XXI Bomber Command, Press Releases

8/8/2019 XXI Bomber Command, Press Releases

1/31

.E!:!RIQ!Q

HE.tJ>QU .HTERSUNITED ST"TES ..Jr.,y ~ T i U + . . T m I C It.IR FORCESOffice of the "C of 5, ,,-2hPO 234

19 h.ugtlst 1945SUBJECT: Foreic;n Rudio Reports.

THE FOLWdING REPORTS ,lfiE VERB"TTIi TRnNSL.-ITIONSOF J-Jltl.HESE BIiO,J)C:.STS FOR AWE CQi;SIJ1.iPTION IJ'ID CONTtiIN NO r:!:GLISH-LJKtU"GE PROP..GiJID ....m ~ R E C E D L N T E O &.. OF THE lCl'IRE (l'okyo 17 nU;;).

"In facing th i s :;rave and unprececented e r of the a-rtpire l Fi.na.nce Unls ter Hirose made the followinc 5 t a t ~ n e n t :lOur e ~ ~ i r e has ~ c t u a ~ corne face to f ~ c e with the nost cifficult erain i ts histor}-. The road which our national c c o n o ~ should toke is th e oneleading to the os.intl:ll'lllnCe o f o rder, to u pL:l.Oning for the stablliz.:I.tion ofnc.tional l i fe and to th e speedy recovery of our econooy. The 30verru!nt,.i n order to do this , i s deternined to do e ~ e r y t h i n B possible t o s tab il izecurrenc;r. Therefore, the ut::x>st : - ' ~ : ' sibil1ties \u l l be t=.ken to guarantee

th e securi ty of sav1n3s and deposits anc. l!lCasures such a the oorntoriundefin i tely 1'lill no t be taken. t :Oreover, concrete adjustnents \ l i l l be redein th e handlin6 c a p i t ~ l necessar}" for the increased production of food, fo rthe e s t ~ b l i s h n e n t and s tabi l i ty of n a ~ i o n a l l i fe , for the recenera tion ofwar Victims, and ~ forth.I:ext, as for the conversion of i=lportont industries, concentraticln ofnecessary capi tal wil l be guaranteed ..!l.d a t th e sane t ine ap?ropriate adjustuents and the establishment of leans und (word) for c o n v e r s i o ~ will be pl.:;.nned.Furtheroore, in order to cal.ntain the sto1.bilityof currency, s t r ic tcensures to prevent inf la t ion will be planned and redlizeG.I strongly request you people of the nation actually to er asp the s i t -uation, to ha,e un ~ l understandinc of th e v a r i ~ u s measures which th enation undertakes, anG to face the diff icul t tusks of the ret icn ~ i t h (word)sel f esteen, cOr.JPosure and cc.1m.'1ess."C..BlliET, or: COtlFROiITn:G F.:EfCD;CY SITUATION. (Os=.ka 16 AU3).

Itln l as t nieht 1 s broadcast address Prinier Suzuki said that the wayfor th e people to r e p ~ his ~ j e s t y is to eXbrt thQir efforts in r . ~ k i n g progress in science and techniC:Lue and in building up a culture wnich will cont r ibute to 'World civil izat ion and th is can be cJ.O!l.6 by ou r forf!,;ettine e v e ~ ' -U....inc) (word) of the po st and witt: an eilterness to foro a n'K Japan.

~ s President ~ of th e Oai Uip?On ? o l i t i c ~ H s s o c i a t i ~ n st&tedthat we (people of Jc.pun-tr,;ms) l"IUst no t lead astr_y OUi' sulerm c.ttitudeand (word) but s tr ive for (word) courr.[;e and exert our efforts for safe guidance. ....t this ti.r.m we should. actually exe rc is e the ~ . r p e r i a l rescript oneducc.tion and abide by i t . Thus our descendents will certuinl.;. welcor.te th e[ ) .O r iOU8 ~ a which will (word) in his tor/ .In th is my: "the cabinet 's 0('


2/31

IlEnDQU.J

"In las t nieht I S brOlldc.:lst address Prinier Suzuki said that th e wayfor th e peoplt:l to repay his 1:v.jcsty is to eXurt thuir efforts in r..o..1{ing progress in science and techniclue and in building up 0. cultu:ce which will con- .t ribute to world civilizotion and this can bEl done bj" ou r forlSettine evorythinS (word) of th e past and 'hi.til an eQeerness to forn e. new JUp.3n.n lso Pres ident :.u..nam of th e oc.i Nip?On P ~ l i t i c c l Jl.ssociatbn stlitedthat we (people of J


3/31

I t " : : , j T R I C T ~ D

SUBJ2CT: Foreli;n Ri.u.o Reports.

the s ~ u ~ r e in front of the' l 'her :)led:;ec. to beEU" th e un-::l.1rnin..:; LlD.i',J" peo;Jlc ho.vc f i l ledth6ir resptlcts t the E l . ~ e r J r .defend the n ~ t i o n e l s t r u c t u r e . ~

nYesterdt,y n o ~ n we heard His i..ajtlsty bro


4/31

DISTRIBUTION:

R S T R IC TED

Pace - 2 _RE,STRtlCTED,

CnIDIT TO SCIENTIFIC SUPERIORITY (Tokyo in Enslish 16 u",ust)

However, a l l places were well in order ond. everyone was l:J.lch better be-haved thnn w h ~ n they f i rs t heard the news on ~ u 3 U s t 11.Today J every single house and every build in .... hoisted th e "Blue Sky.I,bite SWl" National flag_ i l l th e stores are openin,3 for business .F. 120

...-2, VII Ftr Com 65G-2, hGF, nPO 86 1nTC J

Foreign Redic Reports, 18 ~ u ~ u s t 45. Cont1d.

nSince th e Cabinet system Ylas established, t.l-tis i s th e f i r s t t ine thrt h ~ n accuse those who used th e fateful ~ t o ~ t c ~ 5 I t ~ o u l ~ be much r ~ according to Bushido (Soldiers ' cJ;:ml':'. 1:::rdUch to ou r eood i f we can accuse o u r ~ e l v e 3 cf b e ~ n e so i n c a ~ b l e , the"Yociuri" ar+, ic le s&.id.The Japanese !:!Ust now learn to look a t a ph


5/31

nCES. s . AEM'l STAAT3GICrlADqIlMT&


6/31

,, . S .4NY SrrnA.TIDIC AI:i, FOnCES,E : F . A D Q . l I ~ = S . Guam. /

For aelease: 1330,3 August 1945.

COMMUNlq,UE NO.3.

1. A force of 139 P-51 Mustan;:;s from 1.....0 Jima struck Japan around noonof 2 August (Guam Time), s t r a f i ~ and launching rockets against five airf ieldsend t e r ~ e t s of opportunity in the Nagoya-Kobe area. Our force sighted oneairborne enemy aircraf t , which fled, and eiGht operatione.l enemy aircraft onthe ground. :neturnine pilots reported that they destroyed one enemy fifihteron Kiyosu airf ie ld and seven locomotives in the Nav,oye-Toyohashi yards, anddamaged two a ir cr af t, a ir fi el d hangers end buildings. four factories. onerefinery, natural gAS tanks. power l ines, seven locomotives, railroad cess andstet ions, and 14 small vessels. Anti_aircraft fire rpnging from meager tomoderate caused minor d ~ to 11 of o u r ~ f i ~ h t e r s . All of our airplanesreturned.

2. Mission summaries for the B-29 Superfortress strik e in the early hoursof 2 A ~ s t (Guam Time) show thet our forces encountered 20 enemy f i ~ h t e rattacks which resulted in damage to two of our bombers. Four bombers weredamaged by anti-aircrRft f i re . No add it iona l repor ts on the results on ourbombing are available Rt this time.

CAl\L SPAATZ.General, U. S. Army,Commanding, UnitedStates Army S t r ~ t e g i cAir For ces .

\


7/31

IITOllIC BO;.:B INHuu,.,lllE. (TOKYO IN SNGL!SH TO POiIT1.1m OIlliC.QN, 8 hUg).

ST ..TW:NT BY PREL!.ER SUZUKI. ( T o k ~ r o to Greater Eas t J ls ia , 15 J,UB).

15 "\.\gust J.91.5

FORCES

R E S T ~ E D- - - - - - - - - - -~ Q U i \ I 1 T E n SUNITED ST"TES ..RLY STRAT1!XiIC AIROffice of the he of S, s-2

itPO 234

"Since th e beginr'inr; of thE> war thl.: n u m b 0 ~ ' of off icers D.nd men sacri ficed has be"n I7but. HowE;ver, th e p u r p o s ~ of the war coulri not be ochie'/ud.The Sovibt Union on liU;ust n ine decw'er i war on the J.-:.panese nation.Thus, the ~ 1 1 p e r i a l r.esso.E5e vms grantee:.. The f u t u . ~ e of J


8/31

SUBJECT: Foreign Radio Reports.

JAPf


9/31

App.,.;ze4el, 70 Marianas-based B-29 Superfortresses dropped heavy

10 August, 1945.FOR rtELBaSE: 1330

ca.by late f ternoon o f 9

the smoke

Communique No. g s h o ~ that a coJl r - -

Scattered f i res were visible au

1. Damage a s s e s s m e ~ ~ h o t o ~ r ~ p h s now availaolcmission

COMliUNI qlJE NO.9 .

u. S .AiOO' STi\.b.TEGIC .ill\. FOnC3S.~ t w : I r E R S , Guam

,

demolition bombs on the Tokyo arsenal area in the late m o r n i ~ of 10 August.The bombers were escorted by p-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs from Iwo Jima.

I 'ITI_'et of 90 13-29 Superfor tresses dropped heavy demol i t ion bombs onthe Nippon Oil Refinery Company at Amagasaki in the e ~ r l y hours of 10 A u ~ s t .Enemy interception was s l i ~ h t ~ . N W ~ ~ l n t i - a i r c r a f t fire ranged from meager tointense.

Reconnaissance photographs show the_t the Ube Coal Liquefaction Companywas lef t completely inoperative by the 3-29 mission reported in Communique No.4All of the refinery units were destroyed or damaged and a seawall protectingthe plant was broken in several p laces , flooding the plant si te.

ChI.L SPAATZ IGeneral, U.S. Army,Commanding.


10/31

,.... ,, ," I v.:. . .lllOl'OS!:D Jl'IlfAt COlll41lJlIQ

.....,- .- ---.,,...--.~ j ) / J ) On.rIP'G,ilIE1ut SrAATZ V

,. the tIM ot the Pl'es1dent's Pl'Ocla t10n, Il9 a1 - . . f t.... land '.... t a r - I a.. af"te!' l't')'1na out a napta . .'ut Japul. lUI' a pel'1Od or 26 boU1'a 01" to aeeeat1aB.t bD8UUU... a toIl i or 9M w e ot . 0.. st!'6te 0AU PoPe... oorapoe.11 ot 888 B-Iil9'1 d 11'1 he - sed exeort f'1gh PI..avau au1 11 ..USta17 obJ.ctivea thl'ougbOut onahu. OW!' l 'tou or tle ..N Uftel1 dUl'1na th ie ope tion, Jet no bN l..M4 au l l leqaat to JlI'OCI t10n. 29 a1re . . .NtuPDi4 .. ~ ~ lIWr f'1sbte!' abo tt _ 10 . 'NI f'1Jla1.,tack, 1ImlttDi '1 '4 .bbol' l l8 bat ONl f pe a0lllle1 1'1ted tbe.1 or , ," to cSo aU opnatlOIl8 . p t n a t ~ J * l . h i a l lm ~ t e . opeatS... -1ot1T. tho t t l l lo b1abl1!ltl are polJlt04

,---Da tbob oJlOreUo.. ap1Dlt JaJlU, ' . tltollI India ant. 'I I &Ps - n .. . . . . . 100,000.000 anA . . . 4Joo po4IIe.I21 ot 110 All &lIN to ot 2,111 t11 t 1n41Y14la. . . . . . , . C.. .u. ) ... b " . l I to t 'lI8t ob3ocU. . . . 1lh.tob POe.lIlS.-lI'Ul' 1M .. tbo 1lO1JIt ot - - - . r r

...... SDeS"at t o . . ' 01 '0 UoIUI ..ro 48., at at A ., 1 ft . . . . . .re lM t . A a . .... ot a1HMfteIl...._ , ..1ena. tile a .0 to . aU-

1 .. ON 0. . , . total ot . . . .. . . . . . . 1. . . . a1 d rooocnio tea.


11/31

P1Dal and accurate evaluat ion ot results or 29 operation.t await co pletion of photo phic reconnais5,nce and ground

lUI' er. f tUable intelligence confir s the following da lap .The indUitrialproductive capacity or ~ Japanese c i t ie . has....Ii cle.trOJ7ed. r 6 additional ci t ies , the industrial p r o d u c t i ~ ., ._paoity has belA ~ r t i a ~ destroyed. Damage to two urban in-

4al tr1&l areas hal not baIA aBse.sed. total of 178 sq. (llZ.920 acr.. ) ot Japanese urban industrial area have been del-t1'Oyl4. tota l or 581 important factories engaeed in1production

. .ot.. ter1&1l have been either total ly destroyed or s e v e r e ~".114. 1JIclUlled in th i . llUIIber are 23 IIl!ijor factories .of Japan'.a1rcraft in4Ul1tl7 1lhich de.tl'1llltion has r .sulted in an cs t ia tedfJIf reduction in. bet' COlllbat aircraft productive caJl6city. Also ine l _ d ape . ix, o t J'apan'l jor. arsenals. Also included are twop lan" rroduc1!lg tetra e_l 1.... In addition to the above ClamaS-.h e jor stee l plantl weN 4&; ged to an t en t r esult ing in a 1 f.. . . . t1OD in .1....'. oapacity to produce Iteel . In addition, a tota l. , .1 'p 11*1 .11 lto1'&ll refinery in.tallatioDS weN .. . . . ..,.. OJ' . . . . N ".pd pelulting 1n II d structton ot Japan'l..... 111 ztetin:q capectt)'. On the bash or J'aJl6n8.e tnde di. . . . . . .1 it 11 bo. that the nUl8ber of I.U reeder-type fao-_.11 ._1)'1111 a _U _be l ' ot people. destroyed bT 1a-_. _\tim I 'WII 1Jlto the thouandl . Included in the aboft

tba two urban indust ri al a rea l or H l p O I ~ and. . .e . . . . . d l l t J ' O ~ OJ' 1" "N l ) ' ....ced lIT e..-1-


12/31

aw. 811 b r o h 45. l ~ B-29 tl1ghts have laid 12.049 lline.Sa _ l I T _ t e r . . Japanes. home hlands have been nrtua1l1 88vsreclIJoOII IOlJI'C ot n t a l toods and raw teria1s on the Asiati c contt_t. . n U o n tone ot .nslQ' ocean-going ftsse1s 1l'llPe .unk or..n l T d R . p d ' " 1I1n... The close or the war t1nds great qlIIIJltit i o t coal Ul4 raw . t a r i a 1 . intended tor wa1' industrie. otJaJlUl piled up a t popt. ot I:o!'...

In their operations a 1nst .Japan. 29's have dest1'07ed O!'. . . . . 19S!l .1Ib1 a i! 'cNtt in the ai!' and ove!' 350 on the ground.

D1JI'ing t h . pviod 11 Ap!'il to 11 Ka,. 1945. a to ta l ot 7850tons o t 110 " 1 ' . o a m . d lIT B-29" against ai!'fields and aufie14i n s - n a t i O n in Jt:yushu foro the pu!'pose ot n.utral1zing thet i . l d a in OOOPcl1nation with the invasion ot Okinawa.

1 - 1 l'&1lit N t . 1 i e _t filbte1'. based a t Iwo .Ju a h aftI .mi. 1011 t l1lbts to Japan. totaling ove!' 88.000 hOlJl'.. In addition

.. " ' ~ " " .H01't Jll'otectlon to B-29 1in1ts operating ovsr .Japan.a p. . . .ft ..!'1.1 oat attaekl a p i n s t _1141/17 U!' f i . l d s . AI. . . - 1 \ o t : r -.... f iChtv operations. 1047 .1141111 ai! ' INtt haft._ ~ - ' " T a t or " . s a d a t a co.t ot 106 ot 0lJI' f i p t e ! ' l . Thi.1-.. NJ'N8e..t. l . a f o t t h . u!'bo!'ne . t to! ' t ot OlJl' long l'llD.P ..co!'t-........

-. ! -


13/31

At tbe t l . of Japan' I IU1'rendel', Itrengtb of B-It WI! t il- . s - . ba4 " .cbM 1011 t.1l'Cl1'att.. 'rbe strength t it l o n a - ~

and a t rwo J1la ha4 l'lI8cbd a to tal of 268. A tota l of. . 1 1 . _ I'IOnneJ. wen a181gne to un1ts of the r1anas aa4..4 l'ate&1c Ail' Jb1'cel. Following figures ind1cate ~ v e 1 o p ., of tbe ..It effort IAnttAOI AlllClIAPrftoa. IuDe 44 to 4e :Lt9 11,447

,IIOft:'lber '44 93 ~ ! Dece::lbel' '44 1'55January '415 1114 1 6 ~ 7,. '411 ~ ~ 0 ' 7IIUOh '415 388 1 ~ . 8 ' 7 8Apri l '4!11 a 16,:3 2

'4f1 718 24 ,119!1'4 791 3 2 , ~ 7 9'4 92S 42,711

1-1- '4 986 21,:584torAL TO G 169,421

-4.


14/31

For Release:17 August 2100,1945.C O M } U J N I ~ NO. 12.

1. From the operations against Japen on 14 August end in the early hoursof 15 AUo=ust a ll of our bombers returned. Four fighte rs a re missing. Strikephotographs ind icate excel lent resul ts .

2. Summarizing strategic operations against Japan: B-298 from Indiaend Marianas bases have flown over 100,000,000 miles and have dropped 169,421tons of bombs. An aggregate of 32,612 flights by individual aircraft (Sorties)have been executed against object ives which were ordinarily 1,SOO miles or morefrom the point o f take -o ff.

Losses incident to combat operations were 437 B-29 ei rcraf t . A total of297 B-29 crews were lost . A total of over Goo combat crew personnel was rescuedby naval rescue agencies.

Final and accurate evaluat ion of results of B-29 operations must awaitcompletion of p h o t o g r ~ p h i c reconnaissance and ground survey. Available intel-ligence confirms the fol lowing damage:

The oajor portion of the i n d u s t r i ~ l productive capacity of 59 Japanesecit ies has been destroyed. Of s ~ additional ci t ies, the industrial product-ive capaci ty he,s been part ial ly destroyed. Damage to two urban industrialarees has not been assessed. A total of 581 important factories engaged inproduction of war materials has been either totally destroyed or severelydamaged. Included in this number are 23 major factories of Japan's aircraftindustry, destruction of which has been resulted in an estimated 60% reductionin her combat ai rcraf t productive capacity. Also included are six of J a p e ~ l smajor ~ s e n a l s . Also included are two plants producing tetra ethyl lead. Inaddition to the above d R ~ e . two major steel plants were d 2 ~ e d to C L extentresult ing in a l 5 reduction in J ~ P ? J l I S capacity to produce steel. In add it ion.


15/31

eight principal oil s to rage ana refinery instal lat ions was destroyedseverely damaged, resulting in the destruction of Japan's major oil refining

c ~ p a c i t y . Included in the above figures are the two urban industrial areas ofHiroshima and Nagasaki, which were destroyed or severely damaged by one atomicbomb dropped by a ~ 2 on each of these targets.

Since 28 Mo.rch 1945. 1.435 ~ 2 flights heve la id 12.049 mines in enemywaters.

In their opera tions against J n p ~ , B-29s have destroyed or damaged 1,935enemy aircraft in the a ir and over 350 on the ground.

During the period 17 April to 11 May 1945. n total of 7.850 tons of bombswas c ~ r r i e d by B-29s against airf ields and airf ie ld installations in Kyushu forthe purpose of n e u t r ~ l i z i n g these fields in coordination with the invnsion ofOki!Ul.\


16/31

S. ARI!! STRATEGIC!!E+DQ.UARTERS. Guam.,

COMkUNIQ.UE NO. 11.

Alrt FORCES, For Release: Immediately15 August 1945?

1. Over a thousand aircraft of the United States Army strategic AirForces operated against Japan in the l as t 24 hours. More than 800Marianas-based B-29 Superfortresses dropped approximately 6,000 tons ofdemolition and incendiary bombs on Japan dur ing daylight on 14 AUoPllst andin the early hours of 15 August . Targets h it were the Hikeri Naval Arsenal,Oseka Army Arsenal, Marifu railroad yards, the Nippon 011 ReflDery a tAkita And the industr ial areas of Kumagaya and I s e z w ~ i . Nearly 200 fighterairplanes from Iwo Jima escorted the bombers over O s p _ ~ and struck airfieldsin the Nagoya area on t he a ft ernoon of 14 August.

~ SPAATZ,General. U. S. Army.'COmmP..nding.

~ ~ ~ ~


17/31

IC AIl! J'OllCJ:S,Gwlm.

110. 10.

For Release: l33011 .August 1 9 ~ . - z : I

---:..---

1. Reconnaissance photographs made on 10 August after the atomic b o m b i ~in Communique No. g show that at least .98 square mile of N a r . a s a - ~ i l s

ilt -up a rea of 3.3 square miles was destroyed.2. A force of 102 P-51 M u s t a n ~ s from Iwo Jima was over the Tokyo area on

he morning of 10 August as escort for the B-29 Superfortress mission reported inNo.9 . OUr pi lo ts e n g ~ e d 18 Japanese fie;htcr airplanes in combat.six. probably destroying one and dama;;inp' 11. All of our Mustangs

eturned.3. Mining of enemy waters by 3-29 Superfortresses continued on 10 Aur,ust.

CARL SPil.ATZ.General. U. S. Army,Commanding.


18/31

lIlM'l STRATEGIC AIR FORCES,Q.UAlITERS, ""Am

COMtMlIQ.UE NO.9.

10 Augus t, 1945.FOR RELEASE: 1330

1. Seventy M R r i p ~ ~ s - b ~ 8 e d B-29 Superfortresses dropped h e ~ v y demolitionbombs on the Tokyo R r 6 e n ~ ~ e in the late morning of 10 August. The bomberswere escorted by p-47 Thunderbolts ~ P-51 M u s t ~ g s from lwo J i m ~ .

2. Ninety B-29 Superfortresses dropped h e ~ v y demolition bombs on theNippon Oil Ref in er y Comp.ny qt "'''''&I\s,.kl in the e-.Tly hours of 10 Augus t. Enemyinterception w ~ s l ight and a ~ t i - ~ i r c r a f t f ire rAnged from m c p ~ e r t o in ten se .

3. ReconnaissRnce photographs show t h ~ t the Dba Coal L i q u e f ~ c t i o n C o m p ~w ~ l e f t completely i n o p e r ~ t i v e by the ]-29 mission reported in Communique No.4. All of the r e f l n e ~ units were destroyed or d ~ m ~ e d qnd s c ~ w a l l protectingthe plant was broken in s e Y e r ~ l p l ~ c e s , flooding the p l p ~ t site .

C.A1lL SPAATZ.GenerJ\l t U. S. Army tCommanding.


19/31

fi.JI " ( tTEGIC ~ F O ~ C E SFor Release: 1130, .Atlguat

10, 1945.R E A D ~ A R T E n S t UNITSD STATES ATt]JfY STRATEGIC AIR FORCES. Guam, AUf1:Ust 10 _

General Carl Spaetz announced this m o r n i ~ that d.e.ma.

Scattered f i res were visible ou tBide th e smoke area.No f ur ther r epor ts on results of th e bombing arc available at th is time.

ECHa-8104511092


20/31

t J ? ~For ease: 9 August 1945.

1. The second use of the atomic bomb occurred at noon of 9 August atNagasaki. Crew members reported good results. No further details will beavailable unti l the mission returns.

C,UiL SPAATZ.General, U. S. Army tCommanding.


21/31

NO.7.

For Release: 9 Augu.t1330.

1. In the f i rs t hour of 9 August, 92 M a r i ~ a s - b a s e d B-29 Suparfortressesupwards of 500 tons of incendiary bombs in the industrial areas of

Returning crews reported excellent results, with general conflagra-observed. No enemy interception was encountered and anti-aircraft f ire

as meager . All of our bombers returned.2. A force of 67 M a r i ~ n a s - b a s e d Superfortresses struck at industrial tar-in the Tokyo p x e ~ in the l ~ t e afternoon of 8 August, dropping 400 tons of

bombs on the N ~ a j i m a aircroft plant and the Tokyo arsenal a rea.to exce llent results were reported. No enemlf ~ i r c r a f t were encountered

t one of our bombers w ~ lost to intense a n t i - a i r c r ~ t f ire .3. In the Y ~ w a t ~ mission reported in Communique No.6, 233 Superfortresse

1,400 tons of demolition bombs. Returning crews reported excellent re-with several l arge fires Observed. Enemy interception w ~ slight and

a f t fire moderate. Two of ourbombers failed to return.4. A force of 78 P-5l Mustangs and p-47 Thunderbolts from Iwo Jima struckairf ie lds and t ~ r g c t s of opportunity in the Osaka ~ r e a on the morning of 8

Pilots reported that they destroyed a h i g h w ~ bridge, a locomotive anden 8 r n L ~ 1 b o ~ t s . set a factory afire, ~ d a m ~ ~ e d various shops, har.gars, b ~ r -

t r ~ i n s , r ~ i l r o ~ s t ~ t i o n s and G m ~ l l shipping. No enemy " i r p l ~ e s werein the air. A n t i - ~ r c r p ~ t f ire r ~ g e d from m e ~ e r to intense. Six of aur

r ~ l l e d to return but throo of the pilotR were rescued.

CARr SPAATZ


22/31

1. Reconnaissance p h o t o ~ r a p h s made over Hiroshima on the mornins of 6show that 4.1 square miles or 601 of the City;'s built-up area of 6.9

~ / . ? se: S A ~ 7 U s t 19451330.

miles were completely destroyed hy the Atomic bombing mission, Fiveindustrial t a r ~ e t s within this area were destroyed. Additiona l d a m a ~ e

s shown outside the completely destroyed area.2. U p ~ r d s df 225 Marianas-based ?-29 Superfortressds . truck the industr

Ja l areas of Yawata with heavy demolition b o m b ~ in the late morfiing of 8 Aug-

The bombers were escorted by p-47 Thunderbolts from Okinawa.3. On the 3-29 mission asainst Toyokewa Naval Arsenal on 7 Ausust, 121

ombers dropped 750 tons-of high explosives on the t a r ~ e t , with r ~ s u l t s reportr e t u r n i ~ crews to be generally excollent. No enomy interception was en-

and anti-aircraft fire was m c ~ ~ r . OnG d ~ ; ~ d bomber was abandonedthe return trip. The crew was rescued.

4. D t \ r i ~ ~ t h ],29 mission a ~ a i n s t Toyokawa, 97 P-51 M u s t e n ~ s were overHalf of the force escorted the bombers. The othor half s trafed targe t

n the Y o k o s ~ a erea, exploding a 20D-foot freishter, setting two oil tanksand ~ ~ i n g three locomotives, 25 f r e i ~ h t cars, two railroad stations,stations, power l ines end transformers and 19 small vessels. No enemy

were encountered. ~ t i _ a i r c r a f t fire r ~ c d from mCaf,or to intenof our airplanes was lost on the way to the t a r ~ e t but the pilot was rescu

-5. Mining missions by 3-29s were conducted on the nir,ht of 7-S Ausustn enomy waters.

6. Sma ll forc eD o f D-29o droppcd 92 tons o f h i ~ h explos ivcs on MArcu8and S8 tons on the Dublon b o ~ t basin at Truk on the afternoon of 7


23/31

FORCES,For Release: 7 August 1945,1330.

1. Approximately 125 Marianas-based B-29 Superfortresses struck theTo.rokawa Naval Arsenal with high explosive bombs around noon of 7 August. Thebombers were escorted by fighters from :Iwo Jim...

2. P-51 Mustangs from lwo Jima attacked rJ.ne a ir fi elds in the Tokyo areaon the morning of 6 August, destroying one enemy aircraft, probably destroyingthree and damaging 21. Targets of opportunity damaged Oil the mission were air-f ield installations, hangars, factories, railroad yards and a 200-foot vesselwhich was set afi re . No enemy interceptors were encountered. A n t i ~ i r c r a f tfire ranged from meager to intense. Of the 97 airplanes which participated inthe mission, six failed to return. Three of the pilots were rescued.

3. Final reports on the B-29 mission of the night of 5-6 August showthat 572 bombers struck the primary targets, 28 dropped mines and nine bombedtargets of opportuni ty . The crew of the B-29 which failed to return has beenrescued.

,

CiJU, SPAATZ,General, U.S. Army,Comrranding


24/31

RCES, For Release, 136 August 1945.

UE NO.4.

the1. At least 580 Marianas-based B 29 f- Super ortresses struck at Japan dunight of 5-6 August, dropping approximately 3,850 tons of incendiary and

r ia l

high explosive bombs on the Ube Coal Liquefaction Company and on the industMAEGAslI1

areas of/Nishinomiya.-Mikage, Imabari and Saga, and mining the watersaround Geijitsu, Tsuruga, Hagi-0ura and Rashin. Returning crews reported goto excellent results, with large f ires observed in several of the target areEnemy fighter opposition was l ight and an ti -a ircraft f ir e was meager to modate. One of our bombers failed to return.

2. A small force of B-29s dropped 45 tons of bombs on Moen Airfield Noat Truk on the afternoon of 5 August. No opposition was encountered.

3. A force of 98 P-5l Mustangs from Ivro Jima strafed and launched rockagainst airf ields and targets of oppor tuni ty in the Tokyo area shortly afternoon of 5 August. Returning pilots reported that they destroyed two enemy acraft and six locomotives, probably destroyed one aircraft, set tv/o oil tankafire , and damaged one aircraft, several factory buildings, four locomotivesrailroad stations and cars, seven small boats and various miscellaneous targOur force encountered one enemy interceptor, which fled, and anti-aircraft franging from meager to intense. Two of our airplane s were damaged and threefa iled to return. One pilot has been rescued.

4. Around noon of 3 August, P-5l Mustangs from lwo Jima struck the Tokyarea with the following results, Destroyed, two enemy aircraft in the air aeight on the ground, 14 locomotives, several trucks, gun emplacements and atransformer. Damaged, seven aircraft, six locomotives, 50 railroad cars,


25/31

interceptors and anti-aircra f ire ranging fromintense. Of the 97 Mustangs which participated in the mission,

five were damaged and s ix fa iled to return. One pilot is known to have beenrescued.

5. A small force of P-51 Mustangs from Iwo Jima made a neutralization,str ike against a ir installations on Chichi Jima the afternoon of 3 August,

s tr af ing the target and dropping four tons of bombs. All of our airplanes,

returned.6. The f i r s t photographs available on the results of the B-29 strike in

the early hours of 2 August show thAt the industrial area of Toyama was totallydestroyed.

,

CARL SPAATZ,General, U.S. Army,CQI!llIB nding


26/31

STnATEGIC A I FO-CBS.-TEAS Guam.

COMMUNIQUE NO, 3.

For ~ e l e a s e : 13 August 1945,

I , A force of 139 P-51 !.!ustanss from Iwo Jima struck Jap..j' l aroundof 2 August (Guam i ime). strafin3 and launchi" rocket, against five airand t e . r , ~ e t s of opportunity in the lTagoya-Kob(, are... Our force s j , ~ h t e d oairborne enemy aircraft , which fled, and e i ~ . t o p e r a t i o n e ~ l enemy aircrafthe ground. ~ e t u r n i n g pilots reported the.t they destroyed one enemy fifion Kiyosu airf ie ld and seven locomotives in t1e N a ~ o y a - T o y o h a s h i yards,damaged two aircraft , airfield hangers and b u i l d i ~ s , four factories, onrefinery, natural gas tanks, power l ines, sevet locomotives, railroad cast t ions, and 14 small vessels . Anti-aircraft lOire renging from meagermoderate caused minor d.ama.ge to 11 of our f i 2 : ~ t e J . S . All of our airplC'.nereturned.

2. Mission s ~ r i e s for the B-29 Superfortrllss strike in the e..r lyof 2 A ~ u s t (Guam Time) show the.t our forces e n c o u n ~ e r e d 20 enemy fi&hteattacks which resu lted in damage to two of our b o m D e . ~ s . Four bombers wedamaged by an ti -a ir c ra f t f ir e . No additional reports on the results on obombing ere available at this time.

CA,:iL A. SPAATZ.Ge1.eral, U. S. ArmCOO\ lll'.ndinit. UnitedSt", 'es Army StrategAir Forces.


27/31

'.

C O M H U N I ~ U E NO.2.

I;;' FQ;;'CES ,YFe 1elease: Immedi

1. In the Superfortress strike against Japan in the early hours of2 A = t (Guam Tine), 820 !!arianas-baseci 13-29s attackeci the tar;;ets. Ofthis number 778 bombers struck at the cit ies of Hachioji, Toyama, Nagaokaanci Mito anci at o i l storage anci refinery targets in the petroleum complexKawasaki. The other 42 bombers mineci enemy waters arounci the ShimonosekStrai ts anci off the cit ies of Seishin anci Rashin on the northernmost coasof Korea. A t o t ~ l of 6632 tons of bombs anci mines was dropped. Returnincrews reported ~ o o d to excellent bombing results , with Reneral conflagratobserved in the target cit ies . Enemy fighter opposition over the targetc i t i e s ranged from none to sl ight, and ant i- ai rcra ft f ir e from none to morate. Over the Kawasaki petroleum t a r ~ e t s , f i ~ h t e r opposition r a ~ e d fromnone to moderate and ant i- ai rc ra ft f ir e was moderate. One of our airplanei s mi ssine;.

2. The p-47 Thunderbolts recently adcied to our f i ~ h t e r s t r e ~ t h onIwo Jima made their f i rs t attack on Japan on Ausust 1st (Guam Time), joiniP-51 Mustangs in a small s c ~ l e mission against the Nagoye_Kobe area. Thef i ~ h t e r 5 strafed and launched rockets against locomotives and cars in theFukide r ~ i l r o a d yards and b u i l d i n ~ s and fa cto rie s a t the Itami e ~ NagoyaEast airf ields. The operation was carried out under adverse weather con-dit ions. No enemy f i ~ h t e r opposition was encountered. Four of our air-planes failed to return.

-......... - - - - ' - - - ~ - ('IAi:T A ,.. ...... . . . . . . . - - - -


28/31

u. s. ARMY STRATEGIC AIR FORCESHEADQUARTERS, Guam

COMMUNIQUE NO. I

For Release ~ ~ t h last elemebombs away signal.

..

1. Approximately 800 Marianas-based B-29 Superfortresses struck inearly hours today, 2 August (Guam Time), at the Japanese industrial citiHachioji, Toyama, Nagaoka and Mito, and at petroleum installations at KaApproximately 6,000 tons of incendiary and high explosive bombs were droon the targets.

CARL A. SPAATZ,General, U.S. Army,Commanding, UnitedStates Army StrategicAir Forces .


29/31

UD.4.1'.RKSOiiiot-PlItt r :'!jllM I1114 Mat A-2 I CG Attached heretc f ive sheets ccveringI 1945 I I recent Japanese broadcast. reproduced" , I , according to your instructions. ThisI I t sheet was made a regular part of the

I I I weekly "Air Intel l igence Report". In,I addit ion, 500 extra sheets were made upI I . and were disseminated with the Report tcI ; , ' : 6MA I I units of this Command so tha t they mightr _ ~ ' A A ' I \ 9 4 ~ I I be made available tc a l l personnel.:'., :, " j . ~ . . 1 I (7- 4I ~ ri. GARCIAI '. I Colonel, G. S. c.1 I, IL . ! ! A C ~ o : . ! f ~ S _ ' _ ,-!Ai,:-:=2 _I : rI I I ;1I I I i1 I I , I. 1I I I II I , JI. Ii I ltIll

I I tI r I II I :II I , 'II Il I I1 I I I1 ( , ,. . : t iI I I. ,j.I tilI JI I I II I 1I t ,-I, I -l I I' " '.I I II : : II l I ' 1,I I II : (litE ~ s I i i s r :XlI iIJ Q. ' J / l 6 / 4 ~ , ---'=--=-.::.;..


30/31

IIFORANDUII TO: GENERAL KISNER

26 June 1945

HEADQUARTERS XXI roMBER COIIMANDAPO 234

1. In a Weekly Review of the war situation over the Toky"oRadio the evening of 2) June, the following interesting reference toour Coman:ling General l iaS made:

~ ~ 4 ~HARLES T. KINOSTON, Jr . ,Major, MIS,Special Security Officer,XXI Bomber Command.

SUBJECT: Japanese Home Service Broadcast.

"LeMay, who boasted that he would crush every city inGerma.ny with a population of 100,000 or more, i s now trying to carryout the same strategy against our homeland. furthermore, we can perceivein this LeMa{ts tactics against our homelarxl that his objectives arenot-,:unted 0cit ies with a population of lOO,OOOor more blt fVtnedium ani small city there i s , because such are the tactics 0 sLeMay. II

2. It should be noted that this was a broadcast in Japanesefor home consumption not a propaganda broadcast fo r A llied consumption.It i s a rather ominous pronouncement to make to the citizenry.

..


31/31

'..

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Documents

XXI Bomber Command, Press Releases