Bombing of Eindhoven 19th September 1944

[Goofy12]

On the 19th September 1944 the city of Eindhoven in Holland (liberated on the 18th) was bombed by the Luftwaffe, apparently to try and halt the allied push forwards. Does anyone know the details about this raid, units involved, casualties, duration and maybe photos???

Kind regards,

Chris

[Nick Beale]

Kampfflieger Volume Four: Bombers of the Luftwaffe: Summer 1943–May 1945 (Classic Publications, Hersham, July 2005) ISBN 1 903223 50 4.

Operation Market-Garden Then and Now: vol. 1 & 2 (After the Battle, 17 Sep 2002 ISBN-10: 1870067479)

[ron_Ra]

about 220 people were killed (only civillians)
the attack was during about 40 min
230 houses were destroyed and more were damaged

units LG1-KG2 and KG 30

from the book airattacks on eindhoven and phillips 1940-1945

[Goofy12]

Bedankt voor de info!!

Groet, Chris

[SEAN RYAN]

Hi, the following site has several photos of the bomb damage resulting from the 19th September 1944 Luftwaffe raid: eindhoven-in-beeld.nl.


Regards, Sean.

[mhuxt]

Originally Posted by ron_Ra

about 220 people were killed (only civillians)
the attack was during about 40 min
230 houses were destroyed and more were damaged

units LG1-KG2 and KG 30

from the book airattacks on eindhoven and phillips 1940-1945

ron_Ra, is there an ISBN number for that book? I've always wanted to find out more about Operation Oyster.

[ron_Ra]

isbn 90-802074-3-8

operation Oyster is in the book
its only in dutch

[Jaap Woortman]

To go back to the original question here a qoute from the KTB of Lw.Kdo West/Luftflotte 3:'

Tagesangriff des IX Fl.Korps auf Eindhoven. Einsatz des IX Korps,
welches bereits in Aufloesung begriffen ist. Die Verbaende des IX
F.Korps, das Luftflotte 3 z.Zt. nicht mehr unterstellt ist, fuehr‑
ten mit 78 Flugzeugen einem zusammengefaszten Angriff auf Eindhoven
durch. 75 Flugzeugen warfen ueber den Hauptziel ab und konnten
konzentrierte Bombenlage im Stadtgebiet feststellen und Braende
beobachten. 1 Flugzeug griff ein Notziel an und 1 Flugzeug brach
den Flug ab. Eine Do‑217 ist kurz nach dem Start abgestuertzt,
Besatzung gefallen. An Verbaenden waren im einzelnen eingesetzt:
Stab KG2, I./KG2, II./KG2.
Stab KG6, I./KG6, II/KG6, III./KG6.
Stab KG/30, I./KG30, II./KG30.
I./KG66, einschlieslich 4. und 5./KG66.
I./LG1, II/LG1.
Die Fuehrung uebernahm der "Gefechtsverband Helbig", ehemals Stab
LG1.

According to the official history of Eindhoven as written in Eindhoven, een samenleving in verandering. Deel 2. 1920‑1960. Dr.J.M.P. van Oorschot, at page 533 it is said that there were 190 persons killed, 88 wounded and 11 missing.
To my knowledge there is only one picture known of the aerial activity. See appendix. There are a lot of pictures of the damage at the ground.

For Operation Oyster I can advice for English speaking persons to read Michael J.F.Bowyers 2 Group R.A.F. A complete history, 1936-1945 chapter 15.
For more detailed questions, send me an email.

Jaap Woortman
Study Group Airwar 1939-1945

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Jaap,

Even when we now how WW-2 ended, it's still somehow encouraging to read that in this night Eindhoven was not attacked by the full strength of 10 Gruppen, 3 Stabsschwärme and 2 Staffeln. This armada on paper did 'only' manage to bring 78 bombers in the air...

What a macabre but impressive picture ! Marcel

[Jaap Woortman]

Marcel,

Only 78 because of lack fuel! But Eindhoven suffered heavy.
And then to think that the other part of the operation, the one over the ground by the forces of von Maltzahn, was stopped by one man from Nuenen.
The gardener who told the Germans that the bridge over the "Kleine Dommel" between Eindhoven and Nuenen was to weak for the heavy "Pantzers".
They believed him and they went to Son next day, but the momentum was gone and the US para's at Son gave them a punch right on the nose.
How lucky can you be!

But even today we, airwar researchers, see the consequences of this air-attack. The LBD archive of Eindhoven between March 1943 and September 1944 is missing, burned at September 19th in "het Pannenhuis".

Jaap