<p>The next step in AAF strategy was to force the Luftwaffe to come up and fight, so that the remaining strength could be destroyed. Berlin was the logical target with which to tempt them; if they would defend any city, it should be that one.
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<p>The opening gun made a tiny report. Weather forced the recall of the 4 March 1944 mission, except for one combat wing that didn't receive the communication. They flew over the southwest suburbs of Berlin and dropped bombs from 31 B-17 bomb bays. They and their Mustang escort got home safely.
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<p>The second Berlin mission on 6 March was no more productive. Bad bombing by 658 heavies scattered explosives and incendiaries all over the greater Berlin area. The planners were right; the Germans did defend their capital, and very well indeed. The attackers lost 69 bombers to the Luftwaffe, the highest single day's loss by the Eighth to that date.
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<p>It was the start of a long campaign against the Reich capital and it became a turning point in the air war. After March, the rate of USAAF bomber loss to enemy aircraft decreased sharply. The Messerschmitt menace had been overcome.
