Operation Frantic: Difference between revisions
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'''Operation Frantic''' was a series of seven [[shuttle bombing]] [[List of air operations during the Battle of Europe|operations]] during [[World War II]] conducted by American aircraft based in [[Great Britain]] and Southern Italy which then landed at three Soviet airfields in [[Ukraine]]. The operation began in June, 1944 and ended in September. |
'''Operation Frantic''' was a series of seven [[shuttle bombing]] [[List of air operations during the Battle of Europe|operations]] during [[World War II]] conducted by American aircraft based in [[Great Britain]] and Southern Italy which then landed at three Soviet airfields in [[Ukraine]]. The operation began in June, 1944 and ended in September. |
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==Overview== |
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| ⚫ | Operation Frantic was to permanently establish three heavy bomber groups in Soviet territory,<ref name=Russel-27-28>{{cite web |last=Russell |first=Edward T. |year=1999 |title=Leaping the Atlantic Wall: Army Air Forces Campaigns in Western Europe, 1942–1945 |url=http://www.usaaf.net/ww2/atlanticwall/awpg8.htm |work=[http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/ United States Air Force History and Museums Program] |publisher=USAAF.net |pages=p27,28 }}</ref> but only a small contingent of U.S. troops were based on the Eastern Front. |
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At the Tehran Summit in 1943, the Allied leaders devised an audacious new form of bombing strategy against Nazi Germany. American heavy bombers stationed in Britain and Italy would fly strike missions deep into the heart of Nazi territory or occupied Eastern Europe. Afterwards, they would land on secret American air bases actually located inside Soviet Russia, re-arm and re-fuel - and then attack a second target on the way home. |
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| ⚫ | Operation Frantic was to permanently establish three heavy bomber groups in Soviet territory,<ref name=Russel-27-28>{{cite web |last=Russell |first=Edward T. |year=1999 |title=Leaping the Atlantic Wall: Army Air Forces Campaigns in Western Europe, 1942–1945 |url=http://www.usaaf.net/ww2/atlanticwall/awpg8.htm |work=[http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/ United States Air Force History and Museums Program] |publisher=USAAF.net |pages=p27,28 }}</ref> but only a small contingent of U.S. troops were based on the Eastern Front. |
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During the four months of the operation, 24 targets in [[Nazi Germany]] and in German-held territory, some never before in effective range of the American strategic bomber forces, were attacked.<ref>Charles T. O'Reilly (2001). ''Forgotten Battles: Italy's War of Liberation, 1943-1945'' Lexington Books, ISBN 0739101951. [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=2LBvZPXmmqoC&pg=PA343&lpg=PA343&dq=shuttle+bombing&source=web&ots=vCSA2MlPO-&sig=oAJtt9Qmk5MkC7WU4jSdO828jTU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result p. 343 ]</ref><ref>William Howard (1995). ''From China Marine to Jap POW: My 1,364 Day Journey Through Hell'', Turner Publishing Company ISBN 1563112388. [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=q59JdSOdMcIC&pg=PA231&lpg=PA231&source=web&ots=AI2vJbMnyA&sig=Y-Jh2PPZ8383ZC4bjXmroAicnOQ&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result#PPA230,M1 p. 230-246]</ref> |
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This [[shuttle bombing]] technique complicated the defense of German targets.<ref>Staff. [http://www.accessscience.com/overflow.aspx?type=dst&root=0&term=Shuttle&searchStr=Shuttle%20bombing Shuttle bombing] [http://www.accessscience.com/about.aspx McGraw-Hill's Access Science Encyclopedia of Science & Technology Online]</ref> The operations were discontinued due to logistical difficulties in supporting the USAAF forces in the Soviet Union, and differences between the United States and the Soviet Union at political as well as military levels. |
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[http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/WW2Timeline/air04.html Operation Bellicose map] |
[http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/WW2Timeline/air04.html Operation Bellicose map] |
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Revision as of 17:01, 29 April 2010
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Operation Frantic was a series of seven shuttle bombing operations during World War II conducted by American aircraft based in Great Britain and Southern Italy which then landed at three Soviet airfields in Ukraine. The operation began in June, 1944 and ended in September.
Overview
At the Tehran Summit in 1943, the Allied leaders devised an audacious new form of bombing strategy against Nazi Germany. American heavy bombers stationed in Britain and Italy would fly strike missions deep into the heart of Nazi territory or occupied Eastern Europe. Afterwards, they would land on secret American air bases actually located inside Soviet Russia, re-arm and re-fuel - and then attack a second target on the way home.
Operation Frantic was to permanently establish three heavy bomber groups in Soviet territory,[1] but only a small contingent of U.S. troops were based on the Eastern Front.
During the four months of the operation, 24 targets in Nazi Germany and in German-held territory, some never before in effective range of the American strategic bomber forces, were attacked.[2][3]
This shuttle bombing technique complicated the defense of German targets.[4] The operations were discontinued due to logistical difficulties in supporting the USAAF forces in the Soviet Union, and differences between the United States and the Soviet Union at political as well as military levels.
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| Operation Bellicose map |
Airfields
The United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe established a headquarters detachment at Poltava Airfield, near Kiev in the Soviet Union in late April, 1944. Poltava was designated as USAAF Station 559 for security purposes and was referred to as Station 559 in all messages and written correspondence. Poltava was one of three Ukraine installations operated by Headquarters, Eastern Command USSAF. The others were Piryatin Airfield (AAF-560) and Mirgorod Airfield (AAF-561).[5]
From Southern Italy, Fifteenth Air Force flew heavy bomber shuttle missions from airfields in the Foggia Airfield Complex; while from England, Eighth Air Force flew heavy bomber shuttle missions from airfields primarily in East Anglia.
Known units
Missions
- June 2 & 11, 1944: Operation Frantic Joe
- June 21 & 26, 1944: Lezno oil refinery & Lwow[1]
- July 3 & 5, 1944: Romania[2]
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References
- ^ Russell, Edward T. (1999). "Leaping the Atlantic Wall: Army Air Forces Campaigns in Western Europe, 1942–1945". United States Air Force History and Museums Program. USAAF.net. pp. p27, 28.
{{cite web}}:|pages=has extra text (help); External link in|work= - ^ Charles T. O'Reilly (2001). Forgotten Battles: Italy's War of Liberation, 1943-1945 Lexington Books, ISBN 0739101951. p. 343
- ^ William Howard (1995). From China Marine to Jap POW: My 1,364 Day Journey Through Hell, Turner Publishing Company ISBN 1563112388. p. 230-246
- ^ Staff. Shuttle bombing McGraw-Hill's Access Science Encyclopedia of Science & Technology Online
- ^ Anderson, Barry, (1985), United States Air Forces Stations, Air Force Historical Research Center, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.