以印度為基地的美國陸軍航空隊第20轟炸司令部B-29為了執行對台灣的轟炸任務,從1944年10月9日開始飛越喜馬拉雅山,部署到中國成都附近的四個前進基地:
B-29 of the XX Bomber Command based in India began moving up to the four forward bases around Chengdu in China on October 9, 1944:
- A-1 新津:第40轟炸大隊 (Hsinching: 40th Bombardment Group)
- A-3 廣漢:第444轟炸大隊 (Kwanghan: 444th Bombardment Group)
- A-5 邛崍:第462轟炸大隊 (Kiunglai: 462nd Bombardment Group)
- A-7 彭山:第468轟炸大隊 (Pengshan: 486th Bombardment Group)
1944年10月14日清晨,132架B-29從這些前進基地起飛(另有3架未能順利起飛),執行編號10號的轟炸任務,目標是岡山的飛機製造廠。下面這張照片記錄了飛往台灣途中的第462與468轟炸大隊的B-29:
On the morning of “D” day, October 14, 1944, a total of 132 B-29 took off from these forward bases to carry out XX BC Mission Number 10 to bomb the aircraft factory in Okayama, Formosa. The other three aircraft were ground-abort. On their way to Formosa, the following photo of the B-29 of the 462th BG and 468th BG was taken:
Source:NARA via Fold3.com
照片最下面的B-29整個尾翼方向舵都漆上了顏色,所以是462大隊的飛機:
The bottom B-29 had a painted rudder and was thus identified as the aircraft of the 462nd BG:
Source:NARA via Fold3.com
從下面往上數的第二架飛機在照片放大後可以看到方向舵有兩條斜漆的色條,因此可判別是468大隊的B-29:
The second aircraft from the bottom had two diagonal stripes on the rudder, indicating that it was assigned to the 468th BG:
Source:NARA via Fold3.com
第10號任務是美軍B-29首度對台灣的轟炸,具有特殊的歷史意義。兩天前,從美國海軍航空母艦起飛的飛機已經對岡山日本海軍第六十一廠攻擊過一次,而在第10號任務中總共有106架B-29在目標區投下炸彈,12架因故改炸其他目標,12架未能投彈,兩架未返航。
Two days earlier, aircraft from US Navy carriers had bombed the same target. On Mission Number 10, 106 B-29 dropped their bombs on the primary targets, 12 bombed other secondary targets, 12 did not bomb, and two were lost.
Source:NARA via Fold3.com
跟之前的偵察照片比較:
The same area in the August 1944 reconnaissance photo:
Source:NARA via Fold3.com
第20轟炸司令部的B-29在10月16日又執行了一次轟炸台灣的第11號任務,除了攻擊屏東飛行場,部分轟炸機再度轟炸岡山。
On October 16, the XX Bomber Command launched Mission Number 11. In addition to bombing Heito (now Pingtung) Airdrome, some B-29 struck Okayama again.