7/29/44
Anshan,
Manchuria
Showa Steel Works
A/C #360
On July 29, 1944, 96 planes left their China bases
to attack the Coke plant of the Showa Steel Works in Manchuria. Weather interfered with
take offs and while three groups got 72 planes off on schedule, the 444th was
five hours late in sending out 24 planes. These made for a secondary target, the coal and
iron ore shipping port near Tsentsin.
Soon after the main force took off, 42-6351 of the 40th Group crashed
killing eight men. Subsequently, four B-29s aborted. Sixty superforts reached Anshan and
bombed from about 25,000 feet in diamonds of four. This procedure was effective for the
first time the B-29s scored a good number of hits on the target. Seven other B-29s bombed
targets of opportunity. One plane from the 462nd was
missing from the mission. At last the B-29s were becoming effective and they had carried
out mission #4 with the loss of only three plans. Two more, however, had been lost between
India and China.
The full image can be seen by clicking on the
image
The following comments were recorded by Major Slack in his
personal journal following the mission.
07/24/44
Started on the Ansham Mission - first
daylight raid into Manchivia on Japan. I was #2 man on Briley’s night wing with Fleun
#3 and Briel #4. Briel aborted first with bad oil leak. Fleung second, with low fuel press
(no boost pump on one engine) and damn if I didn’t lose an engine (blown cylinder)
just as I hit 20,000 ft. Briel went by himself and tacked on to another formation. We were
over Jap occupied territory so found a RR bridge to dump our bombs on. Just missed it, but
had to get rid of the bombs as she wouldn’t fly on three engines. Had a tough time
making it back over the mountains. Was I ever disgusted.
The boys that made the target, though, did an
excellent job and met very little opposition.
