My Attempt to Fly in a B29 over Japan

The USS Pickens and other ships in the South Pacific fleet spent many days in the Northern Marianas (Guam, Saipan and Tinian) where we watched B29 Superfortresses take off from 8,500 foot runways. During one of the times we were anchored at Saipan, a shipmate and I thought it would be a great experience to take part in a bombing raid over Tokyo. He had a contact, whether a pilot or some higher officer, I do not remember, but he got permission for us to ride as passengers on a raid.

Before I go further let me refresh you on the use of the B29 in the war with Japan. June 15, 1944, the first B29 flew from China to strike a factory in Japan. Shortly after the Mariannas were taken, airfields were constructed and planes were flown from there. Daylight bombing from 30,000 feet was ineffective and costly, with losses as high as 25 per cent. In January 1945 Curtis LeMay switched to night bombing from 7,000 feet and used a combination of bombs, including incendiary bombs, which did great damage to industry but resulted in many human casualties.

Planes were so heavily loaded that often when they left the runway they dropped down toward the ocean before gaining altitude. The casualty rate for B29's at this time was about 5 per cent, which was considered acceptable. Pilots often said the two danger times were when they were taking off and when they were over the target. Adding two more men to a plane would have made takeoff more dangerous. No matter, the captain of our ship refused to let us go. I don't know whether I was more disappointed or more relieved.