The Journey of Flight.pdf - Valkyrie Cadet

The P-51 Mustang helped
turn the tide of WWII’s
air war. (EAA)
On March 4, 1944, the first raid against
Berlin was flown. The priority targets were now
fighter-manufacturing facilities, as well as oil
refineries that produced fuel for the Luftwaffe.
Other targets included engine manufacturers and
ball bearing manufacturers. The ball bearings
were targeted because almost all of the enemy’s
war-fighting machines, including aircraft,
needed ball bearings.
Results of the renewed offensive into
Germany were very good. The most important
product of the new offensive was air superiority.
The new tactics, combined with the bombing
98
The P-47 Thunderbolt was one of the great fighters of WWII.
(EAA)
of the oil refineries hurt the Luftwaffe. American fighter escorts were now aggressively hunting down
the Luftwaffe.
Meanwhile, aviation fuel was becoming scarce, which reduced Luftwaffe pilot training activity.
New pilots had less training and as a result, less skill. The Americans slowly gained the upper hand and
the Luftwaffe ruled the air over Europe no more.