veteran’s corner

Tom Krabbenhoft

Last week I promised I’d write about A bombs and F bombs. Everyone knows about the A bomb. The firebomb or F bomb is less respected, overlooked and far more versatile and equally destructive as the A bomb. Let’s take a look at the dreaded F bomb.

August 6th and 9th mark the 76th anniversary of the dropping of the A bombs over Nagasaki and Hiroshima. These two events were certainly credited as the last two nails in the Japanese military coffin. Or were they? Although the combined bombings are credited as the reason Japan surrendered, they were not the deadliest bombing. The causalities of the two atomic events is estimated at 126,000 dead. The after effects of the bombings are immeasurable.

A lesser known more destructive bombing raid which is still considered the deadliest of all time is obscured. On 9-10 March 1945 the firebombing of Tokyo took place.

The raid leading up on Tokyo was researched before implementing. A few square blocks of buildings closely constructed to match Japanese buildings were erected at Elgin AFB. They then devised proper weather, bomb mixture of white phosphorus and napalm and aircraft altitude.

The bombing left an estimated 130,000 dead and another 1 million homeless. 16 square miles were destroyed in the densely populated city. (Moorhead is roughly estimated 22 square miles).

Japan’s lack of steel, brick and cement in their buildings and almost all wood construction made them ideal for firebombing. Tokyo’s industry was scattered throughout residential and commercial parts of the city. After the bombing industrial output dropped 40%. The Emperor himself toured Tokyo and engaged his military immediately about peace talks. His efforts were rebuffed by the very hawkish Japanese military. Things could have been much worse had a firestorm developed. A firestorm is a fire so violent it creates its own wind. A firestorm can influence weather and create a deadly fire whirl. A fire whirl is a tornado of fire. This phenomenon occurred during the bombing of Dresden.

The firebombing of Dresden Germany may have been a test run for Tokyo.

Dresden is a large city in Germany. Tactically it was important as it had one of Germany’s largest railheads. Had it not been bombed and destroyed its rail system could’ve funneled weapons and men to counter the Allied invasions on D-Day. The firebombing was vicious and violent firestorm and fire whirls destroyed much of the city.

Japan too engaged in an attempted firebombing campaign. It is the first intercontinental weapon system. Fu-Go balloon was a weapon designed to use the jet stream to carry its deadly cargo to the US and Canada. 9,300 of these were released. 6 confirmed kills in Oregon as an unlucky family found a balloon. The military made this hush-hush as they were terrified of the potential damage these could inflict.

Didja know- Bats were dropped that had magnesium incendiary devices fixed on them. It was thought they would find shelter in buildings and ignite the structure.

Story ideas or veteran of the week submissions please email me at 11btwk@gmail.com.