By 1944, the Allies were preparing for the cross-Channel invasion of Normandy. Securing air superiority was crucial for the success of the operation. Big Week, a concentrated series of air raids, aimed to weaken the Luftwaffe, both through strategic bombing and by forcing it into battles it could not win. This campaign would support the invasion by limiting the enemy’s airpower and its ability to disrupt troop movements.
The Luftwaffe: Spread Thin and Vulnerable
The demands of combat on multiple fronts had overextended the Luftwaffe by 1943. The American strategic bombing campaign, though initially facing heavy losses, posed a growing threat. German tactics, including the use of twin-engine aircraft like the ME-110 and ME-410, had inflicted a painful toll on B-17 and B-24 formations, particularly in raids targeting Schweinfurt and Regensburg. The unsustainable attrition prompted a temporary halt to deep raids.
The long-range P-51 Mustang fighter was a game-changer. Its performance and endurance allowed it to accompany bombers throughout their missions, providing decisive protection. Combined with drop tanks extending the range of other fighters like the P-47 Thunderbolt, the Allies had tools to neutralize the Luftwaffe. By late 1943, the shift toward P-51s was underway; in February, the Allies were ready to fully challenge Germany’s air dominance.
Big Week: The Turning Tide
Operation Argument, colloquially known as “Big Week,” commenced on February 19, 1944, with 823 RAF bombers initiating the Allied aerial offensive. The following day, a coordinated assault of 1,000 American bombers and over 600 fighters marked the beginning of a relentless bombing campaign. Allied commanders braced themselves for potentially devastating losses, projecting casualties upwards of 20%. The loss of 79 RAF bombers on the first night heightened tensions within the American ranks.
American forces made decisive tactical adjustments for Big Week. Fighter escorts abandoned their close defensive formations in favor of aggressive patrols seeking out Luftwaffe interceptors during their most vulnerable phases – takeoff and landing. The effectiveness of this strategy was immediately evident, leaving Luftwaffe pilots dismayed by the unexpected presence of American fighters near their own bases.
The first day of Big Week represented a clear American victory. The revised fighter tactics caught the Luftwaffe off-guard, particularly their twin-engine interceptors. Favoring heavier weaponry (mines, rockets, cannons), these aircraft sacrificed maneuverability. Against agile American fighters, they proved easy targets.
German doctrine, focused on attacking bombers at all costs, was brutally exploited by the Americans. With their Bf-109 and Fw-190 fighters ill-equipped for dogfights against bombers, the wide-ranging American fighter patrols had devastating consequences. Big Week’s first day saw 74 German aircraft destroyed, including 14 Bf-110 twin-engine fighters – a crippling blow to specialized aircrew. The Bf-110 was swiftly relegated to less costly night-time operations. While flak and fighters inflicted losses upon American bombers, the U.S. possessed the resources to swiftly replenish their forces.
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The Luftwaffe’s Struggles: B-17s, Big Week, and the Loss of Air Superiority
Adolf Galland, Germany’s leading fighter pilot and strategist, recognized mounting challenges for the Luftwaffe as early as November 1943. Pilot training programs had been shortened, and combat-experienced fighters were pulled from other fronts to bolster Germany’s homeland defense. This was compounded by a severe shortage of skilled pilots.
The Allied “Big Week” offensive of February 1944 further exacerbated the Luftwaffe’s problems. Relentless bombing raids crippled German aircraft production for two crucial months. Galland realized the immense pressure would not relent, signaling a decisive shift in the air war towards Allied dominance.
The Decisive Blow
Despite unfavorable weather conditions, Big Week continued for several days. B-26 bombers conducted diversionary raids across France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The final missions on February 25th allowed for a full assessment of the campaign. While costly for the USAAF and RAF, who lost 20% of their forces, Big Week had decisively crippled the Luftwaffe. Germany’s losses were severe: 262 fighters destroyed, and 100 experienced pilots—those losses were irreplaceable. The Luftwaffe’s diminished presence would be painfully evident during the D-Day landings in June.
