Air War WW2 Portal 
9th Air Force Europe in June 1944
THURSDAY, 1 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, around 100 B-26s bomb airfields and coastal defense batteries from the Belgian border to the Cherbourg Peninsula.
FRIDAY, 2 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
A special conference for ground liaison officers is held by 21 Army Group officers who present a detailed exposition of the plan for the landings in Normandy.
In France, about 350 B-26s and A-20s bomb NOBALL (V-weapon) targets and coastal defense batteries along the English Channel coast; P-38s and P-47s dive-bomb targets in the area, including V-weapon sites, fuel dump, railroad junctions and bridges.
SATURDAY, 3 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
250+ B-26s and A-20s bomb airfields, highway bridges, and coastal defense batteries in N France; 400+ P-38s and P-47s dive-bomb targets in NW Europe.
SUNDAY, 4 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, 300+ B-26s and A-20s bomb highway bridge and coastal batteries; almost 200 P-47s and P-51s dive- bomb bridges, railroad junction, rolling stock and targets of opportunity.
MONDAY, 5 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, 100+ B-26s bomb coastal defense batteries; 100+ P-47s dive-bomb targets in the same area.
TUESDAY, 6 JUNE 1944 (D-Day)
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
800+ A-20s and B-26s bomb coastal defense batteries, rail and road junctions and bridges, and marshalling yards in support of the invasion; 2,000+ fighters fly sweeps, escort for B-26s and C-47s, ground support, and dive-bombing missions over W France. During the preceding night and during the day over 1,400 C-47s, C-53's, and gliders deliver glider troops and paratroops, including 3 full airborne divisions, which are to secure beach exits to facilitate inland movement of seaborne assault troops. A total of about 30 aircraft are lost.
WEDNESDAY, 7 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
600+ B-26s hit bridges, junctions, trestles, coastal and field batteries, and marshalling yards in France in support of the invasion; 1,100+ fighters support ground troops by dive bombing and strafing, escort B-26s and C-47s, and make sweeps throughout the battle area as Bayeux is liberated and the Bayeux-Caen road is cut; and 400+ C-47s, C-53's, and gliders resupply paratroops in the assault area.
THURSDAY, 8 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Around 400 B-26s attack rail and road bridges and junctions, rail sidings, marshalling yards, town areas, fuel storage tanks, ammunition dumps, troop concentration and strong points in the Calais, France area. Around 1,300 fighter sorties provide support to B-26s and high cover over the assault area, and bomb and strafe bridges, marshalling yards, gun batteries, rail facilities, vehicles, towns, and troop concentrations.
125th Liaison Squadron, Ninth Air Force (attached principally to Headquarters Command, ETO), arrives at Cheltenham, England from the US with L-5s; first mission is in Aug 44.
FRIDAY, 9 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
HQ 70th Fighter Wing moves from Ibsley, England to Criqueville, France;
and 112th Liaison Squadron, Ninth Air Force (attached principally to Headquarters Command, ETO) arrives at Kingston Deverill, England from the US with L-5s.
SATURDAY, 10 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, 500+ B-26s and A-20s bomb targets in the assault area including military concentrations, road and rail bridges and junctions, artillery batteries, marshalling yards and town areas; aircraft of 15+ fighter groups fly escort to bombers and transports, and bomb numerous targets in support of the ground assault, including rail facilities, roads, troop concentrations, artillery, and town areas; HQ IX Tactical Air Command moves from Uxbridge, England to Au Gay.
SUNDAY, 11 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, 129 B-26s and A-20s bomb rail and road bridges and intersections, rail lines, oil tanks, artillery and town areas, in morning operations; bad weather prevents afternoon operations; 10 fighter groups fly escort and strafe and bomb bridges, railroads, gun emplacements, rail and road traffic and marshalling yards in support of ground troops.
MONDAY, 12 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, 509 B-26s and A-20s bomb marshalling yards, road and rail junctions, bridges, artillery, town areas, troop concentrations and various targets of opportunity; aircraft of 15+ fighter groups fly close and area support for bombers and bomb and strafe rail lines, gun batteries, bridges, fortifications, radar installation, tanks, ammunition dumps, town areas and strongpoints in the battle area.
In England, HQ 366th Fighter Group begins a movement from Thruxton to France; HQ 442d Troop Carrier Group and 303d and 304th Troop Carrier Squadrons move from Fulbeck to Weston Zoyland with C-47s; and 425th Night Fighter Squadron, IX Air Defense Command, moves from Chormy Down to Scorton with P-61s.
TUESDAY, 13 JUNE 1944
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)
The first V-1 "buzz bomb" lands in S England; more land during the night of 13/14 Jun, and throughout the rest of the month.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, 397 B-26s and A-20s bomb rail and road junctions, marshalling yards and fuel dumps in the assault areas; aircraft of 9 fighter groups escort the bombers and attack bridges, marshalling yards, troop areas, rail and road traffic, gun emplacements, ammunition dumps and other targets.
305th and 306th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 442d Troop Carrier Group, move from Fulbeck to Weston Zoyland, England with C-47s.
WEDNESDAY, 14 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
500+ B-26s and A-20s attack rail communications SW of Paris and highway communications centers S of the beachhead area; junctions, bridges, marshalling yards, gun emplacements and various defensive strongpoints are included; 15+ fighter groups fly escort and attack numerous ground targets, including rail lines running from SW of Paris to the Rennes area, and highway traffic on the Cherbourg Peninsula and S of the beachhead area to the Loire River.
THURSDAY, 15 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
550+ B-26s and A-20s direct main attacks against fuel and ammunition dumps, rail and highway communications, and armored division HQ S of the bridgehead on the Douve River;
1,400+ fighters fly armed reconnaissance in the Valognes-Cherbourg area, the W part of the Cherbourg Peninsula, and along communications lines S to Loire; fighters also attack shipping between the Channel Islands and the Cherbourg Peninsula.
FRIDAY, 16 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, bad weather prevents bomber operations; 500+ fighters strafe and bomb rail lines, bridges and highway traffic on the Cherbourg Peninsula;
and 397th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group moves from Chilbolton, England to Cardonville with P-47s.
SATURDAY, 17 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Operational control of air-ground coordination of fighter-bomber missions moves from HQ Ninth Air Force and 21 Army Group Combined Control Center (in the UK) to Advanced HQ IX Tactical Air Command (in Normandy) operating in close proximity to the US First Army.
In France, 265 B-26s attack fuel dumps, a bridge and a railway line S of the battle area;
1,300+ fighters fly escort and top cover, and strafe and bomb troop concentrations, military vehicles, bridges, gun emplacements, tanks and other tactical targets;
units moving to France from England with P-47s: HQ 354th Fighter Group and 353d and 356th Fighter Squadrons from Lashenden to Criqueville; HQ 366th Fighter Group and 389th and 391st Fighter Squadrons from Thruxton to St Pierre du Mont; HQ 371st Fighter Group and 405th and 406th Fighter Squadrons from Bisterne to Beuzeville.
SUNDAY, 18 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, about 130 A-20s and B-26s bomb fuel dumps at Foret d'Andaine and Conches and marshalling yards at Rennes and Meudon during the morning and NOBALL (V-weapon) targets in the afternoon; fighters, in addition to escort duty, continue strafing and bombing rail lines, troop concentrations, and highway traffic on the Cherbourg Peninsula;
HQ 48th Fighter Group and 492d and 493d Fighter Squadrons move from Ibsley, England to Deux Jumeaux with P-47s;
153d Liaison Squadron, IX Tactical Air Command, moves from Erlestokes, England to Vouilly with L-5s;
and 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, moves from Lashenden, England to Criqueville with P-47s.
MONDAY, 19 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, the airfield at Cardonville, the first US field in France, becomes operational; around 200 fighters carry out uneventful armed reconnaissance and patrols in the morning, and dive-bomb 6 NOBALL (V-weapon) targets in the afternoon;
and HQ 84th Fighter Wing moves from Beaulieu, England to Houesville.
125th Liaison Squadron, Ninth Air Force (attached to HQ Command, ETO), moves from Cheltenham to Chedworth, England with L-5s (first mission is in Aug).
TUESDAY, 20 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, about 370 B-26s and A-20s bomb 9 V-weapon sites and a coastal defense battery at Houlgate; 1,000+ fighters operating over frontline areas, the Cherbourg Peninsula, and S to Dreux, bomb and strafe rail lines, marshalling yards, bridges, troop concentrations and other targets;
HQ 368th Fighter Group and 395th and 396th Fighter Squadrons move from Chilboton, England to Cardonville with P-47s;
and 390th Fighter Squadron, 366th Fighter Group, moves from Thruxton, England to Pierre du Mont with P-47s.
112th Liaison Squadron, Ninth Air Force (attached to HQ Command, ETO), moves from Kingston Deverill to Hurst Park, England with L-5s.
WEDNESDAY 21 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
250+ B-26s and A-20s bomb 13 V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area of France.
700+ fighters escort Eighth Air Force bombers over Germany, bomb bridges S and W of Paris, and strafe rail and road traffic and communications centers N and W of Paris.
THURSDAY, 22 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, around 600 B-26s and A-20s and 1,200+ fighters fly missions during the day; the main effort consists of an attack on the tip of the Cherbourg Peninsula in support of the US VII Corps assault on the port of Cherbourg; beginning 1 hour before the ground attack and continuing until the attack begins fighters and fighter- bombers pound the whole area S of the city from low level;
as the ground assault begins, B-26s and A-20s strike a series of strongpoints selected by the US First Army, forming a 55-minute aerial barrage moving N in advance of ground forces; later in the day B-26s attack marshalling yards, fuel dumps and a German HQ; fighter-bombers fly armed reconnaissance over various railroads and bomb rail facilities, trains, road traffic and gun emplacements; 25 fighter-bombers are lost during the day's operations.
FRIDAY, 23 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Bad weather prevents A-20 and B-26 missions during the morning; in the afternoon 175+ B-26s and A-20s bomb 7 V-weapon sites in France;
around 630 fighters provide escort and also bomb and strafe rail and road traffic and communications centers;
200 C-47s and C-53s fly supplies to the Continent;
and 404th Fighter Squadron, 371st Fighter Group, moves from Bisterne, England to Beuzeville with P-47s.
SATURDAY, 24 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
430+ B-26s and A-20s attack targets in France, including 4 gun positions, 3 V-weapon sites, 3 fuel dumps, 2 marshalling yards, and a railroad bridge;
200+ transports fly supplies to the Continent;
11 fighter groups provide escort, attack fuel dumps, rail targets and bridges W of Paris and S of the Loire, and fly armed reconnaissance S of the Cherbourg Peninsula and SW of Paris;
and 313th Fighter Squadron, 50th Fighter Group, moves from Lymington, England to Carentan with P-47s.
SUNDAY, 25 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, 400+ B-26s and A-20s hit fuel dumps at Foret d'Andaine, Foret d'Ecouves, and Senonches, and rail bridges at Cherisy, Chartres, Oiseme and Epernon;
14 fighter groups send aircraft on escort, and on armed reconnaissance and dive bombing missions over the Chartres, Dreux, Argentan, Tours, and Orleans areas;
transports fly supply and evacuation missions;
and HQ 50th Fighter Group and 10th and 81st Fighter Squadrons move from Lymington, England to Carentan with P-47s.
MONDAY, 26 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, weather cancels all operations save a few fighter sorties which result in claims against a few military vehicles and 3 aircraft as US ground forces capture Cherbourg; 3 US fighters are lost.
TUESDAY, 27 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, bad weather precludes bomber operations;
700+ fighters take part in various operations; most of them fly high cover over the assault areas and bomb and strafe rail and road traffic and communications centers;
and 386th and 387th Fighter Squadrons, 365th Fighter Group, move from Beaulieu, England to Azeville with P-47s.
15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), moves from Middle Wallop to Chalgrove, England with F-6s.
WEDNESDAY, 28 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
220+ fighters, based in France, attack railroad facilities, bridges, fuel and ammunition dumps, artillery, troop concentrations, vehicles, and other targets; bad weather cancels bomber and fighter operations from the UK;
HQ 365th Fighter Group moves from Beaulieu, England to Azeville;
and 107th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Middle Wallop, England to Jumeaux with F-6s.
In England, 422d Night Fighter Squadron, 71st Fighter Wing, based at Scorton with P-61s, sends a detachment to operate from Hern.
THURSDAY, 29 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, almost 200 B-26s and A-20s bomb gun batteries on Cap de la Hague, bridges and rail lines in the Rennes-Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcourt-Vitre areas, and rail bridge at Oissel;
fighters fly armed reconnaissance and attack enemy aircraft, road and rail traffic, gun positions, bridges and other targets in wide areas throughout NW France;
and 509th and 511th Fighter Squadrons, 405th Fighter Group, move from Christchurch, England to Picauville with P-47s.
In England, the 14th Liaison Squadron, XIX Tactical Air Command, moves from Knutsford to Ibsley with L-5s.
FRIDAY, 30 JUNE 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In France, 125+ B-26s and A-20s, using blind-bombing methods in bad weather, bomb fuel dumps and road junctions at Conde-sur-Vire, Foret de Conches, Conde-sur-Noireau, and Thury- Harcourt; around 250 others are forced to abort due to weather;
600+ fighters escort bombers, fly cover over the beach, and bomb marshalling yards at Chartres and Verneuil-sur-Avres, bridges E of Paris, and Evreux-Bueil, and Breux-sur-Avre-Trappes rail lines; the fighters fly armed reconnaissance in the Seine-Loire gap and along the Loire River, and Continent-based fighters of the IX Tactical Air Command attack communications targets in advance of the US and British positions;
HQ 405th Fighter Group and 510th Fighter Squadron move from Christchurch, England to Picauville with P-47s.
112th Liaison Squadron, Ninth Air Force (attached primarily to HQ Command, SHAPE) moves from Hurst Park to Heston, England with L-5s.
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
