E185 - Reaping the Whirlwind

November 2025

During the second half of World War 2, the Allied air forces launched a large-scale heavy bomber offensive against German cities and war industries. This was designed to damage Germany's ability and will to continue the war. It also represented a way for Britain and the USA to support the Soviet Union before the D-Day invasion. The whole campaign was guided by intelligence, to identify the right targets, determine how badly they were damaged, and assess the effects on the German war effort.

This huge undertaking taxed Allied intelligence capabilities to their limits. It has since become one of the many contended issues in the debates around this costly and controversial campaign.

In this 'It Happened Here' episode, we are joined by Research Officer Dr Thomas Cheetham to explain the ways Signals Intelligence from Bletchley Park did - and didn't - guide Allied bombing strategy.

Our thanks go to Owen Moogan and Sarah Langston for voicing our historical documents.

Image: © National Museum of the US Air Force (Public Domain)

This episode is a follow up to episodes E170 & E171.

#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #WW2, #Enigma, #BomberCommand, #USAAF,