Saturday, May 11, 2019

Target: Tokyo

 The first B-29 raid on Tokyo was a round trip of 3,000 miles - unprecedented in aviation history at the time. The video posted below is a film of the raid produced by the War Department.  Listen closely and you might recognize the voice.  Enjoy.






Ironically, these high-atltitude raids were not successful.  Command was replaced by General Curtis Lemay.  His strategic bombing campaign hastened the destruction of Japan and the end of the war.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm in my 50s. That's the voice of the greatest president of my lifetime.

Anonymous said...

When Reagan ran for President I thought it was a joke. Same with Trump. Those two are standing head and shoulders above any others in the post WWII time frame. Trump is transforming the job in ways that all future Presidents will copy. Things such a communicating directly with the people, bi lateral trade deals, using economic power as a weapon instead of guns, and doing you damndest to keep you campain promises.

Anonymous said...

@7:42 Comparing Reagan to Trump is the single greatest insult to Reagan possible. While Reagan was serving his country in WWII, at the same age, Trump was getting STDs and dodging the draft. Trump is an old, fat coward who should be sent to the retirement home where he belongs.

Anonymous said...

11:51, not even Reagan jumpstarted the economy like Trump has. Lowest unemployment in 50 years! Did your last President or any recent before him do that? And Carter! What a joke! More minorities are working now than ever before. Did any of the last Presidents have that? Don’t think so. Reagan forced the communist USSR to crumble now Trump is leveraging other countries into paying their part for our military to defend them and making the UN countries pull their load. Neither of the Bush’s or Obama tried it. It’s about time we didn’t have a politician in office. Now, let’s get rid of the Deep State and enforce immigration laws.

Dan Hise said...

Thank you, Kingfish. This was especially meaningful to me because my father was one of the test pilots during the development of the Superfortress, flying mainly out of Eglin AFB into the midwest and back. The main problem: engines kept catching on fire. The stress level was extremely high, even for test pilots. My father's best friend and fellow test pilot had a nervous breakdown and had various levels of PTSD for the rest of his life. My father stayed in the Air Corps after the war and was killed when his C-45 crashed during a thunderstorm in 1948, so I never got to hear his stories. This film gives me a small but significant sense of that time in his life. Plus, no matter one's politics, it's always great to hear the Reagan pipes a-playing.

Justice for B-29 Crews said...

Thank you for continuing to highlight our greatest generation. My grandfather flew B-29s over Japan and was almost shutdown by flak. Bravest and best group of men our nation ever produced.

Anonymous said...

I'm with you 11:51.

At the repub convention four years before he ran Ronald Reagan made a concession speech wherein he referenced the "shining city on the hill." I was on the road watching the speech in a fleabag motel in Ozark Alabama. Somehow or the other it resonated with me and I never forgot. I could not have dreamed that he would become POTUSA and that the prosperity he brought -- and the huge sense of purpose and re-invigoration that came with CRUSHING (yeah, I said it) the soviets without a shot fired -- would change my life as it did. Changed my life and the lives of my kids and grandbabies. God bless Ronald Reagan.

As for this other guy -- I ain't saying nothing. He's not elegant. Elegance matters.

Anonymous said...

"He's not elegant". Reagan wasn't on the ballot. Neither was Jesus. The man is getting results. Unfortunately, the way he has been harassed we will have an even more difficult time getting any elegant and effective people to run in the future.

Anonymous said...

You never Trumpers need to be honest. The man is doing a very good job. I voted against Trump in the primary. I voted against Trump in the general election. But I have to be honest and admit he has been very good for the US economy.

Anonymous said...

The U.S. Navy recruiters showed up in the Civil Engineering school at MS State shortly after Pearl Harbor, and offered the students "enlistment as an officer if you stay in school and graduate". My Dad took them up on the offer. He graduated in January 1943 and by early 1944 he was a Lt. JG aboard the ARD-15 in Saipan-Tinian Island. At the age of 24 he was designing and implementing the falsework or "shoring" if you will to lift destroyers and submarines out of the water for repairs. He served there until 1946 and at the end of the war he was rather agitated as the Navy had them welding up and repairing completely junk LCI's and LST's so they could tow them back to the U.S. In the meantime, the B-29's were being pushed over the cliff and into the water on Saipan. Dad later served 28 years in the Naval Reserve and lived to be 98. I lost him just last year.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the others who say that comparing Regan to Trump is a great insult to Regan.

Anonymous said...

There are a couple good B29 sites still being maintained on the web. b-29.org has links to most of them. groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/B29-Superfortress/info has lots of REALLY detailed info on specific missions, the B29, individuals, life on Guam, etc.

Anonymous said...

My father flew B24s' in the pacific out of Fenton Field in Australia 380th bomb group 528th squadron. Flying strike, recon, and search missions.

Lost Pop in 2015. He was 96. We miss him terribly.

Anonymous said...

One correction: Trump has not been good for the economy; the economy has been good for Trump.


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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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