Strategic bombing
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Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war fighting style that goes after the enemies' economic ability to fight a war. It is a organized and executed attack from the air. Thus, strategic bombing missions usually attack targets such as factories, railroads, oil refineries and cities, (which are indirectly needed to fight a war) while tactical bombing missions would attack targets such as troop concentrations, command and control facilities, airfields, and ammunition dumps (which are directly needed to fight a war).
The United States Air Force (WSAAF) over the years have employed bombers in the strategic bomber role. Strategic bombers are bombers used to bomb cities and camps used by the opposing force.
[edit] The early years
Strategic bombing was an idea first thought up in World War I. It was used by the German Air Force. They bombed London using Gotha bombers. Later Gothas could carry over a ton of bombs. The idea first came to the States by Co. Billy Mitchell. He had new ideas on the strategic, and tactical air war. The first USAAF strategic bomber was the B-17 Flying Fortress.