Was there a B-29 raid on Tokyo on 8/9 May 1945 ?

[Mikkel Plannthin]

According to information given by the Danish-American airman, SSgt Jens/Yens Matthiasen, to his family (or at least as it was compiled in a later article) he participated in a raid on Tokyo on 8/9 May 1945.

He explains that the B-29 was seriously hit by enemy fire, which left him 'shell shocked'.

I was of the impression that the raid on 10 March 1945 left Tokyo in a state where no further mission was necessary.

Would there be a list of Tokyo raids that could confirm (or not) if there was a raid in May 1945?

Kind regards

Mikkel

[Stig Jarlevik]

Mikkel

Looking through the XXI Bomber Command missions over Japan, listed by Robert Mann in his B-29
Superfortress book, there was no night mission against Tokyo 8/9 May 1945.

Daylight missions were flown both on the 8th and 10th (none of them to Tokyo) but nothing on the 9th
or, as said, 8/9

B Rgds
Stig

[Mikkel Plannthin]

Stig,
Thank you. The Danish text says (my translation):

During bombing missions over Japan the B-29 could be hit by Japanese fire. On one B-29 mission (Jens''s third mission over Japan) the 8-9 May 1945 the aircraft was hit more than 200 times over Tokyo. The entire aircraft each time it was hit and Jens was very frightened.

Quoted from Vemb Borger- og Håndværkerforening (1994). Vemb-bo i amerikansk tjeneste under krigen, Vemb by og dens borgere II, which is a publication from a local historical society and therefore not entirely trustworthy on aviation matters

Kind regards

Mikkel

[Stig Jarlevik]

No wish what-so-ever to take any credit from Jens, he no doubt took part in many of these B-29 raids.

However without any log-book, its problematic to know exactly which ones.

At my age, I am happy to remember what I did yesterday....

Cheers
Stig

[Mikkel Plannthin]

Exactly, it is not possible to get further without logbook, squadron/group diary or the like. However, to date he is the only Danish-American I have been able to link to B-29 operations.

I have compiled the information I have here:
http://www.danishww2pilots.dk/profiles.php?person=522

Kind regards

Mikkel

[Mikkel Plannthin]

He served in the 29th Bomb Group, I just found out.

Mikkel

[RSwank]

There were raids on Tokyo later in May.

According to the Air Force Combat Chronology:

https://media.defense.gov/2010/May/2...100525-035.pdf


"5/23/45 Twentieth AF
During 23/24 May, 520 out of 562 B-29’s sent against Tokyo bomb an urban-industrial area S of the
Imperial Palace along W side of the harbor. 5 others hit T/Os. 17 B-29’s are lost. This is the largest
number of B-29’s participating in a single mission during World War II."

"5/25/45 Twentieth AF
During 25/26 May, 464 B-29’s pound urban area of Tokyo immediately S of the Imperial Palace just N
of that bombed on 23/24 May, including financial, commercial, and governmental districts as well as
factories and homes. 26 B-29’s are lost on this mission, the highest single-day loss of VHBs in World
War II. US gunners claim 19 ftrs destroyed."

[Stig Jarlevik]

Aha Mikkel

That made it easier

29BG flew to Tokyo the following dates in 1945
9/10 March
23/24 May
25/26 May

Cheers
Stig

[Mikkel Plannthin]

Thank you both.

Mikkel

[Buckeye30]

Mikkel have you contacted the Association- ( I thought he was ground crew 52BS ??)

Nick



https://www.20af.org/matthiasen-yens-m2360-29bg.cfm