Overall, 1,700 tons of bombs were dropped, 16 square miles were burned, and 100,000 people lost their lives. About onefourth of the city was destroyed, and some 100,000 people died. Firebombing of tokyo on the night of march 9, 1945, u. On the night of 910 march 1945 the united states army air forces usaaf conducted a devastating firebombing raid on tokyo, the japanese capital city. T he b29 superfortress bomber made its first appearance over tokyo on november 1, 1944 a single plane flying at 35,000 feet. The superforts returned in force at the end of the month, flying at altitudes that insured immunity. The history and legacy of the allies controversial bombing campaigns near the end of world war ii kindle edition by charles river editors. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the firebombing of dresden and tokyo. The firebombing of tokyo was the single deadliest air raid in history feb 28, 2017 domagoj valjak the 1945 bombings of hiroshima and nagasaki were definitely among the worst atrocities committed during the world war ii. The firebombing of tokyo destroyed 250,000 buildings, killed 83,000 people and destroyed over a quarter of the city. As with dropping the atomic bombs on hiroshima and nagasaki, the firebombing of tokyo has remained controversial since the end of world war ii.
Nov 17, 2014 the long, perilous flight to tokyo capt. The firebombing of kobe and osaka during world war ii 1995 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the atomic bombing of hiroshima and nagasaki, and the end of world war ii. Ray smisek loved to fly above all else per his son, s. The tokyo firebombing has long been overshadowed by the u. Michiko kiyooka, 91, holds a banner read as tokyo firebombing lawsuit at the riverside of sumida river near the asakusa district in tokyo. Bombing of tokyo, march 910, 1945, firebombing raid codenamed operation meetinghouse by the united states on the capital of japan during the final stages of world war ii, often cited as one of the most destructive acts of war in history, more destructive than the bombing of dresden, hiroshima, or nagasaki.
In sheer magnitude, the calamity brought by the firebombing surpassed both hiroshima and nagasaki, at least according to the u. Firebombing knocked out half of the factories in kobe and was part of one of the biggest attacks in the war. American fire bombing and atomic bombing of japan in history. By rory fanning, published in jacobin, march 9, 2015. Accurate casualty figures have never been possible but estimates of between 100,000 and. In fact, the damage was so extensive that casualty counts range by over 100,000.
The bombing of tokyo, tokyodaikushu was a series of firebombing air raids by the united states army air forces during the pacific campaigns of world war ii. Targeting tokyo, nagoya, osaka, and kobe, as well as smaller japanese cities, major general curtis lemay 19061990 and his squadrons of b29 bombers flying low and carrying nothing but incendiary explosives unleashed an almost nightly bombing campaign througout the spring and summer of 1945 that reduced the residential and commercial centers. More than sixtyfive years after the great tokyo air raid of march 10, 1945, and the subsequent firebombing and destruction of japans cities by the united. American fire bombing and atomic bombing of japan in. Apr 30, 2020 the firebombing of tokyo was an american bombing raid on the japanese city of tokyo which occurred on the night of 9 march, 1945. The night raid ignited numerous fires that soon united into one uncontrollable mass of flame, so hot it generated its own selfsustaining, galeforce winds and literally sucked the oxygen out of the air, suffocating its victims.
The full fury of firebombing and napalm was unleashed on the night of march 910, 1945 when lemay sent 334 b29s low over tokyo from the marianas. The most devastating air raid of the entire second world war occurred in the firebombing of tokyo on the night of 910 march 1945 with the resulting death toll greater than those of the raids on dresden, hiroshima or nagasaki. Mar 07, 2012 a new installment of lessons learned is now out. One night, as the three of us sat together after dinner in her apartment in osaka, she told me of the firebombing of tokyo. An estimated 00 people perished in the firebomb raid on tokyo in. The firebombing of tokyo posted by jill dorson on date march 8, 2018 on the nights of march 910, 1945 u. Bombed under the direction of american commander curtis lemay. The bombing of tokyo, often referred to as the firebombing, was conducted by the united states army air forces during the pacific campaigns of world war ii. The red wind march 10th, 1945 tokyo fire bombings skemman.
Today march 9 marks the seventieth anniversary of the american firebombing of tokyo, world war iis deadliest day. This raid, known as operation meetinghouse, caused incredible destruction, killing. Explain that while the atomic bombings of hiroshima and nagasaki are wellknown events of world war ii, the firebombing of tokyo is hardly known even though many consider it to be the deadliest conventional air raid in history. Bombing of tokyo, march 910, 1945, firebombing raid codenamed operation meetinghouse by the united states on the capital of japan during the final stages of world war ii, often cited as one of the most destructive acts of war in history, more destructive than the bombing of dresden. The attack came just weeks after a similar air raid on dresden, germany. Air forces most controversial bombing campaign of world war ii by charles river editors isbn. The firebombing of tokyo on march 9, 1945 marked the beginning of the end for imperial japan. On the night of march 910, 1945, allied bombers carried out an incendiary attack on tokyo, japan, setting off a firestorm. The firebombing went so well, in fact, that the military was actually running out of reasonable targets to firebomb and an estimate by general lemay said they would run out of targets by christmas of 1945. The bombings and resulting fires inflicted a greater area of fire damage and loss of life than the nuclear bombings of hiroshima or nagasaki as single events. Tokyo was a natural target for allied firebombing as both the economic and social capital of japan. This attack was codenamed operation meetinghouse by the usaaf and is known as the great tokyo air raid in japan. Tokyo firebombing survivors recall most destructive air.
The firebombing of tokyo marked the first time it was used on a dense civilian. Overall, 1,700 tons of bombs were dropped, 16 square miles. Actual photo of firestorm in tokyo during a firebombing mission. The firebombing of tokyo and its legacy history news network. Smisek indeed, he was a most capable pilot being the aircraft commander ac of a b29 of the 330ths city of san francisco sn 4469800, a gleaming silver bird that carried ten. Operation meetinghouse, which was conducted on the night of 910 march 1945, is regarded as the single most destructive bombing raid in human history. Olympic trials and, like louie, was aiming for gold in tokyo. The allies had first encountered the phenomenon of the firestorm when the british bombed the german city of hamburg in august of 1943. The sac commander at that time was thomas power, a lemay protege, who had led the march 10, 1945, firebombing mission over tokyo. Tokyo firebombing survivors recall most destructive air raid in.
Students will most likely be unfamiliar with the tokyo firebombing. The deadliest air raid in history daily planet air. Supporters of the bombing say that it was the best course of military action. Air force began dropping incendiary bombs on the city of tokyo. Scars are left on those who had to endure the horror those who witnessed it those who fought in it but then hopefully there is a healing. More people were brutally burned alive in march 1945 than the 2 atomic bombs in aug 1945. Bombs dropped from 279 boeing b29 superfortress heavy bombers burned out much of eastern tokyo.
Aug 06, 2017 more people were brutally burned alive in march 1945 than the 2 atomic bombs in aug 1945. Mar 06, 2020 firebombing of tokyo on the night of march 9, 1945, u. The firebombing of japan was about testing new technologies on a civilian population. Firebombing is one of the cruelest ways to attack a city. The firebombing of tokyo continues on march 10, 1945, 300 american bombers continue to drop almost 2,000 tons of incendiaries on tokyo, japan, in a mission that launched the previous day. Significant funds had gone into the development of american military technology 36 billion in 2015 dollars funded the creation of the atomic bomb. Protest sent to usa, on newtype bomb, representation made by tokyo. The book and cdrom cover bombing sorties, mining, supply missions, and special.
Ray smisek receiving his second distinguished flying cross on guam. Mar 09, 2020 the firebombing of tokyo continues on march 10, 1945, 300 american bombers continue to drop almost 2,000 tons of incendiaries on tokyo, japan, in a mission that launched the previous day. Feb 28, 2017 the firebombing of tokyo was the single deadliest air raid in history feb 28, 2017 domagoj valjak the 1945 bombings of hiroshima and nagasaki were definitely among the worst atrocities committed during the world war ii. The firebombing of tokyo, march 9, 1945 new cold war.
The idea of area bombing, or as some cynically state, city killing, was a new concept to warfare, with the aim of destroying large areas, indiscriminate of populationindustryetc. Although tokyo was bombed more than 100 times from november 1944 to. An npo called the center of the tokyo raids and war damage has a. Air force bombing strategy change in the pacific on. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The bombing of tokyo, tokyodaikushu was a series of firebombing air raids by. The firebombing of tokyo epilogue masako and spam musubi. But the burning of the capital, which resulted in more immediate deaths than either of the nuclear bombings, stands as a horrifying landmark in the history of. On the night of march 9, 1945, american b29 bombers burned 15 square miles of tokyo, killing 100,000 civilians and leaving more than one million homeless. Saotome katsumoto, richard sams translators introduction richard sams march 10 is the 70th anniversary of the great tokyo air raid.
We took a very hard look at most everything related to the bombing of both japanese. The operation meetinghouse firebombing of tokyo on the night of march 910, 1945, was the single deadliest air raid of world war ii. March 9th, 1945, wave after wave of us b29 super fortress bombers lay down 2000 tons of incendiary ordinance on tokyo over the next two days. Mar 09, 2015 the firebombing of tokyo on march 9, 1945 marked the beginning of the end for imperial japan. Asia tokyo firebombing survivors recall most destructive air raid in history. Fire bomb raids on tokyo, march 1945 fire bombing used to reduce japanese cities to ashes and also to destroy their factories of war. Firebombing eventually laid waste to some 60% of the entire city area. Lindsay, cfrs senior vice president and director of studies, says the firebombing of tokyo should remind us of the destructive power of conventional weapons. Still, the tokyo attack deserves the most introspection of all, rauch decided, even as it receives the least.
The firebombing of tokyo was the single deadliest air raid in. The three main instances of incendiary warfare in wwii began in hamburg in 1943 and followed by dresden and tokyo in 1945. Lemay had been promoted to air force chief of staff, which put. This week i discuss the firebombing of tokyo, also known as operation meetinghouse, which began on march 9, 1945. The air raid of 910 march 1945 was one of the most destructive bombing raids in history.
Seventy years ago today, the united states needlessly killed almost 100,000 people in a single air raid. Kiyooka, a city government worker and daughter of traditional entertainers, ran with her parents and sister toward the sumida river, crowding with many others under the kototoi bridge. Bombs dropped from 279 boeing b29 superfortress heavy bombers burned out much. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the firebombing of tokyo. An estimated 100,000 people perished in the firebomb raid on tokyo in the night of march 910, 1945. The decision to drop the atomic bombs, and their horrifying effects, can only be understood in the context of the american strategy for fighting world war ii.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Air forces most controversial bombing campaign of world war ii kindle edition by charles river editors. Lesson the firebombing of tokyo stanford university. In late february 1945, over 300 b29s began a nightattack on the city of tokyo. Air forces most controversial bombing campaign of world war ii chronicles the background of the campaign, its destruction, and its notorious legacy. Jan 01, 2000 targeting tokyo, nagoya, osaka, and kobe, as well as smaller japanese cities, major general curtis lemay 19061990 and his squadrons of b29 bombers flying low and carrying nothing but incendiary explosives unleashed an almost nightly bombing campaign througout the spring and summer of 1945 that reduced the residential and commercial centers of the nation to rubble and charcoal. The astonishing casualty count of the firebombing of tokyo. The idea of area bombing, or as some cynically state, city killing, was a new concept to warfare, with the aim of destroying large areas, indiscriminate of. From the june 4, 1945 issue of newsweek, a report on the firebombing. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the firebombing of tokyo like never before, in no time at all.
Jul 17, 2012 the astonishing casualty count of the firebombing of tokyo. The firebombing that night and morning left 25% of tokyo charred, with the damage spread out over 20 miles of the metropolis. The firebombing of tokyo part 3 masako and spam musubi. Operation meetinghouse, which was conducted on the night of 910 march 1945, is the single most destructive bombing raid in human history.
The firebombing of tokyo in march 1945 article in the journal of military history 661. On the night of 910 march 1945, the united states army air forces usaaf conducted a devastating firebombing raid on tokyo, the japanese capital city. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. The firebombing of tokyo was the single deadliest air raid. The firebombing of kobe and osaka during world war ii. Six weeks ago tokyo had a population of nearly 7,000,000. From the time the first plane landed on saipan on october 12, 1944, the push to. In his 1968 book, reprinted in 1990, historian gabriel kolko cited a figure of 125,000 deaths. Indeed, he was a most capable pilot being the aircraft commander a c of a b29 of the 330ths city of san francisco sn 4469800, a gleaming silver bird that carried ten other young men. Over the course of the bombing raid, american planes dropped an estimated 2,000 tons of explosives on the city, creating a massive firestorm which killed countless numbers of civilians. Unable to straighten his legs, he learned to push himself about by leaning on. Bombing the european axis powers department of defense. More than sixtyfive years after the great tokyo air raid of march 10, 1945, and the subsequent firebombing and destruction of japans cities by the united states army air forces in world war ii. The great tokyo fire raid during the world war ii wwii is a period in.