08/20/44

Yawata, Kyushu

A/C #444

Plans for the XX Bomber command’s next mission had been in the works since July of 44. The target was again to be Yawata and the attack was again to be carried out at night. However, the command’s success at Anshan by day, led to a decision by its commander Brigadier General Laverne G. Saunders to make the upcoming Yawata attack a daylight affair. And so it was done, the mission subsequently being referred to by those who took part in it, as Yawata Day while the earlier mission was Yawata Night.

98 Superforts moved to the forward China bases loaded with one and a half tons of 500 lbs. GP bombs each. Early on August 20, the refueled planes began taking off for Japan. These groups got 68 plans safely and the 462^nd had 7 airborne when the eighth plane of the 462^nd to be dispatched cracked up, blocking the south end of the runway at Kuinglai. After a delay of some hours, eight more 472^nd planes took off for Yawata in the afternoon. (I think JSS was the first to take off after the crash.) They were joined by 5 B-29s of other groups that had failed to get away earlier, and the 13 proceeded eastward to bomb Yawata by night.

Ahead, the main task force was nearing the target, the Imperial Iron and Steel Works. Six B-29s had aborted and two were lost proceeding to the target so that 67 reached Kyushu. Six of those planes would hit secondary targets or targets of opportunity. The other 61 struck at Yawata, flying mostly in three-plane vee or four-plane diamond formations.

As the superforts approached, the initial point from 20,000 to 26,000 feet, they were met by intense heavy flak and enemy fighters. They dropped a total of 96 tons of bombs with fair accuracy, hits being scored on two coke ovens, as they fought their way to and off the targets. For up to 30 minutes, the B-29s encountered major air opposition for the first time as some 50 fighters made 138 single and 10 coordinated attacks on them – mostly in front and usually from below.

The 462^nd claimed at least 6 enemy aircraft damaged or destroyed. The Group commander, Col. Richard H. Carmichael led a two-plan flight which bombed from 20,000 feet.

This mission had been rough – the roughest on the record. B-29s met strong fighter opposition and accurate flak.

Click on the image to see the full size photo.

 

The following is an excerpt from Major Slack's Journal about this mission.

07/20/44 A Big Day

We left here, Piradoba on 18th in ship #444. All crew members well and happy. Landed at Kunglai, saw the show that night and were briefed the following afternoon. We were to take off at 0830 on a daylight attack on Yawata, which it seems, is still running or was before this mission. Half of our ships got off then just before our turn, the ship in front pulled up his wheels before he left the ground and slid to a halt on the end of the runway blocking some for further take offs. So we where unable to make the daylight mission.

So I didn’t get off till about 1630 for the night mission. Out time of flight was 15 hours and 30 minutes. That is tough stuff. We had lots of little troubles, such as gas leaking or suphoning out of our bomb bay tanks every time I’d start to climb. I had to get over the mountains. The gas fumes were so bad we were forced to use oxygen. Sgt. Jeffrey did a fine job, though, and finally got that part fixed. We took off with a bum #3 engine, which made the take off a real sweat job and the damn thing ran rough for over 4 hours, but finally smoothed up and made the remainder of the flight okay.

Our radar went out making navigation and bombing tough, but ole Ike came thru again and hit the Initial Point dead on the head. Bose took over with the bombsight with me doing evasive action and dropped the bombs thru a slight undercast. The target was hit up from the fires started during the daylight bombing, so I think we did a good job. They had big spotlights searching for us, but did no good. We saw a 4 night fighters, but they did not attack. We went in at 17,000 ft.

Well, now the day mission wasn’t so successful. They hit the target and probably destroyed it, but from all reports, our losses were terrific. All ships went in at 25,000 ft. except Col. Carmichael’s flight. He went in at 20,000 ft and was shot down. They hit him with everything including area bombs.

Eight (8) chutes were seen to leave the plane. Among the men aboard that I knew were Major Mann (B), Major Penny (N) and Capt. Tims (Gv. gunnery officer). Mann was Wing Bombardier, Penny group navigator.

Losses in other groups were higher. A total now of 11 ships cannot be accounted for except for 4 that went down over the target. That is 7 are not accounted for. They may be walking out of China. This group lost one of the 11 lost due to enemy action and 3 in operational losses, i.e. pulled up wheels on runway, one ran out of gas, crew bailed, one handed and crashed short of runway in India.