Listen to This Incredible WWII B-29 Combat Mission Over Japan Cockpit Recording

Approaching the Target

On March 31, 1945, a B-29 bomber named City of Muny flew over Japan on a daylight bombing mission. The cockpit recording from that day captured the voices and reactions of the crew in real time. Staff Sergeant Hal Brown, a combat reporter with the Army Air Forces, narrated the events as they unfolded. There was no script, no plan—just the raw sound of war recorded during a real mission.

As the B-29 approached the target area, the weather was clear. Visibility was excellent, and the scene below appeared calm. The crew saw surface boats and inland waterways, and everything seemed too quiet. The tension was rising among the crew members. They were trained for this, but silence this close to the target made them uneasy.

The Bomb Run Begins

Lieutenant Charlie Henderson, the bombardier, prepared for the drop. Just before the bomb run began, the crew spotted an unidentified aircraft at a lower altitude flying parallel to them. It didn’t attack, but its presence suggested it was tracking the B-29’s location, possibly reporting their position and altitude by radio. Lieutenant Frank Croft, the aircraft commander, kept the bomber steady while they moved into position.

Soon, enemy anti-aircraft fire appeared ahead—dark puffs of smoke rising through the sky. The crew stayed on course as more fighters were reported closing in. The bomb bay doors opened. The plane continued forward, despite the rising threat from below and behind.

Under Attack

The bombs were released. Almost immediately, the crew had to deal with incoming Japanese fighters. The sound of the gunners opening fire echoed through the aircraft. Multiple fighters attacked from different directions—1 o’clock, 4 o’clock, 7 o’clock. Some flew close enough for the crew to feel the shockwaves as they passed. The bombardier, done with his main task, now manned the front guns.

The sky was chaotic. One fighter was seen smoking and spiraling away. Others kept circling. Several tried to approach but turned away before getting too close. Reports came in from different gunners: fighters at 3, 6, 9 o’clock—up to 30 or more by some estimates.

Leaving Japanese Airspace

The B-29 eventually cleared the target area. As it passed over the Japanese coastline and back toward open sea, the crew reported that many enemy aircraft gave up the pursuit. They could see the waves below and felt relief as they left danger behind. The water, stretching out ahead of them, looked like safety after a long and deadly mission.

Listen to Cockpit Recording on the video below: