Bombing of Czechoslovakia November 1944.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Seeking information of which RAF or Commonwealth Squadrons were involved in the bombing of Brux, Checkoslovakia on or around the 11th of November 1944.

Many thanks
Alex

[stefaan]

Hi Alex.
Brux does not show in the index in Eagles victorious.
Did it go by another name or is there another town nearby??
Brac comes up frequently.
Stefaan

[Leendert]

Stefaan,

Brux is called Most in Czechia today. It had a regularly bombed (mostly by USAAF) synthetic oil refinery.

Regards,

Leendert

[Fairlop]

Hi,

Brüx / Most was really attacked several times. I will check my sources and data at home in the afternoon.

Michal

[Fairlop]

Alex,

Unfortunately I didn´t find any mention regarding bombing of the RAF or Commonwealth Squadrons on Brüx. Exactly, on Sudetenländische Treibstoffwerke AG, Maltheuern. The synthetic oil refinery was (around your date) attacked on 23/10 and 16/12, by USAAF 15th Air Force.
Alternative reply could be actions of the photo-recconnaisance units, for example the 60 SAAF Sqn was over this territory at that time. Stefaan could be helpful with details.

Regards,
Michal

[stefaan]

Hi Alex.
I had a look at all the 3 Wing, 205 BG, Beaufighter and Fighter sqdns for raids
on that date.
No raids in that area.
Will check 60 sqdn but they would only have done Recces and not attack
Sorry
Stefaan

[stefaan]

Hi Alex.
60 sqdn had an aborted photo-recce to N Italy due to clouds on that day.
Sorry
Stefaan

[Dave Richardson]

Hi Alex

The only mission to Brux recorded in the Bomber Command War Diaries was on 16/17 January 1945:

"231 Lancasters and 6 Mosquitoes of 1 and 5 Groups attacked this synthetic oil plant in Western Czechoslovakia. The raid was a complete success. Speer also mentioned this raid as causing a particularly severe setback to oil production. 1 Lancaster lost."

Dave

[Alex Smart]

Hello All,

Thank you for your help and replies.
This has turned out to be as I expected but had to ask.

It is fact that B17's of the 5th Bomber Wing were to target Brux on the 11th November 44, but it could be that due to the weather they may have gone to a secondary target or even aborted the mission.

Finding which B17 Groups involved is now the problem as ALL(2;97;301;463;and 483rd Bomb Groups ) have Salzburg M/Y, Austria recorded as their target. the 99th BG were not on ops it seems.

It would also seem that the last three groups were to target Brux but how to find which of the active Groups were the last three that day ? and then to narrow it down to individual aircraft involved ?

Any further help is most welcome
Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hi,
Aditional.
I found that of the US Fighter Groups in action this date in the region, the 52nd lost three a/c all have in their MACR's that the target of the bombers was Brux, Oil Installations , Czechoslovakia.
While the 1st FG loss MACR lists the target as Brux, Germany.
The 332nd FG loss MACR also lists Brux Oil Refineries, Germany.
The 5th PRG loss MACR has target as Brenner Pass Area.

Alex