Jan. 27, 1943. The first AAF bombing mission against a target inside Germany was made on Jan. 27, 1943 when 53 planes attacked Wilhelmshaven. Opposing German fighter pilots were fairly cautious, but on Feb. 4, when the AAF attacked Emden, it "stirred up a hornet's nest." For the first time, the Luftwaffe engaged U.S. bombers with twin-engine Me-110s and Ju-88s in addition to the usual single-engine Me-109s and Fw-190s.

During the next two months it became apparent that AAF bomber formations would have to have escort fighters all the way to the target. Unfortunately, the British Spitfires did not have sufficient range to cover missions deep into Germany. The Luftwaffe also relied upon twin- engine planes such as the Junkers Ju-88 and the Messerschmitt Me-110 particularly when AAF bombers flew above the heavy clouds. The two Luftwaffe single-engine fighters used primarily for intercepting B-17s and B-24s, the Messerschmitt Me-109 and the Focke-Wulf Fw-190