The bombing raid on Nuremberg, executed by the Royal Air Force, was part of a strategic campaign to weaken the German war effort during World War II. On the night of March 30, 1944, an impressive force of 795 bombers took off, comprising Bristol Blenheims, Avro Lancasters, Handley Page Halifaxes, and de Havilland Mosquitos. The target, Nuremberg, was an important industrial center for the German war machine. The operation was part of the broader Bomber Command strategy to target key German cities and infrastructure with the hope of crippling their production capabilities.

The mission faced significant resistance from the German Luftwaffe, which was bolstered by radar technology and improved tactics. The conditions over Nuremberg proved challenging, with cloud cover and flak (anti-aircraft fire) contributing to the difficulties for the bomber crews. The raid resulted in the loss of 95 aircraft, accounting for over 11 percent of the raid force, making it the largest single loss suffered by the RAF Bomber Command throughout the war. This ratio of losses to planes sent was alarming and raised serious questions about the efficacy of such large-scale raids.

Despite the significant losses, the raid on Nuremberg was an example of the intense air campaign that the Allies were waging in Europe as they sought to gain air superiority. The operation had lasting implications for subsequent missions and underscored the dangers faced by bomber crews during the conflict, illustrating both the human cost of the air war and the strategic challenges of targeting fortified industrial locations within occupied Europe.