This day in the war in the Pacific 65 years ago.

[syscom3]

July 20th 1945

ATOMIC BOMB RELATED: Twentieth Air Force:The 393d Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy), 509th Composite Group, begins a series of 12 precision attacks over Japan for the purpose of familiarizing the crews with the target area and tactics contemplated for the scheduled atomic bomb missions; the strikes (on 20, 24, 26, and 29 Jul) are mostly against (or near) cities previously bombed, in the general area of cities chosen for possible atomic attack, and involve from 2 to 6 aircraft in order to accustom the Japanese to sight of small formations of B-29s flying at high altitudes.

NEI: P-38s attack the town of Langkon, Borneo. On Celebes Island, B-24s pound Togian Island and P-38s hit targets of opportunity on the SW.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, A-20s and fighter-bombers support the ground action in the Kiangan area and in the lower Cagayan Valley while B-25s and fighter-bombers hit Japanese positions in the Marikina and Infanta areas. B-24s bomb an area S of Fabrica on Negros Island.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 8 B-24s fly the heaviest and most successful mission of the month, bombing hangars and revetments at Matsuwa Airfield on Matsuwa Island. The detachment of the 11th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group, operating from Amchitka with P-38s and P-40s since March 44, returns to base on Adak.

CENTRAL PACIFIC [US Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF)] 94 P-51s based on Iwo Jima are dispatched against targets, mainly airfields, at Kamezaki, Meiji, Okazaki, Nagoya, Kagamigahara, Hamamatsu, and Komaki; they claim 1-11 Japanese aircraft on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost.

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: 10 B-25s and 6 P-51s hit truck convoys around Hengyang and Wuchang, and storage on an island near Changsha, China, locomotive shops at Phu Thuong, and power plant and railroad targets in the Vinh, French Indochina area. 50+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s disrupt enemy movement and general withdrawal in Indochina and S and E China, attacking river, road, and rail traffic, coastal shipping, supplies, and other targets. The 115th Liaison Squadron, Fourteenth AF, moves from Nagaghuli to Chengkung, China with L-1s, L-4s and L-5s.
FEAF: B-25s hit Itu Aba Island, China and W of Palawan Island, Philippine Islands for the second consecutive day.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Unit moves: The detachment of the 419th Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command, operating from Zamboanga, Mindanao with P-61s, returns to base at Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island; 498th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th BG (Medium), from Clark Field, Luzon to Ie Shima with B-25s.

 

[syscom3]

July 21st 1945

JAPAN (FEAF): B-25s and A-26s bomb shipping at Naze-Ko, Ryukyu Islands.
NEI: Bad weather restricts activity in the Netherlands East Indies, Philippine Islands and other target areas mainly to light raids and snooper missions.

PHILLIPINES: P-38s hit the Kiangan area on Luzon. Bad weather restricts activity in the Netherlands East Indies, Philippine Islands and other target areas mainly to light raids and snooper missions.

CHINA: Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 11 B-25s and 2 P-51s attack truck convoys in the Siang Chiang Valley, bomb a HQ near Wuchang, and hit a bridge, trains, warehouses, and AA positions in the Sienning area. 40+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s again attack numerous targets and disrupt enemy movement in French Indochina and S and E China, hitting communications targets, supplies, transport, and other targets of opportunity.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Unit moves to/on Okinawa: HQ 319th BG and 437th, 438th, 439th and 440th Bombardment Squadrons from Kadena to Machinato with A-26s; ground echelon of 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, from Dulag (air echelon at Clark Field with F-5s); 373d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 494th BG (Heavy), from Luliang, China to Yontan with B-24s; 405th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th BG (Medium), from Lingayen Airfield with B-25s.

 

[syscom3]

July 22nd 1945

JAPAN: The USN's Task Force 93 under Rear Admiral John H. Brown, consisting of the light cruisers USS Concord and USS Richmond and five destroyers, bombards Japanese installations on Paramushiru Island, Kurile Islands. The bombardment is unopposed.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, B-25s, P-51s, and P-38s, hampered by bad weather, fly 30+ ground support sorties in the Gubano, Cervantes, and Mankayan areas.

JAPAN: Twentieth Air Force: A bombing and a mining mission are flown during the night of 23/24 Jul; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 282: 23 B-29s, staging through Iwo Jima, mine Shimonoseki Strait and the Korea coast at Najin which in the longest B-29 combat mission of the war-and in the Pusan-Masan, Korea area; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 283: 72 B-29s bomb the coal liquefaction company at the Imperial Fuel Industry Company at Ube. 100+ Iwo Jima based P-51s hit airfields, rail installations, and other tactical targets at Itami, Hanshin, Sano, Tokushima, Takamatsu, and Minato, Japan.

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 16 B-25s and 8 fighter-bombers blast truck convoys moving supplies through the Siang Chiang Valley, bomb railroad yards at Siaokan, and knock out 2 bridges S of Sincheng and Lohochai. 50+ P-51s, P-47s, and P-38s continue the campaign to disrupt enemy movement and withdrawal in French Indochina and S and E China, pounding numerous rail, road, and river targets, supply dumps, and coastal shipping.
FEAF: In China, 22 B-24s from Okinawa hit Chiang Wan and 1 hits Tinghai Airfield, 37 B-25s bomb an oil plant at Shanghai and a destroyer in the Whangpoo River, P-47s from Ie Shima join the B-25 attack on the Shanghai area, hitting a destroyer, gunboat, and freighter in the Whangpoo River, and factories and railroad shops, 34 P-51s from Okinawa also hit Whangpoo shipping and 37 A-26s hit the airfield at Tachang. B-24s on a night shipping search and weather mission bomb airfields at Tinghai and on Chusan Island, China, Pusan, Korea; and Yonago, Japan.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Unit moves: HQ 322d Troop Carrier Wing from Hollandia to Manila; air echelon of 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, from Lingayen Airfield to Clark Field, Luzon with F-5s (ground echelon at Lingayen Airfield); 311th Troop Carrier Squadron, Seventh AF, begins a movement from Bellows Field to Okinawa with C-47s; 403d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d BG (Heavy), from Clark Field, Luzon to Ie Shima with B-24s.

 

[syscom3]

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 2 B-24s radar-bomb Kurabu Cape Airfield on Paramushiru Island.

Fourteenth Air Force: 8 B-25s and 4 P-51s bomb the railroad yards at Sinyang and hit a warehouse at Ichang, China. 100+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-40s attack numerous targets, including rail, road, and river traffic, airfields, coastal shipping, bridges, storage facilities, and railroad yards, at many locations over S and E China, especially in the Paoching area and, to a smaller degree, over French Indochina. The 115th Liaison Squadron, Fourteenth AF, moves from Chengkung to Hsingchiang, China with L-1s, L-4s and L-5s.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s pound Jesselton while B-24s over other areas of the Netherlands East Indies bomb Amboina and the Tolonoeoe Islands. Fighter aircraft support ground forces in the Kiangan, Luzon area. B-25s bomb Itu Aba Island, China. B-24s hit Miho and Saeki, Japan. Single B-24s on armed reconnaissance hit several targets including Tinghai Airfield, China, Kure Harbor, and Tanega Island, Ryukyu Islands.

PACIFIC: Pacific Ocean Area: LT. W.C. Phelan, USNR Assistant G-2, Island Command, Peleliu, produces a document titled "Japanese Military Caves on Peleliu: KNOW YOUR ENEMY", CinCPac-CinCPOA BULLETIN 173-45. It consists of 45 pages and is an extensive study and analysis of the cave system found on Peleliu.

 

[syscom3]

July 24th 1945

GERMANY: The Potsdam Declaration is agreed to by Churchill, Truman and Stalin; after Stalin is informed of the existance of the Atomic Bomb. Truman decides that it will be used, if the Japanese do not come to terms. The Potsdam agreement will be released on the 26th.

JAPAN: Twentieth Air Force: 7 missions (625 B-29s) are flown against targets in the Nagoya and Osaka areas; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 284: 82 B-29s attack the Sumitomo Light Metals Industries propeller factory at Osaka; most of the machine tools had been removed but the facility is completely wrecked; 4 others hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 285: 81 B-29s hit the Kawanishi Aircraft Plant at Takarazuka destroying 77% of the plant; 3 others hit alternate targets.
Mission 286: 153 B-29s hit the Osaka Arsenal and Kuwana; the arsenal sustains additional damage amounting to 10% of the original roof area; 9 others hit alternate targets;
Mission 287: 66 B-29s attack the Aichi aircraft plant at Eitoku; the plant sustains its heaviest damage of the war; 5 others hit alternate targets.
Missions 288 and 289: 113 B-29s hit the urban are of the city of Tsu; 2 others hit alternate targets.
Mission 290: 77 B-29s attack the Nakajima plant at Handa destroying the principal assembly buildings; 1 B-29 hit an alternate target. 91 P-51s, operating out of Iwo Jima, hit airfields and other tactical targets at Hamamatsu, Suruga Bay, and other points in the Nagoya area.
Tonight the BBs will bombard Kushimoto and Shionomisaki.
In Japan, carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Force 38 attack the Kure Naval Base and airfields in on Honshu. The aircraft sink the battleship-carrier HIJMS Hyuga, the heavy cruiser HIMJS Tone, which is pushed aground to permit salvaging, and three other ships; they also damage 15 other ships including battleships, cruisers and destroyers. The raids are unopposed.

MARIANAS: USMC - Marine aircraft from USS Vella Gulf attacked Japanese positions on Pagan.

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 8 B-25s and 6 P-51s pound truck convoys in the Hengyang area, hit river shipping near Pakonghow, and damage a bridge and storage area and knock out AA positions at Puchi and 15 P-51s blast the Changsha area, destroying an estimated 28 warehouses and 8 fuel storage buildings. 80+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-47s over French Indochina and S and E China continue to disrupt the Japanese withdrawal, pounding dozens of targets of opportunity at numerous locations.
In China, 100+ Fifth AF B-24s fly their first strike from Okinawa, bombing the Chiang Wan Airfield N of Shanghai; Seventh AF B-25s from Okinawa hit Wusung and Lunghua Airfields in the Shanghai area while A-26s and B-25s attack the Tachang and Tinghai Airfields; and fighter-bombers hit shipping and targets of opportunity throughout the general area attacked by the bombers. Other B-25s hit Itu Aba Island, China.

NEI: In Borneo, Thirteenth AF B-25s pound Jesselton Airfield and B-24s hit Oelin and Tabanio Airfields.

PHILLIPINES: Fifth AF fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Infanta and Leyban areas of Luzon.

INDIAN OCEAN: Whilst engaged in preparatory clearing operations for the forthcoming landings in Malaya (Operation Zipper) minesweeper HMS Squirrel is mined and has to be scuttled by gunfire. There are 7 casualties. Location: off Phuket Island in the Gulf of Thailand.

FEAF: Unit moves: 65th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d BG (Heavy), from Clark Field, Luzon to Ie Shima with B-24s; detachment of the 419th Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command, operating from Sanga Sanga, to base at Puerto Princesa with P-61s; 421st Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command, from Clark Field to Ie Shima with P-61s; 822d and 823d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy)

 

[syscom3]

July 25th 1945

ATOMIC BOMB: The War Dept. issued orders to General Spaatz, Commanding General of the US Army Strategic Air Forces, readying the 509th for action.

JAPAN: In Japan, carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Force 38 and RN's Task Group 37.2 continues attacks in the Inland Sea area; six ships are sunk and a number damaged.
Task Group 35.3 consisting of four light cruisers and six destroyers, bombards an IJN seaplane base on Honshu.
B-24s bomb Kikaiga-shima, Amami Islands, N Ryukyu Islands and the town of Tsuiki.
Twentieth Air Force: During the night of 25/26 Jul, 106 B-29s fly 1 bombing and 1 mining mission; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 291: 75 B-29s attack the Mitsubishi Oil Company and Hayama Petroleum Company at Kawasaki destroying 33% of the storage tanks units and other facilities; 1 B-29 hits an alternate target. Lost is B-29 "Maniuwa" 42-63678. Mission 292: 29 B-29s mine the waters at Nanao, Fushiki, Obama Island, Tsuruga, and Seishin, Japan, and Pusan, Korea; 1 other mines an alternate target.

CHINA: Fourteenth Air Force: 10 B-25s and 3 P-38s knock out bridges at Tho Linh and Quang Tri, French Indochina and damage a barge and a river steamer in the Wuchou, China area. 30 P-51s and P-38s attack river, road, and rail traffic, railroad yards, and other targets in the areas of Duc Tho, Bac Ninh, Vinh, and Hanoi, French Indochina, and Kukong, Samshui, Wuchou, and the West River, China. The 71st Liaison Squadron, Fourteen AF [attached to XIV AF Tactical Air Command (Provisional)], arrives at Kunming, China from Piardoba, India with UC-64s, L-1s, L-4s and L-5s.
B-25s bomb Itu Aba Island, China.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Unit moves from Luzon: HQ 38th BG (Medium) and 71st Bombardment Squadron (Medium) from Lingayen Airfield to Okinawa with B-25s; HQ 345th BG (Medium) from Clark Field, to Ie Shima.

NEI: B-24s bomb Pontianak and Kuching Airfields while B-25s and fighters attack a dispersal area in the Jesselton Airfield area.

PHILLIPINES: B-24s pound enemy troops on Negros Island.

 

[syscom3]

July 26th 1945

MARIANAS - ATOMIC WEAPONS: 7/26/45 - The USS Indianapolis dropped anchor off Tinian and unloaded a 15 foot wood crate which contained the firing mechanism for the "Little Boy" bomb. A bucket which contained the first slug of uranium 235 was also on board. Each was brought to the bomb assembly hut. (The second piece of uranium was carried from Oak Ridge to Tinian by Lt. Del Genio aboard a B-29) (2 other B-29's carried two more pieces for the "Fat Man" plutonium bomb.

UK: The results of the British Election are announced. The Conservative Party of Winston Churchill loses to the Labour Party. Clement Attlee becomes Prime Minister.

GERMANY: The Potsdam ultimatum is issued, i.e., Japan is told to surrender unconditionally or face "utter destruction."

INDIAN OCEAN: British minesweeper HMS Vestal (J 215) suffers severe damage after being struck by a Japanese Kamikaze aircraft off Puket, Thailand, and has to be sunk by destroyer HMS Racehorse (H 11). There are 20 casualties. Vestal is the only RN warship to be sunk after being damaged by a Kamikaze aircraft.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 7 B-24s successfully hit the Kataoka Naval Base on Shimushu with incendiaries, leaving smoke columns 5,000 ft (1,524 m) high; there is no airborne opposition and AA fire is moderate and inaccurate. Another B-24 flies a radar-ferret mission over the N Kurile Islands.

JAPAN: B-25s on a shipping search attack a convoy at Tsutsu Bay, Japan sinking 3 small cargo vessels, a freighter, and a few small craft. B-24s on snooper strikes attack several targets, including various targets in the Ryukyu Islands, airfields at Tinghai, China and at Nakazu, Japan, and docks at Pusan, Korea.
Twentieth Air Force: During the night of 26/27 Jul, 350 B-29s fly 3 incendiary missions against secondary cities; 1 B-29 is lost:
Mission 293: 127 B-29s attack the Matsuyama urban area destroying 1.22 sq mi, 73% of the total city area.
Mission 294: 97 B-29s hit the Tokuyama urban area destroying 0.47 sq mi, 37% of the city area; 1 other hit's an alternate target.
Mission 295: 124 B-29s attack the Omuta urban area destroying 2.05 sq mi, 38% of the city area; 1 other hit's an alternate target; 1 B-29 is lost.

CHINA: Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 8 B-25s and 4 P-51s bomb the railroad yards at Lohochai and hit a storage area and animal transport in the Pinking area. 100+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s pound enemy movement and withdrawal in French Indochina and S and E China, hitting supplies, troops, river, road, and rail traffic, coastal shipping, railroad yards, bridges, town areas and other targets at numerous locations. The 427th Night Fighter Squadron, Tenth AF, based at Dinjan, India with P-61s, sends a detachment to operate from Nanning, China.
B-25s bomb Itu Aba Island, China.

MARIANAS: USMC - Marine pilot operating from the escort carrier Vella Gulf attack Rota

FEAF: Unit moves from Luzon: HQ 43d BG and 64th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) from Clark Field to Ie Shima with B-24s; ground echelon of 36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, begins a movement from Clark Field to Okinawa (air echelon at Clark Field until Sep 45).

NEI: In Borneo, B-24s hit Tabanio, Trombol, Sengkawang, and Oelin Airfields.

PHILLIPINES: Fighter-bombers and B-25s over Luzon (where the 13 AF now provides ground support) aid ground forces in the Mankayan area and near Tuguegarao. B-24s plaster Japanese positions on ground support strikes over Negros Island.

 

[syscom3]

July 27th 1945

JAPAN: Twentieth Air Force: Mission 296: During the night of 27/28 Jul, 24 B-29s drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait, at Fukuoka, Niigata, Maizuru, Senzaki, and in Fukawa Bay; 1 other mines an alternate target; 3 B-29s are lost to heavy flak, 2 ditching with 13 men rescued and 1 crash landing on Iwo Jima and subsequently scrapped.
USN: TF 38 carrier aircraft attack Kure, heavily damaging Amagi.
FEAF: 60+ Fifth and Seventh AF B-24s pound a marshalling yard at Kagoshima, Kyushu and 50 escorting P-51s attack numerous nearby targets of opportunity; 150+ P-47s over Kyushu hit communications and industrial targets, including a tunnel S of Kurino, bridges at Okasa, Hitosuse-gawa, and Matsubase, and factories and a power plant at Yatsushiro.

CHINA: Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 13 B-25s, some with P-51 support, hit a supply movement in the Siang Chiang Valley, bomb railroad yards at Siaokan and Sinyang, and hit coastal shipping in the Do Son, French Indochina area. 50+ P-51s and P-38s concentrate on attacking river shipping at numerous points of French Indochina and S and E China also hitting road and rail traffic, coastal vessels, storage areas, and bridges.

NEI: B-24s of the Thirteenth AF hit airstrip N of Pontianak, Borneo.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The 500th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th BG (Medium), moves from Clark Field, Luzon to Ie Shima with B-25s.

 

[syscom3]

July 28th 1945

JAPAN: Japanese Premier Suzuki notes on the Japanese government's reaction to the Potsdam Declaration that they will "take no notice." There is concern among the members of the Japanese government that the diplomatic note was not delivered through a neutral government. There are also several other possible translations of the words used by the Premier.
In Japan, carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Force 38 attack the Inland Sea area between Nagoya and northern Kyushu, especially the Kure Naval Base. The aircraft sink a battleship HIJMS Haruna, a battleship-carrier HIJMS Hyuga, a heavy cruisers HIJMS Amagi and Katsuragi, a light carrier HIJMS Ryuho,17 other vessels and uncompleted carriers Kasagi, Aso, and Ibuki. American and British pilots shot down or burned up 306 enemy planes and damaged 392. Heavy and accurate AA fire brings down 133 USN aircraft and 102 airmen. Carrier-based aircraft of the RN's Task Force 37 sink 3 ships off Yura.
Historians vary on the accounts of these strikes. Hammel for instance has strikes only occurring today. Reynolds shows these strikes occurring on both the 24th and today. Admiral Halsey with Bryan adds strikes on the 25th to those listed by Reynolds. In all three cases the US losses are listed with the same numbers.

OKINAWA: During the night of 27/28 July, the destroyer USS Callaghan is sunk by a kamikaze while on radar picket duty about 50 miles SW of Okinawa. The Japanese biplane struck the ship on the starboard side, exploded and one of the plane's bombs penetrated the after engine room. The destroyer flooded, and the fires which ignited antiaircraft ammunition prevented nearby ships from rendering aid. She sank at 0235, 28 July 1945, with the loss of 47 members of her valiant crew. This is the last USN ship sunk by a kamikaze.

JAPAN: Twentieth Air Force: During the night of 28/29 Jul, 554 B-29s fly 6 incendiary raids on secondary cities and 1 bombing raid without loss.
Mission 297: 76 B-29s attack the Tsu urban area destroying 0.84 sq mi, 57% of the city area.
Mission 298: 61 B-29s hit the Aomori urban area destroying 1.06 sq mi, 64% of the city area; 3 others hit alternate targets.
Mission 299: 122 B-29s attack the Ichinomiya urban area destroying 0.99 sq mi, 75% of the city area; 2 others attack alternate areas.
Mission 300: 93 B-29s hit the Uji-Yamada urban area destroying 0.36 sq mi, 39% of the city area; 1 other hits an alternate target.
Mission 301: 90 B-29s attack the Ogaki urban area destroying 0.48 sq mi, 40% of the city area. Mission 302: 29 B-29s hit the Uwajima urban area destroying 0.53 sq mi, 52% of the city area.
Mission 303: 76 B-29s bomb the Shimotsu Oil Refinery; 75% of the tank capacity, 90% gasometer capacity and 69% of the roof area destroyed or damaged; 1 other B-29s hits an alternate target. 140+ P-51s, based on Iwo Jima, hit 9 objectives (airfields and military targets) in a wide area around Tokyo and attack a destroyer escort along the Chiba Peninsula, leaving it burning.

FEAF: In Japan, 137 Ie Shima-based P-47s rocket and strafe airfields, oil stores, railroad yards, warehouses, industry, gun positions, and other targets on Kyushu at or near Kanoya, Metatsubara, Tachiarai, Kurume, Saga, and Junicho; 21 more P-47s attack shipping at Yatsushiro and A-26s and B-25s pound airfields at Kanoya; P-51s and B-25s, sweeping over the Inland Sea, destroy 2 small cargo vessels and a patrol boat and 70+ B-24s bomb shipping at Kure, claiming direct hits on a battleship and an aircraft carrier.

CHINA: Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 7 B-25s and 4 P-51s attack a supply movement through the Siang Chiang Valley, hit a freighter and 2 smaller vessels off Shuitang, and pound troops near Kian. About 90 P-51s, P-47s, and P-61s disrupt the Japanese movement throughout S and E China and in French Indochina; the fighter-bombers concentrate on river transport.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, B-25s and P-38s in support of ground forces hit enemy positions in the Mankayan-Kiangan area and in the Marikina area. Other P-38s hit troop concentrations on Jolo and B-24s support ground forces on Negros.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Units moving from Luzon to Ie Shima: 82d and 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons, 71st Reconnaissance Group, from Lingayen Airfield with F-6s; 499th and 501st Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 345th BG (Medium), from Clark Field with B-25s.

 

[syscom3]

July 29th 1945

ATOMIC BOMB RELATED: General Spaatz arrived on Guam and brought an order from General Groves authorizing the dropping of the first SPECIAL BOMB on one of four targets, Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata, or Nagasaki sometime after August 3rd.

JAPAN - FEAF: P-47s from Ie Shima and B-24s, B-25s, and A-26s from Okinawa pound targets in the Japanese Home Islands; 70+ B-24s pound shipping at Kure, 41 B-24s hit a factory and storage area NW of Aburatsu, shipping and engine works in Nagasaki and vicinity, and the towns of Nobeoka, Kyushu and Oita; B-25s hit Kagoshima, Kyushu, Kibana, a bridge, barracks and other buildings at Miyazaki, warehouses, a lighthouse, and navigation light at Tozaki-hana, and bomb Tokuno Shima; A-26s pound the naval base and engine works at Nagasaki; numerous P-47s hit the harbor at Kure, shipping and seaplane station at Ibusuki, railroad station, docks, and town area of Makurazaki, Chiran Airfield and Izumi Airfields, and shipping at Kagoshima Bay. P-51s hit numerous targets of opportunity on the S coast of Korea and on the S part of Kyushu, where shipping, railroads, and Omura, Kyushu and Sashiki factories are also attacked.

JAPAN: American and British carrier-based aircraft attack airfields and naval targets in the Inland Sea sinking a destroyer and 12 merchant vessels. USN Task Group 34.8.1 consisting of 3 battleships, 4 heavy cruisers and 10 destroyers bombards facilities on Honshu. The British battleship HMS King George V and 3 destroyers join in the bombardment.

NEI: B-24s hit Sidate Airfield and warehouses at Watampone on Celebes Island. Other B-24s bomb resistance pocket S of Fabrica.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, B-25s and P-38s hit Japanese positions near San Mariano and W of Kiangan, troop concentrations in the Marikina watershed, and ridge emplacements in the Bantayan area; several buildings are destroyed at Pasco Point.

Twentieth Air Force: Mission 304: During the night of 29/30 Jul, 24 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and the waters at Fukuoka, Karatsu, and Najin; 2 others mine alternate targets.

Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 4 B-25s and 2 P-51s hit shipping off Luichow Peninsula near Cape Kami, barracks at Chingmen, and cannon-strafe trucks at Kuanshuishih and oil storage at Yingtak. About 100 P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s attack a variety of targets over a vast area from Haiphong to Peking continuing the steady campaign against enemy movement and withdrawal.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)] Unit moves: 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Reconnaissance Group, from Lingayen Airfield to Ie Shima with B-25s (detachment remains at Lingayen Airfield until Sep 45); 868th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), Thirteenth AF from Leyte to Okinawa with B-24s (the 868th uses airborne radar for low-level attacks at night and for pathfinder operations).

 

[syscom3]

July 30th 1945

JAPAN: The Japanese reject the Potsdam ultimatum. Nevertheless General of the Army George C Marshall, Chief of Staff, US Army, directs General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Commanding General US Army Forces in the Pacific, Lieutenant General Albert C Wedemeyer, Commanding General, US Forces in the China Theater, and Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief Pacific, to proceed with plans for a surrender.

NEI: LOA KULU MASSACRE: After surrendering to overwhelming numbers of Japanese troops, around one hundred members of the Netherlands East Indies Army were disarmed and for a while permitted restricted freedom in the town of Samarinda , in Borneo, where most of the soldiers lived with their families. Early on the morning of July 30, all prisoners, including their families, were rounded up and taken before a Japanese officer who summarily sentenced them all to death. No reason was given as they were bundled into lorries and taken to Loa Kulu just outside the town. There they had their hands tied behind their backs and as the men and children watched, the women were systematically cut to pieces with swords and bayonets until they all died. The screaming children were then seized and hurled alive down a 600 foot deep mine shaft. The men captives, forced to kneel and witness the butchery of their wives and children, and suffering the most indescribable mental torture, were then lined up for execution by beheading. When the grisly ritual was over, the bloodied corpses and severed heads of the 144 men were then thrown down the mine shaft on top of their murdered wives and children. The horror of Loa Kulu was discovered by Australian troops who had earlier started a search for the missing Dutch soldiers.

CENRTAL PACIFIC: During the night the USS Indianapolis will be torpedoed by I-58. The loss will not be discovered until she is 3 days late. Many of the 316 survivors that are rescued will not be found for several more days.
The US heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis by Japanese submarine HIJMS I-58 northeast of Leyte at 12.02N, 134.48E. After delivering parts of the atomic bomb to Tinian, USS Indianapolis was dispatched to Guam where she disembarked men and reported for onward routine to Leyte. From there she was to report to Vice Admiral Jesse B Oldendorf for further duty off Okinawa. Departing Guam 28 July, USS Indianapolis proceeded by a direct route unescorted. Early in the morning, 0015 hours, 2 heavy explosions occurred against her starboard side forward, and she capsized and sank in 12 minutes. The ship had been hit by two torpedoes. The seas had been moderate; the visibility, good, USS Indianapolis had been steaming at 17 knots.
When the ship did not reach Leyte on the 31 July, as scheduled, no report was made that she was overdue. This omission was due to a misunderstanding of the Movement Report System.
Thus it was not until 1025 hours on 2 August that the survivors were sighted, mostly held afloat by life jackets, although there were a few rafts which had been cut loose before the ship went down. They were sighted by a plane on routine patrol; the pilot immediately dropped a life raft and a radio transmitter. All air and surface units capable of rescue operations were dispatched to the scene at once, and the surrounding waters were thoroughly searched for survivors.

JAPAN – FEAF: 60+ B-25s and A-26s bomb Omura Airfield and 4 of the planes hit airfield at Izumi; P-47s support the strike and also hit numerous nearby targets of opportunity; B-25s, failing to find targets on a shipping sweep over Korean waters, bomb shipping, a railroad, and a warehouse in the Sendai area and covering P-51s also hit nearby targets of opportunity; 80+ P-47s bomb Sendai, leaving much of the town in flames; P-51s on photo reconnaissance of S Kyushu destroy trains and small craft; and nearly 80 P-47s attack the Miyazaki, Karasehara, and Tomitaka areas, firing warehouses and damaging barracks, hangars, towers, and other buildings, and blast buildings and construction on and near Shibushi Airfield.
JAPAN: US Navy Task Unit 34.8.1 consisting of 3 battleships, 4 heavy cruisers and 10 destroyers complete the bombardment of targets at Hamamatsu on Honshu. The Royal Navy battleship HMS King George V and 3 destroyers also participate in this operation.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 8 B-24s on way to the Kurile islands are soon recalled because of weather disturbances.

Twentieth Air Force: Iwo Jima based P-51s attack airfields, railroads, and other tactical targets throughout the Kobe-Osaka area.

Fourteenth Air Force: 2 B-25s bomb supply convoys moving through the Siang Chiang Valley of China. 40+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s hit various targets in S and E China, and in French Indochina, chiefly river transport, but also troop concentrations, railroad traffic, and many targets of opportunity; target areas include Nanyang, Suchow, Hankow, Sinyang, Anking, Anyang, Lohochai, Kukong, Takhing, Koyiu, Samshui, Pingsiang, Kian, Yungcheng, Yingtak, and Wuchou, China.

NEI: B-24s bomb Kota Waringin Airfield in Borneo.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, B-25s and P-38s support ground forces E of Ilagan, near Kiangan, and E of Manila in the Infanta sector.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: HQ 91st Reconnaissance Wing moves from Clark Field, Luzon to Okinawa.

 

[syscom3]

July 31st 1945

JAPAN: In Japan, 80+ B-24s pound the Kagoshima railroad yards and several other targets in the general area including the Sasebo naval base, Yaki-shima, and Nagasaki; A-26s and B-25s bomb Kanoya and Miyazaki Airfields and nearby targets, the Sasebo naval base, Marushima, warehouses at Nagasaki, and a factory and power plant on Koyagi Island; P-51s attack flak positions at Moji, blast shipping at Iki Island and off the NW and W coast of Kyushu, hit an island WSW of Sasebo, bomb railroad targets and warehouses in the Izumi area, and in general attack the railroad and road net and other communications targets throughout Kyushu and P-61s continue harassing missions during the night. P-51s over the Ryukyu Islands bomb airstrips on Miyako Island, and bomb a town in the Koniya area.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, B-25s and P-38s support ground action, hitting forces in the Cagayan Valley and Cervantes and Infanta sectors. B-24s pound the area S of Fabrica on Negros Island.

CENTRAL PACIFIC [US Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF)] Twentieth Air Force: HQ 301st Fighter Wing arrives on Ie Shima from the US.

PACIFIC: In Japan, the USN's Task Force 38 and RN's Task Group 37.2 cease flying operations and retire from an oncoming typhoon.

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: 3 B-25s continue to bomb supply convoys moving through the Siang Chiang Valley. 52 P-51s and P-61s over S and E China attack rivercraft, trucks, railroad traffic, coastal shipping, ammunition dumps, and other targets at several locations including areas around Yanglowtung, Changsha, Siangyin, Hengyang, Hankow, Paoching, Nanyang, Nanking, Kulo, Hoihow, and Yoyang. The flight of the 35th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF, operating from Kunming, China with F-5s, moves to Nanning (squadron is based at Chanyi).

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Unit moves: HQ Fifth AF from Clark Field to Okinawa; HQ 6th Reconnaissance Group from Clark Field to Okinawa.

 

[syscom3]

Aug 1st 1945

JAPAN: Twentieth Air Force: During the night of 1/2 Aug, 801 of 836 B-29s dispatched carry out 1 mining, 5 firebomb and 1 bombing raids on Japan; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 305: 37 B-29s drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait, in Nakaumi Lagoon, at Hamada, Sakai, Yonago, Najin, and Seishin; 5 others mine alternate targets.
Mission 306: 169 B-29s attack the Hachioji urban area destroying 1.12 sq mi, 80% of the city; 3 others hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 307: 173 B-29s hit the Toyama urban area, a center of aluminum, ballbearing and special steel production, destroying 1.87 sq mi, 99.5% of the city; 1 other hits an alternate target.
Mission 308: 125 B-29s attack the Nagaoka urban area destroying 1.33 sq mi, 65.5% of the city; 5 others hit alternate targets.
Mission 309: 160 B-29s hit the Mito urban area destroying 1.7 sq mi, 65% of the city; 1 other hits a target of opportunity.
Mission 310: 120 B-29s bomb the Mitsubishi Oil Company at Kawasaki but could only add slightly to the damage previously inflicted; 2 other hit targets of opportunity. 30+ Iwo Jima based P-51s hit airfields and other targets in the Osaka-Nagoya area; bad weather prevents numerous other fighters from reaching targets.

JAPAN – FEAF: In Japan, about 50 B-24s bomb targets in the Nagasaki dock and harbor area; B-25s and fighter-bombers in the Nagasaki area hit docks, railroad yards, and shipping; other B-24s bomb Koniya Airfield and hit Kakeroma Island; 80+ P-47s hit railroad bridges and other railroad targets at Sendai and P-47s fly their first combat mission from Iwo Jima, joining VII Fighter Command P-51s in a sweep over S Honshu Island; and rolling stock and airfields are attacked in the Okazaki, Itami, and Nagoya areas.

NEI: B-24s bomb shipyards at Pontianak, Borneo and other B-24s hit barracks and AA guns along Makassar Strait, Celebes Island. P-38s strafe locomotives in the Soerabaja, Java area.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon Island, P-38s support ground forces ENE and SE of Mankayan and, along with US Marine Corps (USMC) aircraft, pound enemy positions and concentrations in the Upian area.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: In French Indochina, B-24s bomb the Tourane marshalling yard while escorting P-51s strafe boxcars at Quang Nam

FORMOSA: Other B-24s strike military stores at Takao, Formosa.

PHILLIPINES: In Manila, General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz meet and agree on a line of demarcation to separate aerial operations undertaken by their forces. Except for B-29s and their escorts, the Far East Air Forces will operate west of 135W longitude and all Pacific-fleet controlled units will operate east of 135W longitude. Longitude 135W is slightly west of Kobe and Osaka on Honshu Island.

PACIFIC: On Wake Island, the USN's Task Group 12.3 consisting of the light aircraft carrier USS Cabot with Light Carrier Air Group Thirty Two, the battleship USS Pennsylvania and a destroyer screen, bombs and bombards the island. This is the 7th attack on the island by the USN.
Tenth Air Force: Major General Albert F Hegenberger becomes Commanding General Tenth AF and HQ Tenth AF moves from Piardoba, India to Kunming, China (HQ at Kunming was officially opened on 23 Jul). The scheduled role of the Tenth AF in China is almost identical with its completed Burma mission: to act as the tactical AF giving direct support and providing air supply to Chinese ground forces operating S of the 27th parallel N.

Fourteenth Air Force: In China, bad weather severely curtails operations; P-61s effectively sweep rivers in the Wuchou, Canton, and Tsingyun areas, sinking several large junks and sampans. Unit moves in China: the 26th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, from Kunming to Nanning with P-51s;
322d Troop Carrier Squadron, Fourteenth AF, from Loping to Liangshan with C-47s. Unit moves in China during Aug 45: HQ 23d Fighter Group and 74th and 75th Fighter Squadrons from Luliang to Liuchow with P-51s (the detachment of the 74th operating from Tushan also moves to Liuchow); 528th, 529th and 530th Fighter Squadrons, 311th Fighter Group from Shwangliu and Pungchacheng respectively to Hsian with P-51s.

Far East Air Force (FEAF):. Unit moves during Aug 45: HQ V Bomber Command and HQ V Fighter Command from Clark Field, Luzon to Okinawa; HQ 71st Reconnaissance Group from Binmaley, Luzon to Ie Shima; 22d Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group, from Finschhafen to Nielson Field, Luzon with C-47s; the detachment of the 550th Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command, operating from Sanga Sanga with P-61s, returns to base at Tacloban, Leyte. HQ AAF: During Aug 45, the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron (Long Range, Photographic), 311th Reconnaissance Wing (attached to 6th Reconnaissance Group), based at Tacloban, Leyte Island with F-7s, sends the detachment operating from Clark Field, Luzon to operate from Okinawa (squadron is mapping areas of the SW and W Pacific).

 

[syscom3]

August 2nd 1945

GERMANY: U.S. President Harry S. Truman, Soviet leader Josef Stalin and British Prime Minister Clement Attlee conclude the Potsdam conference.

PACIFIC: While on routine patrol, the crew of a PV-1 Ventura of the USN's Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB-152 based on Peleliu Island in the Palau Islands, sights an oil slick with 30 men in the water. Further observation reveals another group of 150 men. These are the survivors of the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis that was sunk by Japanese submarine HIJMS I-58 on 30 July. The crew drops their life raft and six life jackets to the men in the water and radios for assistance. PBY Catalinas and surface ships commence search missions until 8 August; they pick up 316 survivors.

PACIFIC: Two USN destroyers, USS Charrette and USS Conner, make radar contact with a ship which they track through the night, finding in the morning that it was the Japanese hospital ship Tachibana Maru. A search party from USS Charrette boards the ship and finds able-bodied troops and arms and ammunition in boxes marked with red crosses; the troops are made prisoners of war. A prize crew of 80 marines and sailors is placed aboard the Japanese ship and it is taken to Naval Advance Base Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies arriving on 6 August.

MALAYA: Off the Malay Peninsula, the USN submarine USS Bugara (SS-331), on her third war patrol, encounters a Japanese schooner manned by a Chinese crew being attacked by Malay pirates; the pirates fire at the submarine and then attempt to escape. The sub crew takes off the Chinese crew, sinks the schooner with gunfire and then pursues the pirates and disposes of them.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): On Shimushu, 5 B-24s visually bomb Kataoka Naval Base and 1 radar-bombs Kokutan Zaki and returns to base (600 miles or 966 km) on 3 engines.

MARIANA: Twentieth Air Force: Lieutenant General Nathan F Twining relieves Lieutenant General Curtis Emerson LeMay as Commanding General Twentieth AF; LeMay is assigned to USASTAF as Chief of Staff.
Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 10 B-25s, escorted by 2 P-47s, knock out a bridge at Sinyang and severely damage a bridge at Lohochai; 7 B-25s bomb the town of Sinning, and hit several truck convoys between Siangtan and Changsha and in the Siang Chiang Valley; 31 P-51s also bomb the town of Sinning; 40+ P-47s and P-51s knock out at least 3 bridges and damage others and attack shipping, fuel dumps, gun positions, trucks, railroad yards and general targets of opportunity around Sichuang, Shangkao, Yoyang, Hankow, Mingkiang, Sincheng, Yutze, Houmachen, Yuncheng, Anyang, and Kaoyi.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Bad weather cancels all FEAF missions from Okinawa. Thirteenth AF P-38s support ground forces on N Luzon, hitting pockets of resistance W of Kiangan and blasting enemy occupied caves on a ridge NW of Bontoe.

 

[syscom3]

Aug 3rd 1945

ATOMIC BOMB RELATED - General Groves sent "Special Bombing Mission #13" designating Hiroshima as the target. The secondary target is Kokura. (The 12 previous missions were "pumpkin" missions)

PHILLIPINES: P-38s and B-25s support ground forces in N Luzon, hitting buildings in the Apunan area and Japanese positions at various locations including ridges SW of Kiangan and W of Banaue.

NEI: B-24s bomb airstrips at Tanamon and Sidate on Celebes Island and bomb the seaplane base on Kangean Island in the Java Sea

Twentieth Air Force: Fighters from Iwo Jima fly nearly 100 effective sorties throughout the Tokyo area, hitting airfields, rail installations, and trains.

Fourteenth Air Force: 16 B-25s pound various railroad targets in E China; 50+ fighter-bombers attack bridges, railroad yards, storage areas, enemy troops, river and rail traffic, and various other targets as the campaign to disrupt the Japanese retreat from S and E China continues in spite of considerable bad weather

 

[syscom3]

Aug 4th 1945

ATOMIC BOMB RELATED: 8/4/45; 2:00 PM [local] - General Curtis LeMay officially confirms that the mission will take place on August 6. After seeing numerous B-29 crashes during take-off, Navy Capt. Parsons, head of the Los Alamos Scientific Team, suggests arming the bomb in flight, inserting the explosive charge during the early stage of the mission while flying at low level.

8/4/45; 3:00 PM [local]- Shortly after evening mess, the seven crews that would participate in the mission were gathered for a pre-flight briefing, which included discussions on routes, altitudes, radio frequencies and weather reports. Radio call was changed from VICTOR to DIMPLES. The first leg would be flown at 5,000 feet in order for Parsons to arm the bomb in flight.

JAPAN: B-25s over Kyushu, Japan hit an industrial area near Takanabe, bombing warehouses, factories, a railroad bridge, and marshalling yard.

PHILLIPINES: B-25s and P-38s support ground forces on Luzon, hitting Japanese forces near Santa Ines, in the Butitio area, and near Mount Obudan. B-24s support the ground action S of Fabrica on Negros Island. B-24s bomb Miti Airfield.

MALAYA: P-38s on a sweep over Singapore, Malaysia claim 2 Japanese planes downed.

Tenth Air Force: The 127th, 155th and 156th Liaison Squadrons (Commando), US Army Forces, Pacific, begin a movement from Kalaikunda, India to Okinawa.

Fourteenth Air Force: In China, bad weather hampers operations however, 4 B-25s damage the Sincheng railroad bridge, 4 B-25s and 2 P-51s bomb Pailochi Airfield and hit trucks in the area, and 7 P-51s damage 12 locomotives between Taiyuan and Tsinan, destroy or damage several trucks near Shihkiachwang, and bomb a bridge near Chihsien. The detachment of the 490th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st BG (Medium), operating from Hsian, China with B-25s, returns to base at Hanchung.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The 20th Reconnaissance Squadron (Long Range, Photographic-RCM), 6th Reconnaissance Group, moves from Clark Field, Luzon to Okinawa with F-7s; the ground echelon of the 36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, arrives on Okinawa from Clark Field (air echelon at Clark Field until Sep 45).

 

[syscom3]

Aug 5th 1945

Operation Centerboard...
The SEVEN B-29's of the Hiroshima Mission:
• The "Enola Gay", piloted by Col. Tibbets carries the "Little Boy" uranium bomb.
• "The Great Artiste", piloted by Maj. Charles Sweeney, is assigned to drop the three instruments used to measure the blast effects of the bomb.
• "#91" (unnamed at the time - later "Necessary Evil"), flown by Capt. George Marquardt, carries the scientific observers.
• "Top Secret", flown by Capt. Chuck Knight, acts as a standby aircraft and flew to Iwo Jima in the event of mechanical problems with the Enola Gay.
• "Straight Flush" will act as a weather plane and fly ahead to primary target of Hiroshima.
• "Jabbitt III" will act as a weather plane and fly ahead to the secondary target of Kokura.
• "Full House" will act as a weather plane and fly ahead to the alternate target of Nagasaki.

ATOMIC BOMB RELATED: 8/5/45; 12:00 Noon [LOCAL] - Little Boy, which is a uranium type bomb, is 12 feet long, is 28 inches in diameter, weighs 9,000 pounds, and was painted a dull gun metal gray is taken by trailer from the ordnance hut and placed in the loading pit.
8/5/45; 3:00 PM - Little Boy is loaded into the Enola Gay. Parsons soon arrives and began practicing arming the bomb using the Double Plug system. He emerged two hours later confidant he could arm the bomb in flight.
8/5/45; 11:00 PM; The briefing for the three crews that would actually fly the 13 hour trip to the target began. Although the film of the Alamagordo (Trinity) test was not available, Parsons, who had seen the test, told the group about the bomb. The word "atom" or "atomic" was never mentioned. The Enola Gay would drop the bomb and immediately bank 155 degrees to the right. Sweeney, in The Great Artiste, would drop the 3 instruments at the same moment and immediately bank 155 degrees to the left. Marquardt, in the photo and observation plane, would fly slightly behind the others and thus would be out of immediate danger.
11:55 PM - The final pre-flight briefing was held.

OKINAWA: Eighth Air Force: HQ 333d BG (Very Heavy) and 435th, 460th and 507th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy) arrive at Kadena, Okinawa from the US with B-29s.

JAPAN: Twentieth Air Force: During the night of 5/6 Aug, 612 B-29s fly 1 mining, 1 bombing and 4 incendiary raids against Japan; 2 B-29s are lost. Mission 311: 27 B-29s mine the waters of the Sakai, Yonago, Nakaumi Lagoon, Miyazu, Maizuru, Tsuruga, Obama, Najin and Geijitsu areas; 1 other B-29 mines an alternate target.
Mission 312: 63 B-29s attack the Saga urban area destroying 0.02 sq,1.5% of the city; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 313: 92 B-29s hit the Maebashi urban area destroying 1 sq mi, 42.5% of the city; 4 others hit alternate targets.
Mission 314: 250 B-29s attack the Nishinomiya-Mikage urban area destroying 2.8 sq mi,29.6% of the city; 3 others hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 315: 106 B-29s bomb the Ube Coal Liquefaction Co. facility at Ube destroying 100% of the refining units and destroying or damaging 80% of other structures; 2 others hit alternate targets.
Mission 316: 64 B-29s attack the Imabari urban area destroying 0.73 sq mi, 76% of the city area. HQ
VII Fighter Command is officially assigned to HQ Twentieth AF. 100+ P-51s strike airfields and military installations in large area around Tokyo, scoring especially effective hits at Katori Airfield.

JAPAN - FEAF: In Japan, 330+ B-24s, B-25s, A-26s, P-47s, and P-51s pound Tarumizu town, the industrial area on Kyushu and many targets of opportunity on Kyushu and in the Ryukyu Islands.

Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 20 P-51s knock out a bridge NW of Anyang and damage another NE of Kiehsiu, attack railroad targets during sweeps from Taiyuan to Suchow and Tehsien to Pengpu, and strafe rivercraft between Ichang and Lokehang.

PHILLIPINES: P-38s support ground forces on Luzon, hitting Japanese concentrations ENE of Naguilian, near Mount Data, and at other points. B-24s pound Japanese positions S of Fabrica.

NEI: B-24s bomb supply and personnel areas and AA positions in the Makassar area. B-24s bomb Miti.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th FG, moves from San Jose, Mindoro to Ie Shima with P-38s.

 

[syscom3]

Aug 6th 1945

Operation Centerboard...
The SEVEN B-29's of the Hiroshima Mission:
• The "Enola Gay", piloted by Col. Tibbets carries the "Little Boy" uranium bomb.
• "The Great Artiste", piloted by Maj. Charles Sweeney, is assigned to drop the three instruments used to measure the blast effects of the bomb.
• "#91" (unnamed at the time - later "Necessary Evil"), flown by Capt. George Marquardt, carries the scientific observers.
• "Top Secret", flown by Capt. Chuck Knight, acts as a standby aircraft and flew to Iwo Jima in the event of mechanical problems with the Enola Gay.
• "Straight Flush" will act as a weather plane and fly ahead to primary target of Hiroshima.
• "Jabbitt III" will act as a weather plane and fly ahead to the secondary target of Kokura.
• "Full House" will act as a weather plane and fly ahead to the alternate target of Nagasaki.

12:01 AM [local] - The final pre-flight briefing is held.
1:37 AM - The 3 weather planes, Straight Flush, Full House and Jabbitt III, take off from Tinian.
2:45 AM - The Enola Gay, 15,000 pounds over-weight at 65 tons, with a crew of 12, 7,000 gallons of fuel, and the 9,000 pound bomb lifts off from Tinian.
2:47 AM - The Great Artiste takes off.
2:49 AM - #91 takes off.
2:51 AM - Top Secret takes off.
2:53 AM - Navy Capt. Parsons and Morris Jeppson descend into the bomb bay of the Enola Gay and begin the arming procedure; with Jeppson holding a flashlight and Parsons inserting the components.
2:55 AM - The Enola Gay crossed the northern tip of Saipan. Communications between Parsons and Tibbets was made possible with an intercom. Parsons began by confirming that the "green" plugs blocking the firing signal and preventing accidental detonation were in place. Parsons then removed a rear plate, and an armor plate beneath, exposing the cannon breech and unscrewed the breech plug. He then inserted the four pieces of cordite into the breech, then replaced the breech plug. He then connected the firing line and reinstalled the two metal plates. Little Boy was not armed until the cordite charges had been loaded. Coded messages were then sent back to General Farrell, indicating Parsons' progress.
3:18 AM - Parsons completes the procedure; Parsons and Jeppson would continue to monitor the bomb electronically throughout the mission. The 3 planes remained in radio contact.
5:34 AM - Tibbets ascended from 4,600 feet to 5,500 feet. 20 minutes later, they reached an initial cruising altitude of 9,300 feet.
5:52 AM - Enola Gay arrives over Iwo Jima and rendezvous with other planes. Top Secret, the back up, has landed on Iwo Jima.
6:07 AM - The Enola Gay, The Great Artiste, and #91, now head for Japan, a little more than 3 hours away. They are still unsure of their target.
7:30 AM - Jeppson enters the bomb bay on the Enola Gay and exchanges the "green" plugs with "red" ones, thus activating the bombs internal batteries. He then declares to Parsons that the bomb is ready.
7:45 AM - The 3 planes slowly climbed to an altitude of 30,700 feet.
8:30 AM - Straight Flush, the weather plane, radioed that Hiroshima had little cloud coverage (< 3/10 at all altitudes). Sweeney and Marquardt also received this message and there was no reason to break radio silence.
8:32 AM - The Enola Gay and its two companions turn toward Hiroshima.
9:12:17 AM - Tibbets instructs crew members to ready their goggles. The 3 minute bombing run began.
9:13:47 AM - Tibbets turned control of the Enola Gay over to the bombardier, Thomas Ferebee for the remainder of the run.
9:14:17 AM - Ferebee flicked the switch that activated a high pitched tone which would ring for one minute before the bomb was released. This tone was heard on each of the three planes, as well as the 3 weather planes already more than 200 miles away.
9:15:17 AM - The bomb was released from the Enola Gay and the 3 instruments were dropped by parachute by The Great Artiste. After releasing the bomb, both the Enola Gay and The Great Artiste each turned into a 155 degree turn, losing 1,700 feet in altitude at the process. All crew members put on their dark glasses and prepared for the blast.
9:16:00 - Little Boy exploded at an altitude of 1,890 feet above the target. Yield was equivalent to 12,500 tons of TNT. The first shock wave took about 1 minute to reach the planes which were now 9 miles away. Crew member Caron could see the first shock wave coming toward the plane at 1,100 ft./sec. Soon after, a second shock wave (echo effect) hit the planes with less intensity. The instruments which were dropped radioed blast information back to The Great Artiste. A coded message was sent to General Farrell on Tinian advising him of the successful detonation. The atomic mushroom cloud remained visible for 90 minutes until the planes were more than 400 miles away.
2:58 PM - The Enola Gay touches down on the runway at Tinian Island, followed a short time later by The Great Artiste and #91. Silver stars were awarded to each man involved with the mission. Tibbets received the Distinguished Service Cross. Mission debriefings were immediately conducted by Hazen Payett, an intelligence officer.

Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 10 P-51s and P-47s damage 10 locomotives between Tehsien and Suchow and 5 around Anyang, Kaifeng, and Loyang, and lightly damage bridges N of Chihsien and S of Houmachen.
MALAYA - P-38 fighter attacked Singapore, 2 were shot down by their defense.

USA: VIII Fighter Command: Unit movements from England to the US: HQ 13th and HQ 20th Bombardment Wings from Horham and Snetterton Heath; HQ 385th BG and 548th, 549th, 550th and 551st Bombardment Squadrons from Great Ashfield with B-17s; HQ 388th BG (Heavy) and 560th, 561st, 562d and 563d Bombardment Squadrons from Knettishall with B-17s; HQ 452d BG from Deopham Green; HQ 493d BG and 860th, 861st, 862d and 863d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) from Debach with B-17s; 334th, 335th, 336th and 412th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 95th BG (Heavy), from Horham with B-17s; 406th and 857th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy), 492d BG (Very Heavy), from Harrington and Alconbury respectively; the 568th, 569th, 570th and 571st Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 390th BG (Heavy), from Framlingham with B-17s.

JAPAN: Okinawa-based aircraft pound targets on Kyushu, Japan; 150+ P-47s and A-26s fight bad weather to hit the primary, Miyakonojo; 170+ B-24s, B-25s, and P-47s hit Kagoshima as a secondary target; and 60+ B-25s and P-51s attack shipping and ground targets of opportunity in the Tsushima Strait area and in the N Ryukyu Islands. P-51s operating in the area between Kyushu and Korea bomb an airfield and strafe numerous targets of opportunity on Saishu Island and P-47s bomb Anjo on Tanega Island. Other aircraft, operating individually or in pairs, hit various targets of opportunity on the S Korea coast, in the Inland Sea, S Honshu, W Shikoku Island, throughout the N Ryukyu Islandss, and in the Shanghai, China area.

PHILLIPINES: B-24s pound resistance pockets on Negros Island in the Philippine Islands.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Unit moves: HQ 3d BG and 89th and 90th Bombardment Squadrons from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Okinawa with A-26s; HQ 8th FG and 36th Fighter Squadron from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Ie Shima with P-38s; ground echelon of 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, from Lingayen Airfield to Okinawa (air echelon remains at Clark Field, Luzon with F-5s).

 

[syscom3]

Aug 7th 1945

JAPAN: The Japanese Supreme Council for the Direction of the War, meets to discuss the bombing of Hiroshima. The SCDW is know as the Big 6 of the Japanese Cabinet. PM, FM, War Minister, Navy Minister, Army CofS, Navy CofS. The Military members refuse to concede that this might be an atomic bomb. They insist on sending investigating teams. The Commander of Eta Jima Naval Academy is selected by the Navy and the Army sends Dr. Asada a professor of physics at Osaka University.

JAPAN:
8/7/45 - The decision to drop the second bomb was made on Guam. It's use was calculated to indicate that we had an endless supply of the new weapon. Many say that the 3rd bomb would actually not be ready until September. There is some differing of opinion on this.
8/7/45 - Fat Man (F31) with high explosives and a nuclear (plutonium) core was assembled by Navy Commander Ashworth. In the rush to complete the bomb, the firing unit cable was installed backwards, requiring B. J. O'Keefe to cut the connectors and reinstall them at the very last minute.

Twentieth Air Force:
154 B-29s fly a bombing mission during the day and 30 B-29s fly a mining mission during the night of 7/8 Aug; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 317: 124 B-29s, escorted by VII Fighter Command fighters, bomb the naval arsenal at Toyokawa. 1 B-29 is lost. After escorting the B-29s on their bombing mission, P-51s attack railroad targets and shipping in and near Magarimatsu, Chofu, Atsugi, and Sagami.
Mission 318: During the night of 7/8 Aug, 29 B-29s, escorted by FEAF P-47s, drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait, at Miyazu, Maizuru, Tsuruga, Obama and at Najin; 1 other mines an alternate target.
Fourteenth Air Force: Unit moves in China: HQ Fourteenth AF from Kunming to Paishiyi; 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, based at Chengkung with P-51s, sends a detachment to operate at Pakhoi.

FEAF: In Japan, P-47s cover the Twentieth AF B-29 strike against Kyushu targets; B-24s and A-26s over Kyushu pound Tsuiki Airfield and other B-24s start fires at Omura; B-25s hit bridges and other targets at Matsubase and Kawajiri and bomb a convoy off Pusan, Korea; other B-25s hit Chiran Airfield and Izumi Airfields. fighter-bombers attack and considerably damage communications and transportation facilities throughout Kyushu.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 5 B-24s bomb Kataoka Airfield on Shimushu Island; AA fire damages 2 B-24s.

FORMOSA: B-24s bomb Takao Airfield on Formosa.

PHILLIPINES: In the Philippines, organized Japanese resistance ends on the island of Mindanao.
On Luzon, B-25s and P-38s support ground forces near Ambuclao, Kiangan, Batangan, Aparri, Mankayan, Bontoc, and Tabayoc and the Palugloko Mountains. In the Netherlands East Indies, B-24s bomb an area E of Bandjermasin,

NEI: Borneo, and P-51s hit the harbor at Soerabaja, Java.

[Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The 8th and 13th Bombardment Squadrons, 3d BG, move from San Jose, Mindoro to Okinawa with A-26s.

 

[syscom3]

Aug 8th 1945

MARIANAS:
8/8/45; 2:00 PM - Initial word was sent out that there would be an upcoming briefing.

8/8/45; 10:00 PM - Fat Man is loaded into Bock's Car, this time fully armed!
Note: The second mission was originally scheduled for August 11th but because of weather concerns, it was moved up two days to August 9th. This rescheduling also brought about a change of aircraft. This switch created a great deal of confusion, some of which still remains with us to this day. Maj. Sweeney was in line to command the second mission. However, his aircraft, The Great Artiste was still fitted with the special gear to drop the special measuring instruments and it could not be made ready to carry the bomb in time. Therefore, Tibbets made the quick decision to have the crew of The Great Artiste carry the Fat Man bomb in another B-29 named "Bockscar", so named for its pilot Fred Bock. Bock and his crew would fly The Great Artiste. The decision made a lot of sense. A simple switch of crews from one B-29 to another happened all the time.

8/8/45; 11:00 PM - A pre-flight briefing was held for all crew members of the three primary planes. Rendezvous point is changed from Iwo Jima to Yakushima due to bad weather. In addition, the altitude at which we were to fly to the Japanese Empire was raised 17,000 feet from the normal 9,000 feet. A different rendezvous point didn't mean much, but the higher altitude meant greater fuel consumption. Two important directives were issued by Tibbets at this briefing. (1) Wait no more than 15 minutes at the rendezvous point before proceeding on to Japan and (2) Drop "Fat Man" visually, ie., we must see the target!

JAPAN:
Twentieth Air Force: 381 B-29s fly three missions, 2 during the day of 8 Aug and 1 during the night of 8/9 Aug; 7 B-29s are lost.
Mission 319: Shortly before 1200 hours, 221 B-29s drop incendiaries on Yawata destroying 1.22 sq mi, 21% of the city; 6 others hit alternate targets; 1 B-29s is shot down by Japanese fighters and 3 are lost to mechanical reasons.
Mission 320: Late in the afternoon, 60 B-29s bomb an aircraft plant and arsenal complex at Tokyo; 2 others hit alternate targets; 2 B-29s are lost to flak and 1 to mechanical reasons (these are the last B-29s lost in action by the Twentieth AF).
Mission 321: During the night of 8/9 Aug, 91 B-29s hit Fukiyama with incendiaries destroying 0.88 sq mi, 73.3% of the city; 1 hits an alternate target. 100+ fighters from Iwo Jima hit airfields, factory buildings, barracks, and rail installations in the Osaka area.
Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 10 P-51s hit buildings, trucks, rivercraft, and other targets of opportunity in the Paoching, Hengyang, and Chuanhsien areas.

FEAF: Okinawa-based B-24s, B-25s, A-26s, P-51s, and P-47s carry out numerous strikes against targets on Kyushu Island, Japan; targets include the Usa and Tsuiki Airfields, communications and transport targets all over Kyushu, shipping between Kyushu and Korea, and targets of opportunity in the Ryukyu Islands, on the China coast, and on Formosa. P-47s escorting Twentieth AF B-29s claim 10 Japanese planes downed.

PACIFIC: The crew of the USN destroyer USS Cassin boards the Japanese hospital ship Kiku Maru northwest of Marcus Island but finds no violations and lets the ship proceed.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, B-24s support ground forces in the Lenatin River Valley and SSE of Mankayan and P-38s support ground action SSE of Mankayan, in the Kiangan area, and NW of Bagabag.

NEI: B-24s bomb Shinchiku Airfield. B-24s on a shipping search hit Lolobata Airfield on Halmahera Island.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Unit moves: HQ 475th FG and 431st, 432d and 433d Fighter Squadrons from Lingayen Airfield to Ie Shima with P-38s; 528th Bombardment Squadron 380th BG (Heavy), from San Jose, Mindoro to Okinawa with B-24s.