10 June 1943

THURSDAY, 10 JUNE 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)
The Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS) issues a directive through the Chief
of Air Staff (C/AS), Royal Air Force (RAF), marking the official beginning
of the Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO) of the USAAF and RAF against
sources of German war power. The RAF is to bomb strategic city areas at
night and the USAAF is to hit precise targets by daylight. The CCS
sanctions the Combined Operational Planning Committee as the agency for
coordinating the efforts of the CBO forces.
HQ 386th Bombardment Group (Medium) and it's 552d, 553d, 554th and 555th
Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) with B-26's transfer from Snetterton Heath,
England to Boxted, England. The group will fly it's first combat mission on
30 Jul 43.
The detachments of the 416th Night Fighter Squadron, VIII Fighter Command
at Cranfield, Usworth, and Bath, England return to their base at Honiley,
England. The squadron is attached to the RAF for training on Beaufighters.
The 417th Night Fighter Squadron, VIII Fighter Command transfers from
Cranfield, England to Scorton, England. The detachments at Ayr, Scotland
and Uxbridge, Coltishall and Bristol, England transfer to Scorton. The
squadron is attached to the RAF for training on Beaufighters.