This Date in History: January 1st.1945
Operation Bodenplatte



Operation Bodenplatte (Baseplate) launched on 1 January 1945, was an attempt by the Luftwaffe
to cripple Allied air forces in the Low Countries during the Second World War.
The goal of Bodenplatte was to gain air superiority during the stagnant stage of the Battle of the Bulge,
to allow the German Army and Waffen-SS forces to resume their advance.
The operation was planned for 16 December 1944, but it was delayed repeatedly owing
to bad weather until New Years Day, the first day that happened to be suitable.

Secrecy for the operation was so tight that not all German ground and sea forces
had been informed of the operation, and some units suffered casualties from friendly fire.
British signals intelligence (Ultra) recorded the movement and buildup of German aerial assets
but did not realise that an operation was imminent.



The operation achieved some surprise and tactical success but was ultimately a failure.
A great many Allied aircraft were destroyed on the ground, but the losses of the Allied Air Forces
were replaced within a week. The Allies lost few airmen, since their aircraft were destroyed
on the ground without pilots. Conversely, the Germans lost fighter pilots they could not replace.

Post-battle analysis suggests only 11 of the 34 German formations made successful attacks on time and with surprise.
The operation failed to achieve air superiority, even temporarily, and the German Army continued
to be exposed to air attack. Bodenplatte was the last large-scale strategic offensive operation mounted
by the Luftwaffe during the war.

Complete analysis of the raid here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bodenplatte


Cheers mates pilot
David
_________________________
"Sometimes you're the windshield and sometimes you're the bug"

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