There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad-free. Listen with Wondry Plus in the Wondry app. As a member of NoisorPlus at noisor.com or in Apple, Japan, five and a half years into World War II.

Inside his home, 12-year-old Saoomai Katsoto stirs in bed. His father's hands, rough and urgent,

shake him from sleep. Sautome begins to groan in protest, but he stops short as the sinister

sound of warplanes cuts through the night. The noise is familiar. In the last month,

several American air raids have ravaged Tokyo, targeting the city's industry and morale.

But tonight, the drone overhead is different. It's much stronger.

Saoamai and his father move swiftly, piling a few of their most prized possessions onto a cart.

Then quickly, they step out into the night.

All around them, Tokyo is burning.

Sao Tama and his father join a stream of residents scrambling for the safety of a nearby riverbank.

And as they push their way through the streets, Sao Tame looks upward.

The smoke in the sky clears for a moment, and he can see the American bombers flying lower than he's ever seen them before.

Screams ring out around him as the aircraft bellies open, and a torrent of bombs plunges toward the ground.

As explosions tear the neighborhood apart, Sautomé feels a hands of his father on his back,

pushing him forward, past burning rooftops and screaming neighbors, past entire

city blocks, disappearing into flame.

The next morning, Sautomé Katsumoto and his father will return home to find their house

badly charred but still standing. Many others will not be so lucky.

The previous night's attack will be the single most destructive bombing rate in history.

100,000 civilians will be left dead.

A million more will be homeless and 16 square miles of Tokyo will be reduced to ruins.

Among the losses will be the famous cherry trees

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