On March 4th, 1944, the U.S. Eighth Air Force would launch its first bombing raid on Berlin soil. After the initial attack, American pilots would join the Royal Air Force’s Bomber Command in strafing the city by day and night.
By ceasefire in May 1945, 26,000 servicemen of the Eighth Air Force would have been killed in combat, as well as 55,000 of their British counterparts. At least 20,000 Berliners would die during Allied raids.