A friend of mine showed me this amazing animated visualization and I had to pass it along. It points out the location of every bombing raid by the RAF or the US Army Air Forces during the second world war in Europe beginning in 1939 and ending on VE day in 1945. It gives witness to the 1.6million tons of bombs dropped on Nazi Germany and occupied Europe by the US and Britain.

It’s a little scary to think what each dot represents. Young fliers fighting for their lives in the skies above Europe and the people on the ground dreading the fall of the bombs. Each dot represents some degree of death. I am not making any judgements, but it’s a bit chilling to think about.

This animation was created for the reopening of the US American Air Museum in Duxfordshire, England. A part of the Imperial War Museums. Check out their family of websites, for history buffs like myself it is a treasure trove!

As great as it is, it would’ve been really interesting if it could’ve shown German strikes, particularly against the Soviet Union. Though to be fair the German military doctrine didn’t highlight strategic bombing in quite the same way as US & UK war leaders did.