The skies over Germany has cleared out on the 11th January 1944 and though brilliant weather conditions supposed to be not for a long, 8th Air Force has decided to strike.

By the noon time about 663 bombers took off, formed up three groups and headed to the one target: fighters production in Brunswick-Halberstadt-Aschersleben. This area lay down on the straight air route to Berlin, less then 100 miles away.
German HQ has decided this bombers wave goes to Berlin, so not being in a hurry fighters were prepared.

By the moment 8th Air Force has started to experience difficulties by themselves. Though over target weather still was clear, skies over England were full of clouds and the forming up process took from bombers priceless time. During the flight weather became worse and general Dolittle decided to turn 2nd and 3rd groups back. This decision was supported by the fact that already at Holland-German border bombers were hardly striked by the Me’s and FW’s. At that stage USAF didn’t have necessary amount of supporting fighters.

At the turning point over the Western Germany fortresses and liberators of 2nd and 3rd group has dropped their bombs on secondary targets or just on plain fields and has headed back to base.

So it was only 238 bombers (out of 663 total) left to reach main mission goal. But this time they were covered with group of 49 Mustangs. Their appearing over central Germany has caused absolute shock in the German fighters HQ. First time intercepting Me-109s and FW-190s meet fighters resistance. Still it was 49 fighters only, besides they’ve meet bombers group too late, so they weren’t able to successfully cover bombers.

From German side it was three fighters division: 1st based in Doberitz near Berlin under the command of colonel Hajo Hermann (’Wild Boar’ creator), 2nd under Generalmajor Ibel (famous commander of JG 27) based in Stade on Elbe and 3rd under colonel Walter Grabman based in Deelen, Netherlands. Totally it was 207 single and dual fighters against Mustangs. Besides, German fighters were using missiles, fired from long-ranges, so old bombers tight-formation tactics didn’t work out this time.

For the AGO plants in Aschersleben (one of the Focke-Wolf productioin centers) it was aimed 174 bombers. But before they’ve reached target, 24 of them (20%) were shot down.

Toitally 8th Air Force has lost 60 heavy bombers and 5 fighters in that first attempt to destroy German fighters production. From other side German losses consisted 39 planes.

This battle showed Luftwaffe has spent 43/44 winter very wisely. But Mustang’s creation already has changed overall situation dramatically. The main weak spot of long-range bombers operation - fighters cover was closed and from now on nothing could stop bomb strikes on every place of German territory.

Source: Cajus Bekker “The Luftwaffe War Diaries”