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USAAF Worldwide Operations Chronology

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		COMBAT CHRONOLOGY OF THE US ARMY AIR FORCES

OCTOBER 1943


AIRCRAFT MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:
  A-20, Douglas Havoc
  A-36, North American Apache
  B-17, Boeing Flying Fortress
  B-24, Consolidated Liberator
  B-25, North American Mitchell
  B-26, Martin Marauder
  Boomerang, Commonwealth Aircraft Corp (RAAF)
  C-47, Douglas Skytrain
  F-4, Lockheed Lightning
  F-5, Lockheed Lightning
  F-7, Consolidated Liberator
  F4U, Vought Corsair (USN)
  Hudson, Lockheed
  L-1, Stinson Vigilant
  L-4, Piper Cub/Grasshopper
  L-5, Stinson Sentinel
  O-47, North American
  O-52, Curtiss Owl
  P-38, Lockheed Lightning
  P-39, Bell Airacobra
  P-40, Curtiss
  P-47, Republic Thunderbolt
  P-51, North American Mustang
  Spitfire, Vickers Supermarine
  Ventura, Lockheed
  Zeke, Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter

FRIDAY, 1 OCTOBER 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE (First Air Force): The detachment of the 15th
Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy), 26th Antisubmarine Wing, operating from
Batista Field, Cuba with B-24's, returns to its base at Jacksonville AAFld, 
Florida.

  CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): The 10th Bombardment Squadron (Medium),
transfers from Edinburgh Field to Waller Field, Trinidad, British West 
Indies with B-25's; a detachment of the squadron is still operating from
Port of Spain, Trinidad.
  During October, HQ 6th Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfers from Albrook
Field to Howard Field, Canal Zone.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): During Oct, HQ 80th Fighter Group and it's
88th Fighter Squadron transfer from Karachi to Nagaghuli and Mokelbari, 
India respectively with P-40's.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 21 B-24's, supported by 21 fighters, bomb a
power plant, the warehouse and dock area at Haiphong, French Indochina. 
40-65 fighters intercept, shooting down 2 US aircraft; 30 fighters are
claimed destroyed by the Fourteenth in the air battle.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): A report by the
intelligence section of the Eighth Air Force shows that despite recent
efforts of the Allies to destroy the German aircraft industry, fighter
production has expanded greatly and enemy fighter strength on the Western
Front has increased.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): In the first half of October, HQ
Ninth Air Force and HQ IX Bomber Command begin a movement to England from
Egypt and Libya.
  
  WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, XII Bomber Command
B-26's hit communications targets in the Capua, Grazzanise, Arce, and
Mignano areas. B-24's, including heavy bombers on detached service from the
Eighth Air Force, bomb Wiener-Neustadt, Austria; B-17's, sent against an
airplane factory at Augsburg, Germany, fail to locate the target, and bomb
several alternate targets and targets of opportunity in Austria, Italy, and
off Corsica and Elba Island, Italy. In Italy, Northwest African Tactical
Bomber Force (NATBF) and XII Air Support Command medium and light bombers,
and fighter-bombers hit the Benevento town area and marshalling yard, the
bridge at Capua, and motor transport, trains, and railroads mainly in the
Isernia area and N to Avezzano. The British King's Dragoon Guards (with the
US Fifth Army) occupy Naples. British  Eighth Army troops occupy Foggia
airfields.
  HQ 57th Fighter Group and it's 66th Fighter Squadron transfer from Gioia
Airfield to Foggia, Italy with P-40's. 
  The 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light), and 311th Bombardment Squadron
(Dive), Twelfth Air Force, are disbanded at Nouvion, Algeria and Gela,
Sicily respectively.
  A detachment of the 515th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 376th Bombardment
Group (Heavy) based at Enfidaville, Tunisia with B-24's, begins operating
from Bengasi, Libya.
  During October, HQ 63d Fighter Wing transfers from Rerhaia, Algeria to
Bastia, Corsica;  HQ 68th Reconnaissance Group transfers from Berteaux, 
Algeria to Massicault, Tunisia; the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron, 316th 
Troop Carrier Group, transfers from Egypt to El Aouina, Tunisia with C-47's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, 24 B-24's bomb a supply and bivouac area N of Vila airfield on
Kolombangara Island. B-25's and P-38's join US Navy (USN) dive bombers in a 
strike on a barge depot at Kakasa on Choiseul Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): A-20's and Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft bomb and strafe the Finschhafen, New
Guinea area as the Australian 9 Division pours more troops into the assault
on the town. B-25's strafe a power boat near Gasmata Island off New Britain
Island.

SATURDAY, 2 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 5 P-40's dive-bomb and strafe Yangtze River
shipping in the Chiuchiang, China area. Strafing damages several small
craft.
  HQ 51st Fighter Group transfers from Dinjan, India to Kunming, China and
is reassigned from the Tenth to Fourteenth Air Force.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command
Mission 106: 349 B-17's are dispatched to the industrial area of Emden,
Germany; led by 2 B-17 pathfinders, 339 hit the target at 1557-1603 hours;
they claim 15-6-12 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 B-17's are lost and 34 damaged;
casualties are 2 WIA and 21 MIA. The B-17's are escorted by 227 P-47's who
claim 5-3-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is damaged. In addition to the
above, 21 B-24's are dispatched to Woensdrecht Airfield, The Netherlands;
the target is obscured by clouds and the mission is aborted.
  VIII Air Support Command Mission 75: 72 B-26's are dispatched to the St
Omer/Longuenesse Airfield in France; because of cloud cover, only 6 hit the
target at 1715 hours; the remainder refrain from bombing because the target
is in occupied territory; 12 B-26's are damaged; casualties are 1 KIA and
4 WIA.
  VIII Bomber Command Mission 107: 2 B-17's join the Royal Air Force (RAF)
in a night mission to Munich; no losses or casualties.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Brigadier General
Gordon P Saville becomes Commanding General, XII Fighter Command. Weather
curtails operations. In Italy, fighter-bombers of the XII Air Support Command 
attack motor transport, roads, and bridges during armed reconnaissance 
missions from the Volturno Valley N to Isernia and W to Benevento.
  The 64th and 65th Fighter Squadrons, 57th Fighter Group, transfer from
Rocco Bernardo to Foggia, Italy with P-40's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 6 B-25's join
USN dive bombers in attacking Hamberi Cove barge hideout near Vila on
Kolombangara Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): On New Britain
Island, B-25's strafe villages in the Talasea area and barges off Gasmata
Island; B-26's bomb Hoskins Airfield; and a B-24 bombs Cape Gloucester 
Airfield. Other B-24's bomb Amboina Island in the Moluccas Islands. 
Australian forces take the town and harbor of Finschhafen and prepare to take 
nearby commanding positions still held by the Japanese.
  The 6th Troop Carrier Squadron transfers from Port Moresby, New Guinea to
Garbutt Field, Townsville, Queensland, Australia with C-47's.

SUNDAY, 3 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 7 P-40's damage a 250-ft (76.2 m)
vessel on the Yangtze River near Chiuchiang; 4 P-38's bomb Chiuchiang docks; 
6 B-24's damage a 100-ft (30.5 m) coastal freighter off Tonkon Point on 
Hainan Island.
  A detachment of the 76th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, based at
Hengyang, China begins operating from Suichwan, China with P-40's.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Air Support Command
Missions 76, 77 and 78: 
  1. 36 B-26's are dispatched to the Lille/Vendeveille Airfield in France
but weather prevents their hitting the target.
  2. 131 of 144 B-26's dispatched to Amsterdam/Schiphol (71 aircraft),
Woensdrecht (34 aircraft) and Haamstede (26 aircraft) Airfields in the
Netherlands hit their targets at 1120-1136 hours; 47 B-26's are damaged.
  3. 72 B-26's are dispatched to Beauvais/Tille Airfield, France; 63 hit
the target at 1724-1727 hours; 1 B-26 is lost and 27 damaged. 
  Total casualties for all missions are 5 WIA.
  The 153d Liaison Squadron, 67th Observation Group, transfers from Keevil
to Membury, England with A-20's and L-4's.
  The 328th, 329th, 330th and 409th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 93d
Bombardment Group (Heavy), cease operating from Oudna, Tunisia and return
to their base at Hardwick, England with B-24's.
  The 564th, 565th, 566th and 567th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 389th
Bombardment Group (Heavy), cease operating from Massicault, Tunisia and
return to their base at Hethel, England with B-24's.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, XII
Bomber Command B-26's, B-25's, and P-38's bomb railroad, highway, and
pontoon bridges, an overpass, and road junction at Capua, Castel Volturno, 
Piana, Arce, Mignano, and Isernia; P-38's also hit shipping between Corsica 
and Italy. XII Bomber Command fighter-bombers hit motor transport in the 
battle area as US Fifth Army troops take Benevento.
  HQ 82d Fighter Group and it's 95th, 96th and 97th Fighter Squadrons 
transfer from Grombalia, Tunisia to San Pancrazio, Italy with P-38's.
  HQ 313th Troop Carrier Group and it's 29th Troop Carrier Squadron
transfer from Sciacca to Trapani/Milo Airfield, Sicily with C-47's.
  HQ 321st Bombardment Group (Medium) and it's 445th, 446th and 447th
Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) transfer from Soliman, Tunisia to
Grottaglie, Italy with B-25's.
  HQ 324th Fighter Group and it's 314th, 315th and 316th Fighter Squadrons
transfer from El Haouaria to Menzel Heurr, Tunisia with P-40's. These units
have been regrouping since Jul 43.
  Detachments of the 512th, 513th and 514th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy),
376th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based at Enfidaville, Tunisia begin
operating from Bengasi, Libya with B-24's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): P-39's strafe
several barges W of Choiseul Island in the Solomon Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25's continue
to hit barges along the W coast of New Britain Island in the Bismarck
Archipelago.
  The 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, ceases operating from
Port Moresby and returns to it's base at Dobodura, New Guinea with P-38's.

MONDAY, 4 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 17 Japanese bombers and 25 Zekes attack
Kweilin Airfield, China. The bombs, dropped from 20,000 feet (6,096 m),
fail to hit the target. AAF fighters fail to make effective contact with
the force.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command
Mission 108: 4 targets in Germany and a diversion are flown. 12 B-17's and
4 B-24's are lost.
  1. 104 B-17's are dispatched to the Wiesbaden industrial area; 15
aircraft hit Wiesbaden and 77 hit the industrial area at Frankfurt at
1059-1105 hours; they claim 19-3-15 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-17's are lost
and 45 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 8 WIA and 40 MIA.
  2. 37 of 51 B-17's dispatched to Frankfurt hit the target at 1110-1111
hours; they claim 18-8-22 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 B-17's are lost and 35
damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 2 WIA and 30 MIA.
  3. 115 B-17's are dispatched to the Saarlautern industrial area; 67 hit
Saarlautern and 38 hit St Dizier/Robinson Airfield in France at 1136-1148 
hours; they claim 37-7-7 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 B-17's are lost, 4 are 
damaged beyond repair and 19 damaged; casualties are 6 WIA and 29 MIA.
  4. 47 of 53 B-17's dispatched hit Sarreguemnines and Saarbrucken
marshalling yards at 1133-1139 hours; 2 B-17's are damaged; no casualties.
  5. 38 B-24's fly a diversion; they claim 13-6-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4
B-24's are lost and 19 damaged; casualties are 11 WIA and 43 MIA.
  These missions are escorted by 223 P-47's; they claim 19-1-2 Luftwaffe
aircraft; 1 P-47 is damaged beyond repair and 15 damaged; casualties are 1
KIA.
  VIII Air Support Command Mission 79: 25 B-26's are dispatched to
Beauvais/Nivilliers and Evreux/Fauville Airfield in France; they return to
base without bombing.
  VIII Bomber Command Mission 109: 4 B-17's drop 240,352 leaflets over
Paris between 2257-2307 hours.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, 100+ XII
Bomber Command B-17's bomb the Pisa marshalling yard and Bolzano bridges;
B-25's and B-26's attack the airfield at Argos, road defiles at Terracina
and Isernia, a highway overpass at Mignano, and shipping at Bastia; NATBF 
aircraft hit road and rail junctions on the main road N from Capua; XII Air 
Support Command fighter-bombers hit trains, roads, railroads, and vehicles 
near Isernia, Avezzano, Pescara, and Isolella. The Allies now have complete 
control of Corsica. 
  The 5th Photographic Squadron (Light), Twelfth Air Force, based at La
Marsa, Tunisia begins operating from Pontecagnano, Italy with F-5's.
  The 87th Fighter Squadron, 79th Fighter Group, transfers from Crotone to
Salsola, Italy with P-40's.
  The 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, based at Mateur, Tunisia
sends a detachment to Gambut, Libya with P-38's.
  The 448th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 321st Bombardment Group
(Medium), transfers from Soliman, Tunisia to Grottaglie, Italy with B-25's.
  "A" Flight of the 15th Photographic Squadron (Heavy), 3d Photographic
Reconnaissance and Mapping Group, based at La Marsa, Tunisia sends a
detachment to Grottaglie, Italy with B-17's and F-5's. "B" and "C" Flights
are still in the US.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, 23 B-24's, covered by 16 P-38's and several USN F4U's, bomb
Kahili Airfield on Bougainville Island; 20-30 fighters intercept, and a
running battle occurs between Bougainville and Vella Lavella Island; US
fighters and bombers claim 9 fighters downed; no American losses are
suffered. 4 P-39's and 4 F4U's sink 18 barges in a strike along the W coast 
of Choiseul Island. The P-39's are especially effective because of their 
nose cannon.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25's bomb and
strafe barges, small craft, and villages on Vitu Island in the Bismarck
Archipelago.
  The 22d Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group, transfers from
Port Moresby, New Guinea to Garbutt Field, Townsville, Queensland, Australia 
with C-47's.

TUESDAY, 5 OCTOBER 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force: HQ 25th Bombardment Group (Medium) transfers
from Ft. Amsterdam, Curacao to Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, a few B-25's and P-40's attack a
foundry at Shihhweiyao; damaging hits are scored on a barrack, on AA 
positions, blast furnaces, hoppers, and a steam plant. 10 USAAF fighters
intercept a force of about 50 Zekes W of Kweilin, shoot down 1 enemy
fighter; the enemy force turns back.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ 356th Fighter Group
transfers from Goxhill to Martlesham, England.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Lieutenant General
James H Doolittle assumes command of the Twelfth Air Force during the
absence of General Carl Spaatz. In Italy, XII Bomber Command B-17's hit the
Bologna marshalling yard; B-25's and B-26's bomb the Formia road, a road
loop N of Mignano, and Isernia chokepoint; NATBF, XII Air Support Command, 
and RAF Desert Air Force (DAF) aircraft bomb numerous targets in and N of 
the battle area, including heavy traffic in the Isernia area, gasoline dumps 
at Alfedena, trains at Termoli, and towns of Venafro and Isolella.
  The 15th Troop Carrier Squadron, 61st Troop Carrier Group, transfers from
Licata to Sciacca, Sicily with C-47's.
  The 27th and 71st Fighter Squadrons, 1st Fighter Group, based at Mateur,
Tunisia send detachments to Gambut, Libya with P-38's.
  The 85th and 86th Fighter Squadrons, 79th Fighter Group, transfer from
Crotone to Salsola, Italy with P-40's.
  The 111th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 68th Reconnaissance Group,
transfers from Sele to Pomigliano, Italy with P-51's. A detachment of the
squadron is operating from Capaccio, Italy.
  The 526th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 86th Fighter-Bomber Group, transfers
from Sele Airfield to Seretella Airfield, Italy with A-36's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea,
B-25's carry out a coastal sweep W to Madang, bombing and strafing villages
and barges; B-17's hit the Bogadjim Road and jetties at Erima; and B-24's
bomb the Babo area.
  HQ 35th Fighter Group transfers from Tsili Tsili to Nadzab, New Guinea.
  The 33d Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group, transfers from
Port Moresby, New Guinea to Garbutt Field, Townsville, Queensland Australia 
with C-47's.

WEDNESDAY, 6 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 7 P-40's from Suichwan intercept
an attacking force of 27 bombers and 21 Zekes; 1 bomber and 1 fighter are
shot down, and the attackers retire in the direction of Canton without
dropping their bombs.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, XII
Bomber Command B-17's bomb the Mestre marshalling yard while B-26's hit a
highway chokepoint at Isernia, the highway at Mignano, and road junction at
Formia; P-38's strafe Araxos Airfield in Greece; NATBF planes on road-
blocking missions hit targets at Teano, at Alfedena, between Cassino and 
Capua, and near Sessa Aurunca; XII Air Support Command P-40's and A-36's 
attack roads and vehicles N of the US Fifth Army battle zone and patrol the 
Naples area. The US Fifth Army reaches the S bank of the Volturno River; 
Capua falls to British units.
  HQ 61st Troop Carrier Group and it's 14th Troop Carrier Squadron transfer
from Licata to Sciacca, Sicily with C-47's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, 8 P-39's and 8 USN F4U's strafe barges off the W coast of Choiseul 
Island. 24 B-25's and 14 P-38's carry out a low-level strike against Kahili 
Airfield on Bougainville Island, damaging or destroying several parked 
aircraft.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In the Bismarck
Archipelago, B-25's sweep along coastal areas of New Britain Island and
through islands to the N and W, bombing and strafing targets of opportunity.

THURSDAY, 7 OCTOBER 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ANTISUBMARINE OPERATIONS (First Air Force): The 14th Antisubmarine
Squadron (Heavy), 25th Antisubmarine Wing, transfers from Otis Field,
Massachusetts to Biggs Field, Texas and is transferred to the Second Air
Force.

  CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): The 35th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 25th
Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Zandery Field, Surinam to Vernam
Field, Jamaica, British West Indies with B-25's. The detachment operating
from Atkinson Field, British Guiana also transfers to Vernam Field.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 4 B-25's attack a 2,500-ton freighter 100
miles (160 km) S of Amoy, China scoring 3 direct hits; the vessel is left
burning and listing. 9 B-24's and 22 fighters hit a cement plant at
Haiphong, French Indochina causing heavy damage to the kiln building.
  The 26th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, transfers from Dinjan,
India to Kunming, China with P-40's.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission 110. 
During the night of 7/8 Oct, 4 B-17's drop 240,352 leaflets over Paris at
2257-2307 hours; no losses or casualties.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ 434th Troop Carrier Group and
it's 71st, 72d, 73d and 74th Troop Carrier Squadrons arrive at Fulbeck,
England from the US with C-47's.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Bad weather
cancels many operations. In Italy, NATBF medium and light bombers strike 
roads, railway, junction, and town areas in the Capua and Guglionesi 
regions. RAF DAF fighter-bombers hit trucks in the Termoli-Vasto areas.
  HQ 57th Bombardment Wing transfers from Lentini, Sicily to Naples, Italy.
  HQ 64th Fighter Wing transfers from Milazzo, Sicily to Frattamaggiore,
Italy.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): The 72d
Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based on
Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands with B-24's, begins operating
from Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In the Bismarck
Archipelago, a B-24 on patrol bombs Umboi Island, scoring damaging hits on
several buildings.
  HQ 374th Troop Carrier Group transfers from Port Moresby, New Guinea to
Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

FRIDAY, 8 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 9 B-24's, supported by 20 P-40's, bomb Gia
Lam Airfield in French Indochina. While on ferry mission over the Hump, 3
B-24's bomb Tengchung, China scoring hits on warehouses, barracks, and a HQ
area.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission 111.
4 locations in Germany are targetted. On this mission the Eighth Air Forces
uses, for the first time, airborne transmitters (Carpet equipment) to jam
German radar.  30 bombers and 3 fighters are lost.
  1. 105 of 118 B-17's dispatched to the shipyard at Breman hit the target
at 1505-1513 hours; they claim 42-2-28 Luftwaffe aircraft; 9 B-17's are
lost and 61 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 18 WIA and 90 MIA.
  2. 53 of 56 B-17's dispatched to the industrial area at Breman hit the
target at 1512-1513 hours; they claim 24-7-17 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 B-17's
are lost and 44 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 12 WIA and 41 MIA.
  3. 43 of 55 B-24's dispatched to the U-boat yards at Vegesack hit the
target at 1622-1624 hours; they claim 17-1-7 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 B-24's
are lost and 21 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 5 WIA and 30 MIA.
  4. 156 of 170 B-17's dispatched to the city of Bremen hit the target and
targets of opportunity at 1505-1527 hours; they claim 84-12-33 Luftwaffe
aircraft; 14 B-17's are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 110 damaged;
casualties are 21 WIA and 140 MIA.
  The B-17's are escorted by 274 P-47's; they claim 12-2-4 Luftwaffe
aircraft; 3 P-47's are lost and 5 damaged; casualties are 2 WIA and 3 MIA.
  VIII Air Support Command Mission 80: 144 B-26's are dispatched to
Lille/Vendeville and Chievres Airfields in France; the mission is abandoned 
due to thick haze and generally unsuitable weather; 4 B-26's are damaged.
  VIII Bomber Command Mission 112: 2 B-17's drop 266,336 leaflets over
Rennes at 0005-0011 hours, 9 Oct 43.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Greece, XII
Bomber Command B-24's bomb Tatoi and Eleusis Airfields at Athens, airfields
at Kastelli and Heraklion Airfields on Crete, and Maritsa Airfield on
Rhodes; B-25's also hit Eleusis airfield; P-38's fly convoy cover, patrols,
and sweeps over the Aegean Sea. Weather prevents the XII Air Support
Command from operating. In Italy, the NATBF and RAF DAF hit a bridge at 
Minturno and a road junction and military concentration at Termoli.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): B-25's and
P-40's sink a barge off the W coast of Choiseul Island in the Solomon
Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): A single B-24 on
armed reconnaissance bombs Cape Gloucester Airfield on New Britain Island
in the Bismarck Archipelago.

SATURDAY, 9 OCTOBER 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 12 Kuril-based Japanese bombers attack Attu
Island.

  ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE (First Air Force): The 25th Antisubmarine Squadron,
26th Antisubmarine Wing, transfers from Jacksonville AAFld, Florida to
Clovis AAF, New Mexico and is reassigned to the Second Air Force. The
squadron will be disbanded on 28 Oct 43.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 4 B-25's on a shipping sweep off the SE China
coast in the Amoy-Quemoy area sink a 150-ft (45.7 m) tanker and damage a
patrol vessel, and a freighter. 1 B-25 crashes into a hill and explodes. 10
P-40's bomb fuel storage and barracks at Mangshih, China; 1 P-40 is downed
by ground fire.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission 113.
2 targets in Germany and 2 in Poland are hit; 26 B-17's and 2 B-24's are
lost.
  1. 106 of 115 B-17's hit the industrial area in Anklam, Germany at
1142-1146 hours; they claim 65-19-47 Luftwaffe aircraft, 18 B-17's are
lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 51 damaged; casualties are 25 WIA and 185
MIA.
  2. 96 of 100 B-17's hit the industrial area in Marienburg, Germany at
1253-1302 hours; they claim 9-2-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 B-17's are lost and
13 damaged; casualties are 3 WIA and 21 MIA.
  3. 41 of 51 B-24's hit the U-boat yards at Danzig and the port area at
Gdynia, Poland at 1305 hours; they claim 7-3-4 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 B-24's
are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 19 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA
and 21 MIA.
  4. 109 of 112 B-17's hit the port area at Gdynia, Poland at 1304-1324
hours; they claim 41-5-10 Luftwaffe aircraft; 6 B-17's are lost, 1 damaged
beyond repair and 62 damaged; casualties are 6 WIA and 60 MIA.
  VIII Air Support Command Mission 81: 66 of 72 B-26's bomb the Woensdrecht
Airfield in the Netherlands at 1516-1526 hours; 26 B-26's are damaged. This
is the final Eighth Air Force B-26 operation; the B-26's will be transfered
to the Ninth Air Force.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): XII Bomber Command
B-17's bomb airfields at Larissa, Athens and Salonika, Greece and Argos,
Italy. B-24's hit Kastelli/Pediada Airfield on Crete. P-38's fly a sweep
between the island of Corfu, Greece and Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia and escort 
shipping in the Karpathos Straits between Carpathos and Rhodes. In Italy, the 
XII Air Support Command does not operate, but the NATBF and RAF DAF hit 
traffic in the Termoli and Montenero areas, guns N of Capua, a HQ at Palata, 
and roads and railroads N of Naples.
  HQ 79th Fighter Group transfers from Crotone to Foggia, Italy.
  The 66th, 67th, 68th and 506th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 44th
Bombardment Group (Heavy), cease operating from Tunis, Tunisia and return
to their base at Shipdham, England with B-24's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, B-25's and P-40's hit barges and concentrations on W Choiseul
Island. P-39's and USN F4U's strafe buildings, a radar station, and gun
positions at Poporang Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea,
A-20's and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) airplanes bomb and strafe
defensive positions in the Sattelberg and Finschhafen areas. B-24's bomb
Makassar on Celebes Island.
  The 2d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium),
transfers from Reid River, Australia to Dobodura, New Guinea with B-26's.
They re-entered combat on 5 Oct after R&R in Australia since Jan 43.
  The 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, 54th Troop Carrier Wing, transfers from
Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea. The squadron is operating from Tsili
Tsili, New Guinea with C-47's.

SUNDAY, 10 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 7 B-24's pound the Meza railroad bridge in
Burma, destroying the 3 spans on the E end and dropping the end of a central 
span into the river.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 20 B-24's and 18 P-40's pound docks at
Haiphong, French Indochina. In China, 8 P-40's bomb a match factory and
ammunition dump at Tengchung; 8 others hit a supply dump and targets of
opportunity in the Lungling area.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission 114.
236 of 274 B-17's hit the railroads and waterways in and around Munster,
Germany at 1503-1518 hours plus targets of opportunity at Coesfeld, Germany
and Enschede Airfield in the Netherlands; they claim 183-21-51 Luftwaffe
aircraft; 30 B-17's are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 102 damaged;
casualties are 2 KIA, 18 WIA and 306 MIA. 39 B-24's fly a diversion without
loss or casualties. The B-17's are escorted by 216 P-47's; they claim 19-0-0
Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged;
casualties are 1 MIA.
  The 360th Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group, transfers from Goxhill
to Martlesham, England with P-47's. The squadron will fly it's first mission 
on 15 Oct.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): B-17's bomb 2
airfields at Athens, Greece while B-24's hit Maritsa Airfield on Rhodes and
Calato and Heraklion Airfields on Crete. P-38's escort shipping off Rhodes,
hit Antimachia Airfield in the Dodecanese Islands, and attack vessels in
the harbors of Corfu, Greece and Kotor, Yugoslavia, and off Tivat, Yugoslavia 
and hit targets of opportunity in the Aegean Sea and along its E coastline. 
In Italy, the NATBF and RAF DAF concentrate on gun positions on both the US 
Fifth and British Eighth Army battlefronts; vehicles, railroads, and town 
areas also are hit; the attacks take place NE of Capua, at Guglionesi, at 
Cassino and Mondragone, between Rome and Terracina, and around the Termoli-
Isernia-Pescara areas.
  HQ 82d Fighter Group and it's 95th, 96th and 97th Fighter Squadron transfer 
from San Pancrazio to Lecce, Italy with P-38's.
  A detachment of the 380th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 310th Bombardment 
Group (Medium), based at Menzel Temime, Tunisia with B-25's begins operating 
from Oudna, Tunisia.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, 24 B-24's, 50+ P-38's, P-40's, and P-39's, and 50+ USN fighters and 
dive bombers pound Kahili Airfield on Bougainville Island and surrounding 
areas, hitting runways, a fuel dump, supply area, buildings, and Malabita 
Hill gun positions. US airplanes claim 15 interceptors shot down.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea,
A-20's, along with RAAF airplanes, again pound the Sattelberg area. During 
the night of 10/11 Oct, B-25's hit Saumlakki on Tanimbar Island in the 
Moluccas Islands.
  HQ 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group arrives at Sydney, New South
Wales, Australia from the US.
  The ground echelon of the 20th Combat Mapping Squadron, 4th Photographic
Group (Reconnaissance), arrives at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from
the US. The squadron is attached to the 6th Photographic Reconnaissance
Group and will be reassigned to the 6th on 5 Dec 43. The air echelon, with
B-24's and F-7's, will remain in the US until 26 Jan 44.
  The 70th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, transfers from
Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea with C-47's.

MONDAY, 11 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): HQ 311th Fighter-Bomber Group transfers
from Nawadih to Dinjan, India.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 8 B-24's bomb the town areas of Tengchung,
China, and Sadon and Myitkyina, Burma.
  The 75th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, transfers from Kunming to
Kweilin, China with P-40's.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): XII Bomber Command
B-25's bomb Garitsa Airfield, Greece and P-38's hit a vessel in the Corfu
harbor on Corfu Island. In Italy, XII Air Support Command and NATBF operations 
are cancelled or aborted due to weather, but RAF DAF fighters hit trains, 
trucks, and gun positions near Montesilvano and Vasto.
  The 381st and 428th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 310th Bombardment
Group (Medium), based at Menzel Temime, Tunisia with B-25's begin operating
from Oudna, Tunisia.
  Detachments of the 512th, 513th and 514th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy),
376th Bombardment Group (Heavy), which have been operating from Bengasi,
Libya with B-24's, return to their base at Enfidaville, Tunisia.
  The 527th and 528th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons, 86th Fighter-Bomber Group,
transfer from Sele Airfield to Serretella Airfield, Italy with A-36's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, 22 B-24's join 30+ USN dive bombers in pounding Kahili Airfield on 
Bougainville Island and the nearby area. Hits are scored on the airstrip, fuel 
dumps, supply areas, gun positions, bridges between Rangu and Jakohina, barges 
at the mouth of the Uguima River, and several other targets. The B-24's and the 
USN and AAF fighters covering the attack claim 12 Japanese airplanes downed.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea,
B-24's attack the towns of Manokwari, Bira, and Fak Fak and score hits on a
small vessel at Fak Fak. During the night of 11/12 Oct, B-25's bomb Cape
Chater Airfield and Lautem on Timor Island.

TUESDAY, 12 OCTOBER 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): The detachments of the 10th and 35th
Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 25th Bombardment Group (Medium), that have
been operating from Port of Spain, Trinidad with B-25's since Aug 43 return
to their base at Edinburgh Field, Trinidad and Vernam Field, Jamaica
respectively.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 5 B-24's bomb the warehouse area and 
railroad yards at Myitkyina, Burma.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): The 359th Fighter Squadron,
356th Fighter Group, transfers from Goxhill to Martlesham, England with
P-47's. The squadron will fly it's first combat mission on 15 Oct.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): XII Bomber Command
operations are canceled by weather. In Italy, the XII Air Support Command and 
other Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) elements (NATBF and RAF DAF) 
operate on a reduced scale, hitting road junctions at Vasto and Fossacesia, 
Aquino Airfield, motor transport on the Itri-Pico road and on a road N of Rome 
in the Bolsena and Capranica areas, roads near Tarquinia, rail facilities at 
Cisterna di Latina, trains between Pescara and Benedello, and guns and troops 
near Cercemaggiore.
  HQ 81st Fighter Group and it's 91st Fighter Squadron transfer from Sidi 
Ahmed, Tunisia to Castelvetrano, Sicily with P-39's.
  HQ 86th Fighter-Bomber Group and it's 526th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, transfer 
from Sele Airfield to Serretella Airfield, Italy with A-36's.
  The 86th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 47th Bombardment Group (Light),
transfers from Grottaglie to Vincenzo Airfield, Italy with A-20's.
  The detachment of the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, that has been 
operating from Gambut, Libya with P-38's since 4 Oct, returns to it's base at 
Mateur, Tunisia.
  The detachment of the 515th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 376th Bombardment 
Group (Heavy), at Bengasi, Libya with B-24's since 1 Oct, returns to it's 
base at Enfidaville, Tunisia.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon 
Islands, 2 B-25's skip-bomb 2 small vessels in Matchin Bay on Bougainville 
Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): The Allied Air
Force begins a major air offensive against Rabaul on New Britain Island in
the Bismarck Archipelago with the aim of isolating and neutralizing it.
Almost 350 B-24's, B-25's, P-38's, and RAAF airplanes pound the town, harbor, 
and airfields in the area; 50+ Japanese aircraft are destroyed, 3 ships are 
sunk and several damaged, and several small harbor craft are sunk. B-25's fly 
small strikes against targets on Timor Island and other areas of the 
Netherlands East Indies.

WEDNESDAY, 13 OCTOBER 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 11 P-40's unsuccessfully intercept 8
Japanese medium bombers attacking Massacre Bay and the nearby airfield on
Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): Japanese fighters appear in strength over
Sumprabum, Burma to attack over-the-Hump flights. The enemy evades US
patrols and shoots down 3 transports. A fighter-bomber offensive against
airfields in Burma from which fighters might operate against Hump
transports opens with an attack by P-40's on Myitkyina.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 3 B-25's on a sea sweep off SE China hit
shipping in Amoy harbor, claiming 1 freighter sunk and another damaged.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Italy declares war
on Germany.
  In Italy, XII Bomber Command B-25's and B-26's bomb the town of Alife, a
road junction at Sessa Aurunca, and airfield at Tirana; XII Air Support 
Command, supplemented by RAF DAF fighters, supports the US Fifth Army, which 
begins an assault crossing of the Volturno River on a 40-mile (64 km) front 
during the night of 12/13 Oct. Fighters and fighter-bombers hit troop and 
tank concentrations, trains, trucks, and communications the lines in the 
forward areas, especially around Ortona, Giulianova, and Campobasso. NATBF 
light bombers join in the attacks, hitting road junctions in the Vairano, 
Carinola, Dragoni, Vasto, Terracina, and Minturno areas.
  The 12th Photographic Squadron (Light), 3d Photographic Reconnaissance and 
Mapping Group, transfers from Ariana to La Marsa, Tunisia with F-4's and F-5's.
  The detachment of the 27th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, operating
from Gambut, Libya with P-38's since 5 Oct, returns to it's base at Mateur,
Tunisia.
  The 92d Fighter Squadron, 81st Fighter Group, transfers from Sidi Ahmed,
Tunisia to Castelvetrano, Sicily with P-39's.
  The 307th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, transfers from Montecorvino 
to Pomigliano, Italy with Spitfires.
  The 379th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 310th Bombardment Group (Medium), 
based at Menzel Temime, Tunisia with B-25's, begins operating from Oudna, 
Tunisia.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, a detachment of the 17th Photographic Squadron (Light), 4th
Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group, based on Guadalcanal Island
with F-5's, begins operating from Munda, New Georgia Island. The air echelons 
of "C" and "D" Flights are still in the US.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): On New Britain
Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, 100+ B-24's and B-25's are sent against
Rabaul; bad weather forces the bombers to turn back, but 40+ B-24's hit
targets including Hoskins, Lindenhafen, Cape Gloucester and Gasmata Island
off the south coast of New Britain Island.

THURSDAY, 14 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 4 B-25's attack shipping in the
Amoy area, damaging 2 freighters, and also bomb Amoy Airfield.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission 115:
229 of 291 B-17's hit the city area and ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt,
Germany in 2 group; the first group bombs at 1439-1445 hours, the second 
group at 1451-1457 hours; they claim 186-27-89 Luftwaffe aircraft; 60 B-17's 
are lost, 7 damaged beyond repair and 138 damaged; casualties are 5 KIA, 40 
WIA and 594 MIA. The attack, which causes great damage and interference with 
production, results in German reorganization of the bearing industry. Fierce 
opposition of great numbers of fighters, many of them firing rockets, 
accounts for the 60 US aircraft shot down. As a result of these heavy losses, 
daylight bombing against strategic targets deep in Germany is discontinued 
for a short period. 
  Only 29 of 60 B-24's are able to form up in poor weather; they abandoned
their planned mission and fly a diversion towards Emden, Germany. 

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, XII 
Bomber Command B-25's hit Argos Airfield and B-17's bomb the Terni 
marshalling yard. Other B-17's and B-24's attack a bridge at Giulianova,
the town area of Piano-Vomano and railroad and highway bridges N of Pescara 
and along the E coast of Italy. Weather hinders tactical aircraft operations, 
but the XII Air Support Command and RAF DAF hit trains and vehicles and fly 
patrols from N of the Volturno River to Formia and N of Pescara.
  HQ 31st Fighter Group and it's 308th and 309th Fighter Squadrons transfer
from Montecorvino to Pomigliano, Italy with Spitfires.
  The 5th Photographic Squadron (Light), Twelfth Air Force, based at La
Marsa, Tunisia with F-5's transfers operations from Pontecagnano to
Pomigliano, Italy.
  The 111th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 68th Reconnaissance Group,
ceases operating from Capaccio and returns to it's base at Pomigliano,
Italy with P-51's.
  The 525th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 86th Fighter-Bomber Group, transfers
from Sele Airfield to Serretella Airfield, Italy with A-36's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, a single B-24 on armed reconnaissance bombs 4 barges W of Taiof
Island, leaving 1 sinking.
  The 371st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy),
ceases operating from Guadalcanal Island and returns to it's base on
Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands with B-24's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 60+ medium
bombers pound Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island and Alexishafen, New
Guinea. 3 others fly harassing strikes against Dili and Lautem on Timor
Island.

FRIDAY, 15 OCTOBER 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE (First Air Force): The 25th and 26th Antisubmarine
Wings are disbanded at New York, New York and Miami, Florida.
  The ground echelon of the 23d Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy), I Bomber
Command, transfers from Drew Field, Tampa, Florida to Smoky Hill AAFld,
Kansas where they will be disbanded on 6 Nov 43. The air echelon is based
at Edinburgh Field, Trinidad with B-25's with a detachment operating from
Zandery Field, Surinam.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): The 89th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter
Group, transfers from Karachi to Gushkara, India with P-40's. A detachment
will operate from Sadiya, India during Oct.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS: HQ U.S. Army Air Forces in United Kingdom
(USAAFUK) is activated to exercise supervision over and provide coordination 
between the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces in the UK. Lieutenant General Ira C 
Eaker is appointed Commanding General in addition to his duties as Commanding 
General Eighth Air Force.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): The 55th Fighter Group (38th, 
338th and 343d Fighter Squadrons), a much needed P-38 group group, becomes
operational in the UK.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): B-25's of the XII
Bomber Command hit airfields at Salonika and Megalo Mikra, Greece. In Italy, 
XII Air Support Command and other elements of NATAF hit roads, railroads, 
bridges, junctions, railway facilities, town areas, and motor transport at or 
near Piedimonte, Vairano, Termoli, Petacciato, Sparanise, and Civitanova, and 
hit gun positions and communications in the general battle area N of the 
Volturno River.
  HQ 47th Bombardment Group (Light) and it's 84th and 85th Bombardment
Squadron (Light) transfer from Gorttaglie to Vincenzo Airfield, Italy with
A-20's.
  HQ 340th Bombardment Group (Medium) and it's 489th Bombardment Squadron
(Medium) transfer from Catania, Sicily to San Pancrazio, Italy with B-25's.
  The detachment of the 71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, operating
from Gambut, Libya with P-38's returns to it's base at Mateur, Tunisia.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, 21 B-24's, 12 P-38's, and 17 USN F4U's pound Kahili Airfield supply 
and personnel areas on Bougainville Island. 6 Zekes are claimed shot down. 
During the late evening B-25's bomb the airfield on Buka Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea,
50+ P-38's and P-40's intercept around 100 Japanese aircraft attacking
Allied shipping in Oro Bay; the US fighters claim 40+ shot down; 4 other
P-40's, encountering 20+ Japanese airplanes E of Finschhafen, claim 5
destroyed; and 70+ medium bombers hit positions and villages from Sio to
Saidor. 6 B-24's bomb Boela on Ceram Island in the Moluccas Islands.
  HQ 22d Bombardment Group and it's 33d and 408th Bombardment Squadrons
(Medium) transfer from Australia to Dobodura, New Guinea with B-25's; the 
22d and 33d transfer from Woodstock, Australia and the 408th from Reid River, 
Australia.

SATURDAY, 16 OCTOBER 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS: The Joint Chiefs of Staff send a proposed
directive to General Dwight D Eisenhower, submitted by General Henry H
"Hap" Arnold on 9 Oct, for the establishment of a new Air Force (the
Fifteenth) in Italy to be used when needed as part of the Combined Bomber
Offensive (CBO) against strategic targets in Germany.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): HQ 41st
Bombardment Group (Medium) arrives at Hickam Field, Oahu, Territory of
Hawaii from the US.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): Fighter patrols are increased from 4 to 8
aircraft with little effect on enemy marauders over the Hump. 3 A-36's fail
to return from a mission over Sumprabum, Burma.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In the United Kingdom, HQ Ninth
Air Force is established at Sunninghill as a tactical Air Force with 
Lieutenant General Lewis H Brereton as Commanding General. The 3d Bombardment 
Wing at Marks Hall is transferred from the VIII Air Support Command, Eighth Air 
Force to the IX Bomber Command commanded by Major General Frederick L Anderson. 
(HQ IX Bomber Command will not be established in England until Nov 43.)  The
four B-26 groups transferred are:
  322d Bombardment Group (Medium) [449th, 450th, 451st and 452d Bombardment 
       Squadrons (Medium)]
  323d Bombardment Group (Medium) [453d, 454th, 455th and 456th Bombardment 
       Squadrons (Medium)]
  387th Bombardment Group (Medium) [556th, 557th, 558th and 559th Bombardment 
       Squadrons (Medium)]
  388th Bombardment Group (Medium) [560th, 561st, 562d and 563d Bombardment 
       Squadrons (Medium)]
The IX Troop Carrier Command is activated at Cottesmore with Brigadier General 
Benjamin F Giles as Commanding General; the 315th Troop Carrier Group (34th and 
43d Troop Carrier Squadrons with C-47's) is transferred from from the Eighth 
Air Force; and the 434th Troop Carrier Group and it's 71st, 72d, 73d and 74th 
Troop Carrier Squadrons that arrived on 9 Oct are also assigned. The IX Air 
Service Command is re-formed under Major General Henry J Miller.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): P-38's bomb a vessel 
in Leukas Channel off the W coast of Greece. In Italy, XII Bomber Command 
B-25's bomb the marshalling yard and rail lines, railroad tunnel, highway 
underpass, warehouses, industrial buildings, and gas works in or near Bologna; 
XII Air Support Command and other NATAF elements provide close support to the 
US Fifth and British Eighth Armies; fighters and light and medium bombers hit 
communications centers of Venafro, Vairano, Sparanise, Latina, Alife, and the 
town of Pietravairano; roads, railroads, and junctions in the areas SE of Rome 
to the 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 the area 
between Rome and Ancona.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, 8 B-24's bomb Kara Airfield on Bougainville Island. 6 B-25's hit
the airfield on Ballale Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea,
60+ B-25's attack the Alexishafen area, hit coastal targets between Reiss
Point and Sio, and bomb the airfield at Wewak. A-20's bomb and strafe Gasmata
Island off New Britain Island. A lone B-24 destroys a patrol craft between
Hoskins and Rabaul on New Britain Island.

SUNDAY, 17 OCTOBER 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE (First Air Force): The 15th Antisubmarine Squadron
(Heavy), Second Air Force, is transferred from Jacksonville AAFld, Florida
to Wendover Field, Utah where it will be disbanded on 2 Nov 43.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): Heavy and medium bombers bomb Naba, Burma.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 7 B-24's bomb Htawgaw, Burma.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ 50th Troop Carrier Wing arrives
at Cottesmore, England from the US.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Weather prevents
operations by the XII Bomber Command. US and RAF units of NATAF operate at a 
reduced pace. In Italy, light and medium bombers hit the towns of Teano and 
Alife and motor transport at Benedello, Penna, and Pedesso; fighter-bombers 
bomb and strafe troops, trucks, guns, train stations, and a bridge near 
Vinchiaturo, Benedello, Teramo, and Sparanise; other fighters strafe 
locomotives S of Ancona.
  The 97th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 47th Bombardment Group (Light),
transfers from Grottaglie to Vincenzo Airfield, Italy with A-20's.
  The 99th Fighter Squadron, XII Air Support Command, transfers from
Barcellona, Sicily to Foggia, Italy with P-40's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 18 
A-20's and B-25's bomb and strafe Sattelberg and 7 B-25's hit Wewak and Boram 
Airfield with a low-level attack during which 15 aircraft are destroyed on the 
ground and 4 claimed shot down. 4 P-39's intercept 18 airplanes attacking 
Finschhafen, claiming 6 shot down. 40+ fighters intercept a large group of 
enemy aircraft attempting to attack Oro Bay; US fighters claim 24 shot down. 6 
B-24's bomb Ternate Island in the Moluccas, a 2,200-mile (3,520 km) round trip.

MONDAY, 18 OCTOBER 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): The 406th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), Fourth 
Air Force, departs Elmendorf Field, Anchorage for the US. The squadron will 
transition from B-25's to B-24's and arrive in England on 2 Nov 43.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): The 530th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 311th
Fighter-Bomber Group, transfers from Nawadih to Dinjan, India with A-36's. 

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): The 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th 
Fighter Group, arrives at East Wretham, England from the US with P-47's. The 
squadron will fly it's first mission on 13 Dec 43.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 228 B-26's dispatched to bomb 4 
airfields in France are recalled before attacking because of unfavorable 
weather. Major General Elwood R "Pete" Quesada becomes Commanding General
of the IX Fighter Command.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): XII Bomber Command
B-25's bomb the marshalling yard at Skoplje, Yugoslavia; P-38's follow with
a strafing mission, damaging or destroying several locomotives and vehicles. 
In Italy, XII Air Support Command A-36's hit the Venafro railroad yards, and 
other fighter-bombers hit gun positions, troops, and railway stations in or 
near Boiano, Petacciato, and Vairano. Fighters strafe airfields around Rome and 
also hit Viterbo, Grosseto, and the seaplane base at Bracciano, and attack 
trains on the Rome-Orte and Rome-Naples, Italy lines. NATBF light bombers bomb 
the road and railway near Cassino, the town of Carpinone, the road junction 
at Castiglione della Valle, and roads, bridges, and motor transport near 
Minturno and Chieti.
  HQ 316th Troop Carrier Group transfers from Mazzara to Borizzo, Sicily.
  The 4th Troop Carrier Squadron, 62d Troop Carrier Group, transfers from
Gela to Catania, Sicily with C-47's.
  The 12th Photographic Squadron (Light), 3d Photographic Reconnaissance
and Mapping Group, based at La Marsa, Tunisia with F-4's and F-5's, sends a
detachment to operate from Ajaccio/Camp del Oro, Corsica. 

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, 28 B-24's and 40+ USN dive bombers, with cover of 50+ fighters, hit 
the airfield on Ballale Island. 14 P-39's join 20+ US Navy aircraft in a strike 
on Kakasa village and a tent area on Choiseul Island.
  The 70th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, transfers from Guadalcanal
Island to New Georgia Island with P-39's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): On New Britain
Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, nearly 80 B-24's and fighters sent against 
Rabaul on New Britain Island are forced to abort by bad weather; however, 50+ 
B-25's slip beneath low clouds and pound the town, airfields, and shipping 
from treetop and mast-height level; the B-25's sink 2 vessels and claim 70+ 
planes destroyed on the ground and in the air; 13 of the B-24's bomb Cape 
Hoskins; 7 others bomb Cape Gloucester and hit Sio, New Guinea. B-25's bomb 
and strafe a road at Bogadjim, New Guinea.

TUESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): The 1st Troop Carrier Squadron, Tenth Air
Force, transfers from New Delhi to Sookerating, India with C-47's.
  The 529th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 311th Fighter-Bomber Group, transfers
from Nawadih to Dinjan, India with A-36's.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ 359th Fighter Group and it's
369th Fighter Squadron arrives at East Wretham, England from the US with
P-47's. The group will fly it's first mission on 13 Dec 43.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, during a
low-level raid, XII Bomber Command B-24's bomb bridges at Porto Civitanova,
S of Porto Sant' Elpidio, N of Pedaso, and N of Cupra Marittima; fighters,
fighter-bombers, and light bombers of the XII Air Support Command, NATBF, and 
RAF DAF attack the town of Boiano, gun positions and troop concentrations on 
the outskirts of town, and an ammunition dump and railroad tunnel nearby, 
Viterbo and Tarquinia landing fields, the towns of Cassino and Anzio, the 
railroad N of Pesaro and near Pineto, trains near Barisciano, troops near 
Mintumo, and vehicles at several points.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, Kara and Kahili Airfields on Bougainville Island are hit by
B-24's, Venturas, P-38's, P-40's, and USN fighters and dive bombers.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): On New Guinea,
A-20's and RAAF airplanes hit Sattelberg and surrounding areas and bomb Gasmata 
Island off New Britain Island; enemy air raid against Finschhafen causes no 
effective damage. B-25's and RAAF Hudsons bomb Fuiloro on Timor Island.

WEDNESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 1943

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): HQ 30th
Bombardment Group (Heavy) and it's 27th, 38th and 392d Bombardment Squadrons 
(Heavy) arrive at Hickam Field, Moluleia Field, Kahuku and Barking Sands, 
Territory of Hawaii respectively from the US with B-24's.
  The 396th and 820th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group 
(Medium) arrive at Hickam Field, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii from the US with 
B-25's.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): The bridge at Meza, Burma, being repaired
after being damaged severely on 10 Oct, is attacked and damaged by B-25's.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission 116.
The industrial area at Duren, Germany is the primary target. 97 of 170 B-17's 
hit the primary target at 1413-1416 bombing from 30,000-feet (48,000 m) 
because the cloud tops were at 29,500-feet (47,200 m); the 1st Bombardment 
Division uses Oboe PFF for the first time but the equipment fails and 60 
aircraft return to base without bombing; 42 of the 1st Bombardment Division's 
aircraft hit Woensdrecht Airfield in the Netherlands as a target of 
opportunity; and 70 B-24's fly a diversion; the totals are 4-1-1 Luftwaffe 
aircraft claimed; 9 B-17's lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 10 damaged; 
casualties are 4 KIA (including 3 gunners who died from oxygen system failure), 
2 WIA and 85 MIA.
  VIII Bomber Command Mission 117: During the night of 20/21 Oct, 5 B-17's
drop 876,960 leaflets over Roen and Paris at 2211-2217 hours.
  HQ 358th Fighter Group and it's 365th, 366th and 367th Fighter Squadrons
arrive at Goxhill, England from the US.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, XII
Bomber Command B-17's, B-26's, B-25's and P-38's bomb the Rome-Casale landing 
ground, Marcigliana and Cerveteri Airfields, railroad bridges at Montalto di 
Castro, Grosseto, and 13 miles (21 km) SE of Orvieto, and the marshalling 
yard at Nish, Yugoslavia obstructing the Belgrade-Sofia line; the XII Air 
Support Command, NATBF, and other aircraft of the NATAF devote most of their 
efforts to bombing gun positions, trucks, and rail and road communications S 
of Vasto, at Mignano, N of Cassino, in Cassino and Chieti, at Castropignano, 
Carpinone, Arce, Tratella, and at various other points along highways and 
railroads. Fighter-bombers also hit shipping along Dalmatian coast of 
Yugoslavia, claiming 2 vessels sunk.
  HQ 62d Fighter Wing transfers from Palermo, Sicily to Naples, Italy.
  The 527th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 86th Fighter-Bomber Group, transfers
from Serretella Airfield to Pomigliano, Italy with A-36's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, Kakasa on Choiseul Island is attacked 3 times by Venturas, P-40's,
and USN fighters and dive bombers. 24 P-40's and nearly 50 USN F4U's sweep 
Kahili on Bougainville Island; one force of F4U's encounters fighters, 
claiming 3 destroyed.
  The 69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium),
ceases operating form Guadalcanal Island with B-25's and returns to it's
base on New Caledonia Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea,
B-25's bomb and strafe the Bogadjim area; B-24's hit 2 freighters near
Manokwari and bomb the Manokwari area; and an attack on Finschhafen by 30
Japanese aircraft causes minor damage. A-20's hit Gasmata Island off New
Britain Island. 

THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 1943

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): The 72d Fighter
Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, transfers from Hilo Field to Wheeler Field,
Territory of Hawaii with P-39's.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): The 530th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 311th
Fighter-Bomber Group, based at Dinjan, India with A-36's sends a detachment
to operate from Kurmitola, India.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-24's bomb Nawlang, Burma; the barracks
area is blasted by at least 3 direct hits. 6 P-40's pound the barracks area
at Kunlong, China.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Bad weather causes 72 B-26's sent
to bomb Evreux/Fauville Airfield in France to abort the mission.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Colonel Arthur
Thomas takes command of the XII Air Force Service Command. In Italy, XII
Bomber Command B-17's hit a railroad viaduct at Terni and rail and road
bridges in Albania. B-24's hit Orvieto railroad bridge; B-26's and B-25's
bomb bridges at Montalto di Castro and NW of Acquapendente and the railroad
at Orbetello; P-38's bomb a radar station at Pellegrino and the marshalling
yard at Skoplje, Yugoslavia; RAF and US NATAF light and medium bombers 
concentrate on Cassino, hitting the town, a bivouac area nearby, and railroad 
to the S; vessels along Dalmatian coast of Yugoslavia are also attacked; XII 
Air Support Command fighters and fighter-bombers patrol the Naples area and 
attack numerous roads, railroads, bridges, junctions, trucks, gun emplacements, 
and other targets in the battle area.
  The 93d Fighter Squadron, 81st Fighter Group, transfers from Sidi Ahmed,
Tunisia to Castelvetrano, Sicily with P-39's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, 12 B-25's, with an escort of 36 fighters, attack Kara Airfield on
Bougainville Island. The runway and several buildings suffer direct hits.
  The 23d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based
on Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands with B-24's begins operating
from Guadalcanal Island.
  The 75th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium),
transfers from Guadalcanal Island to the Russell Islands with B-25's. 

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea,
50+ B-24's bomb positions at Sattelberg; 19 B-25's follow with a low-level
strike: other B-25's carry out a sweep along the Bogadjim road. In the
Bismarck Archipelago, P-40's bomb Gasmata Island off New Britain Island and
attack 2 light cruisers off New Ireland Island, damaging 1 of them.

FRIDAY, 22 OCTOBER 1943

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): The 819th
Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives at
Barking Sands, Territory of Hawaii with B-24's. The squadron, the ex-3d
Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy), will fly sea searches and supply the 30th
Group with replacement crews and planes until May 44.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, a B-25 strike against a railroad
bridge on the Ye-u branch line over the Mu River between Ywataung and Monywa 
fails to damage the structure. This raid marks the final assault of the year 
on this bridge.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): About 60 B-26's bomb Evreux/Fauville 
Airfield in France; 140+ others abort missions against other airfields because 
of bad weather.


MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): The Combined
Chiefs of Staff (CCS) approve the plan, submitted by General Henry H "Hap"
Arnold and the US Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), to create a new Air Force
(the 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.
  In Italy, XII Bomber Command B-26's bomb railroad bridges N and SE of
Omvieto; B-25's hit a railroad bridge S of Grosseto and Eleusis Airfield,
Greece; The XII Air Support Command, along with other elements of the NATAF, 
hit town areas, highways, vehicles, gun positions, railroad communications, 
strongpoints, and targets of opportunity at or near San Salvo Teano, Venafro, 
Cantalupo el Sannio, Isernia, Cassino, Montenero, and Boiano. Aquino 
Airfield is also bombed.
  The 12th Troop Carrier Squadron, 60th Troop Carrier Group, based at Gela,
Sicily, begins operating from Comiso, Sicily with C-47's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, Kahili Airfield on Bougainville Island and the surrounding areas
are pounded by 22 B-24's, 30+ P-39's and P-40's and about 160 USN fighters 
and dive bombers. 18 B-24's and USN airplanes hit targets in the Choiseul 
Island area. Other USN aircraft hit Kara Airfield on Bougainville Island. A 
single B-24 claims hits on a carrier NW of Buka Island.
  HQ 42d Bombardment Group (Medium) and it's 390th Bombardment Squadron
(Medium) transfer from Guadalcanal Island to the Russell Islands with B-25's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea,
20+ B-25's carry out a low-level attack on the Wewak area, sinking 2 small
freighters, and strafing barges and airplanes; Madang is strafed by 4 P-39's 
and 2 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boomerangs. 50+ P-40's hit Gasmata 
Island off New Britain Island. 11 B-24's bomb Pombelaa nickel mines on 
Celebes Island.

SATURDAY, 23 OCTOBER 1943

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): AAF fighters
shoot down a Japanese flying boat 70 miles (112 km) S of Baker Island in
the Pacific Ocean.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): B-25's bomb the Meza, Burma railroad bridge, 
which is still being repaired following the damaging raid of 10 Oct; damage 
is done to the approaches.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, XII
Bomber Command B-26's bomb railroad and road bridges at Marsicano and
Montalto di Castro; P-38's hit the airfield at Tirana; B-25's hit a bridge
in Albania; the XII Air Support Command, RAF Desert Air Force (DAF), and 
NATBF attack troop concentrations in the Spinete area, and town areas, 
vehicles, trains, railroads, highways, bridges, and gun positions at or near 
Gaeta, Pescara, Vasto, Isolella, Sulmona, Isernia, Vairano, and Ancona.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, 11 B-24's and 16 P-38's hit Kahili Airfield on Bougainville Island 
and 36 P-40's and P-39's join 60+ US Navy dive bombers and fighters in a 
strike on Kara Airfield on Bougainville; both Kahili and Kara are attacked 
again later in the day, the former by 6 B-24's and 16 USN fighters and the 
latter by 35 AAF fighters and 42 USN dive bombers. 6 B-24's bomb Kakasa on 
Choiseul Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 40+ B-24's
escorted by P-38's, bomb Rapopo airstrip on New Britain Island, destroying
about 20 airplanes on the ground; 20 enemy interceptors are claimed shot
down. 9 B-25's hit the Bogadjim area in New Guinea.

SUNDAY, 24 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 14 B-24's and 13 P-40's pound a barracks
area at Co Bi, French Indochina. 8 B-24's bomb Htawgaw, Burma while on a
ferry flight over the Hump.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 200 B-26's bomb airfields at
Montdidier, Beauvais/Nivillers, and Saint-Andre-de-L'Eure, France.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): XII Bomber Command
B-24's of the 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy) hit Wiener-Neustadt, Austria;
the 376th Bombardment Group (Heavy) fails to complete the mission because
of clouds. In Italy, medium bombers hit Tirana Airfield, a railroad bridge
N of Orvieto, and a viaduct at Terni; the XII Air Support Command, NATBF, 
and RAF DAF attack communications and shipping targets, hitting vessels, 
vehicles, trains, roads, bridges, and the town areas in and around Formia, 
Sora, Chieti, Minturno, Sessa Aurunca, Popoli, Terracina, between Ancona-
Pedaso, Frosolone (just before it is taken by allied ground forces), and 
along the Dalmatian coast of Yugoslavia.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, 36 B-25's, along with 24 Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)
P-40's and 4 USN F4U's, in 1 force, and 20 AAF fighter and 70+ USN fighters 
and dive bombers in another force, pound Kahili Airfield on Bougainville 
Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): On New Britain
Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, at least 45 bombers are destroyed on
the ground at Vunakanau, Rapopo, and Tobera airstrips during attacks by 50+
B-25's; the B-25's and 50+ escorting P-38's claim 40+ Japanese airplanes
shot down. On New Guinea, A-20's hit enemy positions in the Lae area and
B-24's carry out a light attack on Manokwari.

MONDAY, 25 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 6 P-40's strafe shipping 
at Haiphong, claiming 3 small boats sunk and damaging 6 larger boats; 2 
B-25's and 4 P-40's attack shipping in the Gulf of Tonkin, claiming a 150-ft 
(45.7 m) tanker sunk and 200-ft (61 m) freighter damaged.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, XII
Bomber Command P-39's strafe and bomb the landing ground at Podgorica; XII
Air Support Command, NATBF and RAF DAF concentrate on blocking roads and 
destroying bridges; town areas, vehicles, radio stations, trains, and vessels 
are also attacked; targets attacked are in or near Frosinone, Formia, Gaeta, 
Cetraro, along the Sangro River, Kuna, along the Dalmatian coast of 
Yugoslavia, W of Lagosta Island and S of Rome; Tarquinia Airfield is also 
bombed.
  HQ 324th Fighter Group and it's 314th Fighter Squadron transfer from
Menzel Heurr, Tunisia to Cercola, Italy with P-40's. The squadron, which
has been out of combat since 21 Jul, will fly it's first mission on 30 Oct.
  The 36th Troop Carrier Squadron, 316th Troop Carrier Group, transfers
from Mazara to Castelvetrano, Sicily with C-47's.
  The 64th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group, transfers from Foggia to
Amendola, Italy with P-40's.
  The 486th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 340th Bombardment Group (Medium), 
transfers from Catania, Sicily to San Pancrazio, Italy with B-25's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): The 372d
Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based on
Espirtu Santo Island in the New Hebrides Islands, begins operating from
Guadalcanal Island with B-24's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 60+ B-24's bomb
the Rabaul area on New Britain Island, destroying 20+ airplanes on the
ground. Of the 60-70 fighters which intercept, the B-24's claim 30+ shot
down. In New Guinea, A-20's hit positions near Lae and B-24's carry out a
light strike against Manokwari.

MONDAY, 26 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): The 71st Liaison Squadron, US Army Forces,
CBI, transfers from Ramgarh to Ledo, India with L-4's and L-5's.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 13 B-24's and 15 P-40's pound railroad
yards at Haiphong, French Indochina. In China, 2 B-25's attack several
vessels at Kiungshan, claiming 4 sunk or badly damaged; later 6 more B-25's
hit shipping nearby, claiming 1 freighter sunk; the airfield at Kiungshan
is strafed by 1 of the B-25's.
  The 21st Photographic Squadron (Light), Fourteenth Air Force, based at
Kunming, China with F-4's and F-5's, sends a fight to operate from
Suichwan, China.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Greece, B-25's
and P-38's of the XII Bomber Command attack the airfields of Salonika/Sedhes 
and Megalo Mikra. In Italy, XII Air Support Command and RAF DAF fighters and 
fighter-bombers attack gun emplacements and road junctions in the battle 
area along the E coast and in the center of Italy, also destroying many 
vehicles and parked aircraft in the Ancona area, where railroad facilities 
are also hit; a schooner at Porto Civitanova is left smoking; medium bombers 
of the NATBF bomb Terracina and an ammunition dump.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, Kahili Airfield on Bougainville Island is hit twice during the day
by B-24's, B-25's, P-38's, P-40's, P-39's, and USN fighters and dive bombers. 
The airfield on Buka Island is strafed by P-38's and then bombed and strafed 
by B-25's and P-38's. P-39's and P-40's join USN fighters and dive bombers in 
a strike on Kara Airfield on Bougainville.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-24's fly a
small raid against Pombelaa on Celebes Island; fighters shoot down 2 B-24's; 
US gunners claim 11 aircraft downed. B-25's hit targets in Tanimbar Island 
in the Moluccas Islands.

WEDNESDAY, 27 OCTOBER 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): The 4th Reconnaissance Squadron (Special),
Antilles Air Command, transfers from Losey Field to Borinquen Field, Puerto
Rico with L-1's, O-47's, O-52's and P-39's.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-24's bomb the city of Tungling, China
and claim 8 intercepting Zekes shot down.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Austria, 150+
B-17's and B-24's bomb Wiener-Neustadt and railroad tracks and installations 
and bridges at Friedberg and Ebenfurth. Weather severely curtails NATBF 
missions and XII Air Support Command operations in support of ground forces. 
Fighter-bombers attack Gaeta, Italy and bomb small vessels on the Dalmatian 
coast at Opuzen, Yugoslavia.
  HQ 57th Fighter Group and it's 65th and 66th Fighter Squadrons transfer
from Foggia to Amendola, Italy with P-40's.
  The 315th and 316th Fighter Squadrons, 324th Fighter Group, transfer from
Menzel Heurr, Tunisia to Cercola, Italy with P-40's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, B-24's pound Kahili and Kara airfields on Bougainville Island; 
P-40's over Kahili claim 3 Zekes shot down. P-38's, P-40's, and P-39's, plus 
some RNZAF P-40's and P-39's, cover the landing by New Zealand troops on 
Stirling and Mono Islands. The fighters claim destruction of 12 Japanese 
dive bombers attacking the landing force and afterwards claim 3 fighters 
shot down.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea,
P-40's and P-39's intercept an escorted Japanese bomber force dropping
supplies over the Sattelberg area; the US fighters claim 12 airplanes downed. 
A-20's hit harbor and supply dump area at Gasmata Island off New Britain 
Island.

THURSDAY, 28 OCTOBER 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ZONE OF INTERIOR: The AAF School of Applied Tactics at Orlando AAB,
Florida is redesignated the AAF Tactical Center.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 7 B-24's bomb Mangshih; 6 P-40's
strafe a warehouse and revetments at Yoyang Airfield; 3 B-25's and 7 P-38's
hit a barracks at Ft Bayard; and 2 B-25's on a shipping sweep over the S 
China Sea damage 2 freighters near Saint John Island and sink a junk W of
Kwangchow Wan.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Weather prevents
most Twelfth Air Force operations planned for the day. No missions are
flown by the XII Bomber Command. In Italy, XII Air Support Command A-36's
hit several highways and bridges in advance of the battleline and attack
gun positions in the Vairano area and transportation targets in the Rome
area.
  The 28th Troop Carrier Squadron, 60th Troop Carrier Group, transfers from
Gela to Gerbini, Sicily with C-47's.
  The 346th Fighter Squadron, 350th Fighter Group, transfers from Rerhaia,
Algeria to Sardinia with P-39's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, P-40's and P-39's join USN fighters and dive bombers in attacks on 
Kara Airfield on Bougainville Island and the airfield on Ballale Island. 
Almost 200 aircraft are involved in the 2 strikes. Kara airfield is also 
pounded by 19 B-24's.
  The 67th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, based on Woodlark Island
with P-39's, begins operating form New Georgia Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): P-40's hit
Gasmata Island off New Britain Island. P-47's attack barges at Talasea on
New Britain Island and strafe surrounding area. In New Guinea, P-47's also
strafe the area from Sio to Fortification Point.

FRIDAY, 29 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 14 B-24's and 16 P-40's pound the smelter
area at Quang Yen, French Indochina. In China, 2 B-25's bomb the 
administration building and runway at Ft Bayard airfield; 9 P-40's on
offensive reconnaissance in the Chiuchiang area strafe a 200-ft (320 m)
steamer and attack a train, destroying the locomotive.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, 100+ XII
Bomber Command B-17's, escorted by P-38's, bomb the Genoa marshalling yard
and also hit the Sampierdarena marshalling yard, San Giorgio instrument
factory, and ordnance, electric, and fitting plants and bridges at Genoa-
Ansaldo; the XII Air Support Command, NATBF, and RAF DAF are forced by bad 
weather to abandon several missions in support of ground forces. Troops and 
gun positions are attacked on 2 occasions and several bridges are hit; 
Giulianova harbor and shipping are successfully attacked.
  HQ 57th Bombardment Wing transfers from Naples to Foggia, Italy.
  HQ 60th Troop Carrier Group and it's 11th Troop Carrier Squadron transfer
from Gela to Gerbini, Sicily with C-47's.
  The 487th and 488th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 340th Bombardment
Group (Medium), transfer from Catania, Sicily to San Pancrazio, Italy with
B-25's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon
Islands, B-25's and B-24's, along with 40+ USN aircraft, bomb the airfield 
on Buka Island and Bonis Airfield on Bougainville Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 37 B-24's,
escorted by 53 P-38's, pound Rabaul area on New Britain Island, claiming 45
airplanes destroyed on the ground and in the air. 17 B-25's hit the Madang,
New Guinea area. P-47's attack shipping in Hansa Bay, New Guinea area and
strafe the Cape Gloucester area on New Britain Island. B-25's sink a vessel
off Tanimbar Island in the Moluccas Islands while B-24's bomb Selaroe
airstrip on Tanimbar and attack the Waroe Bay area of New Guinea.
  The 8th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, transfers from Tsili Tsili
to Gusap, New Guinea with P-47's.
  The 63d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy)
transfers from Port Moresby to Dobodura, New Guinea with B-24's.

SATURDAY, 30 OCTOBER 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE (First Air Force): The ground echelons of the 6th
and 22d Antisubmarine Squadrons (Heavy), 479th Antisubmarine Group, are
disbanded at Salk Lake City AAB, Utah. The air echelons are at Dunkeswell,
England with B-24's.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 7 B-25's and 12 P-40's pound the
motor pool and barracks at Shayang; 9 P-38's hit the Chiuchiang dock area;
2 interceptors are shot down.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 5 B-26's bomb Cherbourg/Maupertus
Airfield in France.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, XII
Bomber Command B-24's bomb the Genoa marshalling yard and nearby 
Sampierdarena and Genoa-Ansaldo steel works; B-17's bomb Savona and Varazze, 
Porto Maurizio, and the Imperia marshalling yard; weather reduces the efforts 
of NATAF elements; NATBF B-25's bomb Frosinone; fighter-bombers, mainly of 
the XII Air Support Command, hit bridges, junctions, shipping, marshalling 
yard, gun positions, and vehicles at several locations, including Giulianova, 
Ancona, Ortona, Sessa Aurunca, Mignano, and Cassino.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): On Bougainville
Island in the Solomon Islands, Kara Airfield is bombed by 16 B-24's and
shortly afterwards is hit by 90+ USN dive bombers escorted by USN and AAF 
fighters; the airstrip and other targets at Kieta are attacked by 6 B-25's, 
12 P-39's and USN aircraft; and the Tonolai harbor area is hit by 8 P-40's 
and 17 USN planes.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25's strafe
barges in Rein Bay on New Britain Island.

SUNDAY, 31 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, in an attempt to knock out the
Japanese base from which fighters are attacking ferrying operations, P-40's
carrying 1000-pound (454 kg) bombs fly 4 strikes against Myitkyina; following 
the bomb runs, the fighters strafe AA positions; the attacks cause 
considerable damage to the base; B-25's attack the Meza railroad bridge, 
scoring hits on the approaches but missing the structure; the bridge remains 
unusable due to damage caused by the 10 Oct strike.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): XII Bomber Command
B-17's bomb Antheor viaduct in France. In Italy, B-26's hit Anzio; B-25's
attack docks and shipping at Civitavecchia; P-38's strafe and bomb Tirana
airfield; weather cancels all NATAF attacks except for 11 P-40's which bomb 
and strafe a tanker off Split, Yugoslavia, leaving it burning. XII Air 
Support Command fighters fly an uneventful naval escort.
  HQ 1st Fighter Group and it's 71st Fighter Squadron transfer from Mateur
to Djedeida, Tunisia with P-38's.
  The 379th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 310th Bombardment Group (Medium), 
ceases operating from Oudna and returns to it's base at Menzel Temime, 
Tunisia with B-25's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 20+ B-25's,
with fighter support, bomb Kara Airfield on Bougainville Island in the
Solomon Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): P-40's sink a
barge off the New Britain Island coast.
  The 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, 54th Troop Carrier Wing, ceases operating 
from Tsili Tsili and returns to it's base at Nadzab, New Guinea with C-47's.

SOURCES: 
AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force History,
  Headquarters USAF, 1961, ISBN 0-912799-02-1
COMBAT SQUADRONS OF THE AIR FORCE, WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force
  History, Headquarters USAF 1982
THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by the
  Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF, 1973
THE MIGHTY EIGHTH WAR DIARY by Roger A. Freeman, ISBN 1-85409-071-2

Jack McKillop
USAF (Airways and Air Communications Service)
1955-59

• With grateful thanks for the scholarship of Kit Carter, Robert Mueller and Jack McKillop •
• Thanks also to Charles McGrew •

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt

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