B-29 Serial – 42-24542 – Lady Hamilton II – Gordon Johnson – Pilot
June 1945
The first mission of the month was a daylight incendiary strike on 1 June against Osaka (58th Bomb Wing Field Order #10). The 468th Bomb Group had 35 aircraft airborne of which 32 hit the Primary Target, 1 a Target of Opportunity, with 2 aircraft failing to bomb because of mechanical difficulties. Bombing results were excellent with nearly all aircraft dropping visually from an altitude of 20,500 feet. Air opposition was slight.
Sightings by Crew Members identified Jacks, Franks, Nicks, and Irvings - enemy fighter aircraft. Twenty-one attacks and three claims were reported. Flak was encountered at or near the Departure Point on Awaji, from Kobe, and from the target area. At the Primary
Target it was meager to intense, accurate to inaccurate, with four of our aircraft reporting minor damage. It was believed that flak accuracy was affected by the heavy smoke spouting up to 25,000 feet from the burned city.
Aircraft 42-24542, Lady Hamilton II, Lt. Johnson, Pilot, 794th Bomb Squadron, was lost with cause unknown. They failed to return to this Base after the mission. One of the returning Crews reported that several aircraft, including Capt. Johnson's flew into instrument weather 200 miles south of Japan. His aircraft was not seen after this time.
No distress message was received and his loss was not suspect until several hours later when they failed to land at Iwo Jima or their home Base on Tinian. Air Sea Rescue was dispatched to their last known location and the area was searched for several days without success.
Corporal Nail had flown 17 missions at the time of his death.
June 1945
The first mission of the month was a daylight incendiary strike on 1 June against Osaka (58th Bomb Wing Field Order #10). The 468th Bomb Group had 35 aircraft airborne of which 32 hit the Primary Target, 1 a Target of Opportunity, with 2 aircraft failing to bomb because of mechanical difficulties. Bombing results were excellent with nearly all aircraft dropping visually from an altitude of 20,500 feet. Air opposition was slight.
Sightings by Crew Members identified Jacks, Franks, Nicks, and Irvings - enemy fighter aircraft. Twenty-one attacks and three claims were reported. Flak was encountered at or near the Departure Point on Awaji, from Kobe, and from the target area. At the Primary
Target it was meager to intense, accurate to inaccurate, with four of our aircraft reporting minor damage. It was believed that flak accuracy was affected by the heavy smoke spouting up to 25,000 feet from the burned city.
Aircraft 42-24542, Lady Hamilton II, Lt. Johnson, Pilot, 794th Bomb Squadron, was lost with cause unknown. They failed to return to this Base after the mission. One of the returning Crews reported that several aircraft, including Capt. Johnson's flew into instrument weather 200 miles south of Japan. His aircraft was not seen after this time.
No distress message was received and his loss was not suspect until several hours later when they failed to land at Iwo Jima or their home Base on Tinian. Air Sea Rescue was dispatched to their last known location and the area was searched for several days without success.
Corporal Nail had flown 17 missions at the time of his death.
B-29 Serial – 42-24542 – Lady Hamilton II – Gordon Johnson – Pilot
June 1945
The first mission of the month was a daylight incendiary strike on 1 June against Osaka (58th Bomb Wing Field Order #10). The 468th Bomb Group had 35 aircraft airborne of which 32 hit the Primary Target, 1 a Target of Opportunity, with 2 aircraft failing to bomb because of mechanical difficulties. Bombing results were excellent with nearly all aircraft dropping visually from an altitude of 20,500 feet. Air opposition was slight.
Sightings by Crew Members identified Jacks, Franks, Nicks, and Irvings - enemy fighter aircraft. Twenty-one attacks and three claims were reported. Flak was encountered at or near the Departure Point on Awaji, from Kobe, and from the target area. At the Primary
Target it was meager to intense, accurate to inaccurate, with four of our aircraft reporting minor damage. It was believed that flak accuracy was affected by the heavy smoke spouting up to 25,000 feet from the burned city.
Aircraft 42-24542, Lady Hamilton II, Lt. Johnson, Pilot, 794th Bomb Squadron, was lost with cause unknown. They failed to return to this Base after the mission. One of the returning Crews reported that several aircraft, including Capt. Johnson's flew into instrument weather 200 miles south of Japan. His aircraft was not seen after this time.
No distress message was received and his loss was not suspect until several hours later when they failed to land at Iwo Jima or their home Base on Tinian. Air Sea Rescue was dispatched to their last known location and the area was searched for several days without success.
Corporal Nail had flown 17 missions at the time of his death.
June 1945
The first mission of the month was a daylight incendiary strike on 1 June against Osaka (58th Bomb Wing Field Order #10). The 468th Bomb Group had 35 aircraft airborne of which 32 hit the Primary Target, 1 a Target of Opportunity, with 2 aircraft failing to bomb because of mechanical difficulties. Bombing results were excellent with nearly all aircraft dropping visually from an altitude of 20,500 feet. Air opposition was slight.
Sightings by Crew Members identified Jacks, Franks, Nicks, and Irvings - enemy fighter aircraft. Twenty-one attacks and three claims were reported. Flak was encountered at or near the Departure Point on Awaji, from Kobe, and from the target area. At the Primary
Target it was meager to intense, accurate to inaccurate, with four of our aircraft reporting minor damage. It was believed that flak accuracy was affected by the heavy smoke spouting up to 25,000 feet from the burned city.
Aircraft 42-24542, Lady Hamilton II, Lt. Johnson, Pilot, 794th Bomb Squadron, was lost with cause unknown. They failed to return to this Base after the mission. One of the returning Crews reported that several aircraft, including Capt. Johnson's flew into instrument weather 200 miles south of Japan. His aircraft was not seen after this time.
No distress message was received and his loss was not suspect until several hours later when they failed to land at Iwo Jima or their home Base on Tinian. Air Sea Rescue was dispatched to their last known location and the area was searched for several days without success.
Corporal Nail had flown 17 missions at the time of his death.
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