Action This Day

[warshipbuilder]

349 Sqn (Belgian) (Friston – Spitfire VB) 25-1-44
Ramrod 478. Airborne at 08,56hrs for r/v. 09,15hrs Dungeness with 24 Mitchells. The target was Zudausguis but bombing results were not observed. Moderate heavy flak was experienced between Calais and Gravelines, but otherwise, the show was uneventful. Red Section, "A” Flight (Red 1 F/L. Morai Red 2 F/Sgt.Halleux) were airborne at 11,50 for a weather recco Dungeness/Abbeville as they were crossing out of the French coast 3 miles South of le Touquet they encountered moderate light flak from the surrounds of the R.D.F. Station. Red 2 a/c was hit in the jet tank which exploded and dropped off in flames. The fuselage was badly overheated and part of the rudder burnt off. Landed 12,55hrs. Ramrod 482 Nine a/c took off at 15,40hrs, to act as close escort to 12 Mitchells attacking Losterbarne/Ardres. The mission went according to plan. The bombers were escorted back to ten miles off N. Foreland and the squadron landed at 16,49 hrs. As G.G. was not well and F/L. Van de Velde could not start up F/O. Ester led the squadron over France.

BOMBER COMMAND
FLYING-BOMB SITES
76 aircraft – 56 Stirlings, 12 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitoes – attacked sites in the Pas de Calais and near Cherbourg without loss.

Minor Operations: 14 Mosquitoes to Aachen, 18 O.T.U. sorties. 1 O.T.U. Wellington lost.

2nd TAF
During raids on 'Noball' sites, six of 342 Squadron's Bostons were damaged by Flak, while a 180 Squadron Mitchell was so hard hit that it crashed near Hawkinge on return; three of the crew had managed to bale out, but the pilot was killed. Whilst escorting Mitchells on one such raid during the morning, Flg Off A.Furniss-Rowe of 66 Squadron was shot down south of St Omer by Fw Heinz Gomann of 6./JG 26. He force-landed, evading capture for the second time, having had a similar experience in August 1943; and he again made good his return to England!

A rocket-Typhoon of 181 Squadron was hit by Flak about an hour later and spun into the ground, Flg Off L.R.Allen was killed.

USAAF
ENGLAND: The 391st Medium Bombardment Group, in B-26s, arrives from the United States for duty with the IX Bomber Command’s 98th Combat Bombardment Wing.

FRANCE: All of approximately 150 IX Bomber Command B-26s dispatched to attack V-weapons sites abort in the face of bad weather.

ITALY: Although many Fifteenth Air Force B-17s dispatched to attack the marshalling yards at Arezzo and Perugia are thwarted by bad weather and poor visibility, a number attack targets of opportunity, including several road and rail bridges; XII Bomber Command B-26s attack Amelia, marshalling yards at two locations, and a road; XII Bomber Command B-25s attack Valmontone; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack Terelle; and XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s cover the Anzio beachhead and attack motor vehicles, railroads, and rolling stock throughout central Italy, and a bridge on the British Eighth Army front.

79th Fighter Group P-40 pilots down three Bf-109s and damage five other GAF fighters over the Anzio beachhead area during two separate engagements, one in the morning and one at 1215 hours.

NETHERLANDS: Escorted and supported by 174 P-47s from four other groups, 44 353d Fighter Group P-47s conduct a dive-bombing attack with 500-pound bombs against Leeuwarden Airdrome.

YUGOSLAVIA: XII Air Support Command P-40s and P-47s attack ships off Dubrovnik and road and rail traffic around the city.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
612 Sqn (Wellington XIV) moves to Limavady

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
25 Sqn (Church Fenton) flies its last OM in the Mosquito NFII
122 Sqn (Gravesend) flies its last OM in the Spitfire IX

[warshipbuilder]

401 Sqn RCAF (Biggin Hill – Spitfire LFIXB) 26-1-44
The weather was fairly clear except for cloud at 7,500 feet which was about 7/10. A briefing was held at 0815 hours, and at 0915, the Wing was airborne to close escort 54 Marauders around the Rouen area, but halfway across the channel, our section of bombers turned back due to weather. We escorted them back to the English Coast and then returned to base. “B” Flt. carried out readiness for the remainder of the morning, then "A" Flt. took over at 1500 hours The weather had completely closed in, and everyone was released at 1700 hours except one section on aerodrome defence. A Dance was held in the gymnasium for the "Blackout” show, which many of the pilots attended. It was probably the first time in a long while that many of us had danced with a Canadian girl, a nice change. States: 20 oper., 7 non op., 1 hospital, 2 leave.

USAAF
CORSICA: 414th Night-Fighter Squadron Beaufighters damage and possibly down a Ju-88 and an He-111 while patrolling off Calvi between 1945 and 2015 hours.

FRANCE: One hundred forty-four IX Bomber Command B-26s dispatched to attack V-weapons sites are recalled because of bad weather.

ITALY: All Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers and Twelfth Air Force medium bombers are grounded by bad weather, but XII Air Support Command A-20s are able to attack German Army troops defending Cisterna di Latina against a ground attack by the U.S. Fifth Army, and XII Air Support Command fighters and fighter-bombers attack numerous rail, road, and tactical targets in and around the battle area.

Spitfire pilots of the 31st Fighter Group’s 307th Fighter Squadron down three GAF fighters in an engagement over Nettuno, in the Anzio beachhead area, at 1525 hours. One of the victors is Capt Virgil C. Fields, Jr., who achieves ace status when he downs an FW-190.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
238 Sqn (Spitfire VC/IX) moves to LG.106

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
107 Sqn (Great Massingham) flies its last OM in the Boston IIIA
332 Sqn (North Weald) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VB

[warshipbuilder]

426 Sqn RCAF (Linton-on-Ouse – Lancaster II) 27-1-44
Operations were ordered and seventeen aircraft and crews were detailed. Main briefing was held at 13.45 hours and a busy day was spent in preparing for an all out effort. All aircraft took off shortly after 1800 hours without incident. Thirteen aircraft successfully completed the long trip and delivered another smashing attack on BERLIN. However, from the nights operations, four crews failed to return.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster II DS686 OW-D. Crew: F/Lt TR Shaw RCAF KIA, Sgt TR King KIA, F/O BE Lynn RCAF KIA, F/O JH Dodge RCAF KIA, Sgt LV Langston POW, Sgt DL Huband RCAF KIA, F/S H Ellis RCAF KIA. T/o 1746 Linton-on-Ouse. Hit by Flak of 1. Flak Div., exploded over Berlin-Kopenick and crashed on the Muggleheimer Damm at 2010 hrs. Of those who died F/O Lynn and Sgt Huband are buried in the Berlin 1939-1945 War cemetery, while the others are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Lancaster II DS775 OW-W. Crew: F/L AT Martens KIA, Sgt WL Pritchard KIA, F/S FJ Trevithick POW, WO2 EJ Houston RCAF POW, Sgt AJ Belton KIA, Sgt A Brooks RCAF KIA, Sgt RS Chesters KIA. T/o 1803 Linton-on-Ouse. Shot down by either Ofw Heinrich Säwert 4./NJG5 or Lt Robert Wolf 3./NJG5. Crashed 2 km E of Kade, 8 km ESE of Genthin and S of the Elbe-Hamel-Kanel. Those who died now rest in the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. F/L Martens was a Canadian serving in the RAF.

Lancaster II LL688 OW-R. Crew: P/O RE Countess RCAF KIA, WO2 LH Patterson RCAF KIA, Sgt AP Readdy KIA, F/O KA Solmundsson RCAF KIA, F/S M Kwas RCAF KIA, F/S WG Filer KIA, F/S TA Thomson RCAF KIA, F/S VM Lawson RCAF KIA. T/o 1758 Linto-on-Ouse. Lost without a trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memoral. WO2 Patterson was attached from 420 Sqn RCAF to gain operational experience.

Lancaster II LL721 OW-U. Crew: F/L M Wilson RCAF POW, Sgt W Lawson KIA, F/O JPAR St. Jacques RCAF POW, P/O LH Power RCAF POW, F/S MN MacDonald RCAF KIA, Sgt A Carlson RCAF KIA, WO2 WA Park RCAF KIA. T/o 1801 Linton-on-Ouse. Attacked three times by Oblt Wilhelm Johnen (10th victory) 5.NJG5. Abandoned and on fire and out of control, crashing at Rausslitz, 6 km NNE of Nossen. Sgt Carlson was mortally wounded during this engagement. He and Sgt Lawson are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, while the others lie in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
BERLIN
515 Lancasters and 15 Mosquitoes. The German fighters were committed to action earlier than normal, some being sent out 75 miles over the North Sea from the Dutch coast. But the elaborate feints and diversions had some effect. Half of the German fighters were lured north by the Heligoland mining diversion and action in the main bomber stream was less intense than on recent nights. 33 Lancasters lost, 6.4 percent of the heavy force.

The target was cloud-covered again and sky-marking had to be used. Bomber Command was not able to make any assessment of the raid except to state that the bombing appeared to have been spread well up and down wind. Local reports confirm that the bombing was spread over a wide area, although many bombs fell in the southern half of the city, less in the north, but 61 small towns and villages outside the city limits were also hit with 28 people being killed in those places. Details of houses destroyed in Berlin are not available but it is known that nearly 20,000 people were bombed out. 50 industrial premises were hit and several important war industries suffered serious damage. 567 people were killed, including 132 foreign workers.

DIVERSIONARY AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS
Extensive operations were carried out in support of the Berlin raid. 80 Stirlings and Wellingtons flew to the Dutch coast and laid mines there, 21 Halifaxes did the same near Heligoland, both hoping to draw the German fighters up early. 9 aircraft flew R.C.M. sorties and 12 Mosquitoes flew Serrate patrols. 18 Mosquito-bomber aircraft dropped imitation ‘fighter flares’ away from the main bomber routes to and from the target. 140 aircraft were thus engaged in various operations in support of the main raid. 1 Stirling minelayer lost.

Minor Operations: 9 Mosquitoes bombed a flying-bomb site at Herbouville, 8 Halifaxes flew Resistance operations sorties, 10 O.T.U. aircraft dropped leaflets over France. No aircraft lost.

Total effort for the night: 697 sorties, 34 aircraft (4.9 percent) lost.

Berlin operation as planned:

Screenshot (31287).png (197.47 KiB) Viewed 1563 times

Operations for the night:

Screenshot (31288).png (113.23 KiB) Viewed 1563 times

USAAF
FRANCE: In an effort to prevent GAF bombers from attacking shipping and harassing the Anzio beachhead and invasion fleet, the Fifteenth Air Force goes after three GAF bomber bases in southern France.

After running a gauntlet of about 30 GAF fighters and while facing moderate to intense flak over the target, 64 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s, escorted by 27 14th Fighter Group P-38s, attack the Salon-de-Provence Airdrome at about 1215 hours. One B-17 and a P-38 are lost, and 20 B-17s are damaged in a running 30-minute fight in which the P-38s down 32 GAF fighters and damage six others.

Sixty-eight Fifteenth Air Force B-17s, escorted by 19 1st Fighter Group P-38s, attack Montpellier/Frejorgues Airdrome at about 1225 hours. Approximately 20 GAF fighters attack the P-38 escorts, but they leave the bombers alone. Three Bf-109s are downed and several others are damaged or possibly downed against the loss of one P-38. Only one B-17 is damaged over the target by flak.

In the third phase of the mission 27 450th Heavy Bombardment Group B-24s, escorted by 28 P-38s, crater the runways and damage the facilities at Istres-le-Tube Airdrome with 80 tons of bombs dropped at about 1235 hours. This force encounters no enemy fighters, but flak downs one B-24, severely damages another, moderately damages 11, and lightly damages all the rest.

Overall, the attack is successful in that Montpellier/Frejorgues and Salon-de-Provence airdromes are closed down and Istre-le-Tube can operate only at a diminished capacity.

ITALY: XII Bomber Command B-26s attack bridges and a marshalling yard; XII Bomber Command B-26s attack a rail line, a marshalling yard, and roads; XII Air Support Command A-20s provide close support for U.S. Fifth Army troops attacking Terelle; XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack defended towns and road and rail targets in and around the battle area; XII Air Support Command P-40s attack gun emplacements and provide on-call close air support for U.S. Fifth Army troops battling in the Atina and Cisterna di Latina areas; Fifteenth Air Force P-38s sweep the area around Rome; and Fifteenth Air Force P-47s sweep the area around Florence.

Throughout the day, P-40 pilots of the Twelfth Air Force’s 57th and 79th Fighter groups and the independent 99th Fighter Squadron down 16 GAF fighters over Anzio, half between 0840 and 0850 hours and half between 1130 and 1500 hours.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
451 Sqn RAAF (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to El Gamil

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
69 Sqn (Luqa) flies its first OM in the Baltimore V

[warshipbuilder]

434 Sqn RCAF (Croft – Halifax V) 28-1-44
Another commission was received in today's mail, this time for Sgt. O.J.Harper R.86223 F/E as P/O No. C.19525 but it was sent on to 425 Squadron as he was posted there with the other five members of the crew of F/Lt. B.Keenan C.1396 for crewing with S/Ldr. R.McLernon C.1637 a short time ago. Flying today consisted of three daylight non-operational sorties for a total of two hours and ops were scheduled for tonight so there was considerable flap in all sections during the day. as everyone strived with might and main to ensure a good effort. Briefing was first announced for 1330 hours and later changed to 1730 hours but take off did not materialize until just before midnight when S/Ldr. J. Hockey J.4562 and crew in "U" led the way, closely followed by 11 other A/C of this Squadron. It was a real operational take-off performed in splendid style and... here's hoping the boys all get to Berlin and back safely. They are expected here about 0800 hours to 0830 hours tomorrow.

Folow up entry 29-1-44
It is "Black Thursday" around the Squadron today as no less than 4 of our AC and 30 of our flying. personnel are missing or killed as a result of last night's raid on Berlin and another crew baled out.

ADDENDUM – Halifax V LK649 WL-X. Crew: F/S RHA Stanley RCAF KIA, Sgt SJ Groucott KIA, F/O RC Cromptron RCAF KIA, Sgt DI Rose RCAF KIA, Sgt JCW Olliffe KIA, Sgt DL Silverman KIA, Sgt JJBL Leduc RCAF KIA. T/o Croft 2359. Probably shot down by night fighter.All are buried in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery.

Halifax V LL134 WL-U. Crew: S/L JE Hockey RCAF POW, Sgt LC Bannister RCAF POW, P/O G Borrett POW, F/O J Ferguson RCAF POW, F/O PG Poad POW, P/O JF Acquier POW, WO2 S Saprunoff RCAF POW, P/O FG Hearsey POW. T/o Croft 2349 Croft. Abandoned, following a night fighter attack at 21,000 feet over the target area. Crashed at Perleberg at 0315. Hptm Leopold FGellerer (26th victory) Stab II./NJG5

Note: There were 4 Halifaxes shot down by night fighters this night but they were unable to identify them or who brought them down. The victorious pilots were Ofw Wilhelm Schmale (10th vicory) 3./NJG3, Oblt Heinz Ferger (5th victory) 3./NJG3, Uffz Bruno Rupp (3rd victory) 4./NJG3, Lt. Robert Wolf (9th victory) 4./NJG5.

HJalifax V LK916 WL-D. Crew: P/O EP Devaney RCAF KIA, Sgt E Parker KIA, WO2 CTE Lee RCAF KIA, P/O WK Maxwell RCAF KIA, Sgt KJ Scales KIA, Sgt VH McKeown RCAF KIA. F/S WH Martin RCAF KIA. T/o 2354 Croft. Lost without a trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. At 19, P/O Devaney was amongst the youngest pilots to be killed on BC operations during 1944.

Halifax V LK740. T/o Croft 2357.

IMG_2337.JPG (201.18 KiB) Viewed 1540 times

BOMBER COMMAND
677 aircraft – 432 Lancasters, 241 Halifaxes, 4 Mosquitoes. Part of the German fighter force was drawn up by the early diversions and the bomber approach route over Northern Denmark proved too distant for some of the other German fighters. The German controller was, however, able to concentrate his fighters over the target and many aircraft were shot down there. 46 aircraft – 26 Halifaxes, 20 Lancasters – lost, 6.8 percent of the force.

The cloud over Berlin was broken and some ground-marking was possible but the Bomber Command claim that this was the most concentrated attack of this period is not quite fully confirmed by German records. The western and southern districts were hit but so too were 77 places outside the city. The Berlin recording system was now showing an increasing deterioration. No overall figure for property damage was recorded; approximately 180,000 people were bombed out on this night. Although many industrial firms were again hit, the feature of this night is the unusually high proportion of administrative and public buildings appearing in the lists of buildings hit: the new Chancellery, 4 theatres, the ‘French’ cathedral, 6 hospitals, 5 embassies, the State Patent Office, etc. The report concludes with this entry: ‘The casualties are still not known but they are bound to be considerable. It is reported that a vast amount of wreckage must still be cleared; rescue workers are among the mountains of it.’

DIVERSION AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS
63 Stirlings and 4 Pathfinder Halifaxes carried out minelaying in Kiel Bay 5 hours before the main Berlin operation; this was the first time that Pathfinder aircraft helped a minelaying operation. 6 Mosquitoes bombed Berlin 4 hours before the main attack and 18 Mosquitoes bombed night-fighter airfields at Deelen, Leeuwarden and Venlo. 4 Mosquitoes carried out a diversionary raid to Hannover and 6 more Mosquitoes flew Serrate patrols at the same time as the main raid. 2 Stirling minelayers and 1 Serrate Mosquito were lost from these operations.

16 O.T.U. Wellingtons carried out leaflet flights to France without loss.

Total effort for the night: 794 sorties, 49 aircraft (6.2 percent) lost.

Berlin operation as planned:

Screenshot (32790).png (188.54 KiB) Viewed 1540 times

Operations for the night:

Screenshot (32791).png (129.75 KiB) Viewed 1540 times

2nd TAF
Although now much involved in photographic operations, 414 Squadron still occasionally undertook the odd 'Rangers' or 'Rhubarbs. Around noon, four of the unit's Mustangs set off for the Chartres area, where two Ar 96 trainers were seen at 1235. Flt Lts Gordon Wonnacott and G.W.Burroughs shared one, while Flg Off R.O.Brown was seen to shoot down the other. Two Bf 109s then appeared and shot down Brown's aircraft before Wonnacott and Burroughs were able to claim one apiece; Wonnacott reported that as he left the area, he could see five columns of smoke rising into the air. It seems that they had been engaged with aircraft of the Luftwaffe's operational training unit, JG 105, which was based at Chartres. A young Unteroffizier from this unit's 2. Staffel claimed a Mustang shot down at only 30 metres (about 60 feet) two kilometres south-east of Nogent-le-Roi at 1257.

About an hour behind the Canadian quartet came a pair of 2 Squadron Mustangs, but these were less fortunate, being intercepted by two pilots of 8./JG 26, who shot them down in the Abbeville area, and both pilots were killed. Their victors were Lt Wilhelm Hofmann and Fw Josef Zirngibl, claiming their seventh and sixth victories respectively.

USAAF
FRANCE: Led by pathfinder B-24s equipped with new GH radar, B-24s of the 2d Bombardment Division’s 93d and 446th Heavy Bombardment groups (escorted by 122 P-47s) are dispatched to attack two V-weapons sites near Bonnieres. Both groups are subsequently ordered to bomb the same target, but an early accidental release of bombs results in a widely dispersed and largely ineffectual bombing pattern.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Ferrara; Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Verona; and 64 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s drop more than 9,000 20-pound fragmentation bombs on Aviano Airdrome to prevent the GAF from staging aircraft through it for attacks on the Anzio beachhead. At the time of the attack, 56 GAF aircraft are counted in dispersal areas on the ground, but only one is definitely destroyed in the attack.

XII Bomber Command B-26s attack bridges at two locations; XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a marshalling yard at Orte; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack Cisterna di Latina; XII Air Support Command A-36s attack Atina, tactical targets in the U.S. Fifth Army battle area, and a marshalling yard and other rail targets; XII Air Support Command P-40 and P-47 fighter-bombers attack a road junction; and XII Air Support Command P-40s attack several defended towns.

Throughout the morning, from about 0720 to 1150 hours, fighter pilots of the Twelfth Air Force’s 31st, 33d, 79th, and 324th Fighter groups and the independent 99th Fighter Squadron down 23 GAF fighters and damage or possibly down 11 others.

NETHERLANDS: 359th Fighter Group P-47s are dispatched to dive-bomb the Leeuwarden Airdrome, but the mission is canceled when they fail to rendezvous with their escort, the 352d Fighter Group.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
234 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Coltishall

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
76 Sqn (Holme-in-Spalding Moor) flies its last OM in the Halifax V
427 Sqn RCAF (Leeming) flies its last OM in the Halifax V
429 Sqn RCAF (Leeming) flies its last OM in the Halifax II

[warshipbuilder]

183 Sqn (Predannack – Typhoon IB) 29-1-44
Two more losses were suffered today. F/Lt. Lovell, Flight Commander of A Flight, and Sgt Smith his No.2 were lost during a low-level attack on Guipavas Airfield. The Squadron attacked the airfield with cannon, shooting up the watch-office and other buildings. They then went out to Korlin-Bastard where no e/a were seen and turned N to St.Brieuc which was shot up with excellent results. Finally, they paid another visit to Guipavas and it was on this that the two were lost. It is presumed they were hit by flak which was very intense. F/Lt. Lovell was seen to crash, though no one saw Sgt. Smith go down, Again we have lost two good pilots neither of whom had been with us very long. Stan was an efficient Flight Commander and a good leader. Sgt. Smith an exceptionally keen type, and popular with all. Both will be missed. Their parents and families have our deepest sympathy.

ADDENDUM – Typhoon IB MM970 HF-? Pilot: F/L SJ Lovell KIA. Buried in Brest/Lambezelle Cemetery.

Typhoon IB JP973 HF-E. Pilot: Sgt SW Smith KIA. Shot down by fighter. Buried in Brest Cemetery.


BOMBER COMMAND
Minor Operations
22 Mosquitoes – 12 to Duisburg and 10 to Herbouville flying-bomb site – 6 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

2nd TAF
Typhoons of both ADGB and 2nd TAF squadrons were very active, Wg Cdr Haabjörn leading 15 of these aircraft from 181 and 247 Squadrons on a 'Ranger' to the Châteaudun/Le Mans areas. Near the former, a four-engined Fw 200 was sighted, the Wing Leader and three pilots of 247 Squadron reaching it first and sending it down in flames. It had not been a good day for Typhoons however, for ADGB units lost seven such aircraft to Flak on this date with an eighth damaged. 2nd TAF's losses amounted to another 2 Squadron Mustang, which force-landed north-east of Cayeux. The pilot, Flg Off G.C.Brickwood, evaded capture and returned to England three months later, and a 464 Squadron Mosquito, was lost in the Florennes area.

USAAF
FRANCE: Approximately 80 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack V-weapons sites along the Channel coast.

GERMANY: In the largest USAAF strategic mission to date, 863 Eighth Air Force B-17s and B-24s are dispatched against industrial targets in and around Frankfurt am Main. In the end, a record 806 heavy bombers release more than 1,895 tons of bombs against the primary or, in the case of one 3d Bombardment Division formation, against targets of opportunity at Ludwigshafen. Losses to enemy flak and fighter attacks are 24 B-17s and five B-24s missing and crew losses of 299 missing and 22 killed. (The 3d Bombardment Division formation bombing Ludwigshafen is savaged by GAF fighters due to a lack of escorting fighters, and it loses 11 B-17s shot down.) Operational accidents and writeoffs claim five additional bombers.

Escort and support for the Frankfurt am Main mission is provided by 632 USAAF fighters, whose pilots down 44 GAF fighters along the bomber route over France, Belgium, and Germany between 1100 and 1305 hours.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Siena; Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack marshalling yards at Ancona, Fabriano, Prato, and Rimini; XII Bomber Command B-26s attack bridges north of Rome; XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a marshalling yard; XII Air Support Command P-47 fighter-bombers attack a munitions plant; and XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack tactical targets in and around the Anzio beachhead and U.S. Fifth Army battle area.

Twelfth Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers down three Bf-109s and an Fi-156 in several early-afternoon engagements over central Italy.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
219 Sqn (Non-Op) left for the UK
242 Sqn (Non-Op) moved to Ramat David
335 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moved to Benina
407 Sqn RCAF (Wellington XII/XIV) moved to Limavady

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
141 Sqn (West Raynham) flew its last OM in the Beaufigher VIF
195 Sqn (Fairlop) flew its last OM in the Typhoon IB
312 Sqn (Ibsley) flew its last OMs in the Spitfire VB & VC
416 Sqn RCAF (Digby) flew its last OM in the Spitfire VB

[warshipbuilder]

433 Sqn RCAF (Skipton-on-Swale – Halifax III) 30-1-44

Fair, becoming fine in evening. Good visibility. Light wes’ly winds. Ten a/c were detailed for operations, and all got away - Berlin was the target. Eight aircraft returned safely to base and one landed at Croft in error. LV-797 captained by R138861, F/Sgt. Hagerman, G.E. was missing as a result of this operation. Crews reported this trip as a “Piece of Cake” compared to previous trips, and they considered it most successful.

ADDENDUM – Halifax III LV797 BM-L. Crew: F/S GR Hagerman RCAF KIA, Sgt J Wannop KIA, F/S K Hargreaves RCAF KIA, F/S C Phillips RCAF KIA, WO2 JR Charlton RCAF KIA, Sgt MD Park-Taylor RCAF POW, Sgt JF Watters RCAF KIA. T/o 1719 Skipton-on-Swale. Shot down near Frankendorf, claimant u/k. All rest in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
534 aircraft – 440 Lancasters, 82 Halifaxes, 12 Mosquitoes. There were no preliminary diversions on this night and the attempt by the German controllers to intercept the bomber stream over the sea failed. The bombers were, therefore, well on the way to Berlin before meeting any fighters but the Germans were then able to follow the bomber stream until well into the return flight. 33 aircraft – 32 Lancasters and 1 Halifax – lost, 6.2 percent of the force.

The raid took place through complete cloud cover but Bomber Command claimed another concentrated attack. The local report repeats a recent trend – heavy damage in the city at the same time as widespread bombing in the country areas outside. 79 towns and villages reported various numbers of bombs but most of these fell in open country; 17 people were killed and 28 injured outside Berlin.

The main concentration of damage in the city was in the centre and in the southwestern quarter, though many other districts were also hit. The seriousness of fire damage on this night is stressed. Once again, overall figures for domestic property damage and casualties are not available but, by a process of deduction from an overall report for this period, it is certain that at least 1,000 people died. Some details of individual property damage were recorded: 2 industrial premises were completely destroyed and 15 were seriously damaged; many public buildings are mentioned, including Goebbels’s Propaganda Ministry; the Berlin transport system suffered, not only by the destruction of 94 U-Bahn carriages at the Kreuzberg depot.

SUPPORT AND MINOR OPERATIONS
22 Mosquitoes to Elberfeld and 5 to Brunswick, 8 R.C.M. sorties, 7 Serrate patrols, 12 Stirlings minelaying in the River Gironde, 22 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

Total effort for the night: 610 sorties, 33 aircraft (5.4 percent) lost.

Berlin operation as planned:

Screenshot (34030).png (230 KiB) Viewed 1497 times

Operations for the night:

Screenshot (34031).png (122.42 KiB) Viewed 1497 times

USAAF
GERMANY: Unable to visually pinpoint their briefed aircraft-industry targets in and around Brunswick, 599 Eighth Air Force B-17s and 104 B-24s attack the various industrial sites throughout the area that they can locate. Also, 39 B-24s divert to Hannover due to heavy smoke and contrails encountered over Brunswick. In all, the Eighth Air Force heavy bombers drop 1,747 tons of bombs, mostly on Brunswick. Losses are 18 B-17s (including two involved in a midair collision) and two B-24s.

A total of 635 USAAF fighters providing escort and support for the heavy bombers account for 47 GAF aircraft over Germany and the Netherlands between 1130 and 1345 hours. 1stLt Michael J. Quirk, a P-47 pilot with the 56th Fighter Group’s 62d Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 near Almelo (Netherlands) at 1315 hours; and 1stLt Virgil K. Meroney, a P-47 pilot with the 352d Fighter Group’s 487th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he down a Bf-109 near Zwolle at 1330 hours.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack strike targets in the Po River valley.

When the four GAF airfields and landing grounds in the Udine Airdrome complex, in northeastern Italy, are targeted, it is decided to send the 325th Fighter Group, in 60 P-47s, early and below the effective level of German radar in order to take advantage of the GAF practice of flying all their serviceable aircraft to safety as soon as incoming bombers are pinpointed. After flying more than 300 miles at wave-top height, the 325th’s P-47s suddenly gain altitude and fly directly into the GAF formations just as they are being scrambled. The resulting ambush nets 37 confirmed victories for 325th Fighter Group P-47 pilots alone. Indeed, Capt Herschel H. Green, the 317th Fighter Squadron operations officer, is credited with downing four Ju-52s, a Do-217, and a Mc.202, a record that brings his personal score from three to nine victories and renders him the MTO’s top-scoring ace. 2dLt George P. Novotny, also a member of the 317th Fighter Squadron, also achieves ace status when he downs two Ju-52 transports and an Hs-126 reconnaissance biplane between 1145 and 1155 hours.

Five minutes after the 325th Fighter Group opens its attack, 152 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and 63 B-24s, escorted by 14th and 82d Fighter group P-38s, attack all four airfields in the Udine complex, causing heavy destruction.

In all, 45 GAF aircraft are downed by the fighters, numerous others are claimed by bomber gunners, and as many as two dozen are destroyed or severely damaged on the ground. Fifteenth Air Force losses are one B-17 and two B-24s. Thanks to this attack, and that on the Aviano Airdrome on January 28, the GAF is forced to shift the weight of its regional air effort to the Klagenfurt Airdrome, just north of the Austro-Italian frontier.

All XII Bomber Command B-26s and many B-25s are grounded by bad weather, but some XII Bomber Command B-25s are able to attack towns and two road junctions; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack a town and a road junction; and XII Air Support Command fighter-bombers attack a town.

The 451st Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-24s, makes its combat debut with the Fifteenth Air Force, and the veteran 12th Medium Bombardment Group, in B-25s, stands down from combat operations with the XII Bomber Command in anticipation of its transfer to the Tenth Air Force in India.

YUGOSLAVIA: XII Air Support Command fighter-bombers attack barges and fishing boats off Zara.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
112 Sqn (Kittyhawk III) moves to Vasto
229 Sqn (Spitfire VC/IX) moves to Catania

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
248 Sqn (Predannack) flies its last OM in the Beaufighter VIC
432 Sqn RCAF (East Moor) flies its last OM in the Lancaster II

[warshipbuilder]

91 Sqn (Tangmere – Spitfire XII) 31-1-44
Dull with visibility 2-3 miles. During the morning we were busy moving from our Dispersal to that lately occupied by "A" Flight 486 (N.Z.) Typhoon Squadron. They are leaving for Beaulieu, and 124 A/F is being formed here by 197 Squadron, joined by two newcomers. 183 Squadron and 257 Squadron. The two new Squadrons are taking over our dispersal and that of 41 Squadron, who move to 'B' Flight 486 Squadron Dispersal.

Ramrod 500 took place. Mosquitoes were bombing targets near Dieppe and we went out as Fighter Cover to patrol the area at low level. Weather was reported to be better on the other side of the Channel, but we found it the reverse. When about 15 miles off the French coast on course 150° from base the Wing ran into low haze and cloud about 300 feet with the sea glassy calm. S/Ldr Kynaston decided to return and began a gentle turn to port. At this moment F/O Inskip and F/Sgt Fairbairn (Yellow 3 and 4) collided for reasons unknown and F/O Inskip went straight into the sea. F/Sgt Fairbairn pulled up into cloud, reported he would have to bale out, and gave a Mayday fix which was picked up. About 10 seconds later however, he dived straight out of cloud into the sea. This was witnessed by S/Ldr. Glen of 41 Squadron and F/Lt Doll (Blue 1 and F/Lt Easby (Yellow 1). Together with F/Lt Proudlove (Blue 2) the two Flight Commanders circled the spot where the two machines had gone in, for some minutes, but nothing was seen beyond the two patches in the water. TwoTyphoons of 197 Squadron were scrambled to help in the search, but could do nothing and returned to base. This was an unfortunate ending to the month of January.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Seventy-four Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack the Klagenfurt Airdrome, just north of the Austro-Italian border. Of 67 aircraft counted on the ground at the time of the attack, 11 are claimed as destroyed and seven are claimed as damaged.

ENGLAND: The Ninth Air Force’s 357th Fighter Group, in P-51s, is traded to the Eighth Air Force in return for the 358th Fighter Group, in P-47s. The 357th is assigned to the 66th Fighter Wing.

FRANCE: Seventy-four Eighth Air Force B-24s, escorted by 114 P-47s, make an unopposed attack on V-weapons sites at St.-Pol/Siracourt.

ITALY: Forty-one Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack Aviano Airdrome; 70 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack the Udine Airdrome; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack a town and a road junction; XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack several towns and a road junction east of the Anzio beachhead; and XII Air Support Command P-47 fighter-bombers attack a town.

325th Fighter Group P-47 escort pilots down two Bf-109s and three SM.82s near Udine between 1255 and 1315 hours.

NETHERLANDS: Seventy-five 4th, 78th, and 355th Fighter group P-47 dive- bombers are dispatched, along with an escort composed of 47 P-38s and 87 P-47s, to attack the Gilze-Rijen Airdrome. In all, 70 of the P-47 dive-bombers attack the briefed primary with one 500-pound bomb apiece. Also, 4th Fighter Group P-47 escort pilots down five Bf-109s near the Gilze-Rijen Airdrome between 1445 and 1500 hours, and 55th Fighter Group P-38 pilots down six Bf-109s and two FW-190s between 1520 and 1630 hours, while conducting a sweep over the Eindhoven-Venlo-Arnhem area.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
32 Sqn (Spitfire VIII/IX) moves to Foggia Main
41 Sqn SAAF (Hurricane IIC) moves to Savoia
237 Sqn (Spitfire VC) moves to Sidi Barrani
257 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Tangmere
336 Sqn (Hurricane IIC) moves to El Adem
486 Sqn RNZAF (Typhoon IB) moves to Beaulieu

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
24 Sqn SAAF (Tortorella) flies its first OM’s in the Marauder II & III

[warshipbuilder]

627 Sqn (Oakington – Mosquito BIV) 1-2-44
10 a/c detailed for operations: all took off. One returned early and one failed to return (P/O WILMOTT and F/O HUGHES). F/L SANDERS (NAV.B) posted to 692 Squadron for flying duties. S/L SANKBROOK, F/L CLARK, F/O RILEY and P/O HILL posted to be attached to the Squadron. 9 N.F.T. 1 retraction test.

ADDENDUM – Mosquito IV DZ551 AZ-E. Crew: P/O AP Wilmott KIA, F/O JD Hughes KIA. T/o 1813 Oakington. Hit by Flak Batt. Z.b.V. 5920, 3. & 4./scheinw Abt. 521 (o) and 6./scheinw Flak Abt. 461 (o), crashed NW of Pattensen, S of Hannover at 1934 hrs.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
12 Mosquitoes to Berlin, 3 to Aachen and 3 to Krefeld, 3 Serrate patrols. 1 Mosquito lost on the Berlin raid.

2nd TAF
Feb. 44
The programme of photographic reconnaissance was now fully into its stride, and the 140 Squadron Mosquitoes were in training to employ 'Gee' and 'Rebecca H' navigation aids for night and bad weather work. Airfields, coastal batteries and 'Noball' sites were the main targets for their activities at this time.

In 2 Group, 107 Squadron moved to Lasham to exchange its Bostons for Mosquitoes. A few days later 320 Squadron left Lasham to join 98 and 180 Squadrons at Dunsfold, while 226 Squadron went to take 107 Squadron's place at Hartford Bridge. However, it was seldom to fly operations with the Boston squadrons here, usually flying instead with the other Mitchell units. The larger Mitchells offered more scope than Bostons for the fitting of additional equipment, and during February, 98 Squadron became the first 2 Group unit to use 'Gee' navigation in action.

On 4 February 134 Airfield received a new Wing Leader when Wg Cdr T.Vybiral took over from Frantisek Dolezal, who was tour-expired. On the 11th, 453 Squadron, now back at 125 Airfield, undertook its first sorties since joining 2nd TAF, taking part in an escort for B-26s.

USAAF
ENGLAND: MajGen Elwood R. Quesada replaces Col Clarence E. Crumrine as head of the IX Air Support Command, and Crumrine replaces Quesada as head of the XIX Air Support Command. Following the change of command, the IX Fighter Command effectively becomes a paper organization without personnel, and the IX Air Support Command assumes control of the Ninth Air Force fighter wings, which in turn control the Ninth Air Force operational fighter groups. In sum, IX Air Support Command is the Ninth Air Force’s top fighter command.

ETO: Joint invasion planners issue a document known as the Initial Joint Plan, the air-ground-naval plan (Operation NEPTUNE) for the cross-Channel movement phase of Operation OVERLORD.

ITALY: Except for a sweep by 325th Fighter Group P-47s over the Orvieto-Viterbo area, the Fifteenth Air Force is grounded by bad weather. However, XII Bomber Command B-25s are able to attack a road junction, and XII Air Support Command A-36s, P-40s, and P-47s attack three towns, respectively.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
61 Sqn (Lancaster I/III) moves to Coningsby
139 Sqn (Mosquito BIV/BIX) moves to Upwood
183 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Tangmere
238 Sqn (Spitfire VC/IX) moves to Aboukir
272 Sqn (Beaufighter VIF/TFX/XIC) moves to Alghero
274 Sqn (Spitfire VC) moves to Madna
517 Sqn (Halifax V) moves to Brawdy

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
241 Sqn (Madna) flies its first OM in the Spitfire VIII
336 Sqn (El Adem) flies its first OMs in the Spitfire VB & VC
692 Sqn (Gravely – Mosquito BIV) flies its first OM of the war

[warshipbuilder]

78 Sqn (Breighton – Halifax III) 2-2-44
4 Aircraft detailed for operations – GARDENING. 2 aircraft planted vegetables as ordered, aircraft making a timed run of five minutes from H2S fix. 2 aircraft returned, mission not completed due to the failure of H2S. Vegetables brought back. 1 aircraft after completing operation swung off the runway on return and collided with an aircraft on dispersal point. Aircraft badly damaged - no casualties.

ADDENDUM – Halifax III LV817 EY-? First Halifax III to be written off by 78 Squadron.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
7 Mosquitoes to Rheinhausen and 6 to Elberfeld, 2 R.C.M. sorties, 5 Serrate patrols, 50 Halifaxes minelaying in Kiel Bay. The Kiel Bay mining operation was a ploy to draw up German fighters, even though no major bombing raid was planned. No aircraft were lost from these operations.

USAAF
FRANCE: Ninety-five 2d Bombardment Division B-24s, escorted by 183 P-47s, attack V-weapons sites around Pas-de-Calais.

Thirty-six IX Bomber Command B-26s, escorted by 20th Fighter Group P-38s, attack Tricqueville Airdrome.

HUNGARY: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack industrial targets in Budapest.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack a radar station; XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a road junction; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack a town; and XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack villages, a supply dump, and road and rail targets.

The 33d Fighter Group, an original Twelfth Air Force combat element, stands down in anticipation of its transfer to the Tenth Air Force, in India.

BriGen Gordon P. Saville replaces MajGen Edwin J. House as commanding general of the XII Air Support Command.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
69 Sqn (Baltimore IV/V) moves to Montecorvino
213 Sqn (Hurricane IIC) moves to Idku
335 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Tocra
600 Sqn Beaufighter VIF) moves to Marcianise

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
78 Sqn (Breighton) flies its first OM in the Halifax III

[warshipbuilder]

193 Sqn (Harrowbeer – Typhoon IB) 4-2-44
The weather again not promising but just before 0900 hrs eight Squadron a/c took off on what proved to be an abortive bombing operation. Unfortunately, after finding the weather over the French coast duff, the order was given to jettison the bombs in the sea at a point per approx 10 miles N of Cap de la Hague, Sgt King-Meggats' a/c burst into flames and went into the sea, without the pilot being able to bale out. The a/c hit the sea and cartwheeled twice and disappeared in a patch of flames. A really tough break, as a Typhoon and a pilot are lost and not by enemy action.

ADDENDUM – Typhoon IB JP902DP-? Pilot: Sgt JR King-Meggat KIA. He has no known grave.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
9 Mosquitoes to Frankfurt, 5 to Elberfeld and 1 to Aachen, 2 Serrate patrols, 28 aircraft minelaying in the Bay of Biscay, 49 aircraft – 27 Stirlings, 17 Halifaxes, 3 Lysanders, 2 Hudsons – on Resistance operations. This was the first widespread use of the 3 Group Stirling squadrons for Resistance operations work. No aircraft lost.

USAAF
ENGLAND: The United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe acronym is changed to from USSAFE to USSTAF.

MajGen Otto P. Weyland replaces Col Clarence E. Crumrine as commander of the XIX Air Support Command, and the IX Air Support Command formally assumes control of the 84th Fighter Wing headquarters (which for the moment controls no fighter groups).

The 436th Troop Carrier Group arrives in England and is assigned to IX Troop Carrier Command’s 50th Troop Carrier Wing.

FRANCE: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack the Vichy French naval base at Toulon, but all the B-24s dispatched on the same mission abort in the face of bad weather. Also, a number of B-17s that become separated from the main force attack the rail viaduct at Antheor.

GERMANY: Three hundred forty-six 1st and 3d Bombardment Division B-17s and 27 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack marshalling yards at Frankfurt am Main, and 197 B-17s and 63 B-24s attack numerous targets of opportunity throughout northwestern Germany. Two B-24s and 18 B-17s are lost with 203 crewmen, and three bombers are written off.

Escort and support for the bombers is provided by 56 P-38s, 537 P-47s, and 44 P-51s, of which one P-38 and its pilot are lost. 56th and 352d Fighter group P-47 pilots down eight GAF aircraft along the bomber track over Belgium between 1300 and 1330 hours.

ITALY: Almost the entire Twelfth Air Force is grounded due to bad weather, but P-40s and Spitfires are able to patrol the Anzio beachhead area, where a powerful German Army ground offensive is launched.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
137 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Lympne
174 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Westhampnett
501 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Hawkinge

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
5 Sqn SAAF (Cutella) flies its last OM in the Kittyhawk III
312 Sqn (Ibsley) flies its first OM in the Spitfire LFIXB

[warshipbuilder]

175 Sqn (Westhampnett – Typhoon IB) 5-2-44
Early briefing and C. O., P/O Long, F/O Scott, F/O Finlayson, F/Lt Vernon-Jarvis, P/O Baden, and F/Sgt Rowland took off to attack a Noball target at Zadaussues west of St Omer. The target was obscured by cloud and gun positions near Hardelot were bombed on the way out. After lunch C.O., F/O Kelsick, F/O Scott, F/Lt Vernon-Jarvis, P/O Cross. P/O Tucker, F/O Howe and F/Sgt. Slack led by W/C Green went on Long Range Sweep in the Byreux-Beauvais-Rove area. No enemy aircraft were seen, but road transport, tugs, and barges were beaten up. P/O Tucker was hit by Medium flak near Evreux and it is thought that he force-landed. F/Sgt Slack did not return, he was last seen near Clermont.

ADDENDUM – Typhoon IB JP385 HH-? Pilot: P/O C Tucker POW.
Typhoon IB JP369 HH-P. Pilot: F/Sgt DA Slack POW.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
18 Mosquitoes to Berlin, 7 to Duisburg and 1 to Hannover, 3 Serrate patrols, 29 Stirlings and 17 Halifaxes on Resistance operations, 19 Halifaxes minelaying off Oslo and Fredrijkstad in Norway, 15 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Stirling lost on Resistance operations work.

USAAF
FRANCE: Three hundred fifty-four Eighth Air Force B-17s and 98 B-24s attack six GAF airdromes with an aggregate of 1,313 tons of bombs. Two B-24s are lost and three bombers are written off.

The 452d Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-17s, and the 453d Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-24s, make their combat debuts.

Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by 634 USAAF fighters, whose pilots down four GAF fighters, an He-111, and an FW-200 between 1045 and 1215 hours.

Approximately 226 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack six V-weapons sites around St.-Omer. Six B-26s are lost to typically heavy flak concentrations around the sites.

ITALY: XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a marshalling yard at Terni; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack various targets around Lanuvio and Piedimonte; and XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack numerous motor vehicles and road junctions in central Italy.

The 332d Fighter Group, the USAAF’s only African-American combat unit, begins combat operations in P-39s with the Twelfth Air Force from its base at Montecorvino Airdrome, at which the group has arrived only two days earlier. The veteran, independent 99th Fighter Squadron is operationally attached to the new group.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
25 Sqn (Mosquito NFXVII) moves to Coltishall
68 Sqn (Beaufighter VIF) moves to Coleby Grange
118 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Detling
414 Sqn RCAF (Mustang I) moves to Peterhead

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
16 Sqn SAAF (Berka III) flies its first OM in the Beaufighter TFX
139 Sqn (Upwood) flies its first OM in the Mosquito BXX
140 Sqn (Hartford Bridge) flies its first OM in the Mosquito PRXVI

[warshipbuilder]

245 Sqn (Westhampnett – Typhoon IB) 6-2-44
8 aircraft (S/L COLLINS) took off with 175 Squadron to bomb no-ball 110. Intense flak encountered over Cherbourg area and F/O R.L. HAWKINS failed to return. He was seen going down in the dive spinning without his tail after having been hit by flak. Shortly afterwards F/O G.G. WHARRY (CAN) a non-operational pilot on a practice flight, overshot on landing and badly damaged his aircraft. In the afternoon 8 aircraft carried out a squadron formation practice led by F/L SLANEY.

ADDENDUM – Typhoon IB JR323 RZ-? Pilot: F/O C RL Hawkins KIA. Buried in Cherbourg Old Communal Cemetery.

2nd TAF
A Mosquito of 21 Squadron failed to return from 'Ramrod 521, last being seen over the Bois Cogerie; it had been shot down by Flak. A Typhoon of 245 Squadron also fell to Flak over Cherbourg; all three aircrew from these two aircraft were lost.

USAAF
FRANCE: Although deterred by bad weather from attacking their primary targets (several GAF airdromes in France) 160 Eighth Air Force B-17s (of 492 dispatched) and 37 B-24s (of 150 dispatched) attack three other airdromes, and nine B-24s attack a V-weapons site.

Escort and support for the bombers is provided by 638 USAAF fighters, whose pilots down 12 GAF fighters between 1045 and 1310 hours. Capt Robert A. Lamb, a P-47 pilot with the 56th Fighter Group’s 61st Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 near Beauvais at 1045 hours.

IX Bomber Command B-26s attack the Amiens/Glisy Airdrome, a factory, and several V-weapons sites in northern France.

ITALY: The Fifteenth Air Force is grounded by bad weather; XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a road junction at Frascati, XII Bomber Command B-26s attack a marshalling yard at Orte, and XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack numerous towns, motor vehicles, and railroad cars.

Col Charles M. McCorkle, the commanding officer of the Twelfth Air Force’s 31st Fighter Group, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 while flying a Spitfire over Anzio during a late-morning mission. This is one of eight GAF aircraft downed over Italy during the day by Twelfth Air Force fighter pilots.

Capt Virgil C. Fields, Jr., a six-victory Spitfire ace with the 31st Fighter Group’s 307th Fighter Squadron, is shot down and killed in a dogfight over the Anzio beachhead.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
41 Sqn (Spitfire XII) moves to Southend
181 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Southend
578 Sqn (Halifax III) moves to Burn
609 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Fairwood Common

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
256 Sqn (Luqa) flies its first OM in the Mosquito NFXIII
400 Sqn RCAF (Redhill) flies its last OM in the Mustang I

[warshipbuilder]

198 Sqn (Manston – Typhoon IB) 7-2-44
Low cloud with poor visibility.

At noon F/Lt. Dall led 4 Typhoons off on a Ranger to Northern France. Layers of cloud were encountered up to 10,000ft. and the leader and his No.2. (F/O. Bowman) returned from the French Coast. R/T Contact was lost with the other two a/c in the formation at the time of Landfall and it is presumed that the two aircraft (F/O MacDonald & F/Sgt Kirkwood) collided in cloud, as they never returned to base. This sudden casualty was quite a shock to the Squadron as F/O MacDonald had been with the squadron for some considerable time and was the flight commander of "B" Flight.

ADDENDUM – Typhoon IB JR242 TP-? Pilot: F/O C JA MacDonald KIA. Hit by Flak near Poix. Buried in Pois de la Somme Churchyard.

Typhoon IB JP747 TP-? Pilot: F/Sgt AB Kirkwood KIA. Flak near Poix. Buried in Pois de la Somme Churchyard.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
19 Mosquitoes to Frankfurt, 8 to Elberfeld, 5 to Krefeld, 2 to Aachen and 1 to Mannheim, 4 Serrate patrols. No losses.

USAAF
ITALY: The Fifteenth Air Force is grounded by bad weather; XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a marshalling yard at Viterbo and support a withdrawal by U.S. Army troops in the face of a massive German Army counteroffensive around Anzio; XII Bomber Command B-26s attack bridge approaches; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack Piedimonte and the railroad station and road junction at Campoleone; XII Air Support Command A-36s provide direct support for U.S. Army ground forces and attack several rail targets; and XII Air Support Command P-40s attack numerous tactical targets in the Anzio and Cassino battle areas.

Twelfth Air Force fighter pilots down 20 GAF airplanes over central and northern Italy in at least seven separate engagements between 0810 and 2245 hours.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
268 Sqn (Mustang IA) moves to Lianbedr

[warshipbuilder]

85 Sqn (West Malling – Mosquito NFXIII) 8-2-44

The dusk patrol was flown by F/LT. WOOD, who was directed later to take part in a Bullseye exercise. During the course of this exercise his Mosquito unfortunately collided with a Wellington target. Both aircraft crashed, and all members of both crews were killed. The squadron deeply mourns the loss of the F/LT. A. WOOD AFC, during his tour of duty with us had made a definite contribution, in a tangible way, to the decoration and furnishing of our Mess, the Manor House: also of 2/Lt. BUGGE (RNAF) who was flying with him as his navigator at the time of the crash. S/Ldr. <unreadable> also took part in the Bullseye exercise, and obtained easy visuals of five Wellingtons and Mosquito. F/O. THOMAS took off 23.40 hrs. in order to search for the crash of F/Lt. WOOD's machine, but without result. F/LT HOUSE patrolled uneventfully under SANDWICH GCI., who also controlled F/O. ALDERTON and CAPT. RAD during practice interceptions.

BOMBER COMMAND
Limoges
12 Lancasters of 617 Squadron, led by its new commanding officer Wing Commander Leonard Cheshire, attacked the Gnome & Rhône aero-engine factory.

This was a very important raid. 617 Squadron had been experiencing difficulty in finding a useful role after the Dams Raid nearly 9 months earlier. Low-level precision raids on targets in Germany had been too costly. High-level precision bombing on small targets in France and Belgium had been unsatisfactory, not because 617 Squadron’s bombing was inaccurate but because the Oboe marking provided by Pathfinder Mosquitoes was not quite accurate enough for extremely small targets like flying-bomb sites or individual factory buildings with civilian housing near by. Wing Commander Cheshire wanted to try his own marking, flying at very low level; he had unofficially experimented with this already. For the Limoges attack, Cheshire was given official permission to attempt low-level marking of this target, which had many French civilian houses near by.

The factory was undefended, except for 2 machine-guns, and Cheshire made 3 low-level runs in bright moonlight to warn the French factory workers to escape. On his 4th run, he dropped a load of 30-lb incendiaries from between 50 and 100 ft. Each of 11 other Lancasters then dropped a 12,000-lb bomb with great accuracy; 10 bombs hit the factory and the remaining one fell in the river alongside. The factory was severely damaged and production almost completely ceased. There were few if any casualties among the French people. No Lancasters were lost.

The tactical importance of this raid was that a method appeared to have been found of marking and bombing small targets accurately, although fears were expressed that the method would be prohibitively costly against defended targets. In the following weeks and months, 617 Squadron would show that low-level marking was reliable and did not incur heavy casualties, particularly when Mosquito aircraft were used for the marking. This type of marking was eventually employed for most 617 Squadron operations and was later extended to larger raids carried out by the whole of 5 Group, sometimes with a further group being added to the bombing force. But 8 Group, the regular Pathfinders for Bomber Command, resisted the introduction of the low-level marking method and it was never used for full-scale raids even though 8 Group operated several squadrons of Mosquitoes. It was a controversial subject then and continued so long after the war.

Minor Operations: 11 Mosquitoes to Brunswick and 8 to Elberfeld, 2 Serrate patrols, 39 aircraft on Resistance operations, 19 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

2nd TAF
Another 21 Squadron Mosquito was lost to Flak on this date, last seen over Bonnetot; the crew however evaded capture. A 342 Squadron Boston and a 184 Squadron Hurricane IV were also lost, and their aircrew did not survive.

USAAF
ENGLAND: With D day fast approaching (the target date is in early May), Ninth Air Force planners begin considering targets other than V-weapons sites and airfields.

FRANCE: One hundred ten 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack V-weapons sites around the Pas de Calais with 364 tons of bombs. Escort is provided by 89 Ninth Air Force P-47s operating under VIII Fighter Command control, including the newly committed 362d Fighter Group.

In the IX Bomber Command’s first two-mission day, more than 200 B-26s attack V-weapons sites and targets of opportunity in northwestern France during the morning, and more than 100 B-26s return to northwestern France to attack V-weapons sites and military installations.

GERMANY: Eighty-six Eighth Air Force B-17s attack the briefed primary, a marshalling yard at Frankfurt am Main, but 107 B-17s divert to various targets of opportunity. Thirteen B-17s are lost. Among the airmen lost is LtCol Herbert O. Wangeman, the 452d Heavy Bombardment Group commander, who is killed.

Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by 553 USAAF fighters, whose pilots down 14 GAF fighters over Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and western Germany between 1030 and 1215 hours. Also, seven locomotives are destroyed by 20th and 354th Fighter group pilots during the return legs of their escort missions. Three 354th Fighter Group P-51s and their pilots are lost during the strafing attacks.

ITALY: The Fifteenth Air Force’s 304th Heavy Bombardment Wing takes part in its first combat operation of the war when 454th Heavy Bombardment Group B-24s, in their unit’s combat debut, attack Orvieto Airdrome. Also, 47th Heavy Bombardment Wing B-24s attack the Tarquinia and Viterbo airdromes and a marshalling yard at Prato; and 5th Heavy Bombardment Wing B-17s attack marshalling yards at Verona.

XII Bomber Command B-25s attack Cisterna di Latina; XII Bomber Command B-26s attack a rail bridge, warehouses, and a marshalling yard; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack Piedimonte; XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack numerous tactical and transportation targets; and XII Air Support Command P-47s attack Atina.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
91 Sqn (Spitfire XII) moves to Hutton Cranswick

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
125 Sqn (Valley) flies its last OM in the Beaufighter VIF
137 Sqn (Lympne) flies its first OM in the Typhoon IB
143 Sqn (Portreath) flies its first OM in the Beaufighter TFX
308 Sqn (Norhtolt) flies its last OM in the Spitfire IX and its first OM in the Spitfire LFIXB
340 Sqn (Perranporth) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VB

[warshipbuilder]

401 Sqn RCAF (Biggin Hill – Spitfire LFIXB) 9-2-44
Weather fair in the morning, but becoming cloudy in the afternoon. The Wing was briefed at 0845 hours for a Close Escort to Marauders bombing Tegnier Marshalling Yards. The Squadron was airborne at 0850, landed at base at 1035 hours. F/O M.L. Cameron reported to the Squadron today. Several of the pilots played a basketball game against Maintenance, they held their own for the first half, but lack of condition told in the last.

BOMBER COMMAND
16 Mosquitoes dispatched – 8 to Elberfeld, 7 to Krefeld and 1 to Aachen. 1 aircraft lost on the Krefeld raid.

2nd TAF
During an operation in the Gournay area early in the afternoon, a pair of Spitfires of 66 Squadron were 'bounced' and badly damaged by Fw 190s. One of the RAF aircraft was flown by Flg Off Arthur Varey, DFM, a Malta veteran.

Note: Although 266 Squadron was not a part of 2nd TAF at this time, an event occurred on this date which is noteworthy. During a 'Ranger' to the Chartres area, Pit Off D.Erasmus of this squadron claimed a Bf 109 shot down. This was in fact a Dewoitine 520, an ex-Armée de l'Air fighter taken over by the Luftwaffe and used by JG 105, (referred to above on 28 January) which was based at Chartres. D 520 No 483 was shot down and Uffz Woll was killed. Four days later Sqn Ldr G.B.Warnes of 263 Squadron, also a Typhoon unit, claimed another Bf 109 in the same area. Again this was a D 520 of JG 105-No 664 in which Uffz Bartl was killed. It is interesting to note that at this time the Luftwaffe operated four such Jagdgeschwader in France, which would continue to operate there until August 1944, when there was a general withdrawal back into Germany. The other units were JG 101 at Pau, JG 103 at Chateauroux and JG 107 at Nancy.

USAAF
CORSICA: The Twelfth Air Force’s 350th Fighter Group, which is still flying P-39s bolstered by a few P-38s, is transferred from Sardinia to undertake coastal defense flights closer to the European mainland.

ENGLAND: The 344th Medium Bombardment Group, in B-26s, arrives in England for service with the IX Bomber Command.

FRANCE: In the first mission of its kind undertaken by IX Bomber Command bombers, 54 B-26s from the 322d and 386th Medium Bombardment groups attack the marshalling yard at Tergnier with excellent results. Also, 79 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack various V-weapons sites and several targets of opportunity.

ITALY: The Fifteenth Air Force is grounded by bad weather; XII Bomber Command B-25s and B-26s provide close support for U.S. Army ground forces; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack troop concentrations; and XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack troop positions, assembly points, and gun emplacements in and around the battle areas.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
304 Sqn (Wellington XIV) moves to Chivenor

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
125 Sqn (Valley) flies its first OM in the Mosquito NFXVII
421 Sqn RCAF (Kenley) flies its last OM in the Spitfire IX

[warshipbuilder]

486 Sqn RNZAF (Beaulieu – Typhoon IB) 10-2-44
NZ 41658 F/Sgt. W.J. Swinton missing from operations.

ADDENDUM – Typhoon IB JP689 SA-P. F/S WJ Swinton POW. Rodeo to Chartres.

BOMBER COMMAND
21 Mosquitoes to Berlin and 4 to Aachen, 2 Wellingtons on R.C.M. flights, 21 aircraft minelaying off Brittany and Biscay ports, 26 aircraft on Resistance operations. No aircraft lost.

USAAF
ENGLAND: The newly arrived 364th Fighter Group, in P-38s, is assigned to the VIII Fighter Command’s 67th Fighter Wing.

FRANCE: One hundred fourteen IX Air Force B-26s attack the Poix and Beauvais/Tille airdromes, a bridge, a coastal battery, and several V-weapons sites along the Channel coast. In one of the hardest fought air battles to date over northwestern Europe, USAAF fighter pilots down a record 60 GAF fighters along the bomber routes between 1045 and 1330 hours. However, five P-38s and four P-47s are lost with their pilots. 1stLt Vermont L. Garrison, a P-47 pilot with the 4th Fighter Group’s 336th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 near Dummer Lake at 1110 hours.

ITALY: All Twelfth Air Force bombers are grounded by bad weather, but XII Air Support Command A-36s, P-40s, and P-47s, and Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s conduct missions in support of Allied ground forces in the Anzio beachhead.

The 304th Heavy Bombardment Wing’s 456th Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-24s, makes its combat debut.

NETHERLANDS: Due to frost and poor visibility caused by contrails, only 27 of 81 2d Bombardment Division B-24s dispatched are able to attack the Gilze-Rijen Airdrome. No aircraft are lost to enemy fire, but four B-24s are lost in operational accidents.

GERMANY: One hundred forty-one 1st Bombardment Division B-17s, escorted by 446 fighters, attack aircraft-industry targets at Brunswick. Losses are an unsustainable 29 bombers missing (20 percent of the force) with 295 crewmen.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
131 Sqn (Spitfire IX) moves to Colerne
165 Sqn (Spitfire IX) moves to Colerne


FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
196 Sqn (Leicester East) flies its last OM in the Stirling III
238 Sqn (Aboukir) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VC
407 Sqn RCAF (Limavady) flies its last OM in the Wellington XII

[warshipbuilder]

349 Sqn (Belgian) (Friston – Spitfire VB) 11-2-44
Ramrod 544. Twice postponed and three times amended, much to the annoyance of the Intelligence Officer at last took place at 1107hrs. 12 Spitfires made R/V at 1135hrs with 72 Marauders attacking AMIENS MARSHALLING YARDS. Owing to 10/10ths clouds the bombers could not find their target and after orbiting the target area turned back to base. Down at 1234hrs.

Ramrod 545. 9 Spitfires took off at 1406hrs to act as escort to 5 Mosquitoes low-level bombing CHATEAU-DE-<unreadable> and a further 12 attacking PREVAIS. One aircraft F/O FROMONT returned at 1422hrs with engine trouble and crash-landed. CAT B his engine had died on him when coming into land. The crash was a bad one, but luckily P/O FROMONT was not hurt. The remaining 8 aircraft crossed the French coast at JOCQUEVILLE 1452 hrs at 3,000 feet. When over the target area they saw smoke from the bombing. Red 3 (P/O Croquet) was seen to crash at EPINOY <unreadable> at 1530hrs. Although it is impossible to know the exact cause of P/O CROQUET’s bad luck, it seems he had engine trouble and when going down, thick white smoke was pouring out of the exhausts. Blue 1 (F/L GEYDAL) circled the crash for ten minutes and noticed that the fuselage was broken behind the petrol tanks. The port wing being torn away. There was no sign of Red 3. A lorry on Caterpillar tracks and a small armoured car were seen on a road southwest of the target. Both were repeatedly hit by cannon and machine-gun fire, the smaller one being set on fire. Two figures emerged from lorry and one, with clothing alight, from the A.F.V. which had been returning fire. The target was left at 1530hrs. and the coast crossed at ST. AUBIN-sur-MER 1535hrs, 2,000 feet. Landed at 1654 hrs.

ADDENDUM – Spitfire VB AB175 GE-U. Pilot: P/O JLJ Croquet EVD.

BOMBER COMMAND
11 Mosquitoes to Brunswick, 8 to Elberfeld, 4 to Aachen and 4 to Duisburg, 2 R.C.M. sorties, 5 Serrate patrols, 52 aircraft minelaying off French Channel and Atlantic ports, 27 aircraft on Resistance operations, 6 O.T.U. sorties. No aircraft lost.

2nd TAF
331 Squadron encountered Fw 190s between Lille and Dieppe during the early afternoon, Lt F.S.Fearnley claiming one shot down - one of only three such claims to be submitted by 2nd TAF pilots during the month; a second was claimed damaged by 2nd Lt J.W.Garben.

USAAF
FRANCE: Ninety-four of 201 2d Bombardment Division B-24s dispatched attack the St.-Pol/Siracourt V-weapons site, near Pas-de-Calais. Escort is provided by 85 P-47s.

One hundred thirty-nine IX Bomber Command B-26s are dispatched to attack V-weapons sites in northern France. Most of them are recalled in the face of bad weather, but 35 are able to attack a marshalling yard at Amiens.

The 357th Fighter Group, the theater’s second and the VIII Fighter Command’s first P-51 unit, makes its combat debut with an unchallenged fighter sweep to Rouen.

GERMANY: One hundred fifty-seven 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Frankfurt am Main, and 55 B-17s attack various targets of opportunity, including Ludwigshafen.

Escort and support is provided by 82 P-38s, 486 P-47s, and 38 P-51s whose pilots down 30 GAF fighters over France, Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg between 1055 and 1400 hours. USAAF fighter losses are eight P-38s, four P-47s, and two P-51s with all their pilots. 1stLt Stanley B. Morrill, a P-47 pilot with the 56th Fighter Group’s 62d Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 near Dison, Belgium, at 1100 hours; 1stLt Frederick J. Christensen, Jr., a P-47 pilot with the 56th Fighter Group’s 62d Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 over Bierset at 1130 hours; 1stLt James M. Morris, a P-38 pilot with the 20th Fighter Group’s 77th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 near Giessen at 1156 hours; Capt Richard E. Turner, a P-51 pilot with the 354th Fighter Group’s 356th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 near Luxembourg City at 1300 hours; and Col Kenneth R. Martin, the commanding officer of the 354th Fighter Group, in P-51s, achieves ace status when he downs an Me-410 over Frankfurt am Main at 1222 hours. However, Col Martin is taken prisoner after colliding with another P-51.

ITALY: The Twelfth and Fifteenth air forces are both grounded by bad weather.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
143 Sqn (Beaufighter TFX/XIC) moves to North Coates.
164 Sqn (Hurricane IV) moves to (Twinwood Farm)

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
2 Sqn (North Weald) flies its last OM in the Mustang I
139 Sqn (Upwood) flies its first OM in the Mosquito BXVI
168 Sqn (North Weald) flies its last OM in the Mustang IA
341 Sqn (Perranporth) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VB
453 Sqn RAAF (Detling) flies its first OM in the Spitfire LFIXB

[warshipbuilder]

419 Sqn RCAF (Middleton St. George – Halifax II) 12-2-44
6 aircraft were detailed for Gardening operations off the island of BORKUM in the FRISIANS. This operation was very successful, the crews reporting only light flak in the Garden area but "R" with F/L Laidlaw as Captain on his 20th sortie, was unfortunately missing.

During the day a special film was shown to all aircrew on Radar equipment.

A/C "N" JD.372 was transfered to 1666 Conv. Unit Wombleton.

ADDENDUM – Halifax II HR910 VR-R. Crew: F/L DD Laidlaw RCAF KIA, Sgt JNS Ashton DFM KIA, F/O WE Rempel RCAF KIA, F/O RW Kemp RCAF KIA, W/O SA Lagdon KIA, Sgt AS Miller RCAF KIA, WO1 JG Bachand RCAF KIA. T/o 1806 Middleton St. George. Lost without a trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

BOMBER COMMAND
Anthéor Viaduct
10 Lancasters of 617 Squadron attempted to bomb this important railway link between France and Italy but, as on two earlier raids, were not successful despite low-level runs by Wing Commander Cheshire and Squadron Leader Martin. The sides of the valley were very steep and the target was defended by guns which damaged both of the low-level aircraft. Flight Lieutenant R. C. Hay, the bomb aimer in Martin’s aircraft and the Squadron Bombing Leader since 617’s formation, was killed.

Minor Operations: 8 Mosquitoes to Elberfeld and 4 to Duisburg, 3 Serrate patrols, 25 Halifaxes and Stirlings minelaying in the Frisians and off Cherbourg. 1 Halifax minelayer lost.

2nd TAF
Amongst the reconnaissance units, 168 Squadron now exchanged its Mustang IAs for 2 Squadron's Mark Is, then moving from Odiham to Benson to join 39 (Recce) Wing. 400 Squadron meanwhile moved to Odiham from where it would commence operations with its new Spitfire XIs and Mosquito XVIs on the 20th. 430 Squadron was detached to Clifton in Yorkshire for two weeks to take part in an exercise code-named 'Eagle.

127 Airfield, Kenley, welcomed the arrival of 416 Squadron to raise its complement of Spitfire squadrons to three. The unit would commence operations from here on the 15th. Next day the French squadrons of 145 Airfield (still at this time in 10 Group), which now had Wg Cdr Roy Marples as their Wing Leader, commenced re-equipment with Mark IX Spitfires, ridding themselves of the obsolescent Mark VBs.

USAAF
ENGLAND: All the personnel of the IX Bomber Command’s first A-20 unit, the 416th Light Bombardment Group, arrive in England, but the airplanes have been shipped in crates and must be painstakingly reassembled, thus delaying the group’s training cycle and commitment to combat. The new group is temporarily assigned to the 99th Combat Bombardment Wing for administrative and training purposes.

The Ninth Air Force’s 370th Fighter Group, in P-38s, arrives in England.

FRANCE: Ninety-seven 2d Bombard- ment Division B-24s, including four GH-equipped pathfinders, attack the V-weapons site at St.-Pol/Siracourt. No bombers are lost, but 29 are damaged by intense flak. Close escort is provided by 84 P-47s, and 41 354th Fighter Group P-51s conduct a sweep of the area.

ITALY: All Fifteenth Air Force B-17 and B-24 sorties that can be launched in the face of bad weather are made in support of Allied ground forces in the Anzio beachhead. Making its combat debut is the 304th Heavy Bombardment Wing’s 455th Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-24s, which attacks a German Army headquarters at Grottaferrata.

XII Bomber Command B-25s attack gun emplacements in and around Campoleone, B-26s attack Cecina, and XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack Fabrica di Roma Airdrome as well as numerous tactical targets and towns in and around the battle areas.

UNITED STATES: The entire 467th Heavy Bombardment Group flight echelon, in B-24s, departs for England via the southern ferry route.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
26 Sqn (N0n-Op) moves to Scorton
54 Sqn (Spitfire IX) moves to Ramat David
219 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Woodvale
237 Sqn (Spitfire VC) moves to Sidi Barrani
402 Sqn RCAF (Spitfire VB) moves to Wellingore
416 Sqn RCAF (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Kenley

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
46 Sqn (Idku) flies its first OM in the Beaufighter TFX
341 Sqn (Perranporth) flies its first OM in the Spitfire LFIXB
456 Sqn RAAF (Fairwood Common) flies its first OM in the Mosquito NFXVII

[warshipbuilder]

410 Sqn RCAF (Castle Camps – Mosquito NFXIII) 13-2-44
Eight Patrols were flown, 5 of which were scrambled. S/L Somerville (C.1999) received a contact and a visual on a JU. 88, which he shot into the sea. He received another contact and visual on an E/A with a brilliant greenish white light in its tail, which made it difficult to identify. He thinks it was either a JU. 88 or 188. Opened fire at 1500 ft. observed strikes, then lost sight of E/A, which was going down. P/O. Schultz (J.16359). had a visual on a JU. 188, which he shot into the sea. He was badly shot up by return fire from the enemy.

Training was N.F.T.

USAAF
ENGLAND: The IX Bomber Command activates the 1st Provisional Pathfinder Squadron, employing British-made GEE navigational equipment mounted in B-26s.

ETO: The CCS reaffirm that the Allied air forces in Europe will conduct a combined offensive aimed at destroying Axis “military, industrial, and economic systems,” reducing Axis air power, and disrupting Axis lines of communication. However, the target list assigned in the current directive is shorter than previous lists so as to allow the Allied strategic air forces to decisively demolish each target rather than spreading themselves too thin to attack too many targets. Top priority is given to industrial targets, especially those associated with the German aircraft industry.

FRANCE: Two hundred sixty-six 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack 12 V-weapons sites, and 138 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack five V-weapons sites, all in the Pas-de-Calais area. Four B-24s are lost, but 16 of 40 crewmen aboard are rescued when two of them ditch off the English coast.

Escort is provided by 189 P-47s and 43 P-51s. In the day’s only fighter action, 356th Fighter Group P-47 pilots down six FW-190s in running dogfights between Paris and the Channel coast between 1500 and 1520 hours.

One hundred eighty-two IX Bomber Command B-26s attack V-weapons sites along the Channel coast, and 25 B-26s confounded by bad weather attack secondary targets in the same area.

ITALY: XII Bomber Command B-26s attack a viaduct; and XII Bomber Command B-25s and XII Air Support Command A-20s, A-36s, and P-40s attack tactical targets around the Anzio beachhead.

The 81st Fighter Group stands down from combat operations preparatory to its transfer to the Fourteenth Air Force in China.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
226 Sqn (Handfordbridge) flies its first OM in the Mitchell II

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
2 Sqn (North Weald) flies its first OM in the Mustang IA
340 Sqn (Perranporth) flies its first OM in the Spitfire LFIXB

[warshipbuilder]

317 Sqn (Polish) (Northolt – Spitfire LFIXB) 14-2-44
F/Lt. DROBOWSKI led 12 A/C on Ramrod 552 on first Fighter Sweep. Wing swept through ABBEVILLE/AMIENS/BEAUVAIS/POIX area under Beach Head control at 20,000 feet but no enemy reception. Sgt. WEJMAN reported engine trouble over ABBEVILLE and was later seen flying low North of ABBEVILLE aerodrome with white smoke <unreadable>. Sgt. WEJMAN and one a/c missing.

ADDENDUM – Spitfire LFIXB MH870 JH-? Pilot: Sgt B Wejman POW.

2nd TAF
During the afternoon Flg Off R.K.Hayward of 401 Squadron made what would be only the second claim of the month by 2nd TAF for an aircraft shot down. During a 'Ranger' by eight of the unit's Spitfires to the Evreux-Chartres area, he saw what he identified as an Me 210 taking off from St Andre airfield, diving to shoot this down.

USAAF
ENGLAND: A shortage of aerial bombs threatens to halt IX Bomber Command missions, and does in fact curtail a number of planned attacks while emergency stocks are scoured from the Middle East and Iceland.

The 482d Heavy Pathfinder Bombardment Group (radar and pathfinding) is transferred from the administrative control of the 1st Bombardment Division to that of the new VIII Air Force Composite Command. The unit, which has been providing pathfinder crews and airplanes on operational missions, is now tasked almost exclusively with training blind-bombing radar operators for the Eighth Air Force bomber groups, as well as with continuing experimentation with new equipment and improved techniques.

The 422d Heavy Bombardment Squadron (night leaflets) is transferred from the administrative control of the 1st Bombardment Division to that of the VIII Air Force Composite Command.

ETO: Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower establishes Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) to oversee and direct the invasion of France and the subsequent air, sea, and land campaign in northern Europe.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack marshalling yards at eight locations and several targets of opportunity; and Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack the marshalling yards at three locations and targets of opportunity that include the aircraft factory and airdrome at Pontedera.

Maj Lewis W. Chick, Jr., the commanding officer of the 325th Fighter Group’s 317th Fighter Squadron, a P-47 unit, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 while escorting B-24s near Ferrara at 1310 hours. Chick’s victim is one of four GAF fighters downed by 317th Fighter Squadron pilots at this time. Overall, in various fighter actions supporting several heavy-bomber missions, Fifteenth Air Force P-38 and P-47 pilots down ten GAF fighters during the afternoon.

XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a marshalling yard; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack Grottaferrata; XII Air Support Command A-36s attack gun emplacements, motor vehicles, and rail yards in and around the battle areas; XII Air Support Command P-40s attack German Army troops and equipment around the Anzio beachhead; and XII Air Support Command P-47s attack a defended town and a dump.

NETHERLANDS: Forty-eight 353d Fighter Group P-47s, of which 23 are equipped with one 500-pound bomb apiece, are deterred by cloud cover from attacking the Eindhoven Airdrome, so they dive-bomb the Gilze/Rijen Airdrome instead.

YUGOSLAVIA: Twelfth Air Force P-40s attack a ship and a fuel dump.

RAF
BASE CHANGES
3 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Manston
150 Sqn (Wellington III) moves to Amendola
222 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Catterrick

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
168 Sqn (North Weald) flies its first OM and starts its second tour of duty in the Mustang I
421 Sqn RCAF (Kenley) flies its first OM in the Spitfire LFIXB