Bombing of Chongqing
The bombing of Chongqing (simplified Chinese: 重庆大轰炸; traditional Chinese: 重慶大轟炸, Japanese: 重慶爆撃), from 18 February 1938 to 23 August 1943, were massive terror bombing operations authorized by the Empire of Japan's Imperial General Headquarters and conducted by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAF) and Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAF). Resistance was put up by the Chinese Air Force and the National Revolutionary Army's anti-aircraft artillery units in defense of the provisional wartime capital of Chongqing and other targets in Sichuan.
| Bombing of Chongqing | |||||
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| Part of the Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II | |||||
The city during bombing, 1940 | |||||
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| Belligerents | |||||
| China | Japan | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
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| Units involved | |||||
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Republic of China Air Force 41st and 42nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalions Soviet Volunteer Group (stationed October 1938 – December 1939) |
Imperial Japanese Army Air Service Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 100+ of fighters and other aircraft, aircrew and many more ground crew losses (incomplete data) | Dozens to 100+ of bombers and reconnaissance-attack/fighter aircraft shot down; hundreds of aircrew lost, some captured alive (incomplete data) | ||||
| 30,000+ civilian casualties including 10,000+ deaths, over 30,000 buildings and much of the city center destroyed; property losses amounting to 10 billion francs | |||||
According to incomplete statistics, a total of 268 air raids were conducted against Chongqing, involving anywhere from a few dozen to over 150 bombers per raid. These bombings were probably aimed at cowing the Chinese government, or as part of the planned but never executed Sichuan invasion.