Bombardier (rank)
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For Bombardier Group, Canada see: Bombardier
Bombardier is a military rank or position.
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United Kingdom
Bombardier (Bdr) and Lance Bombardier (LBdr or L/Bdr) are British Army ranks used in the Royal Artillery instead of (respectively) Corporal and Lance Corporal.
Originally, the Royal Artillery had Corporals (but not Lance Corporals) and a Bombardier was junior to them and wore a single chevron. Unlike a Lance Corporal, a Bombardier was a full non-commissioned officer and not an acting appointment. It was equivalent to the rank of Second Corporal in the Royal Engineers and Army Ordnance Corps.
In 1920, Corporals were abolished in the Royal Artillery and Bombardiers became the equivalent and acquired the normal two chevrons.
The rank of Lance Bombardier originated as Acting Bombardier, an appointment similar to Lance Corporal which was also indicated by a single chevron. The appointment was renamed Lance Bombardier in February 1918 and became a full rank, as did Lance Corporal, in 1961.
Canada
In the Canadian Forces, the Artillery Branch uses the ranks Master Bombardier and Bombardier instead of Master Corporal and Corporal.
United States of America
In the United States Air Force, a bombardier is a position held by an officer onboard an Air Force bomber. The Bombardier is responsible for assisting the Navigator in guiding the plane to a bombing target and, once above the target, the Bombardier holds release authority for the aircraft's bomb load. During the Second World War, Bombardiers were recognized with the award of the Bombardier Badge. In the modern age, the title of Bombardier has fallen into disuse due to a rise of computer technology and smart bombs. In the Royal Air Force, the position was known as the bomb aimer.