James H’s Reviews > The Aerial War: 1939–45: The Role of Aviation in World War II > Status Update

Nuclear weapons are implausible devices for use in war and can only exist as instruments of retribution, but it is a signal reminder of how we, as humans, justify our actions by re-identifying government departments for ‘war’ as departments for ‘defence,’ a dangerous slide towards the acceptability of waging conflict just to protect ourselves.

14th XXX

Supposed entirely by airdrop from Jan 1945.

Chindits -

India China border region British forces. Supplied entirely by air.

75% of Allied bombs were dropped in Germany post 1 Jul 44

Collapse of North Africa saw Axis redirect a lot more aircraft to Europe.

Strategic bombing of factories, the more it occurred, the Germans increase their production commensurately.

Airborne Cigar

Putting German speaking airman into bombers to listen in to German comms chapter and disrupt.

1943

The Fragile Mind

Mental health for bomber command. Airman got re-deployed to lighter duties. Evidence of care for aircrew in high stress work.

At a loss rate of 1%, an average crew member would expect a 60% chance of surviving 50 operations; at a 2% loss rate, only a 30% chance; and with a 4% loss rate, only a 15% chance of surviving. Prior to the pathfinder Ops in 1942, losses were at 4.6%.

Japanese supply chain failures in the Pacific
- Chat units did not have 1/3 reserves dedicated to combat units. Despite being in doctrine
- No dedicated maintenance units to combat units
- Lack of understanding on how to employ aircraft is poorly developed countries

30 March 1942

Dehousing Plan

Strategic bombing of German cities in order to disrupt the workers that operated the industrial factories that supported Nazi Germany.