The 6th Bomb Group

This was an aerial night mining mission involving 32 planes from the 6th Bomb Group:

The first mission in May was flown on the night of 3-4 with thrty-three planes carrying a load of 232 aerial mines in a late afternoon takeoff to Mine Field "L" just east of the Shimonoseki Straits. The field had been mined previously and this operation was for reinforcement, i.e., replacing mines swept away or exploded. Thirty-two aircraft were effective with missions results classified as good. Enemy opposition was light, and all Sixth planes returned undamaged.

[Pirate's Log, p. 41]

20th AF Mission 139

Date:  3 May 1945
Code Name: Starvation    #8
Target:  Shimonoseki Straits and Inland Sea
Participating Units: 313th Bombardment Wing
Number A/C Airborne: 97
% A/C Mining Primary: 89% (88 primary and 3 alternate)
Time Over Minefield: 040008K   - 040335K
Altitude of Attack: 4800 - 8650
Weather Over Target: 5/10 low cloud
Total A/C Lost: 0
Resume of Mission: Results were considered good.  Thirty-nine E/A sighted made 3 attacks.  A/A was heavy, medium, meager to intense and inaccurate.  Searchlights observed as follows:  15 in Osaka, 20 in Kobe, 2 batteries of 4 each Awajashima, 6 at Bofu, 9 at Ogon and 12 at Futaoshima.  A/A fire not coordinated with searchlights.  Seven aircraft landed Iwo Jima.  Average mine load:  13,170 lbs. average fuel reserve:  829 gallons.  Six aircraft non-effective.