On 12 Feb 2004 06:16:13 -0800, (robert arndt) wrote:

"Emmanuel Gustin" wrote in message ...
"W. D. Allen Sr." wrote in message
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Which country first practised strategic bombing?

It depends, of course, of how you define strategic bombing.
The actions of individual pilots in bombing foreign cities
probably don't count, as this was no organized efforts.
I think one can also exclude the early British raids against
Zeppelin sheds on Germany, because these were essentially
counter-force efforts, not yet the bombing of strategic targets.

Then probably the attacks of German airships (Zeppelin
and Schutte-Lanz) on Britain deserve to be called the first
organized strategic bombing offensive. These began in
January 1915. The targets authorized by the Kaiser were
coastal areas, docks, and military installations; not yet
industrial or population targets. In May Wilhelm II authorized
the bombing of targets in London east of the Tower; in July
he expanded this to anything except historical buildings.

The first organized strategic bombing offensive by aircraft
appears to have been the work of the Italians, who began
bombing Austria-Hungary in August 1915 with their large
Caproni bombers. The German 'Brieftauben Abteilung
Ostend' was formed later, in early 1916, and it would not
undertake large-scale attacks on Britain for another eighteen
months. The first RNAS strategic bombing unit was formed
in July 1916.

All wrong information. The Zeppelin Z-6 was sent in to attack a fort
near Leige on August 4, 1914 dropping 8 200kg bombs to support the
German columns. The High Command sent the airship in on orders.

Rob

That is clearly a tactical rather than a strategic attack.

Al Minyard