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Line 45: + + + + − The first missions of the B-29 took place beginning in June 5, 1944 from bases in China in the [[CBI]] theater. All the supplies and fuel had to be flown in "over the hump" (that is over the Himalayan Mountains) at fantastic cost.+ − − Here the B-29 groups tried to duplicate the results of [[daylight precision bombing]] that had produced such good results in [[Europe]]. But their results were very poor, though combat losses were minimal at first. Even when the AAF acquired bases much closer to Japan with the capture of several strategic islands in the Mariana chain, results did not improve.<ref name=NASM/><ref name=ace/><ref name=Baugher/><ref name=Lewis/> − +
→Deployment: tweaks
== Deployment ==
== Deployment ==
===Target: Japan===
==Bombing Japan==
Since 1941 American strategy against Japan was built around heavy raids against the flimsy, easily burned cities. Plans to base [[B-17]] bombers in the Philippines failed when Japan attacked the airbases and overran the islands. The B-29 had the range to give the Americans the weapon they needed to reach Japan. The B-29 was first deployed from bases in India and China in summer and fall 1944. The result was failure--it was extremely expensive to supply the planes (all the gasoline and bombs had to be flown in over "the Hump" (the very high Himalayan mountains), and anyway the Japanese Army overran the American bases in China. The Mariana Islands, captured in June 1944, provided a much better airbase within range of all Japanese industrial centers. However, the systematic raids that began in late 1944 were also unsatisfactory, because the AAF had learned too much in Europe; it overemphasized self-defense. AAF commander General Hap Arnold, in personal charge of the campaign (bypassing the theater commanders) brought in a new leader, brilliant, indefatigable, hard-charging General [[Curtis LeMay]].
=== Conventional Bombing of Japan ===
=== Conventional Bombing of Japan ===
At first the B-29 groups tried to duplicate the results of [[daylight precision bombing]] that had been used in Europe. The results were poor.
In early 1945, General [[Curtis LeMay]] ordered a radical change in tactics: remove the fire control gear and machine guns, fly in low, and fly at night. (Much fuel was used to get to 30,000 feet; it could now be replaced with more bombs.) It was a fearsome gamble, but it paid off in increased bombing accuracy and lower casualties in men and aircraft.<ref name=Swinhart>[http://www.aviation-history.com/swinhart.htm Swinhart, Earl]. "[http://www.aviation-history.com/boeing/b29.html Boeing B-29 Superfortress]." [http://www.aviation-history.com/index.html Aviation-history.com]. Retrieved August 8, 2007.</ref>
In early 1945, General [[Curtis LeMay]] ordered a radical change in tactics: remove the heavy fire control gear and machine guns (and gunners), and fly at low altitudes at night. (Much fuel was used to get to 30,000 feet; it could now be replaced with more bombs.) It was a fearsome gamble, but it paid off in increased bombing accuracy and lower casualties in men and aircraft.<ref name=Swinhart>[http://www.aviation-history.com/swinhart.htm Swinhart, Earl]. "[http://www.aviation-history.com/boeing/b29.html Boeing B-29 Superfortress]." [http://www.aviation-history.com/index.html Aviation-history.com]. Retrieved August 8, 2007.</ref>
===Fire bombing of Japanese cities===
===Fire bombing of Japanese cities===