--- title: "This video shows why carpet bombing is absolutely devastating" date: "2018-04-02" modified: "2020-10-22" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-video-shows-why-carpet-bombing-is-absolutely-devastating/" categories: - "Air Force" - "History" - "Military News" --- # This video shows why carpet bombing is absolutely devastating ![]() There was a lot of talk about carpet bombing during the 2016 election. --- That potential world leaders are talking about a military tactic like this means it might be a good idea take a look at just what carpet bombing means. ![]() *A U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52F Stratofortress drops bombs over Vietnam. (U.S. Air Force photo)* ### Related: [B-52s are blasting ISIS targets ]() Carpet bombing, once known as "saturation bombing," is a large-scale aerial bombing operation over a small area, intent on the complete destruction of a target or targets. Such an operation in a civilian area is considered a war crime under the Geneva Conventions, though the United States is not a signatory to that protocol. ![]() German and British bombers used the tactic throughout World War II, to great effect. The United States' Army Air Forces took it to the next level in Germany and then Japan under the leadership of Gen. Curtis LeMay. The U.S. would return to the tactic during the Vietnam War, especially for Operations Rolling Thunder and Linebacker II. It is a devastating tactic that causes a lot of destruction. Since it is heavily dependent on unguided, "dumb" bombs, the potential for collateral and unnecessary death and destruction is very high and the U.S. Air Force hasn't used it since Vietnam. They still train for the capability, however. ![]() The video below is an amalgamation of U.S. Air Force footage over the previous decades. It shows real-world and training operations where carpet bombing is used as a tactic. B-52 Stratofortresses, B-1 Lancers, and B-2 Spirits are seen dropping tons and tons of ordnance on targets. It shows the pure power potential of the Air Force's conventional bombing force. Real air power doesn't require nukes – overwhelming force can be just as devastating. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phzRY0DdRXk ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()