Black and Silver: Perceptions and Memories of the B-29 Bomber, American Strategic Bombing and the Longest Bombing Missions of the Second World War on Singapore

Abstract

The American strategic bombing of Japan and Japanese-occupied territories during the Second World War resulted in different perspectives of the aerial bombing, both during the war and in post-war memories. Drawing upon eye-witness accounts and memories, the difference in perspectives are compared and critiqued. The longest bombing missions of the war on Singapore are used as a case study to frame the analysis. While Japanese eyewitnesses viewed the American B-29 bombing raids with dread, Singapore’s war-time generation largely welcomed the advent of American air raids and viewed it as salvation from the Japanese occupation.