Bombing of Peenemünde in World War II began Operation Crossbow in 1943 (Royal Air Force) and was used to destroy suspected hydrogen peroxide (German: T-Stoff) production for the V-2 rocket[1] in 1944 by (Eighth Air Force).
The first attack was operation Hydra of the night of 17/18 August 1943 with 596 heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force.
| Date | Target | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| 1943-08-18 | Operation Hydra |
324 Lancasters, 218 Halifaxes, and 54 Stirlings attacked the Peenemünde Army Research Center in the first planned bombing of Operation Crossbow.[2] |
| 1944-07-18 | Mission 481 | 377 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses bombed the Peenemünde experimental establishment, the scientific HQ at Zinnowitz, and the marshalling yards at Stralsund. Three B-17s were lost and 64 were damaged. Escort was provided by 297 P-38 Lightnings and P-51 Mustangs; they claim 21-0-12 Luftwaffe aircraft; three P-51s are lost and one is damaged beyond repair.[3] A Peenemünde test launch planned that day was scrapped when Test Stand VII was heavily damaged. The P-11 production calibration firing stand near Werke Süd was a complete loss, and 50 people died, including anti-aircraft soldiers.[4] |
| 1944-08-04 | Mission 512 | 221 B-17s against Peenemünde, 110 against Anklam Airfield, and 70 against Anklam aircraft factories; they claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; three B-17s are lost, one is damaged beyond repair and 94 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 2 WIA and 40 MIA. Escort is provided by 223 P-51s; they claim 4-0-4 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 9 P-51s are lost and 1 is damaged beyond repair; 1 pilot is KIA.[3] Ten Peenemünde people were killed, including anti-aircraft soldiers. The big hangar had been damaged, including the office and laboratory wings.[4] |
| 1944-08-25 | Mission 570 | 376 B-17s against the Peenemünde Experimental Station (146), Neubrandenburg Airfield (108) and Anklam Airfield (73); 21 others hit Parow Airfield and 5 hit targets of opportunity; 5 B-17s are lost and 75 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 9 WIA and 45 MIA. Escort is provided by 171 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 36-0-28 aircraft on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost.[3] Repairs to Peenemünde Test Stand VII allowed launchings to resume just six weeks after the daylight raid.[4] |
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