TUESDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 1942
AMERICAN
THEATER OF OPERATIONS
ALASKA
(11th Air Force): Colonel Lidnel R Dunlap arrives from the ZI and
becomes
Commanding Officer of the 11th Air Force.
ZONE OF
INTERIOR (10th Air Force): Colonel Harry A Halverson becomes
Commanding
Officer.
SOUTHWEST
PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): The air echelon of the 88th Reconnaissance
Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), departs Nandi Airport, Fiji
Islands from Australia with B-17's. The ground echelon is en route Australia to
India.
WEDNESDAY, 17 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
B-26, Martin Marauder
C-47, Douglas Skytrain
P-38, Lockheed Lightning
P-39, Bell Airacobra
P-40, Curtiss
Spitfire, Vickers Supermarine
AMERICAN
THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force)
In the
Aleutians, weather cancels all missions and also the laying of mat at the
Amchitka Island airstrip.
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA
THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Tenth Air Force)
The 2nd
Troop Carrier Squadron, Tenth Air Force with C-47s arrives at Yangkai, China
from the U.S.
EUROPEAN
THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)
The
Spitfire Mk Vs of the 4th Fighter Group fly 38 uneventful sorties on patrol
during the day.
MEDITERRANEAN
THEATER OF OPERATIONS
WESTERN
MEDITERRANEAN (Twelfth Air Force):
The
Twelfth Air Force and other organizations of the Allied Air Force are
transferred to the North African Air Force (NAAF) which supplants the Allied
Air Force. NAAF, in turn, becomes part
of the Mediterranean Air Command (MAC), a new air command which comes into
existence on this date with RAF Air Chief Marshall Arthur Tedder as
commander. MAC also includes the RAF
Middle East Air Command (later RAF, Middle East) and the RAF Malta Air Command
(later RAF, Malta). The Commanding
General of NAAF is General Carl Spaatz, USAAF. In Sardinia, over 40 B-17s bomb Elmas
Airfield; B-25s and B-26s hit the
Villacidro and Decimomannu Airfields.
In
Tunisia, fighters escort bombers and support ground forces in the Sbeitla-Kasserine-Feriana
area. The fighters, along with A-20s,
attack and destroy numerous tanks, trucks and other vehicles moving against
hard-pressed British First Army forces. The two airfields at Thelepte, with 124
operational aircraft on them, are abandoned because of the German advance. Eighteen unflyable aircraft are burned after
60,000 gallons (227,100 liters) of aviation fuel are
poured on
them. HQ 31st Fighter Group transfers from Thelepte, Tunisia to
Youks-les-Bains, Algeria. The group's
307th, 308th and 309th Fighter Squadrons with Spitfire Mk Vs transfer from
Thelepte to Tebessa, Algeria. HQ 81st Fighter Group and its 91st and 92d
Fighter Squadrons with P-39s transfer from Thelepte, Tunisia to Le Kouif
Airfield, Algeria. The 60th Fighter Squadron, 33d Fighter Group with P-40s
transfers from Youks-les-Bains, Algeria to Telergma, Algeria. The 71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter
Group with P-38s transfers from
Biskra, Algeria
to Chateaudun-du-Rhumel, Algeria.
SOUTH
PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force)
In the
Solomons, P-39s join Navy fighters and dive bombers in a strike against Munda
Airfield on New Georgia Island. Single
B-24s bomb Nusave Island and the airfields on Ballale Island and at Kahili on
Bougainville Island.
SOUTHWEST
PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force)
On New
Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, B-24s, operating individually,
strike Gasmata Airfield and Pondo Harbor, Bobo and the sawmill at Ubili.
THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 1944
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA
(CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
BURMA-INDIA
(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 38 A-36s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance hit
troops and supplies from Lonkin to Kamaing; 6 P-51s hit supply areas along
roads around Lonton and Manywet; 2 others hit a road junction near Maingkwan; 2
B-25s and 6 P-51s strike a road bridge, railroad station, and rail cars in the
Pyingaing area; 2 B-25s and 6 P-51s attack but
fail to
damage a bridge near Ye-u.
CHINA
(Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 4 B-25s on a sweep of the Gulf of
Tonkin score 2 direct hits on a freighter at Vinh, damage a bridge approach and
locomotive at Yen Xuon Station, and destroy a locomotive at Yen Ly Station.
EUROPEAN
THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)
TACTICAL
OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Advanced HQ, Ninth Air Force, is opened at
Hillingdon House, Uxbridge. It is later joined in the area by advanced units of
the IX Fighter Command and by troop carrier units, all of which form a nucleus
of advanced echelons so as to centralize tactical operations in anticipation of
combat on the Continent. Arrivals in
England from Sicily: HQ 52d Troop Carrier Wing at Cottesmore; 15th Troop
Carrier Squadron, 61st Troop Carrier Group, at Bardston with C-47s.
MEDITERRANEAN
THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
The 455th and 456th Bombardment Groups (Heavy) become operational giving the
Fifteenth Air Force 12 B-24 groups. In Italy, unescorted B-17s and B-24s attack
Campoleone and Grottaferrata, motor transport parks in the Campoleone junction and Rocca di Papa areas, a
troop concentration near Frascati, stores depots in the Grottaferrata area, and
other targets in advance of the US Fifth Army's Anzio
battle
line which is under heavy counterattack by German forces.
TACTICAL
OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s bomb the Campoleone and Lanuvio
area, B-25s hit dumps SW of Rome and N of Anzio, and also hit guns nearby;
A-20s blast a dump and troop concentrations in the Anzio area; P-47s bomb dumps
near Valmontone; A-36s hit Carroceto, concentrations SE of Rome, and a railroad
underpass and a factory N of Anzio; P-40s blast enemy transport, guns, and
assembly areas N of Cisterna di Latina, trucks N of Anzio and N of the
beachhead battleline, railroad stations at Campoleone and Carroceto, and
bivouac areas, dumps, a factory, and bridge in the battle area; this entire air
effort (the heaviest to date in support of troops) is aimed at helping prevent
a breakthrough at the beachhead, where the Germans are committed to a
full-strength counter- offensive; A-36s bomb Monte Cassino Abbey in the only
air action on the US Fifth Army main front. Detachment of 23d Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, operating from
San Servero, Italy with F-5, returns to base at Alghero, Sardinia.
PACIFIC
OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Tarawa Atoll and Abemama Island
hit Ponape and Kusaie Islands, and Jaluit Atoll. P-40s strafe floatplanes off
Emidj Island, as a USN Task Force begins a heavy attack on Truk Atoll.
SOUTH
PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 20 P-40s join 40+ USN fighters in
covering an attack by 70 USN dive bombers on shipping in Keravia Bay, New
Britain Island; 8 Japanese aircraft are claimed shot down; 2 USN fighters are
lost. In the N Solomons Allied fighters hit Queen Carola Harbor, Kessa
Plantation and a bridge N of Kahili.
SOUTHWEST
PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 40 B-24s bomb Panapai Airfield, New
Ireland Island and Talasea, New Britain Island. 16 B-25s claim 2 surface
vessels and a submarine sunk off New Hanover Island. 16 P-47's strafe targets
of opportunity in the Alexishafen, New Guinea area. HQ 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group
moves from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea.
SATURDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 1945
AMERICAN
THEATER OF OPERATIONS
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 4 B-25s provide
air coverage for a naval task force en route to Paramushiru Island.
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA
THEATER
CHINA
THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 30 B-25s bomb Linfen and Yuncheng; a
single B-25 hits railroad targets of opportunity from Hengyang to Lingling; 27
P-40s and P-51s attack animal transport, barracks, railroad targets, and the
town area at Puchi; 16 P-47s hit the Hankow-Wuchang area; 37 other
fighter-bombers attack railroad yards and targets of opportunity and road and river traffic near
Tsinan, Changsha, and Kweiyi, and at Sinyang,
Linfen,
and Lung Hai.
INDIA-BURMA
THEATER (Tenth Air Force): 14 P-47s support ground forces in
the
Mongmit-Myitson area; 140+ fighter-bombers strike at troop concentrations,
supply points, transport, animal concentrations, tanks, and arms and ammunition
stores are pounded in N Burma including at Hko-lawng, Hai-pu, Na-kyeh, Man
Sang, Samlan, Hkummanmao, Mong Lang, Na-leng, Honwo, and Loi-pyek; and 10 B-25s
bomb troops and supplies at Hai-hseng. 603 transport sorties are flown. The
detachment of the 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 8th
Photographic
Reconnaissance Group, operating from Chanyi, China with F-7s returns to base at
Guskhara, India.
EUROPEAN
THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)
AIRBORNE
OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command):
STRATEGIC
OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 834: 895 bombers and 183 fighters are
dispatched to hit synthetic oil plants in Germany and the Frankfurt marshalling
yard; deteriorating weather forces the recall of 261 B-17s and 288 B-24s; the
weather was so bad that some aircraft controls froze and several had to
jettison their bombs during assembly; 3 B-17s and 2 of the recalled B-24 force
are lost in addition to 1 P-51. 346 B-17s are sent to hit the marshalling yard
at Frankfurt (260); targets of opportunity are the Giessen marshalling yard
(45), Aschaffenburg (12), Hanau (10) and other (4); 3 B-17s and 2 B-24s are
lost, 1 B-17 and 1 B-24 are damaged beyond repair and
106 B-17s
damaged; 17 airmen are KIA, 2 WIA and 38 MIA. The escort is 151 of 167 P-51s; 1
is lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair. 12 P-51s fly a scouting mission
and 4 escort photo reconnaissance aircraft over Germany. The 862d Bombardment
Squadron (Heavy), 493d Bombardment Group (Heavy) (attached to 3d Air Division),
moves from Debach to Wormingford, England and begins flying weather
reconnaissance missions with B-17s and P-51s.
TACTICAL
OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In Germany, 31 B-26s strike the Mayen rail bridge
and a target of opportunity at Reinfeld; fighters of the IX and XIX Tactical
Air Commands fly patrols, sweeps, and armed reconnaissance; the XXIX Tactical
Air Command (Provisional) cancels operations due to bad weather.
MEDITERRANEAN
THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)
STRATEGIC
OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): About 500 B-17s and B-24s attack the
marshalling yard, station, and benzol plant at Linz, steel works at Judenburg,
tank works at Steyr and Sankt Valentin, marshalling yards at Graz, Wels, Bruck
an der Mur, and Villach, Austria; plus shipyards and harbors at Fiume and
Trieste, Italy, and Pula, Yugoslavia. P-38s and P-51s escort the bombers, fly reconnaissance
missions, and supply drops, strafe rail lines in the Vienna-Linz, Austria area
and aircraft at Ardning and Grafenstein Austria, and fly weather and photo
reconnaissance.
TACTICAL
OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers bomb bridges at
Chiusaforte, Bressanone, Crema, and Dogna; fighters and fighter- bombers hit
communications targets in the Po Valley and damage bridges at Nervesa della
Battaglia, Cittadella, Calliano, Ala, and Pordenone; also bombed are guns and
dumps from the S of La Spezia E to the battle area below Bologna.
PACIFIC
OCEAN AREA (POA)
AAFPOA
(Seventh Air Force): 42 B-24s from Saipan Island blast defense installations
and a bivouac area on Iwo Jima Island; 3 others, on an armed reconnaissance
flight, bomb Marcus Island; 3 B-24s from Guam Island, escorting a photo plane
over Truk Atoll bomb Param, Uman, and Eten Islands in the atoll. 5 B-24s from
Saipan fly individual snooper strikes during the
night of
17/18 Feb, against Chichi Jima Island. The air echelon of the 548th Night
Fighter Squadron, VII Fighter Command, begins operating from Saipan with P-61s
(ground echelon is enroute from Hawaii to Iwo Jima).
HQ AAF
(Twentieth Air Force): Mission 35: 8 of 9 B-29s from Saipan bomb the submarine
pens on Dublon Island, Truk Atoll without loss.
SOUTHWEST
PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s, with fighter support
attack the airfield, railroad yard, and aluminum plant at Takao, Formosa. On
Luzon Island, A-20s support ground forces in the Mariveles area and hit caves
and dugouts in hills W of Ft Stotsenburg; A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers
attack Tuguegarao and the coastal town of San Fernando. B-24s pound Miri
Airfield in Borneo. HQ 375th Troop Carrier Group moves from Biak
Island to
San Jose, Mindoro Island.
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