Nagoya (January 23, 1945)

We went to Nagoya again and to beat all we couldn’t drop our bombs because the racks were frozen up and had to wait until we got down to warmer weather to drop them.

— Joe Caner Swann

Yet another mission to Nagoya. This time the Mitsubishi Engine Plant (#193) was the target. Thirteen of the seventy-three planes sent out returned early. One plane ditched after take off (the first of two planes lost on this mission).

Bombing results were unsatisfactory due to almost complete cloud cover. The attack was carried out from altitudes of 25,000-27,000 feet and happened around 5:35-5:50 am. Twenty-eight aircraft hit the primary target, and another twenty-seven planes bombing the surrounding urban area as a secondary. The average bomb load was 6,000 lbs.

The enemy put up heavy and aggressive fighter opposition with 691 attacks. Thirty-three enemy aircraft were destroyed, twenty-two probably destroyed, and forty damaged. Antiaircraft fire was heavy and even caused the loss of one B-29.

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 22.

Mission List

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