RAF Bombing Raids in Germany

1. Shakeap Elliott-Mohamed, Tristan Peck, Christopher Lee RAF Bombing Raids in Germany

2. Combatants • The forces involved in these intense air raids were the German army and the RAF (British Royal Air Force) and their allies. (USAAF) • The air raids consisted of some of the best air combaters the RAF and the USAAF had. • The allies faced many obstacles on the raids over Germany like bad weather and navigational problems.

3. Operation Code Names • Operation “Dambusters” was made to bomb targets more precisely during night raids on Hamburg and Dresden. • Operation “Jericho” The name of the raid that targeted the Amiens prison.

4. Battle Maps

5. Strategic Objectives • At the start of the War, Bomber Command of the RAF's (Royal Air Force) main plan was to air strike key points in the German war machine, such as oil refineries, railways and power stations. Very quickly it was realized that major operations against Germany in daylight were impossible since the Wellingtons and Hampdens could not survive against the German air defenses, especially the fighters. So attacks were switched to night bombing.

6. Weapons and Technologies Used • There was new equipment in the heavy 4-engined bombers - the Stirling, and especially the Lancaster. This comprised new navigational and bombing machines and devices like:

8. * the range of GEE and OBOE was limited to 350-400 miles because of the dependence on ground stations • Another highly successful aircraft was the twin-engined all wooden Mosquito, this time • in its role as a light bomber. This aircraft, the majority of which arrived on squadrons in • 1942, could carry 4 x 500lb bombs and relied on speed for safety.

9. Successes and Failures of both forces • The USAAF had a terrible amount of losses during the day raids. • They did not have long range air escorts which led to the loss of a quarter of their forces that went on the raid. • The Germans did not increase their defenses at night during the RAF bombing raids.

10. Consequences of Air Raids • There were many consequences during the many bombing raids by the RAF against the Germans. The RAF would always bomb key German places like munitions factories and cities. The key targets were the industry buildings and power sources. RAF bombers would go on night raids targeting key German locations. Navigating was very difficult during the night and many aviators lost their lives during these raids.

11. February 1942 In February attacking German civilians was the main focus for night raids. The RAF began to set out thousands of planes every night to maximize the amount of damage done to the Germans every night. May 1942 Thousands of bomber planes set out for a bombing run in major cities of Germany. 1046 planes dropped over 2000 tons of bombs on the city causing over 13000 civilian houses to be destroyed. May 1943 (Operation Dam Busters) The RAF carried out a bombing raid on the Ruhr Valley Dams. This was the industrial core of Germany. The operation did not do the best amount of damage but was described as courageous and skilful.

12. June 1943 40 000 Germans were killed on day and night raids by the USAAF and the city of Hamburg was ruined. January 1944 The RAF went on raids and pelted the city of Berlin with bombs leaving a destroyed city in their path. February 1945 From February 13-14 the RAF and the USAAF went on bombing raids in Germany’s East side in Dresden. Over 25 000 civilians were killed by these attacks in Dresden

13. Conclusion • The war neared its end; however the RAF continued to go on bombing raids even though the RAF and the USAAF destroyed nearly everything in their paths. The bombing raids were a very effective method of destruction to the Germans. The bombing raids made Germany more focused on defending their cities from bombing raids. The RAF paid a tough price. Approximately six in ten aviators were killed on bombing runs.