Tokyo (March 3, 1945)

Back to Tokyo but we have taken off earlier this time. The target was covered up so we bombed by radar. No fighters and little flack. Take off: 2:10, Bombs Away: 10:04, Land: 16:35. We flew Thumper, A-square-21. One plane ditched, A-square-25.

— Joe Caner Swann

A return trip to target #357, the Nakajima Aircraft Plant in Tokyo. This involved 192 aircraft of the 73rd and 313th Bomb Wings. It was a mid-morning (9:40-10:50 am on March 5), high altitude attack (25,000-29,000 feet). Fifteen planes returned early.

The bombers carried 5,500-6,800 lbs. of ordinance. There was complete cloud cover and no aircraft bombed the primary target. Bombing results were unobserved.

The enemy mounted some antiaircraft fire. One plane was lost.

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 39.

Mission List

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