SZ/BBSU/58/66 - [Area bombing, 3/4/45

SZ/BBSU/58/66

Item

[Area bombing, 3/4/45

1945

3 leaves

Great Britain. Air Ministry. Air Staff.

Sets out the primary objective of the strategic bombing offensive and the reasoning behind area bombing. Whilst it is recognised that "at this advanced stage of the war as great an immediate additional economic advantage can be expected" from continued attacks on industrial centres, there may still be occasions when enemy resistance can best be broken by area bombing. The paper concludes that no alteration to the current policy which would exclude area bombing should be made; any political or economic disadvantages of the policy should be accepted; but area bombing designed solely to destroy industrial areas should be discontinued.

SZ/BBSU/58/65, SZ/BBSU/58/67, SZ/BBSU/58/69

Three copies. Covering note attached [SZ/BBSU/58/65, SZ/BBSU/58/67, SZ/BBSU/58/69].