Royal Air Force Bomber Command

Royal Air Force Bomber Command
Unit name	Bomber Command
Caption	Crest of RAF Bomber Command
Dates	1936–1968
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Command
Role	Strategic bombing
Garrison	RAF High Wycombe
Notable commanders	Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt, Charles Portal, Arthur 'Bomber' Harris
Battles	World War II, Cold War

Royal Air Force Bomber Command. It was one of the principal operational commands of the Royal Air Force, formed in 1936 and responsible for the strategic bombing campaign against Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Under the leadership of figures like Sir Arthur Harris, it grew into a vast force conducting large-scale night area bombing, though its tactics and the morality of its campaign remain subjects of historical debate. The command was disbanded in 1968, its nuclear deterrent role absorbed into the new RAF Strike Command.

History

The command was established on 14 July 1936 from the reorganization of the RAF Home Command. In the pre-war years under commanders like Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt, it was a small force equipped with aircraft like the Handley Page Hampden and Vickers Wellington. The outbreak of the Second World War saw initial daylight raids suffer heavy losses, such as during the Battle of the Heligoland Bight (1939), forcing a rapid shift to night operations. Its power expanded enormously from 1942 under Arthur Harris, who championed the doctrine of area bombing against German industrial cities, a campaign supported by the Air Ministry and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Post-war, it transitioned to a V bomber nuclear force during the Cold War, facing new challenges in the era of Soviet missile defences before its eventual merger into RAF Strike Command.

Organisation and structure

The command was headquartered at RAF High Wycombe. Its operational groups were geographically and functionally organized, with No. 1 Group RAF and No. 3 Group RAF operating heavy bombers, and No. 2 Group RAF initially handling light and medium bombers. The specialized No. 5 Group RAF was known for precision operations, while the No. 8 Group RAF (Pathfinder Force) under Air Vice-Marshal Donald Bennett marked targets for main forces. Key support came from No. 100 Group RAF (electronic warfare) and No. 90 Group for signals intelligence. Operational training was conducted by No. 91 (Training) Group, and maintenance was managed through a network of stations across counties like Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Aircraft and equipment

Early war aircraft included twin-engine medium bombers like the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley, Handley Page Hampden, and the robust Vickers Wellington. The command's capability was transformed by the introduction of the four-engine heavy bombers: the Avro Lancaster, Handley Page Halifax, and Short Stirling. Specialized variants included the Lancaster-based Avro Lincoln and the de Havilland Mosquito light bomber, renowned for its speed. Post-war, the jet-powered English Electric Canberra preceded the nuclear-capable V bomber force: the Avro Vulcan, Handley Page Victor, and Vickers Valiant. Key technological developments included the Gee and Oboe navigation aids, H2S radar, and the Tallboy and Grand Slam earthquake bombs designed by Barnes Wallis.

Major operations and campaigns

The strategic bombing offensive, known as the Combined Bomber Offensive with the United States Army Air Forces, targeted German industry and morale. Major night area bombing campaigns included the Battle of the Ruhr, the Hamburg bombings (Operation Gomorrah), and the intense raids on Berlin. Specific precision operations were also conducted, such as the Dambusters Raid (Operation Chastise) by No. 617 Squadron RAF, and attacks on the V-2 rocket facilities at Peenemünde (Operation Hydra). The command also supported the Normandy landings (Operation Overlord) in the Transportation Plan and launched controversial raids like the bombing of Dresden. It also undertook missions in other theatres, including the Oil campaign of World War II and the Battle of the Atlantic.

Strategy, tactics and doctrine

Pre-war doctrine, influenced by theorists like Giulio Douhet and Hugh Trenchard, emphasized strategic bombing as a war-winning weapon. The early war failure of daylight precision bombing led to the adoption of night area bombing, formalized in the Area bombing directive of 1942. Tactics evolved to include the use of Pathfinders and sophisticated Bomber stream formations to overwhelm the Kammhuber Line of German night fighters and Flak artillery. The command's strategy was central to the British war effort, aiming to destroy enemy naval capacity, disrupt industries like the ball bearing plants, and undermine civilian morale, a policy heavily debated at the Casablanca Conference and in subsequent historiography.

Legacy and memorials

The command's campaign is a central, contentious element in the history of the Second World War, with its contribution to Allied victory weighed against the immense destruction and loss of life. Of the 125,000 aircrew who served, 55,573 were killed, a casualty rate of over 44%. This sacrifice is commemorated by the Royal Air Force Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, London, unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012. The command's veterans are honoured by awards like the Bomber Command clasp, and its history is preserved by institutions such as the Royal Air Force Museum London and the Imperial War Museum. Key operational bases, like RAF Scampton and RAF Coningsby, remain active stations, while the command's nuclear deterrent role was a foundational element of NATO strategy throughout the Cold War.

Category:Royal Air Force commands Category:Strategic bombing