SZ/BSU/1/9/1-2 - Observations on anti-personnel effects of ground-straffing [sic] and bombing

Reference code

SZ/BSU/1/9/1-2

Level of description

Item

Title

Observations on anti-personnel effects of ground-straffing [sic] and bombing

Date/s

[194?]

Quantity & Format

2 leaves

Subject

Bombing, Aerial
Convoys, Military
Tripoli, Battles of, 1941-1943
Transport, Military
World War, 1939-1945 -- Prisoners and prisons -- Italy
World War, 1939-1945 -- Prisoners and prisons -- Libya

Creator

Zuckerman, Solly, 1904-1993

Scope and content

A casualty survey of 47 Italian POWs in hospital in Tripoli revealed information about the effectiveness of air-attack against personnel in military transport (MT) or in fixed ground positions. Observations are also made on attacks on gun-positions, attacks on unprotected troops in the open, attacks on troops in trenches, attacks on buildings, and attacks on shipping. It concludes that troop convoys are more vulnerable to ground strafing than MTs, and that attacks on MTs at night are more demoralising than day attacks, especially in the case of machine gun (MG) attacks. The data were insufficient to tell whether bombing or machine gun attacks were more effective.

Two copies.

SZ - Zuckerman Archive
- SZ/BSU - [Bombing Survey Unit]
  - SZ/BSU/1 - [BSU. North Africa]
    - SZ/BSU/1/9 - [North Africa. Ground-strafing and bombing]
      - SZ/BSU/1/9/1-2 - Observations on anti-personnel effects of ground-straffing [sic] and bombing