Operation Crossbow

Operation Crossbow was the Allied bombing campaign against the German rocket research program that began in autumn of 1943. There was a coordinated attack on all levels, from rocket research center in Peenemünde , transport and production facilities over launch pad for direct attacks on rockets in the air.

The first attack was in August against Peenemünde, followed by attacks on production facilities in Watten and Mimoyecques. In early 1944, it was the assembly and firing factories in northern France which was the target.

In April 1944 Dwight D. Eisenhower issued a decree that gave Operation Crossbow first priority of the Allied bombing campaigns. After that followed the attack on the German production of airplanes, oil production, bearings and arms production.

After the Germans' first attack with V-2 rockets against London in September 1944 the operations was strengthed in a short time, but the war on land was now so far advanced, that most of the bombing targets had been conquered.