“Bomber moon” refers to a bright full moon that illuminated the Earth during WWII, aiding pilots in targeting. The moon also made navigation easier, but it could work against pilots by exposing them to anti-aircraft fire and fighter attacks. Both the German Luftwaffe and British Royal Air Force used the moon in raids. Citizens feared the full moon as it often signaled an air raid.
The term “bomber moon” refers to a bright full moon that illuminates the Earth almost like daylight. This idiom dates back to World War II, referring to the idea that pilots used the moonlight from a bomber to aim their targets. People who lived through World War II, especially veterans who flew in the war, still use this term to refer to an especially bright moon, though it’s unfamiliar to many people born in the postwar years.
In WWII, bomb sighting equipment was not very accurate. Unlike modern aircraft and weapons, which can be programmed with very precise geographic coordinates, WWII-era aircraft had to be aimed directly at targets. The brighter the lighting conditions, the easier it was for pilots and crews to see potential targets, so a bomber’s moonlit night often involved large numbers of bombing runs taking advantage of the prime conditions.
In addition to illuminating the landscape like a searchlight, a bomber’s moon also reflects off the surface of bodies of water, making navigation much easier. Pilots can follow the line of a river or look for a distinctive lake to guide themselves to their targets, which was useful in an age when visual navigation was the only way to get around. Some communities in WWII camouflaged themselves among bodies of water in hopes of hiding them from pilots on the moonlit night of a bomber.
Of course, the bomber’s moon could also work against pilots. They could see the terrain very well, but people on the ground could see them as well, allowing them to aim their anti-aircraft guns at approaching aircraft. Fighter aircraft could also be sent to attack bombers, which tended to be vulnerable as they were slow and less maneuverable than fighters. Pilots also appreciated the great visibility because it allowed them to confirm kills in the air, as opposed to murky conditions, which would have obscured an aircraft’s fate after it’s been fired upon in battle.
The German Luftwaffe and the British Royal Air Force both took advantage of the bomber’s moon in numerous raids on enemy possessions. Citizens learned to fear the full moon and many would take cover in bright conditions before the air raid sirens went off, rightly assuming that the bombing was likely to occur at some point during the night.
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