The German press agency wrote on 6 April that full hits in housing areas caused fire and destruction, and inflicted bloody losses on the civilian population. Radio London reported on the evening of 5 April that the attack had yielded excellent results. 1,342 people were wounded and the material damage was enormous: 1,259 homes were heavily damaged. Also, one Spitfire pilot and one German Focke-Wulf pilot were killed.ĭue to German interference of the Allied raid, the bombing was very inaccurate: most bombs fell on residential areas around the ERLA factory, which caused the death of 936 people, of which 209 children. 13 American airmen did not survive the mission. On their return over the Netherlands the bombers were escorted from the coast onwards by RAF 331 and 332 Squadrons. Another three B-17s crashed in Kalmthout, Zandvliet en Disteloord. The Messerschmitts of JG26 were relieved over Antwerp by planes stationed at Deurne Airport to protect the Port of Antwerp.
599 1,000-pounders were dropped by the B-17s of 1BW and 216 500-pounders by the B-24s of 2BW, altogether 245.5 tons. As a result their bombs dropped over a wide area. The US bombers were hindered during their bombing run and had to line up to drop their pay load. An aerial dogfight took place from Ghent to Antwerp in which one B-17 was downed over Wilrijk. They were immediately attacked by German Messerschmitt Bf 109 from the Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG26), which had taken off from aerodromes in Wevelgem and Moorsele. The bombers continued to their target without escort. The bombers were accompanied from England to Ghent by Spitfires from RAF 403 and 616 Squadron, which had to return to base from Ghent because their flying reach was too short. The 2nd Bomb Division consisted of 11 B-24 planes of 44BG and seven of 93BG. The formation of 1BD consisted of 16 B-17 planes of the 91st Bomb Group (91BG), 17 of the 303BG and 16 of the 305BG.
The bombardment was executed on 5 April 1943 by 83 bombers from the 1st and 2nd Bomb Divisions of the 8th US Air Force in England.
The Resistance had reported that the German company ERLA repaired Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109 planes on that site. The target of the attack was the former Minerva car factory.
0 kommentar(er)
