In Sicily. Announced fall of Kaggi and Castiglione. 8th Army
Commandos landed near Messina, United States force near Milazzo.
Russian Front. In Bryansk area, Russians captured Zhizdra
and Malye Luki. In Smolensk sector Tserkovshchina taken.
Eighth Air Force. 169 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
heavy bombers, escorted all the way to the target by P-47
Thunderbolt fighters using drop tanks, hit Le Bourget air
depot in the Paris area. Smaller strikes are made at Poix
and Abbeville and Drucat airfields. Medium bombers hit locomotive
works at Denain, and airfields at Beaumont-le-Roger, and Bernay,
Saint Martin.
Northwest African Air Forces (NAAF). Northwest African Strategic
Air Force (NASAF) medium bombers hit Staletti and temporary
bridge at Angitola. Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF)
light bombers and medium bombers hit shipping in Straits of
Messina and from North of Messina to Capo Peloro. A-36 Apache
dive bomber and P-40 fighters concentrate on command targets
on toe of Italy, hitting trains, trucks, railroad yards, and
sidings at Nicastro, Lamezia, Amantea, and Sambiase. Also
bombed are barges, ferries, and small vessels off Messina
and in Golfo di Sant' Eufemia.
Ninth Air Force. 86 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-24
Liberator heavy bombers bomb city area and airfields at Foggia.
Over 50 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers hit landing craft concentrations
near Ganzirri and Messina, and 100 P-40 fighters hit shipping
at Messina and in Straits of Messina, as enemy continues withdrawal
of rear guard troop to mainland Italy. Before midnight, United
States patrols enter Messina, which is under fire from Italian
coast.
Tenth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Bombers
hit and claim 2 small vessels sunk about 130 miles South of
Rangoon.
Fourteenth Air Force. 4 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
P-40 fighters bomb town of Tengehung.
Fifth Air Force. Oil tanks at Balikpapan are hit by 2 B-24
Liberator heavy bombers. 5 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers bomb
Larat. 15 P-38 Lightning fighters and 32 P-47 Thunderbolt
fighters intercept 25 fighters preparing to attack transport
vessels near Tsili Tsili. The strike is completely thwarted
and 12 fighters shot down. This marks first combat use of
the P-47 Thunderbolt fighters in Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA).
Thirteenth Air Force. 9 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers bomb Papatura Fa Island. 12 B-25
Mitchell medium bombers, 5 B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers,
and 30 Navy planes attack Vila airfield.
Eleventh Air Force. A United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers reconnaissance flight reconnoitre
North Head, Main Camp, and northern Kiska, and observes friendly
forces unopposed advance into Main Camp.
Go To: 17th
August
Articles:
The Second Great War.
Edited by Sir John Hamilton
The War Illustrated.
Edited by Sir John Hamilton
2194 Days Of War.
ISBN-10: 086136614X
For a complete list of
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