The 6th Bomb Group

This was a night incendiary mission involving 36 planes from the 6th Bomb Group:

What proved to be the final phase of the war began on the night of 26-27 July.  With mining missions completed, the Group returned to night incendiary strikes against the Jap's industrial cities.  On that night the target was the urban area of Tokuyama.  Thirty-four Superforts were effective; dropping over 1250 five hundred pound clusters.  The result was 53 per cent of the built-up area destroyed.  The pattern of light enemy opposition continued.  One Baka was sighted and was shot down by the tail gunner of Aircraft No. 9857 of the 40th Squadron.

[Pirate's Log, p. 52]

20th AF Mission 294

Date: 26/27 July 1945
Target: Tokuyama Urban Area (90.32)
Participating Units: 313th BW
Number A/C Airborne: 102
% A/C Bombing Primary: 95.09% (97 Primary and 1 Opportunity)
Type of Bombs and Fuzes: E46, 500# incendiary clusters set to open 5,000 feet above target, M47A2, 100# incendiary bombs with instantaneous nose and T4E4 500# frag. clusters set to open 1,000 feet below A/C.
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 751.5 tons on Primary
Time Over Primary: 270122K - 270235K
Altitude of Attack: 11,000 - 12,500
Weather Over Target: 3/10 - 10/10
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resume of Mission: Last crews over target reported entire dock area covered with fire which appeared to have a good start throughout the city. One E/A sighted made 1 attack. Claims: 1-0-0. A Baka was reported between the target and land's end. It exploded after being fired upon by a B-29. Flak was heavy and medium, meager to intense and inaccurate. Twelve A/C were pathfinders. Four A/C were non-effective. Target was visible to 55 A/C and not visible to 40. Two RCM and 1 Wind-Run A/C also took part. Twelve B-29s landed at Iwo Jima. Average bomb load: 16,406 lbs. Average fuel reserve: 580 gallons.