Robert G. (Bob) Myers
Bob never shared the story of the last combat sortie of the war with me. After all, he was a typical humble "greatest generation" type of guy. I have now confirmed his aircraft commander's name is on that board row marked "66 and Aircraft Commander Chasey". See graphic at bottom of web page below, and Bob was on board that aircraft doing his job keeping all those big Pratt-Whitney engines humming and the fuel,oil and air coming. Some have speculated this Akita raid may have foiled a military coup that could have kept the war going on for many more bloody months. We may never know if that is true. The Japanese surrender was announced as the planes flew back to north field on Guam.
I have borrowed this information liberally from several other internet sources. I've done this to help give a better idea of their family history to my two children. Also to give them a sense just what a great man their maternal grandfather was since they were not fortunate enough to ever know him in this life. Most of my edits contain a "jtc" reference so you can tell what is going on with these borrowed resources. I hope that someone will stumble across this page someday and maybe provide additional missing details. I have now figured out his aircraft commander's name and the plane serial number for the "Ten Knights in a Bar Room" B-29 that Bob Myers flew in. I've also filled in the blanks of the other nine crew members. I have links to most of their memorials on findagrave.com towards the bottom of the page. Any information pertaining to the remaining one would also be welcome. If any of this information should not be used as I have on this page, let me know which portions are involved and I will gladly remove any infringing material.
Here is the link for where I got the mission details and much of the other information shared below from: www.315bw.org also portions from pages 422-424 of "Air Force Combat Units of World War II"
Very interesting diary of an aircraft tech can be found there under this link: Herb Bach story at www.315bw.org
This diary can give anyone a sense of what is was like to be deployed on that lonely hot spec in the pacific ocean all those years ago.
This photo and short article appeared in "The Insider",
the Twin Coach (Kent, Ohio) monthly employee magazine of May 1945
The aircraft he flew in as flight engineer
These photos are available at several places on WWW.
The "Ten Knights" themselves on Guam...
Above typed by Bob himself on the obverse side of the snapshot print. Note: "myself" of course refers to Bob Myers.
Historical Marker at airfield where they trained
 |
| Historical marker for Harvard Army Airfield where the 501st BG trained for the deployment to Guam in 1945. As suggested by the text above: Bob met his future wife, Marie Kincaid, at a USO dance on base there. She was from nearby Hastings, NE at that time. His version of the encounter involved him paying a buddy to hold his beer while he asked her to dance with him. She is reported to have been the chaperone for for a group of younger ladies that were in attendance. Marie was about 24 years of age at that time. This would have occurred sometime between 22 Aug 1944- 7 Mar 1945 when they were stationed at Harvard. |
The following is a copy of the first page of the order awarding the air medal to these brave flight crews that helped end the war in the pacific for the allied forces.
315th BOMBARDMENT WING
Above insignia was used after WWII for the 315th BW.
I am using here simply because I like it not because it is period correct.
Redesignated 315th Composite Wing in Jan 1946. Assigned to Far East Air Forces. Moved to Japan in May 1946. Inactivated on 20 Aug 1948.
Redesignated 315th Air Division (Combat Cargo). Activated in Japan on 25 Jan 1951. Assigned to Far East Air Forces. Participated in aerial supply and evacuation operations for United Nations forces in Korea, 1951-1953. Assisted the French in Indochina, 1953-1954.
COMPONENTS.
Groups.
8th Fighter:
1946-1947.
16th Bombardment: 1944- 1946.
38th Bombardment : 1946-1948.
331st Bombardment: 1944-1946.
501st Bombardment : 1944-1946. Bob Myers group - jtc
502d Bombardment: 1944-1946.
Wings. 315th Troop Carrier: 1952-1954.
374th Troop Carrier: 1951-.
403d Troop Carrier: 1952.
437th Troop Carrier: 1951-1952.
483d Troop Carrier: 1954-.
STATIONS. Peterson Field, Colo, 17 Jul 1947 Mar 1945;
Northwest Field, Guam, 5 Apr 1945;
Ashiya, Japan, 30 May 1946;
Itazuke, Japan, 3 Sep 1946-20 Aug 1948.
Ashiya, Japan, 25 Jan 1951;
Fuchu, Japan, 4 Feb 1951;
Tachikawa, Japan, 24 Apr 1954-.
COMMANDERS. Lt Col Robert A Koeper, 28 Jul 1944;
Lt Col Stanley A Zidiales, 11 Aug 1944;
Brig Gen Frank A Armstrong Jr, 18 Nov 1944;
Col Leland S Stranathan, 25 Jan 1946;
Col Vincent M'Miles Jr, 15 Apr 1946;
Col Hugh A Parker, c. Sep 1946;
Col Travis M Hetherington, 7 Jun 1947;
Col Joshua H Foster Jr, 19 Jun 1948;
Col Marden M Munn, Jul-20 Aug 1948.
Maj Gen William H Tunner, 25 Jan 1951;
Brig Gen John P Henebry, 8 Feb 1951;
Col Cecil H Childre, 26 Feb 1952;
Maj Gen Chester E McCarty, 10 Apr 1952;
Maj Gen Russell L Waldron, 3 Dec 1954-.
CAMPAIGNS.
16th Bombardment: 1944- 1946.
38th Bombardment : 1946-1948.
331st Bombardment: 1944-1946.
501st Bombardment : 1944-1946. Bob Myers group - jtc
502d Bombardment: 1944-1946.
Wings. 315th Troop Carrier: 1952-1954.
374th Troop Carrier: 1951-.
403d Troop Carrier: 1952.
437th Troop Carrier: 1951-1952.
483d Troop Carrier: 1954-.
STATIONS. Peterson Field, Colo, 17 Jul 1947 Mar 1945;
Northwest Field, Guam, 5 Apr 1945;
Ashiya, Japan, 30 May 1946;
Itazuke, Japan, 3 Sep 1946-20 Aug 1948.
Ashiya, Japan, 25 Jan 1951;
Fuchu, Japan, 4 Feb 1951;
Tachikawa, Japan, 24 Apr 1954-.
COMMANDERS. Lt Col Robert A Koeper, 28 Jul 1944;
Lt Col Stanley A Zidiales, 11 Aug 1944;
Brig Gen Frank A Armstrong Jr, 18 Nov 1944;
Col Leland S Stranathan, 25 Jan 1946;
Col Vincent M'Miles Jr, 15 Apr 1946;
Col Hugh A Parker, c. Sep 1946;
Col Travis M Hetherington, 7 Jun 1947;
Col Joshua H Foster Jr, 19 Jun 1948;
Col Marden M Munn, Jul-20 Aug 1948.
Maj Gen William H Tunner, 25 Jan 1951;
Brig Gen John P Henebry, 8 Feb 1951;
Col Cecil H Childre, 26 Feb 1952;
Maj Gen Chester E McCarty, 10 Apr 1952;
Maj Gen Russell L Waldron, 3 Dec 1954-.
CAMPAIGNS.
World War II: Air Offensive, Japan;
Eastern Mandates; Western
Pacific.
Korean War: 1st UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive ; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1953.
DECORATIONS. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation:
Korean War: 1st UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive ; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1953.
DECORATIONS. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation:
I Jul 1951-27 Jul
1953.
INSIGNE. A white disc charged in base with a medium blue representation of Mt. Fujiyama, between a jagged lightning flash in dexter fesse and a like flash in sinister fesse of the last, each passing through a yellow, quarter moon, all within a border of the second, and surmounted by a large, dark red Torii pierced at center with a chevron couped inverted, above a sphere of the second outlined, marked, and charged with the Southern Cross constellation of the first, at the center of a stylized pair of golden orange wings in base. (Approved 25 Apr 1947. This insigne was modified 11 Oct 1954.)
501st BOMBARDMENT GROUP
Constituted as 501st Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) on 25 May 1944. Activated on I Jun 1944. Moved to Guam, Mar-Apr 1945, and assigned to Twentieth AF.
Entered combat on 19 Jun 1945 when its B-29’s bombed Japanese fortifications in the Truk Islands. Flew its first mission against Japan on 27 Jun 1945, and afterward operated principally against the enemy’s petroleum industry on Honshu. Received a DUC for attacks on the Maruzen oil refinery at Shimotsu, the Utsubo oil refinery at Yokkaichi, and the petroleum center at Kawasaki, in Jul 1945. After the war, dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners in Japan, China, Korea, and Manchuria. Inactivated on Guam on 10 Jun 1946.
SQUADRONS. 21st: 1944-1946.
41st: 1944-1946.
485th: 1944-1946. Bob Myers Squadron - jtc
STATIONS.
INSIGNE. A white disc charged in base with a medium blue representation of Mt. Fujiyama, between a jagged lightning flash in dexter fesse and a like flash in sinister fesse of the last, each passing through a yellow, quarter moon, all within a border of the second, and surmounted by a large, dark red Torii pierced at center with a chevron couped inverted, above a sphere of the second outlined, marked, and charged with the Southern Cross constellation of the first, at the center of a stylized pair of golden orange wings in base. (Approved 25 Apr 1947. This insigne was modified 11 Oct 1954.)
501st BOMBARDMENT GROUP
Constituted as 501st Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) on 25 May 1944. Activated on I Jun 1944. Moved to Guam, Mar-Apr 1945, and assigned to Twentieth AF.
Entered combat on 19 Jun 1945 when its B-29’s bombed Japanese fortifications in the Truk Islands. Flew its first mission against Japan on 27 Jun 1945, and afterward operated principally against the enemy’s petroleum industry on Honshu. Received a DUC for attacks on the Maruzen oil refinery at Shimotsu, the Utsubo oil refinery at Yokkaichi, and the petroleum center at Kawasaki, in Jul 1945. After the war, dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners in Japan, China, Korea, and Manchuria. Inactivated on Guam on 10 Jun 1946.
SQUADRONS. 21st: 1944-1946.
41st: 1944-1946.
485th: 1944-1946. Bob Myers Squadron - jtc
STATIONS.
Dalhart AAFld, Tex, I Jun
1944;
Harvard AAFld, Neb, 22 Aug 1944- 7 Mar 1945; Bob's Crew - jtc
Northwest Field, Guam, 14 Apr 1945-10 Jun 1946. Bob's deployment
COMMANDERS. Capt Harry L Young, c. 27 Jun 1944;
Lt Col Arch G Campbell Jr, 6 Jul 1944;
Col Boyd Hubbard Jr, 11 Aug 1944;
Col Vincent M Miles Jr, 15 Apr-20 May 1946.
CAMPAIGNS. Air Offensive, Japan ; Eastern Mandates ; Western Pacific.
DECORATIONS. Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 6-13 Jul 1945.
INSIGNE. None.
Those missions in which Bob Myers aircraft did NOT participate are highlighted in red.
Mission # 232
315BW Mission #1
Harvard AAFld, Neb, 22 Aug 1944- 7 Mar 1945; Bob's Crew - jtc
Northwest Field, Guam, 14 Apr 1945-10 Jun 1946. Bob's deployment
COMMANDERS. Capt Harry L Young, c. 27 Jun 1944;
Lt Col Arch G Campbell Jr, 6 Jul 1944;
Col Boyd Hubbard Jr, 11 Aug 1944;
Col Vincent M Miles Jr, 15 Apr-20 May 1946.
CAMPAIGNS. Air Offensive, Japan ; Eastern Mandates ; Western Pacific.
DECORATIONS. Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 6-13 Jul 1945.
INSIGNE. None.
315 BW - 26 June - 14 Aug 1945 - 15 Missions
Mission # 232
315BW Mission #1
Date: 26 June 1945
Target: Utsube Oil Refinery, Yokkaichi (90.20 - 1684)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 35
% A/C Bombing Primary: 92.4% (33 Primary and 1 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500#, G.P., 1/40 sec. delay nose and non-delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 222.8 tons on Primary and 6.7 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 262335K - 270150K
Altitude of Attack: 15,000 - 16,000
Weather Over Target: 9/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Two strings of bombs were in the target within a 2000-foot radius and 3 strings approximately 7,500 feet WNW of aiming point and 1 string approximately 9,000 feet NNW of aiming point. Thirty A/C bombed by radar and 3 visually. One A/C was non-effective. Flak was heavy, nil to meager, and generally inaccurate. Twenty-nine ineffective S/L's observed in target area. One A/C landed at Iwo Jima. No E/A were sighted. Average bomb load: 14,631 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1320 gallons.
(Mission 232) During the night of 26-27 June, 33 B-29's from the 16th BG, in their first mission, attack the Utsube Oil refinery at Yokkaichi; one B-29 hits an alternate target.
Note: 501st BG did not participate here apparently (jtc)
30 JUNE 1945 (pg 675)
The Guam based 502nd BG makes it's first combat mission to the bypassed Japanese base at Rota Island.
Mission # 238
315BW Mission #2
Date: 30 June 1945
Target: Nippon Oil Co. at Kudamatsu (90.20 - 672)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 36
% A/C Bombing Primary: 86.4% (32 A/C)
Type of Bombs and Fuses: M64, 500# G.P., 1/10 sec. delay nose and 1/100 sec. delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 208.5 tons on Primary
Time Over Primary: 300106K - 300137K
Altitude of Attack: 15,400 - 16,875
Weather Over Target: 8/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Results were unobserved. All bombing was by radar. Flak was heavy, meager and inaccurate. Several S/L's were observed in the target area. Four A/C were non-effective. No E/A were observed. Average bomb load: 14,647 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,181 gallons.
(Mission 238) Thirty-two 315th BW B-29's drop 209 tons of bombs on the Nippon Oil Company refinery at Kudamatsu.
Mission # 245
315BW Mission #3
Date: 2/3 July 1945
Target: Maruzen Oil Refinery at Shimotsu (90.25 - 1764)(Osaka area)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C airborne: 40
% A/C Bombing Primary: 98
Type of Bombs and Fuzes:
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 297
Time over Primary:
Altitude of Attack:
Weather over Target:
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: During the night of 2-3 Jul, 39 315th BW B-29's bomb the Maruzen Oil Refinery at Minoshima; one B-29 bombs an alternate target.
Mission # 255
315BW Mission #4
Date: 6/7 July 1945
Target: Maruzen Oil Refinery at Shimotsu (90.35 - 1764) (Osaka area)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 60
% a/C Bombing Primary: 98.34% (59 Primary and 1 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500# G.P., fuzed with 1/40 soc. delay nose and non-delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 441.5 tons on Primary and 8 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 070019K - 070118K
Altitude of Attack: 10,200 - 11,500
Weather Over Target: 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Photo reconnaissance on 11 July revealed that 95% of the plant had been destroyed. Fifty-eight A/C bombed by radar and 1 visually. Seventeen E/A were reported. Two ramming attempts were reported. Flak was heavy, meager to nil and inaccurate. One balloon was sighted at 11,500 feet. Average bomb load: 16,071 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,386 gallons.
(Mission 255) Fifty-nine B-29's dispatched from the 315th BW drop 500lb on the Maruzen Oil Refinery at Wakayama; one B-29 hits an alternate target.
KQ1M V RGM NR66 ROUTINE
FROM: BOMCOM XXI 111605Z
TO: COMAF 20
SUBJECT: PHOTO INTERPRETATION 3PR5N 336 FLOWN 11 JULY 1945
MEAN TIME OF PHOTOGRAPHY: 2320Z ALTITUDE: 30,000 FT.
TARGET 90.25 - 1764 MARUZEN OIL REFINERY: PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE
SHOWS THAT TARGET 1764 IS 95 PERCENT DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF XXI
BOM COM MISSION 255, 6-7 JULY 1945.
ALL OF THE BUILDINGS ON THE NORTH BANK OF THE RIVER ARE COMPLETELY
DESTROYED. OF THE REST OF THE PLANT, 5 LARGE TANKS, SEVRAL
SMALL TANKS, AND TWO BUILDINGS ARE LEFT UNDAMAGED. END
A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY:
/signed/
JAMES M. BLACKFORD,
Captain, Air Corps,
Historical Officer
L
WF V BC NR 5 ROUTINE
FROM LEMAY COMGENBOMCOM 21 120025Z
TO COMGENBOMWG 315
AIOPT 0937. SUCCESSFUL STRIKE IS SUBJECT PD ITEM HAVE JUST REVIEWED
THE POST STRIKE PHOTOGRAPY OF YOUR STRIKE ON TARGET ONE SEVEN SIX
FOUR CMA THE MARUZEN OIL REFINERY AT SHIMOTSU CMA THE NIGHT OF SIX
SLANT SEVEN JULY PD WITH ABLE HALF WING EFFORT YOU ACHIEVED NINE
FIVE PERCENT DESTRUCTION CMA DEFINITELY ESTABLISHING THE ABILITY OF
YOUR CREWS WITH THE ABLE PETER QUEEN DASH SEVEN TO HIT AND DESTROY
PRECISION TARGETS CMA OPERATING INDIVIDUALLY AT NIGHT PD THIS
PERFORMANCE IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL RADAR BOMBING OF THIS COMMAND
TO DATE PD CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR MEN
END...
TOD..0038 DEL KK
R NR5 DG K
Mission # 261
315BW Mission #5
Date: 9 July 1945
Target: Utsube Oil Refinery at Yokkaichi (90.20 - 1684)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 64
% A/C Bombing Primary: 95.31% (61 Primary and 1 Opportunity)
Types of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500# G.P. with 1/40 sec. delay nose and non-delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 468.7 tons on Primary and 8 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 092340K - 100038K
Altitude of Attack: 15,550 - 16,950
Weather Over Target: 0/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Photo reconnaissance showed 20% of the target had been damaged or destroyed. The target was visible to 10 A/C. Two A/C were non-effective. Fifteen E/A sighted made 2 attacks. One B-29, hit by a 20mm shell, suffered minor damage. Flak was heavy, nil to meager, inaccurate to accurate and predict- ed concentration. Twenty S/L's observed, some radar controlled/ Two A/C landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 16,811 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,233 gallons.
(Mission 261) Sixty-one B-29's dispatched from the 315th BW attack the Utsube Oil Refinery at Yokkaichi with poor results; one B-29 hits an alternate target.
Mission # 267
315BW Mission #6
Date: 12/13 July 1945
Target: Kawasaki Petroleum Center (90.17 - 128)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number of A/C Airborne: 60
% A/C Bombing Primary: 88.33% (55 Primary and 1 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500# G.P., fuzed with 1/10 sec. delay nose and 1/40 sec. delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 452 tons on Primary and 8 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 130106K - 130219K
Altitude of Attack: 15,300 - 16,700
Weather Over Target: 8/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 2
Resumé of Mission: Radar scope photos indicated fair results. Only 3 A/C sighted target. Six B-29's were non-effective. Thirty-eight E/A sighted made 2 attacks. No claims. Flak was heavy, meager and inaccurate. S/L's ineffective because of cloud cover. One crew bailed out en route to target between Guam and Tinian. Nine survivors. One B-29 was missing to unknown reasons. Average bomb load: 18,226 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,175 gallons.
(Mission 267) Fifty-three B-29's dispatched from the 315th BW attack the Kawasaki Petroleum Complex destroying about 25% of the target.
One of two B-29's lost:
42-63653 16th BG MACR 14913 Krim Crew 10 KIA
(ED: Missing aircraft data from http://b-29.org
My In Memoriam page shows aircraft commander as Lt James C. Crim)
Mission # 270
315BW Mission #7
Date: 15/16 July 1945
Target: Nippon Oil Co. at Kudamatsu (90.32 - 672)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 69
% A/C Bombing Primary: 85.5% (59 Primary and 3 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64 500# G.P., 1/10 delay nose and 1/100 delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 476.8 tons on Primary and 28.7 tons on Opportunity, 17 tons on Wind-Run.
Time Over Primary: 200041K - 200201K
Altitude of Attack: 10,230 - 11,700
Weather Over Target: 3/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Results were unobserved. A/C bombed by radar and 7 visually. Seven A/C were non-effective.Thirty-two E/A sighted made no attacks. Flak was heavy, nil to meager, and in- accurate. Estimated 10-13 S/L's, generally ineffective, observed in target area. Two wind-run A/C also airborne and bombed their primary target, Ube Coal Liquefaction Co. Five B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 17,806 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,066 gallons.
(Mission 270) Fifty-nine B-29's dispatched from the 315th BW bomb the Nippon Oil Company at Kudamatsu and the facility is almost completely destroyed; three B-29's attack alternate targets.
Mission # 281
315BW Mission #8
Date: 19/20 July 1945
Target: Nippon Oil. Co. at Amagasaki (90.25 - 1203)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 84
% A/C Bombing Primary: 98.79% ( 83 A/C )
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500# G.P. fused 1/10 sec. delay nose and 1/40 sec. delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 701.8 tons on Primary and 4.5 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 200020K - 201000K
Altitude of Attack: 15,410 - 16,900
Weather Over Target: 8/10 - 10 /10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Scope photos indicated excellent results. In spite of the fact that 7 A/C did not identify the proper target, the remainder created a comparative solid bomb pattern. Twelve of 14 buildings of the synthetic oil plant damaged and only 3 small tanks left undamaged. Only 2 of 10 large tanks on the tank farm remained undamaged. Flak was heavy, meager and inaccurate. Fifteen E/A sighted did not attack. Intense S/L activity in the target area. One A/C was non-effective. All bombing was by radar. Two Wind-Run A/C preceded main force. One B-29 landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 17,832 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 999 gallons.
(Mission 281) Eighty-three B-29's dispatched from the 315th BW bomb the Nippon Oil complex at Amagasaki; one B-29 hits an alternate target.
Mission # 283
315BW Mission #9
Date: 23/24 July 1945
Target: Ube Coal Liquefaction Co. (90.32 - 1841)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 80
% A/C Bombing Primary: 90% (72 Primary and 4 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500# G.P. with 1/10 sec. delay nose and 1/100 sec. delay tail and M-81, 260# fragmentary bombs, with instantaneous nose and non-delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 619.8 tons on Primary and 36 tons on Opportunity and 17 tons on special.
Time Over Primary: 240103K - 240240K
Altitude of Attack: 12,400 - 15,460
Weather Over Target: 5/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Clouds prevented any observations of bombing results. Five bombed visually and 67 by radar. Four A/C were non-effective. One E/A flew a parallel course out of range, blinking lights, probably A/A altitude and course spotter. No E/A. Flak was medium, meager and inaccurate. Searchlight activity was meager and generally ineffective from Shimonoseki area and coast of Kyushu. Two Wind-Run A/C were airborne and bombed Nippon Oil Refinery with fragmentation bombs. Eight B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 18,656 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 879 gallons.
(Mission 283) Seventy-two 315th BW B-29's bomb the coal liquefaction plant at the Imperial Fuel Industry Company at Ube.
Mission # 291
315BW Mission #10
Date: 25/26 July 1945
Target: Mitsubishi Oil Refinery (90.17 - 116) Hayama Petroleum Center at Kawasaki (90.17 - 127)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 83
% A/C Bombing Primary: 90.36% (75 Primary and 1 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500# G.P., 1/10 sec. delay nose and 1/40 sec. delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 650 tons on Primary, 9 tons on Target of Opportunity and 18 tons by Wind-Run A/C.
Time Over Primary: 252323K - 260003K
Altitude of Attack: 16,500 - 18,100
Weather Over Target: 0/10 - 4/10
Total A/C Lost: 1
Resumé of Mission: Photo reconnaissance showed 32% of storage tank units, and 1 furnace, 1 asphalt loading unit, 1 can manufacturing plant and 2 warehouses of the Mitsubishi Oil Refinery (90.17 - 116) was destroyed and 36% of the storage tanks, 5 U/I buildings, 7 probable office buildings, and 4 maintenance sheds of Hayama Petroleum Co. (90.17 - 127) was destroyed. Targets were visible to only 3 A/C. Flak was heavy caliber, moderate to intense, accurate to inaccurate. Intense S/L activity was encountered and rope was used with varying success. Two Wind-Run A/C bombed Shimizu Aluminum Plant at Shimizu. Seven A/C were non-effective. Three B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. The aircraft that was lost suffered a direct flak hit over the target. No E/A. Average bomb load: 18,664 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,109 gallons.
(Mission 291) Seventy-five 315th BW B-29's attack the Mitsubishi Oil Company and Hayama Petroleum Company at Kawasaki destroying 33% of the storage tanks and other facilities; one B-29 attacks an alternate target. One B-29 suffers a direct flak hit of the target and goes down.
315th BW B-29 Lost:
42-63678 "Maniuwa" 502nd BG 402nd BS MACR 14793 Dillingham Crew 10 KIA
Here is more information on the Dillingham crew:
Coned by searchlights and shot down by flak on approach to target. Aircraft crashed into the Nippon Casting Company factory at No. 3, 2 chome, Shiraishi-cho, Kawasaki.
Capt. Henry G. Dillingham - AC
2nd Lt. James D. McGlynn - P
1st Lt. Willis S. Orner - N
1st Lt. Theodore W. Reekstin - B
1st Lt. Edward R. Morrow Jr. - RDOM
S/Sgt. Charles J. Bordino - FE
S/Sgt. Harvey J. Dempsey - ROM
S/Sgt. John P. Cary - LG
Sgt. Joseph T. H. Leblanc - RG
Sgt. John F. Greene- TG
(Mike McGeough)
Mission # 303
315BW Mission #11
Date: 28/29 July 1945
Target: Shimotsu Oil Refinery (90.25 - XXI - 5046)
Participating Unit: 315 BW
Number A/C Airborne: 82
% A/C Bombing Primary: 92.68% (76 Primary and 1 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500# G.P. with 1/10 sec. delay nose and non-delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 658.3 tons on Primary and 16.7 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 282302K - 290123K
Altitude of Attack: 10,100 - 12,000
Weather Over Target: 4/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Bombing results were unobserved. All bombing was by radar. Five A/C were non-effective. Twelve E/A sighted made no attacks. Flak was heavy, meager, inaccurate to accurate. One B-29 was damaged by flak. Two Wind-Run A/C were A/B. Two A/C that bombed Primary also bombed Opportunity. Two B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 18,375 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,145 gallons.
(Mission 303) Seventy-six 315th BW B-29's bomb the Shimotsu Oil Refinery; 75% of the tank capacity, 90% of the gasometer capacity and 69% of the roof area are destroyed or damaged; one B-29 hits an alternate target.
Mission # 310
315BW Mission #12
Date: 1/2 August 1945
Target: Kawasaki Petroleum Center, Hayama Petroleum Center and Mitsubishi Oil Refinery (90.17 - 128, 127, and 116)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 128
% A/C Bombing Primary: 93.75% (120 Primary and 2 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: M64, 500# G.P. bombs fuzed with 1/10 sec. delay nose and 1/40 sec. delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 1,017.3 tons on Primary and 26 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 012314K - 020046K
Altitude of Attack: 16,400 - 18,600
Weather Over Target: 0/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Photo reconnaissance revealed the following results of Missions 291 and 310:
116 - Mitsubishi Oil Refinery - 41% of storage tank capacity destroyed.
127 - Hayama Petroleum Center - 43% of storage tank capacity and 35% of intermediate tank capacity destroyed.
128 - Kawasaki Petroleum Center - 35% of storage capacity and 15% intermediate tank capacity destroyed.
Six A/C were non-effective. Flak was heavy, medium, meager to intense and accurate. Flak damaged 22 A/C. Thirty to 35 E/A made 9 attacks. No claims. One Wind-Run A/C is not included in the above total. Six A/C bombed visually and 114 bombed by radar. Seven B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 18,410 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,039 gallons.
(Mission 310) One hundred twenty 315th BW B-29's bomb the Mitsubishi Oil Company at Kawasaki but could only add slightly to the damage previously inflicted; two B-29's hit targets of opportunity.
Mission # 315
315BW Mission #13
Date: 5/6 August 1945
Target: Ube Coal Liquefaction Co. ( 90.32 - 1841 )
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 111
% A/C Bombing Primary: 95.50 (106 Primary and 2 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: M64, 500# G.P. bombs with 1/10 sec. delay nose and 1/100 sec. delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 938 tons on Primary and 22.5 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 052324K - 060131K
Altitude of Attack: 10,300 - 12,600
Weather Over Target: 0/10 - 6/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: 100% of refinery units and 80% of the stores and work shops damaged or destroyed. Also the Ube Iron Works Co. ( 90.32 - 1878 ) was 50% damaged or destroyed. Three A/C were non-effective. Only 2 A/C made visual sightings. Flak was heavy, meager and inaccurate. 25 to 35 E/A were sighted and made 1 attack. Two Wind-Run A/C took part in the mission and bombed with main force. They are not indicated in the total A/B. Five B-29s landed on Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 18,704 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 969 gallons.
(Mission 315) One hundred six 315th BW B-29's bomb the Ube Coal Liquefaction Company facility at Ube destroying 100% of the refining units and destroying or damaging 80% of other structures; 2 B-29's hit alternate targets.
Mission # 322
315BW Mission #14
Date: 9/10 August 1945
Target: Nippon Oil Refinery at Amagasaki ( 90.25 - 1203 )
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 107
% A/C Bombing Primary: 88.78% (95 Primary and 2 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: M64, 500# G.P. bombs with 1/10 sec. delay nose and non-delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 902 tons on Primary, 16 tons by Wind-Run and 22.3 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 100129K - 100311K
Altitude of Attack: 15,200 - 17,300
Weather Over Target: 0/10 - 8/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Photo reconnaissance indicated that this mission and Mission # 281 destroyed almost 100% of the plant. Five A/C sighted visually and 90 by radar. Ten A/C were non-effective. Two Wind-Run A/C also bombed the Primary. Twenty-seven E/A sighted did not attack. Flak was medium and heavy, meager, inaccurate to accurate, with S/L cone over the target. Generally barrage type, with some predicted concentration. One B-29 was damaged by AA. Average bomb load: 20,648 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 941 gallons. Fourteen B-29s landed at Iwo Jima.
(Mission 322) During the night of 9-10 August, 95 315th BW B-29's bomb the Nippon Oil Refinery at Amagasaki; two B-29's bomb alternate targets.
Mission # 328
315BW Mission #15 <--------------------------- "The Last Mission" jtc
Date: 14/15 August 1945
Target: Nippon Oil Co. at Tsuchizaki ( 90.6 - 1066 )
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 141
% A/C Bombing Primary: 93.61% ( 132 A/C )
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: M30, 100# and M57, 250# G.P. bombs with non-delay tails.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 953.9 tons on Primary and 3.2 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 150048K - 150339K
Altitude of Attack: 10, 200 - 11, 800
Weather Over Target: 5/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Results were unobserved. Nine A/C were non-effective. Only 2 B-29s slighted visually. No E/A sighted. Heavy, meager and inaccurate flak encountered at targets. Thirteen B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 15,338 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,345 gallons.
(Mission 328) In the longest nonstop upstaged B-29 mission from the Marianas (3,650 miles), 132 B-29's bomb the Nippon Oil Company at Tsuchizaki.
Photos of the mission boards for the last (B-29 combat - jtc) mission flown by the 315th in the war.
Target: Utsube Oil Refinery, Yokkaichi (90.20 - 1684)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 35
% A/C Bombing Primary: 92.4% (33 Primary and 1 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500#, G.P., 1/40 sec. delay nose and non-delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 222.8 tons on Primary and 6.7 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 262335K - 270150K
Altitude of Attack: 15,000 - 16,000
Weather Over Target: 9/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Two strings of bombs were in the target within a 2000-foot radius and 3 strings approximately 7,500 feet WNW of aiming point and 1 string approximately 9,000 feet NNW of aiming point. Thirty A/C bombed by radar and 3 visually. One A/C was non-effective. Flak was heavy, nil to meager, and generally inaccurate. Twenty-nine ineffective S/L's observed in target area. One A/C landed at Iwo Jima. No E/A were sighted. Average bomb load: 14,631 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1320 gallons.
(Mission 232) During the night of 26-27 June, 33 B-29's from the 16th BG, in their first mission, attack the Utsube Oil refinery at Yokkaichi; one B-29 hits an alternate target.
Note: 501st BG did not participate here apparently (jtc)
30 JUNE 1945 (pg 675)
The Guam based 502nd BG makes it's first combat mission to the bypassed Japanese base at Rota Island.
Mission # 238
315BW Mission #2
Date: 30 June 1945
Target: Nippon Oil Co. at Kudamatsu (90.20 - 672)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 36
% A/C Bombing Primary: 86.4% (32 A/C)
Type of Bombs and Fuses: M64, 500# G.P., 1/10 sec. delay nose and 1/100 sec. delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 208.5 tons on Primary
Time Over Primary: 300106K - 300137K
Altitude of Attack: 15,400 - 16,875
Weather Over Target: 8/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Results were unobserved. All bombing was by radar. Flak was heavy, meager and inaccurate. Several S/L's were observed in the target area. Four A/C were non-effective. No E/A were observed. Average bomb load: 14,647 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,181 gallons.
(Mission 238) Thirty-two 315th BW B-29's drop 209 tons of bombs on the Nippon Oil Company refinery at Kudamatsu.
Mission # 245
315BW Mission #3
Date: 2/3 July 1945
Target: Maruzen Oil Refinery at Shimotsu (90.25 - 1764)(Osaka area)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C airborne: 40
% A/C Bombing Primary: 98
Type of Bombs and Fuzes:
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 297
Time over Primary:
Altitude of Attack:
Weather over Target:
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: During the night of 2-3 Jul, 39 315th BW B-29's bomb the Maruzen Oil Refinery at Minoshima; one B-29 bombs an alternate target.
Mission # 255
315BW Mission #4
Date: 6/7 July 1945
Target: Maruzen Oil Refinery at Shimotsu (90.35 - 1764) (Osaka area)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 60
% a/C Bombing Primary: 98.34% (59 Primary and 1 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500# G.P., fuzed with 1/40 soc. delay nose and non-delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 441.5 tons on Primary and 8 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 070019K - 070118K
Altitude of Attack: 10,200 - 11,500
Weather Over Target: 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Photo reconnaissance on 11 July revealed that 95% of the plant had been destroyed. Fifty-eight A/C bombed by radar and 1 visually. Seventeen E/A were reported. Two ramming attempts were reported. Flak was heavy, meager to nil and inaccurate. One balloon was sighted at 11,500 feet. Average bomb load: 16,071 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,386 gallons.
(Mission 255) Fifty-nine B-29's dispatched from the 315th BW drop 500lb on the Maruzen Oil Refinery at Wakayama; one B-29 hits an alternate target.
KQ1M V RGM NR66 ROUTINE
FROM: BOMCOM XXI 111605Z
TO: COMAF 20
SUBJECT: PHOTO INTERPRETATION 3PR5N 336 FLOWN 11 JULY 1945
MEAN TIME OF PHOTOGRAPHY: 2320Z ALTITUDE: 30,000 FT.
TARGET 90.25 - 1764 MARUZEN OIL REFINERY: PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE
SHOWS THAT TARGET 1764 IS 95 PERCENT DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF XXI
BOM COM MISSION 255, 6-7 JULY 1945.
ALL OF THE BUILDINGS ON THE NORTH BANK OF THE RIVER ARE COMPLETELY
DESTROYED. OF THE REST OF THE PLANT, 5 LARGE TANKS, SEVRAL
SMALL TANKS, AND TWO BUILDINGS ARE LEFT UNDAMAGED. END
A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY:
/signed/
JAMES M. BLACKFORD,
Captain, Air Corps,
Historical Officer
L
WF V BC NR 5 ROUTINE
FROM LEMAY COMGENBOMCOM 21 120025Z
TO COMGENBOMWG 315
AIOPT 0937. SUCCESSFUL STRIKE IS SUBJECT PD ITEM HAVE JUST REVIEWED
THE POST STRIKE PHOTOGRAPY OF YOUR STRIKE ON TARGET ONE SEVEN SIX
FOUR CMA THE MARUZEN OIL REFINERY AT SHIMOTSU CMA THE NIGHT OF SIX
SLANT SEVEN JULY PD WITH ABLE HALF WING EFFORT YOU ACHIEVED NINE
FIVE PERCENT DESTRUCTION CMA DEFINITELY ESTABLISHING THE ABILITY OF
YOUR CREWS WITH THE ABLE PETER QUEEN DASH SEVEN TO HIT AND DESTROY
PRECISION TARGETS CMA OPERATING INDIVIDUALLY AT NIGHT PD THIS
PERFORMANCE IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL RADAR BOMBING OF THIS COMMAND
TO DATE PD CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR MEN
END...
TOD..0038 DEL KK
R NR5 DG K
Mission # 261
315BW Mission #5
Date: 9 July 1945
Target: Utsube Oil Refinery at Yokkaichi (90.20 - 1684)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 64
% A/C Bombing Primary: 95.31% (61 Primary and 1 Opportunity)
Types of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500# G.P. with 1/40 sec. delay nose and non-delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 468.7 tons on Primary and 8 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 092340K - 100038K
Altitude of Attack: 15,550 - 16,950
Weather Over Target: 0/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Photo reconnaissance showed 20% of the target had been damaged or destroyed. The target was visible to 10 A/C. Two A/C were non-effective. Fifteen E/A sighted made 2 attacks. One B-29, hit by a 20mm shell, suffered minor damage. Flak was heavy, nil to meager, inaccurate to accurate and predict- ed concentration. Twenty S/L's observed, some radar controlled/ Two A/C landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 16,811 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,233 gallons.
(Mission 261) Sixty-one B-29's dispatched from the 315th BW attack the Utsube Oil Refinery at Yokkaichi with poor results; one B-29 hits an alternate target.
Mission # 267
315BW Mission #6
Date: 12/13 July 1945
Target: Kawasaki Petroleum Center (90.17 - 128)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number of A/C Airborne: 60
% A/C Bombing Primary: 88.33% (55 Primary and 1 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500# G.P., fuzed with 1/10 sec. delay nose and 1/40 sec. delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 452 tons on Primary and 8 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 130106K - 130219K
Altitude of Attack: 15,300 - 16,700
Weather Over Target: 8/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 2
Resumé of Mission: Radar scope photos indicated fair results. Only 3 A/C sighted target. Six B-29's were non-effective. Thirty-eight E/A sighted made 2 attacks. No claims. Flak was heavy, meager and inaccurate. S/L's ineffective because of cloud cover. One crew bailed out en route to target between Guam and Tinian. Nine survivors. One B-29 was missing to unknown reasons. Average bomb load: 18,226 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,175 gallons.
(Mission 267) Fifty-three B-29's dispatched from the 315th BW attack the Kawasaki Petroleum Complex destroying about 25% of the target.
One of two B-29's lost:
42-63653 16th BG MACR 14913 Krim Crew 10 KIA
(ED: Missing aircraft data from http://b-29.org
My In Memoriam page shows aircraft commander as Lt James C. Crim)
Mission # 270
315BW Mission #7
Date: 15/16 July 1945
Target: Nippon Oil Co. at Kudamatsu (90.32 - 672)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 69
% A/C Bombing Primary: 85.5% (59 Primary and 3 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64 500# G.P., 1/10 delay nose and 1/100 delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 476.8 tons on Primary and 28.7 tons on Opportunity, 17 tons on Wind-Run.
Time Over Primary: 200041K - 200201K
Altitude of Attack: 10,230 - 11,700
Weather Over Target: 3/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Results were unobserved. A/C bombed by radar and 7 visually. Seven A/C were non-effective.Thirty-two E/A sighted made no attacks. Flak was heavy, nil to meager, and in- accurate. Estimated 10-13 S/L's, generally ineffective, observed in target area. Two wind-run A/C also airborne and bombed their primary target, Ube Coal Liquefaction Co. Five B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 17,806 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,066 gallons.
(Mission 270) Fifty-nine B-29's dispatched from the 315th BW bomb the Nippon Oil Company at Kudamatsu and the facility is almost completely destroyed; three B-29's attack alternate targets.
Mission # 281
315BW Mission #8
Date: 19/20 July 1945
Target: Nippon Oil. Co. at Amagasaki (90.25 - 1203)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 84
% A/C Bombing Primary: 98.79% ( 83 A/C )
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500# G.P. fused 1/10 sec. delay nose and 1/40 sec. delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 701.8 tons on Primary and 4.5 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 200020K - 201000K
Altitude of Attack: 15,410 - 16,900
Weather Over Target: 8/10 - 10 /10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Scope photos indicated excellent results. In spite of the fact that 7 A/C did not identify the proper target, the remainder created a comparative solid bomb pattern. Twelve of 14 buildings of the synthetic oil plant damaged and only 3 small tanks left undamaged. Only 2 of 10 large tanks on the tank farm remained undamaged. Flak was heavy, meager and inaccurate. Fifteen E/A sighted did not attack. Intense S/L activity in the target area. One A/C was non-effective. All bombing was by radar. Two Wind-Run A/C preceded main force. One B-29 landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 17,832 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 999 gallons.
(Mission 281) Eighty-three B-29's dispatched from the 315th BW bomb the Nippon Oil complex at Amagasaki; one B-29 hits an alternate target.
Mission # 283
315BW Mission #9
Date: 23/24 July 1945
Target: Ube Coal Liquefaction Co. (90.32 - 1841)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 80
% A/C Bombing Primary: 90% (72 Primary and 4 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500# G.P. with 1/10 sec. delay nose and 1/100 sec. delay tail and M-81, 260# fragmentary bombs, with instantaneous nose and non-delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 619.8 tons on Primary and 36 tons on Opportunity and 17 tons on special.
Time Over Primary: 240103K - 240240K
Altitude of Attack: 12,400 - 15,460
Weather Over Target: 5/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Clouds prevented any observations of bombing results. Five bombed visually and 67 by radar. Four A/C were non-effective. One E/A flew a parallel course out of range, blinking lights, probably A/A altitude and course spotter. No E/A. Flak was medium, meager and inaccurate. Searchlight activity was meager and generally ineffective from Shimonoseki area and coast of Kyushu. Two Wind-Run A/C were airborne and bombed Nippon Oil Refinery with fragmentation bombs. Eight B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 18,656 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 879 gallons.
(Mission 283) Seventy-two 315th BW B-29's bomb the coal liquefaction plant at the Imperial Fuel Industry Company at Ube.
Mission # 291
315BW Mission #10
Date: 25/26 July 1945
Target: Mitsubishi Oil Refinery (90.17 - 116) Hayama Petroleum Center at Kawasaki (90.17 - 127)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 83
% A/C Bombing Primary: 90.36% (75 Primary and 1 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500# G.P., 1/10 sec. delay nose and 1/40 sec. delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 650 tons on Primary, 9 tons on Target of Opportunity and 18 tons by Wind-Run A/C.
Time Over Primary: 252323K - 260003K
Altitude of Attack: 16,500 - 18,100
Weather Over Target: 0/10 - 4/10
Total A/C Lost: 1
Resumé of Mission: Photo reconnaissance showed 32% of storage tank units, and 1 furnace, 1 asphalt loading unit, 1 can manufacturing plant and 2 warehouses of the Mitsubishi Oil Refinery (90.17 - 116) was destroyed and 36% of the storage tanks, 5 U/I buildings, 7 probable office buildings, and 4 maintenance sheds of Hayama Petroleum Co. (90.17 - 127) was destroyed. Targets were visible to only 3 A/C. Flak was heavy caliber, moderate to intense, accurate to inaccurate. Intense S/L activity was encountered and rope was used with varying success. Two Wind-Run A/C bombed Shimizu Aluminum Plant at Shimizu. Seven A/C were non-effective. Three B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. The aircraft that was lost suffered a direct flak hit over the target. No E/A. Average bomb load: 18,664 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,109 gallons.
(Mission 291) Seventy-five 315th BW B-29's attack the Mitsubishi Oil Company and Hayama Petroleum Company at Kawasaki destroying 33% of the storage tanks and other facilities; one B-29 attacks an alternate target. One B-29 suffers a direct flak hit of the target and goes down.
315th BW B-29 Lost:
42-63678 "Maniuwa" 502nd BG 402nd BS MACR 14793 Dillingham Crew 10 KIA
Here is more information on the Dillingham crew:
Coned by searchlights and shot down by flak on approach to target. Aircraft crashed into the Nippon Casting Company factory at No. 3, 2 chome, Shiraishi-cho, Kawasaki.
Capt. Henry G. Dillingham - AC
2nd Lt. James D. McGlynn - P
1st Lt. Willis S. Orner - N
1st Lt. Theodore W. Reekstin - B
1st Lt. Edward R. Morrow Jr. - RDOM
S/Sgt. Charles J. Bordino - FE
S/Sgt. Harvey J. Dempsey - ROM
S/Sgt. John P. Cary - LG
Sgt. Joseph T. H. Leblanc - RG
Sgt. John F. Greene- TG
(Mike McGeough)
Mission # 303
315BW Mission #11
Date: 28/29 July 1945
Target: Shimotsu Oil Refinery (90.25 - XXI - 5046)
Participating Unit: 315 BW
Number A/C Airborne: 82
% A/C Bombing Primary: 92.68% (76 Primary and 1 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M64, 500# G.P. with 1/10 sec. delay nose and non-delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 658.3 tons on Primary and 16.7 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 282302K - 290123K
Altitude of Attack: 10,100 - 12,000
Weather Over Target: 4/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Bombing results were unobserved. All bombing was by radar. Five A/C were non-effective. Twelve E/A sighted made no attacks. Flak was heavy, meager, inaccurate to accurate. One B-29 was damaged by flak. Two Wind-Run A/C were A/B. Two A/C that bombed Primary also bombed Opportunity. Two B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 18,375 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,145 gallons.
(Mission 303) Seventy-six 315th BW B-29's bomb the Shimotsu Oil Refinery; 75% of the tank capacity, 90% of the gasometer capacity and 69% of the roof area are destroyed or damaged; one B-29 hits an alternate target.
Mission # 310
315BW Mission #12
Date: 1/2 August 1945
Target: Kawasaki Petroleum Center, Hayama Petroleum Center and Mitsubishi Oil Refinery (90.17 - 128, 127, and 116)
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 128
% A/C Bombing Primary: 93.75% (120 Primary and 2 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: M64, 500# G.P. bombs fuzed with 1/10 sec. delay nose and 1/40 sec. delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 1,017.3 tons on Primary and 26 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 012314K - 020046K
Altitude of Attack: 16,400 - 18,600
Weather Over Target: 0/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Photo reconnaissance revealed the following results of Missions 291 and 310:
116 - Mitsubishi Oil Refinery - 41% of storage tank capacity destroyed.
127 - Hayama Petroleum Center - 43% of storage tank capacity and 35% of intermediate tank capacity destroyed.
128 - Kawasaki Petroleum Center - 35% of storage capacity and 15% intermediate tank capacity destroyed.
Six A/C were non-effective. Flak was heavy, medium, meager to intense and accurate. Flak damaged 22 A/C. Thirty to 35 E/A made 9 attacks. No claims. One Wind-Run A/C is not included in the above total. Six A/C bombed visually and 114 bombed by radar. Seven B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 18,410 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,039 gallons.
(Mission 310) One hundred twenty 315th BW B-29's bomb the Mitsubishi Oil Company at Kawasaki but could only add slightly to the damage previously inflicted; two B-29's hit targets of opportunity.
Mission # 315
315BW Mission #13
Date: 5/6 August 1945
Target: Ube Coal Liquefaction Co. ( 90.32 - 1841 )
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 111
% A/C Bombing Primary: 95.50 (106 Primary and 2 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: M64, 500# G.P. bombs with 1/10 sec. delay nose and 1/100 sec. delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 938 tons on Primary and 22.5 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 052324K - 060131K
Altitude of Attack: 10,300 - 12,600
Weather Over Target: 0/10 - 6/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: 100% of refinery units and 80% of the stores and work shops damaged or destroyed. Also the Ube Iron Works Co. ( 90.32 - 1878 ) was 50% damaged or destroyed. Three A/C were non-effective. Only 2 A/C made visual sightings. Flak was heavy, meager and inaccurate. 25 to 35 E/A were sighted and made 1 attack. Two Wind-Run A/C took part in the mission and bombed with main force. They are not indicated in the total A/B. Five B-29s landed on Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 18,704 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 969 gallons.
(Mission 315) One hundred six 315th BW B-29's bomb the Ube Coal Liquefaction Company facility at Ube destroying 100% of the refining units and destroying or damaging 80% of other structures; 2 B-29's hit alternate targets.
Mission # 322
315BW Mission #14
Date: 9/10 August 1945
Target: Nippon Oil Refinery at Amagasaki ( 90.25 - 1203 )
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 107
% A/C Bombing Primary: 88.78% (95 Primary and 2 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: M64, 500# G.P. bombs with 1/10 sec. delay nose and non-delay tail.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 902 tons on Primary, 16 tons by Wind-Run and 22.3 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 100129K - 100311K
Altitude of Attack: 15,200 - 17,300
Weather Over Target: 0/10 - 8/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Photo reconnaissance indicated that this mission and Mission # 281 destroyed almost 100% of the plant. Five A/C sighted visually and 90 by radar. Ten A/C were non-effective. Two Wind-Run A/C also bombed the Primary. Twenty-seven E/A sighted did not attack. Flak was medium and heavy, meager, inaccurate to accurate, with S/L cone over the target. Generally barrage type, with some predicted concentration. One B-29 was damaged by AA. Average bomb load: 20,648 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 941 gallons. Fourteen B-29s landed at Iwo Jima.
(Mission 322) During the night of 9-10 August, 95 315th BW B-29's bomb the Nippon Oil Refinery at Amagasaki; two B-29's bomb alternate targets.
Mission # 328
315BW Mission #15 <--------------------------- "The Last Mission" jtc
Date: 14/15 August 1945
Target: Nippon Oil Co. at Tsuchizaki ( 90.6 - 1066 )
Participating Unit: 315th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 141
% A/C Bombing Primary: 93.61% ( 132 A/C )
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: M30, 100# and M57, 250# G.P. bombs with non-delay tails.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 953.9 tons on Primary and 3.2 tons on Opportunity.
Time Over Primary: 150048K - 150339K
Altitude of Attack: 10, 200 - 11, 800
Weather Over Target: 5/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resumé of Mission: Results were unobserved. Nine A/C were non-effective. Only 2 B-29s slighted visually. No E/A sighted. Heavy, meager and inaccurate flak encountered at targets. Thirteen B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 15,338 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 1,345 gallons.
(Mission 328) In the longest nonstop upstaged B-29 mission from the Marianas (3,650 miles), 132 B-29's bomb the Nippon Oil Company at Tsuchizaki.
Photos of the mission boards for the last (B-29 combat - jtc) mission flown by the 315th in the war.
Links to bomb groups in the 315th web site
16th Bomb Group
331st Bomb Group
501st Bomb Group (Robert G. Myers Group - jtc)
502nd Bomb Group
Various wing status boards
331st Bomb Group
501st Bomb Group (Robert G. Myers Group - jtc)
502nd Bomb Group
Various wing status boards
And here is the mission board image for the 501st...
Updates below (8/2/2020)
Here are all the names of flight crew Y-66:
2nd Lt Herbert E Mecke 0830654 - Co-pilot
2nd Lt Harry H Teteak 02072196 - Bombadier Memorial
Lt. Collis P Haynes 18060944 - Navigator * Memorial
StaffSgt Charles A Danielson 20739855 - Radio Operator Memorial
Corporal Floyd E Lavine 42026955 - Gunner Memorial
Corporal John R Leech 33711502 - Gunner Memorial
Corporal David M Cohn 18242071 - Gunner Memorial
Tech Sgt Robert G Myers 35513716 - Flight Engineer Memorial
* About Lt. Haynes:
He was not listed in the general order that announced awarding of the "Air Medal" to the plane crews in the wing (see first page of the order that included the other nine names of the crew towards the top of this web page). I did find the Collis P. given name in an old family address book used to send Christmas cards. From that full name I found his WWII enlistment info on familysearch.org in 1941.
The one crew members with no link to a findagrave.com memorial above is believed to be deceased around the turn of the century. I have no access to paywalled obituary information online so I cannot add him on findagrave.com in good faith with the mission statement of that web site. I was lucky to find the obituary for Lt. Almand (the radar man) on a free site and was finally able to add him to the memorial links above.
Here are the planes for Bob's 485th Squadron that I found among the records on the 315th Bomb Wing web site. There are only currently 14 planes listed and I was able to figure out which was Bob's by cross referencing the commander's surname to some old paperwork from the war that Glenda had on hand still. Now that I have the plane info I was able to go back through the mission paperwork transcribed above and fully document all the missions that Bob actually participated in. Big thank you to the www.315bw.org site!
Serial# Wing BGrp Sqdn A/C Name A/C Commander Crew #
-------------------------------------------------------------
42-63680 315 501 485 Baldwin Y-69
42-63705 315 501 485 SUPER SUE Cotanch Y-71
42-63709 315 501 485 Chapman Y-68
42-63710 315 501 485 LATE DATE Mitchell Y-63
42-63711 315 501 485 LIBERTY BELL Arnold Y-70
42-63718 315 501 485 FUSSY HUSSY III Campbell Y-61
42-63719 315 501 485 DOTTIES BABY Mason Y-65
42-63720 315 501 485 Haley unknown
42-63721 315 501 485 REBEL RAIDER Alexander Y-67
42-63723 315 501 485 PUNCH'N JODY Joseph Y-64
42-63724 315 501 485 TEN KNIGHTS IABR Chasey Y-66 * +++
42-63725 315 501 485 Huset Y-72
42-63726 315 501 485 Baker Y-60
42-63749 315 501 485 BELLE OF MARTINEZ Clark Y-16 **
* Ten Knights in a Bar Room
** Aircraft named for the California community whose warbonds financed the plane
+++ By studying page 243 of "A new Chapter in Air Power" (2nd edition) - The Appendices, I was able to determine that all the above aircraft were built at the Bell aircraft plant in Atlanta Ga. presumably in 1942 (not sure about the mfg date though).
1st person stories from the era
Link for: Collected stories of 315th BG. Be sure to check the 2nd story as it is specific to the 485th (Bob's) squadron.
The above stories are all great, but besides the 2nd account mentioned above there are four others in there directly referencing the 485th squadron. I wrap up with this quote from #2 above....
"In closing, I would like to say, the men in the 485th Squadron are probably the finest bunch of characters ever to be assembled in one unit in the history of the Army. We have come down one path, with one purpose in mind, for a year. Our mission has been completed. We now go our separate paths, with separate purposes. I hope everyone completes his mission well."
- Harold Atkins, 485th squadron
11-25-2020 - I've now found a very interesting article that is told from the point of view of the Y-66 radar man Lt Richard Almand. It pretty much tells the entire wartime experience story of the crew of the Y-66 aircraft from the first mission through the last and a bit beyond...
I am also excited to find that Lt Almand may still be with us since the above article was published fairly recently (2014). He would be ninety-seven as I am writing this if that is the case.
Postscript: I was saddened today to find he (Lt Richard Almand) passed away on 2 Dec 2021 (18 June 2022 addition). I added a link to his new memorial on findagrave.com in the crew member table above.
All eleven Nebraska WW2 Army Air Bases on Google Maps:
* B-29 bomber crew training
** Location where Bob's crew trained before deployment to Guam.
If you liked this page you may like this one also: Link to my dad's WW2 halftrack crew page
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