Giulio Douhet's theory imagined heavy bombers carrying enormous loads of bombs and chemical weapons against cities. The projected payloads were far beyond the aircraft then available, yet the promise of devastating an enemy within hours or days made an independent bomber force appear decisive. That short-war assumption left little room for Coastal Command or the slower work of protecting sea lanes. RAF priorities followed this theory despite the technical gap between its promise and the available aircraft.
Notable Point · 32:28-34:18
Douhet's heavy-bomber theory assumed an extremely short war
Predictions of city-destroying bomber payloads and a war decided within days pushed long campaigns and sea-lane protection out of the RAF's preferred model.