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The primary objective of an air offensive is the destruction of that part of the enemy's war effort which is essential to the functioning of the mechanized forces and artillery with which he can resist a land invasion; and which, once destroyed, he is unable to replace from other theaters (e.g., the machine tools and production lines, communications and transportation systems). The secondary objective is the infliction of death, or the fear of death, upon those who operate the production and transportation systems.
It has been possible to establish a resistance factor for an industrial target of known size. When this factor is exceeded (Cologne) the target is finished or incapacitated for a long period. When it is not exceeded, the target will rebound and continue to function (Coventry, Birmingham, London). Air offensives therefore resolve into tons of bombs per target, and the requisite numbers and types of planes, the crews, fuel, bombs, spares and bases can be calculated with fair accuracy.
Chance can be eliminated to a degree impossible in land offensive.
Essential to the functioning of the German war machine are 31 key cities and their suburb's. These cities comprise the core of the German war production. They fall into three main groups:
WESTERN Essen Cologne Dusseldorf Frankfurt Mannheim Stuttgart Saarbrücken Friedrichshafen
CENTRAL Bremen Hanover Kassel Nuremberg Augsburg Munich Rosenheim Hamburg Magdeburg Dessau Halle Leipzig Chemnitz Pilsen Linz
EASTERN Kiel Rostock Stettin Berlin Posen Lodz Liegnitz Breslau
The northwestern areas are within 300 to 400 miles of London, the central within 600 miles, and the southeastern areas within 900 miles.
Destruction of the industrial areas of one-third of these cities would constitute a staggering blow to the German war effort.
Destruction of two-thirds would produce almost complete disorganization throughout the Reich.
Destruction of all 31 targets would cripple war production to a degree that would render inevitable the defeat of the German armies.
Force Requisite
1) Bombers of sufficient range to reach all targets.
2) Total bomb loads sufficient to demolish all targets.
3) Replacement power sufficient to sustain continuous bombing for as many months as are necessary to secure cumulative effect.
Having stated the general objectives, it is now necessary to examine the actual facts of present air strength and replacement power. In this consideration, production in mid-1943, or in 1944, and newly designed aircraft not now in production are ignored. This calculation takes into account only types now in use, and production rates actually achieved in existing plants.
Suitable Weapons
Out of the total U.S. air program, the air striking power is represented by the following four types, all of which have sufficient range to bomb throughout Germany from England.
B17. Four-engined Boeing Flying Fortress, radius 1,000-1,200 miles, average bomb load three tons.
B24. Four-engined Consolidated. Performance, substantially same as B17.
B25. Two-engined North American (Tokyo raid). Range 800-1,000 miles, average bomb load 2½ tons.
B26. Two-engined Martin. Performance, about same as B25.
Bombing Power