March 19, 1945
(USN) For the first time, a large force of 240 carrier aircraft from Task Force 58 (TF-58) including including USS Essex (CV-9), USS Intrepid (CV-11), USS Hornet (CV-12), USS Wasp (CV-18), USS Hancock (CV-19), USS Bennington CV-20 and USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) attack Kure, Kure Naval Arsenal and warships in Kure Harbor.
(IJN) In Kure Harbor are warships and carriers including battleships Haruna, Yamato, Ise, Hyuga plus aircraft carriers Ryuhō, Kaiyō, Amagi, Katsuragi plus other vessels. A force of 54 N1K2-J Shiden Kai (George) from 343 Kokutai led by Lt Oshibuchi Takashi intercept the over Kure claiming 52 U.S. planes shot down for the loss of 16 fighters. Anti-aircraft gunners claim another 5 shot down.
April 2, 1945
(20th AF) Mission 52: Six B-29s mine Kure Harbor between 0000 and 0400 hours local without
loss.
June 22, 1945
(20th AF) Mission 215: 162 B-29s attack the
Kure Naval Arsenal and 12 others hit alternate targets; 72% of the roof area
of the arsenal is damaged; 2 B-29s are lost.
July 1, 1945
(20th AF) Mission 240: 152 B-29s attack the Kure urban area destroying 1.3 square miles
(3.4 square km), 40% of the city; 2 other B-29s hit alternate targets.
July 23, 1945
(FEAF) Single B-24s on armed reconnaissance hit Kure Harbor.
July 24, 1945
(USN) Task
Force 38 (TF-38) carrier aircraft attack hit Inland Sea shipping in the Kure area.
July 28, 1945
(FEAF) 70+ B-24s bomb shipping
in Kure Harbor, claiming direct hits on Battleship Haruna and further damage Amagi and heavy damage I-404. Lost are B-24J "Taloa" 44-40716 pilot Captain Donald F. Marvin (POW) and B-24J "Lonesome Lady" 44-40680 pilot 2nd Lt Thomas C. Cartwright (POW).
(USN) Task Force 38 (TF-38) carrier aircraft attack Kure and shipping
in Kure Harbor.
July 29, 1945
(FEAF) 70+
B-24s pound shipping at Kure. P-47s hit Kure Harbor.
