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9th Air Force Europe in December 1944
FRIDAY, 1 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In Germany, 134 B-26s and A-20s strike defended areas at Fraulautern, Ensdorf, and Saarlautern; fighters fly sweeps, armed reconnaissance, and bombing missions over W Germany and support US VII Corps elements at Inden and the Hurtgen Forest and the 8th Infantry Division of the V Corps at Tiefenbach Creek and Brandenberger Forest.
In France, HQ 354th Fighter Group and the 355th Fighter Squadron move from Orconte to Meurthe-et-Moselle and Rosieres-en-Haye respectively with P-47s (the 355th is operating from St Dizier);
the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), moves from St Dizier to Giraumont with F-6s;
the 72d Liaison Squadron, Ninth AF, moves from Epinal to Buhl with L-5s.
SATURDAY, 2 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In Germany, 210 A-20s, A-26s, and B-26s bomb areas of Saarlautern, Ensdorf, and Fraulautern; fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division, fly armed reconnaissance over W Germany (targets hit include a marshalling yard and bridges), and support the US 1st Infantry Division at Luchem, 104th Infantry Division at Inden, and 8th Infantry Division in the Brandenberger Forest-Tiefenbach Creek area.
SUNDAY, 3 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Weather cancels bomber operations.
In Germany, fighters fly defensive patrols and armed reconnaissance, hitting rails and bridges and dive-bomb targets in W Germany including the marshalling yard at Grevenbroich; the 104th Infantry Division is supported as it extends the Inde River, Germany bridgehead beyond Lucherberg, Germany, the US 1st Infantry Division as it seizes Luchem, the US 8th Infantry Division in the Brandenberger Forest-Tiefenbach Creek area, and units of the US XII Corps at Sarre-Union, France as it checks a counterattack.
The 353d Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, moves from Orconte to Rosieres-en-Haye, France with P-47s.
MONDAY, 4 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Weather prevents bomber operations.
In Germany, fighters fly armed reconnaissance and support the US 1st, 8th, and 104th Infantry Divisions at Luchem, Bergstein, and E of Inde River; and the XII and XX Corps in drive toward the Saar River and around Saarlautern.
TUESDAY, 5 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In Germany, 172 A-20s, A-26s, and B-26s attack a marshalling yard, road junction, fuel storage dump, defended positions, and rail bridge at 8 locations; fighters escort 9th Bombardment Division aircraft, fly numerous armed reconnaissance missions, and provide cover for the US 1st, 8th, and 104th Infantry Divisions in the Luchem, Bergstein, and Lucherberg areas.
WEDNESDAY, 6 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In Germany, 154 A-20s and B-26s bomb the defended areas of Munstereifel, Erkelenz, Nideggen, and Daun; fighters escort the bombers, fly armed reconnaissance and night patrol, attack bridges, gun positions, and other targets, and provide air cover for the US V, VII, and XII Corps in the areas of Sarreguemines, France and Bergstein, and Lucherberg, and along the Saar River, Germany.
THURSDAY, 7 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
All missions except a few fighter patrols are cancelled because of bad weather.
In Belgium, the 107th and 109th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, based at Gosselies begin operating from Chievres with F-6s.
FRIDAY, 8 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In Germany, 29 A-26s hit the Sinzig rail bridge; fighters escort the RAF, bomb gun positions, bridges, and city areas, fly armed reconnaissance, and support the US V and VII Corps W of Schmidt and Duren, and XX Corps and XII Corps in the Sarreguemines, France and Dillingen areas.
In Belgium, the 30th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, based at Gosselies with F-5s, begins operating from Florennes Juzaine.
The 72d Liaison Squadron, Ninth AF (attached to the Sixth Army Group), based at Buhl, France, sends a detachment to Steinbourg, France with L-5s.
SATURDAY, 9 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In Germany, 254 A-20s, A-26s, and B-26s bomb defended villages, storage depots, barracks area, and marshalling yard in W Germany; fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division, sweep the Landau and Saarbrucken areas, attack Zulpich and a bridge at Euskirchen, and support the XII and XX Corps in the Sarreguemines, France and Saar River area and around Dillingen.
SUNDAY, 10 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In Germany, about 130 B-26s bomb defended positions at Birkesdorf, and Huchem-Stammeln; fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division, strafe and dive-bomb numerous targets in W Germany, and support the US 8th, 9th, 83d, and 104th Infantry Divisions and 3d and 5th Armored Divisions in areas around Bergstein, Duren, and along the W bank of the Roer River.
MONDAY, 11 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In Germany, 200+ bombers dispatched to bomb defended villages and storage areas are recalled because of weather; 1 bomber manages to bomb a stores depot at Reichenbach; fighters escort the RAF, divebomb targets in cities, and support the US 3d Armored Division in the Echtz-Geich area, the 104th Infantry Division at Merken, the 9th Infantry Division at Merode and Derichsweiler, and the 83d Infantry Division at Strass.
TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In Germany, 90 B-26s and A-20s strike the defended villages of Gemund, Harperscheid, Hellenthal, Schleiden, Schoneseiffen, and Wollseifen, and the towns of Dorsel, Mayen, and Wiesbaden; fighters fly armed reconnaissance and strafing and bombing missions in W Germany and support the US 83d Infantry Division in the Strass-Gey area, cover the VII Corps in the Duren area and support the XII and XX Corps in the Habkirchen and Bliesbruck areas (the 35th Infantry Division assault across the Blies River) and Saarlautern-Dillengen.
WEDNESDAY, 13 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In Germany, 250 A-20s, A-26s, and B-26s hit a supply dump at Schleiden, plus defended positions in several villages and marshalling yard at Euskirchen; fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division, fly night bombing missions, attack targets in the Cologne area, and support the XX Corps in the Dillengen-Saarlautern bridgehead area, and the XII Corps in the Habkirchen-Bliesbruck area along the Blies River.
The 158th Liaison Squadron, Ninth AF, arrives at Nantwich, England from the US with L-1s and L-4s.
THURSDAY, 14 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Bad weather grounds the bombers.
In Germany, fighters fly armed reconnaissance, hit rail targets and bridges, and support the US 2d and 99th Infantry Divisions in the Monschau Forest, the 8th Infantry Division in the Bergstein area, the 78th Infantry Division in the Simmerath-Resternich area, and the XII and XX Corps around Habkirchen and Saarlautern.
FRIDAY, 15 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In Germany, 300+ A-20s, A-26s, and B-26s hit defended positions, camp area, and oil storage at Heimbach, Wollseifen, Harperscheid, Schonau, Ruthen, and Dorsel; fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division, hit supply and ammunition dumps and other targets during bombing attacks and armed reconnaissance, and support the US 2d and 99th Infantry Divisions in the area of Westwall fortifications, the 78th Infantry Division at Kesternich, and the 8th Infantry and 5th Armored Divisions N of Kesternich; fighters support the XX and XII Corps in the Dillingen-Saarlautern area and at Habkirchen and heights along the Blies River.
SATURDAY, 16 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Bad weather cancels 9th Bombardment Division combat operations.
In Germany, fighters escort RAF aircraft, fly night patrol and intercept missions, and support US First Army elements in the Ardennes in Belgium as Field Marshall Gerd von Rundstedt begins an allout counteroffensive, and the XII and XX Corps at Saarlautern the bridgehead and in Saint-Avold-Saarbrucken area where news of the Ardennes counteroffensive cancels the XII Corps plans for an assault on the Westwall.
HQ IX Air Defense Command moves from Versailles to Paris, France.
SUNDAY, 17 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In Germany, weather prevents bomber operations; 1,000+ fighters fly armed reconnaissance, defensive patrols, and attacks on bridges and gun positions; the IX and XIX Tactical Air Commands also support ground forces (8th, 28th, 78th, 99th, and 106th Infantry Divisions, 5th Armored Division, and V, VII, VIII, XII, and XX Corps) against the counteroffensive in the Ardennes and in a battle to hold the Saarlautern, Germany bridgehead.
MONDAY, 18 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
In Germany, 160+ A-26s, A-20s, and B-26s hit defended positions at Harperscheid, Hellenthal, Blumenthal, Dreiborn, and Herhahn; fighters fly sweeps and armed reconnaissance over W Germany (claiming 40+ enemy airplanes downed plus hitting numerous ground targets) and support the US 2d, 4th, 28th, and 106th Infantry Divisions W of Butgenbach and W of Trier; SE of Clervaux, Luxembourg; and SE of Saint-Vith, Belgium; and the XII Corps at Niedergailbach; the IX Tactical Air Command hits Panzer units spearheading the Bulge.
In Belgium, the detachments of the 30th Photographic Reconnaissance and 107th and 109th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, operating from Florennes Juzaine and Chievres with F-5s and F-6s respectively, return to base at Gosselies;
the 153d Liaison Squadron, IX Tactical Air Command (attached to Twelfth Army Group), based at Spa with L-5s, begins operating from Liege.
TUESDAY, 19 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
All administrative sections and extra operational equipment of the XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) are moved from Maastricht, the Netherlands to Saint-Trond, Belgium to avert transportation problems should the XXIX Tactical Air Command be subsequently forced into a hasty withdrawal.
Weather grounds the bombers. Fighters fly armed reconnaissance in W Germany, escort RAF Lancasters, fly patrols from Belgium to the Rhine River, support the US 1st, 2d, 99th, and 106th Infantry Divisions, and 7th Armored Division (N and E of Malmedy and SE and SW of Saint-Vith, Belgium), and fly cover for US Twelfth Army troops and the XII Corps near Verdun and Saint- Avold, France.
In Belgium, the 153d Liaison Squadron moves from Spa to Olne (the squadron is operating from Liege with L-5s).
WEDNESDAY, 20 DECEMBER 1944
First Tactical Air Force (Provisional):
In France, HQ 371st Fighter Group and the 404th and 406th Fighter Squadrons move from Tavaux Airfield, Dole to Tantonville with P-47s.
Ninth Air Force: Bad weather prevents all combat operations, except a night intruder mission by 2 fighters.
THURSDAY, 21 DECEMBER 1944
First Tactical Air Force (Provisional):
In France, the 405th Fighter Squadron, 371st Fighter Group, moves from Tavaux Airfield in Dole to Tantonville with P-47s (the air echelon is operating from Dijon).
Ninth Air Force: Operational control of the IX and XXIX Tactical Air Commands is transferred from the Ninth AF to the RAF Second Tactical AF to operate against the N line of the Bulge.
The XIX Tactical Air Command flies armed weather and intruder reconnaissance in the Saarbrucken-Trier, Germany area. Weather grounds all operations.
FRIDAY, 22 DECEMBER 1944
First Tactical Air Force (Provisional):
In France, the 404th Fighter Squadron, 371st Fighter Group, ceases operating from Dijon with P-47s and returns to base at Tantonville.
Ninth Air Force: 3 fighter groups of the IX Tactical Air Command are transferred to the XIX Tactical Air Command to concentrate air power for cooperation with the US Third Army to which the main effort against the Bulge has been assigned; the groups return to control of the IX Tactical Air Command on 25 Dec.
Fighters fly a few strafing, weather reconnaissance, intruder patrol, and alert missions; bad weather cancels all other missions.
In Belgium, the 153d Liaison Squadron, IX Tactical Air Command (attached to Twelfth Army Group), moves from Olne to Tongres (air echelon operating from Liege with L-5s).
SATURDAY, 23 DECEMBER 1944
AIRBORNE OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command):
260 C-47s drop 334 tons of supplies in parapacks on several drop zones inside the besieged American positions at Bastogne, Belgium.
First Tactical Air Force (Provisional):
The 405th Fighter Squadron, 371st Fighter Group, ceases operating from Dijon, France with P-47s and returns to base at Tantonville.
Ninth Air Force: In Germany, around 500 B-26s and A-20s attack rail bridges, communications targets, villages, a rail junction and targets of opportunity losing 31 bombers; fighters fly bomber escort, armed reconnaissance, and patrols (claiming 100+ aircraft downed and 3 airfields bombed), and support ground forces between Werbomont, Belgium and Butgenbach, Germany along the N battleline of Bulge and the US III, VIII, and XII Corps forces along the S battleline of the Bulge.
In Belgium, the L-5s of the 153d Liaison Squadron, IX Tactical Air Command (attached to Twelfth Army Group), cease operating from Liege and return to base at Tongres;
the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, based at Le Culot begins operating from Conflans, France with F-6s and P-51s.
SUNDAY, 24 DECEMBER 1944
AIRBORNE OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command):
160 C-47s drop 160 tons of supplies at Bastogne, Belgium.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
276 B-26s and A-20s hit rail bridges and communications centers in W Germany; fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division, fly armed reconnaissance, and support the US III, VIII, and XII Corps along the S battleline of the Bulge, stretching from Echternach, Luxembourg to the area NW of Neufchateau, Belgium as the 4th Armored Division reaches the enemy's ring around Bastogne.
The 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, based at Le Culot, Belgium with F-6s and P-51s, begins operating from Conflans, France.
MONDAY, 25 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Nearly 650 B-26, A-20s and A-26s hit rail and road bridges, communications centers and targets of opportunity in W Germany and the breakthrough area; fighters, including an Eighth AF group loaned to the Ninth AF, escort the 9th Bombardment Division, fly patrols and armed reconnaissance, and support the US III, VIII, and XII Corps along the S battleline of the enemy salient from Echternach, Luxembourg to NW of Neufchateau, Belgium.
TUESDAY, 26 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
The 9th Bombardment Division attacks road junctions, rail bridges, rail head, communications and casual targets in the breakthrough area as the enemy's westward drive ends short of the Maas River; fighters fly escort, armed reconnaissance, sweeps, and support the US III and VIII Corps S of Bastogne, Belgium, as the US 4th Armored Division breaks the ring around the city.
WEDNESDAY, 27 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
The 9th Bombardment Division attacks rail bridges, communications centers, and targets of opportunity in Germany and Belgium; fighters escort the bombers, fly patrols and armed reconnaissance, and support the US 3d Armored and 82d Airborne Divisions in the Manhay and Trois-Ponts area of Belgium, and the III, VIII, and XII Corps in Saint-Hubert-Bastogne-Martelange area of Belgium.
Units moving from Chievres, Belgium:
HQ 365th Fighter Group and the 388th Fighter Squadron to Metz, France with P-47s;
HQ 368th Fighter Group and 395th, 396th and 397th Fighter Squadrons to Juvincourt, France with P-47s.
THURSDAY, 28 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Weather prevents all combat operations except night-fighter missions.
FRIDAY, 29 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Weather causes the recall of 100+ bombers except for 7 which bomb Saint-Vith, Belgium communications center and Keuchingen, Germany road bridge; the XIX Tactical Air Command flies armed reconnaissance over Belgium and Germany and supports the US III, VIII, and XII Corps in the Neufchateau-Bastogne-Arlon areas of Belgium.
In France, HQ 100th Fighter Wing moves from St-Dizier to Metz;
the 386th Fighter Squadron, 365th Fighter Group, moves from Chievres, Belgium to Metz with P-47s.
SATURDAY, 30 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Weather forces the recall and cancellation of the 9th Bombardment Division and IX Tactical Air Command missions; the XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) flies armed reconnaissance over the battle area and around Wallersheim, Germany and the XIX Tactical Air Command covers large areas of France, Belgium, and Germany hitting numerous ground targets and supports the US III, VIII, and XII Corps in the Saint-Hubert and Bastogne, Belgium and the Diekirch, Luxembourg areas.
SUNDAY, 31 DECEMBER 1944
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Weather grounds the bombers; fighters fly sweeps and armed reconnaissance, attacking numerous ground targets; the XIX Tactical Air Command supports the US III, VIII, and XX Corps around Bastogne, Belgium and between the Mosel and Saar Rivers, in Germany in the Merzig area.
The 14th Liaison Squadron, XIX Tactical Air Command (attached to Twelfth Army Group) moves from Nancy, France to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg with L-5s.
The 387th Fighter Squadron, 365th Fighter Group, moves from Chievres, Belgium to Metz, France with P-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
