The Air Force Story

Series: The Air Force Story

Year Published: 1943

Creator: U.S. Air Force

Description: This episode of "The Air Force Story" focuses on the pivotal and costly "Double Header" mission to attack ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt and the Messerschmitt aircraft factory at Regensburg. This raid was conducted by the U.S. 8th Bomber Command deep into Germany on August 17, 1943. 0:00: Main titles. Dawn, August 17, 1943 (the first anniversary of their operations against Fortress Europe). The 8th Bomber Command prepares 376 B-17 Flying Fortresses for two critical, deep-penetration targets: the ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt and the Messerschmitt aircraft factory at Regensburg . 1:50-2:08: This mission involves taking 376 B-17s 500 miles into Germany , a mission noted as being "never... so rough" and the deepest penetration attempted to date. The crews fully understood the projected "double header" would result in a large-scale, costly air battle. 3:10-3:42: August 17th is noted as a significant day in military history: Sicily fell to the Allies, the RAF bombed the V-2 rocket plant at Peenemünde , and General Kenney's B-25s destroyed 200 Japanese planes at Wewak. 3:44-4:10: The crews knew that flying further into Germany meant they would be hit harder, requiring a "higher price for admission." The final briefing emphasizes that success and survival depended on the teamwork of the 10-man crews . 4:14-4:52: The mission begins. The Regensburg task force hits its target first. The Schweinfurt group is told they will have limited support: short-range fighters for about halfway and support mediums bombing diversionary targets, but for the worst part of the trip, they would be on their own . 5:00-6:44: After weather delays, 2,300 men take off. The American formations had never been stopped from reaching their objectives. They quickly form up, but as soon as they are over British fields, they are picked up by German radar . 6:47-7:19: German radar tentacles pinpoint the formation. Luftwaffe fighter control is informed, and German fighter units immediately launch from dozens of airfields from Denmark to Paris with orders to "intercept and destroy" the oncoming Fortresses. 7:24-8:21: The German fighter strength is stepped up in answer to the growing Allied offensive. The 1st Bomb Wing, headed for Schweinfurt, begins running into flak (anti-aircraft fire) from an aroused enemy. The crewmen feel like "goldfish in a bowl, waiting for the attack." 8:56-10:10: The Luftwaffe unleashes a "savage" attack. Though Jerry knocked 20 bombers out of the sky on the road to Schweinfurt , the formation never broke. They pressed forward, and their guns "kept burning the enemy out of the sky." 10:14-11:14: Approaching the bomb run is the most critical period. The formation divides into smaller groups, sacrificing mutual defensive firepower for efficient bombing. The mission now hinges on the bombardiers . Each bomber is committed to the run, making the formations most vulnerable, but they press on to deliver 400 tons of high explosives . 11:21-12:36: The group achieves 80 hits on the two main ball bearing plants . They then take evasive action to get home fast. At the British fields, red flares signal wounded men aboard, giving those planes priority. Many Fortresses are crippled; one with wounded aboard is committed to a crash landing (named "My Prayer"). 12:36-13:42: The anniversary battle was disastrous in terms of loss: the 8th Bomber Command lost 60 bombers and their crews —more aircraft in a single day than in their entire first six months of operations over Europe. 13:45-14:42: Despite the cost, the results justified the price paid. Out of this struggle, a "polished and powerful instrument of warfare" emerged: the force of men, planes, skill, and experience that became the power and might of the United States Air Force .

Online Copy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzRLZstZZAE

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