Results of Raid
The results of the raid are difficult to judge given the confusion over loss records. It is likely more aircraft were destroyed than listed. The Americans failed to keep a proper record of their losses and it appears the U.S. 8th Air Force losses were not included in loss totals. When these estimates and figures are added to the losses listed in the table below, it is likely that the correct figures are 232 destroyed (143 single-engine, 74 twin-engine and 15 four-engine) and 156 damaged (139 single-engine, 12 twin-engine and five four-engine). Researching individual squadron records confirms the destruction of even more USAAF aircraft. This suggests at least a further 16 B-17s, 14 B-24s, eight P-51s, and at least two P-47s were destroyed on top of that total. A total of 290 destroyed and 180 damaged seems a more realistic summation than the conservative figures given by the USAAF, RAF, and RCAF. Including the 15 Allied aircraft shot down and 10 damaged in aerial combat, 305 destroyed and 190 damaged is the sum total of the attack.
The results of the attacks are listed:
no damage
light damage
medium damage
heavy damage
| Target | Target Code (Allied) | Luftwaffe unit (wing) | Allied forces | Effect on Allied Squadrons (according to official figures) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antwerp—Deurne | B-70 | JG 77 | No. 146 Wing RAF, No. 145 Wing RAF and USAAF Bomb Group also present | One aircraft confirmed destroyed around 15 damaged. Including three possibly destroyed. |
| Asch | Y-29 | JG 11 | USAAF 366th Fighter Group, 352nd Fighter Group. | One abandoned B-17 destroyed, three damaged. |
| Brussels—Evere | B-56 | JG 26 and JG 54 | 127 Wing RAF, Second Tactical Air Force Communication Squadron, and visiting units No. 147 Squadron RAF and No. 271 Squadron RAF. USAAF 361st Fighter Group and 358th Fighter Group elements also present. | 34 destroyed 29 damaged. |
| Brussels—Grimbergen | B-60 | JG 26 and JG 54 | Only six aircraft were present | All six aircraft destroyed. |
| Brussels—Melsbroek | B-58 | JG 27, JG 54 and JG 4 | No. 34 Wing RAF, No. 139 Wing RAF, TAF Communications Squadron and 85 Group RAF Communications squadron. | 35 destroyed 9 severely damaged. |
| Eindhoven | B-78 | JG 3 | No. 124 Wing RCAF, No. 143 Wing RCAF and 39 Wing RAF. No. 400 Squadron RCAF, No. 414 Squadron RCAF and No. 430 Squadron RCAF were also present. | 26 Typhoons destroyed, plus around 30 damaged. A further five reconnaissance Spitfires were destroyed (400 Squadron), one of which was destroyed via a collision with a shot down Fw 190. |
| Ghent/Sint-Denijs-Westrem | B-61 | JG 1 | No. 131 Wing RAF | 16 destroyed several damaged. |
| Gilze—Rijen | B-77 | JG 3 and KG 51 | No. 35 Recce Wing RAF | One destroyed and one damaged. |
| Heesch | B-88 | JG 6 | No. 401 Squadron RCAF, No. 402 Squadron RCAF, No. 411 Squadron RCAF, No. 412 Squadron RCAF, No. 442 Squadron RCAF. | No losses |
| Le Culot | A-89 | JG 4 | USAAF 36th Fighter Group, 373d Fighter Group, 363rd TRG | No damage |
| Maldegem | B-65 | JG 1 | No. 485 Squadron RNZAF and No. 349 Squadron RAF | 13 destroyed, two damaged beyond repair. |
| Metz—Frescaty | A-90 | JG 53 | USAAF. IX Tactical Air Force; 354th Fighter Group, 362nd Fighter Group, 40th Fighter Group, 406th Fighter Group, 425th Fighter Group, 367th Fighter Group, 368th Fighter Group, 361st Fighter Group. XII Tactical Air Force’s 64th Fighter Wing; 1 ere, Escadre of the French Air Force, 50th Fighter Group, 358th Fighter Group | 22 destroyed, 11 damaged (all P-47 Thunderbolts). |
| Ophoven | Y-32 | JG 4 | No. 130 Squadron RAF, No. 350 Squadron RAF | One destroyed circa, six damaged. |
| Sint—Truiden | A-92 | JG 2, JG 4 and SG 4 | USAAF 48th Fighter Group and 404th Fighter Group | 10 destroyed 31 damaged. |
| Volkel | B-80 | JG 6 | No. 56 Squadron RAF, No. 486 Squadron RNZAF | One aircraft destroyed. |
| Woensdrecht | B-79 | JG 77 | No. 132 Wing RAF | No effect |
| Ursel | B-67 | JG 1 | USAAF 486th Bomb Group and No. 61 Squadron RAF | Three aircraft destroyed. |
Read more about this topic: Operation Bodenplatte
Famous quotes containing the words results of, results and/or raid:
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—Anonymous Mother. As quoted in Between Generations by Ellen Galinsky, ch. 2 (1981)
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