<Ul> <Li> Japanese surrender </Li> </Ul> <P> Allied forces conducted many air raids on Japan during World War II, causing extensive destruction to the country's cities and killing between 241,000 and 900,000 people . During the first years of the Pacific War these attacks were limited to the Doolittle Raid in April 1942 and small - scale raids on military positions in the Kuril Islands from mid-1943 . Strategic bombing raids began in June 1944 and continued until the end of the war in August 1945 . Allied naval and land - based tactical air units also attacked Japan during 1945 . </P> <P> The United States military air campaign waged against Japan began in earnest in mid-1944 and intensified during the war's last months . While plans for attacks on Japan had been prepared prior to the Pacific War, these could not begin until the long - range B - 29 Superfortress bomber was ready for combat . From June 1944 until January 1945, B - 29s stationed in India staged through bases in China to make a series of nine raids on targets in western Japan, but this effort proved ineffective . The strategic bombing campaign was greatly expanded from November 1944 when bases in the Mariana Islands became available as a result of the Mariana Islands Campaign . These attacks initially attempted to target industrial facilities using high - altitude daylight "precision" bombing, which was also largely ineffective . From February 1945, the bombers switched to low - altitude night firebombing against urban areas as much of the manufacturing process was carried out in small workshops and private homes: this approach resulted in large - scale urban damage . Aircraft flying from Allied aircraft carriers and the Ryukyu Islands also frequently struck targets in Japan during 1945 in preparation for the planned invasion of Japan scheduled for October 1945 . During early August 1945, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were struck and mostly destroyed by atomic bombs . </P> <P> Japan's military and civil defenses were unable to stop the Allied attacks . The number of fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft guns assigned to defensive duties in the home islands was inadequate, and most of these aircraft and guns had difficulty reaching the high altitudes at which B - 29s often operated . Fuel shortages, inadequate pilot training, and a lack of coordination between units also constrained the effectiveness of the fighter force . Despite the vulnerability of Japanese cities to firebombing attacks, the firefighting services lacked training and equipment, and few air raid shelters were constructed for civilians . As a result, the B - 29s were able to inflict severe damage on urban areas while suffering few losses . </P>

What two japanese cities were bombed in ww2