Friday, February 25th, 1944 By the end of it all, 3,300 Allied sorties are launched in the offensive and 226 bombers are lost. It was mostly a military raid on industries on the outskirts. I have the book bomber command losses. In Dec1941 as a schoolboy in Ashton-u-Lyne P.O.AT Webb visited our school (His old School) to tell us all about his Air Force career and his pilot’s training. His conspicuous bravery on this occasion crowned a long and distinguished career in the service of his countryThis was ‘Strongly recommended’ by Air Marshall ‘Bomber’ Harris but was not endorsed by the Air Ministry who substituted ‘To be recommended for DSO if later found to be alive’.
1944 In a final Big Week mission (#235), the Eighth Air Force bombed the Augsburg Messerschmitt works during the day on 25 February 1944. Two of them were shot down over the target, including the lead plane.Squadron leader Sherwood, who led No 97 Squadrons attack, was also recommended for the VC:Squadron Leader Sherwood DFC led his squadron on the daylight attack on the important Diesel Engine Factory at Augsburg, Southern Germany. 290 German fighters are destroyed and another further 90 are damaged. On 11 May 1944, Oesau, leading three aircraft of the Stabsschwarm, took off from Paderborn to intercept Allied bombers raiding north-eastern Belgium and Luxembourg. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron.Squadron Leader Nettleton was the leader of one of two formations of six Lancaster heavy bombers detailed to delivery a low-level attack in daylight on the diesel engine factory at Augsburg in Southern Germany on April 17th, 1942. Eight Air Force also carried out a bombing raid on the Messerschmitt plant at Augsburg. One by one the aircraft of his formation were shot down until in the end only his own and one other remained.
The plan almost worked.
The 1.8-tonne British bomb is believed to have been dropped during an air raid in 1944, which destroyed the town. The two aircraft came low over the roof tops. The fighters were shaken off but the target was still far distant. Feb. 1944 Author: Kliemann (Guest) Time Stamp: 15:56:35 Sunday, May 5, 2002 Post: Searching details of english bomber losses of the Augsburg Raid 24/25 Feb. 1944. This was an experiment that Bomber Command chose not to repeat over Germany.I am interested in Roy Rudham’s comment that he has pictures of the Aircrews at the time when 44 received the first delivery of Lancasters.I would like to know whether John Nettleton’s son is still alive as I have a short South African Mirror movie clip of him and his mother arriving at Cape Town airport in 1944 to visit John’s parents. The fighters had enough fuel left to shoot down four of the Lancasters. Squadron Leader Sherwood continued to lead his section away from the target with one wing well alight and until such time as the aircraft became uncontrollable. The raid was a propaganda triumph and received widespread publicity in Britain. My grandparents received no news his fate and believed him KIA. I do believe that the Augsburg raid was his first op.My father was best man to John Nettleton at his wedding and served with him as wireless operator/ tail end Charlie during 1942. It’s about 45 seconds long and he may like to have it.
During the warfare against Hitler’s Germany, British bombers attacked Augsburg already as early as in August 1940 (always at nights). It was hoped that a daylight raid would enable accurate bombing, whilst low level flight would mean that they would be undetected by radar and hopefully achieve surprise. Only Squadron Leader Nettleton’s plane from No. Unfortunately not all the delayed action bombs exploded and the damage to the factory was not nearly as serious as first imagined. I think Waddington was so busy that the Officer’s Mess was full. 44 Squadron survived. He was to be awarded the Victoria Cross:Acting Squadron Leader John Dering NETTLETON (41452), No.
Feb. 1944 Losses of Augsburg Raid 24/25. The 364FS drew their first blood in the Munich area breaking up an attack on the trailing 94th CW. [9] That night (25/26 February 1944), RAF Bomber Command followed with 594 aircraft and destroyed large parts of the centre of Augsburg. My father did not go on the Augsburg raid. An aerial, dated July 15, 1943, proofs that - at least at that time – U.S. reconnaissance flights above Augsburg were already executed.
The Lancasters were able to fly under the radar but No. The second aircraft, hit by flak, burst into flames and crash-landed. There was formidable resistance to be faced.With great spirit and almost defenceless, he held his two remaining aircraft on their perilous course and after a long and arduous flight, mostly at only 50 feet above the ground, he brought them to Augsburg. His rear guns went out of action. The leading aircraft, though riddled with holes, flew safely back to base, the only one of the six to return.Squadron Leader Nettleton, who has successfully undertaken many other hazardous operations, displayed unflinching determination as well as leadership and valour of the highest order.Following were the six planes of No 97 Squadron. The enterprise was daring, the target of high military importance. Though fired at from point blank range, they stayed the course to drop their bombs true on the target. men died with 12 more taken as prisoners. The bombing raid on the night of the 25th to the 26th of February 1944 claimed 730 lives in Augsburg. The fate of the Zwangsarbeiter (forced labor) camp in the North of the air field area that was heavily hit by the bombardment of the U.S.Air Force, received attention, too. It is a photo gallery of the total destruction of Messerschmitt AG - Augsburg by the USAAF's 8th Air Force on 17 August 1943. On 17th April 1942 Bomber Command carried out an audacious low level daylight raid deep into occupied Europe to attack the MAN diesel engine factory in Augsburg, southern Germany, producers of U-boat engines.
During his attack on the bombers he was bounced by escorting P-38s.
Several more attacks took place on Augsburg proper before a devastating bomb attack as part of "Operation Clarion" on the night of February 25,1944 which nearly completely destroyed the historic Augsburg city center.