Anyone read Japanese ? WWII buffs ?

[dcinffxva]

These were mailed home by a Sailor who was stationed in Tinian in August 1945. He watched the Enola Gay take off. At the time he had no idea what was going on, but he knew it was something important due to all the extra personell and security. He thinks they were leaflets dropped on islands by the US to let the Japanese know the war was over. Anyone know what they say ?

[NOLA_Ken]

Try this forum : http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com I'm sure they will be able to tell you what they are.

[daroofa]

They were dropped by the Office of War Information all over Japan.

"...newspapers and leaflets in the Japanese language were printed on Saipan. From there, Air Force B-29s flying at 20,000 feet dropped 500-pound M-16 fire bomb containers converted into leaflet casings. These opened at 4,000 feet to deploy millions of leaflets, effectively covering a whole Japanese city with information. In just the last three months of formal psychological warfare, OWI produced and deployed over 63 million leaflets informing the Japanese people of the true status of the war and providing advance warning to 35 cities targeted for destruction."


https://www.cia.gov/library/center-f...article07.html

[DevilDog812]

They were dropped by the Office of War Information all over Japan.

"...newspapers and leaflets in the Japanese language were printed on Saipan. From there, Air Force B-29s flying at 20,000 feet dropped 500-pound M-16 fire bomb containers converted into leaflet casings. These opened at 4,000 feet to deploy millions of leaflets, effectively covering a whole Japanese city with information. In just the last three months of formal psychological warfare, OWI produced and deployed over 63 million leaflets informing the Japanese people of the true status of the war and providing advance warning to 35 cities targeted for destruction."


https://www.cia.gov/library/center-f...article07.html

did the CIA get that wrong? im pretty sure what they are writing about and the picture are two completely different things. the pictures are of a note written in japanese that is carried by the pilots so if they get shot down they wont be killed, or so i believe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_chit

by brother knows some japanese, i can see if he can read any of it for you

[DevilDog812]

alright, i gave it to him to read, but he isnt 100% fluent in it. all he could tell is that it is something about an "end" of something. most likely the war

[daroofa]

Here is another reference to the leaflets:

"OWI Leaflets 810 and 811 are both safe conduct passes that instruct Japanese how to come over to the American side."

http://www.psywarrior.com/OWI60YrsLater.html

[Kenosha Kid]

Here is another reference to the leaflets:

"OWI Leaflets 810 and 811 are both safe conduct passes that instruct Japanese how to come over to the American side."

http://www.psywarrior.com/OWI60YrsLater.html

Interesting site ! The top picture has #522 on it.

c. 500-699. Leaflets bearing these numbers are designed for that phase when the actual landings are made and the main engagement begins.

501. To Japanese officers!
503. You can't fight tanks with bayonets!
512. Full strength instead of 10%.

Only three were listed ...

[DFXScout]

did the CIA get that wrong? im pretty sure what they are writing about and the picture are two completely different things. the pictures are of a note written in japanese that is carried by the pilots so if they get shot down they wont be killed, or so i believe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_chit

by brother knows some japanese, i can see if he can read any of it for you


[/quote]

Nice find, but not a Blood chit, Blood chits had and still have the American Flag on them and have several languages for the area. Those used in the Pacific had the American Flag and seven languages spoken in the area.

HH

[dcinffxva]

Thanks to all for the information, and the links !