Operation Hurricane (1944)

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Further information on Operation Hurricane in specific locations:
Bombing of Braunschweig in World War II, Bombing of Cologne in World War II, and Bombing of Duisburg in World War II
Operation Hurricane
Part of
Brunswick (Braunschweig), Cologne, Duisburg
Result Duisburg: "Very serious property damage. A large number of people buried."[1]
Belligerents  United Kingdom
 United States  GermanyStrength USAAF marshaling yards[2]
(1040 bombers · 491 fighters)
2,589 RAF sorties involving
1,013 RAF aircraft (Duisburg daytime raid)
1,005 RAF bombers (Duisburg nighttime raid)
240 RAF bombers (Brunswick (Braunschweig))
323 aircraft (other operations)
10,050 long tons bombs dropped[3]Casualties and losses 5 bombers · 1 fighter (USAAF marshaling yards)
14 aircraft (Duisburg daytime raid)
7 RAF aircraft (Duisburg night time raid)
Brunswick (Braunschweig) uncertain 2,500 civilians killed

Operation Hurricane was a 24-hour bombing operation to "demonstrate to the enemy in Germany generally the overwhelming superiority of the Allied Air Forces in this theatre" (in the directive to Harris ACO

in the Ruhr, disrupt frontline communications and demonstrate the futility of resistance" (in the words of the Official RAF History).[4]

During the day of 14 October 1944, 957 RAF Bomber Command aircraft dropped 3,574 long tons (3,631 t) of high explosive and 820 long tons (830 t) of incendiaries on

Brunswick (German
: Braunschweig), destroying the town centre. Nearly fifty Mosquitos carried out nuisance raids and 132 aircraft from No. 100 Group targeted German night fighter operations.

In 24 hours, RAF Bomber Command had flown 2,589 sorties, losing 24 aircraft, dropping approximately 10,050 long tons (10,210 t) of bombs and killing over 2,500 civilians in Duisburg alone.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Campaign Diary October 1944.
  2. ^ a b McKillop October 1944
  3. ^ "Total tonnage of bombs dropped in 24 hours: approximately 10,050 tons", a total never "exceeded in the war" (Campaign Diary October 1944).
  4. ^ a b Bishop p. 334.

References

  • Bishop, Patrick (2007). Bomber Boys: Fighting back 1940 — 1945, Harper Press, 2007,
    ISBN 978-0-00-718986-1
  • McKillop, Jack. U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II:Combat Chronology October 1944,Federal Depository Library Program Electronic Collection of the United States
  • Staff "October 1944". Campaign Diary. UK Crown.
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