Tokom avgusta i septembra 1944. godine Novi Sad je od strane savezničke avijacije bombardovan sedam puta. Bombarderi 15. vazduhoplovne armije Sjedinjenih američkih država su u mesecima pred oslobođenje bombardovali važne saobraćajne komunikacije i industrijska postrojenja. Od 7. avgusta do 21. septembra najžešće su bombardovani željeznički čvor, željeznički most i skladište goriva a pogođene su fabrike elektroporcelna, kabela, hemijskih proizvoda, svile, hartije, keksa a oštećeni su i mnogi stambeni objekti. Tokom ovih bomardovanja pretpostavlja se da je stradalo oko 1.000 ljudi od toga najviše civila.

Bombardovanje po datumima:

16. juna 325. grupa lovaca imala je misiju da prati bombardere (nemam podataka o kojoj se bombarderskog grupi radi) u bombardovanju skladišta goriva.

7. avgusta: 76 bombadera (B-17s i B-24s) uz pratnju preko 300 lovaca, 353. bombarderske grupe bombardovala je skladišta sa gorivom i aerodrom.

30. avgusta: 100 bombardera 463, 32, 99. i 301. bombarderske grupe bombardovala je ranžirnu stanicu dok je 99. grupa bombardovala i železnički most preko Dunava.

1. septembara: 480. bombarderska grupa bombardovala je ranžirnu stanicu

6. septrembra: 301. i 542. bombarderska grupa bombardovala je ranžirnu stanicu

18. septembra: 463. bombarderska grupa bombardovala je železnički most

21. septembra: 376, 450, 375. i 345. bombarderske grupe bombardovale su železnički most


Detalji poslednje misije kojoj je cilj bio Novi Sad:

MISSION DATE: *September 21, 1944

MISSION NBR. *146

TARGET: *Novi Sad, Yugoslavia *- *Railroad Bridge

I. CHRONOLOGY
* * * * * *Twenty-eight B-24 type aircraft took off from base at 0745-0759 hours to bomb the railroad bridge at Novi Sad, Yugoslavia. *One aircraft was an early return and brought 2 tons of bombs back to base. *Twenty-seven aircraft made bombing runs on the target but only nineteen aircraft dropped. *38 tons of 2000 lb G.P. bombs *were dropped on the target at 1045-1047 hours from 19,000 – 20,000 feet. *Breakdown of tonnage dropped by boxes is as follows: 1st box – 14 tons. 2nd box – did not drop. *3rd box – 10 tons. *4th box – 14 tons. *Six aircraft returned 12 tons to base. *Two aircraft jettisoned 4 tons due to malfunctioning superchargers, and danger of bombs dropping out of the aircraft when landing due to faulty racks. *Location of jettisoning: one aircraft dropped 2 tons 70 miles NNE of Ragusa, Yugoslavia in open field, and the other dropped in Adriatic. *Twenty-seven aircraft returned to base 1255 hours. *None Lost. *None missing. *None at friendly fields.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT * * * *

* * * * * *The route to and from the target was flown as briefed. *Target was attacked on an axis of 90 degrees T. *Bombing was by boxes and 3 boxes and 3 boxes dropped on the target. *One box did not drop as the lead aircraft developed A-5 malfunctions late in the bomb run. *Weather at the target area existed a 3/10 cloud strata at 5000 feet with slight haze. *Target was clearly observed on bombing run. *20 P-51 type aircraft were in the target area and provided unbriefed escort. *Contacted at 1035 hours at 20,000 feet. *Departed at 1145 hours at 15,000. *Friendly fighter aircraft were not expected in the target area.

III. RESULTS

* * * * * *First box over the target had bombs burst 800 feet to the SE of the bridge and did not obtain any hits. *Second box did not drop. *Third box dropped their bombs slightly to the east of the bridge and did not obtain any hits. *Some bursts on the east bank of the river. *Fourth box obtained 3 possible hits on the bridge and a few near misses. *Balance of pattern landed on east bank of river.

IV. *ENEMY RESISTANCE

A. * * Fighters: *None.
B. * * Flak: At the target flak was moderate, accurate and heavy. *Bursts were black in color. *As the formation of boxes bade the bombing run, the flak started bursting as each box dropped their bombs. *Flak had a tendency to lead the boxes at first but the accuracy quickly improved and twelve aircraft were holed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
V. CASUALTIES
* * * * * *Twelve aircraft holed by flak – minor damage.
* * * * * *
Bombardovanje železničkog mosta 21. septembra


Bombardovanje skladišta municije 7. avgusta


99. bombarderska grupa iznad Novog Sada 30. avgusta