Air War WW2 Portal 
9th Air Force Europe & Africa in January 1943
FRIDAY, 1 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force):
In Tunisia, 15 B-24s of the 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy) strike the harbor at Tunis hitting the turning basin, the area just southwest of it, and nearby rail junction. A few of the aircraft bomb the southwest and southeast of Sicily.
SATURDAY, 2 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force):
In Crete, B-25s of the 12th Bombardment Group (Medium) bomb the airfield at Heraklion while B-24s of the 376th Bombardment Group (Heavy) hit the airfield at Kastelli/Pediada. Twenty fighters and a few bombers are destroyed on the ground.
SUNDAY, 3 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force):
In Greece, RAF Baltimores, operating under the IX Bomber Command, bomb Suda Bay and Timbakion Airfield. A few of the aircraft also bomb Kapistri.
TUESDAY, 5 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force):
In Tunisia, B-24s of the 93d Bombardment Group (Heavy) bomb Sousse harbor (clouds obscure the primary target at Tunis). RAF Liberators of No. 160 Squadron hit the harbors at Tunis and Sousse during the night of 5/6 Jan.
On the ground, a severe two-day storm on 4 and 5 Jan sharply decrease the capacity of Bengasi port and forces the British Eighth Army to make a greater use of the more distant port of Tobruk.
THURSDAY, 7 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force):
In Sicily, 25 B-24s of the 93d, 98th and 376th Bombardment Groups (Heavy) are dispatched to hit the shipping in Palermo harbor; weather reduces the force and only ten bomb the target through broken clouds.
In Greece, one B-24 on a special mission bombs Maiouli Quay at Piraeus.
FRIDAY, 8 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force):
In Tunisia, B-24s hit Tunis after weather and engine trouble prevent a planned attack on Bizerte.
In Libya, RAF Liberators, under operational control of the IX Bomber Command, attack a rail junction near Tripoli
SATURDAY, 9 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force):
Twenty P-40s fly a cover mission for the RAF.
SUNDAY, 10 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force):
In Tunisia, B-24s forced by overcast to divert from the primary target of Bizerte, strike La Goulette, the seaport of the city of Tunis. P-40s fly reconnaissance missions.
The 82d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th Bombardment Group (Medium) with B-25s transfers from Gambut, Libya to Tmed El Chel, Libya.
MONDAY, 11 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Libya, RAF Liberators, under operational control of the IX Bomber Command, bomb a road junction at Tripoli during the night of 10/11 Jan.
P-40s fly reconnaissance and escort missions.
In Italy, US B-24s hit the harbor at Naples.
The 81st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th Bombardment Group (Medium) with B-25s transfers from Gambut, Libya to Tmed El Chel, Libya.
TUESDAY, 12 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Libya, P-40s carry out three scramble interceptor missions claiming two fighters shot down.
RAF Liberators, under operational control of the IX Bomber Command, hit Tripoli.
WEDNESDAY, 13 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Libya, weather prevents B-24s from attacking Tripoli and also causes B-25s sent to bomb Bir Dufan to abort. P-40s fly cover for RAF Baltimores.
THURSDAY, 14 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Tunisia, B-25s strike motor transport near Gheiada, with P-40s providing cover. B-24s fail, due to weather, to locate Sousse harbor (the primary target), but several bomb in the target area and along the road near Teboulba.
In Libya, RAF Liberators, under the operational control of the IX Bomber Command, hit Tripoli, Tagiura and the supply dump at Misurata.
FRIDAY, 15 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Libya, B-24s bomb the harbor at Tripoli, scoring hits on vessels and on the shore areas near the harbor.
P-40s fly sweep and fighter-bomber operations as the British Eighth Army begins an assault on the Buerat line and a drive on Tripoli. RAF Liberators, under operational control of the IX Bomber Command, hit a road junction at Tripoli.
SATURDAY, 16 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Libya, B-24s hit Tripoli harbor and the town area. RAF Liberator Mk IIs of No. 178 Squadron bomb the road junction and Benito Gate at Tripoli.
P-40s fly patrol, scramble and fighter-bomber missions as the British Eighth Army, having passed through the enemy's main defenses at Buerat, pushes toward Tripoli.
SUNDAY, 17 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Libya, B-24s bomb Tripoli harbor. P-40s fly reconnaissance, patrol, top cover and fighter-bomber missions as British ground forces pursue the enemy twoard Tripoli, reaching positions ten miles E of Misurata on the coast with Beni Ulid on the south flank. During the night of 17/18 Jan, RAF Liberators hit Castel Benito Airfield and the road junction west of Homs.
MONDAY, 18 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Libya, B-24s strike Tripoli harbor. P-40s fly top cover and fighter-bomber missions. General Montgomery orders accelerated day and night pursuit toward Tripoli as contact with Rommel's forces is temporarily lost due to terrain and obstacles.
TUESDAY, 19 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Tunisia, B-24s hit the harbor at Sousse.
In Libya, B-24s hit the harbor at Tripoli while B-25s hit Castel Benito Airfield and motor transport on the road. Ground forces regain contact with the enemy. The coastal force reaches Homs while the southern column presses toward Tarhunah.
WEDNESDAY, 20 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Libya, B-24s hit the harbor at Tripoli. P-40s fly top cover and fighter-bomber operations as enemy resistance to the British advance stiffens in the Homs-Tarhunah area.
THURSDAY, 21 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Libya, B-24s bomb Tripoli harbor while B-25s attack targets along the Surman-Az Zawiyah road. P-40s fly fighter-bomber missions against ground targets as the British Eighth Army overcomes resistance in the area.
The enemy strengthens the Tarhunah area at the expense of the Homs front, causing General Montgomery to decide to make the main effort along the coast.
FRIDAY, 22 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Libya, B-25s bomb a road junction near Tripoli. P-40s fly cover and fighter-bomber missions as the British Eighth Army's 22 Armored Brigade passes through 51 Infantry Division at Homs and drives beyond Castelverde.
Forces to the south advance to within 17 miles of Tripoli.
SATURDAY, 23 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Sicily, B-24s bomb Palermo harbor during the night of 23/24 Jan.
In Libya, P-40s fly cover and fighter-bomber missions during the day as Tripoli falls to General Montgomery's Eighth Army.
MONDAY, 24 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Tunisia, B-24s strike Medenine Airfield while P-40s fly cover and fighter-bomber missions as Axis forces retreat westward from Tripoli.
The 84th, 85th and 86th Fighter Squadrons, 79th Fighter Group with P-40s transfers from Egypt to Libya.
MONDAY, 25 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Libya, P-40s carry out fighter-bomber missions. The British 7 Armored Division, in pursuit of the enemy, reaches Az Zawiyah.
HQ 79th Fighter Group transfers from Egypt to Libya.
The 345th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy) with B-24s transfers from Fayid, Egypt to Tobruk, Libya.
TUESDAY, 26 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Italy, headwinds prevent B-24s from reaching Naples, the primary target, before dark, so they divert to Messina, bombing the town and the area around the train ferry terminal.
In Libya, P-40s fly fighter-bomber operations, refueling at Castel Benito.
The 415th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy) with B-24s transfers from Fayid, Egypt to Tobruk, Libya.
WEDNESDAY, 27 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Italy, B-24s bomb Naples and Messina during the night of 26/27 Jan.
In Sicily, B-24s hit Palermo during the afternoon, after weather causes a diversion from the primary target at Naples.
In Libya, the British 7 Armored Division meets stiffening resistance near Zuwarah.
SATURDAY, 30 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Italy, B-24s bomb the train ferry terminal at Messina. Direct hits are scored on a ship and AA battery near the terminal.
MONDAY, 31 JANUARY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
Lieutenant General Lewis H Brereton, Commanding General Ninth Air Force assumes command of US Army Forces in the Middle East.
In Italy, B-24s hit the railroad ferry installations at Messina harbor.
The British 7 Armored Division finishes clearing Zuwarah.
HQ IX Fighter Command arrives at Kabrit, Egypt from the US.
The 343d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy) with B-24s transfers from Kabrit, Egypt to Gambut, Libya.
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
