The Primary Target for this Mission was the Musashino Aircraft Factory ( Target 357 ).
The 313th Bomb Wing also participated in this mission.

Nine squadrons from the four Bomb Groups of the 73rd Bomb Wing
flew this mission as a column of squadrons.

IP = Initial Point
Beginning of Bomb Run

At the IP ( Kofu ) undercast prevented a visual sighting for the bombardiers.
The course was changed to the Secondary Target at the Tokyo Dock Area.

Below are pages from Jim Bowman's Day by Day in PDF format that cover the
500th Bomb Group for the period 16 - 19 February 1945.
Within are several details of the mission.

Two navigation charts and a Google Map follow this commentary.

The initial course to the Primary Target was 85 degrees TRUE but
changed to 88-90 degrees for most of the nine squadrons
to reach the Secondary target.

Documents in the Mission Report state that the Samuelson B-29, Z Square 12,
was rammed close to or over the target.

Introduction Page 2
offers a different description

The Missing Air Crew Report ( MACR ) states a time of 0544 Z,
the same moment that bombs were dropped by the first squadron.

This information does not match that in other documents from
Sgt Janecek's IDPF that place the location closer to the area of Uenohara.

There are two circles in the Google map.

The one on the right side is the Secondary Target while the one in the
center is my best estimate of the area of Uenohara.

  Day by Day Part 1

16- 19 February 1945

used with permission of Jim Bowman

73RD BOMB WING MISSION NUMBER 26
CONSOLIDATED STATISTICAL SUMMARY
COVER PAGE

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TRACK FROM INITIAL POINT AT KOFU
TO
SECONDARY TARGET

TOKYO DOCK AREA
COURSE 88 - 90 DEGREES TRUE

source : Google Maps

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RADAR COUNTERMEASURE ( RCM )
NAVIGATION CHART

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500TH BOMB GROUP NAVIGATORS FLIMSY

source : Air Force Historical Research Agency REEL B0668

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NAVIGATION CHART
500TH BOMB GROUP

source : Air Force Historical Research Agency REEL B0668

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