why was operation meetinghouse important

Prior to this operation, the USAAF had focused on a precision bombing campaign against Japanese industrial facilities. In 1943 the USAAF tested the effectiveness of incendiary bombs on adjoining German and Japanese-style domestic building complexes at the Dugway Proving Ground. [145] Further incendiary attacks were conducted against Tokyo, with the final taking place on the night of 25/26 May. The Japanese later called this the Night of the Black Snow.. This attack was code-named Operation Meetinghouse by the USAAF and is known as the Great Tokyo Air Raid in Japan. The atomic bombing of Nagasaki by comparison, resulted about 80.000 deaths. We closed the bomb bay doors after we dropped and headed to sea. The strategic goal of your start-up could be to establish . [90] Several Japanese pilots were killed when their aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed. Quakers, as they were dubbed by their detractors, were the most influential of Newport's numerous early congregations. [7], The American Doolittle Raid on 18 April 1942 was the first air attack on Tokyo, but inflicted little damage on the city. The bloodletting would not end anytime soon. The majority of the 10th Air Division's senior officers were sacked or reassigned as punishment for the unit's failure on 10 March. The glass in windows began to liquify. View Classic LDS Maps. [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. Those who found refuge in the pool were no better off. Japanese air defenses, as predicted, were meager at best. Over 1,000,000 people were left homeless after the raid, and more than a quarter million buildings and homes had been destroyed. [156] The academic Cary Karacas has stated that a reason for the low-profile official commemoration of the attack in Japan is that the government does not want to acknowledge "that it was Japan who initiated the first-ever air raids on Asias cities". Although an important industrial city, Nagasaki had been spared from firebombing because its geography made it difficult to locate at night with AN/APQ-13 radar. The fire bombing raid killed at least 100,000 civilians and left over 1 million homeless. Important Dates in Aviation History. [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. Overhead a procession of 300 of the world's largest strategic bomber, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, rains flaming death with no quarter. [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. [1] [91] The Japanese fighters were ineffective; their pilots received no guidance from radar stations and the efforts of the anti aircraft gunners and fighter units were not coordinated. 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. The Futaba school was known for its massive swimming pool and large brick buildings, so people flocked to the school hoping to get to the pool or take refuge in the school. The mission to destroy Japans cottage industry, at least in Tokyo, had been achieved. B-29_Superfortress_314_Bomb_Wing_29_Bomb_Group_in_Flight_2 Interested in participating in the Publishing Partner Program? Hellfire on Earth: Operation MEETINGHOUSE - The National WWII Museum [111] The aircrew who conducted the attack were also pleased with its results. Both operational and strategic thinking guide your company's plans for the future, but one is short term and the other long term. SATURDAY, June 24, 2023 -- Your family medical history may reveal some important details about your health, making it vital information to share with your medical provider. The heat from the fires also resulted in the final waves of aircraft experiencing heavy turbulence. [133], The Japanese government initially attempted to suppress news of the extent of the 10 March raid, but later used it for propaganda purposes. [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. Japanese coast-watchers heard the approaching bomber formation around midnight. [60] The regiment was experiencing difficulties converting to the night fighter role, which included an overly intensive training program that exhausted its pilots. The pathfinder's job now done, they retreated from the area, the target now brightly illuminated in the shape of an enormous fiery X. [17][18] The plans for the strategic bombing offensive against Japan developed in 1943 specified that it would transition from a focus on the precision bombing of industrial targets to area bombing from around halfway in the campaign, which was forecast to be in March 1945. On the night of 9/10 March 1945, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) conducted a devastating firebombing raid on Tokyo, the Japanese capital city. F.J. Bradley states that the visit convinced Hirohito that Japan had lost the war. [85], Widespread fires rapidly developed across northeastern Tokyo. Incredibly fierce winds and thick cloud cover limited the strike to a paltry 24 bombers. [171] Werrell has written that while racism may have influenced this, "many other factors were involved, which, I would submit, were more significant". Initially, LeMays results were painfully similar to those of his predecessor. [97] Soon after the start of the raid news broadcasts began advising civilians to evacuate as quickly as possible, but not all did so immediately. : r/ThatsInsane r/ThatsInsane 21 days ago The clothes on peoples backs, those that werent on fire from the actual bombs, literally burst into flames from the heat. [56], The attack force began departing its bases at 5:35 pm local time on 9March. 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. Faced with the thinly veiled threat, that unless LeMay and his Superforts inflicted extreme violence on Japan through the air, an amphibious invasion of the Home Islands would have to be executed with an estimated 1,000,000 potentialAmerican casualties,Iron Ass LeMaychanged tactics. R.G. Tokyo's housing district burnt to the ground months after the Meetinghouse raid. [49], The Japanese military anticipated that the USAAF would make major night attacks on the Tokyo region. Just over 8,000 firemen were assigned to the Tokyo area, and between those 8,000 men there were 1,000 pieces of equipmentand exactly three firefighting extension ladders. Their crews only realizedthey were inverted when everything inside the airplane came crashing down on them, and the flames that were below them an instant beforewere now above them. Reporting focused on the perceived immorality of the attack and the number of B-29s which had been destroyed. It was made up of eight regiments with a total of 780 antiaircraft guns, as well as a regiment equipped with searchlights. [56] A network of picket boats, radar stations and lookout posts was responsible for detecting incoming raids. OTD in 1945: The Deadliest Air Raid in History, Operation Meetinghouse. A small incendiary attack was made against Tokyo on the night of 29/30 November 1944, but caused little damage. [44] Instead, the attack was led by the 314th Bombardment Wing's commanding officer, Brigadier General Thomas S. For instance, the USAAF official history judged that the attack fully met LeMay's objectives, and it and the subsequent firebombing raids shortened the war. Technician Fifth Grade Lewis Hall from Obetz, Ohio, was born March 2, 1895, and was 47 years old at the time of his action. [130], The raid was followed by similar attacks against Nagoya on the night of 11/12 March, Osaka in the early hours of 14 March, Kobe on 17/18 March and Nagoya again on 18/19 March. [99][102] Crowds of civilians often panicked as they rushed towards the perceived safety of canals, with those who fell being crushed to death. [37] On 5March XXI Bomber Command's personnel were advised that no further major attacks would be scheduled until 9March. 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. With the target selected, the airplanes loaded, and the crews briefed, the first B-29 lifted off from Guams North Field just after 5:30 on the afternoon of March 9, 1945. Why The Firebombing Of Tokyo Was History's Deadliest Air Raid The raid is often cited as a key example in criticism of the Allies' strategic bombing campaigns, with many historians and commentators arguing that it was not acceptable for the USAAF to deliberately target civilians, and other historians stating that the USAAF had no choice but to change to area bombing tactics given that the precision bombing campaign had failed. As a result, LeMay decided to remove all of the B-29s' guns other than those at the rear of the aircraft to reduce the weight of the aircraft and further boost the weight of bombs they could carry. Police records show that 267,171 buildings were destroyed, which represented a quarter of all buildings in Tokyo at the time. [155] A small section of the Edo-Tokyo Museum also covers the air raids on Tokyo. Published on February 25, 2019 in 9-10 March 1945: Operation Meetinghouse Full resolution (800 547) The superheated air and cyclonic winds from the firestorm blew the liquified glass into the air, where itfell onpeople like some terrible rain, imbedding itself into their scalps where it continued to melt into the hair and skin. Convinced that the way to destroy Japans ability to wage war was by burning its wooden cities to the ground, LeMay ordered Mission 38 to proceed. B-29s over Japan - 1945, Curtis Le May and Operation Meetinghouse Sixteen square miles of the formerly bustling capital had been razed to the ground. Menu Skip to content . Subsequent sightings of B-29s flying at low levels were not taken seriously, and the Japanese radar stations focused on searching for American aircraft operating at their usual high altitudes. [146] By this time, 50.8 percent of the city had been destroyed and more than 4million people left homeless. The newest heavy bomber fielded by the AAF, the Superforts had an astounding range of over 3,200 miles and a ceiling of over 30,000 feet. [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. The operation during the early hours of 10 March was the first major firebombing raid against a Japanese city, and the USAAF units employed significantly different tactics from those used in precision raids, including bombing by night with the aircraft flying at low altitudes. Against the wooden cities of Japan, specifically Tokyo, the HEs did not. 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. Historian Richard B. Frank has written that "the key to survival was to grasp quickly that the situation was hopeless and flee". Below are the top five veteran research questions, where to go for further resources, and how to begin your search. [61], Tokyo's civil defenses were also lacking. The United States' intelligence services were aware of how vulnerable the region remained to fire, with the Office of Strategic Services rating it as containing the most combustible districts in Tokyo. Power. Meetinghouse Locator Use an interactive map to locate Church meetinghouses worldwide. [51] However, the Japanese did not expect the Americans to change to low altitude bombing tactics. [52][56] Turbulence was encountered on the flight to Japan, but the weather over Tokyo was good. [53][Note 2] The 1st Antiaircraft Division controlled the antiaircraft guns stationed in the central region of Honshu, including Tokyo. Meeting house Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com [111], After the raid, civilians across Tokyo offered assistance to the refugees. All else, some say, is a prelude or tangential". [27] The next firebombing raid was directed against Kobe on 4February, and bombs dropped from 69 B-29s started fires which destroyed or damaged 1,039 buildings. This was only after hundreds of thousands of the Emperors subjects had been killed due to the aerial bombing. [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. [29] The directive also called for a large-scale trial incendiary raid as soon as possible. It is the centre of the organisation and it oversees various functions of the business, acting as a mechanism for control. [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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Firebombing raid on Tokyo in World War II. Transcription. The next morning, thousands of corpses were found in the school, not burned, but baked and roasted to death by the heat. In Micronesian culture: Settlement patterns and housing. First, it was a strategic decision. Corrections? The most important of these was the weather; the American raiders frequently encountered cloudy conditions and high winds over Japan which made accurate bombing extremely difficult. [106], Few places in the targeted area provided safety. 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. [157] Since that time, a public campaign has advocated for the Japanese Government to pass legislation to provide compensation to civilian survivors of the raid. The odor was still so strong in the plane that the pilot ordered me to open the doors again to let the fresh air in. However, a combination of mechanical failures, formidable Japanese air defenses, and strong jet-stream winds made such bombing inaccurate and the losses substantial. In 2009 the Tokyo District Court found in favor of the government. Meetinghouse | building | Britannica [25] On 18 December 84 XX Bomber Command B-29s conducted an incendiary raid on the Chinese city of Hankou which caused extensive damage. A number of small neighborhood memorials were also established across the affected area in the years after the raid. Morale among the citizens of Tokyo plummeted. Conrad C. Crane has observed that "the resort to fire raids marked another stage in the escalation towards total war and represented the culmination of trends begun in the air war against Germany". [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]. [150] Efforts began in the 1970s to construct an official Tokyo Peace Museum to mark the raid, but the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly canceled the project in 1999. LeMay decided to attack Tokyo by night at low altitude, stripping his bombers of guns and armor to accommodate a larger bomb load. What bombs rained down on the capital widely missed their target. At least three people have been killed, including a child, and many have been injured after a shopping centre was hit by Russian missiles in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine. [73] Each of XXI Bomber Command's three wings was allocated a different altitude to bomb from, in bands between 5,000 feet (1,500m) and 7,000 feet (2,100m). 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. The number and elaborateness of the meetinghouses were greatest in Palau and Yap. 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. Tokyo had been bombed before, but only once at night and not by many aircraft. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The Bombing of Tokyo (, Tkydaiksh) was a series of firebombing air raids by the United States Army Air Force during the Pacific campaigns of World War II. [16], USAAF planners began assessing the feasibility of a firebombing campaign against Japanese cities in 1943. Important Dates in Aviation History. Hell has come to earth. [105], Estimates of the number of people killed in the bombing of Tokyo on 10 March differ. The attack was conducted in daylight, with the bombers flying in formation at high altitudes.
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