30lb Incendiary Bomb

Fires started by incendiary bombs were found to be the most effective way of destroying industrial and urban targets. Between 1941 and 1945, three million 30lb devices had been dropped and approximately 80 million of the more effective 4lb incendiaries.

Fires started by incendiary bombs were found to be the most effective way of destroying industrial and urban targets, rather than the use of conventional explosive bombs alone. Between 1941 and 1945, three million 30lb devices had been dropped, and approximately 80 million of the smaller, but more effective, 4lb incendiaries. Incendiaries, when used alongside explosive bombs, were capable of producing firestorms, as happened with German raids on Coventry and London in 1940, and allied raids on Hamburg in 1943 and Dresden in 1945.