August 10, 1944
(20th AF) On the night of the 10/11, 24 B-29s, out of Chengtu, China, bomb the urban area of Nagasaki, Japan and 3 others hit targets of opportunity; the B-29s claim 1 fighter shot down, the first such claim (except probables) by the B-29s.
July 5, 1945
(7th AF): B-24s and B-25s from Okinawa
bomb 2 towns in the Omura-Nagasaki area.
July 29, 1945
(FEAF) B-24s from Okinawa hit shipping and engine works in Nagasaki. A-26s pound the naval base and
engine works at Nagasaki.
July 31, 1945
(FEAF) A-26s and B-25s bomb warehouses at
Nagasaki
August 1, 1945
(FEAF) About 50 B-24s bomb targets in the Nagasaki dock and harbor area;
B-25s and fighter-bombers in the Nagasaki area hit docks, railroad yards, and
shipping.
August 9, 1945
(20th AF) The second and last atomic bomb of World War II is dropped
on Japan; Major Charles W. Sweeney piloted B-29 "Bockscar" 44-27297 from North Field on Tinian Island. At 0230 hours; he is followed
by 2 observation B-29 "Great Artiste" piloted by Captain Frederick C. Bock
(who has exchanged planes with Sweeney for the mission) and another B-29 piloted
by Major James I Hopkins (who loses contact with the other 2 B-29s); the primary
target, Kokura, is obscured by bad weather; the attack is made against the
secondary target, Nagasaki. The "Fat Man" atomic bomb is dropped from 28,900'
at 1058 hours Nagasaki time and explodes about a minute after release.
Japanese reports claim nearly 24,000 killed; US figures estimate about 35,000.
The attacking B-29s refuel on Okinawa, and return to Tinian by 2339 hours.
