I've just finished re-reading Middlebrook's 'The Schweinfurt-Regensburg Mission' ; I read it again following my recent visits to Ridgewell, home of the 381st BG who took the heaviest losses in 'Schweinfurt 1'.

At least four ( five if you count 'Schweinfurt 2' ) books have been written about this 8th AF target and it does make for fascinating reading. The strategic issues and decision-making are absorbing in themselves but the drama, action and heartbreak of the air fighting are, for me, the central point of interest.

All the cliches of 'bloody skies' etc really do apply to Schweinfurt ; having to fly so deeply into Germany without fighter escort, having to 'sit there and take it', called for extreme courage and endurance.

No picnic for the Luftwaffe either ; having read recently about Alfred Grislawski who was in the thick of the action, made me realise that attacking B-17 groups was not for the faint-hearted and many less-experienced Luftwaffe pilots were not really equal to the task.

I'd never realised before that 'Schweinfurt' also claimed Adolf Galland's brother, 'Wutz', shot down by the 56th FG.

Schweinfurt must qualify as one of the greatest air battles ever : my admiration for the men of the 8th is undimmed.

__________________
"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson