| DATE:
June 27, 1945
TARGET:
CITIES OF TOCHIGI and TAIRA
TIME:
Night
Briefed
at three o'clock, then ate supper, but didn't take off
until about eight- thirty, because the plane was being
test hoped. Or in other words, they were slow timing an
engine.
The
trip up was about like all the others. We went through
two fronts and were bounced around a little bit. On the
trip up to the target and over the target, we had a few
clouds under us and a bright moon over us.
When
we were about a half hour out of Iwo Jima, a P-61 slid in
on us at about five o'clock, then disappeared at three o'clock.
Even though the moon was bright, the plane was rather difficult
to see. It had no lights on it and looked like a large bat.
While over the target, the only thing that could be seen
was the reflection of the moon in the rivers. There were
very many rivers under us. On this mission we did not see
any enemy fighters, flak or spotlights.
Finally, we left the targets and started for Guam, landing
at about twelve-thirty.
DATE:
June 30, 1945
TARGET: CITIES OF MIYAKONOJO and YATSOSHIRO
TIME: Night
Briefed
at sixteen-hundred (1600) and took off at eighteen-ten
(1810). The trip to the target was fair. Also over the
target and back to Guam the weather was swell. We did
have a bright moon, though, over the target.
The
trip up was 0. K. because the weather was better than
usual. Just a few hours from the target we saw the eclipse
of the moon. But over the target the moon was at its brightest.
Luckily for us, there were a few clouds below us.
But
we did not have any flak, lights, nor fighters over the
Empire. I guess this was just another of our lucky missions.
After leaving the target we started for Guam, landing at
ten-forty (1040).
DATE:
July 2, 1945
TARGET: CITIES IN NORTH HONSHU
TIME: Night
Briefed
at fourteen hundred (1400) and took off about two hours
later. The weather on the trip up and the trip back was
fair. About the best weather we have ever had.
When
we arrived to within fifty miles of the coast we put on
our flak suits and our oxygen masks. We wore our oxygen
masks because on night missions a person can see better
when breathing pure one-hundred percent oxygen.
Over the target was the same as always on these photo missions.
No flak, no fighters, and no lights.
After taking pictures of about three towns we started back
to Guam, arriving here at about twelve-fifteen. |
