Eighth Air Force. In conjunction with allied ground forces
assault across the lower Rhine River the Eighth flies bombing,
supply, and armed reconnaissance missions. During morning
1,033 heavy bombers strike 14 airfields in West Germany. 85
fighters sorties are flown in support. At midday 235 B-24
Liberator heavy bombers drop supplies to allied forces in
assault area East of the Rhine. During the afternoon 443 heavy
bombers, supported by 113 effective fighters sorties, bomb
5 airfields, a marshalling yard, and a railroad in North West
Germany. The fighters claim 27 kills in aerial combat. All
during the day, fighters fly 1,065 effective sorties in armed
reconnaissance patrols attacking numerous ground targets and
claiming 30 fighters downed.
Ninth Air Force. Nearly 700 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
A-20 Havoc light bombers, A-26 Invader light bombers, and
B-26 Marauder medium bombers blast command centres, rail bridges,
flak positions, and numerous other targets in cooperation
with combined land airborne assault across the Rhine River
(PLUNDERVARSITY) by the British Second and United States Ninth
Armies and the United States XVIII Corps of the First Allied
Airborne Army. Over 2,000 transports and gliders of IX Troop
Carrier Command drop and land British 6th Airborne and United
States 17th Airborne Divisions plus artillery, vehicles, ammunition,
and other supplies East of the Rhine North and North West
of Wesel as British Second and United States Ninth Armies
cross river to the North West and Southeast. Fighters attack
with bombers before the drop and carpet the landing zones
with fragmentation bombs, immobilising numerous antiaircraft
batteries. Fighters escort bombers and transports, cover assaulting
30th and 79th Infantry Divisions, attack troop concentrations,
antiaircraft positions, supply and ammunition dumps, airfields,
defended villages, and road and rail traffic, and patrol the
perimeter of the battle sector. Fighters also support United
States First Army elements across the Rhine East of Remagen
between Koblenz and the Sieg River as they prepare for breakout
assault, and United States Third Army's XII Corps as it strengthens
its Rhine bridgehead East of Oppenheim and commits its armour
to push through toward the Main River.
Twelfth Air Force. General Cannon takes command of Army Air
Forces, Mediterranean Theatre of Operations (AAFMTO), and
shortly afterwards also takes over Mediterranean Allied Air
Forces (MAAF). A-20 Havoc light bombers and A-26 Invader light
bombers during
23-24
March 1945, pound marshalling yards, river crossings and other
bridges, and a variety of other targets in Po Valley and Northeast
Italy where fighters and fighter-bombers during the day destroy
or damage numerous rail lines and train cars. B-25 Mitchell
medium bombers bomb bridges or bridge approaches at Piacenza,
Chiari, Perca, Casarsa della Delizia, Palazzolo sull'Oglio,
Muhlberg, and Steinach.
Fifteenth Air Force. 660 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers and B-17 Flying Fortress heavy
bombers bomb tank works at Berlin and airfields at Munich
and Neuburg an der Donau, plus Budejovice marshalling yard,
and alternate targets and targets including airfields at Plattling,
Erding, and Udine. P-38 Lightning fighters and P-51 Mustang
fighter-bombers escort the missions against German targets
and fly reconnaissance.
Tenth Air Force. 31 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) fighter-bombers
and 9 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers operating over battlefront
and behind enemy lines in Central Burma pound troop concentrations,
supply areas, truck park, and general targets. 9 other fighter-bombers
attack targets along roads South of bomb line. 504 air supply
sorties are flown, landing men and supplies at advanced bases
and dropping supplies to front line forces.
Fourteenth Air Force. 34 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, with escort of 9 fighters, pound
Chenghsien locomotive park and Yellow River bridge. 30 B-25
Mitchell medium bombers and over 100 fighter-bombers, operating
in forces of 1-8 aeroplanes, attack tanks, trucks, locomotives,
troop concentrations, storage areas, airstrips, bridges, gun
positions, and general targets throughout South and East China.
Far East Air Force (FEAF). United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers and A-20 Havoc light bombers
pound Cebu City and defences and installations on Cebu Island.
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, B-25 Mitchell medium bombers,
A-20 Havoc light bombers, and P-38 Lightning fighters attack
Balete Pass, Legaspi, Batangas area, and scattered targets
throughout Luzon. B-24 Liberator heavy bombers hit harbour
at Takao and power plant and alcohol factory East of Okayama.
Seventh Air Force. 9 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers from Guam bomb torpedo storage
area on Marcus. 24 Angaur based B-24 Liberator heavy bombers
bomb defensive positions and town of Naga. 16 Iwo based P-51
Mustang fighter-bombers hit air, naval, and radar installations
and targets on Chichi Jima. During 24-
25
March 1945, 5 Guam based B-24 Liberator heavy bombers hit
airfields and town of Omura.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Poplar.
R423
R-boat
Launched 24 March 1945 ?
Go To: 25th
March
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
