U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II: Combat Chronology: 1941 – 1945

Center for Air Force History; Washington, DC 1991

Note: this only includes a part of the chronology, that relating to Pacific Theater operations only.

12/7/41 Hawaiian AF: First wave of Japanese carrier-based airplanes (almost 200) hits US naval base at Pearl Harbor and Hickam Field at 0755. Attacks follow quickly against Wheeler and Bellows Fields. A second wave of Japanese airplanes strikes other naval and military facilities. Hawaiian AF loses 163 men, with about 390 others wounded or missing; has 64 of its 231 assigned aircraft destroyed. Only 79 of the remaining aircraft are deemed usable, and much of the AF’s ground facilities are destroyed. These losses are light in comparison with the Navy’s: more than 2,000 killed or missing, and more than 900 wounded; 4 battleships sunk; 3 battleships, 3 cruisers, and 3 destroyers damaged; and over half of the Navy’s 169 airplanes in the area destroyed. The Japanese lose 20 aircraft over Hawaii, including 4 claimed destroyed by 2d Lt George S Welch (47th Pur Sq) piloting a P-40, one of the few US fighters to success fully attack airplanes during the day. About 20 other aircraft are lost by the Japanese during carrier landings. Altogether the Japanese pay a small price for the damage done to the Americans on Oahu. For the remainder of the day, following the attacks, AAF carries out fruitless searches for the carriers.

12/7/41 Alaska Def Cmd: Upon learning of the Pearl Harbor attack, the Cmd’s 6 B-18’s and 12 P-36’s take to the air to avoid being caught on their fields.

12/8/41 ZI First and Fourth AFs are made responsible for air def on the E and W coasts, respectively. CG First AF orders I BC to begin overwater rcn with all available aircraft to locate and attack any hostile surface forces which might approach the E coast. Similar rcn is ordered off W coast. Aircraft of 1st Pur Gp from Selfridge Field begin to arrive at San Diego, being the first reinforcements of air strength on the W coast.

1/24/42 US Special Court of Inquiry on Pearl Harbor, headed by Supreme Court Justice Owen J Roberts, places main responsibility for the 7 Dec 41 disaster on Adm Kimmel and Gen Short, accusing them of neglecting to heed attack warning, failing to confer with each other, and taking only minimum precautions.

2/23/42 ZI Japanese submarine I-17 fires 13 rounds of 5 1/2-in shells from range of 2,500 yds at oil refinery N of Santa Barbara. Pur and bmr aircraft sent to the area are unable to destroy the sub.

2/24/42 ZI Reports of unidentified air planes approaching Los Angeles from the ocean during 24/25 Feb result in ‘Battle of Los Angeles’ in which some 1,400 rounds of 3-in AA ammo is fired against various ‘targets.’ Later the Army will conclude that the ‘battle’ had been touched off by 1 to 5 unidentified aircraft, but the Navy will maintain there was no reason for the firing.

3/4/42 Seventh AF A lone Japanese aircraft attempts to attack Honolulu but drops its bombs short of the city. Overcast conditions prevent successful pursuit by Seventh AF airplanes. 3/5/42 Tenth AF

5/7/42 Fifth AF Battle of the Coral Sea, which began on 4 May, approaches its climax as Allied naval forces intercept Japanese naval forces near Misima I. Navy divebmrs sink the carrier Shoho. Allied forces lose an oiler and a destroyer. Allied AF bmrs join the battle but their effect is limited. Several bmrs attack Allied vessels by mistake.

5/8/42 Fifth AF Main action of Battle of the Coral Sea occurs as Allied and Japanese carrier forces clash. Allied bmrs join Navy airplanes in attacking enemy’s main spt force which has swept around S of San Cristobal. The carrier Shokaku is severely damaged by aircraft from carriers Lexington and Yorktown. The Lexington is damaged so severely that it later is sunk by US naval fire. The Yorktown also suffers damage from aircraft. Both sides lose heavily in aircraft, US losses totaling 66 and the Japanese considerably more. The Allies turn back the sea assault against Port Moresby, a key base in New Guinea and of great importance to the security of Australia. The battle is the first major naval engagement in history in which the opposing warships do not exchange a shot. The Coral Sea battle marks the end of the period in which the Allied forces in SWPA are only on the defensive and paves the way for offensive operations. The rcn work of the AAF proves of greater importance than its bombardment operations, which have no real effects on the battle. Lack of Navy-AAF coordination is apparent from the Coral Sea action, and this eventually leads to better interservice communication.

5/24/42 ZI Deployment of air units from eastern US is begun as a result of threat of a naval attack on the W coast. 12th Bomb Gp begins movement from La to Calif.

6/1/42 ZI Fear of attack on W coast causes suspension of movement of aircraft and crews from US to UK.

6/7/42 Eleventh AF Japanese troops invade Attu. More troops are put ashore on Kiska. An enemy airplane is sighted over Cold Bay but cannot be intercepted.

9/9/42 US Japanese airplane, launched from sub off coast, drops incendiary bomb on mountain slope near Brookings, causing small forest fire. This comprises total bombing of continental US by enemy aircraft during World War II.

9/14/42 Eleventh AF In the first combined heavy mission over Kiska 13 B-24’s, 1 B-17, 14 P-38’s, and 14 P-39’s fly low-altitude and photo runs. The P-39’s shell 3 subs in the harbor. The other aircraft bomb and strafe many installations including AA guns and the submarine base. A single aircraft also strafes Segula. Enemy losses are 5 float planes shot down and 1 flying boat destroyed on the water; 2 mine sweepers sunk and another vessel slightly damaged; while a large cargo vessel and several small barges and vessels sustain hits. 2 P-38’s are lost, colliding head-on while after a ftr.

9/23/42 Eleventh AF Weather causes mission abort to Kiska. Photo rcn over Attu confirms abandonment by enemy. A Navy PBY escorted by 2 P-38’s lands off Amchitka with a scouting party which determines that the island is unsuited as an A/F. The P-38’s also bomb a radio shack and sink a submarine at Amchitka.

9/25/42 Eleventh AF 9 B-24’s, 1 B-17, and 1 B-24 photo airplane, escorted by 11 P-39’s and 17 P-40’s, fly first of 2 missions to Kiska. RCAF Kittyhawk, participate in this first combined Canadian-American mission of the Eleventh. Later 2 B-24’s and a B-17, escorted by 15 P-39’s, pound Little Kiska and Kiska. Radar installations at Little Kiska are destroyed and explosions and fires are caused in the Main Camp area. Other targets include shipping, stores, and tents. The P-39’s also strafe 2 subs. 2 float planes are downed. 5 to 8 biplanes are probably destroyed on the water. 1 large transport vessel is hit and lists badly. 150 personnel are believed killed.

10/29/42 US A 1943 production objective of 107,000 airplanes is given top priority by Roosevelt in his instructions to Donald M Nelson, Chairman of War Production Board.

2/9/43 Thirteenth AF B-26’s, P-38’s, and P-39’s pound A/F at Vila. Other P-38’s join Navy aircraft in attacking Munda A/F. Organized Japanese resistance ends on Guadalcana

3/2/43 Fifth AF Battle of the Bismarck Sea begins. B-17’s and B-24’s attack convoy of 8 transports and 8 destroyers as it proceeds from Rabaul towards Huon Gulf. The HBs first hit the convoy N of New Britain. The last air strike of the day takes place WNW of Umboi I between New Guinea and New Britain. By the end of the day, half of the transports are sunk or sinking.

3/4/43 Fifth AF Allied aircraft continue to bombard remnants of Japanese convoy in Huon Gulf, thus ending Battle of Bismarck Sea, a decisive Allied victory. Fifth AF and RAAF aircraft sink 12 vessels in 3 days. This is last enemy attempt to use large vessels to reinforce positions on Huon Gulf. After World War II Gen MacArthur calls this the decisive aerial engagement in his theater. A-20’s hit Lae A/F and vicinity, B- 17’s attack Ubili and power launches off Lae and Cape Gloucester, and several B-25’s and single B- 17’s and B-24’s hit harbor and A /F at Lae and barges off Finschhafen.

4/7/43 Thirteenth AF A large force of Japanese dive bmrs and fighters is reported by coast watchers to be moving down the ‘Slot.’ In its path are a convoy off E coast of Guadalcanal, shipping at Koli Pt, and a TF at Tulagi. Every operable ftr (76) on Guadalcanal is sent up, and the bmrs are moved to SW tip of the island for safety. The air battle takes place off the Russells, near Tulagi, and over the convoy. AAF P-38’s and P-39’s and Marine and Navy Corsairs and Wildcats claim 39 aircraft shot down, 13 by AAF fighters. Allied losses total 7 fighters.

4/18/43 Thirteenth AF Maj John W Mitchell leads flight of 16 P-38’s (2 others abort) on a low-level, circuitous, over-water trip from Guadalcanal to a spot up the Bougainville coast from Kahili to intercept flight of Adm Yamamoto, head of Imperial Japanese Navy, who, according to US intelligence, is on an inspection trip in the S Pacific and is due in Ballale at 0945. Adm Yamamoto’s well-known punctuality is calculated to allow the interception to take place at 0935 at a point 35 mi from Kahili. 2 hrs and 15 mins after takeoff at 0725, as the P-38’s streak toward Bougainville at almost sea level, the flight of 2 bmrs and 6 Zeros appears just ahead. The 4-aircraft attack section under Capt Thomas G Lanphier Jr bores in. The Zeros spot the attacking P-38’s at about 1 mi and try in vain to cut off the attack as the bmrs attempt to escape. In the air battle, Capt Lanphier and 1st Lt Rex T Barber shoot down the bmr carrying Yamamoto.

6/16/43 Thirteenth AF Gen Jamison becomes CG XIII BC. Search aircraft report nearly 250 Japanese airplanes at Rabaul and other A/Fs jammed with aircraft. In air action in the Solomons, about 120 Japanese aircraft converging on Allied vessels off Tulagi and Guadalcanal are met by more than 100 Allied fighters (Thirteenth AF, RNZAF, USN, and USMC). The skies over Savo I, Tulagi, Cape Esperance, and Koli Pt are filled with dogfights and flak from ship and ground guns. The battle results in the largest single-day Allied aerial victory of the Solomons campaign. 79 airplanes are claimed shot down by Allied fighters, and AA claims 17 more. 6 Allied fighters are lost. The Japanese succeed in damaging 3 ships (2 of which have to be beached) and cause considerable destruction on Guadalcanal.

8/21/43 Eleventh AF During the Aleutian Campaign 3 Jun 42-21 Aug 43 Eleventh AF destroyed 69 aircraft, sank 21 and damaged 29 ships, and lost 29 of its own aircraft.

6/15/44 Twentieth AF B-29’s bomb Japan. With the exception of Eleventh AF’s raids on the Kurils, this is first air attack against Japan since Doolittle’s raid. 47 B-29’s, operating out of Chengtu, bomb primary tgt of Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata. The Twentieth’s first combat loss during a bombing mission results when fighters destroy a B-29 down with engine trouble at Neihsiang A/F in China.

8/10/44 Twentieth AF 2 missions are flown during 10/11 Aug. In one, 24 B-29’s, out of Chengtu, bomb urban area of Nagasaki and 3 others hit T/Os. The B-29’s claim 1 ftr shot down, the first such claim (except probables) by the B-29’s. In other missions, the first staged through China Bay, 31 B-29’s bomb oil refineries at Palembang, 8 mine the Moesi R nearby, and 3 hit T/Os and a secondary tgt. The first attack, from Ceylon to Sumatra, is the longest single-stage combat flight (about 3,900 mi) by B-29’s during the war.

8/20/44 Twentieth AF 61 Chengtu-based B-29’s bomb Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata during the day, followed by 10 more during 20/21 Aug, 5 hitting targets other than the primary. 14 B-29’s are lost, including 1 to AA and 4 to enemy airplanes (1 by air-to-air bombing and 1 by ramming). B-29 gunners claim 17 air victories.

9/26/44 Twentieth AF 83 B-29’s, staging from Chengtu, bomb Anshan most of them striking Showa Steel Works with poor results. 15 others bomb Dairen, Sinsiang, and various T/Os. During 26/27 Sep, Japanese aircraft bomb Chengtu area, damaging 5 B-29’s. This attack along with the one on 8 Sep set pattern for Japanese raids which usually follow B-29 missions and continue until 19 Dec but are of light nature and annoying rather than seriously damaging.

11/4/44 ZI First report is received of Japanese balloon SW of San Pedro; USN recovers some apparatus, envelope, and rigging.

12/8/44 Twentieth AF 60-plus B-29’s from the Marianas join P-38’s, B-24’s and Navy cruisers in strike against A/Fs on Iwo Jima from which Japanese strikes against US A/Fs in the Marianas are being launched. (Japanese aircraft strike the A/Fs on 2, 7, and 27 Nov, 7 and 25 (the largest attack—25 aircraft) Dec, and from 25 Dec 44 to 2 Jan 45 in very minor degrees. Altogether about 80 aircraft attack, and nearly 40 are downed. 11 B-29’s are destroyed and 43 damaged).

12/18/44 Twentieth AF 63 B-29’s flying out of the Marianas hit Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Nagoya. 10 others bomb last resort targets and T/Os. 84 B-29’s, flying out of Chengtu area, drop incendiaries on docks at Hankow in the first mass firebomb attack by B-29’s. The strike is made in conjunction with 200 aircraft of Fourteenth AF, 5 other VHBs hit alternates.

12/19/44 Twentieth AF 17 B-29’s, from Chengtu area, hit aircraft plant at Omura, 13 others hit secondary tgt of Shanghai, and another 2 strike other alternates.

12/21/44 Twentieth AF 19 B-29’s from Chengtu attack Mukden. The primary objective (Manchuria Airplane Manufacturing Company) suffers little damage and nearby arsenal and rail yards are slightly damaged. 8 other VHBs bomb alternates and T/Os.

12/22/44 Twentieth AF 48 B-29’s from XXI BC hit Mitsubishi aircraft industrial complex. Total cloud cover prevents accuracy, and damage is light. B-29’s claim 9 fighters downed.

12/24/44 Twentieth AF 23 XXI BC B-29’s attack 2 A/Fs on Iwo Jima.

12/27/44 Twentieth AF B-29’s and crews of 313th Bomb Wg (VH), commanded by Col John H Davies, begin to arrive on Tinian, joining the 73d Bomb Wg as the XXI BC’s second operational wg. 39 B-29’s from the Marianas bomb Tokyo’s Nakajima and Musashino aircraft plants. 13 attack alternates and T/Os. Enemy fighters are active, flying over 250 individual attacks on the VHBs. B-29’s claim 21 downed. 3 VHBs are lost, 1 to fighters and 2 to mechanical difficulties.

1/3/45 Twentieth AF 57 Marianasbased B-29’s bomb docks and urban areas of Nagoya. 21 others bomb alternates and T/Os. Japanese fighters fly 300-plus attacks on the B-29’s. 5 VHBs are lost. B-29 gunners claim 14 kills

1/6/45 Twentieth AF 28 Chengtu-based B-29’s bomb aircraft factory at Omura. 13 bomb secondary tgt at Nanking while 6 attack T/Os.

1/9/45 Twentieth AF 39 B-29’s from Chengtu bomb harbor at Kirun. This raid is first of several such operations against Formosa in conjunction with the US invasion of Luzon. 6 B-29’s bomb last resort targets along China coast. 72 Marianas-based B-29’s are dispatched against Musashino aircraft plant near Tokyo. High winds break up formations so that only 18 V HBs can bomb the primary tgt. A large number hits alternates and T/Os.

1/11/45 Twentieth AF 25 B-29’s out of Calcutta bomb 2 large drydocks at Singapore. Around 15 others bomb Penang I, Mergui, and various T/Os.

1/14/45 Twentieth AF 54 B-29’s, out of Chengtu, bomb air installations at Kagi while 1 VHB bombs Heito. 22 others hit alternates and T/Os at several points, among them Taichu A/F and Hengyang. 40 B-29’s from the Marianas bomb Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Nagoya. Over 20 others hit alternates and T/Os.

1/16/45 Twentieth AF 313th Bomb Wg (VH) flies shakedown mission. 32 of 44 B-29’s bomb A/F on Pagan I.

1/17/45 Twentieth AF Nearly 80 B-29’s, out of Chengtu, bomb A/F at Shinchiku. 8 other VHBs hit alternates and T/Os in SE China.

1/21/45 Twentieth AF 30 B-29’s, flying out of the Marianas, bomb Moen A/F.

1/23/45 Twentieth AF 28 B-29’s of XXI BC bomb Mitsubishi engine plant at Nagoya. 27 hit secondary tgt, the urban area of the city. 9 bomb other alternates and T/Os. An estimated 600-plus fighters offer heavy and aggressive opposition but down only 1 VHB. US gunners claim 32 fighters downed.

1/24/45 Twentieth AF 20 B-29’s of 313th Bomb Wg hit 2 A/Fs on Iwo Jima.

1/26/45 Twentieth AF During 25/26 Jan, 70-plus B-29’s of XX BC mine the 6 approaches to Singapore harbor and at Saigon, Camranh Bay, Pakchan R, Penang harbor, Koh Si Chang Channel, and Phan Rang Bay.

1/27/45 Twentieth AF By this date the complete forward dets of the 4 B-29 gps in the Chengtu area have evacuated their bases and moved to more permanent bases in India. This move complies with JCS directive formulated on 16 Dec 44 and received on 18 Dec. The long-existing understanding that XX BC might be moved from CBI when more convenient bases are available is thus put into its initial stage when XX BC’s CG, Gen LeMay, and JCS agree that on logistical grounds XX BC’s operating scheme is basically unsound, a situation made more apparent when in Nov the Japanese had overrun Luchou and Yungning and threatened Kunming. This development necessitated air tonnage flown over the Hump being diverted to Chinese ground forces and Fourteenth AF, resulting in curtailed supplies to XX BC and providing the catalyst for beginning movement of the cmd from China. 22 XX BC B-29’s based in India hit navy yard and arsenal at Saigon. 1 bombs bridge at Bangkok. Results are poor. 76 B-29’s of 73d Bomb Wg are airborne from the Marianas against Musashiho and Nakajima aircraft plants near Tokyo. Clouds and high winds over tgt area prevent bombing of the primary. 56 VHBs bomb secondary tgt of Tokyo urban area and 6 others attack alternates and T/Os. Ftr opposition is the heaviest to date and 5 B-29’s are downed. 4 others ditch or crash-land. B-29 gunners claim 60 ftr kills, the highest VHB claim to date.

1/29/45 Twentieth AF About 30 Marianas based B-29’s strike at 2 A/Fs on Iwo Jima.

2/1/45 Twentieth AF 67 B-29’s bomb the Admiralty IX Floating Drydock (and vessel berthed in it) at Singapore navy yard. 21 other B-29’s bomb West Wall area of the naval base. 21 others hit alternate targets at Martaban and George Town.

2/7/45 Twentieth AF 44 B-29’s bomb primary tgt of Saigon (11 drop prematurely and 33 hit residential section), 19 hit T/O of Pnom Penh, and 2 bomb last resort tgt, a M/Y at Martaban. In a more successful mission, almost 60 B-29’s bomb and effect the collapse of most of middle span of Rama VI bridge at Bangkok (3d strike at this tgt) and destroy NE approach. 1 VHB bombs Martaben M/Y

2/8/45 Twentieth AF 30 B-29’s from the Marianas bomb Moen I A/F number 1.

2/9/45 Twentieth AF 29 XXI BC B-29’s hit Moen I for second consecutive day, bombing A/F number 2.

2/11/45 Twentieth AF 56 B-29’s bomb storage dumps around Rangoon. Mission is flown in conjunction with B-24’s of EAC’s Strategic AF which hit tgt. 9 B-29’s from the Marianas carry out rcn mission for Navy. 1 other returns early. Tgt area covers 135-00E to 148-00E to 30-00N.

2/12/45 Twentieth AF 8 B-29’s complete rcn mission for Navy covering from 135-OOE to 148-OOE and to 30-OON. 21 other B-29’s from the Marianas bomb heavy AA on Iwo Jima in preparation for amphibious invasion of the island on 19 Feb.

2/14/45 Twentieth AF B-29’s from the Marianas again carry out rcn mission for the Navy, covering area northward from base line at 28-02N 14555E to 28-44N 148-OOE

2/15/45 Twentieth AF 33 Marianas-based B-29’s bomb Mitsubishi aircraft engine works at Nagoya. Almost 70 others hit last resort tgt and T/Os, 54 of them bombing Hamamatsu.

2/17/45 Twentieth AF 9 B-29’s from Saipan bomb Dublon I sub pens.

2/18/45 Twentieth AF 35 Marianas-based B-29’s bomb 2 A/Fs on Moen I.

2/19/45 Twentieth AF Around 50 B-29’s bomb Central Railroad Repair Shops at Kuala Lumpur, some bombing from only 1,000 ft. 4 other VHBs hit alternates of Alor Star A/F, and M/Y at Martaban. 150 B-29’s are airborne against Musashino aircraft plant hoping to draw air reinforcements away from Iwo Jima which US Marines invade. Thick clouds completely cover the primary so 119 B-29’s bomb port and urban area of Tokyo. 12 others hit last resort targets and T/Os. 6 B-29’s are lost. US gunners claim 39 fighters downed.

2/23/45 ZI A P-38 from Santa Rosa AAFld shoots down Japanese balloon over Calistoga.

2/24/45 Twentieth AF In an all-incendiary attack 105 B-29’s hit Empire Dock area at Singapore, burning out about 40 per cent of the warehouse area. This is the last 100-aircraft strike of XX BC.

2/25/45 Twentieth AF Gen Millard F Harmon, CG AAFPOA and Dep Cmdr of Twentieth AF, is lost near Kwajalein when his aircraft disappears en route to Washington DC. (On 2 Mar Gen Hale, AAFPOA dep cmdr for opera - tions, assumes Harmon’s positions). 172 B-29’s bomb urban area of Tokyo. Around 30 others hit alternates and T/Os. This is XXI BC’s largest mission to date and its first 3-wg strike against Japan as the 73rd and 313th Bomb Wgs are joined by the 314th.

3/2/45 Twentieth AF Around 50 B-29’s bomb shop and warehouse area at naval base in Singapore. 5 others hit alternates on Bukum I, at Arang Hill, and at Khao Huakhang

3/4/45 Twentieth AF Gen Giles becomes Dep Cmdr of Twentieth AF and CG Of AAFPOA. A B-29 makes an emergency landing on Iwo Jima. This begins a series of over 2,400 such emergency landings on the island during World War II. 192 Marinanas-based B-29’s are airborne against Musashino (Musashi) but heavy clouds prevent bombing the primary. 159 of the VHBs bomb secondary tat, the urban areas of Tokyo, and almost 20 others hit alternate targets. This aborted try at Musashino marks end of XXI BC’s effort to knock out Japanese aircraft industry by high-altitude, daylight precision bombing. (The indirect effect of causing Japanese industrialists to lose confidence in their supposed immunity from air attacks exceeds the effect of actual bomb damage to the aircraft industry). During 4/5 Mar, 11 B-29’s, staging from Luliang, mine the confluence of the Hwangpoo and Yangtze Rivers and the Tai-hsing Narrows. 1 VHB drops mines at Tungting Lake.

3/11/45 Twentieth AF Attacking at altitudes ranging from 5,100 to 8,500 ft, 285 B-29’s bomb Nagoya urban area with incendiaries during 11/12 Mar.

3/13/45 Twentieth AF In the third of the Twentieth AF’s great fire raids, 274 B-29’s begin bombing Osaka shortly after midnight, 13/14 Mar. The heart of the city, an area of 8.1 sq mi, is wiped out during 3 hrs of bombing from altitudes of 5,000 to 9,600 ft.

3/16/45 Twentieth AF 307 XXI BC B-29’s, of 331 airborne, fire-raid Kobe in the heaviest attack to date, bombing from 5,000 to 9,500 ft during the predawn hours of 16/17 Mar. About one-fifth of the city’s area is burned.

3/18/45 Twentieth AF During 18/19 Mar, 290 XXI BC B-29’s continue fire raids on Japanese cities, bombing Nagoya from 4,500 to 9,000 ft with incendiaries for the second time this month. This mission ends the Mar fire raids. “

3/22/45 Twentieth AF 76 B-29’s, operating in 2 waves, blast storage dumps at Rangoo

3/27/45 Twentieth AF 150-plus Marianas based B-29’s flying the first of many raids in spt of impending Okinawa invasion, hit Tachiarai and Oita A/Fs and Omura aircraft factory. 97 B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait during 27/28 Mar. This is first of many mining operations by B-29’s in Japanese waters.

3/28/45 Twentieth AF During 28/29 Mar, 10 B-29’s mine mouth of the Hwangpoo R and S channel of the Yangtze R at Shanghai. About 50 other VHBs fly missions mining waters at Saigon, Camranh Bay, and in Singapore area.

3/29/45 Twentieth AF 24 B-29’s fly last mission under XX BC, attacking oil storage facilities on Bukum I during 29/30 Mar. 2,other VHBs bomb individual targets on Malay Peninsula.

3/30/45 Twentieth AF 12 B-29’s attack Mitsubishi aircraft engine plant at Nagoya shortly past midnight during 30/31 Mar while 80-plus B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait.

3/31/45 Twentieth AF 137 B-29’s strike Tachiarai machine works and Omura A/F. This is diversionary strike preceding invasion of Okinawa which begins at 0830 on 1 Apr.

4/2/45 Twentieth AF During the first 4 hrs after midnight (1/2 Apr), 6 B-29’s mine harbor at Kure while more than 100 bomb Nakajima aircraft factory at Tokyo. 9 B-29’s mine waters off Hiroshima during 2/3 Apr.

4/3/45 Twentieth AF During 3/4 Apr, 9 B-29’s mine waters off Hiroshima. Twice during early morning, 48 B-29’s hit aircraft plant at Shizuoka, 68 attack Koizumi aircraft factory and urban areas in Tokyo, and 100-plus strike aircraft plant at Tachikawa and urban area of Kawasaki.

4/7/45 Twentieth AF 101 B-29’s bomb Nakajima aircraft engine plant at Tokyo while 150-plus hit Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Nagoya. Nearly 30 others hit last resort targets. 91 P-51’s of VII FC escort the VHBs to Japan for the first time and claim 21 kills.

4/9/45 Twentieth AF 16 B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait.

4/12/45 Twentieth AF 94 B-29’s strike Nakajima aircraft factory at Tokyo while 11 hit secondary tgt of Shizuoka engine plant. VHB gunners claim 16 fighters downed. 130-plus other B-29’s bomb 2 chemical p]ants at Koriyama. 32 more VHBs hit various T/Os. During 12/13 Apr, 5 B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait. fighters from VII FC escorting the daylight operations over Tokyo area claim 15 aircraft downed

4/13/45 Twentieth AF During 13/14 Apr almost 330 B-29’s bomb Tokyo arsenal area.

4/15/45 Twentieth AF During 15/16 Apr, 194 B-29’s strike Kawasaki urban area while 109 hit urban area of Tokyo.

4/17/45 Twentieth AF Almost 120 B-29’s bomb A/Fs at Tachiarai, Kokubu, Izumi, Nittagahara, and Kanoya (2). Beginning on this date and continuing through 11 May, XXI BC devotes about 75 per cent of its combat effort to spt of Okinawa campaign. During this period the B-29’s fly more than 2,100 sorties against 17 A/Fs on Kyushu and Shikoku Is which are dispatching air attacks (including Kamikaze raids) against US Navy and Marine forces.

4/18/45 Twentieth AF B-29’s hit Japanese A/Fs, as 100-plus VHBs strike A/Fs at Tachiarai, Izumi, Kokubu, Nittagahara, and Kanoya (2), the same targets attacked on the 17th.

4/21/45 Twentieth AF XXI BC continues to hit A/Fs in Japan. 217 B-29’s blast A/Fs at Oita, Kanoya (2), Usa, Kokubu, Kushira, Tachiarai, Izumi, and Nittagahara. Other B-29’s hit T/Os including city of Kagoshima

4/22/45 Twentieth AF Strikes against A/Fs continue. 80-plus B-29’s bomb A/Fs at Izumi, Kushira, Miyazaki, Tomitaka, and Kanoya.

4/24/45 Twentieth AF 101 B-29’s strike Hitahi aircraft plant at Tachikawa. 21 others hit alternates and T/Os, 5 VHBs are lost. The B-29’s claim 16 fighters destroyed.

4/26/45 Twentieth AF 195 B-29’s (some escorted by fighters of VII FC) bomb A/Fs at Usa, Oita, Saeki, Tomitaka, Imabari, Nittagahara, Miyazaki, Kanoya, Kokubu, and Miyakonojo. Other VHBs hit T/Os.

4/27/45 Twentieth AF More than 100 B-29’s strike A/Fs at Izumi, Miyazaki, Kokubu, Miyakonojo, Kanoya, and Kushira.

4/28/45 Twentieth AF Around 120 B-29’s hit A/Fs at Kushira, Kanoya, Miyakonojo, Kokubu, Miyazaki, and Izumi. The VHBs claim a total of 14 downed fighters.

4/29/45 Twentieth AF 111 B-29’s strike Miyazaki, Miyakonojo, Kokubu, Kanoya (2), and Kushira A/Fs. The B-29’s claim nearly 30 aircraft shot down.

4/30/45 Twentieth AF 120-plus B-29’s hit A/Fs at Tachikawa, Kanoya (2), Kokubu, Oita, Tomitaka, and Saeki, and city of Hamamatsu. 20-plus other B-29’s hit alternates and T/Os. The VHBs claim 10 aircraft downed. fighters sent from VII FC to provide VLR escort fail to rendezvous.

5/3/45 Twentieth AF 68 B-29’s bomb A/Fs at Tachiarai, Miyazaki, Miyakonojo, Kanoya (2), and Kokubu. 88 other B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait and Inland Sea. 10 fighters are claimed destroyed by B-29’s on the Tachiarai mission.

5/4/45 Twentieth AF 47 B-29’s attack A/Fs at Oita, Omura, Saeki, and Matsuy

5/5/45 Twentieth AF 45 B-29’s bomb A/Fs at Oita, Tachiarai, Kanoya, and Chiran; 148 (including B-29’s of 58th Bomb Wg flying their first attack of Japan from Tinian) hit navy aircraft factory and arsenal at Kure, and 86 drop mines in Tokyo Bay, Ise Bay, and at points in the Inland Sea. The B-29’s claim 11 fighters downed.

5/7/45 Twentieth AF 41 B-29’s bomb A/Fs at Usa, Oita, Ibusuki, and Kanoya. 34 aircraf t are claimed destroyed by B-29’s during Usa and Oita missions.

5/8/45 Twentieth AF 40 B-29’s hit A/Fs at Kanoya, Miyakonojo, Oita,

5/10/45 Twentieth AF 42 B-29’s hit A/Fs at Matsuyama, Usa, Miyazaki, and Kanoya. 302 others bomb Tokuyama naval fuel station and coal yards, Otake oil refinery, and Amami-O-Shima naval oil storage facilities. B-29’s claim 10 aircraft destroyed.

5/11/45 Twentieth AF About 50 B-29’s attack A/Fs at Oita, Saeki, Nittagahara, Miyazaki, and Miyakonojo. 92 others bomb Kawanishi aircraft plant at Kobe. B-29’s claim 9 fighters downed on Kobe mission. Missions against Japanese A/Fs terminate air campaign, begun on 17 Apr, during which Twentieth AF has devoted major effort toward hitting sources of Kamikaze raids against US Navy and Marine forces in the Battle of Okinawa.

5/13/45 Twentieth AF During 13/14 May 12 B-29’s drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait.

5/14/45 Twentieth AF 472 B-29’s blast urban area of N Nagoya. 11 VHBs are lost. About 20 enemy fighters are downed. This is the XXI BC’s first 4-wg raid as VHBs of the 58th Bomb Wg join bmrs from the 73d, 313th, and 314th Wgs in a single mission.

5/16/45 Twentieth AF 25 B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait and Maizuru and Miyazu harbors.

5/17/45 Twentieth AF Between 0300 and 0600, 457 B-29’s pound urban area of S Nagoya. 11 others hit T/Os.

5/18/45 Twentieth AF Adv air echelon of 509th Comp Gp arrives at North Field on Tinian. The 509th is scheduled to deliver atomic bomb attacks on Japan. Its CO is Col Paul W Tibbets Jr, a pilot with a distinguished record in the 97th Bomb Gp (H) in Europe and N Africa. During 18/19 May, 30 B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait and Tsuruga Harbor.

5/19/45 Twentieth AF 272 B-29’s bomb city of Hamamatsu.

5/20/45 Twentieth AF During 20/21 May, 30 B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait, Maizuru harbor, and He-Saki anchorage.

5/22/45 Twentieth AF During 22/23 May, 30 B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait and approaches.

5/23/45 Twentieth AF During 23/24 May, 520 out of 562 B-29’s sent against Tokyo bomb an urban-industrial area S of the Imperial Palace along W side of the harbor. 5 others hit T/Os. 17 B-29’s are lost. This is the largest number of B-29’s participating in a single mission during World War II.

5/24/45 Twentieth AF During 24/25 May, 25 B-29’s lay mines in Shimonoseki Strait and at Niigata, Nanao, and Fushiki. 5/25/45 Twentieth AF During 25/26 May, 464 B-29’s pound urban area of Tokyo immediately S of the Imperial Palace just N of that bombed on 23/24 May, including financial, commercial, and governmental districts as well as factories and homes. 26 B-29’s are lost on this mission, the highest single-day loss of VHBs in World War II. US gunners claim 19 fighters destroyed.

5/26/45 Twentieth AF

During 26/27 May, 29 B-29’s mine waters in Shimonoseki Strait and at Fushiki, Fukuoka, and Karatsu.

5/27/45 Twentieth AF During 27/28 May 9 B-29’s drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait and in Moji area.

5/29/45 Twentieth AF Ground echelon of 509th Comp Gp begins to arrive on Tinian. 454 B-29’s, escorted by 101 P-51’s from the VII FC for first time on a fire-bomb raid, bomb Yokohama with incendiaries and destroy the main business district (a third of the city’s area) along the waterfront. Burned out area of Yokohama now amounts to almost 9 sq mi. About 150 fighters attack the formations. 7 B-29’s and 3 P-51’s are lost. The P-51’s claim 26 fighters shot down while the VHBs claim 6.

6/1/45 Twentieth AF 458 B-29’s attack city of Osaka. 148 P-51’s of VII FC, en route to escort rendezvous with the VHBs, encounter a severe weather front. Flying behind in excessive turbulence, many of the fighters collide. 27 are lost. 27 others manage to find the B-29’s and escort them over the tgt. 10 B-29’s are lost. The B- 29’s claim 16 fighters destroyed.

6/5/45 Twentieth AF 473 B-29’s pound city of Kobe with incendiaries. 11 VHBs are lost. US gunners claim 86 fighters downed. The attack burns off over 4 sq mi and damage over half of the city.

6/7/45 Twentieth AF 409 B-29’s, escorted by VII FC P-51’s, drop incendiary and high explosive bombs on Osaka, hitting EC section of the city which contains industrial and transportation targets and the Osaka Army Arsenal (largest in Japan). Despite being forced to bomb by radar because of heavy undercast, the B-29’s burn out over 2 sq mi of the city.

6/9/45 Twentieth AF 110 B-29’s attack aircraft factories at Nagoya, Akashi, and Narao. 26 others mine Shimonoseki Strait during 8/9 Jun.

6/10/45 Twentieth AF 280 B-29’s, some escorted by P-51’s of VII FC, bomb aircraft plants at Tominka. Chiba and Ogikubo, seaplane base at Kasumigaura, Tachikawa Army Air Arsenal, and engineering works at Hitachi. The fighters claim 26 fighters downed.

6/11/45 Twentieth AF Combat crews of 509th Comp Gp begin to arrive at North Field, Tinian, w ith their B-29’s. 26 B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait and Tsuruga Bay.

6/13/45 Twentieth AF 29 B-29’s drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait and in waters at Niigata, during 13/14 Jun.

6/15/45 Twentieth AF 44 B-29’s fly incendiary mission against OsakaAmagasaki urban area, ending a month of concentrated fire raids against large Japanese cities. 30 other B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters around Fukuoka, Karatsu, and Fushiki. VII FC escort for Osaka raid aborts due to bad weather.

6/17/45 Twentieth AF 450-plus B-29’s bomb urban areas of Kagoshima, Omuta, Hamamatsu, and Yokkaichi, with incendiaries, while 25 others mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters around Kobe all during 17/18 Jun.

6/19/45 Twentieth AF About 480 B-29’s fly incendiary bombing raids on Toyohashi, Fuknoka, and Shizuoka during 19/20 Jun, while 28 others mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters at Niigata, Miyazu, and Maizuru.

6/21/45 Twentieth AF 25 B-29’s mine the sea approaches around Fushiki, Senzaki, Nanao, and Yuya Bay during 21/22 Jun.

6/22/45 Twentieth AF About 130 B-29’s bomb aircraft plants at Himeji, Kagamigahara, Akashi, and Tamashima. 162 others pound naval arsenal at Kure.

6/23/45 Twentieth AF During 23/24 Jun, 26 B-29’s mine harbors of Fukuoka, Karatsu, Sakai, and Niigata.

6/25/45 Twentieth AF During 25/26 Jun 26 B-29’s plant mines in Shimonoseki Strait and at Maizuru and off Obama I.

6/26/45 Twentieth AF 450-plus B-29’s, escorted by VII FC P-51’s, attack aircraf t plants at Kagamigahara, Nagoya, and Akashi, light metals industries and arsenals at Osaka and Nagoya, oil refinery at Yokkaichi (bombed by 315th Bomb Wg on its first raid on Japan from Guam), other factories at Nagoya, and several alternate targets and T/Os, including city of Tsu. B-29’s claim more than 20 fighters downed.

6/27/45 Twentieth AF During 27/28 Jun, 29 B-29’s mine harbors of Hagi, Kobe, and Niigata.

6/28/45 Twentieth AF During 28/29 Jun, 487 B-29’s carry out fire-bomb attacks on Okayama, Sasebo, Moji, and Nobeoka.

6/29/45 Twentieth AF During 29/30 Jun, 32 B-29’s bomb Nippon Oil Company at Kudamatsu while 25 others mine W Shimonoseki Strait and waters around Maizuru and Sakata.

6/30/45 Twentieth AF 509th Comp Gp, scheduled to deliver first atomic bomb attack on Japan, begins combat flight training from Tinian. For most crews, this involves 5 or 6 practice missions such as a navigation trg flight to Iwo Jima, bombing Rota during the return flight; 2 or more short bombing missions against Rota or Guguan I; and 1 long bombing mission against Truk; and 1 against Marcus all run in flights of from 2 to 9 VHBs.

7/1/45 Twentieth AF 530-plus B-29’s carry out incendiary attacks on Ube, Kure, Shimonoseki, and Kumamoto. During 12 Jul, 24 other B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters at Nanao and Fushiki.

7/2/45 Twentieth AF During 2 3 Jul, 39 B-29’s bomb oil refinery at Minoshima.

7/3/45 Twentieth AF Air echelon of XX BC, including Gen Joseph Smith, CG, sails for Okinawa. The rest of the cmd sails in 2 lots, on 12 Jul and 4 Aug, leaving only a few small dets in India-Burma. (58th Bomb Wg earlier sailed to the Marianas. See 27 Feb). 560-plus B-29’s drop incendiaries on Kochi, Himeji, Takamatsu, and Tokushima, during 3/4 Jul. 26 others mine Shimonoseki St;rait and waters at Funakawa and Maizuru during the predawn hrs of the 4th.

7/6/45 Twentieth AF Taking off during late evening hours of 6 Jul, 517 B-29’s drop incendiaries on Chiba, Akashi, Shimizu, and Kofu between 0700-0800 on 7 Jul. 59 others bomb Maruzen Oil Refinery at Osaka during the same hr.

7/9/45 Twentieth AF During 9/10 Jul, 475 B-29’s attack Sendai, Sakai, Gifu, and Wakayama with incendiaries. 61 bomb oil refinery at Yokkaichi, and 31 mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters at Niigata and Nanao.

7/11/45 Twentieth AF During 11/12 Jul, 25 B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters at Miyazu, Maizuru, Obama I and, in the first B-29 operation to Korea, at Pusan and Najin.

7/12/45 Twentieth AF During 12/13 Jul 453 B-29’s drop incendiaries on Utsonomiya, Ichinomiya, Tsuruga, and Uwajima. 53 others bomb petroleum center at Kawasaki.

7/13/45 Twentieth AF During 13/14 Jul, 30 B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters at Fukuoka, ports at Seishin, Masan, and Reisui.

7/15/45 Twentieth AF During 15/16 Jul, 26 B-29’s mine waters at Naoetsu, Niigata, Najin, Pusan, and Wonsan. 59 other B- 29’s bomb Nippon Oil Company at Kudamatsu.

7/16/45 Twentieth AF HQ is officially moved to Harmon Field, Guam. XX BC is inactivated, effective 18 Jul, and HQ and HQ Sq, XXI BC is redesignated HQ Sq, Twentieth AF. Thus the BCs are brought to an end as actual establishments. Their was pass to direct control of HQ, Twentieth AF of which Gen LeMay takes cmd on this date. During 16/17 Jul, 466 B-29’s drop incendiary bombs on Numazu, Oita, Kuwana, and Hiratsuka.

7/17/45 Twentieth AF During 17/18 Jul, 27 B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters in Nanao-Fushiki area, at Henash iCape, Iwase and at Seishin. Also, units of British Pacific Fleet join US Third Fleet units in bombardment of Japan.

7/19/45 Twentieth AF On 19/20 Jul, 27 B-29’s lay mines in Oyama, Niigata, Miyazu, Maizuru, Tsuruga, Nezugaseki, Obama I, and Kobe-Osaka areas and at Wonsan. 470 VHBs (also operating during the night) drop incendiaries on Fukui, Hitachi, Chosi, and Okazaki while 83 others bomb oil facilities at Amagasaki.

7/20/45 Twentieth AF The 509th Comp Gp begins series of 12 precision attacks over Japan for purpose of familiarizing crews with tgt area and tactics contemplated for 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-29’s flying at high altitudes.

7/22/45 Twentieth AF During 22/23 July, 23 B-29’s, staging through Iwo Jima, mine Shimonoseki Strait and Korea coast at Najin which is the longest B-29 combat mission of the war and in Pusan-Masan area. 72 others bomb coal liquefaction company at Ube. (See 10 Aug 44 and 14 Aug 45 for longest single-stage missions).

7/24/45 Twentieth AF 570 plus B-29’s bomb aircraft plants at Handa, Nagoya, and Takarazuka, arsenal and metals industry at Osaka, and urban areas of Tsu and Kawana, plus several T/Os.

7/25/45 Twentieth AF During 25, 26 Jul, 75 B-29’s bomb oil refinery and petroleum center at Kawasaki while 29 others mine waters at Nanao, Fushiki, Obama I, Tsuruga, Seishin, and Pusan.

7/26/45 Twentieth AF During 26, 27 Jul, 350 B-29’s drop incendiary bombs on Matsuyama, Tokuyama, and Omuta.

7/27/45 Twentieth AF During 27/28 Jul, 24 B-29’s drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait, at Fukuoka, Niigata, Maizuru, Senzaki, and in Fukawa Bay.

7/28/45 Twentieth AF During 28/29 Jul, 471 B-29’s drop incendiary bombs on Tsu, Aomori, Ichinomiya, Ujiyamada, Ogaki, and Uwajima, while 76 others bomb oil refinery at Shimotsu.

7/29/45 Twentieth AF During 29/30 Jul, 24 B-29’s mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters at Fukuoka, Karatsu, and Najin.

8/1/45 Twentieth AF 627 B-29’s, on night of 1/2 Aug, carry out fire-bomb raids on Japanese cities of Hachioji, Toyama, Nagaoka, and Mito; 120 others bomb Kawasaki petroleum facilities; and 37 drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait, in Nakaumi Lagoon, at Hamada, Sakai, Yonago, Najin, and Seishin. The total of 784 B-29’s (of 836 dispatched) bombing targets is the largest Twentieth AF single-day effort of World War II.

8/2/45 Twentieth AF Gen Twining be comes CG Twentieth AF. Gen LeMay is assigned to USASTAF as CoS.

8/5/05 Twentieth AF During 5/6 Aug, 470-plus B-29’s fly incendiary raids against cities of Saga, Mae Bashi, Imabari, and Nishinomiya-Mikage, 106 bomb coal liquefaction company at Ube, and 27 mine waters of Sakai, Yonago, Nakaumi Lagoon, Miyazu, Maizuru, Tsuruga, Obama, Najin and Geijitsu area.

8/6/45 Twentieth AF The world’s first atomic attack takes place. At 0245 Col Paul W Tibbets pilots the B-29 Enola Gay off the runway at North Field, Tinian. At 2-min intervals, 2 observation B-29’s follow Maj Charles W Sweeney’s Great Artiste and Capt George W Marquardt’s No 91. At 0915 (0816 Japan time) the atomic bomb is released over Hiroshima from 31,600 ft. It explodes 50 secs later. More than 80 per cent of the city’s buildings are destroyed and over 71,000 people (Japanese figures; US figures say from 70,000 to 80,000) are killed. The Enola Gay lands on Tinian at 1458, followed within the hr by the 2 observation planes.

8/7/45 Twentieth AF 124 B-29’s, escorted by VII FC fighters, bomb naval arsenal at Toyokawa. During 7/8 Aug, 29 others drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait, at Miyazu, Maizuru, Tsuruga, Obama and at Najin. FEAF P-47’s provide cover.

8/8/45 Twentieth AF Shortly before noon, 221 B-29’s drop incendiaries on Yawata. Late in the afternoon about 60 VHBs bomb aircraft plant and arsenal complex at Tokyo, while during 8/9 Aug 91 others hit Fukuyama with incendiaries.

8/9/45 Twentieth AF Second and last atomic bomb of World War II is dropped on Japan. Maj Charles W Sweeney pilots a B-29, Bock’s Car, off runway at North Field, Tinian, at 0230. He is followed by 2 observation B-29’sthe Great Artiste piloted by Capt Frederick C Bock (who has exchanged planes with Sweeney for the mission) and another VHB piloted by Maj James I Hopkins (who loses contact with the other 2 B-29’s). The primary tgt, Kokura, is obscured by bad weather. The attack is made against the secondary tgt, Nagasaki. The bomb, dropped from 28,900 ft at 1158 (1058 Nagasaki time), explodes about a min after release. Japanese reports claim nearly 24,000 killed. US figures estimate about 35,000. The attacking B-29’s refuel on Okinawa, and return to Tinian by 2339. During 9/10 Aug, 95 B-29’s bomb Nippon Oil Refinery at Amagasaki.

8/10/45 Twentieth AF 70 B-29’s bomb arsenal complex at Tokyo. VII FC provides escort. During 10/11 Aug, 31 VHBs mine Shimonoseki Strait, Nakaumi Lagoon, and waters at Sakai, Yonago and Wonsan.

8/14/45 Twentieth AF 302 B-29’s bomb naval arsenal at Hikari and Osaka Army Arsenal while 108 bomb railroad yards at Marifu. VII FC planes escort VHBs over Osaka area. During 14/15 Aug, 160-plus B-29’s attack Kumagaya and Isezaki with incendiaries while 132 (in the longest nonstop unstaged B-29 bombing mission from the Marianas-3,650 mi) bomb Nippon Oil Company at Tsuchizakiminato. 39 others mine waters at Nanao, Shimonoseki, Miyazu, and Hamada. These are the final B-29 combat missions against Japan. Before the last B-29’s return, President Truman announces the unconditional surrender of Japan. Immediately thereafter, 11th Airborne Div leaves Phil Is by air for Okinawa, where it goes on standby as the initial occupation force for Japan.

8/27/45 Twentieth AF B-29’s begin supplying prisoners-of-war and internee camps in Japan, China, and Korea with medical supplies, food, and clothing. The first supply drop (to Weihsien Camp near Peking) is followed by a concentrated effort of 900 sorties in a period of less than a month. 4,470 tons of supplies are dropped to about 63,500 prisoners in 154 camps.

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