Evolving Roles of American Bombers during WWII

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nAircraft have played an important role since their invention. As technological advancements improved aircraft, increasingly, they became more deadly. Technological advancements achieved by the Allies and Axis during the WWII were crucial for aviation during that period and for future generations. Designs and specs for WWII-era aircraft are impressive, even by todays standards. The roles these aircraft had were crucial in winning the war. Some of the roles included target bombing that permitted stopping resupply production and hindering the enemy’s capabilities. Reconnaissance missions enabled better war planning. Fighter aircraft had a special key role during the war: escorting bomber aircraft reach their intended target. Ground-support aircraft were also very important in helping avoid casualties. This paper focuses on the evolving roles of American bombers during that time and how that enabled the U.S. to have successful bombing campaigns in Europe and Pacific theaters; and finally how all that relates in winning WWII.

nThe Role of Airpower

nAmerican bombers played a very crucial part in winning WWII. Air power was needed in both the European and Pacific theaters to win the war. Developing aircraft and its technology were critical to achieve air superiority. In the early stages of the war, aircraft were limited to range and payloads. Both, Allied advancements into enemy territory and developing aircraft designs enabled bombers to reach the heart of operations in which the economies were developed and products were produced for the war effort. There is however documentation stating the duplicative effect of bombing in Japan as its manufacturing level was dwindling already as time progressed because of the shortage of raw materials and skill-level. Aside from no direct impact to Japanese economy and production, bombing, along with other factors, did cause Japanese leaders and its citizens to surrender as they saw no choice or no point to keep fighting and only death would come to them if they kept on going (Volume 55, 1947, p. VI). On the European theater however, bombing was more apparent in the defeat. Records show that more than one million forty thousand bomber sorties were flown and almost 2,700,000 tons of bombs were dropped (Volume 2, 1945, p. 1). The bombing surveys of both theaters demonstrate the direct impact on society, economy, and war capability. The surveys were performed shortly after each theater defeat and do not show effect after each bombing but the overall effect in winning in both Germany and Japan. The damage bombers could cause was apparent but “limitations of range, limitations of fighter escort, limitations of numbers, limitations forced by weather over the European continent, which was particularly unsuited to the desire form of attack” (Volume 2, 1945, p. 9) forced the design and the production of new American fighter aircraft. These new designs, such as the P-51 Mustang, had longer range and capability, which in turn enabled successful bombing raids and therefore helping in the surrender of the Axis.

nGrand-Strategic Bombing Offensives

nThe British and Americans emphasized the use of grand-strategic bombing during WWII. The British used airpower successful in the Battle of Britain where they defended themselves against Germany attack in 1940. The allied forces such as the Soviets Union used airpower to support their infantry and tanks forces. In addition, airpower was applied in U-boats offensives in the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. (Armchair General, 2009, p.1). They applied judo-blitzkrieg carrier force that was capable of striking faster and provided deadly blows against the Axis forces. Moreover, it was used to protect and support amphibious operations (HistoryShots, 2009, p.3). The Allied forces eventually seized bases at the Marianas islands that provided the grand-strategic bombing against Japan in collaboration with submarine and carrier attacks.

nPrior to 1942, Sir Arthur Harris led the RAF bomber command to intensify the Allies growing strategic air offensive against Germany. The attacks focused to strike rail depots, bridges, factories, dockyards, dams and cities (Armchair General, 2009, p.1). This aimed to destroy Germany war industry and to deprive its citizens their housing hence forcing their Armies to surrender (History. 2008, p.2). This strategy employed area bombing where cities and towns were attacked during nocturnal raids. In March 1942, destructive bombing raids were carried out on Lubeck, Essen and Ruhr towns in Germany (Hughes, 2014). In May 30-31 almost 1,000 bombers were dispatched against the town of Cologne. The intensive attack heavily damaged one third of the city.

nThe bombers focused their operations on the bases of U-boat on the Biscay Bay. The RAF resumed the air attacks operations against Germany in March 1943. RAF effectively concentrated against main industrial targets like those in Ruhr (History. 2008, p.1). The air offensive operations comprised various phases. The first phase was the battle of the Ruhr which comprised more than 18, 506 sorties from July 1943. The cost was 872 aircrafts that were shot down but they were successful in damaging more than two thousand one hundred aircrafts Axis aircrafts (HistoryShots, 2009, p.3). Furthermore, Eder dam in the Weser basin and Mohne dam in the Ruhr basin were heavily destroyed in the night of May 16-17, 1943. Secondly, the battle of Hamburg that comprised 17, 021 sorties at a cost of 695 bombers (Yardley, 2014).

nFortunately, the bombers in July to November 1943 were successful in destroying approximately one thousand two hundred Axis bombers. During the battle of Hamburg, the operations applied H2S radar and antiradar devices (Hughes, 2014). This was successful because it achieved unprecedented measure of devastation because four out of thirty three bombers actions killed more than 40, 000 people and displaced more than one million German civilian from their households. Thirdly, the battle of Berlin took place from November 1943 to March 1944, applied more than twenty thousand bomber sorties and produced more devastation in Germany slightly less than that in the battle of Hamburg (HistoryShots, 2009, p.2).

nFurthermore, the United States 8th Air Force also played a role in strategic offensive against the Axis powers in January 1943. The Eighth Air Force was based in Great Britain and comprised bombers such as Liberators (B-24s) and Flying Fortress (B-17s). These bombers launched attacks towards industrial in daylight attacks in Germany (Tomlin, 2012). However, the bombers were susceptible to Germany fighter offensive in case they went outside the range of fighters escorting them (U.S. ARMY CAMPAIGNS: WWII, 2010). For instance the operation against the vital factory that manufactured balls at Schweinfurt on October 1943 was not successful because almost 40 out of 291 bombers were lost and 138 of those returned were severely damaged (Armchair General, 2009, p.3). The Allied forces continued to produce highly adaptive bombers, for instance, in December 1943, 8th Air Force launched Mustang III (P-51B). This was a long-range fighter that signified transition in balance of power.

nThe Allied forces had been preparing for offensive in Europe for almost two years by D-Day, in June 6, 1944. In August 1943, the Allied forces Chief of Staff had adopted the broad tactical strategy for invasion of Europe, which was duped OVERLORD. In the European theater, General Dwight Eisenhower commanded the force (HistoryShots, 2009, p.4). The Allies main strategy was to use airborne and land amphibious forces on Normandy coast, which was successful in destroying Germany power and liberating France. In addition, the Allies expected that success of OVERLORD depended on the use of airpower (History. 2008, p.2). Due to long experience in World War II planner avoided facing hostile air power over the battlefield.

nTherefore, Luftwaffe (Nazi Air Force) needed immediate destruction but not at the expense of extremely required air support missions for air superiority. Luckily, by 1944, the Luftwaffe was destroyed. The Allies applied P-47 Thunderbolts, armed with long-range “drop” tanks. The P-47 Thunderbolts were successful against the Germans because they killed many German fighters (Hughes, 2014). In addition, the airpower bombers helped to over occupy Europe and Germans periphery.

nAdditionally, OVERLORD, was supported when North America P-51B Mustang was launched in December 1943 (HistoryShots, 2009, p.4). This aircraft had superior feature because it had aerodynamic design and superlative handling feature. Packard-built Rolls-Royce Merlin engines powered P-51B (Tomlin, 2012). The bomber had symmetrical wing, which was beneficial to the Allies forces since it could escort other bombers to strike Berlin and back. The symmetrical wing of the bomber was adequately thick to store large volumes of fuel and had sufficient streamline to minimalize drag.

nThis precise aircraft was worthy supplement to the Allied forces strategic bombing efforts. The bombing operation accomplished to destroy the Axis resources that contributed directly to the success during the D-Day. Additionally, large bomber foundations were airborne superpowers, which drew up the Luftwaffe hence, the American fighter-bombers could easily destroy them (HistoryShots, 2009, p.4). The omnipresent Mustangs and Thunderbolts air bombers supplemented the shorter-legged hawker Typhoons and Spitfires of Royal Air Force that continuously destroyed Luftwaffe aerial actions. For instance, between January and June 1941, five months prior to D-Day, Thunderbolts effectively destroyed Luftwaffe where more than two thousand German fighter pilots were killed during that period (National park Service, 2013).

nFurthermore, in May, 1943 alone, almost 26 percent of pilot force in Germany perished. This represented more than 2, 284 total Germanys pilot fighters. In addition, throughout the Big Week, the Allies air force besieged the Axis aircraft production for special treatment, which led to staggering losses to the fighters (Online Military Education, 2013). In March 1944, more than 57 percent of total German fighters were lost as Allied bombers actions switched to Germanys petroleum production. In April and May 1944, 43 percent and 50 percent of Germany fighters were killed by the American bombers respectively. Therefore, the Luftwaffe could not withstand hundreds of sorties from the Allied forces on the eve of Normandy (Yardley, 2014). Concentration on air warfare by the Allied forces ensured that they acquired not only air dominance but air omnipotence as well.

nThe Allies air operation concentrated on three phases for the invasion of Europe. First phase, Allied forces planned on how to destroy the Luftwaffe. Second phase, the planners designed to isolate the battlefield through interdicting rail and road networks (History. 2008, p.2). Therefore, after the invasion commenced, the air forces focused on battleground interdiction as well as closing air support. In addition, part of the strategy was to deceive the Germans to concentrate their attention in the Pas de Calais air campaign while the landing sites of the Allied air bombers were secretly kept (HistoryShots, 2009, p.2). Air force that was Rocket-Armed and Hawkers Typhoon bombers launched attacks on radar installations outside the area of assault.

nField marshal Erwin Rommel was responsible of defending Allies against the Nazi-occupied Europe. The Ju 87 Stuka and Panzer units needed the support from Eastern front. OVERLORD embarked on preparing tactical air power massive destruction to Luftwaffe (Hughes, 2014). The Two Tactical Air forces were under the command of Chief Marshall Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory of the royal air force. Moreover, Eisenhower and other ground commanders could request strategic aviation if conditions in the battlefield demanded (History. 2008, p.3). They could receive strategic aviation in form of Great Britains bomber command and AAFs 8th Air Force.

nIn 1944, the Ninth Air Force comprised a number of commands that included the Ninth Fighter Command. The Ninth fighter command as a result produced Two Tactical Air command (TAC), which were XIX TAC and Ninth TAC. Each of these air bombers had at least three fighter groups. On the other hand, the British RAFs 2nd Tactical Air force (2 TAF) also supported the invasion of Europe (Tomlin, 2012). The bombers of the Ninth TAC and Second Tactical Air Force command ensured that they had dominant air power in the battlefield. In the initial days in their operations, they operated from their base in southern England. They were capable of attacking the German tanks and fortifications (HistoryShots, 2009, p.5). Air-attacked destroyed more than 200 vehicles in June 1944 in Germany.

nThese aircraft bombers had special features that enabled them to land safely regardless of the bad weather, which affected the Allied force landing on the battlefield. In addition, the air bombers launched several strikes at the Panzer-Lehr Division (Tomlin, 2012). The Axis forces did not expect such attacks because they hoped the worsening weather could challenge them (Yardley, 2014).

nULTRA provided intelligence information that was critical in the success of the air strike in June 10, 1944. The intelligence reports exposed the Germans message traffic. This enable the Allies to locate headquarter of Panzergrue West on June 09 (Tomlin, 2012). Therefore, they launched sixty-one Mitchell from 2 TAF and forty Rocket-Armed Typhoons towards the Germans headquarter located in the Chateau of la Caine ((National park Service, 2013)). This air operation killed the units Chief of Staff and many Germans soldiers. In addition, it destroyed more than 75 percent of the Germans communication equipment as well as several vehicles. The Panzer group was knocked out of command and control that took a lot of time before it resumed its operations.

nRadar

nAllied air forces used radar that was integrated into the Tactical Air Control for first warning and aerial defenses. Radar was initially applied during the Italian and Sicilian campaigns for Tactical Air support control (History. 2008, p.2). Each radar control group and TAC was built around fighter control center and three forward detector posts. These provided fine precision radar that was essential in aircraft gun laying and data positioning (Armchair General, 2009, p.1). In addition, radar network was used to control tactical attacks. For instance, in case air-ground management party directed an emergency air help, that message was sent to a collective actions center working between the Army and TAC. If the request was considered legitimate Air A-3 and Army G-3 approved the request (Hughes, 2014). Then, Air A-3 replied the request to the Tactical Control Center with appropriate efforts. Similarly, the tactical control center would deliver the application to the aerial fighter-bombers (Yardley, 2014).

nIn addition, the Forward Direct Post provided correct radar navigation information that guided the air bombers directing them to the area targeted. In addition through the radar the striking air leader linked with air-ground management party. The radar systems were also utilized for Blind Bombing in case there was reduced visibility (Online Military Education, 2013). For instance during the battle of bulge in winter in 1944-45, the radar facilitated blind bombing attacks with accuracy of 400-yards from the targeting point.

nThe COBRA bombing was essential to breakout in the Panzer-Lehr Division. The German air attackers were not prepared for the whirlwind air attack from the Allied fighters (National park Service, 2013). The COBRA bombing raised havoc on the Axis side. It had devastating impacts on the German soldiers. It constituted excellent example of carpet bombing in European theater. The operation put the Germans soldiers in France on the skids.

nTactical Air Centers

nHitler directed his commander to launch more attacks on Normandy. The commander therefore initiated general attacks against Mortain, which was a vulnerable point in Allied line. However, the attack failed due to stalwart opposition on the carpet bombing and severe fighter-bomber attacks (Zeiler, & DuBois, 2012, p. 19). The Allied forces initiated aerial offensive to the enemy ground involved in the Falaise-Argentan pocket. They used collective armor-artillery-air offensives against the elements of German soldiers who tried to escape eastwards (HistoryShots, 2009, p.5). By the end of June in 1944, the Allied forces were successful in liberating Paris. Therefore, they advanced to Seine and they won the Battle of France. This motivated them and they launched the Battle of Germany.

nThe attack of Mortain was facilitated by ULTRA that broke the communication codes of the Nazi power. Therefore, the Allies forces were capable to set their aerial defenses before the Nazi could attack them (Online Military Education, 2013). For instance, Hitler had directed his commanders to prepare airborne offensives to the coastline on the west but Allied intelligence through ULTRA enabled them to prepare prior to attack (HistoryShots, 2009, p.3). Typhoons firing Rocket of the RAFs 2 TAF was useful because they facilitated defense of ground forces while at the same time attacked German soldiers.

nThe deep aerial cover American superiority posed great challenges to the Luftwaffe air fighters. Luftwaffe fighter could not intervene over the battlefield and most of them were destroyed as they tried to take off (National park Service, 2013). Recce flights in the morning were used to locate Germans tanks near St. Besrthelemy and Allied forces could fly 294 sorties over the Mortain battlefield (History, 2008, p.2). The typhoon air power fired rockets and cannon fire to the Germans tanks and transports and could easily refuel and rearm. They had abilities to produce sorties at very high rate that the Germans soldiers did not withstand (The Choices Program, 2013). Therefore, German commanders could not understand the magnitude of the aerial attack at Mortain, hence air power helped to defeat the German in France invasion.

nAir bombers on the Pacific theater

nOn the pacific theater the Allied forces contemplated that the war against the Japanese would be won through long-range bombing (History, 2008, p.2). Therefore, Allies air forces launched long-range offensive against the Japanese forces in November 1944 from Marianas Island (Zeiler, & DuBois, 2012, p. 50). Through direct air attack and impact of blockade the Japanese armies would be forced to submission without conquest. The air attack weakened Japanese capability and willingness to resist amphibious forces.

nThe air attacks would strike her aircraft engine plants that increased her pressure to surrender. In addition, railway and road networks, coupled with destruction of her cities (HistoryShots, 2009, p.3). The Allied forces dropped 656, 400 tonnage of bombs in the pacific war. Moreover, 34 percent of this tonnage was dropped in Japan home islands. By the end of 1944, the Allied forces had seized the home islands in Japan (National park Service, 2013). The Japanese defense did not offer significant aerial opposition. The tonnage dropped before March 1954 had increased to 7, 180. The planes bombed from almost 30, 000 feet above sea level. However, the percentage of bombs that hit the target was less than 10 percent (The Choices Program, 2013). Japanese air craft engine plants were severely damaged. Therefore, it produced significant decline in aircraft production due to the shortage in special steel.

nIn March 1945, the Allied forces used B-29 air bomber to attack four Japanese cities. The bombers delivered 1595 sorties against cities of Nagoya, Tokyo, Kobe and Osake (Online Military Education, 2013). This destroyed 31 miles of those cities at a cost of 23 air bombers. In addition, the Allied forces intensified radar attacks in urban areas, harbors and minefields at night (HistoryShots, 2009, p.5). A total of 104, 000 tons of bombs were initiated against 66 urban areas in Japan. The Japanese opposition to aerial attacks was not effective even during the day at lower altitude. This increased the bombing accuracy to 45 percent with the aiming point of 1,000 feet above sea level (Armchair General, 2009, p.1). Nevertheless, the war ended before the 8th air force was activated on Okinawa. This air bomber was planned to drop more than 115, 000 tons of bombs every month. The accuracy of the lower-level carrier plane was at maximum at 50 percent which hit the target at the aiming point within 250 feet. In July 1945, air bombers damaged all 13 ferries, 18 steel ship and 150 smaller ship (HistoryShots, 2009, p.1).

nIn conclusion, the WWII campaign was classic representation of tactical air war in European and Pacific theaters. The success of the Allied forces was facilitated by radar strike direction, airborne controllers and armored fighter-bombers. The effectiveness of Anglo-American air attacks also facilitated success against the Germans and Japanese forces. The air bombers produced long-range strikes against the enemies which not only depleted their resources but also killed many of their soldiers.

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nReferences

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