USAAF Combat Operations 1941

USAAF Worldwide Operations Chronology
		COMBAT CHRONOLOGY OF THE US ARMY AIR FORCES

JANUARY 1945

AIRCRAFT MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:
  A-20, Douglas Havoc
  A-26, Douglas Invader
  B-17, Boeing Flying Fortress
  B-24, Consolidated Liberator
  B-25, North American Mitchell
  B-26, Martin Marauder
  B-29, Boeing Superfortress
  Beaufighter, Bristol
  C-46, Curtiss Commando
  C-47, Douglas Skytrain
  UC-64, Noorduyn Norseman
  F-5, Lockheed Lightning
  F-6, North American Mustang
  F-7, Consolidated Liberator
  F-13, Boeing Superfortress
  Fw 190, Focke Wulf
  L-1, Stinson Vigilant
  L-4, Piper Cub/Grasshopper
  L-5, Stinson Sentinel
  Mosquito, deHavilland
  P-38, Lockheed Lightning
  P-40, Curtiss
  P-47, Republic Thunderbolt
  P-51, North American Mustang
  P-61, Northrop Black Widow
  Spitfire, Vickers Supermarine

NOTE: A number in parenthesis after a target name indicates the number of
bombers attacking.

MONDAY, 1 JANUARY 1945

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 5 B-24s fly coverage for a naval force upon
aborting a bomb mission to the Kurile Islands.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 3 B-24s bomb Ft Bayard; 40
P-51s and P-40s pound railroad targets, warehouses, industrial works, and gun
positions from Yoyang to Puchi; 8 P-51s hit Suchow Airfield, claiming 25
aircraft destroyed; 47 other P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance hit
troops, horses, town areas, and rail and road traffic at several locations
especially at Liuchenghsien and between Siaokan and Hsuchang; a detachment of
the 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, begins operating from Laohokow
with P-51s (squadron is based at Chengkung; another detachment is at
Kwanghan); during Jan 45, the detachment of the 25th Fighter Squadron, 51st
Fighter Group operating from Poashan with P-51s moves to Leangshan; the 26th
Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group sends detachments to operate from Poseh,
Liangshan and Laohokow with P-51s; and the detachments of the 528th Fighter
Squadron, 311th Fighter Group, operating from Hanchung and Liangshan with
P-51s, return to base at Shwangliu.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 71 P-47s and P-38s attack
villages, general supply areas, fuel dumps, tanks and other vehicles, and
troop concentrations at several locations including Man Hio, Bahe, Mongmit,
Hatka, Namhpakka, Loi-hseng, Mong Yaw and in the Hsenwi area, 4 others hit
targets of opportunity along the Irrawaddy River from Tanaung to Kyungyi; 4
B-25s harass communications lines during the night of 1/2 Jan.  Large-scale
air transport operations continue. The 14th and 15th Combat Cargo Squadrons,
4th Combat Cargo Group, move from Sylhet to Argartala, India with C-46s.
During Jan, the detachment of the 436th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th
Bombardment Group (Heavy), based at Luliang, China with B-24s ferrying
gasoline to Suichwan, China, returns to base at Madhaiganj, India.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 774: 845 bombers and 725 fighters are dispatched to hit oil
installations and rail bridges and junctions in W Germany visually and by
PFF; they claim 23-1-3 Luftwaffe aircraft including a jet fighter; 8 bombers
and 2 fighters are lost:
  1. 451 B-17s are sent to hit an oil refinery at Magdeburg (11); secondary
targets are the Henschel marshalling yard at Kassel (292) and the Gottingen
marshalling yard (26); targets of opportunity are Hadamar (12), Wetzlar (12),
Dillenburg (15), Koblenz (11), Wetter (12), Limburg (8), Kirchbunden (7) and
other (22); 2 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 71 damaged; 10
airmen are KIA, 8 WIA and 18 MIA. Escorting are 327 of 374 P-51s; they claim
17-1-1 aircraft; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.
  2. 109 B-17s are dispatched to hit oil industry targets at Dollbergen (54)
and Ehmen (24); targets of opportunity are the Koblenz marshalling yard (12),
Limburg (4) and other (5); 3 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 43 damaged;
10 airmen are KIA. Escort is provided by 199 P-47s and P-51s without loss.
  3. 273 B-24s hit the Lutzel (56) and Guls (30) rail bridges at Koblens, the
Irlich rail bridge (57) and the Remagen rail bridge (6); targets of
opportunity are Andernach (26), Engers rail bridge (9), Trier (1) and others
(6); 1 B-24 is lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 63 damaged; 20 airmen are
KIA, 8 WIA and 10 MIA. The escort is 66 of 70 P-51s without loss.
  4. 12 of 12 B-17s fly a screening force mission; they are 8 minutes late
for their escort and are attacked by Fw 190s when 50 miles (80 km) ahead of
the bombers; they claim 6-0-2 aircraft; 5 B-17s are lost and 1 damaged beyond
repair; 45 airmen are MIA. Escort is supposed to be 23 of 26 P-51s.
  5. 2 of 5 B-17s fly an APHRODITE mission against Oldenburg without loss.
  6. 11 of 11 P-51s escort 9 F-5s and 1 Spitfire on a photo reconnaissance
mission over Germany without loss.
  7. 25 P-47s and P-51s escort 3 of 4 Mosquitoes on a special operations
mission without loss.
  Mission 775: 5 B-24s and 3 B-17s drop leaflet on Belgium and Germany during
the night without loss.
  The 1st, 2d and 3d Bombardment Divisions are redesignated 1st, 2d and 3d
Air Divisions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): The Luftwaffe launches an attack of
700-800 aircraft against Ninth AF and Allied airfields, mainly in the
Brussels, Belgium and Eindhoven, the Netherlands areas, and to a lesser
degree in the Metz, France area; 127 operational Allied aircraft are
destroyed; Allied fighters claim 160 air victories while AA claims 300. 190
A-20s, A-26s, and B-26s hit rail bridges, communications centers, a road
junction, a command post, and HQ, all in Belgium and Germany; fighters escort
9th Bombardment Division and Eighth AF bombers, fly patrols, sweeps, and
armed reconnaissance (claiming 39 air victories and numerous ground targets
destroyed) and support the US III, VII, and XII Corps between Saint-Hubert,
Belgium and the Mosel River, Germany. In France, the detachment of the 72d
Liaison Squadron, Ninth AF (attached to Sixth Army Group), ceases operating
from Steinbourg with L-5s and returns to base at Buhl. During Jan 45, HQ XIX
Tactical Air Command moves from France to Luxembourg.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Unfavorable weather permits
only P-38 reconnaissance flights.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack
bridges at Palazzuolo sull'Oglio, Parma, and Calcinato (the latter 2 targets
are missed) and an ammunition dump at Parma; fighter-bombers support ground
forces S of Bologna, hit communications and numerous targets of opportunity
to the N and completely destroy a fuel dump at Parma; A-20s on intruder
missions during the night of 31 Dec/1 Jan, achieve excellent results on a
motor park near Molinella and hit a marshalling yard near Milan. HQ 319th
Bombardment Group (Medium) departs Corsica for the US where it converts to
A-26 aircraft in preparation for assignment to the Pacific.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 19 B-24s from Saipan Island, Mariana Islands,
bomb Iwo Jima Island, Volcano Islands; 9 more, during snooper missions on the
night of 1/2 Jan, hit the island at varying intervals.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In the Philippine
Islands, B-25s and fighter-bombers make low level attacks on Negros Island
airfields; B-24s, with P-38 cover, bomb Clark Field on Luzon Island and
others  pound the Sasa area on Mindanao Island. On Halmahera Island,
Moluccas Islands, B-24s along with B-25s hit the Djailolo, Wasile Bay bivouac
areas, and Miti ammunition dump. B-25s bomb airfields on Ceram Island,
Moluccas Islands and barracks at Laoag on Luzon. Fighter-bombers are active
against targets in the Manila area on Luzon and also hit Silay on Negros.
Airfields, shipyards, and other targets in the Borneo, Celebes and Lesser
Sunda Islands also sustain light raids, by FEAF fighters and bombers, which
also fly armed reconnaissance. HQ 345th Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from
Dulag to Tacloban, Leyte Island, Philippine Islands. During Jan 44, the
detachment of the 4th Photographic Charting Squadron, 311th Photographic Wing
[attached to 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance)] ceases operating from
Morotai Island, Moluccas Islands, with F-7s and returns to base at Hollandia,
New Guinea; at the same time, a detachment of this squadron begins operating
in Australia during the month (this squadron is mapping areas of the SW and W
Pacific); in New Guinea, the detachment of the 64th Troop Carrier Squadron,
403d Troop Carrier Group, operating from Noemfoor Island returns to base on
Biak Island with C-47s.  During Jan, the 8th Combat Cargo Squadron, 2d Combat
Cargo Group, moves from Finschhafen, New Guinea to Biak with C-46s.

TUESDAY, 2 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-25s bomb Kentung, Burma. 30+
P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance attack targets of opportunity, mainly
railroad traffic, at or near Lohochai, Pengpu, and Sinyang, China; and Man
Pong, Wanling, and Wan Pa-Hsa, Burma.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 24: 49 B-29s, operating from the
Calcutta, India area, are dispatched to attack a railroad bridge at Bangkok,
Thailand; 44 hit the primary target and 2 hit an alternate and a target of
opportunity; they claim 0-1-1 Japanese aircraft.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, troop concentrations and
supplies are attacked at Mabein, Panghka, Mansut, Letpangon, Loi-mun,
Panghkai, Namhsan, Thabeikkyin, and in the Lashio area by 66 P-47s and 13
P-38s. 546 transport sorties are flown to forward bases and frontline areas.
In India, the 13th Combat Cargo Squadron, 4th Combat Cargo Group, moves from
Sylhet to Agartala with C-46s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 776: 1,011 bombers and 503 fighters are dispatched to attack
communications and tactical targets in W Germany visually and using Gee-H; 4
bombers and 3 fighters are lost:
  1. 299 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Gerolstein marshalling yard (74) and
communications centers are Mayen (68), Prum (34), Daun (34), Kyllburg (37)
and Bitburg (36); 3 others hit a target of opportunity; 70 B-17s are damaged.
Escorting are 128 of 130 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged
beyond repair.  
  2. 296 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Lutzel (65) and Guls (59) rail
bridges at Koblenz plus rail bridges at Irlich (59), Remagen (56) and Engers
(43); 3 others hit a target of opportunity; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair
and 26 damaged. The escort is 215 P-47s and P-51s without loss.
  3. 410 B-17s are sent to hit marshalling yards at Bad Kreuznach (73) and
Ehrang (66), a rail junction at Bad Kreuznach (67), a rail bridge at
Kaiserslautern (34) and tank concentrations at Lebach (128); targets of
opportunity are marshalling yards at St Wendel (11) and Trier (3) and other
(3); 4 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 36 damaged; 10 airmen are
KIA, 2 WIA and 37 MIA. Escort is provided by 125 of 127 P-51s; 2 P-51s are
lost (pilots MIA).
  4. 6 of 6 B-17s fly a screening force mission.
  5. 23 P-51s escort 6 F-5s and a Spitfire on a photo reconnaissance mission
over Germany.
  Mission 777: 2 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in France and Germany during
the night.
  HQ VIII Air Force Services Command (Advanced) is established in Brussels,
Belgium, along with a "Far Shore" staff division; through this HQ, the
Commanding General Air Force Services Command can administer his command and
closely communicate with other commands operating on the Continent; this
arrangement functions until 29 Apr 45 when it is relieved by the 5th
Strategic Air Depot at Merville, France.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS 

    First Tactical Air Force (Provisional): The 314th, 315th and 316th
Fighter Squadrons, 324th Fighter Group, move from Tavaux to Luneville, France
with P-47s.

    Ninth Air Force: 135 A-20s, A-26s, and B-26s hit rail bridges and
communications centers in Belgium and Germany; fighters escort the 9th
Bombardment Division, fly patrols, sweeps, and armed reconnaissance and
support the US III and VIII Corps in the Bastogne, Belgium area and the XII
Corps S of the Clerf River, Luxembourg, and W of the Sauer River in Germany.
The 72d Liaison Squadron, Ninth AF (attached to Sixth Army Group), moves
from Buhl to Epinal, France with L-5s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather restricts
operations to reconnaissance flights,

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, fighter-bombers
concentrate their effort in the W Po Valley and Brenner area, claiming large
number of rail lines cut and many vehicles and trains destroyed and damaged;
the Milan marshalling yard is hit hard and good coverage is achieved on
support targets in the US Fifth Army battle area; A-20s during the night of
1/2 Jan, continue intruder missions over the Po Valley; the 84th and 86th
Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 47th Bombardment Group (Light) move from
Rosignano Airfield to Grosseto with A-20s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 12 Guam Island-based B-24s hit Haha Jima Island
in the Bonin Islands while 14 others pound Iwo Jima Island; during the night
of 2/3 Jan, 10 B-24s, flying snooper strikes out of Guam, hit Iwo Jima over a
7-hour period.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: P-38s and A-20s hit
shipping in San Fernando harbor on Negros Island; on Luzon Island, B-24s
pound Clark Field and B-25s hit Batangas; airfields in the C Philippine
Islands area are bombed by B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers while B-24s
strike Likanan on Mindanao Island; Menado on Celebes Island; and the Wasile
Bay area on Halmahera Island. Other FEAF aircraft make armed reconnaissance
and harassing strikes on targets of opportunity throughout the C Philippine
Islands area and the Netherlands East Indies. The 8th Fighter Squadron, 49th
Fighter Group, moves from Tacloban, Leyte Island to San Jose, Mindoro Island,
Philippine Islands, with P-38s.

WEDNESDAY, 3 JANUARY 1945

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): B-25s fly coverage for a naval force over the
Kurile Islands.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 10 P-51s hit the airfield
at Tsinan, claiming 13 aircraft destroyed; 6 P-51s claim several river
steamers sunk in the Hankow-Chiuchiang area while 6 others damage bridges at
Chinchengchiang. 20+ other P-40s, P-51s, and P-47s on armed reconnaissance
attack various targets of opportunity in the Wuchang-Hankow and Shwangliu,
China areas, and at Namtao, S and SW of Man Pong, and W of Wanling, Burma.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 10 B-25s, supported by 12
P-47s, attack the airfield at Aungban; troop concentrations and supply and
ammunition dumps are pounded at several locations, including Man Kun, Loi
Hkam,  Ngawnga, Chakau, Mulaw, and Man Pwe. 575 transport flights are
completed to forward areas; the 115th Liaison Squadron, Tenth AF [attached to
1st Liaison Group (Provisional)], based at Ledo, India, sends a detachment to
operate from Myitkyina with L-1s and L-5s; the 165th Liaison Squadron
(Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, based at Kawlin, sends a detachment to
operate from Inbaung with UC-64s and L-5s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 778: 1,168 bombers and 589
fighters are dispatched to attack rail and communications targets in W
Germany; all are PFF attacks using H2X, Gee-H and Micro H; they claim 4-0-0
Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 fighters are lost:
  1. 417 B-17s are sent to hit marshalling yards at Fulda (141) and
Aschaffenburg (124) and communications centers at Gemund (38) and Schleiden
(36); the Mosel marshalling yard at Koblenz, a secondary target, is hit by 36
bombers; targets of opportunity are the Pforzheim marshalling yard (25) and
other (3); 1 B-17 is damaged; 2 airmen are WIA. Escort is provided by 219 of
227 P-51s; they claim 4-0-0 aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 4
damaged beyond repair.
  2. 325 B-24s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards at Altstadt (31),
Homburg (41), Zweibrucken (55), Neunkirchen (84), Landau (59) and the
Pirmasens railhead (41); 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged.
Escorting are 143 of 148 P-51s.
  3. 421 B-17s are sent to hit the Hermulheim W (72) and E (36) marshalling
yards, a communications center at St Vith, Belgium (98), and rail junctions
at Mondrath (36) and Horrem (1); 100 B-24s hit the secondary target, Cologne;
targets of opportunity are Rheydt (10) and other (3); 11 B-17s are damaged.
The escort is 145 of 150 P-51s; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
  4. 32 of 32 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
  5. 32 of 32 P-51s escort 5 F-5s on a photo reconnaissance over Germany.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): All combat operations are cancelled
because of weather.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather curtails operations
for the fifth successive day. P-38s fly photo and weather reconnaissance
missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers score
direct hits on 2 railroad bridges at Lavis and fly good coverage of the
Chiusaforte, Canale d'Isonzo, and Padua railroad bridges; fighter-bombers hit
a large number of communications targets (mainly railroad targets) in the Po
Valley which is also subjected to intruder missions during the night of 2/3
Jan, when pontoon bridges, vehicles, and Ghedi Airfield are hit.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 22 B-24s from Saipan Island bomb Iwo Jima
Island. 3 from Guam Island, on armed reconnaissance, hit Marcus Island in the
North Pacific. During a 6-hour period on the night of 3/4 Jan, 10 B-24s from
Guam hit Iwo Jima.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 17: 97 Mariana Island-based B-29s are
sent to bomb docks and urban areas of Nagoya, Japan; 57 hit the primary
target and 21 others bomb alternates and targets of opportunity; Japanese
fighters fly 300+ attacks on the B-29s and 5 are lost; B-29 gunners claim
14-14-20 Japanese aircraft.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s pound Clark
Field and the Mabalacat areas on Luzon Island. B-25s hit 5 airfields in the C
Philippine Islands while B-24s bomb 2 on Mindanao Island. B-24s attack
the Djailolo supply area on Halmahera Island, while B-25s bomb Namlea
Airfield on Buru Island, Moluccas Islands. Numerous other FEAF aircraft on
armed reconnaissance, harassing raids, and light strikes attack a vast
variety of targets throughout the Netherlands East Indies and Philippine
Islands. The 25th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic
Reconnaissance Group, moves from Dulag, Leyte Island to San Jose, Mindoro
Island with F-5s.

THURSDAY, 4 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 4 B-24s bomb the Ft Bayard area in
China and the Samah Bay area on Hainan Island. In Burma, 6 B-25s damage a
bridge and a warehouse, and destroy 2 other buildings at Kentung and 21 P-40s
on armed reconnaissance pound targets of opportunity in the Wanling area. 8
P-51s knock out a bridge at Huizan, Thailand and damage another, and 20 other
fighters hit targets of opportunity around Lohochai, Sinyang and Hankow,
China.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 13 B-25s, escorted by 12
P-47s, bomb Namsang Airfield; 12 P-47s hit bypass road bridges at Inailong
and Bawgyo, damaging approaches to the latter; troops and supply areas are
hit at Man Kat, Hsenwi, Yi-ku, Se-hai, and near Nawnghkio by 36 P-47s and
P-38s; 6 P-47s bomb cable and pontoons along the N riverbank at Na-lang; 6
hit enemy activity near Twinnge and 5 attack a truck dispersal area and
warehouses at Mogok. Transports fly 597 sorties to front areas and forward
bases.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 779: 1 B-17 and 2 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, Belgium
and Germany during the night; 1 B-24 is lost.
  Mission 780: 10 of 12 B-24s dispatched to hit the Coubre Point Coastal
battery near Bordeaux, France hit the target using H2X radar.
  The transfer of HQ VIII Fighter Command from Bushey Hall, England to
Charleroi, Belgium begins; the HQ is to provide administrative and
operational support for fighter groups operating with the Ninth AF on
tactical support missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS 

    First Tactical Air Force (Provisional): HQ 324th Fighter Group moves from
Tavaux to Luneville, France.

    Ninth Air Force: All combat operations, except a defensive patrol by 4
fighters, are cancelled because of bad weather. The 161st Tactical
Reconnaissance Squadron, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, ceases operating
from Conflans, France and returns to base at Le Culot, Belgium with F-6s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, 370+ B-24s and B-17s
bomb marshalling yards at Verona, Bronzolo, Vicenza, Padua, Trento, and
Bolzano, and station sidings at Trento; 200+ fighters accompany the bombers;
54 P-38s attempt high-level bombing of Cismon del Grappa but fail to hit the
target. 9 B-24s drop supplies in Yugoslavia. P-38s and P-51s fly
reconnaissance and escort operations.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers hit
bridges at Lavis and Calliano; fighters and fighter-bombers interdict Po
Valley communications and hit an ammunition dump at San Felice del Benaco;
during the night of 3/4 Jan, A-20s successfully hit a stores dump and bridge
near Mestre, and destroy or damage 50+ vehicles. The 416th Night Fighter
Squadron, 62d Fighter Wing, based at Pisa, Italy with Mosquitoes, sends a
detachment to operate from Etain, France attached to the 425th Night Fighter
Squadron.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 13 Guam Island-based B-24s pound Iwo Jima
Island. During the night of 4/5 Jan, 10 more hit the island with individual
harassment strikes.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s pound Puerto
Princesa on Palawan Island; B-25s hit a railroad and highways in the San
Pedro area on Luzon Island. B-25s and P-38s hit Tanamon and Sidate on Celebes
Island. Other B-24s and B-25s, flying small scale strikes, hit airfields on S
Luzon and Mindanao Islands, on NE Celebes Island, and in the C Philippine
Islands, and bomb shipyards in N Borneo. The ground echelon of the 110th
Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, begins
a movement from Tacloban, Leyte Island to Luzon (the air echelon is operating
from San Jose, Mindoro Island with P-40s).

FRIDAY, 5 JANUARY 1945

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, 4 B-24s fly an air
coverage mission for a naval task force on its approach to Suribachi on
Paramushiru Island.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 4 B-25s pound 13 storage buildings at
Kengtung, China. 5 B-25s knock out a bridge at Dara, Thailand. 3 B-25s bomb
Wan Pa-Hsa and Hawng Luk, Burma while 1 B-24 bombs the Cap-Saint-Jacques,
French Indochina area. 29 P-40s and P-51s hit airfields at Hankow and
Wuchang, China, claiming 50 aircraft destroyed in the air and on the ground.
23 P-51s and P-38s hit the airfield and other targets in Samah Bay area on
Hainan Island, claiming 11 aircraft destroyed. 30 P-40s and P-38s attack
various targets of opportunity, Sinsiang, and Kengtung, China, and Wan Pa-Hsa
and in the Wanling area of Burma. 4 P-40s pound fortified hill positions in
the Salween, Burma area.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 16 B-25s flying an
airfield sweep inflict considerable damage on the Laihka, Aungban, Kunlon,
and Mong Long airfields; in the Namhkam sector, 2 P-47s join ground forces in
blasting artillery positions at Kunlong, China and Wingkang; 9 P-47s damage
bypass bridges at Mongmit; 70+ fighter-bombers attack storage areas, tanks
and trucks, and troop concentrations at Mong Yaw, Hsenwi, Hpa-Pen, Man Ton,
Tunghka, Man Peng, and Longhsu. Transports fly 550+ sorties to forward bases
and frontline areas. Operation GRUBWORM, one of the major transport
achievements of the war, is completed on this date one month from its start.
The Chinese 14th and 22d Divisions, Chinese Sixth Army HQ, a heavy mortar
Company, a signal Company, and 2 portable surgical hospitals have been
airlifted; the move required 1,328 transport sorties; Air Transport Command
provided 597 sorties; the air commando squadrons, 488; and Tenth AF, 243; the
airlift included 25,000+ Chinese soldiers, 396 US soldiers, 1,596 animals,
42 jeeps, 48 howitzers, 48 heavy mortars, and 48 antitank guns; the troops
and supplies have been landed at Chanyi, Kunming, Luliang, and Yunnani, China.
Only 3 aircraft were lost during the operation. HQ 4th Combat Cargo Group
moves from Agartala to Chittagong, India.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 781: 1,032 bombers and 584 fighters are dispathed to hit rail
targets and airfields in C Germany; they claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft in
the air and 4-0-0 on the ground; 1 B-17 and 1 P-51 are lost.
  1. 259 B-24s are sent to hit marshalling yards at Neustadt (32), Sobernheim
(42), Kirm (18) and St Ingbert (3), the marshalling yard and rail bridge at
Cochem (31) and the Pirmasens railroad (39); 51 hit the Neunkirchen
marshalling yard, a secondary target; targets of opportunities hit are
communications centers at Rheinkirchen (8), Neubrucke (7), Prum (1) and Burg
(1); bombing is visual and with Gee-H; 3 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and
51 damaged; 6 airmen are KIA and 1 WIA. Escorting are 164 of 177 P-51s.
  2. 370 B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards at Hanau (57) and
Frankfurt (81) and communications centers at Waxweiler (32), Wetteldorf (27)
and Pronsfeld (33); 29 hit the secondary target at Kaiserslautern; targets of
opportunity are Heilbronn (29) and other (11); bombing is visual and PFF; 1
B-17 is lost, 6 damaged beyond repair and 89 damaged; 13 airmen are KIA, 9
WIA and 1 MIA. Escort is provided by 194 of 213 P-51s; they claim 1-0-0
aircraft in the air and 4-0-0 on the ground.
  3. 379 B-17s are sent to hit airfields at Niederbreisig (70) and
Niedermendig (54), communications centers at Dumpelfeld (37), Kall (35) and
Mechernich (1), and the the railroad at Heimbach (37); 96 hit the secondary
target, the Koblenz marshalling yard; targets of opportunity are
communications centers at Pronsfeld (2) and Waxweiler (1) and other (4);
bombing is by Gee-H and H2X; 1 B-17s is damaged beyond repair and 20 damaged.
Escort is 109 of 117 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond
repair.
  4. 24 of 24 B-17s fly a screening mission.
  5. 26 of 33 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
  Mission 782: 4 B-24s and 1 B-17 drop leaflets during the night over SE
Belgium.
  
 TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): The 9th Bombardment Division attacks
rail bridges at Ahrweiler, Simmern, and Bullay, Germany and communications
centers at Gouvy, Houffalize, and near Durler, Belgium, and Massen,
Luxembourg. Fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division and VIII Bomber
Command, fly armed reconnaissance, attack airfields, communications centers,
traffic concentrations, and other targets, and support the US III and VIII
Corps W and E of Bastogne and the 2d and 3d Armored Divisions near Manhay,
Belgium. HQ 368th Fighter Group and the 395th, 396th and 397th Fighter
Squadrons move from Juvincourt to Metz, France with P-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Yugoslavia, 1 B-24 bombs
Zagreb railroad sidings; 69 others abort due to total cloud cover over the
target; 38 P-51s fly cover over the target area; 33 P-38s bomb the N railroad
bridge at Doboj; other operations are limited to reconnaissance, supply drops,
and escort.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): During the night of 4/5 Jan, A-20s
on a S Po Valley intruder mission bomb the Modena, Italy area. Bad weather
cancels all other operations.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 22 B-24s from Saipan Island, in morning and
afternoon raids, pound Iwo Jima Island; 7 P-38s, with 3 B-24s as navigational
escort, fly a strafing mission against Iwo Jima. Other B-24s act as airborne
spotters for the naval bombardment of Chichi Jima and Haha Jima Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In major strikes of
the day B-25s hit shore installations along Lingayan Gulf, Luzon Island, and
bomb Menado on Celebes Island. B-24s attack Miri Airfield in Borneo. Numerous
smaller strikes are flown throughout the Philippine Islands and Netherlands
East Indies. A-20s and fighter-bombers attack airfields on Luzon, the C
Philippine Islands area and Mindanao Island, fighter-bombers and B-24s hit
the Pombelaa and Tondano area, and targets of opportunity on NE Celebes
Island. Other FEAF aircraft fly scattered strikes at various targets in
Borneo, Lesser Sunda Islands, and Tanimbar Island in the Moluccas Islands.
The 4th Fighter Squadron (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group, arrives on Leyte
Island from the US with P-51s. The detachment of the 68th Troop Carrier
Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, operating from Nadzab, New Guinea with
C-47s, returns to base on Biak Island. The 69th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d
Troop Carrier Group moves from Nadzab, New Guinea to Biak with C-47s. The
547th Night Fighter Squadron, 86th Fighter Wing [attached to 310th
Bombardment Wing (Medium)], moves from Owi, Schouten Island to San Jose,
Mindoro Island with P-38s and P-61s.

SATURDAY, 6 JANUARY 1945

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): On Paramushiru Island, 2 B-24s bomb Suribachi
Bay Airfield, also hitting buildings and pier areas. 10 B-25s fly single air
coverage sorties for a naval task force.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 40 P-40s, P-51s, and P-47s
pound the Hankow-Wuchang area; 9 aircraft are claimed destroyed. 4 B-24s bomb
the Cap-Saint-Jacques, French Indochina area.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 25: 49 Chengtu, China-based B-29s are
dispatched to bomb an aircraft factory at Omura, Kyushu Island, Japan; 28 hit
the primary target, 13 bomb a secondary target at Nanking, China while 6
attack targets of opportunity; they claim 4-6-10 Japanese aircraft; 1 B-29 is
lost. The is the XX Bomber Command's last mission against targets in Japan.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): Bad weather cancels all combat
missions. Transports manage 310 sorties, landing men and supplies at advanced
bases and dropping supplies to frontline troops. The 317th Troop Carrier
Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, moves from Myitkyina, Burma to
Kalaikunda, India with C-47s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 783: 816 bombers and 622 fighters are dispatched to hit rail and
communications targets in W Germany; all but a few attacks are made using
Gee-H and H2X; they claim 14-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 1 B-17 and
2 P-51s are lost:
  1. 258 B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards at Worms (62) and
Kaiserslautern (34); 64 hit a secondary target, the marshalling yard at
Ludwigshafen; targets of opportunity are Annweiler (31), the marshalling yard
at Kusel (22) and other (29); some targets are bombed visually; 2 B-17s are
damaged beyond repair and 55 damaged; 5 airmen are KIA and 2 WIA. Escorting
are 109 of 121 P-51s; they claim 14-0-1 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is
lost (pilot MIA) and 2 damaged beyond repair (1 pilot KIA).
  2. 422 B-17s are sent to hit the Cologne South rail bridge (71) and Cologne
North highway bridge (35) and the communications center at Kempernich (72);
secondary targets are the Kalk marshalling yard at Cologne (183) and the
highway bridge across the Rhine River at Bonn (38); 3 others hit a target of
opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 17 damaged; 1 airman
is WIA and 10 MIA. Escort is provided by 219 of 229 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost
(pilot MIA) and 2 damaged beyond repair (1 pilot KIA).
  3. 31 of 130 B-24s hit the highway bridge across the Rhine River at Bonn;
95 hit the secondary target, the Mosel marshalling yard at Koblenz; 1 hits a
target of opportunity; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 17 damaged. The
escort is 172 of 181 P-51s.
  4. 6 of 6 B-17s fly a screening mission.
  5. 36 of 60 P-47s attack the marshalling yard at Siegen.
  6. 23 of 23 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
  7. 8 of 8 P-51s escort 4 F-5s on a photo reconnaissance mission over W
Germany.
  Mission 784: 6 B-17s drop leaflets over Belgium and the Netherlands during
the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS: (Ninth Air Force): 26 bombers of the 9th Bombardment
Division strike Prum, Germany. Bad weather prevents all fighter operations.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather precludes all
operations except a single reconnaissance mission by 2 P-38s.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Bad weather over N Italy grounds
the medium bombers. In Italy, XXII Tactical Air Command fighters and fighter-
bombers hit rail lines and bridges in the Genoa-La Spezia coastline area, and
bomb vessels in the harbors at Genoa and Imperia. The air echelon of the
417th Night Fighter Squadron, Twelfth AF (attached to Mediterranean Allied
Coastal Air Force and air echelon attached to the 422d Night Fighter
Squadron), based at La Vallon, France, begins operating from Florennes,
Belgium with Beaufighters.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 15 B-24s, based on Guam Island, bomb Iwo Jima
Island airfields. During the night of 6/7 Jan, 9 B-24s on individual snooper
strikes continue to pound the airfields. HQ 508th Fighter Group and the
466th, 467th and 468th Fighter Squadrons arrive at Kahuku, Hawaii from the US
with P-47s (the group will serve as air defense for Hawaii, train replacement
pilots and ferry aircraft to forward areas).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In the day's major
operations, B-24s bomb Clark Field while B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers
blast bridges and targets of opportunity at Calumpit and Plaridel and in
nearby S Luzon Island areas and B-24s bomb Nichols Field and Nielson Airfield
on Luzon. A-20s, with P-38 cover, bomb Carolina Airfield on Negros Island.
B-25s and fighter-bombers hit Mapanget Airfield on Celebes Island. FEAF flies
numerous smaller strikes against various points throughout the Netherlands
East Indies and Philippine Islands.

SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 5 B-24s bomb Ft Bayard, China and
attack shipping in Samah Bay on Hainan Island, claiming 1 vessel sunk.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): Bad weather cancels all combat
missions. Transports complete 383 sorties to forward areas.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 785: 1,073 bombers and 700 fighters attack communications
centers, rail targets, bridges and an oil storage depot in W Germany using
PFF methods; 3 bombers and 1 fighter are lost.
  1. 265 B-17s are dispatched but hit secondary targets, the marshalling
yard at Hamm (109), Paderborn (74) and Bielefeld (74); 2 hit a target of
opportunity; all attacks made using H2X radar; 5 B-17s are damaged.
Escorting are 197 of 204 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
  2. 351 B-17s are dispatched to hit communications centers at Blankenheim
(39), Kall (39), Bitburg (110) and Euskirchen (75); 35 hit the Lutzel
Bridge at Cologne; all attacks made using Gee-H and H2X; 3 B-17s are damaged;
2 airmen are WIA. Escort is provided by 159 of 160 P-51s.
  3. 147 B-17s are dispatched to hit the bridge at Hohenzollern (14) and
the highway bridge at Rodenkirchen (22); 80 hit the secondary target, the
Kalk marshalling yard at Cologne; targets of opportunity are Limburg (11),
Koblenz (11) and other (1); all attacks are made using Micro H and H2X; 2
B-17s are lost and 10 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 19 MIA. The escort is 91
of 95 P-51s.
  4. 304 B-24s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yards at Landau (54),
Zweibrucken (64) and Rastatt (99), the rail and communications center at
Achern (31) and the railway at Kaiserslautern (26); all attacks made using
Gee-H; targets of opportunity hit visually are Durrmenz (8) and Karlsuhe
(1); 1 B-24 is lost and 10 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 9 MIA. Escorting
are 94 of 102 P-51s.
  5. 6 of 6 B-17s fly a screening mission.
  6. 88 P-47s and P-51s fly a fighter sweep without loss.
  7. 12 of 12 P-51s escort 2 F-5s and 2 Mosquitoes on photo reconnaissance
missions over Germany.
  8. 33 of 33 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
  Mission 786: 2 B-17s and 5 B-24s drop leaflets during the night in SE
Belgium and France.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): XXIX Tactical Air Command
(Provisional) fighters escort VIII Bomber Command bombers. All other commands
and the 9th Bombardment Division cancel operations as the weather is bad.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Unfavorable weather again
curtails operations. 3 P-38s complete photo and weather reconnaissance
missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather grounds the
medium bombers and A-20s; XXII Tactical Air Command fighters and fighter-
bombers make 6 cuts on the Brenner rail line, damage the W end of the rail
bridge at Cittadella, and hit the marshalling yard S of Trento; most of the
XXII Tactical Air Command's effort is concentrated against land and water
communications in the La Spezia-Genoa area, including attacks on shipping at
Savona and San Remo harbors.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 11 B-24s, flying out of Saipan Island, bomb an
airfield on Iwo Jima Island. During the night of 7/8 Jan, 10 more B-24s again
pound airfields, striking in single-bomber snooper missions over a 7-hour
period.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In major strikes of
the day against targets on Luzon Island, large numbers of B-25s and A-20s,
supported by P-38s, hit the network of airstrips from Clark Field to Angeles
Airfield, B-24s bomb Nielson and Grace Park Airfields and Nichols Field and
B-25s and fighter-bombers pound bridges in the Plaridel and Calumpit areas.
B-24s raid Padada and Daliao Airfields on Mindanao Island.  B-25s and
fighter-bombers hit Lembeh Strait and the Langoan areas on Celebes Island.
Other FEAF aircraft on small-scale armed reconnaissance missions strike
targets of opportunity throughout the Philippine Islands. The 17th
Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group,
moves from Tacloban, Leyte Island to San Jose, Mindoro Island with B-25s.

MONDAY, 8 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 P-51s hit targets of
opportunity E of Muse and E of Wanling.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 21 B-25s hit troops and
supply areas at Nampeng and Mong Long; 74 P-47s and P-38s attack troop
concentrations and supply areas at Tunhunghkam, Monguy, Hpa-hpun, and Man Om;
and 12 P-47s knock out a bypass bridge at Namhkai. Transports complete 470+
sorties to forward bases and frontline areas. The 317th Troop Carrier
Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, based at Kalaikunda, India, sends
a detachment to operate from Dinjan, India with C-47s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 787: 736 bombers and 269 fighters are dispatched to make PFF
attacks on communications centers, rail targets and bridges in Germany; 2
bombers are lost.
  1. 151 B-17s are sent to hit the Wissembourg communications center (36) and
highway and rail bridge at Alzey (36); 65 hit a secondary target, the
marshalling yard at Speyer; 4 hit a target of opportunity; all attacks are
made using Gee-H and H2X; 2 B-17s are damaged beyond repair.
  2. 117 B-17s are dispatched to hit communications centers at Kyllburg
(37), Schweich (24) and Speicher (37); 12 hit a secondary target, the
marshalling yard at Koblenz; all attacks use Gee-H and H2X; 1 B-17 is lost, 1
damaged beyond repair and 24 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 7 WIA and 9 MIA.
  3. 24 of 30 B-24s hit the Stadtkyll communications center and 2 hit a
target of opportunity using Gee-H without loss.
  4. 204 B-24s are sent to hit communications centers at Wittlich (14),
Oudler (29), Clerf (18), Burghreuland (31) and Dasburg (30); 2 others hit a
target of opportunity; all use Gee-H; 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair; 1
airman is WIA.
  5. 225 B-17s are sent to hit communications centers at Waxweiller (33) and
Lunebach (29); 131 hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Frankfurt; 1
hits a target of opportunity; attackers use Micro H and H2X; 1 B-17 is lost,
1 damaged beyond repair and 47 damaged.
  6. 219 of 229 P-51s fly a freelance escort mission of all the bombers above
without loss.
  7. 9 of 9 B-17s fly a screening mission.
  8. 29 of 32 P-51 fly a scouting mission.
  9. 8 of 8 P-51s escort 2 Mosquitoes on photo reconnaissance missions over
Germany.
  Mission 788: 1 B-17s and 2 of 4 B-24s drop leaflets over St Hubert,
Belgium.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Weather prevents operations. The
153d Liaison Squadron, IX Tactical Air Command (attached to Twelfth Army
Group), moves from Tongres to Rutten, Belgium with L-5s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Austria, 300+ B-17s and
B-24s bomb the main station yard and N main marshalling yard at Linz plus
marshalling yards at Graz, Villach, Klagenfurt, and Salzburg, escorted by
200+ P-38s and P-51s; 30+ other P-38s fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance
escort. HQ 1st Fighter Group moves from Salsola Airfield to Vincenzo
Airfield, Italy.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, XXII Tactical Air
Command A-20s fly 33 effective sorties in the Po Valley during the night of
7/8 Jan; bad weather sharply reduces daytime operations; of 3 medium bomber
missions dispatched, only 1 reaches the target (the Chivasso railway bridge)
where only 6 medium bombers bomb through the overcast; less than 20 XXII
Tactical Air Command fighters hit scattered targets in the Po Valley; HQ 51st
Troop Carrier Wing moves from Lido di Roma to Siena; and HQ 62d Troop Carrier
Group moves from Malignano Airfield to Tarquinia. The 437th Bombardment
Squadron (Medium), 319th Bombardment Group (Medium), begins a movement from
Serragia, Corsica to the US (the squadron will convert to A-26s and transfer
to the Pacific in Jul 45).

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 26 Guam Island-based B-24s bomb airfields on
Iwo Jima Island, while, during the night of 8/9 Jan, 10 more B-24s subject
the island to individual snooper strikes over a 6-hour period.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In the main strikes
during the day on Luzon Island, P-51s and P-40s strafe airfields in the
Lingayen Gulf area; A-20s pound railroad yards at Cabanatuan, motor convoys
between Cabanatuan and Bongalion and between Bongabon and Mojon, Rosales and
San Quintin rail installations, bridges at Cuyapo, Paniqui, and near Santa
Rosa; P-47s hit rail yards and a truck convoy in the San Jose area; and B-24s
and A-20s attack Nichols Field and Nielson, Lipa, and Calingatan Airfields.
B-25s with P-47 cover, bomb Fabrica Airfield on Negros Island, while B-24s
bomb Likanan Airfield and oil storage at Matina on Mindanano Island. P-38s
attack Manggar and Sepinggang Airfields in Borneo.  Numerous small-scale
attacks over the Philippine Islands and Netherlands East Indies continue.

TUESDAY, 9 JANUARY 1945

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): For the first time the Eleventh radar-bombs
with H2X equipment as 4 B-24s hit Suribachi Bay Airfield on Paramushiru
Island.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-25s hit railroad targets, road
bridge, and building area NE of Thanh Moi, French Indochina. 25 P-40s, P-38s,
and P-51s hit targets of opportunity S, SW, and NE of Wanling, Burma. 8 P-51s
bomb railroad repair shops at Sinsiang, China while 3 P-40s hit a road W of
Muse, Burma, causing a traffic block.

  EASTERN AIR COMMAND (EAC): Colonel Minton W Kaye assumes command of the
Photographic Reconnaissance Force, a component of the EAC.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 26: 46 B-29s from Chengtu, China are
dispatched to bomb the harbor at Kirun, Formosa; 39 hit the target and 6 bomb
targets of last resort along the China coast; this raid is the first of
several such operations against Formosa in conjunction with the US invasion
of Luzon Island.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 P-47s hit division HQ at
Ho-na while 4 others support ground forces in the Si-U sector; 90+ fighter-
bombers hit supply areas, tanks, AA positions, and troop concentrations at
Man Kat, Tonghsim, Kong-lin, Bawdwin, Mong Tat, and in the Hsenwi vicinity.
488 transport sorties are flown to forward areas.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In Germany, 15 B-26s bomb the
Rinnthal rail bridge with the aim of isolating 3 enemy armored divisions in
the Landau area; XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) fighters escort the
B-26s. Weather prevents other operations.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather permits only
reconnaissance missions. In Italy, the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter
Group, based at Salsola Airfield, sends a detachment to operate from Vincenzo
Airfield with P-38s.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack
bridges at Palazzuolo sull'Oglio, Pontetidone, Romano di Lombardia, and an
assembly area at Crespellano; fighters and fighter-bombers in an excellent
day against communications in the W and C Po Valley and other points in N
Italy make numerous rail cuts, destroy or damage many vehicles and trains and
effectively hit ammunition and fuel dumps, guns, and strongpoints along the
US Fifth Army front in the N Apennines; the 4th and 8th Troop Carrier
Squadrons, 62d Troop Carrier Group, move from Malignano Airfield to Tarquinia
with C-47s; the 18th and 35th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 64th Troop Carrier
Group, move from Ciampino to Rosignano Airfield with C-47s. The 438th, 439th
and 440th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 319th Bombardment Group (Medium),
begin a movement from Serragio, Corsica to the US (they will convert to A-26s
and move to Okinawa in Jul 45).

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 24 B-24s, based on Saipan Island, hit an
airfield on Iwo Jima Island which is struck again by 8 B-24s on individual
snooper missions during the night of 9/10 Jan.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 18: 72 Mariana Island-based B-29s are
dispatched against the Musashino aircraft plant near Tokyo; high winds break
up the formations so that only 18 B-29s can bomb the primary target; 34 hit
alternates and targets of opportunity; they claim 13-3-11 Japanese aircraft;
6 B-29s are lost. 

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Amphibious forces
of the US Sixth Army begin landing on the shores of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon
Island at 0930 hours local; in N Luzon, B-24s bomb Mabalacat while B-25s,
A-20s, and fighter-bombers destroy several bridges and numerous vehicles and
trains throughout Luzon, and bomb several airfields; B-24s also hit Nielson
Airfield and Nichols Field. FEAF aircraft make small-scale attacks on barges,
airfields, and targets of opportunity on Mindanao and Halmahera Islands, the
Ceram Island area, N Borneo, and on Timor Island.

WEDNESDAY, 10 JANUARY 1945 FTP SITES

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s on an armed photo mission bomb and
photograph Kurabu Airfield on Paramushiru Island, scoring hits on the runway.

  CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): The 32d Fighter Squadron, XXVI Fighter
Command, moves from France Field to Howard Field, Canal Zone with P-39s.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 2 B-24s bomb the Cap-Saint-Jacques
area of French Indochina. In Burma, 50+ P-51s, P-40s, and P-38s pound various
targets of opportunity throughout the Wanling area and 6 P-40s hit targets of
opportunity in the Muse area. The 25th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group,
based at Yunnani with P-51s, sends a detachment to operate from Leangshan,
China.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 75 fighter-bombers pound
troop concentrations, supplies, tanks, artillery, and buildings at Kawnglang,
Nampa-chi, Man Namman, Pangkai, Mong Yai, Namhsan, Namyao, Se-ping, Panghai,
and in the Hosi area; 17 P-47s knock out a bridge, damage another at Bawgyo
and 2 others at Ho-kho; 8 P-47s support ground forces in the Si-U battle
sector; 8 others hit supplies and ferry crossing at Ta-mawngtawn. 472
transport sorties are flown to forward bases and frontline areas. The 165th
Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Kawlin to
Ye-U, Burma with UC-64s and L-5s (a detachment is operating from Inbaung,
Burma).

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 789: 1,119 bombers and 362
fighters are dispatched to attack airfields, rail targets and bridges in
Germany; most attacks are made using PFF methods; they claim 3-0-0 Luftwaffe
aircraft; 10 bombers and 2 fighters are lost:
  1. 429 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Rodenkirchen (31) and Deutz (10)
highway bridges at Cologne, the South (34) and Hohenzollern (52) rail bridges
at Cologne and the marshalling yard at Karlsruhe (105); 20 hit the secondary
target, the Gereon marshalling yard at Cologne; targets of opportunity are
bridges at Duisburg (11) and Oberkassel (21), Dusseldorf (28) and other (33);
some targets hit visually but most by PFF methods; 5 B-17s are lost, 5
damaged beyond repair and 199 damaged; 10 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 48 MIA.
  2. 233 B-24s are dispatched to hit highway bridges at Steinbruck (23),
Schonberg (70), Weweler (60) and Dasburg (20); 1 hits Prum, a target of
opportunity; targets are hit using Gee-H; 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair
and 7 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA.
  3. 458 B-17s are sent to hit the Hangelar Airfield at Bonn (63); Odendorf
Airfield at Euskirchen (98), Osteheim Airfield at Cologne (83) and Gymnich
Airfield (52); 43 hit the secondary target, the marshalling yard at Cologne;
targets of opportunity are the marshalling yards at Euskirchen (8), Belecke
(8) and Duren (12) and other (26); Gee-H is used in bombing with some visual
sightings; 5 B-17s are lost, 11 damaged beyond repair and 140 damaged; 5
airmen are KIA, 15 WIA and 52 MIA.
  4. The bombers are escorted by 137 of 152 P-51s; 6 P-51s are lost and 1
damaged beyond repair.
  5. 123 P-47s and P-51s make a freelance sweep to cover the bombers; they
claim 1-0-0 aircraft in the air and 2-0-0 on the ground; 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 is
lost (1 pilot MIA); 4 P-51s are damaged beyond repair.
  6. 13 of 15 P-51s dive bomb the marshalling yard at Neustadt without loss.
  7. 6 of 8 P-51s escort 2 Mosquitoes on a photo reconnaissance of the Brux,
Czechoslovakia area.
  8. 28 of 32 P-51s fly a scouting mission.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 30+ B-26s sent against
communications center and road bridge abort due to weather; the XIX Tactical
Air Command escorts the B-26s, flies patrols, attacks bridges and other
targets and supports the US III, VIII, XII, and XX Corps in the Saint-Hubert,
Belgium-Bastogne, Belgium-Wiltz, Luxembourg area, in the Diekirch and
Echternach area of Luxembourg and points to the SE.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Weather restricts operations to
photo and weather reconnaissance missions. The 27th and 71st Fighter
Squadrons, 1st Fighter Group, based at Salsola Airfield with P-38s, send a
detachment to operate from Vincenzo Airfield, Italy.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather restricts
operations but fighter-bombers effectively attack communications and supply
dumps in the C and N Po Valley; the strikes are concentrated in the N and
around Piacenza, and score nearly 50 rail cuts, along with destruction of 80
motor transports and several trains; fuel and ammunition dumps in the Milan
area are bombed and a 400-foot (122 m) naval vessel at Venice is destroyed;
HQ 64th Troop Carrier Group and the 16th and 17th Troop Carrier Squadrons
move from Ciampino to Rosignano Airfield with C-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 30 Guam Island-based B-24s operating in 2
separate formations, bomb airfields on Iwo Jima Island; 2 other B-24s, on
armed reconnaissance, hit airfield on Woleai Atoll, Caroline Islands. Iwo
Jima airfields are hit again on the night of 10/11 Jan by B-24s flying
snooper missions from Guam.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon Island,
B-24s bomb Grace Park Airfield and warehouse area near Manila, A-20s and
fighter-bombers pound trucks, trains, railroad yards, railroads, and highways
over wide areas of N and S Luzon, and bomb Vigan and Laoag Airfields. About
60 P-40s bomb and strafe the Galela area on Halmahera Island. B-25s and P-38s
hit Kendari Airfield on Celebes Island. Other B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-
bombers, operating in smaller forces, hit numerous shipping and
communications targets, airfields, and other targets throughout the
Philippine Islands. HQ XIII Fighter Command moves from Sansapor, New Guinea
to Leyte Island. The detachment of the 12th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter
Group, operating from Morotai Island with P-38s, returns to base at Sansapor,
New Guinea.

THURSDAY, 11 JANUARY 1945

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, 3 B-24s on an armed
reconnaissance to Suribachi on Paramushiru Island, bomb NW of Taro Lake; 5
B-25s hit Kotani Shima.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In Burma, 5 B-25s damage a bridge at
Wan Mai-Lo; 12 fighter-bombers hit targets of opportunity NE of Wanling, 7
drop napalm on targets of opportunity NE of Muse, and 11 attack targets of
opportunity SE of Wanting, China and in the E end of the Wanting River
valley.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force):  Mission 27: 47 B-29s out of Calcutta, India
are dispatched to bomb 2 large drydocks at Singapore, Malaysia; 25 hit the
primary targets; around 15 others bomb Penang Island, Malaysia, Mergui,
Burma, and various targets of opportunity; they claim 6-1-17 Japanese
aircraft; 2 B-29s are lost.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 P-47s support ground
forces in the Si-U and Namhkam sectors. 3 others strafe trucks between
Namhkam and Selan; troop concentrations, vehicles, artillery pieces, supply
areas, and general enemy movement are pounded by 80+ fighter-bombers; 12
B-25s bomb storage buildings in the Lashio area. 509 transport sorties are
flown to forward areas. The 6th Fighter Squadron (Commando), 1st Air
Commando Group, based at Asansol, India, sends a detachment to operate from
Cox's Bazar, India with P-47s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 790: 2 B-17s and 4 of 6
B-24s drop leaflets in Belgium during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): About 120 A-20s, A-26s, and B-26s
attack communications centers and rail bridges in Belgium and Germany;
fighters escort the bombers, hit an ammunition dump at Mayen, Germany, and 
patrol areas around Malmedy, Belgium and NE of Trier, Germany.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather limits operations.
P-38s fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 10/11
Jan, A-20s attack targets of opportunity in the W Po Valley; clearing weather
during the day enables an increase of fighter and fighter-bomber attacks in
the Po Valley and in the US Fifth Army battle area in the N Apennines; many
ammunition and fuel dumps, rail lines, trains, and vehicles are pounded, and
an alcohol refinery at Piacenza is severely damaged.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 23 B-24s from Saipan Island pound airfields on
Iwo Jima Island; the bombing of Iwo Jima is continued during the night of
11/12 Jan, by 3 B-24s flying individual snooper strikes from the Mariana
Islands. The 6th Night Fighter Squadron, VII Fighter Command (attached to
318th Fighter Group), moves from Kipapa, Hawaii to East Field, Saipan
Island (a detachment has been operating from Saipan with P-47s and P-61s
since Jun 44; a detachment operates from Kipapa, Hawaii until May 45).

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): The 3d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
(Very Heavy), 311th Photographic Wing (attached to XXI Bomber Command),
moves from Saipan Island to Guam Island with F-13s (the squadron flies
photo, electronic and weather reconnaissance missions in the W Pacific).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Large numbers of
B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers concentrate on communications
targets throughout N Luzon Island and attack airfields, communications, and
town areas in S Luzon, the C Philippine Islands, and on Mindanao Island.
B-25s and P-38s attack Kendari Airfield on Celebes Island. HQ 308th
Bombardment Wing (Heavy) moves from Leyte Island to Luzon.

FRIDAY, 12 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-25s again damage a bridge at Wan
Mai-Lo, Burma. 35 fighter-bombers pound targets of opportunity around
Wanting, China and Muse, Burma.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 16 fighter-bombers support
ground forces in the battle sectors at Si-U and at Lawa on the Irrawaddy
River; 70+ fighter-bombers hit troops, supplies, vehicles, and general enemy
movement at Namsa-lap, Longmao, Hsa-ihkao, Mangpu, Pangnim, and near Lashio,
Hsipaw, and Hsenwi. Transports fly 544 sorties, landing men and supplies at
forward bases and dropping supplies to troops in battle sectors. 

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): All combat operations are cancelled
because of weather.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): For the fourth consecutive day,
all bombing operations are cancelled by bad weather. P-38s fly photo and
weather reconnaissance and escort missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather severely
curtails operations, but fighters and fighter-bombers of the XXII Tactical
Air Command score successfully against communications targets in W and C Po
Valley, claiming 50+ rail cuts and destruction or damage of 100+ vehicles.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 28 Guam Island-based B-24s bomb airfields on
Iwo Jima Island; 3 B-24s, on armed reconnaissance from Saipan Island, bomb
Marcus Island. Iwo Jima is hit by snooper strikes during the night of 12/13
Jan, by 4 B-24s from the Mariana Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb the San
Jose del Monte area and bivouac areas on N Luzon; other B-24s hit Legaspi,
and Batangas Airfields on Luzon, and Matina Airfield on Mindanao Island while
B-25s bomb Fabrica warehouses on Negros Island. 

SATURDAY, 13 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-25s blast 6 storage buildings at
Kengtung, China. 3 others damage a bridge at Hawng Luk, Burma. In China, 31
P-51s, P-38s, and P-40s hit targets of opportunity in the Wanting area; 16
P-51s hit targets of opportunity around Shanhsien, Chiatsochen, and Chaling.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 10 fighter-bombers hit
Aungban Airfield while 4 others support ground forces along the Irrawaddy
River at Molo; 20+ fighter-bombers hit horses and vehicles at Hsa-ihkao,
buildings at Man Ping, and troops at Mankang and Man Sang. Transports fly
556 sorties to forward areas. The detachment of the 317th Troop Carrier
Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, operating from Dinjan, India with
C-47s, returns to base at Kalaikunda, India.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 791: 958 bombers and 469
fighters are dispatched to hit marshalling yards and Rhine rail bridges
mostly by PFF methods; they claim 6-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 8 bombers and 2
fighters are lost:
  1. 367 B-17s are sent to hit the Mainz rail bridge (31), the Gustavsburg
rail bridge at Mainz (95) and the Bischofsheim marshalling yard (119); 74 hit
the secondary target, the Mainz marshalling yard; targets of opportunity are
Euskirchen (13) and other (7); most attacks are made using Micro H but some
formations bomb visually; 2 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 126
damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 4 WIA and 19 MIA. Escorting are 79 of 80 P-51s; 3
are damaged beyond repair.
  2. 276 B-24s are dispatched to hit rail bridges at Worms (86) and Rudesheim
(89) and the Kaiserslautern marshalling yard (87); 1 hits a target of
opportunity; most attacks are made using Gee-H but some formations bomb
visually; 1 B-24 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 39 damaged; 2 airmen
are WIA and 10 MIA. The escort is 114 of 118 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost and 1
damaged beyond repair.
  3. 315 B-17s are sent to hit rail bridges at Germersheim (71, using Gee-H)
and Maximiliansau (159) and rail and highway bridges at Mannheim (76)
visually; 1 hits a target of opportunity; 5 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond
repair and 9 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 42 MIA. Escorting are 77 of
82 P-51s; 2 are damaged beyond repair.
  4. 102 P-47s and P-51s fly a freelance fighter sweep supporting the
bombers; they claim 3-0-0 aircraft in the air and 3-0-1 on the ground; 1 P-51
is lost and 1 damaged beyond repair.
  5. 45 of 45 P-51s fly a fighter-bomber mission against Mannheim, Trier, etc
without loss.
  6. 20 of 28 P-51s fly a scouting mission without loss.
  7. 4 of 4 P-51s escort an F-5 on a photo reconnaissance mission over
Germany.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In Germany, 95 9th Bombardment
Division bombers strike road and rail bridges at Dasburg, Steinebruck, and
Simmern to disrupt enemy movements; fighters escort the 9th Bombardment
Division, Eighth AF, and RAF bombers, fly armed reconnaissance and patrols,
and bomb and strafe numerous ground targets. The IX Tactical Air Command
supports the US VII Corps near Houffalize, Belgium, the XIX Tactical Air
Command supports the US III, VIII, XII, and XX Corps elements in the Saint-
Hubert, Belgium-Bastogne, Belgium-Wiltz, Luxembourg areas and points E and S
near the Clerf River, Luxembourg and the Mosel River, Germany.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): For the fifth successive day no
bombing operations are flown. Weather permits only reconnaissance and escort
missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, Bad weather prohibits
all but weather reconnaissance and a scramble mission, all uneventful.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 14 Saipan Island-based B-24s hit an airfield on
Iwo Jima Island; 2 B-24s from Guam and Saipan Islands, again raid the
airfields on the night of 13/14 Jan.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon Island,
B-24s hit the Tarlac barracks and storage area, Batangas Airfield, and troop
concentrations at San Juan, Del Monte, Muzon, and San Vicente, P-47s fly a
sweep from Laguna de Bay to Tarlac, destroying parked aircraft and vehicles
and A-20s hit the town of Batangas and nearby railroads and highways, and
bomb Lucena and Calingatan Airfields. Also the N Luzon area is hit throughout
the day by small raids. HQ 18th Fighter Group and the 12th Fighter Squadron
move from Sansapor, New Guinea to Lingayen, Luzon Island with P-38s (the 12th
has been operating from Morotai Island since Nov 44).

SUNDAY, 14 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 27 B-24s, supported by 45
P-51s and P-40s, pound Hankow; 8 enemy aircraft are claimed destroyed; 7
B-25s hit targets at and W of Kengtung; 42 P-47s, P-40s, and P-51s attack
airfields at Wuchang and Hankow; 17 Japanese aircraft are claimed destroyed;
21 P-40s and P-51s hit targets of opportunity in the Wanting area; 5 P-51s
blast trucks and buildings at Shanhsien; 8 others attack shipping on the
Yangtze River near Anking.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 28: 82 B-29s out of Chengtu, China
are dispatched to bomb air installations at Kagi, Formosa; 55 hit the
primary target while 1 bombs Heito, Formosa; 22 others hit alternates and
targets of opportunity at several points, among them Taichu Airfield, Formosa
and Hengyang, China; no B-29s are lost. 

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s hit troops,
stores area, and knock out 3 bridges near Nampawng and Hay-ti; 26 fighter-
bombers support ground forces at Si-U and at Mabein; 60+ fighter-bombers
pound supply areas, troop concentrations, and general targets of opportunity
at or near Hsenwi, Se-u, Kongnyaung, Kutkai, Mongmit, Manai, and Kawnghka.
Transports fly 487 sorties to forward areas.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 792: 911 bombers and 860 fighters are dispatched to attack oil
refineries and plants in C Germany and highway bridges at Cologne; clear
skies allow all bombers to bomb visually; about 250 Luftwaffe fighters attack
and the AAF claims 158-0-30 aircraft; 7 bombers and 11 fighters are lost:
  1. 370 B-17s are sent to hit oil targets at Derben (186) and Magdeburg
(90); 36 hit Hallendorf, the secondary target; targets of opportunity hit are
the Osnabruck marshalling yard (8) and other (19); they claim 31-9-7
aircraft; 6 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 121 damaged; 4 airmen
are WIA and 149 MIA. Escorting are 295 of 331 P-51s; they claim 89.5-0-14
aircraft in the air and 3-0-5 on the ground; 5 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA)
and 3 damaged beyond repair.
  2. 348 B-24s are dispatched to hit oil targets at Hallendorf (145),
Hemmingstedt (91) and Ehmen (89); 1 hits Wangerooge Island, a target of
opportunity; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 80 damaged; 8 airmen are KIA
and 1 WIA. The escort is 261 of 295 P-51s; they claim 14.5-0-0 aircraft; 1
P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.
  3. 187 B-17s are sent to hit highway bridges at Cologne, the Deutz Bridge
(71), the Hohenzollern Bridge (67) and the Rodenkirchen Bridge (36); targets
of opportunity are Berg (1) and Cologne (1); 1 B-17 is lost, 3 damaged beyond
repair and 92 damaged; 4 airmen are WIA and 10 MIA. Escort is provided by 40
of 42 P-51s; they claim 9-0-5 aircraft; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 1
pilot is WIA.
  4. 6 of 6 B-17s fly a screening mission without loss.
  5. 116 P-47s and P-51s fly a sweep over N Germany and claim 42-0-6
aircraft; 2 P-47s and 1 P-51 are lost (pilots MIA); 1 P-47 is damaged beyond
repair.
  6. 30 of 32 P-51s fly a scouting missions without loss.
  7. 19 of 22 P-51s escort 12 F-5s and 4 Spitfires on a photo reconnaissance
mission over Germany.
  Mission 793: 2 B-17s and 5 B-24s drop leaflets over SE Belgium and Germany
during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 280+ A-20s and B-26s strike bridges
and communications centers in the base area of the Ardennes salient and in
other areas of W Germany. Fighters escort 9th Bombardment Division and Eighth
AF bombers, fly armed reconnaissance and patrols, attack numerous ground
targets, and support the US First Army in the Vielsalm, Belgium area and the
US Third Army around Diekirch, Luxembourg.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): For the sixth consecutive day
bad weather permits only reconnaissance missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather again cancels
all combat missions.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 22 B-24s from Saipan Island and 21 from Guam
Island bomb airfields on Moen Island, Truk Atoll; 9 P-38s escort the Saipan
B-24s. 12 B-24s from Guam pound an airfield on Iwo Jima Island; 2 B-24s from
the Mariana Islands fly snooper strikes against Iwo Jima airfields during the
night of 14/15 Jan.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 19: 73 B-29s from the Mariana Islands
are dispatched to bomb the Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Nagoya, Japan; 40 hit
the primary target and 23 hit alternates and targets of opportunity; they
claim 16-7-26 Japanese aircraft; 5 B-29s are lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon Island,
B-25s pound Aparri Airfield while supporting P-51s destroy several parked
aircraft; A-20s bomb Clark Field destroying numerous parked aircraft, while
B-24s hit troop concentrations at Cabanatuan; B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and
fighter-bombers over wide areas of Luzon hit tanks, trucks, and other
vehicles near Norzagaray, Masbate, Tartaro, Bulac, Banglos, and San Felipe;
bomb a bridge N of Bocaue; hit airfields at Tuguegarao and Batangas on Luzon,
Malabang on Mindanao Island, and Silay on Negros Island; bomb the Cotabato
supply area on Mindanao; and attack numerous other targets.  B-25s bomb the
Goeroea area in the Moluccas Islands. The 408th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy),
22d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Angaur Island, Palau Islands,
Caroline Islands, to Samar Island, Philippine Islands with B-24s.

MONDAY, 15 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 18 B-25s, supported by 20 P-51s and
P-40s, attack Hankow, China.  Others hit the Wan Pa-Hsa, Burma town area and
damage a nearby bridge and in China, attack shipping near Amoy, and hit
targets of opportunity in the Siang-Chiang and Hsiang River Valleys and from
Hong Kong to Foochow. 130+ P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance attack
numerous targets of opportunity throughout S China from the Burma border to
the SE coast.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-24s bomb a troop
concentration and the supply area at Mong Ngaw; 6 fighter-bombers damage a
bridge at Namhkai; 11 support ground forces along the Irrawaddy River,
bombing Mabein, hitting a cable crossing at Myitson, and attacking a ferry
landing on the Nampaw River, a tributary; troops, supplies, tanks and targets
of opportunity are attacked at several points in N Burma including Mong Tat,
Mong Yok and Mong Pa. Transports fly 527 sorties to forward areas. Lieutenant
Generals Albert C Wedemeyer, Commanding General China Theater, George E
Stratemeyer, Commanding General Eastern Air Command, and Daniel I Sultan,
Commanding General India-Burma Theater, confer at Myitkyina, Burma and agree
that an AAF HQ to command the US Tenth and Fourteenth Air Forces should be
set up in China. The 15th Combat Cargo Squadron, 4th Combat Cargo Group,
moves from Argartala to Chittagong, India with C-46s. The 164th Liaison
Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Inbaung to Kan, Burma
with UC-64s and L-5s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 794: 640 bombers and 782 fighters are dispatched to hit
marshalling yards in Germany; they claim 14-0-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2
fighters are lost.
  1. 223 B-17s are sent to hit marshalling yards at Ingolstadt (111) and
Freiburg (107); 1 hits the Reudenstadt marshalling yard as a target of
opportunity; H2X radar is used to bomb; 5 B-17s are damaged. Escorting are
183 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair.
  2. 75 of 120 B-24 hit the secondary target, the Reutlingen marshalling
yard; targets of opportunity are Tubingen (19), Urich (10), the Tubingen
marshalling yard (7), Mahlberg (1) and other (1); all attacks are made
visually; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair. The escort consists of 109 of 117
P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft without loss.
  3. 253 of 297 B-17s hit the secondary target, the marshalling yard at
Augsburg using H2X radar; targets of opportunity are Bobingen (29) and other
(5) bombed visually; 16 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA. The escort is
provided by 184 of 204 P-51s; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
  4. 156 of 167 P-51s fly a fighter sweep over Germany; they claim 13-0-19
aircraft without loss.
  5. 62 of 63 P-51s fly a fighter bomber mission against the marshalling yard
at Gensingen without loss.
  6. 6 of 7 P-51s escort a Spitfire on a photo reconnaissance mission over
Germany.
  7 29 of 32 P-51s fly a scouting mission without loss.
  Mission 795: 2 B-17s and 7 B-24s drop leaflet on the Netherlands and
Germany during the night without loss.
  HQ VIII Fighter Command moves from Bushey Hall, England to Charleroi,
Belgium.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS 

    First Tactical Air Force (Provisional): HQ 64th Fighter Wing moves from
Ludres to Nancy, France.

    Ninth Air Force: In Germany, 16 B-26s hit the Simmern bridge to help
thwart movement in the Trier area; the XIX Tactical Air Command escorts the
B-26s, flies armed reconnaissance and patrols, and supports the US III and
VIII Corps in the Houffalize, Belgium-Bastogne, Belgium-Wiltz, Luxembourg
areas.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 400+ B-24s and B-17s escorted
by 270+ P-38s and P-51s, bomb marshalling yards and other railroad
communications in NE and SE Vienna, Austria and marshalling yard at Treviso,
Italy.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, operations resume as the
weather clears; medium bombers concentrate on the Brenner rail line, flying
nearly 150 sorties against bridges at San Michele all'Adige, Rovereto, Ala,
Lavis, Santa Margherita d'Adige, and Motta di Livenza; the XXII Tactical Air
Command attacks communications in the Po Valley and further N, destroying or
damaging several bridges and a very large number of railway cars (most of
them at the Como marshalling yard); during the night of 14/15 Jan, A-20s hit
targets in the Po Valley, including Po River crossings at Borgoforte,
Piacenza, and San Benedetto Po.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 12 B-24s from Saipan Island hit airfields on
Iwo Jima Island; 2 B-24s, operating singly from Guam Island and Saipan,
strike Iwo Jima airfields during the night of 15/16 Jan.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s, B-25s,
A-20s, and fighter-bombers attack objectives on Luzon Island, in the C
Philippine Islands, and on Palawan Island, hitting highways, railroads,
airfields and numerous targets of opportunity including tanks, trucks, and
other vehicles. B-24s also bomb Jesselton Airfields in Borneo. The 318th
Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group, moves from Nadzab,
New Guinea to Leyte Island with C-47s.

TUESDAY, 16 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 4 B-25s and 8 P-40s destroy
a train N of Hankow and 8 B-25s pound Wanting. 180+ P-51s, P-40s, and P-38s
on armed reconnaissance over vast expanses of China S of the Yangtze River
and from the Burma border to the S China Sea attack numerous targets of
opportunity; the Muse, Burma and Wanting and Changsha, China areas are hit
especially hard.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s attack a troop
concentration and supply dump at Namtoi; 15 P-47s support ground forces near
Yenya-u and S of Shadaw; 22 bomb airfields at Anisakan and Nawnghkio; a troop
concentration, supplies, town areas, vehicles, and other targets are attacked
by 40+ fighter-bombers; the 71st Liaison Squadron, Tenth AF [attached to 1st
Liaison Group (Provisional)] moves from Sahmaw to Katha with UC-64s, L-1s,
L-4s and L-5s. Transports fly 550 sorties to forward areas.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 796: A planned major strike at oil and industrial targets in
Germany is cancelled by weather; 627 bombers and 693 fighters are dispatched
to hit oil targets; 2 B-24s and 1 P-51 are lost; due to heavy fog a large
percentage of the bombers are diverted to various landing fields in the UK
and on the Continent:
  1. 364 B-24s are sent to hit the Rothensee synthetic oil plant at Magdeburg
(61) and the oil plant at Ruhland (67); secondary targets hit are the
marshalling yard at Dresden (138) and a tank factory at Magdeburg (61); 5
others hit a target of opportunity; targets are bombed visually and using H2X
radar; 2 B-24s are lost and 8 damaged beyond repair; 3 airmen are KIA, 20 WIA
and 22 MIA. Escorting are 368 of 392 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 7
damaged beyond repair.
  2. 263 B-17s dispatched hit secondary targets, the marshalling yard at
Dessau (146) and 2 aircraft engine plants at Bitterfeld (96); 4 others hit
targets of opportunity; all attacks are made using H2X radar; 2 B-17s are
damaged beyond repair; 1 airman is KIA and 3 WIA. The escort is 194 of 203
P-51s.
  3. 68 P-47s and P-51s fly a sweep.
  4. 19 of 20 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
  5. 5 of 7 P-51s escort a Spitfire on a photo reconnaissance mission on
Berlin and Misburg.
  Mission 797: 1 B-24 drop leaflets on Belgium during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 311 A-20s, A-26s, and B-26s hit road
and rail bridges, communications centers, motor transport repair center, and
other targets in Germany; fighters escort 9th Bombardment Division and Eighth
AF bombers, fly armed reconnaissance and defensive patrols, and support US
First Army elements along the battleline NE of Houffalize, Belgium, and the
III Corps along the battleline SE of Houffalize.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather restricts
operations to reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort missions by 30 P-38s.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 15/16
Jan, A-20s exploit a break in the bad weather and blast motor transport
around Genoa and NE of Milan; during the day bad weather returns, grounding
the medium bombers and limiting fighter-bombers to 16 completed sorties
against communications in the Po Valley and NE Italy; the 23d Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, 3d Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), moves from
Malignano to Peretola Airfield, Florence with F-5s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 10 B-24s from Guam Island bomb an airfield on
Iwo Jima Island; 12 P-38s from Saipan Island assigned to high cover for the
B-24 strike fail to make contact with the formation due to bad weather; 3 of
the fighters strafe beached vessels. 3 B-24s fly snooper strikes against Iwo
Jima airfields during the night of 16/17 Jan.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 32 of 44 B-29s of the 313th Bombardment Wing
(Very Heavy) fly a shakedown mission against the airfield on Pagan Island,
Mariana Islands. Units arriving at North Field, Guam Island from the US: HQ
316th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy); HQ 19th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
and the 28th, 30th and 93d Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy) with B-29s
(first mission 12 Feb 45).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In the day's
principal strikes B-24s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers pound Japanese
concentrations, trains, trucks, and targets of opportunity on Luzon Island.
Other B-24s hit airfields in N Borneo and on Halmahera Island. B-25s, A-20s,
and fighter-bombers on small raids, armed reconnaissance, and harassing
strikes hit airfields on Negros Island and airfields, communications targets,
trains, trucks, and other targets of opportunity throughout Luzon. HQ 86th
Fighter Wing moves from Sansapor, New Guinea to Luzon. The 26th Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, moves from
Biak Island to Lingayen, Luzon with F-5s. The 70th Fighter Squadron, 18th
Fighter Group, ceases operating from Morotai Island with P-38s and begins a
movement to Luzon. The 547th Night Fighter Squadron, 86th Fighter Wing
(attached to 308th Bombardment Wing) moves from San Jose, Mindoro Island to
Lingayen, Luzon with P-38s and P-61s.

WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 12 B-25s bomb the town
area, river shipping, and trucks at Ishan and 3 B-25s and 8 P-40s pound
sampans and storage areas W of Hengshan while 2 B-25s hit an oil dump and
other targets of opportunity in the Hsiang River Valley and another blasts a
troop compound at Chaling. 4 B-25s damage a bridge at Phu Lang Thuong, French
Indochina. 180+ P-40s, P-51s, and P-38s hit a large number of targets of
opportunity from the Burma border to Shanghai, China, concentrating on the
Wanling, Burma area and airfields in the Shanghai, Wuchou, and Wuchang, China
areas.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 29: 77 of 92 B-29s from Chengtu,
China bomb the airfield at Shinchiku, Formosa; 8 other hit alternates and
targets of opportunity in SE China; 1 B-29 is lost.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 4 B-25s demolish 2 bypass
bridges at Ho-hko; 8 pound the village of Mansam; 20 P-47s support ground
forces along the Irrawaddy River, hitting targets at Konkha, Onbaing, and
Wabyudaung; troop concentrations and supplies are bombed by 75 fighter-
bombers at Nawngchio, No-na, Man Hpa-yaw, Man Namket, Nanhu, Panghai, Mong
Nge, and Ho-Pok. Transports fly 489 sorties to forward bases and frontline
areas.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 798: 700 bombers and 362
fighters are dispatched to make visual attacks on oil refineries at Hamburg
and Harburg and Gee-H and H2X attacks on rail targets; 9 bombers and 7
fighters are lost:
  1. 158 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Rhenania (40) and Albrecht (34) oil
refineries at Hamburg and the U-boat base at Hamburg (73); 1 other hits a
target of opportunity; 4 B-17s are lost and 88 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and
39 MIA. Escorting are 61 P-47s and P-51s; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 1
P-47 is damaged beyond repair.
  2. 78 of 84 B-24s hit the Rhenania oil refinery at Harburg; 1 other hits
Borkum Airfield as a target of opportunity; 4 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged
beyond repair and 57 damaged; 7 airmen are WIA and 44 MIA. Escort is provided
by 46 of 55 P-51s; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
  3. 458 B-17s are sent to hit the Paderborn marshalling yard (397) and the
Schildesche rail viaduct at Bielefeld (37); 4 others hit a target of
opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost and 6 damaged; 9 airmen are MIA. The escort is
108 of 118 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
  4. 80 of 87 P-51s fly a fighter sweep against a rail target without loss.
  5. 25 of 28 P-51s fly a scouting mission; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Weather cancels all bomber
operations and limits the fighters; the XIX Tactical Air Command flies a
night patrol while the IX Tactical Air Command flies a leaflet mission and
patrols the XIX Corps area around the Hurtgen Forest, Germany.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Continued bad weather cancels
all operations.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers, taking
advantage of improved weather conditions, attack 6 rail targets on the
Brenner rail line, blocking the line at Calliano, cutting tracks at Ora, and
destroying a section of the bridge at Sacile; in NE Italy fighters and
fighter-bombers concentrate their large effort on rail lines and bridges,
destroying 4 and damaging another, cutting tracks at numerous points, and
blasting vehicles and trains; HQ 3d Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) and
the 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron move from Rosia and Malignano
respectively to Florence/Peretola with A-20s, B-25s and F-5s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 14 B-24s from Saipan Island pound airfields on
Iwo Jima Island; 3 from Guam Island, on armed reconnaissance flight, bomb
Marcus Island in the N Pacific; 2 B-24s, from Guam and Saipan, fly individual
harassment strikes against Iwo Jima during the night of 17/18 Jan.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): HQ 29th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and
the 6th, 43d and 52d Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy) arrive at North
Field, Guam Island from the US with B-29s (first mission is 16 Feb).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In principal
strikes of the day on Luzon Island, B-24s bomb railroad yards at Legaspi
while B-25s hit roads and railways E of Manila, destroying many railroad cars
and troop-laden trucks. Other B-24s pound the Daliao area on Mindanao Island
and Talisay Airfield on Negros Island. B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers
continue to fly small strikes and armed reconnaissance against bridges,
shipping, port areas, airfields, trucks, and other targets of opportunity
throughout Luzon and in the C Philippine Islands. The air echelon of the 82d
Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves
from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Lingayen, Luzon with F-6s and P-40s (ground
echelon is enroute from Morotai Island to Lingayen).

THURSDAY, 18 JANUARY 1945

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly an unsuccessful reconnaissance
mission to Kurabu Airfield on Paramushiru Island; one of the B-24s force-
lands in the USSR on the return trip.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 29 B-24s bomb and 25 P-40s
pound shipping and railroad targets at Hong Kong; 7 B-25s bomb Ishan and
Chinchengchiang, 4 B-25s and 12 P-40s hit shipping in the Puchi area, 4 B-25s
bomb the town of Wanting, and 2 hit troop compounds at Chaling. 11 B-25s and
12 fighter-bombers attack Phu Lang Thuong, French Indochina. About 140 P-51s,
P-40s, and P-38s on armed reconnaissance over S China from the Burma boundary
to Hong Kong attack a huge variety of targets of opportunity.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 23 P-47s and P-38s hit
Anisakan and Hsumhsai Airfields; 12 B-25s bomb the airfield at Nawnghkio; 20+
P-47s support ground forces at Si-U and near Yenya-u and Mahlainggon; troops,
supplies, and general targets of opportunity are attacked at Antawsai, Mong
Nak, Namhpakka, Mong Yok, Loi-pyek, Kyawnghkam, Pangnok, and in the Namtu
vicinity. 529 transport sorties are flown to forward areas. In India, the
detachment of the 6th Fighter Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group,
operating from Cox's Bazar, India with P-47s returns to base at Asansol.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 799: Bad weather limits
operations; 114 of 114 B-17s attack the marshalling yard at Kaiserslautern
without loss; most are diverted to bases on the Continent after the raid
because of heavy clouds; escort is provided by 105 of 113 P-51s with the loss
of 3 aircraft and pilots. 6 of 6 B-17s fly a screening mission and 4 of 4
P-51s fly a scouting mission.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ IX Tactical Air Command returns
to operational control of the Ninth AF (from the RAF Second Tactical AF) as
the US First Army returns from the Twenty First Army Group to the Twelfth
Army Group. In Belgium, HQ IX Tactical Air Command (Rear) returns to Verviers
from Charleroi. Weather prevents all Ninth AF operations except for alert
flights by 11 fighters of the IX and XXIX Tactical Air Commands. The 153d
Liaison Squadron, IX Tactical Air Command (attached to Twelfth Army Group),
moves from Rutten to Spa, Belgium with L-5s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Weather prevents bombing
operations; P-38s and P-51s fly photo reconnaissance and escort missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 17/18
Jan, A-20s attack Po River crossings, lights and movement throughout the Po
Valley; during the day medium bombers pound targets on the Brenner line,
including a temporary bridge between San Michele all'Adige and Ora, and an
overhanging cliff over the railroad at San Ambrogio di Valpolicella; fighters
and fighter-bombers blast communications lines in NE Italy and fuel and
supply dumps in the Piacenza area, destroying numerous railroad tracks,
trains, and vehicles, and causing explosions or fires in most of the dumps.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 19 Saipan Island-based B-24s bomb targets on
Chichi Jima and Haha Jima Islands, damaging the naval base and the town of
Okimura on Chichi Jima. 10 B-24s from Guam Island pound an airfield on Iwo
Jima Island. During the night of 18/19 Jan, 3 B-24s continue snooper strikes
against Iwo Jima airfields. In Hawaii, HQ VII Fighter Command moves from
Hickam Field to Ft Kamehameha.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s blast the
Cotabato area on Mindanao Island. B-24s bomb targets in the Miti area of
Halmahera Island, and on Luzon Island, B-25s hit troop concentrations at
Bamban, A-20s hit warehouses and highway traffic N of Bataan, and P-38s
strafe parked aircraft at Tuguegarao and vehicles at Enrile and Butigui and
Calarian on Mindanao. A variety of FEAF aircraft fly small-scale raids and
armed reconnaissance missions against road and rail targets, bridges,
airfields, and numerous targets of opportunity throughout the Philippine
Islands. The 66th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, based on
Biak Island, begins operating from Hill Field, Mindoro Island and Dulag,
Leyte Island with C-46s and C-47s. The 67th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d
Troop Carrier Group, moves from Biak to Tinauan, Leyte with C-46s and C-47s.

FRIDAY, 19 JANUARY 1945

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 1 B-24 flies a radar ferret mission over
Shimushu and Onnekotan Islands in the Kurile Islands; 2 other B-24s hit
Matsuwa and Onnekotan Islands.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 4 B-25s bomb Monguy, Burma and
vicinity, 5 bomb Ishan, China, and in French Indochina, 8 hit shipping and
rail targets at Song Cau, and 4 hit shipping, railroad targets, and a bridge
at Do Len. About 115 P-51s, P-40s, and P-38s on armed reconnaissance over S
China and N French Indochina attack a great variety of targets of opportunity
covering especially in the Wanting, China area.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 9 B-25s bomb troops and
stores at Na-mon and near Hsenwi; 28 fighter-bombers support ground forces in
the Si-U and Namhkam battle sectors and along the Irrawaddy River near
Yenya-u, Kyaukpyu, and Myitson; 4 others bomb a causeway in the lake at
Mogok; troops, supplies, and artillery are hit by 80+ fighter-bombers at
Tonghsim, Konghsa, Mankang, Mong Pa, Pangkawlong, Saihkao, Man Hio, Man Mao,
and other locations in N Burma. Transports complete 500+ sorties to forward
areas.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 800: 2 B-17s and 9 B-24s
drop leaflets in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Bad weather cancels bomber
operations; fighters fly patrols and armed reconnaissance; the XIX Tactical
Air Command also supports elements of the US III and VIII Corps NE of
Houffalize, Belgium and around Clervaux, Luxembourg, and the 5th Infantry
Division around Bettendorf, Germany.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Yugoslavia, 400+ B-17s and
B-24s attack N and S marshalling yards, a railroad bridge, and a highway
bridge at Brod; because of overcast, only 1 of 112 bombers sent against the
Zagreb marshalling yard bombs the target while others abort; 46 P-38s bomb
the S railroad bridge at Doboj and 59 P-51s sweep from Zagreb to Gyor,
Hungary. Other P-38s fly reconnaissance missions and reconnaissance escort
and cover Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (MATAF) B-25s on a supply
run.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 18/19
Jan, A-20s bomb motor transport movements, lights, roads, and railroads
throughout the Po Valley; weather cancels medium bomber operations and
prevents fighter-bombers from completing the XXII Tactical Air Command's only
mission airborne during the day.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 7 B-24s from Saipan Island bomb harbor
installations at Chichi Jima Island; 9 from Guam Island hit airfields on Iwo
Jima Island; 7 B-24s escort photo planes over the Bonin and Kazan Islands and
1 bombs Iwo Jima; during the night, 3 B-24s on individual snooper strikes
from the Mariana Islands bomb Iwo Jima.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 20: 80 B-29s are dispatched to hit
the Kawasaki aircraft plant at Akashi, Japan; 62 hit the primary target and 9
others bomb alternates and targets of opportunity; they claim 4-4-8 Japanese
aircraft.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In principal
missions of the day, B-24s and B-25s bomb La Carlota and Bacolod Airfields on
Negros Island. On Luzon Island, A-20s attack shipping at Salomague and
Callaguip and B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers attack throughout Luzon,
hitting airfields, vehicles, storage areas, highways, and a variety of other
targets. HQ 433d Troop Carrier Group moves from Biak Island to Tanauan, Leyte
Island. The 70th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, arrives at Lingayen,
Luzon from Sansapor, New Guinea with P-38s.
 
SATURDAY, 20 JANUARY 1945

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 4 B-24s bomb the Kataoka area on Shimushu
Island, Kurile Islands.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 4 B-25s hit a bridge and railroad
cars near Hanoi, French Indochina. In China, 3 B-25s attack targets of
opportunity W of Hengshan, 2 hit a troop compound and other targets at
Chaling and Anjen, and 1 damages a small freighter in the E China Sea; 32
P-51s pound airfields in the Shanghai area, claiming 22 aircraft destroyed;
200+ P-40s, P-51s, and P-38s on armed reconnaissance over vast S China and N
French Indochina areas attack bridges, town areas, rail, road and river
traffic, and other targets of opportunity at numerous points. The detachment
of the 22d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium),
operating from Yunnani, China with B-25s, returns to base at Yangkai.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Brigadier General Roger M Ramey officially
becomes Commanding General XX Bomber Command.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 16 fighter-bombers support
ground forces along the Irrawaddy River near Mabein, Shadaw, and Myitson; 8
others hit an ammunition dump at Namhkai and a supply dump at Kutkai; also
hit are troop concentrations, supply areas and targets of opportunity at
Kyaunghkam, Panghung, Kawnglom, Namhsan, Loi-kang, and in the Hsenwi area.
482 transport sorties are flown to advanced bases and battle sectors. HQ 80th
Fighter Group moves from Tingkawk Sakan to Myitkyina, Burma. In India, the
127th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, based at Kalaikunda
with UC-64s and L-5s, sends a detachment to operate from Cox's Bazar (first
mission is today). 

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 801: 772 bombers and 455
fighters are dispatched to hit synthetic oil plants at Sterkrade and rail
targets and bridges in W Germany using H2X radar; they claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe
aircraft; 4 bombers and 3 fighters are lost:
  1. 36 of 309 B-17s hit the Holten oil plant at Sterkrade; 225 hit the
secondary target, the marshalling yard at Rheine; 1 B-17 is lost, 2 damaged
beyond repair and 68 damaged; 8 airmen are KIA, 33 WIA and 61 MIA. Escorting
are 189 of 199 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
  2. 187 of 223 B-17s hit the Heilbronn marshalling yard; 8 hit the
secondary, the Pforzheim marshalling yard and 2 hit a target of opportunity;
2 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 18 damaged. Escort is provided
by 39 of 48 P-51s without loss.
  3. 170 of 230 B-17s hit the Mannheim marshalling yard and rail bridge;
targets of opportunity are Stuttgart (24), Mannheim (21) and other (1); 1
B-17 is lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 29 damaged. The escort is 130 of
137 P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
  4. 36 of 39 P-51s fly a fighter sweep in the Frankfurt area; 1 P-51 is lost
(pilot MIA).
  5. 16 of 16 P-51s fly a sweep in the St Vith/Duren area without loss.
  6. 16 of 16 P-51s fly a scouting mission without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Bomber operations are cancelled due
to weather; fighters fly armed reconnaissance, alerts, and night patrol; the
IX Tactical Air Command also supports the 7th Armored Division on the Dutch-
German boundary.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): The tactical organization of
the Fifteenth AF becomes fully developed when a supply-dropping group, the
15th Special Group (Provisional), organized on 18 Jan, is given control of
the 859th (B-24) and 885th (B-17) Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) which drop
supplies in France, Italy, and Yugoslavia. [In Mar, the 15th Group will be
redesignated the the 2641st Special Group (Provisional) and with its units
attached to the Twelfth AF for operational control, the Fifteenth retaining
administrative control]. 
  345 B-17s and B-24s attack N and S main marshalling yards and station
sidings at Linz, Austria, marshalling yards at Salzburg, Austria and
Rosenheim, Germany, and oil storage at Regensburg, Germany; fighters escort
the bombers and fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers destroy 1
and damage another bridge near San Michele all'Adige, and score good coverage
on the Trento marshalling yard; the XXII Tactical Air Command fighter-bombers
very successfully blast communications and fuel and ammunition dumps in the
Po Valley.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 12 Guam Island-based B-24s bomb airfields on
Iwo Jima Island; 5 from Saipan Island hit the town of Okimura on Chichi Jima
Island; during the night of 20/21 Jan, 10 B-24s from Guam fly separate
snooper strikes against Iwo Jima airfields.
    The 163d Liaison Squadron, AAFPOA (attached to Tenth Army) arrives at
Schofield Barracks, Hawaii from the US with L-5s.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Major General Curtis Emerson LeMay takes
command of the XXI Bomber Command.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s pound Fabrica
Airfield on Negros Island and bomb underground storage area at Bamban on
Luzon Island. On Luzon, A-20s and B-25s hit railroads and trains near the
Bicol River and between Calauag and Legaspi; other A-20s and fighter-bombers
hit Aparri-Laoag and Tubang Airfields, hit artillery positions W of Bong Bong
and destroy railroad bridge at Aloneros. HQ 35th Fighter Group moves from
Morotai Island to Mangaldan, Luzon. The 2d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d
Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Angaur Island to Samar Island with
B-24s. The 82d and 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons, 71st Tactical
Reconnaissance Group, arrive at Lingayen, Luzon from Morotai Island and
Dulag, Leyte Island respectively with F-6s and P-40s (82d) and P-40s (110th).

SUNDAY, 21 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 30 B-24s pound the Hong
Kong area; 12 P-51s hit Nanking Airfield (claiming 11 enemy aircraft
destroyed) and targets of opportunity along the Yangtze River to Hankow; 30
P-51s and P-40s on armed reconnaissance hit targets of opportunity at several
locations; 12 of the fighter-bombers concentrate on the Wanting area.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 10 B-25s bomb Heho
Airfield; 12 P-38s bomb the bridge area at Nampawng; 26 P-47s support ground
forces near Twinnge, Mahlainggon, and Konkha along the Irrawaddy River, and
in the Si-U sector; 50+ P-38s and P-47s hit troop concentrations, supplies,
and targets of opportunity at Me-han, Mogok, Hsenwi, Na-makhkaw, Kutkai,
Kunhkan, and Man On. Nearly 500 transports sorties are flown to forward
areas. Units moving to Myitkyina, Burma: 90th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter
Group, from Tingkawk, Burma with P-47s; 115th Liaison Squadron, Tenth AF
[attached to 1st Liaison Group (Provisional)], from Ledo, India with L-1s and
L-5s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 803: 912 bombers and 523 fighters are dispatched to hit industrial
and rail targets in C Germany using PFF methods with some visual bombing;
they claim 8-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 8 bombers are lost:
  1. 379 B-17s are sent to hit the marshalling yard (257) and oil plant (66)
at Aschaffenburg; targets of opportunity are the Pforzheim marshalling yard
(24) and military vehicle plant at Mannheim (3); Gee-H and H2X are used; 2
B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; 18 airmen are KIA and
2 MIA. Escorting are 112 of 139 P-51s.
  2. 382 B-17s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yard (254), Lanz
military vehicle factory (21) and highway and rail bridges (16) at Mannheim;
targets of opportunity are the Pforzheim marshalling yard (16), Speyer (4) and
other (3); bombing is by Micro H and H2X; 6 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond
repair and 53 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 12 WIA and 55 MIA. The escort is 138
of 150 P-51s; they claim 2-0-0 aircraft on the ground.
  3. 152 B-24s are sent to hit the marshalling yard at Heilbronn (68) using
H2X; targets of opportunity bombed visually are the marshalling yard at
Pforzheim (11), the communications centers at Arnbach (14) and Mannheim (1)
and Reutlingen (1); 4 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged; 3 airmen
are WIA. Escort is provided by 120 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 6-0-1 aircraft
on the ground.
  4. 26 of 26 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
  5. 6 of 7 P-51s fly an armed photographic mission over Politz.
  6. 22 of 23 P-51s escort 4 F-5s on a photo reconnaissance mission over
Germany.
  Mission 804: 2 B-17s and 9 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France
and Germany during the night without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In Germany, 166 A-26s, A-20s, and
B-26s hit a rail junction and bridge at Euskirchen and marshalling yard and
defended positions at Mayen; fighters fly armed reconnaissance, escort
bombers, bomb bridges, and support the US 7th Armored Division.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 170 B-17s bomb the Lobau and
Schweehat oil refineries at Vienna, Austria; 131 P-51s and P-38s provide
support. 43 P-38s bomb an oil refinery at Fiume, Italy. Other fighters escort
reconnaissance missions and accompany supply-dropping operations to
Yugoslavia.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather restricts
operations during the night of 21/22 Jan to armed reconnaissance by 5 A-20s;
the A-20s bomb communications targets in the Po Valley. During the day B-25s
hit bridges at Rovereto and Lavis, destroy a bridge at Pontetidone, and blast
a railroad fill at San Michele all' Adige, and supply dump at Cremona;
fighters and fighter-bombers concentrate on communications in the same area
as the medium bombers, destroying 1 bridge, inflicting 36 rail cuts, hitting
fuel and ammunition dumps, and destroying and damaging many vehicles and much
railroad rolling stock, mostly in Milan area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 12 Guam Island-based B-24s bomb airfields on
Iwo Jima Island; during the night of 21/22 Jan, 8 more, flying separate
snooper strikes from Saipan Island, pound the airfields.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 21: 30 of 33 B-29s, flying out of the
Mariana Islands, bomb Moen Airfield in Truk Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Marikina
Airfield and hit barracks and coastal defense guns at Calabasan. B-25s,
A-20s, and fighter-bombers fly sweeps, small strikes, and armed
reconnaissance attacks on airfields, road networks, bridges, gun positions,
numerous vehicles, and other targets of opportunity throughout C and S Luzon.
HQ 22d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the 33d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)
move from Angaur Island to Samar Island with B-24s.

MONDAY, 22 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 16 P-40s and P-51s on armed
reconnaissance attack various targets in the Wanting area and in SW China; 10
P-51s bomb buildings at the Kunlong ferry; 14 P-51s and P-40s hit the
Sintsiang railroad yards and destroy several locomotives and trucks E of
Tsinan and Suchow; the flights of the 21st and 35th Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadrons and 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron,
Fourteenth AF, operating from Suichwan with F-4s, F-5s, P-40s and P-51s,
return to base at Kunming and Chengkung.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 46 P-47s support ground
forces near Si-U, Namhkam, and along the Irrawaddy River near Twinnge, Bahe,
the Nam Mit River, Myitson, and Banwe; 12 others hit targets of opportunity
along roads near Kutkai, Hsenwi, Lashio, and Namtu; troop concentrations,
fuel and ammunition dumps, vehicles, and general supplies are pounded at Kin,
Padan, Man Lom, Namtu, Hkamtung, Kabaing, Nammaw-hpek, Panglaw, and Na-hsang.
Transports fly 449 sorties to advanced bases and frontline areas. In Burma,
the 5th Liaison Squadron, Tenth AF [attached to 1st Liaison Group
(Provisional)], moves from Mytikyina to Bhamo with L-1s and L-5s; the 165th
Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Ye-U to
Shwebo with UC-64s and L-5s. The 317th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 2d
Air Commando Group, based at Kalaikunda, India with C-47s, sends a detachment
to operate from Bikram, India.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 805: 206 B-17s and 258 fighters are dispatched to make visual
attacks on the Holten synthetic oil plant at Sterkrade (167); 1 hits the
secondary target, the marshalling yard at Rheine; targets of opportunity are
Dinslaken (12), Osnabruck (5), Heiden (8) and other (4); 5 B-17s are lost, 3
damaged beyond repair and 144 damaged; 13 airmen are WIA and 45 MIA. Escort
is provided by 85 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 3-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the
ground. Other fighter missions are:
  1. 128 of 136 P-51s fly a sweep in the St Vith, Belgium-Karlsruhe-
Darmstadt and Kobenz, Germany areas, some as escort for Ninth AF bombers; 1
P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
  2. 10 of 11 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
  Mission 806: 1 B-17 and 8 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and
France.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 304 B-26s, A-26s, and A-20s bomb a
marshalling yard, railhead, and road and rail bridges in Germany with the aim
of obstructing troop movement; fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division,
fly armed reconnaissance and sweeps and airfield cover, and support the US
7th Armored Division near Montfort, the Netherlands; the III, VIII, and XII
Corps from S of Saint-Vith, Belgium along the battlefront to NW of
Echternach, Luxembourg; and the 4th, 5th, 94th, and 95th Infantry Divisions
from Echternach, Luxembourg S to just W of Saarlautern, Germany. In Belgium,
HQ 70th Fighter Wing moves from Liege to Verviers. In France, the 514th
Fighter Squadron, 406th Fighter Group, based at Mourmelon with P-47s, begins
operating from Prosnes.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Bad weather limits operations
to 1 P-38 weather reconnaissance flight.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s score damaging
hits at Rovereto, San Michele all' Adige and on the Dogna bridge, and attack
the Chiari and Crema bridges with fair results; fighter-bombers range over
practically all of N Italy destroying and damaging a large number of vehicles
and railway cars and several locomotives, also hitting fuel and ammunition
dumps around Mantua. The air echelon of the 417th Night Fighter Squadron,
Twelfth AF (attached to 422d Night Fighter Squadron) operating from
Florennes, Belgium with Beaufighters, returns to base at La Vallon, France.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 20 B-24s from Guam Island blast airfields on
Iwo Jima Island, while 8 more B-24s flying individual strikes from Guam pound
the airfields again during the night of 22/23 Jan.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s, escorted by
P-38s, bomb Heito Airfield in the first major Fifth AF strike on Formosa. On
Luzon Island, other B-24s bomb barracks in the Cabaruan Hills and gun
positions across Manila Bay and hit Fabrica Airfield. In smaller
miscellaneous strikes, FEAF fighters and bombers over C and S Luzon hit enemy
positions, small shipping, and highways at several points, and damage a
bridge over the Magata River. HQ Fifth AF, HQ V Bomber Command and HQ V
Fighter Command move from Leyte Island to Mindoro Island. The 20th Combat
Mapping Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, based at Dulag,
Leyte, begins operating from Biak Island with F-7s. The 39th Fighter
Squadron,  35th Fighter Group, moves from Morotai Island to Mangaldan, Luzon
with P-47s. The air echelon of the 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron,
71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, ceases operating from San Jose, Mindoro
and moves to Lingayen, Luzon with P-40s.

TUESDAY, 23 JANUARY 1945

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, 1 B-24 flies a
reconnaissance sortie along Onnekotan Island-Matsuwa Island E coasts; 4 B-24s
strike the Kakumabetsu cannery and targets on Paramushiru Island; 8 to 10
fighters intercept and the B-24s claim 2 victories; 1 B-24 is lost.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 40 P-51s and P-40s on armed
reconnaissance attack targets of opportunity (mainly river, road, and rail
traffic) at several locations in both S China and in the N China plain,
including the Wanting, Suchow and Yuankiang areas, the lower Tungting Lake
region, points between Kiaotow and Kweiyi, and points as far N as Peking.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s bomb airfields at
Aungban and Hsumhsai; 34 P-47s support ground forces near Namhkam and along
the Irrawaddy River in the the Twinnge and Bahe areas; 55 P-47s and P-38s hit
troop concentrations, storage areas and vehicles at Kawngwang, Sati, Kyaukme,
Wengnan, Hko-lawng, Lothke, and Panglaw. Transports fly 542 sorties, carrying
men and supplies to advanced bases and drop supplies to troops in frontline
areas. In Burma, the 88th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, moves from
Shingbwiyang to Myitkyina with P-47s. The detachment of the 166th Liaison
Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, operating from Arakan, Burma
with UC-64s and L-5s, returns to base at Asansol, India.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 807: 209 B-17s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yard at Neuss,
Germany (169); 12 others hit the Neuss Bridge; the attacks are made using
Gee-H and Micro H; 1 B-17 is lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 95 damaged; 5
airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 10 MIA. Escort is provided by 74 of 79 P-51s; 1 is
damaged beyond repair. Other operations are:
  1. 68 of 75 P-51s fly a sweep over the Neuss area; they claim 1-0-0
Luftwaffe aircraft without loss.
  2. 16 of 17 P-51s fly a scouting mission without loss.
  Mission 808: 5 B-24s drop leaflet in the Netherlands during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In Germany, a small B-26 force hits
troop concentrations, a road bridge, and military transport targets at
Blankenheim, Dasburg, and Arzfeld. Fighters fly armed reconnaissance, alert
flights, and patrols, and support the US III, VIII, and XII Corps and 4th,
94th, and 95th Infantry Divisions from S of Saint-Vith, Belgium, S and E
along the battleline to just W of Saarlautern, Germany.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Continued bad weather cancels
all operations.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 22/23
Jan, A-20s bomb lights, roads, and river crossings at over 50 locations in
the Po Valley, hit several targets of opportunity, and attack Borgoforte and
San Benedetto Po and airfields at Villafranca di Verona and Ghedi; weather
cancels medium bomber operations during the day; fighter-bombers operate
mainly against communications, principally railroad targets, in the Po Valley
but also hit ammunition dumps, shipping, guns, vehicles, and other targets in
N Italy scattered from Genoa to NE Italy.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 12 B-24s from Saipan Island bomb Iwo Jima
Island airfields. 3 from Guam Island fly armed reconnaissance over Woleai
Atoll, 2 of them bombing the main runway on the island. During the night of
23/24 Jan, 10 B-24s from Saipan strike Iwo Jima singly at about 45-minute
intervals.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 22: 73 B-29s of the XXI Bomber
Command are dispatched to bomb the Mitsubishi engine plant at Nagoya; 28 hit
the primary and 27 hit the secondary target, the urban area of the city; 9
bomb other alternates and targets of opportunity; an estimated 600+ fighters
offer heavy and aggressive opposition; the AAF claims 33-22-40 Japanese
aircraft; 2 B-29s are lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: During the night of
22/23 Jan, B-24s again hit Formosa in force, bombing an aluminum factory at
Takao. In the day's principal missions against Luzon Island, B-24s bomb
Baguio and, along with A-20s, hit Corregidor Island in Manila Bay; other
A-20s attack Aparri Airfield while fighter-bombers hit a bridge at Digdig,
luggers S of Alcala, guns on Grande Island at the mouth of Subic Bay, a
bridge over the Magata River, and the base at Camp John Hay. B-24s hit Silay
Airfield on Negros Island.

WEDNESDAY, 24 JANUARY 1945

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, 4 B-25s on a lowlevel
attack on Torishima Island abort due to mechanical trouble; 4 more B-25s bomb
buildings on Torishima; AA fire damages 2 B-25s. In the Aleutian Islands, 6
fighters take off after radar reports an unidentified target SE of Attu
Island; they spot a balloon which they shoot down with tracers.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 12 P-51s on armed
reconnaissance attack railroad targets N of Siangsiang, between Loyang and
Kaifeng, and near Tungchen; 21 locomotives are claimed destroyed.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s bomb Hsumhsai
Airfield; 17 P-47s support ground forces at Padin near Namhkam, and along the
Irrawaddy River in the Bahe area; 6 P-47s knock out the Inailong bypass
bridge; troop concentrations and supply areas are attacked at Nawng-ang,
Pangsan, Mansak, Konsan, Yaunggwin, Mangkung, Nawngngun, Mong Long, Mogok,
Namhsan, and in the Mongmit area. Transports again fly 500+ sorties to
forward areas.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 67 of 70 P-51s based in Belgium
are dispatched in 4 flights to fly sweeps over Wahn Airfield-Dorweiler area
and Karlsruhe-Koblenz area in Germany, claiming 3 fighters downed; 1 P-51 is
lost.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 25 9th Bombardment Division bombers
hit communications centers at Schleiden, Stadtkyll, and Pronsfeld, Germany;
fighters fly armed reconnaissance, sweeps, airfield cover, and bomb 1 bridge;
the XIX Tactical Air Command supports US III, VIII, XII, and XX Corps
elements along the battlefront at several points from SW of Saint-Vith,
Belgium to the Saarlautern, Germany area. The 39th Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, Ninth AF, arrives at Valenciennes, France from the
US with F-5s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Unfavorable weather limits
operations to 1 complete weather reconnaissance mission.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, cloud conditions and
ground fog at bases nearly halt operations; 1 medium bomber flies weather
reconnaissance over the Venice area and P-47s fly weather reconnaissance over
the Bologna-Parma area; 2 of the P-47s destroy a truck and damage a train
near Parma.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 33 B-24s, from Guam and Saipan Islands, pound
Iwo Jima Island during 4 raids; 6 others act as airborne spotters for a naval
bombardment of Iwo; during 5 hours on the night of 24/25 Jan, 10 B-24s
maintain harassment strikes against the island's airfields. The 78th Fighter
Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, departs Bellows Field, Hawaii for Iwo Jima with
P-51s.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 23: 20 of 28 B-29s dispatched hit 2
airfields on Iwo Jima Island without loss.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon Island,
B-24s pound Corregidor Island, Cavite, the Canacao peninsula seaplane base,
and Grande Island at the mouth of Subic Bay. FEAF fighters and bombers on
sweeps, armed reconnaissance, and light raids attack a variety of targets
all over Luzon including small shipping, airfields, defensive positions,
storage and town areas, roads, and vehicles. During the night of 24/25 Jan,
B-24s on a snooper mission again hit Takao Airfield on Formosa. The 65th
Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, based on Biak Island begins
operating from Hill Field, Mindoro Island with C-46s and C-47s.

THURSDAY, 25 JANUARY 1945

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): The 30th Fighter Squadron, XXVI Fighter
Command, moves from Aguadulce, Panama to Howard Field, Canal Zone with P-39s
and P-40s.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 21 P-51s hit rail targets
and airfields in the Peking area, claiming 4 locomotives and 40 aircraft
destroyed; 16 P-40s and P-51s attack railroad targets around Kaifeng,
Shihkiachwang, Pengpu, and Chingmen; 42 locomotives are claimed destroyed.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 24 P-47s support ground
forces in the Namhkam area, near Molo, and near Myitson; 12 B-25s pound the
Heho airfield; 80+ fighter-bombers attack troops, supplies, and targets of
opportunity at Hsenwi, Loi-weng, Ho hpong, Loi Nan, Ting-yet, Mong Tat,
Ho-mong, Mong Long, Pangkwai, and in the Kutkai area. Transports fly 581
sorties to forward areas.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 111 of 121 P-51s based in Belgium
fly a sweep over wide areas of SW Germany, claiming 2 Luftwaffe fighters NE
of Mannheim and E of Kirrlach; 1 P-51 is lost.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 170 A-20s and B-26s hit
communications centers and railroad bridges, overpasses, and lines in W
Germany with the aim of harassing and obstructing troop movement; fighters of
the 3 Tactical Air Commands fly armed reconnaissance, alerts and night
patrols, escort bombers, and attack numerous ground targets; the XIX Tactical
Air Command supports the US 5th Infantry Division in the Echternach,
Luxembourg area.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Weather curtails operations;
P-38s, with P-51 escort, fly photo and weather reconnaissance missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 24/25
Jan, A-20s make several intruder attacks on roads, motor transport, bridges,
and trains; bad weather during the day greatly curtails flying; the only
medium bomber mission dispatched achieves poor results on the Cremona
ammunition dump; fighter-bombers and fighters of the XXII Tactical Air
Command hit communications and dump areas, mainly in the Milan area, with
good general success.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 14 Saipan Island-based B-24s bomb Iwo Jima
Island in the afternoon; during the night of 25/26 Jan, 10 more, flying
individual harassment strikes at intervals, pound the island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s, operating in
force, again pound Corregidor Island in Manila Bay, Luzon Island; B-24s,
B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers on sweeps, armed reconnaissance, and small-
scale strikes hit vehicles, enemy positions, airfields, ammunition and supply
dumps, barges, communications, and targets of opportunity in general, over
wide areas of Luzon and Palawan Islands, and in the C Philippine Islands.
During the night of 25/26 Jan, B-24s fly a harassing raid on Takao, Formosa.
The 20th Combat Mapping Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group,
based at Dulag, Leyte Island, begins operating from Tacloban, Leyte with
F-7s; the 387th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 312th Bombardment Group (Light)
moves from Tanauan, Leyte to San Jose, Mindoro Island with A-20s.

FRIDAY, 26 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 15 P-51s and P-40s hit
Chenghsien Airfield and locomotives, tracks, and motor transport at Nanking
and Sinsiang.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 2 missions are flown during the night of
25/26 Jan.
  Mission 30: In French Indochina, 25 of 26 B-29s mine Saigon, Camranh Bay
and Phan Rang Bay without loss.
  Mission 31: 41 of 50 B-29s mine the 6 approaches to Singapore harbor and
Penang harbor in the Malayan States and the Pakchan River and Koh Si Chang
Channel in Thailand.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 fighter-bombers support
ground forces in the Namhkam area; 140+ fighter-bombers hit troops, supplies,
guns, railroad targets, and targets of opportunity at Tangtong, Panghai, Man
Pwe, Kyaunghkam, Mong Pa, Na-lang, Hsenwi, Molo, Mong Tat, Humon, Tonghkan,
Pangnim, Konghsa, Namtu, Namhsan, and in the Nampok area. Transports fly 500+
sorties to advanced bases and frontline areas. The detachment of the 493d
Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), operating from
Luliang, China, transporting gasoline to Suichwan, China with B-24s, returns
to base at Pandaveswar, India.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 31 of 32 P-51s based in Belgium,
fly an uneventful fighter sweeps over the Heilbronn, Aschaffenburg, Giessen,
and Trier, Germany areas.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In Germany, 27 B-26s bomb the
Euskirchen rail bridge to interdict rail traffic SW from Euskirchen, much of
which comes from Cologne and Bonn. The 3 Tactical Air Commands fly armed
reconnaissance, alert flights, and patrols; the XIX Tactical Air Command
supports US Third Army elements from S of Saint-Vith, Belgium to W of
Saarlautern, Germany.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Weather prevents bombing
operations. P-38s fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance-escort missions and
escort RAF supply drop over Yugoslavia.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 25/26
Jan, A-20s fly armed reconnaissance of the Po Valley, bombing Po River
crossings, Ghedi Airfield, and general movement throughout the area; both
the 57th Bombardment Wing and the XXII Tactical Air Command cancel all
operations for the day because of bad weather.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 17 Guam Island-based B-24s bomb Iwo Jima Island
airfields; during then night of 26/27 Jan, the airfields are hit by 9 B-24s
on individual harassment missions.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon Island,
B-24s hit coastal guns on Corregidor Island and in Balete Pass; B-25s bomb
the Cabcaben Airfield area and coastal guns on Carabao Island and A-20s
attack Grande Island coastal defenses at the mouth of Subic Bay. On Mindanao
Island, B-25s bomb Likanan and Sasa and P-38s strafe the same targets and
also hit Padada. A-20s and fighter-bombers, along with a few B-24s, continue
armed reconnaissance and miscellaneous attacks against airfields,
communications, vehicles, coastal guns, town areas, and other targets
throughout Luzon and in the C Philippine Islands. HQ 3d Air Commando Group,
the 3d and 4th Fighter Squadrons (Commando) and the 318th Troop Carrier
Squadron (Commando) move from Leyte Island to Mangaldan, Luzon with P-51s and
C-47s. HQ 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the 321st and 400th Bombardment
Squadrons (Heavy) move from Biak Island to San Jose, Mindoro Island with
B-24s. The 69th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, moves from
Biak to Tanauan, Leyte with C-47s. The 386th Bombardment Squadron (Light),
312th Bombardment Group (Light), moves from Tanauan, Leyte to San Jose,
Mindoro with A-20s.

SATURDAY, 27 JANUARY 1945

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): The 29th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), VI
Bomber Command, moves from Howard Field, Canal Zone to Rio Hato, Panama with
B-24s.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 22 P-40s and P-51s attack
locomotives, trucks, and shipping at Sinsiang, Kihsien, and Nanking, from
Taiyuan to Puchou, and E of Yiyang.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): By this date the complete forward detachments
of the 4 B-29 groups in the Chengtu, China area have evacuated their bases
and moved to more permanent bases in India; this move complies with the Joint
Chiefs of Staff (JCS) directive formulated on 15 Dec 44 and received on 18
Dec; the long-existing understanding that the XX Bomber Command might be
moved from the CBI Theater when more convenient bases are available is thus
put into its initial stage when the XX Bomber Command's Commanding General,
Major General Curtis Emerson LeMay, and the JCS agree that on logistical
grounds XX Bomber Command's operating scheme is basically unsound, a
situation made more apparent when in Nov the Japanese had overrun Luchou and
Yungning and threatened Kunming, China; this development necessitated air
tonnage flown over the Hump being diverted to Chinese ground forces and
the Fourteenth AF, resulting in curtailed supplies to XX Bomber Command and
providing the catalyst for beginning a movement of the command from China.
  Mission 32: 22 of 25 XX Bomber Command B-29s based in India hit the navy
yard and arsenal at Saigon, French Indochina and 1 bombs a bridge at Bangkok,
Thailand without loss; the results are poor. 

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 30+ fighter-bombers
support ground forces at Mansak, Molo Ywama, the area S of Molo, and the
area S of Banwe; 8 others knock out a bypass bridge at Bawgyo; about 100
fighter-bombers hit troop concentrations, supplies, and targets of
opportunity at or near Man Kyan, Kuinkuiloi, Ho-hkun, Pongkalau, Hsenwi,
Kutkai, Hsa-tong, Pinghoi, Ho-mong, Padon, and Kyaung-hen. Transports fly 527
sorties to advanced bases and over forward areas, landing men and landing and
dropping supplies.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ 352d Fighter Group and the
486th and 487th Fighter Squadrons move from Bodney, England to Chievres,
Belgium with P-51s.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Weather grounds the 9th Bombardment
Division and the XIX Tactical Air Command; the IX and XXIX Tactical Air
Commands fly armed reconnaissance over the battle area and parts of W
Germany, along with alert flights and a leaflet mission. In Belgium, HQ 370th
Fighter Group and the 401st, 402d and 485th Fighter Squadrons move from
Juzaine Airfield, Florennes to Zwartberg with P-38s. The 388th Fighter
Squadron, 365th Fighter Group, moves from Metz, France to Juzaine Airfield,
Florennes, Belgium.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): For the sixth consecutive day
bad weather restricts operations to reconnaissance and escort missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, bad weather during the
morning causes all medium bombers to abort except for an attack on a bridge at
Bressana Bottarone; XXII Tactical Air Command fighters and fighter-bombers
continue the interdiction of communications with good results against motor
transport, trains, rail lines, bridges, and storage dumps; P-47s of the 57th
Fighter Group destroy an oil plant near Fornovo di Taro. The 414th Night
Fighter Squadron, 62d Fighter Wing, based at Pontedera, Italy sends a
detachment to operate from Florennes, Belgium with Beaufighters attached to
the 422d Night Fighter Squadron.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 19 B-24s, based on Saipan Island, bomb Iwo Jima
Island; 10 B-24s from Saipan and Guam Island follow up with individual
harassment raids against the island during the night of 27/28 Jan. In the
Palau Islands, Caroline Islands, 1 B-24 from Angaur Island bombs Arakabesan
Island.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 24: 76 B-29s of the 73d Bombardment
Wing (Very Heavy) are dispatched from the Mariana Islands against the
Musashiho and Nakajima aircraft plants near Tokyo; clouds and high winds over
the target area prevent bombing of the primary; 56 B-29s bomb the secondary
target, the Tokyo urban area, and 6 others attack alternates and targets of
opportunity; fighter opposition is the heaviest to date and 5 B-29s are
downed; 4 others ditch or crashland; B-29 gunners claim 60-17-39 Japanese
aircraft, the highest claim to date.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon Island,
B-24s pound the Canacao seaplane base, Cavite, and Grande Island at the mouth
of Subic Bay while B-25s hit Cabcaben and the airfield at Calingatan. Other
FEAF aircraft continue small-scale strikes against numerous other airfields,
town areas, gun emplacements, harbors, and communications and transportation
targets throughout Luzon. The 19th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d
Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Angaur Island to Samar Island with
B-24s. Units moving to San Jose, Mindoro Island: 320th Bombardment Squadron
(Heavy), 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy), from Biak Island with B-24s and
388th and 389th Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 312th Bombardment Group 
Light), from Tanauan, Leyte Island with A-20s.

SUNDAY, 28 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 23 P-40s and P-51s attack
railway and river traffic at Wuhu, Sinyang, and Linfen, in the Sinsiang-
Hantan area, between Loyang and Sinyang, and along the Pinghan (Hankow-
Peking) railroad.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 40 fighter-bombers support
ground forces SE of Banwe, E of Molo, S of Molo Ywama, and near Namhkam; 80
fighter-bombers hit troop concentrations, supply areas, and enemy movement
and active areas at or near Namsangsok, Namlan, Pangmakmo, Wengnan, Kutkai,
and Mu-lwat. Again 500+ sorties are flown to forward areas by transports. The
first convoy from Ledo, India crosses the Chinese border heading for Kunming,
China.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 809: With the prospect of improved weather over Germany, 1,006
bombers and 249 fighters are dispatched to hit marshalling yards, bridges and
benzol plants at Dortmund; 10 bombers are lost:
  1. 225 B-24s are sent to hit oil targets at Kaiserstuhl (115) and Gneisenau
(58); targets of opportunity are Lippstadt (9), Neheim (5) and other (11);
bombing is by Gee-H; 7 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 97 damaged;
2 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 71 MIA. Escorting are 68 of 77 P-51s.
  2. 421 B-17s are sent to hit the Gremberg marshalling yard at Cologne (273)
and the Hohenzollern Bridge at Cologne (69); secondary targets are Gutersloh
(31) and Bielefeld (7); 3 others hit a target of opportunity; Gee-H and H2X
radar are used to bomb; 3 B-17s are lost and 172 damaged; 4 airmen are WIA
and 35 MIA. The escort is 69 of 76 P-51s.
  3. 360 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Hohenbudberg marshalling yard (169)
and Rheinhausen Bridge at Duisburg (80); 10 hit the secondary, the highway
bridge at Duisburg; targets of opportunity are Friemersheim (13) and other
(2); some targets are hit visually while others are hit using Micro H; 2
B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 195 damaged; 14 airmen are KIA and 20
WIA. 35 of 38 P-51s escort the B-17s.
  4. 40 P-51s fly a sweep of the tactical area escorting Ninth AF B-26s.
  5. 13 of 18 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
  Mission 810: 2 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands,
Luxembourg and Germany during the night.
  The 328th, 486th and 487th Fighter Squadrons, 352d Fighter Group, move from
Bodney, England to Chievres, Belgium with P-51s (detachments have been
operating from Asch, Belgium since 23 Dec 44).

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In Germany, 95 9th Bombardment
Division B-26s hit a communications center at Mayen, rail bridges and an
overpass at Eller, Sinzig, Remagen, and Kaiserslautern, targets of
opportunity in W Germany, and fly cover for US First Army forces on the
frontline in the Monschau-Butgenbach area.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Continued bad weather (for the
seventh successive day) restricts operations to 3 weather reconnaissance
flights.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather again hampers
operations; B-25s have good results on railroad bridges at Lavis and San
Michele all'Adige; XXII Tactical Air Command aircraft operate effectively
against communications and transport targets throughout N Italy including at
Milan, Pavia, Cremona, Nervesa della Battaglia, Treviso, Genoa, Padua, and
the Lake Maggiore areas.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 10 B-24s from Guam Island and 10 from Saipan
Island bomb airfields on Iwo Jima Island; 10 more follow during the night of
28/29 Jan with single-bomber harassment raids on the airfields. In the Palau
Islands, 2 B-24s from Angaur Island bomb Arakabesan Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s, B-25s, A-20s
and fighter-bombers concentrate attacks on Luzon Island, the heaviest tonnage
(from B-24s) falling on Corregidor Island in Manila Bay; Cavite and targets
between Manila and Subic Bay, including Laoag Airfield, are also hit; A-20s
concentrate on targets in the Aparri-Gattaran area while fighter-bombers and
A-20s hit airfields in the Cagayan Valley and troops, trucks, and roads in
the San Felipe and Talavera areas. HQ 91st Photographic Wing (Reconnaissance)
moves from Leyte Island to Mindoro Island.

MONDAY, 29 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, Pailochi Airfield, river
and road shipping, troops, gun positions, buildings, and other targets of
opportunity are attacked at Kweiyi, Hankow, Sinyang and Chihkiang, between
Hengshan and Siangtan, between Wuhu and Anking, N of Hengyang, and E and S of
Yutze.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 13 B-25s knock out road
bridges at Loi-leng and Tonglau and hit several nearby targets of
opportunity; 26 P-47s hit troop positions in the Namhkai area; 11 P-38s and
16 P-47s attack airfields at Aungban and Heho; 8 P-47s support ground forces
near Banwe; 70 P-47s and P-38s pound troop concentrations and supplies at
Panglong, Tangyan, Wengnan, Homang, Mong Long, Namtu, Mongyin, Mong Yang, and
Namhsam. Largescale transport operations continue. The 1st Combat Cargo
Squadron, 1st Combat Cargo Group, moves from Tsuyung to Hsinching, China with
C-47s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
  Mission 811: 1,158 bombers and 700 fighters are dispatched to hit
industrial plants at Kassel and rail targets in C Germany; the attacks were
made using H2X radar; they claim 6-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-24 and 2 P-51s
are lost:
  1. 415 B-17s are sent to hit rail centers at Niederlahnstein (110) and
Siegen (144); 104 hit the secondary, the Mosel marshalling yard at Koblenz;
37 hit the marshalling yard at Bad Kreuznach, a target of opportunity; 4
B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 7 damaged. Escorting are 235 of 254
P-51s; they claim 1-0-1 aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost and 1 damaged beyond repair;
1 pilot is KIA.
  2. 386 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Henschel oil plant at Kassel (93);
154 hit the secondary, the Kassel marshalling yard; targets of opportunity
are the Bielefeld marshalling yard (76), Koblenz (35) and other (2); 2 B-17s
are damaged beyond repair and 28 damaged; 18 airmen are KIA and 1 WIA. The
escort is 207 of 224 P-51s; they claim 4-0-1 aircraft; 1 P-51 is damaged
beyond repair.
  3. 357 B-24s dispatched hit secondary targets, the marshalling yards at
Munster (206) and Hamm (124); 9 others hit the Soest marshalling yard, a
target of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 18 damaged; 9 airmen are MIA. 173
P-47s and P-51s escort; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is
lost (pilot MIA).
  4. 23 of 27 P-51s fly a scouting mission without loss.
  Mission 812: 1 B-17 and 8 B-24s drop leaflets in Germany and the
Netherlands during the night.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS 

    First Tactical Air Force (Provisional): Brigadier General Glenn O Barcus
becomes Commanding General XII Tactical Air Command.

    Ninth Air Force: 364 A-20s, B-26s, and A-26s bomb rail bridges, supply
and communications centers, and defended areas in W Germany; fighters escort
the bombers, fly armed reconnaissance and patrols and support US Third Army
units at points along the frontlines from S of Saint-Vith, Belgium to the
bridgehead area around Saarlautern, Germany.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Weather prevents bombing
operations for the eighth consecutive day; P-38s fly photo and weather
reconnaissance missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, due to high winds and
generally bad weather, medium bombers successfully bomb only 2 targets, the
railway bridges at Calliano and Rovereto, and attack with less success
bridges at Motta di Livenza, Lavis, Mantua, and Chiusaforte, and railway
station at Lavis; XXII Tactical Air Command fighters and fighter-bombers
operate primarily against communications throughout the Po Valley; results
are generally good and a bridge at Nervesa della Battaglia is cut; bridges or
their approaches at Cittadella, Santa Margherita d'Adige and Cismon del
Grappa are damaged along with a variety of targets. During the night of 28/29
Jan, A-20s hit rail facilities, pontoon bridge, lights, and motor transport
at nearly 50 locations in the Po Valley.  The 5th Photographic Reconnaissance
Squadron, 3d Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), based at Peretola Airfield,
Florence with F-5s, sends a flight to operate from Pisa.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 19 Guam Island-based B-24s bomb Iwo Jima Island
airfields. 2 from Saipan Island, on an armed reconnaissance flight, bomb
Marcus Island in the N Pacific. In the Palau Islands, 1 B-24 from Angaur
Island bombs Arakabesan Island. During the night of 29/30 Jan, 5 B-24s from
Saipan continue harassment raids on Iwo Jima airfields.

  HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 25: 28 of 33 Mariana Islands based
B-29s strike at 2 airfields on Iwo Jima Island without loss.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Heavy B-24 daylight
raids concentrate on the Heito airfield area of Formosa and Corregidor Island
in Manila Bay while B-25s bomb nearby Cabcaben, Luzon Island. On Luzon,
fighter-bombers and A-20s hit targets of opportunity from Aparri to Echague;
further S fighters hit gun positions in the Batangas and Verde Islands areas;
A-20s support ground forces inland from Lingayen by hitting the Carranglen
road network; others hit Talavera and Carabao. HQ 38th Bombardment Group
(Medium) and the 822d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), move from Morotai Island
to Lingayen, Luzon with B-25s. The 319th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 90th
Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Biak Island to San Jose, Mindoro Island
with B-24s.

TUESDAY, 30 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 27 B-24s, escorted by 32
P-40s and P-51s, bomb Hankow; 8 P-51s hit targets of opportunity in the areas
around Loyang, Yuncheng, and Sinantien; the detachment of the 16th Fighter
Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, at Kwanghan with P-51s returns to base at
Chengkung (another detachment is at Laohokow).

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 65 fighter-bombers support
ground forces in the Banwe, Yenya-u, Hsenwi, Molo, and Mongmit areas; 5
others knock out a bridge E of Mong Long; 100+ fighter-bombers attack troops,
supplies, artillery, and communications targets at several locations
including Kutkai, Bawgyo, Hamn gai, Namhsan, Naleng, Pangsari, Hsenwi, and
Wengnan. Transports again fly 500+ sorties to forward areas. HQ 1st Combat
Cargo Group moves from Tsuyung, China to Dohazari, India. The detachment of
the 317th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, operating
from Bikram, India with C-47s, returns to base at Kalaikunda, India. The
detachment of the 492d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group
(Heavy), at Luliang, China ferrying gasoline to Suichwan, China in B-24s,
returns to base at Madhaiganij, India.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Weather cancels bomber operations.
Fighters fly nightfighter and intruder reconnaissance missions; fighter cover
for the US 5th Armored Division W of Gemund, Germany is recalled during the
day. HQ 365th Fighter Group and the 386th Fighter Squadron move from Metz,
France to Juzaine Airfield, Florennes, Belgium with P-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): For the ninth successive day,
weather prevents bombing operations; during the night of 29/30 Jan, 13 B-24s
drop supplies in N Italy; during the day P-38s fly reconnaissance and
reconnaissance escort and carry out supply missions and strafing attacks in
Austria.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, good weather in the Po
Valley permits full-scale operations against communications lines; during the
night of 29/30 Jan, A-20s intruders pound scattered movement (much of it near
Milan), several Po River crossings including Borgoforte, Piacenza, and San
Benedetto Po, the harbor at La Spezia, and fuel dumps and other targets at
many locations; B-25s effectively strike the Brenner rail line during the
day, especially the Lavis and Trento marshalling yards and bridges at Lavis
and Calliano; XXII Tactical Air Command fighters and fighter-bombers strike
railroads and bridges in NE Italy cutting many lines and damaging several
bridges, and hit fuel dumps and factories around Parma.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 17 B-24s from Saipan Island bomb an Iwo Jima
Island airfield. 3 others bomb the airfield on Woleai Atoll, Caroline
Islands. In the Palau Islands, 5 B-24s from Angaur Island strike Koror and
Arakabesan Islands. During the night of 30/31 Jan, 10 B-24s from Saipan fly
single-bomber snooper raids against Iwo Jima airfields.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Bad weather cancels
most of the scheduled strikes over Luzon Island; however, B-24s bomb Cavite
while fighter-bombers flying support for ground forces hit artillery and
troop concentrations NE of Labayug and others attack ammunition dumps N of
San Isidro. The 405th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group
(Medium), moves from Morotai Island to Lingayen, Luzon with B-25s.

WEDNESDAY, 31 JANUARY 1945

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, P-51s strafe targets of
opportunity along the Pinghan (Hankow-Peking) railroad.

  INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s hit troops and
stores at Namlan; 50+ P-47s attack troops and supplies at several locations
including Na-mawtawng, Tawkut, Mong Long, Hsipaw, Hsenwi, and Namhpakka. 
Transports complete 535 sorties to forward bases and frontline areas. The
13th, 14th and 16th Combat Cargo Squadrons, 4th Combat Cargo Group, move from
Agartala to Chittagong, India with C-46s. The 164th Liaison Squadron
(Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Kan, Burma to Asansol, India
with UC-64s and L-5s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 813: 291 B-24s, 112 B-17s
and 186 P-51s are recalled from a mission against targets in Germany because
of expected bad weather at UK bases and heavy clouds; 1 B-17 and 3 B-24s are
damaged beyond repair; 6 airmen are KIA and 8 WIA.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): All operations are cancelled due to
weather. The 387th Fighter Squadron, 365th Fighter Group, moves from Metz,
France to Juzaine Airfield, Florennes, Belgium with P-47s. In France, the
512th and 514th Fighter Squadrons, 406th Fighter Group, move from Mourmelon-
le-Grand to Metz with P-47s (the 514th has been operating from Prosnes since
22 Jan).

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 670+ B-24s and B-17s bomb the
Moosbierbaum, Austria oil refinery; marshalling yards at Graz, Austria and
Maribor, Yugoslavia; and scattered targets of opportunity. P-38s and P-51s
fly 300+ escorting sorties for the bombers; other P-38s fly reconnaissance
and reconnaissance escort and drop supplies into Austria; during the night of
30/31 Jan, B-24s drop supplies in N Italy.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack
railroad bridges at Chiusaforte, Voghera, Lavis, Rovereto, and San Michele
all' Adige, and the marshalling yard at Rovereto, with only fair results;
fighters and fighter-bombers hit bridges, rail lines, trains, vehicles, and
other targets over widespread areas of N Italy; during the night of 30/31
Jan, A-20s hit several railroad targets during intruder missions in the Po
Valley.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA)

  AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 20 B-24s from Guam Island bomb airfields and AA
defenses on Iwo Jima Island; during the night of 31 Jan/1 Feb, 9 more B-24s,
flying single-bomber harassment strikes, hit the island. HQ 419th Troop
Carrier Group is activated on Guam; no tactical squadrons or aircraft are
assigned; the group's HQ had detachments on Saipan, Tinian and Angaur Islands
to operate transportation terminals that assisted in moving troops,
equipment, food and mail to, and in evacuating wounded personnel from combat
areas.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Brigadier General
Earl W Barnes again assumes command of the XIII Fighter Command. The 157th,
159th and 160th Liaison Squadrons (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group, move
from Leyte Island to Calasio, Mangaldan and Calasio, Luzon Island
respectively with UC-64s and L-5s (first mission is 17 Feb and 7 Feb
respectively).

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

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|  Jack McKillop         |  Those who have long enjoyed such      |
|  Bellcore              |  privileges as we enjoy forget in      |
|  Piscataway, NJ USA    |  time that men have died to win them.  |
|  [email protected]  |                       FDR              |
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• With grateful thanks for the scholarship of Kit Carter, Robert Mueller and Jack McKillop •
• Thanks also to Charles McGrew •
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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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