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39th Bomb Group (VH)
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Tail Gunner's Diary

The following notes were taken from a small diary of Thomas F. Smith, Jr., Tail Gunner, Crew 10. They are shown here as they were written. Click on each link to read the entry for that specific mission.

Note:When reading through the entries "T.A." is Thomas A. Bell, AC; "Dauntless" is Dave Shulman


IMPORTANT DATES:
Left USA 4-8-45 - Mather Field, Honolulu, Kwajalein.
Arrived Guam 4-14-45
1st Mission
4-24-45
(HITACHI) 25 mi. West of Tokyo.
2nd Mission
4-26-45
(KOKUBU) KYS.
3rd Mission:
4-29-45
(KUSHIRA) KYS.
             NOTE: Crew 11 killed on take off at Kwajalien.
4th Mission
5-4-45
(With Capt. Keene). OITA AIRFIELD, NORTHERN KYS. Landed at Iwo and sweated out 5 days for a ride. Arrived at Guam 5-10-45!
5th Mission
5-14-45
NAGOYA (Incendiary Raid). Terrific!!
6th Mission
5-17-45
NAGOYA!!! (2nd Incendiary Raid). Night. THE LORD WAS WITH US.
7th Mission
5-1945
HAMKAMATSU, HONSHU. (Sec. Target-Japan Music Store)
NOTE: Aborted on 8th raid. 5-23-45
8th Mission
5-26-45
TOKYO
9th Mission
5-29-45
YOKAHAMA
            NOTE: Aborted Osaka Raid-broken hydraulic line, damn it!!
10th Mission
6-5-45
KOBE
11th Mission
6-7-45
OSAKA
12th Mission
6-10-45
CHIBA
            NOTE: Assigned Radar Photo Recon! 6-19-45 - Single plane missions!!!
13th Mission
6-22-45
(Photo) - KYUSHU, NOBEOKA.
14th Mission
6-24-45
(FUKUYAMA and BOFU, HONSHU)
15th Mission
6-26-45
HOKKAIDO! 23-½ hrs
16th Mission
6-30-45
KYUSHU
17th Mission
7-2-45
NORTHERN HONSHU
18th Mission "On the House!" We were given credit for 2 missions on the 15th (23 hrs!) 22 hrs. 58 Mins.
19th Mission
7-11-45
HONSHU : :
20th Mission
7-14-45
HONSHU
21st Mission
7-16-45
HONSHU
22nd Mission
7-18-45
HONSHU
23rd Mission
7-21-45
HONSHU
24thMission
7-25-45
HONSHU
25th Mission
7-28-45
HONSHU
26th Mission
7-31-45
HONSHU
            Note: Awarded Air Medal 8-4-45. Also 1st OLC
27th Mission
8-3-45
-
28th Mission
8-7-45
-
29th Mission
8-15-45
ISESAKI, Bomb Miss.
Note: Awarded DFC 9-19-45
JAPS GIVE UP!!!
8-15-45
THE WAR IS OVER !!! We celebrate tonight!!
Show of Force
9-2-45
Peace Treaty signed
 

60th Squadron Crew Index
Source: Tail Gunner Diary's submitted by John J. Essig, CFC Gunner