VIII Air Support Command 6

28 July 1943
18 B-26s from 323BG are despatched to bomb the cocke ovens as Zeebrugge, Holland. 17 are effective on the target. 3 are damaged. No losses of claims.

VIII Air Support Command 7

28 July 1943
18 B-26s from 323BG are despatched to bomb the Tricqueville airfield, but the mission is recalled when the bombers faile to rendevous with the fighter escort. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Fighter Command FO-84 BOMBER ESCORT

28 July 1943
119 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; and 78FG despatched to fly escort and top cover for B-26s flying a diversionary raid. No losses or claims.

VIII Fighter Command FO-83 BOMBER ESCORT

28 July 1943
A combined force of 123 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; and 78FG are despathed to escort the VIII Bomber Command mission #78 against Kassel and Oschersleben, Germany. The escort encounters approximately 45 German fighters attacking the bomber stream. These P...

VIII Bomber Command 78

28 July 1943
The German aircraft industry at Kassel (Fieseler works) and Oscherleben, Germany are the primary targets of this mission. 182 B-17s from: 91BG (20); 92BG (17); 303BG (20); 305BG (21); 306BG (24); 351BG (21); 379BG (19); 381BG (20); and 384BG (20) are...

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE

29 July 1943
4 F-5s from 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group are despatched on photo reconnaissance sorties over France.

VIII Air Support Command 8

29 July 1943
18 B-26s from 323BG are despatched to attack German airfields at Amsterdam (Schipol) and at St. Omer. Roger A. Freeman claims that none of these were effective on the target but also has them dropping 56 300lb general purpose bombs. Based on the bomb...

VIII Air Support Command 9

29 July 1943
21 B-26s from 323BG are despatched to bomb the German airfield of Ft. Rouge, France. 19 are effective on the target. There are no losses or claims, but 8 aircraft receive damage from anit-aircraft fire. The mission is escorted by RAF Spirfires.

VIII Fighter Command FO-85 FIGHTER SWEEPS

29 July 1943
118 P-47s form 4FG; 56FG; and 78FG are despatched to fly fighter sweeps over Belgium and Holland. 1 P-47 from 56FG Failed to Return (FTR), the pilot is taken POW. The fighters claim 0-1-0 on enemy aircraft.

VIII Fighter Command FO-86 FIGHTER ESCORT

29 July 1943
A combined force of 128 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; and 78FG provide escort for 20 B-26s from 386BG whihc flew a diversion for the B-26 attack on the airfield at St. Omer, France. One was damaged. The fighters claim 0-0-1 of enemy aircraft.

VIII Bomber Command 79

29 July 1943
The primary targets for this mission are the port facilities at Kiel, Germany and the Heinkel aircraft factories at Warnemunde, Germany. A combined force of 168 B-17s from: 91BG (18); 92BG (14 these included 1 Y-B40 gunship); 305BG (19); 306BG (18);...

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE

30 July 1943
A Boston IIIA from 107Squadron RAF was despatched with an American crew to make a photographic reconnaissance of the Schipol airfield at Amsterdam, Holland. The pilot became disoriented in the clouds and crashed the aircraft into the sea. 4KIA MACR 146.

VIII Air Support Command 10A & 10B

30 July 1943
This mission is comprised of two elements and was officially designated as missions 10A and 10B. The first element was 24 B-26s from 386BG to attack the German airfield at Woensdrecht, Holland. 1 B-26 Failed to Return (FTR)-6KIA 1POW and another...

VIII Fighter Command FO-87 BOMBER ESCORT

30 July 1943
A combined force of 107 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; and 78FG are despatched to escort the bomber formations attacking the aircraft industry at Kassel, Germany. 7 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR)-4KIA 1POW 1EVD 1RTD (Rescued by ASR). The fighters were all...

VIII Bomber Command 80

30 July 1943
The aircraft factories at Kassel, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. The mission is flown by two elements of B-17s which attack 15 minutes apart. The firts element is a combined force of 119 B-17s from: 91BG (20); 303BG (23); 351BG (21);...

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE

31 July 1943
1 F-5 from 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group is despatched on a photographic reconnaissance sortie over France.

VIII Air Support Command 11D

31 July 1943
The is element D of VIII ASC Mission 11. It is a force of 21-B-26s from 322BG despatched to attack the German airfield at Tricqueville, France at 16:23 hours. 18 of these aircraft are effective in the attack. There are no losses but 5 aircraft are...

VIII Air Support Command 11E

31 July 1943
This is VIII ASC mission 11E. 24 B-26s from 387BG are despatched to fly a diversion for the other B-26s attacking airfields in VIII ASC mission 11. No losses or claims.

VIII Air Support Command 11A

31 July 1943
This is element A of VIII ASC Mission #11. 21 B-26s from 323BG are despatched to bomb the German airfield at Merville, France. 20 of these aircraft are effective on the target. There are no losses or claims but 2 aircraft are damaged.

VIII Air Support Command 11C

31 July 1943
This is element 11C. 21 B-26s from 386BG are despatched to bomb the Abbeville/Drucat airfield in France. All 21 are effective on the target. Ther are no losses, claims or damage.

VIII Air Support Command 11B

31 July 1943
This is element B of VIII ASC Mission #11. 21 B-26s from 322BG are despatched to bomb the German airfield at Poix/Nord, France. 19 are effecive on the target. One B-26 Failed to Return (FTR)-4KIA 1POW 2EVD.

VIII Fighter Command FO-88 BOMBER ESCORT

31 July 1943
A combined force of 128 P-47 from "4FG; 56FG; and 78FG are despatched to ecsort 24 B-26s from 387BG that are flying a diversion (VIII ASC 11E) for VIII ASC 11A-11D.

Operation Tidal Wave

01 August 1943
Operation TIDAL WAVE. B24D Liberators attack the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. The bombers flew low to avoid radar detection and dropped time delayed bombs. Out of the 177 B-24s that took part in the raid 167 managed to attack their targets. 57 B...

VIII Air Support Command 12B

02 August 1943
21 B-26s from 386BG are despatched to bomb the airfield at St.Omer/Ft. Rouge, France. 18 are effective on the target. There are no losses or claims, although 13 B-26s sustain damage from AA fire.

VIII Air Support Command 12A

02 August 1943
34 B-26s from 323BG are despatched to bomb the airfield at Merville, France. 31 are effective on the target. No losses or claims although 15 sustain damage from anti-aircraft fire. One, B-26C 41-34706, 323BG/454BS makes a crashlanding at RAF Manston...

VIII Air Support Command 13A

02 August 1943
An unknown number of B-26s (probably 21-24) from 322BG were depatched to bomb the German airfield at Woensdrecht, Holland, but the mission is cancelled (reason not known). It is rather a safe assumption to think that all aircraft returned to base (RTB)...

VIII Air Support Command 13B

02 August 1943
13 B-26s from 387BG fly a diversion for the B-26 formations attacking at Merville and St.Omer/Ft. Rouge, France. There are no losses or claims. This element is escorted by a force of 128 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; and 78FG. These fighters were to perform a...

VIII Fighter Command FO-91 BOMBER ESCORT

02 August 1943
A combined force of 128 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; and 78FG are despatched to provide escort to 13 B-26s from 387BG that are flying a diversion for the B-26s attacking Merville, France (VIII ASC Mission 12A) and St. Omer/Ft Rouge, France (VIII ASC Mission...

VIII Air Support Command 14

04 August 1943
The shipyards at Le Trait, France (on the Seine River) is the target for 36 B-26s from 322BG for this mission. 33 are effective on the target. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE/ANTI-SUB PATROL

08 August 1943
Two operations are included: 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group despatches 4 F-5s on phot reconnaissance sorties over France. No losses or claims....

VIII Air Support Command 15

08 August 1943
The German airfield at Poix/Nord, France is the target for 36 B-26s despatchedd from 323BG. The mission is recalled due to weather. No losses or claims.

VIII Air Support Command 16A

09 August 1943
This mission of VIII Air Support Command was conducted with two elements and designated as mission 11A and 11B both of which had the German airfield of Ft. Rouge at St. Omer, France as the target. The "A" element is a formation of 36 B-26s despatched...

VIII Air Support Command 16B

09 August 1943
This is the 11B element of VIII Air Support Command mission #11. This element is a formation of 36 B-26s despatched by 322BG to bomb the German airfield of Ft. Rouge at St. Omer, France. Could cover over the target prevents bombing but 1 aircraft...

VIII Fighter Command FO-95 FIGHTER SWEEPS

09 August 1943
A combined force of 139 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; and 353FG are despatched to conduct fighter sweeps if the Abbeville/Poix area of France. This is the first combat operation for the 353 Fighter Group. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE

12 August 1943
7th PRG/14th PRS despatched 3 F-5s on photographic reconnaissance sorties over France. This operation if the first for 14th Photographic Reconnaissnce Squadron. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Air Support Command 17

12 August 1943
36 B-26s from 322BG are despatched to bomb the German airfield of Poix/Nord, France. 34 are effective on the target. There are no losses or claims, but 13 are damaged.

VIII Air Support Command 18

12 August 1943
A force of 35 B-26s from 323BG is despatched to bomb the German airfield of Poix/Nord, France. This mission is recalled because of a mix-up with the fighter escort. Recalled over the English Channel. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Fighter Command FO-98 BOMBER ESCORT

12 August 1943
A combined force of 131 P-47s from 4FG; 56FG; and 78FG are despatched to provide fighter escort for 1st Bomb Wing B-17s despatched to bomb the synthetic oil refineries at Bochum, Germany. The fighters are equipped with pressurised belly tanks to give...

VIII Fighter Command FO-99 FIGHTER SWEEP

12 August 1943
27 P-47s from 353FG are despatched to perform a high altitude sweep over the Westhoffd/Eekloo/Ostend area of Belgium. This is the first Group despatch for the 353rd Fighter Group. There are no losses or claims.

VIII Bomber Command 81

12 August 1943
This mission is separated into two elements. The first element is a combined force of 183 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division: 91BG (22); 92BG (19); 303BG (20); 305BG (20); 306BG (20); 351BG (21); 379BG (21); 381BG (20); and 384BG (20) are dispatched to bomb...

VIII Fighter Command FO-102 FIGHTER SWEEP

14 August 1943
A combined force of 88 P-47s from: 56FG; and 353FG are dispatched on a divisionary sweep in support of bombers. The citation of this mission in Roger A. Freeman's "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" is not clear on which bombers were supported with this...

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE

15 August 1943
5 F-5s from 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group are despatched on photographic reconnaissance sorties over France.

VIII Air Support Command 19A

15 August 1943
The German airfield of Ft. Rouge and St. Omer, France is the target for 36 B-26s desparched from 387th BG. This is the first bobmbing mission for 387th Bomb Group. 31 of the aircraft are effective on the target. There are no losses or claims although...

VIII Air Support Command 19B

15 August 1943
The German airfield at Woensdrecht, Holland is the target for 36 B-26s despatched from 386th Bomb Group. The formation turns back at the Dutch coast (no reason documented in Freeman). There are no losses or claims.

VIII Air Support Command 20

15 August 1943
The railroad marshalling yards at Abbeville, France are the target for 21 B-26s despatched from 323rd Bomb Group. The attack is conducted at 1933 hrs (near sunset). 19 of the aircraft are effective in attacking the target. There are no losses or claims...

VIII Fighter Command FO-103 FIGHTER SWEEPS

15 August 1943
176 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; and 353FG are despatched on figher sweeps of the Knokke/Bruges/Lille/St. Omer areas of Belgium and France. There are no losses or claims and no german fighters are encountered. This is typical for the Luftwaffe whose...

VIII Fighter Command FO-104 BOMBER ESCORT

15 August 1943
A combined force of 187 P-47s from : 4FG, 56FG, 78FG; and 353FG are despatched to escort the bomber fomrations ov VIII Bomber Command mission #82 in thiser attacks on German airfields in Holland and France. 56FG arrived 30 minutes too early and were...

VIII Bomber Command 82

15 August 1943
German airfields in Holland and France are the targets for this mission. All of the attacks were made late in the afternoon just prior to sunset. The mission is composed of two elements. The first element is a combined force of 180 B-17s from: 91BG (20...

VIII Air Support Command PHOTO RECCE

16 August 1943
11 F-5s from 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group are despatched on photographic reconnaissance sorties over France. No losses or claims.

VIII Air Support Command 21

16 August 1943
The German airfield of Bernay St. Martin, France is the primary target for 36 B-26s despatched from 387BG. 31 aircraft are effective on the target. There are no claims or losses, although 2 aircraft sustain damage from anti-aircraft fire.