VIII Fighter Command SHIP PROTECTION

04 January 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 20 Spitfires to protect Allied ships in the English Channel and NE English coast.

VIII Fighter Command DEFENSIVE PATROL

08 January 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 12 Spitfires to make defensive patrols along the Channel coast.

VIII Fighter Command PATROL

09 January 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 6 Spitfires on patrol of English Channel and NE English coast.

VIII Fighter Command SHIP PROTECTION

11 January 1943
4th Fighter Group desptaches 2 Spitfires on patrol to protect Allied ships in the English Channel.

VIII Fighter Command PATROL

12 January 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 2 Spitfires on patrol over the English coast.

VIII Fighter Command ESCORT-VIII BC 29

13 January 1943
4ht Fighter Group despatches 69 Spitfires to provide bomber escort. The escort is provided to the attacking force of VIII Bomber Command Mission 29 attacking Lille, France; and to two RAF bomber formations attacking targets at St. Omer, France. Exact...

VIII Bomber Command 29

13 January 1943
The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG ...

VIII Fighter Command RHUBARB

14 January 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 8 Spitfires on 3 Rhubarbs to targets in Belgium.

VIII Fighter Command PATROL

15 January 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 12 Spitfires on defensive patrols along the English coast.

VIII Fighter Command SHIP PROTECTION

17 January 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 4 Spitfires as protection for Allied ships in the English Channel.

VIII Fighter Command RHUBARB

20 January 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches a total of 22 Spitfires on the following operations: 2 are sent to the area of the Pas-de-Calaise, France and attack three locomotives; 14 are sent on interception patrols but no enemy aircraft are encountered; 6 are sent...

VIII Bomber Command MOLING MISSION

21 January 1943
93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron despatches a single B-24 on a Moling mission near the Ruhr valley in Germany. The mission is aimed at harassing the enemy in weather unsuitable for large missions by alerting air-raid crews in the area north of the...

VIII Fighter Command RAF ESCORT

21 January 1943
4th Fighter Group supports two RAF bombing operations: A total of 26 Spitfires are despatched to provide escort for a formation of RAF venturas attacking Caen/Carpiquet, France; later in the day another 23 Spitfires are despatched to support an RAF...

CASABALANCA DIRECTIVE

21 January 1943
The Casablanca Directive of 21 January 1943 set out a series of priorities for the strategic bombing of Germany by the air forces based in the UK- RAF Bomber Command and the US 8th Air Force. ...

VIII Fighter Command RAF ESCORT

22 January 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 25 Spitfires to support RAF Bostons attacking the German airfield at St. Omer, France. 1 Fighter is MIA and one is Damaged Beyond Repair.

VIII Fighter Command SHIP PROTECTION

23 January 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 4 Spitfires to provide protection for Allied shipping in the English Channel.

VIII Bomber Command 30

23 January 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...

VIII Fighter Command CIRCUS 255

25 January 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 17 Spitfires to escort RAF Bostons on Circus 255. Exact targets not determined, but certainly targets near the Channel coast in France.

VIII Fighter Command MOLING MISSION

26 January 1943
93rd Bomb Group despatches 1 B-14 on a "Moling" mission near the Ruhr valley in Germany. This is simply harrassment.

VIII Fighter Command CIRCUS 256

26 January 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 22 Spitfires to escort RAF Venturas on Circus 256. Exact targets not determined but certainly targets near the Channel coast of France. 1 Spitfire is lost in the sea due to mechanical failure, but the pilot is rescued.

VIII Fighter Command PATROL

27 January 1943
4th Figther Group despatches 7 Spitfires on fighter patrols over the English Coast.

VIII Bomber Command 31

27 January 1943
First successful attack by 8th Air Force into Germany. The 306th Bomb Group gets the distinction of being the first American Bomb Group to drop bombs on Germany. O Original target was Vegesack but clouded over. Col. Frank Armstrong lead the group. Two...

VIII Bomber Command MOILING MISSION

29 January 1943
93rd Bomb Group despatches 1 B-14 on a "Moling" mission near the German/French border. These missions are harrasssment only. Noe of the miling mission were included as part of the 8th AF mission count.

VIII Fighter Command DEFENSIVE PATROL

29 January 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 6 Spitfires on defensive patrols.

VIII Fighter Command DEFENSIVE PATROL

01 February 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 20 Spitfires on defensive fighter patrols along the English coast and above the Channel.

VIII Bomber Command 32

02 February 1943
All six 8th Air Force Bomb Groups operting from Great Britain are ordered on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. 61 B-17s and 22 B-24s are despatched but the formation runs into severe weather over the North Sea and the mission in...

VIII Fighter Command CIRCUS 257

02 February 1943
4th Fighter Group participates in two operations on this date: 24 Spitfires are despatched to support and escort 12 RAF Venturas on RAF Circus 257; 9 Spitfires are despatched on routing ship patrols.

VIII Fighter Command CIRCUS 258

03 February 1943
4th Fighter Group participates in two operations on this date: 22 Spitfires are despatched to support and escort 12 RAF Venturas on RAF Circus 258, targets not determined; 25 Spitfires are despatched on offensive missions, targets not determined.

VIII Bomber Command 33

04 February 1943
The marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany are again designated as the primary target for this mission follwing the abortive attempt of 2-Feb-43. However, weather and extreme cold frustrate this operation also. The main attacking force consists of 65 B-17s...

VIII Fighter Command PATROL

04 February 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 21 Spitfires on patrol and to assist Air-Sea-Rescue searches for heavy bombers believed to have crashed into the North Sea while participating in the Hamm/Embden operation that day.

VIII Fighter Command PATROL & STRAFING

05 February 1943
4th Fighter Group has two operations of this date: 2 Spitfires are despatched on routine patrols along the English coast; 6 other Spitfires are despatched to strafe a German ship convoy. 2 corvettes and one merchant ship are damaged. 1 Spitfire is shot...

VIII Fighter Command SHIPPING PATROL

06 February 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 6 Spitfires on patrols for German shipping along the French Coast.

VIII Fighter Command SHIPPING PATROL

10 February 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 2 Spitfires on shipping patrol.

VIII Fighter Command SHIPPING PATROL

12 February 1943
4th Fighter Group conducts two operations on this date: 16 Spitfires are despatched over the English Channel on patrol for German shipping; 2 Sptifires are despatched on routine defensive patrol along the English coast.

VIII Fighter Command SHIPPING PATROL

13 February 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 24 Spitfires on patrols over of the English Channel to spot enemy shipping. 1 Spitfire is lost (mechanical failure suspected). The pilot is drowned but his body is recovered.

VIII Bomber Command 34

14 February 1943
The marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany are once again slated at the primary target for this mission. A force of 74 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (17); 305BG (17); 306BG (20), but weather once again forces the mission to be recalled before...

VIII Fighter Command SHIPPING PATROL

14 February 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 18 Spitfires on patrols for enemy shipping in the English Channel.

VIII Bomber Command 35

15 February 1943
The port area of Dunkirk, France and any merchant vessels there are designated as the primary target of this mission. A total of 23 B-24s are despatched: 44BG (17) and 93BG (6). 21 are effective on the target, but 2 from 44BG are listed MIA and another...

VIII Fighter Command SHIPPING PATROL

15 February 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 30 Spitfires on patrols for enemy shipping.

VIII Fighter Command FIGHTER PATROLS

16 February 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 34 Spitfires on fighter patrols.

VIII Bomber Command 36

16 February 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are designated as the primary target of this mission of 71 B-17s and 18 B-24s. B-17s are from 91BG (18); 303BG (15); 305BG (18); 306BG (20) of these 59 are effective on the target and 6 are lost....

VIII Fighter Command FIGHTER PATROLS

17 February 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 38 Spitfires on fighter patrols.

VIII Fighter Command SHIPPING PATROL

18 February 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 26 Spitfires on shipping patrols and defensive sorties.

VIII Fighter Command PATROL & SWEEP

19 February 1943
4th Fighter Group conducts two operations: 2 Spitfires are despatched on a defensive patrol along the Channel coast; 24 Spitfires are despatched on an offensive sweep in the area of St. Omer, France.

VIII Fighter Command ASR PATROL

20 February 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 2 Spitfires on Air-Sea Rescue (ASR) patrols. This may have been in response to a request from RAF as weather over the North Sea and Continent has kept 8th Air Force heavy bombers grounded.

VIII Fighter Command SHIPPING PATROL

24 February 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 14 Spitfires on shipping patrols over the English Channel. Also on this date Lt Gen Ira Eaker, Commander of 8th Air Force is advised by the War Department of the decision of the Combined Chiefs of Staff that fighter units...

VIII Fighter Command PATROL & RAF ESCORT

26 February 1943
4th Fighter Group conducts 4 operations on this date: 6 Spitfires are despatched on patrols looking for enemy shipping in the English Channel; 76 Spitfires are despatched are in 3 groups 26; 26; and 24 to provide escort for 3 out of 5 raids conducted...

RAF/VIII Air Support Command ANTI-SUB PATROL

26 February 1943
On 26-Feb-43 B-24D 41-23820 480th Anti-Submarine Group/1st Anti-Submarine Squadron was serving with RAF Costal Command and was despatched on an anti-submarine patrol over the Bay of Biscay. The aircraft was shot down by Oblt Stolle of 8/JG 2 about 75...

VIII Bomber Command 37

26 February 1943
After 10 days of weather related delays of the bomber offensive, a mission is organised with the port facilities of Emden, Germany as the primary target. However, Emden is obscured by cloud cover and all formations divert to attack the port facilities...

VIII Fighter Command PATROL & RAF ESCORT

27 February 1943
4th Fighter Group conducts two operations on this date: 16 Spitifires are despatched over the English Channel on shipping patrols; and 24 Spitfires are despatched to provide escort for an RAF mission of Venturas attacking the port facilities at Dunkirk...