Bombing of Kumagaya in World War II
The Bombing of Kumagaya in World War II (熊谷空襲, Kumagaya-kūshū) on 14 August 1945, was part of the
Background
Although the Japanese government had already agreed to accept the terms of the
At the time, the city of Kumagaya lacked major targets of military significance, except for some aircraft components manufacturing for Nakajima Aircraft Company and the Imperial Japanese Army’s Kumagaya Air Academy. Per the 1940 census, the city had an estimated population of 45,000.[3]
Air raids
On 14 August 1945, 77
Four aircraft were forced to abort due to mechanical issues, and the remaining 89 aircraft arrived over target at 0023 on 15 August in clear weather. Bombing continued to 0139 AM, from an altitude of 14,000 to 17,000 feet with 356 M17, 1372 M19 and 6321 M47 incendiary bombs dropped. The total amount of bombs dropped was thus 96,833 tons of bombs per square mile, or over three times the average amount dropped on other Japanese cities during the war.
The Japanese made no resistance, and all attacking aircraft returned safely, with five aircraft diverting to Iwo Jima due to mechanical issues.
The resultant
See also
References
- ^ Hoyt. Inferno: The Fire Bombing of Japan, March 9 – August 15, 1945
- ^ ISBN 9780195122060.
- ^ United States Strategic Bombing Survey. Summary Report(Pacific War) July 1, 1946
- ^ Carter. The Army Air Forces in World War II: Combat Chronology, 1941-1945
- ^ "1945 B29 City of Kankakee". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- ^ Wainstock. The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb. Page 9
Bibliography
- Wainstock, Dennis (1996). The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-275-95475-7.
- Werrell, Kenneth P (1996). Blankets of Fire. Washington and London: Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN 1-56098-665-4.
- 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.
- Bradley, F. J. (1999). No Strategic Targets Left. Contribution of Major Fire Raids Toward Ending WWII. Turner Publishing. ISBN 1-56311-483-6.
- Hoyt, Edwin P. (2000). Inferno: The Fire Bombing of Japan, March 9 – August 15, 1945. Madison Books. ISBN 1-56833-149-5.
- ISBN 0-14-100146-1.
- ISBN 978-0-8027-1565-4.