General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

apiditg with wllich these misslons were conducted the crew8 exhibited an
uuwavering s~irit of willin,~ess to perform their tasks. On all missions, they
brarcd intense and accurate antiaircraft fire. More than 75 aggressive enemy
fighters were encountered by aircrilft of the 4FZd RomdarU?nent Woup (YE)
on these three missions, but the gallant crews pressed on to thcir targets, destroying
15 of the attacking aircraft and irobably destroying 3. During this
momentrms period, the ground personnel worked steadily throughout the day
and night, determined to get a maximum number of their nircraft in the hest
possible mechanical condition for each of these three missions. Their conspicuous
effort, together rvith the hirh skill and deierminatiun of the gallant air
crews, reflect great credit on the 462d Bonibardn~cnt Group (VLT) and the armed
forces of ihe United Slates. (General Orders 13, Headquarters Twentieth Air
Force, 23 Tannary 1946.)
6. The /Ma Bombal,dment Group (VH) is cited for outstanding performance
of duty in action against the enemy in connection with daylight precision bombing
of the Kawanishi aircraft plant at Takarazuka on 24 July 1015. As nab
of an all-out effort to smash Japanese niruraft p~miiiction, the OiiPd Uombardmmt
Croz~p (FE) and one other group from the 58th Bo~nbardroent Vin, " were
given the assignment of destroying the ICawanishi aircraft faciory, which manufactured
components of a dangerous Japanese navy fighter airplane. As the result
of unremitting efforts of the ground personnel, this grou~ put 42 nivlanes in the
air for this important raid, clesnite the fact that 7 previous missinns had been
run during July and msintcnance dcmarids had been unusually high. Because
a total oi more than GO0 Ar:erican niililanes were operating over Jamin that
day. the enemy defcnders Were especially alert and the 4GSd BomDardment Group
(Vn) ran into a hail of antiaircraft fire at Kobe and Osaka on its way to the
target area. The fire was 80 intense that 28 aircraft of this group were hit by
enemy flak, but continued undaunted on their bomblng run. Before retiring from
the deadly area, the group dropped 205 tons of explosi~cs on the Kawanishi plant.
Subseqnent photogmphs revealed that the aircraft factory had Wen 85 percent
deatroyed, thus mai.eria11y reducing the Japanese wwer. The professional skill
of the 662d Bombardment ffroua . (VH). . in the heat of the batne and in the face
of the bitterest opposition, and the inyielding determination with which it
~allantly . carried out its missions are outstandinc - eramDle,les of leadership, esprit
de corps, and tenacity of plirpose and reflect the highest credit on the group and
the Army Air Forces. (General Orders 135, Headquarters Twentieth Air Force,
24 December 1D45.)
7. The 4GSth Hombardnrat Group (YE) is cited for outstanding performance
of duty in armed conflict with the enemy. During the period 25-29 Msy 1945,
the destruction of the mililarily important industrial areas of Tokyo and
Pakohnrua was completed, despite the fierce enemy antiaircraft fire from these
most henvily defended points of the Japanese mainland. On 23 and 215 May
1945, the heroic efforts of all personnel of the 46'8th Bomimrdment Ch-oup (VII)
contributed materially to the aeatruction of an additional 22.1 square miles of
vital industrial area in Tokyo, bringing to 56.3 square miles the total area
devnstatcd within that city, the center of Japan's war industry. Before the
Japanese bad time to recovcr from this staggering blow to their morale and war
potential, this group participated in a daring daylight strike on 29 May 1945
against the city of Yokohama, a single attack in great force, which redumd to
rubble 6.9 square miles of the city's most impurtnnt industrial area. The success
of this series of mtssions, Bown as they were in rapid succession and orer vast
AGO 3350B