24 December 1943

FRIDAY, 24 DECEMBER 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 26 heavy bomber groups are now
operational.
VIII Bomber Command Mission 164: 23 V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais
area of France are hit. 478 of 526 B-17's 192 of 196 B-24's hit the targets
at 1330-1510 hours; 2 B-24's are damaged beyond repair and 85 B-17's are
damaged; casualties are 4 WIA. This is the largest number of aircraft
carrying out attacks of any Eighth Air Force mission to date and the first
of its major strikes against missile sites. The heavies are escorted by 40
P-38's, 459 P-47's and 42 Ninth Air Force P-51's; 2 P-38's are damaged
beyond repair and 2 P-51's are damaged; no casualties.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 60+ B-26's attack NOBALL (V-missile
sites) targets in Pas de Calais area of France. 30+ B-26's abort due to bad
weather.