The B-29 Pilot Who Refused to Bomb a City During WWII

In the lighter blue skies of WWII, American forces were closing in on victory against the Japanese empire. This was a time when a big plane called the B-29 Super Fortress became famous. This plane was a giant leap from older bombers, with the pilots and crew not needing to wear bulky suits. But flying a B-29 wasn’t easy. The people on board had to deal with engines that often broke down and could face fighter pilots from Japan who were very good at their job.

Manny Greer’s Entry into the War and the Shift in Air Combat Strategy

This story centers around a young man named Manny Greer, or Manuel Greenberg. Manny, a Jewish American, felt a strong need to fight in the war because of the terrible things happening in Germany. Though his heart was set against the German empire, fate put him in the Pacific fighting against Japan instead. In 1944, Manny became a part of the Air Force and started working with the B-29s. His important task was to aim the bombs and let them go. In the summer of 1945, he was ready to go on his first mission from a place called Saipan.

War in the air had changed by then. It wasn’t just about hitting specific spots anymore. The goal was to bomb whole cities in Japan. Why? Because these places were where stuff was made, and they were spread all over, among where people lived. A high-ranking officer named General Curtis Lemay chose to use fire bombs and to fly the planes lower to make the bombing worse. It was a tough decision, and some didn’t agree with it. Yet, it was thought to be the only way to break Japan’s power to make war goods. The B-29s had less weapons so they could carry more bombs and fuel, which made them easier to hit but also better at their sad mission.

A Moment of Compassion Above the Battlefield

When Manny and his plane, named “Wimpy’s Blitz Burger,” were about to bomb a city in Japan on that first mission, he faced a big choice. Looking down at the dark city, knowing that families were there, something in him changed. Suddenly, he felt for the people below and decided not to drop the bombs on them. Instead, he let them go somewhere else, where they wouldn’t hurt anyone. This split-second decision showed Manny’s struggle and kindness during such a tough time.

What Manny did makes us think hard about what’s right and wrong in war. Even though he did what he was supposed to do later on, that moment on his first bombing run showed the heavy weight war puts on people. Manny, who was still very young, had to think and act by himself. That choice he made on his own would always be a part of his story.

The air attacks in Japan, with the firebombing of Tokyo being one of the worst, will always be remembered as some of the saddest times of the war. Some say these bombings were needed to end the war without fighting on the ground for longer, which could have been even worse. Still, the true tales of people like Manny Greer tell us about the deep effect war has on each person involved.