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WEDNESDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 1944
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): The transfer of training
functions
from VIII Air Force Composite Command to combat groups is completed;
the VIII
AF Composite Command ceases to function as personnel are attached to
the Air
Disarmament Command (Provisional) by the US Strategic Air Forces in
Europe
(USSTAF). The airfield at Denain/Prouvy, France is assigned to HQ
Eighth AF;
this is the first step in establishing an VIII Air Force Services
Command
Service Center on the European continent so that Eighth AF can
service and
administer its own aircraft and personnel in the area.
2 missions are flown.
Mission 705: 690 bombers and 890 fighters are dispatched to make a
PFF
attack on Merseburg oil plants and Rheine marshalling yard; bad
weather causes
the recall of 350+ bombers; 3 bombers and 11 fighters are lost:
1. 267 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Leuna oil plant at Merseburg
(193);
2 others hit a target of opportunity; 9 of 12 B-17s fly as a
screening force;
3 B-17s are lost and 85 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 27 MIA.
Escorting are
752 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 2-0-1 aircraft in the air and 0-0-1
on the
ground; 2 P-47s and 9 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 2 P-51s are
damaged
beyond repair.
2. 145 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Rheine marshalling yard (77);
targets of opportunity are Enschede (8), Nordhorn Canal (8) and
other (1); 15
B-24s are damaged. Escorting are 36 of 37 P-47s without loss.
3. 266 B-17s dispatched to hit the Leuna oil plant at Merseburg are
recalled due to weather.
11 of 14 P-51s fly a scouting missions without loss.
Mission 706: 5 B-17s and 12 B-24s (2 abort) drop leaflets in France,
the
Netherlands and Germany during the night without loss.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Weather cancels operations
against
military depots and troop concentrations in Germany, and fortified
positions
in France; a mission against rail bridges in Germany is recalled due
to
weather; fighters fly escort, attack railroads, bridges, factories,
supply
dumps, and command posts; the IX and XIX Tactical Air Commands
support the US
28th Infantry Division in the Schmidt, Germany area (V Corps begins
withdrawing the Kall River bridgehead) and Third Army elements start
an
assault on enemy fortifications in the Metz, France area.
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