The 859th Bomb Squadron: A WWII Tragedy

The 859th Bomb Squadron was a unit of the United States Army Air Forces that flew B-24 Liberator bombers during World War II. The squadron was assigned to the 491st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force, and was stationed in Italy. The 859th flew its first combat mission on March 25, 1944, and was involved in many of the major air offensives against Germany, including the bombing of Ploesti, Romania, and the strategic bombing of Berlin.

On August 1, 1944, the 859th Bomb Squadron was tasked with bombing a German airfield near the city of Schweinfurt, Germany. The squadron was flying in formation with other bombers, and they were met with heavy anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition. During the raid, the 859th lost 12 of its 17 bombers, and all of the crew members on those aircraft were killed. This was the worst single-day loss for the squadron during the war.

The 859th Bomb Squadron continued to fly combat missions until the end of the war. The squadron was disbanded in 1945. The 859th Bomb Squadron was a valiant unit that suffered heavy losses during World War II. The squadron's story is a reminder of the sacrifices made by American airmen during the war.

The video below tells the story of the 859th Bomb Squadron during the raid on Schweinfurt. The video uses the flight simulator War Thunder to recreate the events of the raid.

The 859th Bomb Squadron: A Tale of Courage and Loss

The 859th Bomb Squadron was formed in 1943 and was composed of young men from across the United States. They were trained to fly the B-24 Liberator, a powerful bomber that was capable of carrying a heavy bomb load. The squadron was assigned to the 15th Air Force, which was based in Italy. The 15th Air Force was responsible for bombing targets in Germany, Austria, and the Balkans. The 859th Bomb Squadron flew its first combat mission on March 25, 1944. The squadron was tasked with bombing a German airfield near the city of Ploesti, Romania. The mission was successful, but the 859th lost one bomber and several crew members. The 859th Bomb Squadron continued to fly combat missions throughout the war. They were involved in many of the major air offensives against Germany, including the bombing of Berlin and the Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission.

The Schweinfurt-Regensburg Mission

The Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission was a major air offensive that took place on August 17, 1943. The mission was designed to cripple German aircraft production by bombing the ball bearing factories in Schweinfurt and Regensburg. The mission was a disaster for the American bombers. They were met with heavy anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition. The 859th Bomb Squadron lost six bombers and many crew members during the mission. The Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission was a turning point in the air war over Europe. It showed that the Americans could not simply bomb their way to victory. They needed to develop new tactics and strategies to overcome the German defenses.

The End of the War

The 859th Bomb Squadron continued to fly combat missions until the end of the war. They were involved in the bombing of Berlin, the invasion of Normandy, and the liberation of France. The squadron was disbanded in 1945. The 859th Bomb Squadron was a valiant unit that suffered heavy losses during World War II. The squadron's story is a reminder of the sacrifices made by American airmen during the war.

The Legacy of the 859th Bomb Squadron

The 859th Bomb Squadron was a unit of the United States Army Air Forces that flew B-24 Liberator bombers during World War II. The squadron was assigned to the 491st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force, and was stationed in Italy. The 859th flew its first combat mission on March 25, 1944, and was involved in many of the major air offensives against Germany, including the bombing of Ploesti, Romania, and the strategic bombing of Berlin.

On August 1, 1944, the 859th Bomb Squadron was tasked with bombing a German airfield near the city of Schweinfurt, Germany. The squadron was flying in formation with other bombers, and they were met with heavy anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition. During the raid, the 859th lost 12 of its 17 bombers, and all of the crew members on those aircraft were killed. This was the worst single-day loss for the squadron during the war.

The 859th Bomb Squadron continued to fly combat missions until the end of the war. The squadron was disbanded in 1945. The 859th Bomb Squadron was a valiant unit that suffered heavy losses during World War II. The squadron's story is a reminder of the sacrifices made by American airmen during the war.