Nagoya (May 14, 1945)

We bombed Nagoya again and there was plenty of smoke. One fighter was shot down. Little flack. Take off: 2:30, Bombs Away: 9:57, Land: 16:30.

— Joe Caner Swann

This mission was a large raid to the North Nagoya Urban Area involving 524 aircraft. The bombers flew from 16,000 to 20,500 feet and carried an average of 11,500 lbs. of bombs. This was a morning attack with activity over the target lasting from 9:00 to 10:30 am.

There were no damage estimates given for this mission, but fires were seen reaching over a mile to the northwest of Nagoya Castle. Fires were also seen at the Mitsubishi Electric Manufacturing Company and the Mitsubishi Aircraft Engine Plant.

Enemy fighter opposition consisted on 90 fighters which made 275 attacks. One B-29 was shot down and two were damaged from these attacks. Twenty-three enemy aircraft were destroyed with sixteen probables and thirty-one damaged. One plane was shot down from antiaircraft fire and fifty-four planes were damaged from flack.

A total of 11 aircraft were lost on this mission with 8 men killed, 41 missing, and 13 wounded.

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 174.

Mission List

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