16 June 1944: 15th USAAF strategic aerial operations in the MTO and Axis defense response

On 16 June 1944, HQ of the 15th USAAF realized plan to attack the Oil Refineries at Floridsdorf, Kagran, Lobau, Schwechat and fuel storage at Winterhafen, all in the area of Vienna, Austria and also Apollo Oil Refinery at Bratislava, Slovakia. 169 four-engine bombers B-17 and another 489 B-24s were airborne with the protection of 290 fighter planes of all types used by 15th USAAF. Detailed descriptions of combat of both sides, fates of lost airmen and results of attacks are offered in the text for the reader with the complete lists of Axis losses and victories, as well as these for 15th USAAF are published.