8th Air Force 760 24 DECEMBER 1944

1. Decision.

Weather forecast at the afternoon conference indicated that high pressure center would be situated over the southwest Germany, causing a condition of no cloud in the bases and in the target areas. 

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 It was upon this forecast that the decision was made to dispatch a maximum effort of heavy bombers, which was to be the largest mission yet airborne. Targets were selected in the area of Frankfurt and the battle line.

 2. Force.

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3rd bomb division was to dispatch all available operational aircraft on airfields at Gross Ostheim, Darmstadt/Griesheim, Biblis, Babenhausen, Frankfurt/Rhein Main and Zellhausen. This would consist of approximately twenty three groups of 36 A/C each. 

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3. Plan.

All divisions were to depart UK and penetrate southeast to the target areas.

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3rd division was attacking down-wind from the northeast in order to minimize the effect of anti-aircraft defenses in the target areas.

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(‘8th Air Force 760 | American Air Museum in Britain’ 2021)

»The detonation sequence of the carpet of bombs that then fell can indeed only be compared to a deafening drum roll that made the earth, buildings and people shake and would not stop. Almost 1400 heavy explosive bombs and just as many stick bombs had fallen in a short time. Bluish powder smoke lay over the community when people could venture out into the open again.«

(Knapp 1985: 110)