The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-01
Forts Scorch 3 Jap Cities

(Continued from Page D to ashes.
 Tokyo also revealed that the homes of the two greatest indus trial and financial families in shi, had been burned down in the attacks. It added with possible significance that If the homes and factories of the richest families of Japan had not been destroyed they might have come out for peace
 Returning airmen said smoke from burning Osaka billowed five miles into the sky. almost covering some formations of the fleet of 450 B-29s and 150 escorting fighters. They bombed through an over cast, but one pilot saw flames en- gulfing the dock area with a west wind flaming them into the city. Another said it was "cinch we gave them a fer bath
 A joint communique issued by the headquarters of the. Japanese cen- tral army district and the Osaka garrison at p. m.-five and half hours after Tokyo said the raid started-reported that fires grad ually were being brought under control
 The announcement said the fires centered in northwest Osaka and in the neighboring city of Amagasaki. It claimed that AT B-29s had been shot down and 83 others damaged"
 Shingu Strafed Another Tokyo broadcast sad II Mustang fighters, possibly from the bombers' escort, strafed the Port of Shingu, 30 miles southeast of Osa- ka, and the southern tip of Xii Peninsula below Shingu.
 Because of overcast skies bomb- CT pilots returning to the Marlanas said the assault on Osaka, Japans second largest city, was almost milk run compared with previous big attacks on the enemy home land.
 The raiders, escorted by some 150 Mustang fighters, reached the tar get with ease, but some squadrons were forced to bomb with precision instruments because of the adverse weather conditions.
 But it was cinch we have them fiery bath" said It. Vernand Ja- gatich, Sharon, Pa. commander of one of the lead planes, 'The bombs plunged down right where we aim- ed them
 The big air fleet thundered i'll over Osaka at medium altitude at 9:45 a. m. Tokyo time as the 2lSt Bomber Command shifted the sights of it's obliteration offensive to Osaka, after all but destroying Tokyo and Yokohama in similar fire raids last week.
 Hundreds of thousands of a new type of fire bomb packed with Jel- lied gasoline were dropped into the densest concentration of war fac tories in Japan in the methodlcal parade of destruction.
 Fires took hold at Widely-scat- tered points at first, then merged into great conflagrations that con- sumed everything in their paths: IL looked as though it would be T'okyo and Yokohama all over again.
 An official Japanese announce ment said fires were started In nosthWestern Osaka and adjacent Amagaski City though all were ex- tinguished by noon. he announce uent said the raid began at 8:30 a m. Tokyo time and lasted two hours.
 Another Japanese broadcast said some fires were still burning out of control in Osaka tonight, how ever.
 TWenty-four B-29S were shot down and 30 damaged the Japanese said
 The assigned target area was that bordering Osaka harbor south or the Shin Yodo river. Within US DOT ders were scores of war industries the customs house, numerous har- bor facilities and the city's prlncl- pal communications, including the main Osaka station and frelghl yard.
 But it would not be surprising il the destruction spread beyond the target area should the fires remain uncontrolled. Eight square miles ol Osaka already were in ruins from previous B-29 attacks.
 Chief industries in the Osaka area included the Osaka Steel Works. the Mitsubishi Smelling and Refining plants, the Nippon Aluminium Works the Sakurajima, AiWasa, FlJlna- gata and Kizugawa shipyards, the Kakuchi Rubber company and the Ujigawa Electric Power company.
 damned in around the war plants were thousands of workers flimSy homes Osaka had a pre-War popu- lation of 3,252,340 persons. The raid was the fourth in great strength by the 21st bomber com mand in nine days. SuperfortresseS burned out Tokyo May "A and 26 then Yokohama, Is miles to the south, last Tuesday. Osaka lies 25( miles southwest of Tokyo. Twin-engined Mitchell bombers the lineal descendants of other Mitchells which first hit Tokyo un- der It. Gen. James H. Doolittle or April Is. 1922. returned to Tokyo bay yesterday and damaged smal cargo ship. They presumably cam, from Two.