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FRIDAY, 2 JUNE 1944
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): The role of the heavy
bombers from
2-5 Jun in preparation for the invasion of Normandy on 6 Jun
includes
continuation of attacks against transportation and airfield targets
in N
France and the institution of a series of blows against coastal
defenses,
mainly located in the Pas de Calais coastal area, to deceive the
enemy as to
the sector to be invaded (Operation COVER).
Mission 384: In the morning, 521 of 633 B-17s and 284 of 293 B-24s
hit V-
weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area; 11 B-17s are damaged; 1
airman is
KIA, 1 WIA and 1 MIA.
Mission 385: In the afternoon, 242 B-17s are dispatched to railroad
targets
in the Paris area; 163 hit the primaries, 49 hit Conches Airfield,
12 hit
Beaumont-sur-Oise Airfield and 1 hits Caen/Carpiquet Airfield; 77
B-24s are
dispatched to Bretigny Airfield in France; 13 hit the primary
target, 47 hit
Creil Airfield and 14 hit Villeneuve Airfield; 2 B-17s and 5 B-24s
are lost,
2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 90 B-17s and 37 B-24s damaged;
1 airman
is KIA, 4 WIA and 68 MIA.
3 of 7 P-38s hit the Ostend Bridge, Belgium without loss.
3 B-17s fly weather reconnaissance over the Atlantic.
During the evening, 5 B-17s drop leaflets on targets in Belgium and
France; and 18 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER operations.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): A special conference for
ground
liaison officers is held by 21 Army Group officers who present a
detailed
exposition of the plan for the landings in Normandy.
In France, about 350 B-26s and A-20s bomb NOBALL (V-weapon) targets
and
coastal defense batteries along the English Channel coast; P-38s and
P-47s
dive-bomb targets in the area, including V-weapon sites, fuel dump,
railroad
junctions and bridges.
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