Osprey Air Campaign 27 “big Week” 1944

Eighth Air Force (8AF) conducted the US's first thousand-bomber raids against Germany in February 1944—recorded in history as Big Week. Until that time the USAAF was not able to concentrate such firepower on the enemy in such a short period of time. It took much effort to make Big Week "big" covering the spectrum of planning and execution activities dating back to the end of World War I that were adapted and flexed to be successful in a different context. Indeed, the depth and breadth of the preparations required to successfully execute Big Week on the scale intended is deserving of a closer examination.