From: Everette (194cbteng@bellsouth.net)
Date: Fri Jan 27 2006 - 03:51:14 PST
January 27
1943 Americans bomb Germans for first time
On this day, 8th Air Force bombers, dispatched from their bases in England,
fly the first American bombing raid against the Germans, targeting the
Wilhelmshaven port. Of 64 planes participating in the raid, 53 reached their
target and managed to shoot down 22 German planes-and lost only three planes
in return.
The 8th Air Force was activated in February 1942 as a heavy bomber force
based in England. Its B-17 Flying Fortresses, capable of sustaining heavy
damage while continuing to fly, and its B-24 Liberators, long-range bombers,
became famous for precision bombing raids, the premier example being the
raid on Wilhelmshaven. Commanded at the time by Brig. Gen. Newton
Longfellow, the 8th Air Force was amazingly effective and accurate in
bombing warehouses and factories in this first air attack against the Axis
power.
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