The Bomber MafiaThe Bomber Mafia

Discusses the Bomber Mafia, a group of American military men, who wondered if precision bombing could win wars and perhaps make war less lethal. The author also focuses on General Haywood Hansell who was a member of the Bomber Mafia during World War Two. He had faith in precision bombing, but his theories were foiled by inclement weather, enemy jet fighters, and human error. Hansell was conducting high-altitude precision daylight bombing of Japan, with the usual disastrous results. He was replaced by General Curtis LeMay who changed tactics, sending missions at night, at low level, loaded with firebombs. His first round of bombing caused a firestorm that killed an estimated 100,000 Tokyo civilians, and his bombers went on to devastate 67 Japanese cities. The raids continued until the day of surrender.