"Der Bombenkrieg in Friesland 1939-1945".

[A Castle]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone on this forum has "Der Bombenkrieg in Friesland 1939-1945". and could possibly translate a page or two for me. I am specifically interested in any part of the book that deals with 21.5.43. and anything relating to a B-17 that crashed near Waddewarden and Canarienhausen, as it was returning from Wilhelmshaven. The B-17 was from the 306th BG and the 423rd BS (although the crew was from the 368th BS).
Any help at all would be appreciated.

Regards,
Art Castle

[tcolvin]

I have that book, and would be pleased to help you, Art.
But I can't do so until I return home on Tuesday.

Tony

[A Castle]

Tony,

I would appreciate your help very much. If you need any further info you can IM me or email me at: ab_castle@hotmail.com.

Thanks,
Art Castle

[tcolvin]

Art, here's your translation of pages 209/10 of Holger Frerich's “Der Bombenkrieg in Friesland 1939 bis 1945”, published in 2002 by Verlag Hermann Lüers in Jever; ISBN 3-00-002189-2.


21 May 1943. Fourth daylight attack by 8 USAAF on Wilhelmshaven.
On this Friday around midday 77 American bombers renewed their air attack on Wilhelmshaven. Altogether this was the eighth large aerial attack of that year on the Wilhelmshaven district. First reports of approaching bombers were issued by Air Defence at 11.47 hours. At 12.10 hours an air-raid alarm was issued to the Flak and simultaneously air-raid sirens warned the population. The smoke screen was started at 12.13 hours and began to shield the town. At 12.44 hours the first wave of bombers flew over the Jadestadt (Wilhelmshaven) from a northerly direction, while the rest of the Boeing bombers made a turn over the Jade to follow immediately behind the leaders. Bombing lasted for two minutes, when the formation departed homewards on a north-westerly course over Jeverland (part of Friesland). Wilhelmshaven was hit by 559 high explosive bombs and by two incendiary bomb canisters (Stabbrandbombenbündel). Such canisters had been dropped for the first time one week earlier on Kiel.
Property damage:
80 buildings totally destroyed
250 houses heavily damaged
320 houses lightly damaged
3,300 people rendered homeless.
As a result of the disastrous March raid, most of the population of Wilhelmshaven had stopped using their cellar air-raid shelters, and instead went into air-raid bunkers, with the result that only 17 people, of which 10 were civilians, died in this attack and only 18 were lightly wounded. According to American sources, 7 bombers were destroyed by Flak and German fighters. The Naval Flak Brigade (Marineflakbrigade) reported shooting down three bombers;

1. 500m East of the Voslapp lighthouse
2. one fell near Canarienhaus in the vicinity of Waddewarden (one crew member was killed)
3. another four-engined B17 fell between Dykhausen and Schortens, damaging a house. Five of the crew were taken prisoner.

The Wilhelmshavener Kurier newspaper published on the following day a short and incomplete report about the number of victims. “The EIGHTH AIR RAID THIS YEAR. A new and heavier daylight raid by a large formation of four-engined bombers. At midday on Friday a stronger formation of four-engined enemy bombers raided the Wilhelmshaven district. The attack from high altitude dropped many high-explosive bombs of various calibres, some of which caused heavy damage, especially in the residential districts. To date there has been reported with much regret that 14 people are dead and 15 wounded”.


Landkreis Friesland. The 122nd bombing event in the district.
In the Friesland district this raid resulted in an HE bomb falling in Friederichaugustengroden, killing six head of cattle.
In Neu-Augustengroden a cowshed on a farm was set on fire by aircraft weapons that burnt to death three cows and resulted in six calves having to be slaughtered.
The District Chairman reported the following to the District Mayor;
The aerial battle of May 21 over the Jever District was clearly observed from here, including the bringing down of many aircraft (Kanarienhausen, Schortens) and the descent by parachute of aircrew. Jan Folkers wrote among other things; “In the middle of the air battle I looked out of the window of the telephone office of the section command post and observed an enemy bomber falling vertically downwards. After the bombing had stopped, I saw a mushroom cloud developing high over Schortens, and some time later many parachutes and aircraft pieces fell to earth. My comrades on the viewing platform observed in the distance in Direction Number 1 (North-North-East) a parachute and a shot-down aircraft coming down near Kanarienhaus;” (Janssen's diary, 41/59).
“A big air battle developed over Ostfriesland and Jeverland. Enemy aircraft were shot down over Wittmund, Caroliniensiel, and near Haddien. A parachute came down between Ziallerns, Altgarmissiel and Hohenkirchen. The school children refused to go down into the cellars but insisted on remaining above ground to watch the show”. (Ahlrichs).
“On May 21 about midday, 67 aircraft attacked Wilhelmshaven. Several huge bombs fell on the town. A few aircraft were shot down. One fell in flames near Canarienhausen. Of the seven-man crew, three jumped out with parachutes. The battle occurred at a height of 6,000 metres”. (Sillenstede Church District Chronicle, Carl Wöbcken).


Art, please note that from a German perspective, the raid was notable in two ways;
- German fighters attacked the B17s with rockets
- Wilhelmshaven's new concrete above-ground air-raid bunkers were used for the first time to provide complete protection for all the 120,000 population. This resulted in a dramatic reduction of German casualties on the ground. The extraordinary, and perhaps unique, result was that during the entire war, aircrew losses vastly exceeded losses on the ground, being 856 aircrew (406 RAF and 450 USAAF) for 452 Germans (358 civilians and 94 military).

These figures are part of the bottom line of an Excel analysis that I have completed that includes every raid. I would be happy to e-mail this to you if you want it, and of course to anyone else who is interested and gives me an e-mail address.


Tony