bombardiers

Bombardier is a historical and occupational term used in artillery and aviation to denote a person who directs or executes the delivery of bombs or artillery projectiles. The word comes from the French bombardier, meaning “one who bombs.” The plural bombardiers refers to multiple individuals who held or hold the role.

In artillery and naval contexts, bombardier was a rank or appointment for a non-commissioned officer who commanded a gun detachment or battery. In the British Army’s Royal Artillery, bombardier is equivalent in rank to a corporal; the title is retained in several Commonwealth forces, including Canada, where bombardier is likewise a rank for a lower non-commissioned officer.

In aviation, particularly during the World War II era, the bombardier was the aircrew member responsible for aiming and dropping bombs. On heavy bombers, bombardiers worked at a dedicated station and coordinated with the pilot, navigator, and gunners. With the advent of guided munitions and changes in crew structure, the role declined in most air forces.

Today the term is largely historical in military contexts; in non-military contexts, Bombardier is best known as the Canadian company Bombardier Inc., a major manufacturer of aircraft and rail equipment. The corporate name is unrelated to the historical air force role.

The plural bombardiers can refer to individuals who held the title, or, in fiction or organizational contexts, to groups named Bombardiers.