The Global Twentieth: An Anthology of the 20th AF in WWII VOL 1

Author: Chester Marshall
Publisher: Apollo Books MN
Edition: First
Cover: Hardcover w/Dust Cover
Signed: Yes
ISBN: 0-9615206-3-9
Bomb
Signed by Chester Marshall.

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Synopsis: Chester Marshall's comprehensive anthology documents the revolutionary strategic bombing campaign conducted by the Twentieth Air Force against the Japanese home islands during the final phase of World War II. This first volume of Marshall's ambitious work chronicles how the newly developed B-29 Superfortress bomber transformed strategic warfare and brought the reality of total war directly to Japan for the first time in the nation's history. Marshall begins by establishing the strategic context that led to the creation of the Twentieth Air Force as an independent command directly controlled by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, bypassing traditional theater commanders in favor of centralized strategic direction. The book details the massive logistical effort required to construct B-29 bases across the Mariana Islands, including Guam, Saipan, and Tinian, that would bring Japan within range of sustained strategic bombing. The narrative extensively covers the technical challenges of operating the world's most advanced bomber, describing the complex systems and maintenance requirements that made the B-29 both a technological marvel and an operational nightmare during its early service. Marshall provides detailed accounts of the initial high-altitude precision bombing campaign that began in late 1944, chronicling the disappointing results achieved against Japanese industrial targets due to technical problems, weather conditions, and the jet stream that scattered bomb patterns at extreme altitude. The book examines the revolutionary tactical shift orchestrated by General Curtis LeMay, who abandoned daylight precision bombing in favor of low-altitude incendiary attacks designed to destroy Japan's dispersed industrial infrastructure housed in wooden buildings throughout urban areas. Marshall doesn't avoid the controversial nature of these operations, describing the devastating fire raids that began with the March 1945 attack on Tokyo that killed more people than either atomic bomb. The narrative provides detailed mission accounts, technical analysis, and strategic assessment of these operations that fundamentally changed the nature of strategic bombing. The author examines the industrial and psychological impact of the B-29 campaign, showing how systematic destruction of Japanese cities and industries brought the empire to the brink of collapse even before the atomic weapons were employed. Marshall draws from extensive interviews with veterans, official records, and Japanese sources to create a comprehensive picture of both American operations and their impact on Japanese society. The book addresses the moral and strategic debates surrounding area bombing of civilian targets, examining arguments from military necessity, international law, and humanitarian perspectives. This first volume concludes with analysis of the campaign's effectiveness and its role in forcing Japan's surrender, setting the stage for continued examination of Twentieth Air Force operations in subsequent volumes.

The Global Twentieth: An Anthology of the 20th AF in WWII VOL 1, is one of the many primary source materials in the Army Air Corps Museum collection.