17 December 1943

FRIDAY, 17 DECEMBER 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): The Ninth Air Force planning group
joins the 21 Army Group, AEAF, and the RAF's Second Tactical Air Force in
preparation of the air section of the initial joint plan (Operation NEPTUNE)
for Operation OVERLORD (the invasion of Normandy). This begins planning which
later results in a massive Ninth Air Force plan for moving the Ninth into
battle on the continent of Europe.