No/Alternative Allied bombing campaign in WW2?

If the allies did not do their OTL strategic bombing of cities and factories what else could they have done with the resources? Was it possible to bomb military bases and airfields instead or could the resources and pilots used been made into fighters and fighter-bombers instead?
 
I don't know the answer to your question, but even modifications to the way the bombing campaign was conducted could have had significant effects: RAF Bomber Command suffered an appallingly high casualty rate, with deaths at well over 40% and comparatively small chances of merely being wounded or captured. Simply reducing their casualty rate would have meant more aluminium and aero engines were available for other purposes, as well as the electronics, optics, raw materials, factory capacity, and expensively-trained aircrew.
 
... Was it possible to bomb military bases and airfields instead ...

They did. Attacks on airfields contributed to the destruction of the German AF.

... or could the resources and pilots used been made into fighters and fighter-bombers instead?

Back of the envelope calculations suggest the number of tactical bombers and fighter planes could tripled in place of canceled bombers. VLR bombers would have been use against submarines earlier.
 
They did. Attacks on airfields contributed to the destruction of the German AF.



Back of the envelope calculations suggest the number of tactical bombers and fighter planes could tripled in place of canceled bombers. VLR bombers would have been use against submarines earlier.
would it have made a difference in, say, the battle of Gazala, or in the allied timetable for a cross-channel invasion?
 
Well maybe 10 000 Mosquitoes hit a 100 key transport points 50 at dawn 50 at dusk each day, They also drop some delayed action bombs.
 
If the allies did not do their OTL strategic bombing of cities and factories what else could they have done with the resources? Was it possible to bomb military bases and airfields instead or could the resources and pilots used been made into fighters and fighter-bombers instead?

Allies were already maiking vast quantities of fighter and fighter-bombers. Throwing more fighter-bombers against thousands of 20, 37mm and bigger guns will be playing into German strength, while leaving refineries, factories, powerplants, training areas, marshalling yards etc. free to work. Fighter-bombers can't bomb airfields and military bases deep in enemy territory until/unless the air superiority is achieved. Leting Germany proper from the hook also means that they can tone down production of heavy Flak, while ramping up production of actually useful things, like the non-sexy 10.5cm howitzer or 7.5 cm pak, along with their cheap ammo. Less attriton to the LW pilots. More workforce available since there isno destructions in Axis heartland.

My alternative CBO would've included long range escort fighters already for start of 1943, attacking POL (petrol, oil, lubricant) targets as #1 priority, chemical factories as #2, while trying to bled dry Luftwaffe day fighter force. Use Sperry bombsight instaed of Norden, plus radar-assisted bombing. For night, same target sets, ditch the Stirling (goes to the CC), BC has #1 priority for Mosquitoes that need to be produced mostly as bombers, use Beaufighters as night intruders.
 
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