MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Number 286

        

1. Date: 24 July 1945
    
2. Target: Osaka Arsenal (90.25 - 382) (Primary Visual) City of Kuwana (90.20) (Primary Radar)
    
3. Participating Unit: 73rd BW
    
4. Number A/C Airborne: 170
    
5. % A/C Bombing Primary: 90% (35 Primary visual, 119 Primary radar, and 9 Opportunity)
    
6. Type of Bombs and Fuzes: AN-M66, 2,000# G.P. with 1/40 sec. delay nose and tail. 
    
7. Tons of Bombs Dropped: 216 tons on Primary visual, 794 tons on Primary radar and 59 tons on Opportunity. 
    
8. Time Over Primary: 241144K - 241227K
    
9. Altitude of Attack: 19,900 - 23,000
    
10. Weather Over Target: Nearly solid undercast. 
     
11. Total A/C Lost: 0

12. Resume of Mission: Strike photos showed several hits in the Target area and immediately S and W of the Target.  Several additional bursts damaged Osaka Castle.  Reconnaissance later revealed that 8.4% of the Target was damaged, raising the total destroyed to 18.1%.  Eight A/C were non-effective.  Target was visible only to 35 A/C.  No E/A sighted.  First flak at IP was scattered, meager, heavy and inaccurate and continuously pointed.  Over Osaka it was moderate, accurate and continuously pointed.  From Osaka to Biwa Ko it was heavy, moderate, accurate, barrage and continuously pointed.  Flak came from Fukido, Yawata, Fushimi, Ogura A/F and Kyato.  It was particularly accurate in the vicinity of Kyato.  Forty-six A/C were damaged by AA fire.  Total A/B does not include 1 Wind-Run A/C. Thirty-nine B-29s landed at Iwo Jima.  Average bomb load: 14,301 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 611 gallons.  Of the 216 bombs dropped on Osaka Arsenal, 28 hit within 1,000 feet of the MPI.  The A/C bombing the Primary Radar included the Wind-Run A/C. 

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