Video: 'The World At War: Whirlwind Bombing Germany 4/5' (Second Raid on Schweinfurt, Oct. 14, 1943, at 9:30)

(Thursday, October 14, 1943; during the Operation Pointblank, part of the European Theater of World War II) — The second Schweinfurt raid took place over Germany today between forces of the United States 8th Air Force and German Luftwaffe’s fighter arm (Jagdwaffe).

The aim of the American-led mission was a strategic bombing raid on ball bearing factories in order to reduce production of these vital parts for all manner of war machines. But the operation was a failure at all levels.

This was the second mission attacking the factories at Schweinfurt. American wartime intelligence claimed the first Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission in August had reduced bearing production by 34% but had suffered heavy losses. A planned follow-up raid had to be postponed to rebuild American forces.

Video: 'The World At War: Whirlwind Bombing Germany 5/5' (Second Raid on Schweinfurt, Oct. 14, 1943, continued)