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8th Air Force Europe in October 1943
FRIDAY, 1 OCTOBER 1943
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
A report by the intelligence section of the Eighth Air Force shows that despite recent efforts of the Allies to destroy the German aircraft industry, fighter production has expanded greatly and enemy fighter strength on the Western Front has increased.
SATURDAY, 2 OCTOBER 1943
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
VIII Bomber Command Mission 106: 349 B-17's are dispatched to the industrial area of Emden, Germany; led by 2 B-17 pathfinders, 339 hit the target at 1557-1603 hours; they claim 15-6-12 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 B-17's are lost and 34 damaged; casualties are 2 WIA and 21 MIA. The B-17's are escorted by 227 P-47's who claim 5-3-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is damaged. In addition to the above, 21 B-24's are dispatched to Woensdrecht Airfield, The Netherlands; the target is obscured by clouds and the mission is aborted.
VIII Air Support Command Mission 75: 72 B-26's are dispatched to the St Omer/Longuenesse Airfield in France; because of cloud cover, only 6 hit the target at 1715 hours; the remainder refrain from bombing because the target is in occupied territory; 12 B-26's are damaged; casualties are 1 KIA and 4 WIA.
VIII Bomber Command Mission 107: 2 B-17's join the Royal Air Force (RAF) in a night mission to Munich; no losses or casualties.
SUNDAY, 3 OCTOBER 1943
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
VIII Air Support Command Missions 76, 77 and 78:
1. 36 B-26's are dispatched to the Lille/Vendeveille Airfield in France but weather prevents their hitting the target.
2. 131 of 144 B-26's dispatched to Amsterdam/Schiphol (71 aircraft), Woensdrecht (34 aircraft) and Haamstede (26 aircraft) Airfields in the Netherlands hit their targets at 1120-1136 hours; 47 B-26's are damaged.
3. 72 B-26's are dispatched to Beauvais/Tille Airfield, France; 63 hit the target at 1724-1727 hours; 1 B-26 is lost and 27 damaged.
Total casualties for all missions are 5 WIA.
The 153d Liaison Squadron, 67th Observation Group, transfers from Keevil to Membury, England with A-20's and L-4's.
The 328th, 329th, 330th and 409th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 93d Bombardment Group (Heavy), cease operating from Oudna, Tunisia and return to their base at Hardwick, England with B-24's.
The 564th, 565th, 566th and 567th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy), cease operating from Massicault, Tunisia and return to their base at Hethel, England with B-24's.
MONDAY, 4 OCTOBER 1943
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
VIII Bomber Command Mission 108: 4 targets in Germany and a diversion are flown. 12 B-17's and 4 B-24's are lost.
1. 104 B-17's are dispatched to the Wiesbaden industrial area; 15 aircraft hit Wiesbaden and 77 hit the industrial area at Frankfurt at 1059-1105 hours; they claim 19-3-15 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-17's are lost and 45 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 8 WIA and 40 MIA.
2. 37 of 51 B-17's dispatched to Frankfurt hit the target at 1110-1111 hours; they claim 18-8-22 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 B-17's are lost and 35 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 2 WIA and 30 MIA.
3. 115 B-17's are dispatched to the Saarlautern industrial area; 67 hit Saarlautern and 38 hit St Dizier/Robinson Airfield in France at 1136-1148 hours; they claim 37-7-7 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 B-17's are lost, 4 are damaged beyond repair and 19 damaged; casualties are 6 WIA and 29 MIA.
4. 47 of 53 B-17's dispatched hit Sarreguemnines and Saarbrucken marshalling yards at 1133-1139 hours; 2 B-17's are damaged; no casualties.
5. 38 B-24's fly a diversion; they claim 13-6-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 B-24's are lost and 19 damaged; casualties are 11 WIA and 43 MIA.
These missions are escorted by 223 P-47's; they claim 19-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is damaged beyond repair and 15 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA.
VIII Air Support Command Mission 79: 25 B-26's are dispatched to Beauvais/Nivilliers and Evreux/Fauville Airfield in France; they return to base without bombing.
VIII Bomber Command Mission 109: 4 B-17's drop 240,352 leaflets over Paris between 2257-2307 hours.
TUESDAY, 5 OCTOBER 1943
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
HQ 356th Fighter Group transfers from Goxhill to Martlesham, England.
THURSDAY, 7 OCTOBER 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
VIII Bomber Command Mission 110. During the night of 7/8 Oct, 4 B-17's drop 240,352 leaflets over Paris at 2257-2307 hours; no losses or casualties.
FRIDAY, 8 OCTOBER 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
VIII Bomber Command Mission 111. 4 locations in Germany are targetted. On this mission the Eighth Air Forces uses, for the first time, airborne transmitters (Carpet equipment) to jam German radar. 30 bombers and 3 fighters are lost.
1. 105 of 118 B-17's dispatched to the shipyard at Breman hit the target at 1505-1513 hours; they claim 42-2-28 Luftwaffe aircraft; 9 B-17's are lost and 61 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 18 WIA and 90 MIA.
2. 53 of 56 B-17's dispatched to the industrial area at Breman hit the target at 1512-1513 hours; they claim 24-7-17 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 B-17's are lost and 44 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 12 WIA and 41 MIA.
3. 43 of 55 B-24's dispatched to the U-boat yards at Vegesack hit the target at 1622-1624 hours; they claim 17-1-7 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 B-24's are lost and 21 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 5 WIA and 30 MIA.
4. 156 of 170 B-17's dispatched to the city of Bremen hit the target and targets of opportunity at 1505-1527 hours; they claim 84-12-33 Luftwaffe aircraft; 14 B-17's are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 110 damaged; casualties are 21 WIA and 140 MIA.
The B-17's are escorted by 274 P-47's; they claim 12-2-4 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 P-47's are lost and 5 damaged; casualties are 2 WIA and 3 MIA.
VIII Air Support Command Mission 80: 144 B-26's are dispatched to Lille/Vendeville and Chievres Airfields in France; the mission is abandoned due to thick haze and generally unsuitable weather; 4 B-26's are damaged.
VIII Bomber Command Mission 112: 2 B-17's drop 266,336 leaflets over Rennes at 0005-0011 hours, 9 Oct 43.
SATURDAY, 9 OCTOBER 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
VIII Bomber Command Mission 113. 2 targets in Germany and 2 in Poland are hit; 26 B-17's and 2 B-24's are lost.
1. 106 of 115 B-17's hit the industrial area in Anklam, Germany at 1142-1146 hours; they claim 65-19-47 Luftwaffe aircraft, 18 B-17's are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 51 damaged; casualties are 25 WIA and 185 MIA.
2. 96 of 100 B-17's hit the industrial area in Marienburg, Germany at 1253-1302 hours; they claim 9-2-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 B-17's are lost and 13 damaged; casualties are 3 WIA and 21 MIA.
3. 41 of 51 B-24's hit the U-boat yards at Danzig and the port area at Gdynia, Poland at 1305 hours; they claim 7-3-4 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 B-24's are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 19 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 21 MIA.
4. 109 of 112 B-17's hit the port area at Gdynia, Poland at 1304-1324 hours; they claim 41-5-10 Luftwaffe aircraft; 6 B-17's are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 62 damaged; casualties are 6 WIA and 60 MIA.
VIII Air Support Command Mission 81: 66 of 72 B-26's bomb the Woensdrecht Airfield in the Netherlands at 1516-1526 hours; 26 B-26's are damaged. This is the final Eighth Air Force B-26 operation; the B-26's will be transfered to the Ninth Air Force.
SUNDAY, 10 OCTOBER 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
VIII Bomber Command Mission 114. 236 of 274 B-17's hit the railroads and waterways in and around Munster, Germany at 1503-1518 hours plus targets of opportunity at Coesfeld, Germany and Enschede Airfield in the Netherlands; they claim 183-21-51 Luftwaffe aircraft; 30 B-17's are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 102 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 18 WIA and 306 MIA. 39 B-24's fly a diversion without loss or casualties. The B-17's are escorted by 216 P-47's; they claim 19-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; casualties are 1 MIA.
The 360th Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group, transfers from Goxhill to Martlesham, England with P-47's. The squadron will fly it's first mission on 15 Oct.
TUESDAY, 12 OCTOBER 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
The 359th Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group, transfers from Goxhill to Martlesham, England with P-47's. The squadron will fly it's first combat mission on 15 Oct.
THURSDAY, 14 OCTOBER 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
VIII Bomber Command Mission 115: 229 of 291 B-17's hit the city area and ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt, Germany in 2 group; the first group bombs at 1439-1445 hours, the second group at 1451-1457 hours; they claim 186-27-89 Luftwaffe aircraft; 60 B-17's are lost, 7 damaged beyond repair and 138 damaged; casualties are 5 KIA, 40 WIA and 594 MIA. The attack, which causes great damage and interference with production, results in German reorganization of the bearing industry. Fierce opposition of great numbers of fighters, many of them firing rockets, accounts for the 60 US aircraft shot down. As a result of these heavy losses, daylight bombing against strategic targets deep in Germany is discontinued for a short period.
Only 29 of 60 B-24's are able to form up in poor weather; they abandoned their planned mission and fly a diversion towards Emden, Germany.
FRIDAY, 15 OCTOBER 1943
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS:
HQ U.S. Army Air Forces in United Kingdom (USAAFUK) is activated to exercise supervision over and provide coordination between the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces in the UK. Lieutenant General Ira C Eaker is appointed Commanding General in addition to his duties as Commanding General Eighth Air Force.
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
The 55th Fighter Group (38th, 338th and 343d Fighter Squadrons), a much needed P-38 group group, becomes operational in the UK.
SATURDAY, 16 OCTOBER 1943
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In the United Kingdom, HQ Ninth Air Force is established at Sunninghill as a tactical Air Force with Lieutenant General Lewis H Brereton as Commanding General. The 3d Bombardment Wing at Marks Hall is transferred from the VIII Air Support Command, Eighth Air Force to the IX Bomber Command commanded by Major General Frederick L Anderson. (HQ IX Bomber Command will not be established in England until Nov 43.) The four B-26 groups transferred are:
322d Bombardment Group (Medium) [449th, 450th, 451st and 452d Bombardment Squadrons (Medium)]
323d Bombardment Group (Medium) [453d, 454th, 455th and 456th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium)]
387th Bombardment Group (Medium) [556th, 557th, 558th and 559th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium)]
388th Bombardment Group (Medium) [560th, 561st, 562d and 563d Bombardment Squadrons (Medium)]
MONDAY, 18 OCTOBER 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
The 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, arrives at East Wretham, England from the US with P-47's. The squadron will fly it's first mission on 13 Dec 43.
TUESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
HQ 359th Fighter Group and it's 369th Fighter Squadron arrives at East Wretham, England from the US with P-47's. The group will fly it's first mission on 13 Dec 43.
WEDNESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
VIII Bomber Command Mission 116. The industrial area at Duren, Germany is the primary target. 97 of 170 B-17's hit the primary target at 1413-1416 bombing from 30,000-feet (48,000 m) because the cloud tops were at 29,500-feet (47,200 m); the 1st Bombardment Division uses Oboe PFF for the first time but the equipment fails and 60 aircraft return to base without bombing; 42 of the 1st Bombardment Division's aircraft hit Woensdrecht Airfield in the Netherlands as a target of opportunity; and 70 B-24's fly a diversion; the totals are 4-1-1 Luftwaffe aircraft claimed; 9 B-17's lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 10 damaged; casualties are 4 KIA (including 3 gunners who died from oxygen system failure), 2 WIA and 85 MIA.
VIII Bomber Command Mission 117: During the night of 20/21 Oct, 5 B-17's drop 876,960 leaflets over Rouen and Paris at 2211-2217 hours.
HQ 358th Fighter Group and it's 365th, 366th and 367th Fighter Squadrons arrive at Goxhill, England from the US.
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
THE MIGHTY EIGHTH WAR DIARY by Roger A. Freeman, ISBN 1-85409-071-2
