Carpet bombing
The phrases area bombing and carpet bombing refer to the use of very large numbers of unguided gravity bombs to attempt the complete destruction of a target region, either to destroy personnel and materiel, or as a means to demoralize the enemy. The phrase probably is intended to invoke the image of bombs completely covering an area, like a carpet. Subjects to cover: The origins of bombing theory with Giulio Douhet First use of area bombing on a civilian target: Bombing of Guernica, April 1937 First use of area bombing on a military target: Battle of El Mazuco, Asturias, September 1937 The bombing of London and other British cities in World War II, also known as the Blitz The systematic destruction of German and Japanese population centers during World War II particularly: RAF Bomber Command's Battle of Berlin (air). Firestorms created by RAF Bomber Command in the bombing of Hamburg and the bombing of Dresden and USAAF in the bombing of Tokyo. Strategic bombing The effectiveness of carpet bombing in the Vietnam War The use of B52s to bomb the Iraqi National Guard in the Gulf War (1990–1991)
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