Magic: Fear East Summary on Japanese Defensive Preparations Against an Invasion, War Department, Aug. 4, 1945

Another report based on Magic intercepts that I will summarize.

”...a general Army aircraft fuel dispersal program has been under way at least since the latter part of June.”

Underground structures were being built in Northwest Korea for fuel storage.

More and more fuel is being destroyed by fire caused by Allied bombings.

“When the enemy attacks Honshu all Army and Navy air strength must be concentrated on the threatened point on order to 'defeat and destroy the enemy force.'”

The Japanese must be on guard against a slump in morale while awaiting the invasion of Japan.

”The emphasis in training will be on improving suicide aircraft and surface and underwater suicide strength. Air strategy is to be 'based on total suicide air attacks.'” In other words, the only planes that would be used would be kamikaze ones since there was no chance the Japanese airplanes could stand up to the Allied air attacks.

Air Flotilla 13 (Navy suicide trainer) requested pictures and information on Allied attack transports and attack cargo ships.

11 concealed airfields were discussed in western Japan.

There was something called “Operation Damocles” which might have been a plan for attacking B-29 bases.

Information was given on the maximum range of the Betty bomber (the ones that ended up carrying the baka bombs) when equipped with fuel tanks and carrying a 2,200 pound bomb load. This was some 3,075 miles. The distance to Seattle was 3,500 miles, so someone along the way must have thought of the possibility of having the Betty carry a decreased bomb load which might have been just enough to get the plane to Seattle where it could have dropped whatever bombs it was carrying and then probably dived into the city to crash.

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