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AAF Aerial Supremacy

Published May 01, 2015

Luftwaffe airfield near Gotha, Germany, on Feb. 9, 1945, after AAF P-51s had destroyed 34 German planes on the ground. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Luftwaffe airfield near Gotha, Germany, on Feb. 9, 1945, after AAF P-51s had destroyed 34 German planes on the ground. (U.S. Air Force photo)

DAYTON, Ohio -- This section of B-17G fuselage, with flags of the various nations over which it had flown during World War II, is on display in the World War II Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Donated by Mr. Milton Caniff, Palm Springs, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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DAYTON, Ohio -- This section of B-17G fuselage, with flags of the various nations over which it had flown during World War II, is on display in the World War II Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Donated by Mr. Milton Caniff, Palm Springs, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo)

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With suitable bomber targets becoming increasingly scarce, the AAF instituted a program in February for its fighters to cover Germany at low level, strafing targets of opportunity. Because of a shortage of pilots and fuel, the Luftwaffe usually held its own fighters on the ground except for intercepting AAF bombers. Consequently, AAF fighter pilots were able to roam across Germany with almost complete freedom from attack by enemy planes. Results of this type of operation were often devastating. Every conceivable type of target, such as trains, airfields, fuel storage tanks, barges and even individual military staff cars, were pinpointed and destroyed.

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