Thank you.
I learned something new today.
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summarized from here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_raids_on_Japan#Atomic_bombings_and_final_attacks
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August 6th-Hiroshima was bombed
August 9th-Nagasaki was bombed
August 9th & 10th-B29s attack an oil target and a factory in Tokyo
August 10th-Japanese began negotiations about the terms of surrender
August 13th-B29s drop copies of the Japanese conditional offer to surrender over Japanese cities
August 14th-828 B29s and 186 fighters attack Iwakuni, Osaka, Tokoyama, Kumagaya, and Isesaki
These were the last attacks conducted against Japan by heavy bombers
August 15th-at noon, Hirohito made a radio broadcast announcing surrender
The crew had no idea what they had accomplished on that last mission. They had been the one Wing that was ordered to strike Amagasaki's oil facilities the night following the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, August 9. The 315th returned to Northwest Field August 10 as rumors were flying that Japan was surrendering. The 315th began serious celebration but the order to fly the longest mission 5 days later shocked and sobered all hands. No one was eager to fly this mission. "We thought we had won the big one and then learned that we had to go back on the field and win it again? It's always the last one that gets you," Smith added.
Smith commented that Tokyo was totally blacked out as they flew the perimeter en route to Akita. The Radar Navigator informed them when they were approaching Tokyo. Smith moved forward to the flight deck to see if he could see any sign of lights. It was looking into an inkwell Smith says. An hour and 20 minutes later the fires from Akita sent up vicious thermals that threatened to invert the B-29, indicating to the crew that it was one of the largest refineries they had attacked in the previous 9 missions. Smith said it looked as if the whole world was on fire. (In truth the Nippon Oil Fields at Akita were the largest in Japan and represented 67% of Japan's annual refining capability at the time the 315th destroyed it.)