I'm watching this video after watching the third "Masters of the Air" episode.

@aymanrahman5161

3 ай бұрын

Me too

@locbeth

3 ай бұрын

same here

@joc3902

3 ай бұрын

Ditto

@SGusky

3 ай бұрын

Same

@ZGundam83

3 ай бұрын

I wonder if Second Schweinfurt (Black Thursday) will have an episode.

FUNFACT. I'm from Regensburg. Whenever we have any building projects it almost became a Meme that there's almost always a ww2 bomb that needs to be defused and removed. We always wonder if construction workers even care anymore. Meaning, If they panic and evacuate or just call extra long lunchbreak and call the Police and bomb expert "as usual", completely chill

@Cece_who

3 жыл бұрын

The "big" bomb last year was kind of interesting

@Norkans5

3 жыл бұрын

It is normal in every big german city. My sister works in engineering. She says it is normal for construction projects in bigger cities to have a budget for bomb disposal.

@stefanpiendl1997

3 жыл бұрын

"Bei Bauarbeiten in Prüfening wurde eine Fliegerbombe aus dem zweiten Weltkrieg gefunden" - Ach neee, unglaublich!

@MikeJones-qn1gz

3 жыл бұрын

I mean I bet you guys have great bomb experts

@MrJohosch2002

3 жыл бұрын

Das meiste liegt noch im Osten.. Also beim ehemaligen Ostbahnhof. Laut meinen Großvater haben sie die Trichter nach den Angriff wieder zugefüllt.

The logistics of these WWII air raids are just crazy to think about.

@Rusty_Gold85

4 жыл бұрын

i havnt heard whether they had post bombing recon immediately following the raids ? To get any info ? Or even early marker raids are used . I know I would have

@don_5283

4 жыл бұрын

The Mosquitoes referred to as the target of the "new Luftwaffe unit" were heavily used for post-raid reconnaissance, as well as camera-equipped Mustangs, Spitfires, Lightnings, and various others. Battle damage assessments were absolutely a thing. Amusingly, it wasn't always done right: After the failure of the Blitz and the pivot eastward, the Luftwaffe didn't do significant aerial reconnaissance over Britain until they started launching V-1s and V-2s. Obviously, they wanted to know what kinds of damage these weapons were inflicting on London, and the very dangerous sorties flown returned with images of a city heavily damaged. The German authorities took this to indicate success, but their failure to have flown reconnaissance in the interim left them unable to realize that the damage they were seeing was entirely unrepaired remains of attacks from the Blitz, years before.

@dukecraig2402

4 жыл бұрын

Issac James Tea Especially when you consider that no fighter could "stay with the bombers all the way to their targets and back", it's a misnomer that late war model planes could, NO fighter could escort bombers all the way there and back, because of the different altitudes and speeds that fighters get their longest range then bombers do it had to be done in "relays", figure out the math involved in calculating when different relays had to take off in order to catch up to and relieve the fighters in the relay before them, it's just mind boggling.

@dukecraig2402

4 жыл бұрын

@Babushka Novaya Yea, because everyone should live in a society that has the Gestapo for a police force.

@lanceortega1

4 жыл бұрын

@Call Me Ishmael Actually it wasn't any gas, but a liquid fuel rather ;-) I know - language, American English ;-)

Sitting here in the Regensburg University Library watching this detailed video gave me a bit of a shiver, as the location of this bombing run is only a few kilometers away to the east. But they do find unexploded ordinance and bombs from the runs against the Messerschmitt factory here quite regularly. the latest findings were two 250 kg bombs in january and april 2019. My hometown of Schwandorf lies 25km to the north of Regensburg and was hit on April 17th, 1945 by the RAF with 167 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos as it was considered as one of the last functioning railway hubs for the retreating wehrmacht. The whole town got destroyed and there are only estimated numbers, as the railway station and the city were also packed with fleeing civilians from the soviets advancing from the east and lots of wounded soldiers. But there were also concentration camp prisoners from the Flossenbürg Concentration Camp who were forced by the SS to stay put in the locked railways waggons standing near the station. Approx. 1300 people died in this 15 min night raid. War is absolute hell... we all should be thankful that we have been spared from it for nearly 75 years now. Thanks for the outstanding video. You earned a subscription from me. Greets to all of you from Bavaria.

@Juemue74

3 жыл бұрын

There are so much more, the last i know was found on July 23, 2020. It´s so crazy, 77 years ago and still dangerous.

@jeffpotipco736

Жыл бұрын

I remember hearing about that! Not too many people remember that incident.

@logangammage157

Жыл бұрын

Unlike Regensburg, Schweinfurt wasn't easy, ball bearing factories in residential areas meant civilian homes for hit in the process, not to mention heavy fighter attacks ripped apart the bombers on the way in and partway out, what the shutstafflen or SS did to the Jews was unacceptable and devilish, I met a holocaust survivor myself in highschool who survived Auschwitz berkinau death camp when the Russians came, Eva schloss of Holland, she knew of Anne frank and was the same age as her

@Tmccreight25Gaming

Жыл бұрын

Unexploded ordinance is still found everywhere. War is hell.

@HavocHerseim

9 ай бұрын

My grandfather was in Bavaria once! 1945.

regensburg citizen here, we still talk about the bombings accuracy. Our city is very old and was spared from 95% of damage to it

@pancernywiatrak6368

2 жыл бұрын

Oh shit! Thats suprisingly good, provided the city got bombed.

@frankvandergoes298

2 жыл бұрын

On the 3rd Schwienfurt raid almost aircraft bombed, only 22 bombs hit the target and less than 200 bombs fell within 3 miles of the target.

@comptonghost9013

2 жыл бұрын

They took pride in it

@MicroageHD

2 жыл бұрын

They completely destroyed most of the other cities in germany tho.

@frankvandergoes298

2 жыл бұрын

@@MicroageHD Correct, by area bombing not precision bombing.

It's shocking how expendable these fine young men were considered and also how ridiculously brave they were. I hope current and future generations appreciate them

@karenharlow6760

4 жыл бұрын

My dad was on that raid..

@lostinpa-dadenduro7555

4 жыл бұрын

I don’t think they were considered expendable but this was a war to the bitter end and everyone, including them, knew there would be a heavy price.

@kyle18934

4 жыл бұрын

It's crazy to think how many men my age were sent to be killed in such a terrifying war.

@tbd-1

4 жыл бұрын

Looking at the numbers, 10% of all American casualties in WW II were with the 8th AAF.

@FRDOMFGTHR

4 жыл бұрын

LostInPA expendable might not be the right word but it was assumed there would be heavy losses over 50k American and 50k British lost their lives serving in bomber command

There are still some bombs who didn't detonate in Regensburg and occasionally they are found during construction works

@lukasjahnel2850

3 жыл бұрын

Occasionally? more like nearly at every nee construction site

@bsaemmer

3 жыл бұрын

I live in Regensburg and my parents (born 1935/36) are from about 20 miles southeast of Schweinfurt. In Regensburg there are regularly evacuations due to neutralizing bombs. Regensburg is 2000 years old, founded by the Romans. The USAF did a great job in precise bombing the 109-factory in the west und the railway station.

@riploljustforfu9929

3 жыл бұрын

This is the case for every larger city in Germany.

@bananaab3156

3 жыл бұрын

Yea. That’s worrying

@abaialsa712

3 жыл бұрын

England started WW1

My uncle was a bombardier on this raid. He was shot down over Kassel the next year bombing the FW190 engine plant. He had one more combat mission to go before he would rotate home. He fell 30,000 ft and he got out of the plane at the last second. He landed in a freshly plowed field. Just as he stood up an ME 109 screamed right over him and he dove back down to the ground. Right behind the 109 was a P51 which then shot the 109 down. He ended up at Stalag Luft III a week after the Great Escape. He ended his career at the 89th Airlift Wing which fly's Air Force One. He was there when Nixon resigned and flew home. He was the squadron meteorologist so he wrote up the weather report for Nixon's flight home. He saw history and made history.

@Schattenzauberer

Жыл бұрын

movie stuff

@lonzo61

3 ай бұрын

Wow. Great stuff.

@stevedavis9466

3 ай бұрын

@charlieharper4975 what plane/bomb squadron was he on ? My Dad also flew this mission and all the other ones depicted in the series so far. He was on the Piccadilly Lily of the 351st SQ/ 100BG. He was a waist gunner. He kept a diary and his entry for AUG17, '43 is heart wrenching when he list the names of his buddies that did not make it to N. Africa.

@charlieharper4975

3 ай бұрын

The name of his aircraft was "Spirit of Billy Mitchell". I have a photo of he and his crew in front of their B-17. I can recognize him squating down in the front row. He flew in Triangle A squadron. This was painted on the tail. They flew out of Bassingbourn in England. Lost over Kassel April 19, 1944. Shot down by Me109s. 401st bomb squadron, 91st BG. The truly amazing thing is I have a movie prop from RKO studios of the squadron patch that was sewn onto their leather jackets. I guess RKO at one time made a movie in which the squadron was a part. His aircraft 6 POW, 4 KIA when it went down.@@stevedavis9466​

Rewatching this after watching the latest episode of Masters Of The Air

@TheOperationsRoom

3 ай бұрын

Yeah did you enjoy it?

@anthonyanderson5302

3 ай бұрын

@@TheOperationsRoom absolutely. Both this and the show. The only thing I can think of to compare the show to is 12 o'clock high the old ww2 movie with Gregory Peck. Especially this past episode. The episode delt with this mission specifically. The show follows the 100th bomb group. The bloody 100th you called it

@peaboss

3 ай бұрын

​@@anthonyanderson5302yeah, they gave a shoutout to 12 oclock noon in the episode. (Enemy at 12 high or sth)

@anthonyanderson5302

3 ай бұрын

@@peaboss wasn't just a reference. 12 o'clock high is an actually military phrase

@alexsis1778

3 ай бұрын

@@peaboss That's how you make callouts. You use the face of a clock for direction and then you say "high, level or low" for their altitude. So 12 o'clock high means in front and above. 3 o'clock low means from your right and below you. It's why you always hear the phrase "watch your 6!". It means someone is on your tail.

Fun fact: The former Messerschmitt factory which was bombed is nowadays a production site for Infineon Technologies, a German semiconductor manufacturer.

@biglebowski5737

3 жыл бұрын

Smart ass!

@MikeJones-qn1gz

3 жыл бұрын

How you like dem apples

@JG-ib7xk

3 жыл бұрын

I mean... i wouldn't exactly call that a 'fun' fact...

@Cat-Washing-ton

3 жыл бұрын

@@JG-ib7xk It's a figure of speech

@danielbarron8490

2 жыл бұрын

I wish they still made Bf109's & Fw190's

The massive disconnect between perceived kills and actual kills will never cease to amaze me.

@CeesaX

3 жыл бұрын

Every side, in every battle, in every war. It's a part of human nature. For this battle, though, it's completely understandable - how many machine guns were trained on the same plane as it was shot down? I bet every gunner claimed that same plane as his kill.

@pickeljarsforhillary102

3 жыл бұрын

In the bombers it is more understandable. When you have multiple gunners shooting at the same target each one is going to claim the kill.

@Howie262

2 жыл бұрын

On top of that despite holywood/video games it’s actually very hard to critically damage a plane with only 50. Cals. Airplanes are tin cans and bullets simply pass through unless you hit absolute needed component to keep the engine going or the pilot flying. The Germans realized this and that’s why the 30mm/rockets was used. Basically blowing a big hole into a pane disregards self sealing gas tanks, engines, and flight controls...

@sjonnieplayfull5859

2 жыл бұрын

@@Howie262 the Germans were shooting big targets. Big wings, big controls, two pilots. The Allied were shooting small planes, small wings, small controlls, one pilot. Smaller calliber also means more bullets in the air, more chance to hit that smaller, faster target

@jedimasterdraco6950

2 жыл бұрын

Also don't forget that this is in a time where the only way of estimating whether or not an aircraft was shot down was by eyesight or combat footage (and that was generally very restrictive).

Who’s here after masters of the air

@don39boo

3 ай бұрын

I am here

Hearing quotes from those pilots and even a German one really puts into perspective on how war is just hell for everyone, even if you like it or not. Even if you believe in what youre fighting for. Brave men overall, indeed.

@Fabii2000

3 жыл бұрын

The worst thing is if you don’t believe in what you’re fighting for just to save the lifes of you family members

@norizammastor9072

2 жыл бұрын

Ur words is nice to read at.. Thx for teaching me english..

@n7warhound885

2 жыл бұрын

Scary orders. “If you can’t get the factory’s bomb the city center and get the workers”

When they say things like "the bombing was ineffective as three months later production actually increased" it always annoys me. The production was interrupted and therefore cut down on the available materials needed. If they had not bombed these facilities then not only would the production at them continued but the manpower, time and material that went into repairing those factories would have been put into building even more factories thus increasing the overall production.

I live in Schweinfurt, right next to some air-raid shelters for the workers back in the days. They are designed to look like normal houses from above.

@FlexBeanbag

3 жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/dKGXm7B_lsveZ5c.html

@WZRD_KC

3 жыл бұрын

Ein SW'ler :) Grüße aus NDW ;)

@pekar163

3 жыл бұрын

Auch Grüße aus sw

@shonzu04

2 жыл бұрын

Grüße auch aus schweinfurt

@overarm4614

2 жыл бұрын

Grüße aus sw meine edlen Mitbürger

My Father was a mechanic on B-17s. The bombers would be assigned the same targets a month or two later because the Germans would rebuild the factories enough in that amount of time to be producing again. I know they were the enemy at that time, but I am still impressed with this.

@thethirdman225

26 күн бұрын

The second raid was confined to Schweinfurt, I believe.

I was stationed in Schweinfurt, saw the ball bearing factory near our base. I was told the townspeople lit fires in the woods at night and turned off all lights in town to throw off the bombers.

Bet you weren't expecting so much interest in this video 4 years later.. 🙂

TO OPERATIONS ROOM: Thanks for producing the excellent, informative, illustrative video. It really is helpful to understanding the events. One reads of numbers of bombers, but is helpful to see that many icons of aircraft assemble, then fly over the map, then line up for the bomb run. The details about the fighter escorts is good. The quoted statements from the aircrew is also very good. I liked seeing the paintings and the photos too. I think some more photos would be nice. Good narration voice and pace. Well done! Subscribed. P.S. I interviewed many pilots and aircrew from the 8th AF including some on these raids (both) and their personal memories were vivid and chilling. Balls of steel made in the factories on the ground, and on the men in the aircraft.

My Uncle Edward Hughel was a B-17 pilot & flew this mission. His aircraft was downed & the entire crew hit silk. He was turned in by German villagers & spent the next 19 months as a P.O.W. at the hands of the Nazi’s. This was his 33rd mission. Uncle Ed lived to the age of 96 passing away in June of 2017. He held high the banner of service to our country & that tradition continues today through my own sons & cousins 🇺🇸

@landonfonke6082

4 жыл бұрын

My grandfather's story is very similar. He was shot down on his 12th mission and was held captive by the villagers. These men were so brave!

@bolobalaman

3 жыл бұрын

Your grandfather is a living definition of “ tough “

@wattage2007

3 жыл бұрын

Their bravery cannot be overstated. Your uncle was a hero.

@Zaluskowsky

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for keeping it going on. From Germany. Salute

@Xingmey

3 жыл бұрын

My grandfather operated the Flak back in 1943 44. He was so proud everytime they downed one of thoese pesky B-17 ;)

They protect, they attack, but most importantly, their story brings operations room back

@TheOperationsRoom

4 жыл бұрын

I'm peddling as fast as I can up here :)

@richardc7721

4 жыл бұрын

My mom repaired heavy and medium bombers that were sent back to the States for major upgrades/repairs. She told of many times finding body parts, bone fragments when the outer skin of the planes was removed. One of my uncles was a crew chief on B17s and later the B29s. He served in the Pacific where my stepdad served as a Marine. My dad built air field runways. Every adult in my family, aunts and uncles, my dad, and my mother all served in the war effort. We were the United States 🇺🇸 during the War years.

@FlexBeanbag

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheOperationsRoom kzread.info/dash/bejne/dKGXm7B_lsveZ5c.html

Hello Ladies and Gents. Your positive comments really are appreciated. I create these videos in my spare time around a full time day job. Each one takes around 60-70 man hours of effort to produce, even longer on complex videos like Schweinfurt-Regensburg and the Battle of Midway. My goal is to reach 100k subscribers by the end of 2020. If you enjoy The Operations Room, it would be awesome if you could please subscribe!

@rpm1796

4 жыл бұрын

Amazing effort OP...I just came on board with your Pan Z production.....Top Tier.

@garynew9637

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your perseverance

@davidrobertson5700

4 ай бұрын

You have 11 times that number now , well done. Onwards to two mill

@Goldendeed

3 ай бұрын

from 100k to a million, you've come far. Great work man

This is going to be the mission that Masters of the Air Episode 3 is going to be about. Cant wait!

@thethirdman225

26 күн бұрын

You won’t learn much from that.

My wife's grandfather was a gunner on a B-17 headed to bomb the Schweinfurt ball bearing factory and was shot down inside enemy lines. He was one of only two or three that survived the crash. He then got help from the underground forces who also helped him evade capture for many months and finally found his way to an ally base and returned to service and finally home.

@russianbot8557

Жыл бұрын

Do you know where exactly he was hidden? I'm from Schweinfurt and interested.

@SuchDoge4242

Жыл бұрын

My grandfather flew p-47s and had the same fate 2 times. Those resistance fighters were heros among heros.

@DannyBoy777777

Жыл бұрын

@ B Dubz That would never have happened over Germany. He may have come down in the Netherlands or Belgium.

@DannyBoy777777

Жыл бұрын

​@Such Doge4242 That is really difficult, to believe - once maybe, but twice, no.

@ottogarsber

7 ай бұрын

Den hätte man verurteilen müssen!

The gentleman who was the lead pilot on this mission to Schweinfurt, Retired Brig. Gen. James Kemp McLaughlin just died on Dec. 16 in Charleston WV.

@tomjustis7237

4 жыл бұрын

May he rest in peace. He earned it several times over.

@stevek8829

4 жыл бұрын

RIP a hero to me.

@surferdude44444

4 жыл бұрын

Douglas Jenkins.....101. Wow!

@dumoulin11

4 жыл бұрын

May he rest in peace.

@paulfreeman7719

4 жыл бұрын

A real hero. I met B17 maint crew member and B24 command pilot. Heard the well remembered stories. The pilot was with 44th BG at Polesti. They were in Vets Home in Spokane, Wa. Talk with all WW2 vets that are still with us.

Imagine looking up and seeing hundreds of bombers, with thousands of men, crossing the sky in formation! We'll probably never to see a sight like that again. 1000 Bombers = 10,000 Airmen

@sebastianhofmann2658

2 жыл бұрын

I understand your fascination, but thank God nobody has to. Hundreds of thousands of civilians had to look at it before they got bombed to the ground.

@kowalski3769

2 жыл бұрын

The sound alone must have been terrifying. I've seen just one B-17 in flight and you could feel the thing coming from miles away from the sound it was making. I can't imagine what the the sound of over 200 of them in the air at the same time must have sounded like. Then add in the sounds of the flak guns and bomb blasts all going off while those formations flew over head.

Bump for Masters of the Air

Its just incredible how far things have moved on in 75 years. I heard once that when the Lancasters amoung others undertook night raids, their accuracy was considered Good if the bombs landed within '5 miles' of their targets. Which for the time isn't too bad considering the afformentioned flying at night, only navigating via charts, bearings and speeds etc. But you compare that to todays standards! A modern LGB could get a specific window of a specific building. But yea, its a moot point, that was the best tech they had at the time and thats all they had to fight with. It sounds absolutely horrific by todays standards, but thats just how things were back them. War is a cruel beast.

@wattage2007

3 жыл бұрын

Indeed. I think only 10% of bombs landed within 5 miles of the target. Absolutely sickening to think of the losses these guys took for such poor results.

@bernjoernvanhoeck5883

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, very right! At least until the middle/end of the year 43, when the Allies had radar systems that were small enough to be installed in aircraft on a massive scale. Another important invention was a more accurate aiming system for bombs from the USA. Only then were the destructive attacks on German cities 44 and 45 possible.

@gw7624

3 жыл бұрын

By 1944, RAF technological and strategic developments had improved bomb accuracy of the Lancaster such that it was reliably able to hit targets within 25 yards at 15,000 feet.

@bernjoernvanhoeck5883

3 жыл бұрын

@@gw7624 Absolutely right - I lived in two not too big cities that were attacked in late 1944 and where the entire inner city was destroyed and never rebuilt in the same way.

@chrisbrace2204

3 жыл бұрын

My father tells a story, he did his part of his national service in an RAF base defending Libya from the Egyptians at the end of the 50's. He was a radio operator and one of the jobs there was to report on a bombing range out in the desert. this range was a circle of posts a mile across that was the same distance from bomber bases in the UK as Moscow was. Vulcans and other V bombers would fly out fly upwards and loft a bomb from over the coast and try to land it as close to the centre of the target 30 odd miles inland. now to report on the success or failure there was an observation post five miles from the target area which was five miles from the air base where all the transmitters for the radio system was based and when the bombers had dropped their bombs and were screaming back north at low level the range would transmit their success back to them and it was apparently relatively rare to miss the circle. now having a bombing range in the desert was a relative luxury and they had a request from the US airforce for a wing of level bombers to come over and use the range. The day came and the formation came over and dropped the bombs and managed to land them half way between the range hut and the airfield, so having missed the target by 7 1/2 miles. The base commander apparently got on the radio and told them to "F*ck off and never come back"

my uncle Charles 'charlie' Shook was a B17 side gunner 8th Army Airforce 43 thru 45 .he survived 26 mission over Germany ,he passed away a few years ago, but i always considered him to be the luckist man in America ,because the dead toll on those missions were astronomical R.I.P charlie

I remember playing this mission in Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe, it was one of the quick start missions you could play as a B17 aircrew.

@biglebowski5737

3 жыл бұрын

You are the man! A real hero! Thank you for your service!

@moistmike4150

3 жыл бұрын

@@biglebowski5737 LOL!!!

I was in USAF ROTC in college. One of my instructors was shot down on the Schweinfurt raid and became a POW. He landed on a Luftwaffe air field and had no chance for escape. I was really impressed. LeMay and Patton were real warriors that got results.

@MadNotAngry

3 жыл бұрын

Guessin' you stop listening at some point. LeMay lead this raid which yielded poor results.

@austin3600

3 жыл бұрын

@@MadNotAngry The raid LeMay lead was actually the successful one that had a significant impact on 109 production. Might wanna try listening yourself.

@angelonunez8555

3 жыл бұрын

When George Wallace ran for president in 1968, Curtis LeMay was his running mate.

I have read a ton about these very missions. You are spot on in regards to some of the miscues forming up. Some of the most dangerous times were climbing out and forming up in wings without any advanced radar, and using only locator beacons. Love seeing the missions played out, and realizing how dangerous they were. Brilliant!!

@jameschristoffersen238

2 жыл бұрын

Yea. I have seen some photos of B-17s and B-24s colliding in mid-air while forming up. Horrifying stuff these brave airmen had to go through

Thank you for this video! Very informative stuff. I have been directing my friends to it to understand what my dad went through. My father, 2Lt. William Couch was the bombardier on one of the planes shot down this mission. He was in the Regensburg portion of the raid, and his plane was hit by both fighters and flak. After losing two engines, they barely made it over the Alps, and splash landed in the Med before reaching North Africa. He and the rest of his crew spent the rest of the war in German POW camps. Never forget the sacrifice and valor of the young men on both sides of this conflict.

The actual history was a horror. But these videos about history are wonderful.

Cant believe my dad survived this run - plus 36 others - in The Farmer's Daughter.

@steeltrap3800

4 жыл бұрын

Why was SHE on the plane? ;-D

@vinkhe861

3 жыл бұрын

Why was your dad inside the farmer's daughter???????????????

@bananaab3156

3 жыл бұрын

Salute to your dad!

@smithyMcjoe

3 жыл бұрын

Fighting for freedom and the clap of the farmers daughters cheeks

@shimsmartialarts4099

3 жыл бұрын

Its just incredible how far things have moved on in 75 years. I heard once that when the Lancasters amoung others undertook night raids, their accuracy was considered Good if the bombs landed within '5 miles' of their targets. Which for the time isn't too bad considering the afformentioned flying at night, only navigating via charts, bearings and speeds etc. But you compare that to todays standards! A modern LGB could get a specific window of a specific building. But yea, its a moot point, that was the best tech they had at the time and thats all they had to fight with. It sounds absolutely horrific by todays standards, but thats just how things were back them. War is a cruel beast.

OUTSTANDING! Thank you for your efforts in keeping the memory of these young aviators alive!

Operations Room is one of the best creators on the platform. I've watched and rewatched his videos several times; the quality is undeniable.

300 fighters? Whoa!

In the histories of the Schweinfurt raids I read in the 70's and 80's, the raids were considered 'educational' failures. But lately I've read a number of accounts from the German side indicating they lost a lot of time, material, and production due to the raids. Weapons systems were cancelled due to the long 6-week delay. They say 'only 6 weeks' like it's nothing. In Feb-May 1943 Germany was desperate to produce tanks for the coming Kursk battle. By August, Italy had been invaded. And what is called a small thing, Germany had to disperse ball bearing production, at great cost to their transportation and energy systems, because of the raids.

Just saw the 3rd ep of Masters of the Air, and then this video popped up!

masters of the air episode 3 tho

@Dtuba15

3 ай бұрын

That was the first raid

I got home from work, fired up the computer and saw a notification that The OR had posted a new vid. I immediately poured a scotch and happily settled back to unwind while being both entertained and educated. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

I have watched this twice now, and you do an excellent job of laying out the timeline and including all the variables which affected the mission. Incidentally, I have been to both Regensburg and Schweinfurt several times. Obviously, Scdhweinfurt suffered significant damage, but damage at Regesnburg was limited, leaving the town with its medieval downtown are...a really nice visit.

Man you truly do not know how great your content is. I dont even remember being subbed to this channel but I clicked the video and fell in love with it so much. I went on your channel and remembered watching those videos and I watched them again and loved them. It like falling in love twice. First when I subbed months ago and just now again.

I live in schweinfurt ;) and SKF sachs is still thr biggest ball bearing factory in germany they also make many parts for machines and cars and stuff

I recently read a book by a B17 gunner who was in the Schweinfurt raid. It sounded like absolute hell. Highly recommend it, Combat Crew by John Comer, it's on audible too.

Good explanation of the missions. Fantastic graphic maps n its interactions ! Kudos n looking forward to tour next video.

This is an outstanding presentation, with excellent graphics, and superb narration which shows deep familiarity with the entire context of the event. I immediately subscribed afterward. * Especially effective is the accurate use of tiny aircraft icons to represent bombers and bomber groups as they wheeled about their air bases, and joined in a column over the target. With 2,900 nods of approval, your efforts have been saluted. We look forward to more.

I was stationed at Conn barracks in Schweinfurt Germany 🇩🇪 beautiful city and wonderful people. I miss that place.

@shonzu04

2 жыл бұрын

And we all miss you guys. You made schweinfurt better . And even now is everyone talking about how you guys made schweinfurt better

Wonderful work. Thanks for creating and posting 👌

I love the depth and presentation of your videos! Thanks for putting these together

Thank you, Operations Room. You have a great website and I always learn something new about history. Well Done!

I personally worked, in the late 1980s, with a gentleman who was a bombardier on the Regensburg part of the raid. He was very surprised he survived.

To The Operations Room - Thank you for your time and effort in recreating a piece of WW2 history. I had relatives that were airmen in B-17's in the 8th and 15th during WW2. One with the 15th, based in Italy, and 21 years old, a tail gunner, didn't return home, as he opted to take the place of a tail gunner that was sick, and flew in his place because he was closing in on his 30th mission and wanted to get home.

In the classic science fiction movie The Thing From Another World(1951), one of the U.S. Air Force characters is totally freaked out when the alien monster first appears. One of the other Air Force men notes that, "I haven't seen him this scared since Regensburg". Any WW2 Air Force veterans in the audience, just six years after the war, would have immediately understood the reference, and the level of fear that implied

“When I saw Mustangs over Berlin, I knew the jig was up.” Göring

@thethirdman225

Ай бұрын

Yeah, that was eight months later.

There actually was a fighter capable of escorting bombers on that raid- P-47 with 200 gal droptank. Gives P-47 424 mi combat radius (max continous power climb to 25k ft, cruise at 300 mph TAS, 15 min of MIL power fight, 5 min of WEP fight, way back home, land with 30 min reserve), just enough for Schweinfurt raid. But apparently, bomber mafia didn't want to hear about that. They needed to PROVE that bombers can make it by themselves, without escort. Notion that the P-51 was the first and only fighter capable of escorting bombers deep into Germany is a myth. Probably made to make it look like there was no possibility of having escort fighters earlier, after huge loss of life PROVED that bombers can't make it by themselves. Great vid by the way!

@jdotoz

Жыл бұрын

Except the first thing a fighter pilot would do when they met the enemy is drop their tanks, so if they attacked before you emptied them you could wind up stuck. ETA: Plus, it's over 500 miles just from Dover to Regensburg, and the airfields were all further away than that.

@thethirdman225

3 ай бұрын

This is straight from Greg's Airplanes and Automobiles. Unfortunately, Greg has built his case not on finding the truth but on trying to vindicate 'my favourite plane'. Drop tanks could not have made much - if any - difference to the Schweinfurt raid. But Greg doesn't talk about this because he doesn't really understand the history of the raid. He's too focussed on building a support case for 'my favourite plane'. Schweinfurt was a foul up not because of drop tanks - or lack of them - but because of the weather. There is plenty of information about this. Furthermore, American bombing raids up until then had not shown unacceptable losses. Hell, with a bit of luck, they might even have pulled it off. Nobody had a crystal ball. Greg's 20/20 hindsight view is pretty unhelpful.

@thethirdman225

Ай бұрын

@@jdotoz That was a Luftwaffe strategy, agreed upon by Galland and Beppo Schmitt - who had become a good officer since his embarrassing performance in the Battle of Britain - from early 1944.

@thethirdman225

Ай бұрын

By the way, Greg’s claims are based mostly on calculations. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he is using assumptions involving optimum altitude and throttle settings. A theoretical range of 400 miles is meaningless in an escort scenario and it would have been more appropriate to talk about _endurance._ That the P-51 enabled escorted deep penetration missions into Germany is not seriously contested by anyone who has read enough about it. The idea of rewriting history to make the P-47 look better than it was is counter factual. Before the P-51 arrived there could be no escorted raids on cities like Berlin or Munich. Once the P-51 arrived, the USAAF strategic bombing campaign could be prosecuted anywhere in Germany with low losses. I can find no examples of P-47s flying to Berlin and back. None. They may have flown as part of the relay but they could only have covered all of Germany from either liberated Europe or Italy. The problem could not be solved with drop tanks and anyone who knows anything about flying or aerodynamics knows this. It could only be solved by increasing internal fuel capacity. When the government requested manufacturers increase the internal capacity of US fighters at least a year before Schweinfurt, the only manufacturer who did not respond appropriately was Republic. Everyone else: North American, Lockheed, Curtiss, Bell, Grumman, etc. all improved their internal capacity. Gen. George Kenney was known to have been furious with Kartvelli for failing to address the problem. The 200 gallon tank Greg calculates for was a ferry tank and not combat capable. I don’t think it could even be jettisoned. Bomber mafia problem? Nope.

@thethirdman225

Ай бұрын

Greg’s claims are the stuff of cheap conspiracy. He has read next to no history so he never comments with operational examples. Everything he presents is spec sheets and conjecture. He doesn’t have any serious knowledge of the operational considerations of the Schweinfurt - Regensburg raids. I’m staggered that so many people have been sucked in.

The most effective targets were the oil production and railway. The Germans had many tanks and planes in late 1944 but no fuel to use them, and unable to move them to front line

@brudnick39

3 жыл бұрын

So very true...the USAAF's own report indicated that the only targets that the bombers went after that REALLY hurt the German war effort were oil, electricity, and transportation targets.

What an excellent video and history lesson, many thanks for the production and posting of it.

My grandfather was in this mission and is still alive today. Thank you for making this video.

@davidjma7226

2 жыл бұрын

Thank him for his service please.

@andrewblasdell6753

2 жыл бұрын

His generation knew how to deal with Nazis properly

Thanks for your videos. I appreciate them a lot. Have a merry and peaceful christmas everyone!

what a christmas present, happy holidays

@TheOperationsRoom

4 жыл бұрын

And you too have a great one

Excellent video presentation. Excellent narration and the graphics really help understand the complexities of the mission and the geographical location of the targets, something difficult to grasp otherwise. Also, the Allied and German participants' psychological mindset so elegantly understated. Kudos and kudos to you, T.O.R.

Another excellent presentation, well done. Martin Middlebrook's book on these missions is a 'must read'.

@rpm1796

4 жыл бұрын

Bill is that a Winnipeg ''Black Devils'' badge?

@thethirdman225

Ай бұрын

Agreed. Unfortunately Martin Middlebrook passed away on 24 January, 2024, aged 91.

My favorite channel - very well done, looking forward to more!

Fast forward 67 years to 2010. I needed heart treatment. The hospitals in London were full for treatment. So I went, on the advice of my UK Cardiac Professor who was treating me, to the Heart Hospital In Schweinfurt Germany for Treatment. They did a good job! After my treatment I went to a rest-recovery room at the end of the ward......coffee, music, books, music. But they were playing dreadful loud rap-music. I asked the German Nurses to play soothing classical and German folk music, which they did.........it helped my recovery. What terrible irony, I thought. Britain won the war but did Germany win the Peace?

Dude your videos are outstanding. Thx for making these

This was very good, good format, informative and an interesting topic. Keep it up!

I really love your channel, thank you for making all these videos. more modern or historical videos are fine for me id watch this stuff all day long.

This one of the most amazing war channels ever. So in depth.

This video really helped understand what happened and where. I've known a lot of details for years. However, the animation really put this whole operation in sharp focus and easy to understand. For some reason I didn't know Curtis LeMay lead that one group. Nobody ever accused him of being a coward. Two thumbs up for the best video presentation on that bloody day.

Wow! The logistics of those raids! And this animation really does a tremendous job of depicting the scale.

Thank you for your wonderful videos, truly one of my favorite alerts on KZread when I see it!

@tobiasflohr4849

4 жыл бұрын

Same here

I'm really enjoying this magnificent short documentaries you do, wherever american, British or German perspectives, keep it coming!!!

My cousin Gene Greenwood was a member of the 100th Bomb Group. His first mission was the 29th January 1945. He flew through to the end if the war completing 26 bombing missions and 3 Chow Hound missions.

I was stationed in schweinfurt the ball bearing factory is still there with all the bomb damage and everything pretty cool to see in person

well worth the wait. great vid can't wait for the next one

@TheOperationsRoom

4 жыл бұрын

Thankyou sir, have a great Christmas

Excellent video. Thank you for uploading.

Really well done. Excellent explanation that never got boring. I doubt if I have seen anything as comprehensive on a single raid on KZread.

very well done educational, precise and understandable,.. my first time in Ops room!

Interesting video, my grandmother was born in 1933 in Regensburg and she sometimes tells stories about the allied bombers and how she could differentiate between bombers who already dropped their payload and the ones who didn’t by their engine/propeller sound. Definitely was a quiet traumatizing time for her since her father worked for the „Reichsbahn“ (railroad) and was at risk of being bombed.

Your videos are a marvel - without question some of the great work here.

I love the animations of the forming-up and assembly! Its an awesome ballet!

grade-A level writing and accurate facts. Just wonderfully done. Your channel is a gem

@walterseaman2556

4 жыл бұрын

With the accuracy, seriousness and unbiasness of a British historian !

Narrator’s voice was pleasant with the right cadence and the graphics were very nice down to the actual miniature plane type. Well done!

You need to do an April Fools episode that's this but it's a fictional battle, like the battle of Helm's Deep or the battle of Yevin IV. These are so well done, it would be very fun to see it not be describing the actual history of people dying.

@TheOperationsRoom

Жыл бұрын

See our 1st April video from this year :)

Well done and excellent information along with personal accounts.

Exquisite production values. I can't stress that enough. The quality of your work is extraordinary. I patiently await your "Ploesti" video. Well done, Sir. Your work is much appreciated.

Was Stationed in Schweinfurt during Desert Storm and it and her people are Wonderful, Personable and kind People!! Would move back there in a Minute if i could Afford it!! Beautiful People and Country!!

Well done your presentation was a perfect explanation of what happened that fateful day.

Further reading: "Black Thursday" by Martin Caidin.

@davidjacobs3275

4 жыл бұрын

Black Thursday was the 2nd Regensburg - Schweinfurt mission. A very bad day for the 8th Air Force

@buckappel6835

4 жыл бұрын

Read it! Great book

@hertzair1186

3 жыл бұрын

Caiden was an excellent historical Aviation writer....very prolific

@angelonunez8555

3 жыл бұрын

Martin Caidin is considered to be a clown by serious aviation historians and writers. Don't waste your money on his stuff. If anyone is interested in reading something worthwhile about the raid, try "The Schweinfurt-Regensburg Mission" by Martin Middlebrook.

@thethirdman225

3 ай бұрын

@@hertzair1186 I don't agree. Caidin seems to have laced a lot of his stories with all kinds of unfounded rumours and rose-tinted optimism. I wouldn't recommend him. The only reason I can think of for reading it is that I can’t find anything else on the second raid.

I appreciate the hard work that took to make all of your videos

Incredible! Another excellently produced video, such researched packed story, Thank you. We always eagerly await your next video.

Glad to see you updating c:

Dude your videos are awesome keep it up!

I have been waiting for so long for a proper documentary about german bombing campaign. Many thanks, great job! Keep up the good work! Loved it!

This channel is truly a gem I’ve just binged watched every video. Bummed out there aren’t more!!

@biglebowski5737

3 жыл бұрын

Get a life!

I read a book back in the 80's and it said that there was a specialised wing at the front that had aircraft with added armour and gun load, but reduced bomb weight as they expected a head on attack, the plan was that the fighters would partly blunt themselves on the more heavily armoured aircraft, Unfortunately the navigators there made a small error and ended up drifting a degree or two south of the course. creating a dog leg the Germans had formed up to attack down the throat of the column and managed to fly past this heavily armed group and hit a group around a third of the way back, who were expecting any major attacks on them to be coming more from the sides of the column. A large part of the aircraft casualties were in this section of the formation

@thethirdman225

Ай бұрын

I think you are referring to the YB-40, which was a failure and not used operationally.

My dad was a pilot on both of the Schweinfurt raids.

@ronmcdon992000

4 жыл бұрын

Did he know Col Lee Fiegel of 93rd BG?

@johnparker3111

4 жыл бұрын

@@ronmcdon992000 - Unlikely - he was with the 486th at Sudbury-Suffolk.

@jimchape

4 жыл бұрын

My dad was a co-pilot flying his 16th mission in one of the Schweinfurt B-17s. They made it to the target but were shot down on their way back. Dad bailed out over Holland but was later captured and spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft III where the Great Escape happened.

@davidlizama223

4 жыл бұрын

Much respect to yours and the other guys' fathers.

@adamsauer6516

4 жыл бұрын

my family is from there. grandmothers house was bombed. she lived in the countryside after that till the end.

Great video, great narration. Thank you.