Japan
The strategic bombing of Japan by USAAF began in November 1944. It continued until Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945. The United States executed a minor bombing raid on the Japanese capital in April 1942. The effort gained America a vicotry in terms morality. The bombing did not start until two years later when powerful B-29 Super Fortress bombers came into service. Nearly 90% of the bombs that fell on Japanese home soil were dropped by B-29s. Operation Meetinghouse (the raid on March 9-10, 1945) was the most significant and is considered the most destructive bombing ever. 1,700 tons of bombs fell on the city, destroying 286,258 buildings, and killing 100,000 citizens.
Dresden
Dresden was Germany's seventh biggest city at the time of the Second World War, and it was an extremely important industrial centre. It experienced one of the most severe bombing campaigns seen anywhere up to that point. February 13-15, 1945, 1,300 bombers from a combined RAF and USAAF force dropped more than 3,900 tons of high explosives. Fifteen miles of the city were destroyed by the firestorm that swept through the streets. The death toll was 200,000 by the Nazi German Press, but later estimated was 25,000.
Berlin
The German capitol endured a period of strategic bombing that lasted almost the entire war. Berlin was the target of 363 air raids between 1940 and 1945, from the British, the Americans, and the Soviets. RAFOs policy of only bombing buildings of direct military importance was ignored when the strategy of "area bombing" came into focus. The results of the area bombing were inevitable. Between 20,000 and 50,000 people lost their lives and many people were left homeless.
London
The London Blitz or "lightning war" was the scene of the most defining images of World War Two. The capital of the U.K. was subjected to a sustained strategic bombing campaign carried out by the German Luftwaffe that is said to have lasted for 76 nights and was responsible for the deaths of 20,000 people. More than one million homes were destroyed during the bombing. Britain's resolve and unwillingness to succumb to the German helped change the course of the war. It provided the launch pad for the Allied fight back of 1942-1945. They "never surrendered".