MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Number 252

      

1. Date:  6/7 July 1945

2. Target:  Akashi Urban Area

3. Participating Unit:  73rd Bombardment Wing

4. Number A/C Airborne:  131

5. % A/C Bombing Primary:  93.48%    (123 primary & 1 opportunity)

6. Type of Bombs and Fuzes:  E46, 500# incendiary clusters with tail set to open 2500 feet above Target.

7. Tons of Bombs Dropped:  975 tons on primary, 8 tons on opportunity

8. Time Over Primary:  070115K  - 070227K

9. Altitude of Attack:  6900  - 8200 feet

10. Weather Over Target:        4/10  -  8/10

11. Total A/C Lost:  0

12. Resume of Mission:  Crews reported results were unobserved to excellent.  Strike photos showed many fires in the city.  Photo reconnaissance revealed 24% (.42 sq. mi.) of the city, and 74.3% of Kawasaki A/C Co. (in Akashi) had been damaged or destroyed.  3 E/A sighted had wing tip lights ‘on‘ and made no attacks.  Flak was heavy & medium, meager, inaccurate, and continuously pointed.  7 B-29’s bombed visually, and 116 by radar.  7 A/C were non-effective.  2 B-29’s landed at Iwo Jima.  Average Bomb Load:  16,959 lbs.  Average Fuel Reserve:  778 gallons.

 

 

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