300 B-29 Superfortress dropped several types of incendiaries, killing an. Why Not Tokyo? On the night of 9/10 March 1945, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) conducted a devastating firebombing raid on Tokyo, the Japanese capital city. [81] The 10th Air Division sortied all of its available night interceptors, and the 1st Anti aircraft Division's searchlight and anti aircraft units went into action. [1] [56] Some American airmen also needed to use oxygen masks when the odor of burning flesh entered their aircraft. B-29s had been bombing Japan with little success from China since mid-1944. [162] Historians such as Biddle, William W. Ralph and Barrett Tillman have argued that the decision to change to firebombing tactics was motivated by Arnold and LeMay's desire to prove that the B-29s were effective, and that a strategic bombing force could be a war-winning military arm. This attack was code-named Operation Meetinghouse by the USAAF and is known as the Great Tokyo Air Raid in Japan. [96] Over 125 firemen and 500 civil guards who had been assigned to help them were killed, and 96 fire engines destroyed. The Operation Meetinghouse firebombing of Tokyo on the night of March 9-10, 1945, was the single deadliest air raid of World War II; [33] with a greater area of fire damage and loss of life than the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima or Nagasaki as single events. This attack was code-named Operation Meetinghouse by the USAAF and is known as the Great Tokyo Air Raid in Japan. [166], Like the bombing of Dresden, the bombing of Tokyo on 10 March 1945 is used as an example by historians and commentators who criticize the ethics and practices of the Allied strategic bombing campaigns. The 1st Antiaircraft Division remained active until the end of the war in August 1945. [150] Efforts began in the 1970s to construct an official Tokyo Peace Museum to mark the raid, but the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly canceled the project in 1999. Coming in over the target from opposite directions, the pathfinders dropped their payload, which scattered over the wooden rooftops and immediately burst into flames. Ward Map Sign in with your LDS Account to view your ward and stake information. [105] In many cases entire families were killed. The Tokyo raid, codenamed Operation Meetinghouse, began an aerial onslaught so effective that the American air command concluded by July 1945 that no viable targets remained on the Japanese . The B-29s were designed to fly at altitudes so high that most enemy fighters could not reach them, and to cascade bombs on targets with ultimate precision and lethality. The water had boiled out of the pool, and as it did so, it boiled alive thepeople who were attemptingto save themselves from the unrelenting heat. American bombers dropped firebombs without a specific target on the Japanese city of Tokyo. The 73rd Bombardment Wing contributed 169 B-29s and the 313th Bombardment Wing 121; both units were based on Saipan. Your email address will not be published. Operation Meetinghouse - Wikiwand At least three people have been killed, including a child, and many have been injured after a shopping centre was hit by Russian missiles in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine. [13] The first target directive issued to the XXI Bomber Command by its parent unit, the Twentieth Air Force, on 11 November, 1944 specified that the main target was Japanese aircraft and aviation engine factories. A meeting house ( meetinghouse, [1] meeting-house [2]) is a building where religious and sometimes public meetings take place. Operation Meetinghouse: LeMay Takes Charge and the B-29s Bore In Low. Menu Skip to content . This was Operation Meetinghouse, a night incendiary attack on the Tokyo Metropolis, the capital city of the Empire of Japan, and the most populous city on Earth. [57] Due to shortages of radar and other fire control equipment, Japanese antiaircraft gunners found it difficult to target aircraft operating at night. Resourcesand liveswere being wasted in the daylight high-altitude attacks. [9] XXI Bomber Command's subsequent raids on Tokyo and other cities mainly used precision bombing tactics and high explosive bombs, and were largely unsuccessful due to adverse weather conditions and a range of mechanical problems which affected the B-29s. Meetinghouse | building | Britannica [52] Due to this vulnerability, it had suffered extensive damage and heavy casualties from fires caused by the 1923 Great Kant earthquake. Why Is Operations an Important Function In a Business? | FAQs [34] [35] Meeting house definition, a house or other building for communal gathering, especially a place of Protestant worship. These Superfortresses arrived over the city shortly before midnight on 9March. These measures were generally unsuccessful. That first B-29 was followed by over 270 more, taking off from Guam, Saipan, and Tinian, at 50-second intervalsall bound for Tokyo. Historian Richard B. Frank has written that "the key to survival was to grasp quickly that the situation was hopeless and flee". F.J. Bradley states that the visit convinced Hirohito that Japan had lost the war. Early in the morning on March 10, 1945, terrified residents of Japan's capital awoke to an inescapable inferno. [63], Thousands of the evacuating civilians were killed. The fire raid against Tokyo on February 25 proved to be successful, and further convinced LeMay what he had to do next: Obliterate the Imperial capital by firestorm. The Bombing of Tokyo aka "Operation of Meetinghouse" is the - Reddit [78][79], The first B-29s over Tokyo were four aircraft tasked with guiding the others in. Such was the success of MEETINGHOUSEthat the fire-bombing of Japans cities did not end with March 9-10. Small scale, limited incendiary raids had been carried out earlier in the year by LeMays crews with some success. The attack on Tokyo was an intensification of the air raids on Japan which had begun in June 1944. Karacas argues that the Japanese Government prefers to focus on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as commemoration of these attacks "reinforces the Japanese-as-victim stereotype". [53][Note 2] The 1st Antiaircraft Division controlled the antiaircraft guns stationed in the central region of Honshu, including Tokyo. As Baile passed over the target and dropped his bombs, he couldnt help but think of the utter horror that was taking place beneath him. This was only after hundreds of thousands of the Emperors subjects had been killed due to the aerial bombing. The B-29s were simply too low, too fast, and too many. [34] For instance, Edwin P. Hoyt stated in 1987 that 200,000 people had been killed and in 2009 Mark Selden wrote that the number of deaths may have been several times the estimate of 100,000 used by the Japanese and United States Governments. Terminology Nonconformist Protestant denominations distinguish between a: church, which is a body of people who believe in Christ, and; meeting house or chapel, which is a building where the church meets. The plaintiffs also claimed that the Japanese Government had violated the post-war constitution by compensating the military victims of the raid and their families, but not civilians. The planners estimated that incendiary bomb attacks on Japan's six largest cities could cause physical damage to almost 40percent of industrial facilities and result in the loss of 7.6million man-months of labor. The fire bombing raid killed at least 100,000 civilians and left over 1 million homeless. Pre-war USAAF doctrine emphasized the precision bombing of key industrial facilities over area bombing of cities. [84] Visibility over Tokyo decreased over the course of the raid due to the extensive smoke over the city. [174] Tillman has written that the raid had no effect on the Emperor, and Frank argues that Hirohito supported continuing the war until mid-1945.[175][176]. Why A Start-Up Has To Balance Strategic And Operational Thinking - Forbes It wasn't B-17 Flying Fortresses that did the job, as Marshall had predicted, but the new. The raid is often cited as a key example in criticism of the Allies' strategic bombing campaigns, with many historians and commentators arguing that it was not acceptable for the USAAF to deliberately target civilians, and other historians stating that the USAAF had no choice but to change to area bombing tactics given that the precision bombing campaign had failed. In the meantime, more information about the article and the author can be found by clicking on the authors name. The preferred munitions for American heavy bombers were high explosive bombs, 500 and 1,000 pounders. [15], B-29 raids on Tokyo commenced on 24 November. For the first time, many came to the realization that the war was lost. [39], LeMay decided to adopt radically different tactics for this campaign. [128] President Franklin D. Roosevelt probably also held this view. [98], Frank wrote in 1999 that historians generally believe that there were between 90,000 and 100,000 fatalities, but some argue that the number was much higher. The air defense units in the Kanto Plain area had been placed on alert, but the night fighter units were instructed not to sortie any aircraft until an incoming raid was detected. Their crews only realizedthey were inverted when everything inside the airplane came crashing down on them, and the flames that were below them an instant beforewere now above them. Menu Skip to content . [34] Due to the extent of the damage and the exodus from Tokyo, no attempt was made to restore services to large sections of the city. These bombers were manned by the 73rd and 313th Bombardment Wings' best crews. [34] Firemen, police officers and soldiers also tried to rescue survivors trapped under collapsed buildings. The later U.S. bombing campaign against mainland Japan was slow to start. Analysis by XXI Bomber Command staff of the 25 February raid concluded that the incendiary bombs had been dropped from too high an altitude, and attacking at lower levels would both improve accuracy and enable the B-29s to carry more bombs. [34][35], In early March, LeMay judged that further precision bombing of Japanese industrial targets was unlikely to be successful due to the prevailing weather conditions over the country. [86] Many of the bombers were streaked with ashes from the fires. Transcription. The airmen were not told the purpose of this training. He believed that changing the emphasis from precision bombing to area bombing was the most promising option to turn the XXI Bomber Command's performance around. [1] Bombs dropped from 279 Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers burned out much of eastern Tokyo. An armada of 334 B-29 bombers followed from bases in the Mariana Islands, with 279 of them dropping 1,665 tons of incendiaries, including a half-million cylinders of napalm and white phosphorus. [59] As of March 1945, most of the 10th Air Division's 210 combat aircraft were day fighters, with the 53rd Air Regiment operating 25 or 26 night fighters. [56], LeMay was unable to lead the raid in person as he had been prohibited from placing himself in a situation where he could be captured after being briefed on the development of atomic bombs. Burnt charcoal-like piles on streets, corners, and inside homeswere stark reminders that a human being had burned to death on that spot. As many bodies were not recovered, the number of fatalities is higher than this number. [82] As the fires expanded, the American bombers spread out to attack unaffected parts of the target area. [62] The firefighting tactics used by the fire department were ineffective against incendiary bombs. [68] The raid was to target a rectangular area in northeastern Tokyo designated Zone I by the USAAF which measured approximately 4 miles (6.4km) by 3 miles (4.8km). Tokyo had been bombed before, but only once at night and not by many aircraft. First, it was a strategic decision. [104] The majority of those killed in the raid died while trying to evacuate. [81] Pathfinder bombers simultaneously approached the target area at right angles to each other. [172] Tillman has written that area bombing was the only viable tactic available to the USAAF at the time given the failure of the precision bombing campaign. The success in countering the raid led the Japanese authorities to become over-confident about their ability to protect cities against incendiary attacks. Flying individually would also lead to reductions in fuel consumption as the pilots would not need to constantly adjust their engines to remain in formation. Drastically. This proved difficult to achieve in practice. At the time the bombs were going to be dropped, Tokyo had already been devastated by Operation Meetinghouse. Bombing of Tokyo (10 March 1945) | Military Wiki | Fandom [131] The number of people killed in Nagoya, Osaka and Kobe were much lower than those in 10 March attack on Tokyo with fewer than 10,000 fatalities in each operation. [151][153][154] As of 2015, this center was the main repository of information in Japan about the firebombing raids. He began his career conducting oral histories and research for HBOs miniseries The Pacific and holds the distinction of being the first historian hired by the Museums Research Department. This campaign illustrated the powerful synergy of American joint operations. [170] Some commentators believe that racism motivated the decision to use firebombing tactics, in contrast to the USAAF's greater emphasis on precision bombing in its air campaign against Germany. Tokyo burned for days after the MEETINGHOUSE raid. [44] LeMay notified the Twentieth Air Force headquarters of his intended tactics on 8March, a day he knew Arnold and Norstad would be absent. [65] Firebreaks had been created across the city in an attempt to stop the spread of fire; over 200,000 houses were destroyed as part of this effort. Just over 8,000 firemen were assigned to the Tokyo area, and between those 8,000 men there were 1,000 pieces of equipmentand exactly three firefighting extension ladders. Incredibly fierce winds and thick cloud cover limited the strike to a paltry 24 bombers. View Classic LDS Maps. [101] The foxholes which had been dug near most homes offered no protection against the firestorm, and civilians who sheltered in them were burned to death or died from suffocation. These raids destroyed most of the city. [30] This attack was made against Tokyo on 25 February. As the B-29's engines experienced less strain when flying at low altitudes, they required less fuel. There had to be strong winds, and in Tokyos case, winds blowing in from the north. [44] Instead, the attack was led by the 314th Bombardment Wing's commanding officer, Brigadier General Thomas S. Families often sought to remain with their local neighborhood associations, but it was easy to become separated in the conditions. [50] On the night of 3/4 March, the Japanese military intercepted American radio signals which indicated that the XXI Bomber Command was conducting a major night flying exercise. [145] Further incendiary attacks were conducted against Tokyo, with the final taking place on the night of 25/26 May. There would be no trouble finding the target this night, March 10, 1945. Tony Long Mar 9, 2011 7:00 AM March 9, 1945: Burning the Heart Out of the Enemy 1945: In the single deadliest air raid of World War II, 330 American B-29s rain incendiary bombs on Tokyo, touching. LeMay later said, Killing Japanese didnt bother me very much at that time. LeMay realized that it wasnt necessarily the men who were not getting the job done, it was the way in which the men were being told to do the job. There were on average only seven days of clear skies each month, and an intense jet stream made it difficult to aim bombs from high altitudes. SATURDAY, June 24, 2023 -- Your family medical history may reveal some important details about your health, making it vital information to share with your medical provider. The Eastern District Army's Kanto Air Defense Sector was responsible for the air defense of the Tokyo region, and was accorded the highest priority for aircraft and antiaircraft guns. A small incendiary attack was made against Tokyo on the night of 29/30 November 1944, but caused little damage. Incendiary raids would rain down upon Japanese cities all across the country. It caused extensive damage, with almost 28,000 buildings being destroyed. Initially confused by the sound of so many aircraft approaching so low, they hesitated reporting the sound of the impending attack until 12:15 a.m. By then, it was too late. More raids followedand more failures occurred. In 2009, the US Congress designated October as Filipino American History Month, a monthlong commemoration and appreciation for the Filipino experience throughout American history stretching as far back as 1547. [90][110] Thousands of people injured in the raid died over the following days. The Great Friends Meeting House, built in 1699, is the oldest surviving house of worship in Rhode Island. [55] American military intelligence estimated that 331 heavy and 307 light antiaircraft guns were allocated to Tokyo's defenses at the time of the raid. WWII Terms: Practices Flashcards | Quizlet This is Operation Meetinghouse. [100], Civilians who stayed at their homes or attempted to fight the fire had virtually no chance of survival. Conrad C. Crane has observed that "the resort to fire raids marked another stage in the escalation towards total war and represented the culmination of trends begun in the air war against Germany". "Knowing your family history can be helpful in identifying if you're at . 73 years ago today, the US destroyed Tokyo during the deadliest air raid in history, known as Operation Meetinghouse. In 1943 the USAAF tested the effectiveness of incendiary bombs on adjoining German and Japanese-style domestic building complexes at the Dugway Proving Ground. Within 30 minutes of the start of the raid the situation was beyond the fire department's control. [94][123] Arnold sent LeMay a congratulatory message which stated that "this mission shows your crews have the guts for anything". His boss, General Hap Arnold, urged him to adopt incendiary bombing against Japans cities and abandon the policy of precision bombing. The pathfinders' job now done, they retreated from the area, the target now brightly illuminated in the shape of an enormous fiery X.". [121][122], LeMay and Arnold considered the operation to have been a significant success on the basis of reports made by the airmen involved and the extensive damage shown in photographs taken by reconnaissance aircraft on 10 March. Japan's main industrial facilities were vulnerable to such attacks as they were concentrated in several large cities, and a high proportion of production took place in homes and small factories in urban areas. Overall, 15.8 square miles (41km2) of Tokyo was burned out.
Easter Egg Hunt Today Near Me,
Boston Junior Bruins Hockey Camp,
Students' Rights To Protest In School,
Martin Becker Obituary,
Articles W