4esi g n ~ ti o n . The enemy woos s t i l l usin g ~ r ~ i nb a wo f colore with nodefinite pg,tte rn of colo r schOllia in th e I1IIl.r k in g o f their nl rcro.tt .Thoy r e spected a t i gh t f ormat i on ~ d wo r . not aggressive g,gg,instauch Q. fo r mg,ti on. F./A s tU I f g,vo r th e nose o.ttg,ck f r om te n t o t'froo ' cl ock from high, l eve l Md below . I t Wl).S no'tod on this mil8iont ho.t Tonya , ToJ os and Nicks If(Ire th e p r e d o l Di n~ n t a.ircrl1ft . Thes ethr ee types of EOIA were re po r t ed by gunne ry obse rv ers of th e 73rdWing o.a l e t t i n g thei r geo.r dawn . poss ib ly to s low down th e r g,t e ofc l os ur e or t o g,id f urth e r t he i r r g,fIIIlIin g tactiOs , Irvin ga w e r ~met50 miles f r om I nnMc.ll and were evi den t l y relaying informati on t oAA ba.t t e r i Gs on our a l t i tud e , o.i r spee d , and direct i on of f l ig):l.t .

2 , Equ i pmen t ope r a.t e d ns f ol l ows :

p r d Wing 3 p t h Wing ~" 50 ca l . AmmUni t i on

Exp end i t Urs 86. 000 r ds . 4.6, .000 rd s l ~ 2 . 0 o orda.

b , O p ~r l l t i on C , F .C .System 98% 98% 98%

c , Oper ation used50 Ca l . M. G. 9 "; 9 " ; 9 " ;

d , Gu ns l oaded Col d Hot

3 . Enemy a i r oppo s i t i on ( See Annex D - Inte l l igenc e r epo r t sfo r deto . l l s ) .

P AR T VI - AIR -5 8A RESCUE REPORT

A .summo.r y of t ho di t ch i ng i nciden t cccurrlng on thie ciss ionfol lo ws :

a . Ai r c r af t 4.2_24629 . ca l l s i gn 9V607 - 7 3r d Bombarement ! 1 ~.

WOosd i t chod on r oute t o bo.s e .

(1 ) F i r s t m e s s ~ g erace 17ed by th i s h e n dq u a . r t~ r a n t 04 1506 ,'Aic 4.a. 24.62g d it ch e d o.ppr oxim n t Gl y 1 2 mi le s f r om Sni pn n on ~ b e ~ r i n g

of 3.30 deg . W ng Supe r-Du mbo . Cyc l one 22 (A2ll) , Cyclone 2l ( U )c i r c l ed di tc h ed ni r c r a f t un t i l r e l i eved by Naval Dumbo. '

( 2) Se cond m ee s ~ o re c oi ved n t 0 '15 '3 , ' Te n ( 10 ) su r vivorsrescu e d f rom ditched ai r c r a f t 9V60T.·

C ~ e n t :The r es cu e f ~ c i l i t i e s avnl1 ab l e (o r th i s mi ss i o n we r e oncou r se , but i t i s be l i eved had t h i s d i toh i ng oocu r re d nor th of IwcJ i ma, the poss i bi l i t y ~ r e r r e 6 t l ng r e sc ue wou l d have bee n r emo t e .( Soe Ai r - SGa Re so uo map ~ n f o l low i ng page) .

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C 1.. 'I 'hl0 opera t ion r:as pl.anD.od on Il f o r e c a s t p r ese n t e d t o t hoCIOJI:De.nd1Df!, G c m r a l . on 3 Fe b rua ry 1945. Three t o f o a t en t h s cl.Q.ld

cov e rs . . • ,t 0 wa s fo rec as t f o r t he t a r ge t iU'ea. The ro u t e i l a 5 .. orecaso ha v o eood iIO a t he r ~ l t h e ue a lt ! r o n t 'cD e r o e s . a nd t h o has e s '=Elro

eX pe Ct' ld t o ha ve goed I.e s t he r t h r ough ou t t he de.:t.

t 2 . Th o ba se s a t t s ko - o f f h ad t "l'lO te n. t hs cWIl.l.l.ua 1'11 t h bas e s a t .if"to on hundred fe e t end tops &-t s i x t hou e and t e o t . V181b. l l i ty WeB

f i f t e o n mi l e s . Th e s o c on d i t i ons pr e va i l ed to n i ne tee n. de gr o e s n or t hii he ro c l oUd co vo r i n c r e a s e d t o ni.no t e nthS s al ee a t t c r ed s ha; ; e r s h'e r eOncOUQt c re d . r educ ing v_ s i h i l i t y to t '10 IIlilc s . F r om t h i s ~ o n ot ot ...enty th ree desroos nor th tb:lre ~Ia s f iv e t e nths a tratocUll1ll.IVl Q . t hs i x tOQ. t. bs a U ocumu.lus bn s e d a t t wo l ve t houae.rd. 1 00 11-. B e ~; ; oo n wontyi lour do&rocs end t l'lo n t y dsb t dOe,r OC B n or t h a f r o n t a l %oOIW -=88 e n -cooutrt.orod u i t h ovo rcast. cumulus al1i stratoeW!l.l.l.us · olowla. Ceil i . .nePt:o re t , ':c l vo bUildr o d f o o t , l cmer i ng to fiv e hundr o d to o t i n shaR e r s .Ei8ht t( m th S a l t ost ra tus \70.5 ~ r o se n t in th i s er oa C it h bases a t t ~ el v . t ! >

thOU Sand f eo t /lnd /l ci r rootra tus o w r c a s t \-;es pres e nt a t t l l1r tythousand f o o t . Vi s i b i l i t i os i l l t h i s area \;U ro about a i a bt m il os ,dropp1nS to a milo i n sbO'i Jcrs .. Fran t ~ en t yei g ht de greos no r t h t o thet a rge t thoro was f ivo t enths cumulus bascd a.t . th m o thousand foot

~·1 1t h tops a t e igb t thous an d : B .e c t . ~fibur ton"th s a l t 06 t ra tus bc.Sod a t

fU ' tocn thru.sand foc t am . Ui e,h t tenth 5 c i r r o e t r a t us a t tb1.rty t b oo.sand f o e t .

3 . Tbe t a rge t be d s i x t o e igh t ten tbs altoewmllus c .Qlifor baseda t foo.rt e c n t hoo.sand fGoct t .i t t . t o:DS a t s ix to o n thousand foot ....b id lOecoss i ta tod rade1! · bombing m tb sho r t ....

~ U l l l .oboek.s ..

4. The ne a t her on the route on re turn -,1as a p p r ~ i ! m t c l . ytb oeame as t he route o u t . Base condi t ions .. ero the some as thoy he dbeen a t take - o f f t i n o.

S. Il inda repor tcd over t ho t a r ge t vc.riod tree. 280 degrees, 145lolots to 2&:1 do.grcOB . 18 0 knot.s .

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ANN SX

c

COMMUN IC. :'TI ONS REPORTS

Po. r t I - Rndnr Counter l f a ll8 1ll' GS

Pr.r t I I - Communic a t i ons Of t i c e r ' s Report

Ht ' l1 on Ro, !!§.

, FobrQQ..,. 1945



r

Par t I i conS COltJUEll ' : E ~ sl f f i ~

1, GenerAl : F o ~ rRCU .earoh a . ir c r ~ t . eAch with one ReW Observ er pa r t i c i ?a t .d in th i s mi s eion. Search fo r Early Wa.rning R ~ Q r

e q u i p ~e n t wus Acoomp l i sh ed un t i l th e ma in land was r en Ched, wb$re a . e _arch f or OCI and GL r ndnrs nn d e nemy f igh t e r communications chnnnelew. s made . Fr e queno i e . of 2S t o 3 0 0 0 mo/s we re searChed.

2 , . R e 6 ~l t s I

. . A t o tn l of 51 radmr 8i g nnls wae l ogged n nd 3 enemy VHFvo iCe t r nnsrnls8i ona wer e record e d.

~ . No n/Fing of nny B i ~ n lwns po s Bi b l e due t o the lnCk ofB ~ i t~ bl e nntenn.s .

c;. Alth ough f I nk WQ S go nera.lly mod" r o.te o.nd ino.ccUT a.te tonCcurnt e . s ix s i gnnls wer e he nrd in th e ge ne r a.l t n r~ . t Qrea ~ i c hmayhnv e b ee n empl oyed f o r gu n l nyln g . These er e 0. 8 f o l l o_ :

Fr e quency

190 1110

19 8 mc

22 5 mo

2S 3 me

303 mc

3 07 mC

Puls e W d tb

5

•3.559

10

!B!'.

1400

125010001400150015 00

~ . No ev id en ce of radar f i gh t e r vectoring was discov e red •

•• The co mp l e t e 8ign3.l i n t e rc e p t log i s Il.S fol lows:(1 ) t a r g e t Aren

Frequency n m. Remo,rk.

92,..9410210610611 2h 5 - 14615 0152ISSI • •

19 0

19 0194-198225253303..30733 3>7S1'00

33-4531,.

505015-15)0)07

•15

....3 .SSV .I0<S.20

- 1 •

25030045020 0

'0 0250200200)OCO

750UO O250)250)0001'0015 00

30 0

J I ~ l U I . l %

s.eep1rlgSweep in gS . ~ o p i n g

Swoop in gS.eepiD.l;SweepingSweepiQ6Sweepillt;;sweep1nt;;t r n ~ l a f :

Trnok1D.gS w u y r n t e 11 RPIIS n ~ n t e : 5 RPJfrr aokiDITraokingTu o k i n gSweepillbTr IlOklngSIr• • pIOC



(2) Frolll To.rglJt ~ 1 . " B . . ! f I .

FrlJgu!ncv n ur. RemQtk. I n t o t y lJDt L2c , t l on

1. 5 8 1600 Trll.cklng SwaJ..u Arell.1 .0 12 15 00 Tr:..cklng Suml.u Ar . . .16 0 8 5 00 Trllcttln g Volcllll lJ Itla.ncl,lS S • 75 0 Tu c k i n g Volco.no 1 .1 :r.n4.153 27 25 0 Tra.ok l ng Vo lc&n o 1.111.0.4815 0 •• 20 0 Tr .ck ing Vo lcan o Itla.nd.." 8 30 75 0 S _ G',l rll.te Vo lcl ln o I t l ~ c l .

, RPll145 -1 4 7 a _ lO 25 0 Tro.cldng, Bonin I t lo.nd.106 -1 OS I ' 15 00 Tr o.cking Bonin 1I 1 llJ\de1 0 7 .. ' 50 Tr o.ck in g Vo l can c 1tlllllde1 06 13 11 00 TrlLcking VoIc o.n o l . l o .nd .1 06 . 0 . 00 T n c k i n g Vo l c o.no l ' lo.ncla10 3 ,. 15 00 Tr o.cking So1'u o..n1 02 2C -3 s 7 CO_I OCC Tra.cklng So1'\\ o.n93 -9 4 35 700 -8 00 Swooping Sc t u Go.n8 0 4C ' OC _50 0 Sw o ep r o.t e SWIlhu

V 3 RPll(3 ) To I a . rge t

F r equency PL PRP Re rnwk. I n t e r c e p t Locat1 o n

75 3 0 6 00 TrIl.Cking, 33 ° N-1 360E76 26 2 .0 Trnckin g79 45 1 00e T r acking62 31 3CO T t n c k l n g

9 ' 25 l OCO TI'a.cklng. 6 6 . 5 roco T n c k i n g9 7 3 0 100 0 Tr a c k i n g

•• 6 . 5 1 000 Track ing10" ' 3 0 5 00 _ l COO Trnck lngl e3 3 700 Tra.cking Iwo J1II. .1 0 , lO 25 0 E Sweep r n t e

2 RPMl e 7 1 5 1 000 Swee p u t e

1 R P ~l c..e .. l l C 40-50 ' CO t rACking1<. " S OC S - o p i n g1'47 14 45 0 Tra .cking15 0 -152 7-8 :125-4 00 Trac .k lng151 7 1000 .}25 0 Track ing15 l -155 6 3:50-850 Sweep ra . te

1 / 3 R P ~

f . Sn emy jllJlWlln g on t h e fo l lowin g communicati ons t l 'eqll8nole1wn.a not ,d I

Freguenc'll' Typ411 J geming l f t e c t l n p e § 8 tou t loA

1 l08 0KC CW' o.nd IMI' 50J Rear B o n t u60 55 !ICY 5 ~ leU' BolLinl3145 err 1 ~ Bonini to B u eS OOl e err OYer Dlplre

'. lSguiElZle g t :

• • No DIp' AntenDU hAd b . ' n re oo1nd t o dat e a nd U \ 1.D.Iu.ttlot ea t number of C- l CAPA-5X a .o l l1a to r . . . . aval1abl •

b . Tw o r e c e h o r a ~ 1 t 7 R. . . and ANJPA-6 i' u u . U l . q p r . 11&"b • • n borrowed t o r lot• • by the 313th 80abard lu f t t . 1ac .

- 1 0

11 Jl1I.I. 1 1



o. Squlpment - . l func t ion . on t h l s ml •• l on wer e oneA1I/ APA-6 whloh e u e d fUnotl on l ng . Thll equl p lDOnt beln& 'bench cheeked..

4. Conclusion'r

a . Photo coverag e of t h i . area is in c ompl e t e . The ~ v a 1 l~ b l ophot o. h4ve 'been stud i ed f o r gun l ~ y i n gr ~ d & TI n. t ~ ll ~ t l o n .

b ll t none btLve been discov e re d to da te 1n .p i t e of the posl1b l e gunlay i ng r a d ~ 5 ig n n l . in t e rce pted .

b . The Si gnal in t e r cepted ~ t 14 00 mels oorr e.po nd, to th esignnl ot 14 10 mol. onc e b ef o r ~ re ported over th e Tokyo A r e ~ . I t suse i s s t i l l unkn own.

c . The pOll8 i b i1 i ty or construct ing a DiP Illlt enna . usia&a s l mpl o hor i&onta l d i po l o arrang eme n t. , ho l l be i nv e s ti ~ t e dbyt h e COWIIand .

d. No s l g no.l s of 'Wurt&bur g r euh r chor l lc te r l lUca h u

t hus t a r bee n in te r ceptod .

PART I I ... COMMUNICATIONS OfFICQt'S REfORt

1 . St r ike Reporter. Airc r eJ't r adio ope r a.t o r s tnram1tt.ed.e l e v e n Str ike Repo r t s (B omb s AlmY); a l l we r e r e c eiv"d by the Gr oundStA t i on. I t w ~ s d ir e c t ed th a t . e f f e c t i ve with t h i s Fie ld Ord e r .o.mpli1'ied St.r1 k& Repo r t s WOuld no t be t r ansm i t t ed .

2. I2A Tr a.nsmissi ons :· WOIlth er enCOded in UCorAC an d TimeTioks wor e t r an smi t t ed Si mu l t an eo u s l y on a l l s t r i ke f r equencle . OD

t bB ha l t h our a nd the hour . r espe c t i v e l y . Uo r eq uos ta t or weathj ror time t i cks we r e made by a i r c r af t in f l i gh t .

3 . Fr e qu e nc i es ; All s t r ike frequ encie s we r e jlUlDltd o r i n te r '"f e r N with a t d i f f e r e n t per iods du r i ng t h e 11118810n. The 73rd Wingr ep o r t ed moderat e i n t e r f e r e nc e on 11 C80 kc e whi le a i r o r n f t r ad l oop e r a to r s wer e t rans mi t t i n g th e Bombs Awoy Rep o r t s . Durlag t M

t i n a l h oura of t be 1II188i on. I n t e r t e r ence bec .. .e grea t e r on l l te Ckca. while 6 055 kcs wa l c l e a r un t l l a p p r o x 1 a ~ t e l yf e ur hour. b . t o r .al l ' c r a f t were due t o l ~ n d . At t h i s ti m e waw l i gnAl. oauled b I ~ . ,

I n te r f e r en ce. bu t ~ 1 r c r a t ta 1 g n~ l . we r e r ea dable th r oug h i t . In ..

e f f ec t l v e i n t e r f e renoe was r e c e iv e d by 3165 kcs and ~ majo r i t yo f t r a f f i o . a8 oa r r l ed ou t on tb1 . t r e qu enoy . In a p e rc e n ~breo.k:dOWQ o t t rn t f10 pe r f r e quency. f o r t y. . , . l n pe r ceQt . . . . .c u r i e d ou t on 3}4.6 koa; twenty-o lght pe r o e n t on l l C6C t o e . u dt . en ty - sev en per oent on &056 kOI. Tb a 31Sth Wlag r ep o r t ed . I 1gh tin ter ference on 341 0 kOI. 1310 kOI and 111 60 k o • •

' . Tb e 13rd 1Ung gr ound s t a U o n r eo .1 f tdbea r ings ; f o r t y_ th re e o t th e l e . . r e

1 1 p n l l and p r l o r l t y a t ur ge n t bea r lng l0 " . 1 ' cheok b e u l n g s were th e OIlU . t o r tour b e ar ings DOt be1" , obt a lned , Tha 313th Wing g;rollDd s t a t t oD r . o . h . d twenty r equ . l t s to r

DIP b e a r l n g . and t . e n t y IVP o ontaota . . . . . o o a p h t e d . All a1ro rd ' tu t l l i s e d Radl o Ra", . aDd Ba.er abd r ep o r t e d ~ o dr . l u l t l .

6 . m P '191pl1p ' .MIl ' M y r l V. l ad lo sl1eDOe . . . - . t . t a l a e dto tho t a rp t ; On a l l .1 x a t r l n t r e q u n 0 1 . . . Secur l ty to r th e

lI1.ulon W Q I "I '} ' goOd . . . t a r . . U. r u l o opera tor . . . oOM e r . d .Oaly ODe v i o l a t i o n ot All :S& 0 - 6 Wlt.I DOted. OM ."ace ••n t to t i l l

p0u.a4 l t a t l o n bad ~ ood e t;roup r ep . " , e4 wioe . A YiOla:tJOD o f

os •

.1.1111.1%



S G C U~ i ty ~ a s noted when th e speed , oourse , and a l t i tude ~ e ~ .spokenin t he o l e l l l ~on VHF' ove r and ne llr th e t a rge t .

6. Enemy T r~ n sm i s s io n s ! Killno c ode i n t e r cepted on a l l s t r ikef r eq uenC i es I l l p p 4 ~ e n t l ya j ~b l e of l e t t e r s i n so r ~ ~ as ~ e r i e a nopera tors are c o n c e ~ no d . G ~o u n d s t a t i on was ab l e t o wo rk a i r c r a f tth r Ough e nemy t rans mi s s i o ns. A i ~ o r o r tr ad i o o p e~ a t o ~ s ar e notbr ie fed to l og jumbo jumbo Ka no oode .

7 . Dis t ress l The g r ound s t a t i on r ooeivod one SOS whioh W481mmediat e ly changed t o Urge n t ~ h e nth e con1it i o n of th i s a i r c ~ ~ ti ~ r o v e d .Thi8 a i ro ra f t f i na l ly ditChed a p p~ o x l ma t e l y 12 mi l e sfrom baBO, with th o gr o un d s ta t ion wo r king th e n i r c rn I t COntinu ou s lyWltl1 i t WII.8 approximately 500 t e ot f r om the ~ l I . t e r . t h o a. i roraf tlrO.8 un ab le t o not i fy th o ground s t a t i on of the di tch ing ; hOW&ve r ,c l OSe 110.1son WIle nrfectQd with the MEW s t a t i on and th e exo.ct pos i t i on of th o downed a i r c r a f t wna i ~ ed i a t o l yknown . Piv e lu r ge n t lrequests f or HF/DF boarings Were received by ground s t a t ions ; a l l

wer e obtained.

8 . Eq uipm e n t Malfunct i on s ; AN/ARt 1 3 : ' on e t r a nsmit ter withno s id etone, a.nd one trD.Ilsmltt ar with i n t e rmi t t en t s hor t ; ; SCR 5221

on e in ope ro.t1vo; ; Trai l ing wire o.nt annq.oll: one in opero.t iT e , on es t i c k i ng ; ; RC:':3G : t wo sh o r t od j ~, c L :b O X G G,~ :,n 4 t h r ce I:l l !: e butte!".:!s t i c ~i n gf :.N(;.RN -7 : f olt r s on s e :':.lltenn r,e s l e ~ d- ! n s b ro k en , one in ·operc. t . iv e Oll.. _.' Co.:.?::..ss · ?o s i t1 on , :'ond one 1 n o p or ~ t i v e -on • .. ntenn::. ·po s i t i on ; BC· 34.S: on e nnt.enna. g r o und ed o.nd o ne ~ e c e i ve r noisy •

. , -J I ~ I J i l





INTELLIGENCE REl'ORTS

~ - INEMY FIGHTER REACTION REPORT

A. genora l

1 . Snemy a1 r oppos1 t1 on was s t rong , 205 enemy a1 r o r a r tmaking 273 a t t aoks . Bowover, with tho 313th Wing making i t s f i r s tt r i p t o Japan, th P s iz e of our 8-29 fo roo lfO.l!I inor l!lasod approxlm:;l.toly5 0 per oOnt. Conseq,u en t l y . th o n T er a ~ e 8-29 sueto.ined 2 . e a t t aoks , .whioh i s l e ss thIln avorllge fo r praT i ou s miSSions . Tho aTo r age J o.pf i g h t e r lIIade 1 .3 I l t taoks , which 1& ab ou t Ilvero.ge .

2. On" percen t (one 8-29) of our c.ir fo rce over Japo.n '1'1'0.11

l o s t as 0. r eBu l t o f d i t e h i n ; co.usod by enom y f l g h t o r at taOk and 12per con t (1 2 B- 2 9 ' s ) were damaged by Jn p f i g h t G r s .

B. LoCo.tion of A tt acks! Ei ghty s I x pe r o e n t of a l l a t t a c k s (0.r eco rd ) werG made p r I o r to bombs awa y . Previous h i ghes t perooD,-«Oo f enemy a t t a c k s p r i or t o bombs a"'6¥ Wi!1.8 6 ~ ",hich occurred onU i s s l on No • .20, ( AkashI) . FollOWing 15 a b r eakdown of the locc . t i onof o. t tacks:

No . o f Peroon t o fLocat ion Atta.cks Tota l Atto.cks

P r i o r t o Landf a l l 1 0l J" ter L M d f a l l to I n I t I a l F o i n t 1 0 . 37

.After IP t o B omb s Away 134- ••A f t e r Bombs Away t o Coas t " 1>A t t a r l e a v i n g Coas t • - 2

To ta l 273 10 0

C, Type oC EtA A t t a c k i n g ' r o j o and Tony made 31 o.nd 30 pe r c e n t .r e s p e c t i v e l y . ot a l l ot th e o. t t a c k a . On a l l p r i o r milla10M. Tojorn.o.do 2.8 pO l' c e n t o f a l l o. t to.cks. Th e b rec.kdcwn C o l l o w :

Type &fA Atto.cking Ro . ot' Attacks POl' c e n t of To t a l Atta .ck .

r o j o •• 31

Tony 63 30.ok. 39 UZeke 32 10 ~

Oaco.r 1 0 •ol 11

•r v i n g 10 •Uck; 5 •J.Ck • 1Prolllc 1 0WI Tis 5 i t

WI !Vs 12 •to ta l no 100

- 1 -

1 1 ~ I L I I



D. Dire c t i on or A pp r o ~c h ! Noae ~ t t n e k aa t i l l p r e d o mi n~ t e d. SixtyOIlO pe r oent of a l l o f the ~ t t ~ c k a'It'ere _ d e from the noae quar te r.This i e the h i gbDl t percenta ge o f ~ t t ~ c k .y e t made on ~ a yq , u ~ t . r.

The fol lowin g c h ~ tIhows p er c e n t ~ g ad i s t r i but ion of ~ t ~ c k sonqUarter bill ie"

E. Leve l of Aotl roo.oh: Fortyooane ,per c ent of 0.11 of the a. ttackawere made f r om be l ow. a nd on ly 25 pe r cent of th e a.tta eka were madef r om above . Leve l attacks accounted f or th e r e ~1 n 1 n g3' pe r cen tof a l l attacks.

F. Dir ection Bnd Level of Approo.oh" Th e nose Q t t ~ c k swere almos teven ly divid ed among high, le v e l , and l ow o.pp r oo.ch es. being l Q, 20 ,nnd 22 per o ~ n tres pect1vely. Low t n i l ~ t t n c k 8 c onst i tuted only Bpe r cent of a l l o. t t o.Ok 8. (See d i ~ ~on tho f ol l owing po.ge)

G. Pncin£1 A few SlA mot our 8-29. a t a.o. nnd t ra i l ed our t or

mnti ons , ~ r o ba b l yoommunionting with AA and f l i gh t c on t r ol l . r a ,

H. Coordipsted Atta9k., There were on ly t i v e re po rted ooordJnated a t tacks , compr i . i n g l e a . thnn 2 pe r cant of a l l a t t ack ' . DatAi s available on two Coordinated a t taok . ,

~ . Over IF. a t aD astlonted al t i tude at !S,S CC t e . t . ~Toj os oame In o.bre o.st. mAkIng a t rontal attaok f r omabo ... ago.1nat one at our Ale. These two t i g h t e n re -main ed t oge th er th r ough out tho nttacka.

b , 0..._ teu-ge t , o.t 25,00 0 t • • . two Tonya ooma in Abre u 'trom n b o ~a t 11 o'oloOk, 1s t ~ _ l . down. pre.sedol o • • y , 0.04 broke a ~ nt S and 5 o'clock,

- & -

I I S L B J l



4 t r:; :; :~ :::·~ 2 ~'I3 4 .~

1%

. ,

Dir e c t ion and Level of Appr oa oh

of &lemy , 19bt er Ale

- ~ -. i J i 21111 %



I . R ~ i n gor New Type Attack

1 . Over the tAr get nr en • • me Tonya, Tojo. and Nioka werereport ed to hnve lower ed th o i r ge ar ju at pr i or to pr ea. i ng nn attack.Obeerving orewe were of tb e opinion thnt th i . t . c hniqu . wo.e t o reduce .p.ed or t o imp r ove rammi ng app r oaoh effect iven. . . . Two l r .v 1 n ~ ewere 0.1 . 0 aeen f ly i ng o.breo.et , l owering th e i r gea r . but mak·1ng G breGkn'lt'a,y be f or e oom1ng within r a.nge .

2 . One B-29 evnded what wo.a be l iev ed t o be A n a ttompta.t ro.mmin.g by r a i d n g o.Dd l owering tba nose or th e B-29,

J , Breaknwa.yst Hblfr ol l e , d iv ea , a , l i t -S ' s. atro.ight fly-througha,a.nd t u rns to l e f t o.nd r i gh t were o..m.ong th oae r epo r ted.

K. Typ e Enemy Armnment a.n! Typ o Projeet i l es ,

1. ZekOl were n p o r t od f i r ing he o.vy llG thr ough p r ops .

2, One Tony was r eported. G8 f i r ing 0. 2000mmcaMon thr ouYtth e prope l l e r hub.

3. Two Irvin ga a nd one uni de n t i f i ed twin_ eng ine f i ghte rwor e r epor t ed o.e havin g no tle nnd wi n g f i r i ng ecmnon.

4. One J IlCk: we.s re po r t ed as having s ix guns . Th1a Ili r_c r a f t Wo.S not observed un t i l i t ho.d pressed i t an tto.ck to o.bou t 150 yo.rds o.t which ti m e two II\.O.chineguns (bolieved t o be 7.7) were f i r i ng . These twoguns were mounted l ow on the 8ides of t he fus e l ngea t th e win g roots ,

5 . One unid e nt i f i ed slE going n w ~ yf r ~ m 0. 8 - 29 was s ee nt o f i ro blloOlc from his CQJlOPY,

L. Enemy Ai rcro.f t Mark ings

2 Zek:e1 Zeke1 Zek:e1 Zelce1 Zeke1 Zelce1 Ton y1 Tony

1 Tony1 Tony" T ony

2 Tony1 Tony1 Tony1 Tony1 Tojo7 TOjo" Tojo1 Tojo2 To jo1 TOjo

• Blnak with o r ~ n g eb ~l l on nos e and f u . e l~ g e,

• 0.0 . wIth re d c o w l ~ n g .

• Rod wing ' ,- Al l Sl1 vor,• Dark green. r iSing sun ins ignin .• S 11 " r , red r ou nde l . ,• All a l lver.- Shiny blnok. r i a i n g aun in . ign i n.

• Dnrk in eolor.- Gr oe n, red round ol . ,• Pour- toot wida orimloQ b a n ~on enc b wing

b u e col or dark green with white be l l y.-Dark brown, red . t r i p e o n f u a e l~ g e,

- Cemoutlllged.- Enti re ly blnok,• SlIver, r ed roundela,• Yollow oowling.• Bla.ok • White,

• All S U n r .• Silver with ro d dota,

- Dark green. l i g h t oolorod b e l l y.Blnok. Y.llow oowling.

• •



=

& To j o ... Oark Gr aen . r l s in ~ au n l n s i g n i ~.

I Tojo ... Onrk in oo l or .S Tojo ... Sl ITe r. r l s i n g su n l n s i g n l a .1 Tojo ... Brown , r ed r Ol lndels .1 ro jo _ Ent i r e ly Blnck .1 Tojo _ CIll!lOIlf1o.ged . - -1 Niok _ Blnck or dark gre'U n.I ' I r v l~ _ Blaok or dnrk gr een .3 I rTin g _ Ent i r e l y b l a ck .2 I rv l ng ... Sl I ver , b r l g ~t r~ r ounde l .1 Ramp ... Disru p t i v e pe.1 ntiJll;.1 V&.l ... E n t i r e l y B l o.ok.1 T IE ... E n t i r e l y Bl o.ek . '

1n- l inoun1don t i r t od

1 MUte ... Black, Ge r ma.n !llD.rki ng l .7 Un 1 den t _ Dark green , r l 11ng sun I n s i g n i ~.

W. Clo.im§ by Typo Et A an d b y GUn P o s i t i o n

D&B t r o yod

1 T ony1 Tony1 T ony1 I r v 1 n g

Probo.bly Destr o ye d

2 Tony2 TonyaTonyI Tony1, I r v i n g1 Tojo

1 TOjo

2 To jo2 Zek:o1 ZItko1 Zoko1 Zeko 321 OacQJ'1 V.,1 0/1

_, I _

J l l l . . l l

Dnmc.ged

1 Ton y1 Tony1 Tony5 To ny

2 t ony1 Tonyl ' Jr'f'1D1i2 IM'lD1i

' 1 IM'ltll:1 In1n.g2 r a j oS r OjO, 'l'oj o2 ' rojo1 Zoke1 Z o h1 leke SI1 Zoto 31

. -. -

Gun Pos i t i o n a

(Fe'SGTG....

Bombo.rd1e rTGBoab l l rd ie r &: CPCR ,G .RSGBombard i er ,CPC, R·G'CPC. R .G .

RSGBoobo.rdie rB omb nrdler,H. G.

ROO . -B o c b u d l o rR.G.cpeBombnrdlor

TG ,UnicnOWDTO 'Bombardier

BOmbardier.RSGLaTORSaRSO.BOIIbardhrLG' 0RSa8cabQJ"d1erTOBo.b . , . db rRSO

RSa80abard le r

•

-



~ ~ i m s by TyP e EtA Sn1 by Gun Pos i t i on ( cont ' d)

DDstroyad Pr ob gbly Qes t r oyed

,2 Osco:Q'1 O s c ~ r

I V ~ l

1 S / E U/ I

2 U/ lI U/ I1 stE U/ l

Gun Posi t i on ,

'S GBoabo.r dl e r , TGLGLO , TG

Bomb lLrd i erLGBombor di ar

PhRT I I - E N M ANTIA.IR CRAFT F IR E REJ'ORT

a.. Fr om la.ndf1111 t o t ~ rg 8t h e ~ v yf' l o.k Wl 1 8 encount er ed byd i f f'e r en t f'or ma t i ons o.s fo l l ows:

1. The S04th Gr oup of th o 313th W n g 'lll'l th 12 JJe I1t25,2 00 f't. f lyin g ove r an u n de r c ~ s t rn n in t o monge r I no . cc u r ~ ~

flo.k a.t Wo.kayo.ma.

2 . The SCs th Gr oup of th o 3l3th W n g went in in twoSquo.dr ons .

(a..) The f i r s t squ o.dron f lying at 25 , 500 f t . o" e ro.n underco.st enc ount e r ed modoro.te and o.ecUro.te contin uous l y po intedflnk: thr oug h Cl ouds tl t Wako.ynmo.. Tho burs t s wer e black, l evel ,behind t o o.heo.d. ~ t l e a s t One no."cl "esse l waS r ep or ted In ILcti on.

(b) Tho second squ ll.dron Il.t 25, 000 f t . e nco un te redCOntinu ously p Oin t ed fInk o.t Shl onomisnki . The f I nk wne c e ~ g e r undino.ccura.te. BiLQ.ck bursts o.pp ear ed aheo.:i to behind. and ' Oc.-C f t .bol ow th e fo r mat ion.

3.. The 73rd Wng ( '97th , 498th, '99 t h and SOoth Groups )f i r J t mo t henTY AA f i r e o.t lnndfal l (33 0 lS'N - 136 0 OC'E ) flyingbetween 25.0 00 ~ n d 27,000 f t . Flak was of predic t ed c oncentr a t i onand b o . rr ~ g e t ypo. me nger . and Inacouro.te, The bursts . e r e le " s l ,behind, and to th e r igh t .

4 , From I . p . to th e tlU'get heavy flak .... 5 moder a te ,&Ccuro.te to ino.ccuro.te, l e " e l to ab o ye , and t o th e r igh t . Ha'I'Ulvessels in OSo.ka Bay f i red burs ts which r oCked some of th e J / '; ,Both continuously painted o.nd b o . r r o .~ e firo en c ounter ed.

5. At t o.rge t ( l obe) o.ccurate to extrem s l y Q c c ~ rn t e

henvy f l l lk . modolr" te to InteNie. S I .. .

t by :111 f o rmati ona tb r ougbunder cas t of 6/10-9/1 0 , Black b u r. t . Wore level . n ho ~ d to behind;nlao some white burs ts . e r o observed.

6. Tbres Ale of the SO'th Group s ~ t t o re d min or d w a ~ e ;

13 ou t of 20 Ale of the 505th Group s ~ s t a l n e dtlak: damo.go; 5 o ~ t

of 39 A!e of the 1lrd Wint (1 .quadron of ~ ' 91th , 2 s q ~ a dr o n . ottho &path ~ d 1 .quadron of th e 699tb Gr oup) .uatnined min or f lakd Q l l U l ~ o.

7. Tbe S OOth Oroui ba.be4 MatsuzAka from as,oeo toOnly two AA bursts w e r ~.oon .

8 . The . . oond .quadron of th o ' 99th QrOIlP bolJlbod vlll ' loul u t r o . o r t tar&ets. At Tan&bo and. Sbiftljl,l . eager. 1.Qaoouro.te t l .f t . r ~ o r t e d . .

-.J J J l I J l



9, En r out e t o hom& b ~ G eth o fInk wns re po r t ed byvar1 0us Al e 6& f ol l ow& ,

( 0.) 505th Gr oup r epo r t&d t h~ t on descendingturn on wlth dr nwa l , aFte r bombs 6 W ~ y .bo th squadr ons eno ounteredb urs t s fO l lowing th e plnnes down wit h conside r ab l e nccuracy .

(b) At Nis h1 No Shimn , a t 15.5 0C f t •• menger,1naccu r a t e flak wns re? or t ed . I t was l ow and t r a i l i n g . Als o 4 to

6 S l L beams wero obse r ved wh10h f a i l ed to 1l1wnln a t o a ny of 01U' ;.Ie.

a t 16. 00e. to(c ) At Iwo J ima r:lenge r in acc ur a te fInk WD.S r e p or t ~

18 , 0(')0 f t ,

c a l i be r f lak thnn(11 ) At Ako.sh1 th e 504th Gr oup r epo r t ed ama l l e ra.t o th e r 10co.l i t1 oe .

l a , The 73 r d iYin g r epo r t ed moa ge r nnd ina cc u r a te f laka.t lo.nd' s en d (3 3 0 4S ' N _ 13 40 40 ' E ) . Tho bu r s ts wo r e eotiClt.l.tod nomuch as 4 eOO f t , be l ow t he f ormo.t1 o n,

b . Our TBct1cs Ve rsu s AA • None

c . Air . t o - a i r Bomb1ng and Rockets

1. None observed by the 313th "l i ng.

2. One Ale of th e 73rd Wing . ~ t 26 , 000 f t . in t he v1c _i n i t y of Kobe repor ted 0. phospho r ou s bol:lb bu r s t . descr ib ing i t CLS

e. 'white urnbrella. - Shnped pn t t e r n · nppr ox i mo.te l y I mile t o th e r on ro f ou r Ale . The EtA r e l ea s ing th e p r o j e c t i l o was not seen.

30. Anotber 8 -2 9 in th e same Group r op o r t ed 0. l a rg et r a c e r o r r ocke t of r eddish color f i r ed from on unobse rv ed EtA in

the Sll.ll10 goneI 'd o.ren.

d . Remnrks

Tb e wind a t b omb ing a l t i t u d e waS f r om 280 0 a t 145 ! , an dbombing wa s gen e r a l l y upwind .

_ 7 _



.f.4.Irr. i l l _ ~ ASSEss , , ; ; ;':!: , Y.fQfi!.

KOBE HARBOR AREA<3 4/39 N--1 35 / 10 E)

l t e f a r O D O st PhotograIh y :

P ro - s t r ike ,Pr o- s t r i ke :

Post - s t r ike:Post - s t r ik e:

3PR5W 19 IV :2 7 - 3 1; 2:89 - 107 __ __ 20 Janua r y 1945.3 P R ~

17 IV:41 - 43 ; 2:5 0-55 - - - - - 1 8 J anunr y 1945·3PR5M 33 IV:13 - 20- __ _ ______ ____ 5 Feb ruary 1945.3PRSU 36 2:19-21; I V:1l -1 5 · - - - - 6 Feb r uary 1945.

SlJUJ.l,ARY

Th i s r ep o r t assessee damage to Kobefo l lowing t he bomb s t r i ke of 4 F eb r uary1945·

Vis ib le dam ag e i 8 l i mi t e d t o Ta r_g e t 1 69. l,u t subish i hec.vy I ndust r i es . Lt d . ;Tc.r g o t 785 . Ko.negaf'uohi Sodc. I ndustry ;Ter go t 11. Kawllsllki Loo omot i v o and Ca rCompany. and miso e l l a n eo us se c t i ons i n thevio i n i t y .

All v is i b le dQlllago o ov e r s a t o tc. la r oo. of a.pprox i mat e l y 2 . 651.000 sq . f t .

T"rge t , i l l :

TArg e t l l :

49 po r cont (a bou t 820.000squa r o fe e t ) of t h e pllllDtwr;:.s d os t r oyed.

2 p e r o on t (about 68.000squore f oa t ) of t h o pl CIlt"a s d e s t r oyed .

Four sllla l l bu i ld ings ( approximat e l y 22.000 squQrl3f e e t of r oo f areo. ) we r o dos t rcyed .

l&i 800 l lQll oOUS d gmege: Ar eae dama.ged i n smoJ.l indust r i es .ho us ing and bus ine s s d i s t r i c t s ( c en t e r ed Qbo u t To. r g e t s1 69. 785 o.nd 11 ) to to . l o.pproximo.tely 1 .741 . 000 squarof o o t .

(noto : s i x - i noh ph o t o c ov e r ag e i s eomp l et e f r oll! l ebeo a s t t o 135 0 1 8 ' , Fiv o _ t en t h s o l oud oov e r po.r t i a l l y ob

soures nor t h

e r nOsaka.)

All ann o t a t i ons in t h h r epo r t re for t o p r i n t3PR511 19 2,89.

TJJIlET l§.S.: (34/39 N ... 13S/l0 E) IQll og aJ'uohi Soda. I ndus t ry(Qnn otf l t i on 1) : Approximatoly 820.000 squar e f oo t of t h e p l a n tc r ell . tho.t p u t o.lm oe t oell'lpl l3t o l y oooupt ed by bulldil ' lge. 1fO.Sd e s t r oyed . Th o p r i no i p a l bu i ld ing . 10. t h i s t a rge t n r ca . r o o t

sawto ot h_ r oo f OODst r uo t i on . Tho g rea to r po r t of th e do.mage t ot h e p l a n t 1 s in t h s s o bu1ld ings . F i r e WillI. i n thl3 malb bu i ld .i ngs woro o f f o ot iv e in oODtrol l1ng t h e sproc.d of fllllD OIl.

- e _



DJ>JUwS ASSESSloIEllT RE:POi1.T. Con t ' d .

.!,l.fOET J&.11 (34/ 39 N~ ~ 13 5 /1 1 e ) Ml t su b iehi Heo"'Y In dust r i eS ' SlDollLtd. (D.nao tD.tl on 2) D ~ a ge te tho plant ro presonts on ly Q

Pa r t o f th o t o t a l tn ; ge t o r oa. A P pr o x i ~ a t ol Y 68.200 square f eo tof do.rrt; ru o t i on 1n01ud os l

About 45 .500 squar o f oo t gut ted i n bu 1ld i ng with o r1 g i nal

r oo f Dr aa of npp r o ximat oly 79,000 sqUD.r e ( ac t .s ix sll10.11 bu1ldin gs do s t r oyed. Th o buildings oove r e d 0.

t o tD.l a r oo o f approx i mo t o ly 27 .7 00 squa r o f oo t .

Totol dEllllo. gol oppr o:d mnto lY 2 po r oon t of the plan t dos t r oyod .

1.AnGer 11 : (3 4/39 N- - l 3 S / 1 0 E) XOWD.salc1 Loeomo t i v e IlDd Ca rCompan y ( nnnotnt 1 on 3 ) . Fo ur smol l s t r uotu r os h av e bo on d l ! l ! i tr e y ~

ad . Tho l l ' t o t a l r oe f 01'00 Was ab out 22 ,000 s quo.r o f oe t .

MI SCELL.\NEX?US DJ.f!.AO E: Tho ar oa be t'll' oon Tnrg, o t s 169 Qlld 765(ann o t o. t i on 4) 1 s t 1 l 1 ed wi t h h e u s i n~ , o f f i o o s t r uotu r os , Wa r ehOuses and sma l l 1nd u s t r i os . About 1 ,084.000 squll r o foe t o f th eIl r eo. h as bo on burnod o u t .

A r e a1dontio.l an d smo.1 1 busin ess 0.1'00. (o.nnotati o n 5) M so.bo ut 205,000 squar e fo o t o f d ~ o . g o do. roa .

Fi r e s v i s ib lo (ann o t a t i o n 6) on 5 Fobruo.ry 1945 (3PRsY 33 )nr o s t i l l smok i ng on 6 February 1945 (3PR5 L! 36) , th e bu r no d o.r o ll.

i no1 udos tw o u n i d o n t i f i e d in dus t r i e s . one o f 'll'hich may bo ~ r t

o f Targ e t 11. Th e a r e o. domnged oovo rs np p r o)' i mD.te1y 356,000 sqlUlr ofo o t . Fur th e r s pr o ad ot the f i r e np poa r s i mp r obabl e .

A t i r e v i s ib lo (ann oh t l o n 7) on 5 FeCrunry 19 45 (3P1\SU 33)

i s s t i l l smoking th e n ~ xt da y (3PR5U 3 6 ) . Th e d e s t r oyed ar e ain t h i s smal l un iden t i f i od i ndus t r y c ove rs a bo u t 23,500 squar et ea t . Futhor sp r e ad ot t he t i r e np pe o.rS impr oba bl e .

A r es id en t i a l o r b usinoas a r e a ( cnno t a t i on 8) hes aD nr e ao t approx i ma t e l y 73.000 square t e e t dos t r oyed .

A smal l b u i ld i ng (nn no t n t l on 9) o n t h o wute r t r on t i n t h en o r th p o r t ot Tnrg ot 169 has b oe D al m os t cocp l e t e l y burnod o u t .Th o d amo.go h v i s i b l e o n th e o r i g i n a l photo cove rago ot t h e I:l.re a .I t 1 s poss ib le t hn t t h i s dama ge 1 s t h o r e s u l t ot woathe r - s t r i kec h s l o n e . Soveral sur rounding b u l l d i ng a sh cw poss ib le dCClCLgC.

Lo.ok ot oomparntivo photography in t h i s a r el:. p r ov en t s po s i t i v eassessm e n t .

P r i n t 3P8SJ.i 19Pr i n t 3PR5J.! 36 -

2;69 UI1no t n t e d2:20 a t t no h e ~ .

-,

and a t t aohed .



• S T R I K E

-,;t'J A I R C ~ A F TBOMBING· 69VISUAL r,OMr,INO

I Ale SluHTlNG FOil..

R to D RANGE

2

AleDROPPING

OMLEAD Ale

17

A/e&OM 81N6 A/C DROPPINGIV "AMI' . ON LEAD A/C

5 4 4





ANNEX

•CONSO LIDA TED STATISTIC;'L SUl.34ARY

M s s t o n No. as

.. Febrcmry 19<15



I XXI BCMB.l!R amr.WJD

CONSOLIDATl!D S T ~ : " T I S T 1 C A LSUl.[lAR'1 OF COMBAT OPERATIOliS

FORM 34

M SS ION J.!O 26

4 F Elli" ' ' ' 'Y 1945

PRDIl\R'I TARGET, KOBE . JAPAN ( 1,1IDDUMAN fP.)

E f r e c t i v e n ~~ ~ ~ ~~

Aircra f t ~ o a r ne G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Pe r cen t of A l r ( ; r a ft on Hand • • • ..

Airc ra f t Bombing Priza).'j' • .......•

Perc ent of Ai r cr a f t Airborne .. .. ..Ai r cr<lft Bomb i nc A ll Targets . . . . . . • •

Fo rc en t of Ai.I c r a f t Airborne .. •Bomb a Drop ped on A l l Ta r ge t s .. .

• •E D ~Airc r a f t Deetroyed . .. ..

. l iO• O . fl . ~ ,"%• 69• • • • 63%

• 99• . • 90%

. 25 1 To,,"

· 4

Airc ra f t Loo t .. .. • • .. .. • .. .. .. .. .. 2Pe r cent Of .Aircraft AirbC',,:,oe . . . . ~ .. 2%

Ai r cra f t D ~ e d a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -.. . 35Percent of Airar3f't Airborne , . 32%

Crew McmbClI' Casual t i cq, .. ~ ~ ~ • • • 6

Percent of To t a l P: l r t lc i p at in g .. .5%

" t ical . CortN: e l i t;I)%'- . ~ 1 ~ .9



MtS::. l ON 2 6 (Mi ddl OOlBJ]#1 )

A I R e R A F. T P A R T I C I P A T I N G DATE _ !t Febru a r y 1945I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~j' BOMBING Ja.[3 ING

242118

TO

1 .

1b1e

a . Inverter r e l ay ou t .

b. 150 RfM - dr op l e f t t leg # 1 engi ne

I.ASr PFln-i.'>RY S!';"'cOND:. L.R . &T . O.

1257Zl ]02Zl 2l7Z

TARGF![' M Y

198

31115

221915

112

e . #4 eng in e cu t ou t , :zIgIl et o di s t r i bu t or .

d . 1 we i nve r t e r r e l a ~ tou t beeause of internals ho r t in co i l .

1 .ve IfJ. encine would no t star tfoul ed spark ~ l u g s.

bec811se of



BRElumo :-m OF ;'.l.L 1.IRCRt ..FT FAJLING TO BCMB PJID .;any T / .RGEI'

1illiii: , , , ,

min , . " " . Bemb ed Bombed Non- Bombed BombedI >bo-Effe c t iv e Secondary Othe r Effec t iv e Other Effeot i" ' e

497 1 o . - 1 b . - - - -498 I 1 e . - - 2 e. , - - -99 I 1 f . - 5 g . - - 5 I -00 2 1 . 15 j . -I .. - -73"iit£: 5 - 6 - - 22 , - -j ~ I 1 k. - - - --

3 " . - - - - - -

~ I6~ - - - - -

22- 6 - - -I

a.. #14 puch r od br ok en #2 Fne lDe."::I. Ran s hort o f fue l du e to le c k o f po ;- e r in #4 ene;in o .

Lef t formation an d banbod Owage.e. Tu r bo fa l lu re ..... Damased by f r i end ly . ' / C. Lef t formation a t I . P.e. J ~ c l d Q D t a lre leane a t I . F . Bombard i e r e r ro r .: . Turbo s ou t on a ll 4 engine D.&e 2 Ale prop sovernor malfunction .

1 II/c o i l leak #3 encina.1 Ale lost engine .1 .tC lUel booster pump f ni l ur e .

k. J'Uel shortage . r eDSOD unknown.

Bom bed

----

-----

~ IBombed 110". . Bombed l l o n~ Bo.r:lbed Jo""jOth er Effec t iV I) Secondary Oth. . Othe

- - - - - - -- - - - - - l- - - - - - 1 0- - - - - - .

- - - - - - 2

- - - - 1 1 . - -- - - - 1 n. - -

- 2 . --2 - 2- --

, ,1 . Blor.n cyl i nder #1 ellB in e , o il l eak . b' . : l doors t!l8l fun c t i o

j . Faul t y naVl s atlOD:r

t 1 _ d i s t r i b u t o r a."Id fincerk . 4 sperk p1u c s in w cc us

c ove r ed with moisture .1. Ret urnins spare.

1 d e axe c!]!! o il l eak #4 e D£1nc. •me 1 Aje f ue l lenk in transf e r S y s t ~on push rod housinE;

1 -VC 0 11 l eak from l oose hose en . Returnina s pare .



§ ~ £ . B ~ 1

!lIS:iI<m 26 {ltiddl e.-;.au If.llBOHBDIG R UN

DAn , '0 ' , <

TA.RGl T B f 1 ~ d ) '/ c TIME OF " (J ' , , ~,

RI.n . ~ I r ,.1IIll' NAUE 01 TARGZT ITYP, BO:'IBS Ear li e:!t Lat es t Lowest

Ac S i ~ ,t .ng •• .Al e A/C \Ie

I. R & D I ~ - ; ; ; ~ R i i 'A / ~Ih , . ~ i l dA e-1 ~ ' "

497 Kobe , J a ~ n P 10 0557 Z 0600 Z 245 00 26250 - - - 1 9 1Owas e LR 1 0542 Z - 25 375 I 1 9- - - - - - 1

498 Kobe , (uri an ~ c a s ) P 19 0600 Z 0604 Z 2J,7OO 26500 - - - 2 17 2 11a t " , TO 3 0555 Z - 26000 - - - - 2 1 0 3

499 ~ ... p 8 0629 Z 0631 Z 25900 2 7000 1 1 6 - - 2 6K u s . ~ to J Koya, Shi.-,gu, LR 10 0542 Z 0625 Z 25000 27000 5 - 2 3 - 2 ,Tanabe . 1frIkayamaPaean TO 1 0420 Z - 10000 - 1 - - - - 1 -

S O O ),latsuzaka LR 1 5 0604 Z 0604 Z 26300 26700 1 1 13 - - 1 14

I~ Kobe P 37 0557 Z 0631 Z 2J,5oo 27000 1 1 6 3 26 5 32

I;; 25000 1 11 - - 1 11Kobe p 12 0628 Z 0630 Z 25000 - 182 18 2Kobe P 20 0642 Z 0656 Z 25500 26000 - - -

~ 11 2 18 3 29

06 2 8 Z 0656 Z 25000 26000 1 -Kobe P 32

5 '", 61

27000 2 1 17Kobe P 69 0557 Z 0656 Z 2J,5oo

.. - ,.. .. - ...



IUSSIO! I 1;0• 26 (; Ud !ilem:tn #1)

D I S P O S I T I O I ; OF BO U BS r u ~

- - - - - - - - - = : - : -- - ; - - : - =: : - ; ~ - - : - : - : : - , - - - -- - : - : : : - : : =- c :: - : : c . . , . . , - - -- - - - ,~ " " II Fe J ruary 1%5Type& FU:u I L : d e d on Jir- f ki.L !..lSm OIl Th. iGEl'S - - I '

mit'

~

Tleigh t o f Bcmb _ ~_~ t~~ _ borne [ " i r c ~ ~ . pr imary _-K o ~Secondary Las t Resor t &: T . o j J ettisoned I~._t, ur".:.•d. I ~. ,0':"'(E - < 6 - ~-5 - 0 ; ; ~ I ~ .- :~ : e _ -T ~ l '" ~ : : iTon;2 "::1 : ~ : - l l ~ ' r l' TO ~ S. . - ~: j T : ~ - l:::T: ~ ," . I ", - i ,". '""T4E4 - 50 0 F Cl u . lIote 1 2 2. 4 10 2 . 0 1 . 2 1 1 .2 1

>:-26 • 500 I C1u . 368 61 .3 297 49.5 40 6.7 31 5 . 1T4E4 .. 50 0 F c l u. . 23 1~ . 6 19 3 . 8 3 . 6 1 , . 2

-I

E26 ... 50 0 1 C1u . 274 45 . 7 242 40 . 3 31 5 . 2 1 .2

E2B .. 50 0 I Cl u . 320 53 . 3 I 96 16 . 0 12 8 21 .3 96 ~ 16 . 0 IT4E4 - 50 0 F Cl u . 20 4 . 0 I 3 1 . 6 11 2 . 2 1 1 . 2

T4E4 - 500 F C1u._- l - - -- - t-_ __7t- _ _ 3_ 1,_, ___ 15 3 · 0 _~ .: . : 4+ -- + _ - t -_ _ +192.3 54 7 91 . 2 ~ l 3 2 72 . 0 174 I 23. 9 1 I . 226 ... 50 0 I Cl-.! .

T4E4 .. 500 F Cl u .

E26 ... 50 0 I Cl u .TU 4 - 50 0 F " lu .

115472

18213

1 l~. 4 37 7 . /1 30 6. 0 5 1. 0

30 .3 156 2 ') . 0 26 4.31

2. 6 11 2 . 2 2 .42.47 7. 6 13

505 , E26 ... 50 0 I Cl u So e 312 52 . 0 252 1 ~2 . 03 .6 1

j. 0U4 .. 5 00 F Cl u . Jlo t c 24 4 . 8 20

4 ~ t73

"!!E2B - s eo I Cl u 494 82 . 3 68 . 0 5. T ~ - 5 0 0 F Cl u ;' 7 7 . /~ 6 . 2

~ o r & L ~E 28 . 50 0 I C1u . 43 272 . 0 -' 7

I Gli8 274 . 6 955 159 . 2 30 6. 0 .0'l\E4 ... SOC F Cl u . 109 a .B (,0 13 . 6 . . . L _

- - r-

BO'.l'"", FI1Io£;S se t t o open 100 0 f eo t b ol on f o r wotion .Il;qU,D ae t to open 50 00 f ce t obev e groWl d .

t d T 0 includ od in th l !) f igure •• ~ banbe dropped on1'e on p r l lOry or.d 40 bO;"lba droP IJed oo fo on lOst r CIlt'lr OJI • •

AYe Bomb Loe4 pe r Ale to r 88ch grOU P I 73 Wing,31,3 Winel

16 Incen. 1i OI'J clu.,ter!ll ond 1 FrO B c lu s t e r .' l .. ~ t cr t l ond 1 fr o g c l u ~ t e r.13 I.1CCl\diory . . . . . ..

co r I "

12. 1 ! 1,3 2.1. 0 ' 1

I 4l .t l ' U . 2. ' - !, 2.0 I, 1 _ ,3,- =-.: '



S E C R E T- - - - - -mSSION flo. 26 Ir r nD!r..l, ' tl' #1DATE 4 Februarx 194 5

ACCURACY OF H a m m e ON PRI JdA R'1 TARG8I'<e<J!BS RE-

tlUMBER OF HITS &; DISTANCE FROt.1 AThfiNG ? 0 I!fl'jtmIT LEaSED Cfl - 110. pm;mrTARGEl' o - ' i00' <00 _ ' n ~ , 10 00 - 2000 ' 2000 - JOOO ' TCTAL OF HITS O

~ ~

•ON BOMIE

rio.TONS NO

.NO. HO . NO .

% NO. • TARC",R E L ~ E B

7J

• f313 1023 172.8 Because of type o f banbs u se d and lack of photo cove r age. h i t s could not be spotted .

WingsI I I I I I I I I I

Photo ' s f r an 1 squadron o f 7 ] rd ,{ina: s hol'! 50 f i r es be t f/e en 4000 and 7000 f ee t fran A. P,

I I I I I I IAl l bombs o f 504th Group ob s er v ed to drop on th e t a r Ge t area



MI SSI on 110 . L (WC;d l eman # 1 )DA'IT I ~ Feb 1945,

PDiS OliliEL CAS UllTIl:S

T ._-- --. ~~ i ! > _c_r. A F r_- _ -_ L ~ C S T , ,-, -·_-_·_-._ -_- _· -_ ·_ _ _T,:. . _. _- ·~ 'I:: 7-7~ ~r~ . c_FJ < F T~ ~ - : : D . ~. ~" , = c : w '_-_ _ _ _ _ I ' Prn$a :m:L CASu• r:rlis- - - - i

I E/A CRAsH ID ! 0THrn I TurAL! E/A I F l a l;; ' & 1 Ac e . & 1 00mI : un - I o ta i Irotal Kll i - Ittouna I 1:15 -------1

II Ove r ~ /. ' I . ,Ace • ..:;: ""jUn:--l I ! !F l a k I ti.e c h I

Gun sI Othe r IknOlIljlIs-.iorThnor I~ O S I ~ed ed & • . j , ~ g- ! '!'ota l

_ ; Ta r : :' i _ i ~I I! : :e: :' I: : .' 10: :t : :h e ~r t,. : : k n , : ,o: : . :'~mL _ - i'_ _ 1ti_ --I f-- +--+---+--j- - -+-- f.-- t ,_ -.j+- _ !InJd. On:sUal.

/' 4 4~ ~, - , - - " - , - I - - 1/ 3 1 - - : - - - i - I 4 1 3 ~," - . . . '

I49 , : ~ : , : : I =b ~ II 52 - 1 - - ' . . . I 1 I 4 2;;: ; I 4 . 5: 500 I _ _ _ . 1 , 4 - I . i ' . . I ' • I 22 9 I ' 1 • 1I - ' ! ~ ' : :.. - ' --'::' i - --+-': 1 - : - : - - .-+ - -. r - ~ -·- f i ~· -- .:--'-_.1:7'1< ~ ,~ +' ~' +~+ - I~- ~ I ' °2 - 3

5_ L -_--.11- -,-+ --,+ --,- - I 1 u:._ ! B l i . ~_ ~ - 6- - - . - 5fi7T - . . j '

, 503 i - - - - i - I - : . . - 13 - 1 - 2 - - - 15 ' 255 - - • I -

! 313 : : 1 ., "t ' ---- I I

! :~i ~~\: r - ~: ! : I~ t !i - ,; - _-_I· _2:~G~ ~!~.- ~ _ -_+ .L!_:_ . LI_·_ :~::~ ~:~: :- =-: - = -~,--:=---j,-f - : :: 'I'....jl,_":,:=; ~!~_-:-.- j.-. 5= -' - .. r: =:=tl-=-:---• One i h ' t f f 1 15 r.ul .:l fr<Xl Soipan ru:d crash la n ued .• cne; nc S o t oLLt by r.ne y actio)", ov e r t u rge t . LO:;lt Mothe r ongil C nea r 1170 J )..:.:o.. Ran ou 0 lIO c · .

b . #1 eD _ m e CD.ugh t f i r e D.llt, Ll.rned a f t o r IIlJldil'g a t Sn i pe n . Wing !loction also do ,0.80 d . Lost to surve y .



§.E £. R !; ! IfISSI 01T 26 (!1icldl anan #1 )DATE 4 F e bruary 1945

EUllUY O P P O S I T I ( J ~A1.D A nn, ITlCi , W, i l ;DI'I'URIS

I I ElmfY Ale DISmOYED ~ U'.!';l..GElJ r - - - -- ._ - - - - - - - - - -N ~ O F ! r i ' Y P E - ~ - '- -T " --II- i.J 'l:tJJ lI TIQU EXP.El ;nI'I'URES

.- ---- - -- -- - -. . .I EUCCmJ £'l'1'.i.CKSI OR . DES - t FROB. I I

UNIT i TI:RED r 'IN F/t.. IHODEL ' TnO'fED jDISTR'D ' D.I!.:AGED :1, - 4'fl " -4- - - ; ; ; -1---

84-- - - - - - - - - - - ; - - - '0 - ii

_ - - < 2 0 ~t.1. 1.1. .50 c..r.rnrn~ F I ~+ ~ I; iW f A / ~~~ a r A L~ ~ I P . F l )~ _ . O l: L ~ : :? : Tar. "r._ _ _ _

1 00 100 29147 2914749£ 40 69 3 2 11 Ii4 9 9 4 0 1 3 6 2 7 i,l50 0 10 4

1 - - _ . - ~ __ . \l.

I 7Jd " 5 28 i! 1, ~ i n 8 1<5 , 193 3 1 00

r Sm.--L5 . ; ) 34 - 0--- - -:5 --, - 1 "*. 505 1 50 _70 46 1 ; 10 10 II

"~ -- - -- - - -- -11

II~... - -

~ - -- ' - - i - - -I 3 1 3 , " , ". '!7ill& 65 -90 ' 80 ~ 1, - - -- - - - - ~ - - - +

Tar",-: 205 " z/J

15

4 20

11

39"

10 0

Va l 1 1U k e 4 2Tojo 4 11Tony 3 7 11Osenr 1 3Ir v in g 1 1 5H ~ 4 P 1 2S/E 1 "

1 6 8 20 6000 I 22/32028078 2007812157 lZ751

- - - - r - - - } - - - - - ; ,

:---t 00 I 868 02 6000-- - r - - - - - -

" 123 26 -1 33603,

. - ~ '. - - . '[1

- , - 1 4 5 989,_ _ _ _ _ -L _---+-_--:-100 . 13279 1_ _ .....L _ • 6000

I

92802- - - - - ,

1232633653"- - - - - . ~

136/91- ~ - -



§. ~ £ E ~ 1: M I 3B l / ' J! I ~ l d d l o 1 l l ! l nH llD I I 7 E ~4 Fobrw 1'y J.945

FUEL C ONf U'IPTION & FL I GHT Dj\'tA

~

I

,Al e C('I!,wL!:TING MI!)' :' IQN

,!'!EIGHT DATAAv g &&1c t ' lt . of' AleAvg Fue l Loaded (Gals . )Avg Bombs LOf l!l f'd (Lbs . )

Avg Gross Wt . a t Tok e o f f

LIcHT DATA/lvg Timo a t Loll' A l t i t u d eAvg T i m~ o f Clim b to B o ~ b in E

A l t i t u d eAvg Ti me a t Bombing Alti tudeAvg Fly ing Time/lvg Distane o Flown (Nnu tica l

A ir Miles)

FUEL CO NSUUP TIONConsumed to Target :

Average

Mo.ximwn

Minimum

Consumed Fr om Tar ee t ToBcse :(Ale W th ou t Malfunction)

Average

Me.ximum

Mini!:lurn

Consumed fr om Tnr gct to Base :(A/CWl th Ma l f unc t io n)

Avera.ge

Maximum

Mnimum

Tota l Fuel Us ed :Avo r nge

Maximum

Minimum

To t e l Fue l Remainin g :Ave r ag e

Maximum

M nimuo

Avg Gals . Fue l Consumed pe rHour

Ava Gnls. Fuel Consumed pe rMUe

fOUL FUEL CCtlSUIIED AND LOST ON IA1IL«IdI!i URCRAFT

I ' ,SEE r.E ICHT O ~ T ASHEET I

II

6 : 50

1 : 151:00

' 14:39

2845

4860

5111

4355

1996

2233

1647

6693

6913

6255

548

n 05

1

456 . 9

2.35

77935

6 : 3 7

1 :1 01 :1 )

14 : 52

286/.

1.670

5100

4390

2006

2330

1731

6693

71 08

6380

737

1020

292

15301

6 : 1.0

1:101:35

15 : 00

3001

,

4671 iIII

5131

4261

1912

2116

1315

1878

2078

1643

65'10

6990

6060

819

1390

360

438.0

,

2.19

113797

6:11

1:231:25

14:27

2872

1972

2100

16')6

2131

6615

6845

6::13

785

U87

555

\

457 .8

2.J()

11l'n11 •

6:33

1:14 •1:19

14 :4 5

2899

5131

l.26 1 I

6633

710a

6060

737

1187

1



"IISS1011 26 {:!1d,lhlllOn H ll

FUEl. Co'):ISUMPTIOj-i lc FLIG HT DATA

Ie CC\rWLETING MISSION

lJ::r CHT DATAAv g Ba s ie Wt . of AleA ve F ue l Louded ( Gala . )Avg BombsLoudcd (Lbs . )

~ IIvgGross " t . a t Take o f f

0 ' G12

o G 1 W rY1 B.20 32

Sr.:E W$ICIiT DAn SHt:F:'r

ILIGHT DAT A

Avg Time a t Lor. Alti tudeAvg Time o f Climb to BombingAlt i tude

6 : ) 0

1 :1 01 :1 3

14 : 47

6:27 6 : 29

\6 : 32

1:161:16

14:48

\

Avg Time a t Bombing A l t i t udeAvg Fly ing TimeAv a Di s tance Flown (Na u t i c a l

Ai r Mil es )

UEL CClNStr.fPTlm!Con s umed to Tareet :

AverageMa"dmum

MnimU/U

C o n s ~ dFT om Ta r g e t to Base :A/Cnithout Malfunct ion)

Aver ag e/,la:<imumlf in i mwn

Consumed From Te r gc t to Base :(A/c With Malfunct io n)

AverageMaximumMin imum

To ta l Fuel UJed :Averager.{(.ximumMinimum

To ta l Fuel RCm!lining:Aver.geI.fnxir.rum;Ainul1.L1l

Average Ga l s . Fuel ConsumedPer HoW"

Aversgo Guis . Fuel ConBUIl'IOdP er Mi l e

TarAL FUEL CONSlJ:{EDl IND

LOST(1 l AIRBORNE AIRCRAFT

2760

471249944 30 4

2005178 62109

NONE

669270366398

70810 '- 7389

452.8

2.1.2

80304

1 :2 71:08

14 : 54

1:211 : 10

14 : 51

29 50 2816

50)154234621

190420%1641.

NDNE

560952

99

459 .1

2 . 4

143338

491254234) 04

19 421786164J.

nONE

678673016398

61610 2 7

99

456 . 7

2.41

223642

2871

47505l.2 3l.261

668373016060

6961187

1

451.8

2 . ) )

* Data fa r a l l Ale C O l ! l p I c tl ~ ~ i s s l C 1 1 l i s Do t na1lJ1b l e . Aftnges are b. . . . c .the lIIissicus shown Wld.;:r ! : ; l !C ~ grou .,J II .! ca.pletin&: medon. HOWIrfttr,Total l * I l

C C G 8 ~and Lost 18 based m a U a i rborne a i r c r c f t .

I

8 1 ~ ~L - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ~ .



,- t:. ~

~' § l U ~ . R t l .

MISS1U! 26 (Middleman #l l

lIEIGH!' DATA - D/ .TE - '( ~ F e b r u ~194,2

I UNIT~ C AVlW.GE AVERAGE AVERAGE ·AVER/I.GE ';IT AVERAGE AVG '.i ' l ' OF FUELCC&!PLEl'mG :'!5c'T. U SErn L NO OF BOMBS OF BCI.ms FUEL

AVERAGE AVERl.GE GRess

IIISSICllL01J)F.D "'SC rooCHi'

rLO.\D LCWlID LOADED LOJIDFD ( 6 LBS FEll G;.r.) ,iEIGH l' AT T. \KE OFF I

497 11 75593 57 099 16 E28 IClu 6030 7241 43446 7623

I-498 21 76000 57000 1 T4E4 F c lu 6030 7400 44400 6570

132692l)JooO

499 16 75330 56472 P er Group 6030 7369 44334 8108 133802500 16 76000 57 15 6 6030 7400 44400 6726 133156,I - i ~ 64 75762 57425 60,0! 7370 44220 7175 133187

I504 12 75<Y15 58055 13 E28 IClu 4960 71125 44550 6525 133130505 20 74500 57100 1 T4E4 F Cl u 4960 7400 44400 7720 1]1600

p er sroup

.. ~ ~

32 747 16 57456 49&0 7409 44454 6024 132174- I.1

I ~ : " : " . : . L 96 75 414 57435 5 660 73 63 44298 7457 1 ]2B49

I

28 ' ~ O O #Fr cl u te r = 43 0:1 (actu al 'fl"eiah t )• • - 50 0# w e n d i a r y c lu ster = 350# (actual \leisht) T 4 ~- ag S

NOl'E: Bomb:) l7eight supplied by Ch crnico.l and Ordnance suction o f X..I Bomber CommIlnd.

S . E'l'C·R4'F-T



'NIl""P

FIELD ORDERS

M h U o n Ro, 26

4 February 1945



~

1 . r n l' o r lll!l.t i Oil :

A . p r i e nd ly

(1 ) Ai r

,()(1 BOUIb.. r CCIIII,lM,ndAPO 2343l Janua r y 1945

( 0. ) CTF 93 wi l l provido a i r d efe nae of th o ope r . t 1 n s beao • •

(b ) Ownbo Se r vie o : TO 1'0 110'/'1.

(2 ) Ndvo.l( 0. ) Li 1'og u !l.rd Sub mn r ! no : TO f o l l ow .

( b) J)Os t r ey o r : To 1'0 1101'1 .

(1 ) Air o r n f t : Appr oxima t e l y 22 8 Opc ro.t lonu l goemy t l gh t ..Jr s (;.r o Ic:no,rnt o bo i n t ho K o bo w I ~ o . g :o y ( ) .!cr o a .

(2 ) Il n t1 wAi r c r o.ft l rh ) r o a r o 71 hc c..vy l\o t i wAl r o r .:.1't gun s in a:ob,J wOa...h..Ar co. wi t h in o f f eo t iv o r an g e of p l o.nnod r ou t o t o t _ r go t .

2 . 1)00iSioo : Tho XXJ Borr:h.; r C o ;ruilQ.:l d 1'(1 11 a t t c..ok t a r go te: d O:l igllO.tc d b..) 1 ..... on-0- O--y .

3. I n s t r uc t i o n s t o un i t s .

A. 73rd ' ' ( in g Ob j e o t ! vo s :

B.

c·

PRT' UJl Y T ARGET

po r t a nd bui l t up u rban e rc o ofth o o i t y of Kobe: Ob jec t ivefo lder 90 . 25 !.Ia.p " . 9

~ I' , RY TM GET : None

LAST RESORT: Any ind u s t r i c..l c i t y

FOOCE REg,VI RBD : 7 Sq.uo.drons

3 l 3 th ly in g Ob j e o t ! vo s :

P R I~1 A RY T;\RGETpor t o.od b u i l t up ur b.:m n ro o. oft h o o i t y of Kobe: Ob j e o t. iv cfo ldor 90 . 25 Mo.p M 9

S E Cm I D J ~R Y T; ,RGE"I': NODO

L \ST RESCll:T: Any i Od :Js t r i a l Cli ty

FOOCE RE9:U1RED: 3 Sq.u udroQS

SOMlIle of Man o uv e r :

h J ::':I NG POr n rt o f o 1 1 ~

loILIN G POINTt o fo lleM'

(1) Mo thod o f o.t t oo k : ;3y aq u . ldrona i n co1w:m. c,tt40k: i n& witb A a u u . a

tilllO 1ntorvn l botwO!')D OOl.lbo.t squAdron.. Tho p r 1 ~ ) 't _ r l ot t r i l l beo.tto. c irod by v i tu n. l boo bing cothod. i f p o u i b l o ::wd. b. ra.dar balb1rcmethods i f naoo.a a ry .

(2 ) AZi. and Q l t i t ~ d oof o .t t ~o k:t o o t .



Q

YoXl ( j , , " ' t . ~r COI.l/l)f)J'jdI.PO 23 4

(3 ) 'l'lmo con t r o l ; T he f i r s t oombot gro u p o f tho 73r4 Win t .,,111 let-vo thlod epa r t u r e p o i n t a t "H" Hour . Th e f l r e t o omb.. g r ou p 01' t.h(l 313thwing w i l l l oo.ve tho a e p a r t u r o p o i n t c.t II.pprOltl l11.... t o l y "11" Hour p l u .45 minutos .

D. ROutos - 7 ] rd o rld ] 1 3 t h Wing e .

BOllo

17 °00 ' 11 144 °00 ' E (OOpllrtl.lrO p o ~ nt )

290

00 l fj 1 35045 ' 834 c4S ' N 1 3 5° 5 3' ~34°5 1 ' N" 135°36 ' 8 (IP )TDrgot33°00 ' N 1 3 5 ° ~' E

2 J oOO ' " 145° 00 . £Dn,:w

(2 ) 9 0mb Load l

73r d wing - u c..x:lmwJ load pos t l b l o . "mlnlro.uJ::l l oad of 6 , 000 l b o , typo82 8 , o.lm t.b l o inoendiary c l u s t e r fused t o op on a t 5 . 00 0 f t Wi l l beoo.rrlod . Enoh a i r o r a f t wi l l o!l.rry ono 5 00 Ib T 4E ! ~f rng o lu l t o r fueedto op e n 1 , 00 0 f oe t below the a iro r a f t .3 13 t h wing - Eaoh n l rcro.f t w i l l ca r ry e. mln l I:lul:l of 5 . 0 00 lbe of .o.cetyp e bombs sp o o i f i e d f or 73rd Wing

(3 ) inte rvolomotor set t ing: 5 00 fect .

4. Supply nnd Administration :

A. Emorgpncy l ~ o d i n gf ie lds :

(1 ) I s l ey 110 2 , Sa ipnn

(2 ) we s t Fi e ld , Tini an

(3) navy Agano., GU""

(4 ) Depot Field , Gu,",

5 . communioatioos:

A. SOP XXI Bombor Commo.nd wil l govern the U$e or radio kid to n ~ v i g a t i O Q&D4us e of radio ror roporting pu r po s os .

B. oporational Air · Gro und s t a t i on :

(1) 7Jrd Bombardment Wing o a l l Sign. OOv53 0

(2) 313th Bombardnont Wing 0 0 . 1 1 s ign Oov535

BY aOr.v.Jllnd of Major Gcmcra l LoW, Y:

OF'FICI llL:WILSOND/OPNS



COtlSOLQ:.rED AHENDI!ErITS FOIl: FO tJ22

IJIOOLE:.!Ml 1

l , ( [ [ j O l ~ b l > rCOIM.£nd

I.PO 2)11

Ar.londmont 1 : •• For 3 .: t. o rond :A. 7Jrd Wing ObjooUvoa

P R I: ~ R Y T·.RCET " ,, ,n ~ I ~ ' ~ "~ G ~P O g I U !I ! : ' "

90 . 6 - l T I l nZooo 1 o f Mop M- 9 106136

079132I.lmln£ pol:l t r c- r .., ro nco on XXI BOL·bor

: N ~ ' m g b ~ · W ' ~ ' ~ O ~.~ ' ~ 5i £-~ u : r . b~n .~ 1 - Nono

1nduetr1 r. l7 S q u ~ dr on e

e i t y

b _ par 3 B t e TOLd,B. ]13 t h ~ l n & objeot ivos

f'CI?CE RE ;"' J I iCD2 SqUlldTOL '2 Squ Cl.dron &

3 S'l.VJldrooaCOII:I:lawl. Litho >.0:....

10

PRJ lAR Y T/RGEr J.IJ'lNC POINT PCJ!CE ~ ' ; ' J I R _ t D

9 0 . 25 ZOllO 1 of 074125 3 Squ14ro; •'(UP M - 9"l1n l ng p o i n t roforo nce on XXI BOr:'lbor Co;:-;:u:;:r.d Llt.b:I .oa<.-10Nun,bor 90 . 25 ur ban .

¥ , ~ c- Nonoind s t r i a l oi t .y

] Sq u adro:u;

c . pa r 3 . X (4) to r :Jod ,(4) Bombing i n 6 ~r u o t i oa B : p r eva i l i ng Bur f_ ce w l = ~ so v ~r t ~

t a r got aro:!. '- rc fror.l thu wClSt nor th .../e s t . Ir. ordor t op:-wv,Jn t BDIOke.. from prooeeding ::..tt t..c k::; obs c ...r 1.i.-6 t M ...1::.1:1£po i n t s fe r : :ucooding ( . t taoks tho :..i :r.i olb poin t s w111 boa t t a ckod in tho fo l lowi ng ordo r :

1 . 1391372 . 106136

3 . 0791324 . 074 125

JI.l.1ondoont 2; 0. . Chang o p:lr 3X(3) t o ro a d : i n t J r · .:. lo ,J ...t ...r s o t t i n g s : . . : : o . . z l ~.

J,mO!ldJ:iont 3: a . ehG.::lgoX (2 )

pa r 3X(2) t o roed:Bomb Lond:

73rd Wing: 1.:1nlmur.l o.oooptr .b l c fo r _ l l :Je w i l l "be 6.000

lo s . This docs n ot proolud<J, . 0 eVI;:r . l o - d i a g .\le r.bof tminimur . o o n d s t e n t with tll-foty • .•b i l i t y of ' \ho iDl!lv1cllUo1comb!".t orow , _nd Imol-ln oh::trt .ot",ristio8 01' tho lndh1du...-1Me. ~ c htJc: Typo £-28. ;.1..tlt.blo inc:.;;nal _ ry c l u . t . .fut.od t o OpOli .. t 5 ,000 f t .:.ud o n~ 500 lb T4£:4 f r " " ol" , t ( .fu::o t o op ...n 1 .0 00 l ' t be lo w th e .. i r e r a t t . Tho tr,,"", bea twl 1 be 10:lcod 80 ';'5 t o drop , ' i r s t .] 1 3 t h Vline : guch ;,,/C w111 oJ;i.rry u. OlDl.mW:l or .5 . 000 l i t

o f &u.mu tyP'J of bo .\b l o ~ d8 poo i f i od fo r 7Jrd 'flng .

b . J,dd to. p a r 3X: (5 ) T ~ Of r . g b o . ~ bwi 11 OU 10Q,dud to drop 11 r a t .Bombo.rdiorll w i l l b.; br i ( ; fod t o 8 .;1,1\'0 toli;b . Ov..:r t h .. t...rgot ....,.....in ouse.. tho b o ! , ~ b 8ro.11 t o r o l o;lso 011 tho '1l1 oa t ivo mothCld..

AmondQont 4 : n . par ) x ( I ) should road : ( 1 ) ~D ' ooy ..ce "H" H ~ 081012 F<.;bruc..ry 1945

J.QOndrlont 5 : u . ptlr 1,\ to roo.d,I.. r r 1 ~n d l : . r

(1 ) A1 r(0.) CTF 93 w i l l prov ido I l i r clotO.l8e o f th o op.:ara'lItI

bllIlOIl ,

(b ) Dwabo l I u n i c . , J.. OWnbc w111 be ill200.00 ' . 142000,£ t ro . 0900X to.24'121,. J.D.othor Duabo _111 bo Got



Amendment 6:

Y.xl iio,ubor couu"r,;."dI'.PO 234

f rog lO)OK to 1230K. ca l l 11gn 1 2 4 v 2 1 ~ ,80thgu o.r d 4474kol nn d 500keB. Ch&.nne l 0"; . on VHP.

(2 ) H::.vg.l

( 0 )

(b )

Lifogug.rd Bubmorlno : J submar ines w i l l ~ OQ

s t a t l o n ~ t 32°)0 ' " 137 OO ' E, 31 030 ' N 1)8 000 'Ennd )OOCO ' 1l l 390lS ' E dl.:rlng o n t i r e m l u l o Q ,

Destroyor : I. dostroyo r w i l l \;0 On reB ou e dutyI l t 22 0 00 ' 1l 141°3 0 ' £ f rom 09451':: t o nOOy; . StImados t royor wl l1 bo ou duty from 2030K to ~ O O K

I l t p o s i t i on 22 0 oo , U 144° 30 ' £ . Vo l uo 0. 11 H ~ l y & r d.

b. C h ~ n g op ~ r 3D t o r o ~ d:

n .

D. Routos ~ 73rd and. 3 13 th ~ ' {l n ga :

Idd( b)

SO'·17°00 ' N 144 °00 ' E (Depa r t u r o poln t )29000 l N 13 5 °45 ' E34°4S ' N 1 J.5°.5 3 ' r.34 oS1 'U 135°)6 , £ ( I p )Ta.rgot

340

17 ' N 135°01 ' E33 0 00 ' N 135°15 '£2 ) oOO ' N 14S o00 ' gBOoSO

to pilI' l A( l ) ( b )2 B- 29 Dumoos w i l l(31030 ' u 13 60 45 ' E )

be over 1 1f o guar" s_b::lllrlnsnpprox1!:1t.tdy 14 00z:..

a t . l o n

b . Chan go pu r l i. ( 2 ) ( a ) t o rand:(D.) 3 submC-rinos v/ i ll be on s t a t i o n a t 3103 0 ' 1l 136045'E .

30 0 00 ' N 1380

1 5 ' E I:.nd 28 0 15 'N 140 0 00'E dur ing o l l t i r e

mission .

Amondment 7: a , cano o l mid c;.lolIlC.n ono r epo!lt oanc e l midalecll.D. one aobe ci;J.led.f o r 2 Fob 45 .

b . chango par 3x(1) t o read: . J ' D&.Y and . S. Hour: t o Collaw .

Amendmont B : a . Change p&r 3 A t o r e e d :

I , . 73 rd '.Iring o b j e o t i v e :

P R n U Y T/.RGET Ar.:ING POINT PORCE aw:"'IREP90 . 25 058113 3 squadrOlllZOM 1 of u ~P 1 ·9 071123 2 S'l;J.C.dr0n8

092132 2 SqUlLdrOAIAiming poin t re f a r e n o e on XU aombe r C ~ c dL i t h o ~ ~ 1 0

nWllbor 90 . 25 ... urbo.n . Bal lns t io wind have bo3n t . .mn 1D.tooon&idoration i n soleot iou of !l.lmi'-'b pOints and. no oorrect i o n w i l l be ~ d ~.

SSCCND;,RY T'.RGST : NoneL'ST RESORT : An:! i=dust r i . 1 oi ty .FORCE RE3UIRED: 7 sq u adrons .

b . Chc.ngo par 38 t o r e a d :B. 3 13 th I'/ing ob j e o t i v o :

PRHvRY T1JWt:T

90 . 870u-' I of ?,;ap 11-9

Al i:nlG POINT

11 9128! , i m . ~ l l gpoiu t reforono;;t ou XXI Beaber C ~ ,Lltbo Moe&1o~ ' J h ' b < J r9 0. ~ urban. a a l l . , t i o v i .u t a h a f t b&ua t a .ba !a Mo o n 8 i d ~ r l l t l o nin s e l e o t i o n o f .t-iDS po1Dta aDd DO o a r -reo t ion w i l l bo made .

(I j . Chango fJ&r ~ ( 2 )t o reo.cl.( 2 ) IIOkn l U i s and. a l t l t u c l e at a t t h k ,

tude or ~ . o o or . •••



'JD.e ll<i1nent 8 oont: X,(I BOi!l!.ltlr C0I1.m'l.ad

;p O 23 4

d . chr.nge par 3D t o read:O. RoutO: 73rd ..nd ) l ) t h wings :

D!l.SO

I 7 0 0 0 ' l ~14 0 000'E (Oepc.rturo p o i n t )2.9 0 00 ' N 1,35°45'E33°28'N 135°45'E34°31'N 1,35°23'E ( I P )Tnrgot

34Q

43 ' N 134

Q

5 2 ' E33°00 ' N 1,35°l.5 'E23000 ' N 145°00 ' EBUBO

0 . chnnge pur 3X(1) t o rend;(1 ) -D - Day (.nd "H" Hours : OBlaK 4 Februa ry 1945

f . chnngc pa r 3X(4) t o road;(4 ) p r o v a i l i n g s u r f a c e w i n d s over tho t a r g o t nre from. wcst

north - w e s t . In order t o preven t smoke i'rom preced inga t t a o k s obsour ing t h e aiming p o i n t fo r succeeding to.ttllok at h ~ ~ i m i n gp o i n t w i l l bo o.tto.cko(,j. i n th e fo l low ordo r :

(1) 058115(2 ) 071123(3 ) 09213 2(4 ) 119128



••

,.

DISTRIBUTION

OF

XXI BOMBER CQl.$ihKD

b.CTIC.AL LUssioN REPORT

l l isel0!L jOe as

" PebrwJ. . 19&5



Cop y No ,

12l45

•••

1011

12I I

14• 15

"71.

"0

2122232425 _ 26

272829303132

'"43535>73. - 3 940 59

7071

PISTRIBUTION

TACTICAL W.ISSION REPORTS

C o ~ ~ n d l n tGeneral . Twent ieth Ai r PoreeC o ~ n n di n g G en e r ~ l . XXI Bomber C o ~ ~ d

Oepu ty C O ~ 4 n n d e r .Twentieth Air Fo rc oCh1&f of Sto1' f , Twenti e th Ai r For ooChief of StcU't, XXI Bomber CommnndDepl\ty Cis . O;>no , &: Int •• XXI Bomber CoaandDepu t y c is . Sup , &: ~ ~ i n t, . r . x I Bottbor C ~ dAlC ~ f S, A- 2. XXI B o ~ b e rC o ~ n d

Commnod1ng Genera l , Army A1r Forces . Attention: AC/ASIn te: l1genr ooC o m ~ n de r in Ch i of , p ~ c ir i c OCean A r e ~ a ( AdT. Hq. )Commo.nde r In Chlef " Po.c1f1c Ocn n Areu (Ree.r Hq.)Chi of of No.val I n t e l 1 1g ~n c o , 0? - 16 -VJ oi nt In t e l l i gence Center . P ~ i f i cOceo.n Areo.aCommc.nder Li r Force , Po-c i r i c FleetCommand or , ? l f th Fl c e tCommo.nde r , Fi r s t Carri er To.sk PoreeCommande r, F o rwo.rd Ar Oo.Commo.nding Gener al . U, S , Army Forc os in Par Eo.atCommanding Genero.1 , U, S, h r ~ yPorces , ?ac1tic Ocenn ! reaaC o ~ n d i n g G e n e r ~ 1, Allied Ai r Fo r ces . S o u t ~ e s t

Po.c1fic Ar allsCOmr.io.nding General. U. S, Stro.t egic Ai r Forc os oln Slu' opoCommr.ndin g Gener o.1. Ei gh th J..ir Forc GCommc.nding Genaro. l . M a : : ! i t ~ r r ( l n e : . . n.oUli e t! Ai r F OT e nCommo.ndln g Gena r o.1 . F ~ { ' t e G n t hAi r ForoeCOIMla.ndins Gene r o.l, S ~ q e n t hA ~ r Fo rceCOltmo.ndlng Genernl , So.en th ~ o m b er COCllltUldCommanding Gene r c.l , Sove nth Fighte r Comm:ln4Commanding Gener a l , XX 9 0 ~ b e ~C o ~ n n d

Commo.nding Gene"r.ll . 5f>th BODb 'Rin gCommo.ndln g G ~ n a r o . !, 7 3 r d Bomb WingComcanding Gene r al , 313th Bomb ~ i n g

Commronding Geno r d , 314th Bonb WingC o m m ~ n d i n gGene r o.l . 315th B c ~ bl1ng ( ~ d v .Sq . )Commandir>g or f ic or , 3rd Ph ot o RecoD , SquadronCommundin g Of!"ictl r . 33rd StatistiCo. l Cc ntr e>l UnitTnc t i cs & T r ~ l n i n gSeotion, A-3 . IXI B ~ b o rCCmaAndH1s{;('Irioo. l Of f i c e r . XXI Bomber ComanndCOIll.!lc..nding General. Army A ir Fo r ces , Attenti on J.C/AS

I n ~~ 11 1 g e n o e. Co l l e c t i on Di vis ionCommrnd in g Offioer. 6 th Bomb Gr oup (VB)Commo nding a r t i c e r 9 th Boab Group (VB)

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21st Bomber Command Tactical Mission Report 26, Ocr

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