SUNDAY, 20 AUGUST 1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutians, four B-25s fly a negative
shipping sweep.
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 24 P-47s and P-51s fly close support
strikes for ground forces immediately S of Thaikwagon; four P-51s hit targets
of opportunity at Myintha and Aledaw; and the detachment of the 88th Fighter
Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, operating from Myitkyina with P-47s returns to base at Shingbwiyang.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 4 B-25s and 7 P-40s damage buildings and a pontoon bridge and strafe about 30 sampans in the Hengyang area; 13 P-40s hit buildings, trucks, and river shipping in the Hengshan area; and 60+ P-40s and P-51s attack numerous trucks, rivercraft, and general targets of opportunity at Tingka, Anjen, Yangtien, S of Yoyang, between Hankow and Chinchiang, and between Sinshih and Changsha.
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): During the day, 61 B-29s from Chengtu Airfield bomb the Yawata Steel Works. Over the target, the formation experiences anti-aircraft fire and is intercepted by over 100 Japanese fighters. B-29 gunners claimed 15 Japanese fighters destroyed. Fourteen B-29s are lost, including 1 to AA and 4 to enemy aircraft (1 by air-to-air bombing and two from a single ramming by a Ki-45 piloted by Sgt Nobe); B-29 gunners claim 17 air victories. Lost are: B-29 "Gertrude C" 42-6368 (MIA), B-29 "Calamity Sue" 42-6368 (MIA / POW), B-29 42-24474 (MIA / POW), B-29 "Praying Mantis" 42-6286 (MIA), B-29 "O'Reily's Daughters" 42-6264 (Rescued / MIA). During the night of 20/21 Aug, ten B-29s hit five targets other than the primary.
JAAF: Defending Yawata Steel Works, 87 JAAF fighters intercept including Ki-45 Nicks from the 4th Sentai, Ki-84 Franks of the 16th Flying Brigade (51st Sentai and 52nd Sentai), Ki 61s of the 59th Sentai and a few Ki-43s fighters of the 48th Sentai. The Army fighters claimed 12 sure victories for two fighters lost. Ki-45 piloted by Sgt Nobe rams B-29 "Gertrude C" 42-6368 the first deliberate ramming of B-29s over Japan and a piece of wreckage hit the tail of B-29 "Calamity Sue" 42-6368 causing it to enter a spin and also crash.
IJN: Defending Yawata Steel Works, 33 A6M Zeros plus four J1N1 Gekkos from 352 Kokutai.
The Navy fighters claimed four including two by Lt(jg) Sachio Endo whose Gekko went down in a crash landing with Endo surviving.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Saipan bomb Yap for the first time. A single B-24 bombs Alamagan,
while P-47s pound Pagan. B-24s from the Marshalls bomb Truk.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Namlea and Namlea Airfield and others pound personnel areas and warehouses
at Tobelo, Halmahara Island. In New Guinea, B-25s bomb Langgoer Airfield; P-39s
hit Windissi and enemy shipping off Manokwari while P-40s pound gun positions,
buildings and stores at Manokwari; other P-40s support ground forces by hitting
troop concentrations at Napido; A-20s and fighter-bombers hit a personnel center
near Marubian, supplies at Wom, and numerous targets during coastal sweeps
in the Wewak general area. 23rd Bombardment Squadrons and 31st Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy) move from Momote
Airfield to Wakde
Airfield with B-24s. The 528th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 380th Bombardment
Group (Heavy), moves from Fenton to Darwin with B-24s.
USN: Force landed on the Kamchatka Peninsula is PV-1 49507 (survived, interned).
