USAAF CHRONOLOGY
JULY - SEPTEMBER 1944
7/1/44 Eighth AF 325 HBs are dispatched to bomb 14 V-weapon sites in N France but are recalled because of clouds.
Recall messages by mistake are not sent to 3 sqs; 2 of these abort on decision of sq leaders; the other continues on mission and 9 of its planes bomb a V-weapon site at Mont Louis Ferme. P-51's, relieved of escort duty by recall of HBs, claim 5 aircraft destroyed in aerial engagements.
7/1/44 Ninth AF IX ADC is activated in UK by Ninth AF to provide air defense behind the advancing Allied ground forces in N Europe. CG is Gen Richardson. Weather prevents operations by IX BC. 47 ftrs escort TCs and fly sweeps in Vire area where about 20 ftrs bomb tac tgts.
7/1/44 Twelfth AF LBs and MBs hit fuel dumps, rail bridges, viaducts, and docks in NC Italy. FBs concentrate on road and rail bridges behind battle area, destroy several ftrs in combat over Reggio Emilia A/F, and hit guns S of Carsoli.
7/1/44 Tenth AF 8 P-40's fly ground spt missions in Myitkyina area. 2 B-25's bomb rail tgts at Mohnyin and Naba.
7/1/44 Fourteenth AF B-25's and FBs again pound tgts throughout Tungting Lake region. River shipping is attacked on large scale at numerous locations and 250-300 trucks are strafed between Tungcheng and Pingkiang.
Hengyang A/F is bombed as are towns of Pingkiang, Hengshan, Liling, and Yuhsien. Pontoon bridge and Japanese positions at Leiyang are also hit. B-24's lay mines in river at Canton during the night.
7/1/44 FEAF B-24's bomb A/F at Namlea and hit shipping throughout the Amboina-Ceram-Boeroe area. Other B- 24's, B-25's, A-20's and FBs hit A/F, AA guns, bivouacs, supplies, and Japanese defenses on Noemfoor I in preparation for Allied landings on 2 Jul. A/F at Manokwari is also bombed. Bmrs and ftrs continue to pound Wewak coastal area; many of the strikes are in conjunction with Navy PT boats. A few B-24's on armed rcn bomb tgts on Yap and Peleliu.
7/1/44 Seventh AF P-47's fly bombing and strafing missions over Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, hit Truk during 1/2 Jul and follow up with another raid during the day. Makin-based B-25's bomb Ponape.
7/1/44 Eleventh AF At dawn 4 B-24's radar-bomb southern Shimushu and Kurabu Cape A/F through overcast.
7/2/44 Eighth AF 280 HBs attack 13 V-weapon sites in Pas de Calais area. 41 P-51's, temporarily in Italy while en route from USSR to UK during shuttle mission, join Fifteenth AF ftrs in escorting Fifteenth AF HBs against tgts in Budapest area, claiming 9 aircraft destroyed and suffering 4 losses.
7/2/44 Ninth AF All IX BC missions cancelled due to bad weather. Ftrs of 7 gps of IX TAC fly interception missions in Caen area and cover over beach area, attack rail lines along the Loire, and hit a HQ and supply dumps and strongpoints near La Haye-du-Puits.
7/2/44 Twelfth AF MBs and LBs continue to pound enemy comm lines N of battle area (mainly along and N of Pisa- Florence line) and hit several fuel dumps with good results. FBs are active against motor transport and bridges immediately N of battleline.
7/2/44 Tenth AF 7 P-40's continue spt of ground forces in Myitkyina area. 2 B-25's hit railroad tracks at Pinwe and Katha.
7/2/44 Fourteenth AF 11 B-25's and 42 FBs again attack river shipping, compounds, and troop concentrations in Tungting Lake region. Also town of Hengshan is bombed. B-25's and P-51's pound A/F and town area at Lupao.
7/2/44 FEAF B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's, and FBs, along with naval guns, bombard Kamiri area of Noemfoor I, after which Allied amphibious forces land with little opposition and secure beachhead. Other B-25's attack barges near Manokwari.
7/2/44 Seventh AF P-47's on Saipan bomb and strafe forces on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
7/3/44 Eighth AF 55 B-17's in Italy on USSR shuttle mission join Fifteenth AF HBs in bombing M/Ys at Arad. 38 P-51's of VIII FC, also on shuttle run, fly escort on the mission.
7/3/44 Ninth AF Nearly 275 ftrs strafe and bomb strongpoints, gun positions, fuel dump, comm lines, bridges, and patrol beach in vicinity of Lessay and Periers, S of US First Army's adv.
7/3/44 Twelfth AF B-26's and A-20's pound enemy fuel dumps while B-25's hit bridges tunnels, and viaducts at Pietrasanta, Canneto sull'Oglio and Saviano, and fuel storage tanks in Pontelagoscuro area. FBs blast motor transport and bridges in battle area as US Fifth Army begins drive on Leghorn. Vehicle park, ammo dump, and a barge are also hit.
7/3/44 Fifteenth AF More than 600 B-24's and B-17's attack oil storage, oil refinery, and locomotive works at Bucharest, oil storage at Giurgiu, railroad tgts at Turnu-Severin, bridge at Piatra, M/Ys at Arad and Timisoara, bridge at Szeged, and oil storage at Belgrade. Ftrs fly over 250 sorties in spt of missions.
7/3/44 Tenth AF 20-plus FBs spt ground forces in Myitkyina area, which also is covered by 10-plane combat patrol.
7/3/44 Fourteenth AF In Tungting Lake area 4 B-24's bomb Yoyang railroad yards. B-25's and P-40's pound river shipping, bridges, gun sites, compounds, and villages at several locations, including Leiyang, Ssutang, Yungfengshih, and Tsungyang. B-25's drop ammo to Chinese ground forces at Hengyang. P-40's damage bridge at Phu Lang Thuong and hit nearby T/Os.
7/3/44 FEAF P-38's and B-25's hit personnel and supply areas S of Kamiri and spt invading ground forces as they push E along N coast of Noemfoor I. Efman I, Manokwari, and Biak I are attacked by B-24's, A-20's, and ftrs. Wewak coastal area continues under sustained air attack as Allied airplanes pound tgts including forces at Brandi Plantation and supplies and a bridge near But. HBs hit airstrips, AA positions, and T/Os in Yap group, at Woleai, and at Peleliu. Larat and Saumlakki are also bombed.
7/3/44 Seventh AF P-47's continue to hit troops remaining on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, bomb Truk.
7/4/44 Eighth AF 256 HBs attack 7 A/Fs N and W of Paris, plus several T/Os. Bad weather and mechanical failures cause over 350 others to abort. VIII FC flies 594 sorties during HB escort and strafing assignments against transportation tgts.
7/4/44 Ninth AF Although bad weather curtails bmr operations, 95 B-26's and A-20's bomb rail bridge at Oissel and strongly defended positions N of Anneville-sur-Mer, using Pathfinder technique. More than 900 ftrs strafe and bomb numerous tgts in France including troop concentrations, gun positions, rail lines, M/Ys, tunnel, radio station, bridges, highways, and a cmd post. Ftrs also fly escort and cover beach and assault areas.
7/4/44 Twelfth AF Weather cancels LB and MB operations. FB operations are greatly reduced but attacks are made on bridges, rail lines, roads, and guns in and N of battle area as US Fifth Army elements clear parts of Rosignano, overrun Mount Vitalba and area to its E, and push into Casole d'Elsa.
7/4/44 Fifteenth AF 250-plus B-17's and B-24's bomb bridge and railroad repair works at Pitesti and oil refinery at Brasov.
350-plus ftrs escort HBs and carry out sweeps in tgt area. Claims of enemy ftrs destroyed total 17. 1 ftr gp strafes 2 landing grounds and a troop train in Yugoslavia on return trip to base.
7/4/44 Tenth AF 30-plus P-40's continue spt of ground forces near Myitkyina. 20-plus P-47's and P-51's fly offensive sweep over Lashio area, patrol Mogaung area, and bomb T/Os at Taungni, Nampadaung, and Mogaung. 4 B-25's hit bridges and railroad tracks in Hopin and Naba areas.
7/4/44 Fourteenth AF 38 MBs and 74 FBs pound tgts throughout Tungting Lake-Yangtze R region and in Yellow R and Canton areas. River shipping is hit hard, particularly along Siang-Chiang R. Troop concentrations, road traffic, and general T/Os are hit at many locations. Towns bombed include Shasi, Lukou, Yungfengshih, Liling, Siangtan, and Yuhsien. A/F at Hengyang is bombed and supplies are dropped to Chinese troops in the area. A/Fs and warehouses in Canton area are bombed and T/Os at Linfen, Wenhsi, and Puchou in Yellow R region are strafed.
7/4/44 FEAF A-20's continue spt of Allied ground forces pushing E and SE from Kamiri A/F area of Noemfoor I and taking Kamiri village and Kornasoren A/F. P-47's strafe T/Os at nearby Biak I while B-24's bomb A/F at Efman I. Other aircraft bomb and strafe troops E of Maffin Bay. Personnel areas at But and Dagua and barges at Wewak Pt are also attacked. B-24's hit shipping and A/Fs in Amboina-Ceram area. B- 24's bomb Yap and hit airstrips on Woleai, Sorol, and Peleliu.
7/4/44 Seventh AF P-47's on Saipan continue FB operations against forces on Saipan, Tinian, Aguijan and Rota Is. B- 24's, staging through Eniwetok, pound Truk.
7/5/44 Eighth AF 233 HBs attack 3 A/Fs in the Netherlands and 2 in Belgium, a factory near Mol, and 3 V-weapon supply sites in France. 184 ftrs fly sorties in spt of the HBs. 70 B-17's on shuttle mission (UK-USSR-Italy UK) attack M/Y at Beziers (with Fifteenth AF B-24's) while on last leg from Italy to UK. 42 VIII FC P- 51's return to UK with the B-17's. (Of the 11 P-51's remaining in Italy, 10 return to UK the following day and the last several days later.)" 7/5/44 Ninth AF About 180 MBs and LBs bomb bridges at Caen and also rail sidings, tracks, and rolling stock. In the afternoon 4 NOBALL HQ are hit. 600-plus ftrs escort IX BC, carry out armed rcn of comm and enemy movements, attack rail lines, rolling stock, M/Ys, bridges, supply dumps, and cover beach area.
7/5/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb Villafranca di Verona M/Y, Aulla railroad bridge, and Ostiglia fuel dumps while A-20's blast supply dump and rail lines. FBs hit tracks, bridges, roads, and other tgts in battle area as US Fifth Army continues fierce fighting around Rosignano.
7/5/44 Fifteenth AF Almost 500 B-17's and B-24's bomb Montpellier and Beziers M/Ys and Toulon submarine pens and harbor installations. Close to 200 ftr sorties are flown in spt of the missions.
7/5/44 Tenth AF 20-plus P-40's and A-36's continue spt in Myitkyina sector while 12 other airplanes fly armed rcn in same area. 20-plus other P-40's, P-51's, and A-36's hit T/Os in areas around Hopin, Namma, and Naungtalaw. The town area of Naungtalaw also is pounded by 11 B-25's.
7/5/44 Fourteenth AF 136 FBs and 64 MBs attack tgts throughout Tungting Lake area. Tgts include river shipping, warehouses, troops, arty, trucks, and other T/Os at Liling, Lukou, Pingkiang, Yungfengshih, Siangyin, and Chuting. Hengyang A/F is bombed, and supplies are dropped to Chinese forces in the vicinity. In Salween area 40 transports drop supplies to Chinese forces on battleline, and 4 FBs pound town and vicinity of Tengchung. 22 B-24's bomb supply and ammo depot at Canton. 6 MBs attack A/Fs in the area. 5 B-24's lay mines in Shanghai harbor.
7/5/44 FEAF In area around Wewak A-20's and FBs hit dumps at Dagua and attack barges during 4/5 Jul. B-24's bomb airstrips and AA guns at Yap and Woleai; Sorol and Paliau I are also hit. Light strikes are flown in spt of troops on Noemfoor I and against barges, A/Fs, and troop concentrations at Efman and Biak Is and at Moemi, Manokwari, and in Wakde area.
7/5/44 Seventh AF P-47's fly FB operations over Saipan, Rota, and Tinian.
7/6/44 Eighth AF 231 B-24's bomb dock area at Kiel during morning while 687 HBs bomb 18 V-weapon sites, 7 A/Fs, a M/Y and a highway intersection. 3 HBs and 2 ftrs are lost. In the late afternoon 220 HBs strike 6 Vweapon sites and supply installations, 3 railroad bridges, a highway bridge, and an A/F in N France.
471 ftrs escort the HBs. Afterwards a sq of P-47's dive-bombs 3 A/Fs in Conches area. No aircraft are lost on afternoon mission.
7/6/44 Ninth AF During the morning around 500 B-26's and A-20's bomb bridges and rail lines at 8 locations in France.
In afternoon 5 tgts are attacked, including bridges, fuel dumps, railroad tracks, and V-weapon location.
Over 15 ftr gps escort bmrs, fly armed rcn of rail lines, roads, and M/Ys, damaging or destroying tracks, trains, tunnel, building, and supply dump. Ftrs also cover beach and bomb and strafe troop concentrations and gun positions.
7/6/44 Twelfth AF A-20's hit ammo ship at La Spezia during 5/6 Jul and continue attacks on fuel supplies during the day.
MBs again hit comm, concentrating on bridges N of battleline, and attack enemy warehouses and HQ.
FBs hit rail lines (with especially good results between Viareggio and Massa Lombarda ) and damage several bridges just N of battle area as US Fifth Army continues clearing Rosignano and takes Castellina Marittima and Mount Vaso.
7/6/44 Fifteenth AF 530-plus B-17's and B-24's attack Verona M/Y, Bergamo steel works, Avisio viaduct, Tagliamento- Casarsa della Delizia railroad bridge, Aviano oil and gasoline storage, Porto Marghera oil storage, and Trieste oil refinery. P-51's and P-38's provide escort.
7/6/44 Tenth AF 12 P-40's attack bridge near Myitkyina while 40-plus others spt ground forces in the area. Several other P-40's attack Maingna, barracks at Sahmaw, train at Taungni, and troops at Sakangyi. 6 B-25's bomb Maingna and 2 hit Mohnyin.
7/6/44 Fourteenth AF B-25's, P-40's, and P-51's continue to pound river shipping, bridges, troop concentrations, road traffic, and general T/Os throughout wide area around Tungting Lake and along the Yangtze. Hit particularly hard are town area and supply depot at Sinshih. B-25's near Burma border cause considerable damage at Tengchung and drop supplies to Chinese ground forces on Salween front, and during 6/7 Jul bomb Tien Ho A/F at Canton.
7/6/44 FEAF B-25's, A-20's, and FBs continue to pound Wewak area, concentrating on troops S of Matapau. B-25's and FBs sweep N coast of Vogelkop Peninsula and offshore islands, hitting T/Os. Other FBs hit Manokwari area and buildings at Ransiki, Moari, and Oransbari. A/Fs, gun positions, comm tgts, and supply dumps in area around Babo are hit by B-24's, A-26's, A-20's, and P-38's. B-24's bomb town and warehouse area of Yap and a few hit A/F at Woleai.
7/6/44 Twentieth AF Gen Saunders becomes CG XX BC.
7/6/44 Seventh AF P-47's bomb and strafe forces on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian. B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, pound Truk during 5/6 Jul and follow with another raid during the day. B-25's, based at Makin, hit Nauru.
7/7/44 Eighth AF Over 1,000 HBs attack 3 synthetic oil plants, 8 aircraft assembly plants and engine works, 2 A/Fs and an equipment depot, 2 M/Ys a railway station, railway repair shops, and city of Hameln, all in Germany. 37 HBs are lost during the day's operations, 649 ftrs escort HBs. 42 P-38's and 124 P-47's make strafing attacks, destroying parked aircraft, locomotives, and rolling stock. Ftrs claim 77 aircraft destroyed in aerial combat and 4 on ground. 6 ftrs are lost.
7/7/44 Ninth AF 100-plus A-20's and B-26's bomb rail bridge near Tours, and T/Os in Lisieux and Beuzeville areas.
Over 500 ftrs fly escort and area cover, carry out armed rcn of comm and troop activity, and bomb railroads, rolling stock, M/Ys, ammo dumps, and bridges in front-line areas and wide areas of W France.
7/7/44 Twelfth AF During 6/7 Jul A-20's bomb La Spezia harbor and motor transport in the area, and resume attack on fuel supplies during the day. B-26's and B-25's score direct hits on railway bridges at Reggio Emilia, and over the Fratta R and possible hits on Santa Maria di Mugnano bridge and 2 other bridges in the area; they also hit Collecchio fuel dump, causing many fires and explosions. FBs attack Ferrara A/F, town of Empoli, and rail lines, bridges, fuel and ammo dumps, motor transport, and numerous other tgts in battle area as US Fifth Army forces complete clearing of Rosignano.
7/7/44 Fifteenth AF 560-plus B-24's and B-17's bomb 2 synthetic oil plants at Blechhammer, synthetic oil and coking plant at Odertal, and Zagreb A/F and M/Y. HBs and ftr escorts claim more than 50 aircraft shot down during fierce battle with 275-300 ftrs mainly in Vienna-Budapest area. 18 US aircraft are listed as destroyed and a larger number missing.
7/7/44 Tenth AF 20 FBs hit T/Os at Okkyin and Namkwin and strafe trucks near Myitkyina. 4 B-25's attack bridges and railroad tracks at Hopin and Naba.
7/7/44 Fourteenth AF In Tungting Lake area B-25's and FBs hit Yoyang, Siangtan, Liling, and Yungfengshih, strafe cav forces N of Yuhsien, hit river shipping, troops, and pontoon bridge at Siangsiang, attack compounds in Leiyang area, and bomb storage at Shihshow. 10 mi E of Ichang on the Yangtze P-40's thoroughly blast Japanese post. B-25's and P-51's bomb Tien Ho and White Cloud A/Fs and pound town of Tsingyun.
7/7/44 FEAF B-24's and A-20's bomb Moemi and Nabire A/Fs; supply dumps along Wiske R are also attacked. A few FBs and RAAF aircraft attack barges, gun positions, and troops along coast in Wewak area. B- 24's bomb Yap, Sorol I radio station, and runway on Woleai.
7/7/44 Twentieth AF 14 B-29's, operating out of Chengtu during 7/8 Jul, bomb Sasebo, Omura, and Tobata (most of the planes hitting Sasebo area). 3 others attack secondary and last resort tgts at Laoyao and in Hankow area.
7/7/44 Seventh AF P-61's carry out interceptor missions over Guam, Saipan, and Rota during 6/7 Jul.
7/8/44 Eighth AF 467 HBs, operating in 4 forces, bomb 13 railroad facilities (bridges, junctions, sidings, lines, viaducts, and embankments), 3 M/Ys, a highway junction, 5 A/Fs, and 10 V-weapon installations, all in France.
Nearly 450 others are forced to abort, mainly because of very heavy cloud conditions. 9 HBs are lost.
14 ftr gps spt day's operations. 596 ftrs complete sorties, claiming 20 aircraft, 15 locomotives, and several railroad cars and road vehicles destroyed by strafing and bombing. 1 ftr is lost.
7/8/44 Ninth AF About 280 MBs and LBs bomb V-weapon HQ at Chateau-deRibeaucourt, numerous strongpoints in Caen battle area, rail bridges at Mantes-La-Jolie, Saumur, Nogent-leRoi, and Caen and (late in evening) fuel dumps in Rennes and bridge at Nantes. Ftrs escort the bmrs and fly armed rcn throughout wide areas of France, concentrating on front-line area. Tgts hit include M/Ys, bridges, ammo and supply dumps, troop concentrations and tanks.
7/8/44 Twelfth AF During 7/8 Jul A-20's bomb areas in or near Empoli, Agliana, and Lucca, and hit fuel dumps the following day. MBs pound M/Ys at Novi Ligure, Piacenza, Mantua, and Ferrara and tracks near Parma.
FBs again blast railroads, roads, and bridges N of battleline, which is advancing N from above Cecina toward Leghorn.
7/8/44 Fifteenth AF 520-plus HBs attack tgts in Vienna area, bombing refineries at Vosendorf and Korneuburg, A/F at Zwolfaxing, Markersdorf, and Munchendorf, and M/Y and oil storage at Vienna/Floridsdorf, and A/F at Veszprem. Ftrs fly well over 200 sorties in spt of HB missions which are opposed by more than 100 ftrs. 14 US aircraft are lost. HBs and ftrs claim more than 50 ftrs shot down.
7/8/44 Tenth AF 30-plus A-36's and P-40's hit bridge at Myitkyina and spt ground forces in the area. 12 B-25's also pound Myitkyina.
7/8/44 Fourteenth AF MBs and FBs fly nearly 100 sorties against tgts in Tungting Lake area. River shipping is hit hard throughout the whole lake area. Trucks, bridges, warehouses, supply dumps, troop concentrations, Japanese posts, and T/Os are attacked at Sinshih, Sinyang, Leiyang, Liling, Chuchou, Puchi, Siangsiang, and Yuhsien. 18 B-24's bomb military area near Canton, and 37 P-40's attack Japaneseheld villages and river shipping NW of Canton. In Indochina 10 P-40's hit shipping all along coast while 5 B-26's knock out 2 bridges at Cam Lo. 20 Japanese airplanes bomb Suichwan A/F, rendering it temporarily unusable. Enemy airplanes also damage Kanchou A/F.
7/8/44 FEAF MBs and FBs hit fuel dumps, barges, villages, and various other tgts at Babo, Fak Fak, Sagan, Kokas, at mouth of Maroe R, along Cape Kariensore, and W of Namber. B-25's, A-20's, FBs and a few HBs attack Woleai, hitting barges, gun positions, and comm tgts.
7/8/44 Seventh AF P-47's fly FB operations against troops on Saipan, Pagan, and Tinian. During 7/8 Jul B-24's stage through Eniwetok and bomb Truk. More B-24's follow with another raid during the day.
7/9/44 Eighth AF During morning mission 140 B-17's bomb 2 railroad bridges, a railroad viaduct, a road bridge, and an A/F in France. 1 HB and 2 supporting ftrs are lost. Later, 24 B-17's and 35 B-24's bomb 3 CROSSBOW installations and 2 A/Fs in France; bad weather causes over 100 other HBs to abort. 168 ftrs escort the HBs. 1 P-47 gp afterwards joins RAF Spitfires in aerial battle against 15 Me 109's. The P- 47's claim 5 ftrs destroyed against no losses; Spitfires down 6 Germans.
7/9/44 Ninth AF Of more than 250 MBs and LBs dispatched, about 60 bomb tgts in France; bad weather prevents others from bombing. Tgts hit are rail bridge, crossing, overpass and highway bridge at Ablis, Orleans, Vendome, and Montfort-sur-Risle. Ftrs escort IX BC, provide area cover over battle area, and bomb and strafe gun positions, vehicles, rail cars, bridges, and tanks.
7/9/44 Twelfth AF Weather greatly curtails operations. FBs attack rail lines between Empoli and Montelupo Fiorentino with good results. Other tgts include roads, bridges and gun positions.
7/9/44 Fifteenth AF In the Fifteenth's first Pathfinder-led mission, 222 B-17's and B-24's bomb Xenia and Concordia Vega oil refineries at Ploesti. P-38's and P-51's fly escort. Other P-51's sweep Ploesti area during the attacks. HBs and ftrs claim destruction of 14 of the 40-50 opposing ftrs. 6 US aircraft are shot down.
7/9/44 Tenth AF 60-plus A-36's, P-51's, P-47's, and P-40's spt ground forces and hit bridge in Myitkyina area, strafe gun positions at Shwebo and tgts along the Irrawaddy in Katha area, and attack T/Os in areas around Loilaw, Hopin, Mohnyin, Maingna, Anisakan, and Onbauk. 19 B-25's hit storage sheds at Waingmaw and railroads and bridges at Mohnyin, Naba, and Hopin.
7/9/44 Fourteenth AF 40 P-40's and 8 B-25's hit town area, trucks, and supply sampans at Shayang and damage tunnel entrances and highway bridge at Sinyang. 5 B-25's bomb power plant and building area at Tinh Soc.
7/9/44 FEAF A-20's and FBs pound shipping, A/Fs, troops, and other tgts at Babo, Manokwari, Efman, Biak and various points along coastline of Geelvink Bay. B-25's and FBs sink a 3,000-ton vessel and several barges around Halmahera I. Dumps at Marubian, Kairiru, and Niap and bridge at But are bombed by B-25's, A-20's, and FBs. B-24's bomb Namlea A/F and attack Yap and Woleai.
7/9/44 Seventh AF P-47's hit remnants of Japanese forces on Saipan and Tinian, as organized resistance on Saipan ends. Saipan will become a base from which B-29's will bomb Japan. Makinbased B-25's bomb Jaluit.
7/10/44 Ninth AF Ftrs bomb and strafe gun positions, bridges, rail overpass, inf concentrations, and highway junctions, and cover battle area.
7/10/44 Twelfth AF MBs successfully hit M/Ys, railroad bridges, and viaducts in NC Italy. Weather restricts FBs and ftrs but several tgts are hit, including A/F at Modena and scattered gun positions, rail lines, and roads.
7/10/44 Tenth AF 24 P-40's and P-51's spt ground forces at Myitkyina. 20-plus A-36's P-51's, P-47's, and P-40's hit Mogaung, buildings and boxcars at Mohnyin, trucks at Sahmaw, factory at Loiwing, and Punga pagoda.
Railroad supply area at Mohnyin is bombed by 6 B-25's.
7/10/44 Fourteenth AF 70 P-40's and 6 B-25's hit river shipping between Siangtan and Siangsiang, between Changsha and Chuchou, and N of Hengyang; strafe and bomb posts and trucks in Pingkiang, Tungcheng, and Tsungyang areas and in Changsha-Kweilin area; and bomb A/Fs at Hankow and Wuchang.
7/10/44 FEAF B-24's attack Laha, Namlea, and T/Os in Boeroe-Ceram-Amboina area. A-20's, FBs, and a B-25 hit troops, villages, and barges in Wewak area. B-24's bomb A/Fs and town areas at Yap, Gagil-Tomil I and Sorol. Operations also include smallscale strikes in Wakde area and snooper and armed rcn missions over the Carolines.
7/10/44 Seventh AF P-47's hit troops and gun positions on Tinian. B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, pound Truk during 9/10 Jul and again during the day.
7/11/44 International Roosevelt announces that US will recognize French Committee of National Liberation as defacto administrative authority in France.
7/11/44 Eighth AF 969 HBs attack Munich while 38 others bomb Augsburg and M/Ys at Eppingen. Ftrs fly 762 sorties in spt. Overcast hinders strafing attacks but ftrs manage to destroy a parked airplane and a locomotive, and hit Worms M/Y. 20 HBs and 4 ftrs fail to return to base.
7/11/44 Ninth AF A-20's and B-26's strike fuel dumps at Foret d'Andaine, Chateau-de-Tertu, Flers, and Foret d' Ecouves; NOBALL sites at Chateau d'Helicourt and Chateau d'Ansenne; and a rail bridge at Bourth.
Ftrs escort IX BC, patrol battle area, and attack trains, gun positions, ammo dumps, and other tgts in areas around Lessay, Periers, Saint-Lo, Lonrai, Tours and Folligny.
7/11/44 Twelfth AF Weather again hampers operations. MBs attack M/Y at Alessandria, hit approach to railroad bridge at Chiavari, and score near misses on other bridges. FBs hit A/F at Rimini and attack fuel dumps, rail lines, gun positions, bridges, and T/Os N of battleline as US Fifth Army engages in hard fighting in Pastina and Laiatico area.
7/11/44 Fifteenth AF Bad weather curtails HB effort. The only tgt attacked is Toulon harbor, where 87 B-24's hit jetties, oil stores, nearby telegraph cable factory, barracks, repair shops, adjoining M/Y, and submarines in drydock.
7/11/44 Tenth AF 70-plus FBs pound barracks at Myitkyina, bridges at Nam kwin and Mohnyin, A/F at Lashio, and T/Os at several other locations, including Nanyinbya, Indaw, Katha, Bhamo, and Anisakan-Shwebo area. 11 B-25's hit bridges at Hsenwi.
7/11/44 Fourteenth AF 28 B-24's bomb storage base at Sinshih. 24 P-40's hit river traffic at Hengyang and E of Siangsiang.
22 other P-40's attack town of Hengyang, hitting Japanese occupied buildings and a bridge. 33 more P-40's attack villages, road traffic, and T/Os at Leiyang and from Chuchou to Hengyang to Yungfengshih. 3 B-25's bomb Liling and Yuhsien. 14 P-51's bomb town of Pakmoi Hu and hit gun positions at Lupao. 8 B-25's pound railroad yards at Sinyang. 12 B-25's and 14 FBs bomb Mangshih on Burma Road and spt Chinese ground forces between Tengchung and Lungling.
7/11/44 FEAF B-24's pound A/F at Babo while A-20's hit supply dumps at Kokas. B-25's bomb A/Fs at Manokwari, Waren, and Moemi during the night. A-20's, MBs, and FBs spt ground forces in Sarmi-Sawar area and bomb A/Fs, shipping, and various occupied areas and installations on Halmahera, in Schouten Is, on Boeroe, and the Palau group, and at Woleai.
7/11/44 Seventh AF P-47's pound forces on Tinian and Pagan.
7/12/44 Eighth AF 131 B-24's, with escort by 144 RAF Spitfires, are dispatched against 10 V-weapon sites in Rouen area but abort because of thick blanket of low cloud over tgt area. 1,117 HBs bomb M/Ys, aero engine plant, and A/F at Munich. 754 ftrs spt the HBs. 24 HBs are lost, 13 to AA fire and the rest to accidents and unknown causes.
7/12/44 Ninth AF Over 300 MBs and LBs fly morning and afternoon missions against fuel dumps at Foret d'Andaine and Foret d'Ecouves, military concentrations at Foret de Cinglais, rail bridges at Merey, Cinq Mars-la-Pile, Saumur, Nantes, and Nogent-le-Roi, and other rail and road tgts. Ftrs furnish escort, cover battle area, and fly armed rcn over wide areas, attacking rail lines S and W of Rambouillet, bridges and fuel dump in Nantes vicinity, trains and military transport at Vitry-le-Francois, and grounded airplanes S of Chateaubriant, bridges at Craon, Le Mans, Pontorson, Mayenne, S of Rennes, N of Angers, and Tours, rail traffic S of Fougeres, and inf and arty positions near Periers.
7/12/44 Twelfth AF A-20's bomb scattered motor transport in Florence-Leghorn area during 11/12 Jul. MBs begin air offensive (MALLORY MAJOR) against road and rail bridges over the Pa R during the day. A-20's continue attacking ammo supplies. FBs hit barges and small boats on Arno R and attack roads, ammo dumps, gun positions, tracks, vehicles, and a number of other tgts in that general area N of battleline.
7/12/44 Fifteenth AF More than 420 B-24's attack tgts in SE France, scoring numerous hits on Nimes and Miramas M/Ys and cutting rail lines at Theoule-sur-Mer bridge and Var R bridge in Provence. Around 50 enemy ftrs oppose the missions. HBs and escorting ftrs claim 14 shot down. 7 US aircraft are lost.
7/12/44 Tenth AF 44 P-40's spt ground forces in Myitkyina area. 28 P-51's and P-47's hit bridge and other tgts in Hopin, bomb Maingna pagoda, and hit Alanbo and Tagwin areas. 13 B-25's bomb bridges at Mongyin and hit T/Os in Myitkyina area.
7/12/44 Fourteenth AF 60-plus P-40's hit towns of Liling and Yuhsien, river shipping at Hengyang, troop concentrations at Leiyang and near Yuhsien, A/F at Siangtan, and fuel dumps NW of Changsha. 34 P-51's bomb Tsingyun and pound Japanese concentrations at Lienchiangkou. 11 P-40's bomb railroad yards at Yuncheng and hit radio station N of Tungkuan with rocket fire. 12 B-25's bomb Tengchung and 15 P- 40's bomb and strafe storage areas, villages, troop areas, and general T/Os in Lungling and Mangshih areas.
7/12/44 FEAF B-24's hit Manokwari A/F; weather curtails further operations in Geelvink Bay area. A-20's, MBs, and FBs again hit troop concentrations and barges in Wewak area. Smaller strikes by B-24's and B-25's are flown against A/F at Laha, Dili, and on Koer I. B-24's pounds Yap.
7/12/44 Seventh AF During 11/12 Jul B-24's stage through Eniwetok to bomb Truk. During the day B-24's hit Truk again. P- 47's on Saipan continue to hit Tinian.
7/13/44 Eighth AF 888 HBs, flying in 3 forces, bomb Saarbrucken M/Ys and aircraft engine plant at Munich. 548 ftrs execute escort assignments. In addition 1 flight of P-47's strafes a M/Y N of Karlsruhe, destroying 4 locomotives.
10 HBs are lost, along with 5 ftrs. 12 enemy aircraft are claimed destroyed.
7/13/44 Ninth AF Bad weather prevents bmr operations and restricts ftrs. Ftrs fly armed rcn in Sens-Montargis area, hitting rail and highway traffic, warehouses, barracks, and armored cars and tanks. Rail lines and bridges are hit in Saint-Florentin-Dreux-Evreux-Chartres-Mamers-Gassicourt areas. IX TAC ftrs furnish area cover, bomb troop concentrations, vehicles, and gun positions in Lessay-Coutances area, and attack rail traffic W of Angers, landing field W of Alencon, M/Y at Vendome, and bridge at Tours.
7/13/44 Twelfth AF MBs again bomb bridges in the Po Valley. A-20's hit ammo plant. FBs attack tgts, mainly railroads, in areas N of Arno R in adv of the battlefront.
7/13/44 Fifteenth AF 581 B-17's and B-24's attack tgts in NE Italy, hitting M/Ys at Verona, Mestre, Brescia, and Mantua, Pinzano al Tagliamento railroad bridge, and oil storage at Porto Marghera and Trieste. P-38's and P- 51's fly escort. Other P-51's carry out sweep over Po Valley.
7/13/44 Tenth AF 44 P-40's and P-51's spt ground forces in Myitkyina area. 40 more A-36's, P-51's, and P-47's hit bridges at Nyaunggon, Mohnyin, Myothit, Mawlu, and Henu, and attack Hopin, Lashio, and Indawgyi Lake areas.
7/13/44 Fourteenth AF 16 B-25's bomb Pailochi A/F, causing large fires and considerable damage. 45 P-40's attack trucks, compounds, river shipping, and troop concentrations between Hengyang and Siangtan, pound town of Liling and Siangtan A/F, and strafe shipping from Changsha S along Siang Chiang R. 8 B-25's bomb Chenghsien railroad yards and storage area. 12 B-25's bomb Tengchung and Mangshih.
7/13/44 FEAF B-24's again bomb Yap and Sorol. B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's bomb gun positions and A/F at Babo and in Manokwari area and hit supply depot at Kokas. FBs spt Allied ground forces in Aitape area while A-20's and FBs pound occupied areas and gun positions in Wewak area and on Mushu I. B-24's also hit Amahai A/F.
7/13/44 Seventh AF P-47's continue to hit Tinian. Kwajalein-based B-24's bomb Truk. B-25's from Makin pound Nauru.
7/14/44 Eighth AF With conversion of 55th Ftr Gp from P-38's to P-51's, the Eighth acquires majority of P-51 gps to provide longer-range high-altitude escort for the HBs. Conversion to P-51's will continue until by the end of the year every gp except 1 will be equipped with them. In morning mission 319 B-17's drop supplies to French interior forces in S France. 4 P-51 gps fly 499 sorties in spt. No bmrs or ftrs are lost. HBs claim 9 enemy ftrs destroyed and the ftrs claim 4. During the evening 93 B-24's bomb A/Fs at Peronne and Montdidier. Nearly 40 other HBs do not bomb because of failure of blindbombing equipment.
Ftrs fly 83 uneventful sorties in spt. No aircraft are lost.
7/14/44 Ninth AF Weather again curtails operations. 62 B-26's and A-20's, using Oboe, bomb railway embankment at Bourth and rail bridge at Merey. Ftrs provide escort and fly armd rcn over widespread areas of W France, attacking bridges, trains, rail lines, and military transport tgts. 85 enemy ftrs give battle near Brezolles and Alencon. 6 ftrs are claimed by US ftrs, against 5 missing from IX FC. IX TAC strafes and bombs defended positions ahead of US First Army. Ftrs cut rail lines in L'Aigle-Alencon area, bomb troop concentrations near Periers, and M/Ys at Chateaudun and Aube-sur-Rile.
7/14/44 Twelfth AF MBs concentrate on Po R Valley bridges. 600 ft (2 center spans) of Taglio di Po road bridge and 1 span of Piacenza rail bridge are destroyed, and damaging hits are scored on Corbola road and railroad bridges. FBs again hit gun positions and lines of comm in and N of battle areas while LBs attack supplies.
7/14/44 Fifteenth AF 430-plus HBs attack 4 oil refineries at Budapest and Petfurdo and M/Y at Mantua. P-51's and P-38's provide escort. P-51's fly uneventful sweep of Budapest area. P-38's strafe trains N of La Spezia and dive-bomb Ghedi A/F.
7/14/44 Tenth AF 49 P-40's pound enemy forces in Myitkyina vicinity. 38 P-51's and P-47's hit bridges at Mohnyin, Kadu, Henu, and Mawlu, bomb supplies at Nyaungbintha, spt ground forces near Myitkyina, bomb rice mill at Mohnyin, and hit several buildings at Hopin.
7/14/44 Fourteenth AF FBs and MBs hit ftr strip N of Changsha, arty positions at Leiyang, town of Sungpai, and road and river trafflc from Hengyang to Yuhsien and from Sienning to Tungshan; also attacked are various T/Os around towns of Hengyang, Changsha, and Chaling. During the night FBs blast Pailochi A/F, destroying more than 20 enemy airplanes. B-25's bomb roads in Tengchung area. B-25's and P-40's pound railroad yards at Siangsiang.
7/14/44 FEAF B-24's continue to blast Yap. Oil reservoirs and wells at Boela are bombed and strafed by A-20's. B- 24's and B-25's attack barge facilities and gun positions at Lautem. On Vogelkop Peninsula night ftrs hit A/Fs while B-25's bomb barge terminal at Kokas. A-20's hit Japanese forces at Sauri and bomb A/F at But. FBs spt ground forces in Aitape area along Driniumor R and Koronal Creek and blast troop concentrations near Afua.
7/14/44 Seventh AF P-47's again hit Tinian.
7/15/44 Ninth AF Weather cancels most operations but 4 B-26's (92 others abort) hit L'Aigle rail bridge during afternoon.
3 FBs fly uneventful sweep. Ftrs of IX TAC fly area cover and bomb inf, arty, M/Y, railroad, and a bridge in Saint-Lo, Argentan, and Falaise areas.
7/15/44 Twelfth AF MB campaign against Po R Valley bridges (MALLORY MAJOR) reaches successful conclusion (though interdiction program against the bridges is subsequently continued on expanded scale) as most of the rail and road bridges in tgt area are destroyed or severely damaged by previous attacks and raids which struck bridges at Bozzolo, Desenzano de Garda, Cremona, Borgoforte, Ostiglia, Polesella, Sermide, Ferrara, Aulla, Filattiera, Ficarolo, and Chiavari and M/Y at Villafranca di Verona.
FBs attack road bridges N of battleline and hit gun positions, roads, motor transport, and other tgts, while supporting ground forces slowly advancing N along a line extending E from the coast below Leghorn.
7/15/44 Fifteenth AF More than 600 B-17's and B-24's bomb 4 oil refineries in Ploesti area and Teleajenul pumping station.
P-51's and P-38's fly over 300 escort sorties.
7/15/44 Tenth AF 38 P-40's continue spt of ground forces in Myitkyina area. 60-plus P-47's and P-51's attack bridges at Manla, Henu, and Mawlu, sweep Lashio, Katha, and Talawgyi areas, and hit motor pool at Kadu and T/Os around Sangin and Mohnyin. 20 B-25's attack Myitkyina area and hit bridges and supply area at Mawhun.
7/15/44 Fourteenth AF More than 100 B-25's, P-40's, and P-51's blast towns of Sinshih, Chuchou, Siangtan, Siangsiang, Sungpai, and Chaling, concentrating on military and railroad installations and river shipping. Villages, troop concentrations, and river craft are attacked N and W of Hengyang and from Chaling to Yuhsien.
In Salween area 26 P-40's spt Chinese forces and 12 B-25's bomb Mangshih and Lungling. 12 B-25's and P-40's bomb railroad yards at Hsuchang, causing considerable damage.
7/15/44 FEAF B-24's blast Yap, scoring numerous hits in Yap town area and on radio station and barracks area. B- 24's, penetrating heavy weather front, bomb A/F at Efman while B-25's hit enemy forces along Korrido Anchorage, and A-20's blast gun emplacements on island off Manokwari. B-25's, A-20's, and FBs again pound troop concentrations over wide area around Wewak.
7/15/44 Seventh AF P-47's bomb and strafe Tinian. B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, hit Truk.
7/16/44 Eighth AF 577 B-17's bomb Munich and surrounding area. Tgts include M/Ys, aircraft engine plants, Munich/Riem A/F, and city of Augsburg. 409 bomb Saarbrucken M/Ys and adjacent areas. Ftrs fly 684 supporting sorties and also strafe Bruges A/F and rail transportation. 11 HBs and 3 ftrs are lost.
7/16/44 Ninth AF Gen Williams, CG IX TCC, arrives in Italy from UK, and activates Prov TC Div which will take part in invasion of S France. About 375 B-26's and A-20's, during morning and evening operations, bomb strongpoints in Saint-Lo area, bridges in front-line area, and bridges and fuel dump SE of Rennes.
Ftrs escort the bmrs and fly armed rcn over front-lines in Chateaudun-Orleans-Tours areas.
7/16/44 Twelfth AF MBs hit bridges in Po Valley at Peschiera del Garda, Mantua, Torre Beretti, Piacenza, Casale Monferrato, and Bressana Bottarone. FBs hit railroads and bridge just N of battleline as US Fifth Army forces take territory SE of Leghorn and push to within sight of Arno R Valley. British Eighth Army elements take Arezzo and thrust through to the Arno R.
7/16/44 Fifteenth AF Around 380 HBs attack oil and aircraft tgts in Vienna area, bombing Munchendorf A/F, Winterhafen oil depot, Vienna M/Y, and Wiener Neudorf engine factory. P-51's and P-38's fly more than 150 sorties in escort while 132 other P-51's sweep Vienna area. More than 100 ftrs oppose the raids. 10 US airplanes are lost and several others are missing. US claims of ftrs shot down total over 30.
7/16/44 Tenth AF 27 P-40's continue to hit forces in Myitkyina area. 20-plus P-51's and P-47's attack railroad bridges at Namkwin, Manla, and Hopin, and hit general T/Os in Hopin area. 12 B-25's bomb town of Maingna and bridges at Mohnyin.
7/16/44 Fourteenth AF 23 B-24's pound Changsha, causing heavy damage. 40 P-51's and P-40's hit river shipping at Changsha, attack T/Os S of Hengyang, and bomb building area at Ikiawan.
7/16/44 FEAF B-24's continue bombing Yap. Other B-24's pound AA positions at Manokwari. FBs bomb supply dumps N of Moemi and attack shipping in Kokas-Babo area. Bmrs and ftrs again hit troop and supply concentrations in Wewak sector. B-24's hit Atamboea A/F. TC missions to forward bases, especially Biak, increase.
7/16/44 Seventh AF P-47's continue to pound Tinian.
7/17/44 Eighth AF In the morning 592 HBs operating in 3 forces attack 12 railroad bridges, 3 rail junctions, a railway chokepoint, a V-weapon supply site, a M/Y, an A/F, and an oil storage dump in France. 463 ftrs complete sorties in spt of bmrs; elements of 4 gps afterwards strafe ground tgts, claiming 23 locomotives, 18 trucks, and 55 train cars destroyed. During the evening 126 HBs attack 12 V-weapon sites in NW France. 5 P-51 gps provide escort.
7/17/44 Ninth AF With operations limited by weather, 69 MBs hit fuel dumps at Rennes while 37 LBs strike fuel dumps at Bruz and M/Y at Dolde-Bretagne. Ftrs escort transports, fly area cover, attack fuel dumps and landing field at Angers, dive-bomb defenses at Coutances in spt of US First Army, attack Nevers M/Y, and hit troop concentrations in spt of First Army assault in Saint-Lo area.
7/17/44 Twelfth AF MBs concentrate on Po Valley bridges, hitting road and rail bridges and viaducts at or near Alessandria, Ostiglia, Bogliasco, Borgoforte, Moline, Imperia, Asti, Mollere, and Casale Monferrato.
FBs continue to hit tgts N of battle area, concentrating on bridges and rail lines, while US Fifth Army elements take Luciana, and reach Arno R Valley, but make little progress toward Leghorn. British Eighth Army forces pursue enemy toward Florence.
7/17/44 Fifteenth AF 162 B-24's attack M/Y and railroad bridges at Avignon and railroad bridges at Arles and Tarascon. P- 51's and P-38's provide escort.
7/17/44 Tenth AF 60-plus P-40's, P-47's, and P-51's continue to hit forces in Myitkyina area, pound Tagwin, and bomb M/Y at Mohnyin.
7/17/44 Fourteenth AF 22 B-24's bomb Changsha. 7 B-25's and 21 P-40's pound railroad yards at Kaifeng. 6 B-25's and 12 P-40's hit Tengchung.
7/17/44 FEAF Operations against the Carolines are restricted to snooper missions against Yap and Woleai. B-24's bomb gun positions around Manokwari and A/F at Moemi. B-25's sink large lugger in Kaiboes Bay. A- 20's, B-25's, and P-39's hit troop concentrations and supplies between Aitape and Wewak at Abau, Parakaviu, Nyaparake, and E of Tadji and bomb Boram A/F and Cape Moem. Fuiloro is bombed by B- 25's.
7/17/44 Seventh AF P-47's bomb and strafe Tinian. 48 B-25's from Makin stage through Engebi to bomb Ponape. 47 of the MBs (1 aborts) attack A/F facilities, AA positions, and other tgts throughout the atoll.
7/18/44 Eighth AF 437 HBs attack tgts in Germany, including Hemmingstedt oil refinery, Kiel port area, Peenemunde experimental establishment, scientific HQ at Zinnowitz, T/Os of Cuxhaven, and M/Ys at Stralsund. 454 ftrs fly supporting sorties. 3 HBs and 3 ftrs are lost. 571 B-24's (in conjunction with Ninth AF and RAF BC) bomb enemy equipment and troop concentrations in spt of assault by British Second Army in Caen area. 90 RAF Spitfires fly uneventful spt for the HBs.
7/18/44 Ninth AF 400-plus B-26's and A-20's hit various military tgts in spt of ground forces in Caen area, and later in day bomb rail and highway bridges beyond the front-lines. Large number of ftrs fly escort, dive-bomb gun positions at Rouen and Mantesla-Jolie, hit military tgts in Chartres area (using rockets), attack gun positions, bridges, and other tgts in Benney-Alencon-Saint-Lo area, and fly armed rcn and ftr sweeps over wide areas of N and W France.
7/18/44 Twelfth AF A-20's bomb road junction S of Campi and Sarzana and attack La Spezia area during 17/18 Jul.
During the day bad weather cancels MB missions. FBs, operating on reduced scale, hit several bridges, roads, rail lines, and other comm tgts and guns N of and in battle area as US Fifth Army forces reach Leghorn.
7/18/44 Fifteenth AF 200 B-24's and B-17's attack Memmingen A/F Dornier aircraft works at Manzell, and Casarsa della Delizia railroad bridge. Between 260 and 300 ftrs oppose the formations attacking tgts in Germany, beginning interception at N Adriatic coast, continuing to the tgts and back as far as Brenner Pass. 20 US aircraft are lost. HB's and escorting ftrs claim 66 ftrs shot down.
7/18/44 Tenth AF 25 P-40's hit Myitkyina area. 8 P-47's attack Theinin, and 16 P-51's spt ground forces at Pyindaw. 9 B-25's bomb Myitkyina and Naungtalaw.
7/18/44 Fourteenth AF In Hengyang Tungting Lake region 30-plus P-40's strafe shipping between Chaling and Hengyang, bomb town of Hengyang, and hit the A/F and several AA positions in the area. 16 P-51's and P-40's hit river shipping from Lienchiangkou to Samshui to Sainam. 13 P-40's hit fuel dump on railroad near Kangtsun-i.
7/18/44 FEAF B-24's strike Yap, bombing town and Blelatsch peninsula; several of the HBs bomb Sorol I. Bad weather prevents strikes on Vogelkop Peninsula. FBs continue to hit barges, supply routes, and troop concentrations in coastal area from Aitape to Wewak.
7/18/44 Seventh AF P-47's pound Tinian and Pagan. 5 B-24's, flying out of Kwajalein, hit Wotje. 25 B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, attack Truk.
7/19/44 Eighth AF More than 1,100 HBs, operating in 5 forces, attack tgts in Germany, including 2 plants producing hydrogen peroxide (an ingredient in V-weapon fuels), a chemical plant, 2 aircraft factories, 4 ball bearing plants, 6 M/Ys, 4 A/Fs, and a river dam. Attacks in the Munich area are followed, within 90 mins, by Fifteenth AF attacks. 731 ftrs, operating in 19 separate units, spt the HBs; 8 of these units afterwards strafe ground tgts, including parked aircraft, locomotives and rolling stock, and road vehicles.
15 HBs and 7 ftrs are lost. The HBs claim destruction of 6 aircraft, and the ftrs claim 17 destroyed in aerial combat and 39 on the ground.
7/19/44 Ninth AF In the afternoon 262 B-26's and A-20's bomb bridges on the Loire and Seine and a fuel dump at Bruz.
Ftrs provide escort and, though limited by bad weather, hit rail lines and scattered enemy installations and movements in Amiens-Tours-Chartres area and along GhentBrussels railroad.
7/19/44 Twelfth AF Weather again restricts MB operations, but in late afternoon B-26's hit bridges at Piacenza and Ostiglia. B-25's bomb bridge at Sassuolo. FBs are limited to a few railroad tgts as US Fifth Army takes Leghorn and moves N.
7/19/44 Fifteenth AF More than 400 B-17's and B-24's bomb an ordnance depot, an aircraft factory, a motor works, and an A/F in the Munich area. P-51's and P-38's fly more than 300 sorties in spt. Enemy ftr opposition is weak but flak is heavy and accurate. 16 US airplanes are shot down and several are missing.
7/19/44 Tenth AF 30-plus P-40's and P-51's hit Myitkyina area and spt ground forces near Kamaing. Myitkyina is also bombed by 9 B-25's.
7/19/44 Fourteenth AF 80-plus P-40's hit shipping in Tungting Lake area, attack T/Os, supply areas, and troop concentrations around Hengyang, bomb radio station, storage facilities, and shipping at Changsha, hit A/F at Siangtan, and sink about 15 sampans between Changsha and Siangtan. 31 P-40's and P-51's bomb and strafe Samshui town and dock area and hit several troop compounds in Lienchiangkou vicinity. 4 P-40's over NE Indochina coast claim 25 junks sunk.
7/19/44 FEAF B-24's, striking in 2 waves, attack A/F on Yap. Several of the B-24's become separated from the formations and bomb Ngulu and Sorol Is. Weather again cancels strikes on Vogelkop Peninsula area.
FB's hit stores, gun positions, and T/Os along Dandriwad R and spt Allied ground forces in Sarmi- Sawar sector.
7/19/44 Seventh AF P-47's continue to bomb and strafe Tinian.
7/20/44 Eighth AF Over 1,200 HBs strike numerous objectives in C Germany, in Erfurt-Leipzig area and near Mainz. Tgts include 4 aircraft and aircraft engine factories, a ball bearing plant, a motor vehicle works, 5 A/Fs, 2 synthetic oil plants, an optical instruments works, an armament factory, 5 M/Ys, and the cities of Koblenz, Bad Nauheim, and Bad Salzungen. 727 ftrs spt the Eighth's HBs and afterwards several units strafe ground tgts. 19 HBs and 8 ftrs are lost. HBs claim 6 aircraft destroyed while the ftrs claim 11 destroyed in the air and 11 on the ground.
7/20/44 Ninth AF Weather forbids morning operations. In afternoon 62 MBs and LBs strike Senonches fuel dump and Chaulnes M/Y. Ftrs escort bmrs and transports and fly armed rcn against rail lines, bridges, and gun positions S of front-lines.
7/20/44 Twelfth AF XII AF Trg and Repl Cmd is disbanded in Algeria. MBs continue to pound Po Valley bridges in or near Ostiglia, Parma, Mantua, Fernarla. FBs again hit tgts N of battle area, concentrating on rail lines and destroying or damaging large number of railroad cars as US Fifth Army forces push to point SE of Pisa.
7/20/44 Fifteenth AF Around 450 B-17's and B-24's bomb A/F at Memmingen, and A/F, Zeppelin works, and aircraft factory at Friedrichshafen. P-38's and P-51's provide escort and, with HBs, claim 19 airplanes shot down.
7/20/44 Tenth AF A few P-40's attack tgts in Myitkyina area.
7/20/44 Fourteenth AF In Tungting Lake area 11 B-24's bomb E half of Changsha, causing heavy destruction. 140-plus P- 40's and P-51's attack river shipping and road traffic at several locations throughout the region, pound supply villages S of Changsha and Sinshih, bomb motor pool at Tsungyang, hit warehouse area at Siangtan, and attack troop compounds and gun positions N of Hengyang and at Leiyang and Chaling.
7/20/44 FEAF B-24's bomb W part of Yap town. Other B-24's hit A/F and AA guns at Manokwari and AA at Moemi. B- 25's hit shipping off Sorong, in Kaiboes Bay, and off Misool I, and bomb Kasim I. A-20's spt Allied ground forces in Sarmi sector. B-24's bomb Namlea A/F and shipping in Kayeli Bay. B-25's hit shipping at Dili. A-20's and a B-25 bomb supply dumps at Cape Moem, Wom, and Sauri while FBs hit T/Os along Yakamul coastal road and troops on Kairiru I.
7/20/44 Seventh AF P-47's pound Tinian.B-25's from Engebi bomb Ponape.
7/21/44 Eighth AF 960 HBs, attacking in 4 forces, bomb tgts in Germany, among them 4 aircraft plants, 2 ball bearing plants, and numerous T/Os in Duren area, Stuttgart area, and 11 other towns and cities, including Munich and Saarbrucken. 711 ftrs, operating as 33 tac units, execute escort assignments and later ftrs from 7 units strafe ground tgts, destroying a small number of parked aircraft and rail and road transport tgts. 31 HBs and 10 ftrs are lost. HBs claim 9 airplanes destroyed, and ftrs claim 6 destroyed in the air and 3 on the ground.
7/21/44 Ninth AF Weather prevents all combat operations except for 1 ftr gp which is dispatched on armed rcn but is recalled before reaching the Continent. Less than 15 rcn and evacuation sorties are flown.
7/21/44 Twelfth AF Weather cancels MB operations. LBs hit supply dump while FBs attack rail and road bridges in Po Valley and hit rail lines N of battleline which is pushing into the Arno R Valley SE of Pisa.
7/21/44 Fifteenth AF 362 B-17's and B-24's bomb Brux synthetic oil refinery and M/Y at Mestre. More than 100 other HBs are forced to abort due to bad weather. P-38's and P-51's provide escort.
7/21/44 Tenth AF 6 B-25's bomb railroad at Mohnyin and 1 hits town of Naba.
7/21/44 Fourteenth AF 41 P-40's hit town area, A/F, trucks, river shipping, and troops at Changsha; trucks, horses, and junks at Sinshih; and troop concentrations, arty sites, and pillboxes at Hengyang.
7/21/44 FEAF B-24's again pound Yap I, concentrating on the A/F. Ftrs, many dropping phosphorus bombs on the HB formation, attack fiercely but ineffectively; the B-24's claim 7 ftrs shot down. Other B-24's bomb AA positions and A/F at Manokwari. A-20's hit barracks at Nabire. P-39's hit caves and barge hideouts on N coast of Biak I and spt ground forces along Verkam R. B-25's hit shipping at several points around the long coastline of Vogelkop Peninsula. B-25s and A-20's pound But, and P-39's bomb bridge nearby.
P-47's follow with attack on But and also hit Wewak jetties and Kairiru I.
7/21/44 Seventh AF P-47's attack enemy forces on Tinian. 28 B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, pound Truk. US Marines and Army troops land on Guam.
7/22/44 Ninth AF 1 gp of LBs and 2 gps of MBs attack rail bridge at Bourth and fuel dumps at Foret de Conches and Flers. 4 gps of FBs fly armed rcn and rail cutting missions during late evening. 1 gp escorts IX BC.
Ftrs of IX TAC escort over 100 C-47's on supply-evacuation run to the Continent, and provide cover over battle area.
7/22/44 Twelfth AF Weather again curtails operations. During night and day operations A-20's carry out armed rcn of Lucca, Florence, Genoa, and Milan areas, bombing scattered motor transport, and attack munitions factory. B-25's bomb bridges at Ronco Scrivia and Cogoli. FBs hit roads, railroads, bridges, gun positions, trains, and vehicles in and N of battle area, and strafe airplanes at Bergamo A/F.
7/22/44 Fifteenth AF 76 P-38's and 58 P-51's begin second Fifteenth AF shuttle missions, attacking A/Fs at Zilistea and Buzau (claiming destruction of 56 enemy airplanes) and landing at FRANTIC bases in the USSR. 458 B-17's and B-24's (with ftr escorts) bomb oil refinery at Ploesti and other HBs hit alternate tgts of Verciorova M/Y, Orsova railroad bridge, and Kragujevac M/Y.
7/22/44 Tenth AF 14 P-40's attack forces in Myitkyina area. 7 B-25's bomb railroad at Mohnyin while 2 hit storage sheds at Maingna.
7/22/44 Fourteenth AF 120-plus P-40's and P-51's attack town area, A/F, railroad yards, and shipping at Hengyang, bomb towns of Chaling, Yuhsien, and Chuchou, hit river shipping, troops, trucks, and T/Os in areas around Changsha, Kiaotow, Siangtan, and Sinshih, and hit troop compounds and shipping at Yuhsien. 25 B- 24's bomb Changsha, causing heavy damage. 31 P-40's and P-51's blast Tsingyun and strafe about 40 junks to the S of town. 4 P-40's sink several large junks off NE Indochina coast.
7/22/44 FEAF B-24's again attack A/F on Yap. B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and an assortment of FBs direct their main attacks against several shipping terminals in the Vogelkop Peninsula area, sink sub chaser off Morotai, bomb Saumlakki, and hit But A/F and personnel areas, barge hideouts, supply and ammo dumps, bridges and roads at, and to the W of, Wewak.
7/22/44 Seventh AF P-47's from Saipan, using fire-bombs for the first time, hit Tinian and Pagan. Makin-based B-25's pound Ponape.
7/22/44 Eleventh AF 2 B-25's flying negative shipping search encounter bmr which evades contact.
7/23/44 Eighth AF 243 HBs attack A/Fs at Juvincourt-et-Damary, Laon/Athies, and Creil, while a single B-24 bombs T/O.
1 HB is lost. Ftrs fly 187 sorties in spt of the HBs. No enemy aircraft are encountered.
7/23/44 Ninth AF 330-plus A-20's and B-26's bomb rail bridges along Argentan-Paris and Lisieux-Bernay-Evreux railroads, and hit fuel dumps at Foret de Conches. Ftrs escort bmrs, attack rail lines, enemy installations, and movements in Argentan-Alencon-Chartres-Evreux areas, and bomb bridges, strongpoints, and a supply dump in spt of US First Army.
7/23/44 Twelfth AF A-20's bomb and strafe motor transport in Po Valley during 22/23 Jul. B-25's and B-26's hit bridges and bridge approaches in the Valley, at or near Antoniassi, Acqui, Molare, Ferrara, Ostiglia, Borgoforte, and Cervo. FBs, operating in small numbers, hit comm lines between battle area (along Pisa-Florence line) and Po Valley.
7/23/44 Fifteenth AF 42 B-24's bomb Berat oil refinery. 15 P-51's provide tgt cover for the HBs and afterwards strafe roads and T/Os in Yugoslavia near Albanian border.
7/23/44 Tenth AF 100-plus FBs hit enemy positions in Myitkyina area, spt ground forces at Szigahtawng, bomb Kamaing and Mogaung areas, blast troops and supplies at Kalang, Kyungon, and Tinzai, and hit T/Os at Pegu, Namma, Sahmaw, Taungni, and Hopin. 9 B-25's hit Myitkyina and Naungtalaw areas while 8 bomb Namting.
7/23/44 Fourteenth AF 62 P-40's attack warehouses, trucks, and troops in Changsha-Sinshih-Fulinpu area, bomb A/F and river craft at Siangtan, hit enemy-held areas of Hengyang, and strafe and bomb troop compounds and villages N of it. 6 B-25's and 21 P-40's hit warehouses and railroad yards in Yellow R area. 10 P-40's hit Japanese positions on Salween front in spt of Chinese forces.
7/23/44 FEAF B-24's again bomb Yap I, hitting town area and A/F. A/Fs and shipping terminals over widespread areas of Vogelkop Peninsula and nearby islands are pounded by B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and FBs. But A/F is again the main tgt in NE New Guinea. Comm, supplies, barges, and troop concentrations from Wewak to Yakamul are also bombed and strafed throughout the day.
7/23/44 Seventh AF Saipan-based P-47's hit Tinian. B-25's begin arriving on Saipan. B-25's from Makin attack Nauru. B- 24's staging through Eniwetok, bomb Truk while others, flying out of Kwajalein, hit Wotje.
7/24/44 Eighth AF Eighth AF HBs are scheduled to participate in US First Army offensive (Operation COBRA) to penetrate German defenses W of Saint-Lo and secure Coutances. Bad weather causes the ground forces to delay attack until next day, and cloud conditions cause 1,102 HB aborts. In all, 352 HBs attack primary tgt area near Saint-Lo, and 132 bomb other points, including road intersections and railway lines. 405 ftrs of 10 gps fly spt sorties. Later 3 of the P-47 gps strafe ground tgts. 3 ftrs and 3 bmrs are lost.
7/24/44 Ninth AF 11 gps of bmrs scheduled to participate in Operation COBRA have missions cancelled due to weather.
5 gps of MBs hit rail bridges and 5 gps of MBs and LBs strike 3 fuel and ammo dumps. Ftrs fly escort to IX BC, fly area cover, bomb installations in Laval-NantesLe Mans-Chartres areas, and hit bridges and supply dumps in spt of US First Army.
7/24/44 Twelfth AF MBs attack bridges at Chivasso, Peschiera del Garda, Imperia, and Ronco Scrivia, and viaduct at Ovada. A-20's hit ammo supplies while FBs attack rail lines in Po Valley, destroying and damaging numerous railway cars, as US Fifth Army begins regrouping along the Arno.
7/24/44 Fifteenth AF More than 200 B-17's and B-24's attack tank repair and ball bearing works in Turin, the harbor at Genoa, A/Fs at Valence/La Tresorerie and Les Chanoines, and troop concentrations at Sjenica, Prijepolje, Pljevlja, and Andrijevica. Ftrs provide escort and strafe Prizren area.
7/24/44 Tenth AF 14 P-51's hit Kamaing and Mogaung areas while 28 P-40's hit Myitkyina. 8 B-25's bomb Mohnyin and Naungtalaw.
7/24/44 Fourteenth AF 13 B-25's and 20 P-40's bomb railroad facilities at Sienning. 22 P-40's pound Pailochi A/F, destroying about 30 airplanes and causing heavy destruction in general. 9 B-25's and 20 P-40's hit town of Puchi, causing several fires. 46 P40's hit river and road traffic, enemy concentrations, and T/Os at Changsha, Sinshih, Fulinpu, Hengshan, Liling, Leiyang, and Hengyang. In Canton area 7 P-51's divebomb White Cloud A/F and town of Tsingyun. 3 P-40's on armed rcn bomb Ben Thuy railroad yards and strafe junks and barges in coastal areas.
7/24/44 FEAF Operations in the Caroline Is are restricted to snooper strikes by HBs. Bad weather cancels scheduled strikes in Vogelkop Peninsula area. B-24's bomb AA positions at Saumlakki. 18 A-20's and a B-25 bomb But A/F, P-47's hit supply areas at Sauri, and P-39's bomb and strafe bridges and supply dumps in Suain area.
7/24/44 Seventh AF P-47's hit Tinian, on which US Marines land, and Rota. B-25's from Engebi bomb Ponape.
7/24/44 Eleventh AF 2 B-25's fly a negative shipping search.
7/25/44 Eighth AF HBs spt US First Army assault (Operation COBRA) with saturation bombing in VII Corps area in Marigny-Saint-Gilles region, just W of Saint-Lo. 1,495 HBs attack primary tgt and 13 bomb alternate tgt. Due to personnel error, bombs from 35 HBs fall within US lines. 102 US troops, including Gen McNair, are killed and 380 wounded. 485 ftrs execute escort assignments, including protection of Ninth AF MBs. Afterward 4 of the 10 gps strafe ground tgts, and 2 gps sweep inland and engage German ftrs. 5 HBs and 3 ftrs are lost to AA fire. Ftrs claim 12 aircraft destroyed in the air and 2 on the ground. Late in the afternoon 106 HBs dispatched to bomb tgt in Brussels area are recalled because of heavy cloud formations.
7/25/44 Ninth AF During the morning 11 gps of MBs and LBs attack tac tgts in vicinity of Saint-Lo in spt of US First Army. In afternoon 4 gps bomb bridges on the Seine and Loire. 42 MBs of IX BC, repeating errors of previous day, short-bomb behind US lines. Casualties again are concentrated in 30th Inf Div. Ftrs strafe and bomb military tgts in Saint-Lo area in spt of COBRA, fly area patrol and sweeps S of battle area, and carry out armed rcn against installations in Laval-Ghent-Amiens areas.
7/25/44 Twelfth AF A-20's hit storage dump and rail lines while MBs pound bridges in NW Italy at Borgo San Dalmazzo, Fossano, Albenga, Casale Monferrato, Cervo, Legnano, Rovigo, and Chivasso. FBs continue to attack comm in Po Valley, hitting numerous tgts and completely destroying railroad bridge at Crema.
7/25/44 Fifteenth AF 420 B-17's and B-24's bomb Hermann Goring tank works in Linz while other HBs hit Villach M/Y and T/Os in Austria and Yugoslavia. Ftrs provide escort and carry out sweeps. 175-200 enemy ftrs oppose the attacks. 21 US aircraft are lost. HBs and ftrs claim over 60 ftrs shot down. Operating from Russian FRANTIC bases, 34 P-51's and 33 P-38's attack A/F at Mielec and return to Russia.
7/25/44 Tenth AF 24 P-40's and P-51's hit tgts around Myitkyina, Kamaing, and Mogaung.
7/25/44 Fourteenth AF 24 B-24's bomb Yoyang, blasting storage area and railroad yards. 51 P-40's and P-51's attack road and river trafflc, troop compounds and cav units at Chaling, Siangsiang, Changsha, Siangyin, and Sinshih and NW of Hengyang. 27 P-40's escorting the B-24's over Yoyang claim 6 interceptors shot down. 11 FBs spt Chinese ground forces in Salween area.
7/25/44 FEAF B-24's bomb A/F and other tgts on Woleai. Bad weather again cancels strikes in Vogelkop Peninsula, but TCs complete 48 missions to Biak I despite the weather. Comm and troop concentration along coast in general area of Wewak are attacked throughout the day.
7/25/44 Seventh AF P-47's continue to hit Tinian and Pagan. B-24's, based at Kwajalein, bomb Truk.
7/26/44 Ninth AF Weather forces recall of several gps of MBs and LBs, assigned to spt US First Army, but about 160 aircraft manage to bomb fuel dump at Senonches with good results. Ftrs escort bmrs, fly cover over assault area, carry out close spt for ground troops in Saint-Lo area, and fly armed rcn in Poix, Amiens, Chartres, Laval, and Angers areas.
7/26/44 Twelfth AF During 25/26 Jul A-20's bomb roads and motor transport in Vado Ligure area and hit fuel supplies during following day. B-25's and B-26's hit bridges in N Italy at Ronco Scrivia, Vado, Asti, Ostiglia, Carasco, Verona, and Poggio Renatico. FBs attack road and rail bridges in N Italy at several points, strafe and bomb many gun positions, destroy or damage over 20 airplanes at Valence A/F, and hit numerous T/Os.
7/26/44 Fifteenth AF Ftrs on second shuttle mission leave Russian FRANTIC bases, strafe enemy aircraft in Bucharest- Ploesti area, and return to bases in Italy. 330-plus B-17's and B-24's attack Wiener Neudorf aircraft factory, A/F at Markersdorf, Thalerhof, Zwolfaxing, and Bad Voslau, and T/ Os in Vienna area. Also hit are Szombathely A/F and oil storage at Berat. Ftrs fly escort and carry out patrols and sweeps in Brod-Zagreb and Ploesti-Bucharest areas. HBs and ftrs claim over 70 airplanes shot down.
7/26/44 Tenth AF 42 P-40's pound Myitkylna area while 16 P-51's hit Mogaung and Kamaing sectors. About 20 other FBs hit T/Os at Hopin, Bhamo, Myothit, Wuntho, and N part of Mandalay. 9 B-25's bomb storage sheds at Mohnyin.
7/26/44 Fourteenth AF 27 B-25's and 3 P-40's blast town of Tengchung, breaching SE wall in several places. 32 P-40's and P-38's attack T/Os throughout Tengchung, Lungling, and Mangshih areas. 97 P-40's attack troops, horses, trucks, fortified points river shipping, and other T/Os at numerous locations in or near Siangtan, Changsha, Hengshan, Fulinpu, Leiyang, Pingkiang, Hengyang, Chaling, and Nanyo, A/F at Hengyang is also bombed.
7/26/44 FEAF B-24's again hit supply areas, comm, and other tgts on Woleai. Other B-24's bomb A/Fs at Babo and Ransiki. A-20's and B-25's, along with RAAF FBs, hit troop concentrations, small shipping, mortar positions, shore guns, and other T/Os along Hollandia-Aitape-Wewak coastline. B-25's bomb Langgoer.
7/26/44 Seventh AF P-47's and B-25's from Saipan pound Tinian. B-25's from Engebi attack Ponape.
7/27/44 Eighth AF 67 B-24's bomb coastal battery at Gravelines, GAF signals equipment at Brussels, and oil installations and industrial plants at Ghent. 79 HBs return to base without bombing due to low-lying haze which obscures coastal tgts. 3 ftr gps perform escort duty and strafe ground tgts, destroying aircraft, 2 vehicles, 2 locomotives, and some rolling stock. Only single ftr is lost.
7/27/44 Ninth AF Bad weather causes recall of MBs and LBs sent to bomb Loire and Seine bridges. Ftrs attack rail lines enemy installations and movements NW and SW of Paris, and bomb gun positions and other military tgts in the Coutances-Saint-Lo area in spt of US ground forces which break through W of Saint-Lo.
7/27/44 Twelfth AF A-20's fly night patrols on 26/27 Jul over Po Valley, bombing lights and vehicles at Piacenza, Modena, and Verona. Both MBs and FBs concentrate on bridges in Po Valley and NW Italy throughout the day.
Numerous hits are scored on bridges and other tgts, including parked airplanes, guns, and railroads.
7/27/44 Fifteenth AF 366 B-17's and B-24's bomb armament works at Budapest. 24 other B-24's attack Pecs M/ Y. P-38's and P-51's escort the Budapest mission.
7/27/44 Tenth AF 40-plus FBs hit Taungni. Myitkyina, Kamaing-Mogaung area, and bridge at Sahmaw.
7/27/44 Fourteenth AF 17 P-40's hit river and lake shipping S of Yogang and in Siangtan area, strafe truck columns S of Changsha, and bomb and strafe troops, horses, and compounds in Nanyo area.
7/27/44 FEAF B-24's hit A/F on Woleai and supply areas on Mariaon and Tagaulap Is. Other B-24's bomb A/ Fs at Lolobata and Miti while B-25's hit Galela A/F. B-24's and B-25's bomb shipping and air facilities at Ransiki, Moemi, and Babo, hit freighter in Kaiboes Bay, and bomb AA positions at Kokas, while A-20's blast fuel dumps at Nabire. P-39's strafe concentrations and small vessels along W coast of Geelvink Bay. A-20's, B-25's, and FBs hit troop concentrations, supply dumps, gun positions, barges, and a variety of other tgts along coast from Aitape to Wewak to Cape Moem. B-24's bomb Laha, Namlea, Cape Chater, and Dili.
7/27/44 Seventh AF P-47's and B-25's from Saipan hit Tinian. B-24's from the Marshalls bomb Truk. B-25's based at Makin, hit Jaluit.
7/28/44 Eighth AF 653 B-17's bomb synthetic oil plant at Merseburg while 57 others bomb Wiesbaden M/Ys and aircraft engine factory at Taucha. 437 ftrs fly supporting sorties and strafe ground tgts, destroying 8 locomotives and 7 trucks. 7 B-17's and 2 P-51's are lost. Bmr and ftr claims of aircraft destroyed total 7. 111 B-24's dispatched to bomb tgts in Brussels are recalled, along with escorting ftr gp, because of complete cloud cover over the tgt. 180 B-24's dispatched against tgts in France fail to bomb tgts because of heavy cloud. Ftrs fly 237 sorties in spt, and also strafe trains, destroying 2 locomotives and some rolling stock. No aircraft are lost.
7/28/44 Ninth AF Gen Schramm assumes cmd of IX ADC. IX BC operates in spt of US First Army, bombing rail bridges, supply dumps and ammo dumps in Foret de Conches, Dreux, and Le Mans areas. Ftrs escort bmrs, fly armed rcn in Le Mans, Laval, and Dreux areas and furnish cover over assault areas and armed columns.
7/28/44 Twelfth AF LBs bomb scattered lights and vehicles in Po Valley during 27/28 Jul. During day LBs, MBs, and FBs hit tgts in Po Valley, concentrating on bridges. Some FBs attack motor transport in Rhone Valley.
7/28/44 Fifteenth AF 345 B-17's and B-24's attack 2 oil refineries at Ploesti and M/Y at Florina. P-51's and P-38's provide spt for the Ploesti raid.
7/28/44 Tenth AF More than 100 FBs hit Myitkyina, Kamaing, Mogaung, and Taungni areas. 16 others attack T/Os at Bhamo, Indaw, Mohnyin, and hit bridge at Sihet. 8 B-25's pound troop area at Sihet.
7/28/44 Fourteenth AF 18 B-25's, with ftr spt, pound Yoyang railroad yards. Other B-25's in gps of 1 to 3 hit Yellow R bridge and White Cloud, Tien Ho, and Hankow A/Fs. 18 P-40's hit Pailochi A/F, destroying several airplanes.
30-plus P-40's and P-51's on armed rcn hit troop concentrations, river and road traffic and other T/Os at Leiyang, Chaling, Chinlanshih, and in Tungting Lake area.
7/28/44 FEAF Tgts in Woleai I are bombed by 4 sqs of B-24's; A/F and supply area are well covered. B-24's and A- 20's pound A/Fs at Manokwari and Babo, bivouac areas at Kasoeri, and shipping in Kaimana Bay. P- 39's hit Windissi and other Geelvink Bay villages. A-20's and FBs blast stores, troop concentrations, comm tgts, barges, and T/Os in Wewak, Cape Moem, and But areas. Laha and Cape Chater are hit by B-24's while B-25's bomb supply dumps at Maumere.
7/28/44 Seventh AF B-25's and P-47's based on Saipan bomb and strafe Tinian.
7/29/44 Eighth AF 568 B-17's bomb synthetic oil plant at Merseburg and 32 bomb T/Os in 2 nearby towns. Ftrs of 9 gps fly 477 sorties in spt of HBs; 2 gps later strafe ground tgts. A second force of 444 B-17's bombs oil refinery near Bremen. 2 P-51 gps fly escort. A third force of 74 B-24's escorted by 2 ftr gps attacks A/Fs at Laon/Couvrron and Juvincourt-et-Damary. Overall, 14 HBs and 7 ftrs are lost. Claims of airplanes destroyed amount to 26 by the HBs and 20 by the ftrs (including a jet aircraft near Bremen.)" 7/29/44 Ninth AF Bad weather cancels all IX BC missions. Ftrs fly armed rcn in Rouen, Amiens, Beaumont-en-Beine, Tours, Vendome, and Le Mans areas, furnish assault area cover, carry out armed rcn of enemy installations and movement in battle area, and provide cover in spt of US First Army.
7/29/44 Twelfth AF Weather cancels MB operations. FBs, operating on reduced scale, hit buildings at Diano Marina and bridges, rail lines, A/Fs, and vehicles in N Italy.
7/29/44 Fifteenth AF Weather cancels all bombing operations. 14 P-38's, taking off from Russian bases, sweep Kecskemet area.
7/29/44 Tenth AF About 100 FBs bomb Myitkyina, Kamaing, and Mogaung areas and strafe Indaw. More than 20 others attack tgts at Myothit, Chyahkan, Mainghka, Nawna and Nansawlaw, and hit bridge at Panghkam.
Troop area at Naungtalaw is bombed by 9 B-25's.
7/29/44 Fourteenth AF 26 B-24's bomb Samah Bay storage area. 27 B-25's hit Yulin harbor, Hankow A/F, Kaifeng railroad yards, and town of Tengchung. 80-plus P-40's and P-51's on armed rcn hit bridges, troops, supplies, and river, road, and rail traffic throughout vast area including towns of Liling, Sinsiang, Hengshan, Changsha, Siangtan, Chaling, Liuyang, and Chuchou.
7/29/44 FEAF B-24's bomb supply areas on Woleai I; nearby islands of Mariaon and Tagaulap are also hit. Other B- 24's bomb A/Fs at Boela, Namlea, and Cape Chater, and pound Moemi, Sagan, Otawiri, and Urarom.
MBs hit oil tgts at Karaka, shipping off Sorong and Cape Fatagar, and a supply village W of Babo. P- 39's bomb Windissi and strafe troop concentrations along W shore of Geelvink Bay for third consecutive day. In NE New Guinea bmrs and ftrs continue pounding the N coast, hitting troops, bridges and stores at Wewak and along Harech Creek, and T/Os in Yakamul area.
7/29/44 Twentieth AF Over 70 B-29's out of Chengtu bomb Showa Steel Works at Anshan and harbor at Taku. The first VHB to be shot down on a combat mission falls to 5 ftrs near Chenghsien (which the B-29 bombs after engine trouble causes abort from primary mission). Another B-29 bombs Chinwangtao before making forced landing at friendly field near Ankang.
7/29/44 Seventh AF P-47's continue to hit Tinian. B-24's hit Truk and B-25's attack Ponape.
7/29/44 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's fly bombing and rcn runs over Shimushu and Paramushiru sites including Kurabu Cape installations.
7/30/44 Eighth AF HQ issues order regularizing under VIII AF Comp Cmd certain special and prov units carrying out special tac activities. This is result of suggestion made on 2 Mar by Gen Doolittle, CG Eighth AF, that units engaged in CARPETBAGGER, H2X (blind-bombing), mgnt leaflet, and weather missions be put under centralized control.
7/30/44 Ninth AF 450-plus A-20's and B-26's bomb defenses in Chaumont area in spt of US First Army. Ftrs fly escort, cover assault area and armd columns, and carry out armd rcn in Orleans-Paris area. IX TCC flies supply and evacuation missions to Continent, using over 200 transport airplanes.
7/30/44 Twelfth AF During 29/30 Jul LBs bomb Savona and surrounding areas. Overcast in W Po Valley causes some MB aborts but several bridges at Ovada, Bistagno, Cherasco, and Ferrara are successfully attacked.
FBs attack road and rail bridges in N Italy, hit shipping between Savona and Ventimiglia, silence 8 flak guns at Ferrara bridge, and hit several transportation T/Os.
7/30/44 Fifteenth AF 300-plus B-17's and B-24's bomb Duna A/F and aircraft factory at Budapest, and M/Ys at Brod. P-38's and P-51's escort the missions.
7/30/44 Tenth AF 30-plus FBs attack Myitkyina and Kamaing-Mogaung area and hit bridge at Sihet. Japanese cmdr at Myitkyina orders withdrawal and commits suicide.
7/30/44 Fourteenth AF 11 B-24's pound town of Wuchang. 70-plus P-40's and P-51's attack bridge and town area at Liling, railroad yards at Hsuchang, and troop concentrations, storage, and road, river and rail trafflc in areas around Yungfengshih, Puchou, Hengyang, Chuchou, Chaling, Tungting Lake, and Liuyang. More than 20 P-40's and P-38's hit shipping and road trafflc around Hanoi, Lang Son, Dong Dang, Mon Cay, and Campha Port.
7/30/44 FEAF Supply area on Woleai I is again bombed by B-24's. Other B-24's and P-38's attack A/F and oil installations at Boela while more P-38's attack shipping off E Ceram, off Amboina, and near Talaga. B-25's hit A/Fs at Penfoei and Koepang. B-24's hit Morotai I. P-39's spt Allied ground forces on Biak I and continue to patrol W Geelvink Bay, hitting barges in Bentoni Bay and troops at Idorra. Allied forces (TF TYPHOON) land on N coast of Vogelkop Peninsula near Mar. The landings, made without preparatory bombardment to achieve surprise, meet no opposition. Bmrs and ftrs continue to pound troop concentrations, barges, ships, fuel dumps, comm and other tgts between Wewak and Aitape.
7/30/44 Seventh AF B-25's and P-47's from Saipan again hit Tinian. B-25's from Makin bomb Jaluit.
7/31/44 Eighth AF 651 B-17's supported by 5 P-51 gps bomb M/Ys at Munich and aero engine plants at MunichAllach, A/F at Schleissheim, and scattered T/Os. 8 P-51 gps give withdrawal spt. 447 B-24's, escorted beyond Dutch coast by 3 ftr gps, bomb chemical works and city at Ludwigshafen, and SW part of city of Mannheim. 85 B-24's escorted by a P-47 gp bomb A/Fs at Laon/Athies and Creil. 667 ftrs complete missions in spt of HBs and in weather scouting duties. 10 B-17's are lost at Munich and 6 B-24's at Ludwigshafen. Ftrs suffer 3 losses.
7/31/44 Ninth AF Around 500 A-20's and B-26's attack bridges on the Seine, Loire, Mayenne, and Ruisseau la Forge Rivers and a fuel dump at Foret de la Guerche. ftrs fly armd rcn of activities in Dieppe-Rouen areas, escort bmrs, provide armd column cover, dive-bomb military tgts in spt of US First Army and fly a few night intruder missions over enemy territory.
7/31/44 Twelfth AF Weather grounds MBs. FBs hit several bridges in W Po Valley while ftrs strafe A/Fs with good results.
The FBs also destroy around 50 railroad cars and damage numerous others.
7/31/44 Fifteenth AF 360-plus B-17's and B-24's, with ftr escort, bomb 2 oil refineries at Bucharest, 1 each at Ploesti and Doicesti, and oil storage at Targoviste.
7/31/44 Tenth AF 20 FBs hit Myitkyina, 11 attack Kamaing-Mogaung area, 12 bomb bridge at Mohnyin, 14 spt ground forces near Myitkyina, and 11 others hit T/Os at Sahmaw, Bilumyo, and Pinhe. 9 B-25's pound Hopin troop area. Japanese are in retreat down Tiddim road.
7/31/44 Fourteenth AF 12 B-24's bomb Wuchang railroad yards. B-25's, operating individually or in pairs, bomb Hengshan, Siangtan, and Hankow and attack Tien Ho, White Cloud, Hengyang, and Wuchang A/Fs. 60-plus P- 40's and P-51's attack troop compounds, town areas and road and river trafflc at several locations in or near Changsha, Hengyang, Kaishowkiao, Liling, Luchi, and Liuchow.
7/31/44 FEAF B-24's again strike Woleai. A/Fs at Lolobata and Galela also are hit by B-24's. P-39's continue to hit villages on W coast of Geelvink Bay. In NE New Guinea FBs continue pounding Japanese concentrations and T/Os on N coast, particularly between Wewak and Yakamul. A-20's spt Australian ground forces in Hansa Bay area, hitting troop positions W of Sepik R and troop concentrations at Singarin and Kopa.
7/31/44 Seventh AF B-25's and P-47's based on Saipan bomb and strafe Tinian. B-25's from Makin pound Nauru. B-24's from the Marshalls bomb Truk.
8/1/44 Eighth AF 191 B-17's drop supplies to French interior forces; 3 P-51 gps furnish escort. 75 B-17's bomb A/F at Tours; escort is flown by 1 P-51 gp. 387 B-17's escorted by 1 P-51 gp attack 5 A/Fs and a railway bridge in area S and SW of Paris. A fourth force of B-17's (320) is dispatched to bomb tgts in Paris environs. Bad weather causes over 100 aborts but 219 planes bomb 4 A/Fs, 5 bridges, railway facilities and a rail and highway junction, mostly T/Os. 3 ftr gps provide spt. The fifth force of 100 B-24's, sent against 8 V-weapon sites in NW France, runs afoul of bad weather which causes multiple aborts.
34 of the planes manage to bomb 3 sites. Another force of 156 B-24's is dispatched against 7 Vweapon sites in same area plus oil storage depot at Rouen. Bad weather prevents attacks on the sites but 85 HBs bomb the oil depot and railroad junction nearby. 4 ftr gps strafe rail and ground vehicles during course of day's actions. 5 bmrs and 3 ftrs are lost during the day.
8/1/44 Ninth AF XIX TAC becomes operational in conjunction with the US Third Army on the Continent. The Ninth's ftr and FB gps (Ninth AF refers to them collectively as FB gps) are divided between IX and XIX TACs.
About 250 MBs and LBs bomb rail bridges at Mezieres-sur-Seine, Maintenon, Les Ponts-de-Ce, Chartres, Cinq Mars-la-Pile, Bouchmaine, Nogent-sur-Loir, and Bourth. XIX TAC ftrs carry out armd rcn and rail bombing missions in Alencon, Dreux, Chartres, Nogent-sur-Loir, Le Mans, Sablesur- Sarthe, Laval and Sille-le-Philippe areas, while IX TAC ftrs fly armd column and assault area cover, and armed rcn in battle areas.
8/1/44 Twelfth AF MBs hit bridges in Po Valley, N of Genoa, at Canneto sull'Oglio, Balossa, Vigone, Ronco Scrivia, and Ovada, and M/Y at Imperia. FBs concentrate on A/F in Po Valley (at Villanova d'Albenga, Airasca, and Venaria Reale) hit small landing grounds throughout the area, and attack several comm tgts including roads, rail lines, bridges, and railroad cars.
8/1/44 Fifteenth AF Bad weather limits operations to rcn missions.
8/1/44 Tenth AF 8 B-26's bomb several points along railway from Naba to Hopin. FBs attack Shwegu, hit bridges in Mohnyin area, and spt ground forces in Myitkyina and Taungni sectors.
8/1/44 Fourteenth AF 8 B-25's bomb Wuchang A/F. 2 others hit town of Siangyin. More than 90 P-40's and P-51's on armed rcn hit trucks, troops, supplies, and river shipping in and around Hengyang, Leiyang, Sinshih, Hengshan, Liling, Changsha, and Siangyin. AF and railroad yards at Hengyang are also bombed.
8/1/44 FEAF B-24's bomb Utagal. Weather cancels scheduled strikes against Vogelkop Peninsula area, but a few MBs hit shipping in islands to the W, sinking luggers off Kaboe and Salawat Is and strafing troops on shores of MacCluer Gulf. The weather also restricts operations against Wewak area; a few P-39's strafe coastal trails. B-24's bomb Namlea A/F.
8/1/44 AAFPOA Army Air Forces Pacific Ocean Areas is activated at Hickam Field with Gen Millard Harmon as CG.
Harmon is to be responsible to Gen Robert C Richardson, Jr, CG, USAFPOA, for logistics and administration, and to Adm Nimitz, CINCPOA, for operations of AAF air units except those of Twentieth AF.
Harmon also is Dep Cmdr of Twentieth AF and is responsible directly to Gen Arnold in all matters affecting the Twentieth in POA.
8/1/44 Seventh AF Seventh AF comes under control of AAFPOA. Makinbased B-25's hit Ponape. Organized resistance ends on Tinian. P-47's and P-61's on Saipan will continue steady daylight and night combat patrols and strikes almost around the clock to the fall of Guam on 10 Aug. Most of the P-47 flying is devoted to neutralizing A/Fs on Pagan and Rota and to direct spt of Marine and Army forces fighting on Saipan, Guam, and Tinian.
8/2/44 Eighth AF 2d and 3d Bomb Divs fly 2 late afternoon operations against tgts in France. 289 B-17's and B-24's attack 12 tgts including oil dumps and depots, supply depots, railway bridges, junctions, canal lock, A/Fs, and M/Ys. 3 P-51 gps provide escort, 2 of them later strafing rail and highway traffic NE of Paris.
In the second mission, over 390 HBs attack 15 V-weapon sites, 5 bridges, an A/F, and a rail junction and bridge. 5 P-51 gps provide escort and 3 of these gps later strafe rail transportation tgts. Overall losses for the day's operations total 6 HBs and 6 ftrs, most to AA fire. No enemy aircraft are encountered.
8/2/44 Ninth AF IX BC halts bombing of bridges, fuel dumps, and similar tgts in Brittany except on request of 12th Army Gp, as US Third Army wants use of bridges access to all fuel they may find in their adv across France. Around 300 A-20's and B-26's attack bridges at Mezieres-sur-Seine, Mainvillers, Cinq Mars-la- Pile, Nantes, and Lisle, and ammo dumps at Caudebec-les-Elbeuf and Le Lude. Ftrs fly armed rcn in wide areas surrounding Paris and SW as far as Laval, escort IX BC, and provide cover for armd columns and close spt for ground forces.
8/2/44 Twelfth AF MBs strike at bridges near border between Italy and France, doing some damage at Gilette, Taggia, Alessandria, and at 2 points along the Var R. FBs pound bridges and A/Fs in NW Italy and S France and attack T/Os in the area.
8/2/44 Fifteenth AF 330-plus B-17's and B-24's attack Genoa harbor and hit tgts in S France, including Le Pouzin oil storage, Portes-les-Valences torpedo factory and M/Y, Le Pontet oil storage, and Avignon railroad bridges.
P-38's and P-51's provide escort.
8/2/44 Tenth AF P-51's, P-47's, and A-36's spt ground forces in Taungni area. P-51's and P-47's on patrols and armed rcn hit various T/Os around Katha, Mainghka, Meza, Helon, Mohnyin, Bilumyo, and Namma. P-40's attack gun positions and strongpoints at Myitkyina.
8/2/44 Fourteenth AF 11 B-25's and 32 P-40's and P-38's bomb and strafe town of Tengchung. 9 P-40's and P-38's damage bridge at Tingka. Yangtze R shipping and supplies are attacked at Shihlipu by 8 P-40's.
8/2/44 FEAF B-24's bomb A/F at Yap I. A-20's bomb Nabire A/F while in Wewak area bmrs and ftrs hit bridge and A/F at Boram and bridges, comm lines, troop concentrations, and other tgts along coastline, especially between But and Cape Karawop. MBs and HBs carry out wide sweeps over the Moluccas and Lesser Sunda Is, hitting A/Fs at Maumere, Amahai, and Liang, and shipping off Ceram and Amboina. HBs hit Cape Chater and Lautem while MBs bomb camp near Poeloeti. FBs hit Mapia I and coastal vessels and shore tgts at Talaud.
8/3/44 Eighth AF In early afternoon nearly 400 B-17's and B-24's bomb M/Ys in France and 1 in Germany, an oil refinery in Germany, and an A/F, road and rail junctions, bridges, and a few individual tgts in France. 3 of the 6 P-51 gps providing escort later strafe transportation tgts and A/Fs. 12 aircraft are claimed destroyed. 6 HBs and 6 P-51's are lost. Later in the afternoon 515 bmrs attack 20 V-weapon sites in France. 2 A/Fs and a railroad bridge and a junction in France, 2 oil refineries and a storage depot in Belgium, 4 oil facilities in France, a road and rail bridge in the Netherlands, and M/Ys in Belgium. 6 ftr gps provide uneventful escort. One HB is lost.
8/3/44 Ninth AF 180-plus A-20's and B-26's bomb rail bridges, overpasses, and junctions at Mantes-la-Jolie, Chartres, La Chenaie and Merey, fuel dump at Maintenon, and alternate rail tgts in N France. Ftrs escort IX BC bmrs and a few C-47's, provide cover for ground forces, and fly armed rcn over wide areas of N and W France.
8/3/44 Twelfth AF MBs achieve fair results in attacks on bridges at Gilette, Levens, Lesegno, Albenga, and Asti, and at 2 locations along Var R. FBs have successful day against comm tgts (mainly road and railroad bridges) and A/Fs in N Italy. At least 15 bridges are damaged or demolished and several parked aircraft are destroyed.
8/3/44 Fifteenth AF More than 600 B-17's and B-24's hit industry in Friedrichshafen area, including chemical works, fabric works, and 2 aircraft factories, and bomb comm tgts in Brenner Pass area, attacking Avisio viaduct and bridges at Ora and San Michele all'Adige. Ftrs fly about 300 sorties in spt. HBs and ftrs claim 18 enemy aircraft shot down. 11 US airplanes are destroyed.
8/3/44 Tenth AF B-25's bomb Wanling, knock out bridge at Panghkam, and attack bridges along the railroad from Naba to Myitkyina. P-51's and P-47's spt ground forces N of Taungni and near Sahmaw, hit towns of Shwegu and Mosit, attack factory area at Mohnyin, and pound boats, troop concentrations, and gun positions at Myitkyina and Maingna.
8/3/44 Fourteenth AF 23 B-24's bomb town of Yoyang. 6 B-25's hit Mangshih. Nearly 150 P-40's, P-51's, and P-38's on armed rcn attack T/Os, including A/Fs, troops, town areas, supply areas, and rail, road, and river traffic at numerous locations, including areas of Tengchung, Tingka, Mangshih, Loyang, Changsha, Hengyang, Tangyang, Chingmen, Chaling, Siangyin, Nanchang, Siangtan, Hengshan, Chuchou, Ikiawan, and Leiyang.
8/3/44 FEAF B-24's bomb Yap and islands in Woleai group. Bad weather cancels scheduled strikes over Vogelkop Peninsula area, However, MBs hit troop concentrations at Bira and other points on MacCluer Gulf, bomb Urarom, and spt Allied ground forces on Biak by hitting troops in Korim Bay area. An ammo dump and oil derrick at Boela are also destroyed. Supply dumps, comm tgts, and bridges are hit as FBs and A-20's continue to blast areas around But, Dagua, and Wewak.
8/3/44 Seventh AF VII Air Serv Area Cmd is activated. B-24's from the Marshalls pound Truk.
8/4/44 Eighth AF In late morning and mid-afternoon raids, over 1,250 HBs attack 4 oil refineries, 4 aircraft factories, 4 A/Fs, Peenemunde experimental establishment, and torpedo plants in Germany, 2 coastal batteries in Pas de Calais area, and 2 V-weapon sites, 2 A/Fs, a M/Y, a railroad crossing, and a bridge in NW France. All of the Eighth's 15 ftr gps spt the operations, flying 782 sorties. HBs claim 3 airplanes destroyed and ftrs claim 39 destroyed in air and 15 on ground. Strafing claims include numerous items of rolling stock. 14 HBs and 15 ftrs are lost during the day.
8/4/44 Ninth AF 62 A-20's and B-26's bomb rail bridges at Oissel, Epernon, and Saint-Remy-sur-Avre and an ammo dump and bivouac area in Foret de Sille. Ftrs furnish cover over battle area and for an armd column, fly sweeps, dive-bomb enemy positions and also fuel dumps at Angers, attack ammo dump at Tours, and fly armed rcn in Quimper-Nantes, Amines, and Saint-Quentin areas.
8/4/44 Twelfth AF Weather severely hampers the day's operations. MBs attacking bridges at Levens, Ventimiglia, Fontan, and along Var R achieve poor results. FBs in same general area hit bridges, tracks, guns, junction, and A/F, and strike at Nice harbor.
8/4/44 Fifteenth AF In an attempt to comply with the first direct Soviet request for AAF air strikes, 70-plus P-38's and P- 51's leave Italy, attack A/F and town of Focsani and land at FRANTIC bases in USSR.
8/4/44 Tenth AF B-25's bomb town of Sahmaw in spt of advancing Allied ground forces. P-51's also spt ground forces in the Sahmaw-Taungni area. FBs hit various tgts, including town areas, gun positions, troops, and comm lines in or near Shwegu Pinbaw, Kazu, Bhamo, Myitkyina, Bilumyo, Mawhe, Mainghka, and Onsansaing.
8/4/44 Fourteenth AF 20 B-25's bomb town of Mangshih and A/Fs at Lashio and Hsenwi. 32 P-40's hit town area and T/Os at Tengchung. 70 P-40's attack troops, supplies, river shipping, and trucks at several points in Tungting Lake-Yangtze R region. 4 P-38's knock out 2 bridges at Mongyu.
8/4/44 FEAF B-24's bomb supply area on Utagal I and A/F at Yap. Other B-24's bomb oil installations at Boela and attack Faan. B-25's and A-20's hit oilfields at Klamono and at Kasim I and bomb Nabire A/F. P-39's strafe Pegun I. A-20's and FBs in spt of Allied forces pound enemy concentrations, supplies, and barges E of Driniumor R, at Abau, S of Torricelli Range, at Boram, and just W of Wewak.
8/4/44 Seventh AF Saipan-based B-25's fly 2 strikes against Guam. B-25's staging from the Marshalls, hit Ponape.
8/4/44 Eleventh AF 4 P-38's accompanied by 1 B-25 fly top cover for naval force near Massacre Bay. 4 MBs fly an uneventful shipping sweep.
8/5/44 Eighth AF In the morning 1,062 HBs strike Magdeburg-Brunswick-Hannover region, bombing oil, aircraft, and engine works and A/F. 14 ftr gps provide spt, 657 airplanes completing sorties. The HBs and ftrs encounter about 100 ftrs and claim 30 destroyed. The ftrs of 6 gps fly strafing missions against highway and rail trafflc and several A/Fs. 14 HBs and 6 ftrs are lost. During afternoon 38 B-17's, escorted by P-51 gp bomb 6 V-weapon sites and an A/F in France. No losses are suffered.
8/5/44 Ninth AF In order that operations controlled by Ninth AF be developed in close association with HQ 12th Army Gp, the Ninth's HQ at Uxbridge and Grandcamp-les-Bains are closed and a single HQ opened the following day (6 Aug) at Saint-Sauveur-Lendelin near both Adv HQ 12th Army Gp and Adv HQ AEAF.
50th and 53rd TC Wgs of IX TCC are attached to MAAF for purpose of forming, with 51st TC Wg, a Prov TC AirDiv to handle the airborne phase of the invasion of S France. 300-plus A-20's and B-26's bomb Saint-Malo harbor and Foret de Sille fuel dump during 4/5 Aug, and during the day, rail bridges at 6 cities in N and W France, and M/Y at Compiegne. Ftrs furnish cover for ground forces and fly armed rcn over wide areas of N France.
8/5/44 Twelfth AF Weather again restricts operations. A-20's on armed rcn in Po Valley during 4/5 Aug attack lights and vehicles. FBs fly a few unsuccessful missions against bridges.
8/5/44 Tenth AF 14 B-25's bomb town area of Taungni and stores area at Bilumyo. 50 P-51's also pound Taungni area.
21 P-47's attack T/Os throughout widespread area around Bhamo.
8/5/44 Fourteenth AF 15 B-25's bomb town of Wanling. 3 hit Lashio A/F. 36 P-40's again pound Tengchung. In Tungting Lake area 50-plus P-40's attack comm tgts, troops, and numerous trucks.
8/5/44 FEAF B-24's bomb personnel and supply areas on Yap. Other B-24's bomb oil facilities at Boela while B-25's hit villages and small boats near Seleman Bay and afterwards bomb Besar I. B-24's attack seaplane anchorage at Kokas while P-39's strafe barges in W Geelvink Bay area. Despite bad weather, P-39's manage to hit Luain gun positions and ammo dump. A few B-24's bomb Sasa A/F.
8/5/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Saipan fly 2 strikes against Guam.
8/5/44 Eleventh AF A weather mission is followed by a shipping sweep flown by 2 MBs which is aborted early due to weather.
8/6/44 Eighth AF The Eighth strikes 5 aircraft and engine factories, torpedo plant, 7 oil refineries, and an A/F in Berlin and Hamburg-Kiel areas, and 2 V-weapon sites in Pas de Calais area. 953 HBs attack their tgts. 25 fail to return. The 554 ftrs in spt lose 6 of their number. Total claims of enemy airplanes destroyed amount to 34. The bombing is very effective and 10 major tgts are severely damaged during one of the best days the Eighth experiences. In conjunction with the operations against the Berlin and Hamburg-Kiel areas, the Eighth begins its second shuttle-bombing mission to the USSR. 78 B-17's are dispatched, but 3 return to UK due to mechanical troubles. The HB formation is met by a P-51 gp 60 mi E of Jutland. 75 B-17's bomb aircraft factory at Rahmel, near Gdynia, with good results. Another P-51 gp picks up the formation as it withdraws toward USSR. No aircraft are lost and the HBs land at Poltava and Mirgorod while the P-51's land at Piryatin.
8/6/44 Ninth AF MBs and LBs hit bridges, fuel and ammo dumps, and a locomotive depot at Beauvais, Beaumont-sur- Sarthe, Courtalain, Foret de Perseigne, and Blois. Ftrs escort IX BC and furnish cover to ground troops in Vire, Rennes, and Redon areas.
8/6/44 Twelfth AF MBs strike bridges in SE France in Rhone Valley and areas to the E, in or near Tarascon and Arles, and along Var R. FBs enjoy successful day against tgts in NW Italy and SE France, including bridges, railroad lines, motor transport, trains, roads, A/Fs, and town areas, plus shipping at Imperia, Genoa, and La Spezia.
8/6/44 Fifteenth AF 60 ftrs take off from Soviet FRANTIC bases, attack Craiova M/Y and other railroad tgts in Bucharest- Ploesti area, and land at Italian bases. Close to 700 B-17's and B-24's, operating against tgts in SE France, attack oil storage at Le Pouzin, Le Pontet, and Lyon, railroad bridges at Le Pouzin, Avignon, Tarascon, Rambert, and Givors, M/Ys at Portes-les-Valences and Miramas, and submarine pens at Toulon. 43 P-38's dive-bomb A/Fs at Orange/Plan de Dieu, and Valence. P-38's and P-51's fly about 200 sorties in spt of bombing missions.
8/6/44 Tenth AF 6 B-25's bomb town area of Mohnyin while 2 others destroy bridge at Hsenwi. 21 P-51's hit 4 railroad bridges in the Naba-Pinbaw area, destroying 2 of them. P-51's and P-47's hit numerous T/Os at Mohnyin, Hopin, Bhamo, Myothit, Katha, Indaw, and other points in N Burma. A few P-40's strafe T/Os in Myitkyina area.
8/6/44 Fourteenth AF 28 P-40's again pound Tengchung. 47 P-40's and P-51's hit trucks, troop compounds, and gun positions in Hengyang area. 19 P-40's attack sampans and trucks around Changsha. 20 others hit supplies, trucks, barracks, and T/Os at Chefang and Mangshih, between Changsha and Hengyang, and between Siangyin and Siangtan.
8/6/44 FEAF Yap supply area is bombed by B-24's. Heavy frontal weather activity over Vogelkop Peninsula and the Moluccas cancels strikes in that area. On the mainland of New Guinea, MBs and ftrs, though restricted by weather, spt ground operations near Sarmi, hit gun positions at Dagua, and strafe fuel dumps and T/Os at Cape Djeruen.
8/6/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Saipan strike Guam twice. B-25's flying out of the Marshalls hit Ponape, and others from the Gilberts hit Nauru. B-24's from Kwajalein bomb Wotje.
8/7/44 Eighth AF Shuttle mission continues from USSR. In accordance with Soviet request, tgt is oil refinery in Poland.
57 B-17's and 37 P-51's are dispatched. 55 HBs (2 return to base early) bomb refinery at Trzebinia. P- 51's engage 6 to 8 enemy ftrs over tgt and claim destruction of 3 of them. The airplanes return to FRANTIC bases in USSR. In UK 902 HBs, supported by 10 ftr gps, are dispatched to bomb oil dumps and bridges in France. Cloud conditions cause multiple aborts, but 483 HBs bomb 11 oil dumps, 5 bridges, 3 A/Fs, and an M/Y. 3 HBs are lost. 8 gps of FBs attack M/Ys and rail transportation N and E of Paris.
8/7/44 Ninth AF To maintain close association with ground forces, IX TAC and XIX TAC constitute mobile units to accompany Adv HQ of US First and Third Armies, respectively, as they adv rapidly to the E. Gen Brereton relinquishes cmd of Ninth AF to become CG First Allied Airborne Army. 380-plus A-20's and B-26's bomb bridges at Nogent-sur-Seine and Neuvy-sur-Loire. Ftrs escort IX BC, furnish defensive cover in Vire, Laval, and Rennes areas, and spt ground forces in assault area.
8/7/44 Twelfth AF A-20's bomb shipping at Monaco, Genoa, Finale Ligure, and Alassio during 6/7 Aug. During day, B- 25's and B-26's bomb bridges at Les Censies, Ventimiglia, La Voultesur-Rhone, Livron, Avignon, and Pont-Saint-Esprit. FBs hit rail and road bridges, M/Ys at Alessandria and Albenga, shipping at Imperia and Nice, and A/Fs in NW Italy and S France.
8/7/44 Fifteenth AF 353 B-17's and B-24's bomb 2 synthetic oil refineries at Blechhammer; over 300 ftrs provide spt. 76 B- 24's hit Alibunar A/F and Novi Sad oil facilities. HBs and ftrs claim nearly 30 aircraft shot down.
8/7/44 Tenth AF B-25's destroy 2 bridges, damage 2 others, and hit T/Os in areas around Naba and Mawhun. FBs attack Mohnyin, Myothit, and Pinbaw, hit motor pool at Namana, damage 2 bridges S of Bhamo, and attack T/Os during sweeps of Onbauk A/F and town of Bhamo. FBs also spt ground forces in Taungni area.
8/7/44 Fourteenth AF 87 P-40's hit Hengyang and trucks, troops, and gun positions in the surrounding area. 21 P-40's bomb Changsha, 4 hit rivercraft at Siangsiang, 4 bomb wall at Tengchung, and 6 attack Hsiaoshuipu.
8/7/44 FEAF B-24's bomb power plant, AA positions, and barracks area on Yap, phosphate plant on Fais I, and A/Fs at Galela and Lolobata, where 35-50 aircraft are destroyed or damaged.
8/7/44 Seventh AF Saipan-based B-25's hit Guam twice during the day.
8/8/44 Eighth AF Shuttle mission continues as B-17's with P-51 escort, leave bases in USSR. While 36 hit Buzau A/F others hit A/F at Zilistea. No ftrs are encountered during mission. 359 B-24's from UK bomb 10 Vweapon sites and 4 A/Fs in NE France. 6 P-51 gps provide escort. 2 gps bomb and 3 gps strafe rail facilities and rail and motor transportation with good results. 497 B-17's bomb troop concentrations and strongpoints and T/Os S of Caen. 2 P-51 gps give spt, 1 later strafing traffic in Rouen area. 10 HBs and 4 P-51's are lost, mostly to AA fire. 4 gps of FBs (163 planes) strafe and bomb M/Ys, a bridge, and T/Os N and W of Dijon and in Paris-miens-Saint-Quentin area. Eighth AF during the day and RAF during 7/8 Aug drop over 5,200 tons of bombs, mainly in spt of Canadian First Army (accompanied by a Polish armd div) offensive toward Falaise.
8/8/44 Ninth AF Gen Vandenberg assumes cmd of Ninth AF. 406 B-26's and A-20's bomb rail embankment and bridges at 8 locations in N and W France, attack radar installations between Argentan and Alencon, and give tac spt to ground forces near Saint-Malo. Ftrs escort IX BC, give defensive air cover, and fly armed rcn E of Paris and in battle area.
8/8/44 Twelfth AF MBs attack tgts in Po and Rhone Valleys, hitting bridges and railroad tracks in or near Alessandria, Avignon, and Pont-Saint-Esprit, and along Var R. A-20's hit storage dump and nearby town of Savigliano. FBs hit barge in San Stefano al Mare harbor and pontoon and railroad bridges nearby, and attack Mantua causeway and nearby bridges, scoring many hits and destroying several vehicles.
8/8/44 Fifteenth AF Bad weather limits operations to rcn missions.
8/8/44 Tenth AF B-25's are weathered out of their primary tgt, the town of Shwekyina. The MBs hit alternates, destroying Meza bridge and damaging 3 others, and bombing railroad tracks at several points between Naba and Meza. Weather severely curtails FB missions.
8/8/44 Fourteenth AF 6 B-25's and 7 P-40's bomb storage area in Hengshan and destroy several trucks in the area. 29 P- 40's hit gun positions and T/Os in Hengyang vicinity. 14 P-51's and P-40's hit bridge, trucks, and river craft at Siangtan while 8 blast trucks, barges, and compound between Siangtan and Hengyang. 12 P- 40's attack river shipping from Sinti to Hankow. 15 P-40's bomb storage areas and radio stations at Amoy and Swatow.
8/8/44 FEAF B-24's bomb Yap and GagilTomil Is, concentrating on airstrips, A/Fs at Galela, Lolobata, and Babo, and towns of Urarom and Manokwari. A-20's bomb radio station near Hollandia and hit troop concentrations in Musu area. FBs bomb bridges and buildings at Boram, troops at But, and guns at Dagua.
8/8/44 Seventh AF Saipan-based B-25's bomb Guam where effective resistance ends. B-25's from the Marshalls hit Ponape while B-24's bomb Truk.
8/9/44 Eighth AF More than 500 HBs attack aircraft engine plant at Sindelfingen and several T/Os, including M/Ys at Saarbrucken, Luxembourg, and Saint-Vith. 18 HBs are lost, mostly to AA fire. 15 ftr gps fly 570 sorties in spt, claiming 33 aircraft destroyed in air and 30 on ground, plus numerous ground tgts in strafing attacks. 15 FB gps bomb and strafe rail tgts, including 12 M/Ys, in France. 325th Photographic Wg (Rcn) is activated to replace 8th Rcn Wg (Prov).
8/9/44 Ninth AF Close to 400 MBs and LBs attack ammo dump in Foret de Blois, shipping at Brest, and other tgts, including rail bridges at 10 locations in N and W France. Ftrs escort IX BC, cover ground forces, and fly armed rcn in wide areas of N France (around Paris, as far S as Orleans, and as far NE as Reims and Chalonssur-Marne).
8/9/44 Twelfth AF MB efforts are restricted by bad weather. However, during 8/9 Aug A-20's hit tgts along coastal road from Nice to Genoa, and during the day B-25's hit railroad at Ventimiglia and B-26's attain excellent results on Bergamo/Orio al Serio AF. FBs sink motor vessel in Imperia harbor and attack railroad facilities in NW Italy.
8/9/44 Fifteenth AF Around 400 B-24's and B-17's, with ftr escorts, bomb 2 A/Fs and an oil refinery at Budapest, rolling stock plant and aircraft assembly plant at Gyor, and M/Y and oil refinery at Brod.
8/9/44 Tenth AF 24 FBs spt ground forces in Taungni-Sahmaw area. Several others unsuccessfully attack bridge N of Hopin and bomb town of Tagwin.
8/9/44 Fourteenth AF 6 B-25's bomb compound and vehicle shed on NE edge of Hengyang. 36 P-40's and P-51's attack trucks, gun positions, and buildings at several points in Hengyang-Siangtan area. 21 P-51's and P- 40's knock out pontoon bridge and hit junks and sampans at Changsha, and attack rivercraft at points along the C Yangtze.
8/9/44 FEAF B-24's blast AA positions in 3 different areas of Yap I. Other B-24's bomb A/Fs at Boela and at Liang.
A-20's hit shipping facilities at Asap I and bomb Nabire A/F. Ftrs strafe villages S of Manokwari. B-25's bomb forces on N coast of Waigeo I. A-20's and FBs hit troops at Dagua and near Haur and bomb stores at Cape Moem and machineguns at Cape Wom.
8/10/44 Eighth AF 45 P-51's in Italy during FRANTIC mission are dispatched with Fifteenth AF aircraft to escort on a troop carrier evacuation mission. Over 150 B-24's from UK bomb 2 bridges and 3 fuel dumps SE of Paris, plus T/O near Brienon-sur-Armancon. 5 ftr gps and a sq afford escort, claiming 8 airplanes destroyed in combat. Rail and transportation facilities are strafed in Paris, Troyes, Dreux, Chartres and Evreux areas. 11 gps of FBs, in 2 operations, bomb large number of rail and highway transportation tgts, including 15 M/Ys S and E of Paris, and along French-Belgian border.
8/10/44 Ninth AF Almost 200 MBs and LBs bomb rail bridges and embankments in wide areas around Paris. Ftrs escort bmrs, spt ground forces, give defensive cover, and fly armed rcn in battle areas and around Amiens, Paris, Cambrai, Meaux, Dijon, and Troyes.
8/10/44 Twelfth AF MB and LB missions are cancelled by bad weather. FBs, operating on reduced scale, hit gun positions along S coast of France in preparation for Allied invasion of S France (Operation DRAGOON).
8/10/44 Fifteenth AF More than 450 HBs, with ftr escort, hit 6 oil refineries in Ploesti area.
8/10/44 Tenth AF 9 B-25's bomb town of Shwekyina. A few P-51's spt ground forces by hitting railroad station at Mingon.
8/10/44 Fourteenth AF 9 P-40's strafe Taiyuan A/F claiming more than 20 aircraft destroyed. 16 P-40's destroy 4 trucks and damage about 50 others at Siangtan and in Changsha area. 2 P-40's strafe numerous junks along S China coast.
8/10/44 FEAF B-24's attack Y