Paul,
As promised I'll give you the text of the Choshu raid as described by Larry Higgins in his History of the 345th Bombardment Group during WW II.

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FIRST MISSION TO FORMOSA: FEBRUARY 20, 1945
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With the establishment of the 5th Air Force on Luzon, one of its primary missions was the neutralization of the Japanese bastion of Formosa, a 250-mile-long island located a hundred miles off the China coast. This densely populated island served as a critical way station along the strategic shipping lanes to the southern part of Japan's Asian and Southwest Pacific empire. It was also a critical component in Japan's wartime economy. Agriculturally, it produced rice and sugar to feed Japan's population, although many of its sugar mills had been converted to produce fuel alcohol--butanol--which was an important component of aviation gasoline. With a swift-flowing river system running down from its mountainous spine, Formosa's dams produced hydroelectric power which was used to refine about 10% of Japan's aluminum. The island had a highly-developed road and rail transportation system and an elaborate air defense network which included about 50 airfields.
The island had been the target of sweep by carrier aircraft and had been bombed by B-29's, but the reduction of the inland's strategic potential was left to the 5th Air Force which started a round-the-clock B-24's and B-25's in late January.
The Air Apaches flew their first mission to the island on Febuary 20th in a strike coordinated with the 38th Bomb Group and heavy fighter cover. The target was the rail marshalling yards at Kagi, a large town on the west-central portion of the island.
In a routine which was to become familiar over the next couple of months, the large force rendezvoused off the southern tip of the island and proceeded inland toward the target Capt. Bazzel of the 500th Squadron led the 345th behind the B-25's of the 38th Bomb Group.
The weather progressively worstened as the 32 Air Apaches strafers approached the target. Forty miles south of Kagi, the Group Leader diverted to the secondary, the area around Chosu, and the squadron formations turned around and began a low level sweep down a long and heavily populated valley back toward the coast, strafing and bombing anything of significance along their flight path. Flying loose-knit line abreast or three plane formations, the B-25's advances towards Chosu through a number of small towns, shooting up and bombing trucks, sugar mills, railroad facilities, rolling stock, a radio station, high tension transformers, hydroelectric transmission lines, and many buildings.
The pilots were under no restrictions as to the targets they could attack Reaching Chosu, the railroad marshalling yards, bridges barracks, warehouses, a possible chemical plant and the town center were bombed and strafed.
Continuing beyond Chosu, the planes attacked all the way to the coast where they damaged a small transport ship. The entire way the planes "ran the gauntlet" of ack-ack and small arms fire which hit nine planes. The only serious damage was done to a plane from the 501st Squadron.
The seven planes from the 501st, led by 1/Lt Melvin R. Bell, had become separated from the rest of the group in the weather. As the Squadron approached Chosu Airdrome and prepared to begin its attack, an AA shell exploded near the right engine of Bell's aircraft, setting it afire. The Squadron immediately aborted the mission and formed up around the damaged B-25 to escort it from the area.
Flying on one engine, Bell immediately set a course for North Island, located about halfway between Formosa and the Luzon coast and designated as an air-sea rescue point. Reaching the the south-east shore of the island, Bell attempted a water landing but the sea was rough and the fuselage broke in two as the plane hit the water. The nose sank immediately, taking four men in the front of the plane to the bottom with it. Only the radio operator, T/Sgt. Glenn C Allen and the tail gunner, S/Sgt. George A Harvey, were thrown clear as the plane sank. They were later picked up by a Sutherland.
_________
The caption on the picture states;
The 345th staged its first raid on February 20, hitting secondary targets around the town of Chosu because of bad weather. This photo was taken from plane #350 of the 500 th Squadron and shows bombs exploding near a bridge.
----------
I'm sure all of this will be of much interest to you. The book is a gem with many pictures and maps in addition to the excellent text covering the Unit's History during WW II.
Those involved with the 43rd Bomb Group have been waiting for years and years for Hickey to finish a similar history for the 43rd but it appears to be a false hope.
From about 1938 to 1943 we lived in Urbana while my mother maintained a house there while my twin brother and sister went to the U of I. Many fond memories of that time. My other brother, Bucky, who was killed while serving with the 43rd, graduated from Urbana HS
Anyway, I hope this helps.
Al O'Brien
Paul,
As promised I'll give you the text of the Chonshu raid as described by Larry Higgins in his History of the 345th Bombardment Group during WW II.
-----------
FIRST MISSION TO FORMOSA: FEBRUARY 20, 1945
-----------
With the establishment of the 5th Air Force on Luzon, one of its primary missions was the neutralization of the Japanese bastion of Formosa, a 250-mile-long island located a hundred miles off the China coast. This densely populated island served as a critical way station along the strategic shipping lanes to the southern part of Japan's Asian and Southwest Pacific empire. It was also a critical component in Japan's wartime economy. Agriculturally, it produced rice and sugar to feed Japan's population, although many of its sugar mills had been converted to produce fuel alcohol--butanol--which was an important component of aviation gasoline. With a swift-flowing river system running down from its mountainous spine, Formosa's dams produced hydroelectric power which was used to refine about 10% of Japan's aluminum. The island had a highly-developed road and rail transportation system and an elaborate air defense network which included about 50 airfields.
The island had been the target of sweep by carrier aircraft and had been bombed by B-29's, but the reduction of the inland's strategic potential was left to the 5th Air Force which started a round-the-clock B-24's and B-25's in late January.
The Air Apaches flew their first mission to the island on Febuary 20th in a strike coordinated with the 38th Bomb Group and heavy fighter cover. The target was the rail marshalling yards at Kagi, a large town on the west-central portion of the island.
In a routine which was to become familiar over the next couple of months, the large force rendezvoused off the southern tip of the island and proceeded inland toward the target Capt. Bazzel of the 500th Squadron led the 345th behind the B-25's of the 38th Bomb Group.
The weather progressively worstened as the 32 Air Apaches strafers approached the target. Forty miles south of Kagi, the Group Leader diverted to the secondary, the area around Chosu, and the squadron formations turned around and began a low level sweep down a long and heavily populated valley back toward the coast, strafing and bombing anything of significance along their flight path. Flying loose-knit line abreast or three plane formations, the B-25's advances towards Chosu through a number of small towns, shooting up and bombing trucks, sugar mills, railroad facilities, rolling stock, a radio station, high tension transformers, hydroelectric transmission lines, and many buildings.
The pilots were under no restrictions as to the targets they could attack Reaching Chosu, the railroad marshalling yards, bridges barracks, warehouses, a possible chemical plant and the town center were bombed and strafed.
Continuing beyond Chosu, the planes attacked all the way to the coast where they damaged a small transport ship. The entire way the planes "ran the gauntlet" of ack-ack and small arms fire which hit nine planes. The only serious damage was done to a plane from the 501st Squadron.
The seven planes from the 501st, led by 1/Lt Melvin R. Bell, had become separated from the rest of the group in the weather. As the Squadron approached Chosu Airdrome and prepared to begin its attack, an AA shell exploded near the right engine of Bell's aircraft, setting it afire. The Squadron immediately aborted the mission and formed up around the damaged B-25 to escort it from the area.
Flying on one engine, Bell immediately set a course for North Island, located about halfway between Formosa and the Luzon coast and designated as an air-sea rescue point. Reaching the the south-east shore of the island, Bell attempted a water landing but the sea was rough and the fuselage broke in two as the plane hit the water. The nose sank immediately, taking four men in the front of the plane to the bottom with it. Only the radio operator, T/Sgt. Glenn C Allen and the tail gunner, S/Sgt. George A Harvey, were thrown clear as the plane sank. They were later picked up by a Sutherland.
_________
The caption on the picture states;
The 345th staged its first raid on February 20, hitting secondary targets around the town of Chosu because of bad weather. This photo was taken from plane #350 of the 500 th Squadron and shows bombs exploding near a bridge.
----------
I'm sure all of this will be of much interest to you. The book is a gem with many pictures and maps in addition to the excellent text covering the Unit's History during WW II.
Those involved with the 43rd Bomb Group have been waiting for years and years for Hickey to finish a similar history for the 43rd but it appears to be a false hope.
From about 1938 to 1943 we lived in Urbana while my mother maintained a house there while my twin brother and sister went to the U of I. Many fond memories of that time. My other brother, Bucky, who was killed while serving with the 43rd, graduated from Urbana HS
Anyway, I hope this helps.
Thanks!! AL
Sat Jan 26 16:51:32 2002
172.183.25.104

Thanks, Al, for posting the info concerning the Choshu raid in 1945. I've ordered the book through the publisher's website.

After reading the narrative history on the raid your provided, I think at least 2 squadrons of bombers were involved from 345th as well some B25s from the 38th B.G.
It did not specified, however, the group number of the fighter cover for that mission. I think, with your help, I have major berakthrough in my research of Choshu raid. Thanks!!

One thing is clearly from my research, B29 based in Chengtu, China, never bombed choshu, neither did Mariana-based B29, which focused in fire bombing Japan proper as well as Okinawas.

Al, I want you to know, you're a big help to my research.