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12/1/44
Ninth AF
134 MBs and LBs strike defended areas at Fraulautern, Ensdorf, and
Saarlautern. Ftrs fly sweeps, armed rcn, and bombing missions over W
Germany and spt US VII Corps elements at Inden and Hurtgen Forest and
8th Inf Div of V Corps at Tiefenbach Creek and Brandenberger
Forest.
12/1/44
Twelfth AF
B-25's attack 4 railroad bridges in W Po Valley, damaging the bridges
at Voghera and Torre Beretti. XXII TAC hits motor transport and train
cars at several points in N Italy and hit rail lines over widespread
area N of the Apennines, are cut at 3 points.
12/1/44
Tenth AF
30-plus P-47's continue spt of ground forces in Bhamo area. Town
areas, troops, warehouses, and supply dumps at Myitson, Mingon,
Alezeik, Lenaung, and Old Lashio are pounded by 30-plus P-47's. 17
more hit bridges in N Burma and 8 strafe Hsenwi landing ground. 290
transport sorties are flown to forward areas.
12/1/44
Fourteenth AF
6 B-24's attack T/Os in S China Sea. 8 B-26's destroy 3 storage
buildings and damage 6 others at Wanling. 9 FBs pound troop positions
in the area and destroy or damage several trucks. Several other FBs
hit trucks, locomotives, and villages in Chefang area, between Lashio
and Hsenwi, from Linfen to Taiyuan, and at Kunlong.
12/1/44
FEAF
Major FEAF strikes include B-24 raids on Bacolod and Fabrica A/Fs and
B-25 attack, with P-47 spt, on Lahug A/F. B-25's attack Cagayan A/F.
B-25's and FBs also hit several A/Fs and numerous T/Os on Halmahera
during a series of raids. Other FEAF aircraft maintain armed rcn and
sweeps over wide area of NEI and Phil Is.
12/1/44
Seventh AF
26 Guam-based B-24's pound A/F on Iwo Jima. During 1/2 Dec a B-24
bombs Iwo Jima during a snooper mission.
12/2/44
Eighth AF
Around 275 HBs attack M/Ys at Bingen, Oberlahnstein, and
Koblenz-Lutzel, along with a railroad and 4 T/Os. Over 150 HBs abort
because of heavy clouds. 8 ftr gps fly spt, encounter over 100 ftrs
and claim 17 destroyed. Ftrs down 8 B-24's at Bingen. 3 ftr gps fly
sweeps over Cologne-Kassel-Mannheim-Frankfurt/Main area, meet about
50 ftrs and claim 15 destroyed.
12/2/44
Ninth AF
210 A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's bomb areas of Saarlautern, Ensdorf,
and Fraulautern. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly armed rcn over W
Germany (tgts hit include M/Y and bridges), and spt US 1st Inf Div at
Luchem, 104th Inf Div at Inden, and 8th Inf Div in Brandenberger
Forest-Tiefenbach Creek area.
12/2/44
Twelfth AF
MBs hit several bridges in N and NE Italy, scoring effective hits on
2 bridges across the Piave and Brenta Rivers and 4 on the Brenner
line. Ftrs and FBs attack comm in Po Valley and spt US Fifth Army
forces in battle area S of Bologna. On 1/2 Dec A-20's hit Ghedi A/F
and T/Os in NC Po Valley and trains on Brenner line.
12/2/44
Fifteenth AF
Around 500 HBs attack Blechhammer N and S, Odertal and
Vienna/Floridsdorf oil refineries, and Strasshof and Celldomolk M/Y
and Medvedov highway bridge, plus scattered T/Os in C and E Europe.
Ftrs fly escort and carry out rcn missions.
12/2/44
Tenth AF
40 FBs fly close spt strikes in Bhamo battle sector. Supply areas,
ammo dumps, personnel and tank concentrations, and strongholds at
Mayathein, Kwingyi, Nanthe, Hsai-hkao, Hsenwi, Man Hkam, Wuntho,
Tedaw, and Old Lashio are hit by 60-plus FBs. 16 others hit rolling
stock on rail line between Hsipaw and Lashio and strafe supply train
in Pangkyawng. 10 B-25's pound several N Burma bridges, knocking out
road bridges at Tonglau and Nam Nung and 2 railroad orlages at
langon. lransports fly 286 sorties to forward areas.
12/2/44
Fourteenth AF
4 B-25's damage several buildings at Hsenwi. 39 P-51's, P-40's, and
P-38's on armed rcn attack troops, horses, trucks, railroad yards,
shipping, storage facilities, and road machinery between Yungfengshih
and Paoching, from Wanling to Lashio, in Chiuchiang area, N of
Wanling and Nan-Tan, and at Kichang and Lashio.
12/2/44
FEAF
B-24's hit Dumaguete, Matina, and Cagayan A/Fs. B-24's and B-25's
attack Borebore A/F and Kendari. FBs in C Phil and Mindanao spt
ground forces and hit supplies, comm, and a variety of T/Os. MBs bomb
Namlea A/F and attack shipping off Ceram.
12/2/44
Seventh AF
23 B-24's from Guam hit Iwo Jima. During 2/3 Dec 3 B-24's on snooper
missions from Saipan and Guam bomb A/F on Iwo Jima.
12/3/44
Ninth AF
Weather cancels bmr operations. Ftrs fly defensive patrols and armed
rcn, hitting rails and bridges and dive-bomb tgts in W Germany
including M/Y at Grevenbroich. 104th Inf Div is supported as it
extends Inde R bridgehead beyond Lucherberg, US 1st Inf Div as it
seizes Luchem, US 8th Inf Div in Brandenberger Forest-Tiefenbach
Creek area, and units of US XII Corps at Sarre-Union as it checks a
counterattack.
12/3/44
Twelfth AF
Weather hampers operations. Many missions are aborted. MBs score
effective hits only on bridge E of Mantua. 57th and 350th Ftr Gps fly
60 sorties against tgts in US Fifth Army battle area S of Bologna and
against comm in N Italy. During 2/3 Dec LBs bomb lights throughout Po
Valley.
12/3/44
Fifteenth AF
85 B-24's and B-17's bomb Vienna SE freight depot, Linz industrial
area, M/Ys at Innsbruck, Villach, and Klagenfurt, and various T/Os.
P-38's and P-51's escort HBs and fly rcn and rcn escort. 14 B-17's
and B-24's drop supplies in Yugoslavia.
12/3/44
Tenth AF
32 P-47's continue close spt of ground forces attacking Bhamo. 18
others damage road bridges at Hay-ti and Tonbo and 6 attack several
railroad bridges in N Burma. 4 drop delay-fuse bombs on Myitson ferry
landing. 30-plus FBs hit troop and equipment concentrations, fuel and
other supplies, arty, ammo dumps, and general town areas in or near
Hopaw, Loipao, Man Kat, Namhpai, and Indaw. 9 strafe T/Os along
Shwebo-Wuntho rail line. 4 B-25's during 3/4 Dec destroy train on
Tangon railroad bridge and attack several other T/Os. 323 transport
sorties are flown to forward bases and frontline areas.
12/3/44
Fourteenth AF
5 B-24's place delayed action bombs near Pengpu bridge. 4 B-25's and
10 P-51's bomb Sintsiang storage area. 67 FBs on armed rcn blast
trucks, railroad tgts, warehouses, shipping and other T/Os at
Wanling, Loyang, Yuncheng, HeiShih Kuan, Wuhu, and particularly in
areas around Shihhweiyao and from Hengyang to Siangtan and
Lingling.
12/3/44
FEAF
Major B-24 strikes include raids against Malimpoeng and Mandai.
B-25's pound 4 A/Fs on Halmahera while A-20's attack Point Noejew.
FBs hit storage area at Palompon and A/Fs near Masbate.
12/3/44
Twentieth AF
Almost 70 XXI BC B-29's based in the Marianas bomb Musashino aircraft
plant and docks and urban areas at Tokyo. 6 VHBs are lost.
12/3/44
Seventh AF
17 Guam-ba Yed B-24's pound Iwo Jima. 7 others, escorting photo
airplanes over Bonin and Kazan Is, bomb Haha Jima and Iwo Jima.
B-24's on snooper missions from the Marianas during 3/4 Dec continue
to bomb Iwo Jima.
12/4/44
Eighth AF
Over 1,100 HBs bomb M/Ys at Kassel, Soest, Bebra, Giessen, and Mainz
and as secondary tgts Friedberg and Koblenz M/Ys, along with city of
Fulda, and several unidentified T/Os. 15 ftr gps fly spt. Most of the
70 ftrs and HBs failing to return to UK land safely on the
Continent.
12/4/44
Ninth AF
Weather prevents bmr operations. Ftrs fly armed rcn and spt US 1st,
8th, and 104th Inf Divs at Luchem, Bergstein, and E of Inde R; and
XII and XX Corps in drive toward the Saar R and around
Saarlautern.
12/4/44
Twelfth AF
B-25's hit defenses in Bagnacavallo and Faenza areas and ammo dump at
Tortona. XXII TAC aircraft hit tgts in US Fifth Army battle area S of
Bologna in the Apennines and comm to the N of the battle zone. During
3/4 Dec LBs again bomb T/Os in Po Valley.
12/4/44
Fifteenth AF
26 P-38's bomb railroad bridge at Zenica. 14 B-17's and B-24's drop
supplies in N Italy. P-38's and P-51's fly rcn and escort missions.
Bad weather prevents HB bombing.
12/4/44
Tenth AF
28 P-47's attack and damage bridges at Kawnghka, Namyao, Nampawng,
Namhkai, and Hsenwi and demolish main bridge at Ho-kho. 8 P-47's spt
ground forces in Bhamo area. 60-plus FBs hit enemy-held positions,
troop concentrations, supply areas, warehouses, and general T/Os at
Man Mau, Nwegyo, Hkayanzatkon, Mogok, Pangpong, Namahokgyi, Kyusa,
Man Maw, Mongnaw, and Man Htam. Transports fly 308 sorties to forward
areas.
12/4/44
Fourteenth AF
24 B-25's, supported by 12 P-40's, hit bridges, buildings, and river,
road, and rail traffic at several points in China, Indochina, and
Burma including Lashio, Kutkai, Namhkai, Saiping, Hsiangcheng,
Lingling, Kweilin area, between Minkiang and Sinantien, and between
Sinyang and Saiping. 90-plus FBs on armed rcn pound numerous T/Os
from Hsenwi to Nanning, Lang Son, and Namhkai and across S China from
Burma border to Amoy.
12/4/44
Seventh AF
3 B-24's from Guam hit Marcus while 3 from Saipan bomb Pagan. Snooper
missions continue as 2 Marianas-based B-24's bomb Iwo Jima during 4/5
Dec.
12/4/44
Eleventh AF
A weather aircraft aborts shortly after takeoff.
12/5/44
Eighth AF
More than 500 HBs attack munitions and tank works at Berlin, Munster
M/Y, and 10 T/Os. 15 escorting ftr gps encounter an estimated 275-300
ftrs and claim 90 destroyed.
12/5/44
Ninth AF
172 A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's attack M/Y, road junction, fuel
storage dump, defended positions, and rail bridge at 8 W German
locations. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly numerous armed rcn missions,
and provide cover for US 1st, 8th, and 104th Inf Divs in Luchem,
Bergstein, and Lucherberg areas.
12/5/44
Twelfth AF
Bad weather severely restricts operations. MB missions are cancelled
except for a weather rcn flight. Ftrs and FBs hit a few rail lines
and other comm tgts in E Po Valley but devote major effort to closely
spt US Fifth Army in battle area S of Bologna.
12/5/44
Fifteenth AF
Bad weather again cancels HB operations. P-38's, escorted by P-51's,
fly photo and weather rcn missions.
12/5/44
Tenth AF
31 FBs spt ground forces in Bhamo area. 25 FBs hit Hay-ti, Meza, and
3 other road bridges. 20-plus FBs attack town areas, troop
concentrations and storage facilities in or near Kawngwai, Kunmong,
Settawagon, and Thitpoklwin. 8 attack T/Os along Shwebo-Wuntho rail
line. Transports complete 285 sorties carrying troops to forward
bases and dropping supplies to frontline forces. 10 B-25's bomb comm
center, supplies, and personnel concentration at Mogok. On this date
Tenth AF airplanes begin Operation GRUBWORM, flying Chinese 14th and
22d Divs from Burma to China in preparation for Yunnan campaign to
counter a probable Japanese drive toward Kunming.
12/5/44
Fourteenth AF
7 B-24's on sweeps over Gulf of Tonkin, S China Sea, and Formosa
Srait bomb Ft Bayard and Kowloon Docks and damage a freighter. 6
B-25's pound T/Os from Liuchow to Liuchenghsien. 61 P-40's, P-51's,
and P-38's on armed rcn hit river, road, and rail traffic and other
T/Os at scattered points mainly in S China.
12/5/44
FEAF
B-24's strike Hate Tabako, Galela, and Djailolo A/Fs. B-25's and
A-20's lightly raid Miti and Kaoe A/Fs. B-25's hit Langoan while
B-24's flying in pairs hit T/Os nearby and in N Borneo. FBs over C
Phil area hit Japanese positions, barges, and comm tgts.
12/5/44
Seventh AF
P-47's from Saipan strafe runway on Pagan.
12/5/44
Eleventh AF
6 B-24's off for a strike on Kakumabetsu abort due to weather. B-25's
cancel a shipping sweep.
12/6/44
Eighth AF
Over 650 HBs, supported by ftrs flying over 750 sorties, bomb
synthetic oil plant at Merseburg/Leuna, Minden aqueduct, Bielefeld
M/Y, and several other tgts.
12/6/44
Ninth AF
154 A-20's and B-26's bomb defended areas of Munstereifel, Erkelenz,
Nideggen, and Daun. Ftrs escort bmrs, fly armed rcn and night patrol,
attack bridges, gun positions, and other tgts, and provide air cover
for US V, VII, and XII Corps in areas of Bergstein, Lucherberg, and
Sarreguemines and along Saar R.
12/6/44
Twelfth AF
Heavy cloud cover, increasing in density throughout the day, severely
restricts operations. MBs are grounded except for 1 rcn sortie. XXII
TAC ftrs and FBs fly less than 100 sorties, attacking comm in
Brescia, Verona, and Mantua areas.
12/6/44
Fifteenth AF
270-plus HBs attack M/Ys at Graz, Szombathely, Sopron, Nagycenk,
Hegyeshalom, Maribor, Bratislava, and Devinska Nova Ves, and town of
Zalaegerszeg, plus scattered T/Os. P-51's and P-38's escort HBs,
cover RAF supply missions to Yugoslavia, and strafe Vienna.
12/6/44
Tenth AF
9 P-47's damage bridge at Namhkai and knock out bridge at Mongmit. 10
B-25's knock out main bridge at Bawgyo and damage bypass. 15 P-47's
spt ground forces in Bhamo area, 4 bomb Hsenwi A/F, and 8 strafe
Bawgyo AA positions. 12 P-47's hit troops, arty, and supplies at
Banmauk, W side of Indawgyi Lake, and Namhkam. Transports fly 300
sorties to forward areas.
12/6/44
Fourteenth AF
8 P-51's attack road traffic in Hsenwi area and from there to
Wanling.
12/6/44
FEAF
B-24's pound Bacolod A/F. P-38's over Bacolod and others covering
convoy off S Leyte claim several airplanes downed. B-25's, with P-47
spt, hit Cagayan, Jacgol, and Del Monte A/Fs. B-24's hit A/Fs at
Kendari and Borebore. FBs and B-25's attack Halmahera I A/Fs while
A-20's and B-25's bomb Namlea area.
12/6/44
Eleventh AF
4 B-24's bomb Suribachi A/F, scoring hits on the runway, and blast
batteries. On return flight, 1 is hit by AA fire. 1 B-25 flies a
negative shipping search. A B-24 weather airplane force-lands in
USSR.
12/6/44
Ninth AF
All missions except a few ftr patrols are cancelled because of bad
weather.
12/6/44
Twelfth AF
Weather grounds MBs. Ftrs and FBs, despite weather, attack railroads,
roads, bridges, rolling stock, and other tgts over widespread areas
of N Italy, from La Spezia to N of Po Valley. Bad weather obscures
most primaries but alternate tgts are fairly successfully hit.
12/6/44
Fifteenth AF
31 B-17's and B-24's make predawn raids on Salzburg, Klagenfurt,
Villach, and Lienz M/Ys, comm tgts in Wolfsberg, Spittal an der Drau,
Mittersill, Sankt Veit in Defereggen, and Trieste. P-38's, and P-51's
fly rcn and rcn escort missions.
12/6/44
Tenth AF
9 B-25's knock out E span of road bridge at Tonbo. 21 P-47's spt
ground forces in Bhamo area. 63 blast concentrations of enemy troops
and supplies at Male while 4 others hit supplies at Myauk-le. 14
P-47's knock out bridge at Mansam and damage 3 bridges at Mongmit and
Namyao. 17 others hit Nawnghkio and bomb supply areas at
Na-kawnkongnyaung. Transport fly 267 sorties to forward areas.
12/6/44
Fourteenth AF
8 B-25's hit storage area at Lashio. 4 B-25's and 8 P-40's attack and
considerably damage Sankiao. 4 B-25's, operating individually, attack
truck convoys and other T/Os in Hengyang area and in SiangChiang
Valley. 2 B-24's claim 1 cargo vessel sunk in S China Sea while 15
P-51's hit shipping at Hong Kong, claiming a destroyer and freighter
sunk. 65 P-51's, P-40's, and P-38's on armed rcn over wide areas of
China attack storage areas, troops, bridges, railroad tgts, and gun
positions around Paoching, Anking, Hengyang, Tuhshan, Nan Tan,
Kengtung, and Luchai and between Kweilin and Liuchow.
12/6/44
FEAF
B-24's pound Malogo A/F, town of Masbate, and Legaspi A/F. B-25's hit
Miti, Kaoe, Galela, and Lolobata A/Fs. Other FEAF aircraft fly armed
rcn and harassing missions over Mindanao, N Borneo, and Makassar
areas, attacking various T/Os.
12/6/44
Twentieth AF
80 B-29's, operating from Chengtu, bomb Manchuria Airplane
Manufacturing Company and adjacent arsenal at Mukden. 10 other B-29's
bomb a rail yard short of the primary, and several other bmrs strike
alternates. The VHBs claim 20 ftrs downed.
12/6/44
Seventh AF
Immediately following an enemy bombing raid on Saipan, 4 P-47's fly
rcn over Pagan searching for aircraft but observe none.
12/6/44
Eleventh AF
9 bmrs fly 2 negative shipping searches.
12/8/44
Eighth AF
As part of move to create self-sustaining, mobile air divs, all
sub-depots are relieved from assignment to VIII AFSC and assigned to
the 3 bomb divs with VIII AFSC retaining technical supervision.
12/8/44
Ninth AF
29 A-26's hit Sinzig rail bridge. Ftrs escort RAF, bomb gun
positions, bridges, and city areas, fly armed rcn, and spt US V and
VII Corps W of Schmidt and Duren, and XX Corps and XII Corps in
Sarreguemines and Dillingen areas.
12/8/44
Twelfth AF
Weather again greatly curtails operations. 4 P-47's on weather rcn of
W Po Valley attack trains, claiming destruction of 4 locomotives and
damage of almost 100 train cars. On 7/8 Dec 3 A-20's bomb T/Os in Po
Valley.
12/8/44
Fifteenth AF
Again hitting comm tgts in predawn attack 24 B-17's and B-24's bomb
Moosbierbaum oil refinery and Graz, Klagenfurt, and Villach M/Ys.
Later in the day P-38's fly photo and weather rcn missions. P-51's
escort the photo rcn flights over Vienna area, W Hungary, and N
Yugoslavia.
12/8/44
Tenth AF
30-plus P-47's spt ground forces in Bhamo area. 28 hit supply areas
at Kyingyi, Loi-Lun, and Hke-hkun. 12 bomb troop concentrations at
Namti and 4 hit village on Nawnghkem. 16 FBs attack Shwebo motor pool
and radio station while 6 others hit Namun ferry landing. 7 aircraft
knock out a bypass bridge at Namhkai and 8 FBs hit railroad T/Os
between Sedaw and Nawnghkio. Large-scale transport operations
continue.
12/8/44
Fourteenth AF
4 B-25's hit Nan Tan area, killing many horses. 14 P-51's hit A/F and
other tgts at Nanking, claiming 24 airplanes, a freighter, and 2
locomotives destroyed. 15 P-40's blast railroad tgts and buildings
from Nan Tan area to Liuchow. 25 P-51's hit Hochih and troops,
warehouses, trucks and ammo dump in the area. 20-plus other FBs on
armed rcn hit various T/Os around Lipo, Shihhweiyao, Tuhshan, Santon,
Paoching, Hengyang, Taiyuan, and Linfen areas.
12/8/44
FEAF
60-plus B-25's and FBs (along with RAAF airplanes) hit A/F and
various other tgts on Halmahera. 60-plus B-24's bomb Mandurriao,
Lahug and La Carlota A/Fs while FBs hit San Isidro area. FEAF
aircraft fly armed rcn and light raids over N Borneo, N Celebes,
Flores, and Wewak area.
12/8/44
Twentieth AF
60-plus B-29's from the Marianas join P-38's, B-24's and Navy
cruisers in strike against A/Fs on Iwo Jima from which Japanese
strikes against US A/Fs in the Marianas are being launched. (Japanese
aircraft strike the A/Fs on 2, 7, and 27 Nov, 7 and 25 (the largest
attack--25 aircraft) Dec, and from 25 Dec 44 to 2 Jan 45 in very
minor degrees. Altogether about 80 aircraft attack, and nearly 40 are
downed. 11 B-29's are destroyed and 43 damaged).
12/8/44
Seventh AF
89 B-24's from Guam and Saipan join B-29's and naval vessels in
bombarding Iwo Jima A/Fs. 28 P-38's escort the B-29's. The strikes
are aimed at reducing the raids against US bases in the Marianas.
12/9/44
Eighth AF
Nearly 400 B-17's bomb 2 A/Fs and a M/Y in Stuttgart area, along with
5 T/Os. 7 ftr gps fly escort and strafe transportation tgts.
12/9/44
Ninth AF
254 A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's bomb defended villages, storage
depots, barracks area, and M/Y in W Germany. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb
Div, sweep Landau and Saarbrucken areas, attack Zulpich and bridge at
Euskirchen, and spt XII and XX Corps in Sarreguemines and Saar R area
and around Dillingen.
12/9/44
Twelfth AF
Bad weather grounds MBs. Ftrs and FBs attack comm in C and NE Po
Valley.
12/9/44
Fifteenth AF
170 HBs attack Linz industrial area and Villach M/Y, Regensburg oil
refinery, and several Plzen armament works. P-51's and P-38's escort
the HBs and fly rcn missions.
12/9/44
Tenth AF
12 P-17's knock out a bridge at Mongmit, damage another and blast
approach to Namyao bridge. Villages and building areas, supply dumps,
and T/Os are attacked at Man Mao, Etgyi, Namhsim, Tawma and other
points in N Burma. Transports continue flying men and supplies to
forward areas, completing nearly 300 sorties.
12/9/44
Fourteenth AF
12 B-25's bomb Lipo, Tuhshan, and Hochih. A B-25 attacks truck convoy
in Siang-Chiang Valley while a B-24 claims 1 cargo ship sunk in S
China Sea. 19 P-40's and P-51's hit river, road, and rail shipping
and other T/Os from Kweiyi to Siangtan. 65 P-51's and P-40's hit
similar T/Os around Kweilin, Liuchow, Lingling, Hengyang, Tuhshan,
and Chuchou. 50 more FBs hit T/Os at several other locations
scattered throughout S China.
12/9/44
FEAF
B-24's bomb Lingkas tank farm, Dondang R bridge and Sanga Sanga oil
installations, and 3 A/Fs in Amboina-Ceram area. P-38's hit Old
Namlea A/F. B-25's attack Wasile Bay area.
12/9/44
Seventh AF
2 B-24's from Saipan during 9/10 Dec fly harassment strikes against
Iwo Jima.
12/10/44
Eighth AF
Over 450 HBs strike M/Ys at Bingen and Koblenz-Lutzel and several
T/Os supported by 10 ftr gps. 2 other gps sweep E of tgt area.
12/10/44
Ninth AF
About 130 B-26's bomb defended positions at Birkesdorf, and
Huchem-Stammeln. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, strafe and dive-bomb
numerous tgts in W Germany, and spt US 8th, 9th, 83d, and 104th Inf
Divs and 3d and 5th Armd Divs in areas around Bergstein, Duren, and
along W bank of the Roer.
12/10/44
Twelfth AF
MBs bomb bridges, fills, and tunnel in Brenner Pass area, hit Fidenza
bridge and barracks at Bologna, and spt British Eighth Army in Faenza
area, bombing defensive positions. XXII TAC tgts are again
predominantly comm N of US Fifth Army battle zone.
12/10/44
Fifteenth AF
550-plus B-17's and B-24's dispatched to bomb oil tgts in Germany are
recalled because of overcast weather. 6 B-17's manage to bomb
Klagenfurt M/Y as a T/O.
12/10/44
Tenth AF
20 P-47's fly close spt strikes in Bhamo area. 8 others blast
approaches to Hay-ti road bridge. 50-plus P-47's hit warehouses and
other storage areas, troop concentrations, and positions at Daungbin,
Myebalin, Kyaunghkam, Pongon, Thinbaung, Kawnghkang, Pangteng, and
Hsipaw. 12 B-25's hit storage areas at Meza, Namun, and Kungmong.
Transports fly 178 sorties to forward areas.
12/10/44
Fourteenth AF
25 B-24's bomb city of Hankow. 3 others bomb Samah Bay docks. 8
B-25's bomb Kutkai and hit T/Os in Liuchow area. 118 P-40's, P-51's,
and P-38's on armed rcn over wide areas of China attack numerous
T/Os, concentrating on rail, river, and road traffic, especially in
the Hochih, Changsha, and Yuncheng areas.
12/10/44
FEAF
In principal strikes of the day B-24's hit Pamoesian tank farm and
nearby alternates of Lingkas tank farm, Labuan docks, and Lutong
refinery, while B-25's pound Sidate A/F. In smaller raids P-38's hit
port Misamis. B-25's bomb A/Fs on Boeroe and Amboina, and FBs pound
storage facilities and T/Os in C Phil Is.
12/10/44
Seventh AF
3 B-24's from Saipan and 1 from Guam fly harassment strikes against
Iwo Jima during 10/11 Dec.
12/11/44
Eighth AF
Over 1,400 HBs attack M/Ys at Frankfurt/Main, Hanau, and Giessen, and
road and rail bridges at Mannheim and Maximiliansau, along with
several T/Os. 15 ftr gps fly escort and 1 gp later strafes tgts in
Kassel-Minden area.
12/11/44
Ninth AF
Over 200 bmrs dispatched to bomb defended villages and storage areas
in Germany are recalled because of weather. 1 bmr manages to bomb
stores depot at Reichenbach. Ftrs escort RAF, divebomb tgts in German
cities, and spt, US 3d Armd Div in Echtz-Geich area, 104th Inf Div at
Merken, 9th Inf Div at Merode and Derichsweiler, and 83d Inf Div at
Strass.
12/11/44
Twelfth AF
MBs hit Motta di Livenza bridge. Ftrs and FBs hit occupied areas,
houses, guns, and defensive positions S of Bologna and attack
railroad tgts in C Po Valley. During 10/11 Dec LBs attack vehicles,
lights, railway lines, roads, river ferries, and pontoon bridges in
Po Valley.
12/11/44
Fifteenth AF
435 HBs, with ftr escorts, attack Moosbierbaum oil refinery, and in
Vienna/Matzleinsdorf railroad station, S ordnance depot, and SE goods
depot. Alternate tgts include Kapfenberg tank works, town of Tulln,
Parndorf A/F, Graz M/Y, and various T/Os.
12/11/44
Tenth AF
12 B-25's hit stores area at Hpaklon. 16 P-47's spt ground forces in
Bhamo area. 21 P-47's knock out and damage bridges at Mongmit, Man
Aitau, Ho-hko, and Pa-mao. 7 FBs severely damage Hsipaw ferry. Supply
and personnel concentrations and town areas are hit at Lawa, Myitson,
Pemnegon, Nam Pan, Hsenwi, and Nawngpeng. 270 transport sorties are
flown to forward areas.
12/11/44
Fourteenth AF
6 B-24's and 6 B-25's, supported by 8 P-51's, pound Hai Duong area.
12 B-25's bomb Kutkai. 16 FBs attack Tien Ho A/F, Kengtung barracks,
Lashio, and Wan Lai-Kam.
12/11/44
FEAF
In major air activity B-24's bomb Mandurriao A/F. B-25's, with P-47
spt, hit Padada A/F and Fifth AF ftrs join Marine aircraft in attacks
on 13-ship convoy off NW Leyte. B-25's, A-20's, and FBs hit Goeroea.
Other FEAF planes make small raids on oil and shipping tgts around N
Borneo.
12/11/44
Seventh AF
Col Lawrence J Carr becomes CO of VII BC. 28 B-24's from Guam pound
A/F and ammunition storage area on Iwo Jima. Night harassment of Iwo
Jima continues as individual B-24's from Guam and Saipan fly 3
snooper strikes against the island during 11/12 Dec.
12/11/44
Eleventh AF
4 MBs fly negative enemy shipping search.
12/12/44
Eighth AF
Nearly 1,200 HBs hit M/Ys at Darmstadt, Hanau, and Aschaffenburg, and
synthetic oil plant at Merseburg/Leuna (all primary tgts); and other
tgts including Friedberg M/Y, Gelnhausen, Nordhausen, Dieburg, and
several T/Os. 15 ftr gps fly escort, 4 of them later strafing ground
tgts.
12/12/44
Ninth AF
90 B-26's and A-20's strike defended villages of Gemund,
Harperscheid, Hellenthal, Schoneseiffen, Wollseiffen, and Schleiden,
and towns of Dorsel, Mayen, and Wiesbaden. Ftrs fly armed rcn and
strafing and bombing missions in W Germany and spt US 83d Inf Div in
Strass-Gey area, cover VII Corps in Duren area, and spt XII and XX
Corps in Habkirchen and Bliesbruck areas (35th Inf Div assault across
Blies R) and Saarlautern-Dillingen.
12/12/44
Twelfth AF
Bad weather cancels all except 11 weather rcn sorties.
12/12/44
Fifteenth AF
75 B-17's and B-24's bomb Blechhammer S oil refinery,
Moravska-Ostrava, and several T/Os. Around 40 P-51's and P-38's fly
rcn and rcn escort.
12/12/44
Tenth AF
11 B-25's bomb several storage areas N of Lashio. 20-plus P-47's
knock out bridges at Namyao, Inailong, and Kunlong, and damage others
at Hohko, Hinlong, and Kunlong. 40-plus FBs hit Japanese HQ, trucks,
town areas, troop concentrations, and supplies at Sedo, Pale,
Chaunggyi, Tada-u, Hsenwi, Shwebo, and Thabyetha. 263 transport
sorties are flown to forward areas.
12/12/44
Fourteenth AF
6 B-25's bomb Kutkai, damaging 3 warehouses and 2 other buildings.
50-plus P-40's, P-51's, and P-38's on armed rcn attack many T/Os
including town areas, road and rail traffic, and supplies at or near
Wan Pa-Hsa, Chiengmai, Sinantien, Paoching, Hengyang, Changsha,
Kweilin, Nan-Tan, Hochih, and Szeenhsien. Several FBs drop napalm on
Yangtong A/F.
12/12/44
FEAF
B-24's, with ftr cover, bomb Bacolod A/F while B-25's hit San Roque
A/F. B-24's pound Kendari A/F. In Amboina-Ceram-Boeroe area B-25's
hit 3 A/Fs and attack barges. A-20's hit A/F on Efman I.
12/12/44
Twentieth AF
Serv gps of 313th Bomb Wg arrive on Tinian.
12/12/44
Seventh AF
24 Saipan-based B-24's pound Iwo Jima. Individual B-24's from Saipan
and Guam fly 5 snooper strikes against Iwo during 12/13 Dec.
12/12/44
Eleventh AF
The weather aircraft aborts mission due to weather.
12/13/44
Eighth AF
Over 200 B-17's dispatched against tgts in Germany are recalled when
weather grounds ftr escort.
12/13/44
Ninth AF
250 A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's hit supply dump at Schleiden, plus
defended positions in several villages and M/Y at Euskirchen. Ftrs
escort 9th Bomb Div, fly night bombing missions, attack tgts in
Cologne area, and spt XX Corps in Dillingen- Saarlautern bridgehead
area, and XII Corps in Habkirchen-Bliesbruck area along Blies R.
12/13/44
Twelfth AF
Weather again hampers operations. The only B-25 bombing mission of
the day aborts. Ftrs and FBs attack mainly occupied areas and
buildings in battle area S of Bologna, comm throughout C Po Valley,
and coastal defend AA guns S of La Spezia.
12/13/44
Fifteenth AF
Weather restricts operations to rcn and escort missions.
12/13/44
Tenth AF
12 B-25's bomb storage and personnel area at Mongmit. 7 P-47's damage
approach to Hay-ti road bridge while 4 spt US inf forces near Tonkwa.
Supply areas, personnel, Japanese-held buildings, vehicles, and
general T/Os are hit by 60-plus FBs at several places including Hosi,
Longkin, Kyauktaing, Tigyaing, Kantha, Man-pwe, and Konnyaung.
260-plus transport sorties carry men and supplies to forward
areas.
12/13/44
Fourteenth AF
6 B-25's severely damage warehouse area at Hsenwi. 2 bomb town of
Wuming. 24 P-51's and P-38's hit town of Bac Ninh and rail yards at
Phu Lang Thuong, and damage bridge at Chiengmai.
12/13/44
FEAF
B-24's bomb Carolina and Talisay A/Fs. B-25's bomb San Roque,
Haroekoe, Amahai, Old Namlea, and Liang A/Fs. B-25's, P-38's, and
P-47's on small raids hit shore positions at Galela Bay, while
covering attempted rescue of downed pilot by PT boat, and bomb
Goeroea supply area. Other B-25's and B-24's on rcn hit T/Os in Sulu
Archipelago.
12/13/44
Twentieth AF
70-plus B-29's from the Marianas bomb and considerably damage
Mitsubishi aircraft engine plant at Nagoya as bombing accuracy is
improved.
12/13/44
Seventh AF
With most of its personnel aboard the Sea Flasher and its equipment
aboard the Cape Catoche, Seventh AF HQ arrives at Tanapag. Remainder
of HQ arrives by air, 14-19 Dec. 15 Guam-based B-24's bomb Iwo Jima.
3 from Saipan, on armed rcn mission, bomb Marcus I. During 13/14 Dec
6 B-24's make individual harassment raids against Iwo Jima from
Saipan and Guam.
12/13/44
Eleventh AF
4 MBs weatherabort a shipping search.
12/14/44
Ninth AF
Bad weather grounds bmrs. Ftrs fly armed rcn, hit rail tgts and
bridges, and spt US 2d and 99th Inf Divs in Monschau Forest, 8th Inf
Div in Bergstein area, 78th Inf Div in Simmerath-Kesternich area, and
XII and XX Corps around Habkirchen and Saarlautern.
12/14/44
Twelfth AF
MBs score effective hits on railroad bridges at Parma and Chivasso.
Ftrs and FBs attack rail lines N of the immediate battle area and in
Po Valley and hit guns and occupied areas on US Fifth Army front S of
Bologna.
12/14/44
Fifteenth AF
Bad weather cancels all operations except 1 P-38 rcn mission.
12/14/44
Tenth AF
12 B-25's again bomb supply and personnel area at Mongmit. Bodegon
railroad bridge is severely damaged by 4 P-47's. 48 P-47's hit troop
concentrations, supplies, and areas of active enemy movement at
Panghkam, Hohai, Dobin, Kyaukpyintha, Ho-naw, Kunlong, and
Nawngkyaung. 4 others spt ground forces near Tonkwa. Large-scale
transport operations to forward areas continue. Japanese garrison at
Bhamo prepares to withdraw.
12/14/44
Fourteenth AF
6 B-25's bomb Loi Mwe while 10 P-38's and P-51's hit Kentung.
12/14/44
FEAF
B-24's pound A/Fs on Negros. B-25's hit Zettle Field in Sulu
Archipelago and Namlea. Other planes carry out sweeps, armed rcn, and
light raids against various tgts in C Phil Is, Luzon, Mindanao and
Palawan Ia, Halmahera, N Borneo, and Sulu Archipelago.
12/14/44
Twentieth AF
33 B-29's, flying out of Calcutta area, bomb railroad bridge at
Bangkok. 14 others hit T/Os and alternate tgts.
12/14/44
Seventh AF
24 Saipan-based B-24's pound Iwo Jima. During 14/15 Dec 6 B-24's from
Guam and Saipan fly individual snooper strikes against Iwo Jima.
12/15/44
Eighth AF
Around 650 HBs strike Hannover M/Y, Kassel tank factories and M/Y,
and 9 T/Os. 11 ftr gps fly escort.
12/15/44
Ninth AF
300-plus A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's hit defended positions, camp
area, and oil storage at Heimbach, Wollseifen, Harperscheid, Schonau,
Ruthen, and Dorsel. Ftrs escort 9th bomb Div, hit supply and ammo
dumps and other tgts during bombing attacks and armed rcn, and spt US
2d and 99th Inf Divs in area of Westwall fortifications, 78th Div at
Kesternich, and 8th Inf and 5th Armd Div N of Kesternich. Ftrs spt XX
and XII Corps in Dillingen-Saarlautern area and at Habkirchen and
heights along Blies R.
12/15/44
Twelfth AF
B-25's, attack ammo dumps at Cremona, Bologna, and Pavia, fuel dump
at Castellar Guidobono, and severely damage railway bridges S of Asti
and at Voghera. Ftrs and FBs again hit tgts in US Fifth Army battle
area S of Bologna and comm in C Po Valley and make numerous rail cuts
throughout the area (especially on the vital Brenner Line) destroying
many vehicles and train cars. Several bridges are hit, 3 being left
impassable.
12/15/44
Fifteenth AF
330-plus HBs attack main M/Ys, main station, and freight yard at
Linz, M/Ys at Amstetten, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Rosenheim (all
primary tgts) and T/Os including Klagenfurt and Waldhausen M/Y and
town of Sankt Johann in Tirol. Schwaz M/Y is also hit (due to
malfunction of instruments). 250plus P-38's and P-51's provide
escort.
12/15/44
Tenth AF
10 B-25's destroy Hsi-paw railroad bridge and a bypass bridge at
Namhkai and damage other bridges at Namhkai. 4 P-47's severely damage
2 bridges at Ho-hko. 7 P-47's fly close spt strikes along
Namh-KamBhamo road. Japanese garrison at Bhamo escapes through
Chinese lines early in the morning and later Chinese troops occupy
the town. 13 P-47's hit Lashio A/F. Town areas, troop concentrations,
and supply areas are attacked at Panglong, Nanponpon, Panghkam, Kinu,
Man Hpai, and Namhkam. Steady air movement of men and supplies to
forward bases and frontline areas continues.
12/15/44
Fourteenth AF
6 B-25's blast storage building at Kunlong. 5 P-51's hit and damage a
bridge and a building S of Huizan. 4 P-38's knock out bridge at Hawng
Luk.
12/15/44
FEAF
In major strikes of the day, FBs hit fuel dump at San Fernando;
B-24's and B-25's bomb Sasa and San Roque A/Fs; B-24's bomb Puerto
Princesa; and B-25's hit A/Fs on Ceram and Amboina. Miscellaneous
armed rcn and light raids by ftrs and bmrs are flown against A/Fs on
Boeroe I and on Halmahera; shipping and other T/Os are attacked at
several points throughout NEI.
12/15/44
Seventh AF
13 B-24's from Guam bomb Iwo Jima. During 15/16 Dec a B-24 on snooper
raid from Guam hits the island.
12/15/44
ZI
Continental AF is activated to coordinate the work of the 4 domestic
AFs and I TC Cmd but will not assume jurisdiction until 8 May 45.
12/16/44
Eighth AF
Over 100 B-17's supported by 3 ftr gps bomb Stuttgart M/Y, city of
Bietigheim, and a T/O.
12/16/44
Ninth AF
Bad weather cancels 9th Bomb Div combat operations. Ftrs escort RAF,
fly night patrol and intercept missions, and spt US First Army
elements in Ardennes as German FM von Rundstedt begins allout
counteroffensive, and XII and XX Corps at Saarlautern bridgehead and
in Saint-Avold-Saarbrucken area where news of Ardennes
counteroffensive cancels XII Corps plans for assault on Westwall.
12/16/44
Twelfth AF
Bad weather grounds MBs. XXII TAC FBs hit occupied buildings and guns
in battle zone S of Bologna, continue attacks on Brenner rail line
effecting 16 rail cuts, hit and set aflame 3 vessels in La Spezia
drydock, and blast several railroad bridges N of battle area.
12/16/44
Fifteenth AF
Almost 600 B-24's and B-17's bomb synthetic oil plant at Brux and
armament works at Plzen, benzol plant at Linz, and M/Ys at Innsbruck
and Villach, plus several scattered T/Os. P-38's and P-51's escort
operations to Czechoslovakia. Other P-38's fly rcn missions while
P-51's fly rcn escort.
12/16/44
Tenth AF
4 P-47's spt US ground forces near Tonkwa. Locomotives, storage
areas, buildings, personnel, and areas of Japanese activity are
attacked at Se-eng, Nanponpon, Kangon, Winghsa, Inywa, Molo, and
Mabein. Large-scale air supply to forward areas continues.
12/16/44
FEAF
Major operations of FEAF include B-24 strikes on Padada and Puerto
Princesa A/Fs. B-25's, A-20's, and FBs attack A/Fs and T/Os including
shipping in Ceram area and in C Phil Is. T/Os are also attacked in N
Borneo and in Vogelkop Peninsula area.
12/16/44
Seventh AF
Daytime activities are limited to rcn flights by B-24's over the
Bonin and Kazan Is and by P-47's over Pagan. During 16/17 Dec 3 B24's
from Guam and Saipan fly individual snooper strikes against Iwo
Jima.
12/17/44
Ninth AF
Weather prevents bmr operations. Over 1,000 ftrs fly armed rcn,
defensive patrols, and attacks on bridges and gun positions. IX and
XIX TACs also spt ground forces (8th, 28th, 78th, 99th, and 106th Inf
Divs, 5th Armd Div, V, VII, VIII, XII, and XX Corps) against
counteroffensive in the Ardennes and in battle to hold Saarlautern
bridgehead.
12/17/44
Twelfth AF
Bad weather again cancels MB operations. XXII TAC hits comm in Po
Valldssssey and attacks Trento M/Y on rail line running N to Brenner
Pass.
12/17/44
Fifteenth AF
550-plus HBs bomb oil refineries at Blechhammer N and S, Odertal and
Moravska-Ostrava, M/Ys at Gross Strehlitz, Villach, Saak, Salzburg,
and Wels. P-38's and P-51's escort HBs, fly rcn, strafe railroad
running from Rosenheim into Austria, and escort photo rcn operations.
Enemy ftrs appear in force for first time since Aug HBs and ftrs
claim 55 air victories.
12/17/44
Tenth AF
8 P-47's spt ground forces in Namhkam sector. 8 more P-47's hit rail
T/Os between Kyaikthin to Kinu, then E to the Irrawaddy and up the
river to Tigyaing. 4 hit rivercraft at Tagaung. 50-plus FBs attack
storage areas, vehicles, bivouacs, personnel areas, and general T/Os
at Pang-hsao, Kyaukme, Manai, Kutkai, Ma-ugon, Hpa-ye, and Man
Namman. 12 more strafe T/Os during Kyaukme-Nampyao railroad sweep.
290 transport sorties are flown.
12/17/44
Fourteenth AF
9 B-24's pound Camranh Bay area. 5 B-25's bomb road at Wan Pa-Hsa
while 12 FBs hit nearby railroad bridge, damaging it severely.
12/17/44
FEAF
B-24's pound Bacolod A/F while B-25's hit Silay A/F. P-40's join
Marine FBs in attacking Cananga area and P-38's destroy several
aircraft during sweeps over Negros. B-25's bomb Likanan while B-24's
with P-47 spt, hit Jolo A/F. FBs hit positions at Valencia. B-24's
and FBs attack Jesselton and Laha A/Fs.
12/17/44
Seventh AF
24 B-24's from Saipan and 26 from Guam pound Iwo Jima. 3 from Saipan,
on armed rcn, bomb Woleai Atoll and Eauriprik. During 17/18 Dec
B-24's from Saipan and Guam fly 3 single-plane harassment strikes
against Iwo Jima.
12/18/44
Eighth AF
Over 350 HBs hit M/Ys at Cologne-Kalk, Kaiserslautern, and Mainz,
areas of Koblenz, Lutzel, and Bonn, and several T/Os. Bad weather
causes over 500 aborts. 7 ftr gps fly escort.
12/18/44
Ninth AF
160-plus A-26's, A-20's, and B-26's hit defended positions at
Harperscheid, Hellenthal, Blumenthal, Dreiborn, and Herhahn. Ftrs fly
sweeps and armed rcn over W Germany (claiming over 40 enemy airplanes
downed plus hitting numerous ground tgts) and spt US 2d, 4th, 28th,
and 106th Inf Divs W of Butgenbach, W of Trier, SE of Clervaux, and
SE of Saint-Vith, and XII Corps at Niedergailbach. IX TAC hits Panzer
units spearheading Bulge.
12/18/44
Twelfth AF
Weather again curtails operations. XXII TAC ftrs and FBs hit comm in
E Po Valley, scoring particular success against lines in N part of
the Valley in Padua region, and spt US Fifth Army operations in
battle area S of Bologna.
12/18/44
Fifteenth AF
560-plus HBs hit oil refineries at Blechhamer (2), Odertal,
Vienna/Floridsdorf, MoravskaOstrava, and Auschwitz; M/Ys at Graz,
Studenzen, and Sopron; Bruck an der Mur industrial area, and various
scattered T/Os. Ftrs fly escort and rcn missions.
12/18/44
Tenth AF
12 B-25's knock out two railroad bridges at Wetlet and damage another
at Saye. 17 P-47's destroy bypass bridges at Hinlong and Wingkang. 11
P-47's hit A/F at Nawnghkio while 12 others sweep A/Fs at Anisakan,
Hsumhsai, and Nawnghkio. 9 FBs provide close spt to ground forces in
Namhkam. 17 P-47's attack personnel and supply areas at Man Ton and
Hseing-hkai. 292 transports fly men and supplies to forward bases and
battle areas.
12/18/44
Fourteenth AF
33 B-24's bomb barracks and administrative buildings at Hankow. 23
B-25's hit Wuchang. 7 B-25's bomb barracks and damage a bridge at
Siaokan A/F while 6 others pound storage buildings at Kunlong. 149
P-40's and P-51's spt the Hankow, Siaokan, and Wuchang raids and
claim 42 aircraft downed and destroyed on the ground. 20 P-51's and
P-38's follow the B-25 strike on Kunlong with napalm attacks, causing
considerable damage. 28 other P-40's and P-51's attack various T/Os
around Hochih, Nanning, Mengmao, Wanling, Sang Song, and Phu Bang
Thuong.
12/18/44
FEAF
FBs destroy bridge on Palompon-Cananga road on Leyte and pound
Calatagan A/F. B-25's hit San Roque A/F. FBs attack Tanao harbor and
A/F and T/Os in Tarakan area, strafe seaplane facilities at Sanga
Sanga, and bomb Haroekoe A/F.
12/18/44
Twentieth AF
63 B-29's flying out of the Marianas hit Mitsubishi aircraft plant at
Nagoya. 10 others bomb last resort tgts and T/Os. 84 B-29's, flying
out of Chengtu area, drop incendiaries on docks at Hankow in the
first mass firebomb attack by B-29's. The strike is made in
conjunction with 200 aircraft of Fourteenth AF, 5 other VHBs hit
alternates.
12/18/44
Seventh AF
6 Guam-based B-24's flying armed photo rcn over Moen, Param, and Eten
bomb Dublon. After photographing A/Fs on the 3 islands, the HBs
return by way of Woleai, Puluwat, and Namonuito and photograph all 3
atolls. During 18/19 Dec, 4 B-24's from Guam and Saipan fly snooper
strikes against Iwo Jima.
12/19/44
Eighth AF
Over 300 HBs attack Ehrang and Koblenz M/Ys and 8 W German rail and
road junctions, rail and road chokepoints, and railhead tgts. Only 1
ftr gp flies escort as weather grounds others.
12/19/44
Ninth AF
All administrative sections and extra operational equipment of XXIX
TAC are moved from Maastricht to Saint-Trond to avert transportation
problems should XXIX TAC be subsequently forced into a hasty
withdrawal. Weather grounds bmrs. Ftrs fly armed rcn in W Germany,
escort RAF Lancasters, fly patrols from Belgium to the Rhine, spt US
1st, 2d, 99th, and 106th Inf Divs, and 7th Armd Div (N and E of
Malmedy and SE and SW of Saint-Vith), and fly cover for US Twelfth
Army troops and XII Corps near Verdun and Saint-Avold.
12/19/44
Twelfth AF
Weather grounds MBs. XXII TAC ftrs and FBs, unable to reach primary
tgts further N, hit comm N of battle area but concentrate mainly on
gun positions in La Spezia area.
12/19/44
Fifteenth AF
More than 400 B-24's and B-17's attack Blechhammer N and S and
Moravska-Ostrava oil refineries, Rosenheim rail sidings and M/Y and
Strasshof, Villach, Klagenfurt, Graz, Innsbruck, and Sopron M/Ys,
town of Sternberk, and several scattered T/Os. P-38's and P-51's fly
rcn missions and escort HBs.
12/19/44
Tenth AF
12 B-25's hit road junctions at Mongmit and S of Kyaukme, Kyaukme
railroad station, and Hsenwi bridge. 7 P-47's severely damage Tonbo
road bridge, and 11 others hit T/Os during Onmaka-Hsoplong rail
sweep. 42 P-47's pound supply and personnel areas and troops at
Myadaung, Tantabin, and Twinnge, village of Nyaugbintha, and truck
park near Humon. 300-plus transport sorties are flown to forward
areas.
12/19/44
Fourteenth AF
16 B-25's, escorted by 24 P-40's, attack Pengpu. 4 P-38's bomb
Wanling-Mongyu road causing trafflc block. 4 P-51's claim 2
freighters sunk off Hong Kong. 2 P-40's destroy 3 locomotives and a
truck at Sinyang.
12/19/44
FEAF
Ftr-supported B-25's bomb Fabrica A/F. Ftrs on sweep over Ponay,
Negros, and Leyte hit Fabrica, Bacolod, Silay, Dumaguete and Alicante
A/Fs, and town of Palompon. B-24's bomb Legaspi A/F while P-38's hit
Batangas A/F. B-25's, A-20's, and P-38's pound Kairatoe area. Other
FEAF aircraft on armed rcn, sweeps, and small strikes hit T/Os at
many locations throughout NEI and Phil Is.
12/19/44
Twentieth AF
17 B-29's, from Chengtu area, hit aircraft plant at Omura, 13 others
hit secondary tgt of Shanghai, and another 2 strike other
alternates.
12/19/44
Seventh AF
HQ Seventh AF is officially opened at Tanapag. 27 B-24's from Saipan
and 25 from Guam strike Iwo Jima. 3 on armed rcn from Guam bomb
Marcus. 14 P-38's from Saipan, with 3 B-29's as navigational escort,
strafe A/Fs on Iwo Jima. 4 B-25's from Guam and Saipan carry out 3
snooper strikes against Iwo Jima during 19/20 Dec.
12/19/44
ZI
4 ftrs of Fourth AF, directed by Los Angeles Control Gp to search for
Japanese balloon reported over Santa Monica, are unable to locate the
tgt.
12/20/44
Ninth AF
Bad weather prevents all combat operations, except night intruder
mission by 2 ftrs.
12/20/44
Twelfth AF
Continued bad weather limits operations. MBs are grounded and
overcast prevents ftrs and FBs to reach many tgts in C and E Po
Valley. However, the Brenner line is cut S of Trento and trains are
successfully attacked near Padua and Treviso. Armed rcn in W Po
Valley accounts for several locomotives, vehicles, and other T/Os,
and railroads, bridges, and T/Os are hit in the La Spezia and Genoa
areas. During 19/ 20 Dec LBs attack lights at 5 locations in E Po
Valley.
12/20/44
Fifteenth AF
For fifth consecutive day, HBs hit Axis oil production. 454 HBs hit
Regensburg oil refinery, M/Ys at Linz, Salzburg, and Villach, and
armament works at Plzen. Over 300 P-38's and P-51's provide escort.
40-plus others fly rcn and rcn-escort missions.
12/20/44
Tenth AF
9 B-25's destroy 3 road bridges at Mongmit, bypass bridges at Tangon
and Tantabin, and 3 bridges in N Burma. 3 other MBs blast ferry area
at Thabeikkyin. 12 P-47's knock out Hay-ti road bridge and damage
Pa-mao bridge. 12 other FBs sweep the Irrawaddy from Sheinmaga to
Twinnge, strafing several T/Os. 13 P-47's spt ground forces in
Namhkam sector. Troops, supply areas, and buildings are pounded at
Hseing-hkai, Tigyaing, Na-kawnkongnyaung, and Man Hkunhawng.
Transport operations to front areas total 284 sorties.
12/20/44
Fourteenth AF
118 P-51's and P-40's on armed rcn over S China and E Burma attack
road, rail, and river traffic and other T/Os, mainly in or near
Wanling, Mongyu, Monhkong, Lashio, Hochih, Chinchenchiang Hong Kong,
Sinyang, Lohochai, Leiyang, Kweilin, Sintsiang, Siangtan, Paoching,
Liuchenghsien, Hengshan, and Hengyang.
12/20/44
FEAF
150-plus B-24's, B-25's, and FBs pound 10 A/Fs throughout C Phil Is
and 3 on Mindanao. In NEI B-24's hit Malang A/F and B-25's hit
Haroekoe. Numerous other single FEAF flights and small forces attack
a large variety of T/Os throughout NEI and the Phil Is.
12/20/44
Seventh AF
23 B-24's, based on Saipan, pound Iwo Jima. During 20/ 21 Dec 6
B-24's from Guam and Saipan hit Iwo Jima with 5 snooper strikes.
12/20/44
Eleventh AF
A B-24 flies armed rcn over the Kurils. Another B-24 strikes
Onnekotan installations, while 2 more flying armed photo mission over
Kashiwabara and Kataoka also strafe buildings on Onnekotan and bomb
Nemo Bay. 4 B-25's abort a fighter-decoy mission due to weather.
12/21/44
Ninth AF
IX and XXIX TACs are transferred from Ninth AF to British Second Tac
AF control to operate against the N line of the Bulge. XIX TAC flies
armed weather and intruder rcn in SaarbruckenTrier area. Weather
grounds all operations.
12/21/44
Twelfth AF
During 20/21 Dec A-20's attack highways, secondary roads, and T/Os in
N and C Po Valley. During the day, bad weather grounds MBs and
reduces ftr and FB operations of XXII TAC. However, XXII TAC aircraft
are effective against railroad tgts in Treviso area and damage Ghedi
A/F. Trains, vehicles, guns, and buildings are attacked in or near
Mantua, Milan, Turin, La Spezia, Padua, and Mestre.
12/21/44
Fifteenth AF
84 B-24's bomb main M/Y and railroad sidings at Rosenheim. 40 P-51's
provide escort. Over 40 P-38's fly photo rcn and rcn escort
missions.
12/21/44
Tenth AF
12 B-25's bomb supply and personnel area at Magyidon. 13 P-47's
damage bridges at Hay-ti, Mong Long, and Pa-Mao. Rail T/Os from
Hsumhsai to Hsipaw are attacked by 12 P-47's. More than 20 FBs hit
troop concentrations at several points including Man Ka-lao and
general area E of Shweli R. 12 P-47's bomb and strafe Lashio area.
290-plus transport sorties are flown to forward bases and frontline
areas.
12/21/44
Fourteenth AF
5 P-40's and P-51's fly armed rcn over wide expanses of S China, E
Burma and N Indochina. The ftrs attack chiefly troops and river,
road, and rail trafflc and a variety of T/Os at numerous locations. 9
B-25's bomb Kunlong and Minkiang.
12/21/44
FEAF
24's, B-25's, and FBs pound 10 A/Fs mostly on Negros and elsewhere in
C Phils. Leyte-based FBs fly over 100 attack sorties. Likanan A/F is
also hit by HBs. B-25's pound Goeroea, Anggai, and Lolobata.
12/21/44
Twentieth AF
19 B-29's from Chengtu attack Mukden. The primary objective
(Manchuria Airplane Manufacturing Company) suffers little damage and
nearby arsenal and rail yards are slightly damaged. 8 other VHBs bomb
alternates and T/Os.
12/21/44
Seventh AF
23 Guam-based B-24's hit Iwo Jima. During 21/22 Dec, 4 B-24's from
the Marianas fly 3 harassment strikes against Iwo Jima.
12/22/44
Ninth AF
3 ftr gps of IX TAC are transferred to XIX TAC to concentrate air
power for cooperation with US Third Army to which main effort against
the Bulge has been assigned. The gps return to control of IX TAC on
25 Dec. Ftrs fly a few strafing, weather rcn, intruder patrol, and
alert missions. Bad weather cancels all other missions.
12/22/44
Twelfth AF
During 21/22 Dec A-20's hit scattered tgts in Po Valley. Clearing
weather during the day enables MBs to hit bridges at Torre Beretti,
Pontetidone, and at Chiari. FBs concentrate on railway tgts,
destroying 5 bridges in N Italy and making numerous cuts in rail
lines, several on the important Brenner line. Motor transport and
guns N of battle area are also successfully attacked.
12/22/44
Fifteenth AF
Bad weather restricts operations to rcn, supply dropping, and escort
missions over Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and
Yugoslavia.
12/22/44
Tenth AF
12 B-25's bomb supply area at Magyidon. 8 P-47's knock out Namhkai
bypass bridge and damage 2 bridges at Kinu. 16 hit T/Os along
Irrawaddy R from Tagaung to Thabeikkyin and along road E and N to
Mongmit. 12 P-47's bomb and strafe personnel area at Onbauk and
bridge at Na-lang. More than 300 transport sorties are flown to
forward areas.
12/22/44
Fourteenth AF
4 B-25's damage bridge at Song Hoa. 2 B-25's bomb Yungning. 80-plus
P-51's and P-40's on armed rcn over wide reaches of S China, E Burma,
and N Indochina hit numerous T/Os. A/Fs at Heho and Tien Ho are
strafed and several airplanes are destroyed in battles over Canton
and Kai Tek A/Fs. Rail facilities, river and road traffic, and other
T/Os are hit at several locations including Chinchengchiang, Wanling,
Gia Lam, and Pingsiang-Yungning area.
12/22/44
FEAF
B-24's, with P-47 spt, bomb Clark Field while P-40's bomb and strafe
Lipa A/F. B-24's bomb Carolina A/F while B-25's, with P-47 cover, hit
Fabrica A/F. On Mindanao B-24's bomb storage and personnel areas
while B-25's hit water-front at Zamboanga. FEAF aircraft fly numerous
shipping searches, armed rcn, and sweeps over Mindanao and throughout
NEI. Numerous FBs pound Wasile R and Goeroea areas and Hate Tabako
A/F. US and RAAF B-24's, B-25's, and FBs bomb Lolobata and Hate
Tabako A/Fs and Goeroea area.
12/22/44
Twentieth AF
48 B-29's from XXI BC hit Mitsubishi aircraft industrial complex.
Total cloud cover prevents accuracy, and damage is light. B-29's
claim 9 ftrs downed.
12/22/44
Seventh AF
During 22/23 Dec 2 Guam and Saipan-based B-24's make harassing
strikes on Iwo Jima.
12/23/44
Eighth AF
Almost 400 HBs attack M/Ys at Ehrang, Kaiserslautern, and
Homburg/Saar, comm centers at Junkerath, Ahrweiler, and Dahlem, rail
junction at Homburg/Saar, and several T/Os. 7 P-51 gps fly escort and
encounter an estimated 75-100 ftrs, claiming 23 shot down. 3 ftr gps
on sweeps encounter about 350 ftrs and claim 46 destroyed.
12/23/44
Ninth AF
Around 500 B-26's and A-20's attack rail bridges, comm tgts,
villages, rail junction and T/Os in Germany losing 31 bmrs. Ftrs fly
bmr escort, armed rcn, and patrols (claiming over 100 aircraft downed
and 3 A/Fs bombed), and spt ground forces between Werbomont and
Butgenbach along N battleline of Bulge and US III, VIII, and XII
Corps forces along S battleline of the Bulge.
12/23/44
Twelfth AF
On 22/23 Dec A-20's on intruder patrols hit Po R crossings and T/Os.
Bad weather during day grounds MBs. FBs operate in W Po Valley,
mainly against railway comm. A/F near Milan is attacked, and several
enemy airplanes destroyed.
12/23/44
Fifteenth AF
Bad weather again limits operations to rcn, supply dropping, and
escort missions over C and E Europe.
12/23/44
Tenth AF
15 P-47's knock out and damage bridges at Mong Long, Pa-mao, and Man
Pwe. 12 B-25's destroy bridges at Tonbo, Saye, Ketka, and Nampawng,
and damage several others. 40-plus FBs attack storage areas,
bivouacs, and enemy-held points at Namhkam, Nyaunggyin, Hseinghkai,
Mongyin, and Kutkai. Transport sorties to forward bases and frontline
areas total 353.
12/23/44
Fourteenth AF
8 B-25's pound points along Burma Road. 13 B-25's hit town areas,
trains, and other T/Os at Vinh, from Dap Cau to Lungchow, and from
Lang Son to Yungning. In China 3 B-25's and 5 P-40's damage about 50
railroad cars in area S of Yellow R. 16 P-51's over Wuchang and
Hankow damage 2 ferry ramps and blast 3 oil dumps. 12 P-51's and
P-38's damage 2 hangars at Heho A/ F, 12 P-51's pound railroad shops
at Chenghsien, and bomb Houmachen with napalm.
12/23/44
FEAF
B-24's bomb Fabrica and Silay A/Fs. P-38's and P-47's provide cover.
B-24's bomb Grace Park A/F and B-25's pound San Roque A/F and Davao
and Zamboanga areas. B-25's and FBs blast Lolobata, Hate Tabako, and
Goeroea area. Again numerous FEAF aircraft fly various small strikes,
armed rcn, and sweeps over Phil Is and NEI. FBs are especially active
against tgts in C Phil Is and Halmahera.
12/23/44
Seventh AF
12 B-24's from Saipan and 14 from Guam hit Iwo Jima. 3 others from
Guam, flying armed rcn mission, bomb Woleai. During the night 2
B-24's from Guam and Saipan fly harassing strikes against Iwo
Jima.
12/23/44
Eleventh AF
The weather mission finds squall conditions and is aborted.
12/24/44
Eighth AF
Almost 1,900 (of over 2,000 dispatched) HBs attack 11 A/Fs, 14 comm
centers, and numerous other tgts including 2 M/Ys, 5 cities, and over
50 T/Os--all in battle areas. 13 ftr gps meet over 200 enemy ftrs and
claim 70 destroyed.
12/24/44
Ninth AF
276 MBs and LBs hit rail bridges and comm centers in W Germany. Ftrs
escort 9th Bomb Div, fly armed rcn, and spt US III, VIII, and XII
Corps along S battleline of the Bulge, stretching from Echternach to
area NW of Neufchateau, as 4th Armd Div reaches enemy's ring around
Bastogne.
12/24/44
Twelfth AF
Weather again holds operations to a minimum. However, P-47's carry
out very successful raid on Thiene A/F, causing considerable damage
and destroying several enemy airplanes. Other missions find little
activity and result in destruction of only a few trucks and
trains.
12/24/44
Fifteenth AF
Unfavorable weather curtails all but photo and weather rcn
missions.
12/24/44
Tenth AF
38 P-47's hit troop concentrations and supply areas at Pangkai,
Man-namman, Man Om, Mong Nge, and Kyanhnyat. 6 spt ground forces in
Si-U sector while 12 hit T/Os along Sinlum-Nawghkio rail line. 8
P-47's strafe A/F at Lashio. 287 transport sorties are flown to
forward areas.
12/24/44
Fourteenth AF
6 B-25's blast Kunlong ferry area 3 B-24's claim 1 tanker sunk in S
China Sea. 100-plus P-40's, P-51's, and P-38's on armed rcn attack
T/Os throughout S China, especially river, road, and rail trafflc,
troops, and buildings around Hengyang, Lingling, Siangtan, and
Changsha. Also Hong Kong area shipping is pounded (1 tanker claimed
sunk and other ships damaged) and 30-plus enemy airplanes claimed
destroyed at Tsinan A/F.
12/24/44
FEAF
B-24's bomb Clark Field, Puerto Princesa, and Kudat A/Fs. B-25's and
FBs blast Goeroea area, bomb Silay A/F and hit San Roque barracks,
Zamboanga waterfront, and Davao Bay shipping. Again FEAF aircraft on
miscellaneous small operations attack many tgts throughout NEI and
Phil Is.
12/24/44
Twentieth AF
23 XXI BC B-29's attack 2 A/Fs on Iwo Jima.
12/24/44
Seventh AF
12 B-24's from Saipan and 38 from Guam strike Iwo Jima. 17
Saipan-based P-38's make low-level strafing attack on Iwo Jima. 23
other B-24's, based on Saipan, bomb Chichi Jima. 2 B-24's on
harassment strikes from the Marianas hit Iwo Jima during 24/25
Dec.
12/25/44
Eighth AF
Over 350 HBs hit 18 tgts (mostly rail bridges and comm centers) in
the tac area W of the Rhine. 9 escorting ftr gps encounter over 300
ftrs and claim more than 40 kills.
12/25/44
Ninth AF
Nearly 650 MBs and LBs hit rail and road bridges, comm centers and
T/Os in W Germany and breakthrough area. Ftrs, including an Eighth AF
gp loaned to Ninth, escort 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols and armed rcn,
and spt US III, VIII, and XII Corps along S battleline of enemy
salient from Echternach to NW of Neufchateau.
12/25/44
Twelfth AF
Clearing weather in Po Valley permits FBs to successfully cut
numerous rail lines running N to Brenner Pass, and lines in E Po
Valley, destroying or damaging several locomotives.
12/25/44
Fifteenth AF
253 HBs hit Brux synthetic oil plant and main M/Y at Wels. 145 others
bomb M/Ys at Plattling, Villach, Hall, Graz, Innsbruck (2), and
Rosswein and Innsbruck AA position and rail siding. Over 30 ftrs
escort Brux-WelsRosswein-Plattling raids. Other P-38's and P-51's fly
rcn escort and cover MATAF B-25's on Yugoslav supply run.
12/25/44
Tenth AF
4 P-47's bomb and strafe troop concentrations and supplies at Mabein.
8 others sweep Burma Road stretches and strafe Lashio A/F. Transports
fly 259 sorties delivering men and supplies to forward bases and
frontline areas.
12/25/44
Fourteenth AF
6 B-25's and 8 FBs knock out bridge at Wan PaHsa. 22 P-51's pound
railroad ferry, damage tanker at Nanking, and hit nearby A/F,
claiming 13 airplanes destroyed. 30-plus other P-51's, P-40's, and
P-38's on armed rcn hit various T/Os around Yungning, Kunming,
Kiungshan, Paoching, Wanling, Man Pong, and Mong Long.
12/25/44
FEAF
B-24's, with ftr spt, bomb Mabalacat, Sasa, Sandakan and Jesselton
A/Fs. B-25's, along with RAAF FBs, hit Galela area. Other B-25's and
FBs pound Mindanao and Halmahera I tgts again during several smaller
raids throughout the day.
12/25/44
Seventh AF
12 B-24's from Saipan bomb Iwo Jima. B-24's from Guam and Saipan
continue night strikes against Iwo Jima during 25/ 26 Dec.
12/26/44
Eighth AF
Over 100 HBs attack 3 M/Ys and 2 bridges at Andernach, Neuwied,
Sinzig, and Niederlahnstein, and 3 other tgts in W German battle
area. 5 ftr gps fly escort and 2 others fly sweeps in Bonn area.
12/26/44
Ninth AF
9th Bomb Div attacks road junctions, rail bridges, rail head, comm
and casual tgts in breakthrough area as enemy's westward drive ends
short of the Maas R. Ftrs fly escort, armed rcn, sweeps, and spt US
III and VIII Corps S of Bastogne, as US 4th Armd Div breaks ring
around the city.
12/26/44
Twelfth AF
Good weather permits operations in force for first time in several
days. During 25/26 Dec A-20's bomb area between battleline and
Bologna, attack lights, motor transport, and railroads in Po Valley,
and hit Vicenza A/F. During the day MBs concentrate on Brenner Pass
and hit Padua, San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Ponte di Piave, Dolce,
Pordenone railroad bridge, and 2 dumps in Bologna area. FBs bomb
railways, especially Brenner line, bridges in Po Valley, and NE
Italy, spt US Fifth Army forces S of Bologna and in Serchio R Valley
where Germans begin series of counterattacks, and hit shipping at La
Spezia and Genoa.
12/26/44
Fifteenth AF
Around 380 B-24's and B-17's bomb Odertal, Blechhammer S, and
Auschwitz oil refineries, railroad bridge at Ora and viaduct at
Avisio, plus scattered T/Os 26 P-38's bomb railroad bridge at
Latisana. P-38's and P-51's escort the HB missions.
12/26/44
Tenth AF
8 B-25's knock out and damage bridges at Taunggon, Padan, and
Kyaukhlebein. 34 P-47's hit troop concentrations at Panghai, Mongyu,
Na-hsang, Man Om, and Hpa-lin. 8 others hit stores area and
distributing point at Hsenwi, 11 attack supplies at Pangpao, and 2
bomb rafts, boats, and landing points at Myitson ferry. 4 B-25's fly
offensive night rcn against comm lines. 275 transport sorties are
flown to forward areas.
12/26/44
Fourteenth AF
6 B-25's bomb Wan Lai-Kam. 5 B-25's hit T/Os in Formosa Strait, in
Siang-Chiang Valley, and at Ikiawan and Changsha. 12 P-51's attack
Tsinan A/F. 46 P-51's, P-38's, and P-40's hit railroad tgts,
shipping, storage and other T/Os at or near Kinkiang, Anking,
Ka-chun, Lampang, Monglong Valley, and Man Pong.
12/26/44
FEAF
B-24's pound Clark Field. B-25's hit Matina A/F, shipping in Davao R,
and bomb nearby Samal I. B-24's hit Libby A/F. B-25's, B-24's, and
FBs hit Galela, Lolobata, and Hate Tabako. Miscellaneous attacks by
other FEAF airplanes are flown against tgts in N Borneo, NE Celebes,
and Halmahera.
12/26/44
Seventh AF
13 Guam-based B-24's hit Iwo Jima. 3 from Saipan fly armed rcn and
bomb Marcus. 2 HBs from the Marianas strike Iwo Jima during 26/27
Dec.
12/27/44
Eighth AF
Nearly 600 HBs attack tgts in battle area of W Germany, including 8
M/Ys, 4 rail bridges, 2 rail junctions, cities of Hildesheim and
Eckfeld, and 13 T/Os. 4 ftr gps fly spt. 5 other gps on sweeps engage
about 200 ftrs in combat, claiming about 30 kills.
12/27/44
Ninth AF
9th Bomb Div attacks rail bridges, comm centers, and T/Os in Germany
and Belgium. Ftrs escort bmrs, fly patrols and armed rcn, and spt US
3d Armd and 82d Airborne Divs in Manhay and Trois-Ponts area, and
III, VIII, and XII Corps in Saint-Hubert-Bastogne-Martelange
area.
12/27/44
Twelfth AF
On 26/27 Dec A-20's bomb pontoon bridges at Ficarolo, road bridges at
Ostiglia and Castel Maggiore, San Benedetto Po crossing, Turin A/F,
and several Po Valley roads. MBs blast 3 Brenner area routes leading
into Austria and Yugoslavia, and bomb 2 supply dumps in Bologna area.
FBs devote main effort to spt US Fifth Army in Serchio Valley area
where counterattacks are being successfully halted. Other FBs hit
comm in Po Valley and escort MBs and C-47's dropping supplies to
Italian partisans.
12/27/44
Fifteenth AF
520-plus HBs bomb Vosendorf oil refinery, Linz ordnance depot, M/Ys
at Wiener-Neustadt, Villach, Klagenfurt, Bruck an der Mur, Graz, and
Maribor, Feldbach railroad junction, Brenner rail line, Venzone
viaduct, and Vipiteno and Bressanone railroad bridges. 44 P-38's bomb
bridges at Latisana and Casarsa della Delizia. 29 P-51's strafe
railroad tgts between Vienna and Linz. Other ftrs fly over 250 escort
sorties.
12/27/44
Tenth AF
8 B-25's attack bridges at Kin and Kyaukhlebein, damaging the former.
28 P-47's hit troop and supply areas at Se-hai, Man Hkam, Mong Yok,
and Mong Nge. 285 transport sorties are flown to forward areas. 4
B-25's continue offensive rcn against comm lines during 27/28
Dec.
12/27/44
Fourteenth AF
6 B-25's bomb area W of Kengtung. 2 B-25's and 8 P-40's hit Ishan
area. 29 P-40's and P-51's attack area S of Puchi. 17 P-51's over
White Cloud, Whampoa, and Tien Ho A/Fs claim 10 airplanes destroyed.
2 P-51's are lost. 40-plus P-40's and P-51's hit T/Os at or near
Kweiyi, Vinh Yen, Lungan, Mong Long, Mong Khong, and Namtao.
12/27/44
FEAF
B-24's bomb San Jose-Talisay and Matina A/Fs. Small miscellaneous
strikes are carried out over Borneo, Celebes, and Lesser Sunda
Is.
12/27/44
Twentieth AF
B-29's and crews of 313th Bomb Wg (VH), commanded by Col John H
Davies, begin to arrive on Tinian, joining the 73d Bomb Wg as the XXI
BC's second operational wg. 39 B-29's from the Marianas bomb Tokyo's
Nakajima and Musashino aircraft plants. 13 attack alternates and
T/Os. Enemy ftrs are active, flying over 250 individual attacks on
the VHBs. B-29's claim 21 downed. 3 VHBs are lost, 1 to ftrs and 2 to
mechanical difficulties.
12/27/44
Seventh AF
13 Saipan-based B-24's hit Iwo Jima while 21 more bomb Chichi Jima.
35 from Guam also pound Iwo Jima while P-38's strafe the island on
which 2 B-24's also make snooper strikes during 27/28 Dec.
12/28/44
Eighth AF
More than 1,100 HBs attack 9 M/Ys, 4 bridges, and several cities and
T/Os in W German tac area. 11 gps of P-51's fly spt. 4 other ftr gps
sweep Bonn-Koblenz area.
12/28/44
Ninth AF
Weather prevents all combat operations except night-ftr missions.
12/28/44
Twelfth AF
MBs attack troop concentration at Aulla, dump at Mirabello
Monferrato, 3 rail lines from Austria and Yugoslavia into NE Italy by
hitting bridges at Chiusaforte and Bodrez, and viaduct at Borovnica.
XXII TAC planes spt US Fifth Army in Serchio Valley, where
counterattacks are repulsed, hit roads and bridges, and destroy a
number of vehicles, many at a motor transport depot near Aulla which
the ftrs bomb and strafe. During 27/28 Dec LBs bomb lights and motor
transport at almost 50 places throughout Po Valley and Brenner
area.
12/28/44
Fifteenth AF
480-plus HBs attack Regensburg oil storage and freight yard in
Germany, M/Ys at Zwettl, Amstetten, Kallwang, Hieflau, and Salzburg,
oil refineries at Kralupy nad Vltava, Kolin, and Pardubice, oil
storage and sidings at Roudnice nad Labem, Nymburk railroad bridge at
Kammern, Brenner rail line, and Bressanone and Venzone railroad
bridges. P-38's and P-51's fly over 350 sorties in spt of HBs.
12/28/44
Tenth AF
23 P-47's knock out bridge at Nampawng and damage others at Man Pwe
and Hsenwi. 8 B-25's destroy bridges at Kin and Kyaukhlebein, hit an
already unserviceable bridge at Padon, damage a bypass road at Lashio
and bomb troop concentrations, supplies, and arty at Mong Hseng, Mong
Tat, and Kathe. 297 transport sorties are flown to forward areas. 4
B-25's continue offensive rcn over comm lines during 28/29 Dec.
12/28/44
Fourteenth AF
2 B-25's and 16 FBs hit town areas, railroad tgts, and gun positions
in HengyangLeiyang area. 20 P-51's and P-38's attack Gia Lam A/F,
pounding barracks area, hangars, shops, and railroad facilities.
40-plus other P-51's, P-40's, and P-38's on armed rcn over S China
and over Indochina hit T/Os at several locations including areas
around Anking, Kinkiang, Wanling, Mongyu, Namtao, Yungning, Hanoi,
Lang Son, Man Pong, Siangtan, and Yuncheng.
12/28/44
FEAF
B-25's pound Laha, Kairatoe, and Haroekoe A/Fs while FBs hit Namlea
A/F. In Soembawa-Flores I area, B-24's attack Japanese shipping. FEAF
ftrs and bmrs on numerous small raids hit tgts on Palawan, Mindanao,
Borneo, Celebes, Halmahera, Timor and Tanimbar Is, Lingayen Gulf, and
W of Mindoro I.
12/28/44
Seventh AF
13 B-24's, flying out of Saipan, bomb A/F on Iwo Jima which is hit
again during 28/29 Dec when HBs from Guam and Saipan fly 2
single-plane strikes.
12/29/44
Eighth AF
750-plus HBs strike 5 M/Ys, 4 bridges, 6 comm centers, dock area, 5
city areas, and several T/Os in W Germany. 10 P-51 gps fly close
escort and 2 gps later strafe rail transportation. 3 other gps fly
area spt.
12/29/44
Ninth AF
Weather causes recall of over 100 bmrs except for 7 which bomb
Saint-Vith comm center and Keuchingen road bridge. XIX TAC flies
armed rcn over Belgium and Germany and supports US III, VIII, and XII
Corps in Neufchateau-BastogneArlon areas.
12/29/44
Twelfth AF
During 28/29 Dec LBs pound motor transports, ferry crossings, road
bridges, rail line, and T/Os throughout NW and NC Po Valley. MBs
during the day blast the Rovereto bridge and Lavis viaduct, attack
several bridges in NE Italy destroying center span of bridge at
Pordenone, and severely damage bridge at Motta di Livenza. FBs
concentrate on comm tgts in extreme W end of battle area, with
excellent results on bridges in Massa Lombarda area and destroy
numerous vehicles and several locomotives.
12/29/44
Fifteenth AF
Almost 450 HBs attack M/Ys at Innsbruck, Passau, Rosenheim, Landshut,
Salzburg, and Verona(2), Brenner rail line, Castelfranco Veneto and
Udine locomotive repair depots, and Bressanone railroad bridge. 14
P-38's bomb road bridge S of Rosenheim. Around 300 other P-38's and
P-51's fly escort and rcn missions.
12/29/44
Tenth AF
9 B-25's bomb troops and supplies at Panma. 15 P-47's hit supply area
at Twinnge and troop concentration at Wetwun. 4 B-25's continue armed
night rcn over comm facilities. Transports fly 289 sorties to forward
bases and frontline areas.
12/29/44
Fourteenth AF
4 B-25's attack T/Os from Dong Hoa to Lang Son. 37 P-51's and P-40's
on armed rcn attack Gia Lam A/F and hit various T/Os E of Man Pong, E
of Tsingsinghsien, N of Mongyu, and at Shanhsien and Hei-Shih
Kuan.
12/29/44
FEAF
B-24's bomb Sasa A/F while B-25's and FBs hit Namlea. FBs hit NE
Celebes A/Fs while B-24's bomb Limboeng. FEAF aircraft fly small
strikes against a wide range of tgts in N Borneo, C Phil Is, S Luzon,
and on Timor.
12/29/44
Seventh AF
26 B-24's, based on Guam, pound Iwo Jima which is bombed again for a
6-hr period during 29/30 Dec by 9 HBs, flying at varying
intervals.
12/29/44
Eleventh AF
3 B-25's on a ftrdecoy mission abort due to weather. 2 of them are
missing on return flight. A B-24 bombs Kataoka.
12/30/44
Eighth AF
Over 1,200 HBs hit 8 M/Ys, 6 bridges, rail junction and city area,
and 13 T/Os in W Germany. 11 ftr gps fly escort, 2 others fly area
sweeps.
12/30/44
Ninth AF
Weather forces recall and cancellation of 9th Bomb Div and IX TAC
missions. XXIX TAC flies armed rcn over battle area and around
Wallersheim and XIX TAC covers large areas of France, Belgium, and
Germany hitting numerous ground tgts and supports US III, VIII, and
XII Corps in Saint-Hubert, Bastogne and Diekirch areas.
12/30/44
Twelfth AF
MBs concentrate major effort on rail line running N to Brenner Pass,
hitting fill at Dolce and bridges at Calliano, Ala, and Santa
Margherita d'Adige, and ammo dump at Bologna. FBs blast road bridges,
spt US Fifth Army SE of La Spezia, and hit bridges in Mantua and
Modena areas. During 29/30 Dec LBs hit T/Os at numerous N Italian
locations, including Ghedi A/F, and train S of Mantua.
12/30/44
Tenth AF
12 P-47's knock out and damage bridges at Man Pwe, Ho-hko (2), and
Inailong. 17 B-25's blast troop and supply area at Kyatpyin. 28
P-47's and P-38's hit troops, supplies, and areas of enemy activity
at Myethin, Manna, Nanponpon, Lawa, Sabenago, Hmattawmu, and Hosi.
Transports complete 338 sorties to forward areas. 4 B-25's continue
single-plane offensive rcn over comm lines during 30/31 Dec.
12/30/44
Fourteenth AF
4 B-24's damage a bridge W of Kengtung while 2 others NE of Thanh Moi
damage a bridge, railroad tracks, and more than 40 boxcars. 40-plus
P-51's and P-40's on armed rcn attack T/Os at several points
including areas around Mong Nawng, Man Pong, Mong Long, Ka-chun,
Shanhsien, Ichang, and Shayang.
12/30/44
FEAF
In the principal action of the day, FBs pound A/Fs in C Phil, N
Borneo, and N and SW Celebes while B-25's hit barge anchorage and
supplies at Haroekoe. Smaller strikes by B-25's, B-24's, and FBs are
flown against shipping, oil tgts, A/Fs, and T/Os throughout Phil Is
and NEI.
12/30/44
Seventh AF
14 Saipan-based B-24's bomb Iwo Jima which is hit again over an
almost 7-hr period, 30/31 Dec, by 9 HBs singly operating from
Guam.
12/31/44
Eighth AF
1,200-plus HBs hit 5 oil refineries, an aircraft plant, Uboat yards,
2 A/Fs, T/Os in N Germany, 6 bridges, 3 comm centers, 3 M/Ys, a
detraining point, a city area, several T/Os in W Germany and
Helgoland I. 14 escorting ftr gps engage about 150 ftrs, mostly in
Hamburg area, and claim about 60 kills. HBs lose 14 to the ftrs, and
claim 26 ftrs destroyed.
12/31/44
Ninth AF
Weather grounds bmrs. Frs fly sweeps and armed rcn, attacking
numerous ground tgts. XIX TAC supports US III, VIII, and XX Corps
around Bastogne and between Mosel and Saar Rivers in Merzig area.
12/31/44
Twelfth AF
During 30/31 Dec A-20's again fly intruder missions, bombing a
variety of tgts, including motor transport, bridges, and railroads in
Po Valley. During the day MBs hit bridge at Bodrez, railroads at
Piazzola Sul Brenta and near Padua, and a dump. XXII TAC FBs destroy
5 and damage 2 railway bridges in Po Valley, cut rail lines at
numerous places, destroy several locomotives, and destroy or damage
200-plus railway cars.
12/31/44
Tenth AF
28 P-47's strafe Laihka, Namsang, Aungban, Kunlon, and Heho A/Fs. 5
P-47's damage bridge at Namhkai. A total of 65 P-47's and P-38's hit
Japanese Div HQ at Ongyaw and troop concentrations and supply areas
at Mongmit, Nawngka, Kawngtawng, Pangnim, Mong Tat, Kutkai, and Man
Namman. A few B-25's fly night harassment missions against A/Fs.
About 300 transport sorties are flown to forward areas throughout the
day.
12/31/44
Fourteenth AF
4 B-24's claim 1 freighter sunk and another damaged ofl Hainan I. 4
B-25's damage 2 bridges and destroy or damage 5 buildings at Mong
Ping. 35 P-40's and P-51's attack troops, horses, town areas, and
railroad tgts at or near Hankow, Saiping, Siangtan, Hengyang,
Lingling, and Kweilin. 29 other ftrs on armed rcn hit T/Os at several
points in N Indochina, E Burma, and S China.
12/31/44
FEAF
B-24's and B-25's bomb A/Fs in C Phil, on Luzon and Mindanao. Other
B-24's bomb Ambesia A/F, hit Dili, and pound A/Fs and supply areas
throughout Halmahera I. FBs are active against A/Fs, shipping, AA
guns, and various T/Os on Halmahera and in N Celebes.
12/31/44
Twentieth AF
Gen Hansell and his XXI BC Forward Echelon HQ staff close Saipan HQ
and move to Guam where ground echelon arrived in early Dec.
12/31/44
Seventh AF
From Guam 19 B-24's hit Iwo Jima A/Fs during the day. 10 more HBs hit
the island with individual harassment raids over a 6-hr period during
31 Dec/1 Jan.
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