Naval War College Review Volume 65 Article 16 Number 2 Spring

2012 Whirlwind: The Air War against Japan, 1942–1945 David L. Teska

Barrett iT llman

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Recommended Citation Teska, David L. and Tillman, Barrett (2012) "Whirlwind: The Air War against Japan, 1942–1945," Naval War College Review: Vol. 65 : No. 2 , Article 16. Available at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol65/iss2/16

This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Naval War College Review by an authorized editor of U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Teska and Tillman: Whirlwind: The Air War against Japan, 1942–1945 BOOK REVIEWS 177

of area bombing and the decision to pursue the unconditional surrender of Germany; and Fritz Allhoff’s “Physi- cians at War: Lessons for Archaeolo- Tillman, Barrett. Whirlwind: The Air War against Japan, 1942–1945. New York: Simon & Schuster, gists?” looks at ethical dilemmas of 2010. 336pp. $28 medical professionals with respect to military ethics, medical ethics, and tor- Over sixty years after its conclusion, the ture in an endeavor to provide insight air war that was waged against Japan and parallels for other professions. remains one of the most controver- sial and brutal campaigns conducted Whether one is interested in archeology by any of the Allied powers during and cultural preservation in a war zone, World War II. The debate centers on the archeology of military and battle the questions of the morality and sites, the erection of military monu- necessity of the bombing campaign ments, or considerations for military against Japan, primarily its cities, planners and those who subsequently that culminated in the dropping of execute their plans in combat zones, two atomic bombs, and whether the there is much to consider in this book. campaign hastened the end of the war. The final chapter consists of a series of responses from archeologists to In his richly detailed and well written queries concerning relations between Whirlwind, Barrett Tillman addresses them and the military during the these two arguments and the deci- war in Iraq. Some of the respondents sion making that led the have had experiences both in Iraq and to wage aerial war. He starts by lay- with the military, and some have not. ing the groundwork with the surprise However, the respondents all have bombing of by U.S. Army Air connections with the preservation of Forces (USAAF) B-25s led by Lieuten- cultural heritage, and their comments ant Colonel James Doolittle in April show that professionals outside the 1942, relating how Japan’s leaders, military must also evaluate the ethics shocked at the audacity of the carrier- of their own disciplines with respect borne attack on the home islands, to war. For example, should a member moved forward with a complex plan of a community outside the military, to eliminate the U.S. Pacific Fleet once such as an archeologist, provide in- and for all, thus setting the stage for formation and advice before a conflict Japan’s strategic loss at the battle of commences, or only later? Though Midway less than two months later. these are not questions for the military However, the USAAF and its chief, professional, military professionals General Henry H. “Hap” Arnold, had should be aware of them. Stone is to bigger plans of their own for Japan. be commended for bringing together Arnold, a disciple and friend of General in a single volume essays and perspec- Billy Mitchell, resolutely believed in the tives on this important issue. Interested power of to bring readers will not be disappointed. about an enemy’s surrender. The Royal Air Force and USAAF had thoroughly TIMOTHY J. DEMY Naval War College tested this theory in the skies over

Published by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons, 2012 1 178 NAVAL WAR NavalCOLLEGE War REVIEW College Review, Vol. 65 [2012], No. 2, Art. 16

Germany, with mixed results. Despite after Japan’s cities and the Navy after a relentless and costly air campaign, Japan’s fleet and coastal shipping. the German Wehrmacht could only be Tillman’s excellent book is well re- defeated on the ground. A basic concept searched and well written. He reintro- of strategic-bombing theory held that duces the reader to the pivotal leaders heavy civilian casualties would force who played a role in the execution of enemy leaders to sue for peace, but the air war on Japan. He rounds out the theorists and practitioners did not his narrative with accounts from B-29 factor in the callous nature of despotic aircrews and naval aviators who flew at leaders who cared little for the welfare the tip of the spear aimed at Japan; their of their citizenry. (For more informa- observations and recollections add an tion on this subject see Among the Dead excellent sense of humanity to the story. Cities: The History and Moral Legacy His account also serves to validate joint of the WWII Bombing of Civilians in operations, a lesson borne out by the Germany and Japan, by A. C. Grayling.) experience of this war and one that our Japan was a different story. Arnold military continues to observe today. envisioned unleashing the as-yet- This book will not end the debate on the unfielded B-29 Superfortresses on value and moral justification of the U.S. Japan en masse. The USAAF first tried air war on Japan. Tillman clearly makes conducting operations from , but the point that while the air war against that proved untenable for a variety of Japan did not end the conflict on its reasons. Eventually airfields on Guam, own, it did affect Japan’s ability to con- , and , islands that were tinue to wage war. In the end it is clear taken at great cost, came into exis- that Japan was willing to fight despite tence for sustained B-29 operations. the destruction of its cities and that it The air war against Japan was much was preparing mightily for the expected more than the story of B-29 raids on invasion of the home islands. However, Tokyo and other targets. One little- it was the atomic attacks on known operation went under the dark and Nagasaki that finally forced Japan moniker of Operation STARVATION, the to seek peace and end the slaughter. deployment of aerial mines by B-29s. CDR. DAVID L. TESKA, U.S. COAST GUARD RESERVE These sorties proved quite effective San Diego, California in whittling down Japan’s merchant marine, thus devastating Japan’s morale and eroding its capability for war pro- duction. USAAF crews delivered twelve

thousand mines, sinking 293 ships Jordan, Jonathan W. Brothers, Rivals, Victors: between March and April 1945. Yet for Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley, and the Partnership all the successes that the United States That Drove the Allied Conquest in Europe. New had in the skies over Japan, the USAAF York: NAL Caliber, 2011. 672pp. $28.95 and U.S. Navy cooperated little in the This is an exceptional book. Although planning and implementation of the it has its share of strategy, logistics, overall campaign. Each service pursued and technology, it is primarily a book its own air operations, the Army going about relationships and leadership.

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