1 January 1945 A.D. “Operation Bodenplatte:” 800 Luftwaffe Aircraft Hit Allied Airfields in Belgium, Holland & Northern France

1 January 1945 A.D. “Operation Bodenplatte:” 800 Luftwaffe Aircraft Hit Allied Airfields in Belgium, Holland & Northern France

Editors. This Day in U.S. Military History. N.d. http://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/january-1/.  Accessed 31 Dec 2014.

1945 – In Operation Bodenplatte, The German Luftwaffe makes a series of heavy attacks on Allied airfields in Belgium, Holland and northern France. They have assembled around 800 planes of all types for this effort by deploying every available machine and pilot. Many of the pilots have had so little training that they must fly special formations with an experienced pilot in the lead providing the navigation for the whole force. The Allies are surprised and lose many aircraft on the ground. Among the German aircraft losses for the day are a considerable number of planes shot down by German anti-aircraft fire. Allied losses amount to 300 planes opposed to about 200 German aircraft shot down. Meanwhile, the land battle in the Ardennes continues with the Allied counterattacks gathering force. The most notable gains are by the US 8th Corps. Farther south in Alsace the forces of German Army Group G begins an offensive in the Sarreguemines area (Operation Nordwind) towards Strasbourg. The US 7th Army retires before this attack on orders from Eisenhower.