Pacific Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 10, 1948, Tokyo, T�ky�                                Itami once an intrinsic link i japans perimeter defense of the Inland sea and the Industrial City of Osaka is. Now Home for the 38th bombardment group an Aerial spearhead of the forces that sent the rising Sun of Japan Down in flames. Today Swift twin engine bombers Roar off runways of this  air Force base on training missions designed to keep pilots and Crews in fighting trim for the Type of exploits which won the group its name Pacific  tactical Maneu vers Are a daily stint for the men of the 38th, with training in surveillance and Low level attack methods to keep them at combat efficiency on America s first line of defense in the far East. Equipped with Light speedy b-26 invaders the Sun setters join fighter limits of the fifth air Force to bomb and strafe mock enemy shipping troop concentrations and Supply dumps. Special operations Are planned to give the men a taste of Aerial pm Bat. Such were the decent mania fighters line up on the strip at Kami in the photo head. Above a Mechanic vers conducted from bases on the works inside the Cowling of the motor Otone of the colourfully decorated fighter Island of Shikoku with fifth air planes. Below the Eugine gets More maintenance work in order that the pilots Force arid British air units in joint May better carry out their training missions air Force photos operations. Practice missions during a week of Battle sent planes of the 38th bomb group into the air with australian Mustangs and corsairs to carry out unified attack and defense Maneu vers. Radar stations were of the Alert to pick up approaching flights and on some missions the at tackers / destroyed important bases in Southern Japan while on others defending fighters drove them away from the target. But the rows of shiny twin engine bombers and the neat Green roofed buildings at Itami today Are a far cry from the group s beginnings in an old red barn near the balloon hangar at Langley Field a where the first Headquarters was established january 15, 1941. When War came on december 7, 194i, the 38th, Al though far from combat level was one of the few air Force units that could boast of. Planes Crews and an operating administrative staff. Seven weeks later equipment and personnel were on. The High seas headed for Australia and the Pacific War. By september 1942 thei group s b.-25 Mitchells were striking Pui from their base at Charters towers aus Thalia against japanese shipping and installations along the new Guinea coast. The 38th came of age fast and soon a taking a leading Poi a Hei of the Iztha in Force combat seasoning of its Squadron ii ahs1h. Fea i Sasno marked the end of a Strong always numerically Superior foe and the Pacific Sun setters were on their Way North. By november 1942 they had moved to new Guinea where they continued their relentless hammering at japanese shipping from the rain mud and heat of Jungle bases. During the Early years of the War 38th crewmen became expert at new and daring Low level tactics. Deadly skip bombing was perfected with the plane approaching the target ship on a Low straight on course drop Ping the bombs so they would skip of the water like stones and explode into the Side of the ship while the Pilot hedge hopped his plane Over the. Mast. These new tactics paid off with and Ever mounting toll of japanese ship Ping. A High Point in air Power came in March 1943 when the Sun setters joined in the two Day Aerial show which completely destroyed a giant japanese Convoy the famed Battle of the Bismarck sea. General Macarthur termed it one of the most Complete and annihilating com bats of All  weak Wadke Hollandia Moro Tai were next on the list of target victims. As much As 600,000 pounds of bombs were dropped and 1,000,000 rounds of ammunition fired during a single month As the 33th Island hopped northward to the Philippines following the retreating japanese. When the United states tightened its grip on the islands of the. South Pacific the Sun setters turned their Power on the China coast area. From the Southern to the northernmost tip of Formosa nothing escaped the vengeful attacks of the 38th, and by May 1945 soldering masses of twisted rubble were All that remained of important japanese alcohol plants while rails were jacks traded Over wrecked locomotives and cars in the Island s railway centers. The end of the War in August 1945 found the 38th of Okinawa poised for an invasion of Japan. From this last wartime base the Sun setters had continued their attacks concentrate Jig on the japanese Home islands of Kyushu Shikoku and Honshu. 4 after the japanese surrender the 38th was assigned the duty of watch dog of the Japan sea and was based at Ita Zuke on the Southern Island of a Kyushu there the group was equip Ped with new a-26 aircraft recently predesignated b-26, to replace the Bat b.-.25 Mitchells. Start for stripes Pace. 5