Toyohashi Air Raid
Encyclopedia
The was a strategic bombing
operation on the night of 19 June 1945 against the city of Toyohashi
, Japan
. The air raid was part of the Allies
' aerial campaign
against the Home Islands
of the Empire of Japan
during World War II
.
was an important hub in the transportation network of central Japan. Toyohashi Station
is located along the Tōkaidō Main Line
linking Tokyo
and Osaka
, and also serves as the origin of the Iida
and Atsumi Lines which facilitate access to rural areas of eastern Aichi Prefecture
. The city had a fairly small industrial base at the time, but it was more important for its port facilities on Mikawa Bay
. In addition to these strategic civilian targets, Toyohashi hosted a number of military targets, such as a large training area for Imperial Japanese Army
recruits located near Aichi University
, and the headquarters of several army units, including the 18th Infantry Regiment
, the 4th Cavalry
Brigade, and the 4th Independent Combat Engineer Regiment. Toyohashi also had an airfield that served the 381st Naval Air Group which flew Mitsubishi J2M Raiden
interceptors
.
operation on the city of Toyohashi. The air raid lasted for about three hours, and ended a little before dawn. The areas primarily affected included a large part of the downtown area between Toyohashi Station and City Hall, large sections of the Azumada and Maebata neighborhoods, and neighborhoods around Azumada Elementary School.
On the same night as the Toyohashi Air Raid, two other firebombing
operations were being conducted elsewhere in Japan. One was in neighboring Shizuoka prefecture
, and would become known as the Great Shizuoka Air Raid
(静岡大空襲 Shizuoka dai-kūshū). The other was the Great Fukuoka Air Raid (福岡大空襲 Fukuoka dai-kūshū) on the island of Kyushu
.
Among the buildings that were destroyed were five temples, Azumada Elementary School, and the Kawai Hospital (which was rebuilt, though it has changed ownership and location several times, and is now the Oshima Orthopedic Clinic in the Ihara neighborhood). In 1946, the United States Army Air Force estimated that 61.9% of the city had been destroyed.
While property damage in Toyohashi was high, casualties were relatively light. This was due in part to lessons learned from the several air raids on neighboring Hamamatsu
city, which had suffered much more since its first air raid in February 1945
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...
operation on the night of 19 June 1945 against the city of Toyohashi
Toyohashi, Aichi
is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on August 1, 1906. As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 383,691 and a density of 1,468.62 persons per km². The total area is . By size, Toyohashi was Aichi Prefecture's second-largest city until March 31,...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The air raid was part of the Allies
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...
' aerial 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...
against the Home Islands
Japanese Archipelago
The , which forms the country of Japan, extends roughly from northeast to southwest along the northeastern coast of the Eurasia mainland, washing upon the northwestern shores of the Pacific Ocean...
of the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
during 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...
.
Background
During World War II, as now, the city of Toyohashi, AichiToyohashi, Aichi
is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on August 1, 1906. As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 383,691 and a density of 1,468.62 persons per km². The total area is . By size, Toyohashi was Aichi Prefecture's second-largest city until March 31,...
was an important hub in the transportation network of central Japan. Toyohashi Station
Toyohashi Station
is an interchange railway station in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, Tōkaidō Main Line, Iida Line, and is a terminus of the...
is located along the Tōkaidō Main Line
Tokaido Main Line
The is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
linking Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, and also serves as the origin of the Iida
Iida Line
The is a Japanese railway line between Toyohashi Station in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture and Tatsuno Station in Tatsuno, Nagano Prefecture, operated by Central Japan Railway Company . The line links eastern Aichi Prefecture and southern Nagano Prefecture through northwestern Shizuoka Prefecture. It...
and Atsumi Lines which facilitate access to rural areas of eastern Aichi Prefecture
Aichi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region. The region of Aichi is also known as the Tōkai region. The capital is Nagoya. It is the focus of the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area.- History :...
. The city had a fairly small industrial base at the time, but it was more important for its port facilities on Mikawa Bay
Mikawa Bay
thumb|right|Mikawa Bay Mikawa Bay is a bay to the south of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, surrounded by Chita Peninsula to the west and Atsumi Peninsula to the east and south. Its area is approximately 604 km2...
. In addition to these strategic civilian targets, Toyohashi hosted a number of military targets, such as a large training area for Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
recruits located near Aichi University
Aichi University
is a private university in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Its campuses are at Toyohashi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya and Miyoshi, Aichi.-History:The school was founded in 1901, and it was chartered as an university in 1946. Its predecessor was The East Asian University of Literature, a Japanese university...
, and the headquarters of several army units, including the 18th Infantry Regiment
18th Infantry Regiment (Imperial Japanese Army)
The was an infantry regiment in the Imperial Japanese Army . Its call sign and unit code was . The unit was formed in 1884 and based in the city of Toyohashi as a branch of the Nagoya Garrison. Throughout its history, the majority of its soldiers came from the Mikawa region, or eastern Aichi...
, the 4th Cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
Brigade, and the 4th Independent Combat Engineer Regiment. Toyohashi also had an airfield that served the 381st Naval Air Group which flew Mitsubishi J2M Raiden
Mitsubishi J2M
The Mitsubishi J2M Raiden was a single-engined land-based fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. The Allied reporting name was "Jack".-Design and development:...
interceptors
Interceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to prevent missions of enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Interceptors generally rely on high speed and powerful armament in order to complete their mission as quickly as possible and set up...
.
Air Raid
There were nine air raids on Toyohashi between January and June 1945. About 25-30 people were killed in the first eight. These early air raids are barely mentioned in relevant historical texts and were probably the result of Allied bombers hitting Toyohashi as an alternate target or a target of opportunity. Only the ninth raid, by far the largest, became known as "The Toyohashi Air Raid". Starting late on the night of 19 June or after midnight, in the early hours of 20 June 1945, 136 Boeing B-29 Superfortresses conducted a firebombingFirebombing
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....
operation on the city of Toyohashi. The air raid lasted for about three hours, and ended a little before dawn. The areas primarily affected included a large part of the downtown area between Toyohashi Station and City Hall, large sections of the Azumada and Maebata neighborhoods, and neighborhoods around Azumada Elementary School.
On the same night as the Toyohashi Air Raid, two other 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....
operations were being conducted elsewhere in Japan. One was in neighboring Shizuoka prefecture
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
, and would become known as the Great Shizuoka Air Raid
Bombing of Shizuoka in World War II
The on June 19, 1945 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.-Background:...
(静岡大空襲 Shizuoka dai-kūshū). The other was the Great Fukuoka Air Raid (福岡大空襲 Fukuoka dai-kūshū) on the island of Kyushu
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
.
Results
In the aftermath of the Toyohashi Air Raid, Japanese authorities compiled the following data on the damage done on the night of 19–20 June 1945:- 624 Dead
- 346 Injured
- 16,009 Households Affected
- 68,502 People Affected
- 15,886 Houses Damaged
Among the buildings that were destroyed were five temples, Azumada Elementary School, and the Kawai Hospital (which was rebuilt, though it has changed ownership and location several times, and is now the Oshima Orthopedic Clinic in the Ihara neighborhood). In 1946, the United States Army Air Force estimated that 61.9% of the city had been destroyed.
While property damage in Toyohashi was high, casualties were relatively light. This was due in part to lessons learned from the several air raids on neighboring Hamamatsu
Bombing of Hamamatsu in World War II
The was part of the strategic bombing campaign waged by the United States of America against military and civilian targets and population centers of the Empire of Japan during the Japan home islands campaign in the closing states of World War II.-Background:...
city, which had suffered much more since its first air raid in February 1945
See also
- Air raids on JapanAir raids on JapanDuring World War II the Allied forces conducted many air raids on Japan which caused extensive destruction to the country's cities and killed over 300,000 people. These attacks began with the Doolittle Raid in mid-April 1942, but did not resume until June 1944 when United States Army Air Forces ...
- Japan campaignJapan campaignThe 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...
- Strategic bombing during World War IIStrategic bombing during World War IIStrategic bombing during World War II is a term which refers to all aerial bombardment of a strategic nature between 1939 and 1945 involving any nations engaged in World War II...