MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Number 260

      

1. Date:  9/10 July 1945

2. Target:  Gifu Urban Area

3. Participating Unit:  314th Bombardment Wing

4. Number A/C Airborne:  135

5. % A/C Bombing Primary:  95.55%  (129 primary & 1 opportunity)

6. Type of Bombs and Fuzes:  E46, 500#, incendiary clusters with tail set to open 5000 above Target: and AN-M47A2, 100# incendiary bomb with instantaneous nose.

7. Tons of Bombs Dropped:  898.8 tons on primary & 8.7 tons on secondary.

8. Time Over Primary:  100034K  - 100220K

9. Altitude of Attack:  14,720  - 17,700 feet

10. Weather Over Target:  0/10

11. Total A/C Lost:  1

12. Resume of Mission:  Photo reconnaissance revealed that 1.93 sq. mi., or 74 % of the city’s built-up area, were destroyed.  The Target was visible to 105 A/C and not visible to 24.  5 A/C were non-effective.  10 E/A sighted made 3 attacks.  Coordination was noted between E/A and S/L’s.  Flak was heavy, meager to moderate, and inaccurate.  AW fire was meager to intense and inaccurate.  4 to 12 S/L’s observed.  All crew members of ditching between Rota and Saipan were rescued.  The B-29 lost caught fire after leaving the Target.  After its crew bailed-out, it exploded in mid-air.  3 B-29s landed at Iwo Jima.  Average Bomb Load:  14,676 lbs.  Average Fuel Reserve:  685 gallons.

 

 

Next Mission

Index