<p>The first mission was not successful. XX Bomber Command dispatched 198 B-29s against railroad shops at Bangkok on 5 June 1944. The planned four-plane diamond formations never assembled completely, for weather forced the B-29s to run on the target individually or in paired elements. After 14 aborts at the start, others failed to find the target; it was bombed by 77 of the Superforts, more than half dropping by radar indications from altitudes between 17,000 and 27,000 ft (5,180 and 8,230 m).
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<p>Five were lost on the return trip. A dozen landed at bases other than their home fields, and 30 landed at bases that weren't even part of XX Bomber Command. Post-strike photos showed that about 17 bombs had fallen in the target area.
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<p>The second raid was worse. On the night of 15 June 68 B-29s were dispatched against Yawata. Fifteen bombed the target visually, and 32 used radar. The rest of the fleet had aborted. One B-29 was lost in combat, six to non-combat causes, and 55 crewmen were killed or missing. The bombing was atrocious; a single hit was scored on a powerhouse three-quarters of a mile away from the aiming point. Nothing came closer.
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<p>For his own political reasons, Arnold was pushing the B-29s; he wanted them to be out hitting strategic targets. At that time, neither the bombers nor the crews were ready for long-range strikes against difficult targets, by day or night. Arnold demanded more than they could give, and would not ease off the pressure to produce.
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<p>He sent General LeMay to take over on 29 August. LeMay went through the XX Bomber Command as he had done earlier in Europe, observing first, then evaluating, then correcting. He abandoned the four-plane diamond in favor of a 12-plane combat box, gave up the night raids, asked groups to select lead crews, and established a school for lead bombardiers. Within a month he had reorganized the command. The 58th Wing was dismantled on paper and shuffled; its planes and personnel were dealt out to new groups of three squadrons each, with 10 aircraft per squadron. Maintenance and bomb squadrons were combined.
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<p>The subsequent missions were the real training program that the crews had never had. Gradually they gained confidence in themselves and their aircraft.
