German Fighter Pilots Describe How They Attacked B-17 Formations

Insights from Captured Pilots

In December 1944, five German pilots were shot down near Aachen and interrogated. They provided detailed accounts of their attack strategies and ways bomber crews could counter them, offering valuable intelligence to the USAAF.

How the Germans Attacked

The Sturmgruppe Fw-190s executed bomber attacks in three waves, each consisting of 8 to 16 aircraft. Initially flying in a Vic formation, they transitioned into a company front formation before engaging the trailing bombers. These attack formations were stacked in three tiers, with Me-109s providing escort support.

The Me-109s flew in groups of 36–40 fighters, with two groups providing close-side escort and a third offering top cover. Their role was to protect the Fw-190s from Allied escorts, only engaging in dogfights when authorized.

Tactics and Targeting

Fw-190s attacked from below, aiming at the wing root joint between the inboard engine and fuselage—a critical weak spot that could disable a bomber’s hydraulic system. Even if out of ammo or experiencing gun jams, they would still attempt collision attacks.

In escorted bomber formations, Me-109s would fly below the bombers to shield Fw-190s from Allied fighters, allowing them to maintain their attack patterns. POWs revealed they feared B-17 top turret gunners the most, which influenced their low-altitude attack approach.

Countermeasures & Weaknesses

The captured pilots offered key insights into weaknesses in their tactics:

• Bomber evasive maneuvers were ineffective against company front attacks, as they weakened formation firepower.
• Stationary tail, top, or ball turret guns signaled an undefended bomber, making it a primary target.

This intelligence provided Allied bomber crews with a better understanding of German attack strategies, helping them refine their defensive tactics.