1. Bomber Offensive
Since America couldn’t wasn’t prepared to invade Europe when it entered the war, it was looking for a way to have an impact.
Strategic bombing seemed the answer.
American Daylight Precision Bombing
English Night Bombing

2. American B-17 Bomber
This one is actually in Mesa!
Maybe you saw it at the prom last year.

3. American B-24 Bomber

9. Bombing was less accurate than hoped – 7% of the bombs dropped landed within 1,000 ft of the target point
Bombers faced attacks from German fighters and anti-aircraft artillery commonly called flak.

15. Hamburg Raid – 8 days and 7 nights, firestorms, killed 42,000 and wounded 37,000
Video
The combination of high explosive bombs and incendiary bombs create something called fire storms.
They were like fire tornadoes that roared through the city.
Temperature 1,500 degrees
Winds of 150 mph
Reaching a height of over 1,000 ft

19. Schweinfurt Raid – Ball bearing factory
Black Thursday (Oct 43) B-17, 60 shot down, over 1/5
End of unescorted missions
The bombing missions would continue until the end of the war. They would only bomb targets within range of fighter cover.
The human cost is surprising, the American 8th Air Force lost more men than all the Marines in WWII.

21. American P-51 Mustang – Long Range Fighter