Bombing Hitler’s Hometown The 15th Air Force’s Last Big Mission of the European War Saturday March 15th 2025
March 15
Doors open at 9:00am Presentation starts at 10:00am
One of the final missions of the air war over Europe was the April 25th, 1945, bombing of Linz, Austria by elements of the 15th Air Force flying from bases in southern Italy. While Hitler was born in Braunau, Austria, he moved to Linz as a child and always considered it his “hometown.” Hitler had long intended to remake Linz as the cultural capital of Europe, filling its planned Führermuseum with world-famous art stolen from his conquered territories. But in April 1945, Linz was one of Nazi Germany’s crucial transportation hubs and an important communications center. Its rail yards were brimming with war materiel destined for the front lines.
Linz was also one of the most heavily defended targets remaining in Europe. The 5,000 airmen of the Fifteenth Air Force that flew the mission were a mix of seasoned veterans and newcomers. As their mission was unveiled in the predawn hours of April 25th, it was clear that it was an unwelcome target so late in the war.
The actual mission would prove to be brutal. In the unheated, unpressurized B‑24 Liberator and B‑17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers, the air crews battled the bitter cold and fierce anti-aircraft fire protecting Hitler’s hometown. Austrian civilians on the ground struggled to survive the intense bombing of nearby transportation and industrial facilities.
On Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10:00 am, author and historian Mike Croissant will present the full story of the Linz mission. Croissant, the author of “Bombing Hitler’s Hometown”, has drawn on interviews with dozens of America’s last surviving World War II veterans, as well as previously unpublished sources. He’ll tell the story of this mission through the eyes of the airmen who flew it and the Austrian citizens under the bombs.
Join us for this informative and interesting presentation. All museum guests are invited to attend the lecture at no additional cost. Doors open at 9:00am. The presentation starts at 10:00am followed by a book signing by Mr. Croissant.
The post-strike target photo of the Linz rail yards.