25 August 1943

WEDNESDAY, 25 AUGUST 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): US heavy bombers are assigned i
role of bombing important Luftwaffe targets in Operation STARKEY, designed
to contain enemy forces in the west to prevent their transfer to Eastern
Front, and to serve as a dress rehearsal in the Pas de Calais, France area
for the invasion of W Europe. The Allies hope to provoke the Luftwaffe into
a prolonged air battle.
VIII Air Support Command Missions 34A and 34B: Two locations in France are
targetted:
1. 21 B-26's are dispatched to the power station at Rouen; all hit the
target at 1832 hours; 2 aircraft are damaged.
2. 36 B-26's are dispatched to Tricqueville Airfield; 31 hit the target
at 1834 hours; they claim 1-8-5 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 B-26's are damaged.
HQ 45th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) arrives at Brampton Grange, England from
the US; it will remain at this station until Sep 43.