17 August 1943

TUESDAY, 17 AUGUST 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission 84:
On the first anniversary of US heavy bomber operations from the UK, a
two-pronged attack into Germany is launched, marking the deepest penetra-
tion of German territory to date. The critical targets are the Messer-
schmitt complex at Regensburg, and the anti-friction-bearing factories at
Schweinfurt.
1. 230 B-17's are dispatched to Schweinfurt; 188 hit the target at 1459-
1511 hours; they claim 148-18-63 Luftwaffe aircraft; 36 B-17's are lost, 3
are damaged beyond repair and 118 damaged; casualties are 3 KIA, 12 WIA and
352 MIA; there are 80 high explosive hits on the 2 main bearing plants.
2. 146 B-17's are dispatched to Regensburg; 127 hit the target at 1148-
1207 hours; they claim 140-19-36 Luftwaffe aircraft; 24 B-17's are lost, 1
is damaged beyond repair and 50 are damaged; casualties are 4 KIA, 9 WIA
and 200 MIA; every important building in the complex is damaged; the
surviving aircraft continue on to bases in North Africa.
60 B-17's are lost in the fierce air battle that extends to the targets
and continues after the bombing.
VIII Air Support Command Missions 23 and 24: Two airfields in France are
targetted.
1. 36 B-26's are dispatched to Bryas Sud Airfield; 29 hit the target at
1051 hours; 2 aircraft are damaged.
2. 72 B-26's are dispatched to Poix/Nord Airfield; 35 hit the target at
1552 hours; 20 aircraft are damaged; casualties are 1 WIA.
During the night of 17/18 Aug the Royal Air Force (RAF) begins Operation
CROSSBOW, massive attacks on German V-weapon sites. About 570 aircraft drop
2,000 tons of bombs on Peenemunde, Germany.