Bombing of Yawata

The Japanese city of Yawata (which was incorporated into the larger city of Kitakyushu in 1963) was subjected to three major air raids during World War II, part of the U.S. strategic bombing campaign. The first raid took place on the night of 15/16 June 1944. This was the first attack on the Japanese home islands by land-based United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) bombers, and the first attack on the home islands since the Doolittle Raid of 1942. The city was next attacked during the day and night of 20 August 1944. These two attacks caused little damage to the city's industrial facilities. The third raid was conducted on 8 August 1945 and resulted in 21 percent of Yawata's urban area being destroyed.