Tag: Consolidated B-24J Liberator

Photo(s) of the Week: 7th Air Force Bombing Campaign IV – Air-to-Air Phosphorus Bombs

On By acarothersvlrmIn History, Photo(s) of the WeekLeave a comment

The Japanese air forces on Iwo Jima were losing the war of attrition brought on by the relentless 7th Air Force bombing campaign. Unable to consistently replace aircraft damaged from combat and bombing, the Japanese would resort to using air-to-air phosphorus bombs to break up the bomber formations and destroy more bombers.

USAAF/National Archives via Fold3

Japanese aircraft, mostly Mitsubishi A6M5 Zeros, would position themselves above the B-24 formations and release their phosphorus bombs which would explode over the formations sending phosphorus bomblets in a 300 yard wide pattern down onto the path of the bombers. Each 32 kg bomb would hold 75 steel encased phosphorus bomblets.

USAAF/National Archives via Fold3

While very unsettling for bomber crews, the phosphorus air to air bombs were largely ineffective. More 7th Air Force B-24s were lost to ordinary flak than to phosphorus bombs.

Photo(s) of the Week: The 7th Air Force Bombing Campaign II

On By acarothersvlrmIn History, Photo(s) of the WeekLeave a comment

Below are two photos of 819th Bomb Squadron, 30th Bomb Group Consolidated B-24J Liberators heading back for the long trip to the Marianas after bombing Iwo Jima. The 7th Air Force’s Liberators bombed Iwo Jima, Chichi Jima, and Haha Jima on a frequent basis between August 10, 1944, and February 19, 1945.

USAAF/National Archives via Fold3

The official United States Army Air Force caption for the above photo reads: “SOUTH PACIFIC – Bomb scarred Iwo Jima Island only 650 miles from the Japanese homeland is a regular target for the 7th AAF heavies – show clearly the necessity for the famous pin point precision bombing of the 7th AAF Liberators.” No matter how accurate the precision bombing of 7th AAF Liberators was, it would only take a short amount of time for the Japanese troops to repair the damage and return the airfields to operational status, much to the ire of bomber crews.

USAAF/National Archives via Fold3

Notwithstanding, during the period between August 10, 1944 and February 19, 1945, the Japanese air forces on Iwo Jima were greatly disrupted by constant bombardment of 7th AAF Liberators, and never became much of an offensive threat to American air bases in the Marianas.

I am assuming both pictures were taken during the same bombing mission, but there is nothing in the captions for the photos to confirm is assumption.