Fighter Escort to Osaka (June 1, 1945)

We were to carry fighters to Osaka but ran into bad weather and had to return. Lost 27 planes due to weather1.

— Joe Caner Swann

The Osaka Urban Area was the target for the 509 aircraft participating in this mission. Each plane carried around 12,000 lbs. of bombs for a for over 2,700 tons dropped on the primary target. The target was bombed from high altitude (18,000-28,500 feet) with the bombing force over the target in the late morning (10:30 am-12:00 pm). Two B-29s collided at the assembly point.

This mission destroyed 3.4 square limes of the city bringing the total area destroyed to over 14.5 square miles. This means about a quarter of the city's urban area was now burned out.

Fighter opposition consisted of 85 aircraft which made 221 attacks which damaged 4 B-29s. Sixteen enemy fighters were shot down, another nine probably destroyed, and four were damaged. The bombing force also flew through heavy antiaircraft fire which accounted for five B-29s being shot down. Four crews bailed out before going down. All but two men were rescued.

A fighter escort of 148 P-51s took off from Iwo Jima but ran into bad weather on the way to the target. The majority of these turned back due. Twenty-seven P-51s did not return and only one of these pilots were rescued.

All but 10 planes returned safely. Another 81 planes chose to land 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 187.

Mission List

Footnotes
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