Were civilians hurt or killed when WWII fighters released their drop tanks over Europe?

Possibly, if the civilian happened to be under one when it landed. It would be a matter of chance.

A large number of civilians were hurt or killed when we carpet bombed or fire bombed their cities. Both sides were guilty of the practice. It was a theory advanced by an Italian General named Giulio Douhet in the 1920s to the effect that bombing civilians would hasten the defeat of an enemy by causing morale problems. It did not work out in practice, but that did not discourage the proponents of total war in France, Germany and the U.S., Billy Mitchell was a strong advocate in the U.S. Douhet was not followed that much in England, however, they used “strategic” bombing after the Germans had bombed London by accident the first time. A navigation error resulted in the Blitz and extensive destruction in Germany.

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