When did the bombing of Chongqing begin and end?
The bombing of Chongqing began on the 18th of February 1938 and ended on the 19th of December 1944. The campaign lasted nearly seven years and comprised a total of 268 air raids.
Questions about Bombing of Chongqing
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How many people died in the bombing of Chongqing?
Exact total casualties are not recorded in full, but individual raids caused enormous losses. The pre-dawn raid on the 4th of May 1939 alone killed over three thousand people, wounded nearly two thousand, and left about two hundred thousand homeless. On the 5th of June 1941, about four thousand residents sheltering in a tunnel were asphyxiated during a three-hour bombing campaign.
What was Operation 100 in the bombing of Chongqing?
Operation 100 was a Japanese campaign launched on the 3rd of May 1939 that marked the start of sustained, large-scale raids on Chongqing. It was made possible by newly captured airbases in Hubei province, including Wuhan, which gave Japanese forces the range to mount coordinated joint strikes using both Army and Navy bombers.
What role did the Mitsubishi A6M Zero play in the Chongqing air battles?
The Zero received its combat debut over Chongqing. On the 13th of September 1940-13 Zeroes of the 12th Kokutai led by Lieutenant Saburo Shindo engaged 34 Chinese fighters, killing ten Chinese pilots while all 13 Zeroes returned safely to Wuhan. The engagement was so decisive that the Chinese high command issued an order to avoid combat with the Zero.
How did China defend Chongqing against Japanese air raids?
China defended the city using Soviet-made Polikarpov I-15 and I-16 fighters, anti-aircraft artillery from 18 battery positions, a network of ground-based searchlights, and nighttime lone-wolf intercept tactics. Underground air-raid shelters protected civilians and critical infrastructure including factories and the city's radio station.
Did bombing survivors ever receive compensation from Japan for the Chongqing raids?
No compensation was awarded. In 2006, 188 survivors filed a group lawsuit in Japanese courts seeking payment and an apology. In 2015, the Tokyo High Court upheld a lower court ruling that acknowledged damages were caused but denied the plaintiffs' right to compensation.