Bombing of Augsburg in World War II

In April 1942 RAF Bomber Command targeted the MAN U-boat diesel engine factory at Augsburg in Operation Margin.

The first attacked at roof height, flying lower after dropping their load to evade flak on the way out but one was hit and crashed exploding.

For his outstanding determination and leadership, Nettleton, who had nursed his crippled Lancaster aircraft back to England, would be awarded the Victoria Cross later that same month.

[2] The operation had propaganda value to the British public (having proved that Bomber Command could reach distant targets within Germany).

Post-war analysis indicated the damage inflicted on the enemy was minor; five of the bombs dropped had failed to explode.

Another lesson was that the Lancaster bomber's rifle-calibre machine guns had proved quite inadequate against enemy fighters that were fitted with self-sealing fuel tanks.

[4][6][7][8] In a final Big Week mission (#235), the Eighth Air Force bombed the Augsburg Messerschmitt works during the day on 25 February 1944.

[9][full citation needed] That night (25/26 February 1944), RAF Bomber Command followed with 594 aircraft and destroyed large parts of the centre of Augsburg.

Due to the frozen hydrants and water surfaces (the temperature was minus 18 degrees Celsius) fire fighting was difficult.