The Bombing of Shizuoka in World War II (静岡大空襲, Shizuoka dai-kūshū) on June 19, 1945, was part of the strategic bombing campaign waged by the United States against military and civilian targets and population centers during the Japan home islands campaign in the closing stages of World War II.[1]
Although the city of Shizuoka lacked major targets of military significance, it was the 15th largest city in Japan per the 1940 census with an estimated population in 1945 of 212,000, and was a major regional commercial center. The Tōkaidō Main Line railway connecting Tokyo with Osaka also ran through the city.[2]
Air raids
Shizuoka was bombed a total of ten times during World War II. Tactical raids with high explosive bombs were made against a defunct Mitsubishi aircraft engine plant in March, April, May, and on June 7, 1945, a tactical raid by B-29 Superfortresses caused moderate damage to Shizuoka's industrial areas.[3]
On June 19, 1945, 137 B-29 bombers from the USAAF314th Bombardment Wing launched a major firebombing attack on the central part of the city.[4] The bombers attacked in two waves from east and west, so as to trap the population within the center of the city, between the mountains and the sea, dropping 13,211 incendiary bombs. The resultant firestorm destroyed most of the city.[5] Shizuoka civil defense measures were crude at best and the city had almost no antiaircraft batteries.[6]Air raid shelters consisted of a hole in the ground next to wooden houses with a wooden roof covered with a thin layer of soil and clay. Due to the high ground water levels in the area, these shelters were shallow, and many people were burned alive in the firestorm.[3] The estimated civilian casualties in the June 19 raid were 1,952 people killed, an estimated 12,000 were severely injured, and 26,891 homes were destroyed. A year after the war, the United States Army Air Forces's Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific War) reported that 66.1 percent of the city had been totally destroyed.[7]
Two B-29s collided mid-air during the operation, resulting in the deaths of 23 Americans. In 2008, a headstone with the names of the fallen Airmen was erected in front of the previous Japanese monument in the city.[8] A joint US-Japan memorial service is held each year at the site on the Saturday closest to the day the crash occurred. The book The Blackened Canteen, by Jerry Yellin, a P-51 pilot, tells the story.[9]
Werrell, Kenneth P. (1996). Blankets of Fire. Washington and London: Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN1-56098-665-4.
Bradley, F. J. (1999). No Strategic Targets Left. Contribution of Major Fire Raids Toward Ending WWII. Turner Publishing. ISBN1-56311-483-6.
Carter, Kit C. (1975). The Army Air Forces in World War II: Combat Chronology, 1941-1945. DIANE Publishing. ISBN1-4289-1543-5.
Crane, Conrad C. (1994). The Cigar that brought the Fire Wind: Curtis LeMay and the Strategic Bombing of Japan. JGSDF-U.S. Army Military History Exchange. ASIN B0006PGEIQ.
Grayling, A. C. (2007). Among the Dead Cities: The History and Moral Legacy of the WWII Bombing of Civilians in Germany and Japan. New York: Walker Publishing Company Inc. ISBN978-0-8027-1565-4.
Hoyt, Edwin P. (2000). Inferno: The Fire Bombing of Japan, March 9 – August 15, 1945. Madison Books. ISBN1-56833-149-5.
Shannon, Donald H. (1976). United States air strategy and doctrine as employed in the strategic bombing of Japan. U.S. Air University, Air War College. ASIN B0006WCQ86.
Wainstock, Dennis (1996). The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN0-275-95475-7.
Notes
^Hoyt. Inferno: The Fire Bombing of Japan, March 9 – August 15, 1945
^United States Strategic Bombing Survey. Summary Report(Pacific War) July 1, 1946
^. Archived from the original on 2009-09-27. Retrieved 2009-08-04.
External links
Mission Diary of Charles A Smith
330th Bomb Group Combat Mission Logs
67 Japanese Cities Firebombed in World War II
March 04, 2023
bombing, shizuoka, world, bombing, shizuokapart, raids, japan, part, pacific, warshizuoka, after, 1945, raiddate19, june, 1945locationshizuoka, japanresultamerican, victorybelligerents, united, states, japanstrength137, bombers, from, 314th, bombardment, wingu. Bombing of ShizuokaPart of the Air raids on Japan as part of the Pacific WarShizuoka after the 1945 air raidDate19 June 1945LocationShizuoka JapanResultAmerican victoryBelligerents United States JapanStrength137 B 29 bombers from the 314th Bombardment WingUnknown number of antiaircraft gunsCasualties and losses2 aircraft destroyed in mid air collision1 952 civilians killed 12 000 severely injured The Bombing of Shizuoka in World War II 静岡大空襲 Shizuoka dai kushu on June 19 1945 was part of the strategic bombing campaign waged by the United States against military and civilian targets and population centers during the Japan home islands campaign in the closing stages of World War II 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Air raids 3 See also 4 References 5 Notes 6 External linksBackground EditAlthough the city of Shizuoka lacked major targets of military significance it was the 15th largest city in Japan per the 1940 census with an estimated population in 1945 of 212 000 and was a major regional commercial center The Tōkaidō Main Line railway connecting Tokyo with Osaka also ran through the city 2 Air raids EditShizuoka was bombed a total of ten times during World War II Tactical raids with high explosive bombs were made against a defunct Mitsubishi aircraft engine plant in March April May and on June 7 1945 a tactical raid by B 29 Superfortresses caused moderate damage to Shizuoka s industrial areas 3 On June 19 1945 137 B 29 bombers from the USAAF 314th Bombardment Wing launched a major firebombing attack on the central part of the city 4 The bombers attacked in two waves from east and west so as to trap the population within the center of the city between the mountains and the sea dropping 13 211 incendiary bombs The resultant firestorm destroyed most of the city 5 Shizuoka civil defense measures were crude at best and the city had almost no antiaircraft batteries 6 Air raid shelters consisted of a hole in the ground next to wooden houses with a wooden roof covered with a thin layer of soil and clay Due to the high ground water levels in the area these shelters were shallow and many people were burned alive in the firestorm 3 The estimated civilian casualties in the June 19 raid were 1 952 people killed an estimated 12 000 were severely injured and 26 891 homes were destroyed A year after the war the United States Army Air Forces s Strategic Bombing Survey Pacific War reported that 66 1 percent of the city had been totally destroyed 7 Two B 29s collided mid air during the operation resulting in the deaths of 23 Americans In 2008 a headstone with the names of the fallen Airmen was erected in front of the previous Japanese monument in the city 8 A joint US Japan memorial service is held each year at the site on the Saturday closest to the day the crash occurred The book The Blackened Canteen by Jerry Yellin a P 51 pilot tells the story 9 See also EditStrategic bombing during World War II Air raids on Japan Evacuations of civilians in Japan during World War IIReferences EditWerrell Kenneth P 1996 Blankets of Fire Washington and London Smithsonian Institution Press ISBN 1 56098 665 4 Bradley F J 1999 No Strategic Targets Left Contribution of Major Fire Raids Toward Ending WWII Turner Publishing ISBN 1 56311 483 6 Carter Kit C 1975 The Army Air Forces in World War II Combat Chronology 1941 1945 DIANE Publishing ISBN 1 4289 1543 5 Crane Conrad C 1994 The Cigar that brought the Fire Wind Curtis LeMay and the Strategic Bombing of Japan JGSDF U S Army Military History Exchange ASIN B0006PGEIQ Frank Richard B 2001 Downfall The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire Penguin ISBN 0 14 100146 1 Grayling A C 2007 Among the Dead Cities The History and Moral Legacy of the WWII Bombing of Civilians in Germany and Japan New York Walker Publishing Company Inc ISBN 978 0 8027 1565 4 Hoyt Edwin P 2000 Inferno The Fire Bombing of Japan March 9 August 15 1945 Madison Books ISBN 1 56833 149 5 Shannon Donald H 1976 United States air strategy and doctrine as employed in the strategic bombing of Japan U S Air University Air War College ASIN B0006WCQ86 Wainstock Dennis 1996 The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 0 275 95475 7 Notes Edit Hoyt Inferno The Fire Bombing of Japan March 9 August 15 1945 United States Strategic Bombing Survey Summary Report Pacific War July 1 1946 a b 1 330th Bomb Group Combat Mission Logs Carter The Army Air Forces in World War II Combat Chronology 1941 1945 Bradley No Strategic Targets Left Lardas Mark 2019 Japan 1944 45 LeMay s B 29 Strategic Bombing Campaign Paul Wright London Bloomsbury Publishing Plc ISBN 978 1 4728 3247 4 OCLC 1083042403 Wainstock The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb Page 9 http www japanprobe com p 4889 Japan Archived 2008 07 04 at the Wayback Machine Probe June 15 2008 Jerryyellin com Archived from the original on 2009 09 27 Retrieved 2009 08 04 External links EditPacific War Chronology Mission Diary of Charles A Smith 330th Bomb Group Combat Mission Logs 67 Japanese Cities Firebombed in World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bombing of Shizuoka in World War II amp oldid 1122814162, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
