The Bombing of Tokokawa in World War II (豊川空襲, Toyokawa dai-kūshū) was part of the strategic bombing campaign waged by the United States of America 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 Toyokawa was not a major population center, it had a major target of military significance: the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal (豊川海軍工廠) one of the largest in the Empire of Japan, which produced 7.7 mm machine guns, 13 mm and 20 mm aircraft cannon and 25 mm anti-aircraft cannon and associated munitions for the Imperial Japanese Navy. By February 1945, the facility had 56,400 workers and covered an area of 330 hectares. The Tōkaidō Main Line railway connecting Tokyo with Osaka also ran through the city.[2]
Air raidsedit
Despite its obvious military significance, Toyokawa was not bombed until the very late stages of World War II. On 1 November 1944, a small scale air raid occurred.[3] This was followed on 23 November by a midnight fly-over by a lone camera-equipped B-29 Superfortress on a reconnaissance mission.
However, a major air raid did not occur until the morning of 7 August 1945. During this attack, 135 B-29 Superfortress bombers of the USAAF20th Air Force, 58th73rd, 313th, and 314th Bombardment Wings launched from Guam, Saipan and Tinian. They were joined by 48 P-51 Mustang escort fighters deployed from Iwo Jima. Arriving over the target area at 10:13 AM, twelve B-29s bombed the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal, while the remaining bombers concentrated on Toyokawa's civilian population center, and the P-51s strafed targets of opportunity. A total of 3,256 500-lb bombs (813 tons) was dropped on the city from an altitude of 15,000–17,000 feet.[4] Civilian casualty estimates range from 2,544 to 2,677 people killed. Victims included 452 schoolchildren and teenaged girls, some of whom had been conscripted and many of whom had volunteered to work at the Naval Arsenal.
Japanese anti-aircraft fire damaged 21 B-29s during the raid, one of which crashed into the ocean near Iwo Jima. There were no American fatalities. Another B-29 lost course and dropped its bombs on the rural village of Futamata (now part of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka).
After the war, a memorial monument was erected within the grounds of Toyokawa Inari temple. Several other memorials exist at various locations around Toyokawa City.
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.
Dorr, Robert F. (1994). B-29 Units of World War II. Osprey Publishing. ISBN1-84176-285-7.
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.
Notesedit
^Hoyt. Inferno: The Fire Bombing of Japan, 9 March – 15 August 1945
^United States Strategic Bombing Survey. Summary Report(Pacific War) 1 July 1946
^Carter. The Army Air Forces in World War II: Combat Chronology, 1941–1945
bombing, toyokawa, world, bombing, tokokawa, world, 豊川空襲, toyokawa, kūshū, part, strategic, bombing, campaign, waged, united, states, america, against, military, civilian, targets, population, centers, during, japan, home, islands, campaign, closing, stages, w. The Bombing of Tokokawa in World War II 豊川空襲 Toyokawa dai kushu was part of the strategic bombing campaign waged by the United States of America against military and civilian targets and population centers during the Japan home islands campaign in the closing stages of World War II 1 Bombing of ToyokawaPart of Pacific War World War IIMemorial to the Toyokawa Air Raid at Toyokawa Inari Date1 November 1944 7 August 1945LocationToyokawa Aichi JapanBelligerents United States JapanCasualties and lossesnone2 544 to 2 677 killed Contents 1 Background 2 Air raids 3 See also 4 References 5 Notes 6 External linksBackground editAlthough the city of Toyokawa was not a major population center it had a major target of military significance the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal 豊川海軍工廠 one of the largest in the Empire of Japan which produced 7 7 mm machine guns 13 mm and 20 mm aircraft cannon and 25 mm anti aircraft cannon and associated munitions for the Imperial Japanese Navy By February 1945 the facility had 56 400 workers and covered an area of 330 hectares The Tōkaidō Main Line railway connecting Tokyo with Osaka also ran through the city 2 Air raids editDespite its obvious military significance Toyokawa was not bombed until the very late stages of World War II On 1 November 1944 a small scale air raid occurred 3 This was followed on 23 November by a midnight fly over by a lone camera equipped B 29 Superfortress on a reconnaissance mission However a major air raid did not occur until the morning of 7 August 1945 During this attack 135 B 29 Superfortress bombers of the USAAF 20th Air Force 58th 73rd 313th and 314th Bombardment Wings launched from Guam Saipan and Tinian They were joined by 48 P 51 Mustang escort fighters deployed from Iwo Jima Arriving over the target area at 10 13 AM twelve B 29s bombed the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal while the remaining bombers concentrated on Toyokawa s civilian population center and the P 51s strafed targets of opportunity A total of 3 256 500 lb bombs 813 tons was dropped on the city from an altitude of 15 000 17 000 feet 4 Civilian casualty estimates range from 2 544 to 2 677 people killed Victims included 452 schoolchildren and teenaged girls some of whom had been conscripted and many of whom had volunteered to work at the Naval Arsenal Japanese anti aircraft fire damaged 21 B 29s during the raid one of which crashed into the ocean near Iwo Jima There were no American fatalities Another B 29 lost course and dropped its bombs on the rural village of Futamata now part of Hamamatsu Shizuoka After the war a memorial monument was erected within the grounds of Toyokawa Inari temple Several other memorials exist at various locations around Toyokawa City See also editStrategic bombing 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 Dorr Robert F 1994 B 29 Units of World War II Osprey Publishing ISBN 1 84176 285 7 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 9 March 15 August 1945 United States Strategic Bombing Survey Summary Report Pacific War 1 July 1946 Carter The Army Air Forces in World War II Combat Chronology 1941 1945 Bradley No Strategic Targets Left External links edit9th Bomb Group History Toyokawa Tourist Association History of Toyokawa Arsenal in Japanese Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bombing of Toyokawa in World War II amp oldid 1215807242, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
