Bombing of Augsburg in World War II
Encyclopedia
The Bombing of Augsburg in World War II included one British RAF
and two USAAF
bombing raids against the German
city of Augsburg
on 17 April 1942 and 25/26 February 1944.
,, RAF Bomber Command
targeted the Augsburg MAN U-boat diesel engine factory on 17 April 1942.
Unusually the raid by heavy bombers was carried out in daylight rather than by night. The bomber force was drawn from No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron
at RAF Waddington
and No. 97 Squadron
at RAF Woodhall Spa
. Each provided a flight of six aircraft. They trained for a week at low flying.
Thirty Douglas Boston medium bombers and a large Fighter Command effort were dispatched to targets in Northern France
intending to draw off German fighters. One Boston was lost in these diversionary activities. In the course of the raid, four of the 12 Lancasters were shot down en route to Augsburg. A further three were shot down near the target.
Only two of the first formation of Lancasters dropped their four 1000 lb (453.6 kg) bombs on the factory. Five of the next dropped their bombs.
Squadron Leader John Dering Nettleton
returned in a badly damaged aircraft and was awarded the Victoria Cross
for his leadership of the raid. Other awards included DFCs, DFMs and a DSO.
44 (Rhodesia) Sqn aircraft :-
97 Sqn Aircraft :-
Post-war analysis indicated damage was minor; five of the bombs dropped had failed to explode. Eight machine tools were destroyed out of a total of 2,700, and five cranes out of 558. Of the 84 RAF airmen, 37 died and 12 were taken as prisoners of war.
mission (#235), the Eighth Air Force bombed the Augsburg Messerschmitt
works during the day of 25 February 1944. That night (25/26 February 1944), RAF Bomber Command followed with 594 aircraft and completely destroyed the centre of Augsburg. 21 RAF aircraft, 3.6% of the force was lost (at least four due to collision).
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and two USAAF
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
bombing raids against the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
city of Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
on 17 April 1942 and 25/26 February 1944.
1942 raid
To test the new Avro LancasterAvro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
,, RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
targeted the Augsburg MAN U-boat diesel engine factory on 17 April 1942.
Unusually the raid by heavy bombers was carried out in daylight rather than by night. The bomber force was drawn from No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron
No. 44 Squadron RAF
No. 44 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is no longer operational. For most of its history it served as a heavy bomber squadron.-History:...
at RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England.-Formation:Waddington opened as a Royal Flying Corps flying training station in 1916 until 1920, when the station went into care and maintenance....
and No. 97 Squadron
No. 97 Squadron RAF
No. 97 Squadron, was a Royal Air Force squadron formed on December 1, 1917 at Waddington, Lincolnshire, first as a training unit, until moving to Netheravon in March 1918, and re-equipping with the Handley Page O/400 heavy bomber. The squadron served in France for the remainder of the war...
at RAF Woodhall Spa
RAF Woodhall Spa
-History:Constructed on farmland 1 km south of Woodhall Spa, the station opened in February 1942 as a satellite station to RAF Coningsby. In August 1943 it became No 54 Base Substation. After victory in Europe the airfield was used as an assembly and kitting out point for Tiger Force...
. Each provided a flight of six aircraft. They trained for a week at low flying.
Thirty Douglas Boston medium bombers and a large Fighter Command effort were dispatched to targets in Northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
intending to draw off German fighters. One Boston was lost in these diversionary activities. In the course of the raid, four of the 12 Lancasters were shot down en route to Augsburg. A further three were shot down near the target.
Only two of the first formation of Lancasters dropped their four 1000 lb (453.6 kg) bombs on the factory. Five of the next dropped their bombs.
Squadron Leader John Dering Nettleton
John Dering Nettleton
Squadron Leader John Dering Nettleton VC was a South African recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
returned in a badly damaged aircraft and was awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for his leadership of the raid. Other awards included DFCs, DFMs and a DSO.
44 (Rhodesia) Sqn aircraft :-
- Sqn Ldr J. Nettleton, Lancaster MkI, R5508/KM-B (RTB, damaged)
- Warrant Officer G. T. Rhodes, L7536/H (Crew lost, shot down by Major Walter OesauWalter OesauWalter "Gulle" Oesau was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1934 until his death in 1944...
, JG 2) - Flying Officer J. Garwell DFC DFM, R5510/A (3 Crew lost, shot down by AA over target)
- Flight Lt. N. Sandford, R5506/P (Crew Lost, shot down by Feldwebel Bosseckert, JG 2)
- Warrant Officer J. E. Beckett, L7565/V (Crew Lost, shot down by Hauptmann Heine Greisert, JG 2)
- Warrant Officer H. V. Crum, L7548/T (Crew POW, shot down by Unteroffizier Pohl, JG 2)
97 Sqn Aircraft :-
- Sqn Ldr. J. S. Sherwood DFC, L7573/OF-K. (crew lost, shot down by AA over target)
- Warrant Officer Mycock DFC , R5513/P (crew lost, shot down by AA over target)
- Flying Officer E. A. Deverill DFM (RTB, severely damaged)
- Wing Commander R. Rodley DSO
- Flight Lt. Hallows
- Flight Lt. Penman DFC
Post-war analysis indicated damage was minor; five of the bombs dropped had failed to explode. Eight machine tools were destroyed out of a total of 2,700, and five cranes out of 558. Of the 84 RAF airmen, 37 died and 12 were taken as prisoners of war.
1944
In a final Big WeekBig Week
Between February 20–25, 1944, as part of the European strategic bombing campaign, the United States Strategic Air Forces launched Operation Argument, a series of missions against the Third Reich that became known as Big Week. The planners intended to lure the Luftwaffe into a decisive battle by...
mission (#235), the Eighth Air Force bombed the Augsburg Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt AG was a famous German aircraft manufacturing corporation named for its chief designer, Willy Messerschmitt, and known primarily for its World War II fighter aircraft, notably the Bf 109 and Me 262...
works during the day of 25 February 1944. That night (25/26 February 1944), RAF Bomber Command followed with 594 aircraft and completely destroyed the centre of Augsburg. 21 RAF aircraft, 3.6% of the force was lost (at least four due to collision).