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This was a daylight tactical support mission involving 6 planes from the
6th Bomb Group:
During April, eight such tactical missions were flown with an average
attacking force of twelve B-29's. * * * Miyakonojo Airfield was
attacked twice - on the 27th and 28th.
[Pirate's Log, p. 38]
According to the DFC Citation for Cpt Herbert A. Frank,
Jr., Aircraft Commander (39BS):
Captain HERBERT A. FRANK, JR, 39th Bombardment
Squadron, 6th Bombardment Group, Air Corps, United States Army. For
extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 28 April
1945. Captain FRANK was Airplane Commander of a B-29 on an important
mining mission, the first of a series of highly successful operations
against Japanese shipping and in direct support or our naval forces
engaged in the Okinawa Campaign. He performed his assigned duties with
such a high degree of skill and devotion to duty that, notwithstanding
heavy, accurate and intense anti-aircraft fire, he successfully and
accurately laid the mines as briefed, seriously interfering with the
enemy's shipping and causing them great losses in men, ships and material
both directly and indirectly. Throughout the long and difficult mission he
achieved great precision in every detail and brilliantly lead his crew in
carrying out their assault to a successful conclusion. By his skill and devotion to
duty, Captain FRANK who has completed more than twenty-five combat sorties
reflected great credit on himself and the Army Air Forces.
[Transcribed by David Wilson, son of Sgt Bernard E. Wilson (Gunner, "Anonymous IV")]
According to the DFC Citation for Cpt Clayton L. Anderson, Aircraft Commander (40BS):
Captain CLAYTON L. ANDERSON, 40th Bombardment Squadron,
6th Bombardment Group, Air Corps, United States Army. For
extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Airplane
Commander of a lead B-29 aircraft on two highly successful bombing
missions against airfields on Kyushu, Japan, 22 April 1945 and 28 April
1945. Successful accomplishment of these missions was made under adverse
weather conditions, in the face of difficult navigational problems, in
view of the ever present danger of ditching while crossing thousands of
miles of ocean from the base in the Marianas Islands. The flights were
subjected to enemy anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition. In spite of
these obstacles, he so skillfully led the raid that ninety-seven percent
of the bombs on both missions fell within 1000 feet of the designated
point of impact. The excellence of his work occurred at a time when every
bomb against these airfields helped destroy enemy aircraft which were
seriously interfering with the allied campaign on nearby Okinawa. His
actions reflect great credit on himself and the Army Air Forces.
[Transcribed by David Wilson, son of Sgt Bernard E. Wilson (Gunner, "Anonymous IV")]
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