Bomber Command, true hero's?

Question

I have taken up reading books about bomber command to come to terms with the reasoning behind it. I started this after working in Coventry and seeing the cathedral remains and the peace tributes ect.
My feelings are now that:
Bomber Harris did the maths on Coventry and took it to the Germans multiplied by several times Note: it took 200,000 men 3 months to get Coventry working again, so in Germany it would mean less war power and more repair power.
Von Krupp the industrialist behind the Nazis was asked what his production efficiency was when tried in Nuremberg he could only operate at 50% so less tanks less bombs less of everything was caused by the industrial impact of Bomber Command.
Finally the men who flew, The experiences of both Allied and American airmen, who without fighter support in the early days, braved the skies day and night. Often for 8 -10 hours over enemy territory. Returning with 2 engines half a wing and prayer. Truely these heroes should be honourd better

My own theory of East German cities being wipped of the face of the earth, was to show Russia not to step out of line as they stepped forward. But this in only a theory

Answer 1

They were extremely brave, there can be little doubt about it, but so were the vast majority of the servicement that fought during the Second World War, on all sides. Before anybody criticises me for this, remember that Bomber Command did some contoversial acts themselves, which probably would have seen 'Bomber' Harris up for war crimes had we lost such as the fire bombing on Dresden. Nevertheless, the young Airmen did a fantastic job and contibuted hugely to allied success under testing conditions and their efforts, bravery and sacrifices should never go forgotten.

Answer 2

I'm interested by the fact that no-one who's answered this question so far has come out with the 'no, they were murderers and war criminals' line. Without wishing to stir up national resentments, it has to be said that the German population in the Second World War rejoiced over German victories in foreign lands, but didn't like it quite so much when the war was brought to Germany. it would be naive to expect them to have felt otherwise, but its worth remembering that nobody asked Germany to start the war, and nobody asked for their own cities to be bombed - Guernica, Warsaw, Rotterdam, London, Coventry, Birmingham, Belfast, Portsmouth, Dover, Belgrade, Athens, Moscow, Leningrad and Stalingrad, to name only the best-known.

I think the reason why there's such a moral debate on the Allied bombing campaign is because the Germans never developed the long-range strategic bombing capability. The Luftwaffe is rightly condemned for its terror tactics such as bombing Rotterdam and Coventry, and strafing refugees in Poland and France. However, because the Luftwaffe's primary focus was tactical support of the German Army, it had never developed the sustained area-bombing capability demonstrated by the RAF and USAAF from 1942 onwards. If the Germans had deployed a force of over a thousand heavy bombers during WW2, our perspective of bombing policy would be a very different one.

It's also worth remembering that there was a policy debate going in within the RAF and USAAF throughout the war, with the proponents of area bombing such as AM Harris, opposed by those who favoured precision bombing of specific high-value targets within the German war industry (what Harris called 'panacaea targets'). This debate was won in 1944 by the proponents of precision bombing, and it's clear that the bombing of the German transportation system was the key contribution of the airmen to the final collapse of Germany. Dresden is more difficult to justify, but it's not a lot different to what the Germans did in a dozen other countries, so they can't complain too stridently.

Interesting to note that the Allied bombing of Germany is reckoned to have killed around 800,000 German civilians. The Allied (mainly British) naval blockade of Germany in the First World War is also reckoned to have caused the deaths of around 800,000 German civilians through hunger, yet because there was little actual delivery of ordnance involved, this receives far less disparaging/disgusted comment than the Allied bombing of Dresden.

Answer 3

I am lucky to have been born after the war, but living in London in the 1950's I was used to bomb sites. I still have vivid memories of the flattened area all around St. Paul's Cathedral.
I agree that the mass bombing of Germany probably was not the best way of waging war (all the innocent people killed) but one must remember Bomber Harris and all the bomber crews were doing what most of the population wanted - namely hitting back and hurting the enemy.
Perhaps the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square should have a permanent statue honouring those brave lads.

Answer 4

Every time I read about this I can only think, "Thank God I was not there." This applies to all the fighting forces and Merchant Navy, I for one am very grateful and pleased that I have never had to go through that sort of thing.
It is sad that most UK politicians have not either because if they had I do not think they would be so quick to send people in and certainly not improperly equipped and with scant resources if they are injured

Answer 5

If you ever come to the USA, please visit Omaha Nebraska/Offutt AFB and the Strategic Air Command Museum. We take our early heritage seriously in the USAF.
D-Day would never have happened without the Bomber campaign which destroyed the Luftwaffe and left the skies over Normandy 100 percent in Allied hands.

RAF has a great museum too, which I have never been able to visit. You should find it on the internet.

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/

Ret. USAF SNCO, SAC 1980-1992

Answer 6

It was also a cruel, albeit necessary, way to fight a war. The civilian (innocent) casualties were very high as even the best sights were incapable of precise bombing making it forcible to use carpet, saturation and incendiary bomb raids all of which killed innocent people as well in recorded instances, allied prisoners of war. But, yes, you needed valour to fly against the odds they faced. All bombing crews were valiant heroes.

Answer 7

They were definitely true heroes as were the F 105 pilots in SEA. The latter received very little credit or appreciation.

Answer 8

How ought to everyone try this to this yet yet another monument to the ineptitude of our leaders, the futility of conflict and the worthlessness of human existence? fifty 5,000 RAF airmen and infinite thousands of thousands on the floor below died for this monument and it gets dealt with with contempt from the two sides. consistent with danger our leaders aren’t so inept afterall.

Answer 9

No to mention.. the fatality rate was about 55%.

Answer 10

Go rent the movie 12O'clock High starting Gregory Peck. I think you'll enjoy it.