1 March 1944

WEDNESDAY, 1 MARCH 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ and HQ Squadron, VIII Air Force
Services Command is redesignated as HQ and HQ Squadron, Air Service Command,
US Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSTAF), after functioning as such during
Jan and Feb 44 while redesignation was being authorized. 8th Strategic Air
Depot Area is redesignated VIII Air Force Services Command.
Mission 243: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 250 bundles of leaflets on Brest, Tours,
Lorient, Nantes and Reims at 2005-2115 hours without loss.
During Mar, HQ 491st Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 852d, 853d, 854th and
855th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) move from North Pickenham to Metfield,
England with B-24s; first mission is 2 Jun.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): IX Troop Carrier Command establishes
a Pathfinder school to provide pre-invasion training in all navigational
aids.
Moves in England: HQ 71st Fighter Wing from Greenham Common to Andover; HQ
366th Fighter Group from Membury to Thruxton; 12th and 15th Tactical
Reconnaissance Squadrons, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, from
Aldermaston to Chilbolton with F-6s; 390th Fighter Squadron, 366th Fighter
Group, to Thruxton from the US with P-47s (first mission is 14 Mar); 402d and
485th Fighter Squadrons, 370th Fighter Group, from Aldermaston to Andover
with P-38s (first mission 1 May).
Moves in England during March: HQ 438th Troop Carrier Group and 87th, 88th,
89th and 90th Troop Carrier Squadrons from Welford to Greenham Common with
C-47s.