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936 Lives Lost: The Raid That Changed Everything
This is a raid which changes everything and forever.in in raid 936 peoples are killed and over 1300 are injured.
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Here is a story of video:-
It's April 5th, 1943.
Seventy-nine B-17 Flying Fortresses of the US 8th Bomber Command soar across the English Channel. Their target: the Minerva car factory in Morsel, a suburb of Antwerp. Once a symbol of industry, it’s now a German fighter plane repair facility.
The weather is clear—a perfect day for a high-profile raid. This is the 50th mission of the American 8th Bomber Command against German-occupied Europe.
In the lead plane, Brigadier General Frank A. Armstrong commands his crew. Suddenly, the call comes:
"Bandits!"
Over Ghent, the shadows of BF-109s from JG 26 streak across the sky, closing in on the formation.
The lead B-17 is the first to face the assault—head-on. A BF-109 barrels toward it, opening fire. It’s a risky tactic, but the skilled German pilots rely on speed and precision.
Again and again, they dive toward the formation, unleashing relentless attacks. Even the tough Flying Fortresses have their limits.
General Armstrong’s plane endures 25 direct attacks, leaving it damaged and its crew wounded. With great reluctance, the lead aircraft turns for home.
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Back in the skies, the remaining B-17s fight to stay in formation. Gunners fire in all directions. A waist gunner takes out an attacking BF-109, while a tail gunner shoots down another.
But the German reinforcements keep coming. FW-190s join the fray, adding to the chaos. Explosions rip through the air as flak bursts all around the bombers.
"Flak knocked out our oxygen system. Engine one’s down… and now engine three’s hit. We’re barely holding on!"
The bombers press on, determined to complete their mission. At 3:30 PM, the skies over Mortsel darken as 64 B-17s release their payload: 599 1,000-pound bombs and 216 500-pound bombs.
But something goes terribly wrong. Whether due to navigational error, bombardier mistakes, or the chaos of battle, the bombs are dropped seconds too late.
Of the massive payload, only four bombs hit the factory, igniting fires and choking smoke. Tragically, most bombs fall on civilian areas—homes, schools, and streets.
936 civilians are killed, and over 1,300 are injured. Mortsel lies in ruins.
Radio London praised the mission, calling it a success. But German propaganda seized the tragedy, broadcasting reports of civilian devastation.
The Belgian ambassador to the United States formally protested. In response, the US government expressed deep regret for the loss of Belgian lives, reaffirming that precautions had been taken to avoid civilian casualties.
Today, the site of the Minerva factory has been redeveloped, though remnants of its past remain.
This mission, like many in war, serves as a reminder of the cost of freedom. Brave American aircrew lost their lives, and innocent civilians paid a heavy price.
History allows us to reflect on these events, to honor those who fought and to learn from the tragedies that unfolded.

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