Biplanes and Bombsights, British Bombing in World War I

Abstract

This study measures wartime claims against actual results of the British bombing campaign against Germany in the Great War. Components of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), and the Royal Air Force (RAF) conducted bombing raids between July 1916 and the Armistice. Specifically, Number 3 Wing (RNAS), 41 Wing of Eighth Brigade (RFC), and the Independent Force (IF) bombed German targets from bases in France. Lessons supposedly gleaned from these campaigns heavily influenced British military aviation, underpinning RAF doctrine up to and into the Second World War. This study develops and substantiates a comprehensive evaluation of British long-range bombing in the First World War. Its findings run directly counter to the generally held opinion. Natural limitations, technical shortfalls, and aircrews lacking proficiency acted in concert with German defenses to produce far less results than those claimed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA366808

Entities

People

  • George K. Williams

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Counter IED
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accidents
  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Air Power
  • Aircrafts
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Defense Systems
  • Employment
  • Health Services
  • Military Aircraft
  • Military Aviation
  • Military History
  • Personnel Management
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • History

Readers

  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.