Nagoya (January 14, 1945)

Another mission to Nagoya. Ten planes took off but only 9 got there. Dropped our bombs at the usual time, 3:55. We had plenty of fighters. Hanks got one. We were in the air 13 hr. 20 min.

— Joe Caner Swann

This mission was a return trip to target #194, the Mistubishi Aircraft Plant in Nagoya. Seventy-three aircraft were sent out, but nineteen returned early. The bombers, flying at 29,000-32,000 feet, bombed the target between 3:40 and 4:30 pm.

Due to 4/10 cumulus cloud cover and dense haze only 40 aircraft hit the primary target. Results were considered fair with 166,100 feet of the target destroyed. Each plane carried an average of 5,000 lbs. of bombs.

The bombers flew through moderate flack and encountered 583 fighter attacks. Five bombers were lost on this mission. One of these ditched on the way to the target and two others ditched on return trip. The fate of the other two planes in unknown.

Additional Resources

  • Read the complete journal kept by the Star Duster's right gunner, Joe Caner Swann.
  • Resume of 20th Air Force Missions, (see book information on the books resources page).
  • Mission resumes are also available on the Twentieth Air Force Association web site. This site is built with frames. To view the mission resumes click the "Missions" link in the top menu on the site's home page. This is mission 19.

Mission List

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