area bombing

noun

1. aerial bombing in which bombs are dropped over the general area of a target.

Word History and Origins

Origin of area bombing¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

But perhaps more important, the way had been paved for them by the normalization of the practice of devastating area bombing, or more accurately, the terror bombing of both Nazi Germany and Japan.

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They advocated precision bombing as a more morally defensible way to destroy an enemy’s fighting capability, rather than indiscriminate area bombing with its inevitable civilian death toll.

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Almost half of the 125,000 Bomber Command lost their lives, and their military commanders' policy of large-scale area bombing near the end of the war has long drawn criticism.

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These included Henry Tizard, who would champion radar, jet engines and the bouncing bomb and Frederick Lindemann, Winston Churchill's scientific advisor during World War Two and the architect of area bombing.

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Driven by the new Commander in Chief of Bomber Command, Arthur Harris, area bombing became the norm and the first 1,000-bomber raid was launched, against Cologne, on 30 May 1942.

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