Japan’s Desperate Air Battles Against the US in the Final Months of WW2

History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged

Society & Culture, History

4.2 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 1 May 2025

⏱️ 41 minutes

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Summary

The B-29 Bomber led the Allied strategic bombing offensive against Japan, succeeding when US Bomber Command switched from high-level daytime precision bombing to low-level nighttime area bombing. The latter tactic required Superfortresses to attack their targets individually, without a formation or escorting fighters for protection. Despite this, Japanese night fighters proved unable to stop the B-29s. This success was a testament to the B-29’s incredible capabilities, including its ability to carry up to 20,000 pounds of bombs over vast distances exceeding 3,000 miles, and its advanced pressurized cabin, which allowed crews to operate effectively at altitudes above 30,000 feet—far beyond the reach of most enemy interceptors. Coupled with its sophisticated remote-controlled gun turrets and a top speed of 350 mph, the B-29’s design showcased an unmatched blend of range, payload, and defensive prowess that overwhelmed Japanese defenses.

Today’s guest, Mark Lardas, author of “B-29 Superfortress vs Japanese Nightfighter.” He examines the capabilities of the aircraft involved, and reveals the conditions under which both sides fought. He evaluates the cutting-edge technology of both sides and how it affected the outcome of the battle

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Sky here with another episode of the History Unplug podcast.
0:08.0	The B-29 bomber, which was developed and released during World War II, was a marvel of engineering on par with the Apollo rocket.
0:15.6	It had an automatic control system of 12 guns.
0:18.2	It was pressurized and could take 20,000 pounds of payload over 3,000 miles.
0:23.0	This allowed it to fly at high altitudes, far longer than any other aircraft could, and go on
0:27.6	bombing runs over 1,000 miles away from the Japanese mainland.
0:31.1	Its rollout was rocky, and when pilots first flew it, as many died from engine failure as
0:35.9	from enemy fire.
0:37.2	But by the time the bugs were
0:38.2	worked out, it was decimating Japan during the firebombing of Tokyo in March 1945. The best
0:44.0	countermeasure that the Japanese could offer to the B-29 was the Japanese night fighter, but its lack of
0:48.8	speed and radar deficiency meant it could never keep up. In today's episode, we're going to look at
0:54.0	the final
0:54.3	stage of the war in the Pacific, and when B-29s and Japanese night fighters went toe-to-toe. This is a
0:59.9	complete reversal of fortunes from the beginning of the war when American pilots were hopelessly
1:04.7	outgun compared to the Japanese. We're joined by Mark Lardis, author of the new book B-29 Super
1:09.7	Fortress versus Japanese Knife
1:11.5	Fighter.
1:12.2	Hope you enjoyed this discussion.
1:16.1	And one more thing before we get started with this episode, a quick break for a word from
1:19.7	our sponsors.
1:20.9	If you're like me, you never have as much time to read as you want to.
	...

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