I can't answer your first question, however, bombs that exploded on a timed fuse are more effective if they are blown in mid air. This is because the impact area of the bomb hitting the ground and exploding would cause less damage to buildings and people around it. BUT if you blow it mid air it would cause shrapnel to rain down and cause hell for anyone/anything around it. Sorry that I'm not to good at explaining this, but there are definitely sources out there to confirm this. Also a lot of things may be over exaggerated or left out to make the song (then poem) more catchy and heart touching to American citizens. Hope I could help.