Archie to SAM: A Short Operational History of Ground-Based Air ...

ANTIAIRCRAFT DEFENSE THROUGH WORLD WAR II
Figure 33. A-20 aircraft sequence (continued). (Reprinted from USAF.)
In the strategic bombing campaign against Japan, the AAF
used its best bomber, the Boeing B-29, which was faster,
higher flying, and more heavily armed than either the B-17 or
B-24 that bombed Germany. 98 The AAF lost 414 B-29s in
combat against Japan. They estimated that 74 fell to enemy
aircraft, 54 to flak, and 19 to both flak and fighters (fig. 34).
The ineffectiveness of Japanese flak and electronics is highlighted
by the American decision to change from their prewar
bombing doctrine and European strategic bombing practice of
high-altitude day attacks to night attacks below 10,000 feet.
55