14 October 1943

THURSDAY, 14 OCTOBER 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission 115:
229 of 291 B-17's hit the city area and ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt,
Germany in 2 group; the first group bombs at 1439-1445 hours, the second
group at 1451-1457 hours; they claim 186-27-89 Luftwaffe aircraft; 60 B-17's
are lost, 7 damaged beyond repair and 138 damaged; casualties are 5 KIA, 40
WIA and 594 MIA. The attack, which causes great damage and interference with
production, results in German reorganization of the bearing industry. Fierce
opposition of great numbers of fighters, many of them firing rockets,
accounts for the 60 US aircraft shot down. As a result of these heavy losses,
daylight bombing against strategic targets deep in Germany is discontinued
for a short period.
Only 29 of 60 B-24's are able to form up in poor weather; they abandoned
their planned mission and fly a diversion towards Emden, Germany.