December 16th, 1944 marked the day that the German offensive through the Ardennes began. Generally known as the Battle of the Bulge, the offensive took the allied forces by surprise. Moreover, due to the bad weather the Allied forces were unable to put one of its most potent Forces into action. These Forces were the Air-Forces of both the USAAF and RAF. The 8th Air Force in particular was held on the ground during the first week of the German offensive.

This all changed when a weather forecast predicted that the skies would be clear the next day. It was upon this weather forecast that prompted a maximum effort mission by the 8th Air Force. December 24th, 1944 was the day that the largest air armada of strategic bombers ever would take to the skies. The mission: to severely hamper the Luftwaffe operations as well as attacking tactical targets.

This Google-Earth presentation represents the mission almost in real-time and it shows the PLANNED Eighth AF routes and timings. It also shows RAF 2 TAF, RAF Bomber Command, RAF Fighter Command and Ninth AF activities that day. Those plots are made om actual departures and arrival times and when known, the route flown. Otherwise, it shows the general area of operation based on time over targets mentioned in the reports. It is therefore by no means accurate, but it does show at any moment in time what was airborne.

Not (yet) included is IX TCG and 25th BG.