The 8th Comes Over

 

On 3 November 1943 the 8th Air Force flew its first 500 bomber raid and devastated the port of Wilhelmshaven.The longer legs of the Thunderbolts and Lightnings now equipped with drop tanks gave JG-1 quite a wakeup call as the heavies took advantage of fighter escort for the first time during the last leg of the route. Naturally the Luftwaffe was unaware that the USAAF possessed a fighter that could reach this far into occupied Europe and reacted to the bomber force as it had done in the past. JG-1 sent up a mixed force of Bf-109Gs and Fw-190As to intercept the Americans over Holland. By the time the action had finished the Luftwaffe fighters had not only failed to inflict significant damage on the bombers, they themselves had been badly mauled. Thirteen fighters were reported lost by JG-1 during this engagement. P-47 pilots of the 4th, 56th and 78th accounted for six German fighters leaving the remaining seven to the P-38s of the 55th FGs. By 13 December they could send 649 bombers to Bremen, Hamburg and Kiel, and 763 to Frankfurt in January. Notice was served that the Air War over Europe was now entering a much more difficult phase for the Luftwaffe fighter force.

This setup is focused on the Fall 1943/Early Winter 1944.

The P51 Mustang is yet to make it's impact on the Air War. P-47D Thunderbolts from the 4th 56th 78th 352nd 355th Fighter Groups and P-38J Lightnings from the 20th and 55th Fighter Groups using drop tanks do their best to protect 8th AF Bombers from the Luftwaffe. The German Jagdgeschwaders based  on the Channel JG-2 JG-3 JG-26 and JG-27. Along with the defenders of the Dutch and German North Sea coastlines JG-1 and JG-11. Are all forced to deal with the new threat of long range escorts when intercepting the American B-17s and B-24s.

 

A97= 4.5.5 North

Axis= Knights