16 October 1943

SATURDAY, 16 OCTOBER 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In the United Kingdom, HQ Ninth
Air Force is established at Sunninghill as a tactical Air Force with
Lieutenant General Lewis H Brereton as Commanding General. The 3d Bombardment
Wing at Marks Hall is transferred from the VIII Air Support Command, Eighth Air
Force to the IX Bomber Command commanded by Major General Frederick L Anderson.
(HQ IX Bomber Command will not be established in England until Nov 43.) The
four B-26 groups transferred are:
322d Bombardment Group (Medium) [449th, 450th, 451st and 452d Bombardment
Squadrons (Medium)]
323d Bombardment Group (Medium) [453d, 454th, 455th and 456th Bombardment
Squadrons (Medium)]
387th Bombardment Group (Medium) [556th, 557th, 558th and 559th Bombardment
Squadrons (Medium)]
388th Bombardment Group (Medium) [560th, 561st, 562d and 563d Bombardment
Squadrons (Medium)]
The IX Troop Carrier Command is activated at Cottesmore with Brigadier General
Benjamin F Giles as Commanding General; the 315th Troop Carrier Group (34th and
43d Troop Carrier Squadrons with C-47's) is transferred from from the Eighth
Air Force; and the 434th Troop Carrier Group and it's 71st, 72d, 73d and 74th
Troop Carrier Squadrons that arrived on 9 Oct are also assigned. The IX Air
Service Command is re-formed under Major General Henry J Miller.