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FRIDAY, 24 DECEMBER 1943
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 26 heavy bomber groups are
now
operational.
VIII Bomber Command Mission 164: 23
V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais
area of France are hit. 478 of 526 B-17's 192 of 196 B-24's hit the
targets
at 1330-1510 hours; 2 B-24's are damaged beyond repair and 85 B-17's
are
damaged; casualties are 4 WIA. This is the largest number of
aircraft
carrying out attacks of any Eighth Air Force mission to date and the
first
of its major strikes against missile sites. The heavies are escorted
by 40
P-38's, 459 P-47's and 42 Ninth Air Force P-51's; 2 P-38's are
damaged
beyond repair and 2 P-51's are damaged; no casualties.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 60+ B-26's attack NOBALL
(V-missile
sites) targets in Pas de Calais area of France. 30+ B-26's abort due
to bad
weather.
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