Bombers in WWII
Bombers played a crucial role in World War II, serving as vital components of military strategy for various nations. They were categorized into three main classes: light, medium, and heavy bombers, each differentiated by engine power, size, and payload capacity. Light bombers, often single-engine and short-range, were used tactically against enemy troops and equipment, while medium bombers, like the B-25 Mitchell, could cover greater distances and carry larger bomb loads. Heavy bombers, such as the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-29 Superfortress, were renowned for their long-range capabilities and substantial payloads, significantly impacting both the European and Pacific theaters. Notably, the B-29 was involved in dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, pivotal events that contributed to Japan's surrender. The strategic bombing campaigns conducted by these aircraft not only weakened enemy infrastructure but also established the United States as a dominant military power post-war. As the war progressed, the distinctions between bomber classifications began to blur, reflecting advancements in aircraft technology and design.
Bombers in WWII
Identification American planes of various classifications that delivered payloads to tactical and strategic targets
American bombers played a crucial role in World War II in both the European and Pacific theaters. Bombers established America’s air superiority, solidifying the United States as the premier global military and industrial power for decades to come.
American bombers were generally classified as light, medium, and heavy, typically differentiated by engine power, aircraft size, and payload. The bombers, operated by the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), were further classified as tactical and strategic bombers, depending on their missions. Tactical bombers were used primarily against forward troops and equipment, whereas strategic bombers attacked cities, factories, and infrastructure.
Light bombers typically were single-engine, short-range aircraft carrying a bomb load of 1,100-2,200 pounds. They were tactical bombers stationed at forward bases and on aircraft carriers seeing action in both the European and Pacific theaters. Dive and torpedo bombers were both classified as light bombers.
The A-20/DB-7 Havoc was a light bomber and night fighter, built primarily by an American manufacturer, Douglas. The Havoc was a dual-engine craft yet still classified as a light bomber, mostly because of its range and payload. Nearly 7,500 Havocs were manufactured between 1937 and 1944. As the B-26 Marauder medium bomber entered the fray, Havocs were relegated to use as trainers. The aircraft was used not only by the United States Army Air Forces but also by the Soviet, British, and French air forces.
Medium bombers covered approximately 1,500-2,000 miles and carried payloads of about 4,000 pounds. The B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engine medium bomber used mostly in the European theater during the war. North American Aviation built nearly 10,000 Mitchells. This aircraft, named after military aviation pioneer General Billy Mitchell, was the only American military aircraft named after a specific person.
Heavy bombers were the most famous and, in the end, most widely credited for ending the war. These large, multiengine aircraft could carry payloads exceeding 8,000 pounds and covered nearly 3,600 miles, allowing for maximum protection away from the theater of battle. Some of the best-known bombers of World War II were heavy strategic bombers.
Boeing went from design to test flight of the B-17 Flying Fortress in less than twelve months, with the British Royal Air Force taking deliveries in 1941. The aircraft was the first built by Boeing with a flight deck instead of the open cockpit design. Boeing, Douglas, and Lockheed built nearly 12,000 B-17’s. The planes, carrying a crew of ten, were extremely durable, heavily armed, and able to reach high altitudes. They performed in both of the main theaters of battle during the war.
The most famous B-17 Flying Fortress was the Memphis Belle, the first heavy bomber to complete twenty-five combat missions; it was the subject of a 1944 documentary ( The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress) and a 1990 Hollywood film (Memphis Belle). The crew of the Memphis Belle toured the United States to inspire Americans and help sell war bonds.
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was the descendant of the B-17 Flying Fortress. The Superfortress was a long-range, four-engine, heavily armed bomber that carried a crew of ten and was used mostly in the Pacific theater during the war. Nearly 4,000 B-29s were built between 1940 and 1946, primarily by Boeing but also by the Bell and Martin aircraft companies.
The Enola Gay, a B-29 Superfortress bomber, dropped the first atomic bomb, named “Little Boy,” on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. The airplane was named by pilot Colonel Paul W. Tibbets, Jr., for his mother, Enola Gay Tibbets. A lesser known B-29, named Bockscar, dropped the second atomic bomb, named “Fat Man,” on Nagasaki, Japan, three days later. Japan surrendered shortly thereafter.
After World War II, bomber classification blurred as fighters and light bombers became bigger, faster, and able to carry more weight, thus eliminating the medium class bomber. The heavy bomber classification remained.
Impact
The American bombers of the 1940’s were instrumental in stopping the surge of Nazi Germany, the empire of Japan, and other belligerents during World War II. The nearly nonstop strategic bombing throughout Europe paved the way to Berlin, and the direct bombing of Japan ended the war in the Pacific, establishing the United States as the world’s major military power.
Bibliography
Astor, Gerald. The Mighty Eighth: The Air War in Europe as Told by the Men Who Fought It. New York: Random House, 1997.
Miller, Donald L. Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2006.