4 July 1942

SATURDAY, 4 JULY 1942

First USAAF air
operation over W Europe. 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light) flying 6 American-
built Bostons belonging to No. 226 Squadron Royal Air Force, join a RAF low-
level attack on De Koog (2 aircraft), Bergen/Alkamaar, Haanstede and
Valkenberg (2 aircraft) Airfields in the Netherlands; 2 aircraft are lost, 1
damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 6 airmen are MIA. Aircraft flown by
Captain Charles C Kegelman, Squadron Commander, is severely damaged, but
Kegelman succeeds in bringing it back to base at Swanton Morley. VIII Air
Force Composite Command is activated in the US. Second B-17 arrives in the UK
via the N Atlantic ferry route.