Hikari Naval Arsenal


Hikari Naval Arsenal was a naval arsenal located in Hikari, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It opened on October 1, 1940. It produced steel, engines, cannon, torpedoes, and bombs for the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was bombed on the afternoon of August 14, 1945 by four B-29 bomber groups. The raid was reported to have taken place after Emperor Hirohito had begun his surrender message to the Japanese people. It was carried out by the XXI Bomber Command, classified as mission 325. Its target code was "Thunderhead"

History of Hikari Naval Arsenal

Hikari Naval Arsenal was opened on October 1, 1940, and was in operation for just under five years. It only had two commanders: the first was :ja:妹尾知之|Tomoyuki Seno'o from October 1, 1940 to October 1, 1943, when he was succeeded by Ei Tamura, who served until the surrender on August 15, 1945.

Raid and aftermath

The raid involved the XXI Bomber Command, 58th Bomber Wing, Bomber Groups 40, 444, 462, and 468, with a total of 190 aircraft.
The area was rebuilt and now houses :ja:新日本製鐵光製鐵所|manufacturing facilities for Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Stainless Steel Corporation as well as for Takeda Pharmaceuticals.