Wiktionary
n. An attack with a firebomb. vb. (present participle of firebomb English)
Wikipedia
Firebombing is a bombing technique designed to damage a target, generally an urban area, through the use of fire, caused by incendiary devices, rather than from the blast effect of large bombs.
Although simple incendiary bombs have been used to destroy buildings since the start of gunpowder warfare, World War I saw the first use of strategic bombing from the air to damage the morale and economy of the enemy. Such as the German Zeppelin air raids conducted on London during the Great War. The Chinese wartime capital of Chongqing was firebombed by the Imperial Japanese starting in early 1939. London, Coventry, and many other British cities were firebombed during the Blitz by Nazi Germany. Most large German cities were extensively firebombed starting in 1942, and almost all large Japanese cities were firebombed during the last six months of World War II.
This technique makes use of small incendiary bombs (possibly delivered by a cluster bomb such as the Molotov bread basket). If a fire catches, it could spread, taking in adjacent buildings that would have been largely unaffected by a high explosive bomb. This is a more effective use of the payload that a bomber could carry.
The use of incendiaries alone does not generally start uncontrollable fires where the targets are roofed with nonflammable materials such as tiles or slates. The use of a mixture of bombers carrying high explosive bombs, such as the British blockbuster bombs, which blew out windows and roofs and exposed the interior of buildings to the incendiary bombs, are much more effective. Alternatively, a preliminary bombing with conventional bombs can be followed by subsequent attacks by incendiary carrying bombers.
Usage examples of "firebombing".
The Major Crimes Bulletin-about Gary Moss and the firebombing of his house.
Just three days ago they had ridden past Tokyo and seen the effects of the greatest firebombing of the war, one directed specifically against residential areas and civilians.
And quite conversationally, the girl mentioned that both she and the son would die, incinerated in the firebombing of Tokyo.
On the other hand, would eight separate organizations have been interested in firebombing a restaurant named Two Radishes?
Maybe the detective in the baggy pants would be excited to get a firebombing assigned to him.
The Rabid Wolf looked as though it had seen a great deal of hard use down the years, not to mention the occasional firebombing and outbreak of plague.
He told Nicholas the story of his grandmother's distant relative fleeing the firebombing of Tokyo.
Navy, captured February 10, 1967, while firebombing a civilian hospital near Ninh Binh.
The atomic bombs were the culmination of that, a step further along the line that led from Dresden to the firebombing of Tokyo.
Bombings will become commonplace, car bombings, firebombings of offices and department stores.
He had either killed himself by accident or had committed suicide at the site of one of the firebombings, a stable.