USAAF Combat Operations 1941

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

OCTOBER 1944


AIRCRAFT MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:
  A-20, Douglas Havoc
  B-17, Boeing Flying Fortress
  B-24, Consolidated Liberator
  B-25, North American Mitchell
  B-26, Martin Marauder
  B-29, Boeing Superfortress
  C-47, Douglas Skytrain
  UC-64, Noorduyn Norseman
  UC-78, Cessna Bobcat
  F-5, Lockheed Lightning
  F-6, North American Mustang
  F-7, Consolidated Liberator
  L-1, Stinson Vigilant
  L-4, Piper Cub/Grasshopper
  L-5, Stinson Sentinel
  Mosquito, deHavilland
  P-38, Lockheed Lightning
  P-40, Curtiss
  P-47, Republic Thunderbolt
  P-51, North American Mustang
  P-61, Northrop Black Widow

NOTE: A number in parenthesis after a target name indicates the number of
bombers attacking.

SUNDAY, 1 OCTOBER 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 34 P-47s bomb Thetkegyin while 20
others hit railroad targets throughout the N Burma railroad corridor and
troop concentrations at Ponlon; 4 P-47s bomb Shwegugale while 6 others hit
Lungling, China and sweep the Burma Road in the area. The 9th Bombardment
Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Kurimitola to
Pandaveswar, India with B-24s. During Oct 44, the 24th Combat Mapping
Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, based at Guskhara, India,
sends an element to operate from Hsinching, China with F-7s. 

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 18 B-25s bomb Tien Ho and White
Cloud Airfields in Canton, the town of Wuchou, and targets of opportunity in
the Samshui and Canton areas; 100+ P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance
throughout areas S of the Yangtze River hit a variety of targets of
opportunity, concentrating on communications targets and troops in the
Mangshih and Hsinganhsien areas.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  AIRBORNE OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command): In France, HQ 50th Troop
Carrier Wing moves from Exeter, England to Le Mans; the 99th and 301st Troop
Carrier Squadrons, 441st Troop Carrier Group, move from Villeneuve/Vertus to
St Marceau with C-47s.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 657: 9 of 10 B-17s drop
leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Belgium during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, HQ XXIX Tactical Air
Command (Provisional) locates advance HQ at Arlon; weather prevents bomber
operations; a few fighters fly armed reconnaissance over E France and wide
areas of W Germany and patrol the battle areas; night patrols are flown over
E France and Luxembourg; HQ 36th Fighter Group moves from Athis to
Juvincourt; HQ 371st Fighter Group and the 406th Fighter Squadron move from
Perthes to Dole/Tavaux with P-47s; the 553d Bombardment Squadron (Medium),
386th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Great Dunmow, England to
Beaumont-sur-Oise with B-26s; the 573d, 574th and 575th Bombardment Squadrons
(Medium), 391st Bombardment Group (Medium), move from Matching, England to
Roye/Amy with B-26s. In Belgium, HQ 84th Fighter Wing moves from Vermand,
France to Arlon; HQ 404th Fighter Group and the 506th, 507th and 508th
Fighter Squadrons move from Juvincourt, France to St-Trond with P-47s; HQ
474th Fighter Group moves from Peronne, France to Florennes; the 125th
Liaison Squadron, Ninth Air Force (attached to Ninth Army), moves from
Rennes, France to Arlon with L-5s. In Luxembourg, HQ 363d Tactical
Reconnaissance Group moves from Le Mans, France to Luxembourg City.
  In Belgium, during Oct 44, HQ IX Fighter Command moves from Charleroi to
Verviers.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): HQ 5th Photographic
Reconnaissance Group and the 15th, 23d and 32d Photographic Reconnaissance
Squadrons are assigned to HQ Fifteenth AF, completing the full establishment
of 21 heavy bomber groups, 7 fighter groups, and 1 reconnaissance group, as
authorized in the War Department directive of 23 Oct 43.  Weather permits
only photo and weather reconnaissance missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s and B-26s attack
bridges, fuel dumps, factory, and barracks in C and W Po Valley, including 3
attacks on Piacenza while XII Fighter Command's A-20s hit a fuel dump and
bivouacs and fighter-bombers blast guns and communications in the mountainous
battle areas between Florence and Bologna; the 416th Night Fighter Squadron,
62d Fighter Wing, moves from Rosignano to Pisa with Mosquitos.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Saipan Island, Mariana Islands,
strike the airfield on Iwo Jima Island, Volcano Islands. In the Gilbert
Islands, B-25s from Makin Island bomb Nauru Island while B-24s, staging
through Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, hit Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Celebes Island,
B-24s bomb Langoan while B-25s hit Lembeh Island, Menado, and Bolaang-oeki
port. B-24s bomb Taka in the Moluccas Islands while P-38s hit Amahai, Ceram
Island, Kairatoe, Celebes Island, and shipping off Amboina, Ambon Island.
B-25s and P-38s on shipping sweeps off Halmahera Island destroy several
barges and luggers. In New Guinea, A-20s and P-38s attack Urarom Airfield and
Fak Fak supply dumps, while P-40s hit Doom Island and targets of opportunity
in Windissi, Idorra, and MacCluer Gulf; P-47s and A-20s hit Doeroa, Langgoer,
and Faan Airfields; the 63d and 70th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 403d Troop
Carrier Group, move from Los Negros Island, Admiralty Islands and Hollandia
respectively, to Biak Island with C-47s. The 82d Tactical Reconnaissance
Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Biak Island, New
Guinea to Morotai Island, Moluccas Islands with P-40s and F-6s.

MONDAY, 2 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, photo reconnaissance
missions, by 4 B-25s to Paramushiru Island and by 2 B-24s to Onnekotan
Island, abort due to weather.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 49 P-47s pound several towns and
bridges in the Bhamo area and destroy buildings in Shwekyina, Kaungsin,
Maingka, Kyungyi, Singan, and Kabani; 20+ P-47s hit N Burma railroad targets
and troops at Man He and Manla; 7 P-47s bomb Kutkai while 8 sweep the
Lungling, China-Loiwing, Burma area, destroying a warehouse at Selan; 8 B-25s
slightly damage road bridges N of Lashio; 4 others bomb and damage Nambkai
road bridges and their vicinity; troop carrier aircraft fly 260+ sorties,
delivering men and supplies to various points in the CBI. The detachments of
the 1st and 3d Combat Cargo Squadrons, 1st Combat Cargo Group, operating from
Yunnani, China with C-47s return to base at Sylhet, India.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 11 B-25s attack the town of Pingnam
while 16 bomb Tien Ho and White Cloud Airfields in Canton and the town of
Samshui; 70+ P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance over S China attack
various targets of opportunity, chiefly river traffic and troop areas around
Chuanhsien, Taochuan, Takbing, Wuchou, Dosing, and the Wenchow peninsula, and
attack shipping in the Campba Port-Hongay area of French Indochina.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  AIRBORNE OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command): In France, HQ 441st Troop
Carrier Group and the 100th and 302d Troop Carrier Squadrons move from
Villeneuve/Vetrus to St Marceau with C-47s.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 4 missions are flown:
  Mission 658: 887 B-17s and 549 fighters are dispatched to make PFF attacks
on industrial targets at Cologne and Kassel, Germany; 2 B-17s are lost:
  1. 305 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Bettenhausen ordnance depot at
Kassel (129); targets of opportunity are Kassel (143), Fritzlar Airfield (12)
and other (1); 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 89 damaged; 5 airmen are
WIA. Escort is provided by 228 P-47s and P-51s without loss.
  2. 458 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Henschel motor vehicle plant at
Kassel (384); targets of opportunity are Wiesbaden (31), Gesecke (9) and
other (17); 2 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 144 damaged; 16
airmen are KIA, 1 WIA and 20 MIA. Escort is provided by 219 P-47s and P-51s
without loss.
  3. 110 of 124 B-17s hit the Ford motor vehicle plant at Cologne; 1 B-17 is
damaged beyond repair and 36 damaged. Escort is provided by 53 P-47s and
P-51s without loss.
  Mission 659: 308 B-24s are dispatched to make a PFF attack on the
marshalling yard at Hamm (266); targets of opportunity are Handorf Airfield
(29) and Munster (1); 2 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 144
damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 18 MIA. Escort is provided by 212 P-38s, P-47s
and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA), 2 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged;
1 pilot is KIA.
  Mission 660: 2 B-17s, escorted by 15 P-51s, drop leaflets on Dutch islands
during the day.
  Mission 661: 5 B-24s and 3 B-17s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France
and Germany during the night. 

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):  HQ XXIX Tactical Air Command
(Provisional) goes into operation along with the US Ninth Army (this new
Tactical Air Command is formed from elements of the IX and XIX Tactical Air
Commands); in Germany, the 9th Bombardment Division strikes the industrial
area of Ubach and defended positions at Herbach; fighters fly armed
reconnaissance (and later night patrol) over Belgium, E France, and W Germany
and support the US First, Third, and Seventh Armies in E France and W
Germany. In Belgium, HQ IX Tactical Air Command moves advanced HQ from
Janoulx to to Verviers maintaining the close association with the US First
Army; HQ 368th Fighter Group and the 395th, 396th and 397th Fighter Squadrons
move from Laon, France to Chievres with P-47s; the 428th, 429th and 430th
Fighter Squadrons, 474th Fighter Group, move from Peronne, France to
Florennes. In France, HQ 386th Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 552d, 554th
and 555th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from Great Dunmow, England to
Beaumont-sur-Oise with B-26s. In Luxembourg, the 161st Tactical
Reconnaissance Squadron, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from
Montrevil, France to Sandwieler with F-6s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Unfavorable weather again
cancels bombing missions and limits operations to weather reconnaissance. The
885th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), Fifteenth AF (attached to Mediterranean
Allied Air Forces), begins a movement from Maison Blanche, Algeria to
Brindisi, Italy with B-24s (the squadron transports supplies to partisans and
drops leaflets in the MTO).

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather grounds medium
bombers and restricts fighters to reconnaissance and patrols; during the
night of 1/2 Oct A-20s bomb targets of opportunity in the Po Valley; HQ 27th
Fighter Group and the 522d, 523d and 524th Fighter Squadrons move from
Loyettes, France to Tarquinia with P-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Saipan Island-based B-24s hit Marcus Island in
the North Pacific and shipping W of Chichi Jima Island, Bonin Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s pound Laha
Airfield on Ambon Island while B-24s hit Haroekoe Island; P-38s cover the
Laha raid, attack shipping in Seri and Amboina Bays and hit Amahai on Ceram
Island and Kairatoe Airfield on Celebes Island. Off Halmahera Island B-25s
fly a barge sweep, bomb Laboehan, and attack the coastal villages on Weda and
Boeli Bays. In New Guinea, P-40s attack vessels off Tamoelol village and
Misool Island and bomb Otawiri and Ransiki Airfields; the 64th Troop Carrier
Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group, based on Biak Island begins operating
from Wakde Island with C-47s.

TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, 2 B-24s flying offshore
reconnaissance over Onnekotan, Harumukotan, and Shasukotan Islands also
strafe several small vessels.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): Troop carriers fly 240+ sorties, delivering
men and supplies to various points in the CBI. In Burma, the 5th Liaison
Squadron, Tenth Air Force [attached to 1st Liaison Group (Provisional)],
moves from Shaduzup to Myitkyina with L-1s and L-5s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 23 B-25s attack Pingnam, trucks and
rivercraft in the Wuchou, Samshui, and Canton areas, and bomb Tien Ho and
White Cloud Airfields in Canton; 100 P-51s and P-40s continue armed
reconnaissance over wide expanses of China S of the Yangtze River, attacking
rivercraft, road traffic, troops, town areas, and other targets of
opportunity; the Hsinganhsien, Pingnam, and Chuanhsien areas are covered
exceptionally well.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown:
  Mission 662: 1,065 bombers and 753 fighters make PFF and visual attacks
against airfields and industrial targets in Geramny; 3 bombers and 4 fighters
are lost:
  1. 380 B-17s are dispatched to hit Giebelstadt Airfield (49); targets of
opportunity are Nurnberg (256), Ludwigshafen (13), Ulm (11) and others (24);
130 B-17s are damaged; 2 airmen are WIA. Escort is provided by 260 P-47s and
P-51s; they claim 2-0-0 aircraft on the ground; 4 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA0
and 1 is damaged beyond repair.
  2. 228 B-17s are dispatched to hit motor vehicle facotry at Nurnberg (198);
10 others hit Ottingen Airfield; 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair
and 63 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 4 WIA and 28 MIA. Escort is proivded by 227
P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair.
  3. 119 B-17s are dispatched to hit the oil refinery at Wesseling (87);
targets of opportunity are Cogogne (26) and 1 other; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond
repair and 51 damaged. Escort5 is provided by 24 of 24 P-47s.
  4. 338 B-24s are dispatched to hit Gaggenau (139) and Lachen/Speyerdorf
(111) visually; secondary targets hit are Offenburg marshalling yard (19) and
Pforzheim Airfield (19); targets of opportunity are Speyer Airfield (30) and
Lachen (2); 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 38 damaged; 2 airmen are WIA.
Escort is provided by 188 P-38s and P-47s.
  Mission 663: 6 B-24s and 4 B-17s drop leaflets in France, Germany, the
Netherlands and Belgium during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 220+ B-26s and A-20s sent to bomb
targets at Durena and Aldenhoven, Germany, and Arnhem, the Netherlands are
recalled because of weather; fighters fly armed reconnaissance over W
Germany, hit railroads W of the Rhine River, and support the US Third Army in
the Metz, France area. The IX Air Defense Command continues night patrols. In
Belgium, HQ 70th Fighter Wing moves from Marchais, France to Liege; HQ 303d
Fighter Wing moves from Vermand, France to Arlon. In France, HQ 98th Combat
Bombardment Wing (Medium) moves from Chartres to Laon/Athies; the 23d Fighter
Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, moves from Athis to Juvincourt with P-47s; and
the 405th Fighter Squadron, 371st Fighter Group, moves from Perthes to
Dole/Tavaux with P-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  AAF, MTO: "A" Flight of the 121st Liaison Squadron, AAF, MTO, moves from
Lyons to Vittel, France with L-4s and L-5s (squadron is based at Pomigliano,
Italy).

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): For the eighth consecutive day
bad weather prevents bombing operations.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers continue
to pound road and rail bridges and fuel dumps in the Po Valley; A-20s,
fighter-bombers, and fighters of the XII Fighter Command hit fuel dumps, rail
lines, and transportation in the Valley and support US Fifth Army forces in
the battle areas in the N Apennines S and SW of Bologna and N of the Arno
River Valley; the 4th Troop Carrier Squadron, 62d Troop Carrier Group, moves
from Galera Airfield to Malignano Airfield with C-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Saipan Island hit shipping in the
Bonin Islands while P-47s pound gun positions, buildings, and a wharf on
Pagan Island, Mariana Islands. B-24s on special reconnaissance missions bomb
the airfield on Iwo Jima Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: For the second time
B-24s bomb oil refineries in the Balikpapan, Borneo area, B-25s hit shipping
and bomb Sanana on Sanana Island, Moluccas Islands; on Halmahera Island,
B-25s smash Kaoe runway and bomb Galela; B-25s and B-24s over Ceram Island-
Ambon Island hit barge and coastal targets of opportunity and pound Taka
Airfield in the Moluccas Islands, while fighter-bombers attack Halong
seaplane base on Celebes Island and Namlea Airfield on Buru Island and
Haroekoe Airfields on Haroekoe Island. On the Vogelkop Peninsula in New
Guinea, fighter-bombers again hit Fak Fak and Otawiri.

WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, a B-24 weatheraborts a
photo run off Matsuwa Island; 4 B-25s bomb a freighter and a barge off
Shimushu Island; 15-17 fighters intercept and the B-25s score 1 victory.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 P-47s damage approaches to a
bridge between Myitkyina and Bhamo; 16 P-47s hit the town of Palwesho; 4
others hit small towns S of Bhamo, including Man The and Hantet.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 5 B-25s hit Hsinantien and areas N
of Chefang; 80+ P-40s and P-51s continue to attack targets of opportunity
during armed reconnaissance over areas of China S of the Yangtze River; 20+
fighter-bombers hit buildings, troops, and river shipping in the Paoching
area.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  AIRBORNE OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command): The 306th Troop Carrier
Squadron, 442d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Weston Zoyland, England to
Peray, France with C-47s.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 664: 5 B-24s and 4 B-17s
drop leaflets in the Low Countries, France and Germany during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Bombers drop leaflets in the Metz
and Saint-Die, France and Saarburg, Germany areas; fighters support the US
First and Third Armies in W Germany and E France, escort B-26s, and fly armed
reconnaissance in forward areas, attacking rail and military targets. In
Belgium, HQ 365th Fighter Group and the 386th, 387th and 388th Fighter
Squadrons move from Juvincourt, France to Chievres with P-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 327 B-17s and B-24s, with
fighter escort, bomb the Munich W, Germany marshalling yard. In Italy, around
400 other heavy bombers, attack the rail line in the Trento-Mezzaselva area
covering 50+ miles (80+ km) of the Brenner route, Aviano Airfield, Avisio
viaduct, and railroad and road bridges at Pinzano al Tagliamento, Pordenone,
Latisana, Casarsa della Delizia, Mezzocorona, Ora, and San Dona di Piave. In
Greece, 39 P-51s strafe Tatoi, Kalamaki, and Eleusis Airfields. Other P-51s
escort Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (MATAF) C-47s and fly
reconnaissance.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather restricts medium
bombers to attacks on 2 bridges at Bistagno and Villafranca d'Asti; fighter-
bombers closely support ground forces fighting in the Loiano-Quinzanod'Oglio-
Sassoleone areas, and hit communications N of the battle areas; HQ 47th
Bombardment Group (Light) and the 84th, 85th and 86th Bombardment Squadrons
(Light) move from Follonica to Rosignano Airfield with A-20s; HQ 79th Fighter
Group and the 86th and 87th Fighter Squadrons move from Southern France to
Iesi with P-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Saipan Island attack shipping W of
Iwo Jima Island and bomb airfields, the radio station, buildings, and area
targets on Marcus, Pagan, and Iwo Jima Islands. P-47s hit gun positions,
beach defenses, buildings, and the wharf area on Pagan Island. B-24s from the
Marshall Islands bomb the airfield on Moen Island, Truk Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Celebes Island,
B-25s bomb Sidate and Bolaang-oeki. On Halmahera Island, P-40s and B-25s
attack Galela and Kaoe Airfields. B-25s and A-20s on a shipping sweep bomb
town and port area of Amboina on Ambon Island, hit a wharf at Halong on
Celebes Island, and attack shipping and shore targets of opportunity at
various points. In New Guinea, HQ 403d Troop Carrier Group moves from Los
Negros Island, Admiralty Islands to Biak Island; the 13th Troop Carrier
Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group, based on Espiritu Santo Island, New
Hebrides Islands, ceases operating from Los Negros Island and begins
operating from Wakde Island with C-47s; the 63d Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d
Troop Carrier Group, based on Biak Island, begins operating from Wakde Island
with C-47s. In the Moluccas Islands, the 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter
Group, moves from Owi, Schouten Islands to Morotai Island with P-38s.

THURSDAY, 5 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): At dawn on Paramushiru Island, 2 B-24s bomb
Kashiwabara and Kurabu Cape.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 11 P-47s hit Mawlu and attack
locomotives and targets of opportunity in the Naha area; 8 B-25s attack
bridges at Namhkai, damaging the main bridge. Troop carriers fly 250+ sorties
to various locations in the CBI. The 493d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th
Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Tezgaon to Pandaveswar, India with
B-24s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 12 B-25s and 22 fighter-bombers
attack Samshui, Koyiu and Takhing; 8 hit targets of opportunity in the
Canton-Wuchou area, and 3 bomb a storage area at Mangshih; 50+ P-40s and
P-51s over wide areas of S China attack rivercraft, road traffic, bridges,
town areas, and troops.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  AIRBORNE OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command): HQ 442d Troop Carrier Group
and the 303d and 304th Troop Carrier Squadrons move from Weston Zoyland,
England to Bonnetable and Peray, France respectfully, with C-47s.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): General Order 507 implements the
decision of 15 Sep to assign staff officers of HQ VIII Fighter Command to HQ
Eighth AF to represent units in administrative functions, thus eliminating
the administrative and operational control from HQ VIII Fighter Command and
placing it under HQ Eighth AF; this is necessitated by the transfer of
fighter groups to Bombardment Divisions. 2 missions are flown:
  Mission 665: 1,090 bombers and 733 fighters are dispatched to hit
industrial targets, airfields and railways in W Germany; 9 bombers and 5
fighters are lost:
  1. 348 B-17s dispatched hit targets of opportunity at Cologne (248),
Brechten (27), Dortmund (14) and Coblenz (11) using GH and H2X; 3 B-17s are
lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 156 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 16 MIA.
Escort is provided by 181 of 193 P-51s; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
  2. 360 B-24s are dispatched to hit Lippstadt Airfield (175), Rheine
marshalling yard (107) and Paderborn Airfield (28) visually; targets of
opportunity hit are Herford marshalling yard (8) and Lipperode Airfield (2);
1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 7 damaged. Escort is provided by 260
P-47s and P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft in the air and 15-0-7 on the
ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 3 P-47s and 1 P-51 damaged.
  3. 382 B-17s are dispatched to hit Munster/Loddenheide Airfield (235) and
Munster/Handorf Airfield (68) using PFF means; targets of opportunity hit are
the Rheine marshalling yard (10) and other (2); 6 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged
beyond repair and 190 damaged; 6 airmen are WIA and 55 MIA. Escort is
provided by 234 P-47s and P-51s without loss.
  Mission 666: 8 of 10 bombers drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and
Germany during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 330+ B-26s and A-20s dispatched
against targets in Arnhem, the Netherlands and Aldenhoven and Duren, Germany
are recalled; fighters hit pillboxes along the Westwall, support ground
forces of the XV Corps in France, fly armed reconnaissance in the Prum, Bonn,
Koblenz, Trier and Landau, Germany areas, hit targets along the Rhine-Marne
Canal, and during the night of 5/6 Oct fly patrol in Belgium, E France, and W
Germany. In Belgium, the 493d Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Group, moves
from Cambrai/Niergnies, France to St Trond with P-47s. In France, the 22d
Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, moves from Athis to Juvincourt with
P-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather causes the recall
of heavy bombers.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 4/5
Oct A-20s bomb targets of opportunity in the battle area in the mountains S
of Bologna and N of the Arno River Valley; during the day weather grounds
medium bomber wings and the XII Fighter Command; the 8th Troop Carrier
Squadron, 62d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Galera Airfield to Malignano
Airfield with C-47s; the 85th Fighter Squadron, 79th Fighter Group, moves
from Southern France to Iesi with P-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Saipan Island-based P-47s hit Pagan Island with
rockets and bombs; a B-24 bombs gun positions on the island.  B-25s from the
Gilbert Islands bomb runways and gun positions on Nauru Island while B-24s
from the Marshall Islands bomb an airfield at Moen Island, Truk Atoll and
during the night of 5/6 Oct strike Wake Island. The 28th Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, Seventh Air Force, based at Kipapa Airfield, Hawaii,
sends a detachment to Peleliu Island, Palau Islands with F-5s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb
airfields in the Kendari area on Celebes Island.  B-25s and P-38s hit
Kairatoe Airfield on Celebes Island, the town of Amboina on Ambon Island and
numerous coastal and shipping targets of opportunity in the Ambon-Ceram
Islands area. In New Guinea, A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers attack Urarom,
the Simora Point area, Doom Island, Babo, Efman and Samate Airfields and
disposal areas; A-20s blast Japanese bivouacs and supply areas near Sarmi; HQ
54th Troop Carrier Wing moves from Nadzab to Biak Island. In the Moluccas
Islands, the 418th Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command [attached to HQ
310th Bombardment Wing (Medium)], moves from Owi, Schouten Islands to Morotai
Island with P-61s.

FRIDAY, 6 OCTOBER 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20+ P-47s bomb troop
concentrations in Mawlu and Bilumyo and damage an approach to bridge at
Seywa; 8 B-25s attack bridges at Hsenwi, damaging the main bridge but causing
little harm to bypass bridges. Transport operations continue on large scale
in the CBI. In India, HQ 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Kurmitola
to Pandaveswar while it's 436th and 492d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) move
from Tezzgaon to Madhaigani with B-24s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 12 B-25s bomb Wucbou and attack
boats and other targets of opportunity in the Canton area; 50+ P-40s and
P-51s on armed reconnaissance over areas of China S of the Yangtze River
attack rivercraft, bridges, town areas, troop concentrations and targets of
opportunity along the N French Indochina coast; the flight of the 35th
Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF, at Nanning, returns to
base at Chanyi with F-5s.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force):  The first P-61 night fighters
arrive in Chengtu, China on the eve of the third air raid; in 10 attacks from
6 Sep to 19 Dec, only 43 aircraft participate.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  AIRBORNE OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command): The 305th Troop Carrier
Squadron, 442d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Weston Zoyland, England to
Peray, France with C-47s.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 667: 1,271 bombers and 784 fighter are dispatched to hit
industrial targets in N Germany; with one exception, all attacks are visual;
19 bombers and 4 fighters are lost:
  1. 447 B-17s are dispatched to hit Stargard Airfield (199), aircraft
factories at Neubrandenburg (73) and Stettin (12); targets of opportunity are
Stralsund (110), Kappeln (36), Freienwalde (1) and other (1); 1 B-17 is lost
and 34 damaged; 9 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 180 of 202 P-51s;
they claim 3-1-3 aircraft in the air and 30-0-14 on the ground; 3 P-51s are
lost (pilots MIA), 2 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged.
  2. 418 B-17s are dispatched to Berlin to hit a munitions dump at Berlin/
Spandau (144), aircraft factories at Berlin/Spandau (138) and tank factory at
Berlin/Tegel (100); 10 hit a target of opportunity. 17 B-17s are lost, 1
damaged beyond repair and 234 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 4 WIA and 154 MIA.
Escort is provided by 363 of 414 P-51s; they claim 15-0-5 aircraft; 1 P-51 is
lost and 3 damaged.
  3. 406 B-24s are dispatched to hit Harburg/Rhenania oil refinery (121) with
PFF methods, munitions dumb at Hamburg/Glinde (89) and aircraft factories at
Hamburg/Klockner (79) and Wenzendorf (46); targets of opportunity are Stade
Airfield (29), the Hamburg area (8), Nordhoz Airfield (2), Bremervorde (1)
and Ottersberg (1); 1 B-24 is lost and 127 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 2 WIA
and 10 MIA. Escort is provided by 156 of 168 P-47s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft
in the air; 6 P-47s are damaged.
  Mission 668: 6 B-24s and 4 B-17s drop leaflets in Germany, the Netherlands
and France during the night without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 300+ B-26s and A-20s hit marshalling
yards, barracks, and ammunition dump at Hengelo, the Netherlands and Duren,
Germany and bridges at Arnhem, the Netherlands and Aldenhoven, Germany; in
Germany, fighters fly armed reconnaissance in the Dusseldorf, Aachen, Trier,
Dieuze, and Koblenz areas, sweeps and patrols in forward areas, attack
railroads in the Dorsel area, and support the First, Third, and Seventh
Armies' forces in E France and W Germany. In France, HQ 397th Bombardment
Group (Medium) moves from Dreux to Peronne. 

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  AAF, MTO: The 121st Liaison Squadron, AAF MTO, moves from Pomigliano to
Florence, Italy with L-4s and L-5s ("A" Flight is at Vittel, France).

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Weather cancels bombing
operations; in Greece, 35 P-38s strafe airfields at Sedhes, Megalo Mikra,
Megara, Eleusis, and Tatoi, and 55 P-51s strafe Kalamaki airfield.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather cancels all
operations of the medium bomber wing and the XII Fighter Command. In France,
the 34th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, XII Tactical Air Command
(attached to Provisional Reconnaissance Group), moves from Dijon to Azelot
with F-5s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Saipan Island hit Iwo Jima Island in
harassment attacks during the night of 6/7 Oct. In the Marshall Islands, a
B-24 from Kwajalein Atoll bombs a heavy gun battery on Emidj Island, Jaluit
Atoll. During the night of 6/7 Oct, 3 B-24s bomb Wake Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Halmahera
Island, P-38s hit Kaoe Airfield and shipping near Djailolo. In the Ceram
Island-Amboina, Ambon Island-Boeroe, Sunda Island area B-25s and P-38s attack
Namlea on Buru Island, Waai on Celebes Island, Amahai on Ceram Island, and
several small craft. In New Guinea, P-47s bomb Kaimana; and the 547th Night
Fighter Squadron moves from Oro Bay to Owi, Schouten Islands with P-38s and
P-61s.

SATURDAY, 7 OCTOBER 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 5 P-47s bomb supplies and troops
at Man Hpa.  Large-scale transport operations continue to deliver men and
supplies to various points in the CBI.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 53 P-51s and P-40s on armed
reconnaissance attack troop concentrations, bridges, river and rail traffic,
town areas, and supply dumps around Tunghsiangchiao, Pingnam, Hsinganhsien,
Chuanhsien, Lingling, Wuchou, Houmachen, Chiuchiang, and Paoching.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 669: 1,422 bombers and
900 fighters are dispatched to hit oil installations and armored vehicle
plants in Germany; with one exception, bombing is visual; 40 bombers and 11
fighters are lost:
  1. 142 of 149 B-17s hit the oil refinery at Politz; 17 B-17s are lost and
106 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 17 WIA and 171 MIA. Escort is proivded by 93
of 108 P-51s; they claim 7-0-3 aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
  2. 333 B-17s are dispatched to hit the oil refinery at Ruhland (59);
targets of opportunity hit are Zwickau Airfield (60), motor vehicle facotry
at Zwickau (58), Dresden (30), Freiburg (24) and other (87); 3 B-17s are lost
and 172 damaged. Escort is provided by 214 of 256 P-51s; they claim 12-0-0
aircraft in the air and 1-0-1 on the ground; 4 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA), 1
damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 1 pilot is WIA.
  3. 451 B-17s are dispatched to hit oil refineries at Merseburg/Leuna (129),
Lutzendorf (88) and Bohlen (86); targets of opportunity are Bielefeld (51),
Hameln (27) and Nordhausen Airfield (24); they claim 11-13-10 aircraft; 16
B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 240 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 15
WIA and 149 MIA. Escort is provided by 250+ P-47s and P-51s; tehy claim
10-0-1 aircraft; 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are lost (pilots MIA), 1 P-51 is damaged
beyond repair and 2 P-47s and 1 P-51 are damaged.
  4. 489 B-24s are dispatched to hit an armored vehicle plant at Kassel/
Henschel (122) and oil refineries at Kassel/Altenbauna (88), Magdeburg/Buckau
(62) and Magdeburg/Rothensee (25); targets of opportunity are Clausthal
(129), Bergen/Steinfort (10), Hengelo marshalling yard (4) and other (6); 4
B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 183 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 6
WIA and 38 MIA. Escort is provided by 214 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim
8-0-0 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-47 and 3 P-51s ar elost and 1 P-47 and 1
P-51 are damaged; 3 pilots are MIA.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ Ninth AF cancels previous
instructions against bombing bridges and opens to attack all bridges on the
US front, except those over the Rhine River. 300+ B-26s and A-20s strike
bridges at Arnhem, the Netherlands and in Germany, bridges at Bullay and
Dillingen, a supply depot at Euskirchen, and marshalling yard and warehouse
at Hengelo and Trier; fighters fly bomber escort, sweeps and armed
reconnaissance in the forward areas, hitting railroads, barges, and troop
concentrations, and support ground forces in E France and W Germany. In
France, the 597th, 598th and 599th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 397th
Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Dreux to Peronne with B-26s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  AAF, MTO: "D" Flight of the 121st Liaison Squadron, AAF, MTO, moves from
Florence, Italy to Vittel, France with L-4 and L-5s and joins "A" Flight.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Austria, 350+ B-17s and
B-24s bomb the Lobau and Schwechat oil refineries and Winterhafen oil depot
in the Vienna area; nearly 30 others hit targets of opportunity in Hungary
including marshalling yards at Szombathely and Zalaegerszeg. 330+ B-24s,
escorted by P-38s and P-51s, attack marshalling yards at Nove Zamky,
Czechoslovakia and Komarom, Hungary and airfield at Gyor, Hungary. 6 B-17s
escorted by 54 P-51s, evacuate US airmen from Czechoslovakia to Italy.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather again grounds
the medium bombers; fighter-bombers hit guns and troop concentrations in the
battle area, which extends over a wide front S of Bologna in the region of
Monte Stanco, Monte Cauala, Monte Castellaro, and Monte Ceei, and
communications to the N; the 12th Troop Carrier Squadron, 60th Troop Carrier
Group, moves from Brindisi to Pomigliano with C-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Saipan Island, on armed
reconnaissance, attack Marcus Island and nearby shipping.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s over Mindanao
Island, Philippine Islands, bomb Zamboanga while a P-38 cover force hits
seaplanes, shipping, and other targets of opportunity in the area. On Celebes
Island, B-25s bomb Langoan, Tompaso, and Tondegesang. P-38s attack Kaoe on
Halmahera Island, and hit oil tanks at Boela on Ceram Island. B-25s bomb
a storage area at W Amboina, Ambon Island. In New Guinea, P-38s and B-25s
strike Doom Island and Babo airfield.

SUNDAY, 8 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Photo missions to Paramushiru, Matsuwa,
Onnekotan and Shasukotan Islands turn back due to weather.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20+ P-47s hit targets of
opportunity in the Mawhun and Manyut areas, knock out a bridge at Seywa, and
bomb railroad tracks in N Burma; 5 B-25s damage a bridge and score hits on
the other bridge approaches at Namhkai and knock out 2 bridges at Wuntho and
Kawlin. In India, HQ 443d Troop Carrier Group moves from Dinjan to Ledo.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 12 P-40s and P-51s hit locomotives, trucks,
and river traffic at Yuncheng and NE of Pengtse.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): A revision and elaboration (from
28 Sep-8 Oct) of the Ninth AF interdiction program against railroads
connected with the Rhine River results in the issuance of a new interdiction
program; it includes rail lines further to the E and requires attacks by all
4 Tactical Air Commands of the Ninth AF, plus aid from the British Second
Tactical AF.  300+ B-26s and A-20s, with fighter escort, hit strongpoints and
bridges over wide areas of E France and W Germany; fighters support ground
forces of the US VII, XV, XIX, and XX Corps in E France and W Germany, and
attack airfields, railroads, and numerous military targets in forward areas.
In France, HQ 394th Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 584th and 585th
Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from Bricy to Cambrai/Niergnies with
B-26s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather limits operations
to reconnaissance and sea-search missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, bad weather forces
medium bombers to cancel missions; XII Fighter Command fighters are airborne
to support ground forces over the battle area and abort all missions; HQ 60th
Troop Carrier Group and the 28th Troop Carrier Squadron move from Brindisi to
Pomigliano with C-47s. In France, the detachment of the 23d Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Group [attached to
3d Photographic Group (Reconnaissance)] operating from Dijon with F-5s
returns to base at Valence.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 3 Saipan Island-based B-24s hit Pagan and
Marcus Islands. 24 P-47s hit buildings, beach defenses, and gun positions on
Pagan Island. During the day and night of 8/9 Oct B-24s from the Marshall
Islands bomb Wake Island. In Hawaii, the 531st Fighter Squadron, 21st Fighter
Group, moves from Kuoloa to Mokuleia Field with P-38s and P-51s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Ceram Island,
P-47s bomb Amahai and Boela. In the Moluccas Islands, P-38s hit Dodinga Bay
barge hideouts, supplies and targets of opportunity along Wasile and Kaoe
Bays on Halmahera Island. In New Guinea, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers
hit Sorong, Doom Island, runways and targets of opportunity at Efman and
Samate, and gun positions, bivouacs, and supplies at Simora Point; a
detachment of the 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4th Photographic
Group (Reconnaissance), begins operating from Noemfoor Island with F-5s
(squadron HQ begins a movement from Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands to
Morotai Island; another detachment is operating from Bougainville Island,
Solomon Islands).

MONDAY, 9 OCTOBER 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 50+ P-47s knock out a bridge at
Manyut and thoroughly pound the town area, bomb enemy positions at Nyaunggon,
Pinhe, and near Mawhun, damage a bridge near Mawlu, and hit a variety of
targets in the Katha area; 9 B-25s attack road bridges SW of Lashio, knocking
out Na-lang and Nampawng bridges; the B-25s hit several targets of
opportunity in the area. Transport aircraft continue a steady supply of
various points in the CBI. A detachment of the 9th Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, begins
operating from Chittagong, India with F-5s (squadron is based at Barrackpore,
India).

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25s bomb the area N of
Mangshih; 3 B-24s hit shipping along the lower Yangtze River; 29 P-51s and
P-40s on armed reconnaissance attack river traffic, troops, bridges, and
other targets of opportunity in areas around Tanchuk, Tengyun, Anking, and
Amoy; the airstrip at Tanchuk is temporarily put out of commission.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 670: 1,110 bombers and 878 fighters are dispatched to make PFF
attacks on industrial targets in S and C Germany; 1 bomber is lost:
  1. 329 of 345 B-17s hit the secondary target, ball bearing plants at
Schweinfurt; 1 other hit a target of opportunity; 15 B-17s are damaged.
Escort is proivded by 338 of 364 P-51s; 3 P-51s are damaged beyond repair;
1 pilot is WIA.
  2. 381 B-17s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yard at Mainz (210)
and aircraft engine plant at Gustavsburg (148); 84 B-17s are damaged. Escort
is provided by 202 Ninth AF P-38s and P-47s; 2 P-38s are damaged.
  3. 360 of 384 hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Koblenz; 1 hit a
target of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 17
damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 10 MIA. Escort is provided by 271 of 295
P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground.
  Mission 671: 2 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands during the night.
  HQ 12th Bombardment Wing is inactivated at Marks Hall, England.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ Ninth AF gives the Tactical Air
Commands an initial attack list of 10 bridges on the US front; other lists
follow. 30 9th Bombardment Division aircraft attack a rail bridge at
Euskirchen, Germany; fighters provide escort and fly uneventful armed
reconnaissance; P-47s sent against airfields in Germany are recalled because
of bad weather.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, bad weather restricts
operations to weather reconnaissance missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather again grounds
the medium bombers; fighter-bombers, and fighters hit roads, rail crossing,
transport and other targets in the Bologna and Sabbioso areas; the 97th
Bombardment Squadron (Light), 47th Bombardment Group (Light), moves form
Follonica to Rosignano Airfield with A-20s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 18 B-24s from Saipan Island pound Iwo Jima
Island. 25 B-25s from the Marshall Islands bomb Truk Atoll. The 28th
Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Seventh AF (attached to VII Fighter
Command), moves from Kipapa Airfield to Kualoa Airfield, Hawaii with F-5s
(detachments are operating from Saipan and Peleliu Islands).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s, A-20s, and
fighter-bombers attack Boela on Ceram Island, Namlea and Kairatoe on Celebes
Island, and Liang on Ambon Island, concentrating on oil tanks and airfields.
On Halmahera Island, B-25s and fighter-bombers hit Lolobata and Hate Tabako
Airfields and nearby barges, supplies, and other targets of opportunity. In
New Guinea, A-20s and fighter-bombers strike Faan and Langgoer Airfields,
P-40s hit Manokwari, and B-25s bomb Samate.

TUESDAY, 10 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 4 B-24s abort a strike at Kashiwabara,
Paramushiru Island due to weather.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 28 P-47s support ground forces
near Pinhe, bomb the towns of Tawbon and Man Naung, and hit targets of
opportunity in and near Momauk. Transport operations to various points in the
CBI continue at the rate of 250+ sorties.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 12 B-25s bomb and considerably
damage the Kunlong ferry; 38 P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance attack a
bridge and other targets of opportunity near Mangshih, hit troop areas around
Tanchuk and Wuchou, river traffic near Dosing, and locomotives and barges
along the N French Indochina coast.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Weather cancels daytime bomber and
fighter operations. IX Air Defense Command during the night of 10/11 Oct
flies patrol over Belgium and W Germany.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, almost 170 B-17s and
B-24s attack 4 marshalling yards at Treviso and Mestre and bridges at
Susegana and San Dona di Piave plus rail lines in surrounding areas; about 90
fighters provide support in the Udine-Treviso area; 350+ other heavy bombers
are forced to abort a mission because of weather.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers are again
grounded due to weather; fighter-bombers, though also hampered by weather,
manage to closely support ground forces, particularly at Monte delle Formiche
where US 85th Infantry Division elements are stopped short of the the crest,
and attack communications N of the battle area in the N Apennines; the 11th
Troop Carrier Squadron, 60th Troop Carrier Group, moves from Brindisi to
Pomigliano with C-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 14 B-24s from Saipan Island bomb the airfield
on Iwo Jima Island and shipping off the E shore. 24 P-47s pound buildings and
storage caves on Pagan Island; later a B-24 bombs the radio station N of the
airfield on Pagan Island. 12 B-25s from Makin Island bomb runways and
adjacent AA positions on Nauru Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s strike oil
refineries and an airfield in the Balikpapan, Borneo area; the B-24s and
escorting P-47s and P-38s claim 30+ Japanese fighters downed. On Halmahera
Island, P-38s and B-25s bomb Djailolo, Kaoe, and Hate Tabako Airfield and
the Wasile town area. P-47s hit Liang Airfield on Ambon Island. In New
Guinea, A-20s hit the Sarmi area and A-20s and B-25s bomb Urarom Airfield.

WEDNESDAY, 11 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, 4 B-25s over Shimushiru
and Paramushiru Islands blow up 3 buildings and damage 2 others at Cape
Namikawa.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 15 P-47s hit guns and enemy
positions near Pinhe while 9 attack the town of Manwein and hit targets of
opportunity in the area; 8 others hit the towns of Nayakaung and Nansiaung; 8
B-25s attack bridges at Man Pwe, Tahpalai, and Namyao damaging only the Man
Pwe bridge; 23 P-47s hit troops and stores near Tawbon and at Hkawan, knock
out Kawnghka bridge and damage the Wanling bridge. Transport flights continue
to points throughout the CBI. The detachment of the 4th Combat Cargo
Squadron, 1st Combat Cargo Group, operating from Yunnani, China returns to
base at Sylhet, India with C-47s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25s knock out a bridge S of
Mangshih; 3 P-40s attack sampans from Tanchuk to Tengyun while 8 hit general
targets of opportunity N of Mangshih.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 672: 135 B-17s are dispatched to bomb the Wesseling synthetic oil
plant (57); 73 others hit the secondary, the Koblenz marshalling yard; 4
B-17s are lost and 61 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 38 MIA. Escort is
provided by 135 of 139 P-47s; 1 P-47 is lost.
  Mission 673: 9 aircraft drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and
Germany during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, 99 B-26s and A-20s, with
fighter escort, sent to bomb the Camp-de-Bitche military camp are recalled
when Pathfinder equipment malfunctions and weather prevents visual bombing.
In Germany, fighters fly armed reconnaissance, cut rail lines in the Aachen-
Rhine area, and support the US VII and XIX Corps in the Aachen area, and US
XII, XV, and XX Corps in the Metz-Saarlautern area. In Luxembourg, the 160th
Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves
from Montrevil, France to Sandweiler with F-6s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Austria, about 180 B-17s and
B-24s, with fighter escort, bomb Vienna S ordnance depot, Graz motor works, S
and SW areas of Vienna, the towns of Hirtenberg and Enzesfeld, the
marshalling yard at Zeltweg, the Dravograd, Yugoslavia railroad bridge on the
Yugoslav-Hungarian boundary, and in Italy, railroad and highway bridges at
Cesara, and Trieste harbor; 250+ heavy bombers fail to complete missions
because of bad weather; 18 P-51s strafe targets in the Bratislava,
Czechoslovakia and Budapest, Hungary areas, including supply dumps, and
trains and destroy 17 airplanes at Esztergom landing ground, Hungary; 37
other P-51s strafe Prostejov Airfield, Czechoslovakia and targets of
opportunity in the surrounding area, destroying nearly 30 aircraft and
trucks, locomotives, and railroad cars. HQ 5th Photographic Reconnaissance
Group moves from San Severo to Bari, Italy.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, despite bad weather
medium bombers attack bridges and supply dumps in the Po Valley; fighter-
bombers and fighters closely support ground forces in the Apennine Mountains
between Florence and Bologna where fierce fighting rages on Monte delle
Formiche, Livergnano escarpment, Monte delle Tombe, Gesso ridge, and Monte
Battaglia; also hit are communications behind the battle area and as far W
and N as Genoa, Turin, and Savona; the detachments of the 16th and 35th Troop
Carrier Squadrons, 64th Troop Carrier Group, operating from Istres, France
returns to base at Ciampino with C-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Saipan Island-based P-47s hit buildings on
Pagan Island with rockets and bombs. A Kwajalein Atoll-based B-24 bombs Wake
Island during the night.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb the
Koeandang and Langoan area on Celebes Island. P-38s pound Miti Airfield on
Halmahera Island. A-20s and fighter-bombers attack airfields at Liang on
Ambon Island, Kairatoe on Celebes Island, Laha on Ambon Island, Haroekoe on
Haroekoe Island, and Namlea on Buru Island. In New Guinea, Langgoer Airfield
is bombed by P-47s and P-47s hit Babo Airfield while A-20s attack Sarmi troop
concentrations. At night B-24s bomb Sasa Matina and Buayoan Airfield on
Mindanao Island, Philippine Islands

THURSDAY, 12 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): B-24s hit the airfield and shipping targets in
the Matsuwa Island-Onnekotan Island area.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 18 P-47s bomb railroad targets in
the Naba-Mawlu rail corridor damaging a bridge approach, and strike troops
and stores near Nayakaung; 12 other P-47s hit various targets at Pintha and
Nyaunggon; 4 B-25s knock out a bridge just N of Lashio and 3 others knock out
a bridge at Kawlin and damage tracks near the Man Pwe bridge.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 3 B-25s and 12 P-40s hit the
Chefang storage area and a bridge and general targets of opportunity in the
Mangshih area; 40+ P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance covering wide
areas of S China and extending into W Burma attack troop concentrations,
river traffic, storage areas, and buildings in areas around Taochuan,
Kweiping, Hsinganhsien, Yuncheng, Tanchuk, and Hsenwi.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): The following B-29 units are
inactivated in India: HQ 58th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) and the 795th
Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy), 468th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), at
Kharagpur; the 679th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy), 444th Bombardment
Group (Very Heavy) at Dudhkundi; the 771st Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy),
462d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), at Piardoba.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 674: 552 bombers and 514 fighters are dispatched to hit targets in
Germany; they claim 18-3-1 aircraft; 3 bombers and 5 fighters are lost:
  1. Weather prevents the 290 B-24s dispatched to hit the primaries at Vechta,
Achmer, Rheine and Varrelbusch; PFF means were used to hit the secondary, the
marshalling yard at Osnabruck (267); 5 others hit Diepholz Airfield, a target
of opportunity; 2 B-24s are lost and 67 damaged; 19 airmen are MIA. Escort is
provided by 210 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 1-1-0 aircraft in the air.
  2. 262 B-17s are dispatched to aviation industries at Bremen (267) bombing
visually; 1 other hits a target of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 damaged
beyond repair and 59 damaged. 7 airmen are KIA, 1 WIA and 9 MIA. Escort is
provided by 273 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 17-2-1 aircraft; 5 P-51s are lost
(pilots MIA).
  Mission 675: 8 aircraft are dispatched to drop leaflets in the Netherlands,
France and Germany during the night; 2 B-24s are lost.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ Ninth AF is delegated
administrative (in addition to operational) control over HQ XII Tactical Air
Command hitherto assumed by US Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSTAF).
Advanced HQ XIX Tactical Air Command arrives at Nancy, France, following the
advance of the US Third Army. Almost 250 B-26s and A-20s bomb Camp-de-Bitche,
France military camp, rail bridges at Grevenbroich and Ahrweiler, Germany,
city areas of Langerwehe and Aldenhoven, Germany, and Venraij, the
Netherlands, and various targets of opportunity; escorting fighters also fly
armed reconnaissance and rail cutting in the Dusseldorf and Aachen, Germany
and Belfort, France areas, and support the VIII, XII, XV, and XX Corps in E
France and W Germany. In France, the 14th Liaison Squadron, XIX Tactical Air
Command (attached to Third Army), moves from Gussainville to Nancy with L-5s;
the 365th, 366th and 367th Fighter Squadrons, 358th Fighter Group, based at
Vitry-le-Francois, begins operating from St Dizier with P-47s; the 586th and
587th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 394th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves
from Bricy to Cambrai/Niergnies with B-26s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Around 700 B-17s and B-24s,
with fighter support, pound ammunition and fuel dumps and depots, bivouac
area, barracks, vehicle repair shop, munitions factory and targets of
opportunity in the Bologna, Italy area (Operation PANCAKE) supporting the US
Fifth Army offensive in that sector. 160 P-51s strafe the mainline railroad
and Danube River traffic in the Vienna, Austria-Gyor, Hungary-Budapest,
Hungary areas and strafe Seregelyes Airfield, Hungary, disrupting traffic and
destroying many enemy airplanes.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers,
supporting the US Fifth Army, attack communications, supply dumps, and
bivouac and barracks areas S of Bologna; fighter-bombers and XII Fighter
Command fighters, mainly in support of the US Fifth Army, blast supply dumps,
gun positions, troop concentrations, and communications in the high country S of
of Bologna while the Desert Air Force (DAF) gives similar support to the
British Eighth Army in the Rimini area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Saipan Island bomb the harbor and
shipping at Chichi Jima and shipping S of Haha Jima in the Bonin Islands, AA
positions on Marcus Island, and the airfield area on Pagan Island. P-47s hit
the Pagan Island Airfield area with bombs and rockets. B-24s from Kwajalein
Atoll bomb Wake Island during the night of 12/13 Oct.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): The first B-29, JOLTIN' JOSIE, THE PACIFIC
PIONEER, arrives on Saipan Island, piloted by Brigadier General Haywood S
Hansell, Jr, Commanding General XXI Bomber Command, for whom temporary HQ are
set up on Saipan Island; also the regular air echelon of HQ 73d Bombardment
Wing (Very Heavy) arrives on Saipan Island on this date, followed during Oct
44 and the first week in Nov 44 by 4 bombardment groups and 4 air service
groups; HQ 313th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) will be established in the
theater in Dec 44, HQ 314th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) in Jan 45, HQ 58th
Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) in Mar 45, and HQ 315th Bombardment Wing (Very
Heavy) in Apr 45. In Mar 45 HQ VII Fighter Command will be established on Iwo
Jima Island from where some of its units escort B-29 missions.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Celebes Island,
B-24s bomb Ambesia, Langoan, Mapanget, and Sidate Airfields. B-25s, A-20s,
and P-47s again pound airfields at Liang and Laha on Ambon Island, Namlea on
Buru Island, Kairatoe on Celebes Island and Haroekoe on Haroekoe Island, and
the town of Boela on Ceram Island. P-38s hit numerous targets of opportunity
on Halmahera Island. In New Guinea, fighter-bombers hit Manokwari and Urarom
and A-20s bomb pillboxes in the Sarmi area.

FRIDAY, 13 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): On Paramushiru Island, 4 B-25s bomb Kurabu
Airfield and bomb and strafe buildings on Tomari Cape, scoring hits on
canneries, warehouses, and barracks; later, 4 B-24s photograph and bomb
targets at Kashiwabara.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 38 P-47s strike Okkyin,
Yebyangale, and Theinlon, and hit troops in the Myothit area; 8 P-47s support
ground forces in the Mohnyin area, 12 attack and considerably damage Wanling
bridge and 4 hit targets of opportunity in the area.  Transports fly 280+
sorties hauling troops and supplies to CBI terminals.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 138 P-40s and P-51s on numerous
armed reconnaissance missions throughout S China and into W Burma attack
troop areas, rivercraft, town areas, bridges, trucks, and other targets of
opportunity; 71 of the fighter-bombers hit targets in the Kweiping area while
the others attack targets around Chuanhsien, Litou, Shepchung, Tengyun,
Lungfukwan, Kingshan, Mangshih, and Chefang.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 9th Bombardment Division bombers
hit bridges at Saarlouis, France, Roermond and Venlo, the Netherlands, and
Euskirchen and Mayen, Germany, plus several targets of opportunity. Escorting
fighters also fly armed reconnaissance over the areas of Metz, France and
extensively over W Germany, attacking railroads and other targets, and
support the US First, Third, and Seventh Armies. In France, HQ 323d
Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 453d, 454th, 455th and 456th Bombardment
Squadrons (Medium) move from Chartres to Laon/Athies with B-26s; the 425th
Night Fighter Squadron, XIX Tactical Air Command, moves from Coulommiers to
Prosnes with P-61s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 650+ fighter escorted B-17s
and B-24s bomb oil refineries at Blechhammer, Germany and Vienna/Floridsdorf,
Austria; motor works, locomotive shops, and marshalling yard at Vienna and
Graz, Austria; Banhida, Szekesfehervar and Papa, Hungary; and Hranice and
Mezirici, Czechoslovakia; some of the escorting fighters strafe railroads,
roads, and an airfield in the areas of Balaton Lake, Hungary; Neusiedler
Lake and Vienna, Austria; and Prostejov, Czechoslovakia; other fighters
strafe roads, railroads, and Danube River traffic in the Vienna-Gyor, Hungary-
Budapest, Hungary areas.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather cancels all
medium bomber operations except for attacks on 4 targets (bridges and supply
dumps) in the battle area S of Bologna; fighter-bombers support US Fifth Army
operations more successfully in the area, hitting gun emplacements, troop
concentrations, supply dumps, bridges, and vehicles; the 23d Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Group [attached to
3d Photographic Group (Reconnaissance)] moves from Valence, France to
Malignano with F-5s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Saipan Island bomb Yap Island,
Caroline Islands. From the Marshall Islands B-24s pound Truk Atoll. Gilbert
Islands-based B-25s bomb Nauru Island. In Hawaii, HQ 21st Fighter Group moves
from Wheeler Field to Mokuleia Field.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s bomb Menado
on Celebes Island and the surrounding area. P-38s hit AA positions, enemy
concentrations, and other targets in NE Celebes and Halmahera Islands. A-20s
and fighter-bombers attack Boela on Ceram Island, oil installations and
airfields at Amahai on Ceram Island, Kairatoe on Celebes Island, and Namlea
on Buru Island. In New Guinea, the 17th Photographic Reconnaissance
Squadron, 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), enroute from Guadalcanal
Island to Morotai Island, sends a detachment to operate from Sansapor with
F-5s (other detachments are at Bougainville and Noemfoor Islands).

SATURDAY, 14 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 4 B-25s bomb and strafe buildings at Otomae
Bay, Kurile Islands.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): Transport aircraft fly 200+ sorties,
delivering men and supplies to various points in the CBI. The 165th Liaison
Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Asanol, India to
Tamu, Burma with C-64s and L-5s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 32 P-51s and P-40s on armed
reconnaissance attack troops, town areas, and river traffic around Samshui,
Mangshih, Kweiping, Hsinganhsien, Konghow and Tajungchiang.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): 103 Chengtu, China-based B-29s
bomb the Okayama aircraft plant on Formosa; 12 more hit last-resort targets
and targets of opportunity; this is the first Twentieth AF mission during
which 100+ B-29s attack targets and the first of a series of missions against
Formosa in conjunction with the US invasion of Leyte Island, Philippine
Islands.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 676: 211 bombers and 258 fighters make GH attacks on 2 targets in
Germany: 1 fighter is lost:
  1. 90 of 94 B-17s hit a marshalling yard at Saarbrucken; 8 B-17s are
damaged. Escort is provided by 105 of 107 P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond
repair.
  2. 117 of 117 B-24s hit Kaiserslautern; 8 B-24s are damaged. Escort is
provided by 148 of 151 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
  Mission 677: 1,040 bombers and 491 fighters are dispatched to make PFF
attacks on Cologne, Germany; 5 bombers are lost:
  1. 434 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Gereon marshalling yard (326); 1
hits a target of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost and 93 damaged; 3 airmen are
WIA and 20 MIA. Escort is provided by 141 of 153 P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged
beyond repair.
  2. 318 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Gremberg (127) and Eifelter (121)
marshalling yards; 9 others hit Euskirchen; 3 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged
beyond repair and 137 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 2 WIA and 20 MIA. Escort is
provided by 177 of 184 P-47s and P-51s without loss.
  3. 314 of 379 B-17s hit the secondary target, the Gereon marshalling yard;
1 other hits a target of opportunity; 2 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and
123 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 3 WIA. Escort is provided by 151 of 154
P-47s and P-51s without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Bad weather grounds the A-20s and
B-26s; fighters escort a leaflet mission, fly sweeps and rail cutting
operations, armed reconnaissance over E France and W Germany, and support the
US Third Army.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 317 B-17s and B-24s hampered by
bad weather, bomb oil refineries at Blechhammer and Odertal, Germany, and
several targets of opportunity including marshalling yards at Bratislava and
Nove Zamky, Czechoslovakia, and in Hungary, Komarom and the Nove Zamky
railroad bridges, Borzavar industrial area, and Ugod military garrison;
escorting fighters strafe airfields, rail and road traffic and other targets
of opportunity in the target areas; 52 B-24s bomb a railroad bridge and
marshalling yard at Maribor, Yugoslavia; 54 P-51s on a strafing mission in
the Balaton Lake area of Hungary attack airfields at Szekesfehervar and
Seregelyes; 55 P-38s escort MATAF C-47s carrying airborne forces to Megara
Airfield, Greece.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, bad weather cancels all
medium bomber operations; 100+ fighters and fighter-bombers pound troop
concentrations, gun positions, supplies, bridges, roads, and rail lines S, of
Bologna where hard fighting is taking place in the Monterumici, Livergnano,
and Gesso ridge areas.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 3 B-24s on armed reconnaissance from Saipan
Island bomb Marcus Island. P-47s on a sweep over Pagan Island bomb and strafe
storage caves. 1 B-24 from the Marshall Islands bombs Wake Island during the
night of 14/15 Oct. HQ 41st Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 48th, 396th
and 820th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from Makin Island to Wheeler
Field, Hawaii with B-25s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s again bomb
oil refineries and associated industries in the Balikpapan, Borneo area;
others bomb Pombelaa mine on Celebes Island. A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-
bombers again hit Laha Airfield on Ambon Island and Haroekoe Airfield on
Haroekoe Island. In New Guinea, HQ 374th Troop Carrier Group and the 21st
Troop Carrier Squadron move from Nadzab to Biak Island with C-47s.

SUNDAY, 15 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 4 B-25s on armed reconnaissance over
Paramushiru Island turn back when the flight drifts off course; 1 B-24
strafes a freighter off Shimushiru Island.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, about 40 P-47s attack positions in
the Mohnyin area and at Man Naung, supply concentrations at Kyungyi, railroad
targets in the Mawhun area, ammunition stores at Manwing, and buildings near
Muse; 12 B-25s hit the town of Onbauk, storage facilities at Indaw, and
vicinity of Thabeikkyin. Transport operations in the CBI continue on a large
scale; the 71st Liaison Squadron, Tenth Air Force [attached to 1st Liaison
Group (Provisional)], moves from Ledo, India to Sahmaw with L-4s and L-5s. In
India, the 5th and 6th Fighter Squadrons (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group,
based in Asansol, send detachments to operate from Cox's Bazar with P-47s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 28 B-24s, 33 P-51s, and 18 P-40s
pound White Cloud Airfield in Canton and shipping in the Hong Kong area; 2
B-24s bomb Amoy; 6 fighter-bombers hit targets of opportunity near Mangshih
and Tajungchiang.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 3 missions are flown.
  Mission 677: 754 bombers and 464 fighters are dispatched to hit industrial,
oil and rail targets in the Cologne, Germany area; all but 1 force bombs by
PFF methods; 7 bombers and 3 fighters are lost:
  1. 454 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Geron (141), Nippes (127) and Kalk
(111) marshalling yards; 11 others hit the Koblenz/Lutzel marshalling yard; 4
B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 293 damaged; 14 airmen are KIA,
15 WIA and 40 MIA.  Escort is provided by 146 of 151 P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged
beyond repair.
  2. 385 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Eifeltor (148) and Imbert (24)
marshalling yards; secondary targets are the Kalk (117) and Gereon (50)
marshalling yards; other targets are Wester marshalling yard (11) and other
(1); 2 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 230 damaged; 10 airmen are
KIA, 19 WIA and 18 MIA. Escort is provided by 150 of 154 P-51s; 2 P-51s are
lost (pilots MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.
  3. 369 B-24s are dispatched to hit oil facilities at Monheim/Rhenania (64)
and Reisholz (61) visually; secondary targets are Cologne/Gereon marshalling
yard (185) and Dormigeon (13); targets of opportunity are Worringen (12),
Cologne Airfield (12) and Limburg marshalling yard (6); 1 B-24 is lost and
106 damaged; 3 B-24s are lost and 106 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 10
MIA. Escort is provided by 131 of 141 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 1
damaged beyond repair.
  Mission 678A: 2 of 9 B-17s make an APHRODITE attack on naval installations
on Heligoland Island, Germany; 23 of 24 B-17s fly a cover mission to the same
targets. Escort is provided by 15 of 16 P-51s and 2 P-38s without loss.
  Mission 679: 5 B-17s and 4 B-24s fly a night leaflet mission over the
Netherlands, France and Germany without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Weather prevents bomber operations;
fighters fly rail cutting missions and support elements of the US First,
Third, Seventh, and Ninth Armies in E France and W Germany.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather limits operations
to weather reconnaissance missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s bomb bridges in
the W Po Valley; B-26s hit bridges in the E part of the Valley, and have
excellent success bombing a railway fill at Ossenigo, trapping 300+ railway
cars N of the target; fighters and fighter-bombers concentrate their efforts
toward support of ground forces along a wide front in the mountains S of
Bologna; HQ 63d Fighter Wing moves from Bastia, Corsica to San Pietro.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 27 B-24s from Saipan Island strike fuel
storage, AA positions, and installations at the airfield on Iwo Jima Island;
1 other B-24 bombs the airfield at Pagan Island. 2 B-24s from the Marshall
Islands bomb Wake Island during the night of 15/16 Oct.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: A-20s again pound
airfields and oil storage on Ceram Island; P-38s carry out a shipping sweep
over the Flores Island area n the Lesser Sunda Islands and on Halmahera
Island bomb the Pitoe and Kaoe areas; P-38s bomb Amahai Airfield on Ceram
Island while bombers on armed reconnaissance hit nearby targets of
opportunity. In New Guinea, P-47s attack Sagan Airfield; the 33d Troop
Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group, moves from Port Moresby to
Hollandia with C-47s; the 70th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier
Group, moves from Hollandia to Biak Island with C-47s. HQ 38th Bombardment
Group (Medium) and the 405th and 823d Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move
from Biak Island, New Guinea to Morotai Island with B-25s.

MONDAY, 16 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 7 B-24s fly cover sorties for a naval task
force,

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 11 P-47s attack 2 railroad bridges
in the Naba-Mawlu area, damaging approaches to both targets; 5 other P-47s
hit Japanese forces in the NW part of Madangyang; 12 B-25s, supported by an
escort of 8 P-47s, pound the airfield at Shwebo. Transports fly 300+ sorties
in the CBI.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 28 B-24s, 8 B-25s, 26 P-51s, and 21
P-40s blast shipping and the Kowloon Dock area of Hong Kong; 15 cargo vessels
are damaged or sunk; 3 other P-51s hit the Wuchou area; 36 P-40s, P-51s, and
P-38s hit village and town areas, bridges, and troop concentrations in the
Kweiping, Tanebuk, Hsinganbsien, Tingka, and Chefang areas.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): Over 40 B-29s, out of Chengtu,
China, bomb the Okayama aircraft plant aircraft plant and Heito Airfield on
Formosa; 20+ other B-29s bomb alternate or chance targets at Takao, Taichu
Airfield and Toshien harbor on Formosa, and Swatow and Sintien harbors,
Hengyang, and several airfields in China.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 680: 2 B-17s and 7 B-24s
are dispatched on a night leaflet mission to France, the Netherlands and
Germany.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Ninth AF advance HQ follows HQ
Twelfth Army Group to Luxembourg. All operations are cancelled due to
weather. In France, HQ 358th Fighter Group and the 366th and 367th Fighter
Squadrons move from Vitry-le-Francois to Mourmelon with P-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Nearly 600 B-17s and B-24s,
with fighter escort, hit targets in Austria and Czechoslovakia; in Austria,
they hit a tank factory, tank assembly plant, and aero engine works at Steyr,
benzol plant and ordnance depot at Linz, plus alternate targets and targets
of opportunity, including Graz, Neudorf aircraft engine factory, Trieben,
Linz, Graz, Villach, Salzburg, Klagenfurt, and Sankt Veit an der Glan; in
Czechoslovakia, they hit the Brux synthetic oil refinery, and armament works
in Plzen. 20+ P-51s and P-38s fly photo and weather reconnaissance missions
and sea patrol; 29 P-38s escort MATAF C-47s (transporting airborne troops) to
Greece and back to Italy.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bomber operations
are cancelled by bad weather; A-20s and fighter-bombers hit troop
concentrations, bridges, gun positions, road, rail lines, and vehicles in the
battle area, particularly in the Monte Belmonte vicinity.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 15 P-47s and 1 B-24 from Saipan Island hit
Pagan Island. From the Marshall Islands 14 B-24s hit Truk Atoll. The 548th
Night Fighter Squadron, 7th Fighter Wing, moves from Hickam Field to Kipapa
Field, Hawaii with P-61s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: P-38s hit the
harbor, shipping, airfield and trucks on Cagayan Islands, Philippine Islands.
B-24s blast the Makassar area on Celebes Island. B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-
bombers again pound the Boeroe Island-Ceram Island airfields and the towns of
Boela on Ceram Island and Amboina on Ambon Island and hit shipping in Binnen
Bay in the Moluccas Islands. In New Guinea, fighter-bombers hit Timoeka and
Mongosah and Sagan Airfields; Langgoer Airfield is pounded by A-20s. HQ 5th
Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the 23d and 31st Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy)
move from Noemfoor Island, New Guinea to Morotai Island with B-24s.

TUESDAY, 17 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 7 B-24s fly cover sorties for a naval task
force.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 15 P-47s bomb a supply area near
Naba, hit Japanese HQ and a supply area near Mawhun, and blast a supply base
and permanent camp at Myazedi; 8 B-25s bomb Nawnghkio airfield and 3 attack
bridges near Kawlin and Thityabin; an approach to the latter bridge is
damaged. Transports fly almost 300 sorties to various points in the CBI.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 15 B-25s, 12 P-40s, and 10 P-51s
pound a supply depot at Tien Ho Airfield at Canton; 2 B-24s bomb a supply
depot at Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong; 44 P-51s and P-40s on armed
reconnaissance attack rivercraft, troop concentrations, villages, and other
targets of opportunity around Kweiping, Tengyun, Mangshih, Tajungchiang,
Wuchou, and Dosing; a runway at Tanchuk Airfield suffers considerable damage.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): 10 B-29s, flying out of
Chengtu, China, bomb Einansho air depot on Formosa; 14 others bomb alternate
targets.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 681: 1,338 bombers and
811 fighters are dispatched on PFF attacks in the Cologne, Germany area; 4
bombers and 1 fighter are lost:
  1. 465 B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards at Cologne/Eifeltor
(216) and Cologne/Gremberg (34); targets of opportunity are Cologne/Kalk
marshalling yard (151) and other (2); 1 B-17 is lost, 2 damaged beyond
repair and 263 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 6 WIA and 9 MIA. Escort is
provided by 274 P-47s and P-51s without loss.
  2. 453 B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards at Cologne/Gereon
(295) and Cologne/Kalk (142); 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and
150 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 10 WIA and 37 MIA. Escort is provided by 271
P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
  3. 430 B-24s are dispatched to hit a chemical plant at Leverkusen but
weather prevents the attack; targets of opportunity hit are the Cologne/
Gereon (231) and Cologne/Kalk (179) marshalling yards; 1 B-24 is damaged
beyond repair and 73 damaged. Escort is provided by 229 P-47s and P-51s.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): All Rhine River rail and road
bridges are cleared for attack; 2 days later Advance HQ prescribes bridges as
having priority on the target list second only to rail lines. In Germany, 35
B-26s hit rail bridge at Euskirchen; fighters escort the bombers, fly armed
reconnaissance in the Strasbourg-Colmar-Mulhouse area, attack railroads in
the Allendorf an der Lahn-Gemunden area, and marshalling yard at Dielkirchen.
In France, the 365th, 366th and 367th Fighter Squadrons, 358th Fighter Group,
move from Vitry-le-Francois to Mourmelon with P-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 330+ heavy bombers attack
the oil refinery at Blechhammer S, Germany and the industrial area of Vienna,
Austria, plus alternate targets and targets of opportunity including
marshalling yards at Banhida, Nagykanizsa and Szombathely, Hungary; Strass
and Graz, Austria; and Maribor, Yugoslavia, a railroad bridge at Maribor,
a rail line at Furstenfeld, Austria, and targets of opportunity scattered
throughout the Balkans. P-51s escort a C-47 picking up personnel at Valjevo
Airfield, Yugoslavia, a B-17 carrying a photo crew to Rumania (to photograph
Ploesti), and several C-47s transporting personnel to Araxos Airfield,
Greece.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather cancels all
medium bomber operations and limits fighter-bombers to limited sorties in the
battle area S of Bologna, hitting roads, rail lines and bridges; A-20s during
the night of 16/17 Oct on armed reconnaissance over the Po Valley bomb
targets of opportunity and cause explosions on N edge of Ravenna.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): In the Bonin Islands, 11 B-24s from Saipan
Island hit shipping off Haha Jima Island, and the town of Okimura; later,
during the night of 17/18 Oct, 1 B-24 bombs an airfield on Iwo Jima Island.
B-25s from the Gilbert Islands hit Nauru Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Fighter-bombers and
B-25s hit airfields, shipping and scattered targets of opportunity in the
Halmahera Island area. In the Ceram Island-Ambon Island-Boeroe Island area
A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers continue to pound airfields and oil
facilities. In the principal strike of the day almost 60 B-24s hit oil
installations, barracks, and shore targets on Ilang and N Davao Bay areas
of Mindanano Island. HQ XIII Bomber Command moves from Wakde Island to
Morotai Island. In New Guinea, HQ 433d Troop Carrier Group moves from Port
Moresby to Biak Island; the air echelon of the 82d Tactical Reconnaissance
Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, begins operating from Biak
Island with F-6s and P-40s (squadron is based on Morotai Island).

WEDNESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 4 B-25s bomb Kurabu Cape Airfield on
Paramushiru Island and Suribachi; 8-12 interceptors attack the B-25s, which
claim 2 victories.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 13 P-47s attack Mingaladon
Airfield, 21 support ground forces in the Mohnyin area, 8 knock out 2 bridges
at Wanting, and 6 hit troops near Hwemun; 6 B-25s damage approaches to 2 road
bridges at Wuntho; 6 other B-25s damage approaches to 2 bridges at Namhkai
and Meza. Transports again fly nearly 300 sorties to several locations in the
CBI. In India, the 3d Combat Cargo Squadron, 1st Combat Cargo Group, moves
from Sylhet to Tulihal with C-47s. 

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 100+ P-40s and P-51s fly armed
reconnaissance over vast areas of China S of the Yangtze River, attack town
areas, troops, rivercraft, gun positions, supply facilities, airfields, and
other targets of opportunity around Kweiping, Shangkaishow, Tajungchiang,
Konghow, Wuchou, Shepchung, Hsinganhsien, Tengyun, Liutu, Tanchuk, and
Takhing. Railroad targets at Lang Son, French Indochina are also attacked.
The flight of the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF,
operating from Liangshan moves to Hanchung, China with F-5s (squadron is 
based at Kunming).

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 682: 567 bombers and 604
fighters are dispatched to hit targets in Germany; 5 bombers and 5 fighters
are lost:
  1. 337 B-17s are dispatched to make a PFF attack on Kassel/Mittefeld (300);
targets of opportunity are Cologne (1) and other (2); 2 B-17s are lost; 1
airman is WIA and 18 MIA. Escort is provided by 388 P-47s and P-51s; 4 P-51s
are lost.
  2. 118 B-17s are dispatched to make a GH attack on the Ford Plant at
Cologne (79); 30 others hit Cologne/Nippes marshalling yard; 22 B-17s are
damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 2 WIA. Escort is provided by 38 of 45 P-47s
without loss.
  3. 112 B-24s are dispatched to make a GH attack on the industrial complex
at Leverkusen (39); 30 others hit the Cologne/Nippes marshalling yard; 3
B-24s are lost and 26 damaged; 27 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 139
of 146 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Weather prevents operations of all
commands (including the 9th Bombardment Division) except IX Tactical Air
Command fighters which fly sweeps, rail cutting missions, and night patrols,
and provide air cover for the US 1st Infantry Division in the Aachen, Germany
area.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 38 P-38s dive-bomb Vinkovci,
Yugoslavia. 41 P-51s escort C-47s to Greece.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, most medium bomber
missions are aborted because of weather, but B-26s effectively hit Castel San
Pietro dell'Emilia warehouses and a railroad bridge at Padua; fighters and
fighter-bombers, operating on restricted schedule due to weather, offer
effective close support to ground forces in the mountains S of Bologna and
hit communications targets in the Bologna and Modena areas; during the night
of 17/18 Oct A-20s on armed reconnaissance bomb lights and vehicles E of
Bologna.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s out of Saipan Island bomb Haha Jima
Island while P-47s bomb and strafe Pagan Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Bad weather
curtails a major strike on Balikpapan, Borneo; of 120+ B-24s and fighters,
only 8 B-24s and 8 P-38s reach the target. P-38s hit barges, small shipping,
and vehicles on W coast of Mindanao Island. In New Guinea, B-24s attack Sagan
and Babo Airfields. B-25s and fighter-bombers again hit Namlea on Buru
Island, Amboina and Liang on Ambon Island, and nearby targets, attack targets
of opportunity at Djailolo on Halmahera Island and in the Wasile Bay area,
and pound Urarom, Manokwari, Babo, Sagan, Otawiri, and other Vogelkop area
targets in New Guinea. HQ 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Wakde
Island, New Guinea to Morotai Island. The 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d
Troop Carrier Group, moves from Nadzab to Biak Island, New Guinea with C-47s.

THURSDAY, 19 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A B-24 bombs Kurabu Cape on Paramushiru
Island.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 10 P-47s blast approaches to 2
bridges in the Mawlu area and 15 support ground forces in the Mohnyin area,
hitting the village of Nyaunggaing and damaging a nearby bridge and pounding
the railroad station at Kadu. In India, a detachment of the 1st Combat Cargo
Squadron, 1st Combat Cargo Group, begins operating from Hathazari, India with
C-47s (squadron is based at Sylhet, India).

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 100+ P-51s and P-40s on armed
reconnaissance over S China hit numerous targets of opportunity from the
Tungting Lake area to Luichow Peninsula; the fighter-bombers concentrate on
rivercraft, troop compounds, and building areas; the 35th Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF, based at Chanyi, sends a detachment
to operate from Chihkiang with F-5s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 683: 1,022 bombers and 753 fighters attack targets in Germany using
PFF or GH; 6 bombers and 2 fighters are lost:
  1. 381 B-24s are dispatched to hit the diesel engine and armored vehicle
plant at Gustavsburg (50) and the Mainz marshalling yard (280) the secondary
target; 5 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 148 damaged; 3 airmen
are KIA and 49 MIA. Escort is provided by 195 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-47 is lost
(pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.
  2. 217 of 267 B-17s hit the secondary target, Mannheim; 34 others hit a 
target of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost and 97 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 1 WIA
and 10 MIA. Escort is provided by 286 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot
MIA).
  3. 374 B-17s are dispatched to hit an artillery tractor plant at Mannheim
(25); 257 hit the secondary, Mannheim; targets of opportunity are Karlsruhe
(32), Kreuznach (10), Rudesheim (9), Bad Kreuznach (8), Steyer (2) and other
(21); 182 B-17s are damaged; 2 airmen are KIA and 4 WIA. Escort is provided
by 226 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair.
  Mission 684: 5 B-17s and 5 B-24s are dispatched to drop leaflets in France,
the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Weather prevents bomber operations;
fighters attack a tank concentration E of Luneville, France, strafe targets
NW of Kaiserslautern, Germany, fly reconnaissance in W Germany, and provide
cover for US Third and Seventh Army forces in E France.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather restricts
operations to reconnaissance missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Twelfth AF redesignates HQ XII
Fighter Command as HQ XXII Tactical Air Command following a reorganization
period during which the XXII Tactical Air Command was temporarily referred to
as "X" Tactical Air Command and "X-Ray" Tactical Air Command, to distinguish
it from HQ XII Fighter Command around which it was formed.
  In Italy, B-26s attack the Mantua causeway, a railway fill at Ossenigo, and
bridges at Calcinato and Peschiera del Garda; a Luftwaffe fighter attack NW
of Mantua accounts for 2 B-26s lost and 1 missing; at least 2 of the
attacking fighters are destroyed; B-25s attack bridges in the Milan area at
Lonate Pozzolo, Cameri, and Magenta; fighter-bombers of the XXII Tactical Air
Command hit targets in support of ground forces, concentrating on the Monte
Grande area, and attack rail lines and bridges N of the battle zone. On the
night of 18/19 Oct A-20s hit targets of opportunity during armed
reconnaissance in the Genoa and Bologna areas.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s on armed reconnaissance from Saipan
Island bomb a bridge, a pier, and the town area on Yap Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s hit Parepare,
Celebes Island. Fighter-bombers hit Amboina on Ambon Island and Boela
Airfield on Ceram Island and shipping from Zamboanga S in the Sulu-Mindanao
Island area, pound the airfield on Cebu Island, Philippine Islands, hit
nearby shipping, and strafe Miti, Djailolo, and Hate Tabako on Halmahera
Island.  In New Guinea, A-20s and fighter-bombers blast airfields at Urarom,
Sagan, and Babo; the 13th and 63d Troop Carrier Squadrons, 403d Troop Carrier
Group, cease operating from Wakde Island with C-47s and returns to base on
Biak Island.

FRIDAY, 20 OCTOBER 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 9 P-47s hit encampments and stores
near Naha; 5 others knock out a road bridge near Wanling and hit a supply
dump in the area, while 4 more attack troops and supplies in the Nansiaung
area. Transports fly 200+ sorties in the CBI. In India, the 490th Bombardment
Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Dergaon to
Moran with B-25s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 18 B-25s bomb docks and storage area at
Samshui and the town of Kweiping; 28 P-51s and P-40s join the attack on the
Samshui area; 77 P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance pound road, river,
and rail traffic, town and village areas and other targets of opportunity
around Kweiping, Menghsu, Shawan, Kaotienhsu, Pingnam, Hsenwi, Wuchou,
Dosing, Tanchuk, and coastal areas of French Indochina including Hongay.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In the Netherlands, the 9th
Bombardment Division hits the Geertruidenberg/Parenboom and Moerdijke rail
bridges; attacks on other targets are aborted because of bad weather.
Fighters fly armed reconnaissance over E France and widespread areas of W
Germany, attack railroads and various military targets, and support US Third
and Seventh Armies' elements in E France.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 480+ B-17s and B-24s attack an
oil refinery at Brux, Czechoslovakia, oil storage at Regensburg, an airfield
at Bad Aibling, and marshalling yard at Rosenheim, Germany and marshalling
yard at Innsbruck, Austria, motor transport, armament plants, and ordnance
works at Milan, Italy, plus scattered targets of opportunity. P-38s and P-51s
escort the Brux, Czechoslovakia and Regensburg, Germany missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, the weather clears,
permitting for the first time in several days a maximum effort by medium
bombers which attack 12 bridges and railroad fills in the Po Valley; fighter-
bombers of the XXII Tactical Air Command, operating on full scale, blast gun
positions, troop concentrations, supply dumps, and communications targets in
close support of the US Fifth Army's drive on Bologna from the S; the fighter-
bombers concentrate on approaches to the Monte Grande area to prevent
counterattacks.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 6 Saipan Island-based P-47s bomb and strafe
Pagan Island; later in the day 4 B-24s hit the island. During the night of
20/21 Oct a B-24 on a snooper mission bombs Iwo Jima Island. In Hawaii, HQ
VII Fighter Command moves from Ft Shafter to Hickam Field; the 549th Night
Fighter Squadron, 7th Fighter Wing, arrives at Kipapa Field from the US with
P-61s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Davao on
Mindanao Island. B-25s hit Amboina town on Ambon Island. In New Guinea, the
2d Photographic Charting Squadron, 311th Photographic Wing, arrives at
Hollandia from the US with F-7s; the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop
Carrier Group, moves from Nadzab to Biak Island with C-47s; the ground
echelon of the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic
Reconnaissance Group, begins a movement from Biak Island to Leyte Island,
Philippine Islands (air echelon continues operating from Biak with F-5s); the
67th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Squadron, moves from
Hollandia to Biak Island with C-47s.

FRIDAY, 21 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN: The 1st Composite Squadron, AAF Composite Force 8012,
begins a movement from Ascension Island to the US.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 15 P-47s damage at least 3 bridges
throughout the railroad corridor in N Burma; 15 other P-47s support ground
forces in the Mohnyin area, hitting gun positions and defensive works at
Ywathit; 12 others attack positions and occupied areas around Bhamo and Muse,
6 knock out the Paungni River bridge, and 4 attack the town of Mawhun; about
270 sorties are flown by Tenth AF transports in the CBI. The detachments of
the 5th and 6th Fighter Squadrons (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group,
operating from Cox's Bazar, India with P-47s, return to base at Asansol,
India.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 3 B-25s and 130+ P-40s and P-51s
attack shipping, gun positions, troop areas, bridges, town areas, road
traffic, and other targets of opportunity around Yuma, Takhing, Dosing,
Konghow, Shawan, Kuanyang, Kweiping, Tungpingchi, Tingka, Muse, Wan Lai-Kam,
Shekpo, Menghsu, and Amoy; the 530th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group,
moves from Dinjan, India to Kwanghan with P-51s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Bad weather grounds the bombers.
Fighters fly armed reconnaissance and attack railroads in W Germany and
support elements of the US Third and Seventh Armies in E France and W
Germany. In the Netherlands, the 125th Liaison Squadron, Ninth Air Force
(attached to Ninth Army), moves from Arlon, Belgium to Maastricht with L-5s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Hungary, 104 B-24s with
fighter escort attack marshalling yards at Gyor and Szombathely; almost 100
P-38s and P-51s strafe Szombathely and Seregelyes Airfields and rail lines
between Sajoszentpeter to Ipolyszog.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): B-26s, in the day's only medium
bomber mission in Italy, attack Nervesa della Battaglia railroad bridge and
causeway; fighters and fighter-bombers operate in close support of US Fifth
Army forces S of Bologna and fighter-bombers also hit communications in N
Italy as far N as Verona and as far W as Turin; during the night of 20/21 Oct
A-20s bomb targets of opportunity during intruder missions N of battle area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 28 B-24s from Saipan Island bomb Iwo Jima
Island. 2 B-24s, in the first US air strike from Guam Island, Mariana
Islands, hit Yap Island. The 26th, 98th and 431st Bombardment Squadrons
(Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrive on Guam Island from Kwajalein
Atoll with B-24s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Cagayan
in the Philippine Islands and Parepare on Celebes Island. B-25s and fighter-
bombers hit Misami Island, New Guinea and blast a truck convoy near Kibawe on
Mindanao Island.  Other fighter-bombers hit Kaoe Bay supply areas on
Halmahera Island; fighter-bombers hit Boela Airfield on Ceram Island and the
Amboina town area on Ambon Island. In New Guinea, Mongosah and Sagan
Airfields are also bombed; the ground echelon of the 17th Reconnaissance
Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, begins a movement
from Biak Island to Leyte Island (air echelon operations from Biak Island
with B-25s until Dec 44); the 64th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier
Group, based on Biak Island ceases operating from Wakde Island with C-47s.

SUNDAY, 22 OCTOBER 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 40+ P-47s hit a variety of targets
including bridges at Panghkam, and at 2 other points along the N Burma rail
corridor, the towns of Manna and Kyaungle, a bivouac in the Indaw area, and
various targets of opportunity.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25s knock out 2 railroad
bridges at Pingnam while 8 P-51s pound the town area; 54 P-40s and P-51s on
armed reconnaissance attack town areas and general targets of opportunity at
Nampang, Kuanyang, Shekpo, Pingnam, Kweiping, near Menghsu and Wanling,
Burma.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ 492d Bombardment Group (Heavy)
and the 856th, 857th, 858th and 859th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), i.e.,
the CARPETBAGGER group assigned to HQ VIII Fighter Command, is transferred to
the 1st Bombardment Division to operate as a night bombing group; only the
856th Squadron remains on CARPETBAGGER operations over the Netherlands,
Norway and Denmark under operational control of HQ Eighth AF; this reduction
of supply dropping forces results from the recapture of major portions of
France. The 859th Squadron is sent to Italy in Dec 44 and did not return;
the 857th and 858th started night bombing sorties on a limited scale in Dec
44. 
  Mission 685: 1,131 bombers and 785 fighters are dispatched on PFF attacks
on targets in W Germany; 2 bombers and 1 fighter are lost:
  1. 379 B-17s are dispatched to hit military vehicle plants at Hannover/
Hanomag (171) and Brunswick/Bussing (148); targets of opportunity are
Bielefeld (35) and other (6); 2 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and
15 damaged; 20 airmen are KIA, 3 WIA and 16 MIA. Escort is provided by 379
P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.
  2. 353 of 373 B-24s hit the Hamm marshalling yard; 29 B-24s are damaged.
Escort is provided by 196 of 212 P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair.
  3. 352 of 379 B-17s hit the Munster marshalling yard; 8 others hit targets
of opportunity; 13 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 147 of 157 P-51s.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Advance HQ XXIX Tactical Air Command
(Provisional) and HQ 84th and 303d Fighter Wings move from Arlon, Belgium to
Maastricht, the Netherlands to maintain close association with the US Ninth
Army. Weather forbids bomber operations; fighter sweeps and armed
reconnaissance support US Third and Seventh Army elements in E France and W
Germany. In Belgium, HQ 373d Fighter Group moves from Reims, France to Le
Culot.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather limits operations
to reconnaissance flights.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, bad weather grounds all
medium bombers and A-20s; fighters and fighter-bombers, flying less than 20
sorties, hit rail lines and trains in N Italy; the 7th Troop Carrier
Squadron, 62d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Galera Airfield to Brindisi
with C-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Guam Island-based B-24s hit Yap Island with
harassment raids during the day, operating singly or in groups of 2 or 3.
Makin Island-based B-25s bomb Nauru Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In the Philippine
Islands, B-25s and P-38s attack shipping in the Sulu Archipelago and Jolo
harbor on Jolo Island and Zamboanga harbor on Mindanano Island while B-24s
hit Opon and Lahug Airfields on Cebu Island; B-25s hit Ternate on Samar
Island and B-24s pound Matina Airfield in the Cagayan Islands, and Likanan on
Mindanao Island; and HQ 308th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) moves from Hollandia,
New Guinea to Leyte Island. B-25s hit Piroe Bay supply dumps in the Moluccas
Islands and gun positions and fighter-bombers hit Kairatoe Airfield on
Celebes Island and Amahai Airfield on Ceram Island and targets of opportunity
in Binnen Bay. A-20s blast pillboxes and occupied areas in the Metimedan-Sawar
Rivers sector of New Guinea. 

MONDAY, 23 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, 3 B-24s hit Kashiwabara
targets on Paramushiru Island; 3 more B-24s bomb Otomari and fly a photo
mission over Onnekotan Island; and 5 B-25s bomb the Asahi Bay area.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20 P-47s hit Japanese
concentrations at Nanhlaing and Kyungyi; 16 support ground forces at Mawlu
and Henu and in nearby areas; a bivouac area S of Indaw is pounded by 4
fighter-bombers while 7 knock out a bypass bridge at Panghkam; 3 B-25s blast
train cars and sidings at Kyaukme, 3 hit a nearby motor pool, 2 hit a motor
pool at Namhsim, and 1 blasts a rail line at Nawngpeng.  Transports fly 270+
sorties in the CBI.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 3 B-25s knock out a bridge at
Lobochai while 7 P-40s hit trucks and locomotives nearby; 6 B-25s and 11
P-51s pound the town area of Menghsu; 50+ P-40s and P-51s hit small towns and
other targets of opportunity in the Menghsu area; 40+ others attack shipping,
bridges, and general targets of opportunity around Anfu, Kweiping, Shepchung,
Kuanyang, Ssuwangshu, Mangshih, Chefang, Panghkam, Takhing, Tanchuk, Dosing,
Wuchou, and Tengyun and Wanling, Burma.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 686: 6 B-24s and 3 B-17s
drop leaflets in France and the Netherlands during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Weather prevents all commands,
including the 9th Bombardment Division, from flight operations. In Belgium,
HQ 36th Fighter Group moves from Juvincourt, France to Le Culot. In France,
HQ 71st Fighter Wing moves from Versailles to Vittel.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Around 500 B-24s and B-17s bomb
the Skoda armament works at Plzen, Czechoslovakia, and in Germany, a
marshalling yard at Rosenheim, industrial area at Plauen, aircraft engine
plant at Munich, diesel engine factory at Augsburg, and oil storage depot
at Regensburg, and communications targets in N Italy including a
marshalling yard at Bressanone, bridges at or near Casarsa della Delizia,
Pordenone, Santo Stino di Livenza, and Maniago, and rail line running N to
the Brenner area; fighters escort missions to Germany and Czechoslovakia.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, bad weather grounds
medium bombers; fighters and fighter-bombers, although cancelling many
operations, cause much damage to transportation, destroying or damaging
numerous locomotives, railroad cars, and motor transport, and damaging
vessels in the Savona, Turin, Padua, and Genoa areas; HQ 86th Fighter Group
and the 526th Fighter Squadron move from Grosseto to Pisa with P-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 8 B-24s from Guam Island bomb Yap Island, 2
from Saipan Island hit Pagan Island and, during the night of 23/24 Oct, 1
bombs Iwo Jima Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s and P-38s
maintain shipping sweeps in the Makassar area on Celebes Island. B-25s,
A-20s, and fighter-bombers hit oil storage at Boela on Ceram Island, Amboina
town on Ambon Island, 2 airfields and other targets in the Amboina Ceram
Island-Boeroe Island area. In New Guinea, fighter-bombers hit Sagan while
A-20s support ground forces further E in the Sawar River-Orai River area.
In the Philippines, vehicles and small vessels in the Mindanao area are
attacked by fighter-bombers while B-25s attack small shipping in the Sulu
Archipelago. Fighter-bombers over Halmahera Island hit scattered bivouacs. In
New Guinea, the detachment of the 17th Photographic Reconnaissance
Squadron, 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), ceases operating from
Noemfoor Island with F-5s (the ground echelon is enroute from Guadalcanal
Island, Solomon Islands to Morotai Island and other detachment are
operating from Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands and Sansapor, New
Guinea). The 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, moves from Owi,
Schouten Islands to Morotai Island with P-47s.

TUESDAY, 24 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): On Paramushiru Island in the Kurile Islands, 3
B-24s bomb Kashiwabara and Kurabu Cape; 4 B-25s weather-abort a photo mission
to the island; 2 others on a shipping sweep off Kurabu hit a freighter, which
is observed listing and smoking, and strafe 2 subchasers.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS: The CBI Theater is split into
2 theaters, China and India-Burma.

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): About 80 P-40s, P-51s, and P-38s on
armed reconnaissance over SE China, SW China, and E Burma hit runways,
storage facilities, town areas, troops, horses, gun positions, and other
targets of opportunity around Amoy, Lohochai, Tanchuk, Sinthe, Menghsu,
Pingnam, Mangshih and Chefang, and Lashio, Burma. HQ Fourteenth AF is
reassigned from US Army Forces, CBI Theater to US Forces, China Theater.
  
  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma from 24 Oct through 27 Oct,
fighter-bombers and B-25s steadily support Allied troops on the N Burma
front, pounding road and rail communications, troop concentrations and supply
dumps, and sweeping airfields; the strikes include close support of British
troops advancing on the right flank of the front known as the "Rail
Corridor," and of Chinese forces pushing down the left flank along the
Myitkyina-Bhamo road.  

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): By this date, all Pathfinder
aircraft of the 482d Bombardment Group (Pathfinder), engaged in H2X and other
radar training at RAF Alconbury, have been dispersed to bombardment groups
within the bombardment division, which set up their own H2X training. 
  In Germany, 415 P-47s and P-51s are dispatched to attack aircraft and
ground targets in the Hannover-Kassel area; 73 bomb flak positions at Elburg,
a factory near Nienburg, and miscellaneous ground targets; bad weather causes
other fighter-bombers to jettison bombs in the English Channel and Zuider
Zee; the fighter-bombers strafe transportation and other ground targets with
good results. 

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, bad weather cancels all
operations except fighter patrols by the IX and XXIX Tactical Air Commands
over W Germany; the fighters attack rail targets. In Belgium, the 153d
Liaison Squadron, IX Tactical Air Command (attached to First Army), moves
from Verviers to Spa with L-5s; the 410th and 411th Fighter Squadrons, 373d
Fighter Group, moves from Reims, France to Le Culot with P-47s.

  US STRATEGIC AIR FORCES IN EUROPE (USSTAF): The 173d Liaison Squadron,
USSTAF, is activated at Orly Airport, Paris with L-4s and UC-78s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Weather cancels all offensive
operations.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather grounds the
medium bombers; 300+ XXII Tactical Air Command fighters and fighter-bombers
attack targets in support of the US Fifth Army S of Bologna and hit
communications and shipping in the Turin-Genoa and E Po Valley areas,
destroying 14 locomotives and 100+ railroad cars; during the night of 23/24
Oct A-20s attack targets of opportunity in the Po Valley.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Guam Island-based B-24s bomb Yap Island while
Saipan Island-based P-47s hit Pagan Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Buayoan
Airfield on Mindanao Island while B-25s on armed reconnaissance hit small
shipping and troops. B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers hit the Sandakan,
Borneo area. P-38s bomb Amboina, Ambon Island reservoir areas. In New
Guinea, A-20s and fighter-bombers again pound Babo, Moemi, Sagan, Manokwari,
Otawiri, and other Vogelkop Peninsula area targets. The following units
move from New Guinea to Leyte Island: HQ 85th Fighter Wing from Hollandia;
HQ 49th Fighter Group and the 7th and 9th Fighter Squadrons from Biak Island
to Tacloban with P-38s. The 72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th
Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Noemfoor Island, New Guinea to
Morotai Island with B-24s.

WEDNESDAY, 25 OCTOBER 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-25s and 4 P-38s damage railroad
tracks at Dara bridge in Thailand. In China, 7 P-38s and P-51s hit the Mongyu
bridges and destroy the Kawnghka bridge; 4 others strafe Nawnghkio Airfield;
20+ P-51s and P-40s on armed reconnaissance attack targets of opportunity at
Tengyun, Kweiping, and Ssuanghsu, and about 50 strike targets throughout
the Menghsu area.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): 59 B-29s, flying out of
Chengtu, China, bomb an aircraft plant at Omura, Kyushu Island, Japan;
several other B-29s hit alternate targets and targets of opportunity.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 688: 1,250 bombers and
522 fighters are dispatched to hit oil and industrial targets in W Germany;
2 bombers and 1 fighter are lost; the first three forces use H2X while the
4th and 5th use GH:
  1. 455 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Harburg (221) and Rhenania oil
refineries (214) at Hamburg; 1 other hits a target of opportunity; 1 B-17 is
lost and 94 damaged; 9 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 129 of 139
P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost and 1 damaged beyond repair.
  2. 225 B-24s are dispatched to hit Neumunster Airfield (216); targets of
opportunity are Munster (3) and Utersum (1); no losses. Escort is provided by
41 of 42 P-51s without loss.
  3. 297 B-17s dispatched to hit the primary hit secondaries, Harburg (179)
and Rhenania oil refineries (106) at Hamburg; 1 other hits a target of
opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost and 16 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 9 MIA. Escort
is provided by 221 of 255 P-51s without loss.
  4. 131 B-17s are dispatched to hit synthetic oil targets at Gelsenkirchen/
Nordstern (27); 100 others hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Hamm;
49 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 50 of 50 P-47s without loss.
  5. 142 B-24s are dispatched to hit synthetic oil targets at Scholven/Buer
(91); 34 hit the secondary at Munster and 1 hits Gronua; 39 B-24s are
damaged. Escort is provided by 34 of 36 P-47s without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ First Tactical Air Force
(Provisional) is established, but not yet organized, therefore HQ Ninth AF
continues to administer, supply, and control all XII Tactical Air Command and
assigned units until mid Nov when the First Tactical AF assumes full control.
  9th Bombardment Division's missions are cancelled because of bad weather.
Fighters fly sweeps, hit rail and military targets in the Saarbrucken,
Germany area, and support the US XIX Corps in W Germany.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Weather again limits operations.
In Austria, 3 B-17s bomb a Klagenfurt aircraft factory and Sankt Veit an der
Glan marshalling yard. 5 P-38s complete 3 weather reconnaissance missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather again grounds
medium bombers; fighter-bombers blast guns, vehicles, and communications in
the battle area S of Bologna while fighters destroy 20+ locomotives in the
Piacenza area; the 10th Troop Carrier Squadron moves from Brindisi to
Pomigliano with C-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 29 Saipan Island-based B-24s bomb Iwo Jima
Island during the morning. Later during the day 4 B-24s from Saipan and Guam
Islands, on armed reconnaissance missions, bomb Yap Island. 8 P-47s from
Saipan Island bomb Pagan Island. HQ 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from
Kwajalein Atoll to Guam Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: 50+ B-24s,
supported by P-38s and P-47s, attack naval forces in the Mindanao Sea of
the Philippine Islands, firing small vessels and claiming a light cruiser
damaged. On Celebes Island, B-24s bomb Ambesia Airfield and attack shipping
in the Makassar-Kendari area. In the Moluccas Islands, fighter-bombers hit
barges and villages in areas of Dodinga and Wasile Bays. B-25s, A-20s, and
fighter-bombers hit Piroe and Saparoea in the Moluccas Islands, Boela on
Ceram Island, Halong on Celebes Island, Amboina on Ambon Island, Haroekoe on
Haroekoe Island, and N Ceram coastal targets. A-20s pound supply and fuel
dumps in the Sarmi, New Guinea area. The 8th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter
Group moves from Biak Island to Tacloban, Leyte Island with P-38s; and the
421st Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command, moves from Owi, Schouten
Islands to Tacloban, Leyte Island with P-38s and P-61s.

THURSDAY, 26 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Of 6 B-24s which abort a naval task force
cover mission after failing to find the ships, 2 bomb installations on
Onnekotan Island.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-24s and B-25s attack
shipping off the E Luichow Peninsula; B-25s also hit river shipping from
Dosing to Takhing and a Yellow River bridge; fighters attack the town of
Menghsu, hit targets of opportunity around Menghsu and Kweiping, and make
an armed reconnaissance attack on Hongay, French Indochina; B-25s and
fighters bomb railroad yards at Hsuchang.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 689: 1,225 bombers and
674 fighters make PFF attacks on industrial and communications targets in W
Germany; 1 fighter is lost:
  1. 430 B-17s are dispatched to attack a storage depot at Bielefeld (155)
and aircraft repair plant and Ludwig marshalling yard at Munster (108);
targets of opportunity are Munster (87), Gutersloh (24) and other (1); 10
B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 204 of 215 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost
 (pilot MIA).
  2. 432 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Hannover/Hanomag military vehicle
plant (155); targets of opportunity are Hannover (221), Bielefeld (36) and
other (1); 2 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 14 damaged; 16 airmen are
KIA, and 1 WIA. Escort is provided by 235 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-47 is damaged
beyond repair.
  3. 242 of 246 B-24s hit the aqueduct and Mittelland Canal at Minden; 5
B-24s are damaged. Escort is provided by 128 P-47s and P-51s; they claim
2-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft without loss.
  4. 117 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Welheim synthetic oil plant at
Bottrop (65); 33 others hit Munster; 37 B-24s are damaged; 1 airman is WIA.
Escort is provided by 59 of 66 P-51s without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): No bomber operations as bad weather
prevails; fighters sweep areas of E France and W Germany from Metz, France
to Cologne, Germany, attacking rail and road traffic, rail bridges, and
marshalling yards. The 112th Liaison Squadron, Ninth Air Force (attached to
SHAEF), based at Buc, France with UC-78s and L-5s, send a flight to operate
from Namur, Belgium.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Weather curtails operations; 7
B-17s bomb a marshalling yard at Innsbruck, Austria.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Weather suspends all operations.
The 527th Fighter Squadron, 86th Fighter Group, moves from Grosseto to Pisa,
Italy with P-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 8 Saipan Island-based P-47s bomb and strafe
Pagan Island. 15 B-25s based in the Gilbert Islands, bomb the airfield area
on Nauru Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In the Philippine
Islands, B-24s attack a naval force of 2 battleships, 5 aircraft carriers,
and 5 destroyers W of Panay Island; hits are claimed on a battleship and 2
carriers; on Mindanao Island, P-38s hit vehicles in the Davao area and B-25s
bomb Iligan. On Halmahera Island, P-40s attack targets of opportunity in the
Dodinga-Kaoe Bay area, Djailolo, supply area S of Galela, and guns S of Doro.
In New Guinea, A-20s and B-25s bomb Urarom; the 318th Troop Carrier Squadron
(Commando), 3d Air Commando Group, arrives at Nadzab with C-47s.

FRIDAY, 27 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 7 B-24s weather-abort an attempt to fly cover
for a naval task force.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, fighters bomb and strafe
the town of Mengmao and nearby hill positions, river traffic, troops, and
horses from Tanchuk to Tengyun, bridges NE of Hsinganhsien, the town of
Kaotienhsu, troops in the Kweilin area, rail traffic W of Puchi, and
airfields at Siangtan and Changsha.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): HQ Tenth AF is reassigned from AAF,
India-Burma Sector to AAF, India-Burma Theater.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 690: 2 B-17s and 7 B-24s
drop leaflets on 38 locations in the Netherlands, France and Germany during
the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Brigadier General William L
Richardson reassumes command of the IX Air Defense Command.
  Adverse weather prevents all operations except patrols by XIX Tactical Air
Command and supply dropping missions (to VI Corps near Saint-Die, France) by
the XII Tactical Air Command. In Belgium, the 22d Fighter Squadron, 36th
Fighter Group, moves from Juvincourt, France to Le Culot with P-47s; the
412th Fighter Squadron, 373d Fighter Group, moves from Reims, France to Le
Culot. In France, the 394th Fighter Squadron, 367th Fighter Group, moves from
Clastres to Juvincourt with P-38s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather limits operations
to 5 weather reconnaissance flights.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Weather curtails operations;
fighter-bombers on armed reconnaissance in the Genoa-Novi Ligure-Turin area
hit communications and transportation targets.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 2 B-24s on armed reconnaissance from Saipan
Island bomb Yap Island. During the night of 27/28 Oct a B-24 on a snooper
mission hits Iwo Jima Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In the Philippine
Islands, 40+ fighter-bombers, operating in 3 waves, hit shipping off Cebu
Island and W of Mactan Island. B-24s attack Malili and Palopo on Celebes
Island.

SATURDAY, 28 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 8 B-25s fly cover for a naval task force.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, fighters strafe villages,
troops, and horses in the Menghsu-Konghow area, pound bridges around
Kaotienhsu, and hit Yangtong Airfield and shipping at Hongay, French
Indochina and Wuchou.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 80+ fighter-bombers pound
numerous targets including town areas, troops, railroad facilities, and a
variety of targets of opportunity at Mannaun, Manoi, Sinkan, Winwa, Man Mao,
Myazedi, Pinwe, Naba, Yebawgyi, and Kangon.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 691: 382 bombers and 217 fighters are dispatched on PFF attacks on
marshalling yards in Germany; 3 bombers and 2 fighters are lost.
  1. 184 of 192 B-17s hit the marshalling yard at Hamm; 1 other hits a target
of opportunity; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 42 damaged. Escort is
provided by 93 of 105 P-51s without loss.
  2. 178 of 190 B-17s hit the marshalling yard at Munster; 3 B-17s are lost,
1 damaged beyond repair and 96 damaged; 12 airmen are WIA and 29 MIA. Escort
is provided by 106 of 112 P-51s; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
  Mission 692: 3 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands
and Germany during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ 9th Bombardment Division moves
from Chartres to Reims, France. In Germany, 45 B-26s bomb rail bridges at
Sinzig, Kempenich, and Ahrweiler, and airfield at Euskirchen; fighters escort
the bombers, fly sweeps and armed reconnaissance over W Germany, attack 6
bridges and 1 tunnel, and support US XIX Corps in Belgium near the German
border. In Belgium, the 23d Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, moves from
Juvincourt, France to Le Culot with P-47s.  In France, HQ 367th Fighter Group
and the 392d and 393d Fighter Squadrons move from Clastres to Juvincourt with
P-38s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather again limits
operations; 10 B-17s bomb a Klagenfurt, Austria aircraft factory; 6 P-38s fly
reconnaissance missions, during the early part of the night; 8 B-17s bomb
Municb W, Germany marshalling yard; 1 bombs Erlsbach, Austria.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, bad weather again
grounds the medium bombers, and restricts the XXII Tactical Air Command;
fighter-bombers and fighters, flying 65 sorties, attack vehicles and trains
in the Turin-Milan-Genoa area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Saipan Island bomb Haha Jima while
others, from Guam Island, hit Yap Island.  Saipan Island-based P-47s bomb
Pagan Island. In Hawaii, the 6th Night Fighter Squadron, VII Fighter Command,
moves from John Rodgers Airport to Kipapa with P-47s and P-61s (a detachment
is operating from Saipan Island).

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mariana Island-based XXI Bomber Command flies
its first combat mission when 14 B-29s attack submarine pens on Dublon
Island, Truk Atoll; 4 others, 1 carrying Brigadier General Haywood S Hansell,
Jr, Commanding General XXI Bomber Command, abort; about a third of the bombs
fall in the general target area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s, fighting bad
weather, bomb the airfield at Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island, Philippine
Islands. During the night of 28/29 Oct, B-24s bomb the Wilhelmina Docks area
on Celebes Island. B-25s and P-38s blast town of Amboina, Ambon Island. In
the Philippines, HQ 475th Fighter Group moves from Biak Island, New Guinea to
Dulag, Leyte Island.

SUNDAY, 29 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): On Paramushiru Island, 4 B-25s on
reconnaissance hit Tomari Cape buildings and a freighter which is left
listing.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, fighters in support of
Chinese ground forces blast hill positions in the Lungling and Mangshih
areas; others damage a bridge at Sinshih, bomb Kweiyi and Paoching, hit
railroad targets between Siaokan and Sinyang, and strafe airfields at
Chingmen, Tangyang, and Ichang.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 80+ fighter-bombers again
attack a wide variety of targets including troop concentrations, bridges,
supply dumps, and numerous targets of opportunity at Kawlin, Wingnang,
Hsenwi, Bhamo, Shwegu, Kyungon, Tugyaung, Yebyangale, Henu, and Kayin.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): About 170 B-26s and A-20s bomb rail
bridges at Mayen, Konz-Karthaus, and Euskirchen, Germany and Ellern and
Moerdijke, the Netherlands; fighters fly escort to bombers, sweeps, defensive
patrols, armed reconnaissance over wide areas of E France, the Netherlands,
and Germany, bomb rail targets and bridges, and fly cover for the US XIX
Corps in Belgium. In Belgium, HQ 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group and the
160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron move from Luxembourg, Luxembourg to Le
Culot with F-6s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Germany, 35 of over 155+
B-24s dispatched with fighter escort, bomb Munich W marshalling yard; the
remainder and 670 other bombers, dispatched against targets in S Germany,
abort the mission due to bad weather. In Austria, 30 P-38s, after escort
duty, strafe communications lines from Wels to Kienberg destroying 17
locomotives and several other road and rail transportation targets.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather again restricts
operations; XXII Tactical Air Command fighter-bombers fly 15 sorties against
railroad targets in the Po Valley.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 19 B-24s from Saipan Island bomb Chichi Jima
Island. 2 B-24s from Guam Island strike Yap Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Fighter-bombers and
B-25s, operating in small forces, are active against airfields, AA positions,
and targets of opportunity on Halmahera Island. In New Guinea, fighter-
bombers also hit Ransiki while fighter-bombers, A-20s, and B-25s bomb Urarom
and Soeli and strafe targets of opportunity throughout the Urarom-Kaimana
area. HQ Thirteenth AF moves from Noemfoor Island, New Guinea to Morotai
Island. The 63d and 64th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 403d Troop Carrier Group,
based on Biak Island,,,,,,,, begin operating from Wakde and Noemfoor Islands
respectively with C-47s.

MONDAY, 30 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly armed reconnaissance over Matsuwa
and Onnekotan Islands.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 13 B-24s lay mines in Victoria
Harbor, Hong Kong. P-40s bomb installations around Phu Lang Thuong, French
Indochina and hit junks at sea. The detachment of the 529th Fighter Squadron,
311th Fighter Group, operating from Hsian with P-51s, returns to base at
Pungchacheng.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 10 B-25s knock out bridges
at Namhkai, Wuntho, Thegyaung, and Nankan and damage others at Okkyin and
Zawchaung; 50+ P-47s knock out the Hpao Nam River bridge and strafe targets
of opportunity at several locations; hit several bridges throughout the N
Burma rail corridor, damaging or knocking out each target; support ground
forces at Naba Station and Pinwe; and hit troop concentrations at Mansi and
Manyut.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 3 missions are flown.
  Mission 693: 1,279 bombers and 978 fighters fly a major mission against
German oil production facilities; 2 bombers and 5 fighters are lost:
  1. 357 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Harburg oil refinery (72) and
Rhenania oil refinery (67) at Hamburg; targets of opportunity are Hamburg
(28), Cuxhaven (25), Wesermunde (21), Uetersen (9), Bremen (1) and other (1);
2 B-24s are lost and 30 damaged; 19 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 293
P-47s and P-51s; 4 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
  2. 463 B-17s dispatched hit secondary targets, the marshalling yards at
Hamm (209) and Munster (192); targets of opportunity are Osnabruck (12),
Enschede (2) and other (4); 17 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 2 MIA.
Escort is provided by 123 of 135 P-47s; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot MIA).
  3. 459 B-17s dispatched to hit the Leuna oil refinery at Merseburg are
recalled due to deteriorating weather; 2 B-17s are damaged. Escort is
provided by 482 of 508 P-51s without loss.
  Mission 693A: 2 of 5 B-17s make an APHRODITE attack on Heligoland Island,
Germany; escort is provided by 7 of 7 P-47s. 26 of 27 B-17s, escorted by 8 of
8 P-47s, fly a cover mission to Heligoland without loss.
  Mission 694: 2 B-17s and 7 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and
Germany during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): B-26s are recalled from a mission
(mainly against bridges) because of bad weather; fighters fly patrols and
armed reconnaissance over NE France and in W Germany around Aachen and the
Rhine River; XIX Tactical Air Command escorts B-26s and heavy bombers of the
Eighth AF. In France, HQ 387th Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from
Chateaudun to Clastres.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  AAF, MTO: The 16th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy, Special), AAF, MTO,
begins a movement from Foggia, Italy to the US; the squadron flew combat in
the MTO and ETO with B-17s as a radar detection and countermeasures unit from
Sep 43 to Sep 44.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): During the night of 30/31 Oct,
3 B-24s bomb a marshalling yard at Klagenfurt, Austria, P-38s fly
reconnaissance missions, while bad weather cancels all other operations.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather again grounds
the medium bombers and limits XXII Tactical Air Command fighter-bombers and
fighters to 51 sorties against scattered targets in the Po Valley. In France,
the 111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, XII Tactical Air Command
(attached to Provisional Reconnaissance Group), moves from Dijon to Azelot
with F-6s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 8 B-24s on armed reconnaissance missions from
Guam Island bomb Yap Island. 1 B-24 from Saipan Island, during the night of
30/31 Oct snooper mission, bombs Iwo Jima Island. Saipan Island-based P-47s
hit Pagan Island. B-25s from Makin Island strike Nauru Island.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 8 B-29s from the Mariana Islands bomb
submarine pens on Dublon Island, Truk Atoll; 9 others bomb 2 miles (3.2 km)
beyond the target.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In the Philippine
Islands, B-24s pound Bacolod Airfield on Negros Island, while on Mindanao
Island, B-25s and fighter-bombers hit San Roque Airfield and barges at
Zamboanga. P-38s hit Sandakan Airfield in Borneo. B-24s bomb the wharf area
at Makassar, Celebes Island while P-40s, over the NE peninsula, hit various
targets of opportunity. P-38s hit Piroe on Ceram island. Urarom Airfield in
New Guinea is again bombed by A-20s and B-25s.

TUESDAY, 31 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 4 B-25s score direct hits on a cannery at
Tomari Cape on Paramushiru Island and leave nearby buildings burning; 1 of 2
B-25s hit by AA heads for and safely lands in the USSR.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  AAF, INDIA-BURMA SECTOR: The 427th Night Fighter Squadron arrives at
Pandaveswar, India from Italy with P-61s (first mission is 23 Nov).

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 6 P-51s hit shipping
targets of opportunity at Swatow and Amoy; about 70 fighters support Chinese
ground forces by pounding positions in the Lungling area; 4 B-25s and 12
P-40s bomb a railroad bridge at Pengpu.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Buram, 60+ P-47s attack occupied
areas and supply areas at Namun, Bhamo, and Nakang, and railroad bridges,
locomotive shelters, and rolling stock along the Kyaikthin-Naba line; 2 B-25s
attack targets of opportunity from Katha to Bhamo along the Irrawaddy River.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 695: 3 B-17s and 5 B-24s
drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Weather forbids bomber operations
and limits fighters; the XII and XIX Tactical Air Commands fly patrols,
sweeps, and armed reconnaissance over E France and W Germany; the XII
Tactical Air Command also supports US Seventh Army elements in the Metz,
France area. In Belgium, the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 363d
Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Sandwieler, Luxembourg to Le Culot
with F-6 and P-51s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): P-38s fly photo and weather
reconnaissance; 174 B-24s, dispatched against a target in Yugoslavia, are
forced to return because of weather. The 885th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy),
Fifteenth Air Force (attached to Mediterranean Allied Air Forces), arrives at
Brindisi, Italy from Algeria with B-17s and B-24s (the squadron transports
supplies to partisans and drops leaflets in the MTO).

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-26s hit a bridge and
causeway at Nervesa della Battaglia and bridges at Montebello and Piazzola
sul Brenta; fighter-bombers attack guns and positions in the battle area S of
Bologna in the Apennines, and communications and shipping targets in the Po
Valley and on the Po River.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): During the night of 31 Oct/l Nov a B-24 on a
snooper mission from Saipan Island bombs Iwo Jima Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: P-47s and A-20s
bomb Kairatoe Airfield and Saharoe village on Celebes Island. B-25s and P-40s
hit Loloda and Soasioe in the Moluccas Islands. In New Guinea, P-38s and
A-20s, concentrating on airfields, attack Samate Efman, Sagan, and Doom
Island.

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      |
|  Bellcore              |  privileges as we enjoy forget in      |
|  Piscataway, NJ USA    |  time that men have died to win them.  |
|  [email protected]  |                       FDR              |
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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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Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
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