330th May Missions of 1945
April
- May - June
- July
- August
4 May 1945 Bomb
Group Mission #14
Target: Matsuyama Naval Air
Station on Shikoku
Bomber Command Mission #143
Code Name: Mopish # 2
Continuing
with the anti-Kamikaze campaign, the 457th
BG contributed nine planes and the
458th BS
contributed ten planes to a strike against the Matsuyama Naval Air
Station on Shikoku Island, the smallest of the four Japanese Home
Islands, in an attack to neutralize this airfield. The 314th
BW summary states that 17 planes attacked
this air field between 4/0909 -4/0925G from an altitude of 18,000
-18,900 feet in clear weather restricted by haze, depositing 90.3
tons on the air field. The usually reliable 330th
BG Digest apparently has the bombs
dropped reversed with the Omura Naval Air Station, BG Mission #15.
This reference states that 21 aricraft dropped 82.25 tons on Matsuyama.
In summary, these references indicate the following: Reference Aircraft
bombing: Bombs dropped Tons/ Aircraft 1 19 2 17 90.3 5.3 9 21 82.25
' 3.9 Sometimes, the reason for the discrepancies between the references
is how the planes dropping bombs on secondary targets are reported.
The Wing History states that he anti-aircraft fire was weak but 18
enemy fighters attacked the formations, resulting in four enemy aircraft
damaged. Two of our planes landed at Iwo. The bombing results ranged
from poor to excellent with bombs falling on the upper edge of the
field and among the barrack-type buildings. There were no casualties
but, CAP Wells' crew on K-27
had a close call. After taking off at 04/0100G and heading
up to the Empire, the FE started to transfer fuel out of the bomb
bay tank at 4/0400G. Gasoline fumes were first detected in the rear
of the plane and then in the forward compartment. All electrical equipment
that could be spared was turned off. CAP Wells investigated and found
that gas was coming out of a cap on the bomb bay gas tank and that
the flow was increasing. Crew prepared to bailout at any moment, but
rather than bailout over the ocean, Capt. Wells decide to try to bring
the plane back to Saipan or Guam. Over Saipan they decided to go on
to Guam and near Guam they salvoed the bombs and fuel tank. Coming
over North Field the tower stated that they could see the gas coming
out of the fuel hose hanging out of he bomb bay. Fortunately, the
hose was long enough that the fuel was coming out below the fuselage.
The TG, SGT Wolverton, suggested that he go into the bomb bay, fish
up the hose and crimp it. CAP Wells took up his suggestion but Lt.
Gwyn, the B, went into the front bomb bay and they did not have to
open the rear bomb bay door In the direction of gas flow. 1LT
Gwyn crimped the hose and stopped the leak. CAP Wilis made a normal
landing with all the crew helping to save the day. The cause of the
problem as with many bomb bay tank problems was the fuel transfer
pump. When Driscoll, FE, turned it on, the carbon vanes sheared, but
why is not mentioned. Pieces of graphite then lodged in the check
valve leaving it in the open position. Pressure differentials then
led to a free flow of gas from the center wing tank into the bomb
bay tank and out the vent valve and filler cap. They were very lucky.
4 May 1945 Bomb Group Mission
#15
Target: Omura Naval Air Station,
Nagasaki, Kyushu
Bomber Command Mission # 141
Code Name: Vamoose # 1
As with
the previous mission reports, not all the references agree on the
facts. An eye-witness, Robert Keyes, Rad Ob on K-58,
states that 11 planes assembled in formation off an island south of
Kyushu, probably Io-Jima, and proceeded to Omura Naval Air Station.
The formation reached the IP at 4/1019G with bombs away at 4/1025G
from 18,000 feet. Plane K-58's
bombs did not salvo when the switch was thrown so it continued on
to Kushikirna Air Field and town where they dropped 11 of the 16 x
500 pound GP bombs with delayed action fuses. After the target they
joined another formation, which was jumped by fighters. A Ki-61
Tony dropped a phosphorus bomb in the formation and the formation
had about six fighter attacks in all. They were finally able to release
the five bombs hanging in the bomb bay before they landed at Iwo at
4/1330G. The plane had been over the Empire on the two bomb runs for
about two hours. It finally landed on Guam at about 4/2030G. The 314th
BW summary states that the Omura formation
had ten enemy attacks with one enemy plane destroyed by the 459th
BS gunners. Flak was heavy caliber,
meager and 90% inaccurate, and five to eight enemy aircraft made up
to eight inaccurate phosphorus bomb attacks. Bombs dropped Tons/ AC,
(tons) 2 10 43 4.3 9 10 37 3.7
There
were no planes lost or casualties and no planes suffered battle damage.
10 May 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #16
Target: Otake
Oil Refinery
Bomber Command
Mission #165
Code Name:
Painter #1
After the
Kamikaze campaign, the 20th
Air Force returned to its strategic mission of knocking out Japan's
key war making industries, this time the oil industry. The 314th
BW summary states that 112 planes
attacked the Otake Oil Refinery on Kyushu in a precision daylight
bombing raid in formation. The 457th
BS contributed 12 planes; 458th
BS contributed 12 planes and the 459th
BS contributed 9 planes. The 330th
BG Digest states that 34 planes dropped
160 tons on the refinery. The bomb run was at an altitude between
14,600 to 19,700 feet between 10/1048G to 10/1114G in clear weather.
It was estimated that 45 % of the refinery unit and finished product
storage areas were destroyed and the plant was probably put out of
operation. A question remains whether the plant was receiving any
crude oil to refine at this stage of the war. Opposition was stiff.
Enemy fighters made 54 attacks, damaging five B-29s. On the briefed
route, anti-aircraft fire was heavy caliber but meager and inaccurate,
but a few formations received intense naval fire upon withdrawal from
the target. 23 B-29s suffered flak damage including plane K-37,
Captain Arthur Behrens, A/C. K-37
was hit in the aft section and the tail compartment, putting James
Cipolla, TG, in the deep freeze with outside temperatures ranging
from -20 to -30 degrees Fahrenheit. The TG's seat was on a track,
which was destroyed, preventing Cipolla from exiting the tail compartment.
John Logerot, B, came back and with the airplane hatchet, hacked away
the rear compartment door. But he was only partially successful. Joseph
Celardo, the strapping six foot LG, came back and finished the job
and Cipolla was able to exit the tail compartment just before he was
ready to wrap himself in his parachute. Fallon recalls that on this
mission he fired a gun burst at an attacking Japanese fighter and
the fighter turned away but he did not know if he hit him or just
scared him off. A flak shell came up through the fuselage behind Fallon
and almost landed in the radar observer's lap. Another B-29 had a
shell land in its fuselage but fortunately it did not explode. And
this on a mission when the Intelligence Briefing Officer had stated
"this should be a milk run". Planes took off at 10/0200G and returned
at about 10/1800G.
CASUALTIES
SGT James
Cipolla (TG) on plane K-37,
was slightly wounded and later received the Purple Heart.
11 May 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #17
Target: Kawanishi
Aircraft Plant, Hakkaido
Bomber Command
Mission #172
Code Name:
Leafstalk #1
High on
the list of strategic targets was the aircraft industry; therefore
the XXI BC next hit the Kawanishi Aircraft Plant, near Kobe. This
was a three Bomb Wing effort, with the 314th
BW contributing 40 planes with 11
planes from the 330th
BG depositing 50 tons of bombs
on the Kawanishi Aircraft Plant. In addition, Robert Keyes, on plane
K-58,
participated in the mission with vivid memories. The plant was attacked
between 11/1036G -11/1103G at 15,200 -20,000 feet in 4/10 -8/10 weather.
The BW Report states that 39 % of the plant was damaged or destroyed
and collateral damage was received by adjoining Merchant Marine College,
residential and manufacturing areas. K-58's
Rad Ob, Keyes recalls that they assembled in loose formation at Iwo
Jima, climbed to 18,000 feet and formed into a tight formation before
reaching the IP. On this mission, they were flying plane K-11
on which the compressor did not work and the pneumatically operated
bomb bay doors would not close after bombs away. Since plane K-11
was in the tail of a box formation. They were vigorously attacked
by fighters due to the open bomb bay doors. In all, they received
25 fighter attacks, but John Celantano (CFC) claimed one fighter coming
in from 4 0'clock and sent him down in smoke on his second attack.
The TG, Loras Winter also claimed a probable but RG, Robert Cupp,
firing at several incoming fighters, was not able to hit any of them.
The crew counted 20 flak and bullet holes in the fuselage and these
did not include the dents from the spent shells from the bullets fired
by the planes in front of them. In addition, the bomb bay doors were
shot up by LG Herman C. Riedel. firing the guns in the forward lower
turret. Plane K-55,
Richard P. Cox AC, buddied them back to Saipan where they safely landed.
After landing, the compressor started to work and they were able to
shut the bomb bay doors. They finally got back to Guam at 11/2030G
after a long, exciting 18-hour mission.
There
was anxiety but no casualties and no planes were lost.
14 May 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #18
Target: North
Nagoya Urgan Area
Bomber Command
Mission # 174
Code Name:
Microscope # 4
In LeMay's
big fire blitz week from 9 March to 17 March 1945, five cities were
attacked, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka and Kobe. Nagoya was hit
twice and still seemed to have considerable life left in her. It was
not an easy city to attack since the only reasonable approach was
up Nagoya Bay and this had the reputation of being "Flak Alley". Therefore,
the XXI BC subjected the city, on 14 May and 16/17 May 1945, to a
one-two punch by the 58th, 73rd, 313th and 314th BWs. The 14 May strike
was a daylight-bombing mission in formation with the 330th
BG contributing 32 planes of the 135
planes from the 314th
BW that hit the city between 14/0905G
to 14/1025G from an altitude of 16,500 to 20,500 feet in 1/10 weather.
B-29s from the 330th
took off at 14/0100G and returned at about 14/1700G. The 330th
dropped 152.4 tons, adding to a total of 632 tons of bombs dropped
by the 314th
BW. 1LT Francis Heid, A/C of K-57,
received the Silver Star for gallantry in action on this day. He was
leading his element against the aircraft plant in Nagoya when an engine
caught fire and it had to be feathered. But he continued to lead his
formation to the target. On the return flight, he saw a ditched plane
in the water and dropped to 700' feet to drop equipment and alert
operations as to its location. Lt. Heid returned to home base with
barely enough gas to taxi to his hardstand.
16-17 May 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #19
Target: South
Nagoya Urban Area
Bomber Command
Mission # 176
Code Name:
Microscope # 5
In this
night raid, the 330th
BG had 32 planes dropping 176.95 tons
of bombs on the South Nagoya Urban area. The planes left North Field,
Guam at 16/2100G and returned at about 17/1200G with bombs away at
17/0305 to 17/0558G from 6,600 through 18,340 feet. Altogether, the
314th BW deposited 707.5 tons on the city. Damage to Nagoya from Missions
# 174 and 176 were 6.97 square miles or 13.7% of the cities built
up area. Damage ranging from slight to complete destruction was inflicted
on 29 numbered industrial targets and 7 unnumbered industrial targets.
This analysis was partially in answer to critics of such raids, which
led to indiscriminate killing of civilians. These twin raids show
clearly LeMay's tactics that he would use to the end of the war. If
weather permitted, it was a daylight raid with selected targets as
aiming points; otherwise it was a night area-bombing raid except in
the case of the 315th
BW, which had precision radar for
night bombing of selected industrial targets.
CASUALTIES
One
crewman of Plane K-41
SN 44-70016
John Vick
(A/C), Robert Roast (P), Charles Morris (N) Peter
Orsini (FE), Floyd
Griffith, RO and Donald Martin (B),
landed with the aircraft on Iwo Jima. Allen
Cohen (Rad Obs) and presumed
drowned. Walter Pride (CFC), William Shaver (LG), Dane Miller (RG)
and Harvey Delles (TG), jumped and were later rescued by a Navy Destroyer.
This is
a poignant story made more so by the fact that the bailout-order was
canceled. After leaving the coast of the Empire, the No. 2 engine
failed and an engine fire broke out and was extinguished. It was impossible
to feather the propeller and it began to windmill. The windmilling
prop ran away three times but it was brought back to 1200 rpm by the
toggle switch. The engine lost all its oil and became excessively
hot. The engine began to vibrate which became so bad that the plane
was becoming difficult to control. The crew had plenty of time to
prepare for emergency as MAJ Vick told the crew they might have to
bailout if they did not make it back to Iwo Jima. The RO sent out
a distress call and contacted a surface vessel. But the surface vessel
could not understand them. The RO contacted Guam and relayed their
position. The original plan was that fo the five men in the back,
four would bailout and then Vick would make a 180-degree turn and
the fifth man would drop emergency equipment and then bail out. This
procedure was NOT followed. When the bailout order was given ALL five
men in the rear went out. The CFC, RG, LG, Rad Ob and the TG. Harvey
Delles (TG) went out last and saw four chutes open before he bailed
out. After kicking out the escape hatch in his compartment, Delles
experienced difficulty in getting his head, shoulders and chest chute
out the emergency window, especially with the slipstream and upward
motion of the aircraft. But, he was finally able to push himself out.
He tumbled four or five times before pulling the rip cord and the
cord and chute hit him in the face as it unfolded. He wore a quick
release harness and had on a Mae West dinghy, web belt with canteen,
pistol and knife. Upon hitting the water, he took most of the impact
in his face and chest and went under four or five feet before he was
able to press the quick release and came to the surface entangled
in the shroud lines. He pulled the cord on the Mae West's CO 2 cylinders
but only one side inflated. He then proceeded to cut himself out of
the shroud lines and open the one-man dinghy, but it sank before he
could inflate it. He had previously released the snap on the D-ring
on his harness as the dinghy was pulling him under. A buddy B-29 dropped
a five-man life raft and Delles swam to it but, when he pulled the
CO 2 cord, none of the gas went into the life raft, as the hose connection
had broken loose, presumably on impact. Another B-29 dropped a Gibson
girl and another raft. He could not reach the second raft but reached
the Gibson Girl, which helped to keep him afloat. A few sharks kept
the TG company but did not bother him although they added to his anxiety.
For CFC gunner Walter Pride, everything worked perfectly. He hit the
water, released the chute, inflated his Mae West, opened and inflated
the one-man dinghy and climbed in, all within five minutes. He was
able to attract several B-29s with his signal mirror. Both the right
and LG's, Dane Miller and William Shaver, became entangled in the
shroud lines but were able to cut themselves loose in the water. They
were also able to inflate their Mae West's and dinghies but swallowed
sea water in the effort and became seasick. 2LT Cohen, the Rad Obs,
was the fourth man out but was seen by the RG to hit the water ahead
of him so he must have made a delayed free fall jump. None of the
others saw whether he got out of his chute or saw any signs of him
later. It was known that 2LT Cohen could not swim. In about two hours,
all were picked up except 2LT Cohen. The destroyer searched the area
for the rest of the day and into the night. A Dumbo took up the search
the following day. 2LT Cohen was never found and was presumed to have
drowned.
Back in
the plane, after the bail-out order was given and the five men in
the rear had gone out, an attempt was made to put the nose wheel down
but it would not go down. The bomb bay doors were open for the six
men in the front to bail out but at that instance, the reduction gears
connecting the propeller to the engine broke and the engine vibration
ceased. Since there was no-one in the back of the aircraft to throw
out the emergency gear as initially planned, Vick decided to try for
Iwo Jima where he landed safely.
19 May 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #20
Target: Tokyo
Industrial Targets
Bomber Command
Mission # 178
Code Name:
This was
to be a precision daylight-bombing raid in formation with the 330th
BG contributing 22 planes to attack
industrial targets in the Tokyo area. But, defying predictions, Tokyo
had 10/10 cloud cover so the bombs were dropped on the primary radar
target, the City of Hamamatsu. This was a favorite radar target since
it was on the coast and easily identified by radar. It was reported
that the four BW
efforts damaged 0.22 square miles, 5% of the city. One industrial
target, Suzuki Loom Work was 20 % destroyed; not an illustrious mission
since the bomb loads were for industrial targets rather than area
bombing where incendiary bombs were more effective.
There
were no casualties or planes lost.
23-24 May 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #21
Target: Tokyo
South Urban Area
Bomber Command
Mission # 181
Code Name:
Taking
off at 23/2000G, 35 aircraft from the 330th
BG attacked the heavily defended
Tokyo South Urban Area. An area relatively unscathed from previous
fire raids. The 330th
BG was part of a combined four BW
attack on the city between 24/0259G to 24/0438G from altitudes ranging
from 7,800 to 15,100 feet on a relatively clear night. One aircraft
was missing and the other remaining 34 planes landed at about 1100G.
CASUALTIES
Aircraft
K-1 SN 42-93969
Plane and
crew, which usually flew K-1,
1LT Douglas Neill, A/C, were lost on this mission. Lt.
Col. Frederick Andrews, 314th BW Operations Officer. Others on board
were: CAP Douglas Neill, A/C, MIA 2LT Robert Harkelrode, P, MIA 1LT
Clarence Davis, N, MIA 2LT Rowland Wilson, B, MIA 2LT Arthur Howe,
Rad Ob, MIA MSGT Donald Stoner, FE, MIA SSGT Samuel Mikill, RO, MIA
SSGT Richard Berg, Gunner, MIA CPL James Finucane, RG, MIA CPL Jacob
Fisher. LG, MIA CPL James Fisher, TG: MIA Frederick Andrews, 314th
BW Operations Officer and Observer, MIA (Richard Berg had survived
Crash #2 over Ft. Hays, KS on 31 Dec 1944) In addition, SGT Marion
Kiehl, LG on K-15,
was slightly wounded on this mission. Bill Kercheval, P on K-2,
had two sightings of plane K-1
being hit by flak. Flak was very heavy and the approach altitude was
10,000 feet, relatively low. He saw the plane hit between the IP,
Mt. Fujiyama, and Yokohama on his final approach. And later, he saw
the plane shot down over Tokyo Bay. The plane had on board as observer
the BW Operations Officer Frederick L. Andrews.
25-26 May 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #22
Target: South Central Tokyo
Bomber Command Mission # 183
Code Name:
In the
last major strike of the war against Tokyo, the 330th
BG contributed 24 planes and 106.8
tons of incendiary bombs. The south central Tokyo area was the general
area of attack, which included the Imperial Palace and bombardiers,
and Rad Obs had explicit orders not to hit Hirohito' s residence.
But, this was sometimes impossible in the heat of battle and some
incendiaries fell within the Palace grounds. BG planes took off at
25/1800G and landed at about 2510900G. The BW reported that bombs
were away at 25/2338G to 26/0213G at altitudes ranging from 7,915
feet to 22,000 feet. Total area damaged as a result of BC Missions
# 181 and # 183 was 22.1 square miles. Most of the bombs fell south
and west of the Imperial Palace. Numerous buildings within the Palace
grounds were destroyed as well as areas adjacent to the Palace. A
minimum of 31 numbered industrial targets were damaged or destroyed.
The total city area damaged as a result of all incendiary raids was
56.3 square miles or 50.8% of the cities built up area; in the night
raid 9/10 March 1945,15.8 square miles were damaged or destroyed and
88,000 persons died. This compares to the atomic bomb damage to Hiroshima
of 4.7 square miles destroyed and 70,000-80,000 killed and to Nagasaki
where 1.8 square miles were destroyed and 35,000-40,000 persons died.
The difference was that these were one bomb, one-plane missions. The
9/10 March Tokyo raid required 279 planes and 1,129 tons of incendiary
bombs, one of the most effective incendiary raids of WWII.
CASUALTIES
SGT Albert
"Bert" Urquhart, LG K-39,
wounded and later received the Purple Heart. As Urquhart recalls Mission
#22, K-39
got a late start because No.3 engine acted up and delayed their take-off.
About 50 miles from landfall, they saw the red glow in the sky from
Tokyo burning. Due to the late start, they were one of the last planes
over the target and all search lights and flak batteries appeared
to be concentrating their anger on K-39.
As Urquhart contemplated what it would be like going through a heat
thermal coming up from the fires below, K-39
took several hits and one came into the rear compartment. Urquhart
remembers nothing else except being carried from the aircraft on Guam.
His injuries, however, proved to be minor and he completed 20 more
missions with K-39.
29 May 1945 Bomb Group
Mission #23
Target: Yokahama
Urban Area
Bomber Command
Mission # 186
Code Name:
Closing
out the month of May, the 330th
BG contributed 38 planes to a Japan
daylight raid against the Yokahama urban area. The planes took off
at 29/0400G and returned about 29/1800G with bombs away between 29/1014
to 29/1129G from 17,500 to 21,000 feet in 9/10 weather. They dropped
203 tons of bombs on the target out of a total of 621 tons of bombs
dropped by the Bomb
Wing total of 131 planes. Keyes, in
his personal account, states that they took off at 29/0340G and assembled
at 18,300 feet into formation over a small island north of Iwo Jima.
The 11-plane formation reached Mt. Fujiyama, the IP, at 29/1056G and
bombs were away at 29/1115G. "Smoke rose from the target up to 20,000
feet. The target was listed as the industrial and dock center of the
city. After bombs were away, flak came up more intensely and, after
crossing the bay, it became more accurate. Two Japanese fighters,
a Tojo and
an Irving,
passed our formation and hit the formation behind us. The Tojo was
hit and it crashed into Mt. Fujiyama. We reached Guam at 29/1800G
with thunderstorms and low ceilings closing North Field. After circling
for 40 minutes, we proceeded to Saipan and landed at 29/1910G. After
being treated to a fine dinner, we took off and landed at North Field
at 29/2215G. From take-off to landing at home base this was an 18
hour, 35 minute mission for K-58."
MAY SUMMARY
On 10 May
1945, the 330th
BG made its last contribution to the
anti-Kamikaze campaign in a precision bombing raid on the Utake Oil
Refinery on Kyushu. After that mission the 330th
returned to strategic bombing of major urban areas on Honshu, participating
in three strikes against Tokyo, two against Nagoya and one against
Yokahama. The BG also participated in one precision daylight raid
against the Kawanishi Aircraft Plant near Nagoya. Total casualties
were: one plane lost with 12 persons listed as MIA, one person lost
in the water near Iwo Jima and two injured gunners.
