21 August 1942

FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST 1942

ETO (8th AF): At General Henry H "HAP" Arnold's request, Lieutenant General
Dwight D Eisenhower gives Major General Carl Spaatz additional duties as Air
Officer for the ETO and head of the air section of its staff, thus assuring
active participation by the 8th Air Force in theater planning.
Mission 4: 12 B-17s are dispatched to the bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam,
The Netherlands but the mission is aborted due to an attack by 25 Bf 109s
and Fw 190s; the bombers claim 2-5-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 bomber is damaged;
1 airman is KIA and 5 WIA. Lack of proper coordination with the Spitfire
escorts is a major factor in the failure of the mission.
HQ VIII Ground Air Support Command moves from Bushy Park to Membury,
England.
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