More than Regensburg this new raiders discovered cloud-100 % free skies and visibility in excess of twenty-four miles, finest climate having an attack

“I noticed a couple of fighters explode maybe not far underneath, disappearing inside sheets out-of lime flame, B-17s shedding in every state from distress, off motors burning to manage surfaces test away, amicable and you can challenger parachutes floating down and you can, toward environmentally friendly carpet much beneath all of us, several funeral pyres off cigarette regarding fallen routes, marking the path.”

The three batteries off 88-mm firearms organized within target performed their utmost in order to disturb brand new bomb operates, although top bomb groups laid the activities out-of bombs correctly. Following, as ever took place throughout an enormous assault using one target, dirt and you can cigarette on explosions and you can fires blurry the latest setting out products, and after that bombing try smaller perfect.

Immediately following bombing the mark, the B-17s proceeded south. A couple of damaged bombers kept the fresh new development and lead getting simple Switzerland. Seven so much more damaged planes went down on the way to Algeria.

Of the 146 hefty bombers that had establish to own Regensburg, eight turned-back, and 139 crossed brand new Dutch coast. Twenty-five of those were destroyed.

The brand new Schweinfurt raiding push, spanning 230 B-17s, circulated its assault at night. They too sustained heavily from the German competitors and you may flak, shedding thirty-six bombers.

The second “new” weapon is actually the fresh 21-cm rocket, a good Italian language Military infantry firearm modified to possess sky-to-heavens use

For this reason, of one’s 376 B-17 Traveling Fortresses you to lay out from The united kingdomt so you’re able to bomb brand new several essential targets, 60 was shed. Continue reading “More than Regensburg this new raiders discovered cloud-100 % free skies and visibility in excess of twenty-four miles, finest climate having an attack” »

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