Combined Chiefs of Staff approve plan, submitted by General
Arnold and Joint Chiefs of Staff, to create a new Air Force
(Fifteenth) in Italy from part of the Twelfth Air Force to
be used in strategic bombing against Germany as well as in
support of ground operations.
Ninth Air Force. About 60 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-26 Marauder medium bombers bomb Evreux, Fauville airfields.
Over 140 other abort missions against other airfields because
of bad weather.
Twelfth Air Force. XII Air Force Engineer Command (Provisional)
is activated. XII Bomber Command B-26 Marauder medium bombers
bomb railroad bridges North and Southeast of Orvieto. B-25
Mitchell medium bombers hit railroad bridge South of Grosseto
and Eleusis airfield. XII A Support Command, along with other
elements of Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF),
hit town areas, highways, vehicles, gun positions, railroad
command, strong points, and targets at or near San Salvo,
Teano, Venafro, Catalupo hel Sannio, Isernia, Cassino, Montenero,
and Boiano. Aquino airfield is also bombed.
Tenth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) medium
bombers strike against railroad bridge on Ye-u branch line
over Mu River between Ywataung and Monywa fails to damage
the structure. This raid marks the final assault of the year
on this bridge.
Fifth Air Force. 20 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers carry out low-level attack on Wewak
area, sinking 2 small freighters, and strafing barges and
aeroplanes. Madang is strafed by 4 P-39 fighters and 2 Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boomerangs. More than 50 P-40
fighters hit Gasmata. 11 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers bomb
Pombelaa nickel mines.
Thirteenth Air Force. Kahili airfield and surrounding areas
are pounded by 22 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, 30 P-39 fighters
and P-40 fighters and about 160 Navy fighters and dive bombers.
18 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers and Navy aeroplanes hit targets
in Choiseul Island area. Other Navy aircraft hit Kara airfield.
A single B-24 Liberator heavy bombers claims hits on a carrier
North West of Buka.
Go To: 23rd
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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