60 years ago...TODAY
16 JULY 1943
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In Sicily... The US 3rd Division attacks Agrigento and Porto Empedocle. The Canadian 1st Division captures Caltagirone advances toward Piazza Armerina. The British 50th Division crosses the Simeto River. Its bridgehead is later reinforced by armor.UNITED STATES AIR FORCE IN ACTION
16 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
Beaufighter, Bristol
Wellington, Vickers (RAF)
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)
VIII Air Support Command Mission Number 1: 16 B-26B's are dispatched
against the marshalling yard at Abbeville, France; 14 hit the target at
2000 hours; 10 aircraft are damaged; casualties are 2 WIA. With this mis-
sion, the VIII Air Support Command begins combat operations, having
acquired the 322d, 323d, 386th, and 387th Bombardment Groups (Medium).
MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
B-24's attack Bari Airfield, Italy; enemy fighters attack persistently
and 3 B-24's are shot down; they claim 11 fighters destroyed in combat.
B-25's bomb Randazzo and Valguarnera, Sicily. Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy
bombers hit Reggio di Calabria Airfield, Italy.
HQ 79th Fighter Group transfers from Tunisia to Sicily.
WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force)
During the night of 15/16 Jul, Northwest African Strategic Air Force
(NASAF) Wellingtons bomb the dock, marshalling yards, and airfields at
Vibo Valentia, Sicily and Crotone, Reggio di Calabria, and Villa San
Giovanni, Italy, while Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) light
and medium bombers carry out numerous missions against Randazzo, Sicily
and roads in Sicily. During the day NATAF fighters, light and medium
bombers bomb Valguarnera, Sicily and targets of opportunity in north
central Sicily.
On the ground in Sicily, British troops establish a bridgehead across
the Simeto River.
The ground echelon of the 111th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter),
68th Reconnaissance Group, transfers from Tunis, Tunisia to Ponte Olivo,
Sicily joining the air echelon which arrived on Tuesday.
The air echelon of the 414th Night Fighter Squadron, 2d Air Defense
Wing, which has been training in England with Beaufighters, joins the
ground echelon at Rerhaia, Algeria. The squadron will enter combat on 24
Jul.
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force)
In the Solomon Islands 30+ B-24's and B-17's pound Kahili Airfield
on Bougainville Island. In the Buin, Bougainville Island-Faisi Island
area, 7 B-24's join 70+ US Navy dive bombers and 100+ USAAF, Royal
New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), US Navy, and US Marine Corps fighters in
an attack on shipping. Allied airplanes claim 40+ aircraft destroyed
or damaged; 7 vessels, including a destroyer, are sunk.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force)
A single B-24 bombs forces at MacDonald's Junction, New Guinea. Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF) airplanes hit positions to the SW.
AIRCRAFT MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:
B-17, Boeing Flying Fortress
B-24, Consolidated Liberator
B-25, North American Mitchell
B-26, Martin Marauder
Beaufighter, Bristol
Wellington, Vickers (RAF)
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)
VIII Air Support Command Mission Number 1: 16 B-26B's are dispatched
against the marshalling yard at Abbeville, France; 14 hit the target at
2000 hours; 10 aircraft are damaged; casualties are 2 WIA. With this mis-
sion, the VIII Air Support Command begins combat operations, having
acquired the 322d, 323d, 386th, and 387th Bombardment Groups (Medium).
MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
B-24's attack Bari Airfield, Italy; enemy fighters attack persistently
and 3 B-24's are shot down; they claim 11 fighters destroyed in combat.
B-25's bomb Randazzo and Valguarnera, Sicily. Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy
bombers hit Reggio di Calabria Airfield, Italy.
HQ 79th Fighter Group transfers from Tunisia to Sicily.
WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force)
During the night of 15/16 Jul, Northwest African Strategic Air Force
(NASAF) Wellingtons bomb the dock, marshalling yards, and airfields at
Vibo Valentia, Sicily and Crotone, Reggio di Calabria, and Villa San
Giovanni, Italy, while Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) light
and medium bombers carry out numerous missions against Randazzo, Sicily
and roads in Sicily. During the day NATAF fighters, light and medium
bombers bomb Valguarnera, Sicily and targets of opportunity in north
central Sicily.
On the ground in Sicily, British troops establish a bridgehead across
the Simeto River.
The ground echelon of the 111th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter),
68th Reconnaissance Group, transfers from Tunis, Tunisia to Ponte Olivo,
Sicily joining the air echelon which arrived on Tuesday.
The air echelon of the 414th Night Fighter Squadron, 2d Air Defense
Wing, which has been training in England with Beaufighters, joins the
ground echelon at Rerhaia, Algeria. The squadron will enter combat on 24
Jul.
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force)
In the Solomon Islands 30+ B-24's and B-17's pound Kahili Airfield
on Bougainville Island. In the Buin, Bougainville Island-Faisi Island
area, 7 B-24's join 70+ US Navy dive bombers and 100+ USAAF, Royal
New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), US Navy, and US Marine Corps fighters in
an attack on shipping. Allied airplanes claim 40+ aircraft destroyed
or damaged; 7 vessels, including a destroyer, are sunk.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force)
A single B-24 bombs forces at MacDonald's Junction, New Guinea. Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF) airplanes hit positions to the SW.
B-25
