Bombing of Augsburg in World War II

The Bombing of Augsburg in World War II included one British RAF and two USAAF bombing raids against the German city of Augsburg on 17 April 1942 and 25/26 February 1944.

1942 raid: Operation "Margin"
To test the new Avro Lancaster, RAF Bomber Command targeted the Augsburg MAN U-boat diesel engine factory on 17 April 1942.

Unusually the raid by heavy bombers was carried out in daylight rather than by night. The bomber force was drawn from No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron at RAF Waddington and No. 97 Squadron at RAF Woodhall Spa. Each provided a flight of six aircraft. They practised low flying for a week.

Thirty Douglas Boston medium bombers and a large Fighter Command effort were dispatched to targets in Northern France intending to draw off German fighters. One Boston was lost in these diversionary activities.

Flying at around 50 ft, the bombers crossed France but unfortunately the 44 Squadron aircraft, under Squadron Leader John Dering Nettleton, flew close by an airfield of II Gruppe/Jagdgeschwader 2. German fighters coming in to land set off in pursuit and shot down four Lancasters. Seven bombers were claimed by Hpt. Walter Oesau (2), Fw. Otto Pohl (2), Fw. Alexander Bleymüller, Hptm. Karl-Heinz Greisert and Fw. Ernst Bosseckert.

The two remaining bombers flew on and attacked the target with four 1000 lb bombs each. One was hit by flak and crash landed with the loss of three of the crew. The other, Nettleton, flew back. The second six, from 97 Squadron, attacked shortly after in two section of three. The first atttacked at roof height, flying lower after dropping their load to evade flak on the way out but one was hit and crashed exploding. In the last three aircraft, two were hit and caught fire. One exploded but the others completed the bomb run and was able to return home.

In the course of the raid, seven of the 12 Lancasters had been shot down with the loss of 49 crewmen. Only two of the first formation of Lancasters dropped their on the factory. Five of the next dropped their bombs.

Nettleton returned in a badly damaged aircraft and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his leadership of the raid. Other awards included DFCs, DFMs and a DSO.

Post-war analysis indicated damage was minor; five of the bombs dropped had failed to explode. Eight machine tools were destroyed out of a total of 2,700, and five cranes out of 558. Of the 84 RAF airmen, 37 died and 12 were taken as prisoners of war.

1944
In a final Big Week mission (#235), the Eighth Air Force bombed the Augsburg Messerschmitt works during the day on 25 February 1944. That night (25/26 February 1944), RAF Bomber Command followed with 594 aircraft and completely destroyed the centre of Augsburg. 21 RAF aircraft, 3.6% of the force was lost (at least four due to collision).

The last bombings killed 730 people and injured 1,335; 85,000 were left homeless, and nearly a quarter of all homes had been destroyed. There were 246 "large or medium sized" and 820 small fires. Due to the frozen hydrants and water surfaces (the temperature was minus 18 degrees Celsius) fire fighting was difficult.

References and notes

 * Notes


 * Bibliography
 * Bowman, Martin E Legend of the Lancasters 2009, Pen and Sword Aviation, Barnsley