Purpose of RAF Bomber Command in the context of World War Two

During World War Two, the Spitfires and Hurricanes of RAF Fighter Command defended the United Kingdom against German aerial attacks, most notably during the Battle of Britain. RAF Bomber Command’s role was to attack the enemy's own military strength - by bombing their airbases, shipping, troops, communications and all industries used in the German war effort.

After the British Army’s retreat across the Channel from Dunkirk in 1940, until D-day in 1944, Britain and her allies had no way of hitting back at the Germans, who had invaded most of Europe, other than by long-range bombing.

The vital task of bombing Germany fell to RAF aircrews with an average age of just 22. The youngest were scarcely 18 yet they faced some of the most terrifying combat conditions of WW2.

The reasons for bombing Germany were to disrupt industrial production of weapons, to wear down the German people’s morale and to force the German Army and Air Force (the Luftwaffe) into having to defend against the bombing over a wide area. Repeated attacks on the German homeland also caused the diversion of industrial war production to defensive rather than offensive weapons and equipment. Forcing the Germans onto the defensive was a critical factor in the liberation of Europe and the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.