ABSTRACT
As the government prepared for an invasion of the main islands of Kyushu and Honshu, citizens of Oita City had every reason to fear a terrible death, for American tactics shifted and the ability of the Japanese Navy and Army to hold off the air attacks was nearly exhausted by the end of the battle for Okinawa. The Americans were now explicitly targeting civilians. The diary entry of B-29 airman Staff Sergeant Jim Swalwell makes clear the intention of his crew. “Monday, July 16, 1945. Our target tonight is the city of Oita, on the coast of Kyushu. We have bombed airfields there a couple of times and tonight we are going to try to eliminate the city. This is the first fire raid on any city in Kyushu. We're carrying 180 of the little 100 pound fire bombs. There isn't supposed to be very much opposition.” 1 The people were, quite literally, sitting targets.
