A bomber is a military combat aircraft that utilizes air-to-ground weaponry to drop bombs , launch torpedoes , or deploy air-launched cruise missiles . Bombs were first dropped from an aircraft during the Italo-Turkish War , with the first major deployments coming in the First World War and Second World War by all major airforces, damaging cities, towns, and rural areas. The first bomber planes in history were the Italian Caproni Ca 30 and British Bristol T.B.8 , both of 1913. Some bombers were decorated with nose art or victory markings .
33-501: Chitose Air Group Chitose Kōkūtai Active 1 October 1939-December 1942 Disbanded December 1942 Country Japan Allegiance Imperial Japanese Branch Navy Air Service Type Air group Role To support Japanese Navy's 4th Fleet Aircraft flown Bomber Mitsubishi G3M Type 96 Fighter Mitsubishi A5M Type 96 Military unit The Chitose Air Group (Chitose Kōkūtai )
66-592: A larger and more streamlined form of airship designed by German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin , were outfitted to carry bombs to attack targets at long range. These were the first long range, strategic bombers. Although the German air arm was strong, with a total of 123 airships by the end of the war, they were vulnerable to attack and engine failure, as well as navigational issues. German airships inflicted little damage on all 51 raids, with 557 Britons killed and 1,358 injured. The German Navy lost 53 of its 73 airships, and
99-483: A major limitation, combined with the desire for accuracy and other operational factors, bomber designs tended to be tailored to specific roles. By the start of the war this included: Bombers of this era were not intended to attack other aircraft although most were fitted with defensive weapons. World War II saw the beginning of the widespread use of high speed bombers which began to minimize defensive weaponry in order to attain higher speed. Some smaller designs were used as
132-538: A means of evading detection and attack. Designs such as the English Electric Canberra could fly faster or higher than contemporary fighters. When surface-to-air missiles became capable of hitting high-flying bombers, bombers were flown at low altitudes to evade radar detection and interception. Once "stand off" nuclear weapon designs were developed, bombers did not need to pass over the target to make an attack; they could fire and turn away to escape
165-433: Is done by heavy bombers primarily designed for long-range bombing missions against strategic targets to diminish the enemy's ability to wage war by limiting access to resources through crippling infrastructure, reducing industrial output, or inflicting massive civilian casualties to an extent deemed to force surrender. Tactical bombing is aimed at countering enemy military activity and in supporting offensive operations, and
198-492: Is typically assigned to smaller aircraft operating at shorter ranges, typically near the troops on the ground or against enemy shipping. During WWII with engine power as a major limitation, combined with the desire for accuracy and other operational factors, bomber designs tended to be tailored to specific roles. Early in the Cold War however, bombers were the only means of carrying nuclear weapons to enemy targets, and held
231-488: Is typically assigned to smaller aircraft operating at shorter ranges, typically near the troops on the ground or against enemy shipping. This role is filled by tactical bomber class, which crosses and blurs with various other aircraft categories: light bombers , medium bombers , dive bombers , interdictors , fighter-bombers , attack aircraft , multirole combat aircraft , and others. The first use of an air-dropped bomb (actually four hand grenades specially manufactured by
264-5843: The 24th Air Flotilla . It was renamed the 201 Air Group in December 1942. Not to be confused with IJN Chitose . References [ edit ] Notes [ edit ] ^ Bullard, p.20. Bibliography [ edit ] Bullard, Steven (translator) (2007). Japanese army operations in the South Pacific Area New Britain and Papua campaigns, 1942–43 . Senshi Sōshō (translated excerpts). Canberra: Australian War Memorial. ISBN 978-0-9751904-8-7 . {{ cite book }} : |first= has generic name ( help ) v t e [REDACTED] Imperial Japanese Navy air units Air Fleet 1 2 3 5 10 11 12 13 14 Air Flotilla 11 12 13 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 32 51 53 61 62 71 72 101 Combined Air Group 1 2 3 4 11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Air Group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 31 32 33 35 36 40 Naval Air Group (Numbered name) 121 131 132 133 141 151 153 171 201 202 203 204 205 210 221 251 252 253 254 256 261 263 265 281 301 302 312 321 322 331 332 341 343 345 352 361 381 452 453 501 502 503 521 522 523 524 531 541 551 552 553 582 601 631 634 652 653 701 702 703 705 706 707 721 722 723 724 725 732 751 752 753 755 761 762 763 765 801 802 851 901 902 903 931 932 933 934 936 938 951 952 953 954 955 956 958 1001 1021 1022 1023 1081 Naval Air Group (Place name) Expeditionary unit Chitose Genzan (I) Kanoya (I) Kisarazu Mihoro Misawa (I) Takao (I) Tainan (I) Tōkō Yokohama Patrol / Defensive unit Chichijima Chinkai Kure Kushimoto Maizuru Okinawa Ōminato Saeki Sasebo Tateyama Toyohashi (I) Yokosuka Practice unit Atsugi Genzan (II) Hakata Kaikō Kanoya (II) Komatsushima Kōnoike Matsushima Miyazaki Nagoya Ōi Ōita Ōmura San'a Seitō Shanhai Shinchiku Sukumo Suzuka Tainan (II) Takao (II) Tokushima Toyohashi (II) Tsuiki (I) Tsukuba Usa Yatabe Basic training unit Amakusa Fukuyama Himeji Hyakurihara Isahaya Iwakuni (I) Izumi 1st Izumi Jinmachi Kan'onji Kashima Kitaura Kobi Kōchi Kokubu 2nd Kōriyama Kōshū 2nd Kōwa 2nd Miho Mineyama 3rd Okazaki Ōryū Ōtsu Pusan Saijō 2nd Takao Takuma Tōkyō Tsuiki (II) Yamato Mechanic training unit Fujisawa Hitoyoshi 2nd Izumi 2nd Kanoya Katori Kōriyama 1st Kōriyama Kōwa 1st Kōwa Kushira Oihama Okazaki 1st Okazaki 2nd Okazaki Sagamino 1st Sagamino 2nd Sagamino Sunosaki 2nd Tainan Tarumi Taura Preparatory flight training unit Fukuoka Iwakuni (II) Kagoshima Kasumigaura Kofuji Komatsu Kōyasan Kurashiki Matsuyama Mie Miho 1st Miho Misawa (II) Nara Nishinomiya Seto Shiga Shimizu Takarazuka Tsuchiura Urado Uwajima Naval Air Group (Regional name) Chōsen Chūhi Chūshi Gōhoku Higashikarorin Hitō Hokuhi Hokutai Hokutō Inshi Kantō Kinki Kyūshū Marai Mariana Naikai Nanpi Nanpōshotō Nanseishotō Nantai Nishikarorin Ōu Saikai San'in Taiwan Tōin Tōkai Flying squadron Fighter Squadron 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 315 316 317 318 351 401 402 403 407 601 602 603 701 804 812 851 901 902 Attack Squadron 1 3 5 102 103 105 107 161 251 252 253 254 256 262 263 401 405 406 501 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 711 Reconnaissance Squadron 3 4 11 12 61 101 102 301 302 Special unit R-Area Air Force Organization of
297-799: The Bristol Aeroplane Company . They were fitted with a prismatic Bombsight in the front cockpit and a cylindrical bomb carrier in the lower forward fuselage capable of carrying twelve 10 lb (4.5 kg) bombs, which could be dropped singly or as a salvo as required. The aircraft was purchased for use both by the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), and three T.B.8s, that were being displayed in Paris during December 1913 fitted with bombing equipment, were sent to France following
330-551: The Handley Page Type O ; the majority of bombing was done by single-engined biplanes with one or two crew members flying short distances to attack enemy lines and immediate hinterland. As the effectiveness of a bomber was dependent on the weight and accuracy of its bomb load, ever larger bombers were developed starting in World War I, while considerable money was spent developing suitable bombsights. With engine power as
363-608: The Swedish Air Force dropped bombs on a forest fire, snuffing out flames with the aid of the blast waves. The fires had been raging in an area contaminated with unexploded ordnance , rendering them difficult to extinguish for firefighters. 24th Air Flotilla 24th Air Flotilla 第二十四航空戦隊 Active 1940-1944 Country Japan Branch Aviation Part of 4th Fleet Military unit The 24th Air Flotilla (第二十四航空戦隊, Dai-Nijūyon Kōkū-Sentai)
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#1732793404137396-641: The Turkish railway station of Karağaç (near the besieged Edirne ) from an Albatros F.2 aircraft piloted by Radul Milkov , during the First Balkan War . This is deemed to be the first use of an aircraft as a bomber. The first heavier-than-air aircraft purposely designed for bombing were the Italian Caproni Ca 30 and British Bristol T.B.8 , both of 1913. The Bristol T.B.8 was an early British single engined biplane built by
429-966: The V bomber force was phased out; the last of which left service in 1983. The French Mirage IV bomber version was retired in 1996, although the Mirage 2000N and the Rafale have taken on this role. The only other nation that fields strategic bombing forces is China , which has a number of Xian H-6s . Currently, only the United States Air Force , the Russian Aerospace Forces ' Long-Range Aviation command, and China's People's Liberation Army Air Force operate strategic heavy bombers. Other air forces have transitioned away from dedicated bombers in favor of multirole combat aircraft . At present, these air forces are each developing stealth replacements for their legacy bomber fleets,
462-509: The 1950s-designed B-52s are projected to remain in use until the 2040s. Similarly, the Soviet Union used the intermediate-range Tu-22M 'Backfire' in the 1970s, but their Mach 3 bomber project stalled. The Mach 2 Tu-160 'Blackjack' was built only in tiny numbers, leaving the 1950s Tupolev Tu-16 and Tu-95 'Bear' heavy bombers to continue being used into the 21st century. The British strategic bombing force largely came to an end when
495-629: The Allied Armies." When the war started, bombing was very crude (hand-held bombs were thrown over the side) yet by the end of the war long-range bombers equipped with complex mechanical bombing computers were being built, designed to carry large loads to destroy enemy industrial targets. The most important bombers used in World War I were the French Breguet 14 , British de Havilland DH-4 , German Albatros C.III and Russian Sikorsky Ilya Muromets . The Russian Sikorsky Ilya Muromets ,
528-604: The German Army lost 26 of its 50 ships. The Caproni Ca 30 was built by Gianni Caproni in Italy . It was a twin-boom biplane with three 67 kW (80 hp) Gnome rotary engines and first flew in October 1914 . Test flights revealed power to be insufficient and the engine layout unworkable, and Caproni soon adopted a more conventional approach installing three 81 kW (110 hp) Fiat A.10s . The improved design
561-833: The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (I) First generation (II) Second generation Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chitose_Air_Group&oldid=860714057 " Categories : Groups of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service Military units and formations established in 1939 Military units and formations disestablished in 1942 Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description matches Wikidata CS1 errors: generic name Bomber There are two major classifications of bomber: strategic and tactical. Strategic bombing
594-653: The Italian naval arsenal) was carried out by Italian Second Lieutenant Giulio Gavotti on 1 November 1911 during the Italo-Turkish war in Libya – although his plane was not designed for the task of bombing, and his improvised attacks on Ottoman positions had little impact. These picric acid -filled steel spheres were nicknamed "ballerinas" from the fluttering fabric ribbons attached. On 16 October 1912, Bulgarian observer Prodan Tarakchiev dropped two of those bombs on
627-5135: The South Pacific Area New Britain and Papua campaigns, 1942–43 . Senshi Sōshō (translated excerpts). Translated by Bullard, Steven. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. 2007. ISBN 978-0-9751904-8-7 . v t e [REDACTED] Imperial Japanese Navy air units Air Fleet 1 2 3 5 10 11 12 13 14 Air Flotilla 11 12 13 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 32 51 53 61 62 71 72 101 Combined Air Group 1 2 3 4 11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Air Group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 31 32 33 35 36 40 Naval Air Group (Numbered name) 121 131 132 133 141 151 153 171 201 202 203 204 205 210 221 251 252 253 254 256 261 263 265 281 301 302 312 321 322 331 332 341 343 345 352 361 381 452 453 501 502 503 521 522 523 524 531 541 551 552 553 582 601 631 634 652 653 701 702 703 705 706 707 721 722 723 724 725 732 751 752 753 755 761 762 763 765 801 802 851 901 902 903 931 932 933 934 936 938 951 952 953 954 955 956 958 1001 1021 1022 1023 1081 Naval Air Group (Place name) Expeditionary unit Chitose Genzan (I) Kanoya (I) Kisarazu Mihoro Misawa (I) Takao (I) Tainan (I) Tōkō Yokohama Patrol / Defensive unit Chichijima Chinkai Kure Kushimoto Maizuru Okinawa Ōminato Saeki Sasebo Tateyama Toyohashi (I) Yokosuka Practice unit Atsugi Genzan (II) Hakata Kaikō Kanoya (II) Komatsushima Kōnoike Matsushima Miyazaki Nagoya Ōi Ōita Ōmura San'a Seitō Shanhai Shinchiku Sukumo Suzuka Tainan (II) Takao (II) Tokushima Toyohashi (II) Tsuiki (I) Tsukuba Usa Yatabe Basic training unit Amakusa Fukuyama Himeji Hyakurihara Isahaya Iwakuni (I) Izumi 1st Izumi Jinmachi Kan'onji Kashima Kitaura Kobi Kōchi Kokubu 2nd Kōriyama Kōshū 2nd Kōwa 2nd Miho Mineyama 3rd Okazaki Ōryū Ōtsu Pusan Saijō 2nd Takao Takuma Tōkyō Tsuiki (II) Yamato Mechanic training unit Fujisawa Hitoyoshi 2nd Izumi 2nd Kanoya Katori Kōriyama 1st Kōriyama Kōwa 1st Kōwa Kushira Oihama Okazaki 1st Okazaki 2nd Okazaki Sagamino 1st Sagamino 2nd Sagamino Sunosaki 2nd Tainan Tarumi Taura Preparatory flight training unit Fukuoka Iwakuni (II) Kagoshima Kasumigaura Kofuji Komatsu Kōyasan Kurashiki Matsuyama Mie Miho 1st Miho Misawa (II) Nara Nishinomiya Seto Shiga Shimizu Takarazuka Tsuchiura Urado Uwajima Naval Air Group (Regional name) Chōsen Chūhi Chūshi Gōhoku Higashikarorin Hitō Hokuhi Hokutai Hokutō Inshi Kantō Kinki Kyūshū Marai Mariana Naikai Nanpi Nanpōshotō Nanseishotō Nantai Nishikarorin Ōu Saikai San'in Taiwan Tōin Tōkai Flying squadron Fighter Squadron 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 315 316 317 318 351 401 402 403 407 601 602 603 701 804 812 851 901 902 Attack Squadron 1 3 5 102 103 105 107 161 251 252 253 254 256 262 263 401 405 406 501 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 711 Reconnaissance Squadron 3 4 11 12 61 101 102 301 302 Special unit R-Area Air Force Organization of
660-828: The USAF with the Northrop Grumman B-21 , the Russian Aerospace Forces with the PAK DA , and the PLAAF with the Xian H-20 . As of 2021 , the B-21 is expected to enter service by 2026–2027. The B-21 would be capable of loitering near target areas for extended periods of time. Occasionally, military aircraft have been used to bomb ice jams with limited success as part of an effort to clear them. In 2018,
693-613: The War as the German air arm was forced to concentrate its resources on a defensive strategy. Notably, bombing campaigns formed a part of the British offensive at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in 1915, with Royal Flying Corps squadrons attacking German railway stations in an attempt to hinder the logistical supply of the German army . The early, improvised attempts at bombing that characterized
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#1732793404137726-633: The basis for night fighters . A number of fighters, such as the Hawker Hurricane were used as ground attack aircraft, replacing earlier conventional light bombers that proved unable to defend themselves while carrying a useful bomb load. At the start of the Cold War, bombers were the only means of carrying nuclear weapons to enemy targets, and had the role of deterrence . With the advent of guided air-to-air missiles, bombers needed to avoid interception. High-speed and high-altitude flying became
759-495: The blast. Nuclear strike aircraft were generally finished in bare metal or anti-flash white to minimize absorption of thermal radiation from the flash of a nuclear explosion . The need to drop conventional bombs remained in conflicts with non-nuclear powers, such as the Vietnam War or Malayan Emergency . The development of large strategic bombers stagnated in the later part of the Cold War because of spiraling costs and
792-588: The development of the Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) – which was felt to have similar deterrent value while being impossible to intercept. Because of this, the United States Air Force XB-70 Valkyrie program was cancelled in the early 1960s; the later B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit aircraft entered service only after protracted political and development problems. Their high cost meant that few were built and
825-474: The early part of the war slowly gave way to a more organized and systematic approach to strategic and tactical bombing, pioneered by various air power strategists of the Entente , especially Major Hugh Trenchard ; he was the first to advocate that there should be "... sustained [strategic bombing] attacks with a view to interrupting the enemy's railway communications ... in conjunction with the main operations of
858-647: The enemy's ability to wage war by limiting access to resources through crippling infrastructure or reducing industrial output. Current examples include the strategic nuclear-armed bombers: B-2 Spirit , B-52 Stratofortress , Tupolev Tu-95 'Bear' , Tupolev Tu-22M 'Backfire' and Tupolev Tu-160 "Blackjack" ; historically notable examples are the: Gotha G.IV , Avro Lancaster , Heinkel He 111 , Junkers Ju 88 , Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress , Consolidated B-24 Liberator , Boeing B-29 Superfortress , and Tupolev Tu-16 'Badger'. Tactical bombing , aimed at countering enemy military activity and in supporting offensive operations,
891-421: The outbreak of war. Under the command of Charles Rumney Samson , a bombing attack on German gun batteries at Middelkerke , Belgium was executed on 25 November 1914. The dirigible, or airship, was developed in the early 20th century. Early airships were prone to disaster, but slowly the airship became more dependable, with a more rigid structure and stronger skin. Prior to the outbreak of war, Zeppelins ,
924-585: The role of deterrence . With the advent of guided air-to-air missiles, bombers needed to avoid interception. High-speed and high-altitude flying became a means of evading detection and attack. With the advent of ICBMs the role of the bomber was brought to a more tactical focus in close air support roles, and a focus on stealth technology for strategic bombers. Strategic bombing is done by heavy bombers primarily designed for long-range bombing missions against strategic targets such as supply bases, bridges, factories, shipyards, and cities themselves, to diminish
957-639: Was a combat aviation unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the Pacific Campaign of World War II . The flotilla, mainly consisting of land-based bombers, fighters, and flying boats, reported to the IJN's 4th Fleet . As originally organized, the flotilla's core units were the 4th Air Corps, Yokohama Air Corps, and 1st Air Corps. Organization [ edit ] The 4th Combined Air Group (第4連合航空隊, Dai-yon Rengō Kōkutai)
990-489: Was an air group of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during World War II . The group was formed on 1 October 1939 at Chitose Airfield , Hokkaidō equipped with Mitsubishi G3M Type 96 bombers. The group was later supplemented with Mitsubishi A5M Type 96 fighters. In December 1941, it was assigned to support Japanese Navy's 4th Fleet for operations in the central Pacific as part of
1023-531: Was bought by the Italian Army and it was delivered in quantity from August 1915 . While mainly used as a trainer , Avro 504s were also briefly used as bombers at the start of the First World War by the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) when they were used for raids on the German airship sheds. Bombing raids and interdiction operations were mainly carried out by French and British forces during
Chitose Air Group - Misplaced Pages Continue
1056-3089: Was original unit of the 24th Air Flotilla , therefore, describe this section from the 4th Combined Air Group . Date Higher unit Unit name Aviation units and vessels 15 November 1940 (original) Combined Fleet 4th Combined Air Group Chitose Naval Air Group , Yokohama Naval Air Group , Seaplane tender Kamoi 15 January 1941 11th Air Fleet 24th Air Flotilla (renamed) Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, Seaplane tender Kamoi , MV Goshū Maru 10 April 1941 11th Air Fleet 24th Air Flotilla Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, 1st Air Group , Seaplane tender Kamoi , MV Goshū Maru 20 December 1941 4th Fleet 24th Air Flotilla Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, 1st Air Group, MV Goshū Maru 16 February 1942 4th Fleet 24th Air Flotilla Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, 1st Air Group, 4th Air Group , MV Goshū Maru 1 April 1942 11th Air Fleet 24th Air Flotilla Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, 1st Air Group, MV Goshū Maru 1 December 1942 11th Air Fleet 24th Air Flotilla 201st Naval Air Group , 552nd Naval Air Group , 752nd Naval Air Group 5 August 1943 12th Air Fleet 24th Air Flotilla 531st Naval Air Group , 752nd Naval Air Group 1 December 1943 12th Air Fleet 24th Air Flotilla 281st Naval Air Group , 531st Naval Air Group, 752nd Naval Air Group 20 February 1944 dissolved Commanding officers [ edit ] Rank Name Date Note 1 Rear-Admiral Ryūnosuke Kusaka 15 November 1940 2 Rear-Admiral Vice-Admiral Eiji Gotō 15 April 1941 15 October 1941 3 Rear-Admiral Minoru Maeda 1 June 1942 4 Rear-Admiral Vice-Admiral Michiyuki Yamada 20 January 1943 6 February 1944 KIA on 6 February 1944 at Ruot ( Battle of Kwajalein ). Posthumly promoted to Vice-Admiral on same day. x vacant post 7 February 1944 After unnoticed death of Rear-Admiral Yamada. Footnotes [ edit ] ^ Attack bomber unit. Renamed 703rd Naval Air Group on 1 November 1942. ^ Flying boat unit. Renamed 801st Naval Air Group on 1 November 1942. ^ Attack bomber unit. Renamed 752nd Naval Air Group on 1 November 1942. ^ Attack bomber unit. Renamed 702nd Naval Air Group on 1 November 1942. ^ Carrier-borne fighter unit. Independent from Chitose Naval Air Group (703rd Naval Air Group) on 1 December 1942. Equipped Mitsubishi A6M ^ Carrier-borne dive bomber unit. Equipped Aichi D3A ^ Carrier-borne attack bomber unit. Equipped Nakajima B6N ^ Carrier-borne fighter unit. Equipped Mitsubishi A6M References [ edit ] Notes [ edit ] ^ Bullard, pp.32-33. Bibliography [ edit ] Japanese army operations in
1089-525: Was the first four-engine bomber to equip a dedicated strategic bombing unit during World War I . This heavy bomber was unrivaled in the early stages of the war, as the Central Powers had no comparable aircraft until much later. Long range bombing raids were carried out at night by multi-engine biplanes such as the Gotha G.IV (whose name was synonymous with all multi-engine German bombers) and later
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