Air War WW2 Portal 
9th Air Force Europe in May 1943
SATURDAY, 1 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Italy, B-24's bomb the harbor at Reggio di Calibre.
In Tunisia, P-40's bomb and strafe shipping and shore installations on the NE coastline.
SUNDAY, 2 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Tunisia, P-40's attack shipping off the coast.
MONDAY, 3 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Tunisia, P-40's fly fighter-bomber missions against a bridge, buildings, and docks in the NE part of the country.
TUESDAY, 4 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Italy, B-24's attack shipping at Reggio di Calabria and Taranto.
In Tunisia, B-25's hit Zaghouan, including a landing ground and a road running to Bou Ficha. P-40's fly sea patrol and escort, as well as fighter-bomber missions in the Zaghouan area.
WEDNESDAY, 5 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Tunisia, P-40's strafe and bomb a bridge, vessels, docks, warehouses, and other buildings at Nabeul harbor.
THURSDAY, 6 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Italy, B-24's bomb Reggio di Calabria harbor, hitting several vessels and shore installations.
In Tunisia, B-25's attack Furna and Massicault and surrounding areas. P-40's hit shipping in the Gulf of Tunis and vehicles and buildings along the coast.
FRIDAY, 7 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Tunisia, B-25's hit the town of Kelibia. P-40's bomb and strafe shipping in the Gulf of Tunis, severely damaging 3 boats.
SATURDAY, 8 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In the Mediterranean, B-25's hit the landing ground on Pantelleria Island.
In Tunisia, P-40's strafe and bomb shipping in the Cap Bon area and shipping and shore installations on the Gulf of Tunis. Fighters claim 5 Bf 109's destroyed.
SUNDAY, 9 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Italy, B-24's attack harbor facilities at Messina, scoring hits on the ferry terminal, roundhouse, 2 ferries, and a ship.
In the Mediterranean, B-25's hit the landing ground on Pantelleria Island.
In Tunisia, over 300 P-40's fly escort and reconnaissance missions, and strafing and bombing raids on landing grounds vessels, vehicles, bridges, and gun positions in the areas of Zembra Island, Cap Bon, and Pantelleria Island.
HQ 316th Troop Carrier Group transfers from Fayidk Egypt to Nouvion, Algeria and begins training for the invasion of Sicily.
MONDAY, 10 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In the Mediterranean B-25's and P-40's bomb Pantelleria landing ground.
In Tunisia, P-40's bomb the Medi and Cap Bon peninsula. Fighters claim 4 airplanes destroyed.
The 36th and 44th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 316th Troop Carrier Group with C-47's transfer from Egypt to Nouvion, Algeria and begin training for the aerial assault on Sicily.
TUESDAY, 11 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Sicily, B-24's strike Catania harbor, severely damaging the harbor area and several ships.
In Tunisia, B-25's strike the battle area in NE Tunisia. P-40's fly escort and armed reconnaissance, and carry out bombing and strafing missions in the Cap Bon area against motor transport, concentrations, roads, docks, and AA batteries.
WEDNESDAY, 12 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Tunisia, B-25's bomb targets in the battle area in NE Tunisia.
THURSDAY, 13 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Italy, B-25's bomb Augusta while RAF Liberators, under operational control of the IX Bomber Command, attack the Messina ferry terminal.
FRIDAY, 14 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
P-40's fly sea patrol and escort for bombers.
SATURDAY, 15 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In the Mediterranean, P-40's fly sea patrol.
SUNDAY, 16 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
P-40's escort shipping off the Mediterranean coast.
WEDNESDAY, 19 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Tunisia after 2 days of sand storms, aircraft are again airborne. P-40's fly escort for ships in area E of Kelibia off Cap Bon peninsula.
THURSDAY, 20 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In the Mediterranean, P-40's escort ships and fly sea patrol off Cap Bon and in the Kelibia area.
FRIDAY, 21 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Italy during the night of 2O/2l May, RAF Liberators, under operational control of IX Bomber Command, bomb Messina and Reggio di Calabria. During the day, B-24's hit Vila San Giovanni and Reggio di Calabria; gunners claim 4 fighters destroyed.
In the Mediterranean, P-40's fly sea patrol off the NE Tunisian coast.
SATURDAY, 22 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In the Mediterranean, P-40's fly sea patrol off NE Tunisia.
SUNDAY, 23 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In the Mediterranean, P-40's fly convoy escort off Tunisia.
MONDAY, 24 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Italy, B-24's hit the Villa San Giovanni ferry slip and railroad yards, and ferry terminal and a nearby tanker at Reggio di Calabria.
The 45th Troop Carrier Squadron, 316th Troop Carrier Group transfers with C-47's from Libya to Nouvion, Algeria.
TUESDAY, 25 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
B-24's attack the Messina, Italy ferry docks and railroad yards.
FRIDAY, 28 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Italy during the night of 27/28 May, RAF Liberators, under operational control of the IX Bomber Command, bomb Augusta. During the day, B-24's of 2 groups hit Foggia Airfield and the surrounding area.
SUNDAY, 30 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Italy, B-24's hit Foggia Airfield, damaging buildings and hangars, and destroying several aircraft.
In the Mediterranean, B-25's attack concentrations on the NE slope of Pantelleria Island.
MONDAY, 31 MAY 1943
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
In Italy, Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy bombers, including Liberators of No. 178 Squadron under operational control of the IX Bomber Command, bomb oil stores, harbor, and seaplane base at Augusta.
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
