Crew 11 - Pilot report Charles R. Greening

Type Ship: B-25 B (North Amrican) #40-2249.

Crew:

Pilot -- Capt. C.R. Greening o-22443

Co-Pilot -- 2nd Lieut. K.. Reddy 0-421131

Navigator -- 2nd Lieut. F.A. Kappeler 0-419579

Bombardier -- S/Sgt. W.L. Birch 6461172

Eng. Gunner -- Sgt. M.J. Gardner 6296448

Orders:

The mission was voluntary called from Lexington Field, Columbia, S.C., to proceed to Eglin Field, Valparaiso, Fla., to learn the nature of the mission, perform necessary changes and maintenance on the ships, and conduct a training program involving simulated conditions that could be expected during the actual mission.

The project was ordered to McClellan Field, Sacramento, Calif., for final preparations before loading aboard the U.S.S. Hornet, Alameda Naval Base.

Objective folders, maps, navigation, and other pertinent data were covered enroute.

Orders for take off were given without warning. No last minute preparations such as weather data at target enroute or destination were given. We were to report to Chuchow, China, as soon as possible if separated from ships.

Time of T.O. 0855 U.S.S. Hornet time

Altitude desired:

Bombing altitude: 1500 feet

Approach: under 1500 feet

Actual Altitude:

Bombing: 600 feet

Approach: Surface to 3000 feet and up to 10000 over China

Weather:

Broken clouds to Tokyo

Clear and unlimited over Tokyo

Enroute to China: Broken to overcast

Over China; Low overcast with rain

Bombs:

4 - 500 lb incendiary clusters

All bombs operated without malfunction.

Ammunition:

800 rounds .50 Cal.

800 rounds .30 Cal.

All ammunition load 2 tracer, 3 incendiary and 1 armor piercing.

Target:

Oil refineries, docks, warehouses and home industrial area, Yokohama.

Secondary Target:

At will according to situation.

Pursuit opposition:

Several flights were observed. Attack made only by four apparently Zero fighters with inline engines. 6 guns firing forward using either incendiaries or tracers. Hits were observed on right wing with no apparent damage other than dents in wing. Two pursuit were observed to be hit seriously enough to leave attack, one on fire. Neither were seen to crash. After bombs were released no difficulty was encountered in outrunning pursuit.

Mission report:

A large oil refinery and storage tank area was bombed with apparent complete success. Target used was camouflaged by roof tops to conceal work wherever possible. A large black column of smoke could be seen as result over 50 miles away.

Three small boats were attacked using .30 Cal nose gun. One gun burned. Estimated size 50 to 60 feet long.

/signed/
CHARLES R. GREENING
CAPTAIN, AIR CORPS
PILOT