The Germans, intent on dealing with the heavy bombers, created "Sturmgruppen". These were fighter groups equipped with heavily armed fighters and trained to assault bombers from the rear by closing to point-blank range regardless of the cost. On 27 September 1944, an error by the lead navigator of the 445th BG caused his formation of B-24s to become separated from the main bomber stream and its protective escorts. The German ground control radar vectored several groups of storm-fighters to the attack. In one bloody five-minute assault, 25 out of 37 B-24s were shot down. Five more damaged stragglers would be finished off later. Only the arrival of P-51s at the last second prevented the complete destruction of the 445th.
