The Mighty Eighth Air Force
 plane
17 December 1944
SUNDAY, 17 DECEMBER 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 753: 3 B-17s and 7 B-24s
are dispatched to drop leaflets on France, the Netherlands and Germany
during the night. The 859th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 492d Bombardment
Group (Heavy) is detached to Italy and begins a movement to Brindisi today.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In Germany, weather prevents bomber
operations; 1,000+ fighters fly armed reconnaissance, defensive patrols, and
attacks on bridges and gun positions; the IX and XIX Tactical Air Commands
also support ground forces (8th, 28th, 78th, 99th, and 106th Infantry
Divisions, 5th Armored Division, and V, VII, VIII, XII, and XX Corps) against
the counteroffensive in the Ardennes and in a battle to hold the Saarlautern,
Germany bridgehead.