November 24, 1944
(20th AF) The XXI Bomber Command flies its first mission
against Japan. 35 B-29s bomb the primary target, the Musashino
aircraft plant.
November 27, 1944
(20th AF) 81 Mariana based B-29s fly against Tokyo;
none of the B-29s bomb the primary targets, the Musashino and Nakajima plants,
but 59 hit the secondary, the urban area and docks.
December 3, 1944
(20th AF)
Mission 10: 86 Mariana based B-29s are dispatched to attack the Musashino aircraft plant and docks and urban areas in Tokyo; 60 B-29s hit the primary target and 15 hit alternate targets; they claim 10-11-18 Japanese aircraft; 5 B-29s are lost including: B-29 "Rosalia Rocket" 42-24656 (MIA / POW).
December 27, 1944
(20th AF) Mission 16: 72 B-29s from the Marianas bomb Nakajima and Musashino aircraft plants in Tokyo; 39 hit the primary targets and 13 attack alternates and targets of opportunity; enemy fighters are active, flying 250+ individual attacks on the B-29s; B-29s claim 21-10-7 fighters; 3 B-29s are lost, 1 to fighters and 2 to mechanical difficulties.
January 9, 1945
(20th AF) Mission 18: 72 Mariana based B-29s are dispatched against the Musashino aircraft plant near Tokyo; high winds break up the formations so that only 18 B-29s can bomb the primary target; 34 hit alternates and targets of opportunity; they claim 13-3-11 Japanese aircraft; 6 B-29s are lost.
January 27, 1945
(20th AF) Mission 24 (Enkindle #3): 76 B-29s of the 73d Bombardment Wing
(Very Heavy) are dispatched from the Mariana against the Musashiho and Nakajima
aircraft plants near Tokyo; clouds and high winds over the target area prevent
bombing of the primary; 56 B-29s bomb the secondary target, the Tokyo urban
area, and 6 others attack alternates and targets of opportunity; fighter opposition
is the heaviest to date and 5 B-29s are downed; 4 others ditch or crashland;
B-29 gunners claim 60-17-39 Japanese aircraft, the highest claim to date.
February 19, 1945
(20th AF) Mission 37: 150 B-29s are dispatched to hit the Musashino aircraft plant in Tokyo hoping to draw air reinforcements away from the Iwo Jima invasion;
thick clouds completely cover the primary target so 119 bomb the port and urban area of Tokyo; 12 others hit targets of last resort and targets of opportunity; they claim 39-16-37 Japanese aircraft; 6 B-29s are lost including B-29 "Super Wabbit" 42-65222.
March 4, 1945
(20th AF) 192 Marianas based B-29s are airborne
against Musashino aircraft factory (Musashi) near Tokyo, but heavy clouds
prevent bombing the primary; 159 B-29s bomb the secondary target, the urban
areas of Tokyo, and 18 others hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost. This aborted
try at Musashino marks the end of XXI Bomber Command's effort to knock out
the Japanese aircraft industry by high altitude, daylight precision bombing.
April 2, 1945
(20th AF) Mission 51: 115 of 121 B-29s
bomb the Nakajima aircraft factory at Tokyo; they claim 1-1-0 Japanese aircraft;
6 B-29s are lost.
April 12, 1945
(20th AF) Mission 63: 94 B-29s,
escorted by 90 P-51s, strike the Nakajima aircraft factory at Tokyo while 11
hit the secondary target, the Shizuoka engine plant; B-29s gunners claim 16
fighters downed.
July 29, 1945
(20th AF)
B-29 "Bockscar" 44-27297 drops a pumpkin bomb (non-nuclear replication of the "Fat Man" bomb) and visually bombs the secondary target, the Nakajima Aircraft Engine Factory at Musashino with poor results.
