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About: dbkwik:resource/9caynnKBnqinqUnli571tg==

PropertyValue
rdf:type
rdfs:label
  • Bombing of Yawata (June 1944)
rdfs:comment
  • The Bombing of Yawata on the night of 15/16 June 1944 was the first air raid on the Japanese home islands conducted by United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) strategic bombers during World War II. The raid was undertaken by 75 B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers staging from bases in China. Only 47 of these aircraft bombed the raid's primary target, the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata in northern Kyūshū, and little damage was caused. Five B-29s were lost in accidents during the operation and two were destroyed by Japanese aircraft.
owl:sameAs
Strength
  • 24
  • 75
  • Anti-aircraft artillery
dcterms:subject
dbkwik:military/property/wikiPageUsesTemplate
Partof
  • the Pacific War, World War II
Date
  • --06-16
Caption
  • --06-16
Casualties
  • 7
  • 57
  • Light damage
combatant
  • United States
  • Empire of Japan
Place
  • Yawata, Japan
Conflict
  • Bombing of Yawata
abstract
  • The Bombing of Yawata on the night of 15/16 June 1944 was the first air raid on the Japanese home islands conducted by United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) strategic bombers during World War II. The raid was undertaken by 75 B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers staging from bases in China. Only 47 of these aircraft bombed the raid's primary target, the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata in northern Kyūshū, and little damage was caused. Five B-29s were lost in accidents during the operation and two were destroyed by Japanese aircraft. While the raid did not achieve its aims, it had other effects. It raised Japanese civilians' awareness that their country was being defeated and received unduly positive media coverage in the United States. Intelligence gathered by the B-29s also revealed weaknesses in Japan's air defenses and the raid was the first of many on Japan. Yawata was attacked again by B-29s operating from China on 20 August 1944 and much of the city was destroyed in a fire bombing raid conducted by B-29s based in the Mariana Islands on 8 August 1945.