[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. [125], Few concerns were raised in the United States during the war about the morality of the 10 March attack on Tokyo or the firebombing of other Japanese cities. Police records show that 267,171 buildings were destroyed, which represented a quarter of all buildings in Tokyo at the time. On March 9, 1945, using a strategy pioneered by RAF Bomber Command, LeMay sent pathfinder aircraft ahead to mark the target area with napalm bombs. battle_bombtokyo3 | This Day in Aviation This attack was code-named Operation Meetinghouse by the USAAF and is known as the Great Tokyo Air Raid in Japan. [90] Nevertheless, the Japanese gunners shot down 12 B-29s. [126] These tactics were supported by the majority of decision-makers and American civilians. [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. 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. Those who found refuge in the pool were no better off. [97] One of the most deadly incidents occurred when the full bomb load of a B-29 landed in a crowd of civilians crossing the Kototoi Bridge over the Sumida River causing hundreds of people to be burned to death. [96] Over 125 firemen and 500 civil guards who had been assigned to help them were killed, and 96 fire engines destroyed. Operation Meetinghouse: LeMay Takes Charge and the B-29s Bore In Low. Titanic submersible: documents reveal multiple concerns raised over 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. A further 42 were damaged, of which two had to be written off. Great Friends Meeting House - Newport Historical Society Many other bodies were not recovered, and the city's director of health estimated that 83,600 people were killed and another 40,918 wounded. This effort proved successful, and 83 percent of the B-29s were available for action compared to the average serviceability rate of 60 percent. [155] A small section of the Edo-Tokyo Museum also covers the air raids on Tokyo. Meetinghouse Locator Use an interactive map to locate Church meetinghouses worldwide. The March 9 raid, code-named "Operation Meetinghouse," marked a shift in American bombing strategy. Other ground crew loaded the aircraft with bombs and fuel. The areas burned on the night of 9-10 March 1945 are shown in black. The Bombing of Tokyo aka "Operation of Meetinghouse" is the - Reddit More than 88,000 . 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. [95] Most buildings in the Asakusa, Fukagawa, Honjo, Jt and Shitaya wards were destroyed, and seven other districts of the city experienced the loss of around half their buildings. [93] Five of the downed B-29s managed to ditch in the sea, and their crews were rescued by United States Navy submarines. Such was the success of MEETINGHOUSEthat the fire-bombing of Japans cities did not end with March 9-10. The weapons dropped during Operation Meetinghouse were primarily M-69 and M-47 incendiaries. Why The Firebombing Of Tokyo Was History's Deadliest Air Raid These formed firestorms which quickly advanced in a northwesterly direction and destroyed or damaged almost all the buildings in their path. These measures were generally unsuccessful. It destroyed 16 square miles and 100,000 people. The extensive destruction caused by the raid led to these tactics becoming standard for the USAAF's B-29s until the end of the war. [1] Bombs dropped from 279 Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers burned out much of eastern Tokyo. These were accumulated on the basis of XXI Bomber Command plans which specified that the B-29s would each carry 4 short tons (3.6t) of the weapons on 40 percent of their monthly sorties. You could only imagine what was going on down below us. The odor, of course, was the smell of burning human flesh. [41] As weather conditions over Japan tended to be more favorable at night and the LORAN systems the B-29s used to navigate were more effective after dusk, it was also decided to conduct the attack at night. XXI Bomber Command was led by Major General General Curtis Emerson LeMay. Not that real precision would actually be needed. [46] On 7March, some of the B-29 crews flew training missions in which they practiced using radar to navigate and attack a target from low altitude. Questions or concerns? [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. [23] Arnold and the Air Staff wanted to wait to use the incendiaries until a large-scale program of firebombing could be mounted, to overwhelm the Japanese city defenses. Initially, LeMays results were painfully similar to those of his predecessor. The lower casualties were, in part, the result of better preparations by the Japanese authorities which had resulted from a realization that they had greatly under-estimated the threat posed by firebombing. The bloodletting would not end anytime soon. [174] Historians' views of the effects of this experience on him differ. Incendiary raids would rain down upon Japanese cities all across the country. General LeMay and his boss General Hap Arnold considered MEETINGHOUSE to be a rousing success. [44] Instead, the attack was led by the 314th Bombardment Wing's commanding officer, Brigadier General Thomas S. What is Operation Meetinghouse? - Fantastic Facts [42][44][45] While LeMay made the ultimate decision to adopt the new tactics, he acknowledged that his plan combined ideas put forward by many officers. No amphibious invasion of Japan would occur. Few of the incendiaries landed in the target area. While some of the citizenry dutifully filed out of their wooden homes, many did not. Visitors' Centers Traveling? The number and elaborateness of the meetinghouses were greatest in Palau and Yap. The Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO) in the European Theater was one of Americas bloodiest campaigns. The Japanese air and civil defenses proved largely inadequate; 14 American aircraft and 96 airmen were lost. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Required fields are marked *. [57] Due to shortages of radar and other fire control equipment, Japanese antiaircraft gunners found it difficult to target aircraft operating at night. [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. 73 Years Ago, the US Destroyed Tokyo in Deadliest Air Raid in History 22 of the bombers failed to return from the raid, several of which were overstressed when flying through the turbulent air caused by the fires over the burning city and broke up in mid-air. These altitudes were calculated to be too high for the light Japanese antiaircraft guns to reach, and below the effective range of the heavy antiaircraft guns. [167] Concerns initially raised regarding these two raids in the years after World War II have over time evolved into widely-held doubts over the morality and effectiveness of the campaigns. 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). [86] These aircraft turned back early due to mechanical problems or pilots deciding to abort the main mission because they were afraid of being killed. [34] [35] [144], Between April and mid-May XXI Bomber Command mainly focused on attacking airfields in southern Japan in support of the invasion of Okinawa. Technician Fifth Grade Lewis Hall from Obetz, Ohio, was born March 2, 1895, and was 47 years old at the time of his action. Meeting house definition, a house or other building for communal gathering, especially a place of Protestant worship. As the bombers passed over the target area and opened their bomb bay doors to unleash their payload, many of the crews were met with a sickening odor. Early in the morning on March 10, 1945, terrified residents of Japan's capital awoke to an inescapable inferno. [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. Operation Meetinghouse was part of a strategic campaign to severely disrupt Japan's wartime production and destroy the morale of its people, so the bombing focused on the Shitamachi district of Tokyo, which was densely populated. [61], Tokyo's civil defenses were also lacking. In 1943 the USAAF tested the effectiveness of incendiary bombs on adjoining German and Japanese-style domestic building complexes at the Dugway Proving Ground. [70] With a population of around 1.1 million, it was one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world. The resultant weight savings allowed them to carry a larger bomb load. Mike Reiss, who travelled on the Titan last year, told the BBC: "You sign a waiver before you get on that mentions death three different times . The Marianas'placement on the globe put Japan within striking range of Army Air Forces B-29 Superfortresses. The operations function is the catalyst. [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. March 9, 1945: Burning the Heart Out of the Enemy | WIRED [87], Tokyo's defenders were expecting an attack, but did not detect the American force until it arrived over the city. The napalm inside of the bombs devoured everything they touched. [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. 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. WWII Terms: Practices Flashcards | Quizlet [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. Another 19 Superfortresses which were unable to reach Tokyo struck targets of opportunity or targets of last resort. The heat from the fires also resulted in the final waves of aircraft experiencing heavy turbulence. [99][102] Crowds of civilians often panicked as they rushed towards the perceived safety of canals, with those who fell being crushed to death. These raids destroyed most of the city. [49], The Japanese military anticipated that the USAAF would make major night attacks on the Tokyo region. On the night of March 9-10 1945 in Tokyo, Operation Meetinghouse was View Classic LDS Maps. There has been a long-running debate over the morality of the 10 March firebombing of Tokyo. The heat, which is reported to have reached an unimaginable temperature of 1,800 degrees in some locations, sucked the oxygen out of the air, asphyxiating those it did not simply roast to death. Burnt out factory areas of Tokyo in 1946. They carried extra fuel, additional radios and XXI Bomber Command's best radio operators instead of bombs, and circled Tokyo at an altitude of 25,000 feet (7,600m) throughout the raid. [146] By this time, 50.8 percent of the city had been destroyed and more than 4million people left homeless. The turbulence was such that the bombers buffeted along with sudden altitude changes as much as 1,000 feet, up or down. [136] Stories about the attack were on the front page of all Japanese newspapers on 11 March. [38] At a meeting on 7March, LeMay agreed to conduct an intense series of raids against targets on the island of Honshu between 9and 22 March as part of the preparations for the invasion of Okinawa on 1April. Search for: battle_bombtokyo3. Published on February 24, 2019 in 9-10 March 1945: Operation Meetinghouse Full resolution (1200 931) Power. Bombing of Tokyo (10 March 1945) | Military Wiki | Fandom It's helpful to gather what you can before your next visit with your primary care physician. [105], The raid also caused widespread destruction. [52] Due to this vulnerability, it had suffered extensive damage and heavy casualties from fires caused by the 1923 Great Kant earthquake. [9] The first Superfortress flight over Tokyo took place on 1November, when a reconnaissance aircraft photographed industrial facilities and urban areas in the western districts of the city. 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. After the raid, 79,466 bodies were recovered and recorded. [63] Few air raid shelters had been constructed, though most households dug crude foxholes to shelter in near their homes. For five days in 1943, a fashion fad was at the center of racial violence in Los Angeles. 54f26b4730aa4 | This Day in Aviation [24], Several raids were conducted to test the effectiveness of firebombing against Japanese cities. [84] However, these bodies of water provided safety to thousands of others. 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 resulted from the content of USAAF communiques and reports rather than censorship. This campaign illustrated the powerful synergy of American joint operations. Over 1,000,000 people were left homeless after the raid, and more than a quarter million buildings and homes had been destroyed. [80], The attack on Tokyo commenced at 12:08 am local time on 10 March. The preferred munitions for American heavy bombers were high explosive bombs, 500 and 1,000 pounders. [90] Several Japanese pilots were killed when their aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed. These fuel savings allowed the Superfortresses to carry twice their usual bomb load. Operation Meetinghouse - Wikiwand Let us know. 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130info@nationalww2museum.org The first raid targeted an aircraft engine factory on the city's outskirts, and caused little damage. [127] For instance, both Arnold and LeMay regarded the 10 March raid and subsequent firebombing operations as being necessary to save American lives by bringing the war to a rapid conclusion. Coming in over the target from opposite directions, the pathfinders dropped their payload, which scattered over the wooden rooftops and immediately burst into flames. [53][Note 2] The 1st Antiaircraft Division controlled the antiaircraft guns stationed in the central region of Honshu, including Tokyo. In 2009 the Tokyo District Court found in favor of the government. It is considered the most destructive bombing raid in history as it destroyed approximately 16 square miles. [76] Frank has reached similar conclusions. These weapons were dropped from B-29s in clusters, and used napalm as their incendiary filler. The Operation Meetinghouse | Belfast Child [83], The raid lasted for approximately two hours and forty minutes. [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. Incredibly fierce winds and thick cloud cover limited the strike to a paltry 24 bombers. [63] Civilians had been organized into more than 140,000 neighborhood firefighting associations with a nominal strength of 2.75 million people, but these were also ill-equipped. Omissions? [69] These wards formed part of the informally defined Shitamachi district of Tokyo, which was mainly populated by working-class people and artisans. [97][98] The only buildings which survived the fire were constructed of stone. The clothes on peoples backs, those that werent on fire from the actual bombs, literally burst into flames from the heat. A total of 231 B-29s were dispatched, of which 172 arrived over the city; this was XXI Bomber Command's largest raid up to that time. This was only after hundreds of thousands of the Emperors subjects had been killed due to the aerial bombing. [160], Historians have also discussed the significance of the raid in the USAAF's transition from an emphasis on precision bombing to area bombing. Published on February 25, 2019 in 9-10 March 1945: Operation Meetinghouse Full resolution (800 547) Prior to this operation, the USAAF had focused on a precision bombing campaign against Japanese industrial facilities. The firestorm, with its intense heat and winds, created tornadic activity that caused updrafts in the flames and in turn created massive turbulence.
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