It was announced that in daylight raids on Renault works on
4 April 1943
and Erla works at Antwerp on
5
April 1943 a total of 70 Luftwaffe aircraft were shot
down by United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Flying Fortresses
and Liberators. The British Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers
made heavy night attack on the Ruhr.
Eighth Air Force. 56th and 78th Fighter Groups become operational.
Added to 4th Group (already operational), this enables VIII
Fighter Command to increase activity and paves way for its
coming role of escorting bombers on deep penetrations into
enemy territory.
Northwest African Air Forces (NAAF). Weather prevents all
Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) operations except
minimum weather reconnaissance. Northwest African Tactical
Air Force (NATAF) P-40 fighters and Spitfires fly sweeps and
armed reconnaissance over Faid Pass-Fondouk el Aouareb-Kairouan-Ousseltia
area as British IX Corps attacks Fondouk. Other fighters fly
widespread reconnaissance and sweeps, attacking motor transport
South of Zaghouan. Western Desert Air Force (WDAF)fighters
hit retreating columns in Cekhira-Sfax area.
Ninth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) P-40
fighters fly 29 bomber escort, armed reconnaissance, and fighter-bomber
missions against retreating columns along coast North of Gabes.
Tenth Air Force. 9 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers bomb Meiktila airfield. 6 B-24 Liberator
heavy bombers attack airfields at Heho. Fort Bayard airfield
is strafed by 9 P-40 fighters. Enemy stores at Ningam are
hit by 4 P-40 fighters and a B-25 Mitchell medium bombers.
Fifth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-17
Flying Fortress heavy bombers and B-24 Liberator heavy bombers
carry out small harassing strikes, bombing Ulamoa, Finschhafen,
and airfield at Kavieng.
Eleventh Air Force. Weather aeroplane scouts Kiska and islands
West of it with negative results.
Go To: 9th
April
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
sources
