Action This Day

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401 Sqn RCAF (Biggin Hill – Spitfire LFIXB) 6-12-43
Weather was very poor until noon. The Squadron returned from Exeter and some local flying was carried out in the afternoon. F/Lt. A.A. Williams reported in on posting for flying duties from No. 61 O.T.U. Pilot State: 25 serv., 3 non op., 3 detached or on leave.

USAAF
ENGLAND: The 70th Fighter Wing headquarters is assigned to the IX Fighter Command to oversee fighter units assigned to the Ninth Air Force.

The 354th Fighter Group is assigned to the 70th Fighter Wing.

FRANCE: P-39 pilots of the 350th Fighter Group’s 345th Fighter Squadron down two Ar-196 float reconnaissance airplanes near Cannes at about 1500 hours.

GREECE: Many Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers are unable to locate targets due to poor weather conditions, but 45 47th Heavy Bombardment Wing B-24s attack Athens/Eleusis Airdrome, and 56 5th Heavy Bombardment Wing B-17s attack Athens/Kalamaki Airdrome. One B-24 is downed by flak, but 82d Fighter Group P-38 escort pilots down four GAF fighters over Athens between 1150 and 1230 hours.

ITALY: Although most flight operations over Italy are canceled in the face of bad weather, Fifteenth Air Force B-17s are able to attack a marshalling yard and rail bridges at Grizzano, and Twelfth Air Force A-36s and P-40s are able to attack bridges at two locations.

RAF
Base Changes
58 Sqn (Halifax II) moves to St. Davids
87 Sqn (Hurricane IIC) moves to Palermo

First and Last Operational Missions
178 Sqn (Terria) flies its last OM in the Liberator II
623 Sqn - Disbanded

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401 Sqn RCAF (Biggin Hill – Spitfire LFIXB) 7-12-43
Weather very duff, no flying done. States: 23 oper., 3 no-oper., 3 detached or on leave.

USAAF
CORSICA: A 52d Fighter Group Spitfire pilot downs an Me-210 off Corsica.

EGYPT: The SEXTANT Conference concludes with, among other things, firm decisions regarding the invasion of France in mid-1944.

ITALY: The Fifteenth Air Force is grounded because of bad weather, but XII Air Support Command B-25s and A-36s attack the town and harbor at Civitavecchia; XII Air Support Command B-25s attack the rail line, a road, and the town area at Pescara; and NATAF fighter-bombers attack gun emplacements, a bridge, and several defended towns in and around the battle area. Spitfire pilots of the 31st Fighter Group’s 309th Fighter Squadron down six GAF fighters over central Italy at about 1500 hours.

The 5th Heavy Bombardment Wing’s 301st Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-17s, moves from Tunisia to a base in Italy.

RAF
Base Changes
23 Sqn (Mosquito FBVI) moves to Alghero
41 Sqn SAAF (Hurricane IIC) moves to El Adem
237 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Savoia

First and Last Operational Missions
185 Sqn (Hal Far) flies its first OM in the Spitfire IX

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401 Sqn RCAF (Biggin Hill – Spitfire LFIXB) 8-12-43
Weather still unserviceable. No flying done. State: 23 op., 3 non op., 1 on course.

USAAF
ETO: Gen Carl Spaatz is informed by Gen Henry H. Arnold that he will command the new U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSAFE). The new command, which will be headquartered in England, will oversee the efforts of the Eighth and Fifteenth air forces in the conduct of the Combined Bomber Offensive.

GREECE: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s, escorted by 82d Fighter Group P-38s, attack the Athens/Tatoi Airdrome; and Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack the Athens/Eleusis Airdrome.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack the port area and shipping at San Stefano al Mare, and rail bridges at Orbetello; XII Air Support Command B-25s attack industrial targets, bridges, marshalling yards, and town areas at Ancona, Aquila, and Pescara; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack a troop bivouac and gun emplacements; and NATAF A-20s, fighters, and fighter-bombers attack gun emplacements, troop concentrations, roads, railroads, and bridges in and around the battle area.

A 27th Fighter-Bomber Group A-36 pilot downs a Ju-52 at 0930 hours over Avezzano Airdrome.

The 1st Fighter Group, in P-38s, moves from Sardinia to a new base in Italy.

RAF
Base Changes
169 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Little Snoring

First and Last Operational Missions
12 Sqn SAAF (Tortorella) flies its last OM in the Boston III
32 Sqn (Reghaia) flies its first OM in the Spitfire VIII
237 Sqn (Savoia) flies its first OM in the Spitfire VC

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401 Sqn RCAF (Biggin Hill – Spitfire LFIXB) 9-12-43
Weather was only fit for local flying. Gliding tests with 1500 lbs. loads were attempted. P/O R.K. Hayward pranged a glider by rolling into a barbed wire fence on the east side of the drome after landing. This was due to a heavy loading and crosswind and Hayward was cleared of all blame. F/O W.A. Bishop was given probably his greatest shook today when a faked posting notice to return to Canada for public speaking duties was given him by the C.O. Bishop felt very sad and so the C.O. presented him with 4 really beautiful medals, since Bishop always claimed that medals were the only key to his Pricella's heart and he was now there. The following were his decorations: (1) the Ludo Medal (2) the Before Pearl Harbour Medal (3) The Iron Cross (4) The Snake Medal. Bishop was finally told that the posting was a fake and he is now happy with all his gongs.

BOMBER COMMAND
3 Wellingtons flew R.C.M. sorties without loss.

USAAF
ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack the rail bridges at Levanto; XII Air Support Command B-25s attack an ironworks and a marshalling yard at Terni, and rail and road bridges and tracks at three locations; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack a bivouac area and gun emplacements; and NATAF fighters and fighter-bombers attack a variety of transportation and tactical targets in and around the battle area.

Fifteenth Air Force B-24s and B-26s are grounded by bad weather, and the 5th Heavy Bombardment Wing’s 2d and 99th Heavy Bombardment groups, in B-17s, are recalled due to bad weather while on the way to their targets.

The 5th Heavy Bombardment Wing’s 2d Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-17s, is transferred from Tunisia to a base in Italy.

BriGen George H. Beverley assumes command of the XII Provisional Troop Carrier Command.

RAF
First and Last Operational Missions
610 Sqn (Bolt Head) flew its last OM in the Spitfire VC

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68 Sqn (Coltishall – Beaufighter VIF) 10-12-43
Weather clear during the day and night flying tests were carried out during the afternoon. At 19.00 hours about 20 E/A appeared from Holland and Lille and operated over areas of Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire at 4,000 - 20,000 feet. Eight Beaus were sent up to intercept. W/CDR. Hayley-Bell D.F.C. and F/O. Howell damaged two DO.217. One Beau was shot down F/Sgt. Irwin – Pilot - balled out, and was uninjured and F/Sgt. Brown (Nav/Rad) was killed.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
25 Mosquitoes to Leverkusen and 2 to Krefeld, 4 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

2nd TAF
The Mosquitoes of 2 Group were now becoming more actively involved in attacks on the growing number of "Noball' sites. 487 Squadron had, however, been undertaking a series of attacks on rail and other transport targets, which were to cost the unit four of its aircraft and crews during the month. Two of these fell on this date while attacking canal barges between Rutenbruch and Nordhorn.

USAAF
BULGARIA: Thirty-one Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack the marshalling yard at Sofia, and 82d Fighter Group P-38 escort pilots down nine of the estimated 30 GAF fighters that attack the formation over Sofia at about 1220 hours. Two P-38s are also downed.

ENGLAND: Between 1920 and 2000 hours, 20 GAF attack aircraft raid Ninth Air Force bases at Andrews Field and Earls Colne, Gosfield, and Great Dunmow airdromes. Eight USAAF personnel are killed, and 20 are wounded at Great Dunmow.

ITALY: XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack warehouses, oil tanks, rail facilities, and a ship at Civitavecchia; a defended town; tactical targets in the British Eighth Army battle area; and road traffic at or near the front. Also, Fifteenth Air Force B-26s attack bridge approaches around Ventimiglia.

MEDITERRANEAN: The Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) is formally activated, but the new Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) is not yet made operational.

YUGOSLAVIA: XII Air Support Command fighter-bombers attack a ship in the harbor at Split.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
214 Sqn (Stirling III) moves to Downham Market
249 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Grottaglie
425 Sqn RCAF (Non-Op) moves to Tholthorpe
431 Sqn RCAF (Halifax V) moves to Croft
502 Sqn (Halifax II) moves to St. Davids

First and Last Operational Missions
250 Sqn (Foggia/Mileni) flies its last OM in the Kittyhawk III
455 Sqn RAAF (Leuchars) flies its last OM in the Hampden I

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401 Sqn RCAF (Biggin Hill – Spitfire LFIXB) 11-12-43
The weather was cold and duff with the first winter snowfall. No flying was carried out. With the first snow came the first snowball fights which consisted of raids on Squadron dispersals. 401 Dispersal was not only raided with snowballs, but with tear gas bombs as well - what a fight.

BOMBER COMMAND
18 Mosquitoes attacked Duisburg and 1 Wellington flew an R.C.M. sortie without loss.

USAAF
GERMANY: Four hundred thirty-seven VIII Bomber Command B-17s and 86 B-24s attack aircraft-industry targets at Emden with 1,407 tons of bombs. Losses are 15 B-17s and two B-24s. Also, in a GAF experiment, one B-24 is damaged when an FW-190 tows a cable through a bomber formation.

The 3d Bombardment Division’s 92d Combat Bombardment Wing makes its combat debut.

Bomber escort and support is provided by 313 P-47s, 31 P-38s, and 44 P-51s, which down two Ju-88 attack aircraft and 19 GAF fighters over the Netherlands and northern Germany between 1203 and 1305 hours. 1stLt Glenn D. Schiltz, Jr., a P-47 pilot with the 56th Fighter Group’s 63d Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs an Me-210 near Emden at 1230 hours.

ITALY: The entire Fifteenth Air Force and XII Air Support Command B-25s are grounded by bad weather, but numerous fighter and fighter-bomber missions are mounted in support of Allied ground forces. 31st Fighter Group Spitfire pilots down one and damage two Bf-109s over central Italy at 0935 hours.

The 5th Heavy Bombardment Wing’s 99th Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-17s, is transferred from Tunisia to a base in Italy. Also, after being reequipped with P-47s and transferred from the Twelfth Air Force to the Fifteenth Air Force, the veteran 325th Fighter Group arrives at Foggia Airdrome to begin escorting heavy bombers over southern Europe.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
434 Sqn RCAF (Halifax V) moves to Croft

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105 Sqn (Marham – Mosquito BIV) 12-12-43


Ten aircraft, each carrying 4 x 500 G.P., were detailed to attack the KRUPP WORKS at ESSEN, and eight attacked the primary target. F/L. Bray was unable to identify the primary target so attacked the ESSEN area, and aircraft aircraft “D” F/O. Reynolds, failed to return. No searchlights were encountered through 10/10 cloud but the flak became intense towards the end of the attack, after a moderate beginning.

ADDENDUM – Mosquito BIV DZ354 GB-? Crew: F/O BF Reynolds KIA, F/O JD Phillips KIA. Shot down by Hptm. Manfred Meurer (59th victory) Stab1./NJG1, 6 km N. Herwijen at 1925. Both rest in Herwijen General Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
Mosquitoes: 20 to Essen, 9 to Düsseldorf, 1 to Osnabrück, 4 R.C.M. sorties, 4 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Mosquito lost on the Essen raid.

USAAF
ENGLAND: The 94th Heavy Combat Bombardment Wing is activated to oversee several B-17 groups of the VIII Bomber Command’s 1st Bombardment Division.

The 361st Fighter Group, in P-47s, is assigned to the VIII Fighter Command’s 66th Fighter Wing.

ITALY: All Fifteenth Air Force flight operations and many scheduled Twelfth Air Force missions are canceled in the face of bad weather, but XII Air Support Command B-25s are able to attack the landing ground, road, and rail line at Terracina; and A-36s and P-40s bomb Itri and attack motor vehicles.

The Fifteenth Air Force’s 14th Fighter Group, in P-38s, moves from Tunisia to a new base in Italy.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
232 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Aleppo
243 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Kabrit

First and Last Operational Missions
33 Sqn (Bersis) flies its last OM in the Hurricane IIC
120 Sqn (Reyjavik) flies its first OM in the Liberator V
252 Sqn (Lakatamia) flies its last OM in the Beaufighter XIC

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315 Sqn (Polish) (Heston – Spitfire VB) 13-12-43
Weather: Cloudy A.M. Fine P.M. Visibility poor, improving P.M.

RAMROD 363. 14 aircraft together with 11 of 306 Squadron, led by W/C Zak, acted as escort to 72 Marauders bombing Amsterdam-Schipol A/D. Took off from Coltishall where instructions were received too late to make rendezvous as detailed in Form D. The wing was ordered to make a sweep over the target area. Height over R/V 13,000 feet. During sweep wing was attacked by 12 F.W. 190's between Zandvoort and Noordwijerhout. F/O Wal was forced to land in Holland owing to engine trouble. Heavy flak over target area. One fighter and one bomber U/I seen in flames. Weather: Clear, Visibility 10 miles over Holland.

Warrant Officer A. Chudek was decorated with the D.F.M. by Air Vice Marshal L.O.Brown C.B.E., D.S.C., A.F.C., A.O.C. No. 84 Group. The ceremony which took place was attended by officers of R.A.F. Station, Heston, 133 Airfield and Squadrons together with detachments of airmen.


ADDENDUM – Spitfire VB AA968 PK-? Pilot: F/O R Wal POW.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
16 Mosquitoes to Düsseldorf, 1 to Bonn, 25 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

USAAF
FRANCE: The 67th Fighter Wing’s 359th Fighter Group, in P-47s, completes its first combat mission, an unchallenged fighter sweep over the Pas de Calais area.

GERMANY: One hundred sixty-nine 1st Bombardment Division B-17s and four pathfinder B-17s attack the Bremen port area with 457 tons of bombs at about noon. There are no losses in this attack.

Four hundred sixty-seven VIII Bomber Command B-17s, 99 B-24s, and eight pathfinder B-17s attack the Kiel port area with 1,147 tons of bombs between 1245 and 1305 hours. (The totals include a small number of B-17s that attack Hamburg and other targets of opportunity when poor visibility due to frosting prevents them from bombing the primary.) Five heavy bombers are lost.

The 2d Bombardment Division’s 445th Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-24s, makes its combat debut.

Bomber escort is provided by 322 P-47s, 31 P-38s, and 41 P-51s, which down one Ju-88. One P-47 and one P-51 are lost.

Of special note on the Kiel mission, the new P-51s set a record for depth of penetration by escort fighters over Europe. And, in the first combat in World War II to involve a P-51B Mustang fighter, the 354th Fighter Group’s 1stLt Glenn T. Eagleston is given credit for the probable destruction of a Bf-110 over Frederickstadt at 1325 hours.

ITALY: The entire Fifteenth Air Force is grounded in the face of bad weather, but XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s conduct a wide variety of attacks against targets in and around the battle area.

NETHERLANDS: Two hundred eight IX Bomber Command B-26s attack Amsterdam/Schipol Airport with 787 1,000-pound bombs. Two B-26s are lost to heavy flak concentrations.

YUGOSLAVIA: XII Air Support Command B-25s attack warehouses, an oil depot, port facilities, and a railway yard at Sibenik and Split.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
37 Sqn (Wellington X) moves to Cerignola
154 Sqn (Spitfire IX) moves to Minnick
252 Sqn (Beaufighter VIF) moves to LG.91
304 Sqn (Wellington XIV) moves to Predannack
420 Sqn RCAF (Non-Op) moves to Tholthorpe

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401 Sqn RCAF (Biggin Hill – Spitfire LFIXB) 14-12-43
Weather in the morning was very hazy with low cloud, ceiling 1500 feet. The wing returned to R.A.F. Biggin Hill at about 15:00 hours and no more flying was done during the day.

USAAF
GREECE: Thirty-three Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack Athens/Tatoi Airdrome; 76 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack Athens/Kalamaki and Athens/Eleusis airdromes; and 27 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s that are unable to find Athens/Eleusis attack the port area and shipping at Piraeus. One B-17 is lost.

14th Fighter Group P-38 escort pilots down two Bf-109s.

On its first mission with the Fifteenth Air Force, the 325th Fighter Group, in P-47s, provides target withdrawal escort.

ITALY: XII Air Support Command B-25s attack the town area and marshalling yard at Orte; A-20s attack a road bridge; and A-36s and P-40s attack the town and port areas at Civitavecchia, and several bridges in and around the battle area.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
243 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Aleppo
609 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Manston
610 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Fairwood Common

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
221 Sqn (Luqa) flies its last OM in the Wellington XII

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401 Sqn RCAF (Biggin Hill – Spitfire LFIXB) 15-12-43
Weather was fair and local flying was carried out. The Squadron decided to complete the glider trials. Three gliders were fully loaded with pilots personal kits, and the following pilots flew the tugs and gliders respectively: F/Lt. Halorow, F/Lt. Koch, P/O Hayward, F/Lt. McRae, F/O Wilson, P/O Duckles. W/Cdr. Hodson flew as second pilot with F/Lt. Koch. The gliders were escorted by Spitfires and the tests were very successful.

BOMBER COMMAND
4 Mosquitoes to Bochum and 4 to Leverkusen, 3 R.C.M. sorties. No losses.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack marshalling yards at Innsbruck.

ENGLAND: The Ninth Air Force is formally placed under AEAF operational control. Under a new directive issued by AEAF, the first priority of U.K.-based tactical bombers (RAF and USAAF) is the GAF fighter force. Also, a Ninth Air Force planning staff is established in London.

The 1st Bombardment Division’s 351st and 401st Heavy Bombardment groups are reassigned to the new 94th Combat Bombardment Wing.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack the viaduct at Avisio; Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Bolzano; XII Air Support Command A-20s and B-25s attack roads around Frosinone and Pontecorvo; and XII Air Support Command fighter-bombers attack gun emplacements all along the U.S. Fifth Army front. 324th Fighter Group P-40 pilots and 31st Fighter Group Spitfire pilots down four GAF fighters in several actions over central Italy.

YUGOSLAVIA: XII Air Support Command B-25s attack Mostar Airdrome; and XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack ships, motor vehicles, and parked airplanes in and around the Peljesac Peninsula.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
515 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Little Snoring

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
16 Sqn SAAF (Berka III) flies its last OM’s in the Beaufort I & II
80 Sqn (Kabrit) flies its last OM in the Spitfire IX
221 Sqn (Luqa) flies its last OM in the Wellington VIII

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405 Sqn RCAF (Gransden Lodge – Lancaster III) 16-12-43
Weather: 10/10 cloud all day, base 1,000 feet to 2,000 feet, lowering to 100 feet at midnight. Visibility 3 to 4 miles at first then gradually going on down all day, becoming 1800 yards by 2400 hours. Wind: Light Easterly.

Training: 5:50 hours flying training was carried out today which included 4:45 hours 'Y' training and 1:05 tour x-country. Ground training included the following.
<unreadable> Preparations for operations prevented much progress in ground training for the day.
A/G: Daily Inspection, aircraft recognition and 200 rounds for clay pigeon shooting.
F/E: Lecture on Gee and 50 rounds skeet shooting.

OPERATIONS: BOMBING ATTACK ON “ BERLIN “ 13 AIRCRAFT DETAILED
All of our aircraft detailed, reached and bombed primary from an average height of 20,000 feet, with 10/10 cloud from 6 to 8,000 feet. Target marking was good, especially the Wanganui flares. A good concentration of Red T.I. could be seen through the cloud. Numerous fighter flares were seen in the target area. Dummy Red T.I. were seen East, West and North of target which were much smaller than our own markers. All Red T.l. were well concertanted. All route markers were well placed and concentrated, A glow of incendiaries was seen later on when attack was developing. Five of our aircraft returned and landed safely at base. 3 landed at Marham, one landed at Warboys and one landed at Bourne. Visibility was very poor with much ground fog and the aircraft encountered much difficulty in landing. Three of our aircraft crashed when landing owing to poor visibility and lack of petrol. All members of aircraft 'D' were killed with the exception of the rear gunner, CAN/R/87404 W/O S.H. Nutting, D.F.M., This was Warrant Officer Nuttings 45th bombing operation, which completed his second tour of operations. W/O Nutting, D.F.M. suffered only shock and minor scratches. Three members of aircraft 'O' were kiilled, and F/L Allan, W.C. CAN/J/6935) Pilot was dangerously injured but the three remaining members were not seriously injured but were admitted to hospital. All members of aircraft 'R' were killed with the exception of CAN/J/9419 F/O Drew, F.H. Pilot, who is on the slightly injured list. The rear gunner of aircraft 'R' CAN/R/151941 Sgt McCrea L.A. was uninjured.

Operational Flying Time: 98:14 HOURS (NIGHT)

BOMBER COMMAND
BERLIN
483 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitoes on the main raid and 5 further Mosquitoes dropped decoy fighter flares south of Berlin.

The bomber route again led directly to Berlin across Holland and Northern Germany and there were no major diversions. The German controllers plotted the course of the bombers with great accuracy; many German fighters were met at the coast of Holland and further fighters were guided on to the bomber stream throughout the approach to the target. More fighters were waiting at the target and there were many combats. The bombers shook off the opposition on the return flight by taking a northerly route over Denmark. 25 Lancasters, 5.2 percent of the Lancaster force, were lost. Many further aircraft were lost on returning to England (see later paragraph).

Berlin was cloud-covered but the Pathfinder sky-marking was reasonably accurate and much of the bombing fell in the city. The local report says that the raid had no identifiable aiming point but the central and eastern districts were hit more than other areas. Little industrial damage was caused; most of the bombing hit housing and railways. Conflicting figures on the number of dead are given; the overall total may be 720, of which 279 were foreign workers – 186 women, 65 men and 28 youths. 70 of these foreigners – all from the East – were killed when the train in which they were travelling was bombed at the Halensee Station. In the city centre, the National Theatre and the building housing Germany’s military and political archives were both destroyed. The damage to the Berlin railway system and to rolling stock, and the large numbers of people still leaving the city, were having a cumulative effect upon the transportation of supplies to the Russian Front; 1,000 wagon-loads of war material were held up for 6 days. The sustained bombing had now made more than a quarter of Berlin’s total living accommodation unusable.

On their return to England, many of the bombers encountered very low cloud at their bases. The squadrons of 1, 6 and 8 Groups were particularly badly affected. 29 Lancasters (and a Stirling from the minelaying operation) either crashed or were abandoned when their crews parachuted. The group with heaviest losses was 1 Group with 13 aircraft lost; the squadron with heaviest losses was 97 Squadron, 8 Group, with 7 aircraft lost. There is a little confusion in Bomber Command records over aircrew casualties but it is probable that 148 men were killed in the crashes, 39 were injured and 6 presumed lost in the sea.

FLYING-BOMB SITES
47 aircraft – 26 Stirlings, 12 Mosquitoes, 9 Lancasters – carried out raids on 2 sites near Abbeville. No aircraft lost.

Neither raid was successful. The larger raid, by the Stirlings on the Tilley-le-Haut site, failed because the Oboe Mosquito markers could not get any closer than 450 yards from the small target. The 9 Lancasters of 617 Squadron which attacked the second site, in a wood at Flixecourt, dropped their 12,000-lb bombs accurately on the markers placed by the only Oboe Mosquito operating at this target but the markers were 350 yards from the flying-bomb site and none of the 617 Squadron bombs were more than 100 yards from the markers.

Serrate Operations
2 Beaufighters and 2 Mosquitoes of 141 Squadron, recently transferred from Fighter Command to 100 Group, inaugurated Bomber Command’s Serrate operations in patrols near the routes of the Berlin raid. (Serrate was a device which homed on to the radar emissions of a German night fighter.) 1 Mosquito made contact with an Me 110 and damaged it with cannon-fire. The crew of this first successful Bomber Command Serrate patrol was Squadron Leader F. F. Lambert and Flying Officer K. Dear.

Minor Operations: 5 Mosquitoes to Duisburg, 35 aircraft minelaying in the Frisians and off Biscay ports. No losses.

Total effort for the night: 589 sorties, with 25 aircraft missing and 30 crashed in or near England, a total casualty rate of 9.3 percent.

Berlin route as planned:

Screenshot (4961).png (158.32 KiB) Viewed 771 times

Mission routes for the night:

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USAAF
GERMANY: Three hundred ninety-two VIII Bomber Command B-17s, 133 B-24s, and two pathfinder B-17s attack the Bremen port area. Eight B-17s are lost.

The 2d Bombardment Division’s 446th Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-17s, makes its combat debut.

Bomber escort is provided by 131 P-47s, 31 P-38s, and 39 P-51s, but the 55th Fighter Group cannot complete its part of the escort plan owing to the late arrival of the bomber formations. 1stLt Charles F. Gumm, Jr., of the 354th Fighter Group, becomes the first USAAF P-51B pilot to be given credit for a confirmed victory over a GAF airplane and the first IX Fight Command pilot to down an enemy airplane over northwestern Europe. While providing target escort for the heavy bombers over the port of Bremen, Gumm damages a Ju-88 medium bomber and downs a Bf-109 at 1330 hours. The only other victory credit awarded is for a Ju-88 downed by several 4th Fighter Group P-47 pilots near the Zuider Zee at 1310 hours.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack the rail bridge and rail tunnel at Dogna, and the rail line between Dogna and Chiusaforte; P-38s escorting the B-24s strafe oil tanks and trains; Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack the rail junction and marshalling yard at Padua; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack gun emplacements; XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack gun batteries, gun emplacements, troop concentrations, and strongpoints in direct support of the U.S. Fifth and British Eighth armies; and XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s bomb the port area at Civitavecchia and a town.

YUGOSLAVIA: XII Air Support Command B-25s attack a marshalling yard and the port area at Sibenik, and ships at Zara; and Twelfth Air Force P-40s and P-47s strafe targets of opportunity in the Peljesac Peninsula.

1stLt Alfred C. Froning, of the 57th Fighter Group’s 65th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs two Bf-109s near Trpanj during the morning. Froning’s victories are among six credited to 57th Fighter Group pilots, who have just transitioned from P-40s to P-47s.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
40 Sqn (Wellington III/X) moves to Cerignola

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
517 Sqn (St. Davids) flies its first OM in the Halifax V

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Dear Reader,

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas. I will be back in about two weeks. Special Xmas ditty at the end of the post.

401 Sqn RCAF (Biggin Hill – LFIXB) 17-12-43
Weather was very poor for any kind of flying, and most of the time was spent in Intelligence and studying bombing range orders. W/O1 Havers M.H. arrived for flying duties with 401 Sqdn. on posting from A.D.G.B.

USAAF
ENGLAND: Representatives from the AEAF, the Ninth Air Force, the RAF’s Second Tactical Air Force, and 21st Army Group begin formulating the preliminary joint plan for support of the Allied ground forces in northern Europe by the components of AEAF.

ITALY: All XII Air Support Command B-25s abort in the face of bad weather, but XII Air Support Command A-20s are able to attack a German Army artillery concentration; and XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack barracks, warehouses, port facilities, and marshalling yards at Anzio and Nettuno, and troop positions at three locations.

YUGOSLAVIA: Twelfth Air Force P-40s and P-51s, escorted by South African Air Force fighters, attack a ship near Trpanj; and 57th Fighter Group P-47 pilots down three Bf-109s near Metkovic during an afternoon mission.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
1 Sqn SAAF (Spitfire VIII) moves to Trigno
40 Sqn SAAF TR (Spitfire IX) moves to Trigno
70 Sqn (Wellington X) moves to Cerignola

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
272 Sqn (Catania) flies its first OM in the Beaufighter TFX


Composed in the 9 Squadron sergeants' mess, Bardney, Christmas 1943. (Sung to the tune of 'Bless 'em all')

They say there's a Lancaster out on the field
Waiting to go on a flight
With hydraulics leaking and engine revs down
But hoping to get there all right.
There's one or two cylinders running a temp,
One rudder adrift from its fin,
But with good navigation and much concentration
We're hoping to get to Berlin.

We know that the Hun has some very fine kites,
Of this we're no longer in doubt.
When ever a Focke-Wulf gets up on our tail,
This is the way we get out.
We go into a corkscrew, we dive and we weave,
We don't give the kraut time to think.
We show no repentance, just pass the death sentence
And shoot him right down in the drink.

When over the target our bombs hurtle down
As soon as we press on the tit.
There's searchlights upon us, there's fighters around,
Two engines have gone for a shit.
The crew's in a panic, they want to bale out,
All into the searchlights and flak.
There's no jubilation, complete consternation,
We know that we'll never get back.

The end of our story sees us at The Gates,
Where Peter imparts all the gen.
It seems they've no room for a whole bomber crew,
No billets for our type of men.
So that's it, we've had it, we won't get our harps,
We won't get our issue of wings.
Too late for repentance, there's no bloody entrance,
So join the chorus and sing.

Bless 'em all, bless 'em all,
The long and the short and the tall.
Bless the air gunners, the wireless op too,
Bless the bomb aimer, the pilot and crew
'Cos we're saying goodbye to them all,
As into their aircraft they crawl.
They're off on an Op
And they may get the chop,
So cheer up, my lads, bless 'em all.

[mark dolby]

Thanks for putting up these posts each day.
Had my own 'hydraulics' slightly leaking at that extra content.

Merry Christmas one and all.

[Zovs]

Merry Christmas to all!

Thanks for the historical daily posts.

[warshipbuilder]

401 Sqn RCAF (Biggin Hill – LFIXB) 30-12-43
The day was fine with only a small amount of white cloud and local flying was out. The pilots had an early lunch and briefing was called at 11.45. The Squadron was airborne on Ramrod 396. Two aircraft returned early, one having engine trouble. After returning to base, no more flying was carried out.

BOMBER COMMAND
Flying-Bomb Site
10 Lancasters of 617 Squadron and 6 Pathfinder Mosquitoes attempted to destroy a site which had been missed on an earlier raid, but the markers were 200 yards from the target and, with the Lancasters’ bombs well grouped around these, the site was again undamaged. No aircraft lost.

Minor Operations: 10 Mosquitoes to Cologne, 8 to Duisburg and 3 to Bochum, 6 R.C.M. sorties, 26 aircraft minelaying off Texel and French ports, 28 O.T.U. sorties. No losses

USAAF
FRANCE: Approximately 100 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack an airdrome at St.-Omer and a V-weapons sites near the English Channel coast, but 100 other B-26s abort in the face of bad weather.

GERMANY: Five hundred thirteen VIII Bomber Command B-17s and 145 B-24s attack the port area and an oil refinery at Ludwigshafen with 1,394 tons of bombs. Twenty-three heavy bombers are lost, five are written off, and 117 are damaged. Crew losses are 11 killed and 200 missing.

The VIII Fighter Command dispatches 79 P-38s (including the fully operational 20th Fighter Group), 463 P-47s, and 41 P-51s to escort the bombers and undertake several fighter sweeps over France. P-47 pilots down seven GAF fighters over France between 1115 and 1420 hours, but a total of 11 P-47s, two P-51s, and 12 fighter pilots are lost during the day. Two of the P-47s and two of the P-51s, and all their pilots, are lost in midair collisions.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack marshalling yards at Verona, Rimini, and Padua, and rail bridges around Padua; Fifteenth Air Force B-26s attack marshalling yards at two locations, a road junction, and a viaduct; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack Atina; and XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack troops and a variety of tactical targets in and around the battle area.

14th Fighter Group P-38 escort pilots down three GAF fighters over or near Padua at about 1250 hours; and 325th Fighter Group P-47 pilots down three Bf-109s over central Italy at about 1400 hours.

1stLt Michael T. Russo, of the 27th Fighter-Bomber Group’s 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, becomes history’s first and only A-36 Apache fighter-bomber ace when he downs two Bf-109s over central Italy at 1015 hours.

MEDITERRANEAN: The theater’s last aerial victory credited in 1943 is a Ju-88 downed at sea at 1530 hours by a 52d Fighter Group Spitfire pilot.

YUGOSLAVIA: XII Air Support Command B-25s attack a variety of targets at Zara, and XII Air Support Command fighters attack a ship at Crkvice.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
40 Sqn (Welington III/X) moves to Foggia Main
104 Sqn (Wellington X) moves to Foggia Main
222 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Woodvale
250 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Cutella
350 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Hornchurch

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
43 Sqn (Capodichino) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VC
410 Sqn RCAF (Castle Camps) flies its first OM in the Mosquito NFXIII
429 Sqn RCAF (Leeming) flies its last OM in the Halifax II

[warshipbuilder]

198 Sqn (Manston –Typhoon IB) 31-12-43
Generally sunny, with some occasional cloud, visibility good. Favourable weather resulted in the laying on of the usual “Milk run" attacks to the now familiar installations on what journalists described as the rocket const. Nine of our Typhoons led by S/Ldr Baldwin escorted the attack by Hurricanes which achieved moderate success. About 50% of the missiles hitting the target. However, the affair carried with it the elements of tragedy for us as whilst weaving Loosely the Hurricane in mid-channel, T and Y flown by F/O W. Widesse (Can), and F/O K Johnson respectively collided, blew up and dived straight into the sea with little chance of survival for the pilots- an unhappy and unfitting end to an otherwise highly satisfactory month.

BOMBER COMMAND
2 Stirlings laid mines off the Dutch coast and returned safely.

USAAF
ENGLAND: The 71st Fighter Wing headquarters is assigned to the IX Fighter Command to oversee fighter units yet to be assigned to the Ninth Air Force.

FRANCE: Two hundred VIII Bomber Command B-17s and 144 B-24s attack the Bordeaux/Merignac, Cognac/Chateau-Bernard, and St.-Jean-d’Angely airdromes, and 120 VIII Bomber Command B-17s attack aircraft-industry targets around Paris. A total of 25 heavy bombers are lost to enemy fire and 15 are lost to a combination of bad landings and ditchings caused by battle damage, fuel shortages, and operational accidents. Among airmen lost is Col William A. Hatcher, Jr., the 351st Heavy Bombardment Group commander, who is killed.

Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by 74 P-38s, 441 P-47s, and 33 P-51s, which down nine GAF fighters over France between 1030 and 1400 hours. Four USAAF fighters and two of their pilots are lost.

Approximately 200 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack V-weapons sites along the Channel coast.

ITALY: MAAF fighters and fighter-bombers support the British Eighth Army with attacks against German Army artillery and troop displacements all along the battle line, and XII Air Support Command A-36s attack gun emplacements and the town area at Formia.

RAF
Base Changes
181 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moved to Odiham
182 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moved to Odiham
190 Sqn DISBANDED
247 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moved to Odiham
322 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moved to Hawkinge
464 Sqn RAAF (Mosquito FBVI) moved to Hunsdon
487 Sqn RNZAF (Mosquito FBVI) moved to Hunsdon

First and Last Operational Missions
137 Sqn (Lympne) flew its last OM in the Hurricane IV
170 Sqn (Sawbridgworth) flew its last OM in the Mustang IA
269 Sqn (Reykjavik) flew its last OM’s in the Hudson II & III
403 Sqn RCAF (Kenley) flew its last OM in the Spitfire IX

[warshipbuilder]

405 Sqn RCAF (Gransden Lodge –Lancaster III) 1-1-44
Weather:- Cloudy with slight mist all day, becoming fine at 2400 hours. Winds, W – WSW’ly moderate.

Training:- 30 minutes flying was all that was carried out today due to poor weather conditions. Ground training was scrubbed for the day owing to preparations for operations.

OPERATIONS:- Bombing Attack On – Berlin - 12 Aircraft Detailed (Two Missing)
Ten of our aircraft reached and bombed primary from an average height of 20,000 feet in thin layer 10/10 cloud from 17 to 18,000 feet. Target was identified by H.2.S. with fairly good images, and also by wanganui flares and flares red/green stars. A big red explosion was seen at 0318 hours for ten seconds. No results were seen of our bombing and most flares were brought back owing to poor visibility which prevented crews from identifying primary. Aircraft ‘E’ was damaged by heavy flak over Berlin at 0256 hours, and bomb bay, tail plane and main-plane were holed. Aircraft ‘J’ was attacked by an enemy fighter near Berlin at 0312 hours and suffered damage to main-plane, port elevator, port inner tank holed, leads of H.2.S. hit, intercom u/s, mid-upper turret hit and petrol jettisoning gear hit causing 300 gallons of petrol being lost. Aircraft ‘J’ landed at Gravesend. Two of our aircraft are missing from this operation and nothing has been heard from them since.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster III JB280 LQ-K. Crew: F/O TH Donnelly DFM RCAF KIA, Sgt LGR Miller KIA, F/O AJ Salaba RCAF KIA, F/S WLJ Clark RCAF KIA, Sgt BSJ West KIA, Sgt RE Watts KIA, Sgt R Zimmer RCAF KIA. T/o 0023 Gransden Lodge. Outbound, shot down by Lt Friedrich Potthast 12./NJG1, crashing at 0210 at Nieuw Schonebeek, where all were buried on 5 January.

Lancaster III JB737 LQ-R. Crew: F/O AP Campbell RCAF KIA, Sgt DJ Leslie POW, P/O PT Gavin RCAF KIA, F/S JB Dunne RCAF KIA, Sgt J Redhead KIA, P/O DN Thompson RCAF POW, F/S BC Cameron RCAF KIA. Homebound, shot down by Oblt Ludwig Meister (20th victory) 1./NJG4, crashed near St. Pol-sur-Mer at 0551. Those who died lie in St-Pol War Cemetery. Oblt Meister shot down a 4 aircraft that night.

BOMBER COMMAND
BERLIN
421 Lancasters. German fighters were directed on to the bomber stream at an early stage and were particularly active between 2 route-markers on the way to Berlin. The German controller was not deceived by the Mosquito feint at Hamburg but his fighters were not very effective over Berlin, only 2 bombers being shot down by fighters there, and the local Flak was probably restricted to the height at which it could fire and the guns only shot down 2 bombers over the target. 28 Lancasters were lost, 6.7 percent of the force.

The target area was covered in cloud and the accuracy of the sky-marking soon deteriorated. The Berlin report says that there was scattered bombing, mainly in the southern parts of the city. A large number of bombs fell in the Grunewald, an extensive wooded area in the south-west of Berlin. Only 21 houses and 1 industrial building were destroyed, with 79 people being killed. A high-explosive bomb hit a lock on an important canal and stopped shipping at that area for several days.

Minor Operations: 15 Mosquitoes to Hamburg, 11 to Witten, 7 to Duisburg, 4 to Bristillerie and 1 to Cologne, 6 R.C.M. sorties, 14 O.T.U. sorties. No losses

USAAF
Due to the vastly increasing tempo of the air war, only significant fighter and bomber actions will be described from this date onward to the end of the war in Europe.

ENGLAND: USSAFE is formally established under the command of Gen Carl Spaatz to provide operational control over the Eighth and Fifteenth air forces for the conduct of the USAAF portion of the Combined Bomber Offensive (Operation POINTBLANK).

The 452d Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-17s, arrives from the United States via the southern ferry route for service with the 3d Bombardment Division’s 45th Combat Bombardment Wing.

MTO: In a complete reorganization of USAAF theater commands, U.S. Army Air Forces, North African Theater of Operations (USAAFNATO), is redesignated U.S. Army Air Forces, Mediterranean Theater of Operations (USAAFMTO); the II Air Service Area Command is redesignated XV Air Force Service Command; the III Air Service Area Command is redesignated XII Air Force Service Command; the old XII Air Force Service Command is redesignated Army Air Forces Service Command, MTO; the XII Provisional Air Force Engineer Command is redesignated Army Air Forces Provisional Engineer Command, MTO; the XII Air Force Training Command is redesignated XII Air Force Training and Replacement Command; and the XII Bomber Command is reinstated under the command of BriGen Robert D. Knapp to oversee the three B-26 groups of the 42d Medium Bombardment Wing (formerly assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force) and the three B-25 groups formerly attached to the XII Air Support Command.

For the moment, the combat arms of the Fifteenth Air Force comprise: the 5th Heavy Bombardment Wing (2d, 93d, 97th, and 301st Heavy Bombardment groups, in B-17s); the 47th Heavy Bombardment Wing (99th and 376th Heavy Bombardment groups, in B-24s); and the 1st, 14th, and 82d Fighter groups, in P-38s, and the 325th Fighter Group, in P-47s.

The combat arms of the Twelfth Air Force comprise: the XII Bomber Command, consisting of three B-25 groups (12th, 321st, and 340th Medium Bombardment groups) and the 42d Medium Bombardment Wing (17th, 319th, and 320th Medium Bombardment groups, in B-26s); the XII Air Support Command, consisting of the 47th Light Bombardment Group (A-20s), the 27th and 86th Fighter-Bomber groups (A-36s), the 57th Fighter Group (P-47s), the 31st Fighter Group (Spitfires), the 33d, 79th, and 324th Fighter groups (P-40s), the 415th Night-Fighter Squadron (Beaufighters), and the 111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (mixed aircraft types); the XII Fighter Command, consisting of the 81st and 350th Fighter groups (P-39s), the 52d Fighter Group (Spitfires), the 414th, 416th, and 417th Night-Fighter squadrons (Beaufighters), and the 310th Medium Bombardment Group (B-25s and B-25 gunships); the XII Troop Carrier Command, consisting of the 51st and 52d Troop Carrier wings (seven groups in C-47s and some C-54s); and the 90th Photographic Reconnaissance Wing, consisting of the 3d and 5th Photographic Reconnaissance groups (mixed aircraft types)

RAF
BASE CHANGES
178 Sqn (Liberator III) moves to El Adem
210 Sqn (Catalina IB) moves to Sullom Voe
306 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Heston
462 Sqn (Halifax II) moves to LG.144

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
233 Sqn (Gibraltar) flies its last OM’s in the Hudson III & V

[warshipbuilder]

408 Sqn RCAF (Linton-on-Ouse – Lancaster II) 2-1-44
The Squadron is really starting the New Year right, as we were called on for the second consecutive day to carry out operations over enemy territory. For this event, twelve aircraft were detailed, but due to the flight engineer of one crew taking sick a few minutes before take-off, and not having a spare flight engineer to replace him, this aircraft had to be scrubbed. A second aircraft had to be scrubbed just prior to take-off owing to technical failures. The remaining ten aircraft were off on scheduled time. Of these ten aircraft, three returned early, one owing to the pilot taking sick, and the other two owing to technical failures. One aircraft failed to return from this operation. The remaining aircraft were successful in attacking the primary, and all crews report that the attack was fairly successful.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster II LL631 EQ-G. F/S DE Hilker RCAF KIA, Sgt HC Hawkins POW, F/O E Deakin RCAF POW, P/O GC Morlock RCAF POW, W/O2 LP Torpe RCAF POW, Sgt HJ Mouland RCAF KIA, Sgt SR Switzer RCAF POW. T/o 2357 Linto-on-Ouse. Shared victory between Lt Robert Wolf, 3.NJG5, and Oblt Wilhelm Johnen, Stab II./NJG5, crashed near Beelitz, 20 km SW Berlin at 0256. The two crewmen who died are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

BOMBER COMMAND
BERLIN
383 aircraft – 362 Lancasters, 12 Mosquitoes, 9 Halifaxes. The German control rooms followed the bombers all the way to Berlin, which was assessed as the target 40 minutes before Zero Hour. Night fighters were sent to a radio beacon between Hannover and Bremen but these fighters missed the bomber stream and did not come into action until they were directed to Berlin. Most of the bomber casualties were in the Berlin area. 27 Lancasters were lost, 7.0 percent of the force. The casualties included 10 Pathfinder aircraft; 156 Squadron, from Warboys, lost 5 of its 14 aircraft taking part in the raid.

This was another ineffective raid. Bombs were scattered over all parts of Berlin, with the local reports stressing that there were no large fires; the fire services were able to contain all fires soon after they started. 82 houses were destroyed and 36 people were killed. Industrial damage was insignificant.

Minor Operations: 8 Mosquitoes to Duisburg and 3 to Bristillerie, 2 Beaufighters on Serrate patrols, 26 aircraft minelaying in the Frisians and off French ports, 25 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

Berlin route as planned:

Screenshot (14102).png (169.55 KiB) Viewed 607 times

Mission map for the night:

Screenshot (14103).png (86.75 KiB) Viewed 607 times

USAAF
ITALY: XII Bomber Command B-26s attack a marshalling yard and two bridges; XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a barracks, an iron works, and a marshalling yard; XII Air Support Command A-36s attack the marshalling yards and harbour at Civitavecchia, a marshalling yard, gun emplacements, and targets of opportunity; XII Air Support Command P-40s attack various tactical targets, including a German Army road column mired in the snow in the Avezzano-Popili area; and P-47s of the Fifteenth Air Force’s 325th Fighter Group conduct an uneventful sweep over Rome.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
137 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Colerne

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
252 Sqn (LG.91) flies its last OM in the Beaufighter VIF and its first OM in the Beaufighter TFX
263 Sqn (Ibsley) flies its first OM in the Typhoon IB
332 Sqn (North Weald) flies its first OM in the Spitfire LFIXB
335 Sqn (Tocra) flies its last OM in the Hurricane IIB
433 Sqn RCAF (Skipton-on-Swale) flies its first OM of the war

[warshipbuilder]

400 Sqn RCAF (Redhill – Mustang I) 3-1-44
Weather: Fine with high overcast. F/O W.H. Jessiman and F/L E.L. Morham left at 11.10 hours on Operational Photo Sortie over French territory. When nearing the French Coast at Cabourg yellow section climbed up through cloud. When at about 4500 feet, near top of cloud yellow two (F/O Jessiman) was seen to peel off to port and climb away. Yellow one called on R/T but could not get answer. Yellow one climbed above cloud and orbited for 5 to 10 minutes calling yellow two every minute or no but no answer. Yellow one circled back over French Coast and found hole in cloud over sea. Attempted to go in low at 1000 feet to 800 but ran into 10/10ths on deck so returned home. F/O W.H. Jessiman did not return from this Operation. An Air-Sea search was organized by S/L H.A. Ellis DFC and accompanied by F/L P. Bissky, F/O Henderson and F/L L.S. Collins they proceeded over the Channel but all to no avail as nothing could be seen.

F/O A.T. Carlson (CAN.J.8947) and F/O J.G. Greenwood (CAN.J.10977) proceeded on temporary duty to No. 140-wing Airfield to begin instructions on the flying of Mosquito aircraft. Local flying carried out.

ADDENDUM – Mustang I AP191 ‘O’. Pilot W.H. Jessiman RCAF KIA. Shot down by flak near Caen. Buried an Breteville sur Laize Canadian War Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
6 Mosquitoes to Solingen and 2 to Essen. No losses.

2nd TAF
On the 3rd 400 Squadron lost one of two Mustang Is on a photo reconnaissance operation over the Cabourg area, from where Flg Off Jessiman failed to return. A 168 Squadron Mustang IA was also lost over the Cambrai area on this date, while two Spitfires of 65 Squadron failed to return from the Brussels area, one pilot being killed and one captured.

For 400 Squadron this was the end of Mustang operations, for next day it began its re-equipment for the PR role, 'A' Flight receiving Spitfire XIs and 'B' Flight Mosquito XVIS. 4 Squadron at Aston Down had also received its first Spitfire XIs the day before, ceasing all operations for two weeks to train on these aircraft.

USAAF
ITALY: Fifty-three B-17s of the 5th Heavy Bombardment Wing’s 2d and 99th Heavy Bombardment groups attack the ball- bearing plant at Villarperosa, scoring 12 direct hits; 50 B-17s of the 5th Heavy Bombardment Wing’s 97th and 301st Heavy Bombardment groups attack a marshalling yard at Turin; XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack a rail station, gun emplacements around Cassino, the harbor at Civitavecchia, assorted rail and tactical targets, and motor vehicles.

MajGen Nathan F. Twining replaces MajGen James H. Doolittle as commanding general of the Fifteenth Air Force, and BriGen Edward M. Morris replaces BriGen Gordon P. Saville as commanding general of the XII Fighter Command.

YUGOSLAVIA: XII Bomber Command B-25s attack Sibenik, Spilt, and German Army troop concentrations at Projedor.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
53 Sqn (Liberator V) moves to St. Eval
260 Sqn (Kittyhawk III) moves to Cutella
550 Sqn (Lancaster I/III) moves to North Kingholme

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
241 Sqn (Palata) flies its first OM in the Spitfire IX
500 Sqn (Tafaraoui) flies its first OM in the Ventura V

[warshipbuilder]

75 Sqn (Mepal – Stirling III) 4-1-44
TRAINING
Night flying tests were flown in preparation for operations.

OPERATIONS MINING NORTH OF BIARRITZ.
Six aircraft were detailed to carry out the above operation with mines of 1,500 lbs, which were all dropped in the allotted area. This was a successful and uneventful operation. Slight AA Fire was encountered and one aircraft received slight damage. No enemy aircraft were seen. The weather was good except for slight sea haze. On return the aircraft captained by W/O. D.G. HURGAN crashed, but the crew sustained no injuries. Navigation was very good.

OPERATIONS. MINING IN GIRONDE ESTUARY.
Four aircraft were detailed to carry out the above operation with mines of 1,500lbs.,which were successfully dropped in the allotted area No AA fire was encountered but a few enemy aircraft were seen. The weather was good and visibility was clear except for sea haze. Navigation was excellent.

OPERATIONS ATTACK AGAINST A SPECIAL TARGET.
Ten aircraft were detailed to attack the above target with bombs of 500lbs. All of the aircraft successfully dropped their bombs in the target area. The attack was very concentrated and appeared to be a success. Some slight heavy A.A. fire and a few enemy aircraft were encountered but proved negligible. In spite of 3-4/10ths cloud at the target, visibility was good. Navigation was very good.

BOMBER COMMAND
FLYING-BOMB SITES
80 aircraft – 57 Stirlings, 12 Mosquitoes, 11 Lancasters – to two sites, one in the Pas de Calais and one at Bristillerie, near Cherbourg. Both targets were attacked effectively and no aircraft were lost.

SPECIAL OPERATIONS: SUPPLIES AND AGENTS FOR RESISTANCE FORCES
Bomber Command’s records for this night contain their first mention of this type of operation, although 138 and 161 Squadrons had been carrying out such operations for 2 years under nominal Bomber Command control. 18 Halifaxes and 1 Hudson of 138 and 161 Squadrons made flights on this night and 6 Stirlings from 214 Squadron also operated. No aircraft were lost. The Stirling flights represented a new type of work for the Stirling squadrons, which had recently been relieved from bombing raids to Germany.

This type of flight was always referred to as ‘special operations’ in wartime records, but the term ‘Resistance operations’ is preferred here.

Minor Operations: 13 Mosquitoes to Berlin, 3 to Krefeld and 2 to Cologne, 4 R.C.M. sorties, 40 aircraft minelaying off Lorient and Brest, 8 O.T.U. sorties. No aircraft lost.

2nd TAF
'Noball' sites were once again the focus of the day's operations. Ruisseauville was visited by 21 and 487 Squadrons in the morning, each losing an aircraft and crew, although one crew survived. The same units returned to the target in the afternoon as part of 'Ramrod 422, which also included Bostons attacking a site at Ligescourt and Mitchells bombing two sites near Yvrench, but no losses were incurred.

USAAF
BULGARIA: A force of 108 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s briefed for an attack against marshalling yards at Sofia is forced to abort by cloud cover over the target. However, 40 of the B-17s drop about 81 tons of bombs on the rail lines around Dupnica.

ENGLAND: The headquarters of the Ninth Air Force’s new XIX Air Support Command is activated under the temporary command of MajGen Elwood R. Quesada, who is also serving as commanding general of the IX Fighter Command.

FRANCE: Despite poor weather and visibility, 253 IX Bomber Command B-17s attack V-weapons sites in France.

During the night of January 4–5, Operation CARPETBAGGER, the parachuting of agents and supplies by air to anti-Axis partisan forces in western Europe, begins with a drop by Eighth Air Force special-operations B-24s over northern France. In this and numerous other clandestine missions, the supply drop takes place under the cover of a leaflet drop.

GERMANY: Of 569 VIII Bomber Command heavy bombers dispatched, 313 B-17s and 132 B-24s attack the Kiel port area with more than 1,000 tons of bombs. Also, seven B-17s and 34 B-24s attack various targets of opportunity. Seventeen heavy bombers and their crews are lost.

Fighter support for the Kiel mission consists of 70 P-38s of the 20th and 55th Fighter groups and 42 P-51s of the 354th Fighter Group. Several GAF fighters are damaged over the target by USAAF fighters, and a 354th Fighter Group P-51 pilot downs a Ju-88 over Kiel at 1225 hours, but one of each type of airplane is lost.

On a separate mission, 68 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack the city of Munster. The only losses are two B-17s that collide over Germany.

Fighter support for the Munster mission consists of 430 VIII Fighter Command P-47s from nine fighter groups. Seven GAF fighters are downed by P-47 pilots of the 56th, 78th, and 353d Fighter groups over northern Germany and Belgium between 1030 and 1100 hours. 1stLt Peter E. Pompetti, a P-47 pilot with the 78th Fighter Group’s 84th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 near Coesfeld at 1045 hours.

Employed in a combat mission for the first time, on a 56th Fighter Group P-47 is a new paddle-bladed propeller that significantly increases the performance of the P-47 fighter.

YUGOSLAVIA: XII Bomber Command B-25s attack Brodac and the marshalling yard and town area at Travnik.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
3 Sqn RAAF (Kittyhawk II/III) moves to Cutella
55 Sqn (Baltimore IV) moves to Kabrit
130 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Scorton
164 Sqn (Hurricane IV) moves to Twinwood Farm
610 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Exeter

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
331 Sqn (North Weald) flies its first OM in the Spitfire LFIXB
601 Sqn (Canne) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VC
459 Sqn RAAF (Gambut III) flies its first OM in the Ventura V