1 December 1943

WEDNESDAY, 1 DECEMBER 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission 145:
The industrial area at Solingen, Germany is the target. 206 of 215 B-17's,
69 of 78 B-24's and 5 of 6 B-17 PFF aircraft hit the target at 1159-1212
hours; they claim 4-5-5 Luftwaffe aircraft; 19 B-17's and 5 B-24's are
lost, 2 B-17's and 1 B-24 are damaged beyond repair and 85 bombers are
damaged; casualties are 13 KIA, 23 WIA and 227 MIA.
The mission is escorted by 42 P-38's and 374 P-47's; the P-47's claim
20-4-7 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-38's and 5 P-47's are lost, 1 each are
damaged beyond repair and 3 P-47's are damaged; casualties are 7 MIA.
HQ VIII Air Support Command is disbanded at Sunninghill, England.
HQ 448th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Seething, England from the
US.
The 362d, 363d and 364th Fighter Squadrons, 357th Fighter Group, arrive
at Raydon, England from the US with P-51B's. They will fly their first
mission on 11 Feb 44.
The 708th, 709th, 710th and 711th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 447th
Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrive at Rattlesden, England from the US with
B-17G's. They will fly their first mission on 24 Dec.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 175+ B-26's bomb airfields at
Chievres, Belgium; and Cambrai/Epinoy, Lille/Yendeville, and Cambrai/Niergnies,
France. 28 P-51's execute a sweep over NW France, marking the first Ninth Air
Force fighter operation from the UK.
HQ IX Troop Carrier Command transfers from Cottesmore to Grantham, England.