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Old 1st June 2005, 03:38
Kutscha Kutscha is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,102
Kutscha
Re: Small B17 bomb bay and bomb load

Quote:
Originally Posted by Six Nifty .50s

That may have been true about rail lines, but not in general.

For example, in July 1944 the RAF area bombed Caen in front of the British Army which was stalled outside the city. The Bomber Command raid was completely unnecessary, doing more to help the German Army than damage them. Very few German troops were inside Caen and many French civilians were killed by the bombs. Later, some of the bombing survey teams discovered that the British Army advance was actually delayed more by the huge bomb craters and piles of rubble that blocked their path through the city.
The bombing of Caen was a tactical mission, though as you say it was more of a hinderance than a help. The 8th AF also did some tactical bombing in Normandy, even killing some of their own troops, included a general.
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