From USAF Museum website:
The 8th Air Force attack of October 14, 1943, against the ball bearing factories at Schweinfurt, Germany resulted in the greatest air battle in history. Through the years since that date, it has become known as "Black Thursday" in Air Force history because of the very heavy losses of men and planes.
For hundreds of miles inbound to the target area, the B-17 bomber formations were attacked again and again by untold numbers of enemy fighters of the German Luftwaffe. Despite the horrible spectacle of B-17 after B-17 falling earthward to destruction, those bombers still able to fly never wavered from their course.
After "Bombs Away," the AAF planes turned off the target and headed westward for England and their bases. Almost immediately the German fighters, having landed and refueled, struck again, forcing the American planes once more to fight for their survival as they had done inbound to the target area.
Finally, the B-17s reached the coastline of Europe and relative safety, although many of them were so heavily damaged that they would never fly again.
In the final tally, Headquarters 8th Air Force reported that 251 B-17s had departed on the mission, 60 had failed to return, 5 had crashed in England because of battle damage, 12 had to be scrapped because of crash landings or battle damage, and 121 had to be repaired before being flown again. Even worse, 600 men were lost over enemy territory, and there were 5 dead and 43 wounded flyers in the B-17s that did return.
Was thinking of making the LW be the attackers this week, but decided I couldn't pass this one up.
This weeks mission will be an UNESCORTED B17 mission to a target deep in LW territory.
I will lay out the flight plan Wednesday night, email me if your are interested in receiving it beforehand, although it will be something easily communicated Thursday night.
Mission start is scheduled for 10pm Thursday night. All Allied pilots participating will be expected to be flying B17s and we will all form over England into a combat box before proceeding to target.
It will be the Luftwaffe's responsibility to protect their crucial industries.
All are welcome to join in on either side, but I hope to field enough B17 formations to make it interesting.
I will post a starting field and Comms channel by 9:45 on the Allied country channel.
Look forward to seeing you guys out there. These large B17 mission always make for a very interesting night.
