“Attention Japanese Civilians”

One of the most heavily dropped leaflets during the air campaign, the depiction of five B-29s dropping their bombs over Japan also features the names of twelve cities, many of which would be bombed in the coming days. The Army Air Forces would create three versions of the leaflet, each naming new cities set for destruction by the bombers, with the first series dropped the day after the Potsdam Declaration was issued outlining the terms for Japan to surrender. The reverse side reads:

Read this carefully as it may save your life or the life of a relative or a friend. In the next few days, four or more of the cities named on the reverse side of this leaflet will be destroyed by American bombs. These cities contain military installations and workshops or factories, which produce military goods. We are determined to destroy all of the tools of the military clique that they are using to prolong this useless war. Unfortunately, bombs have no eyes. So, in accordance with America's well-known humanitarian policies, the American Air Force, which does not wish to injure innocent people, now gives you warning to evacuate the cities named and save your lives.

America is not fighting the Japanese people but is fighting the military clique, which has enslaved the Japanese people. The peace, which America will bring, will free the people from the oppression of the Japanese military clique and mean the emergence of a new and better Japan.

You can restore peace by demanding new and better leaders who will end the war.

We cannot promise that only these cities will be among those attacked, but at least four will be, so heed this warning and evacuate these cities immediately.

Charles W. Vann (Vyhnanek) Collection