World War I unleashed many technological advances into warfare. These mainly brought about more advanced ways to kill more and more humans. After the war, a group of American military thinkers nicknamed the “Bomber Mafia” developed a theory about airplanes and the ability to undertake precision bombing. They thought that wars could be won in a more humane manner by targeting critical industries through carefully crafted bombing routines. These could cut down on land casualties at the front and avoid civilian casualties through area bombing.
However, this plan seemed to fail when World War II erupted, both in the European theater and in the Pacific theater. Eventually, on both fronts, area bombing became the modus operandi and produced massive casualties. Ironically, most leaders at the time and most historians today credit these area bombing campaigns with ultimately shortening the war. By their demoralizing civilian impact, a wholesale (and costly) land invasion of Japan was averted.
In recent American military campaigns (both Gulf Wars, Afghanistan, and Kosovo), precision bombing has avoided massive civilian casualties and produced quick victories. However, confidence in the ease of these techniques only encourage more violence, not less, and over-reliance on them can potentially make costly mistakes more common.
In journalistic fashion, Gladwell originally produced this work for presentation as an audiobook. This format makes listening to the book far more interesting than expected. On top of that, the tale’s novelty entices. World War II has been exhaustively examined by historians, but through thorough investigation of US military records and access to Air Force leadership, Gladwell was able to unearth an untold story. Then he engages the public’s imagination to produce a winning feat. I can find no holes in his execution in telling this well-researched narrative. Kudos for this great presentation!
The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War
By Malcolm Gladwell
Copyright (c) 2021
Pushkin Industries
ASIN B091J2CP5X
Length: 5:14
Genre: History of War
www.amazon.com