MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Number 58

 

  1. Date:  7 April 1945
     
  2. Code Name:  Enkindle #7
     
  3. Target:  Nakajima A/C Plant, Tokyo 90.17-357
     
  4. Participating Units:  73rd Bombardment Wing
     
  5. Number A/C Airborne:  107
     
  6. % A/C Bombing Primary:  94% (101 primary, 2 Opportunity)
     
  7. Time Over Primary:  071100K - 071106K
     
  8. Altitude of Attack:  11,500 - 15,550
     
  9. Weather Over Target:  CAVU - 2/10
     
  10. Total A/C Lost:  3
     
  11. Resume of Mission:  Bombing results- see mission 63 for details.  Four aircraft non-effective.  Two aircraft lost to flak and one aircraft lost to air to air bombing.  First mission to have friendly fighter escort - approximately 97 P-51's escorted formations.  Escort efficient in breaking up enemy aircraft concentrations.  Enemy fighter opposition heavy, aggressive to very aggressive - 531 attacks.  Enemy aircraft destroyed 80, probably destroyed 23 and fifty damaged.  Crews reported that P-51's destroyed 21 enemy aircraft.  Report may contain some duplication.  Two P-51's lost.  AA heavy, moderate to intense, accurate to very accurate.  Three aircraft airborne as navigational escort to fighters not included in above totals.  Average bomb load 10,275 lbs.  Average gas reserve 547 gallons.

 

 

  

    

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