Coasting out from England and crossing into the European mainland on the morning of Friday July 7, 1944, was a huge aerial column of USAAF 8th Air Force heavy bombers, almost 100 miles long, consisting of 373 Consolidated B-24 Liberators and 956 Boeing B-17 Fortresses-a total of 1,329 bombers. The fighter escort for this phalanx of bombers totaled 756 long-range fighters-P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s-over 2,000 aircraft in all. What a daunting sight that must have been for any defender! The bombers' targets were the synthetic oil plants at Böehlen, Leuna-Merseburg, and Lützkendorf; aircraft assembly plants and engine factories in the Leipzig area; airfields; and railway marshalling yards, all deep in the German heartland. As the bomber formations droned toward their targets, they were tracked by the Luftwaffe's sophisticated and well-practiced air defense command and control system.
The USAAF bomber crews were hardened to mass fighter engagements, especially on these deep penetration missions, and they had recently been subjected to multiple headon attacks. They did not know however, that today the Luftwaffe was about to unleash a new tactic, utilizing its new Gruppe of heavily armed and armored Sturmböcke Focke Wulf Fw 190s in a large battle formation or "Gefechtversband." (Sturmböcke translates as "battering rams.")
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The new generation of warbird pilots, restorers and mechanics. Nearly 80 years after the end of World War II, the fighters, bombers, and trainers that defended freedom continue to enthrall and inspire audiences at airshows, thanks to generations of warbird pilots, maintainers, restoration specialists and collectors. In our September, 2022 issue we introduced you to the young warbird pilots, maintainers and restorers who are already beginning to displace more "experienced" warbird fliers and fixers.
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