World War II The Marianas and the B-29

Study Notes

Saipan, Tinian, and Guam were controlled by the Japanese during WWII.
These islands were significant for their location, despite being small.
The Marines fought a difficult battle to secure the islands.
The Tokyo War Museum is understated compared to the Imperial War Museum in London.
The museum has black and white photos, a classroom, and a model of a B-29.
The author describes intense conditions for the soldiers: heat, humidity, mosquitoes, and torrential rain.
Corporal Dalton and 2nd Lieutenant Vivian Slawinski observed rats constantly bombarding the planes while they lived in Quonset huts.

The B-29 was a brand new plane, still being tested, and susceptible to engine fires.
It took months to train crews and build maintenance facilities for the B-29.
The first major bombing mission, San Antonio One, targeted the Nakajima Aircraft Company in Tokyo.
The mission was aborted on November 17, 1944, due to lack of wind.
The mission was successfully completed on November 24, 1944, with better weather.
Ronald Reagan was the cinematographer who captured photos of B-29s flying over Japan.
The bomber missions were difficult due to bad weather and the limitations of the B-29.

The jet stream is a river of fast-flowing high-altitude air that circles the globe.
The jet stream was a major obstacle for American bomber pilots in the Pacific theater.
The wind can reach up to 140 miles per hour, making it difficult for bombers to remain accurate on target.
Lieutenant Ed Hiatt and his crew were caught in the jet stream and ended up bombing 12 miles past their target.

The author visited a war museum in Tokyo called the Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage.
This museum focused on the period between November 1944 and late winter of 1945, before the atomic bombs.
The author compares this museum to other war memorials, highlighting its understated nature.
While other memorials are poignant, this museum felt like a "dentist appointment."
The museum's focus on the "Tokyo Raids" represents an often-overlooked period of history.

The distance between the US and Japan made it difficult to attack Japan directly.
The B-17 bomber had a limited range, and no allied airbases were within range of Tokyo.
The Philippines were the only option, but they were captured by the Japanese.
The B-29 Superfortress introduced a longer range, but challenges remained due to its imperfections.
The phenomenon of the jet stream became a critical obstacle for the bomber pilots.
The existence of the jet stream was discovered by Wasaburo Ooishi in the 1920s but remained largely unknown.
The jet stream hindered bomber accuracy and caused missions to fail.

Bombing missions seemed impossible due to the jet stream obstacle.
This provides an example of how small, seemingly insignificant obstacles can hinder a big idea.
The author reflects on the choices facing Hansell, highlighting the need to balance dreams with reality.
The author suggests that even with the best intentions and the best technology, unforeseen challenges can arise.