*Source: “Aircraft Division Industry Report – U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey.” Second Edition January 1947, Chapter V, Page 54, https://www.angelfire.com/super/ussbs/airrep.html/index.html

The USAAF 8th and 15th

The United States Army 8^th and 15^th Air Forces played a major role in the Allied effort to defeat Nazi Germany during World War II. Both the 8^th and 15th Air Forces were tasked with carrying out bombing missions against German aircraft manufacturing sites. These strategic bombing missions were designed to reduce the Luftwaffe’s ability to produce aircraft and engines, as well as to disrupt the production of aviation fuel and other supplies. 

The 8th Air Force’s bombing campaign was relentless and targeted the major German airframe and air engine manufacturers, such as Focke-Wulf FW 190, Messerschmitt Me 109 and Me 262, Heinkel He 177 and He 111, Junkers Ju 88 and 188, and BMW engine plants. Over the course of the war, thousands of aircraft took part in these missions. In total, the 8th Air Force flew over 200,000 sorties, dropping over 800,000 tons of bombs on Germany.

The 15^th Air Force originally stationed in Tunisia and later in Italy also targeted German airframe and air engine manufacturers. This included Messerschmitt Me 109, Me 410, and Me 262 aircraft plants. Among the missions the 15^th flew against engine manufacturers included five missions against the BMW Munich/Allach and five missions against the Daimler-Benz Wiener Neudorf factory.

The Big Week

Both the 8^th and 15^th Air Forces along with the RAF participated in Operation Argument or as it would become to be known as the Big Week. From February 20-25, 1944, the Allies bombing campaign focused on Germany’s aircraft industry in order to gain air superiority over the European skies. Air superiority was a requirement for a successful D-Day operation. Not only were aircraft manufacturers, especially fighter manufacturers, targeted but also airfields and aviation fuel supplies. 

But the biggest goal of the Big Week was elimination of as many of the existing Luftwaffe’s fighters as possible as well as introduction of new fighters. Prior to the Big Week Allied fighter escorts stayed close to their bombers and the Luftwaffe fighters stayed back at a distance. However, during the Big Week Allied escort fighters for the first time were ordered to leave the bombers and go directly after the German fighters. 

In some ways the results of the Big Week were mixed, but loss of fighters on the Allied side saw quick replacements with trained crew versus German replacement with ill trained crew. Although Germany was still producing large quantity of fighters the Luftwaffe was now in an operational downward spiral. German airmen, aircraft, and fuel qualities were degrading day by day. 

The results of these missions were devastating for the German aircraft industry. By D-Day the Allies had air superiority which would become air domination by the end of the war. This had a significant impact on the Luftwaffe, as it was no longer able to produce new aircraft and engines. This lack of new aircraft and engines severely weakened the German air force and was a major factor in the Allied victory in World War II.

USAAF 8th and 15th Missions Flown Against Aircraft Industry Data

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To download the data shown below from which the graph was developed click on the icon below corresponding to you desired format. Note: to ensure all data is downloaded choose the ‘All’ selection in the Show Entries dropdown list. Otherwise only the data visible on the screen will download.

“Aircraft Division Industry Report – U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey.” Second Edition January 1947, Chapter V, Table V-4, Page 60, https://www.angelfire.com/super/ussbs/airrep.html/index.html, data accessed on June 28, 2022

Other Bombing Data Links

UK and US Bomb Tonnage Dropped in Europe

Conventional Bombing Damage to Japanese Cities in WW2

V-1 Production Estimates

Allied Estimated Usage of the 30,000 plus V-1s Built

USAAF 8th and 15th Tonnage Dropped on German Aircraft Industry

Bomb Tonnage Dropped on Aircraft Industry by UK and US Air Forces

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Tonnage Dropped

Prior to January 1944, the USAAF 8^th and 15^th Air Forces dropped a total of 28,030 tons on German aircraft manufacturers whereas in the first five months of 1944 they dropped a total 28,121 tons on that same strategic industry. The graphic shows two spikes in the USAAF bombing of the German aircraft industry, the months just prior to and the months just after D-Day. The months prior led to air superiority and the months after led to air domination.

The shape of the European battlefield was changing as the RAF and USAAF ramped up their bombing campaigns. Allied air forces strategically targeted Germany’s aircraft industry versus the Eastern Front where both Germany and the USSR primarily used their air forces to support army land actions. However, the German Luftwaffe gradually shifted their emphasis to the west.

Fighters and anti-aircraft guns, such as the famed 8.8 cm flax gun, more and more faced the UK and US Air Forces rather than the Soviet Air Force or Army. The 8.8 cm flax gun, better known in the west as the 88 mm, no longer was prioritized for the Eastern Front as an anti-tank weapon. Although a land front had not yet opened in France the Soviet Army saw some relief as weapon platforms and personnel were shifted west.

The 8^th Air Force dropped a total of 47,671 tons of their total 691,470 tons (6.87%) on Germany’s aircraft industry. The 15^th Air Force dropped a total of 14,352 tons (2.55%) of their total 545,000 tons on Germany’s aircraft industry. The RAF dropped a total of 29,000 tons (2.75%) of their total 1,060,000 tons on Germany’s aircraft industry. Overall, the Allies bomb tonnage dropped on Germany’s aircraft manufacturers total 91,047 tons or 3.95% of the 2,296,470 tons dropped.

Strategic Bombing Priority

Prior to May 1944 the German aircraft industry along with U-boat bases were the highest priority Allied strategic bombing targets. Post D-Day German aircraft industry sites were given a lower priority. Almost as many missions were flown against the German aircraft industry sites, but now they were secondary targets or even targets of last resort. Part of the reason for lowering the priority was that Germany had effectively dispersed their manufacturing sites making then less appealing a target.

In September 1944 Germany’s new wonder weapon, jet airplanes, were in the highest priority category after that of oil. Jets remained a high priority throughout the rest of the war. However, since jet production facilities were largely underground it was difficult to damage them.

USAAF 8th and 15th Tonnage Dropped on German Aircraft Industry Data

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To download the data shown below from which the graph was developed click on the icon below corresponding to you desired format. Note: to ensure all data is downloaded choose the ‘All’ selection in the Show Entries dropdown list. Otherwise only the data visible on the screen will download.

Source: Aircraft Division Industry Report – U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey.” Second Edition January 1947, Chapter V, Table V-2, Page 58, https://www.angelfire.com/super/ussbs/airrep.html/index.html, data accessed on June 28, 2022, Source: 8th Air Force Statistical Summary; and for 15th Air Force, Tabulating Section, USSBS.

Other Bombing Data Links

UK and US Bomb Tonnage Dropped in Europe

Conventional Bombing Damage to Japanese Cities in WW2

V-1 Production Estimates

Allied Estimated Usage of the 30,000 plus V-1s Built

USAAF 8th and 15th Tonnage Dropped on German Aircraft Industry

This website, ww2data.com, has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third party internet websites referenced.  Nor does ww2data.com guarantee that any content on such websites are accurate or will remain accurate.

Why the Aircraft Industry

The United Kingdom and the United States targeted the Luftwaffe, Germany’s air force, as one goal in their overall strategic bombing plan. The rationale behind this was that until Allies had at least air superiority their planes and airmen would be unable to fully attain the other strategic goals. Therefore, priority was given to destroy the Luftwaffe’s ability to be a force in the skies over Europe. This targeting took many forms. Luftwaffe bases were attacked destroying planes on the ground plus the supporting infrastructure. Luftwaffe training bases were also prime targets hoping to interrupt the pipeline of new airmen. The Luftwaffe aircraft and airmen were attacked in the air, on the ground, while being transported, and while be maintained.

Results

But it was the aircraft factories that were especially targeted hoping to destroy the pipeline of new aircraft, replacement parts, support equipment, and maintenance items in reaching the frontline Luftwaffe. Often German factories were able to come back online after the Allied raids within a few days. But even this proved to be beneficial to the Allies attaining their strategic goal. Some product had to be scrapped, others of lower quality as manufacturing equipment sustained damage, or due to personnel losses/absenteeism. 

The effect was not readily apparent early on. These raids caused personnel to be assigned to factory repair versus plane assembly, manpower expended to build dispersed factories, loss or degraded equipment, and skilled labor attrition. Through 1943-44 the German aircraft industry was not as functional as it could be even though their production numbers were increasing. It wasn’t enough, Germany’s production numbers were increasing, but the Allies were increasing at a greater rate with better quality product.

As the war evolved so did the Allies bombing tactics. The RAF took a nighttime bombing shortcoming called “creep back” and turned into part of the bombing technique. Human nature caused bombing crew to release their loads a slightly before it was time. Each subsequent plane in the bombing run would also release early compounding the effect. The solution was to have the initial target flares be released on the far end of the target so that the creep back would encompass the target.

Bomb Tonnage Dropped on Aircraft Industry by UK and US Air Forces Data

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To download the data shown below from which the graph was developed click on the icon below corresponding to you desired format. Note: to ensure all data is downloaded choose the ‘All’ selection in the Show Entries dropdown list. Otherwise only the data visible on the screen will download.

Source: Aircraft Division Industry Report – U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey.” Second Edition January 1947, Chapter V, Table V-1, Page 56, https://www.angelfire.com/super/ussbs/airrep.html/index.html, data accessed on June 28, 2022, RAF data sourced from Air Ministry News converted to short tons, 8th Air Force sourced from Eighth AF Statistical Summary, 15th AF data sourced from “Air Power in Mediterranean”

Other Bombing Data Links

UK and US Bomb Tonnage Dropped in Europe

Conventional Bombing Damage to Japanese Cities in WW2

V-1 Production Estimates

Allied Estimated Usage of the 30,000 plus V-1s Built

USAAF 8th and 15th Tonnage Dropped on German Aircraft Industry

This website, ww2data.com, has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third party internet websites referenced.  Nor does ww2data.com guarantee that any content on such websites are accurate or will remain accurate.

Note 1 – There are many differing numbers for missions flown and bomb tonnage dropped. The following was used: Humble, Richard (1975). War in the Air 1939–1945. London: Salamander

RAF and USAAF Bombing of Germany

Bashow noted that RAF, which included British, Australians, Canadians, Polish and French, airmen losses “Overall loss rates for the entire war averaged 2.58 percent per raid, which, ironically, would almost provide the ‘50-50 chance of survival’ upon which operational tour lengths would be first codified by the command in May 1943.”

Bashow, David, L. “None But The Brave The Essential Contributions Of RAF Bomber Command To Allied Victory During The Second World War”, Page 26, Canadian Defence Academy Press, 2009, Kingston, Ontario.

RAF bombing was concentrated on industrial and transportation targets in Germany’s heavily industrialized Ruhr region, with the aim of disrupting its war production. The RAF was heavily involved in the Allied bombing of Germany from 1939 to 1945, with notable successes including the devastating area bombing raids on Hamburg in July 1943, and the “Dambusters” raid on the Möhne and Eder dams in May 1943. The RAF also famously used radar-directed “Pathfinder” aircraft to mark targets for their bombers.

The USAAF joined the RAF in bombing Germany in 1943, initially focusing on strategic targets such as oil production, communications, and transportation centers. In 1944, the USAAF switched to a policy of “precision bombing”, targeting specific factories, marshalling yards and other key industrial sites. USAAF bombers also carried out the famous raids on the German cities of Dresden and Cologne in February 1945, which were among the most destructive raids of the war. 

The Royal Air Force dropped the lion’s share, 61 percent, compared to the US Army Air Force’s 39 percent of bomb tonnage onto Germany. Overall in Europe the USAAF dropped more tonnage than the RAF, but it was the RAF that carried it into the German homeland.

Throughout the war, both the RAF and the USAAF were forced to contend with Germany’s increasingly sophisticated air defense system. Germany deployed a range of anti-aircraft guns, searchlights, and radar-guided fighter aircraft that frequently hampered Allied bombing efforts. The Luftwaffe also developed a series of guided missiles known as “V-weapons” that were used to target cities in Britain and France during 1944 and 1945.

Despite the German defensive counter measures the Allies succeeded in dropping almost 1.6 million tons of bombs on Germany. However, this campaign was costly for the Allies. The RAF had many more fighter flights whereas the USAAF had more bomber flights. The most striking statistics is the number of deaths for each air force. The RAF suffered sixteen more deaths than the USAAF out of a total 158,546. Nonetheless, strategic bombing was a major factor in Germany’s eventual defeat, as it disrupted the German industrial and transportation system, caused extensive damage to its infrastructure, and took a heavy toll on civilian morale.   

RAF and USAAF Bomb Tonnages on Germany 1939–1945 Data

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Source: Wikipedia. “Strategic bombing during World War II”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_bombing_during_World_War_II, Data accessed on June 30, 2022

Other Bombing Data Links

Conventional Bombing Damage to Japanese Cities in WW2

V-1 Production Estimates

Allied Estimated Usage of the 30,000 plus V-1s Built

USAAF 8th and 15th Tonnage Dropped on German Aircraft Industry

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Other countries that were heavily bombed by the Allies included Romania for its oil and France to prepare for the second front. The most common targets were major industrial centers, transport hubs, munitions factories, and military installations. Additionally, area bombing these targets frequently struck urban areas killing civilians and creating millions of homeless.

Bombing Loads

The RAF and US Army Air Force (USAAF) carried equal loads into the skies over Europe. The RAF had many more fighter flights whereas the USAAF had more bomber flights. The most striking statistics is the number of deaths for each air force. The RAF suffered sixteen more deaths than the USAAF out of a total 158,546.

The night bombing raids were typically carried out by the British RAF with participation by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and French and Polish airmen. The RAF aircraft mainly relied on four-engined heavy bombers. The first being the Short Stirling later followed by the more successful Avro Lancaster and Handley Page Halifax. The daytime bombing raids were carried out by the USAAF Eight and Fifteenth Air Forces. The USAAF European operations mainly relied on B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses. The Allies also used smaller two-engined bombers, such as the British De Havilland Mosquito and the US B-25 Mitchell.

Strategic bombing although voiced at the end of World War I was still a new and untried approach to aerial warfare at the start of WWII. The French, Germans, and Soviets believed that the Air Forces would supplement the armies on the ground. Only the UK and US wholly bought into the strategic bombing approach. Several UK and US Air Force leaders believe that the air power alone could deliver the knockout blow. However, as with almost all new technologies and strategies a learning curve was required.

Bomber groups had to learn how to defend themselves from enemy fighters, such as the German Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, and the Junkers Ju 88. The USAAF suffered a devastating defeat on October 14, 1943, going after the ball bearing factories during the second Schweinfurt raid, also called Black Thursday. Losses amounted to 26 percent of the attacking force and 22 percent of the bomber crews. 

On the plus side Allied raids in the Oil Campaign and targeting the German aircraft industry proved vital and successful. This first led to air superiority and then air domination. This was one of the requirements for a successful D-Day.

UK and US Bomb Tonnage Dropped in Europe Data

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To download the data shown below from which the graph was developed click on the icon below corresponding to you desired format. Note: to ensure all data is downloaded choose the ‘All’ selection in the Show Entries dropdown list. Otherwise only the data visible on the screen will download.

Source: Wikipedia. “Strategic bombing during World War II”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_bombing_during_World_War_II, Data accessed on June 30, 2022

Other Bombing Data Links

Conventional Bombing Damage to Japanese Cities in WW2

V-1 Production Estimates

Allied Estimated Usage of the 30,000 plus V-1s Built

USAAF 8th and 15th Tonnage Dropped on German Aircraft Industry

This website, ww2data.com, has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third party internet websites referenced.  Nor does ww2data.com guarantee that any content on such websites are accurate or will remain accurate.

B-29 Superfortress Range

Development of the B-29 Superfortress kicked the door open for the USAAF to systematically bomb Japan. With a range of 1,500 miles, it completed the first major raid since the Doolittle Raid on June 15, 1944. This raid flew out of China which proved to be a logistical challenge. However, it was the captured of Guam and Tinian that truly brought the Japanese mainland within range of the B-29, Superfortress. Logistically the islands were strategically better as the originating points. Bombing raids from these islands began in late 1944.

Damage Extent

Twenty-eight Japanese cities suffered more than 50 percent damage due to conventional bombing. Due to construction technique many Japanese cities were very susceptible to fire bombings which were used later in the war. The main reason for the bombing raids on Japanese cities was to weaken the country’s industrial capacity and morale. To achieve this, bombers would drop high explosives, incendiary bombs and napalm, targeting industrial and residential areas. The goal of the raids was to cause as much destruction as possible, in the hope of eventually forcing Japan to surrender. It is estimated that 500,000 Japanese citizens died in the bombing raids and another 5,000,000 were made homeless.

The most common type of raid was area bombing. This involved dropping large numbers of bombs over a wide area to create a blanket of destruction. The firebombing of Tokyo on the night of March 9-10, 1945, is one of the most well-known examples of area bombing. In this raid, nearly 300 B-29 Superfortress bombers dropped some 1,700 tons of high explosive and incendiary bombs, destroying an estimated 16 square miles of the city. High explosive bombs were used first to blow out windows and followed up with the incendiary bombs. Finally delayed fused high explosives were also included to deter firefighting efforts.

Other, less destructive, types of bombing were also used. Precision bombing, for example, involved targeting specific military and industrial sites, rather than entire cities. This was done using smaller, more agile aircraft such as the P-51 Mustang, the A-20 Havoc, and the B-25 Mitchell. 

The conventional bombing of Japanese cities was a major factor in the eventual surrender of Japan. These raids, along with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, had a devastating effect on the morale of the Japanese people, and forced the government to accept the terms of the Allies.

Conventional Bombing Damage to Japanese Cities in WW2 Data

The above graph can be downloaded as an image.  

To download the data shown below from which the graph was developed click on the icon below corresponding to you desired format. Note: to ensure all data is downloaded choose the ‘All’ selection in the Show Entries dropdown list. Otherwise only the data visible on the screen will download.

Source: Wikipedia. “Strategic bombing during World War II” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_bombing_during_World_War_II, Data accessed on June 30, 2022

Other Bombing Data Links

Conventional Bombing Damage to German Cities in WW2

V-1 Production Estimates

Allied Estimated Usage of the 30,000 plus V-1s Built

USAAF 8th and 15th Tonnage Dropped on German Aircraft Industry

This website, ww2data.com, has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third party internet websites referenced.  Nor does ww2data.com guarantee that any content on such websites are accurate or will remain accurate.

Strategic Bombing

Allied strategic bombing aimed to eliminate military and infrastructure targets as well as deliver a blow to German morale. Germany pivoted its air and antiaircraft weapons to counter the United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US) air forces attacks. These German resource allocations against Allied strategic bombing limited what could be utilized on the Eastern Front. Although strategic bombing wasn’t the invasion desired by Stalin it began chipping away and then devasting Germany’s fighting capability.

Cities

The Allies first embarked on bombing campaigns against German cities in 1940, with the first UK large-scale night raid occurring over the city of Hamburg in July of that year. This was followed by a sustained campaign of night raids over major cities such as Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund and Dresden. The bombing raids inflicted massive damage to buildings, infrastructure and civilian lives. Entire city districts were obliterated, leaving behind a devastated landscape of rubble, dust and smoke.

These raids also caused huge disruption to transportation, as well as electricity and water supplies. In addition to the physical damage caused by the raids, the psychological effects on civilians were also profound. Many were traumatized by the experience, with the experience of the raids leaving deep emotional scars.

The situation worsened further in January 1943 when the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) conducted their first daylight bombing raid on the submarine bases at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Prior to time the USAAF had only directed at German targets in France. With the Wilhelmshaven raid began a sharing of duties whereby the UK would bomb Germany at night and the US during the day. This duty sharing arrangement gave the German defenders little time for rest.

Hamburg

The single most intense targeting of a single city began on July 24, 1943, against Hamburg lasting eight days and seven nights. By July 27 a combination of factors resulted in the eruption of a firestorm. The weather was unusually dry and warm and firefighting was limited by previous bomb damage as well as withdrawal of other cities firefighters. Prior to these raids the British Royal Air Force determined how to most effectively use incendiary bombs. High explosive bombs were used first to blow out windows and followed up with the incendiary bombs. Finally delayed fused high explosives were also included to deter firefighting efforts. Approximately half of the 37,000 Hamburg’s deaths occurred that night.

In total, over 600,000 German civilians were killed during the war in conventional bombing raids. In addition to this, millions more were displaced and left homeless by the raids. 

Conventional Bombing Damage to German Cities in WW2 Data

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*Cities with population greater than 500,000

Source: Wikipedia. “Strategic bombing during World War II” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_bombing_during_World_War_II, Data accessed on June 30, 2022

Other Data Links

Conventional Bombing Damage to Japanese Cities in WW2

V-1 Production Estimates

Allied Estimated Usage of the 30,000 plus V-1s Built

USAAF 8th and 15th Tonnage Dropped on German Aircraft Industry

This website, ww2data.com, has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third party internet websites referenced.  Nor does ww2data.com guarantee that any content on such websites are accurate or will remain accurate.