空战群英

This mission was intended to be a massive attack of 307 B-17s on the railroad facilities and waterway (canals) at Munster, Germany. This attack was to be supported by a diversion 39 B-24s. The formation was attacked by hundreds of German fighters which caused the formations to break-up and some Bomb Groups were forced to bomb targets of opportunity. The summary is as follows:

The largest formation was of 133 B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division Bomb Groups: 94BG (21); 95BG (20); 96BG (21); 100BG (14); 385BG (19); 388BG (19); and 390BG (19). This formation was intercepted by swarms of German fighters, literally hundreds. 119 aircraft were effective on the target but losses were significant. 29 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) and 1 aircraft was ditched into the North Sea - 74KIA 213POW; 5EVD 10 RTD (Rescued by ASR). 1 other returning aircraft was Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 10RTD. 56 aircraft were damaged. 1 airman in a returning aircraft was KIA and 14 were Wounded in Action (WIA). 95th BG was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for their actions in leading the raid. 390BG set the all-time record for German fighters destroyed on a single mission with a score of 60-6-8 of the attacking German fighters. All tolled the bomber gunners of this formation claimed 177-20-49 of attacking German fighters. While this total is probably exaggerated, it is a fact that the bomber gunners did significant damage to the Luftwaffe on this attack.

A second formation of 139 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division Bomb Groups was also directed to bomb at Munster, Germany, but the smoke, fire, ground haze and carnage from the attack by 3rd BD caused many in this formation to diver to targets of opportunity. The attacks made were as follows:

31 aircraft from: 91BG (10); 351BG (17) and 381BG (6) flew to Munster where 19 were effective on the target. These did not face the furious onslaught of German fighters and the fighter escort was very successful in protecting the bombers. Only 1 aircraft of this formation Failed to Return( FTR) 1KIA 8POW; 13 aircraft were damaged. 4 airmen in this formation were Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners claimed 4-1-2 of attacking German fighters.

75 aircraft from: 92BG (19); 306BG (18); 303BG (20); and 384BG (18) diverted to attack the industrial areas of Coesfled, Germany. 68 were effective on this target. 30 aircraft were damaged. 1 airmen in a returning aircraft was KIA. There were no claims in this formation.

33 aircraft from: 305BG (16) and 379BG (17) diverted to attempt to bomb the German airfield at Enschede, Holland, but the bombs fell wide and hit the town killing 155 civilians. 3 aircraft were damaged. The bomber gunners claims 2-0-0 of attacking German aircraft.

The third formation of this mission was a formation of 39 B-24s from: 44BG (19); 93BG (9) and 389BG (11) dispatched to fly a diversion for the formations attacking at Munster. There were no losses or claims.

This was a very rough day for 8th Air Force with the loss of 30 aircraft, but the 183-21-51 score of the bomber gunners was impressive even if exaggerated. The Luftwaffe very definitely got a "bloody nose" on this one.

1943年10月10日，这次任务的目标是用307架B-17对德国明斯特的铁路设施和运河进行大规模攻击。这次攻击得到了 39架B-24的支援。轰炸机编队遭到数百架德军战斗机的攻击，导致编队解散，一些轰炸机群被迫轰炸次要目标。

最大的编队由来自第3轰炸机师轰炸机群的133架 B-17 组成：第94大队（21架）、第95大队（20 架）、第96大队（21架）、第100大队（14架）、第385大队（19架）、第388大队（19架）和 第390大队（19架）。这个编队遭到了德国战斗机群的拦截，数量多达上百架。119架飞机对目标进行了有效打击，但损失惨重。29架飞机未能返航（FTR），1架飞机坠入北海 - 74人阵亡，213人被俘; 5EVD 10 RTD (Rescued by ASR)。另有 1 架返航飞机损坏无法修复 (DBR) 10RTD。56 架飞机受损，一架返航飞机上有1名空勤人员阵亡，14名空勤人员在战斗中负伤。

由第1轰炸机师的139架 B-17组成的第二编队也奉命对德国明斯特进行轰炸，但第3轰炸机师的烟雾、大火、地面烟雾和大屠杀使该编队中的许多飞机转向了次要的目标。

来自第91大队（10架）、第351大队（17架）和第381大队（6架）的31架飞机飞往明斯特，其中 19架对目标有效。这些飞机没有遇到德国战斗机的猛烈攻击，战斗机护航非常成功地保护了轰炸机。该编队只有1架飞机返航失败（FTR），1人阵亡，8人被俘；13架飞机受损。该编队有4人在战斗中负伤（WIA）。

来自第92大队 (19架)、第306大队 (18架)、第303大队(20架) 和第384大队 (18架) 的75架飞机转而攻击德国Coesfled的工业区。68架对该目标有效。3架飞机受损，一架返航飞机上的1名空勤阵亡。

来自第305大队 (16架) 和第379大队 (17架) 的33架飞机改道试图轰炸荷兰恩斯赫德（Enschede）的德军机场，但炸弹落点过大，击中了该镇，炸死155名平民。3架飞机受损。

这次任务的第三个编队是由39架B-24组成的编队，分别来自第44大队（19架）、第93大队（9架）和第389大队（11架），目的是为进攻明斯特的编队进行佯攻，该编队没有任何损失。

对第八航空队来说，这是非常艰难的一天。