February 1944 - 445BG

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February 1944

Mission Summaries > February 1944
February, 1944 marked the start of the push to gain air superiority over the Germans. On Sunday, 13 Feb 44, the Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS) accepts revision of the Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO) Plan. The targets are reduced to a number that can be decisively attacked and target lists are revised to keep up with the effort of the Germans to relocate vital industrial plants. Disruption of communication lines and reduction of the Luftwaffe are high priority aims included in the CCS directive on this date.

On Sunday, 20 Feb 44, the Eighth Air Force begins "Big Week," with attacks on German aircraft plants and airfields. For the first time, over 1,000 bombers are dispatched; 21 bombers and 4 fighters are lost hitting 3 areas in Germany. These first targets were airfields near Leipzig, Bernburg and Oschersleben, then aviation industry targets at Heiterblick and Abtnaundorf. These attacks were carried out by 417 B-17's of 1st Bomb Division who claimed 14-5-6 enemy aircraft with losses of 7 B-17's, 1 damaged beyond repair, and 161 damaged; casualties were 7 KIA, 17 WIA and 72 MIA.

The Fw 190 aircraft factory and Luftwaffe airfield at Tutow was the target of 314 B-17's of the 3rd Bomb Division. They claim 15-15-10 Luftwaffe aircraft; 6 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 37 damaged; casualties are 3 KIA and 60 MIA.

272 B-24s of the 2nd Bomb Division was dispatched to aviation industry targets at Brunswick, Wilhelmitor and Neupetritor; 76 hit the primary, 87 hit Gotha, 13 hit Oschersleben, 58 hit Helmstedt and 10 hit other targets of opportunity; they claim 36-13-13 Luftwaffe aircraft; 8 B-24s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 37 damaged; casualties are 10 KIA, 10 WIA and 77 MIA. Wilhelmitor was the main Bf 110 twin-engined fighter airframe assembly plant and Neupetritor produced the engines for the same aircraft.

Four days later the 445th Bomb Group would face the might of the Luftwaffe without the benefit of "Little Friends" to provide air cover. On 24 Feb 44, they sent 25 B-24's to bomb the Gothaer Waggonfabrik A.G., factory airfield and GAF Station in Gotha, Germany. Due to unforeseen winds aloft, the 445th Bomb Group arrived at their fighter cover assembly point 11 minutes early and proceeded on to the target without escort.  They lost 13 of 25 aircraft in one of the longest running air battles of the war – lasting some four and a half hours.  By direction of the President of the United States, the unit was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for their gallantry in continuing the attack and severely damaging the target.

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