SATURDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 559 of 586 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s
bomb and strafe flak positions and other ground targets in 2 landing zones in
the Nijmegen, the Netherlands area, immediately preceding the arrival of the
remainder of the US 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions and the Polish 1st
Brigade; the P-38s are flown by Eighth and Ninth AF units; they engage 150+
Luftwaffe fighters; AAF claims 27-2-6 aircraft in the air; 4 P-47s and 10
P-51s are lost, 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are damaged beyond repair and 25 P-47s and
10 P-51s are damaged; 1 pilot is WIA and 14 MIA. 162 B-24s fly a TRUCKIN'
mission to France delivering fuel.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): B-26s and A-20s sent against targets
in W Germany are recalled due to weather; fighters support the US First Army
in W Germany, US Third Army in the Chateau-Salins, France area, escort
bombers (recalled), and fly armed reconnaissance over wide areas of W
Germany. In France, HQ 36th Fighter Group and the 22d Fighter Squadron move
from Le Mans to Athis with P-47s; HQ 322d Bombardment Group (Medium) and the
450th and 451st Bombardment Squadron (Medium) move from Rougham, England to
Beauvais/Tille with B-26s; HQ 416th Bombardment Group (Light) and the 669th
and 671st Bombardment Squadron (Light) move from Wethersfield, England to
Melun with A-20s; the 412th Fighter Squadron, 373d Fighter Group, moves from
St-James to Reims with P-47s.