More raids followedand more failures occurred. The later U.S. bombing campaign against mainland Japan was slow to start. Your email address will not be published. [148] 10 March was designated Tokyo Peace Day by the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly in 1990. Articles such as this one were acquired and published with the primary aim of expanding the information on Britannica.com with greater speed and efficiency than has traditionally been possible. Why Didn't The US Drop The Atomic Bomb On Tokyo During WW2? What bombs rained down on the capital widely missed their target. [52] Conditions on the ground were cold and windy, with the city experiencing gusts of between 45 miles per hour (72km/h) and 67 miles per hour (108km/h) blowing from the southeast. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [135] In a break from the usual practice of downplaying the damage caused by air attacks, the Japanese Government encouraged the media to emphasize the extensive scale of the destruction in an attempt to motivate anger against the United States. [99][102] Crowds of civilians often panicked as they rushed towards the perceived safety of canals, with those who fell being crushed to death. Important Dates in Aviation History. Menu Skip to content . It is the centre of the organisation and it oversees various functions of the business, acting as a mechanism for control. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Foreign Histories Division, Headquarters, United States Army Japan 1958, "The Man Who Won't Let the World Forget the Firebombing of Tokyo", "Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage", "Katsumoto Saotome, Who Preserved Stories of Tokyo Firebombing, Dies at 90", "Deadly WWII U.S. firebombing raids on Japanese cities largely ignored", "Victims seek redress for 'unparalleled massacre' of Tokyo air raid", "A cartographic fade to black: mapping the destruction of urban Japan during World War II", "Fire Bombings and Forgotten Civilians: The Lawsuit Seeking Compensation for Victims of the Tokyo Air Raids", "Thinking Now about the Great Tokyo Air Raid", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombing_of_Tokyo_(10_March_1945)&oldid=1159947473, Aerial operations and battles of World War II by town or city, World War II aerial operations and battles of the Pacific theatre, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, 90,000 to 100,000 killed (most common estimates), This page was last edited on 13 June 2023, at 14:57. Although the precise death toll is unknown, conservative estimates suggest that the firestorm caused by incendiary bombs killed at least 80,000 people, and likely more than 100,000, in a single night; some one million people were left homeless. [14] The Twentieth Air Force had an unusual command structure, as it was personally headed by General Henry H. Arnold, the commanding officer of the USAAF. General LeMay and his boss General Hap Arnold considered MEETINGHOUSE to be a rousing success. 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. Technician Fifth Grade Lewis Hall from Obetz, Ohio, was born March 2, 1895, and was 47 years old at the time of his action. Earlier raids, including the Doolittle Raid, had not been very effective, so the March bombing of Tokyo was planned differently. SciTech Tuesday: Operation Meetinghouse and Napalm No amphibious invasion of Japan would occur. The bombers in the other units were loaded with clusters of M69s. b-29. Gusts of over 65 miles per hour were recorded in the city in numerous spots. It wasn't B-17 Flying Fortresses that did the job, as Marshall had predicted, but the new. These weapons were dropped from B-29s in clusters, and used napalm as their incendiary filler. The casualties and damage caused by the raid and absenteeism by workers in Tokyo considerably disrupted the Japanese war economy. These articles have not yet undergone the rigorous in-house editing or fact-checking and styling process to which most Britannica articles are customarily subjected. After the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by nuclear weapons, Japanese Emperor Hirohito finally conceded defeat. This led some American aircraft to bomb parts of Tokyo well outside the target area. Pop Quiz: 17 Things to Know About World War II, https://www.britannica.com/event/Bombing-of-Tokyo, World War II Database - Bombing of Tokyo and Other Cities, The National WWII Museum - Hellfire on Earth: Operation Meetinghouse, CNN - World - History's deadliest air raid happened in Tokyo during World War II and you've probably never heard of it. Early American strategic bombing attacks on Germany used precision tactics, with the bomber crews seeking to visually identify their targets. Japanese air defenses, as predicted, were meager at best. Tokyos firefighting ability was next to non-existent for a city of its size. [52] Due to this vulnerability, it had suffered extensive damage and heavy casualties from fires caused by the 1923 Great Kant earthquake. [81] Pathfinder bombers simultaneously approached the target area at right angles to each other. Major General Curtis LeMay, the commander of XX Bomber Command, replaced General Hansell. The estimated 110,000 fatalities were all one needed to know to prove that point. Far back in the formation, Richard Baileof the9th Bombardment Group,in his Superfortress, could almost read a paper in the cockpit due to the fires consuming Tokyo below. [102] Few families managed to stay together throughout the night. US_Strategic_Bombing_of_Tokyo_1944-1945 | This Day in Aviation Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [131] An unsuccessful night precision raid was also conducted against an aircraft engine factory in Nagoya on 23/24 March. [63], Thousands of the evacuating civilians were killed. [145] Further incendiary attacks were conducted against Tokyo, with the final taking place on the night of 25/26 May. March 9, 1945: Burning the Heart Out of the Enemy | WIRED These formed firestorms which quickly advanced in a northwesterly direction and destroyed or damaged almost all the buildings in their path. [171] Werrell has written that while racism may have influenced this, "many other factors were involved, which, I would submit, were more significant". [42] These concerns were shared by some of LeMay's staff. Operation Meetinghouse was the single deadliest and most destructive air attack in history.. On the night of March 9-10 1945 in Tokyo, Operation Meetinghouse was conducted by the United States. 504-528-1944, Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy, Madlyn and Paul Hilliard Research Library, The Zoot Suit Riots and Wartime Los Angeles, Operation Vengeance: The Killing of Isoroku Yamamoto, Technician Lewis Hall and Sergeant William Fournier, Kenneth Gruennert and Elmer Burrs Medals of Honor, The Top 5 Veteran Research Questions: Where to Go and What to Know, Commemorating Filipino American History Month, Black Thursday October 14, 1943: The Second Schweinfurt Bombing Raid. Although the raid did little to cripple Japans war-making powers, it was a major boost to American morale after the shock and devastation of the Pearl Harbor attack and brought the war home to the Japanese, proving that their home islands would not be immune to enemy bombers. Rubble was often not cleared from the firebreaks, which provided a source of fuel. Required fields are marked *. [87], Tokyo's defenders were expecting an attack, but did not detect the American force until it arrived over the city. [119] Attempts to collect bodies ceased 25 days after the raid. Not that real precision would actually be needed. [159] Mark Lardas has written that 10 March operation was only the second genuinely successful raid on Japan (after an attack against an aircraft factory on 19 January), and "LeMay's decision to switch from precision bombardment to area incendiary missions and to conduct the incendiary missions from low altitudes" was the most important factor in the eventual success of the strategic bombing campaign. B-29s had been bombing Japan with little success from China since mid-1944. [57] Due to shortages of radar and other fire control equipment, Japanese antiaircraft gunners found it difficult to target aircraft operating at night. The fire bombing raid killed at least 100,000 civilians and left over 1 million homeless. Operations management acts as an umbrella, and connects all facets of the business, from HR to project management and supply chain management to finance and facilities. Instead of high altitude strikes with conventional bombs, this raid used the B-29s at low altitude (5,000-9,000 ft) and at night, to take advantage of weaknesses in air . Even when the winds up high werent that bad, they were below. His boss, General Hap Arnold, urged him to adopt incendiary bombing against Japans cities and abandon the policy of precision bombing. [161] Kenneth P. Werrell noted that the firebombing of Japanese cities and the atomic bomb attacks "have come to epitomize the strategic bombing campaign against Japan. [105], The raid also caused widespread destruction. [141], Few steps were taken to improve Tokyo's defenses after the raid. [60] The regiment was experiencing difficulties converting to the night fighter role, which included an overly intensive training program that exhausted its pilots. [151][153][154] As of 2015, this center was the main repository of information in Japan about the firebombing raids. During the raid, bombs dropped from 279 Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers burned out much of eastern Tokyo. [99] By an hour after the start of the attack most of eastern Tokyo either had been destroyed or was being affected by fires. The Great Friends Meeting House, built in 1699, is the oldest surviving house of worship in Rhode Island. American casualties were significantly less, to say the least. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. There would be no more 32,000-foot daylight raids. This firebombing took place overnight on March 9 and 10, 1945. XXI Bomber Command was led by Major General General Curtis Emerson LeMay. 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". The mission to destroy Japans cottage industry, at least in Tokyo, had been achieved. But when the bombers began using the new massive air fields in the Marianas chainon November 24, it marked the first time in history that a transoceanic bombing raid took place,and the first time an American aircraft formation had been aloft over Tokyo since Jimmy Doolittles Raiders had flown over the Imperial capital way back in 1942. Prior to this operation, the USAAF had focused on a precision bombing campaign against Japanese industrial facilities. The Deadliest Air Raid in History - Smithsonian Magazine Around 90 airmen were missing after the raid, and 14 B-29s never returned either due to enemy fire or accident. The weapons dropped during Operation Meetinghouse were primarily M-69 and M-47 incendiaries. This was interpreted to mean that the force was preparing to start large-scale night raids on Japan. [82] As the fires expanded, the American bombers spread out to attack unaffected parts of the target area. The horrorthat Baile was contemplating was theresult of months of planning, multiple failures, a handful of experiments, and relatively few successes. "Knowing your family history can be helpful in identifying if you're at . After several small night raids were conducted on the region during December 1944 and January 1945, the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force's 10th Air Division, which was responsible for intercepting attacks on the Kant region, placed a greater emphasis on training its pilots to operate at night. It destroyed 16 square miles and 100,000 people. Menu Skip to content . [12], The overall plan for the strategic bombing campaign against Japan specified that it would commence with precision bombing raids against key industrial facilities, and later include firebombing attacks on cities. Morale among the citizens of Tokyo plummeted. 73 Years Ago, the US Destroyed Tokyo in Deadliest Air Raid in History These bombers were manned by the 73rd and 313th Bombardment Wings' best crews. [112][115] As of 2011, the Tokyo Memorial Hall honored 105,400 people killed in the raid, the number of people whose ashes are interred in the building or were claimed by their family. [2] The American attacks on Germany mainly used high-explosive bombs, with incendiary bombs accounting for only 14 percent of those dropped by the Eighth Air Force. [3] The British Bomber Command focused on destroying German cities from early 1942 until the end of the war, and incendiaries represented 21 percent of the tonnage of bombs its aircraft dropped. [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. R.G. [156], Many historians have stated that the 10 March raid on Tokyo was a military success for the United States, and marked the start of the most effective period of air raids on Japan. The M-69 bomblets would trigger a few seconds after landing, spraying a get of flaming napalm horizontally. [62] Instead, the firemen focused on guiding people to safety and rescuing those trapped in burning buildings. [47], The officers who commanded XXI Bomber Command's three flying wings agreed with the new tactics, but there were fears that they could result in heavy casualties. [74] LeMay considered Power to be the best of the wing commanding officers. [156], In 2007 a group of survivors of the 10 March raid and bereaved families launched a lawsuit seeking compensation and an apology for the Japanese Government's actions regarding the attack. Transcription. At the time of the raid the 314th Bombardment Wing was arriving at Guam in the Marianas, and able to provide only 56 B-29s. Coming in over the target from opposite directions, the pathfinders dropped their payload, which scattered over the wooden rooftops and immediately burst into flames. The B-29s would become night raiders, and they would come in low. 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. [34] [35] [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. There was little cloud cover, and visibility was good for the first bomber crews to arrive over Tokyo; they were able to see clearly for 10 miles (16km). A Buddhist service has been conducted to mark the anniversary of the raid on 10 March each year since 1951. [108] Others sheltered in solid buildings, such as schools or theatres, and in canals. The majority of the 10th Air Division's senior officers were sacked or reassigned as punishment for the unit's failure on 10 March. Dry, windy conditions aided the spread of the conflagration, which turned into a firestorm, destroying almost 16 square miles of the densely populated city. Their government could feed them all the false propaganda it wanted, but the fiery writing was literally on the walls. [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. [113] Refugee centers were also established in parks and other open areas. The first raid targeted an aircraft engine factory on the city's outskirts, and caused little damage. [95] The fire finally burned itself out during mid-morning on 10 March, and came to a stop when it reached large open areas or the Nakagawa Canal. There has been a long-running debate over the morality of the 10 March firebombing of Tokyo. The ashes were interred in a charnel house located in Sumida's Yokoamicho Park which had originally been established to hold the remains of 58,000 victims of the 1923 earthquake. Find a Temple View locations, schedules, and other information for all the Church's temples. Bombing of Tokyo (10 March 1945) | Military Wiki | Fandom In the summer of 1944, the United States Marine Corps and Army seized three islands in the Marianas chain, Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. The Most Destructive Bombing Campaign? Actually it Was Tokyo Not [140], The attack considerably damaged the morale of Japanese civilians, with it and the other firebombing raids in March convincing most that the war situation was worse than their government had admitted. [158] More recently, Tami Davis Biddle noted in The Cambridge History of the Second World War that "the Tokyo raid marked a dramatic turn in the American air campaign in the Far East; following on the heels of many months of frustration, it loosed the full weight of American industrial might on the faltering Japanese". The Bombing of Tokyo aka "Operation of Meetinghouse" is the single most destructive bombing raid in human history which destroyed 41 km2 of central Tokyo and killed at least 100.000 civilians by US Air Force. It took two and three quarter hours for all of the 325 B-29s which were dispatched to take off. The clothes on peoples backs, those that werent on fire from the actual bombs, literally burst into flames from the heat. These targets were to be attacked by precision bombing. [84] However, these bodies of water provided safety to thousands of others. The attack is commemorated at two official memorials, several neighborhood memorials, and a privately run museum. [62], Driven by the strong wind, the large numbers of small fires started by the American incendiaries rapidly merged into major blazes. The airmen were not told the purpose of this training. After the raid, 79,466 bodies were recovered and recorded. Omissions? Another 19 Superfortresses which were unable to reach Tokyo struck targets of opportunity or targets of last resort. Finally,the ability of the target to fight the fire had to be limited. [144], Between April and mid-May XXI Bomber Command mainly focused on attacking airfields in southern Japan in support of the invasion of Okinawa. [33] Civilian casualties during these operations had been relatively low; for instance, all the raids against Tokyo prior to 10 March caused 1,292 deaths in the city. [109] Many of the people who attempted to shelter in canals were killed by smoke or when the passing firestorm sucked oxygen out of the area. Why Did Operation Meetinghouse Happen? 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. [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. Meeting house definition, a house or other building for communal gathering, especially a place of Protestant worship. Tokyo burned for days after the MEETINGHOUSE raid. The firebombing of Tokyo in March 1945 called Operation Meetinghouse by the Americans would become the deadliest air raid in human history. [56] A network of picket boats, radar stations and lookout posts was responsible for detecting incoming raids. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. [138] When the Japanese Government's official broadcaster Radio Tokyo reported the attack it was labeled "slaughter bombing". What is Operation Meetinghouse? - Fantastic Facts [85] A total of 279 B-29s attacked Tokyo, dropping 1,665 short tons (1,510t) of bombs. Tokyo after Operation Meetinghouse. [155] A small section of the Edo-Tokyo Museum also covers the air raids on Tokyo. Sixteen square miles of the formerly bustling capital had been razed to the ground. The Japanese Government argued that it did not have an obligation to compensate the victims of air raids. [92] No B-29s were shot down by fighters, and the American airmen reported only 76 sightings of Japanese fighters and 40 attacks by them over the course of the raid. [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]. [48] LeMay consulted Arnold's chief of staff Brigadier General Lauris Norstad about the new tactics, but did not formally seek approval to adopt them. Born in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1913, William Fournier was raised in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. [39], LeMay decided to adopt radically different tactics for this campaign. Operation Meetinghouse - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Stacks of corpses that had melted together to form piles two meters high, or more, and were common sights throughout the area.
