Air War WW2 Portal 
November 1942
SATURDAY, 7 NOVEMBER 1942
Twelfth Air Force: The air movement of the Twelfth AF from the UK to N Africa begins;
other elements of the Twelfth AF moving from the UK and US are aboard Allied ships approaching the Algerian and Moroccan coasts.
MONDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Algeria, Spitfires of the 31st Fighter Group attack and halt an armored column moving N toward Tafaraoui, and also attack artillery and AA batteries SE of Tafaraoui and along the coastal road;
at 1605 hours, Major General James H Doolittle, Commanding General Twelfth AF, arrives in Algeria from Gibraltar by B-17, escorted by 12 Spitfires from the 52d Fighter Group;
HQ Twelfth AF arrives in Algeria from the UK;
HQ 52d Fighter Group arrives at Tafaraoui from the UK;
the 27th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group arrives at St Leu with P-38s;
the 307th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group arrives at Tafaraoui with Spitfires.
In French Morocco, HQ XII Air Support Command arrives from the US;
HQ 68th Observation Group and the 16th and 122d Observation Squadron arrive at Casablanca and Fedala respectively from the US with A-20s and P-39s.
TUESDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): AAF Spitfires escort a convoy, fly reconnaissance, and attack tanks and other vehicles in the Oran, Algeria area.
French Admiral Jean F Darlan broadcasts orders for the French forces in N Africa to cease resistance against the Allies.
In Algeria, the following units arrive at St Leu from the UK: 111th and 154th Observation Squadrons, 68th Observation Group, with A-20s; 437th, 438th, 439th and 440th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 319th Bombardment Group (Medium), with B-26s.
In French Morocco, 72 P-40s of the 33d Fighter Group, catapulted from the US auxiliary aircraft carrier USS Chenango (ACV-28), land in Port Lyautey; the 91st and 93d Fighter Squadrons, 81st Fighter Group, arrive at Port Lyautey from the US with P-39s.
WEDNESDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Algeria, fighters fly reconnaissance over the Oran-Tafaraoui area and escort C-47s carrying paratroops from Gibraltar to Algiers.
All French resistance against the Allies in NW Africa ceases in the early morning.
HQ 319th Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from England to St Leu, Algeria.
The 16th, 17th and 18th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 64th Troop Carrier Group, based in England begin operating from Maison Blance, Algeria.
The 92d Fighter Squadron, 81st Fighter Group, arrives at Port Lyautey, French Morocco from the US with P-39s.
THURSDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Algeria, fighters fly patrols over a wide area around Oran and escort C-47s which drop US paratroops at Duzerville Airfield SE of Bone;
Duzerville Airfield is bombed by Axis aircraft during the night of 12/13 Nov;
HQ XII Fighter Command moves from Tafaraoi to La Senia;
the ground echelon of the 2d, 4th and 5th Fighter Squadrons, 52d Fighter Group, arrive at La Senia from the UK;
the 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Twelfth AF (attached to 3d Photographic Group) arrives La Senia from the UK with F-4s (first mission in Nov 42);
the 307th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, moves from Tafaraoui to La Senia with Spitfires.
In French Morocco, the 16th and 122d Observation Squadrons, 68th Observation Group, move from Fedala to Casablanca with A-20s and P-39s.
FRIDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Algeria, C-47s, with P-38 escort, fly AA guns and aviation gasoline to Duzerville Airfield;
US Spitfires patrol the Oran-Tafaraoui area;
HQ 1st Fighter Group arrives at Tafaraoui from the UK;
HQ 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the 340th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) arrive at Maison Blanche from the UK with B-17s;
the 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light), Twelfth AF, arrives at Tebessa from the UK with A-20s;
the 27th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, moves from St Leu to Tafaraoui with P-38s.
In French Morocco, HQ 33d Fighter Group moves from Port Lyautey to Casablanca.
SATURDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Algeria, US Spitfires fly routine patrols in the Oran-Tafaraoui area and escort C-53's carrying paratroops from Gibraltar to Algiers;
HQ 52d Fighter Group moves from Tafaraoui to La Senia;
the 28th Troop Carrier Squadron, 60th Troop Carrier Group, arrives at Tafaraoui from the UK with C-47s;
the 71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group moves from St Leu to Tafaraoui with P-38s;
the 309th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group moves from Tafaraoui to La Senia with Spitfires.
In French Morocco, the 35th Troop Carrier Squadron, 64th Troop Carrier Group, begins operating from Casablanca with C-47s (squadron is enroute from the UK).
SUNDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Algeria, C-47s fly an airborne operation from Algiers to Youks-le-Bains;
escort is provided at intervals by Royal Air Force (RAF) Spitfires and Hurricanes.
British First Army ground forces reach Tunisia at Taberka;
the following units arrive at Tafaraoui from the UK: HQ 14th Fighter Group;
HQ 62d Troop Carrier Group and the 4th and 7th Troop Carrier Squadrons with C-47s;
the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, with P-38s.
MONDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Tunisia, Twelfth AF C-47s drop British paratroops at Souk el Arba;
6 B-17s, of the 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) based at Maison Blanche, Algeria, raid Sidi Ahmed Airfield at Bizerte;
thus the 97th which flew the first US heavy bomber mission from the UK, on 17 Aug, becomes the first Twelfth AF bombardment group to fly a combat mission in Africa.
In Algeria, the 8th Troop Carrier Squadron, 62d Troop Carrier Group, arrives at Tafaraoui from the UK with C-47s;
the 111th and 154th Observation Squadrons, 68th Observation Group, moves from St Leu to Tafaraoui with A-20s;
the 341st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Maison Blanche from the UK with B-17s.
TUESDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Algeria, air action is limited to routine patrols in the Tafaraoui area;
the 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Twelfth Air Force (attached to 3d Photographic Group) moves from La Senia to Tafaraoui with F-4s;
the 437th and 438th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 319th Bombardment Group (Medium), move from St Leu to Tafaraoui with B-26s.
In French Morocco, the following units arrive at Mediuna from the US: 85th, 86th and 97th Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 47th Bombardment Group (Light), with A-20s;
380th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 310th Bombardment Group (Medium), with B-25s.
WEDNESDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Algeria, several P-38s are damaged in an enemy air raid on Maison Blanche Airfield;
HQ 14th Fighter Group moves from Tafaraoui to Maison Blanche;
HQ 319th Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 439th, and 440th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from St Leu to Tafaraoui with B-26s;
"A" flight of the air echelon of the 15th Photographic Mapping Squadron, 3d Photographic Group, arrives at Tafaraoui with B-17s and F-4s (ground echelon in England;
"B" and "C" Flights of air echelon remain in Colorado until Oct 43).
In French Morocco, HQ 47th Bombardment Group (Light) and the 84th Bombardment Squadron (Light) arrive at Mediouna from the US with A-20s;
HQ 310th Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 381st Bombardment Squadron (Medium) arrive at Mediouna from the US with B-25s.
THURSDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): B-17s, escorted by P-38s, bomb El Aouina Airfield, Tunisia.
In Algeria, the 342d and 414th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrive at Maison Blanche from the UK with B-17s.
In French Morocco, the 345th and 346th Fighter Squadrons, 350th Fighter Group, arrive at Casablanca, the air echelon from the UK with P-39s and P-400s and the ground echelon from the US;
the 379th and 428th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 310th Bombardment Group (Medium), arrive at Mediouna with B-25s.
FRIDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Algeria during the night of 20/21 Nov, enemy aircraft bomb the harbor and Maison Blanche Airfield at Algiers, destroying several aircraft at the field;
HQ 1st Fighter Group and the 27th Fighter Squadron move from Tafaraoui to Nouvion;
the 154th Observation Squadron, 68th Observation Group, moves from Tafaraoui to Blida with A-20s.
SATURDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): B-17s hit El Aouina Airfield, Tunisia. In Algeria, P-38s of the 1st Fighter Group arrive at Nouvion to replace the 14th Fighter Group in escorting B-17s;
during the night of 21/22 Nov enemy aircraft again hit Algiers, damaging several aircraft and destroying a B-17;
the 71st and 94th Fighter Squadrons, 1st Fighter Group, move from Tafaraoui to Nouvion;
the 440th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 319th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Tafaraoui to Maison Blanche with B-26s.
In French Morocco, the 12th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 3d Photographic Group, arrives at Casablanca from the US with F-4s.
SUNDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Algeria, HQ XII Bomber Command arrives at Tafaraoui from the UK;
HQ 14th Fighter Group moves from Maison Blanche to Youks-les-Bains;
HQ 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the 340th, 341st, 342d and 414th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) move from Maison Blanche to Tafaraoui with B-17s because of enemy bombing raids.
MONDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): B-17s, with P-38 escort, sent to bomb the airfield at Elmas, Sardinia abort due to bad weather.
In Algeria, the Twelfth AF Main HQ moves from Gibraltar to Algiers;
HQ 51st Troop Carrier Wing arrives at Algiers from the UK.
TUESDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): B-17s, with P-38 escort, are dispatched against the harbor at Bizerte, Tunisia but must abort because of bad weather.
In Algeria, fighters patrol the Oran-Nouvion-Tafaraoui area, and fly sea patrol off Oran and destroy several aircraft and attack ground targets in the vicinity of Gabes, Tunisia.
In Algeria, HQ 319th Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 439th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) move from Tafaraoui to Maison Blanche with B-26s;
the 352d and 419th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 301st Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrive at Tafaraoui from the UK with B-17s.
WEDNESDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): Spitfires and P-38s fly widespread reconnaissance missions over coastal Algeria.
THURSDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Libya, B-24s fly 3 missions against Tripoli, scoring direct hits on 2 vessels, 1 B-24 bombs a ship at Homs harbor;
P-40s patrol over the Bengasi and Derna area.
In Algeria, HQ 301st Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the 32d and 353d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) arrive at Tafaraoui from the UK with B-17s;
the 437th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 319th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Tafaraoui to Maison Blanche with B-26s.
FRIDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Algeria, HQ XII Bomber Command moves from Tafaraoui to Algiers;
HQ 60th Troop Carrier Group and the 10th and 28th Troop Carrier Squadrons move from Tafaraoui to Relizane;
the 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Twelfth AF (attached to 3d Photographic Group), moves from Tafaraoui to Algiers.
SATURDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Tunisia, 35 B-17s of the 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the newly-arrived 301st Bombardment Group (Heavy) bomb Bizerte airfield and dock area;
because of mud, no P-38 escort is provided;
2 B-17s are lost to fighter attacks;
B-26s of the newly-arrived 319th Bombardment Group (Medium) bomb oil tanks, warehouses, and rail yards at Sfax, marking the debut of Twelfth AF medium bombers in NW Africa.
The 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, moves from Nouvion to Youks-les-Bains, Algeria with P-38s.
SUNDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Tunisia, the British First Army, after taking Tebourba on 27 Nov, is stalled at Djedeida;
in an effort to rejuvenate the drive on Tunis elements of the British 1 Parachute Brigade are dropped at Depienne by Twelfth AF C-47s, but the objective of capturing Oudna airfield and threatening Tunis, 10 miles (16 km) to the N, fails because of overwhelming defense of the airfield; over 300 casualties are suffered by the paratroops;
P-38s and DB-7s attack Gabes Airfield while other US fighters operate with the RAF out of Bone, Algeria, furnishing air cover for ground units in the battle area.
The 11th Troop Carrier Squadron, 60th Troop Carrier Group, moves from Tafaraoui to Relizane, Algeria with C-47s.
MONDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 1942
NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Tunisia, B-17s bomb the N quay at Bizerte;
B-26s hit the airfield and railroad at Gabes;
DB-7s attack a bridge and railway station at Djedeida;
P-38s escort all 3 missions;
other P-38s strafe Gabes Airfield, fly reconnaissance, and shoot down a Bf 109 in an aerial battle near Tunis;
elements of the British First Army remain hard pressed at Djedeida.
The 12th Troop Carrier Squadron, 60th Troop Carrier Group, moves from Tafaraoui to Relizane, Algeria with C-47s.
Source:
COMBAT CHRONOLOGY OF THE US ARMY AIR FORCES
Jack McKillop
USAF (Airways and Air Communications Service)
1955-59
used sources by McKillop:
AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF, 1961, ISBN 0-912799-02-1
COMBAT SQUADRONS OF THE AIR FORCE, WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF 1982
THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by the Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF, 1973
