13 January 1943

WEDNESDAY, 13 JANUARY 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)
VIII Bomber Command Mission 29: The primary targets are the steel and
locomotive works and marshaling yard at Lille, France. The 1st Bombardment
Wing dispatches 72 B-17s; 64 drop 125 tons of bombs on the targets between
1427 and 1430 hours local. Locomotive construction and repair work is
seriously imparied.
We claim 3 enemy aircraft destroyed, 4 probably destroyed and 5 damaged;
three B-17s are lost, 15 are damaged; human casualties are 2 KIA, 9 WIA
and 30 MIA.
Sixteen B-24s of the 4th Bombardment Wing fly a diversionary raid.
Escort for the raid plus two raids by RAF Bostons against St Omer, France
is provided by 69 Spitfire Mk Vs of the 4th Fighter Group. They claim 3
destroyed, 4 probably destroyed and 5 damaged; one Spitfire is lost. One
Spitfire is forced down at Tangmere due to engine failure and sustained
major damage.
Two other Spitfire Mk Vs also flew an uneventful fighter patrol.
HQ 56th Fighter Group and its subordinate 61st and 62d Fighter Squadrons
are established at Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire, England upon arrival from
the US; the 63d Fighter Squadron is established at Wittering,
Northamptonshire. The group will be equipped with P-47C-2 and P-47C-5
aircraft in Feb.
The ground echelon of the 1st Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy) joins the
air echelon at St Eval, Cornwall, England. The air echelon with B-24s has
been operating from St Eval since 10 Nov 42.