First USAAF Raid over Germany: unedited crew interviews

Wednesday, January 27, 1943: The first USAAF raid over a German target is carried out. A total of 55 American bombers raid Wilhelmshaven, losing 3 bombers and claiming 22 German planes shot down.

This clip contains the unedited crew interviews following the raid. Notable is (then Colonel) Curtis Lemay referring the the raid as "rather dull". Also one Sergent uses the word "damn" during his description which is quickly re-shot and the Sergent looks at loss for words.

I think this un-edited film provides a better perspective of aircrew character and personality than any other film I have seen.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Ralph
• Nutter
• Wilhelmshaven
• first
• USAAF
• raid
• over
• germany
• curtis
• lemay
• b-17
• flying
• fortress
• bomber
• ww2
• aviation
• history
• Major
• Preston

[vetitoe362]

and decided to go to the east instead. Anyway, lets not forget that we were all ALLIES!!! All men of all three countries gave blood sweat and tears for the effort.

[vetitoe362]

All the arguing about who gave more to the effort, and not one mention of Russia. Who knows what would have happened if the US hadnt been involved. All contributed, and IMO, Germany would have eventually lost in any scenario, it just might have taken longer. What saved Brittain was mostly Hitler himself, he didnt want that war (so says Adolf Galland). He totally blundered by invading USSR before finishing with the UK, he had the airforce on their heels, but stoped hitting airfields...

[SuperAncientmariner]

@milano61 No probs mate :o)

[milano61]

@SuperAncientmariner You are right, I was wrong. Wikipedia: The invasion fleet was drawn from eight different navies, comprising 6,939 vessels: 1,213 warships, 4,126 transport vessels, and 736 ancillary craft and 864 merchant vessels. Out of the 2,468 major landing vessels only 346 were American. Of the 195,700 naval personnel 112,824 (58%) were British (Royal Navy), 52,889 (30%) US and 4,988 Allied countries. Marshall Plan started '48; US loaned $ to UK in '46, which they did pay back.

[VanceJoudrey]

Propaganda was about the same on both sides. In the West bombing camp:

22,000 British aircraft lost

79,281 British airmen lost

18,000 American aircraft lost

79,265 American airmen lost

5,430 German aircraft in combat lost (mostly single seaters so not many more airmen)

We really paid hard, harder than they ever let on at the time or soon after. We could take our losses, the Germans, fighting the Russians on the other side as well - couldn't. Boy did they put up a fight.

[joelSanFrancisco]

future general Curtis LeMay was the main guy being interviewed

[vetitoe362]

@fliegeroh Was a lonely posistion no doubt, but look at where most attacks came from, 12 o'clock, I'd rather be in the ball than the nose! I have heard the story about getting crushed on a belly landing, and I wonder who felt worse, the gunner or the crew. What a horrible choice to make.

[fliegeroh]

@vetitoe362 - Didn't know that, it's surprising. You have no doubt read "Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" and heard the horror stories about wheels up landings with the ball turret gunner trapped inside. I always thought it was the most dangerous position to be. Thanks for the info.

[vetitoe362]

@fliegeroh Statistically the safest posistion on the plane, no shit!