VIII Bomber Command 38

27 February 1943
With weather and cloud cover continuing to frustrate bombing efforts against targets in Northern Germany, VIII Bomber Command decides to mount a raid against the harbour facilities at Brest, France. A total of 60 B-17s are destached: 91BG (18); 303BG ...

VIII Fighter Command PATROL

28 February 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 12 Spitfires on patrols along the English coast.

VIII Fighter Command PATROL

01 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 24 Spitfires on patrols throughout the day.

VIII Fighter Command SHIPPING PATROL

02 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 12 Spitfires on shipping and defensive patrols.

VIII Fighter Command PATROLS

03 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 28 Spitfires on patrols throughout the day.

VIII Fighter Command PATROL

04 March 1943
4th Fighter Group vonducts two operations on this date: 24 Spitfires are despatched on fighter patrols; and, 2 Spitfires are despatched on offensive patrols over the Ostend/Dunkirk area.

VIII Bomber Command 39

04 March 1943
After several weather-caused aborted attempts in attacking the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, the 8th Air Force is finally successful in attacking this target. A total of 71 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (18); 305BG (12) amd 306BG (21)....

VIII Fighter Command PATROL

05 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 4 Spitfires on routine patrol along the English coast.

VIII Fighter Command DEFENSIVE PATROL

06 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 14 Spitfires on defensive patrols along the English coast.

VIII Bomber Command 40

06 March 1943
German U-boats continue to attack convoys headed fro Great Britain in the North Atlantic with good success. Many of the U-boat packs operate from St. Nazaire, Lorient and Brest, France, so destroying harbour facilities at these locations remain a...

VIII Fighter Command DEFENSIVE PATROL

07 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 2 Spitfires on defensive patrol.

VIII Fighter Command BOMBER ESCORT

08 March 1943
4th Fighter Group conducts two operations on this date: 25 Spitfires are depatched to provide escort for the B-17 formation attacking the marshalling yards at Rennes, France. These are joined by Spitfires from RAF squadrons also; 8 Spitfires are...

VIII Bomber Command 41

08 March 1943
The railroad marshalling yards at Rennes and Rouen, France are the primary targets for this mission. A formation comprised of 67 B-17s: 91BG (14); 303BG (19); 305BG (16) and 306BG (18) is despatched to bomb at Rennes. Conditions are good with no cloud...

VIII Fighter Command RAF SUPPORT & SHIPPING PATROLS

09 March 1943
4th Fighter Group conducts two operations on this date: 24 Spitfires are despatched in support of RAF offensive operations at Boulogne, France; 26 Spitfires conduct patrolls for enemy shipping in the English Channel. No losses or claims.

VIII Fighter Command OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS

10 March 1943
4th Fighter Group conducts two operations of this date: 12 Spitfires and 14 P-47s are despatched on offensive operations over the English Channel and on targets of opportunity in France near the coast. This is the first use of P-47 Thunderbolts....

VIII Fighter Command PATROLS

11 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 18 Spitfires on patrols over the English Channel and along the English coast during the day.

VIII Fighter Command SWEEPS & PATROL

12 March 1943
4th Fighter Group conducts two operations on this date: 41 Spitfires are despatched to perform fighter sweep along the heavy bomber route to the marshalling yards at Rouen/Sotteville. This is a test for using fighters in a more offensive role rather...

VIII Bomber Command 42

12 March 1943
The railroad marshalling yards at Rouen/Sotteville, France is the primary target for 72 B-17s. 91BG (18); 303BG (18) ; 305BG (17) and 306BG (19). Of this formation, 63 are effective on the target. There are no aircraft losses or claims on enemy...

VIII Fighter Command ESCORT & PATROL

13 March 1943
4th Fighter Group conducts two operations on this date: 27 Spitfires are despacthed to provide escort to the B-17 formation attacking the marshalling yards at Ameins/Longeau, France, but the fighters fail to make rendevous with the bombers and all...

VIII Bomber Command 43

13 March 1943
The railroad marshalling yards at Amiens/Longeau, France are the primary target for this mission but the rail line at Romescamps, the German airfield at Abbevile/Drucat and two other targets of opportunity are also bombed. 80 B-17s are despatched: 91BG...

VIII Fighter Command INTERCEPT

14 March 1943
4th Fighter Group scrambles 2 Spitfires to intercept 2 German FW-190 fighters in the area of Felixstowe, England. No enemy aircraft are sighted.

VIII Fighter Command PATROLS

14 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 35 Spitfires and patrols along the English coast and over the Englsih Channel. No losses or claims.

VIII Fighter Command PATROLS

15 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 24 Spitfires on patrols along the English coast.

VIII Fighter Command DEFENSIVE PATROLS

16 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 14 Spitfires on defensive patorls along the English coast. No losses or claims.

VIII Bomber Command 44

17 March 1943
A combination of 78 B-17s from the 4 active Bomb Groups are despatched to attack the marshalling yards at Rouen/Sotteville, France. However, the weather is terrible and the schedules fighter escort was prevented from taking off causing a recall of the...

VIII Fighter Command DEFENSIVE/CONVOY PATROLS

18 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 16 Spitfires on defensive and convoy patrols.

VIII Bomber Command 45

18 March 1943
The U-Boat pens at Vegesack-Bremen are the primary target of this mission. 76 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (18); 303BG (20); 305BG (18) and 306BG (20). These are joined by 17 B-24's: 44BG (9) and 93BG (15). Of the 103 aircraft despatched 97 are effective...

VIII Fighter Command DEFENSIVE/CONVOY PATROLS

19 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 6 Spitfires on defensive and convoy patrols.

VIII Fighter Command SHIPPING PATROL

20 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 2 Spitfires on patrol for enemy shipping in the English Channel.

VIII Fighter Command PATROLS

22 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 4 Spitfires on patrol along the English coast.

VIII Bomber Command 46

22 March 1943
The U-Boat pens and harbour facilities at Wilhelmshaven, Germany are the primary target for this mission. 76 B-17's are despatched: 91BG (21); 303BG (18); 305BG (18); and 306BG (19). These are joined by 26 B-24's: 44BG (12) and 93BG (14). Of this force...

VIII Fighter Command PATROLS

23 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 8 Spitfires on patrol over the English coast.

VIII Fighter Command PATROLS

24 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 26 Spitfires on patrols along the English coast and over the English Channel. While the 4FG has some P-47's available, they have been grounded for modifications to their VHS radios to permit aircraft-to-aircraft...

VIII Bomber Command MOLING MISSION

25 March 1943
A single B-24 from 93BG is despatched on a Molin Mission. This mission was not included in the official 8th Air Force mission count.

VIII Fighter Command DEFENSIVE/CONVOY PATROLS

25 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 12 Spitfires on defensive and convoy patrols.

VIII Fighter Command PATROLS

26 March 1943
4th Fighter Group depatches 8 Spitfires on patrols along the English coast and English Channel.

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE

28 March 1943
The 13th Phtoto Reconnaisance Squadron despatches 1 F-5A ( actually a P-38 with nose guns removed and replaced by cameras)from their base at Mount Farm, UK to perform a photo recce mission of the area near Dieppe, France. Prior to this mission photo...

VIII Fighter Command DEFENSIVE & SHIPPING PATROLS

28 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 33 Spitfires on defensive and shipping patrols along the English coast on over the English Channel.

VIII Bomber Command 47

28 March 1943
The railroad marshalling yards at Rouen/Sotteville are the primary target. 79 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (22); 303BG (18); 305BG (19); 306BG (20). Of the 79 B-17's despatched 70 are effecrive on the target. One B-17 is MIA and 9 are damaged. The bomber...

VIII Fighter Command SHIPPING PATROLS

29 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 18 Spitfires on patrols for enemy shipping in the English Channel throughout the day.

VIII Fighter Command SHIPPING PATROLS

30 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 28 Spitfires on patrols for enemy shipping in the English Channel.

VIII Fighter Command PATROLS

31 March 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 31 Spitfires on fighter patrols along the English coast throughout the day.

VIII Bomber Command 48

31 March 1943
The shipyards ar Rotterdam, Holland are the primary target. 78 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (20); 305BG (19) and 306BG (19). The weather prevents bombing by 91BG and 306BG reducing the total effective on the target to 33 of the 78 despatched....

VIII Fighter Command SHIPPING PATROL

01 April 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 14 Spitfires on a patrol for enemy shipping. This is the last time that VIII Fighter Command will use Spitfires in the fighter role. American pilots have flown 2,667 sorties in the Spitfire with losses of 17 aircraft and 13...

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE

03 April 1943
13th Photographic Reconnaisance Squadron despatches 3 F-5's to conduct photo recce along the French coast.

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE

04 April 1943
13th Photographic Rreconnaisance Squadron despatches 3 F-5's to gather photographic images of potential targets in Belgium and northern France. 1 F-5 is reported MIA near Antwerp, Belgium.

VIII Bomber Command 49

04 April 1943
The Renault armament and motor works at Paris, France are the primary target of this mission. 97 B-17s are despached: 91BG (26); 303BG (23); 305BG (18); and 306BG (30). 85 of the 97 despatched are effective on the target. Fighter resistance is heavy...

VIII Bomber Command 50

05 April 1943
The industrial area of Antwerp, Belgium is the primary target of this mission. More specifically the Erla aircraft and engine factories are the highest priority. 79 B-17s are depatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (21); 305BG (18); 306BG (20). 64 of the 79 are...

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE

08 April 1943
7th Photo Reconnaissance Group (PRG)/13th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron (PRS) despatches 1 F-5 over parts of NW France to gather intelligence on German dispositions.

VIII Fighter Command P-47 RODEO

08 April 1943
23 P-47s fly a Rodeo (offensive fighter sweep over enemy territory) between Dunkirk, France and Sangatte, France. 4FG (7); 56FG (4); and 78FG (12). There are no losses or claims. While the 4FG has been flying operations since 2-Oct-43, this is the...