4 January 1945

THURSDAY, 4 JANUARY 1945

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 779: 1 B-17 and 2 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, Belgium
and Germany during the night; 1 B-24 is lost.
Mission 780: 10 of 12 B-24s dispatched to hit the Coubre Point Coastal
battery near Bordeaux, France hit the target using H2X radar.
The transfer of HQ VIII Fighter Command from Bushey Hall, England to
Charleroi, Belgium begins; the HQ is to provide administrative and
operational support for fighter groups operating with the Ninth AF on
tactical support missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS

First Tactical Air Force (Provisional): HQ 324th Fighter Group moves from
Tavaux to Luneville, France.

Ninth Air Force: All combat operations, except a defensive patrol by 4
fighters, are cancelled because of bad weather. The 161st Tactical
Reconnaissance Squadron, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, ceases operating
from Conflans, France and returns to base at Le Culot, Belgium with F-6s.