Tokuyama (May 10, 1945)

Bombed Takuyama air storage. We really knocked it our too. Plenty of flack of all colors1 but no hits. Land: 17:45.

— Joe Caner Swann

For this raid 60 planes of the 73rd Bomb Wing were sent to bomb the Tokuyama Naval Fuel Station. They arrived at the target around 11:00 am flying at an altitude of 15,000-20,000 feet. The planes were carrying a bomb load of 10,000 lbs. There was only 2/10 cloud cover.

There were direct hits on fuel storage tanks which produced columns of dense smoke. The airmen reported that the target was hit hard.

The enemy responded with heavy flack, and while five bombers were damaged it was generally inaccurate. Four enemy fighters were spotted, but only one made an attack.

All planes returned safely, though two landed at Iwo Jima.

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 163.

Mission List

Footnotes
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