USAAF Combat Operations 1941

USAAF Worldwide Operations Chronology
		COMBAT CHRONOLOGY OF THE US ARMY AIR FORCES 

JULY 1944 


AIRCRAFT MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT: 
  A-20, Douglas Havoc 
  A-26, Douglas Invader 
  A-36, North American Apache 
  B-17, Boeing Flying Fortress 
  B-24, Consolidated Liberator 
  B-25, North American Mitchell 
  B-26, Martin Marauder 
  B-29, Boeing Superfortress 
  Beaufighter, Bristol 
  C-47, Douglas Skytrain 
  F-5, Lockheed Lightning 
  F-6, North American Mustang 
  F-7, Consolidated Liberator 
  L-4, Piper Cub/Grasshopper 
  L-5, Stinson Sentinel 
  P-38, Lockheed Lightning 
  P-39, Bell Airacobra 
  P-40, Curtiss 
  P-47, Republic Thunderbolt 
  P-51, North American Mustang 
  P-61, Northrop Black Widow
  Spitfire, Vickers Supermarine

SATURDAY, 1 JULY 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): At dawn in the Kurile Islands, 4 B-24s radar-
bomb southern Shimushu Island and Kurabu Cape Airfield, Paramushiru Island
through overcast.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
 
 BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 P-40s fly ground support missions
in the Myitkyina area; 2 B-25s bomb rail targets at Mohnyin and Naba. In
India, the 12th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3d Combat Cargo Group, moves from
Sylhet to Fenny with C-47s.

 CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-25s and fighter-bombers again
pound targets throughout the Tungting Lake region; river shipping is attacked
on a large scale at numerous locations and 250-300 trucks are strafed between
Tungcheng and Pingkiang; Hengyang Airfield is bombed as are the towns of
Pingkiang, Hengshan, Liling, and Yuhsien; a pontoon bridge and Japanese
positions at Leiyang are also hit; B-24s lay mines in the river at Canton
during the night; the detachment of the 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 8th
Photographic Reconnaissance Group, operating from Hsinching with F-7s,
returns to base at Guskhara, India; and the detachment of the 71st Liaison
Squadron, AAF, India-Burma Sector, operating from Kunming, China with L-4s
and L-5s, returns to base at Ledo, India. During Jul, the detachment of the
16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, operating from Yunnani with P-40s
returns to base at Chengkung; and the 76th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter
Group, moves from Lingling to Liuchow with P-40s.

 STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): HQ 444th Bombardment Group (Very
Heavy) and 676th, 677th, 678th and 679th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy)
move from Charra to Dudhkundi, India with B-29s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

 STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 449: 323 bombers (78 B-17s
and 245 B-24s) and 166 P-51s are dispatched to bomb 14 V-weapon sites in N
France but are recalled because of clouds; the recall messages by mistake are
not sent to 3 squadrons; 2 of these abort on a decision of the squadron
leaders; the other continues on the mission and 9 B-24s bomb a V-weapon site
at Mont Louis Ferme; 1 B-24 is lost and 10 are damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 9
MIA; 124 P-51s, relieved of escort duty by the recall of the bombers, claim
5-0-5 Luftwaffe aircraft, 1 P-51 is lost.
  82 fighters of a force of 97 P-38s, 169 P-47s and 99 P-51s attack rail and
road targets in N France; they claim 3-0-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is lost
and 2 damaged beyond repair; 2 pilots are KIA and 2 MIA.
  18 B-24s participate in CARPETBAGGER missions in France.

 TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): IX Air Defense Command is activated
in Hampstead Borouth, England by the Ninth Air Force to provide air defense
behind the advancing Allied ground forces in N Europe; Commanding General is
Brigadier General William L Richardson. 
  In France, weather prevents operations by IX Bomber Command; 47 fighters
escort troop carriers and fly sweeps in the Vire area where about 20 fighters
bomb tactical targets; HQ 100th Fighter Wing moves from Lashenden, England
to Criqueville; and HQ 363d Fighter Group moves from Staplehurst, England to
Maupertus; during Jul, HQ IX Fighter Command from Middle Wallop, England to
Les Obeaux; and HQ XIX Tactical Air Command from Aldermaston Court, England
to France.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

 TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, light and medium bombers
hit fuel dumps, rail bridges, viaducts, and docks in NC Italy; fighter-
bombers concentrate on road and rail bridges behind the battle area, destroy
several fighters in combat over Reggio Emilia Airfield, and hit guns S of
Carsoli; and a detachment of the 12th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron,
3d Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), begins operating from Follonica with
F-5s. During Jul, the detachments of the 414th Night Fighter Squadron, 63d
Fighter Wing, operating from Ghisonaccia and Borgo, Corsica with
Beaufighters, return to base at Alghero, Sardinia.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marianas Islands, P-47s
fly bombing and strafing missions over Saipan, Tinian, and Rota Islands.
B-24s, staging through Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, hit Truk Atoll,
Caroline Islands, during the night of 1/2 Jul and follow up with another raid
during the day. Makin Island, Gilbert Island-based B-25s bomb Ponape Island,
Caroline Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea,
B-24s bomb the airfield at Namlea and hit shipping throughout the Amboina,
Ambon Island-Ceram-Boeroe, Moluccas Islands area; other B-24s, B-25s, A-20s
and fighter-bombers hit airfield, AA guns, bivouacs, supplies, and Japanese
defenses on Noemfoor Island in preparation for Allied landings on 2 Jul; the
airfield at Manokwari is also bombed; bombers and fighters continue to pound
the Wewak coastal area; many of the strikes are in conjunction with US Navy
(USN) motor torpedo (PT) boats; and the 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter
Group, moves from Nadzab to Owi, Schouten Islands with P-38s. A few B-24s on
armed reconnaissance bomb targets on Yap Island, Caroline Islands and Peleliu
Island, Palau Islands; during Jul 44, HQ V Fighter Command moves from Nadzab
to Owi, Schouten Islands; and the 39th Troop Carrier Squadron, 317th Troop
Carrier Group, moves from Finschhafen to Hollandia with C-47s.

SUNDAY, 2 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 7 P-40s continue support of ground
forces in the Myitkyina area; and 2 B-25s hit railroad tracks at Pinwe and
Katha.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 11 B-25s and 42 fighter-bombers
again attack river shipping, compounds, and troop concentrations in the
Tungting Lake region; also the town of Hengshan is bombed; and B-25s and
P-51s pound the airfield and town area at Lupao.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 450: 350 bombers and 171
P-51s are dispatched to hit 13 V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area; 1
B-24 is lost:
  1. Of 78 B-17s, 24 hit Fleury, 24 hit Fressin, 21 hit Blengermont and 1
hits a target of opportunity; 33 B-17s are damaged.
  2. Of 272 B-24s, 36 hit Crepy, 35 hit Fiefs, 24 hit Vignacourt, 23 hit
Blanc Pignon, 22 hit Courbronne, 21 hit Renescure, 13 hit Haute Cote Island,
13 hit Mont Louis Ferme, 13 hit Santrecourt and 12 hit Belloy-sur-Somme; 1
B-24 is lost and 1 damaged beyond repair; 4 airmen are WIA and 9 MIA.
  Escort for the above is provided by 166 of 171 P-51s without loss.
  41 P-51s, temporarily in Italy while en route from the USSR to the UK
during a shuttle mission, join Fifteenth Air Force fighters in escorting
Fifteenth AF bombers against targets in the Budapest, Hungary area, claiming
9 aircraft destroyed and suffering 4 losses.
  37 B-24s CARPETBAGGER missions in France during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, all IX Bomber Command
missions are cancelled due to bad weather; fighters of 7 groups of the IX
Tactical Air Command fly interception missions in the Caen area and cover
over the beach area, attack rail lines along the Loire, and hit a HQ and
supply dumps and strongpoints near La Haye-du-Puits; HQ IX Tactical Air
Command moves from Au Gay to Les Obeaux; and HQ 362d Fighter Group moves
from Headcorn, England to Lignerolles.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 620+ bombers hit targets in
Hungary and Yugoslavia; B-24s attack 2 marshalling yards, an airfield, and 2
oil refineries at Budapest, Hungary; B-17s bomb an industrial area at Gyor
and a railroad bridge at Szolnok, Hungary and marshalling yards at Brod and
Vinkovci, Yugoslavia; fighters sweep over the Budapest area; bombers and
fighters claim 50+ fighters shot down; 14 US aircraft are shot down and as
many more are missing.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium and light bombers
continue to pound enemy communication lines N of the battle area (mainly
along and N of the Pisa-Florence line) and hit several fuel dumps with good
results; fighter-bombers are active against motor transport and bridges
immediately N of the battleline; and 111th Tactical Reconnaissance
Squadron, XII Tactical Air Command, moves from Voltone to Follonica with
F-6s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s on Saipan Island bomb
and strafe forces on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea,
B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s, and fighter-bombers, along with naval guns, bombard
the Kamiri area of Noemfoor Island, after which Allied amphibious forces land
with little opposition and secure the beachhead; other B-25s attack barges
near Manokwari; and HQ 308th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) and HQ 43d Bombardment
Group (Heavy) move from Oro Bay and Nadzab respectively to Owi, Schouten
Islands.

MONDAY, 3 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20+ fighter-bombers support ground
forces in the Myitkyina area, which also is covered by 10-plane combat
patrol.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 4 B-24s bomb Yoyang railroad yards
in the Tungting Lake area; B-25s and P-40s pound river shipping, bridges, gun
sites, compounds, and villages at several locations, including Leiyang,
Ssutang, Yungfengshih, and Tsungyang; B-25s drop ammunition to Chinese ground
forces at Hengyang. In French Indochina, P-40s damage a bridge at Phu Lang
Thuong and hit nearby targets of opportunity.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 55 B-17s in Italy on the USSR
shuttle mission join Fifteenth AF bombers in bombing marshalling yards at
Arad, Rumania; 38 P-51s of the VIII Fighter Command, also on the shuttle run,
fly escort on the mission.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, nearly 275 fighters
strafe and bomb strongpoints, gun positions, a fuel dump, communication
lines, bridges, and patrol the beach in the vicinity of Lessay and Periers, S
of the US First Army's advance; HQ 358th Fighter Group and 365th Fighter
Squadron move from High Halden, England to Cretteville with P-47s; the 30th
Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group,
moves from Middle Wallop, England to Le Molay with F-5s; and the 382d Fighter
Squadron, 363d Fighter Group, moves from Staplehurst, England to Maupertus
with P-51s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 600+ B-17s and B-24s attack 
targets in Rumania and Yugoslavia including oil storage, oil refinery, and
locomotive works at Bucharest, oil storage at Giurgiu, railroad targets at
Turnu-Severin, a bridge at Piatra, marshalling yards at Arad and Timisoara, a
bridge at Szeged, and oil storage at Belgrade; fighters fly 250+ sorties in
support of the missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-26s and A-20s pound
enemy fuel dumps while B-25s hit bridges, tunnels, and viaducts at
Pietrasanta, Canneto sull'Oglio and Saviano, and fuel storage tanks in the
Pontelagoscuro area; fighter-bombers blast motor transport and bridges in the
battle area as the US Fifth Army begins a drive on Leghorn; vehicle park,
ammunition dump, and a barge are also hit.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s continue to hit troops
remaining on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota Islands. B-24s, staging through
Eniwetok Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea,
P-38s and B-25s hit personnel and supply areas S of Kamiri and support
invading ground forces as they push E along the N coast of Noemfoor Island;
Efman Island, Manokwari, and Biak Island are attacked by B-24s, A-20s, and
fighters; the Wewak coastal area continues under sustained air attack as
Allied aircraft pound targets including forces at Brandi Plantation and
supplies and a bridge near But; Larat is also bombed; and the 70th Troop
Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Nadzab to Hollandia
with C-47s. B-24s hit airstrips, AA positions, and targets of opportunity in
the Yap Island group, at Woleai Atoll in the Caroline Islands, and at Peleliu
Island; Saumlakki, Tanimbar Island, Moluccas Islands is also bombed.

TUESDAY, 4 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 30+ P-40s continue support of
ground forces near Myitkyina; 20+ P-47s and P-51s fly an offensive sweep over
the Lashio area, patrol the Mogaung area, and bomb targets of opportunity at
Taungni, Nampadaung, and Mogaung; 4 B-25s hit bridges and railroad tracks in
the Hopin and Naba areas.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 38 B-25s and 74 fighter-bombers
pound targets throughout the Tungting Lake-Yangtze River region and in the
Yellow River and Canton areas; river shipping is hit hard, particularly along
the Siang-Chiang River; troop concentrations, road traffic, and general
targets of opportunity are hit at many locations; towns bombed include Shasi,
Lukou, Yungfengshih, Liling, Siangtan, and Yuhsien; Hengyang Airfield is
bombed and supplies are dropped to Chinese troops in the area; airfields and
warehouses in the Canton area are bombed and targets of opportunity at Linfen,
Wenhsi, and Puchou in the Yellow River region are strafed.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

 STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 451: 558 bombers and 632
fighters are dispatched to attack 7 airfields N and W of Paris; bad weather
and mechanical failures cause 350+ bombers to abort; 1 B-17 and 4 fighters
are lost:
  1. Of 300 B-17s, 24 hit Dreux Airfield, 24 hit Illiers L'Eveque Airfield,
13 hit Conches Airfield and 1 hits a target of opportunity; 1 B-17s is
lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 37 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 9 MIA.
  2. Of 258 B-24s, 56 hit Conches Airfield, 50 hit Beaumont le Roger
Airfield, 49 hit Evreux Airfield, 25 hit Beaumont-sur-Oise Airfield and 12
hit Creil Airfield; 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 52 damaged; 2
airmen are WIA.
  199 P-38s, 189 P-47s and 244 P-51s are dispatched to escort the bombers
but 63 abort; 2 P-38s, 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are lost and 1 P-47 is damaged.
  Of 144 P-38s and 176 P-47s, 29 hit Nevers marshalling yard, 25 hit
Joinville Bridge, 16 hit Chartre-Chateaudun marshalling yard, 14 hit
Perrigny marshalling yard, 14 hit Fresnes Bridge, 8 hit Cercy/La Tours
marshalling yard, 8 hit Cambrai marshalling yard, 6 hit St Florentin, 5 hit
targets of opportunity and 4 hit Rouen Bridge; they claim 17-0-10 Luftwaffe
aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground; 1 P-38 is lost and 1 damaged.
  Total VIII Fighter Command casualties are 1 KIA, 4 WIA and 7 MIA.
  36 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night; 3 airmen are MIA
after a plane crashes. 

 TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France bad weather curtails bomber
operations, but 95 B-26s and A-20s bomb a rail bridge at Oissel and strongly
defended positions N of Anneville-sur-Mer, using the Pathfinder technique;
900+ fighters strafe and bomb numerous targets including troop
concentrations, gun positions, rail lines, marshalling yards, a tunnel, a
radio station, bridges, highways, and a command post; fighters also fly
escort and cover the beach and assault areas; units moving from England to
France: 109th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance
Group, from Middle Wallop to Le Molay with F-6s; 366th and 367th Fighter
Squadrons, 358th Fighter Group, from High Halden to Cretteville with P-47s;
381st Fighter Squadron, 363d Fighter Group, from Staplehurst to Maupertus
with P-51s; and 494th Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Group, from Ibsley to
Deux Jumeaux with P-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

 STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 250+ bombers attack targets in
Rumania; B-24s bomb a bridge and railroad repair works at Pitesti and B-17s
bomb an oil refinery at Brasov; 350+ fighters escort the bombers and carry
out sweeps in the target area; claims of enemy fighters destroyed total 17; 1
fighter group strafes 2 landing grounds and a troop train in Yugoslavia on
the return trip to base.

 TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather cancels light and
medium bomber operations; fighter-bomber operations are greatly reduced but
attacks are made on bridges, rail lines, roads, and guns in and N of the
battle area as US Fifth Army elements clear parts of Rosignano, overrun Mount
Vitalba and area to its E, and push into Casole d'Elsa; and the 522d, 523d
and 524th Fighter Squadrons, 27th Fighter Group, move from Ciampino to
Voltone with P-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s on Saipan Island continue
fighter-bomber operations against forces on Saipan, Tinian, Aguijan and Rota
Islands in the Marianas Islands. B-24s, staging through Eniwetok Atoll, pound
Truk Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea,
A-20s continue support of Allied ground forces pushing E and SE from the
Kamiri Airfield area on Noemfoor Island and taking Kamiri village and
Kornasoren Airfield; P-47s strafe targets of opportunity at nearby Biak
Island while B-24s bomb airfield at Efman Island; other aircraft bomb and
strafe troops E of Maffin Bay; personnel areas at But and Dagua and barges at
Wewak Point are also attacked; and the 388th Bombardment Squadron (Light),
312th Bombardment Group (Light), moves from Nadzab to Hollandia with A-20s.
B-24s hit shipping and airfields in the Amboina, Ambon Island-Ceram Island
area. B-24s bomb Yap Island and hit airstrips in Woleai and Sorol Atolls in
the Caroline Islands and Peleliu Island.

WEDNESDAY, 5 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma 20+ P-40s and A-36s continue
support in the Myitkyina sector while 12 other aircraft fly armed
reconnaissance in the same area; 20+ other P-40s, P-51s, and A-36s hit
targets of opportunity in the areas around Hopin, Namma, and Naungtalaw; the
town area of Naungtalaw also is pounded by 11 B-25s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 136 fighter-bombers and 64 B-25s
attack targets throughout the Tungting Lake area; targets include river
shipping, warehouses, troops, artillery, trucks, and other targets of
opportunity at Liling, Lukou, Pingkiang, Yungfengshih, Siangyin, and Chuting;
Hengyang Airfield is bombed, and supplies are dropped to Chinese forces in
the vicinity; in the Salween area 40 transports drop supplies to Chinese
forces on the battleline, and 4 fighter-bombers pound the town and vicinity
of Tengchung; 22 B-24s bomb a supply and ammunition depot at Canton; 6 B-25s
attack airfields in the area; and 5 B-24s lay mines in Shanghai harbor.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 453: 371 bombers and 445
fighters are dispatched to attack 3 airfields in the Netherlands and 2 in
Belgium, a factory near Mol, and 3 V-weapon supply sites in France; 5
fighters are lost:
  1. Of 79 B-17s dispatched to the Netherlands, 38 hit Gilze-Rijen Airfield,
20 hit Volkel Airfield and 19 hit Noll without loss.
  2. Of 221 B-24s, 43 hit Bois de Cassan V-weapon site, 36 hit Le Coulet
Airfield, 29 hit Foret de L'Isle Adam and 29 hit hit Mery sur Oise V-weapon
sites, 13 hit Eindhoven Airfield, 5 hit Melsbroek Airfield and 2 hit Tulemont
Airfield; 49 B-24s are damaged; 1 airman is WIA.
  The two missions above are escorted by 180 of 192 P-51s that claim 4-0-2
Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost
(pilots are MIA).
  3. 70 of 71 B-17s hit Beziers marshalling yard; 13 B-17s are damaged. 228
P-47s and P-51s escort the bombers and claim 18-1-9 Luftwaffe aircraft in the
air and 1-0-0 on the ground; 2 P-47s and 1 P-51 are lost (pilots are MIA).
  Of 93 P-47s, 22 bomb Rouen, 10 hit L'Arche Bridge, 10 hit Seine River
locks, 7 hit Boissy le Bois, 7 hit Pantgouin, 7 hit Veulettes Bridge and 6
hit communication targets; they claim 3-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and
1-0-0 on the ground; 2 P-47s are lost (pilots are MIA). The P-47s are
escorted by 181 of 190 P-38s; 2 P-38s are lost (pilots MIA) and 1 is damaged
beyond repair.
  During the night, 8 of 8 B-17s drop leaflets in France with the loss of 1
B-17; and 8 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.
  70 B-17s on shuttle mission (UK-USSR-Italy-UK) attack a marshalling yard at
Beziers, France (with Fifteenth AF B-24s) while on the last leg from Italy to
the UK; 42 P-51s return to UK with the B-17s (of the 11 P-51s remaining in
Italy, 10 return to the UK the following day and the last several days
later).

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, about 180 B-26s and A-20s
bomb bridges at Caen and also sidings, tracks, and rolling stock; in the
afternoon 4 NOBALL (V-weapon) HQ are hit; 600+ fighters escort the bombers,
carry out armed reconnaissance of communication and enemy movements, attack
rail lines, rolling stock, marshalling yards, bridges, supply dumps, and
cover the beach area; HQ 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group and 107th
Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron move from Middle Wallop, England to Le
Molay with F-6s; the 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photographic
Group (Reconnaissance) (attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group),
moves from Middle Wallop, England to Le Molay with F-6s; and the 380th
Fighter Squadron, 363d Fighter Group, moves from Staplehurst, England to
Maupertus with P-51s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Almost 500 bombers attack
targets in France; B-17s bomb the Montpellier marshalling yards; B-24s bomb
Beziers marshalling yards and Toulon submarine pens and harbor installations;
close to 200 fighter sorties are flown in support of the missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s bomb Villafranca
di Verona marshalling yard, Aulla railroad bridge, and Ostiglia fuel dumps
while A-20s blast a supply dump and rail lines; fighter-bombers hit tracks,
bridges, roads, and other targets in the battle area as the US Fifth Army
continues fierce fighting around Rosignano.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s fly fighter-bomber
operations over Saipan, Rota, and Tinian Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In the area around
Wewak, New Guinea, A-20s and fighter-bombers hit dumps at Dagua and attack
barges during the night of 4/5 Jul; light strikes are flown in support of
troops on Noemfoor Island and against barges, airfields, and troop
concentrations on Efman and Biak Islands and at Moemi, Manokwari, and in the
Wakde area. B-24s bomb airstrips and AA guns on Yap Island and Woleai Atoll;
Sorol Atoll and Peleliu Island are also hit. 

THURSDAY, 6 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 P-40s attack a bridge near
Myitkyina while 40+ others support ground forces in the area; several other
P-40s attack Maingna, barracks at Sahmaw, a train at Taungni, and troops at
Sakangyi; 6 B-25s bomb Maingna and 2 hit Mohnyin; and HQ 311th Fighter
Group moves from Dinjan, India to Tingkawk Sakan.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-25s, P-40s, and P-51s continue to
pound river shipping, bridges, troop concentrations, road traffic, and
general targets of opportunity throughout a wide area around Tungting Lake
and along the Yangtze River; hit particularly hard are the town area and
supply depot at Sinshih; B-25s near the Burma border cause considerable
damage at Tengehung and drop supplies to Chinese ground forces on the Salween
front, and during the night of 6/7 Jul bomb Tien Ho Airfield at Canton.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): Brigadier General LaVern G
Saunders becomes Commanding General XX Bomber Command with HQ at Kharagpur,
India.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 455: In the morning,
missions are flown to France and Germany:
  1. 800 bombers and 224 fighters are dispatched to bomb 18 V-weapon sites in
the Pas de Calais area; 556 of 641 B-17s and 133 of 159 B-24s bomb; 1 B-17 is
damaged beyond repair; 161 B-17s and 59 B-24s are damaged; 2 airmen are KIA
and 3 WIA. Escort is provided by 141 P-38s and 83 P-51s; they claim 4-0-0
Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 is lost (pilot is MIA).
  2. 229 of 262 B-24s bomb the dock area at Kiel, Germany and 1 hits a target
of opportunity; 3 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 105 damaged; 8
airmen are WIA and 22 MIA. Escort is provided by 168 of 189 P-51s; 1 P-51 is
lost (pilot is MIA).
  Mission 456: In the late afternoon 73 of 104 B-17s and 148 of 176 B-24s
strike 6 V-weapon sites and supply installations, 3 railroad bridges, a
highway bridge, and an airfield in N France. Escort is provided by 443 P-38s,
P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-47 is lost; afterwards a squadron of P-47s dive-bombs 3
airfields in the Conches area.
  212 P-38s and P-47s, fly fighter-bomber missions against rail and road
traffic in the Paris area; they claim 11-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-47s are
lost (pilots are MIA).
  Mission 457: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in Belgium and France during the
night.
  20 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions; 1 B-24 is lost. A C-47 makes the
first landing at a secret airstrip in the Ain, France area.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France during the morning around
500 B-26s and A-20s bomb bridges and rail lines at 8 locations; in the
afternoon 5 targets are attacked, including bridges, fuel dumps, railroad
tracks, and a V-weapon location; 15+ fighter groups escort bombers, fly armed
reconnaissance of rail lines, roads, and marshalling yards, damaging or
destroying tracks, trains, a tunnel, a building, and a supply dump; fighters
also cover the beach and bomb and strafe troop concentrations and gun
positions; HQ 404th Fighter Group and 506th, 507th and 508th Fighter
Squadrons move from Winkton, England to Chapelle with P-47s; the 14th Liaison
Squadron, XIX Tactical Air Command, moves from Ibsley, England to Nehou with
L-5s; and the 388th Fighter Squadron, 365th Fighter Group, moves from
Beaulieu, England to Azeville with P-47s. In England, HQ 367th Fighter Group
and 393d and 394th Fighter Squadrons move from Stony Cross to Ibsley with
P-38s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, 530+ B-17s and B-24s
attack the Verona marshalling yard, Bergamo steel works, Avisio viaduct,
Tagliamento-Casarsa della Delizia railroad bridge, Aviano oil and gasoline
storage, Porto Marghera oil storage, and Trieste oil refinery; P-51s and
P-38s provide escort; and the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332d Fighter Group,
moves from Orbetello to Ramitelli with P-51s.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, A-20s hit an ammunition
ship at La Spezia during the night of 5/6 Jul and continue attacks on fuel
supplies during the day; medium bombers again hit communication,
concentrating on bridges N of the battleline, and attack enemy warehouses and
HQ; fighter-bombers hit rail lines (with especially good results between
Viareggio and Massa Lombarda) and damage several bridges just N of the battle
area as the US Fifth Army continues clearing Rosignano and takes Castellina
Marittima and Mount Vaso.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s bomb and strafe forces on
Saipan, Rota, and Tinian Islands. B-24s, staging through Eniwetok Atoll,
pound Truk Atoll during the night of 5/6 Jul and follow with another raid
during the day. B-25s, based at Makin Island, hit Nauru Island. The 333d
Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, moves from Bellow Field, Territory
of Hawaii to Saipan Island with P-47s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea,
B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers continue to pound the Wewak area,
concentrating on troops S of Matapau; B-25s and fighter-bombers sweep the N
coast of the Vogelkop Peninsula and offshore islands, hitting targets of
opportunity; other fighter-bombers hit the Manokwari area and buildings at
Ransiki, Moari, and Oransbari; airfields, gun positions, communication
targets, and supply dumps in the area around Babo are hit by B-24s, A-26s,
A-20s, and P-38s. B-24s bomb the town and warehouse area of Yap Island and a
few hit the airfield at Woleai Atoll.

FRIDAY, 7 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20 fighter-bombers hit targets of
opportunity at Okkyin and Namkwin and strafe trucks near Myitkyina; and 4
B-25s attack bridges and railroad tracks at Hopin and Naba.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In the Tungting Lake area of China, B-25s and
fighter-bombers hit Yoyang, Siangtan, Liling, and Yungfengshih, strafe
cavalry forces N of Yuhsien, hit river shipping, troops, and a pontoon bridge
at Siangsiang, attack compounds in the Leiyang area, and bomb storage at
Shihshow; 10 miles (16.1 km) E of Ichang on the Yangtze River P-40s
thoroughly blast a Japanese post; and B-25s and P-51s bomb Tien Ho and White
Cloud Airfields and pound the town of Tsingyun.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): 14 B-29s, operating out of
Chengtu, China during the night of 7/8 Jul, bomb Sasebo, Omura, and Tobata,
Japan (most of the planes hitting the Sasebo area); 3 others attack secondary
and last resort targets at Laoyao and in the Hankow area of China.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 458: 1,129 bombers and
756 fighters are dispatched to attack synthetic oil plants, aircraft assembly
plants and engine works, airfields and an equipment depot, marshalling yards
railway station and railway repair shops in Germany; 37 bombers and 6
fighters are lost:
  1. Of 373 B-24s, 102 hit Lutzkendorf and 64 hit Halle oil plants, 90 hit
Bernburg and 73 hit Aschersleben aircraft plants and 8 hit targets of
opportunity; they claim 39-5-10 Luftwaffe aircraft; 28 B-24s are lost, 1
damaged beyond repair and 126 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 11 WIA and 274 MIA.
Escort is provided by 224 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim 46-1-16
Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 and 3 P-51s are lost (pilots are MIA).
  2. Of 303 B-17s, 64 hit Bohlen and 51 hit Merseburg oil plants, 67 hit
Kolleda and 32 hit Lutzkendorf Airfields, 22 hit targets of opportunity and
16 hit Gottingen marshalling yard; 2 B-17s are lost and 112 damaged; 3 airmen
are WIA and 20 MIA. Escort is provided by 185 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they
claim 9-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 3-0-1 on the ground; 1 P-47 and
1 P-51 are lost (pilots are MIA).
  3. Of 453 B-17s, 114 hit Leipzig/Taucha, 79 hit Leipzig/Mockau, 35 hit
Leipzig/Heiterblick and 15 hit Leipzig/Abtnaundorf oil plants, 46 hit Leipzig
bearing industry, 35 hit Kolleda Airfield, 19 hit Leipzig Station and 7 hit
Nordhausen; 7 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 152 damaged; 15
airmen are KIA, 5 WIA and 50 MIA. Escort is provided by 247 P-47s and P-51s;
they claim 20-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground; 1
P-51 is damaged beyond repair (pilot is WIA).
  Mission 459: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France and Belgium during the
night.  
  19 B-24s participate in CARPETBAGGER operations during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, 100+ A-20s and B-26s bomb
rail bridge near Tours, and targets of opportunity in the Lisieux and
Beuzeville areas; 500+ fighters fly escort and area cover, carry out armed
reconnaissance of communication and troop activity, and bomb railroads,
rolling stock, marshalling yards, ammunition dumps, and bridges in frontline
areas and wide areas of W France; HQ 36th Fighter Group moves from
Kingsnorth, England to Brucheville; and the 377th, 378th and 379th Fighter
Squadrons, 362d Fighter Group, move from Headcorn, England to Lignerolles
with P-47s. In England, the 392d Fighter Squadron, 367th Fighter Group, moves
from Stony Cross to Ibsley with P-38s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 560+ bombers attack in Germany
and Yugoslavia; B-17s bomb 2 synthetic oil plants at Blechhammer, Germany;
B-24s also hit Blechhammer and a synthetic oil and coking plant at Odertal,
Germany and Zagreb, Yugoslavia Airfield and marshalling yard; the bombers and
fighter escorts claim 50+ aircraft shot down during fierce battle with 275-
300 fighters mainly in the Vienna-Budapest area; 18 US aircraft are listed as
destroyed and a larger number missing.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 6/7
Jul A-20s bomb La Spezia harbor and motor transport in the area, and resume
an attack on fuel supplies during the day; B-26s and B-25s score direct hits
on railway bridges at Reggio Emilia, and over the Fratta River and possible
hits on the Santa Maria di Mugnano bridge and 2 other bridges in the area;
they also hit Collecchio fuel dump, causing many fires and explosions;
fighter-bombers attack Ferrara Airfield, the town of Empoli, and rail lines,
bridges, fuel and ammunition dumps, motor transport, and numerous other
targets in the battle area as US Fifth Army forces complete the clearing of
Rosignano; and a detachment of the 346th Fighter Squadron, 350th Fighter
Group, based at Pomigliano begins operating from Piombino with P-39s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-61s carry out interceptor
missions over Guam, Saipan, and Rota Islands, Marianas Islands, during the
night of 6/7 Jul.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea,
B-24s and A-20s bomb Moemi and Nabire Airfields; supply dumps along the Wiske
River are also attacked; a few fighter-bombers and Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) aircraft attack barges, gun positions, and troops along the coast in
the Wewak area. B-24s bomb Yap Island, Sorol Atoll radio station, and runway
in Woleai Atoll.

SATURDAY, 8 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 30+ A-36s and P-40s hit a bridge
at Myitkyina and support ground forces in the area; 12 B-25s also pound
Myitkyina.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-25s and fighter-bombers fly
nearly 100 sorties against targets in the Tungting Lake area; river shipping
is hit hard throughout the whole lake area; trucks, bridges, warehouses,
supply dumps, troop concentrations, Japanese posts, and targets of
opportunity are attacked at Sinshih, Sinyang, Leiyang, Liling, Chuchou,
Puchi, Siangsiang, and Yuhsien; 18 B-24s bomb military area near Canton, and
37 P-40s attack Japanese-held villages and river shipping NW of Canton; 20
Japanese aircraft bomb Suichwan Airfield, rendering it temporarily unusable;
enemy aircraft also damage Kanchou Airfield. In French Indochina 10 P-40s hit
shipping all along the coast while 5 B-25s knock out 2 bridges at Cam Lo. 

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 460: 1,029 bombers and 714
fighters, in four forces, are dispatched to hit bridges, tunnels, rail
targets and NOBALL (V-weapon) sites in France; only 462 aircraft bomb due to
bad weather; 9 bombers and 1 fighter are lost:
  1. Of 331 B-24s, 14 hit Schore Bridge, 9 hit Welle Bridge, 1 hits Orsel
Airfield and 1 hits a target of opportunity; 20 B-24s are damaged; escort is
provided by 266 P-38s and P-51s; they claim 20-0-19 Luftwaffe aircraft on the
ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot is MIA).
  2. Of 304 B-17s, 61 hit Poix Airfield, 49 hit V-1 sites, 37 hit Etaples
Bridge, 13 hit a road junction, 12 hit Abbeville Airfield and 11 hit Etaples
choke point; 4 B-17s are lost, 2 are damaged beyond repair and 90 damaged; 2
airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 32 MIA. Escort is provided by 36 of 39 P-47s.
  3. Of 130 B-24s, 71 hit V-1 sites, 13 hit St Vallery en Caux Airfield and
11 hit Abbeville railroad junction; 3 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 27
are damaged. 
  4. Of 264 B-17s, 21 hit Jaigle, 20 hit Barenton and 10 hit Chandai rail
junctions, 11 hit Nantes/Gassicourt Bridge, 11 hit Nantes railroad bridge, 9
hit railroad tracks at Yvetot, 11 hit Nogent and 6 hit Rouen marshalling
yards, 24 hit Conches and 11 hit St Andre de l'Eure Airfields and 25 hit
targets of opportunity; 5 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 98
damaged; 4 airmen are KIA, 16 WIA and 51 MIA.
  Forces 3 and 4 are escorted by 286 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim 0-0-1
Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground.
  86 of 91 P-47s bomb St Andre de l'Eure Airfield without loss.
  Mission 461: 4 of 5 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
  17 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, about 280 A-20s and B-26s
bomb V-weapon HQ at Chateau-de-Ribeaucourt, numerous strongpoints in the Caen
battle area, rail bridges at Mantes-La-Jolie, Saumur, Nogent-le-Roi, and Caen
and (late in evening) fuel dumps in Rennes and a bridge at Nantes; fighters
escort the bombers and fly armed reconnaissance throughout wide areas of
France, concentrating on the frontline area; targets hit include marshalling
yards, bridges, ammunition and supply dumps, troop concentrations and tanks.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Austria, 520+ B-17s and
B-24s attack targets in the Vienna, Austria area bombing refineries at
Vosendorf and Korneuburg, the airfield at Zwolfaxing, Markersdorf, and
Munchendorf, and marshalling yard and oil storage at Vienna/Floridsdorf, and
the airfield at Veszprem; fighters fly 200+ sorties in support of the bomber
missions which are opposed by 100+ fighters; 14 US aircraft are lost; heavy
bombers and fighters claim 50+ fighters shot down.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 7/8
Jul A-20s bomb areas in or near Empoli, Agliana, and Lucca, and hit fuel
dumps the following day; medium bombers pound marshalling yards at Novi
Ligure, Piacenza, Mantua, and Ferrara and tracks near Parma; fighter-bombers
again blast railroads, roads, and bridges N of battleline, which is advancing
N from above Cecina toward Leghorn; the 17th and 35th Troop Carrier
Squadrons, 64th Troop Carrier Group, move from Comiso, Sicily to Ciampino
with C-47s; and the detachment of the 416th Night Fighter Squadron, 62d
Fighter Wing [attached to 6505th Fighter Control Area (Provisional)] moves
from Tre Cancello Landing Strip to Tarquinia with Beaufighters (squadron is
based at Pomigliano).

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s fly fighter-bomber
operations against troops on Saipan, Pagan, and Tinian Islands, Marianas
Islands. During the night of 7/8 Jul B-24s stage through Eniwetok Atoll and
bomb Truk Atoll; more B-24s follow with another raid during the day.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea,
medium bombers and fighter-bombers hit fuel dumps, barges, villages, and
various other targets at Babo, Fak Fak, Sagan, Kokas, at the mouth of the
Maroe River, along Cape Kariensore, and W of Namber; B-25s, A-20s, fighter-
bombers and a few B-24s attack Wewak, hitting barges, gun positions, and
communication targets.

SUNDAY, 9 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 60+ A-36s, P-51s, P-47s, and P-40s
support ground forces and hit a bridge in the Myitkyina area, strafe gun
positions at Shwebo and targets along the Irrawaddy River in the Katha area,
and attack targets of opportunity in areas around Loilaw, Hopin, Mohnyin,
Maingna, Anisakan, and Onbauk; 19 B-25s hit storage sheds at Waingmaw and
railroads and bridges at Mohnyin, Naba, and Hopin. In India, HQ 443d Troop
Carrier Group moves from Sookerating to Dinjan.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 40 P-40s and 8 B-25s hit the town
area, trucks, and supply sampans at Shayang and damage tunnel entrances and a
highway bridge at Sinyang. 5 B-25s bomb a power plant and building area at
Tinh Soc, French Indochina.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 462: during a morning
mission 150 B-17s are dispatched to bomb bridges and airfields in France but
cloud cover causes the bombers to hit targets of opportunity; 68 hit
Chalonnes Bridge, 36 hit Chateaudun Airfield, 12 hit Bouchemaine Bridge, 12
hit Chalonnes highway bridge and 12 hit Le Creusot Bridge; 1 B-17 is lost and
10 damaged; 9 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 155 P-47s and P-51s; 1
P-47 and 1 P-51 are lost (1 pilot is MIA).
  Mission 463: 104 B-24s and 77 B-17s are dispatched to hit CROSSBOW
(V-weapon) sites in France but encounters poor weather; Only 37 B-24s bomb
V-weapon sites; 12 B-17s hit St Omber Longuenesse Airfield and 3 hit targets
of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 60 damaged; 2 airmen are WIA. Escort is
provided by 158 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 5-0-3 Luftwaffe aircraft.
  90 of 96 P-38s strafe the Moulin-Nevers-Tour area claiming 1-0-1 Luftwaffe
aircraft; 1 P-38 is lost (pilot is MIA).
  Mission 464: During the night, 5 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France.
  37 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, of 250+B-26s and A-20s 
dispatched, about 60 bomb targets; bad weather prevents others from bombing;
targets hit are a rail bridge, crossing, overpass and a highway bridge at
Ablis, Orleans, Vendome, and Montfort-sur-Risle; fighters escort IX Bomber
Command bombers, provide area cover over the battle area, and bomb and strafe
gun positions, vehicles, rail cars, bridges, and tanks. In England, the 125th
Liaison Squadron, Ninth Air Force (attached to HQ Command, ETO), moves from
Chedworth to Erlestokes with L-5s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In the Fifteenth's first
Pathfinder-led mission, 222 B-17s and B-24s bomb Xenia and Concordia Vega oil
refineries at Ploesti, Rumania; P-38s and P-51s fly escort; other P-51s sweep
the Ploesti area during the attacks; the bombers and fighters claim
destruction of 14 of the 40-50 opposing fighters; 6 AAF aircraft are shot
down.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather greatly curtails
operations; fighter-bombers attack rail lines between Empoli and Montelupo
Fiorentino with good results; other targets include roads, bridges and gun
positions; and the 415th Night Fighter Squadron, 64th Fighter Wing (attached
to 87th Fighter Wing), moves from Valtone to Solonzara, Corsica with
Beaufighters.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s hit the remnants of
Japanese forces on Saipan and Tinian Islands, as organized resistance on
Saipan ends; Saipan will become a base from which B-29s will bomb Japan.
Makin Island-based B-25s bomb Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands. 

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea,
A-20s and fighter-bombers pound shipping, airfields, troops, and other
targets at Babo, Manokwari, Efman, Biak and various points along the
coastline of Geelvink Bay; B-25s and fighter-bombers sink a 3,000-ton vessel
and several barges around Halmahera Island, Moluccas Islands; dumps at
Marubian, Kairiru, and Niap and a bridge at But are bombed by B-25s, A-20s,
and fighter-bombers; B-24s bomb Namlea Airfield and attack Yap Island and
Woleai Atoll.

MONDAY, 10 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 24 P-40s and P-51s support ground
forces at Myitkyina; 20+ A-36s P-51s, P-47s, and P-40s hit Mogaung, buildings
and boxcars at Mohnyin, trucks at Sahmaw, a factory at Loiwing, and Punga
pagoda; the railroad supply area at Mohnyin is bombed by 6 B-25s; a
detachment of the 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Photographic
Reconnaissance Group, begins operating from Myitkyina with P-40s (the
squadron is based at Kisselbari, India).

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 70 P-40s and 6 B-25s hit river
shipping between Siangtan and Siangsiang, between Changsha and Chuchou, and N
of Hengyang; strafe and bomb posts and trucks in the Pingkiang, Tungcheng,
and Tsungyang areas and in the Changsha-Kweilin area; and bomb airfields at
Hankow and Wuchang; the 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 8th Photographic
Reconnaissance Group, based at Guskhara, sends a detachment to operate from
Liuchow with F-7s; and the detachment of the 491st Bombardment Squadron
(Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), operating from Kweilin and
Liuchow with B-25s return to base at Yangkai.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 465: 6 of 6 B-17s drop
leaflets in France and the Netherlands during the night.
  12 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, fighters bomb and strafe
gun positions, bridges, a rail overpass, infantry concentrations, and highway
junctions, and cover the battle area; HQ 71st Fighter Wing arrives at
Ecrammeville from England; and HQ 100th Fighter Wing moves from Criqueville
to St-Pierre-Eglise.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers
successfully hit marshalling yards, railroad bridges, and viaducts in NC
Italy; weather restricts fighter-bombers and fighters but several targets are
hit, including airfield at Modena and scattered gun positions, rail lines,
and roads; HQ 27th Fighter Group and 522d and 523d Fighter Squadrons move
from Voltone to Serragia, Corsica with P-47s; and HQ 64th Troop Carrier Group
and 16th and 18th Troop Carrier Squadrons move from Comiso, Sicily to
Ciampino with C-47s. 

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s hit troops and gun
positions on Tinian Island. B-24s, staging through Eniwetok Atoll, pound Truk
Atoll during the night of 9/10 Jul and again during the day.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea,
B-24s attack Laha, Namlea, and targets of opportunity in the Boeroe Island,
Sunda Islands-Ceram Island-Ambon Island area; A-20s, fighter-bombers, and a
B-25 hit troops, villages, and barges in the Wewak area; the 64th Bombardment
Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Nadzab to Owi,
Schouten Islands with B-24s; and the 67th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d
Troop Carrier Group, and 387th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 312th
Bombardment Group (Light), move from Nadzab to Hollandia with C-47s and
A-20s respectively. B-24s bomb airfields and town areas at Yap Island, Gagil-
Tomil Island, Yap Islands and Sorol Atoll. Operations also include small-
scale strikes in the Wakde area and snooper and armed reconnaissance missions
over the Caroline Islands. The 529th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 380th
Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Long Strip to Darwin, Australia with
B-24s.

TUESDAY, 11 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 70+ fighter-bombers pound barracks
at Myitkyina, bridges at Namkwin and Mohnyin, the airfield at Lashio, and
targets of opportunity at several other locations, including Nanyinbya,
Indaw, Katha, Bhamo, and the Anisakan-Shwebo area; and 11 B-25s hit bridges
at Hsenwi.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 28 B-24s bomb a storage base at
Sinshih; 24 P-40s hit river traffic at Hengyang and E of Siangsiang; 22 other
P-40s attack the town of Hengyang, hitting Japanese-occupied buildings and a
bridge; 33 more P-40s attack villages, road traffic, and targets of
opportunity at Leiyang and from Chuchou to Hengyang to Yungfengshih; 3 B-25s
bomb Liling and Yuhsien; 14 P-51s bomb the town of Pakmoi Hu and hit gun
positions at Lupao; 8 B-25s pound railroad yards at Sinyang; 12 B-25s and 14
fighter-bombers bomb Mangshih on the Burma Road and support Chinese ground
forces between Tengchung and Lungling; and the 93d Fighter Squadron, 81st
Fighter Group, moves from Karachi, India to Kwanghan with P-47s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 466: 1,176 bombers and 795
fighters attack targets in Germany; 20 bombers and 4 fighters are lost:
  1. Of 401 B-17s, 371 hit the Munich marshalling yard, Passing electrical
station and a tire factory and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost,
1 damaged beyond repair and 42 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 3 WIA and 10 MIA.
Escort is provide by 209 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s without loss.
  2. Of 340 B-17s, 183 hit the BMW factory at Munich and 106 hit the Munich
marshalling yard; 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 89 damaged; 1
airman is KIA, 2 WIA and 30 MIA. Escort is provided by 166 P-38s, P-47s and
P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot is MIA).
  3. Of 435 B-24s, 291 hit Munich, 55 hit Munich/Riem Airfield, 29 hit
Augsburg, 8 hit Eppingen and 1 hits a bridge on the Autobahn; 16 B-24s are
lost and 2 damaged beyond repair; 8 airmen are KIA, 14 WIA and 149 MIA.
Escort is provided by 324 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim 2-0-1 Luftwaffe
aircraft on the ground; 1 P-47 and 2 P-51s are lost (pilots are MIA) and 1
P-51 is damaged beyond repair.
  Mission 467: During the night, 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets on France.
  29 of 30 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, A-20s and B-26s strike
fuel dumps at Foret d'Andaine, Chateau-de-Tertu, Flers, and Foret d'Ecouves;
NOBALL (V-weapon) sites at Chateau d'Helicourt and Chateau d'Ansenne; and a
rail bridge at Bourth; fighters escort the bombers, patrol the battle area,
and attack trains, gun positions, ammunition dumps, and other targets in the
areas around Lessay, Periers, Saint-Lo, Lonrai, Tours and Folligny. In
England, the detachment of the 422d Night Fighter Squadron, 71st Fighter
Wing, operating from Hurn with P-61s returns to base at Scorton.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  AAF, MTO: The 72d Liaison Squadron, AAF, MTO (attached to Seventh Army),
arrives at Santa Maria, Italy from Oran, Algeria with L-5s (first mission is
in Aug 44).

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather curtails the bomber
effort; the only target attacked is the harbor at Toulon, France, where 87
B-24s hit jetties, oil stores, a nearby telegraph cable factory, barracks,
repair shops, an adjoining marshalling yard, and submarines in drydock.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather again hampers
operations; medium bombers attack a marshalling yard at Alessandria, hit an
approach to a railroad bridge at Chiavari, and score near misses on other
bridges; fighter-bombers hit an airfield at Rimini and attack fuel dumps,
rail lines, gun positions, bridges, and targets of opportunity N of the
battleline as the US Fifth Army engages in hard fighting in the Pastina and
Laiatico area; the 5th Combat Mapping Squadron, 3d Photographic Group
(Reconnaissance), moves from Viterbo to Borgo, Corsica with F-5s; and the
526th Fighter Squadron, 86th Fighter Group, moves from Orbetello to Poretta,
Corsica with P-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s pound forces on Tinian and
Pagan Islands. The 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Seventh Air
Force (attached to VII Fighter Command), based at Kipapa Airfield, Territory
of Hawaii, sends a detachment to operate on Saipan Island with F-5s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea,
B-24s pound airfield at Babo while A-20s hit supply dumps at Kokas; B-25s
bomb airfields at Manokwari, Waren, and Moemi during the night; A-20s, B-25s,
and fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Sarmi-Sawar area and bomb
airfields, shipping, and various occupied areas and installations on
Halmahera Island, in the Schouten Islands, on Boeroe Island, and the Palau
Islands, and in Woleai Atoll; and the 65th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d
Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Nadzab to Owi, Schouten Islands with
B-24s.

WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 44 P-40s support ground forces in
the Myitkyina area; 28 P-51s and P-47s hit bridge and other targets in Hopin,
bomb a Maingna pagoda, and hit the Alanbo and Tagwin areas; and 13 B-25s bomb
bridges at Mongyin and hit targets of opportunity in the Myitkyina area. In
India, the 9th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3d Combat Cargo Group, moves from
Sylhet to Moran with C-47s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 60+ P-40s hit the towns of Liling
and Yuhsien, river shipping at Hengyang, troop concentrations at Leiyang and
near Yuhsien, the airfield at Siangtan, and fuel dumps NW of Changsha; 34
P-51s bomb Tsingyun and pound Japanese concentrations at Lienchiangkou; 11
P-40s bomb railroad yards at Yuncheng and hit a radio station N of Tungkuan
with rocket fire; 12 B-25s bomb Tengchung and 15 P-40s bomb and strafe
storage areas, villages, troop areas, and general targets of opportunity in
the Lungling and Mangshih areas.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 468: 131 B-24s, escorted
by by 144 Royal Air Force (RAF) Spitfires, are dispatched to bomb 10 CROSSBOW
(V-weapon) sites in the Rouen area but abort because of a thick blanket of
low cloud over the target area; no losses.
  Mission 469: 1,271 bombers and 803 fighters are dispatched to bomb Munich,
Germany; 1,124 bombers bomb the city of Munich, 16 hit Enstingen and 10 hit
targets of opportunity; 24 bombers are lost, 4 are damaged beyond repair and
297 are damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 216 MIA. Escort is provided by
717 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair (pilot is WIA).
  Mission 470: During the night, 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, 300+ A-20s and B-26s fly
morning and afternoon missions against fuel dumps at Foret d'Andaine and
Foret d'Ecouves, military concentrations at Foret de Cinglais, rail bridges
at Merey, Cinq Mars-la-Pile, Saumur, Nantes, and Nogent-le-Roi, and other
rail and road targets; fighters furnish escort, cover the battle area, and
fly armed reconnaissance over wide areas, attacking rail lines S and W of
Rambouillet, bridges and fuel dump in the Nantes vicinity, trains and
military transport at Vitry-le-Francois, and grounded aircraft S of
Chateaubriant, bridges at Craon, Le Mans, Pontorson, Mayenne, S of Rennes, N
of Angers, and Tours, rail traffic S of Fougeres, and infantry and artillery
positions near Periers.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 420+ B-24s attack targets in SE
France, scoring numerous hits on Nimes and Miramas marshalling yards and
cutting rail lines at the Theoule-sur-Mer bridge and Var River bridge in
Provence; around 50 enemy fighters oppose the missions; the bombers and
escorting fighters claim 14 shot down; 7 AAF aircraft are lost.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, A-20s bomb scattered
motor transport in the Florence-Leghorn area during the night of 11/12 Jul;
medium bombers begin Operation MALLORY MAJOR against road and rail bridges
over the Po River during the day; A-20s continue attacking ammunition
supplies; fighter-bombers hit barges and small boats on the Arno River and
attack roads, ammunition dumps, gun positions, tracks, vehicles, and a number
of other targets in that general area N of the battleline; HQ 86th Fighter
Group and the 525th and 527th Fighter Squadrons move from Orbetello to
Poretta, Corsica with P-47s; and the 86th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 47th
Bombardment Group (Light), moves from Ombrone Airfield to Poretta, Corsica
with A-20s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): During the night of 11/12 Jul
B-24s stage through Eniwetok Atoll to bomb Truk Atoll; during the day B-24s
hit Truk Atoll again. P-47s on Saipan Island continue to hit Tinian Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea,
B-24s hit Manokwari Airfield; weather curtails further operations in the
Geelvink Bay area; A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers again hit troop
concentrations and barges in the Wewak area; the 386th Bombardment Squadron
(Light), 312th Bombardment Group (Light), moves from Nadzab to Hollandia with
A-20s; and the 432d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, moves from
Hollandia to Biak Island with P-38s. Smaller strikes by B-24s and B-25s are
flown against the airfield at Laha on Amboina Island, Celebes Islands; Dili
on Timor Island; and on Koer Island, New Guinea. B-24s pound Yap Island.

THURSDAY, 13 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 44 P-40s and P-51s support ground
forces in the Myitkyina area; 40 more A-36s, P-51s, and P-47s hit bridges at
Nyaunggon, Mohnyin, Myothit, Mawlu, and Henu, and attack the Hopin, Lashio,
and Indawgyi Lake areas; and the 315th Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop
Carrier Group, based at Moran, India, sends a detachment to operate from
Shingbwiyang with C-47s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 16 B-25s bomb Pailochi Airfield,
causing large fires and considerable damage; 45 P-40s attack trucks,
compounds, river shipping, and troop concentrations between Hengyang and
Siangtan, pound the town of Liling and Siangtan Airfield, and strafe shipping
from Changsha S along the Siang Chiang River; 8 B-25s bomb Chenghsfen
railroad yards and storage area; and 12 B-25s bomb Tengchung and Mangshih.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 471: 1,043 bombers and
609 fighters in 3 forces are dispatched to bomb targets in Germany; 10
bombers and 5 fighters are lost:
  1. Of 399 B-17s, 356 bomb Munich, 6 bomb the railroad at Munich and 3 hit
targets of opportunity; 4 B-17s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and
156 damaged; 8 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 36 MIA. Escort is provided by 292
P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim 2-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 and 1
P-47 are lost.
  2. Of 278 B-17s, 139 bomb Munich, 100 hit an aircraft engine plant at
Munich and 3 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 11-4-8 Luftwaffe
aircraft; 5 B-17s are lost, 2 are damaged beyond repair and 129 damaged; 9
airmen are WIA and 50 MIA. Escort is provided by 170 P-38s, P-47s and
P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost and 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair.
  3. Of 366 B-24s, 298 hit Saarbrucken marshalling yards and 3 hit targets
of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost, 7 damaged beyond repair and 31 damaged; 23
airmen are KIA, 9 WIA and 19 MIA. Escort is provided by 81 of 85 P-51s; 1
P-51 is lost and 1 damaged beyond repair.
  28 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, bad weather prevents
bomber operations and restricts the fighters; fighters fly armed
reconnaissance in the Sens-Montargis area, hitting rail and highway traffic,
warehouses, barracks, and armored cars and tanks; rail lines and bridges are
hit in the Saint-Florentin-Dreux-Evreux-Chartres-Mamers-Gassicourt areas; IX
Tactical Air Command fighters furnish area cover, bomb troop concentrations,
vehicles, and gun positions in the Lessay-Coutances area, and attack rail
traffic W of Angers, a landing field W of Alencon, marshalling yard at
Vendome, and a bridge at Tours.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 581 bombers attack targets in
NE Italy; B-17s hit marshalling yards at Mestre and railroad bridges at
Latisana, Pinzano al Tagliamento and Venzone; B-24s bomb marshalling yards
at Brescia, Mantova and Verona, and oil storage at Porto Marghera and
Trieste; P-38s and P-51s fly escort; other P-51s carry out a sweep over the
Po River Valley.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers again
bomb bridges in the Po River Valley; A-20s hit an ammunition plant; and
fighter-bombers attack targets, mainly railroads, in areas N of the Arno
River in advance of the battlefront. On Corsica, HQ 87th Fighter Wing moves
from Vescovato to Furiani; and the 524th Fighter Squadron, 27th Fighter
Group, moves from Voltone, Italy to Serragia with P-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s continue to hit Tinian
Island. Kwajalein-based B-24s bomb Truk Atoll. B-25s from Makin Island pound
Nauru Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s again bomb
Yap Island and Sorol Atoll. In New Guinea, B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s bomb gun
positions and the airfield at Babo and in the Manokwari area and hit a supply
depot at Kokas; fighter-bombers support Allied ground forces in the Aitape
area while A-20s and fighter-bombers pound occupied areas and gun positions
in the Wewak area and on Mushu Island; and the 498th Bombardment Squadron
(Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Nadzab to Biak Island
with B-25s. B-24s also hit Amahai Airfield on Ceram Island, Celebes Islands.

FRIDAY, 14 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 49 P-40s pound enemy forces in the
Myitkyina vicinity; 38 P-51s and P-47s hit bridges at Mohnyin, Kadu, Henu,
and Mawlu, bomb supplies at Nyaungbintba, support ground forces near
Myitkyina, bomb a rice mill at Mohnyin, and hit several buildings at Hopin.
In India, the detachment of the 11th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3d Combat Cargo
Group (attached to 443d Troop Carrier Group), operating from Sookerating with
C-47s returns to base at Dinjan; and the 315th Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d
Troop Carrier Group, moves from Moran to Sookerating with C-47s, the squadron
also sends a detachment to operate from Ledo.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, fighter-bombers and B-25s hit a
fighter strip N of Changsha, artillery positions at Leiyang, the town of
Sungpai, and road and river traffic from Hengyang to Yuhsien and from
Sienning to Tungshan; also attacked are various targets of opportunity around
the towns of Hengyang, Changsha, and Chaling; during the night fighter-
bombers blast Pailochi Airfield, destroying 20+ enemy aircraft; B-25s bomb
roads in the Tengchung area; and B-25s and P-40s pound railroad yards at
Siangsiang.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): With the conversion of the 55th
Fighter Group from P-38s to P-51s, the Eighth acquires a majority of P-51
groups to provide longer-range high-altitude escort for the heavy bombers.
Conversion to P-51s will continue until by the end of the year every group
except 1 will be equipped with them. 
  Mission 472: In a morning mission 319 of 359 B-17s drop 3,700 containers of
supplies to French interior forces in S France; they claim 5-2-2 Luftwaffe
aircraft; 15 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 465 P-47s and P-51s;
they claim 4-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft.
  Mission 473: During the evening 131 B-24s are dispatched to hit airfields
in France; 54 hit Montdidier Airfield and 39 hit Peronne Airfield; 9 B-24s
are damaged. 40 other B-24s fail to bomb because of failure of blind-bombing
equipment. Escort is provided by 79 P-38s and P-51s; 1 P-38 is damaged beyond
repair.
  94 of 100 P-38s fly fighter-bomber missions against rail targets E and SE
of Paris; they claim 2-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 is lost (pilot is MIA).

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, weather again curtails
operations; 62 B-26s and A-20s, using Oboe, bomb a railway embankment at
Bourth and rail bridge at Merey; fighters provide escort and fly armed
reconnaissance over widespread areas of NW France, attacking bridges, trains,
rail lines, and military transport targets; 85 enemy fighters give battle
near Brezolles and Alencon; 6 fighters are claimed by US fighters, against 5
missing from the IX Fighter Command; the IX Tactical Air Command strafes and
bombs defended positions ahead of the US First Army; and fighters cut rail
lines in the L'Aigle-Alencon area, bomb troop concentrations near Periers,
and marshalling yards at Chateaudun and Aube-sur-Rile.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 430+ B-17s and B-24s attack 4
oil refineries at Budapest and Petfurdo, Hungary and the marshalling yard at
Mantua, Italy; P-51s and P-38s provide escort; P-51s fly an uneventful sweep
of the Budapest area; and P-38s strafe trains N of La Spezia and dive-bomb
Ghedi Airfield in Italy.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers
concentrate on Po River Valley bridges; 600 feet (183 m) (2 center spans) of
the Taglio di Po road bridge and 1 span of the Piacenza rail bridge are
destroyed, and damaging hits are scored on the Corbola road and railroad
bridges; fighter-bombers again hit gun positions and lines of communication
in and N of the battle areas while light bombers attack supplies; HQ XII
Fighter Command moves from Algiers, Algeria to Caserta; HQ 3d
Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) and 23d Photographic Reconnaissance
Squadron move from Viterbo and Alghero, Sardinia respectively to Borgo,
Corsica with F-5s; and the detachment of the 12th Photographic Reconnaissance
Squadron, 3d Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) moves from Follonica to
Cecina with F-5s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s again hit Tinian Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s continue to
blast Yap Island. Oil reservoirs and wells at Boela, Ceram Island are bombed
and strafed by A-20s and B-24s and B-25s attack barge facilities and gun
positions at Lautem, Timor Island. On the Vogelkop Peninsula of New Guinea,
P-61s hit airfields while B-25s bomb a barge terminal at Kokas; A-20s hit
Japanese forces at Sauri and bomb the airfield at But; fighter-bombers
support ground forces in the Aitape area along the Driniumor River and
Koronal Creek and blast troop concentrations near Afua; and HQ 475th Fighter
Group and 433d Fighter Squadron move from Hollandia to Biak Island with
P-38s.

SATURDAY, 15 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 38 P-40s continue support of
ground forces in the Myitkyina area; 60+ P-47s and P-51s attack bridges at
Manla, Henu, and Mawlu, sweep the Lashio, Katha, and Talawgyi areas, and hit
a motor pool at Kadu and targets of opportunity around Sangin and Mohnyin;
and 20 B-25s attack the Myitkyina area and hit bridges and a supply area at
Mawhun.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 100+ B-25s, P-40s, and P-51s blast
the towns of Sinshih, Chuchou, Siangtan, Siangsiang, Sungpai, and Chaling,
concentrating on military and railroad installations and river shipping;
villages, troop concentrations, and river craft are attacked N and W of
Hengyang and from Chaling to Yuhsien; in the Salween area 26 P-40s support
Chinese forces and 12 B-25s bomb Mangshih and Lungling; and 12 B-25s and
P-40s bomb railroad yards at Hsuchang, causing considerable damage. 

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 474: 169 P-38s and P-47s
make fighter-bomber attacks on enemy transport SE of Paris; 2 P-38s and 1
P-47s are lost; 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair and 10 P-38s and 2 P-47s
are damaged; 4 pilots are MIA.
  Mission 475: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
  27 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions to France during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, weather cancels most
operations but 4 B-26s (92 others abort) hit the L'Aigle rail bridge during
the afternoon; 3 fighter-bombers fly an uneventful sweep; fighters of the IX
Tactical Air Command fly area cover and bomb infantry, artillery, a
marshalling yard, railroad, and a bridge in the Saint-Lo, Argentan, and
Falaise areas.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Rumania, 600+ B-17s and
B-24s bomb 4 oil refineries in the Ploesti area and the Teleajenul pumping
station; and P-51s and P-38s fly 300+ escort sorties.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, the medium bomber
campaign against Po River Valley bridges (Operation MALLORY MAJOR) reaches a
successful conclusion (though the interdiction program against the bridges is
subsequently continued on an expanded scale) as most of the rail and road
bridges in the target area are destroyed or severely damaged by previous
attacks and raids which struck bridges at Bozzolo, Desenzano de Garda,
Cremona, Borgoforte, Ostiglia, Polesella, Sermide, Ferrara, Aulla,
Filattiera, Ficarolo, and Chiavari and the marshalling yard at Villafranca di
Verona; fighter-bombers attack road bridges N of the battleline and hit gun
positions, roads, motor transport, and other targets, while supporting ground
forces slowly advancing N along a line extending E from the coast below
Leghorn; the 12th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 3d Photographic Group
(Reconnaissance), moves from Voltone to Follonica with F-5s (a detachment is
operating from Cecina); the 84th, 85th and 97th Bombardment Squadrons
(Light), 47th Bombardment Group (Light), move from Ombrone Airfield to
Poretta Airfield, Corsica with A-20s; and the 314th Fighter Squadron, 324th
Fighter Group, moves from Castro to Corsica with P-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s bomb and strafe Tinian
Island and B-24s, staging through Eniwetok Atoll, hit Truk Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s blast Yap
Island, scoring numerous hits in the town area and on a radio station and
barracks area. In New Guinea, B-24s, penetrating a heavy weather front, bomb
the airfield on Efman Island while B-25s hit enemy forces along Korrido
Anchorage, and A-20s blast gun emplacements on an island off Manokwari;
B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers again pound troop concentrations over a
wide area around Wewak; and the 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group,
moves from Hollandia to Biak Island with P-38s.

SUNDAY, 16 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 27 P-40s continue to hit forces in
the Myitkyina area; 20+ P-51s and P-47s attack railroad bridges at Namkwin,
Manla, and Hopin, and hit general targets of opportunity in the Hopin area;
12 B-25s bomb the town of Maingna and bridges at Mohnyin. In India, HQ 12th
Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from Pandaveswar to Fenny.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 23 B-24s pound Changsha, causing
heavy damage; 40 P-51s and P-40s hit river shipping at Changsha, attack
targets of opportunity S of Hengyang, and bomb the building area at Ikiawan;
and the 449th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, moves from Kweilin to
Chengkung with P-38s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 476: 1,087 bombers and 712
fighters are dispatched to hit targets in Germany; 11 bombers and 3 fighters
are lost:
  1. Of 407 B-17s, 213 hit an aircraft engine plant at Munich, 54 hit
Augsburg, 52 hit Stuttgart and 50 hit 2 targets of opportunity; they claim
2-3-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 10 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 112
damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 81 MIA. Escort is provided by 240 P-38s,
P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot is MIA).
  2. Of 238 B-17s, 206 hit Stuttgart and 2 hit a target of opportunity; 1
B-17 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 45 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 10
MIA. Escort is provided by 214 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot
is MIA).
  3. 407 of 442 B-24s hit the marshalling yards at Saarbrucken; 2 B-24s are
damaged beyond repair and 45 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 3 WIA.  Escort is
provided by 169 P-38s and P-47s; 1 P-38 is lost and 1 damaged beyond repair.
  Mission 477: 5 of 5 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
  24 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Major General Paul L Williams,
Commanding General IX Troop Carrier Command, arrives in Italy from the UK,
and activates the Provisional Troop Carrier Division which will take part in
the invasion of S France.
  In France, about 375 B-26s and A-20s, during morning and evening
operations, bomb strongpoints in the Saint-Lo area, bridges in the frontline
area, and bridges and a fuel dump SE of Rennes; and fighters escort the
bombers and fly armed reconnaissance over the frontlines in the Chateaudun-
Orleans-Tours areas. In England, a detachment of the 422d Night Fighter
Squadron, 71st Fighter Wing, based at Scorton, begins operating from Ford
with P-61s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Austria, around 380 bombers
attack oil and aircraft targets in the Vienna area, bombing Munchendorf
Airfield, Winterhafen oil depot, Vienna marshalling yard, and Wiener Neudorf
engine factory; P-51s and P-38s fly 150+ sorties in escort while 132 other
P-51s sweep the Vienna area; 100+ fighters oppose the raids; 10 AAF aircraft
are lost and several others are missing; AAF claims of fighters shot down
total 30+.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers hit
bridges in the Po River Valley at Peschiera del Garda, Mantua, Torre Beretti,
Piacenza, Casale Monferrato, and Bressana Bottarone; fighter-bombers hit
railroads and a bridge just N of the battleline as US Fifth Army forces take
territory SE of Leghorn and push to within sight of the Arno River Valley;
British Eighth Army elements take Arezzo and thrust through to the Arno River.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s continue to pound Tinian
Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s continue
bombing Yap Island and also hit Atamboea Airfield on Timor Island. In New
Guinea, other B-24s pound AA positions at Manokwari; fighter-bombers bomb
supply dumps N of Moemi and attack shipping in the Kokas-Babo area; bombers
and fighters again hit troop and supply concentrations in the Wewak sector;
troop carrier missions to forward bases, especially Biak Island, increase;
and the 82d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance
Group, moves from Owi, Schouten Islands to Biak Island with P-39s.

MONDAY, 17 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 60+ P-40s, P-47s, and P-51s
continue to hit forces in the Myitkyina area, pound Tagwin, and bomb a
marshalling yard at Mohnyin. The 81st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th
Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Madhaiganj Airfield to Fenny, India
with B-25s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 22 B-24s bomb Changsha; 7 B-25s and
21 P-40s pound railroad yards at Kaifeng; and 6 B-25s and 12 P-40s hit
Tengchung.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 478: In the morning 670
bombers and 472 fighters are dispatched to hit tactical targets in France; 1
bomber and 1 fighter are lost:
  1. Of 331 B-17s, 37 hit Joigny la Roche, 36 hit Jussy, 35 hit Auxerre, 35
hit Peronne, 33 hit Ham-sur-Somme, 32 hit Anizy-le-Chateau, 25 hit Frevent,
12 hit Tergnier and 11 hit Eu Bridges; 12 hit Doullens road junction, 12 hit
Hesdin fuel dump, 12 hit Frevent railroad and road junction, 11 hit Laon
marshalling yard and 15 hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 damaged
beyond repair and 64 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 9 MIA.
  2. Of 339 B-24s, 58 hit Rilly la Montagne dump, 52 hit Belfort marshalling
yard; 36 hit Gien, 34 hit Coulanges, 34 hit Neuvy-sur-Loire, 32 hit Sully, 30
hit Nanteuil and 10 hit Le Soulons Bridges; 11 hit St Dizier Airfield and 5
hit targets of opportunity; 3 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 54 damaged;
2 airmen are KIA and 7 WIA.
  Escort for the 2 groups above is 433 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-47 is lost
(pilot is MIA); elements of 4 fighter groups afterwards strafe ground
targets, claiming 23 locomotives, 18 trucks, and 55 train cars destroyed.
  Mission 479: During the evening 34 of 69 B-17s and 106 of 115 B-24s attack
12 V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area; 3 B-24s are damaged beyond
repair and 23 B-24s and 28 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 5 WIA.
Escort is provided by 209 of 227 P-51s; 1 is damaged beyond repair.
  Mission 480: 5 of 5 B-17s drop leaflets in France and the Netherlands
during the night.
  16 B-24s participate in CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): With operations limited by weather
in France, 69 B-26s hit fuel dumps at Rennes while 37 A-20s strike fuel dumps
at Bruz and a marshalling yard at Dol-de-Bretagne; fighters escort
transports, fly area cover, attack fuel dumps and landing field at Angers,
dive-bomb defenses at Coutances in support of the US First Army, attack
Nevers marshalling yard, and hit troop concentrations in support of the First
Army assault in the Saint-Lo area.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In France, 162 B-24s attack a
marshalling yard and railroad bridges at Avignon and railroad bridges at
Arles and Tarascon; P-51s and P-38s provide escort.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers
concentrate on Po River Valley bridges, hitting road and rail bridges and
viaducts at or near Alessandria, Ostiglia, Bogliasco, Borgoforte, Moline,
Imperia, Asti, Mollere, and Casale Monferrato; fighter-bombers continue to
hit targets N of the battle area, concentrating on bridges and rail lines,
while US Fifth Army elements take Luciana, and reach the Arno River Valley,
but make little progress toward Leghorn; British Eighth Army forces pursue
the enemy toward Florence.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s bomb and strafe Tinian
Island. 48 B-25s from Makin Island stage through Engebi Island, Eniwetok
Atoll to bomb Ponape Island; 47 of the B-25s (1 aborts) attack airfield
facilities, AA positions, and other targets throughout the atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Operations against
the Caroline Islands are restricted to snooper missions against Yap Island
and Woleai Atoll and Fuiloro, Timor Island is bombed by B-25s. In New Guinea,
B-24s bomb gun positions around Manokwari and airfield at Moemi; B-25s sink a
large lugger in Kaiboes Bay; A-20s, B-25s, and P-39s hit troop concentrations
and supplies between Aitape and Wewak at Abau, Parakaviu, Nyaparake, and E of
Tadji and bomb Boram airfield and Cape Moem. 

TUESDAY, 18 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 25 P-40s hit the Myitkyina area; 8
P-47s attack Theinin, and 16 P-51s support ground forces at Pyindaw; 9 B-25s
bomb Myitkyina and Naungtalaw.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In the Hengyang-Tungting Lake region of
China, 30+ P-40s strafe shipping between Chaling and Hengyang, bomb the town
of Hengyang, and hit the airfield and several AA positions in the area; 16
P-51s and P-40s hit river shipping from Lienchiangkou to Samshui to Sainam;
13 P-40s hit a fuel dump on the railroad near Kangtsun-i.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 481: 1,394 bombers and 476
fighters are dispatched to hit targets in Germany and tactical targets in
France; 3 bombers and 3 fighters are lost:
  1. 644 B-24s are dispatched, in conjunction with Ninth Air Force and RAF
Bomber Command, to bomb enemy equipment and troop concentrations in support
of the assault by the British Second Army in the Caen area; 249 hit Solier,
146 hit Frenouville, 139 hit Troarns, 23 hit Hubert la Folie and 12 hit the
Mezidon marshalling yard; 1 B-24 is lost, 2 are damaged beyond repair and 182
are damaged. 90 RAF Spitfires fly uneventful support for the B-24s.
  2. Of 291 B-17s, 107 hit the Kiel port area, 55 hit the Hemminstedt oil
refinery and 54 hit Cuxhaven; 21 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 48
P-38s and 84 P-51s without loss.
  3. Of 459 B-17s, 377 hit the Peenemunde experimental establishment,
scientific HQ at Zinnowitz, and marshalling yards at Stralsund; 3 B-17s are
lost and 64 damaged. Escort is provided by 297 P-38s and P-51s; they claim
21-0-12 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 P-51s are lost (2 pilot are MIA) and 1 is
damaged beyond repair.
  25 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions in France during the night; 1 B-24
collides with an RAF aircraft over France and is lost. 

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, 400+ B-26s and A-20s hit
various military targets in support of the ground forces in the Caen area,
and later in the day bomb rail and highway bridges beyond the frontlines;
large number of fighters fly escort, dive-bomb gun positions at Rouen and
Mantes-la-Jolie, hit military targets in the Chartres area (using rockets),
attack gun positions, bridges, and other targets in the Benney-Alencon-Saint-
Lo area, and fly armed reconnaissance and fighter sweeps over wide areas of N
and W France. In England, HQ 98th Combat Bombardment Wing (Medium) moves from
Earls Colne to Beaulieu; and HQ 387th Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from
Chipping Ongar to Stony Cross. The following squadrons, based in England,
begin operating from bases in Italy with C-47s:
  - 91st, 92d and 94th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 439th Troop Carrier Group,
based at Upottery operating from Orbetello Airfield.
  - 95th, 96th and 97th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 440th Troop Carrier Group,
based at Exeter operating from Ombrone Airfield.
  - 99th, 100th and 302d Troop Carrier Squadrons, 441st Troop Carrier Group,
based at Merryfield operating from Grosseto.
  - 303d, 304th and 305th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 442d Troop Carrier Group,
based at Weston Zoyland operating from Follonica.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Germany, 200 B-24s and B-17s
attack Memmingen Airfield and the Dornier aircraft works at Manzell, and
Casarsa della Delizia railroad bridge in Italy; 250-300 fighters oppose the
formations attacking targets in Germany, beginning the interception at the N
Adriatic coast, continuing to the targets and back as far as the Brenner
Pass; 20 AAF aircraft are lost; the bombers and escorting fighters claim 66
fighters shot down.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, A-20s bomb a road
junction S of Campi and Sarzana and attack the La Spezia area during the
night of 17/18 Jul; during the day bad weather cancels medium bomber
missions; fighter-bombers, operating on a reduced scale, hit several bridges,
roads, rail lines, and other communication targets and guns N of and in the
battle area as US Fifth Army forces reach Leghorn.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s pound Tinian and Pagan
Islands. In the Marshall Islands, 5 B-24s, flying out of Kwajalein Atoll, hit
Wotje Atoll. 25 B-24s, staging through Eniwetok Atoll, attack Truk Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s strike Yap
Island, bombing the town and Blelatsch peninsula; several of the B-24s bomb
Sorol Atoll. In New Guinea, bad weather prevents strikes on the Vogelkop
Peninsula; fighter-bombers continue to hit barges, supply routes, and troop
concentrations in the coastal area from Aitape to Wewak.

WEDNESDAY, 19 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 30+ P-40s and P-51s hit the
Myitkyina area and support ground forces near Kamaing; Myitkyina is also
bombed by 9 B-25s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 80+ P-40s hit shipping in the
Tungting Lake area, attack targets of opportunity, supply areas, and troop
concentrations around Hengyang, bomb a radio station, storage facilities, and
shipping at Changsha, hit the airfield at Siangtan, and sink about 15 sampans
between Changsha and Siangtan; 31 P-40s and P-51s bomb and strafe the Samshui
town and dock area and hit several troop compounds in the Lienchiangkou
vicinity. In NE French Indochina, 4 P-40s claim 25 junks sunk at the coast.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 482: 1,082 of 1,242
B-17s and B-24s and 670 of 761 P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s dispatched, operating
in 5 forces, attack targets in W and SW Germany including 2 plants producing
hydrogen peroxide (an ingredient in V-weapon fuels), a chemical plant, 2
aircraft factories, 4 ball bearing plants, 6 marshalling yards, 4 airfields,
and a river dam; 17 bombers and 7 fighters are lost. Attacks in the the
Munich area are followed, within 90 minutes, by Fifteenth Air Force attacks.
731 fighters, operating in 19 separate units support the bombers; 8 of these
units afterwards strafe ground targets, including parked aircraft,
locomotives and rolling stock, and road vehicles. The bombers claim 6-4-4
Luftwaffe aircraft; the fighters claim 17-0-4 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air
and 38-0-14 on the ground.
  Mission 483: 5 of 5 B-17s drop leaflets in France and Belgium during the
night.
  5 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, during the afternoon 262
B-26s and A-20s bomb bridges on the Loire and Seine Rivers and a fuel dump at
Bruz; fighters provide escort and, though limited by bad weather, hit rail
lines and scattered enemy installations and movements in the Amiens-Tours-
Chartres area and along the Ghent-Brussels, Belgium railroad; HQ 373d Fighter
Group arrives at Tour-en-Bassin from Woodchurch, England; and the 513th
Fighter Squadron, 406th Fighter Group, moves from Ashford, England to Tour-
en-Bassin with P-47s. The 83d, 84th, 85th and 86th Troop Carrier Squadrons,
437th Troop Carrier Group, based at Ramsbury, England begin operating from
Montala Airfield, Italy with C-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Germany, 400+ B-17s and
B-24s bomb an ordnance depot, an aircraft factory, a motor works, and an
airfield in the Munich area; P-51s and P-38s fly 300+ sorties in support;
enemy fighter opposition is weak but flak is heavy and accurate; 16 AAF
aircraft are shot down and several are missing.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather again restricts
medium bomber operations, but in the late afternoon B-26s hit bridges at
Piacenza and Ostiglia; B-25s bomb a bridge at Sassuolo; fighter-bombers are
limited to a few railroad targets as the US Fifth Army takes Leghorn and
moves N; HQ 64th Fighter Wing moves from Orbetello to Santa Maria di Capua;
and HQ Fighter Group and the 315th and 316th Fighter Squadrons move from
Montalto di Castro to Corsica with P-47s. The 347th Fighter Squadron, 350th
Fighter Group, moves from Corsica to Sardinia with P-39s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s continue to bomb and
strafe Tinian Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s, striking in
2 waves, attack the airfield on Yap Island; several of the B-24s become
separated from the formations and bomb Ngulu and Sorol Atolls in the Caroline
Islands. In New Guinea, weather again cancels strikes on the Vogelkop
Peninsula area; fighter-bomber's hit stores, gun positions, and targets of
opportunity along the Dandriwad River and support Allied ground forces in the
Sarmi-Sawar sector.

THURSDAY, 20 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, a few P-40s attack targets in the
Myitkyina area. In India, the 82d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th
Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Pandaveswar to Fenny with B-25s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In the Tungting Lake area of China, 11 B-24s
bomb the E half of Changsha, causing heavy destruction; 140+ P-40s and P-51s
attack river shipping and road traffic at several locations throughout the
region, pound supply villages S of Changsha and Sinshih, bomb a motor pool at
Tsungyang, hit the warehouse area at Siangtan, and attack troop compounds and
gun positions N of Hengyang and at Leiyang and Chaling.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 484: 1,172 bombers and 542
fighters are dispatched to hit oil and industrial targets in C Germany; 19
bombers and 8 fighters are lost:
  1. Of 417 B-17s, 107 hit Dessau, 69 hit Kothen, 56 hit Leipzig/Mockau, 45
hit the Leipzig bearing industry, 36 hit Nordhuasen Airfield, 23 hit Kolleda
Airfield, 20 hit targets of opportunity, 12 hit Bitterfeld, 12 hit Giessen
Airfield, and 12 hit Rudolstadt; they claim 11-9-7 Luftwaffe aircraft; 15
B-17s are lost and 188 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 10 WIA and 129 MIA. Escort
is provided by 253 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim 5-0-3 Luftwaffe
aircraft in the air and 2-0-0 on the ground; 2 P-47s and 4 P-51s are lost, 1
P-51 is damaged beyond repair; 1 airman is WIA and 3 MIA. 
  2. Of 295 B-17s, 155 hit Merseburg, 53 hit Lutzkendorf, 47 hit Wetzlar and
7 hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost and 153 damaged; 2 airmen are
WIA and 21 MIA. Escort is provided by 178 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim
1-1-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-4 on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost
(pilot is MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.
  3. Of 460 B-24s, 123 hit Erfurt Nord and 11 hit Erfurt/Bindersleben
Airfields; 80 hit Schmalkalden; 72 hit Gotha; 24 hit Freiburg, 18 hit Fulda,
12 hit Idstein, 10 hit Bad Salzungen, 10 hit Wernhausen and 9 hit Homburg
marshalling yards; 21 hit Berka, 12 hit Bad Nauheim, 7 hit Koblenz, 6 hit
Boppard and 6 hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 31 damaged; 2
airmen are WIA and 9 MIA. Escort is provided by 45 of 47 P-47s; they claim
6-0-3 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 1 P-47s is lost (pilot is MIA).
  Mission 485: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
  12 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, weather forbids morning
operations; in the afternoon 62 A-20s and B-26s strike the Senonches fuel
dump and Chaulnes marshalling yard; fighters escort the bombers and
transports and fly armed reconnaissance against rail lines, bridges, and gun
positions S of the frontlines. The following units based in England begin
operating from Italy with C-47s:
  - 75th, 76th and 78th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 435th Troop Carrier Group,
based at Welford Pard operating from Tarquinia.
  - 79th, 80th, 81st and 82d Troop Carrier Squadrons, 436th Troop Carrier
Group, based at Membury operating from Voltone Airfield.
  - 87th, 88th and 89th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 438th Troop Carrier Group,
based at Greenham Common operating from Canino Airfield.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Around 450 B-17s and B-24s bomb
targets in Germany; B-17s attack the airfield at Memmingen; B-24s bomb the
airfield, Zeppelin works, and aircraft factory at Friedrichshafen; P-38s and
P-51s provide escort and, with the bombers, claim 19 aircraft shot down.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): The XII Air Force Training and
Replacement Command is disbanded in Algeria. 
  In Italy, medium bombers continue to pound Po River Valley bridges in or
near Ostiglia, Parma, Mantua, Ferrara, and Alessandria; fighter-bombers again
hit targets N of the battle area, concentrating on rail lines and destroying
or damaging a large number of railroad cars as US Fifth Army forces push to a
point SE of Pisa.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s pound Tinian Island. B-25s
from Engebi Island bomb Ponape Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea,
B-24s hit the airfield and AA guns at Manokwari and AA at Moemi; B-25s hit
shipping off Sorong, in Kaiboes Bay, and off Misool Island, and bomb Kasim
Island; A-20s support Allied ground forces in the Sarmi sector; A-20s and a
B-25 bomb supply dumps at Cape Moem, Wom, and Sauri while fighter-bombers hit
targets of opportunity along the Yakamul coastal road and troops on Kairiru
Island; and the 63d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group
(Heavy) moves from Nadzab to Owi, Schouten Islands with B-24s. B-24s bomb the
W part of Yap Island town and in the Moluccas Islands, Namlea Airfield on
Buru Island and shipping in Kayeli Bay. B-25s hit shipping at Dili on Timor
Island.

FRIDAY, 21 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 6 B-25s bomb the railroad at
Mohnyin and 1 hits the town of Naba. In India, the 434th Bombardment Squadron
(Medium), 12th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Madhaiganj Airfield to
Comilla with B-25s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 41 P-40s hit the town area, airfield, trucks,
river shipping, and troops at Changsha, trucks, horses, and junks at Sinshih,
and troop concentrations, artillery sites, and pillboxes at Hengyang.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 486: 1,110 bombers and 795
fighters are dispatched in 4 forces to bomb targets in Germany, among them 4
aircraft plants and 2 ball bearing plants; 31 bombers and 8 fighters are
lost:
  1. Of 433 B-24s, 106 hit Munich, 93 hit Saarbrucken marshalling yards, 78
hit targets of opportunity, 54 hit Oberpfeffenhofen, 33 hit Neuabuing, 13 hit
Bullay Bridge, and 9 hit Schorndorf; they claim 10-2-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 22
B-24s are lost, 3 are damaged beyond repair and 181 damaged; 1 airman is KIA,
7 WIA and 205 MIA. Escort is provided by 262 P-47s and P-51s; they claim
2-0-1 aircraft in the air and 3-0-10 n the ground; 5 P-51s are lost.
  2. Of 96 B-24s, 48 hit targets of opportunity, 17 hit Duren, 12 hit
Walldrun marshalling yard and 9 hit Indenboden; 2 B-24s are lost and 12
damaged; 20 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 109 P-47s and P-51s; they
claim 1-0-0 aircraft.
  3. Of 241 B-17s, 90 hit Regensburg/Obertraubling, 44 hit Regensburg/
Prufening, 40 hit Stuttgart and 18 hit targets of opportunity; 4 B-17s are
lost and 88 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 1 WIA and 38 MIA. Escort is provided
by 148 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 3-0-0 aircraft; 2 P-51s are lost.
  4. Of 340 B-17s, 99 hit Schweinfurt, 70 hit Ebelsbach, 59 hit Ludwigshafen,
13 hit Bad Kreuznach, 13 hit Ebelsbach, 13 hit targets of opportunity, 12 hit
Bad Munster, 12 hit Lachen, 12 hit Simmern marshalling yard, 8 hit Wurzburg,
and 5 hit Neckargemund; 3 B-17s are lost and 81 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 3
WIA and 25 MIA. Escort is provided by 187 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-38 is
lost.
  Mission 487: 8 of 8 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night; 1 B-17
is damaged.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, weather prevents all
combat operations except for 1 fighter group which is dispatched on armed
reconnaissance but is recalled before reaching the Continent; Less than 15
reconnaissance and evacuation sorties are flown. In England, HQ 323d
Bombardment Group (Medium) and 453d, 454th, 455th and 456th Bombardment
Squadrons (Medium) move from Earls Colne to Beauliu with B-26s; and the
556th, 557th, 558th and 559th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), move from
Chipping Ongar to Stony Cross with B-26s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 362 B-17s and B-24s hit targets
in Czechoslovakia; B-17s and B-24s bomb the Brux synthetic oil refinery;
B-24s also hit the marshalling yard at Mestre; 100+ other bombers are forced
to abort due to bad weather; P-38s and P-51s provide escort.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather cancels medium
bomber operations; A-20s hit a supply dump while fighter-bombers attack rail
and road bridges in the Po Valley and hit rail lines N of the battleline
which is pushing into the Arno River Valley SE of Pisa; and the 111th
Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, XII Tactical Air Command, moves from
Follonica to Borgo, Corsica with F-6s (a detachment moves to Santa Maria).

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s attack enemy forces on
Tinian Island. 28 B-24s, staging through Eniwetok Atoll, pound Truk Atoll.
US Marines and Army troops land on Guam Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s again pound
Yap Island, concentrating on the airfield; fighters, many dropping phosphorus
bombs on the bomber formation, attack fiercely but ineffectively; the B-24s
claim 7 fighters shot down. In New Guinea, B-24s bomb AA positions and the
airfield at Manokwari; A-20s hit barracks at Nabire; P-39s hit caves and
barge hideouts on the N coast of Biak Island and support ground forces along
the Verkam River; B-25s hit shipping at several points around the long
coastline of the Vogelkop Peninsula; B-25s and A-20s pound But, and P-39s
bomb a bridge nearby; P-47s follow with an attack on But and also hit Wewak
jetties and Kairiru Island. In Australia, the 531st Bombardment Squadron
(Heavy), 380th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Long Strip to Darwin
with B-24s.

SATURDAY, 22 JULY 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, 2 B-25s flying a
negative shipping search encounter a bomber which evades contact.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 14 P-40s attack forces in the
Myitkyina area; 7 B-25s bomb the railroad at Mohnyin while 2 hit storage
sheds at Maingna.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 120+ P-40s and P-51s attack the
town area, airfield, railroad yards, and shipping at Hengyang, bomb the towns
of Chaling, Yuhsien, and Chuchou, hit river shipping, troops, trucks, and
targets of opportunity in the areas around Changsha, Kiaotow, Siangtan, and
Sinshih, and hit troop compounds and shipping at Yuhsien; 25 B-24s bomb
Changsha, causing heavy damage; and 31 P-40s and P-51s blast Tsingyun and
strafe about 40 junks to the S of town. 4 P-40s sink several large junks off
the NE French Indochina coast.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 488: 7 of 7 B-17s drop
leaflets on Bremen, Hamburg and Kiel, Germany; 1 B-17s is damaged. Escort is
provided by 27 of 34 P-51s; 2 P-51s are damaged beyond repair; 1 airman is
KIA.
  Mission 489: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in France and the Netherlands
during the night.
  44 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, 1 group of A-20s and 2
groups of B-26s attack a rail bridge at Bourth and fuel dumps at Foret de
Conches and Flers; 4 groups of fighter-bombers fly armed reconnaissance and
rail cutting missions during the late evening; 1 group escorts the bombers;
fighters of the IX Tactical Air Command escort 100+ C-47s on a supply-
evacuation run to the Continent, and provide cover over the battle area; and
HQ 367th Fighter Group moves from Ibsley, England to Beuzeville.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Rumania, 76 P-38s and 58
P-51s begin the second Fifteenth Air Force shuttle missions, attacking
airfields at Zilistea and Buzau (claiming the destruction of 56 enemy
aircraft) and landing at Operation FRANTIC bases in the USSR; 458 B-17s and
B-24s (with fighter escorts) bomb an oil refinery at Ploesti and other
bombers hit alternate targets of the Verciorova marshalling yard, Orsova
railroad bridge, and Kragujevac, Yugoslavia marshalling yard.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather again curtails
operations; during night and day operations A-20s carry out armed
reconnaissance of the Lucca, Florence, Genoa, and Milan areas, bombing
scattered motor transport, and attack munitions factory; B-25s bomb bridges
at Ronco Scrivia and Cogoli; fighter-bombers hit roads, railroads, bridges,
gun positions, trains, and vehicles in and N of the battle area, and strafe
aircraft at Bergamo Airfield.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s from Saipan Island, using
napalm-bombs for the first time, hit Tinian and Pagan Islands. Makin Island-
based B-25s pound Ponape Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s again attack
the airfield on Yap Island. In New Guinea, B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and an
assortment of fighter-bombers direct their main attacks against several
shipping terminals on the Vogelkop Peninsula area, sink a submarine chaser
off Morotai, bomb Saumlakki on Tanimbar Island, and hit But Airfield and
personnel areas, barge hideouts, supply and ammunition dumps, bridges and
roads at, and to the W of, Wewak; HQ 35th Fighter Group moves from Gusap to
Owi, Schouten Islands; and 19th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d Bombardment
Group (Heavy), moves from Nadzab to Owi, Schouten Islands with B-24s.

SUNDAY, 23 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 100+ fighter-bombers hit enemy
positions in the Myitkyina area, support ground forces at Szigahtawng, bomb
the Kamaing and Mogaung areas, blast troops and supplies at Kalang, Kyungon,
and Tinzai, and hit targets of opportunity at Peau, Namma, Sahmaw, Taungni,
and Hopin; 9 B-25s hit the Myitkyina and Naungtalaw areas while 8 bomb
Namting.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 62 P-40s attack warehouses, trucks,
and troops in the Changsha-Sinshih-Fulinpu area, bomb the airfield and river
craft at Siangtan, hit enemy-held areas of Hengyang, and strafe and bomb
troop compounds and villages N of it; 6 B-25s and 21 P-40s hit warehouses and
railroad yards in the Yellow River area; 10 P-40s hit Japanese positions on
the Salween front in support of Chinese forces; and the 449th Fighter
Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, based at Chengkung with P-38s, sends a
detachment to operate from Yunnani until Mar 45.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 490: 280 bombers and 193
fighters are dispatched to attack airfields in France; 1 bomber is lost:
  1. 78 of 82 B-17s hit Creil Airfield; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 is damaged beyond
repair and 2 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA and 1 WIA.
  2. Of 198 B-24s, 61 hit Laon/Couvron Airfield, 57 hit Laon/Athies Airfield
and 48 hit Juvincourt Airfield; 3 B-24s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 2
WIA.
  Escort for both groups above is provided by 177 P-38s and P-51s.
  Mission 491: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
  21 of 25 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, 330+ A-20s and B-26s bomb
rail bridges along the Argentan-Paris and Lisieux-Bernay-Evreux railroads,
and hit fuel dumps at Foret de Conches; fighters escort bombers, attack rail
lines, enemy installations, and movements in the Argentan-Alencon-Chartres-
Evreux areas, and bomb bridges, strongpoints, and a supply dump in support of
the US First Army.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 42 B-24s bomb the Berat,
Albania oil refinery; 15 P-51s provide target cover for the bombers and
afterwards strafe roads and targets of opportunity in Yugoslavia near the
Albanian border.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, A-20s bomb and strafe
motor transport in the Po River Valley during the night of 22/23 Jul; B-25s
and B-26s hit bridges and bridge approaches in the Valley, at or near
Antoniassi, Acqui, Molare, Ferrara, Ostiglia, Borgoforte, and Cervo; fighter-
bombers, operating in small numbers, hit communication lines between the
battle area (along the Pisa-Florence line) and the Po River Valley; and the
415th Night Fighter Squadron, 64th Fighter Wing (attached to the 87th Fighter
Wing), based at Solonzara, Corsica with Beaufighters, sends a detachment to
operate from Piombino.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): On Saipan Island, P-47s hit
Tinian Island and the 48th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment
Group (Medium), based on Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands, begins operating
from Saipan with B-25s. B-25s from Makin Island attack Nauru Island. B-24s
staging through Eniwetok Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll while others, flying out of
Kwajalein Atoll, hit Wotje Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s again bomb
Yap Island, hitting the town area and airfield. In New Guinea, airfields and
shipping terminals over widespread areas of the Vogelkop Peninsula and nearby
islands are pounded by B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers; But Airfield
is again the main target in NE New Guinea; communications, supplies, barges,
and troop concentrations from Wewak to Yakamul are also bombed and strafed
throughout the day; HQ 345th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 500th and 501st
Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from Nadzab to Biak Island with B-25s;
the 25th and 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadrons, 6th Photographic
Reconnaissance Group, move from Nadzab to Biak Island and Hollandia
respectively with F-5s; and the 460th Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command,
moves from Gusap to Nadzab with A-20s.

MONDAY, 24 JULY 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, 2 B-25s fly a
negative shipping search.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 14 P-51s hit the Kamaing and
Mogaung areas while 28 P-40s hit Myitkyina; 8 B-25s bomb Mohnyin and
Naungtalaw.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 13 B-25s and 20 P-40s bomb railroad
facilities at Sienning; 22 P-40s pound Pailochi Airfield, destroying about 30
aircraft and causing heavy destruction in general; 9 B-25s and 20 P-40s hit
the town of Puchi, causing several fires; 46 P-40s hit river and road
traffic, enemy concentrations, and targets of opportunity at Changsha,
Sinshih, Fulinpu, Hengshan, Liling, Leivang, and Hengyang; and in the Canton
area 7 P-51s dive-bomb White Cloud Airfield and the town of Tsingvun. In
French Indochina, 3 P-40s on armed reconnaissance bomb Ben Thuy railroad
yards and strafe junks and barges in coastal areas.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 492: Heavy bombers are
scheduled to participate in a US First Army offensive (Operation COBRA) to
penetrate the German defenses W of Saint-Lo and secure Coutances; 1,586
bombers and 671 fighters are dispatched but bad weather causes the ground
forces to delay the attack until next day, and cloud conditions cause 1,102
bombers to abort. Targets hit are:
  1. Of 909 B-17s, 343 hit the Periers/St Lo area and 35 hit the Granville
railroad junction; 1 B-17 is lost and 70 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 1 1 WIA
and 1 MIA.
  2. 109 of 677 B-24s bomb targets of opportunity including road
intersections and rail lines; 2 B-24s are lost and 74 damaged; 1 airman is
KIA, 1 WIA and 20 MIA.
  Escort for the bombers is provided by 478 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they
claim 1-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-1 on the ground; 3 P-38s
are lost (pilots are MIA) and 1 P-47 is damaged beyond repair and 1 P-47 is
damaged. 
  143 of 169 P-51s fly a sweep over Lechfeld and Leipheim Airfields in
Germany; they claim 3-0-0 aircraft in the air and 12-0-16 on the ground; 2
P-51s are lost (pilots are MIA), 1 damaged beyond repair and 6 damaged.
  Mission 493: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
  6 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, 11 groups of bombers
scheduled to participate in Operation COBRA have missions cancelled due to
weather; 5 groups of B-26s hit rail bridges and 5 groups of B-26s and A-20s 
strike 3 fuel and ammunition dumps; fighters fly escort to the bombers, fly
area cover, bomb installations in the Laval-Nantes-Le Mans-Chartres areas,
and hit bridges and supply dumps in support of the US First Army; and HQ
370th Fighter Group arrives at Cardonville from Andover, England. In England,
HQ 394th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 584th and 585th Bombardment Squadrons
(Medium) move from Boreham to Holmsley with B-26s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  AAF, MTO: The 121st Liaison Squadron, AAF, MTO, arrives at Pomigliano,
Italy from Telergma, Algeria with L-4s and L-5s.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 200+ bombers attack targets in
France and Italy; B-17s attack tank repair and ball bearing works in Turin,
Italy; B-24s attack the harbor at Genoa, Italy, and airfields at Valence/La
Tresorerie and Les Chanoines, France; fighters hit troop concentrations at
Sjenica, Prijepolje, Pljevlja, and Andrijevica; fighters provide escort and
strafe the Prizren, Yugoslavia area.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack
bridges at Chivasso, Peschiera del Garda, Imperia, and Ronco Scrivia, and
viaduct at Ovada; A-20s hit ammunition supplies while fighter-bombers attack
rail lines in the Po River Valley, destroying and damaging numerous railway
cars, as the US Fifth Army begins regrouping along the Arno River.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s hit Tinian Island, on
which US Marines land, and Rota Island. B-25s from Engebi Island bomb Ponape
Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Operations in the
Caroline Islands are restricted to B-24 snooper strikes; other B-24s bomb AA
positions at Saumlakki, Tanimbar Island. In New Guinea, bad weather cancels
scheduled strikes in the Vogelkop Peninsula area; 18 A-20s and a B-25 bomb
But Airfield, P-47s hit supply areas at Sauri, and P-39s bomb and strafe
bridges and supply dumps in the Suain area; HQ 85th Fighter Wing moves from
Gusap to Hollandia; and the 499th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th
Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Nadzab to Biak Island. In the Solomon
Islands, the 390th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group
(Medium), based in the Russell Islands ceases operating from Stirling Island
with B-25s.

TUESDAY, 25 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 24 P-40s and P-51s hit targets
around Myitkyina, Kamaing, and Mogaung.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 24 B-24s bomb Yoyang, blasting the
storage area and railroad yards; 51 P-40s and P-51s attack road and river
traffic, troop compounds and cavalry units at Chaling, Siangsiang, Changsha,
Siangyin, and Sinshih and NW of Hengyang; 27 P-40s escorting the B-24s over
Yoyang claim 6 Japanese interceptors shot down; and 11 fighter-bombers
support Chinese ground forces in the Salween area.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 494: 1,581 bombers and 500
fighters are dispatched to support a US First Army assault (Operation COBRA)
with saturation bombing in the VII Corps area in the Marigny-Saint-Gilles
region, just W of Saint-Lo; 5 bombers and 2 fighters are lost; 843 of 917
B-17s and 647 of 664 B-24s hit the Periers/St Lo area and 13 B-17s hit
targets of opportunity; 1 B-17 and 4 B-24s are lost, 2 B-24s are damaged
beyond repair and 41 B-17s and 132 B-24s are damaged; 9 airmen are WIA and 46
MIA. Escort is provided by 483 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s and also provide escort
for Ninth Air Force B-26s; they claim 12-1-3 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air
and 2-0-0 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots are MIA) and 5 damaged. Due
to a personnel error, bombs from 35 bombers fall within US lines; 102 US
troops, including Lieutenant General Lesley J McNair, are killed and 380
wounded. 
  Mission 295: Late in the afternoon 106 B-24s are dispatched to bomb the
Brussels/Melsbroek Airfield, Belgium but they are recalled because of heavy
cloud formations. Escort for this mission is provided by 26 P-38s and 110
P-51s.
  1 P-38 and 78 P-47s fly a fighter-bomber mission against the Fournival/Bois
de Mont fuel dump; they claim 0-0-1 aircraft; 1 P-38 and 4 P-47s are
damaged.
  17 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France during the morning 11 B-26
and A-20 groups attack tactical targets in the vicinity of Saint-Lo in
support of the US First Army; in the afternoon 4 groups bomb bridges on the
Seine and Loire Rivers; 42 B-26s, repeating errors of the previous day, short-
bomb behind US lines and casualties again are concentrated in the 30th
Infantry Division; fighters strafe and bomb military targets in the Saint-Lo
area in support of Operation COBRA, fly area patrol and sweeps S of the
battle area, and carry out armed reconnaissance against installations in the
Laval-Ghent-Amiens areas; and the 422d Night Fighter Squadron, 71st Fighter
Wing, moves from Scorton, England to Maupertus with P-61s (a detachment is at
Ford, England).

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Austria, 420 B-17s and B-24s
bomb the Hermann Goring tank works in Linz while other bombers hit the
Villach marshalling yard and targets of opportunity in Austria and
Yugoslavia; fighters provide escort and carry out sweeps; 175-200 enemy
fighters oppose the attacks; 21 AAF aircraft are lost; the bombers and
fighters claim 60+ fighters shot down. Operating from USSR Operation FRANTIC
bases, 34 P-51s and 33 P-38s attack the airfield at Mielec, Poland and return
to the USSR.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, A-20s hit a storage dump
and rail lines while medium bombers pound bridges in NW Italy at Borgo San
Dalmazzo, Fossano, Albenga, Casale Monferrato, Cervo, Legnano, Rovigo, and
Chivasso; fighter-bombers continue to attack communications in the Po River
Valley, hitting numerous targets and completely destroying a railroad bridge
at Crema.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s continue to hit Tinian
and Pagan Islands. B-24s, based at Kwajalein Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll. The
819th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives
on Saipan Island from Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii with B-24s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb the
airfield and other targets in Woleai Atoll. In New Guinea, bad weather again
cancels strikes in the Vogelkop Peninsula, but C-47s complete 48 missions to
Biak Island despite the weather; communications and troop concentration along
the coast in the general area of Wewak are attacked throughout the day; and
the detachment of the 419th Night Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group,
operating from Nadzab with P-61s, returns to base on Guadalcanal Island,
Solomon Islands.

WEDNESDAY, 26 JULY 1944 FTP SITES

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 42 P-40s pound the Myitkyina area
while 16 P-51s hit the Mogaung and Kamaing sectors; about 20 other fighter-
bombers hit targets of opportunity at Hopin, Bhamo, Myothit, Wuntho, and the
N part of Mandalay; 9 B-25s bomb storage sheds at Mohnvin.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 27 B-25s and 3 P-40s blast the town
of Tengchung, breaching the SE wall in several places; 32 P-40s and P-38s
attack targets of opportunity throughout the Tengchung, Lungling, and
Mangshih areas; 97 P-40s attack troops, horses, trucks, fortified points
river shipping, and other targets of opportunity at numerous locations in or
near Siangtan, Changsha, Hengshan, Fulinpu, Leiyang, Pingkiang, Hengyang,
Chaling, and Nanyo; the airfield at Hengyang is also bombed.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 496: Of 192 P-47s, 93
attack the St. Just marshalling yards and 40 attack Givet fuel dump in
France; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot is MIA) and 10 damaged.
  Mission 497: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
  9 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, weather forces the recall
of several groups of B-26s and A-20s, assigned to support the US First Army,
but about 160 aircraft manage to bomb a fuel dump at Senonches with good
results; fighters escort the bombers, fly cover over the assault area, carry
out close support for ground troops in the Saint-Lo area, and fly armed
reconnaissance in the Poix, Amiens, Chartres, Laval, and Angers areas; and
the detachment of the 422d Night Fighter Squadron, 71st Fighter Wing,
operating from Ford, England with P-61s returns to base at Maupertus.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Fighters on the second shuttle
mission leave USSR Operations FRANTIC bases, strafe enemy aircraft in the
Bucharest-Ploesti, Rumania area, and return to bases in Italy. In Austria,
330+ B-17s and B-24s attack the Wiener Neudorf aircraft factory, the airfield
at Markersdorf, Thalerhof, Zwolfaxing, and Bad Voslau, and targets of
opportunity in the Vienna area. Also hit are Szombathely Airfield, Hungary
and oil storage at Berat, Albania. Fighters fly escort and carry out patrols
and sweeps in the Brod-Zagreb, Yugoslavia and Ploesti-Bucharest, Rumania
areas; bombers and fighters claim 70+ enemy aircraft shot down.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 25/26
Jul A-20s bomb roads and motor transport in the Vado Ligure area and hit fuel
supplies during following day; B-25s and B-26s hit bridges in N Italy at
Ronco Scrivia, Vado, Asti, Ostiglia, Carasco, Verona, and Poggio Renatico;
fighter-bombers attack road and rail bridges in N Italy at several points,
strafe and bomb many gun positions, destroy or damage 20+ aircraft at Valence
Airfield, and hit numerous targets of opportunity.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s and B-25s from Saipan
Island pound Tinian Island. B-25s from Engebi Island attack Ponape Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s again hit
supply areas, communication, and other targets on Woleai Atoll. In New
Guinea, B-24s bomb airfields at Babo and Ransiki; A-20s and B-25s, along with
RAAF fighter-bombers, hit troop concentrations, small shipping, mortar
positions, shore guns, and other targets of opportunity along the Hollandia-
Aitape-Wewak coastline; B-25s bomb Langgoer; the 408th Bombardment Squadron
(Heavy), 22d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Nadzab to Owi, Schouten
Islands with B-24s; and the 419th Night Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter
Group, based on Guadalcanal Island, sends a detachment to operate from
Noemfoor Island with P-61s.

THURSDAY, 27 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 40+ fighter-bombers hit Taungni,
Myitkyina, the Kamaing-Mogaung area, and a bridge at Sahmaw.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 17 P-40s hit river and lake
shipping S of Yogang and in the Siangtan area, strafe truck columns S of
Changsha, and bomb and strafe troops, horses, and compounds in the Nanyo
area.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 498: 26 B-17s are
dispatched to hit coastal batteries at Ostend and Cap Gris Nez/Calais area
but weather prevented bombing.  In Belgium, of 120 B-24s, 34 hit a Luftwaffe
communication center at Brussels/Vilvorde, 20 hit a coastal battery at
Gravelines, 11 hit oil installations and industrial plants at Ghent and 1
hits a target of opportunity; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 32 damaged.
Escort is provided by 154 P-38s, P-47s and P-51; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft on
the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot is MIA).
  Mission 499: 193 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s fly fighter-bomber mission against
rail traffic S of Rouen and Amiens; they claim 0-0-1 aircraft on the ground;
2 P-38s and 1 P-51 are lost (pilots are MIA); 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair
and 2 P-47s are damaged.
  Mission 500: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and France
during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, bad weather causes the
recall of B-26s and A-20s sent to bomb Loire and Seine River bridges;
fighters attack rail lines, enemy installations and movements NW and SW of
Paris, and bomb gun positions and other military targets in the Coutances-
Saint-Lo area in support of US ground forces which break through W of Saint-
Lo; the 393d and 394th Fighter Squadrons, 367th Fighter Group, move from
Ibsley, England to Crettevile with P-38s; and the 512th and 514th Fighter
Squadrons, 406th Fighter Group, move from Ashford, England to Tour-en-Bassin
with P-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Hungary, 366 B-17s and B-24s
bomb an armament works at Budapest; 24 other B-24s attack Pecs marshalling
yards; P-38s and P-51s escort the Budapest mission.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, A-20s fly patrols on the
night of 26/27 Jul over the Po River Valley, bombing lights and vehicles at
Piacenza, Modena, and Verona; both medium and fighter-bombers concentrate
on bridges in the Po River Valley and NW Italy throughout the day; numerous
hits are scored on bridges and other targets, including parked aircraft,
guns, and railroads.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s and B-25s from Saipan
Island hit Tinian Island. B-24s from the Marshall Islands bomb Truk Atoll.
B-25s based at Makin Island, hit Jaluit Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s hit the
airfield on Woleai Atoll and supply areas on Mariaon and Tagaulap Islands in
the Caroline Islands. In the Moluccas Islands, B-24s bomb the airfield at
Lolobata and Miti while B-25s hit Galela Airfield on Halmahera Island. B-24s
bomb Laha, Amboina Island; Namlea, Buru Island; and Cape Chater and Dili,
Timor Island. In New Guinea, B-24s and B-25s bomb shipping and air facilities
at Ransiki, Moemi, and Babo, hit a freighter in Kaiboes Bay, and bomb AA
positions at Kokas, while A-20s blast fuel dumps at Nabire; P-39s strafe
concentrations and small vessels along the W coast of Geelvink Bay; A-20s,
B-25s, and fighter-bombers hit troop concentrations, supply dumps, gun
positions, barges, and a variety of other targets along the coast from Aitape
to Wewak to Cape Moem. 
 
FRIDAY, 28 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 100+ fighter-bombers hit the
Myitkyina, Kamaing, Mogaung, and Taungni areas; 16 others attack targets of
opportunity at Bhamo, Indaw, Mohnyin, and hit a bridge at Sihet; and 8 B-25s
pound a troop area at Sihet.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 18 B-25s, with fighter support,
pound the Yoyang railroad yards; other B-25s in groups of 1 to 3 hit a Yellow
River bridge and White Cloud, Tien Ho, and Hankow Airfields; 18 P-40s hit
Pailochi Airfield, destroying several aircraft; and 30+ P-40s and P-51s on
armed reconnaissance hit troop concentrations, river and road traffic and
other targets of opportunity at Leiyang, Chaling, Chinlanshih, and in the
Tungting Lake area.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 501: 1,057 bombers and 753
fighters are dispatched to bomb targets in Belgium, France and Germany; 7
bombers and 2 fighters are lost:
  1. 291 B-24s in 2 forces are dispatched to hit signal depots, fuel dumps
and V-weapon supply sites and a bridge in Belgium and France but the forces
are recalled because of cloud cover over the targets; the first force of 180
B-24s is dispatched to NW France V-weapon sites, fuel dumps and a railroad
bridge; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 8 are damaged; 10 airmen are KIA;
escort is provided by 235 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-47 and 2 P-51s are damaged
(pilots are MIA). The second force of 111 B-24s is dispatched to hit Brussels
and Vilvorde fuel and supply depots; 8 B-24s are damaged; escort is provided
by 40 of 53 P-51s.
  2. 766 B-17s are dispatched to bomb the synthetic oil plant at Merseburg,
Germany; 652 hit the primary while 36 hit Leipzig/Taucha oil refinery, 18 hit
the Wiesbaden marshalling yards and 8 hit targets of opportunity; they claim
1-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 7 B-17s are lost and 217 damaged; 1 airman is KIA,
7 WIA and 67 MIA. Escort is provided by 386 P-38s and P-51s; they claim 4-1-1
Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-51s are lost and 3 are damaged; 3 pilots are MIA.
  Mission 502: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, the IX Bomber Command
operates in support of the US First Army, bombing rail bridges, supply dumps
and ammunition dumps in the Foret de Conches, Dreux, and Le Mans areas;
fighters escort bombers, fly armed reconnaissance in the Le Mans, Laval, and
Dreux areas and furnish cover over assault areas and armed columns; and HQ IX
Air Defense Command moves from Hampstead Borough, England to Ecrammeville and
Brigadier General Ned Schramm assumes command. In England, the 586th and
587th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 394th Bombardment Group (Medium), move
from Boreham to Holmsley with B-26s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  AAF, MTO: In Italy, the 72d Liaison Squadron, AAF, MTO, based at Santa
Maria, sends a flight to operate from Caserta with L-5s.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 345 B-17s and B-24s attack 2
oil refineries at Ploesti, Rumania and a marshalling yard at Florina, Greece;
P-51s and P-38s provide support for the Ploesti raid.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, A-20s bomb scattered
lights and vehicles in the Po River Valley during the night of 27/28 Jul; and
during the day light, medium, and fighter-bombers hit targets in the Po River
Valley, concentrating on bridges. Some fighter-bombers attack motor transport
in the Rhone River Valley in France.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s and P-47s based on Saipan
Island bomb and strafe Tinian Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Targets in Woleai
Atoll are bombed by 4 squadrons of B-24s; the airfield and supply area are
well covered; Laha, Amboina Island and Cape Chater, Timor Island are hit by
B-24s while B-25s bomb supply dumps at Maumere, Flores Island, Lesser Sunda
Islands. In New Guinea, B-24s and A-20s pound airfields at Manokwari and
Babo, bivouac areas at Kasoeri, and shipping in Kaimana Bay; P-39s hit
Windissi and other Geelvink Bay villages; A-20s and fighter-bombers blast
stores, troop concentrations, communications targets, barges, and targets of
opportunity in the Wewak, Cape Moem, and But areas; HQ 309th Bombardment Wing
(Heavy) moves from Saidor to Noemfoor Island; and the 403d Bombardment
Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Nadzab to Owi,
Schouten Islands with B-24s.

SATURDAY, 29 JULY 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly bombing and reconnaissance runs
over Shimushu Island and Paramushiru Island sites including Kurabu Cape
installations.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, about 100 fighter-bombers bomb the
Myitkyina, Kamaing, and Mogaung areas and strafe Indaw; 20+ others attack
targets at Myothit, Chyahkan, Mainghka, Nawna and Nansawlaw, and hit a bridge
at Panghkam; a troop area at Naungtalaw is bombed by 9 B-25s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 26 B-24s bomb a storage area in
Samah Bay, Hainan Island; 27 B-25s hit Yulin harbor, Hankow Airfield, Kaifeng
railroad yards, and the town of Tengchung; 80+ P-40s and P-51s on armed
reconnaissance hit bridges, troops, supplies, and river, road, and rail
traffic throughout a vast area including the towns of Liling, Sinsiang,
Hengshan, Changsha, Siangtan, Chaling, Liuyang, and Chuchou.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): In China, 70+ B-29s out of
Chengtu bomb the Showa Steel Works at Anshan and harbor at Taku; the first
B-29 to be shot down on a combat mission falls to 5 fighters near Chenghsien
(which the B-29 bombs after engine trouble causes an abort from the primary
mission); another B-29 bombs Chinwangtao before making a forced landing at a
friendly field near Ankang.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 503: 1,228 bombers and 755
fighters are dispatched to hit oil targets in Germany and airfields in
France; 17 bombers and 7 fighters are lost:
  1. Of 657 B-17s, 569 hit the Merseburg/Leuna synthetic oil plant, 13 hit
Gottingen, 11 hit Hildesheim marshalling yard, and 10 hit targets of
opportunity; they claim 15-8-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 15 B-17s are lost, 1 is
damaged beyond repair and 349 are damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 17 WIA and 138
MIA. Escort is provided by 429 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim 21-2-3
Luftwaffe aircraft (including a jet aircraft) in the air and 3-0-2 on the
ground; 7 P-51s are lost (pilots are MIA) and 1 P-47 and 6 P-51s are damaged.
  2. Of 473 B-24s, 442 hit Bremen/Oslebshausen oil refinery, 2 hit targets of
opportunity and 1 hit Cuxhaven; 2 B-24s are lost and 96 damaged; 3 airmen are
KIA, 2 WIA and 15 MIA. Escort is provided by 106 of 109 P-51s.
  3. Of 98 B-24s, 38 hit Juvincourt Airfield and 26 hit Laon/Couvron Airfield
in France; 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair; 5 airmen are KIA and 7 WIA.
Escort is provided by 142 of 150 P-51s.
  Mission 504: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
  44 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions; 12 abort.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, bad weather cancels all
IX Bomber Command missions; fighters fly armed reconnaissance in the Rouen,
Amiens, Beaumont-en-Beine, Tours, Vendome, and Le Mans areas, furnish assault
area cover, carry out armed reconnaissance of enemy installations and
movement in the battle area, and provide cover in support of the US First
Army.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Weather cancels all bombing
operations. 14 P-38s, taking off from USSR bases, sweep the Kecskemet,
Hungary area.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather cancels medium
bomber operations; fighter-bombers, operating on a reduced scale, hit
buildings at Diano Marina and bridges, rail lines, airfields, and vehicles in
N Italy.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s continue to hit Tinian
Island. B-24s hit Truk Atoll and B-25s attack Ponape Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb supply
areas in Woleai Atoll; the nearby islands of Mariaon and Tagaulap are also
hit.  Other B-24s bomb airfields at Boela on Ceram Island, Namlea on Buru
Island and Cape Chater on Timor Island. In New Guinea, B-24s pound Moemi,
Sagan, Otawiri, and Urarom; B-25s hit oil targets at Karaka, shipping off
Sorong and Cape Fatagar, and a supply village W of Babo; P-39s bomb Windissi
and strafe troop concentrations along the W shore of Geelvink Bay for the
third consecutive day; in NE New Guinea bombers and fighters continue pounding
the N coast, hitting troops, bridges and stores at Wewak and along Harech
Creek, and targets of opportunity in the Yakamul area; and the 17th
Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group,
moves from Finschhafen to Biak with B-25s.

SUNDAY, 30 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 30+ fighter-bombers attack
Myitkyina and the Kamaing-Mogaung area and hit a bridge at Sihet; the
Japanese commander at Myitkyina orders withdrawal and commits suicide.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 11 B-24s pound the town of Wuchang;
70+ P-40s and P-51s attack a bridge and the town area at Liling, railroad
yards at Hsuchang, and troop concentrations, storage, and road, river and
rail traffic in areas around Yungfengshih, Puchou, Hengyang, Chuchou,
Chaling, Tungting Lake, and Liuyang. In French Indochina, 20+ P-40s and P-38s
hit shipping and road traffic around Hanoi, Lang Son, Dong Dang, Mon Cay, and
Campha Port.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ issues an order regularizing
under the VIII Air Force Composite Command certain special and provisional
units carrying out special tactical activities; this is a result of
suggestion made on 2 Mar by Lieutenant General James H Doolittle, Commanding
General Eighth Air Force, that units engaged in CARPETBAGGER, H2X (blind-
bombing), night leaflet, and weather missions be put under centralized
control.
  Mission 505: 237 P-47s and P-51s fly sweeps of Evreux, St Quentin, Paris
and Orleans, France claiming 3-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 9-0-0 on
the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot is MIA) and 3 P-47s and 2 P-51s are
damaged.
  Mission 506: 1 B-17 is dispatched on a night leaflet mission but is
recalled.
  31 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, 450+ A-20s and B-26s bomb
defenses in the Chaumont area in support of the US First Army; fighters fly
escort, cover the assault area and armored columns, and carry out armed
reconnaissance in the Orleans-Paris area; 200+ C-47s fly supply and
evacuation missions to the Continent; and the 410th, 411th and 412th Fighter
Squadrons, 373d Fighter Group, arrive at Tour-en-Bassin from Woodchurch,
England with P-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 300+ bombers attack targets in
Hungary and Yugoslavia: B-24s bomb Duna Airfield; B-17s bomb the aircraft
factory at Budapest, and marshalling yards at Brod, Yugoslavia; P-38s and
P-51s escort the missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 29/30
Jul A-20s bomb Savona and surrounding areas; overcast in the W Po River
Valley causes some medium bomber aborts but several bridges at Ovada,
Bistagno, Cherasco, and Ferrara are successfully attacked; fighter-bombers
attack road and rail bridges in N Italy, hit shipping between Savona and
Ventimiglia, silence 8 flak guns at the Ferrara bridge, and hit several
transportation targets of opportunity.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s and P-47s from Saipan
Island again hit Tinian Island. B-25s from Makin Island bomb Jaluit Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The supply area on
Woleai Atoll is again bombed by B-24s; other B-24s and P-38s attack the
airfield and oil installations at Boela, Ceram Island while more P-38s attack
shipping off E Ceram Island, off Amboina Island, and near Talaga, Sanana
Island, Moluccas Islands; B-25s hit airfields at Penfoei and Koepang on Timor
Island. B-24s hit Morotai Island, Celebes Islands. In New Guinea, P-39s
support Allied ground forces on Biak Island and continue to patrol W Geelvink
Bay, hitting barges in Bentoni Bay and troops at Idorra; Allied forces (Task
Force TYPHOON) land on the N coast of Vogelkop Peninsula near Mar; the
landings, made without preparatory bombardment to achieve surprise, meet no
opposition; bombers and fighters continue to pound troop concentrations,
barges, ships, fuel dumps, communications and other targets between Wewak and
Aitape.

MONDAY, 31 JULY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20 fighter-bombers hit Myitkyina,
11 attack the Kamaing-Mogaung area, 12 bomb a bridge at Mohnyin, 14 support
ground forces near Myitkyina, and 11 others hit targets of opportunity at
Sahmaw, Bilumyo, and Pinhe; 9 B-25s pound the Hopin troop area; the Japanese
are in retreat down the Tiddim road.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 12 B-24s bomb the Wuchang railroad
yards; B-25s, operating individually or in pairs, bomb Hengshan, Siangtan,
and Hankow and attack Tien Ho, White Cloud, Hengyang, and Wuchang Airfields;
60+ P-40s and P-51s attack troop compounds, town areas and road and river
traffic at several locations in or near Changsha, Hengyang, Kaishowkiao,
Liling, Luchi, and Liuchow.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 507: 1,295 bombers and
701 fighters are dispatched to hit targets in Germany and airfields in
France; 16 bombers and 3 fighters are lost:
  1. Of 705 B-17s, 567 bomb Munich, 43 hit Schleissheim Airfield, 36 hit
aircraft engine plants at Munich-Allach and 4 hit targets of opportunity; 10
B-17s are lost and 331 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 82 MIA. Escort is
provided by 439 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 0-1-0 Luftwaffe aircraft in the
air and 18-0-12 on the ground; 1 P-47 and 2 P-51s are lost (pilots are MIA)
and 5 P-47s and 3 P-51s are damaged.
  2. 447 of 486 B-24s bomb the chemical works and city at Ludwigshafen, and
SW part of the city of Mannheim; 6 B-24s are lost and 186 damaged; 1 airman
is KIA, 7 WIA and 62 MIA. Escort is provided by 135 P-38s; 1 is damaged.
  3. Of 104 B-24s, 47 hit Laon/Athies Airfield, 36 hit Creil Airfield and 1
hits Poix Airfield; 4 B-24s are damaged. Escort is provided by 38 P-47s and
P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair (pilot is KIA) and 2 damaged.
  13 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, around 500 A-20s and
B-26s attack bridges on the Seine, Loire, Mayenne, and Ruisseau la Forge
Rivers and a fuel dump at Foret de la Guerche; fighters fly armed
reconnaissance of activities in the Dieppe-Rouen areas, escort bombers,
provide armored column cover, dive-bomb military targets in support of the US
First Army and fly a few night intruder missions over enemy territory; HQ
303d Fighter Wing moves from Ashford, England to La Combe; the 392d Fighter
Squadron, 367th Fighter Group, moves from Ibsley, England to Carentan with
P-38s; and the 401st, 402d and 485th Fighter Squadrons, 370th Fighter Group,
arrive at Cardonville from Andover, England with P-38s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 360+ bombers attack targets
in Rumania; B-17s hit an oil refinery at Ploesti; B-24s bomb 2 oil refineries
at Bucharest, 1 at and Doicesti, and oil storage at Targoviste. Fighters
escort the bombers.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather grounds medium
bombers; fighter-bombers hit several bridges in the W Po River Valley while
fighters strafe airfields with good results; the fighter-bombers also destroy
around 50 railroad cars and damage numerous others.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s and P-47s based on Saipan
Island bomb and strafe Tinian Island. B-25s from Makin Island pound Nauru
Island. B-24s from the Marshall Islands bomb Truk Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s again strike
Woleai Atoll; airfields at Lolobata and Galela on Halmahera Island also are
hit by B-24s. In New Guinea, P-39s continue to hit villages on the W coast of
Geelvink Bay; in NE New Guinea fighter-bombers continue pounding Japanese
concentrations and targets of opportunity on the N coast, particularly
between Wewak and Yakamul; A-20s support Australian ground forces in the
Hansa Bay area, hitting troop positions W of the Sepik River and troop
concentrations at Singarin and Kopa.


SOURCES: 
AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force History,
  Headquarters USAF, 1961, ISBN 0-912799-02-1
COMBAT SQUADRONS OF THE AIR FORCE, WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force
  History, Headquarters USAF 1982
THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by the
  Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF, 1973
THE MIGHTY EIGHTH WAR DIARY by Roger A. Freeman, ISBN 1-85409-071-2

Jack McKillop
USAF (Airways and Air Communications Service)
1955-59

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|  Jack McKillop         |  Those who have long enjoyed such      |
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• With grateful thanks for the scholarship of Kit Carter, Robert Mueller and Jack McKillop •
• Thanks also to Charles McGrew •
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