The Last Bomb Page #3

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the P-51s head for assembly point

led by B-29s designated

as navigator ships.

Farther west, our bomber wings grind

ahead on the last lap to the empire.

Reports to the controller at Guam

give their flight position,

which is kept up to the hour

on the mission board.

Still at low altitude, the B-29s

are approaching the bad weather belt,

where unreported storms

and cold fronts

appear suddenly

across the bomber course.

Pilot to crew,

we're gonna start our climb.

Check oxygen equipment.

Tell Bucky he better get

out to his dog house.

As they begin their

slow climb to altitude,

the crews prepare for

the business ahead

and from now on till they come off target

and head home, it's all business.

The central fire control system

is warmed up.

Superhuman brainpower

at the flick of a switch.

Each gunner flexes his sights

and tries the coordinated fire controls

with a few short bursts

to clear the guns.

After pushing up to altitude, the

bombers arrive close to assembly point.

Air in the pressurized cabin

is comparable to 8,000 feet

but oxygen masks are adjusted

and ready for instant use.

From the southeast our fighter escort

appears with its navigator ships,

which now turn off to wait for

the fighters return at rally point.

The Mustangs climb in formation

to take positions

above the boxes of B-29s.

Lead bombers begin to circle,

dropping their new smoke markers

for assembly.

The project officer observes

this part of the tactical plan in action.

From various zone positions

the groups separate.

And form on their lead ships

in nine-or 11-plane waves...

which head for initial point.

The big parade is on.

Landfall is picked up,

along with the first flak burst

from enemy coastal batteries.

Fujiyama, the familiar white beacon,

marks the turn for initial point.

Flak becomes heavier

and more accurate.

And now the first Jap snoopers appear

diving head-on into the formations.

Some are suicide fighters

trying to ram our bombers.

Other Jap fighters

drop phosphorous bombs

set to explode in front

of the oncoming B-29s.

Our P-51s go out after them

and know they're tangling with experts.

The P-51s' job is to protect the B-29s.

But some Jap fighters filtered through

and meet the blast of bomber guns.

A tail gunner pleads with a Nip fighter

to come in a little closer.

From the turn at initial point the

tight bomber waves move steadily on

and get ready for business.

Flak and fighters fall off.

But those clouds are beginning

to close in and it looks worse ahead.

Then just east of Hachioji,

the Tokyo area breaks clear.

The bombardiers begin

to draw a bead on 574.

Their planes sit tight

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