Last Flight of the Luftwaffe (Cassell Military Paperbacks) by Adrian Weir

Author:Adrian Weir [Weir, Adrian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2013-10-16T21:00:00+00:00

11. FOCUS ON THE 3rd AD

Trailing in the numerous wakes and fading contrails of the leading formations, the crews of the B-17s belonging to the 3rd AD were well aware of the danger into which they were flying. Around these tight ranks of bombers the pilots in the escort fighters also knew of the task which awaited them. The Luftwaffe had chosen today to re-launch its attacks upon the Eighth Air Force and its pilots were about to be asked, once again, to stop their enemy from succeeding.

By now the ‘Elbe’ fighters had reached the formations of bombers in larger numbers and reports of conventional enemy fighters were replacing earlier warnings of the jets. Reaching the north-eastern corner of their hunting ground, over Celle, the Bf 109s were spotted by the escorting fighters of the 339th FG. This Group was positioned above the 388th and 452nd BGs at the head of the bomber stream. The danger to the ‘Elbe’ fighters was now increased because of the presence of the escorts. Whilst planning had called for the Me 262s and more experienced conventional fighters of JG 300 and JG 301 to disperse the escorts, the ‘Elbe’ fighters had reached their targets to find the escorting Mustangs still in position. They were faced with making a decision: attack now, with luck before the escorts could react, or wait for their own ‘escort’ formations. Determined to carry out their mission, and well aware that every minute they remained near to the bombers increased their chance of being intercepted, one by one the pilots made their decisions.

Further to the west, the Duxford-based 78th FG had made its rendezvous with the 13th CBW just after 1215. The pilots of the P-51s quickly found their bombers under attack from high-flying fighters. They were forced to climb to meet these enemy aircraft, and it was immediately clear that the Luftwaffe fighters were not making the usual approach but instead individual diving attacks. Once again the speed of the attacking fighters allowed them to reach their targets before the P-51s could put themselves between the Luftwaffe aircraft and the bomber formation. One of the first of the 78th FG fighters on the scene was an 83rd FS P-51 bearing the Group’s bold black and white checked nose markings, a white rudder with red trim and the nickname The Green Hornet. The aircraft was flown by the experienced Captain Robert T. Green, but even this proven combination of man and machine was at first powerless to stop the attacks. Picking out a Bf 109, Green broke contact when the wall of defensive fire from the B-17s cut down the ‘Elbe’ fighter. A second Bf 109 appeared in front of Green, but again the pilot watched as the gunners appeared to find their mark. Still trailing this second fighter, Captain Green intended to complete the kill as the enemy aircraft flew beyond the bombers. Instead he watched as the Bf 109 crashed into the nearest B-17. Shocked by the sight

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