Page 12 - Oundle Life July 2023

MILITARY HISTORY
Oundle Library
There will be a military history evening at Oundle Library on Wednesday 9th August at 6pm, when the Oundle U3A Military History Group will give a talk about an ambitious USAAF bombing raid that was launched from a number of local airfields in August 1943.
The raid was planned as a double-strike,
with the objective to cripple production of Messerschmitt Bf 109 aircraft at Regensburg, and also to destroy the centre of the German ball- bearing industry at Schweinfurt. In total 376 bombers and 16 bomb groups flew from airfields around Oundle such as Kimbolton, Polebrook, Grafton Underwood and Molesworth. This year is the 80th anniversary of the raid.
In 1943 the USAAF had more than 500 heavy bombers (mainly Flying Fortresses) on airfields across East Anglia and Northamptonshire and were keen to prove themselves. Their doctrine was strategic bombing with heavily armed bombers, which would fight their way to the target without escort fighters.
In the event, bad weather destroyed the take- off planning for the Schweinfurt–Regensburg raids, so the two strikes proceeded separately. And while heavy damage was inflicted on the
Regensburg target, the Schweinfurt force didn’t fare so well.
In total, 60 bombers were shot down and about 120 suffered such damage as to be beyond economical repair. As a result, the 8th Air Force was unable to follow up immediately with a second attack that might have incapacitated German industry. When Schweinfurt was finally attacked again two months later, the lack of long-range fighter escort took another heavy toll, which curtailed deep penetration strategic bombing for five more months.
Behind all these facts is a very human story. The illustrated talk will describe in detail what happened during the raids and the losses experienced by local airfields.
Tickets for the talk cost £6 and can be booked or purchased in advance. There will be refreshments. For more information or to obtain tickets, visit Oundle Library or email oundle.libraryplus@northnorthants.gov.uk
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