A CLASH OF TITANS-The Battle over Munich 1944

 

 

 In late April, early May of 1944 RAF bomber command received intel on Germany tooling up for production of their Dornier DO335. This aircraft could not be allowed in the air in great numbers.  Along with this information, they were informed of Jumo increasing capacity for their engine manufacturing, which would enable more ME262’s. The RAF handed this intelligence off to the Mighty 8th Army Air Force Bomber Command. They collaborated with the 9th Air Force, to put a combined effort of over 700 aircraft in the air for this mission. So important was the success of this mission, that P-51B, P-38J, and P-47D were pulled together to escort the bombers. The bomber force consisted of 8th and 9th B-17 Flying Fortresses, and B-24 Liberators. Nothing was being held back.

 

 On April 24, 1944 the 8th AF directed all three Bomb Divisions to attack a.) the Munich area airfields and manufacturing targets, b.) the Friedrichshafen area airfields and, c.) the Gablingen/Leipheim airfields. The Eighth would put up 716 bomber 'effectives' with the largest force comprised of 268 B-17s in 1st TF attacking Erding, Landsberg and Oberpfaffenhofen. The Oberphaffenhofen target was the Dornier complex currently tooling up for the Do335. The Landsberg attack was not only against the Me262s reputed to be on the base but also at the manufacturing facility for the Jumo turbine blades.

 The Eighth Fighter Command, combined with P-47s and P-51s from 9th AF and RAF Mustangs and Spitfires, put over 800 fighter aircraft in the air to support this broad attack against German aircraft industry. The LuftFlotte Reich defending force this day, was comprised of JG1, JG3, JG5, JG11, JG27, JG53, JG106, I./JG301, III./ZG26 and II./ZG76 plus a temporary placement of III./JG26 from LuftFlotte 3. In total there were more than 275 single engine and 40 twin engine fighters which were directed to attack the 8th Air Force along the southern Germany/Swiss border from Stuttgart/Worms through Ulm and Augsburg and Munich.

 

 Approximately 33 Staffels of day fighters was put in the air to engage the 8th AF. The German fighter force in the Munich area was predominantly Bf 109G-6’s with a few Bf 109G-6/U4’s and Bf 109G-5’s. In addition Sturmstaffel I, a new experimental bomber attack force, comprised of heavily armed and armored FW 190 A-7’s, plus approximately 25 Bf 110 G-2’s from III./ZG26 and 12 Me410A-1’s from II./ZG76 were directed to the Munich area.

 

 This would be the last time the Western Front Luftwaffe units had the ability to concentrate its fighter force on purely stopping Allied heavy bomber raids. Soon it would be bleeding off its fighter forces in the skies above Normandy.

 

Side split:

 

Allied 55 %

Axis 45 %