Bombing of Chiba in World War II
Encyclopedia
The 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
. The second, and larger, air raid of July 6. 1945 is also referred to as the “Tanabata
Air Raid”, as it occurred on the night of a traditional festival.
was a seaport and population center on the eastern fringe of the Tokyo Metropolis. In terms of military significance, it was a prefectural capital and a major regional transportation hub. Its major military targets included a large steel mill operated by Kawasaki Heavy Industries
and an aircraft plant operated by Hitachi Aircraft Company. The city had suffered minor damage on April 18, 1942 when it was bombed by one of the B-25 Mitchell
bombers of the Doolittle Raid
; however, it was bypassed during the Great Tokyo Air Raid of March 10, 1945.
bombers attacked the Hitachi Aircraft plant in southern Chiba. This plant produced primarily training aircraft for the Imperial Japanese Navy
, and aircraft engines, and was also involved in research and design work. The bombers arrived over target at 0745, bombing by radar through cloud cover.The resultant bombing killed 324 civilians in central and southern Chiba, many of whom were children at the Chiba Prefectural Women’s High School, which was totally destroyed by the attack.
from the USAAF 58th Bombardment Wing departed from Saipan
. Five aircraft were forced back, but the remaining 124 aircraft arrived over Chiba at 0139 hours and commenced a firebombing
attack with 889 tons of E-46 500 lbs incendiary cluster bombs
and 500 lbs T4E4 fragmentation cluster bomb
s on the central part of the city from an altitude of 9900 to 11,500 feet, lasting until 0305 hours. The E46 incendiary bombs were set to open at 5000 feet, releasing incendiary devices on the largely wooden city. The resultant firestorm
destroyed 43.5% of the city. The estimated civilian casualties in the July 6 raid was 1,204 killed. The B-29 bombers returned to the Mariana Islands
without damage or loss, although 14 aircraft were forced to divert to Iwo Jima
due to mechanical problems.
A year after the war, the United States Army Air Forces
's Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific War)
reported that 43.5 percent of the city had been totally destroyed by both raids combined.
Strategic bombing
Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
campaign waged by the United States of America against military and civilian targets and population centers during the Japan home islands campaign
Japan campaign
The Japan Campaign was a series of battles and engagements in and around the Japanese Home Islands, between Allied forces and the forces of Imperial Japan during the last stages of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. The Japan Campaign lasted from around June 1944 to August 1945.-Air war:Periodic...
in the closing stages of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The second, and larger, air raid of July 6. 1945 is also referred to as the “Tanabata
Tanabata
is a Japanese star festival, originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival. It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi . According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the...
Air Raid”, as it occurred on the night of a traditional festival.
Background
The city of ChibaChiba, Chiba
is the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 40 km east of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. Chiba City became a government designated city in 1992. Its population as of 2008 is approximately 960,000....
was a seaport and population center on the eastern fringe of the Tokyo Metropolis. In terms of military significance, it was a prefectural capital and a major regional transportation hub. Its major military targets included a large steel mill operated by Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
and an aircraft plant operated by Hitachi Aircraft Company. The city had suffered minor damage on April 18, 1942 when it was bombed by one of the B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
bombers of the Doolittle Raid
Doolittle Raid
The Doolittle Raid, on 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese Home Islands during World War II. By demonstrating that Japan itself was vulnerable to American air attack, it provided a vital morale boost and opportunity for U.S. retaliation after the...
; however, it was bypassed during the Great Tokyo Air Raid of March 10, 1945.
Air Raid of June 10, 1945
On the morning of June 10, 1945, 100 B-29 SuperfortressB-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
bombers attacked the Hitachi Aircraft plant in southern Chiba. This plant produced primarily training aircraft for the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
, and aircraft engines, and was also involved in research and design work. The bombers arrived over target at 0745, bombing by radar through cloud cover.The resultant bombing killed 324 civilians in central and southern Chiba, many of whom were children at the Chiba Prefectural Women’s High School, which was totally destroyed by the attack.
Air Raid of July 6, 1945
On the night of July 6, 1945, 129 B-29 SuperfortressB-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
from the USAAF 58th Bombardment Wing departed from Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
. Five aircraft were forced back, but the remaining 124 aircraft arrived over Chiba at 0139 hours and commenced a firebombing
Firebombing
Firebombing is a bombing technique designed to damage a target, generally an urban area, through the use of fire, caused by incendiary devices, rather than from the blast effect of large bombs....
attack with 889 tons of E-46 500 lbs incendiary cluster bombs
Incendiary device
Incendiary weapons, incendiary devices or incendiary bombs are bombs designed to start fires or destroy sensitive equipment using materials such as napalm, thermite, chlorine trifluoride, or white phosphorus....
and 500 lbs T4E4 fragmentation cluster bomb
Cluster bomb
A cluster munition is a form of air-dropped or ground-launched explosive weapon that releases or ejects smaller sub-munitions. Commonly, this is a cluster bomb that ejects explosive bomblets that are designed to kill enemy personnel and destroy vehicles...
s on the central part of the city from an altitude of 9900 to 11,500 feet, lasting until 0305 hours. The E46 incendiary bombs were set to open at 5000 feet, releasing incendiary devices on the largely wooden city. The resultant firestorm
Firestorm
A firestorm is a conflagration which attains such intensity that it creates and sustains its own wind system. It is most commonly a natural phenomenon, created during some of the largest bushfires, forest fires, and wildfires...
destroyed 43.5% of the city. The estimated civilian casualties in the July 6 raid was 1,204 killed. The B-29 bombers returned to the Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
without damage or loss, although 14 aircraft were forced to divert to Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
due to mechanical problems.
A year after the war, the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
's Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific War)
Strategic bombing survey (Pacific War)
The "Strategic bombing survey " was a United States Army Air Forces report on the impact of strategic bombing in World War II in the Pacific Campaign.A separate report was made for the atomic attacks.- External links :* *...
reported that 43.5 percent of the city had been totally destroyed by both raids combined.