Today in World War II History—Mar. 5, 1943

Auxiliary carrier USS Bogue (ACV-9) near Norfolk, VA, 20 June 1943 (US Navy photo)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 5, 1943: RAF sends 442 bombers to Essen, Germany, opening the Battle of the Ruhr—43 major raids through June.
Maiden flight of first British jet aircraft, the Gloster Meteor.
In convoy XK-2 off Cape Finisterre, German U-boat U-130 sinks four British freighters with one salvo of four torpedoes.
Auxiliary carrier USS Bogue begins escort of convoy HX-228 in North Atlantic, the first time this class of ship is assigned antisubmarine operations as primary duty.
March 5, 1943 was a devastating attack on Essen. That day was the moment in time when the direction of the war changed. The beginning of the end of the German war machine.
A great day for Great Britain and the brave young men of the Royal Air Force.
It certainly was.
March 5, 1943 was a devastating attack on Essen. That day was the moment in time when the direction of the war changed. The beginning of the end of the German war machine.
A great day for Great Britain and the brave young men of the Royal Air Force.