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WEDNESDAY, 1 DECEMBER 1943
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command
Mission 145:
The industrial area at Solingen, Germany is the target. 206 of 215
B-17's,
69 of 78 B-24's and 5 of 6 B-17 PFF aircraft hit the target at
1159-1212
hours; they claim 4-5-5 Luftwaffe aircraft; 19 B-17's and 5 B-24's
are
lost, 2 B-17's and 1 B-24 are damaged beyond repair and 85 bombers
are
damaged; casualties are 13 KIA, 23 WIA and 227 MIA.
The mission is escorted by 42 P-38's and 374 P-47's; the P-47's
claim
20-4-7 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-38's and 5 P-47's are lost, 1 each
are
damaged beyond repair and 3 P-47's are damaged; casualties are 7
MIA.
HQ VIII Air Support Command is disbanded at Sunninghill, England.
HQ 448th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Seething, England from
the
US.
The 362d, 363d and 364th Fighter Squadrons, 357th Fighter Group,
arrive
at Raydon, England from the US with P-51B's. They will fly their
first
mission on 11 Feb 44.
The 708th, 709th, 710th and 711th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy),
447th
Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrive at Rattlesden, England from the US
with
B-17G's. They will fly their first mission on 24 Dec.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 175+ B-26's bomb airfields at
Chievres, Belgium; and Cambrai/Epinoy, Lille/Yendeville, and Cambrai/Niergnies,
France. 28 P-51's execute a sweep over NW France, marking the first
Ninth Air
Force fighter operation from the UK.
HQ IX Troop Carrier Command transfers from Cottesmore to Grantham,
England.
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