Joint Chiefs of Staff sends to General Eisenhower a proposed
directive, submitted by General Arnold on
9
October 1943, for establishment of a new Air Force (Fifteenth)
in Italy to be used when needed as part of Combined Bomber
Offensive (Plan) against strategic targets in Germany.
Ninth Air Force. Ninth Air Force is established in United
Kingdom as tactical Air Force with General Brereton as Commanding
General. 3d Bomber Wing is transferred from VIII A Support
Command to IX Bomber Command commanded by General Frederick
L Anderson. IX Fighter Command is reformed in United Kingdom.
IX Troop Carrier Command (constituted on
11
October 1943) is activated in United Kingdom with General
Giles as Commanding General. IX Air Service Command is reformed
in United Kingdom under General Miller.
Twelfth Air Force. XII Bomber Command B-25 Mitchell medium
bombers bomb marshalling yard and rail lines, railroad tunnel,
highway underpass, warehouses, industrial buildings, and gas
works in or near Bologna. P-38 Lightning fighters bomb a vessel
in Leukas Channel off West coast of Greece. XII A Support
Command and other Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF)
elements provide close support to United States Fifth and
British Eighth Armies. Fighters, light bombers, and medium
bombers hit command centres of Venafro, Vairano, Sparanise,
Latina, Alife, and town of Pietravairano roads, railroads,
and junctions in areas Southeast of Rome to bomb line, between
Vasto and Pescara, and at Mondragone gun positions, trucks,
and military concentrations near Vinchiaturo, Boiano, and
Termoli, landing ground of Cisterna di Latina and several
other targets in area between Rome and Ancona.
Tenth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Fighter
patrols are increased from 4 to 8 aircraft with little effect
on enemy marauders over the Hump. 3 A-36 Apache dive bomber fail to return
from mission over Sumprabum.
Fifth Air Force. More than 60 United States Army Air Force
(USAAF) B-25 Mitchell medium bombers attack Alexishafen area,
hit coastal targets between Reiss Point and Sio, and bomb
airfields at Wewak. A-20 Havoc light bombers bomb and strafe
Gasmata. A lone B-24 Liberator heavy bombers destroys a patrol
craft between Hoskins and Rabaul.
Thirteenth Air Force. 8 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers bomb Kara airfield. 6 B-25 Mitchell
medium bombers hit Ballale Island airfield.
Go To: 17th
October
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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