(audiobook) How tech progress does not always deliver but can also have other unintended impacts
Norden – created method to determine where a bomb would land when released from an airplane. Used in 2nd world war – 55lb package stabilized with gyroscope, mirrors, levels dials etc. Used by bombardiers to aim
Algorithms to figure out where it would land, based on all parameters incl earth rotation for time between release and impact
Kept in metal box under guard, only removed just before missions and given order to destroy if plane was downed
3rd most expensive expense in war (after Superfortress and atom bomb)
Dream was to be able to hit targets precisely and reduce need for casualties in war
Aircraft pilot school, young, rethink how to use airplanes away from the army/navy that didn’t see a future in airplanes. Dreamed of a plane heavily armoured that could attack during the day, at altitude and not worry about aa/ fighters due to armour plating.
Aircore academy – people were called the bomber mafia
Mentality is to look forward and reinvent vs use existing tactics/technologies
Flooding cause a company that produced springs to be unable to make them – without this part, no propellers could be mad and therefore no airplanes
Thought was, if we do this in war we could cripple enemy
(instead of killing people until the adversary government gives up)
Figure out what could happen if someone wanted to knock out new York – bomb aquaduct, bomb electricity. Calculate 17 bombs can knock out power grid
During WW2 asked to come up a plan, did so in 9 days outlining how many planes/bombs needed and what targets to hit
However UK RAF wanted to aera bomb at night hit anything vs precise bombing bomber mafia wanted
Outlined us planes/crews not trained/equipped for night bombing. Had chance to write message to UK general why – used bombing day and night would give enemy no rest. Put hold on request and Asked president to reconsider what af had in mind
Churchill closest advisor was promoting area bombing, some say he was sadist wanting to inflict losses, target working class houses as they are closer together so more effective. UK general also apparently psychopath, no cares that target is civilian population. Justified that it would cripple workforce less production of weapons
This despite 2 years earlier London being bombed and it not having the psychological impact to demoralize people and make them give up. It had opposite impact in fact. It seems UK was ignoring proof that area bombing was in fact not effective vs targeted bombing
Problem identified that most bombs missed targets and pictures weren’t being taken of the targets by pilots. Reason – pilots were taking evasive action
Lemay, wanted an approach straight to target to give bombardiers time to hit target. calculated how many rounds aa would need to fire to down plane and was high. Everyone though no evasive action was suicide. He tested this, by leading the attack – led to 2x more targets hit and still no losses – became the new way
Figured the best target was German ball bearing factories, all centred in same area and critical to any moving machinery – 1 group distraction to attract fighters, other to hit target
Norden sight was not accurate in real world, any friction reduced accuracy and in panic war time and wear they did not work well
2 raids on ball bearings, lost many planes and airmen
Almost no impact on production capacity of germans
Most committed you are (sacrifices for something), the more you ignore evidence you are wrong.
So bomber mafia did not give up despite big failures of their operations and results
(book now moves to Asia vs Europe – change in bomber mafia and Lemay)
Superfortress built to have longer range (3000miles) so only 3 islands close enough for bombers to reach tokyo
But, islands had no infrastructure. so much fuel needed in plane, needed a strong headwind to be able to take off
Original attack date, no wind, if they had taken off, would have been in tsunami, unable to navigate back to base due to state of instruments would have lost all planes (120+-) and over 1000 crew
Other attack vector from India over Himalayas, with refuel, bad conditions – over 700 planes lost in that area during the war
Ie 92 planes sent, (some mech issues, some crashed, some couldnt find target) only 1 bomb made it to target
Other attack vector from India over Himalayas, with refuel, bad conditions – over 700 planes lost in that area during the war
Needed to get fuel to China for refuel, took 12 gallons of fuel to get 1 gallon to refuel station.
Both arrack vectors crazy and not very promising
Target from Pacific is aircraft manufacturing plant
First raid, damaged 1%, 2nd no bombs hit target … 5 attacks not much success
Clouds obscured view, couldn’t hit targets. Big tailwinds also made them miss targets. Hq didn’t believe tail winds that high were possible and that pilots were lying
Development of incendiary gels for use in bombs
Want to use this in japan, houses are combustible, close together. 80% could be burned down
Built village to test bombs on, napalm vs British thermite bombs
Napalm much more effective
This is completely opposite of bomber mafia mentality. Instead of precise bombing, now massive fires targetting houses and civilians
Send Lemay to Pacific angle as Hensel did not want to napalm
Lemay decides will do it at lower altitude (less clouds/winds), and do it at night to not get hit by air defense. This means no precise bombing because can’t see – napalm to be used
Remove all gunners except tail gun to allow for more bombs
Attack sent to the most densely populated district in Tokyo. Japan unprepared for low altitude attack. Released thousand of napalm bombs. 1665 tons of napalm over 3 hours. 16 sq miles burned.
As many as 100k people died in that attack. Crews come back shaken from attack.
Started doing similar runs, 67 Japanese cities hit in 6 months.
Kept flying after atomic bombs, burning cities in Japan until end of war
No deliberation for lemays firebombing campaign vs atomic bomb. Seems like leaders were unaware, ignored or beyond imagination. Unsure how he was able to destroy so much without any debate.
Impact of firebombing and atomic bombs may have led to an earlier surrender. Without it, may have led to Soviet and us occupations and starvation during the winter.
Bomber mafia persisted when they had failings
Lemays campaigns lead to a quick end but moral impacts of burning cities and civilians
Technology now, able to hit precise targets
From able to hit a building, and now, able to hit a single room in a building
More precision leads to wanting to use them more often, even when they shouldn’t
Bomber mafia, were right but not with the technology of the day
Leave a Reply Cancel reply