13 March 1944

MONDAY, 13 MARCH 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 257: 127 B-17s and 144
B-24s are dispatched to bomb V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais, France area
but the strike is cancelled due to bad weather; 7 B-17s bomb Poix Airfield as
a target of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost, 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair
and 61 B-17s and 13 B-24s are damaged; casualties are 6 KIA, 1 WIA and 20
MIA. Escort is provided by 213 P-47s; 1 P-47 is damaged.
Mission 258: 7 of 7 B-17s drop 350 bundles of leaflets on Reims, Orleans,
Paris, Amiens, Rouen and Chartres, France at 2104-2137 hours without loss.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 40 B-26s attack a V-weapon site at
Lottinghen/Les Grands Bois, France; 37 abort due to bad weather.
Moves in England: HQ 97th Combat Bombardment Wing (Medium) from Marks Hall
to Little Walden; 153d Liaison Squadron, IX Fighter Command (attached to
First Army), from Keevil to Erlestokes with L-5s.