A single atomic bomber can inflict destruction that previously required hundreds of conventional or incendiary bombers. The comparison with Dresden and mass firebombing concerns how efficiently the destruction can be delivered. A defender might disrupt a large conventional raid and still limit the damage. Against nuclear weapons, allowing even one carrier aircraft through can mean losing a city. That leaves air defence facing a standard it cannot guarantee against a large attacking force.
Notable Point · 3:38:49-3:40:53
Atomic weapons compress a mass bombing raid into one aircraft
One bomber getting through can destroy a city, making interception of an atomic attack much harder to guarantee.