The Schweinfurt - Regensburg Mission

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{detailed description}On 17 August 1943, the entire strength of the American heavy bomber forces in England set out to raid two vital industrial targets deep in southern Germany. For American commanders it was the culmination of years of planning and hope, the day when their self-defending formations of the famous Flying Fortress could at last perform their true role and reach out by daylight to strike at targets in the deepest corners of industrial Germany. The day ended in disaster for the Americans. Thanks to the courage of the aircrews the bombers won through to the targets and caused heavy damage, but sixty were shot down and the hopes of the American commanders were shattered. Historically, it was probably the most important day for the American air forces during the Second World War. To this ever interesting subject Martin Middlebrook brings his talent for meticulous, detailed research and his ability to understand, describe and analyse a battle from both sides. His effort for The Schweinfurt- Regensburg Mission has taken him to the United States twice and Germany twice in order to obtain every possible document and to trace every possible participant in the day's events. A total of 150 people have been personally interviewed by him and a further 150 provided postal contributions. He also travelled to Belgium and Poland to find and talk to the almost forgotten forced workers who were in the factories of Schweinfurt and Regensburg. The result is a mass of fresh, previously unused material with which the author finally provides the full story of this famous day's operations. Not only is the American side described in far greater depth than before but the previously vague German side of the story- both the Luftwaffe action and the civilian experiences in Schweinfurt and Regensburg - are now presented clearly and in detail for the first time. The important question of why the R.A.F. did not support the American effort and follow up the raid on Schweinfurt as planned is also fully covered. The Schweinfurt-Regensburg Mission is a classic work of military aviation history.
{Author / Publisher / Date}by Martin Middlebrook
published by Allen Lane 1983 1st edn. 363pp illustrated, index, appendix, bibliography 14x22
{condition}very good, inc. d/j
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