Introduction
INTRODUCTION
Precision bombing, as developed and demon- strated by the United States, has proved to be practical and successful. As a result of the success of precision high level bombing the bomb- ardment squadron has become one of the most im- portant groups of the Army Air Forces.
A bombardment squadron may have everything but an accurate bombsight and still be unable to accomplish its purpose. The purpose of any bomb- ardment squadron is to provide a means of trans- porting the bombs to a point from which, when the bombs are released, they will strike the target. The bombsight determines that point of release. If the bombsight is not accurately calibrated and maintained, the bombs will not strike the target and consequently the bombing mission is a failure.
It is the duty and responsibility of the bombsight maintenance personnel to have their eq- uipment in perfect operating condition. If they fail to perform their duty, they are endangering the success of the bombing mission, the lives of the crew, the plane and all equipment for which they are responsible.
As bombsight maintenance personnel, your job is one of the most important jobs in a bombard- ment squadron. If the bombardment squadron has the best planes, pilots, bombardiers, navigators, gunners, and ground crews in the service the bomb- ing missions may be a failure because the bomb- sights were inaccurately calibrated. The sight determines the point of bomb release and also de- termines the correct course. The pilot will fly the course determined and the bombsight will re- lease the bombs at the determined dropping angle. If either the course or range is incorrect, the bombs will miss the objective. Therefore, no matter how accurately the plane is kept on course the objective of the mission will not be accomp- lished.
Upon the shoulders of the bombsight mainten- ance personnel rests the responsibility of accur- ate calibration and maintenance and to that extent the success or failure of a bombing mission.
