FRIDAY, 9 JULY 1943
AIRCRAFT MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:
B-17, Boeing Flying Fortress
B-24, Consolidated Liberator
B-25, North American Mitchell
B-26, Martin Marauder
P-40, Curtiss
P-47, Republic Thunderbolt
Wellington, Vickers (RAF)
AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS
ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE (AAF Antisubmarine Command)
The 23d Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy), 26th Antisubmarine Wing, based
at Drew Field, Tampa, Florida begins operating from Langley Field, Hampton,
Virginia with B-25's.
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force)
B-25's bomb the railroad bridge on the Mu River between Ywataung and
Monywa, Burma scoring 2 direct hits and leaving the bridge temporarily
unusable.
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)
HQ 56th Fighter Group and it's 63d Fighter Squadron with P-47D's transfer
from Horsham St Faith, England to Halesworth, England.
HQ 355th Fighter Group arrives at Steeple Morden, England from the US to
join the three squadrons that arrived yesterday.
MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
B-24's bomb airfields at Maleme, Crete, and Comiso and Taormina, Sicily.
In Sicily, B-25's hit Sciacca landing ground and Biscari Airfield and
dispersal areas while P-40's escort bombers over Castelvetrano, and Milo
Airfields. This pre-invasion air bombardment of Sicily provides air
superiority over the enemy. British and US airborne contingents are dropped
on the island during the night of 9/10 Jul to help facilitate the amphibious
assault of seaborne troops which are to land tomorrow morning. This is the
first major airborne operation to be undertaken by the Allies in World War
II, and subsequently becomes the subject of intensive study.
WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force)
In Sicily during the night of 8/9 Jul, Northwest African Strategic Air
Force (NASAF) Wellingtons bomb the airfields at Catania, Gerbini, and
Comiso, and throughout the following day B-17's, B-25's, B-26's, and
fighters attack other targets, including Sciacca and Biscari Airfields,
Gerbini satellite field, and Cape Passero Island radar stations; and
Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) planes hit Sciacca and Milo
Airfield during the night of 8/9 Jul, and on 9 Jul hit Milo and Biscari
Airfields, Sciacca, Porto Empedocle, HQ at Taormina, a junction NE of Gela,
the Canicatti area, and targets of opportunity.
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force)
In the Solomon Islands during the night of 8/9 Jul, B-24's bomb Kahili
Airfield and Buin on Bougainville Island, and Poporang Island. B-25's and
several fighters sent against forces near Vella Lavella Island, fail to
locate the target and strafe Buki and Ganongga Islands, and a destroyer
beached on SE Kolombangara Island.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force)
In New Guinea, B-25's hit forces in the vicinity of Old Bobdubi, Malolo,
and Busama. On Timor Island, B-25's hit landing fields, Dili, and Cape
Chater.
Vickers "Wellington"