At 10:15 AM on April 3, 1944, air raid sirens wailed across Budapest, yet the city's tranquility remained largely undisturbed.

The populace had grown accustomed to the frequent alerts in previous months, and these warnings had become an integral part of daily life.

However, this alarm heralded a more ominous event, as a deep rumble resonated from the south, blending with the sounds of urban traffic.

Witnesses recalled a strange noise approaching, described as 'unusual motor sounds,' accompanied by numerous silver dots trailing white vapor across the sky as American bombers from the 15th Air Force arrived over the city.

This airstrike on Budapest, which occurred just over two weeks after the German occupation of Hungary on March 19, 1944, effectively shattered the four-year peace that had characterized the homeland until then.

The 15th Air Force's strategic bombing campaign was initially conceived long before the bombing itself.

Allied leaders Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill had discussed the need for bombing operations against Nazi Germany in January 1943 during their Casablanca conference, which included plans for targeting Hungary.

Despite hopes for a separate peace with the Allies, as expressed by Hungarian Prime Minister Miklós Kállay and regent Miklós Horthy, these aspirations were ultimately thwarted.

Kállay had taken office after Horthy dismissed László Bárdossy due to his pro-German stance, tasked with establishing a cautious withdrawal from Nazi influence.

In preparation for the bombing of Budapest, American forces conducted extensive planning.

Following the Allies' capture of significant territories in Italy by late 1943, command shifted to the Mediterranean bases, allowing for the deployment of heavy bombers closer to Central European targets by early 1944. On February 2, 1944, the 15th Air Force received its initial orders for a bombing mission against Budapest, which was postponed due to adverse weather conditions.

The strategic bombing campaign was formally reinstated on March 25, 1944, despite the Kállay government being unaware that such operations had been authorized in advance of the German occupation.

On March 28, the American strategic command issued explicit directives for bombings targeting Budapest's rail infrastructure to support Soviet offensives and disrupt German military logistics.

Leading up to the attack, on April 2, 1944, orders were finalized for the bombing of Budapest on April 3. The mission involved substantial air assets, with 450 bombers prepared to target key facilities including the Dunai Aircraft Factory and the Ferencváros Railway Station, recognized for its strategic importance.

The bombers assembled in formations above the Adriatic Sea before proceeding toward Budapest.

As the American bombers approached, they encountered fierce German Luftwaffe opposition, which included approximately 60 Focke-Wulf FW-190 and Messerschmitt Bf-109 fighters.

The escorting American P-38 Lightning fighters were returning home, leaving the bombers vulnerable.

The American bombers encountered severe resistance and were met with intense anti-aircraft fire, resulting in significant damage to civilian areas in addition to primary targets.

The aftermath of the bombing resulted in the tragic loss of 1,038 civilian lives and 563 severe injuries, reflecting the extensive collateral damage incurred during the attack.

This marked the beginning of a series of aerial assaults on Hungary that would extend until March 1945, defining a harsh chapter in Hungary's wartime history.

The engagement demonstrated the stark contrast in air power, with the Americans deploying 450 heavy bombers supported by 137 fighter aircraft, while the Hungarian Royal Air Force struggled with limited resources to mount an effective defense.

The April 3 attack was a pivotal moment that set the stage for ongoing air warfare, with Hungarian pilots forced to confront the overwhelming might of the American air forces for the first time.

The ensuing struggle for air superiority would define the conflict over Hungarian airspace in the months and years to follow.