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N0KFQ > TODAY 04.03.08 09:00l 30 Lines 1283 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 14685_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Mar 4
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From: N0KFQ@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
To : TODAY@ALLUS
March 4, 1944
Eighth Air Force bombs Berlin
The U.S. Eighth Air Force launches the first American bombing
raid against the German capital.
The British Royal Air Force (RAF) had been conducting night raids
against Berlin and other German cities since November 1943,
suffering losses at increasingly heavy rates. While the British
inflicted significant damage against their targets, the German
defenses proved quite effective: The RAF flew 35 major raids
between November 1943 and March 1944 and lost 1,047 aircraft,
with an even greater number damaged.
Having already suffered heavy losses during day raids of various
German industrial centers, the Americans had been cautious in
pursuing night raids. But in March, with the RAF exhausted, the
U.S. Eighth Air Force finally pursued night bombing and made
Berlin its primary target. Fourteen U.S. bomber wings took off
for Germany from England on the evening of March 4; only one
plane reached Berlin (the rest dropped their loads elsewhere; few
planes were lost to German defenses). In retrospect, the initial
American attack was considered "none too successful" (as recorded
in the official history of U.S. Army Air Force). Subsequent
attacks in March were more effective.
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