Us Official Photographs

The Vital Importance of 'round-the-clock Bombing of Germany

The vital importance of 'round-the-clock bombing of Germany, with the United States Army Air Forces carrying out precision attacks by daylight and the Royal Air Forces continuing the pounding by night, is stressed by Major General Ira C. Eaker, Commanding General of the Eighth Air Force, United States Army. General Eaker's approval of the system now in operation and reasons for its continuation and expansion were given on the six months' anniversary of the first American heavy bombardment operations against the enemy from England, where his command is based. He said it had been established the the British have the equipment and training for the night operations, while the Americans have the heavy bombers and well-trained crews to man them for the high altitude, daylight bombing. General Eaker warned that well meaning persons urging abandonment of this strategy, should they succeed, would "perform a great service to the enemy and be more dangerous to the Allied cause then any fifth column now operating anywhere in the world." Illustrative of the effectiveness of 'round-the-clock bombing are these seven pictures of objectives struck at important enemy-held positions in the European theatre of operations. Smoke from bomb bursts nearly obliterates the target of U.S. Army heavy bombers, the Avions Potez aircraft repair depot near Meaulte. High explosives were dropped, most of them stiking in the factory and hangar area. Potez depot is the nearest one for operational fighter bases in Northern France. (Photo one of 7) THEATRE #12 - Avions (near Meaulte), France