Bombing the European Axis Powers a Historical Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939–1945
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Inside frontcover 6/1/06 11:19 AM Page 1 Bombing the European Axis Powers A Historical Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939–1945 Air University Press Team Chief Editor Carole Arbush Copy Editor Sherry C. Terrell Cover Art and Book Design Daniel M. Armstrong Composition and Prepress Production Mary P. Ferguson Quality Review Mary J. Moore Print Preparation Joan Hickey Distribution Diane Clark NewFrontmatter 5/31/06 1:42 PM Page i Bombing the European Axis Powers A Historical Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939–1945 RICHARD G. DAVIS Air University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama April 2006 NewFrontmatter 5/31/06 1:42 PM Page ii Air University Library Cataloging Data Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis powers : a historical digest of the combined bomber offensive, 1939-1945 / Richard G. Davis. p. ; cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-58566-148-1 1. World War, 1939-1945––Aerial operations. 2. World War, 1939-1945––Aerial operations––Statistics. 3. United States. Army Air Forces––History––World War, 1939- 1945. 4. Great Britain. Royal Air Force––History––World War, 1939-1945. 5. Bombing, Aerial––Europe––History. I. Title. 940.544––dc22 Disclaimer Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Air University, the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, or any other US government agency. Book and CD-ROM cleared for public release: distribution unlimited. Air University Press 131 West Shumacher Avenue Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6615 http://aupress.maxwell.af.mil ii NewFrontmatter 5/31/06 1:42 PM Page iii Contents Page DISCLAIMER . ii ABOUT THE AUTHOR . ix PREFACE . xi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . xvii Part I Overview INTRODUCTION . 3 The Royal Air Force Prewar Experience, 1919–1939 . 5 Bomber Command: Adoption of Night Operations and Area Bombing, 1939–1941 . 9 The Night Bombing Problem . 27 The American Experience . 32 Notes . 44 Part II 1942 JANUARY . 49 Note . 50 FEBRUARY . 51 Notes . 54 MARCH . 56 Notes . 58 A Note on Electronic and Radar Bombing . 58 Notes . 61 APRIL . 62 Note . 63 iii NewFrontmatter 5/31/06 1:42 PM Page iv CONTENTS Page MAY . 64 Note . 66 JUNE . 67 JULY . 70 AUGUST . 72 Note . 74 SEPTEMBER . 75 Note . 76 OCTOBER . 77 Notes . 82 NOVEMBER . 84 Notes . 88 DECEMBER . 89 Notes . 90 Part III 1943 JANUARY . 93 Notes . 97 Churchill and US Daylight Bombing . 97 Notes . 103 FEBRUARY . 104 Notes . 107 MARCH . 108 Notes . 111 APRIL . 112 Note . 114 iv NewFrontmatter 5/31/06 1:42 PM Page v CONTENTS Page MAY . 115 Notes . 118 Pointblank . 118 Note . 119 The Combat Tour and Aircrew Survival . 120 Notes . 125 JUNE . 127 JULY . 130 Notes . 135 Strategic Bombing of Italy . 135 Notes . 150 AUGUST . 155 Notes . 162 The Evacuation of Sicily . 162 Notes . 171 SEPTEMBER . 173 Notes . 178 OCTOBER . 179 Notes . 184 Development of the Long-Range Escort Fighter . 184 Notes . 192 NOVEMBER . 194 Notes . 201 DECEMBER . 202 Notes . 212 Part IV 1944 OVERLORD AND THE STRATEGIC AIR FORCES . 217 Notes . 255 v NewFrontmatter 5/31/06 1:42 PM Page vi CONTENTS Page JANUARY . 260 Notes . 272 FEBRUARY . 274 Notes . 295 MARCH . 298 Notes . 326 APRIL . 330 Notes . 339 MAY . 341 Notes . 352 JUNE . 353 Notes . 375 JULY . 378 Notes . 395 The Combined Bomber Offensive and the Holocaust . 398 Notes . 413 AUGUST . 416 Notes . 421 SEPTEMBER . 422 Notes . 435 OCTOBER . 437 Notes . 447 German Cities, Occupied Europe, and Allied Bombing Policy . 448 Notes . 464 NOVEMBER . 467 Notes . 472 DECEMBER . 473 Note . 476 vi NewFrontmatter 5/31/06 1:42 PM Page vii CONTENTS Page Part V 1945 JANUARY . 479 Notes . 485 FEBRUARY . 487 Notes . 512 MARCH . 518 Notes . 550 APRIL . 554 Notes . ..