A gripping account of the RAF’s attempt to destroy a Messerschmitt
factory in 1944, and the carnage and confusion that unfolded on a dark
winter night. Seventy-nine heavy bombers failed to return from the
catastrophic raid on the industrial city of Leipzig on the night of
February 19–20, 1944. Some 420 aircrew were killed and a further 131
became prisoners of war. It was at that time the RAF’s most costly
raid of World War II by far. The town was attacked in an attempt to
destroy the Messerschmitt factory that was building the famous and
deadly Bf 109 fighter. The bomber stream flew into what appeared to be
a trap. It seemed that the Luftwaffe and anti-aircraft guns were aware
of the intended target and waiting to pounce as soon as the bombers
crossed the coast. They were subjected to constant attack by night
fighters and intense flak until those aircraft that remained clawed
their way home and secured relative safety over the North Sea. This
book analyzes what went wrong. Espionage played a part, and two
bombers collided shortly after takeoff, as did others as they wove
their way through enemy searchlights and maneuvered violently to
escape Luftwaffe night fighters. At the outset poor navigational and
meteorological briefings had hindered the bombers’ attempts to
locate the target, and confusion reigned. The author explains the
concept of this third raid on Leipzig and describes the two previous
ones in October and December 1943, both of which had been deemed
successes. He looks at the third raid from every angle, including the
defending force’s, and describes the daylight raid that followed on
the 20th by the USAAF. The book also includes appendices listing all
RAF aircraft and crew on the raid, route maps, and many photographs.
Les mer
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781844688265
Publisert
2020
Utgiver
Vendor
Pen & Sword Aviation (ORIM)
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter