B-29 bomber of 500th bomb group, #11 on SAIPAIN PTO
The 500th Bomb Group began its combat operations with a raid on the Dublon submarine pens at Truk on November 11, 1944. During this mission, eight of the group’s aircraft successfully reached the target, delivering bombs with reasonable accuracy. Shortly after, on November 24, 1944, the group participated in the 73rd Bombardment Wing’s first attack against Tokyo, targeting the Musashi aircraft engine factory.
For the next four months, the 500th Bomb Group conducted high-level, daylight precision raids, focusing on Japanese aircraft factories. The group earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for its exceptional performance during this period. The first citation was awarded for an attack on the Mitsubishi aircraft engine factory at Nagoya in January 1945. The second was given for low-level incendiary raids targeting the urban industrial areas of Osaka, the industries at Hamamatsu, and critical shipping and rail links on Kyushu.
After the war, the group participated in humanitarian missions, dropping food and supplies to POWs in Japan, Korea, China, and Formosa. The 500th Bomb Group returned to the United States in October 1945 and was inactivated on January 17, 1946.