Ninth Air Force. Ninth Air Force planning group joins 21 Army
Group, Allied Expeditionary Air Force (AEAF), and The British
Royal Air Force (RAF) Second Tactical Air Force in preparation
of air section of initial joint plan (Operation NEPTUNE) for
Operation OVERLORD. This begins planning which later results
in massive Ninth Air Force plan for moving the Ninth into
battle on continent of Europe.
Twelfth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) A-20
Havoc light bombers strike artillery concentration near Sant'Elia
Fiumerapido. All B-25 Mitchell medium bombers missions are
abortive. P-40 fighters and P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers (with
South African Air Force (SAAF) escort) strafe vessel near
Trpanj. A-36 Apache dive bomber and P-40 fighter-bombers bomb positions at
Monte Trocchio, Cervaro, and Cardito, and marshalling yard,
barracks, warehouses, and docks at Nettuno and Anzio.
Fifteenth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
Operations are restricted to weather reconnaissance.
Fourteenth Air Force. 6 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
P-40 fighters bomb and strafe barracks near Kunlong. 6 others
bomb and strafe targets in Hanoi.
Fifth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) P-47
Thunderbolt fighters intercept 35 to 40 aircraft attacking
Allied forces on Arawe peninsula. At least 10 aeroplanes are
claimed shot down. Cape Gloucester and nearby shipping are
attacked by B-24 Liberator heavy bombers and B-25 Mitchell
medium bombers . B-25 Mitchell medium bombers bomb Sio area.
P-39 fighters sink 2 barges during sweep along Huon Peninsula.
Thirteenth Air Force. 18 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers strike Malai. 6 others join Navy
dive bombers in pounding Mutupina Point area. 5 B-34 Lexington bomber hit
Poroporo and Tarekekori.
Seventh Air Force. 10 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers are dispatched from Nanumea to
bomb Maloelap. 9 are recalled because of weather. 1 bombs
alternate target of Mille.
Army Air Force (AAF). General Arnold sends to Air Chief Marshal
Portal announcement of United States air officers for top
commands in Europe for 1944. The list includes General Eaker,
Allied Air Forces in Mediterranean Theatre of Operations (MTO),
General Cannon, Twelfth Air Force, General Twining, Fifteenth
Air Force, General Spaatz, United States Strategic Air Forces,
General Doolittle, Eighth Air Force, and General Brereton,
Ninth Air Force.
Go To: 18th
December
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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