Raid on Taipei
Encyclopedia
Taipei Air Raid which took place on May 31, 1945, was the largest Allied
air raid
on the city of Taipei
, known back then as Taihoku. Despite efforts by Allied strategy planners to minimize civilian casualties, many residents were killed in the raid and tens of thousands wounded or displaced.
As early as 1943, Fourteenth Air Force
of the United States Army Air Forces
and units of the combined air force of U.S. and Nationalist China had launched several air raids against military and industrial targets in Taiwan
. Before this, Soviet volunteer units and Chinese air force had attacked military bases around Taipei
Area, most of which were targeted on smaller objectives and were of smaller scales. After American ground forces captured Subic Bay
in the Philippines
, the Allied air forces began larger and more systematic air raids against targets on the island of Taiwan
. After October 12, 1944, Allied air forces began scheduled air raids on factories located in Pingtung and Huwei
, Takao
Harbor, and fighter production facility in the outskirt of Takao. Also, Taipei, the capital and political and financial center of Taiwan, had been under constant aerial assaults by the Allies since that time.
.jpg)
On May 31, 1945, units of the Fifth Air Force
consisting of 117 Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber
s were sent to conduct the largest air raid ever on Taiwan. The bombing began from around ten o'clock in the morning and lasted until one o'clock in the afternoon, during which the attack was non-stop. The Americans met virtually no resistance from the Japanese, mainly due to the attrition the Japanese air forces had suffered in the Aerial Battle of Taiwan-Okinawa
, which completely exhausted Japan's fighter units in Taiwan. The Allies dropped approximately 3,800 bombs on military units and governmental facilities in Taipei; many other buildings within the downtown area and Japanese quarter also suffered various damages.
The Office of the Governor-General of Taiwan suffered a direct hit, in spite of the building being heavily camouflaged to avoid being targeted. The building suffered extensive damage from fire caused by the bombs and almost collapsed on itself; it was rendered unoccupiable and was not repaired until the Nationalist Chinese takeover. Other facilities hit during the bombing included the residence of the Assistant Governor-General, Taiwan Railway Hotel, Office of Governor-General Library, Army Headquarters, Taihoku (Taipei) Imperial University
, Taipei Main Station
, Bank of Taiwan
, Taipei High Court, Taipei Park, and many other facilities.
, Huashan Catholic Church of Taipei, and the famous Longshan Temple, which was hit in the main building and the left corridor; many precious artifacts and art works in the temple were lost in the ensuing fire.
After the conclusion of World War II
, because of its pro-American political stance, the government of Republic of China
toned down the attack and excluded it from the media and history textbooks.
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
air raid
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...
on the city of Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, known back then as Taihoku. Despite efforts by Allied strategy planners to minimize civilian casualties, many residents were killed in the raid and tens of thousands wounded or displaced.
Background
Fourteenth Air Force
The Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
of 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....
and units of the combined air force of U.S. and Nationalist China had launched several air raids against military and industrial targets in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Before this, Soviet volunteer units and Chinese air force had attacked military bases around Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
Area, most of which were targeted on smaller objectives and were of smaller scales. After American ground forces captured Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, the Allied air forces began larger and more systematic air raids against targets on the island of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. After October 12, 1944, Allied air forces began scheduled air raids on factories located in Pingtung and Huwei
Huwei
Huwei is an urban township in Yunlin County, Taiwan. It has a population of about 67,000. Its seventeenth century name was Favorlang.Huwei was nicknamed the Capital of Sugar during the Japanese era in Taiwan....
, Takao
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
Harbor, and fighter production facility in the outskirt of Takao. Also, Taipei, the capital and political and financial center of Taiwan, had been under constant aerial assaults by the Allies since that time.
Air Raid
Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
consisting of 117 Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber
Heavy bomber
A heavy bomber is a bomber aircraft of the largest size and load carrying capacity, and usually the longest range.In New START, the term "heavy bomber" is used for two types of bombers:*one with a range greater than 8,000 kilometers...
s were sent to conduct the largest air raid ever on Taiwan. The bombing began from around ten o'clock in the morning and lasted until one o'clock in the afternoon, during which the attack was non-stop. The Americans met virtually no resistance from the Japanese, mainly due to the attrition the Japanese air forces had suffered in the Aerial Battle of Taiwan-Okinawa
Aerial Battle of Taiwan-Okinawa
The Aerial Battle of the Taiwan Seas took place between October 12 and 16, 1944, off the eastern coast of the island of Taiwan, and was fought by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service and the approaching Task Force 38 of the United States Third Fleet and was one of a series of Air raids on Japan...
, which completely exhausted Japan's fighter units in Taiwan. The Allies dropped approximately 3,800 bombs on military units and governmental facilities in Taipei; many other buildings within the downtown area and Japanese quarter also suffered various damages.
Buildings hit
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
, Taipei Main Station
Taipei Main Station
Taipei Station, also called Taipei Railway Station or Taipei Main Station , refers to the old downtown region in Taipei City, Taiwan, where different modes of public transport systems converge; the station is at the center of this region...
, Bank of Taiwan
Bank of Taiwan
The Bank of Taiwan is a bank headquartered in Taipei, Republic of China . It is administered and owned by the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China.-History:...
, Taipei High Court, Taipei Park, and many other facilities.
Civilian casualties
Although the Allies tried to avoid civilian casualties, many civilian installations were mistakenly bombed, including Taipei First Girls' High SchoolTaipei First Girls' High School
Taipei First Girls' High School is a prestigious Taiwanese high school, located in Zhongzheng District within Taipei City, with only the top 1% of scorers on the Basic Competence Test for Junior High School Students receiving admission.- Overview :The school was founded in 1904 and named as...
, Huashan Catholic Church of Taipei, and the famous Longshan Temple, which was hit in the main building and the left corridor; many precious artifacts and art works in the temple were lost in the ensuing fire.
Aftermath
The number of deaths totaled more than 3,000, which exceeded the total number of deaths resulting from all the previous air raids on Taiwan by the Allies. Tens of thousands of people were displaced or became homeless, and many buildings were destroyed either by the attacks or by the fire caused by the attacks. The air raid showed that the city was defenseless against Allied aerial assaults, and the Governor-General ordered schools and other installations to be evacuated, and that more air raid drills be held.After the conclusion 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...
, because of its pro-American political stance, the government of Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
toned down the attack and excluded it from the media and history textbooks.
See also
- Fire-bombing of Tokyo
- Aerial Battle of Taiwan-OkinawaAerial Battle of Taiwan-OkinawaThe Aerial Battle of the Taiwan Seas took place between October 12 and 16, 1944, off the eastern coast of the island of Taiwan, and was fought by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service and the approaching Task Force 38 of the United States Third Fleet and was one of a series of Air raids on Japan...
- Remains of Taipei prison wallsRemains of Taipei prison wallsThe remains of Taipei prison walls are located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan at the end of Aiguo Road and Jinshan South Road adjacent to the current Taipei operations center for Chunghwa Telecom. Approximately 100 meters of wall exist on both sides of the Chunghwa Telecom property...