On October 10, 1943, the sky over Münster, Germany, became a scene of one of the fiercest air battles in World War II. On this day, the 100th Bomb Group cemented a niche for themselves in history forever as “The Bloody Hundredth” under the “Mighty Eight” Eight Air Force.
After a routine takeoff across the English Channel and France, things started to turn drastically as the formation approached the industrial area along the Ruhr River. According to Rodney Snow of the 95th Bomb Group, “The enemy fighters were concentrated in numbers such as we had not seen on any of my crew’s 20 previous missions.” There were over 350 German aircraft waiting for the American bombers, bent on ever-thrashing at them.
Wave after wave of German fighters attacked, concentrating their venom on the B-17s of the 100th Bomb Group. Frank Murphy of the 100th Bomb Group described the scene: “The fighters came on at tremendous closing speed, with complete disregard for the curtain of defensive fire from our guns.” The best efforts of the B-17s were no match for the volume of enemy aircraft. Smoking bombers spiraled downward; their crews struggled to bail out of doomed aircraft.
The grim reality hit home square when Major John Eagan, command pilot of the 100th, and Lieutenant John Brady struggled to keep their aircraft aloft. Eagan recalled that harrowing decision to bail out: “We started arguing as to who jumps first. I said, ‘Go ahead Brady, as I’m senior man.’ He said, ‘No, you go ahead,’ as it was his crew.” In the end, it was Eagan who took the jump, barely escaping the disintegrating bomber.
As the B-17s closed in on Münster, the city’s antiaircraft defenses opened up in a deadly volley of flak. The 95th Bomb Group would lead the attack, the 390th behind it, and the shattered remnants of the 100th bringing up the rear. Only six of the 13 B-17s from the 100th reached the target and devastated the center of the city, causing immense civilian casualties.
The journey home was just as dangerous. The relentless attacks by the Luftwaffe fighters continued until the B-17s reached the Dutch border, where P-47s of the 56th Fighter Group provided a belated escort. The 13th Combat Wing suffered devastating losses: only one of the 100th’s 13 aircraft survived. Piloted by Robert “Rosie” Rosenthal, Royal Flush, that lone surviving B-17 touched down on base with wounded crewmen aboard. Rosenthal’s report about the events of that day left the room in stunned silence.
Bill DeBlasio, Rosenthal’s tail gunner, would describe the action in a much later letter to Rosenthal. He referred to the severe air battle, observing that the German fighters were so well coordinated and fierce. He remembered quite clearly his knocking down multiple enemy aircraft against such overwhelming odds. “The fighters were very well coordinated and were coming in waves of four abreast,” he wrote. DeBlasio’s actions that day testified to the mettle and determination of the 100th Bomb Group.
The Münster mission was one of the bloodiest days in Eighth Air Force history. In so doing, the sacrifice and valor of the 100th Bomb Group epitomized the bravery of multitudes of airmen during World War II. Their legacy is also a testament to the price of freedom and the brazen spirit of those who have fought for it.