Bombing of Augsburg in World War II

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.

1942 raid

To test the new Avro Lancaster,^{[citation needed]}, 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 1,000 lb (450 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 :-

• 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 Oesau, 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 Week 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).^{[citation needed]}

See also

Strategic bombing during World War II

References and notes

• Bowman, Martin E Legend of the Lancasters 2009, Pen and Sword Aviation, Barnsley
• "Augsburg, 17th April 1942". Bomber Command 60th Anniversary. RAF. http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/augsburg.html.