The battle for the skies is what determined
the winner of World War II. All the countries
involved were racing to gain control of airspace,
because like the eagle, whoever flies highest
controls what is below.
The U.S. Army Air Forces Intelligence Service sent
teams to Europe where they were to gain information
for studies in the U.S. about enemy aircraft,
technical and scientific reports, and weapons. The
AFI teams tried to gain this information by
recovering it from a crash site. The AFIs shifted
from tactical intelligence to post hostilities after
the war. Operation Lusty began with the intentions of
capturing German Scientific records, research
facilities, and aircraft.
The History of Strategic Bombing
The earliest fighters depended on visual sightings,
with the usage of searchlights and sound tracking.
During World War II, the defenders were given a
general area in which the enemy could be hiding in
from information gathered by ground radars. The
airborne radar was developed during the early stages
of WWII by the United States, Germany and Great
Britain.
The jet-powered Me-262 and the rocket-powered Me-163
were extremely much faster than the Allies airplanes.
The B-17s and the B-24s are known for their long
range shooting abilities. It had been planned for the
B-26s to fly at minimum altitude but this tactic was
changed. The B-26s bombed from a medium altitude of
about 10,000 to 15,000. They suffered barely any
losses from antiaircraft fire in comparison to the
heavy bombers. The German fighter forces focused
mainly on the heavy bombers. This allowed the medium
bombers to encounter barely any opposition.
A flak is an anti air craft gun, normally used in the
war to defend railroads and bridges. Aerial
operations focused mainly on Nazi submarine's along
France's coast during 1942 and 1943. The Air Force at
this time was still learning by trial and error. The
British preferred night time bombing, whereas the
United States preferred daytime precision bombing.
The American Air Force gained experience attacking in
contrast to the German Luftwaffes which gained
experience on the defense.
June 12th and 13th the first V-1s were launched
against London. This was Germany's answer to the
invasion of France. This bomb besides killing 3,875
people did little to change the course of war in
France. Some of the Allied forces were moved in order
to divert some airpower to the V-1 bomb launching
sites. The Allies also used both the air and the sea
to take the French Riviera. This caused the Germans
to begin evacuation of France. By air the Germans
were continuously attacked and quickly followed on
the ground. the Allied troops had to be supplied from
the air in their pursuit. By September the Allies had
most of France and Belgium.
The United States during the summer of 1943, began
building up their heavy bomber forces in Europe. The
B-17s and B-24s were sent out to destroy targets in
Germany. Their P-47 escort kept them from the
Luftwaffe fighters harm. The P-47s belly fuel tanks
is the reason why protection past the western border
of Germany was impossible.
During the summer the tactical air units were able to
help the ground forces in breaking out of the
Normandy beachhead. The American Air Force lost 922
bombers and 674 fighters during the summer, while
carrying out their strategic bombing offensive
against Germany. From the moment the first Allied
troops hit the shore of Normandy's beach, their was
continuous air cover. They flew over the beach
assaults and the ships. During the first couple days
only a couple of Luftwaffes were sighted. This gave
the Allies time to strengthenand hold
their ground positions. The American Air Force was
used for beachhead support, carrying supplies and the
bombing of German supply routes to the Normandy area.
Heavy bombers were used for tactical bombing of the
German front lines.
The B17 Flying Fortress (Animation by Ken Blandon)
Fall of 1944, the Allies made slow but steady gains
against the enemy along the Siegfried Line, where
everything possible was attacked. This was done to
reduce Germany's border control defenses. England and
Italy also attacked Germany's fuel and lubricant
factories. In late September, the Luftwaffe began
intercepting the American Air Force heavy bombers.
Germany began dispersing their fighter production
from heavily targeted fields, to hundreds of small
plants.
The Luftwaffe are keep on the ground except to
intercept American Air Force bombers. This gave
American Air Force fighter pilots practical freedom
of Germany's skies, enabling low level flying. This
allowed practically everything possible to be
targeted and bombed.
March 1944 is an important turning point in Europe's
air war. The Luftwaffe lost the advantage they had
maintained since the fall of 1943. This is because
even though German production of fighters
increased, there was a shortage of skilled fighter
pilots. The amount of fuel was also a concern for the
Germans.
During WWII Berlin, the capital of Germany, was a
prime target for the American Air Force. This is
because of Berlin's industrial importance and the
hopes that the Luftwaffe would suffer heavy losses
trying to defend it. March 4, 1944 the first attack
began. Luftwaffe lost heavily to the American Air
Force bombers.
The German strategic targets were continuously
targeted throughout the winter of 1944-1945. The
threat of German jet-propelled fighters is why the
American Air Force added jet engines and aircraft
plants to the list of targets. The American Air Force
was lucky that the Luftwaffe was unable to put a
large amounts of jets into the air at a time while
the U.S. heavy bombers were able to continue their
offensive.
The cutting of German supply lines and transportation
in northern Italy began in 1945. This was done by
Allies to slow the retreating Germans, and to aid
Allied armies. In April 1945 the Allies overran
Germany from the west. The few strategic targets that
remained were bombed quickly.
The role of the American Air Force changed then and
they began flying mercy missions. In these flights
food was dropped to people in Northern Italy and the
Netherlands. The evacuation of released prisoners of
war also began. On May the second the fighting ended,
and on May the seventh, Nazi Germany surrendered
unconditionally. This was after over five and a half
years of fighting. The defeat over Germany and Italy
was a major victory. The Germans destroyed the Me to
prevent the Allies from capturing them intact.
American Air Force losses- 27,694 aircraft, including
8,314 heavy bombers, 1,623 medium and light bombers,
and 8,481 fighters were destroyed in combat
Battle Casualties- 91,105 personnel--34,362 killed,
13,708 wounded, and 43,035 missing or captured.
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