A steadfast misbelief in precision bombing evolved into the leading concept for the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) during the Second World War. This concept envisioned the destruction of the German industrial and economic system as the swiftest path to victory. However, the belief in the survivability of bombers through self-defense proved incorrect, and the Allies realized that the Luftwaffe had to be defeated first by attacking the German aircraft industry. On 22 February 1944, the U.S. Eighth Air Force conducted a mission as part of this offensive. During this mission, the bombers were recalled because of severe weather. On the return trip, the airmen decided not to abandon the mission outright, but to attack targets of opportunity. Because of navigational errors a section of 446 Bombardment Group misidentified the Dutch city Nijmegen as a German city, and bombed it. Due to aiming errors, the greater part of the bombs missed the designated marshalling yards by a kilometer and hit the city center instead. The bombardment caused chaos on the ground. It surprised the citizens, and the damage caused great difficulties for the provision of aid relief. All total, the bombardment killed about 800 citizens and destroyed the historic city center. What factors led to the bombardment of Nijmegen and what happened on 22 February 1944. This thesis attempts to answer five research questions: (1) What was the foundation of USAAF thought with regard to strategic bombing prior to the Second World War, (2) What were the most important events that led to The Big Week, (3) Why did the Eighth Air Force bomb Nijmegen, (4) How was the bombardment executed, and (5) What were the consequences of the bombardment. The thesis will approach the events thematically, rather than chronologically.


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