Bombing of Yawata (June 1944)

Bombing of Yawata
Part of the Pacific War, World War II
Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers shortly before participating in the 15–16 June 1944 raid on Yawata
Date 15–16 June 1944 Location Yawata, Japan
Belligerents
United States	Japan
Strength
75 heavy bombers	24 fighters Anti-aircraft artillery
Casualties and losses
57 aircrew, 1 journalist 7 heavy bombers	Light damage

The Bombing of Yawata on the night of 15–16 June 1944 marked the beginning of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) strategic bombing campaign against the Japanese home islands during World War II and was the first such raid to employ strategic bombers.^[a] The raid was undertaken by 75 Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers staging from bases in China. Only 47 of these aircraft dropped bombs near 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 raised Japanese civilians' awareness that their country was being defeated and received 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 firebombing raid conducted by B-29s based in the Mariana Islands on 8 August 1945.
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