25 November 1943

THURSDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS:

AEAF: Air Chief Marshall Sir Trafford L Leigh-Mallory activates HQ Allied
Expeditionary Air Force (AEAF). The RAF's Second Tactical Air Force, and-on
15 Dec-the US Ninth Air Force (operationally) are included under AEAF.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): In France, bombing by P-47's is
inaugurated by the VIII Fighter Command in an attack on Saint-Omer airfield by
the 56th and 353d Fighter Groups; two other fighter groups, the 55th (P-38's)
and 352d (P-47's), carry out offensive sweeps in the Lille area; the fighters,
including 2 escorting groups, fly over 330 offensive sorties. The 401st
Bombardment Group (Heavy) reaches operational status, making 22 heavy bomber
groups now operational in the Eighth Air Force.
The 712th and 713th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 448th Bombardment
Group (Heavy), arrive at Seething, England from the US with B-24's. They
will fly their first mission on 22 Dec.