Second Raid on Schweinfurt (Black Thursday)

The Second raid on Schweinfurt (also called Mission 115) took place during World War II on October 14, 1943, when 291 B-17 Flying Fortresses of the USAAF Eighth Air Force attacked ball bearing factories in Schweinfurt, Germany.

 The factories had previously been attacked on August 17, resulting in a disastrous loss of aircraft. The second mission turned out no different, and has become known as Black Thursday due to the heavy loss of men and aircraft.

1. The United States had identified German aviation industries as prime targets. The destruction of them would be key to defeating the Luftwaffe as a prelude to liberating Europe. What was believed to be the amount of ball bearings were produced at Schweinfurt?

• 27%
• 35%
• 42%

2. The three American bomber divisions were to be escorted by a single P-47 Group each, on the outward leg, and the return journey. They had plans for a diversionary raids were made.

• True or False?

3. The weather hampered the Bomber formations rendezvous, and as a result the wrong formations were in the wrong position. Much of the American formations were spread out, offering little protection for each other; an invitation for attacking fighters.

• True or False?

4. Jagddivision 3 was positioned to meet the bombers as they crossed the coast. The P-47s tried to protect the scattered bomber groups and succeeded in downing a number of Bf 109s for a single loss, and the only P-47 loss of the day. How many Bf 109's were downed?

• 5
• 7
• 9

5. Over the Netherlands German fighters in JG 1 and 26 made repeated attacks. In minutes, the 305th Bomb Group lost some of its 16 B-17s. How 305th Bomb Group B-17s were lost?

• 3
• 7
• 13

6. After dropping their bombs the American bombers were almost immediately attacked by German fighters, having landed, refueled and rearmed, struck again. JG 11 shot down 18 B-17s during this period. Finally, the B-17s reached the coastline of Europe and relative safety, some of them so heavily damaged that though they brought their crews home, they would never fly again. Gunners aboard the bombers claimed to have shot down 138 German fighters; only 38 were lost.

• True or False?

7. How many B-17s were lost on the raid?

• 55 B-17s
• 77 B-17s
• 95 B-17s

8. How many bombers landed with no damage?

• 33 bombers
• 55 bombers
• 77 bombers

9. What was the loss rate of the 305th Bomb Group?

• 44%
• 57%
• 87%

10. Raids on Schweinfurt resumed in February, 1944 during what came to be known as "Big Week," with P-51 Mustang fighters escorting the American heavies all the way to and from the targets.

• True or False?

Second Raid on Schweinfurt (Black Thursday) Answers

1. 42%
2. False. No plans for a diversionary raids were made.
3. True
4. 7
5. 13
6. True
7. 77 B-17s
8. 33 bombers
9. 87%
10. True

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