Posted on Mar 4, 2016
Eighth Air Force bombs Berlin - Mar 04, 1944 - HISTORY.com
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http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/eighth-air-force-bombs-berlin?cmpid=email-hist-tdih-2016-0 [login to see] 6&om_rid=9754f68e782e800e414bdd9d8de07d822418f1b24b8c839f0c0af3b24529c73a&om_mid=26663291&kx_EmailCampaignID=2971&kx_EmailCampaignName=email-hist-tdih-2016-0 [login to see] 6&kx_EmailRecipientID=9754f68e782e800e414bdd9d8de07d822418f1b24b8c839f0c0af3b24529c73a
The U.S. Eighth Air Force launches the first American bombing raid against the German capital.
The British Royal Air Force (RAF) had been conducting night raids against Berlin and other German cities since November 1943, suffering losses at increasingly heavy rates. While the British inflicted significant damage against their targets, the German defenses proved quite effective: The RAF flew 35 major raids between November 1943 and March 1944 and lost 1,047 aircraft, with an even greater number damaged.
Having already suffered heavy losses during day raids of various German industrial centers, the Americans had been cautious in pursuing night raids. But in March, with the RAF exhausted, the U.S. Eighth Air Force finally pursued night bombing and made Berlin its primary target. Fourteen U.S. bomber wings took off for Germany from England on the evening of March 4; only one plane reached Berlin (the rest dropped their loads elsewhere; few planes were lost to German defenses). In retrospect, the initial American attack was considered “none too successful” (as recorded in the official history of U.S. Army Air Force). Subsequent attacks in March were more effective.
The U.S. Eighth Air Force launches the first American bombing raid against the German capital.
The British Royal Air Force (RAF) had been conducting night raids against Berlin and other German cities since November 1943, suffering losses at increasingly heavy rates. While the British inflicted significant damage against their targets, the German defenses proved quite effective: The RAF flew 35 major raids between November 1943 and March 1944 and lost 1,047 aircraft, with an even greater number damaged.
Having already suffered heavy losses during day raids of various German industrial centers, the Americans had been cautious in pursuing night raids. But in March, with the RAF exhausted, the U.S. Eighth Air Force finally pursued night bombing and made Berlin its primary target. Fourteen U.S. bomber wings took off for Germany from England on the evening of March 4; only one plane reached Berlin (the rest dropped their loads elsewhere; few planes were lost to German defenses). In retrospect, the initial American attack was considered “none too successful” (as recorded in the official history of U.S. Army Air Force). Subsequent attacks in March were more effective.
Eighth Air Force bombs Berlin - Mar 04, 1944 - HISTORY.com
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American History
WWII World War Two
Military History
Posted 9 y ago
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Bomb sites were much more rudimentary in those days when carpet bombing was usually required to take out the targets SP5 Mark Kuzinski. Thanks for reminding us that in wasn't until March 4, 1994 that US bombers were able to bring the war home to the German capital of Berlin and bomb it significantly. This was months before Operation Overlord and Dragoon were launched in France but long after the tide of war had turned against the Germans in Russia.
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