USAAF in WW II - 16 February

MONDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 1942

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

ZONE OF INTERIOR (3d Air Force): 34th and 37th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 17th Bombardment Group (Medium), transfer from Pendleton Field, Oregon to Columbia AAB, South Carolina with B-25's and continues ASW patrols.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): HQ 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) and 7th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) transfer from Melbourne to Bankstown, Australia with P-40's; the 8th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) transfers from Melbourne to Canberra with P-40's. Air echelon of the 16th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light), transfers from Brisbane to Batchelor, Australia with A-24's. The ground echelon is on Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands.

TUESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 1943

AIRCRAFT MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:

  A-20, Douglas Havoc

  B-17, Boeing Flying Fortress

  B-24, Consolidated Liberator

  B-25, North American Mitchell

  F-5, Lockheed Lightning

  L-4, Piper Cub

  Liberator, Consolidated

  P-38, Lockheed Lightning

  P-40, Curtiss

  Spitfire, Vickers Supermarine

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force)

In the Aleutians, a weather reconnaissance aircraft flies over Kiska, Attu, Agattu, the Semicis and Buldir Islands.  Five B-24s, 6 B-25s, 6 P-38s and 1 B-25 photographic aircraft take off for Kiska but do not attack due to weather.  One P-40, accompanying several P-38s on the Amchitka Island fighter patrol, lands on Amchitka strip; an afternoon patrol of 7 P-40s and 1

transport also land at the strip which is now safe for limited operations.

CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force)

A detachment of the 22d Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group with P-40s and P-39s which has been operating from Zandery Field, Surinam since 16 Sep 42 returns to its base at Waller Field, Trinidad.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Tenth Air Force)

In Burma, 18 P-40s hit targets of opportunity in the Nsopzup and Hpunkizup areas.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)

VIII Bomber Command Mission 36:  71 B-17s of the 1st Bombardment Wing and 18 B-24s of the 2d Bombardment Wing are dispatched against the locks and U-boat base at Saint-Nazaire, France; 59 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop 160 tons of bombs between 1052 and 1055 hours local.  We claim 20 Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed, 12 probably destroyed and 2 damaged; we lose 6 B-17s and 2 B-24s with 28 B-17s and 2 B-24s damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 7 WIA and 81 MIA.

Spitfire Mk Vs of the 4th Fighter Group fly 34 uneventful sorties on fighter patrols. The 13th Photographic Squadron (Light), 3d Photographic Group with F-5s and L-4s transfers from Podington to Mount Farm, England.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)

 In Crete, RAF Liberators under operational control of the IX Bomber Command bomb Heraklion Airfield during the night of 16/17 Feb. In Tunisia, the British Eighth Army's 7 Armored Division drives into Ben Gardane, an outpost of the Mareth Line. The 83d and 434th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 12 Bombardment Group (Medium) with B-25s transfer from Gambut, Libya to Castel Benito, Libya. The 345th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy) with B-24s transfers from Tobruk, Libya to Benina, Libya.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Twelfth Air Force)

In the Mediterranean, B-25s dispatched on a shipping mission abort due to weather. In Tunisia, all heavy and medium bomber operations are cancelled due to weather.  A-20s, in support of hard-pressed Allied ground forces, bomb gun positions west of Sidi bou Zid.  Fighters fly repeated strafing missions against troops and vehicles in the Gafsa area. The 85th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 47th Bombardment Group (Light) with A-20s transfers from Thelepte, Tunisia to Youks-les-Bains, Algeria due to the German assault.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force)

Rear Admiral Charles P Mason becomes Commander Aircraft Solomon Islands COMAIRSOLS) with operational control of all Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), USAAF, USMC and USN aircraft in the Solomon Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force)

In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s bomb a warehouse at Ubili on New Britain Island.

In New Guinea, B-25s bomb Malahang Airfield and strafe targets of opportunity on the Salamaua peninsula.

WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

 

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, A-36s and P-51s hit supply dumps, troop concentrations and an encampment area near Myitkyina, Kamaing, Tonkin and Walawbum; B-25s and P-51s destroy 3 locomotives at Kyaingkwin.   118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, AAF, India-Burma Sector (attached to Tenth Air Force), arrives at Gushkara, India from the US with P-51s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 2 B-25s knock out a railroad bridge at Yen Bay, French Indochina and damage 2 other bridges to the S near the coast.   74th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, based at Kweilin with P-40s, sends a detachment to Liuchow.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, B-24s, unescorted, bomb marshalling yards at Pontassieve, Siena, Poggibonsi and Prato, a bridge at Cecina, and a railroad and highway near Rieti.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s bomb the Orte marshalling yard and attack the Campoleone area; B-26s bomb San Stefano al Mare and hit the area near the Perugia railroad bridge, a bridge N of Orvieto, a factory near the Marsciano bridge and a bridge at Albinia Station; A-20s, with RAF and South African Air Force (SAAF) Baltimores and Spitfires,

hit concentrations in the Anzio battle area; A-36s bomb the Rome/Tiburtina and Rome/Ostiense marshalling yards in the Rome area; P-40s attack Monte Cassino Abbey, pound tanks, trucks, and troop concentrations along the US Fifth Army front, and hit the towns of Fondi and Roccasecca; fighters over Anzio encounter increased air effort in conjunction with an all-out ground offensive against the Allied beachhead.   61st Troop Carrier Squadron, 314th Troop Carrier Group, begins a movement from Castelvetrano, Sicily to England with C-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Tarawa Atoll bomb

Wotje Atoll and Taroa Island in Maloelap Atoll; P-40s from Makin Island fly 2 bombing-strafing strikes against Jaluit Atoll; A-24s bomb Mille Atoll.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 12 B-24s, with 30+ P-38s and USN F4Us, pound the runway at Vunakanau Airfield on New Britain Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 40+ B-25s attack a convoy off New Hanover Island. 30+ B-24's bomb Panapai Airfield and Kavieng on New Ireland Island, and some hit Cape Balangori and Talasea, New Britain Island. 19 B-24s and B-25s bomb Halong in the Celebes Islands. P-40s hit shipping and barges in the Wewak, New Guinea area. Transfers in New Guinea: HQ 345th Bombardment Group (Medium) from Dobodura to Nadzab; 25th Liaison Squadron, 5212th Photographic Wing (Provisional), from Lae to Nadzab with L-5s.

FRIDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 33 fighter-bombers attack airfields in the Nanking area, railroad yards at Hsuchang and Tungpu, and hit rail and river traffic from Wuhu to Hankow, in the Sinsiang area, and in French Indochina, the Luang Prabang area, and from Muong Soui to the Mekong River.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s bomb troops, storage areas, and vehicles during offensive reconnaissance along roads S of Lashio and from Hsenwi to Loilem; 31 P-47s support ground forces in the Myitson area; about 160 fighter-bombers attack town areas, troop concentrations, artillery positions, transportation targets, and general

targets of opportunity at Namtu, Wengkau, Hsipaw, Namhsawng-hawng, Hunhla, Mong Yai, Sinkin, Panghung, Hatka, Na-kyeh, and Panglong and similar targets at Kyawngsu, Kunsanlek, Namloi, Man-kyawng, Tonsing, Sam-Lau, and Mong Li. Transports fly 632 sorties delivering men and supplies to forward bases and dropping supplies to frontline troops.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

AIRBORNE OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command): The 77th Troop Carrier Squadron, 435th Troop Carrier Group, moves from Welford Park, England to Bretigny, France with C-47s.

 STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 833: 1,042 bombers and 197 fighters attack benzol plants, oil refineries and marshalling yards in C Germany; 8 bombers are lost:

  1. 223 B-17s are sent to hit the marshalling yard at Hamm (208); targets of opportunity are Osnabruck (1), Meppen (1) and Rheine (1); bombing is by H2X, Micro H and some visual; 2 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 95 damaged; 7 airmen are WIA and 11 MIA. Escorting are 44 of 45 P-51s.

  2. 375 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Harpenerweg oil refinery at Dortmund (78) and oil refineries at Nordstern (104) and Minsterstein (112); 30 hit the marshalling yard at Munster, a secondary target; targets of opportunity are Langendreer (23) and other (2); bombing is by Gee-H with some visual; 5 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 170 damaged; 8 airmen are WIA and 46 MIA. 38 of 39 P-51s escort.

  3. 362 B-24s are sent to hit marshalling yards at Osnabruck (174) and Rheine (94) and the Salzbergen oil refinery (46); 31 hit Burgsteinfurt, a target of opportunity; H2X and Gee-H are used; 1 B-24 is lost and 26 damaged; 10 airmen are MIA. 50 P-51s escort the B-24s.

  4. 63 of 76 B-17s hit the rail bridge at Wesel visually; 13 hit the marshalling yard at Rheine, a target of opportunity, with H2X. Escorting are 45 of 51 P-51s.

  5. 6 B-24s fly a screening mission without loss.

  6. 4 P-51s fly a scouting mission.

  7. 4 P-51s escort photo reconnaissance aircraft over Germany.

  8. 4 P-51s escort a B-17 on a "special sortie."

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In Germany, 300+ B-26s and A-20s bomb the Mayen, rail bridge, Rees communications center, Solingen turbo-jet component works, Unna ordnance depot, and a target of opportunity; fighters escort the bombers, fly patrols, sweeps, and armed reconnaissance, attack bridge, railroads, and other special targets; the XIX Tactical Air Command also supports the US VIII, XII, and XX Corps W of the Prum River, E of the Sauer River, and in the Saarlautern area. The 158th Liaison Squadron, Ninth AF (attached to Twelfth Army Group), moves from Somme-Suippe, France to Celles, Belgium with L-1s, L-4s and L-5s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 630+ B-24s and B-17s bomb airfields at Regensburg, Landsberg, and Neubiberg, Germany; marshalling yards at Rosenheim, Germany, Hall, and Innsbruck, Austria, and Bolzano, and Vipiteno, Italy, plus scattered targets of opportunity in Austria and N Italy; P-38s and P-51s escort the bombers, fly reconnaissance missions, and escort reconnaissance and supply operations.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, bad weather grounds medium bombers; fighter-bombers cut rail lines at the S end of Garda Lake, and bomb an ammunition and fuel dump E of Nervesa della Battaglia and an ammunition dump E of Villafranca in Lunigiana.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Area)

VI Air Service Area Command: The 316th Troop Carrier Squadron, VI Air Service Area Command, moves from Kahuku to Bellows Field, Hawaii with C-47s.   Seventh Air Force: 2 Guam Island-based B-24s on an armed reconnaissance flight bomb Marcus Island in the N Pacific. 42 sent against Iwo Jima Island are recalled due to total cloud cover over the target. During the night of 16/17 Feb, 4 Guam-based B-24s, striking separately, hit Susaki Airfield on

Chichi Jima Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Fighters attack vehicles and trains in the S part of Formosa. On Luzon Island, 120+ A-20s and B-24s pound Corregidor Island during the early daylight hours; amphibious and airborne landings follow and the paratroops soon link up with the beachhead; A-20s and fighter-bombers also bomb nearby Caballo Island; B-25s support ground forces in the Mariveles area, hit facilities at Baguio and Santa Fe, and bomb Camalaniugan Airfield. P-38s hit Likanan and Matina Airfields on Mindanao Island and B-24s pound Kendari Airfield on Celebes Island.