2nd Lt Robert Logan Grace
73rd Bomb Wing Mission # 22
Page 1

The 73rd Bomb Wing Mission #22 Report has 277 pages and
within this section are some the ones concerning the 499th Bomb Group
and V Square 27 ( 42-24769 ).

The target for Mission #22 was the Musashino Aircraft Plant ( Target 357 ) located in the Tokyo area.

During WWII Target 357 was attacked 8 or 9 times with minimal damage to the facility
and significant losses to the 73rd Bomb Wing.

The first document is from POW Research Network Japan and
provides a concise summary of the crash location and the fate of the Smith Crew.

Next are two maps.
The Google map shows the approximate location where Rover Boy Express crashed.

This is followed by the Navigation map with the track the B-29s flew
to and from the target.

V Square 27 is circled in the formation diagram over the target.

Bombs were dropped prior to the B-29 being attacked
by enemy fighters. Two tables in Page 2 provide a few details.

Within the 73rd Bomb Wing there was a Combat Control Center
that kept track of the B-29s on the mission.

This was essentially in real time and the
Blackboard for the 499th Bomb Group is at the bottom of the page.

On there are B-29 tail numbers, Time of takeoff and landing,
Aircraft Commanders, and comments in the far right column.

source of 73rd Bomb Wing Mission #22 Report : Jim Bowman

 

TOBU ARMY DISTRICT
POW RESEARCH NETWORK JAPAN

CRASH LOCATION

GOOGLE MAP
AREA OF CRASH SITE


source: Google Maps

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NAVIGATION MAP
CIRCLED ARE COORDINATES
35 N 140 E
and
36 N 140 E

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FORMATION OVER TARGET


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499TH BOMB GROUP MISSION BLACKBOARD

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