Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: LouAvul

Lemay said that he could have firebombed them with 5,000 bombers - three attacks per day which would have killed millions and ended the war without the use of the A-bombs or an invasion.


7 posted on 08/15/2025 5:18:25 AM PDT by KingLudd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies ]


To: KingLudd

Yeah, and that would’ve lasted another year, killed far more civilians than the atomic bombs, our boys would’ve had to been away from home for another year. Our Air Force guys in the European theater would’ve had to move over to the pacific and start a whole new war.

And Leemay was somewhat of a lunatic. An air campaign without an invasion would’ve never ended the war. Also, why the big worry and another year of misery just to prevent two a-bombs? The fire bombing of Tokyo was far more devastating and lethal. And his plan was to do that again and again for another year?

Our men needed to get home. They always lost years of their life because of Japan.


10 posted on 08/15/2025 5:33:26 AM PDT by DesertRhino (When men on the chessboard, get up and tell you where to go…)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies ]

To: KingLudd

There wasn’t much left to firebomb. By the middle of ‘45 more fliers were dying ferrying the planes to the Pacific than were lost over Japan. There was no resistance in the air.

That said, Okinawa proved what an invasion would look like.

Dropping the bomb was the “cleanest dirty shirt” in a drawer full of really dirty shirts.


12 posted on 08/15/2025 5:51:33 AM PDT by Vermont Lt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies ]

To: KingLudd
No, he said it might, with emphasis on the "might", end the war without an invasion.
15 posted on 08/15/2025 6:41:47 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson