330th July Missions of 1945
April
- May
- June
- July - August
1-2 July 1945 Bomb Group Mission
#34
Target: Shimonoseki Urban
Area
Bomber Command Mission #243
Code Name:
For the
first seven missions in July, the Bomb Group attacked minor Japanese
cities with incendiary bombs (IB). The first city to be attacked was
Shimonoseki. The important city with a population of 196,000 adjacent
to Shimonoseki Strait, which was being mined almost nightly by the
313th BW. Thirty-eight planes took off at 1/1900G and 37 planes returned
at approximately 2/1100G. One plane aborted. On this 16 hour mission,
the BG deposited 180.5 tons of incendiary bombs with bomb load distributed
as follows: 457th: 4.5; 458th: 5.1; and 459th: 5.2 tons per AC. The
greater distance that the planes had to travel to this city necessitated
the modest bomb loads. The four bomb groups in the 314th BW attacked
Shimonoseki this night and together deposited 833 tons of bombs, burning
out an estimated 36% of the built up area. Due to the defenses around
Shimonoseki, bombing altitude were raised to 15,000 feet for the Wing
on this particular mission. Lt. Fred Nibling, Group radar countermeasures
officer, was in a Radar Counter Measures (RCM) B-29 dubbed "Porcupine"
at 33,000 feet for 90 minutes jamming Japanese radar. Despite the
heavy concentration of anti-aircraft guns in and around Shimonseki,
the radar jamming and dispensing of chaff led to no planes lost or
casualties.
3-4 July 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #35
Target: Tokushima Urban Area
Bomber Command Mission # 250
Code Name:
On this
mission, the Bomb Group deposited 328.5 tons; another reference gives
314.9 tons of incendiary bombs (IB) on Tokushima, a railroad hub on
the eastern shore of Shikoku Island, the smallest island of the four
Japanese Home Islands. The bomb loads were the highest of the war
to date with the 457th: 10; 458th: 9.8; and 459th: 10 tons per AC.
The total 314th BW deposited 1,051 tons of bombs, burning out an estimated
1.7 square miles of the town. This was 74% of the total built up area
of the town for a bombing efficiency factor of 0.0016 square mile
per ton. Take off time on this mission was 3/1900G and the planes
returned at about 4/1100G. There were no planes lost or casualties.
6-7 July 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #36
Target: Kofu Urban Area
Bomber Command Mission # 254
Code Name:
Continuing
with the fire raid blitz against the minor Japanese cities, the 314th
BW attacked the city of Kofu, an inland city west of Tokyo and probably
a rail hub for access to the west coast of Japan. At this time, with
the Shimonoseki Strait blockaded, Japanese imports of essential food
and raw materials from Korea and Mainland China were being funneled
through the ports on the Japanese west coast bordering the Sea of
Japan. The 330th BG sent up 33 planes with one abort. The incendiary
bombs were divided between the M-47, petroleum based incendiary bomb
and the E-46 incendiary cluster bomb, a jelly-napalm based incendiary
bomb. The latter was composed of a cluster of 47 small incendiary
bomblets, which burst open between 1,000 to 2,000 feet and blanketed
a wide area. It was these bombs, which contributed to the Tokyo conflagration
of 9/10 March 1945. For this mission the take off time was 6/1800G
returning at 7/0800G. Bombs were away between 7/0059G to 7/0144G at
an altitude between 13,400 and 14,600 feet. Due to the cloud cover
over the target on this night mission, most planes released their
bombs by the synchronous radar method, which relied on the close coordination
between the radar-N and the B. Most bombs were released in the target
area, but one aircraft had some bombs, which did not release and another
aircraft had three shackles installed backwards. This night, the BW
deposited a total of 970 tons of incendiary bombs, burning down 64%
or 1.3 square miles of the town with an effectiveness factor of 0.0013
square mile per ton. The 330th BG flew as BW lead and received the
Distinguished Unit Citation for this mission. The citation stated:
" This source of power was permanently eliminated as a target and
2/3 of its industrial region was leveled in this magnificent demonstration
of determination and bombing skill." Keyes described the trip up and
back which was typical for most planes in the BG. After takeoff they
climbed to 5,000 feet and flew up to Iwo Jima where they started to
climb to the bombing altitude of 13,400 feet. In this case, they went
over the target at 215 mph CAS (calculated air speed). They returned
home at 16,500 feet, a favored altitude because one could normally
ride a tail wind back to Guam at this altitude. Approaching the Empire
this night, Keyes states that they could see fires at other cities
that the XXI BC was attacking. There was little enemy air opposition
or flak except for meager and inaccurate automatic weapon fire which
was normally below 5,000 feet and ineffective at the B-29 altitude.
Cruise control was quite efficient in conserving fuel. The calculated
fuel usage was 6,117 gallons and the average fuel used was 5,816 gallons,
but the averages masked the one B-29 which used 6,260 gallons due
to the need to fly on three engines with the fourth feathered.
9-10 July 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #37
Target: Gifu Urban Area
Bomber Command Mission #260
Code Name:
The 330th
BG contributed 243.4 tons of incendiary bombs, all E-46 cluster bombs,
to the 899 tons of incendiary bombs deposited by the 314th BW this
night on Gifu. Thirty-four planes were aloft with three aborts and
the average bomb loads were distributed as follows: 457th: 7.8; 458th:
7.8; and 459th: 8.0 tons per AC. The planes left at about 9/1700G
and returned at approximately 10/0800G with bombs away between 10/0117G
and the last at 10/0200G at an altitude of 14.000 -16.000 feet resulting
in the bombs for the 31 planes being dropped in 43 minutes. This equates
to an average time interval of 1.4 minutes between planes. This interval
is important in determining the overall effectiveness of a fire raid.
Later analysis indicated that 1.4 square miles (74%) of the city were
burned out. The bombing efficiency factor was 0.0016 square mile per
ton. The comments of the crews were that the weather was perfect over
the target with wind blowing from left to right permitting a visual
bomb run despite smoke up to the bombing altitude. The night was so
clear that one crewmember commented that they could have gone over
the target in formation -a rare event indeed. There was only meager,
inaccurate, heavy caliber anti-aircraft fire (15,000-25,000 feet),
but inaccurate and intense automatic weapon fire (2,000-5,000), which
was ineffective at the bombing altitude. Again, the estimated and
actual fuel consumption was very close. The calculated value was 5,922
gallons and the actual average used was 5,987 gallons. This indicated
that everyone was closely following the recommended cruise control
settings. One crew suggested that the aircraft descend in the last
hour rather than upon leaving the Empire. As indicated above, some
crews were already following this procedure. This would take advantage
of the Jet Stream that is present at about 15,000 feet blowing in
a southeasterly direction. For everything to mesh on these missions,
a lot of variables must fall into place to accurately place the bombs
on the target and to have the actual winds on the target but several
crews reported that they did not get the winds from the weather plane.
In any case, 74% of the city was burned down. There were no planes
lost or casualties.
12-13 July 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #38
Target: Uwajima UrbanArea
Bomber Command Mission # 266
Code Name:
This mission
was planned as a night mission against a relatively small city, Uwajima,
of 50,000 population on the west coast of Shikoku. Thirty-three planes
from the 330th BG took off at 12/1700G and landed about 13/0800G.
Weather was the determining factor in the poor results of this mission.
There was a weather front which was 100 miles north of the predicted
position and close to the target, so crews flew at 14,000 -17,000
feet in the soup on instruments for 55 minutes from the front to the
target and back to the edge of the front. The lower cumulus clouds
over the target confused the radar pictures making identification
of the target difficult. Bombs were scatted all over the countryside
as only 0.14 square mile (16%) of the target area was burned as a
result of the 873 tons of incendiary bombs dropped by the 314th BW
on this target. The efficiency factor for this mission was 0.00016
square mile per ton. The target had to be revisited at the end of
July to complete the job. Radio discipline was good as no one broke
radio silence in the 330th BG, but three planes in the other BGs did
break radio silence. One plane from the 19th BG reported seeing fire
on the water. This was reported on other missions by Ns from the 330th
BG and it is a natural phenomenon presumably well known to the Japanese
at the time, but the crews were apparently not well informed about
it. These are active underwater volcanoes, which are present in this
area of the Pacific Ocean off Japan. But seeing it for the first time,
one might assume it to be a ship on fire. Cruise control worked out
very well with the calculated average gas consumption of 5,908 gallons
comparing favorably with the actual fuel consumption of 5,879 gallons.
One plane had 22 of its 187 M-47 incendiary bombs hang up in the bomb
bay and they were dropped on Rota before landing. There were no planes
lost or casualties.
16-17 July 1945 Bomb Group
Mission # 39
Target: Hiratsuka Urban Area
Bomber Command Mission # 274
Code Name:
The target
for this night's mission was Hiratsuka, a relatively small town south
of Tokyo with an estimated population of 53,000, on the main railroad
line linking Tokyo and Nagoya. Crews were off at 16/1800G and returned
at approximately 17/0800G. Bombing was at an altitude between 11,200
and 12,500 feet. With the target completely cloud covered, all bombing
was by radar. The BG dropped 335.75 tons, M-17 type Incendiary Bombs
(IB) and the 314th BW dropped a total of 1,163 tons of bombs on the
city. This resulted in about one square mile, or 41.9% of the city
destroyed for an efficiency factor of 0.00086 square mile per ton.
Later, crews reported a glow in the clouds with smoke mushrooming
up to 12,000 feet and explosions in the target area. Visibility was
10 to 15 miles in the target area between a lower and upper cloud
layer. Gas consumption was an estimated 5,745 gallons and the actual
fuel consumption averaged 5,769 gallons, but several planes required
refueling at Iwo. The highest fuel consumer, K-39,
used 7,212 gallons caused by a left wing flap which would not fully
retract and a loss of 30 gallons of oil from #2 engine, requiring
higher than normal power settings. This plane landed at Iwo to refuel.
A new aircraft, K-52,
used only 5,459 gallons. One navigational improvement also contributed
to the improved ability to follow the flight plan; the operation of
a Loran system out of Okinawa permitted better navigation up close
to the Empire. A phenomenon was observed and reported by many crews
on this mission. On passing through a warm front between 31° 30' N
to 32°30' N. St. Elmo's fire was observed which extended around the
rotating propellers. This is an electric discharge. Some crews reported
a purple flame encompassing wings, nose and propellers and discharging
30 feet in front of the plane. A phenomenon not easily forgotten.
One crew reported picking up 2.5 inches ice at 16,000 feet, which
disappeared on descent to lower altitude. There were no planes lost
or casualties.
19-20 July 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #40
Target: Okazaki Urban Area
Bomber Command Mission #280
Code Name:
The 330th
BG, with 31 planes, teamed up with
the 19th and 29th BGs to attack Okazaki: a town lying 20 miles to
the southeast of Nagoya. The 330th
BG planes were loaded with 184 M-47 IB's,
each weighing about 100 lbs for a total bomb Ioad of 196.2 tons. The
other BGs used M-17 and E-46 incendiary bombs. The total incendiary
bomb load dropped on the town was 850 tons, burning down 0.65 square
miles c-r 68% of the total built-up area for an effectiveness factor
of 0.00076 square mile per ton. There were scattered clouds above
the target above 17,000 feet. This permitted nine planes to bomb visually
and 22 by synchronous radar from 14,200 to 15,400 feet. Bombs were
away between 20/0152G to 20/0234G. All aircraft were back at North
Field at about 20/0830G. Crews reporting on the bombing results indicted
that the bombs dropped in the target area causing fires and one reported
a large explosion lighting up a city block. One crew reported five
trains of bombs burning in the river. Another crew saw a string of
bombs north of the course near Koromo. While radio discipline appeared
to be good overall, communication with the weather ship on the VHF
channel appeared to leave room for improvement. One crew reported
someone broke into the weather channel and started to give his position
by stating" 1 0 miles southeast", but before he could give his position
three voices broke in and told him to shut up. Only four sightings
were made of enemy aircraft and no heavy anti-aircraft fire was experienced
and meager, inaccurate automatic weapon fire at lower altitude was
observed. But with three BGs, totaling 94 aircraft, in the area and
apparently scheduled fairly close together, mistakes were made.
CASUALTIES
Plane K-14
SN 42-94032
Crew of
K-8,
Thompson Hiles, Jr. A/C, riding in Plane K-14
was hit by friendly fire about 34 miles off lands end at 34 08' N
-138 25' E at 20/0241G. Hiles on a heading of 163 decided to turn
on his landing lights as there were so many planes in the area. The
RG in the "attacking" plane tracked what he thought was an "enemy"
plane on a collision course with their plane. Hiles showed all necessary
lights- running lights, formation lights and had turned on bomb release
light on tail. The "attacking" B-29, 500 to 1,000 feet above him,
came in from 7 o'clock and gave a burst of about 15 rounds from his
lower aft turret which struck the TG, SGT Leroy Peters, in the right
leg, thigh, left leg and scrotum. SSGT Lloyd Hardison, RO on crew
K-8
helped save Peters' life with first aid and quick thinking.
Although the plane was at 15,000 feet and pressurized at the time
of the friendly fire, it quickly depressurized (at least the tail
section which was separately pressurized from front of plane). Hardison
went to the tail section and, despite the cramped quarters, he was
able to remove Peters from the tail section and administer morphine
and apply a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. Peters was then moved
to the radar compartment where plasma was administered, and after
his clothes were cut away, antiseptic and bandages applied to his
wounds. These measures were sufficient to prevent shock and sustain
Peters until they got him to the field hospital on Iwo Jima. Approximately
15 bullet holes were found in the tail section and a small fragment
of a 50 caliber incendiary bullet on the floor. Another scary incident
happened to K-40.
A static electric discharge ran through the entire aircraft from the
Bombardier's free air gauge in the front to the rear of the plane
temporarily blinding crewmembers.
24 July 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #41
Target: Nakajima Aircraft
Plant
Bomber Command Mission #290
Code Name:
This was
the only daylight precision bombing mission in formation by the 330th
BG during July. Elaborate plans had
been worked out for this mission. There were primary and secondary
visual targets and a primary radar target. In fact," the primary visual
target was an old favorite near Nagoya, the Nakajima aircraft plant.
Assembly was over Minami Iwo Jima, the small island south of Iwo Jima.
With the use of different color smoke guns, each squadron was able
to assemble easily. But, some crews complained that the time allotted
for assembling was too short. The weather ship indicated that the
primary visual target was clear, but when the formation got there
it was cloud covered. The formation then traveled to the secondary
visual target and it was cloud covered as well. The formations then
proceeded to the city of Tsu, about 38 miles southwest of Nagoya,
the primary radar target. The bomb loads were peculiar. For the first
time the 330th BG was loaded with one of the largest high explosive
bombs in the AAF arsenal, the 4,000 pound high explosive (HE) bomb.
Presumably, to test the effect of dropping them out of an aircraft,
some aircraft were loaded with one, some with two and others with
three of these two-ton bombs. When the bombs detonated, one could
see the pressure waves traveling through the cloud layer. What the
population in Tsu city thought was not known. The bombing altitude
ranged from 18,000 to 20,000 feet. The bombing technique was by synchronous
radar, with bombs dropped on the lead aircraft. Out of the 36 planes,
four had trouble with the bomb bay doors. Two salvoed their bombs
and two jettisoned their bombs in the ocean. Bombs were away at 24/1139G
to 24/1141G with the formations traveling at average speed of 270
mph. Two planes landed at Iwo short on gas and no bomb-bay doors.
One plane landed at Northwest Field, Guam. On this day mission gas
consumption was 700 gallons over what was normally used on a night
mission. The calculated fuel was 6,339 gallons and the average fuel
consumption 6,446 gallons. This was not the ideal mission. The weather
ship sent the formation to the primary target, which was socked in
when the formation arrived and even the secondary visual target was
cloud, covered. In reassembling and going to the radar target, the
formations passed over Kyoto (off limits to bombing due to its cultural
importance) and the formation took flak from the city. This mission
also had what the RAF called a "Master of Ceremonies". K-63,
Talmon Mager, A/C, took off before the other planes and was over the
various targets to direct traffic. The problem was that the plane
was two hours waiting over the target before the formations arrived.
Also, the VHF channel for K-63
was cluttered with P-51 pilots using the same channel. Fortunately,
despite flying to three targets in formation and new ordinance. There
were no casualties or planes lost indicating the improved crew performance
of the 330th BG and an opponent "on the ropes".
26-27 July 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #42
Target: Omuta Urban Area
Bomber Command Mission #295
Code Name:
As with
most night missions during July, there were scattered clouds from
the base up to 6,000 to 8,000 feet and a clear sky with visibility
up to 10 miles between 8,000 to 17,000 feet, and clouds above that
altitude. Omuta was a major town on the west side of Kyushu. The 58th
BW attacked it on 17-18 June 1945 with only minor damage. It had a
population of 177,000 and was the focus of the 314th BW's efforts
with all four bomb groups participating this night. The 330th BG had
33 planes scheduled with 11 from each Bomb Squadron. K-15
blew its front nose wheel tire on take off and scratched and K-33
aborted at Iwo with one engine out. The remaining 31 planes
dropped 252.84 tons of M-47 and M-17 incendiary bombs on Omuta from
14,000 to 15,500 feet. Altogether, the four BGs dropped 965 tons of
IB on the town, burning 2.65 square miles or 46.6% of the total built
up area. The efficiency factor was 0.0027 square mile per ton. Despite
the complaint about the weather, it was an efficient bombing strike.
Its strategic value lay in the fact that Omuta was a rail hub and
a port on the western side of Kyushu and would need to be isolated
before the Kyushu invasion. The raid was planned as a classic night
area-bombing mission with Pathfinder planes. This concept works only
if the Pathfinders correctly mark the town and the follow-on aircraft
can see the marker bombs. Otherwise, the crews were on their own.
There were six Pathfinder Planes over the targe1 between 27/0113G
and the last 27/0133G and the main force was over the target from
17/0133 - 27/0201G. On many past missions, there were complaints that
the weather planes provided weather information that was outdated
by the time the planes reached the target. In this case the reverse
was true, K-35,
Foster B. Huff, A/C, a Pathfinder, was on its bomb run when the wind
data came in. The Nav's complained that the forecast wind directions
and actual wind directions between Iwo Jima and the target were off
by 90 to 100 degrees. These late and inaccurate weather reports may
be the reason that the 457th BS, Pathfinder K-3,
almost had its wing tom off by bombs falling on it from a plane 200
feet overhead. The Japanese were aware that this was an important
target as well; they sent up night fighters (they had very few) and
shot down one B-29 and badly damaged another -neither plane from the
330th BG -but the demise of the B-29 was vividly described by the
returning crews. Several crews saw a B-29 with one engine flaming,
fired on by two sets of tracers ten miles beyond the target area;
it exploded once in the air and again when it hit the ground at 27/0158G.
Heavy and medium anti-aircraft fire was observed over the town but
it was meager and inaccurate. The heavy bomb-loads and incorrect wind
directions made early landings at Iwo Jima inevitable. Three planes,
K-30,
K-39
and K-41,
landed at Iwo and K-3
and K-29
on Tinian for gas. The calculated fuel consumption was 6,234 gallons
and the average consumed by the 26 planes that made it back to North
Field was 6,150 gallons. One crewmember that landed on Tinian and
hitched a ride around the island to see the sights while the plane
was refueled, was looking at a Japanese shrine and an MP challenged
him. This surprised him, although he may have been out of regular
fatigues, having just gotten off the plane for a few minutes. The
apparent tightened security on Tinian as opposed to Guam may have
signaled the presence of 509th Bomb Group (the Atomic Bomb Group located
at North Field, Tinian). There were no planes lost or casualties on
this mission.
28-29 July 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #43
Target: Ogaki Urban Area
Bomber Command Mission #301
Code Name:
This was
a memorable mission for the 330th Bomb Group. The target was Ogaki
urban area with a population of 56,000. In the first instance, K-28,
City of Omaha, and Howard McClellan, A/C had on board Ray Clark, a
newsman from Station WOW, Omaha who broadcast live back to Guam and
the States. He gave a running account of the anticipation and excitement
of the bomb run. This unprecedented broadcast was sent out live over
three networks and recorded for repeat broadcast by two other networks.
Later, Ray Clark was able to get K-28's
crew and plane back to Nebraska in October 1945 to participate in
a Victory Bond drive. The second highlight of the mission was that
the City of Ogaki was part of a 20th Air Force Psychological Warfare
Effort involving the Japanese people. Certain cities, Ogaki being
one of them, was the recipient of propaganda leaflets stating it would
be, along with 10 other cities, firebombed in the near future and
the civilians were warned to evacuate the city. But, in modem warfare,
psychology is used and in some instances very effectively. Hitler's
Germany made no bones about it, they had a Ministry of Propaganda
and believed firmly in the dictum that if you say black is white often
enough people will believe you. Japan was somewhat subtler and had
a Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere for the natives. For the
Americans, there was Tokyo Rose. In any case, Americans had, at the
start of World War II, voiced opposition to area bombing as used by
the Japanese on NanKing in 1937. In prosecuting total war, we were
using the B-29 in its most efficient and effective manner on centers
of production and transportation; but in the late stages of a bombing
campaign, the Japanese morale became a legitimate target. The pamphlets
warned that certain cities were to be bombed and they should evacuate
the cities. Therefore, many Japanese cities in July and August 1945
were forewarned, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki (although the warning
to Nagasaki may have come too late since the date of that mission
was moved up a day due to weather predictions). The 330th BG sent
33 planes against Ogaki, dropping 227.26 tons of bombs consisting
of E-46 and M-47 incendiaries. The 330th BG was joined by the 29th
and 39th BGs; the 19th BG hit a different target. The total bomb load
dropped on the town was 659 tons IB, burning 0.54 square miles of
Ogaki for an efficiency factor of 0.0008 square mile per ton, not
a very effective mission. Planes left North Field, Guam at 28/1807
-1940G and returned between 29/0900G -29/1000G. Bombs were away between
29/0201 - 29/0318G. Bombing results as reported by crews was good
to excellent, with the last crew over the target reporting smoke up
to 14,000 feet. Enemy opposition was stronger than met on previous
night raids. Enemy fighters teamed with search lights in attacking
planes with 5 passes made at three planes from the 330th BG. Meager
to moderate heavy caliber anti-aircraft fire and meager to intense
medium caliber anti-aircraft fire was encountered in the area with
15 to 20 searchlights with planes caught in the lights catching the
most flak. The crews due to the pamphlets forewarning the Japanese
of the attack and the clear night, which made a raid likely, believed
the aggressive defenses. Calculated gas consumption was 5,974 gallons
and the mission average was 6,075 gallons. Three planes landed at
Iwo Jima for fuel. The 330th
BG lost no plane, but in the 29th
and 39th BGs,
three planes suffered flak damage.
July
Summary
The
330th BG
ran 10 missions and this was the first month that no planes were lost.
Vitiation of the oppostition and, perhaps,the factor of luck do contribute-no
doubt. However due recognition must be given to the leadership and
training of the combat crews which provided the necessary crew discipline
and skill to accomplish their duties so expertly, with such minimum
losses overall.The only injury was SGT Leroy Peters, TG on K-8,
from friendly fire. Nine raids were against minor Japanese cities
and there was one planned daylight precision bombing raid against
the major Japanese aircraft plant near Nagoya, although this raid
was frustrated by the weather. The month also saw the intensification
of a psychological warfare campaign by the 20th Air Force, warning
the population in certain Japanese cities to clear out as the city
was to be fire bombed. This campaign, at least initially, was not
looked upon with equanimity by many crewmembers.
