Tokyo: The Japanese people still remember the intense aerial bombing of Tokyo, the capital of Japan, on the night of March 9, 1945, in the final months of World War II, as the ‘Night of Black Snow.’ This attack is considered one of the most destructive air operations during the war.
That night, more than 300 B-29 Superfortress bombers of the United States Army Air Forces dropped incendiary bombs on densely populated areas of Tokyo under Operation Meetinghouse. As a result of the bombing, a terrible fire broke out in a large part of the city, which quickly engulfed the entire area.
According to historical records, about 100,000 people died in that one night, while more than 16 square miles of area were completely destroyed. More than a million citizens were left homeless due to the fire and destruction.
According to experts, the attack was one of the deadliest airstrikes in human history, which not only reduced Tokyo to rubble but also had a profound impact on Japan’s war strategy and future decisions.
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