8 September 1942

TUESDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 1942

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, 8th Air Force): The "Joint British
American Directive on Day Bomber Operations Involving Fighter Cooperation" is
issued; worked out between Major General Carl Spaatz and the RAF, it consigns
night bombing to the RAF and day bombing to the Eighth Air Force; the purpose
is to achieve continuity in the bombing offensive and secure RAF fighter
support for US bombers; General Spaatz orders all tactical operations to give
way to activity in support of Operation TORCH (plan for Allied landings in N
and NW Africa in Nov 42); processing of units of the newly created Twelfth
Air Force destined for N Africa takes priority over combat operations for the
present.
In England, HQ 3d Photographic Group arrives at Membury from the US; 342d
and 414th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy), move
from Grafton Underwood to Polebrook with B-17s.