19 August 1942

WEDNESDAY, 19 AUGUST 1942

ETO (8th AF): Mission 2: 22 of 24 B-17s bomb Abbeville/Drucat Airfield,
France at 1032-1040 hours; 3 B-17s are damaged; 6 B-17s fly a diversion and 2
airmen are WIA. This mission is flown to occupy the Luftwaffe and prevent
them from opposing an invasion by over 5,000 Allied troops, mostly Canadians,
who raid Dieppe, France. 123 Spitfire Mk Vs of the 31st Fighter Group support
the raid on Dieppe and claim 1-1-5 Luftwaffe aircraft with the loss of 8
Spitfires (4 pilots are MIA); 2d Lieutenant Samuel F Junkin Jr of the 309th
Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, flying a Spitfire Mk V in support of
the amphibious raid on Dieppe, shoots down a German fighter, this being the
first aerial victory won by an 8th Air Force fighter pilot flying from the UK.
Units arriving in England from the US: HQ 1st Bombardment Wing at Brampton
Grange; 353d and 419th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 301st Bombardment Group
(Heavy), at Chelveston with B-17s (first mission is 2 Oct).
2d, 4th and 5th Fighter Squadron, 52d Fighter Group arrive at Eglinton, Co
Derry, Ireland from the US (squadrons will be equipped with Spitfire Mk Vs
and 2d and 4th Fighter Squadrons will fly their first mission on 27 Aug; 5th
Fighter Squadron will not fly missions).