[SoConPubbie]

ground complete with unwarned civilians rather than a target.

Sorry, but you do not know your history if you do not think the civilians were warned.

Our military dropped leaflets in both cities warning the civilians several days before to leave the city as a catastrophic event was about to occur. The Japs didn't believe and just mocked.

[Captain Walker]

Our military dropped leaflets in both cities warning the civilians several days before to leave the city as a catastrophic event was about to occur. The Japs didn't believe and just mocked.

Disregarding, for a moment, the subject of the two bombings, I have to point out that the leaflets were ubiquitous to the point that they were useless; there were cities upon which they were dropped but which had not been bombed, or which had been bombed long after the leaflet warnings.

One suspects that they were really used to be a salve for some consciences back home. ("Hey, we did warn them; they chose to ignore the warnings.")