soc.history.war.world-war-ii

"Michele" wrote in message
news:46d3e8e4$0$10626$4fafbaef@reader2.news. ...

Moreover, they
> were meant to cripple everything, in particular the infrastructures. If
> placing all the bombs into the factory area is not possible given the
> technology at hand, destroying or damaging the networks providing water,
> gas and electricity to the factory is not bad; destroying or damaging the
> roads, railroads, and public transportation services that bring workers
> and raw materials to the factory, and finished goods out of the factory,
> is not bad.

The 8th Air Force had very specific calculations in place for bombing. One
example is a large power plant, about 400' by 500'.
their expectation with 6 combat boxes(108 planes) was a virtual assurance of
1 hit on the plant. % for 2 hits, and 89% for 3 hits on the plant.
Total target area of 1000' by 1000' would expect to see 15% of bombs in that
area. This is for good weather/visibility.

"Strategic Air War against Germany and Japan" USAF Warrior Studies, Office
os Air Force History...