Airmans of 15th USAAF - Teplice, Czech Republic - Non-Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

The Fifteenth Air Force was one of two Strategic Air forces in Europe, along with the Eighth Air Force.

It was established on 1 November 1943 in Tunis, Tunisia, and commenced combat operations the following day. The Air Force was formed as part of reorganisation of the Twelfth and Ninth Air Forces, and activated with a strength of 90 B-24 Liberators and 210 B-17 Flying Fortresses, inherited from its predecessors. From December 1943 13 new groups arriving from the US were added to the Fifteenth Air Force, most equipped with B-24 Liberators.

At the end of 1943 RAF and USAAF moved their air base from North Africa to southern Italy. They believed that massive aviation attacks by strategic bombers on targets in Germany and occupied eastern Europe are key to success. Their first major task was to liquidate all that served to produce and transport gasoline for German field units.
 
Another goal was to exhaust the German Lufftwaffe even before landing in Normandy and to weaken Germany to bring its final defeat.

Northwest Bohemia during World War II had a large concentration of chemical industry - the synthetic oil facility ie Sudetenlaendische Treibstoffwerke /STW/ had been built at Zaluzi in the area of brown coal pits.

A series of raids has begun, which has come to history as the Battle of Fuel (visit link) .

During the Second World War the Fifteen heavy bomber groups of the 15th Air Force lost 2,110 Bombers on operations. Its seven Fighter Groups claimed 1,836 enemy aircraft destroyed.

15th USAAF lost a lot of machines and crews. The remembrance of these losses is the monument that is dedicated to Airmans of No. 15 USAAF

Plaque Inscription:
K UCTENÍ PAMÁTKY LETCU
15. LETECKÉ ARMÁDY USA,
KTERÍ ZAHYNULI PRI LETECKÝCH BITVÁCH
NA TEPLICKU V LETECH 1944 - 1945


See also: (visit link) (visit link)

Type of Memorial: Non-Specific Memorial In Honor Of: The airmans of No. 15 USAAF (CZ: K UCTĚNÍ PAMÁTKY LETCŮ 15. LETECKÉ ARMÁDY USA) Marker Text: K UCTĚNÍ PAMÁTKY LETCŮ 15. LETECKÉ ARMÁDY USA, KTEŘÍ ZAHYNULI PŘI LETECKÝCH BITVÁCH NA TEPLICKU V LETECH 1944 - 1945 Who Put it Here?: local administration Description of Memorial: I found this place due https://goo.gl/YciCHb . The memorial is located close to small urban park. Wars mentioned (Multi-war only): Not listed Date of dedication: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Visited Logs must contain, at least, a picture of the monument and your GPSr. Preferably YOU at the monument with your GPSr, but we understand that some people are camera-shy.
It is suggested you please include something about your visit here, as well.

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Date Logged Log   03/07/2020 castorka visited it