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SATURDAY, 1 JULY 1944
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 449: 323 bombers
(78 B-17s
and 245 B-24s) and 166 P-51s are dispatched to bomb 14 V-weapon
sites in N
France but are recalled because of clouds; the recall messages by
mistake are
not sent to 3 squadrons; 2 of these abort on a decision of the
squadron
leaders; the other continues on the mission and 9 B-24s bomb a
V-weapon site
at Mont Louis Ferme; 1 B-24 is lost and 10 are damaged; 1 airman is
WIA and 9
MIA; 124 P-51s, relieved of escort duty by the recall of the
bombers, claim
5-0-5 Luftwaffe aircraft, 1 P-51 is lost.
82 fighters of a force of 97 P-38s, 169 P-47s and 99 P-51s attack
rail and
road targets in N France; they claim 3-0-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1
P-47 is lost
and 2 damaged beyond repair; 2 pilots are KIA and 2 MIA.
18 B-24s participate in CARPETBAGGER missions in France.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): IX Air Defense Command is
activated
in Hampstead Borouth, England by the Ninth Air Force to provide air
defense
behind the advancing Allied ground forces in N Europe; Commanding
General is
Brigadier General William L Richardson.
In France, weather prevents operations by IX Bomber Command; 47
fighters
escort troop carriers and fly sweeps in the Vire area where about 20
fighters
bomb tactical targets; HQ 100th Fighter Wing moves from Lashenden,
England
to Criqueville; and HQ 363d Fighter Group moves from Staplehurst,
England to
Maupertus; during Jul, HQ IX Fighter Command from Middle Wallop,
England to
Les Obeaux; and HQ XIX Tactical Air Command from Aldermaston Court,
England
to France.
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