USAAF suffer in raid on U-Boat yards

13th June 1943: In a two target raid one group of bombers has a 'sightseeing trip', whilst the other group suffers heavy losses at the hands of the Luftwaffe

B-17s in formation over the target. ‘B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 4th Bomb Wing leave contrails over Kiel during a mission on 13 June 1943.’ In fact the smoke appears to be from smoke pots lit by German in an attempt to obscure the target.

An earlier attack on Kiel. Liberators over Kiel, Germany, drop incendiaries while Boeing B-17s of the 306th Bombardment Group blast shipyards with high explosives from higher altitude, 14 May 1943.

The USAAF based in Britain were now a formidable force, mounting ever larger attacks in daylight raids on the continent of Europe. But they were encountering growing numbers of Luftwaffe fighters. It had been hoped that the Flying Fortresses, bristling with gun ports, could take on the fighters, especially when they were flying in formation and could, theoretically, defend each other.

'How The Flying Fortresses Have Achieved Their Astonishing Success Over Enemy Fighters; The Close Formation Flying Which Enables A Group Of Four Bombers To Concentrate A Terrific Fire When Attacked On The Flank, From Below Or From Behind - Drawing by Roland Davies. The Americans, when operating in daylight, fly in formation which enables them to bring a devastating cross-fire to bear, which blasts the enemy out of the sky. With the thirteen guns of heavy calibre with which they are armed, there is hardly a blind spot anywhere. No Fighter, therefore can nip [in] and out without facing deadly fire - which is the deadlier when the calibre of the American guns is taken into account. .5 inch against our own .303. Some U.S. gunner(s) have claimed kills at 600 yards range and more. The .5 inch machine gun fires at the rate of 750 rounds a minute, and it is capable of smashing through all ordinary aircraft armour.' Publicity released in Britain in late 1942.