Airbattle Report |
17 September: D (Day Zero) |
Daylight : - The Air Armada: Between 10.30 and 12.00 the biggest airborne operation ever started (they had to go 120 km. behind enemy lines). From several airfields in the U.K. Units from the First British airborne division left in 145 U.S. transport planes and 358 British towing planes, they towed 354 U.S. and British Gliders The U.S.101 airborne division were transported by 424 U.S transport planes and 70 towing planes with gliders. The U.S 82 airborne division left in 480 U.S transport planes and 50 towing planes with their gliders. In total the whole air armada were 1544 planes with 478 gliders and also included the so called Pathfinders. In total 335 British transport and tow planes with 323 gliders, and the 1044 U.S. transport and tow planes with 105 gliders reach the landing and drop zones. The British did not lost a plane this day, the U.S. lost 35 transport and 15 glider planes Air cover was well organised, there were decoy actions for example from the France Lorraine sq. to attract enemy fighter planes. Above the transport planes flew hundreds of fighter planes and medium bombers off different types like: the A-20 Boston, B-25 Mitchells. On a higher altitude the fighters like the Spitfire, Tempest and other type’s were there to cover and would come in to action when the enemy was spotted. - 8TH Airforce: 875 B-17’s flew over Holland to 120 different military positions, and they had to be there at 09.30 as introduction to the airborne operations. Air cover for the bombers and the transport planes was by 445 P-51’s and 34 P-47’s. Also 147 P-47’s were busy with bombing and ground attacks manly in the landing zone area’s .Two of these actions was the mental-hospital near Wolfheze were German artillery was stationed. 50 mosquito’s, 24 RAF Bostons and 48 Mitchells attacked mil. barracks The bombers engaged no enemy Flak or fighters,2 B-17 did not return. The fighters destroyed 7 enemy planes, and 9 P-51 and 7 P-47 were shot down by Flak. - AEAF: (see air armada) 50 Mosquito’s(in low level flight), 24 RAF Bostons and 48 Mitchells (With one from 320 Dutch sq.) attacked military barracks in Ede, Arnhem and Nijmegen 3 Mosquito’s did not return. - ADGB: 211 Spitfire’s, 44 Tempests and 36 Mustangs give support and escort to the airborne operations .One Tempest and two Mustangs did not return. - Luftwaffe: 3 Bf-109, 2 Fw-190, 1 Ju-88, 2 Bf-110 and 6 other (type?) plane were lost. Night: - Bomber command: 39 Lancasters dropped imitation parachutists filled with fireworks in the Arnhem and Nijmegen area. Also 210 planes ; 87 Halifaxes, 28 Lancasters, 18 Stirlings and 68 Wellingtons were in the air for diversion sweeps. |
