The 'Mighty Eighth' in action over Germany
20th December 1943: Two extraordinary stories from the air battle between the US 8th Air Force and the Luftwaffe
On the 20th of December, the USAAF went back to Bremen to hit another Focke Wulfe plant. The campaign against German aircraft factories was gaining ground. It had to be successful if the Allies were to achieve air superiority prior to the opening of the Second Front - Overlord was now only months away.
… flying very close formation with his wingtip only about three feet from our wingtip, was an Me 109.
The air battles that developed as the bombers travelled to and from the target were equally part of the campaign - not only was the attack aimed at destroying fighter planes - it was also aimed at the German fighter pilots. During the next few months their ranks would be decimated as the 8th Air Force took the fight to them with aggressive new tactics from their escorting fighters.
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