31 July 1943

SATURDAY, 31 JULY 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)
VIII Air Support Command Missions Number 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D: The
targets are 4 airfields in France:
1. 21 B-26B's are dispatched against Merville Airfield; 20 hit the
target at 1120 hours; 2 B-26's are damaged.
2. 21 B-26B's are dispatched against Poix/Nord Airfield; 19 hit the
target at 1122 hours; 1 B-26 is lost and 5 ared damaged; casualties are 7
MIA.
3. 21 B-26B's are dispatched against Abbeville/Drucat Airfield and all
hit the target at 1617 hours.
4;. 21 B-26B's are dispatched against Tricqueville Airfield; 18 hit
the target at 1623 ours; they claim 0-1-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-26's are
damaged.
Lille and Amiens, France are bombed by Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers,
also fighter-escorted, in conjunction with US raids.
HQ 392d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and it's 576th Bombardment Squadron
(Heavy) arrive at Wendling, England from the US with B-24's. They will
fly their first combat mission on 6 Sep 43 and remain at this station
until Jun 45.