Strategic bombing survey
Encyclopedia
The United States Strategic Bombing Survey (SBS) was a board tasked with examination and analysis of the United States
' involvement in the World War II
. Its primary purpose was to determine the effectiveness of Allied
, and more specifically American, strategic bombing
campaigns in Europe and in Asia against the Axis powers
. Other areas covered were medical treatment of casualties, intelligence
/counterintelligence, and war production
and distribution. The SBS consisted of more than 1,000 individuals. Although two-thirds of them were military, the research organization was not affiliated to any armed service, but established by US Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson
and chaired by a civilian, Franklin D'Olier
.
The result were 208 volumes of reports on the Europe and another 108 for the Pacific theater, comprising tens of thousands of pages. Published in 1945-1947, they presented many details gathered by the careful on-site investigations done in 1944-1945. The Surveys remain an excellent source of detailed information about Axis war production.
The reports' conclusions were generally favorable about the contributions of Allied strategic bombing towards victory, calling it "decisive".
After completing Strategic Bombing Survey (Europe)
, most of the researches moved to Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific War)
, that also researched the effect of American atomic attacks.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' involvement in the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Its primary purpose was to determine the effectiveness of Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
, and more specifically American, strategic bombing
Strategic bombing
Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
campaigns in Europe and in Asia against the Axis powers
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
. Other areas covered were medical treatment of casualties, intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
/counterintelligence, and war production
War economy
War economy is the term used to describe the contingencies undertaken by the modern state to mobilise its economy for war production. Philippe Le Billon describes a war economy as a "system of producing, mobilising and allocating resources to sustain the violence".Many states increase the degree of...
and distribution. The SBS consisted of more than 1,000 individuals. Although two-thirds of them were military, the research organization was not affiliated to any armed service, but established by US Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson
Henry L. Stimson
Henry Lewis Stimson was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican Party politician and spokesman on foreign policy. He twice served as Secretary of War 1911–1913 under Republican William Howard Taft and 1940–1945, under Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the latter role he was a leading hawk...
and chaired by a civilian, Franklin D'Olier
Franklin D'Olier
Franklin D'Olier was the first national commander of the American Legion and served in that capacity from 1919 to 1921. Like all of the original American Legion membership, D'Olier was a veteran of The Great War. D'Olier was also a prominent businessman and the great-grandfather of actor...
.
The result were 208 volumes of reports on the Europe and another 108 for the Pacific theater, comprising tens of thousands of pages. Published in 1945-1947, they presented many details gathered by the careful on-site investigations done in 1944-1945. The Surveys remain an excellent source of detailed information about Axis war production.
The reports' conclusions were generally favorable about the contributions of Allied strategic bombing towards victory, calling it "decisive".
After completing Strategic Bombing Survey (Europe)
Strategic bombing survey (Europe)
The United States Strategic Bombing Survey was established by the Secretary of War on 3 November 1944, pursuant to a Directive from President Roosevelt...
, most of the researches moved to Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific War)
Strategic bombing survey (Pacific War)
The "Strategic bombing survey " was a United States Army Air Forces report on the impact of strategic bombing in World War II in the Pacific Campaign.A separate report was made for the atomic attacks.- External links :* *...
, that also researched the effect of American atomic attacks.
See also
- Aerial bombing of citiesAerial bombing of citiesA species of strategic bombing, the aerial bombing of cities began in 1915 during World War I, grew to a vast scale in World War II, and continues to the present day. The development of aerial bombardment marked an increased capacity of armed forces to deliver explosive weapons in populated areas...
- Area bombardmentArea bombardmentIn military aviation, area bombardment is aerial bombardment targeted indiscriminately at a large area, such as a city block or an entire city.Area bombing is a form of strategic bombing...
- Carpet bombingCarpet bombingCarpet bombing is a large aerial bombing done in a progressive manner to inflict damage in every part of a selected area of land. The phrase invokes the image of explosions completely covering an area, in the same way that a carpet covers a floor. Carpet bombing is usually achieved by dropping many...
- Civilian casualties of strategic bombingCivilian casualties of strategic bombing-See also:* Aerial bombardment and international law* Aerial bombing of cities* Civilian casualties* Roerich Pact* Strategic bombing* Terror bombing* The Blitz...
- Technology during World War IITechnology during World War IITechnology played a crucial role in determining the outcome of World War II. Much of it was developed during the interwar years of 1940-1945, some was developed in response to learn valuable lessons during the war, and some was beginning to be developed as the war ended. The massive research and...
- John Kenneth GalbraithJohn Kenneth GalbraithJohn Kenneth "Ken" Galbraith , OC was a Canadian-American economist. He was a Keynesian and an institutionalist, a leading proponent of 20th-century American liberalism...
, one of the members
Further reading
- Wesley F. Craven and Cate James Lea. The Army Air Forces in World War II. 8 vols. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1948–1958. Official AAF history.
- Lee Kennett. A History of Strategic Bombing. New York: Scribner's, 1982.
- Alan J. Levine, The Strategic Bombing of Germany, 1940-1945 (1992)
- Alfred Mierzejewski. The Collapse of the German War Economy, 1944–1945. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1987.
- United States Strategic Bombing Survey. Over-All Report (European War) . Washington: Government Printing Office, 1945.
- United States Strategic Bombing Survey. The Defeat of the German Air Force. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1947.
- United States Strategic Bombing Survey. The Effects of Strategic Bombing on German Transportation. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1947.
- United States Strategic Bombing Survey. The Effects of Strategic Bombing on the German War Economy. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1945.
- Sir Charles Webster and Noble FranklandNoble FranklandAnthony Noble Frankland DFC, , D.Phil., is a British historian.Noble Frankland attended Trinity College, Oxford from March 1941 to May 1942, and then from October 1945 to November 1947. He served in the Royal Air Force from 1941 to 1945, as a navigator in RAF Bomber Command and was awarded the...
. The Strategic Air Offensive against Germany. 4 vols. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1961. Official British history.
External links
- Summary of Strategic Bombing Survey (European War)
- Summary of Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific War)
- Summary of Strategic Bombing Survey (Atomic attacks)
- United States Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific)
- United States Strategic Bombing Survey (Europe)
- United States Strategic Bombing Survey Reports
- A reprint of the Summary Report is available from the US Air Force's Air University Press website http://aupress.au.af.mil/Books/USSBS/USSBS.pdf
- Organization of U. S. Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific)National Diet LibraryNational Diet LibraryThe is the only national library in Japan. It was established in 1948 for the purpose of assisting members of the in researching matters of public policy. The library is similar in purpose and scope to the U.S...