World War II: As part of Operation Thunderclap, 1,000 B-17s of the Eighth Air Force bomb Berlin, a raid which kills between 2,500 and 3,000 and dehouses another 120,000.
During the tumultuous years of the Second World War, Berlin, then serving as the capital of Nazi Germany, became a primary target in the Allied aerial campaign, enduring an astonishing 363 air raids. These relentless assaults were a critical component of the broader strategic bombing initiative aimed at dismantling Germany's industrial capabilities, military infrastructure, and national morale.
The city faced aerial bombardment from multiple Allied forces over several years:
- RAF Bomber Command: Initiating attacks as early as 1940 and continuing through to 1945, the Royal Air Force primarily conducted night-time area bombing raids, targeting the widespread destruction of urban and industrial centers.
- USAAF Eighth Air Force: From 1943 to 1945, the United States Army Air Forces' Eighth Air Force executed daylight precision bombing operations, focusing on specific strategic targets such as factories, railway hubs, and oil refineries, often at great risk to their crews.
- French Air Force: Contributing to the Allied efforts, the French Air Force also participated in bombing missions over Berlin between 1944 and 1945.
- Red Air Force: Soviet aircraft, specifically the Red Air Force, conducted attacks on Berlin in 1941, and intensified their bombing significantly in 1945 as their ground forces rapidly advanced and encircled the city.
The sheer scale of these operations resulted in immense destruction. British bombers alone dropped an estimated 45,517 tons of ordnance on Berlin, while American aircraft contributed an additional 23,000 tons. The cumulative impact of these sustained bombings led to a mass exodus from the city; by May 1945, a staggering 1.7 million people, representing approximately 40% of Berlin's pre-war population, had fled to safer regions, leaving behind a devastated metropolis.
What was the primary objective of the Allied bombing campaign against Berlin?
The main objective was to cripple Nazi Germany's war-making capacity by destroying industrial output, disrupting supply lines, demoralizing the civilian population, and ultimately contributing to the conditions for an Allied victory.
The Iconic Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress: A Pillar of Allied Air Power
Central to the American daylight strategic bombing campaign was the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, an iconic four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). This formidable aircraft was born from a competitive bid in 1934 for a contract to build 200 bombers. Boeing's prototype, the Model 299 (designated XB-17), showcased superior performance, significantly outclassing entries from competitors Douglas and Martin and exceeding the Air Corps' ambitious performance specifications for speed, range, and payload.
Despite its impressive capabilities, Boeing initially lost the major contract to the Douglas B-18 Bolo due to a prototype crash during testing, highlighting the inherent risks in pioneering aviation technology. Nevertheless, recognizing the XB-17's immense potential, the USAAC (which would later become the United States Army Air Forces, USAAF, by June 1941) promptly ordered an additional 13 B-17s for further rigorous evaluation. From its official introduction into service in 1938, the B-17 Flying Fortress underwent numerous design advancements and refinements, cementing its place as one of the most significant aircraft of its era. It eventually became the third-most produced bomber of all time, surpassed only by the equally four-engined Consolidated B-24 Liberator and the versatile, twin-engined Junkers Ju 88, which served in multiple roles for the Luftwaffe.
The B-17's Crucial Role in World War II
The B-17 Flying Fortress became synonymous with the USAAF's daylight strategic bombing campaign during World War II, primarily targeting Germany's vital industrial complexes, military installations, and infrastructure. These missions were inherently dangerous, relying on tight defensive formations to fend off aggressive Luftwaffe fighter attacks.
Key to its deployment were the major American air fleets:
- United States Eighth Air Force: Operating from numerous airfields across central, eastern, and southern England, this force was instrumental in the air offensive over Western Europe.
- Fifteenth Air Force: Based in Italy, this force contributed to bombing efforts from the south, extending the reach of the strategic campaign.
These American daylight operations complemented the night-time area bombing conducted by the RAF Bomber Command, forming the strategic synergy known as the Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO). The CBO's overarching aim was to achieve decisive air superiority over the cities, factories, and battlefields of Western Europe, a crucial prerequisite for the successful D-Day invasion of France in June 1944.
While predominantly active in the European theater, the B-17 also saw limited, yet impactful, service in the Pacific War during the early stages of World War II, where it performed critical raids against Japanese shipping and airfields.
From its pre-war inception, the B-17 was strategically marketed by the USAAC/USAAF as a revolutionary weapon. Its design philosophy prioritized survivability and defensive firepower over sheer bombload, making it a relatively fast, high-flying, and long-range bomber armed with formidable defensive armament, including numerous .50 caliber machine guns positioned in various turrets (such as the distinctive chin, ball, and tail turrets). This defensive capability, combined with its robust construction, contributed to its legendary reputation for toughness. Countless anecdotes and photographic evidence exist of severely damaged B-17s, riddled with flak and bullet holes or missing entire sections, miraculously returning their crews safely to base – a testament to its exceptional durability and the resilience of its aircrews.
The B-17 dropped a greater volume of bombs than any other U.S. aircraft during World War II. Of the approximately 1.5 million tons of bombs delivered by U.S. aircraft on Nazi Germany and its occupied territories, an impressive over 640,000 tons (approximately 42.6%) were dropped specifically from B-17 Flying Fortresses. Beyond its primary bombing role, the B-17 demonstrated remarkable versatility, serving effectively as a transport aircraft, an antisubmarine patrol plane, a drone controller for experimental operations, and a vital search-and-rescue platform.
Why was the B-17 called the "Flying Fortress"?
The name "Flying Fortress" was coined by a Seattle reporter in 1935 after seeing the prototype, impressed by its numerous machine gun positions (originally 5, later up to 13) that gave it the appearance of a heavily armed, airborne combat vehicle.
The Legacy of the B-17 Flying Fortress Today
As of October 2019, the legacy of the B-17 Flying Fortress continues, albeit with a limited number of operational aircraft. Only nine B-17s remain airworthy globally, none of which saw combat action during World War II. These meticulously maintained aircraft are predominantly used for historical preservation, educational tours, and airshow appearances, allowing new generations to witness this engineering marvel up close. Additionally, dozens more B-17s are preserved in various states, either in storage facilities or on static display at aviation museums worldwide, serving as powerful reminders of their pivotal role in shaping 20th-century history. Among these preserved examples is a rare D-series B-17, notable as the oldest surviving combat-flown variant, which participated in the earliest days of the United States' involvement in World War II in the Pacific theater, adding a profound historical layer to its enduring presence.