Combined Bomber Offensive - CBO Plan

CBO Plan

A committee under Gen. Ira C. Eaker; led by Brig. Gen. Haywood S. Hansell, Jr.; and including Brig. Gen. Orvil A. Anderson; drew up a plan for Combined Bomber Operations. Finished in April 1943, the plan recommended 18 operations during each three-month phase (12 in each phase were expected to be successful) against a total of 76 specific targets. The plan also projected the US bomber strength for the four phases (944, 1192, 1746, & 2,702 bombers) through 31 March 1944.

Eaker's "Combined Bomber Offensive Plan" was "a document devised to help Arnold get more planes and men for the 8th Air Force" and not "designed to affect British operations in any substantive way." While the CBO Plan was being developed, the British independently drew up a plan in April 1943 entitled "The Attack on the GAF" which identified German fighter strength as "the most formidable weapon...against our bomber offensive" and advocated attacks on airfields (by fighters and medium bombers) and aircraft factories and, in the case of the latter, may have influenced targets selection by the Eighth AF. The Combined Chiefs of Staff approved the "Eaker Plan" on May 19, 1943, and identified 6 specific "target systems" such as the German aircraft industry (including fighter strength):

1. Intermediate objectives

German fighter strength

2. Primary objectives:

German submarine yards and bases

The remainder of the German aircraft industry

Ball bearings

Oil (contingent upon attacks against Ploesti)

3. Secondary objectives:

Synthetic rubber and tires

Military motor transport vehicles