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NOTES TO TABLE 39

This table sums up the data for 1944 given in Table 38, and provides additional figures on ordnance expenditures on targets.

The carrier emphasis on strafing and rocket attacks on grounded aircraft may be noted, together with the heavy volume of bombing attack on other airfield targets (Note that sorties classified as attacking primarily aircraft runways may have expended some of their bombs, and the bulk of their rockets and strafing fire, on grounded aircraft and airfield buildings and installations).

It may also be noted that carrier planes expended over 50% of their rockets and strafing fire, and land-based planes 75%, on military land targets.

The table illustrates the intensity of attack on large merchant vessels during 1944, the considerable volume of strafing attacks on small vessels, and the heavy tonnage per sortie against armored warships. Also of interest are the attacks on land transportation targets. The urban areas attacked included principally towns on Guam and Palau, and the cities of Davao and Naha. Industrial facilities included oil storage and manufacturing facilities in the Philippines and Formosa.

From the table may be calculated average ordnance expenditures per sortie against each type of target. Note, however, that rockets were not fully utilized during 1944.

TABLE 39. ATTACKS, AND ORDNANCE EXPENDITURES ON TARGETS, BY ALL CARRIER-BASED AND LAND-BASED AIRCRAFT, 1944 ONLY.

By Detailed Type of Target

TYPE OF TARGET

CARRIER-BASED ATTACKS

LAND-BASED ATTACKS

SORTIES ATTACKING TARGETS

EXPENDITURES

SORTIES ATTACKING TARGETS

EXPENDITURES

TONS OF BOMBS

ROCKETS

M.G. AMMO (*)

TONS OF BOMBS

ROCKETS

M.G. AMMO (*)

Grounded Aircraft

7,719

1,084

3,699

2,243

342

87

0

122

Airfield Runways

8,709

3,024

1,002

3,135

7,559

3,809

136

1,282

Defense Installations, Guns

16,077

5,014

6,413

6,095

21,522

9,704

240

4,274

Personnel and Bivouac Areas

3,939

1,262

2,987

1,523

8,310

3,320

72

2,841

Buildings, Storage Areas (#)

13,569

5,250

5,380

4,263

13,062

5,590

376

3,832

Docks and Waterfront

459

168

309

136

476

217

6

94

Roads, Bridges, Vehicles

1,407

299

1,119

593

1,962

619

0

652

Industrial Facilities

681

249

452

209

77

19

0

27

Urban Areas

544

166

112

152

1,107

394

0

303

Other and Unknown Land

541

86

246

57

429

69

24

27

Armored Warships

2,011

973

780

454

13

14

0

2

Unarmored Warships

2,104

573

617

642

232

94

8

74

Merchant, Over 500 Tons

8,425

3,011

2,805

1,805

1,115

463

102

452

Merchant, Under 500 Tons

3,272

347

897

840

3,218

475

127

786

Ships, Type Unknown @

303

125

12

69

283

232

58

23

Total Land Targets

53,645

16,602

21,719

18,406

54,846

23,828

854

13,454

Total Ship Targets

16,115

5,029

5,111

3,810

4,861

1,278

295

1,337

TOTAL ALL TARGETS

69,760

21,631

26,830

22,216

59,707

25,106

1,149

14,791

* – In thousands of rounds expended on targets.
# – Including airfield buildings and buildings of unidentified types, but excluding barracks.
@ – Including minelaying.