Massive raid on Dresden February 1945

DRESDEN IN RUINS AFTER FIRESTORM

FEBRUARY13/14 1945
   
There were to be three more key raids on Germany in 1944, culminating with the massive raid on Dresden in February 1945.

March 8 1944 US 8th air force raid on Berlin. Daylight precision raid on Erkner ball-bearing works. Of 590 planes involved 37 were lost. Heavy damage to works [75 direct hits] Production at a standstill for some time. This was the third US raid on Berlin. Bombers were escorted by a large force of P-51 fighters.

March 30/31 RAF raid on Nuremburg. Night area raid on city centre. Of 795 planes involved 95 destroyed, 71 damaged. Some 2.500 tons of bombs dropped. Heaviest defeat sufferd by British Bomber Command in the war. It showed that without command of the air, long-range bombing could not be kept up indefinitely. After Nuremberg the RAF broke off mass raids on distant targets.

September 23/24 1944. RAF Canal raid. Night precision raid on Dortmund-Ems canal, the inland waterway linking the Ruhr with other industrial areas. Of 141 planes involved 14 lost. 11 "Tallboy" bombs [12.000 lbs each]dropped canal breached and six mile section drained.

February 13/14 1945 RAF raid on Dresden. Night area raid on city centre. Of 805 planes involved 8 lost. Immense damage to old town and inner suburbs. 1.600 acres devastated. Incendaries kindled the worst firestorm of the war, an estimated 25.000 people were killed. The next morning 400 planes of the US 8th air force, continued the devastation with a daylight raid.