A review by dana_naylor
Black Snow: Curtis LeMay, the Firebombing of Tokyo, and the Road to the Atomic Bomb by James M. Scott, James M. Scott

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.5

This was no ordinary mission-and LeMay knew it.
This was murder.

Very informative book. I hadn’t been aware of the US firebombing of Tokyo.
Endnotes cite where information came from, books, materials from archives, and interviews with survivors.

Book is in 3 parts, which makes reading on the kindle very difficult since those are the only divisions in the book, whereas the print book has chapters. I found the maps very helpful as well.

Part 1 deals with the set up for the bombing, with general information about people involved in command and progress with the war. Author does an excellent job of giving enough information that I was reasonable able to keep people straight without needing to make a written list of who’s who.

Part 2 begins when LeMay takes over command of the proto air force from Hansell in the Pacific. There is a change from attempts at precision bombing of industry and military targets to incendiary bombings of cities. Rationale for this approach is given in the words of those making the decisions. 
I have read Catch 22 many times but until this book didn’t understand the terror of Yossarian. Here we get descriptions of airmen and a glimpse into their lives in the war. It is tough reading.

Part 3 required me to take many breaks after chapters. It details the firebombing of Tokyo with harrowing descriptions from survivors. “Horrifying” is the best description. The five months of incendiary bombing through the dropping of the atomic bombs is detailed. We hear accounts from people in Japan, military leaders in the US, newspaper accounts in the US.

The epilogue does an excellent job of filling out what happened to key players after WW2.

Note that the book does quote sources from the 1940s and the language….and slurs…reflect that.

“Jap” is used throughout the book.

I’m glad I read this because I learned a lot.
It is absolutely not a light read, but it is well written and very informative.