history · 24 March 1945 · 79 years ago
B-17 bombers attacked the Daimler-Benz tank factory in Berlin, Germany; the bombers were escorted by P-51 fighters flown by African-American pilots of 332nd Fighter Group from Ramitelli Airfield in Italy. About 30 Me 262 jet fighter of German Jagdgeschwader 7 wing rose to defend. The American fighter and bomber airmen together claimed 16 jets shot down, but actual German records showed that only 8 were lost in this action.