Developed by Boeing1 , the B-17 Flying Fortress was the American army’s main strategic and heavy bomber created to counter the German military force2.
The European Air War in 1944-1945
With the ever increasing strength of Luftwaffe3 during the winter of 1943, the United States has created a new command center, specifically made for strategic bombing in the European theater4. With the combination of American Air Force under the command of General Carl A. Spaatz and the British Air Force led by Lieutenant General James H. Doolittle, these two forces with thousands of heavy bombers had one assignment that needed to be done: the destruction of the German aircraft industries5. With the American
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1 Boeing is the American company that funded and created the B-17 Flying Fortress
2 Trueman, Chris BA. "B17 Flying Fortress." B17 Flying Fortress. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/b17_flying_fortress.html>.
3 Luftwaffe was the German Air Force
4 Cavendish, Marshall. p.716
5 Cavendish, Marshall. p.716
forces facing dramatic losses from the U.S. daylight bombers6, reaching alarming proportions in January
1944, the only way to even the losses was this newly formed operation.
Big Week
In February 1944, the B17’s went all out to destroy the factories that kept the Luftwaffe flying, where this event became known as the ‘Big Week’. An enormous number of 3,500 B17s were deployed in bombing the factories in Germany7. About 244 planes were lost (which is about 7% of the planes taking part) in a week, but the damages dealt to the factories producing for the Luftwaffe had been fatally broken. Despite the fact that Luftwaffe had thousands of planes, many were forced to stay on the ground as they had no parts to keep them airborne8.
German Casualties
The bombing raids on Germany took the heart out of Germany’s industrial production. By September 1944, Germany had lost 75% of its fuel production. While the Allied forces dropped 1.5 million tons of bombs on Germany, the B17 dropped 500,000 tons. The 8th Air Force10 had fired 99 million rounds of ammunition during these flights and it is estimated that 20,000 German planes were destroyed. Over 12,000 B17’s were built during the war and nearly 250,000 Americans experienced flying in them. 46,500 were either killed or wounded. However, the part played by the B17 in the European theatre of war was of great importance. It is also important to note that the 8th Air Force turned its attention to Germany’s synthetic oil factories. Attacks on these factories started on May 12th. In just one month, the USAAF dropped 5000 tons of bombs on these factories, and in August 1944, 26,000 tons were dropped and in November 1944, the attacks peaked at 35,000 tons. The attacks decimated the Germany military’s ability to move11. The Battle of the Bulge, Hitler’s _______________________________________________________________________
6 Cavendish, Marshall. p.717
7 Sherman, Steven. "Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress." B-17 Flying Fortress. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://acepilots.com/planes/b17.html>.
8 Dear, I.C.B. p.1073
9 Trueman, Chris BA. "B17 Flying Fortress." B17 Flying Fortress. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/b17_flying_fortress.html>.
10 8th Air Force was the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) combat air force in the European Theater of World War II
11 Sherman, Steven. "Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress." B-17 Flying Fortress. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://acepilots.com/planes/b17.html>.
attempt to push back the advancing Allies in Europe, ended because of the lack of fuel to keep his tanks moving. After the war that there were 300 King Tiger tanks at Munich rail station waiting to be moved to the front – but the Germans had neither the railways nor the fuel needed to move these tanks around; both targets of Allied bombing12.
C: Evaluation of Sources
The origin of the first source is a reference book source: “ History of World War II: Victory and Aftermath “ by Marshall Cavendish, published in 2004 in New York. The purpose of the source is to educate students in Middle and High School about everything on World War II. The value of the source is that it is a published reference book. That means every single word on this book is unbiased and purely factual. Also, since it is published, it has been edited with much consideration. A limitation might be that many of these content could be primary sources, where some opinions are their personal opinion on their country or beliefs.
The origin of the second source is a website: “History Learning Site: B17 Flying Fortress” by Chris Trueman. The purpose of the source is to also educate anybody who have interest in any historical event or facts. The value of the source is that this website contains specific and detailed information of the topic at hand. Also, since it is on the internet with no cost for entrance, people can criticize or correct the author if a fact might be wrong. A limitation is that the author is an American historian, and might have a different perspective leaning on the Allies’ side.
D: Analysis
From all the evidence gathered, it is clear that the B17 Flying Fortress has been significant in destroying and reducing the efficiency of the German war machines. As different historian stated, the B-17’s major role was bombing the strategically vital areas such as the German’s fuel producing industry and Luftwaffe’s major plane producing sites13. This can be viewed imperative for various reasons. It is said that by September 1944, 75% of the German’s fuel were depleted due to bombings which the B17 participated in. This 75%
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12 Speer, Albert. p37
13Dear, I.C.B. p.1073
14 Trueman, Chris BA. "B17 Flying Fortress." B17 Flying Fortress. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/b17_flying_fortress.html>.
of fuel is would have been vital to the German war machines. Starting with the obvious, every machinery such as tanks, planes, submarines, and ships. A single war machine such as these, when operational, are deadly to any infantry units. Taking even one out would have saved a couple hundreds of soldiers in the Allie side. The strategy used in destroying these fuel producing industries has decreased the strength of German forces in many ways, such as decreasing the amount of death tolls, injured units, amount of infantry and machinery, and the slower transportation, which eventually became one of the reasons why Germany has lost the war. Ammunitions wont be delivered to troops in time, and communication problems will occur. If there is no railway or any fast sort of transportation to make sure the soldiers on the front line are not utterly useless.
Along with these facilities, the indirect fire from the B17 bombing has led to the death of thousands of civilians which cripples the national morale. This could be a decisive factor in halting the German war effort, which causes troops to worry about their families back home.
Despite the casualties the American forces faced, the German Air Force has lost more than it couldn’t be revamped. With the B17 annihilating and wiping every living or standing thing on the German soil, the German forces did not have fertile soil to produce crops to support food needs. Starvation will lead to violence, ultimately to death, overall destroying the German army.
E: Conclusion
The B-17 Flying Fortress played a significant role in defeating the German war machines in 1944-1945. The American Air Force have crippled the German war machines through various ways. Destroying most of Germany’s fuel producing industry has basically halt the German birds flying in the skies, and tanks from crushing through the Allied power. Also, destroying the many Luftwaffe products has obviously helped reducing the number of war machines held by the German army. Overall, it is clear to say that the B-17 Flying Fortress played a significant role in reducing the amount and effectiveness of the war machines between 1944 an 1945.
F: Sources
Cavendish, Marshall. History of World War II: Victory and Aftermath. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2004. Print.
Trueman, Chris BA. "B17 Flying Fortress." N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/b17_flying_fortress.html>.
Speer, Albert. Inside the Third Reich: Memoirs by Albert Speer. New York [N.Y.: Bonanza, 1982. Print.
Dear, Ian, and M. R. D. Foot. The Oxford Companion to World War II. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1995. Print.
Sherman, Steven. "Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress." B-17 Flying Fortress. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://acepilots.com/planes/b17.html>.
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yaewhan (student)
