VIII Bomber Command 160 LEAFLET DROP

20 December 1943
5 B-17s from 305BG/422BS are despatched on a night operation to drop leaflets on the citied of Lille, France, Lens, Ghent and Brussels, Belgium. 1,000,000 leafltes are dropped. Therer are no losses or claims.

VIII Fighter Command FO-204 BOMBER ESCORT

20 December 1943
This mission is a combined force of 491 fighter aircraft despatched to escort bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany. NOTE: Fighter claims of 16-3-6 on enemy aircraft were not allocated in source data, so they have been bundled with P-47 statistics. The...

VIII Bomber Command 159

20 December 1943
The port area of Bremen is the target for 546 heavy bombers. The total includes 12 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG. All 12 of these are effective on the target and 11 are damaged. The bomber gunners of this element claim 1-1-0 (this total included with...

VIII Fighter Command FO-206 BOMBER ESCORT

21 December 1943
A force of 208 P-47s from: 78FG; 356FG; 358FG; and 359FG is despatched to provide escort to B-26 bombers of 9th Air Force attacking in the Pas-de-Calaise area. 1 aircraft with battle damage makes a crash landing at Manston, UK on return. The aircraft...

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE

22 December 1943
8 F-5s from 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group are despatched on photo recce sorties over France, Holland and western Germany. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Bomber Command 162 LEAFLET DROP

22 December 1943
6 B-17s from 305BG/422BS are despatched on a night operation to drop leaflets on the cities of Paris, Amiens, Chartres, Orleans, and Rennes, France. 1,212,000 leaflets are dropped. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Bomber Command 163 SPECIAL OPERATION

22 December 1943
1 B-17 from 482BG is despatched on a special night operation (Oboe test) to Cologne, Germany. 2 2000lb general prupose bombs and 1 1000lb Photoflash are dropped at 2020hrs. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Fighter Command FO-207 BOMBER ESCORT

22 December 1943
This fighter mission is composed of three elements despatched to provide escort to bombers attacking as Osnabruck and Munster Germany. It is composed of three elements. The first element is a forcr of 40 P-38s from 55FG. 2 aircraft Failed to Return ...

8th Air Force COMMAND CHANGE

22 December 1943
Orders are issued for General Carl Spaatz to take command of US Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSAFE). Lieutenant Genreal Ira C. Eaker, 8th AF Commanding General, is to be transferred to command of the Allied Air Forces in the Mediterranean Theater...

VIII Bomber Command 161

22 December 1943
This mission is composed of two forces directed at two separate targets, the communication centers at Osnabruck and Munster, Germany. The force attacking at Osnabruck is composed of two elements. The first element is composed of 227 B-17s (2 are PFF...

65th Fighter Wing FO-81 FIGHTER/BOMBER

23 December 1943
46 P-47s from 353FG are despatched on a dive-bombing mission to attack the German airfield at Gilze-Rijen, Holland. 46 P-47s from 56FG provide escort. There are no losses. There are no aerial claims on German aircraft. The number of German aircraft...

66th Fighter Wing FO-37 FIGHTER ESCORT

23 December 1943
46-P-47s from 56FG are despatched to porvide escort for 46 P-47s from 353FG that are dive-bombing the German airfield at Glize-Rijen, Holland. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE

23 December 1943
3 Spitfires from 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group are despactched on photo recce sorties over NW Germany. 1 Spitfire aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 1KIA and another crashlanded upon return, pilot OK, aircraft repaired.

VIII Fighter Command FO-209 BOMBER ESCORT

24 December 1943
This fighter mission is despatched to provide escort to bombers that are attacking V-Weapon sites near the Pase-de-Calaise, France. The operation has three elements. The first element is a force of 40 P-38s from 55FG. There are no losses or claims....

VIII Bomber Command 164

24 December 1943
This mission is directed at V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calaise area of France. The attacks are made between 1330-1510hrs. The mission is composed of three elements. The first element is a force of 277 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG ...

VIII Bomber Command 165 LEAFLET DROP

27 December 1943
7 B-17 from 422BG are despatched on a night operation to drop leaflets ont the cities of Paris, Lille, Evreux, Rouen and Caen, France. 1,392,000 leaflets are dropped. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Bomber Command 166-OBOE Test

27 December 1943
One B-17 from 482BG drops 2 2,000 lb general purpose bombs and 1 Photoflash on Dusseldorf, Germany in an OBOE test (see source links).

67th Fighter Wing NO FO designation

28 December 1943
This is the first combat operation for the entire 20th Fighter Group. 36 P-38s are despatched to fly fighter sweeps along the Dutch coast. No enemy aircraft are encountered and there are No losses or claims.

VIII Bomber Command 167 SPECIAL OPERATION

28 December 1943
1 B-17 from 482BG is despatched on a special night operation (Oboe test) to Dusseldorf, Germany. The aircraft drops 2 2000lb general purpose bombs and 1 1000lb Photoflash. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Bomber Command LEAFLET DROP

29 December 1943
6 B-17s from 305BG/422BS are despatched on a night operation to drop leaflets of the cities of Haanover, Osnabruck, Hilesheim, Zwolle and Amiens. 2,840,000 are dropped. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE

30 December 1943
9 F-5s from 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group are despatched to fly photo recce sorties over France and Germany. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Bomber Command 170 LEAFLET DROP

30 December 1943
5 B017s from 305BG/422BS are despatched on a night operation to drop leaflets on the cities of Antwerp, Ghent, Brussels and Lens, Belgium and Cambrai, France. 1,000,000 leaflets are dropped. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Fighter Command FO-210 BOMBER ESCORT

30 December 1943
A force of 583 fighter aircraft are despatched to provide escort to bombers attacking at Ludwigshafen, Germany. The force is composed of three elements. The first element is a force of 79 P-38s from 20FG and 55FG. There are no losses or claims in this...

VIII Bomber Command 169

30 December 1943
The port area and oil refineries at Ludwigshaven, Germany are the target for this massive attack of 710 heavy bombers. The despatch includes 12 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG, 11 of these are effective on the mission, 3 are damaged, and the bomber...

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE

31 December 1943
10 F-5s and 4 Spitfires from 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group are despatched to fly photo recce sorties over Germany, Belgium and France. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Fighter Command FO-211 BOMBER ESCORT

31 December 1943
This is the last fighter operation of 1943. It is composed of three elements despatched to escort bomber formations attacking German airfield in France. The first element is a forc of 74 P-38s from 20FG and 55FG. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR)1POW...

VIII Bomber Command 171

31 December 1943
This mission is the last heavy bomber operation of 1943. 1943 had been a very "tough" year for the 8th Air Force in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). 23365 B-17s had been despatched on missions and 881 had Failed to Return (FTR) for a loss...

8th Air Force 172 LEAFLET DROP

02 January 1944
303BG/422BS despatches 5 B-17s to drop 1,200,000 leaflets over Bremen, Germany, Rennes, Nantes, Paris and Brest, France. 305BG is now officially organised as a Bomb Group of 8th Air Force.

8th Air Force Air Support Command (ASC) PHOTO RECCE

02 January 1944
The 7th Photographis Reconnaissance Group despatches 2 F-5s and photo recce sotries over Holland and Belgium.

8th Air Force 173 SPECIAL OPERATION

03 January 1944
The 482BG now officially organised as an 8th Air Force unit despatches 1 B-17 on and OBOE test, but the aircraft is forced to turn back due to a failure of the oxygen system in the Tail Gunner position. OBOE was a British aerial blind bombing targeting...

8th Air Force 175 LEAFLET DROP

04 January 1944
305BG/422BS despatches 4 B-17s to drop 800,000 leaflets on the French cities of Orleans, Lorient, Rouen and Tours in a night operation.

VIII Fighter Command FO-212 BOMBER ESCORT

04 January 1944
A combined force of 70 P-38s from 20FG & 55 FG are despatched to provide escort to bombers attacking at Kiel, Germany. The P-38 are joined by 42 P-51s despatched by IX Fighter Command 354FG. 20FG sustaines 2 losses - 1KIA 1POW. 1 P-38 from 55FG...

8th Air Force CARPETBAGGER #1

04 January 1944
801BG/406BS conducts the first CARPETBAGGER operation with B-17s. Number despatched, bundles dropped and location(s) in France not in available. source data. During World War II, Operation Carpetbagger was a general term used for the aerial resupply of...

8th Air Force ASC PHOTO RECCE

04 January 1944
7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group despatches 10 F-5s and 2 Spitfires on photo recce sorties over France, German an Belgium. There are no losses or claims.

8th Air Force 174

04 January 1944
The port area of Kiel, Germany and the railroad marshalling yards at Munster, Germany are the Primary targets of this Mission which is organised as two elements: one going to Kiel and the other to Munster. Roger A. Freeman begins to designate aircraft...

8th Air Force ASC PHOTO RECCE

05 January 1944
The 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group (PRG) despatches 7 F-5s and 4 Spitfires on photo recce sorties to France and Germany.

VIII Fighter Command FO 213 BOMBER ESCORT

05 January 1944
This is a VIII Fighter Command operation of the despatch of fighter elements to escort bombers attacking targets in Germany and France. The operation consists of four elements. The first element is a despatch of 70 P-38s from 20FG and 55FG. These are...

8th Air Force 176

05 January 1944
This mission consists of five elements: The first element is a combined force of 131 B-17s are despatched by 1st Bomb Division: 92BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 379BG; 384BG; and 482BG to bomb the shipyards and industrial areas of Kiel, Germany. 119 are...

8th Air Force ASC PHOTO RECCE

06 January 1944
15 F-5s and 3 Spitfires form 7th PRG are despatched on photographic reconnaissance sorties over northern France and western Germany. 6 of the F-5s abort their sorties due to engine troubles, radio problems, etc.

8th Air Force 177 LEAFLET OPERATION

06 January 1944
5 B-17 from 305BG/422BS are despatched on a night operations to drop 984,000 leaflets on the French cities of Amiens, Lille, Valensiennes, Cambrai, and Reims.

8th Air Force CARPETBAGGER

06 January 1944
An unknown number of B-24s are despatched by 801BG/406BS on a night "CARPETBAGGER" operation to drop wepaons and supplies to French partisans.

8th Air Force ASC PHOTO REECE

07 January 1944
14 F-5s and 2 Spitfires were despatched by 7th Photographic Reconnaissnave Group to fly photo reconnaissance sorties over France. 1 F-5 was MIA, pilot KIA. Engine trouble was reported by 5 aircraft and 2 were intercepted and returned early.

8th Air Force 179 LEAFLET DROP

07 January 1944
5 B-17s are despatched from 305BG/422BS on a night mision to drop 1,080,000 leaflets on the French cities of Paris, Chartres, Caen and Evereux. All 5 are effective and there are no losses or claims

VIII Fighter Command FO 215

07 January 1944
A combined fighter force of 571 aircraft are despatched to provide escort for the bombers attacking at Ludwigshaven, Germany. Three elements of fighters are despatched....

8th Air Force CARPETBAGGER

07 January 1944
An unknown number of B-24s are despatched on a night "CARPETBAGGER" operation to drop weapons and supplies to French partisans.

8th Air Force 178

07 January 1944
The industrial areas of Ludwigshaven, Germany are the primary target for this mission. The formation has three elements. The bomber gunners of the entire force claim 30-6-17 of attacking German aircraft....

8th Air Force ASC PHOTO RECCE

08 January 1944
1 F-5 is despatched from 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group to fly a photo recce sortie over the Le Mans/Laval area of France. There are no losses or claims.

8th Air Force 180 LEAFLET DROP

08 January 1944
5 B-17s are despatched from 305BG/422BS on a night operation to drop 2,292,000 leaftlets on the cities of Antwerp and Brussels, Belgium and Rennes, Brest and Nantes, France. There are no losses or claims, but 1 aircraft sustains damage in a...

8th Air Force 181 LEAFLET DROP

10 January 1944
5 B-17s are despatched from 305BG/422BS on a night operation to drop 4,800,000 leaflets on the French cities of Orleans, Chateauroux, Roeun, Le Mans and Tours. There are no losses or claims.

8th Air Force 182

11 January 1944
Three aviation industry targets in Germany are bombed. The bomber force consists of 291 B-17s despatched from 1st Bomb Division in two elements, one element of 177 B-17s is despatched to Oschersleben, Germany as the primary target, the other 1BD...