Air Bombing

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 161, 11 July 1939, Page 4

Air Bombing

“OBJECTIVE" A NT) “TERROR” RAIDS “ A modern air force has squadrons of heavy bombers capable of longrange flights at a height of 20,000 ft., and at a speed of 250 or miles an hour, carrying two to four tons of bombs, and of medium bombers, which are much faster, can fly at 25,000 ft. and can

carry & load up to one ton,” state Dr. Mitchiner and Dr. Cowell in the Lancet.

“Composite formations or 27 to 36 machines —i.e., three or four squadrons —may be expected to arrive at such a height that they are almost invisible to the naked eye, even on a clear day. They can shut off their engines and approach their target under cover of clouds, swooping down with immense speed and completely surprising their victims. Repeated raids on the same locality are to be expected. In Spain the main raid often takes place perhaps an hour after the first, and after the 'all clear * signal has been given, when normal life is being resumed. “In Barcelona two distinct types of air raids are recognised: the 'objective' raid, in which machines generally arrive at regular hours to bomb definite military targets, such a docks and barracks; and the 'terror' raid, in which machines either swoop down to attack crowded streets by day or arrive suddenly at night to interrupt the civil population at their pleasures or to disturb their night’s rest. Owing to the position of their base, the machines can approach from over the sea at a great height, swooping down silently on to the unsuspecting city. The first warning is often the first exploding bomb.

“Three types of bombs may be used for inflicting damage on the civil population: high-explosive, incendiary and gas. Occasionally machine-gun lire has been directed on trains or refugees crowding along the road. This is not likely to happen in this country, where a well-organised defence against low-flying aircraft exists. “ High-explosive bombs vary in size from 1001 b. to 5001 b., are generally fitted with either a delayed-action percussion fuse, enabling them to penetrate a tall building as far as the ground floor before oxploding, or a cofitact-fuse bursting higher up. “Occasionally bombs of 1000 kg (equals one ton) have been used. Borne of the bomba used in Spain contain high explosive alone, whereas others contain Bhrapnel also. One type of bomb

explodes on contact with the ground and makes a funnel-shaped pit, whose diameter and depth depend on its weight. Experts in Spain describe the following effects of bombs with delayed-action fuses:— “1. Penetration depending on the w r eight of the bomb. “2. Explosion, the action of the fuse transforming the explosive material into gases. '' 3. Destruction, spreading in a spherical manner, with a radius varying from 50yds. to 100yds.

“4. Projection of fragments and shrapnel, up to 1200yds. *'s. Blast or pressure. “6. Suction or aspiration, following (5) and producing an even greater effect.

“7. Commotion of the ground like an earthquake. “8. Fire, if there are inflammable materials near.

“Casualties are due to people beiog trapped by falling masonry or injured in the resulting fires, to blast, or to trying glass or fragments of the bomb. No protection can be provided for a building against a direct hit. Air bombs generally fall obliquely and enter fhe building through one of the upper storeys.

“If the bomb falls in a narrow street the blast will kill without actually wounding. Casualties are picked up dead without apparent wounds and out/ showing blood-stained fluid trickling from the mouth or nose. Post-mortem the lungs are found to be torn. The effect of blast on brick buildings is momentarily to push the walls in and then suck them out so that the entire structure comes down.

“In steel-frame buildings the wails are affected in the same way, leaving the floors and perhaps tne upper par s still standing. The steel uprights are twisted, but remain standing, with tho floors intact. Ferro-concrete stand* up best against these effects. A bomb falling on a hard surface in an open •pace will scatter fragments with an effective range of up to 1200yds. The casing of the bomb bursts into small fragments, usually smaller than shell fragments.”