19 of february USSTAF meteorology division has made good stable weather forecast for the long period and 20 of February general Spaatz gave an order of three words: “Let’em go!”

It was the start of the “Big week” - USAF heavy bombing operation against German aviation industry. The main point - to stop at all or at least to lower down dramatically new German fighters production, so by the D-day allied forces could gain air superiority. Without it any landing operation would be impossible.

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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.

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In spite of RAF pilots advices USAF decided to perform bomb strike on Schweinfurt ball bearing plant without fighters cover.
Both RAF and Luftwaffe has studied this lesson during the beginning of war: bombers without fighters cover can reach targets behind the enemy lines only by the cost of great losses, which at the end of the day will become unacceptable. In 1943 USAF still were thinking they will manage.

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