Combat Chronology of USAAF
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1944 1/1/44 USSAFE USSAFE is established for operational control of Eighth and Fifteenth AFs. (See 22 Feb 44.)” 1/1/44 Eighth AF The Operational Research Section, organized at Hq VIII BC in Oct 43, is made a special staff section, accountable directly to the CoS. It is composed mostly of civilian specialists trained in statistical analy- sis and other disciplines pertinent to studying operations of a strat bombing force. The section subse- quently proves of great value in improving effectiveness of strat bombing. 1/1/44 AAFMTO Complete reorganization of USAAF units in MTO takes place: USAAFNATO is redesignated MTO (AAFMTO); XII AFSC becomes AAFSCMTO; III Air Serv Area Cmd (Sp) becomes XII AFSC; II Air Serv Area Cmd becomes XV AFSC; XII AF Engineer Cmd (Prov) becomes AAF Engineer Cmd, MTO (Prov); and XII AF Trg Cmd is changed to XII AF Trg and Repl Cmd. XII BC is reorganized as an MB organization (3 B-25 gps and the 3 B-26 gps of 42d Bomb Wg) under Gen Knapp. 1/1/44 Fifteenth AF The 3 remaining MB gps (B-26’s) of Fifteenth AF are transferred to Twelfth AF, leaving the Fifteenth with 6 HB (2d, 93d, 97th, 99th, 301st, 376th) and 4 ftr gps (1st, 14th, 82d, and 325th), or 4 B-17, 2 B- 24, 1 P-47, and 3 P-38 gps. 1/1/44 Tenth AF 6 B-25’s, along with 16 P-38’s, attack bridge on Mu R between Ywataung and Monywa. Maj Robert A Erdin, piloting the lead MB, pulls up during his bomb run to avoid a tree. He releases his bombs as he noses up, and topples 2 spans of the bridge into the river. Subsequent tests prove this is a good bridge-bombing maneuver. The tactic is refined and the sq (490th Sq) becomes so proficient as to gain the sobriquet ‘Burma Bridge Busters.’ Further N, 11 A-36’s and 15 P-51’s pound A/F at Myitkyina. 1/1/44 Fourteenth AF 4 P-40’s bomb and strafe T/Os in Indochina, including barracks and rafts along the Yuan R in the Cam Duong-Lao Kay area. 1/1/44 Fifth AF 120-plus B-24’s, B-25’s, and A-20’s pound Saidor area in preparation for Allied invasion. Other B-25’s bomb Madang and Alexishafen. A-20’s continue to hit troop concentration in Cape Gloucester area. B- 25’s hit positions at Borgen Bay. P-39’s strafe barges along New Britain’s N coast. 1/1/44 Thirteenth AF 868th Bomb Sq is activated to work directly under XIII BC. The unit, equipped with SB-24’s (radar equipped aircraft used for night missions), becomes known as the ‘Snooper Squadron.’ 15 B-24’s, escorted by 70-plus P-38’s and F6F’s, bomb Lakunai A/F. Ftr and AA opposition is heavy, with 80-90 ftrs attempting interception. US airplanes claim 20 ftrs shot down. 1 B-24 is shot down and 2, severely damaged, crash-land at Torokina. Allied ftrs join Navy dive bmrs in spt of ground forces in Torokina area. 6 B-25’s and 2 B-24’s bomb Kahili. 4 B-24’s hit Manob. 1/1/44 Seventh AF 16 P-39’s strafe Mille harbor and attack shipping N of Mille. 2 small vessels are heavily damaged. 1/2/44 Twelfth AF B-26’s bomb Terni M/Y and iron works and nearby barracks. P-40’s and Spitfires from AAF, RCAF, RAAF, SAAF, and RAF blast snowbound vehicles in Avezzano-Popoli area, warehouses at San Benedetto de Marsi and gun positions and defended areas around Chieti. A-36’s hit Civitavecchia har- bor and M/Y to the S of town, Anagni M/Y and nearby gun positions, and other T/Os. B-26’s bomb bridges at Riva Santo Stefano and Ventimiglia, M/Y at Arma di Taggia, and bridge over Var R. 1/2/44 Fifteenth AF P-47’s fly uneventful sweep over Rome area. 1/2/44 Tenth AF 27 B-25’s and 16 P-39’s hit fuel plant and work shops at Yenangyaung and set oilfield aflame. 13 B- 24’s also hit the refinery, causing large fire, and bomb a power station. 4 other B-24’s bomb Akyab on W coast. About 30 A-36’s and P-51’s score hits on Loilaw bridge approaches and bomb towns in the vicinity. 1/2/44 Fourteenth AF 8 P-40’s bomb and strafe Japanese HQ and barracks at Hopang. 1/2/44 Fifth AF Elements of US 32d Div make amphibious landing at Saidor following preparatory naval bombard- ment. Bad weather prevents preparatory air strikes, but over 80 B-24’s and A-20’s pound positions in coordination with the landings. Harbor and A/F are captured. Other B-24’s bomb Pombelaa and Amboina. B-25’s and B-26’s bomb Madang. P-40’s strafe A/F, AA positions, barges, and supply dump at Cape Hoskins. 1/2/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-25’s bomb Buka supply area. 30-plus Allied ftrs sweep Rabaul area, claiming 11 airplanes shot down. 1 Navy ftr is lost. 1/2/44 Seventh AF B-24’s, staging through Tarawa, bomb Maloelap. 9 B-25’s hit tgts on Jaluit. P-39’s strafe shipping at Mille. 1/3/44 Twelfth AF Gen Morris assumes cmd of XII FC. B-25’s bomb troop concentration area at Prijedor, and along with SAAF and RAF Baltimores, hit Split and Sibenik. P-40’s and A-36’s bomb gun positions near Cassino, Anagni railroad station, village near Vicenza, railway and trains between Ceccano and Segni, and har- bor at Civitavecchia. P-40’s, with SAAF and RCAF Spitfires, hit over 100 vehicles in Avezzano- Sulmona area. Other P-40’s, with AAF, RAF, SAAF, and RAAF ftrs, hit tgts in Filetto-Tollo areas in spt of ground troops. 1/3/44 Fifteenth AF Gen Twining becomes CG. B-17’s, escorted by P-38’s bomb Villarperosa ball bearing works and Lingotto M/Y and Fiat motor works in Turin area. P-47’s fly top cover for the HBs as far as Italian coast, then turn and carry out uneventful sweep over Rome area. 1/3/44 Tenth AF 22 A-36’s and P-51’s hit warehouses and dump area at Sahmaw. 19 B-25’s, along with 16 P-38’s, bomb pumping station at Yenangyaung, setting oil tanks afire. 10 B-24’s follow with strike on a pump- ing station at Yenangyaung, causing explosions and leaving tgt in flames. 1/3/44 Fourteenth AF 28 B-24’s attack railroad yards at Lampang. 5 FB’s attack town of Pingkai. 1/3/44 Fifth AF 50-plus B-24’s and B-25’s bomb Alexishafen area. More than 20 A-20’s hit positions at Borgen Bay. 1/3/44 Thirteenth AF 30-plus Allied ftrs again sweep Rabaul area, claiming 6 Zeros shot down. 6 B-24’s bomb Kavieng, and several others abort due to bad weather. 6 B-25’s bomb Moisuru bivouac area near Kahili, and 15 more hit supply areas near Buka Passage. 1/3/44 Seventh AF 24 A-24’s from Makin dive-bomb AA positions and radar and radio facilities on Mille. 20 supporting P- 39’s strafe runways and oil storage. 1/4/44 Eighth AF Over 500 HBs attack tgts in Germany with most of them bombing port area, sub yards, and industrial area of Kiel. City of Munster i9 also attacked. US airplanes begin flying supplies from UK to under- ground resistance forces in W Europe, this operation being coded CARPETBAGGER. 1/4/44 Ninth AF XIX A Spt Cmd is activated in England, and stationed at Middle Wallop. Gen Quesada assumes cmd. 253 B-26’s bomb NOBALL tgts in France. Weather makes bombing difficult, and results range from unknown to good. 1/4/44 Twelfth AF B-25’s bomb Brodac town area and M/Y, and town of Travnik. P-40’s hit bridge and trains and fly patrols over battleline in Italy. 1/4/44 Fifteenth AF Over 100 B-17’s are dispatched to bomb Dupnica area in Bulgaria. 29 bomb the tgt area, but heavy cloud cover causes 77 HBs to return bombs to base. P-38’s escort the HBs the total distance to and from tgts. P-47’s provide escort part way. 1/4/44 Fifth AF Over 100 HBs and MBs bomb Alexishafen, Madang, and Bogadj im areas and hit troops and supplies between Finschhafen and Saidor. B-25’s attack arty positions in Cape Gloucester area. B-24’s and B- 25’s hit shipping at Koepang and in nearby waters. 1/4/44 Thirteenth AF B-24’s bomb Sohano I, concentrating on seaplane base and supply area. B-25’s pound gun positions at Tonolai and bomb Chabai. P-39’s, B-34’s, and night ftrs, operating individually or in small flights, hit tgts on Bougainville, including barges at Mutupina Pt and along Jaba R, and areas around Buka, Bonis, Poporang I, Papas, and Banin. 40-plus Allied ftrs attack Rabaul area and claim at least 10 air- planes shot down. 1/4/44 Seventh AF 18 B-24’s, staging through Tarawa, bomb Emidj. 1/5/44 Eighth AF Eighth AF report concludes that US daylight strategic bombing program against Germany will be threatened unless steps are taken to reduce the enemy’s ftr force, which has increased in strength in the W as a result of step-up in production, strengthening of firepower, and transfer of larger percent- age of ftrs to Western Front.