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Description
Mortsel, Antwerp, Belgium.

Today, 80 years ago, during World War II, the city of Mortsel, south of Antwerp, was the target of USAAF Mission 50, which targeted the Erla Flugwerk VII, a German Messerschmitt repair plant.

The raid was composed of B-17s of the 91st, 303rd and 305th Bomb Group, and B-24s of the 44th and 93rd Bomb Group. On their way into the target, they were escorted by Spitfires of the 403rd and 416th Squadrons of the Royal Air Force; however due to their limited range, they could only escort the group as far as Ghent. On the way back, Spitfires of the 331st and 332nd Squadrons, RAF, rejoined the group over the Dutch coast for an escort back to England.

The raid was intercepted by Messerschmitt Bf 109s of Jagdgruppe 26, based at Moorsele and Wevelgem; as well as Focke Wulf Fw 190s of Jagdgruppe 1, based at Woensdrecht. The bombers were intercepted over Gent, just as their escort was forced to break off, allowing the Luftwaffe fighters to attack the bombers unhindered. In the ensuing dogfights, four B-17s were shot down with the loss of 13 crew, as well as at least one Spitfire with the loss of its pilot; and five German fighters, with the loss of one pilot.

Worse, however, was the result of the fighters' attacks on the group. Harrassed, the groups began to fall apart, and the lead aircraft of the lead group suffered catastrophic damage during a crucial moment in the bomb run, leading to its aimer to be late with his drop. Instead of hitting the target, the adjacent city of Mortsel was hit; and with smoke and dust obscuring the target, the following groups dropped their bombs blind. Out of 715 bombs dropped, just 4 hit the target.

However, the four that did hit the target started a massive fire, which gutted one of the main assembly halls of the repair works. All in all, though, the damage was relatively easily repaired, and within six weeks the plant was running back at near-full capacity.

The remainder of the bombs, however, did far more damage. In the city of Mortsel itself, no less than 1259 buildings were severely damaged or destroyed, including a number of schools. By the time the dust had cleared, it became clear that 936 had been killed on the ground, with a further 1342 injured. Among those killed were no less than 209 children.

Most of the victims remain buried at the local cemetery.

Description
Mortsel, Antwerp, Belgium.

Today, 80 years ago, during World War II, the city of Mortsel, south of Antwerp, was the target of USAAF Mission 50, which targeted the Erla Flugwerk VII, a German Messerschmitt repair plant.

The raid was composed of B-17s of the 91st, 303rd and 305th Bomb Group, and B-24s of the 44th and 93rd Bomb Group. On their way into the target, they were escorted by Spitfires of the 403rd and 416th Squadrons of the Royal Air Force; however due to their limited range, they could only escort the group as far as Ghent. On the way back, Spitfires of the 331st and 332nd Squadrons, RAF, rejoined the group over the Dutch coast for an escort back to England.

The raid was intercepted by Messerschmitt Bf 109s of Jagdgruppe 26, based at Moorsele and Wevelgem; as well as Focke Wulf Fw 190s of Jagdgruppe 1, based at Woensdrecht. The bombers were intercepted over Gent, just as their escort was forced to break off, allowing the Luftwaffe fighters to attack the bombers unhindered. In the ensuing dogfights, four B-17s were shot down with the loss of 13 crew, as well as at least one Spitfire with the loss of its pilot; and five German fighters, with the loss of one pilot.

Worse, however, was the result of the fighters' attacks on the group. Harrassed, the groups began to fall apart, and the lead aircraft of the lead group suffered catastrophic damage during a crucial moment in the bomb run, leading to its aimer to be late with his drop. Instead of hitting the target, the adjacent city of Mortsel was hit; and with smoke and dust obscuring the target, the following groups dropped their bombs blind. Out of 715 bombs dropped, just 4 hit the target.

However, the four that did hit the target started a massive fire, which gutted one of the main assembly halls of the repair works. All in all, though, the damage was relatively easily repaired, and within six weeks the plant was running back at near-full capacity.

The remainder of the bombs, however, did far more damage. In the city of Mortsel itself, no less than 1259 buildings were severely damaged or destroyed, including a number of schools. By the time the dust had cleared, it became clear that 936 had been killed on the ground, with a further 1342 injured. Among those killed were no less than 209 children.

Most of the victims remain buried at the local cemetery.