Being there . . . for the true story of Raid No. 2 on infamous Schweinfurt, Germany, by the
Eighth Air Force 1 st and 3 rd Bombardment Divisions on 14 October 1943. On that day, the Eighth
Air Force lost it growing ranking of superiority to the German Luftwaffe in a continuous air
battle that lasted over three hours. Historians refer to it as the greatest one-day air battle of
the Second World War.
BY JANUARY 1943, THE CASABLANCA CONFERENCE DEFINED THE ALLIED CHIEF WAR AIM AS
“THE PROGRESSIVE DESTRUCTION AND DISLOCATION OF THE GERMAN MILITARY, INDUSTRIAL
AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS SO AS TO UNDERMINE OF THE MORALE OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE” – –
i.e., TO THE POINT WHERE THEIR CAPACITY FOR ARMED RESISTANCE IS FATALLY WEAKENED . . .
The Americans had landed in Britain and North Africa, and, in England, with them their
sophisticated, heavily armed B-17 Flying Fortresses and newly developed Norden bomb sights.
Some post-World War II military historians claimed the Norden was surprisingly tiny in design
costing less than a dollar apiece. All agreed, however, it could direct a blockbuster bomb into a
pickle barrel from 20,000 feet. The Gregory Peck classic, “12 O’clock High” feature film (Allied
airmen viewed the sky over Europe as a horizontal clock face with 12 o’clock straight ahead and
6 o’clock dead astern), zeroed in on the inordinately excessive American aircrew losses in
addition to their B-17 Fortresses and B-24 Liberators aflame while double assaulting the Ploesti
oil fields and the vital Schweinfurt ball-bearing factories.
Reviewed and highly recommended by Don DeNevi
“WRONG PLACE! WRONG TIME! – – The 305 th Bomb Group and the 2 nd Schweinfurt Raid on
October 14, 1943”, by George C. Kuhl. Schiffer Military History, Atglen, PA: 1993, 304 pages, 6
½” x 9 ¼”, well-illustrated with maps, hardcover, $29.95.
This powerful, methodically discussed treatise is, in essence, a micro-study of the 1 st
Bombardment Division, specifically the 305 Bomb Group on that deadly October 14, 1943.
Author George Kuhl, who served in WWII as a B-17 pilot in the 305 th flying 35 missions,
mentions the initial bombing effort in Chapter One, “The Eighth Air Force”, how our inept
strategy to fly so far, so deep unescorted into enemy territory and drop 1,000 lbs. bombs on
Schweinfurt’s coveted ball-bearing plants cost unacceptable losses of American aircrews and
their B-17s. Nonetheless, undaunted, the Eighth’s planners decided to visit the ball-bearing
factories a second time, and quickly. This time, read Chapters 2 thru 23, the assault involved
three task forces of B-17s and B-24s, each flying separate routes and each, for the first time,
escorted by twin-engine P-38 Lightning fighters equipped with drop-tanks sweeping ahead.
Once again, the bombers would have to fly over Schweinfurt and its plants alone. Needless to
say, upon hearing this, the seated aircrews groaned so loud the noise could be heard hundreds
of miles away in London. At one briefing, a popular general tried a pep talk to raise spirit and
morale, “We know what a risky job it is. But we also know you all can do it! Your bravery will
win out. Good luck, good hunting, and good bombing.” A half-sorrowful, self-pitying gunner
from the audience added, “And goodbye!”
“Wrong Place! Wrong Time!” is not pleasant to read. The true WWII buff, enthusiast,
aficionado can take it, however raw, unsaturated, and unsanitary. They know what war was and
what it is today. Not one missed that sad, painful part of WWII aviation history as to what
happened, and how needlessly tragic and costly that awful 14 October 1943, was.
MEMO TO: Mr. S. Claus. This reviewer realizes the Christmas season is still a week shy of four
months away. But don’t you agree an important day such as 25 th of December isn’t too early to
get one’s bid in for a gift order, then wrap, and hide this splendid present until “the balloon
goes up”? He or she will love you more for such intelligent thoughtfulness. For the above,
phone, (610) 593-1777; fax, (610) 593-2002, or E-mail, schifferbk@aol.com.
