New Years Day

[HawkerTempest5]

On January 1st 1945 the Luftwaffe launched a surprise dawn air assault on Allied forward airstrips in a last throw of the dice effort to inflict a major blow upon the Allied air forces.

Flying low, the attackers were able to creep up on the unsuspecting Allies.

The Luftwaffe was able to catch many Allied bases totally by surprise...

And inflict large amounts of damage.



But not everything went to plan. Ground fire took its toll...



And the Allies were able to scramble fighters to intercept.

Although both sides took heavy losses, at this point in the War, Germany was unable to sustain them whilst the Allies were more able to.  
Operation "Bodenplatte" was a brave attempt to strike a major blow against Allied air power, but was the beginning of the end for the Luftwaffe.

[flyboy 28]

VERY well done, Tempest. Great shots, great story.

[GeForce]

Absolutely stunning pics, well done Tempest

Jonathan

[fido]

Tempest:
Although well shot, the first 6 pics had me worried that with the new year, you had changed sides in the war.  ::)  Glad to see you are still on our side.

 Fido  ;D

[Woodlouse2002]

Not the beginning of the end for the luftwaffe. After Bodenplatte they were decimated and no longer a fighting force. Basically Bodenplatte was a last fling by a beaten Luftwaffe. Which cost them nearly 300 pilots. Something they couldn't afford.

[ATI_7500]

*sniff*

[HawkerTempest5]

[quote]Tempest:
Although well shot, the first 6 pics had me worried that with the new year, you had changed sides in the war.

[flyboy 28]

*sniff*

[ATI_7500]

you're so mean...

[flyboy 28]

Aren't I?

[Sam 400]

Hey tempest. nice shots and accurate story. U ever heared of a multiplayer online game called air attack. I recognise the name thats all.
Sam