Scheduled (January 27, 1945)

We were supposed to go on another one today but our ship was out. They sure did have a rough one. Their losses today were 75%1.

— Joe Caner Swann

This was possibly the worst mission for the 73rd Bomb Wing. The primary target was the Nakajima Aircraft plant in Tokyo with the urban area as the secondary. If the weather was bad the force was to bomb the Mistubishi Engine Factory in Nagoya with the secondary being the urban area of that city. Twelve planes returned early.

The B-29s were loaded with an average bomb load of 6,000 lbs. Two planes were sent ahead to report on the weather and reported back that Tokyo would be the target. The target was attacked from high altitude (24,500-29,600 feet) in the mid-afternoon (3:00-4:00 pm). The weather was completely overcast forcing the planes to bomb the secondary target (the Tokyo Urban Area) by radar.

Enemy antiaircraft was heavy, but the fighter opposition was "of unparalleled intensity" with 984 attacks. Many of these attacked by attempting to ram the bombers. Sixty fighters were claimed destroyed, seventeen more probably destroyed, and thirty-nine damaged. Five B-29s were lost over the target.

In the end, nine B-29s failed to return. One of these crashed on returning to base.

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 was mission 24.

Mission List

Footnotes
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