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From: mm49@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: WWII city bombings
Message-ID: <1991May1.030243.19860@amd.com>
Date: 30 Apr 91 08:51:18 GMT
Sender: military@amd.com
Organization: Columbia University
Lines: 28
Approved: military@amd.com


From: mm49@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu


	I keep reading quite a bit about the German bombings of London and
other British cities as well as the V-2 missile attacks.  I was wondering
exactly how many civilians died as a result of German attacks during the
course of the war.

	Further more I am very curious as to the number of civilian deaths
caused by the allied bombardments of Germany.  I have heard that towards the
end of the war 1000+ bombers used to target a German city every couple of days.
From what I understand a few planes would drop some sort of marker bombs to
create a fiery trail towards the targeted city, which the main force of the
bombers would follow.  Once above the blacked-out city allied planes would
carpet bomb the city with high-explosive bombs to rip open the buildings.
After this was done, waves of other bombers would drop incendiary bombs to
set the destroyed buildings on fire to cause maximum damage.

	It seems to me that the numerical superior allied bombers, with
bigger payloads, better targeting facilities, bigger fuel tanks, better
defenses, good fighter escorts and virtual air superiority must have done
more damage in one month than the whole German airforce during the whole war. 

	If anybody has any comments on planes, strategies, figures please
mail or post. 

Mike Mayer