With most aspiring RAF pilots of the Second World War delegated the infantry after a rigorous selection process, the Bomber Boys formed squadrons of the most elite Bomber Command units across the Commonwealth.
In a daring assignment deemed nearly impossible, the Lancaster Bomber squadrons embarked on a perilous mission into the heart of The Third Reich. For the Bomber Boys, this was a journey fraught with danger, one that would claim the lives of countless units. Their singular objective: to dismantle Adolf Hitler’s regime and bring the tyrant to his knees.
This documentary was produced by Syndicado and directed by Don Young. It was first released in 2005.
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Churchill began civilian bombing.
They were like ISIS and Hamas.
Britain and the US created bombs that were designed to appear like they were duds. They were timed to explode 8-12 hours after landing as ‘duds.’ This was done so that the women and children would leave the shelters and think it’s safe to return to their houses. At this point they would be killed.
The bombs were designed to target women and children. Crews used churches and hospitals as targets for their carpet firebombing.
The command called this ‘Terror Bombing’ and it was absolutely the goal of the campaign: there were zero military targets. It is where we get the words ‘terrorism’ and ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’. We especially targeted refugee encampments which were usually in the center of the cities.
The thought was that if we targeted the families and the innocent, the men at the front would be demotivated and give up.
It had the OPPOSITE effect and was the main driver of both renewed fighting that was far more bitter than it had been and their offensive in the Ardennes, followed by the fact that they fought until (close) the last man. We gave them nothing left to live for. Command determined that the terror bombing had the net effect of EXTENDING the war. When the Americans came into the country and saw what had happened, the effect was traumatic and was the main driver in the development of Smart Weapons and smaller, more targeted weapons. The US would go on to change their policy of targeting civilians specifically.
The terror bombing was a massive war crime. I say this without any anger…I am a US Air Force officer and this was my thesis in Command and General Staff College. I am extremely proud of both my nation and its service m, but It is important we learn about the wrongs (and the rights) of our military history and learn the correct lesson from it.
I have zero issue with applauding the bombings of military targets, but I cannot idol worship the ‘bomber boys’ for their ‘dud bombs’ and their 8 hour fuse..
Military Historians are united in their determination that the Firebombings were far more cruel that the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
It is to learn from; not to gather pride from. I don’t care who it is or how justified I may think I am, it doesn’t mean I should be proud of it. Had the Germans done the same thing, there would have been many more tribunals and hangings after the war. At least the military, if not civilians and their glee and refusal to feel remorse (I’m glad we did it! Huh! Is the common response in these comment sections) have gathered the correct conclusions and immediately made it a goal to design targeted weapons. In the modern day, use of these tactics would be unthinkable by any sovereign entity.