5/28/2023 0 Comments Shadow tactics knockout civilians![]() ![]() These are the scars across the face of the enemy, the preface to the victory that followed. German industry is bruised and temporarily paralyzed. The principal German cities have been largely reduced to hollow walls and piles of rubble. The number made homeless aggregates 7,500,000. ![]() Survey estimates show some 300,000 civilians killed and 780,000 wounded. In Germany, 3,600,000 dwelling units, approximately 20% of the total, were destroyed or heavily damaged. In the wake of these attacks there are great paths of destruction. More than 18,000 American and 22,000 British planes were lost or damaged beyond repair. The number of men lost in air action was 79,265 Americans and 79,281 British. The number of combat planes reached a peak of some 28,000 and at the maximum 1,300,000 men were in combat commands. In the attack by Allied air power, almost 2,700,000 tons of bombs were dropped, more than 1,440,000 bomber sorties and 2,680,000 fighter sorties were flown. In the European war, Allied air power was called upon to play many roles - partner with the Navy over the sea lanes partner with the Army in ground battle partner with both on the invasion beaches reconnaissance photographer for all mover of troops and critical supplies and attacker of the enemy's vital strength far behind the battle line. No one should assume that because certain things were effective or not effective, the same would be true under other circumstances and other conditions. Air power had not yet reached maturity and all conclusions drawn from experience in the European theatre must be considered subject to change. Nevertheless, at the end of hostilities in Europe, weapons, tactics and strategy were still in a state of rapid development. England devoted 40 to 50 percent of her war production to her air forces, Germany 40 percent, and the United States 35 percent. The new role of three-dimensional warfare was even then foreseen by a few farsighted men, but planes were insufficient in quality and quantity to permit much more than occasional brilliant assistance to the ground forces.Īir power in the European phase of this war reached a stage of full adolescence, a stage marked by rapid development in planes, armament, equipment, tactics and concepts of strategic employment, and by an extraordinary increase in the effort allocated to it by all the major contestants. Air power in the last war was in its infancy. ![]() The new relation of air power to strategy presents one of the distinguishing contrasts between this war and the last. When that study is completed further reports will be submitted to the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy. The Survey is now studying the effects of the air attack on Japan. Survey personnel suffered several casualties, including four killed. While the European War was going on, it was necessary, in many cases, to follow closely behind the front otherwise, vital records might have been irretrievably lost. During the course of its work, the Survey rendered interim reports and submitted studies and suggestions in connection with the air operations against Japan. Some two hundred detailed reports were made, including an Over-all Report, of which this is a summary. Targets in Russian-held territory were not available to the Survey. Germany was scoured for its war records, which were found sometimes, but rarely, in places where they ought to have been sometimes in safe-deposit vaults, often in private houses, in barns, in caves on one occasion, in a hen house and, on two occasions, in coffins. It made a close examination and inspection of several hundred German plants, cities and areas, amassed volumes of statistical and documentary material, including top German government documents and conducted interviews and interrogations of thousands of Germans, including virtually all of the surviving political and military leaders. The Survey operated from headquarters in London and established forward headquarters and regional headquarters in Germany immediately following the advance of the Allied armies. The Table of Organization provided for 300 civilians, 350 officers and 500 enlisted men. The United States Strategic Bombing Survey was established by the Secretary of War on November 3, 1944, pursuant to a directive from the late President Roosevelt. The United States Strategic Bombing Survey Foreword The Attack on the Railways and Waterways.Early Air Operations - City Area Raids. ![]() (NOTE: Please wait for the document download to complete before you start clicking on the Table of Contents links.) Summary Report (European War) Washington, D.C.Īll pages are tagged for HTML referencing () United States Strategic Bombing Survey: Summary Report (European War) ![]()
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