Letter: Saved by the A-bomb

Tom Hudson
Saturday 27 February 1999 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

PHILIP NOBILE suggests the use of the A-bomb in 1945 was a war crime ("Were they war criminals?", 14 February). I served in the HQ of the heavy-bomber force, of some 30 squadrons and 60,000 men, which was starting to leave the UK for Okinawa, for the final assault on Japan, when it was stood down following the surrender.

The intelligence appreciation, based on casualties incurred in the capture of Okinawa, was that there would be some 4 million Japanese military and civilians killed in the two years of suicidal resistance likely to be encountered in Japan itself and in clearing forces out of the rest of Asia. It would also involve the deaths of 200,000 American, British, Commonwealth and Chinese forces, with heavy civilian casualties in the occupied countries. On top of this, imagine the effect of another two years of hostilities on a war-torn world.

TOM HUDSON

Buckingham, Buckinghamshire

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in