COMBAT CHRONOLOGY
US ARMY AIR FORCES
MEDITERRANEAN - 1945

JANUARY 1945 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

MONDAY, 1 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Unfavorable weather permits only P-38 reconnaissance flights.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, medium bombers attack bridges at Palazzuolo sull'Oglio, Parma, and
Calcinato (the latter 2 targets are missed) and an ammunition dump at Parma;
fighter-bombers support ground forces S of Bologna, hit communications and
numerous targets of opportunity to the N and completely destroy a fuel dump at
Parma; A-20s on intruder missions during the night of 31 Dec/1 Jan, achieve
excellent results on a motor park near Molinella and hit a marshalling yard
near Milan. HQ 319th Bombardment Group (Medium) departs Corsica for the US
where it converts to A-26 aircraft in preparation for assignment to the
Pacific.

TUESDAY, 2 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather restricts operations to reconnaissance flights,

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, fighter-bombers concentrate their effort in the W Po Valley and
Brenner area, claiming large number of rail lines cut and many vehicles and
trains destroyed and damaged; the Milan marshalling yard is hit hard and good
coverage is achieved on support targets in the US Fifth Army battle area; A-20s
during the night of 1/2 Jan, continue intruder missions over the Po Valley; the
84th and 86th Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 47th Bombardment Group (Light)
move from Rosignano Airfield to Grosseto with A-20s.

WEDNESDAY, 3 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather curtails operations for the fifth successive day. P-38s fly
photo and weather reconnaissance missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, medium bombers score direct hits on 2 railroad bridges at Lavis
and fly good coverage of the Chiusaforte, Canale d'Isonzo, and Padua railroad
bridges; fighter-bombers hit a large number of communications targets (mainly
railroad targets) in the Po Valley which is also subjected to intruder missions
during the night of 2/3 Jan, when pontoon bridges, vehicles, and Ghedi Airfield
are hit.

THURSDAY, 4 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Italy, 370+ B-24s and B-17s bomb marshalling yards at Verona, Bronzolo,
Vicenza, Padua, Trento, and Bolzano, and station sidings at Trento; 200+
fighters accompany the bombers; 54 P-38s attempt high-level bombing of Cismon
del Grappa but fail to hit the target. 9 B-24s drop supplies in Yugoslavia.
P-38s and P-51s fly reconnaissance and escort operations.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, medium bombers hit bridges at Lavis and Calliano; fighters and
fighter-bombers interdict Po Valley communications and hit an ammunition dump
at San Felice del Benaco; during the night of 3/4 Jan, A-20s successfully hit a
stores dump and bridge near Mestre, and destroy or damage 50+ vehicles. The
416th Night Fighter Squadron, 62d Fighter Wing, based at Pisa, Italy with
Mosquitoes, sends a detachment to operate from Etain, France attached to the
425th Night Fighter Squadron.

FRIDAY, 5 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Yugoslavia, 1 B-24 bombs Zagreb railroad sidings; 69 others abort due to
total cloud cover over the target; 38 P-51s fly cover over the target area; 33
P-38s bomb the N railroad bridge at Doboj; other operations are limited to
reconnaissance, supply drops, and escort.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   During the night of 4/5 Jan, A-20s on a S Po Valley intruder mission bomb
the Modena, Italy area. Bad weather cancels all other operations.

SATURDAY, 6 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather precludes all operations except a single reconnaissance mission
by 2 P-38s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Bad weather over N Italy grounds the medium bombers. In Italy, XXII Tactical
Air Command fighters and fighter- bombers hit rail lines and bridges in the
Genoa-La Spezia coastline area, and bomb vessels in the harbors at Genoa and
Imperia. The air echelon of the 417th Night Fighter Squadron, Twelfth AF
(attached to Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force and air echelon attached to
the 422d Night Fighter Squadron), based at La Vallon, France, begins operating
from Florennes, Belgium with Beaufighters.

SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Unfavorable weather again curtails operations. 3 P-38s complete photo and
weather reconnaissance missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, weather grounds the medium bombers and A-20s; XXII Tactical Air
Command fighters and fighter- bombers make 6 cuts on the Brenner rail line,
damage the W end of the rail bridge at Cittadella, and hit the marshalling yard
S of Trento; most of the XXII Tactical Air Command's effort is concentrated
against land and water communications in the La Spezia-Genoa area, including
attacks on shipping at Savona and San Remo harbors.

MONDAY, 8 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Austria, 300+ B-17s and B-24s bomb the main station yard and N main
marshalling yard at Linz plus marshalling yards at Graz, Villach, Klagenfurt,
and Salzburg, escorted by 200+ P-38s and P-51s; 30+ other P-38s fly
reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort. HQ 1st Fighter Group moves from
Salsola Airfield to Vincenzo Airfield, Italy.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, XXII Tactical Air Command A-20s fly 33 effective sorties in the Po
Valley during the night of 7/8 Jan; bad weather sharply reduces daytime
operations; of 3 medium bomber missions dispatched, only 1 reaches the target
(the Chivasso railway bridge) where only 6 medium bombers bomb through the
overcast; less than 20 XXII Tactical Air Command fighters hit scattered targets
in the Po Valley; HQ 51st Troop Carrier Wing moves from Lido di Roma to Siena;
and HQ 62d Troop Carrier Group moves from Malignano Airfield to Tarquinia. The
437th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 319th Bombardment Group (Medium), begins a
movement from Serragia, Corsica to the US (the squadron will convert to A-26s
and transfer to the Pacific in Jul 45).

TUESDAY, 9 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather permits only reconnaissance missions. In Italy, the 94th Fighter
Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, based at Salsola Airfield, sends a detachment to
operate from Vincenzo Airfield with P-38s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, medium bombers attack bridges at Palazzuolo sull'Oglio,
Pontetidone, Romano di Lombardia, and an assembly area at Crespellano; fighters
and fighter-bombers in an excellent day against communications in the W and C
Po Valley and other points in N Italy make numerous rail cuts, destroy or
damage many vehicles and trains and effectively hit ammunition and fuel dumps,
guns, and strongpoints along the US Fifth Army front in the N Apennines; the
4th and 8th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 62d Troop Carrier Group, move from
Malignano Airfield to Tarquinia with C-47s; the 18th and 35th Troop Carrier
Squadrons, 64th Troop Carrier Group, move from Ciampino to Rosignano Airfield
with C-47s. The 438th, 439th and 440th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 319th
Bombardment Group (Medium), begin a movement from Serragio, Corsica to the US
(they will convert to A-26s and move to Okinawa in Jul 45).

WEDNESDAY, 10 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Weather restricts operations to photo and weather reconnaissance missions.
The 27th and 71st Fighter Squadrons, 1st Fighter Group, based at Salsola
Airfield with P-38s, send a detachment to operate from Vincenzo Airfield,
Italy.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, weather restricts operations but fighter-bombers effectively
attack communications and supply dumps in the C and N Po Valley; the strikes
are concentrated in the N and around Piacenza, and score nearly 50 rail cuts,
along with destruction of 80 motor transports and several trains; fuel and
ammunition dumps in the Milan area are bombed and a 400-foot (122 m) naval
vessel at Venice is destroyed; HQ 64th Troop Carrier Group and the 16th and
17th Troop Carrier Squadrons move from Ciampino to Rosignano Airfield with
C-47s.

THURSDAY, 11 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather limits operations. P-38s fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance
escort missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 10/11 Jan, A-20s attack targets of opportunity
in the W Po Valley; clearing weather during the day enables an increase of
fighter and fighter-bomber attacks in the Po Valley and in the US Fifth Army
battle area in the N Apennines; many ammunition and fuel dumps, rail lines,
trains, and vehicles are pounded, and an alcohol refinery at Piacenza is
severely damaged.

FRIDAY, 12 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   For the fourth consecutive day, all bombing operations are cancelled by bad
weather. P-38s fly photo and weather reconnaissance and escort missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, weather severely curtails operations, but fighters and
fighter-bombers of the XXII Tactical Air Command score successfully against
communications targets in W and C Po Valley, claiming 50+ rail cuts and
destruction or damage of 100+ vehicles.

SATURDAY, 13 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   For the fifth successive day no bombing operations are flown. Weather
permits only reconnaissance and escort missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, Bad weather prohibits all but weather reconnaissance and a
scramble mission, all uneventful.

SUNDAY, 14 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   For the sixth consecutive day bad weather permits only reconnaissance
missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, weather again cancels all combat missions.

MONDAY, 15 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   400+ B-24s and B-17s escorted by 270+ P-38s and P-51s, bomb marshalling
yards and other railroad communications in NE and SE Vienna, Austria and
marshalling yard at Treviso, Italy.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, operations resume as the weather clears; medium bombers
concentrate on the Brenner rail line, flying nearly 150 sorties against bridges
at San Michele all'Adige, Rovereto, Ala, Lavis, Santa Margherita d'Adige, and
Motta di Livenza; the XXII Tactical Air Command attacks communications in the
Po Valley and further N, destroying or damaging several bridges and a very
large number of railway cars (most of them at the Como marshalling yard);
during the night of 14/15 Jan, A-20s hit targets in the Po Valley, including Po
River crossings at Borgoforte, Piacenza, and San Benedetto Po.

TUESDAY, 16 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather restricts operations to reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort
missions by 30 P-38s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 15/16 Jan, A-20s exploit a break in the bad
weather and blast motor transport around Genoa and NE of Milan; during the day
bad weather returns, grounding the medium bombers and limiting fighter-bombers
to 16 completed sorties against communications in the Po Valley and NE Italy;
the 23d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 3d Photographic Group
(Reconnaissance), moves from Malignano to Peretola Airfield, Florence with
F-5s.

WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Continued bad weather cancels all operations.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, medium bombers, taking advantage of improved weather conditions,
attack 6 rail targets on the Brenner rail line, blocking the line at Calliano,
cutting tracks at Ora, and destroying a section of the bridge at Sacile; in NE
Italy fighters and fighter-bombers concentrate their large effort on rail lines
and bridges, destroying 4 and damaging another, cutting tracks at numerous
points, and blasting vehicles and trains; HQ 3d Photographic Group
(Reconnaissance) and the 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron move from
Rosia and Malignano respectively to Florence/Peretola with A-20s, B-25s and
F-5s.

THURSDAY, 18 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Weather prevents bombing operations; P-38s and P-51s fly photo
reconnaissance and escort missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 17/18 Jan, A-20s attack Po River crossings,
lights and movement throughout the Po Valley; during the day medium bombers
pound targets on the Brenner line, including a temporary bridge between San
Michele all'Adige and Ora, and an overhanging cliff over the railroad at San
Ambrogio di Valpolicella; fighters and fighter-bombers blast communications
lines in NE Italy and fuel and supply dumps in the Piacenza area, destroying
numerous railroad tracks, trains, and vehicles, and causing explosions or fires
in most of the dumps.

FRIDAY, 19 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Yugoslavia, 400+ B-17s and B-24s attack N and S marshalling yards, a
railroad bridge, and a highway bridge at Brod; because of overcast, only 1 of
112 bombers sent against the Zagreb marshalling yard bombs the target while
others abort; 46 P-38s bomb the S railroad bridge at Doboj and 59 P-51s sweep
from Zagreb to Gyor, Hungary. Other P-38s fly reconnaissance missions and
reconnaissance escort and cover Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (MATAF)
B-25s on a supply run.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 18/19 Jan, A-20s bomb motor transport
movements, lights, roads, and railroads throughout the Po Valley; weather
cancels medium bomber operations and prevents fighter-bombers from completing
the XXII Tactical Air Command's only mission airborne during the day.

SATURDAY, 20 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   The tactical organization of the Fifteenth AF becomes fully developed when a
supply-dropping group, the 15th Special Group (Provisional), organized on 18
Jan, is given control of the 859th (B-24) and 885th (B-17) Bombardment
Squadrons (Heavy) which drop supplies in France, Italy, and Yugoslavia. [In
Mar, the 15th Group will be redesignated the the 2641st Special Group
(Provisional) and with its units attached to the Twelfth AF for operational
control, the Fifteenth retaining administrative control].
   345 B-17s and B-24s attack N and S main marshalling yards and station
sidings at Linz, Austria, marshalling yards at Salzburg, Austria and Rosenheim,
Germany, and oil storage at Regensburg, Germany; fighters escort the bombers
and fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, medium bombers destroy 1 and damage another bridge near San
Michele all'Adige, and score good coverage on the Trento marshalling yard; the
XXII Tactical Air Command fighter-bombers very successfully blast
communications and fuel and ammunition dumps in the Po Valley.

SUNDAY, 21 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   170 B-17s bomb the Lobau and Schweehat oil refineries at Vienna, Austria;
131 P-51s and P-38s provide support. 43 P-38s bomb an oil refinery at Fiume,
Italy. Other fighters escort reconnaissance missions and accompany
supply-dropping operations to Yugoslavia.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, weather restricts operations during the night of 21/22 Jan to
armed reconnaissance by 5 A-20s; the A-20s bomb communications targets in the
Po Valley. During the day B-25s hit bridges at Rovereto and Lavis, destroy a
bridge at Pontetidone, and blast a railroad fill at San Michele all' Adige, and
supply dump at Cremona; fighters and fighter-bombers concentrate on
communications in the same area as the medium bombers, destroying 1 bridge,
inflicting 36 rail cuts, hitting fuel and ammunition dumps, and destroying and
damaging many vehicles and much railroad rolling stock, mostly in Milan area.

MONDAY, 22 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather limits operations to 1 P-38 weather reconnaissance flight.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25s score damaging hits at Rovereto, San Michele all' Adige and
on the Dogna bridge, and attack the Chiari and Crema bridges with fair results;
fighter-bombers range over practically all of N Italy destroying and damaging a
large number of vehicles and railway cars and several locomotives, also hitting
fuel and ammunition dumps around Mantua. The air echelon of the 417th Night
Fighter Squadron, Twelfth AF (attached to 422d Night Fighter Squadron)
operating from Florennes, Belgium with Beaufighters, returns to base at La
Vallon, France.

TUESDAY, 23 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Continued bad weather cancels all operations.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 22/23 Jan, A-20s bomb lights, roads, and river
crossings at over 50 locations in the Po Valley, hit several targets of
opportunity, and attack Borgoforte and San Benedetto Po and airfields at
Villafranca di Verona and Ghedi; weather cancels medium bomber operations
during the day; fighter-bombers operate mainly against communications,
principally railroad targets, in the Po Valley but also hit ammunition dumps,
shipping, guns, vehicles, and other targets in N Italy scattered from Genoa to
NE Italy.

WEDNESDAY, 24 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Unfavorable weather limits operations to 1 complete weather reconnaissance
mission.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, cloud conditions and ground fog at bases nearly halt operations; 1
medium bomber flies weather reconnaissance over the Venice area and P-47s fly
weather reconnaissance over the Bologna-Parma area; 2 of the P-47s destroy a
truck and damage a train near Parma.

THURSDAY, 25 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Weather curtails operations; P-38s, with P-51 escort, fly photo and weather
reconnaissance missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 24/25 Jan, A-20s make several intruder attacks
on roads, motor transport, bridges, and trains; bad weather during the day
greatly curtails flying; the only medium bomber mission dispatched achieves
poor results on the Cremona ammunition dump; fighter-bombers and fighters of
the XXII Tactical Air Command hit communications and dump areas, mainly in the
Milan area, with good general success.

FRIDAY, 26 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Weather prevents bombing operations. P-38s fly reconnaissance and
reconnaissance-escort missions and escort RAF supply drop over Yugoslavia.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 25/26 Jan, A-20s fly armed reconnaissance of
the Po Valley, bombing Po River crossings, Ghedi Airfield, and general movement
throughout the area; both the 57th Bombardment Wing and the XXII Tactical Air
Command cancel all operations for the day because of bad weather.

SATURDAY, 27 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   For the sixth consecutive day bad weather restricts operations to
reconnaissance and escort missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, bad weather during the morning causes all medium bombers to abort
except for an attack on a bridge at Bressana Bottarone; XXII Tactical Air
Command fighters and fighter-bombers continue the interdiction of
communications with good results against motor transport, trains, rail lines,
bridges, and storage dumps; P-47s of the 57th Fighter Group destroy an oil
plant near Fornovo di Taro. The 414th Night Fighter Squadron, 62d Fighter Wing,
based at Pontedera, Italy sends a detachment to operate from Florennes, Belgium
with Beaufighters attached to the 422d Night Fighter Squadron.

SUNDAY, 28 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Continued bad weather (for the seventh successive day) restricts operations
to 3 weather reconnaissance flights.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, weather again hampers operations; B-25s have good results on
railroad bridges at Lavis and San Michele all'Adige; XXII Tactical Air Command
aircraft operate effectively against communications and transport targets
throughout N Italy including at Milan, Pavia, Cremona, Nervesa della Battaglia,
Treviso, Genoa, Padua, and the Lake Maggiore areas.

MONDAY, 29 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Weather prevents bombing operations for the eighth consecutive day; P-38s
fly photo and weather reconnaissance missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, due to high winds and generally bad weather, medium bombers
successfully bomb only 2 targets, the railway bridges at Calliano and Rovereto,
and attack with less success bridges at Motta di Livenza, Lavis, Mantua, and
Chiusaforte, and railway station at Lavis; XXII Tactical Air Command fighters
and fighter-bombers operate primarily against communications throughout the Po
Valley; results are generally good and a bridge at Nervesa della Battaglia is
cut; bridges or their approaches at Cittadella, Santa Margherita d'Adige and
Cismon del Grappa are damaged along with a variety of targets. During the night
of 28/29 Jan, A-20s hit rail facilities, pontoon bridge, lights, and motor
transport at nearly 50 locations in the Po Valley.  The 5th Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, 3d Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), based at
Peretola Airfield, Florence with F-5s, sends a flight to operate from Pisa.

TUESDAY, 30 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   For the ninth successive day, weather prevents bombing operations; during
the night of 29/30 Jan, 13 B-24s drop supplies in N Italy; during the day P-38s
fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort and carry out supply missions and
strafing attacks in Austria.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, good weather in the Po Valley permits full-scale operations
against communications lines; during the night of 29/30 Jan, A-20s intruders
pound scattered movement (much of it near Milan), several Po River crossings
including Borgoforte, Piacenza, and San Benedetto Po, the harbor at La Spezia,
and fuel dumps and other targets at many locations; B-25s effectively strike
the Brenner rail line during the day, especially the Lavis and Trento
marshalling yards and bridges at Lavis and Calliano; XXII Tactical Air Command
fighters and fighter-bombers strike railroads and bridges in NE Italy cutting
many lines and damaging several bridges, and hit fuel dumps and factories
around Parma.

WEDNESDAY, 31 JANUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   670+ B-24s and B-17s bomb the Moosbierbaum, Austria oil refinery;
marshalling yards at Graz, Austria and Maribor, Yugoslavia; and scattered
targets of opportunity. P-38s and P-51s fly 300+ escorting sorties for the
bombers; other P-38s fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort and drop
supplies into Austria; during the night of 30/31 Jan, B-24s drop supplies in N
Italy.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, medium bombers attack railroad bridges at Chiusaforte, Voghera,
Lavis, Rovereto, and San Michele all' Adige, and the marshalling yard at
Rovereto, with only fair results; fighters and fighter-bombers hit bridges,
rail lines, trains, vehicles, and other targets over widespread areas of N
Italy; during the night of 30/31 Jan, A-20s hit several railroad targets during
intruder missions in the Po Valley.

FEBRUARY 1945 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

THURSDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Austria, 300+ B-17s and B-24s attack the Moosbierbaum oil refinery and
the marshalling yards at Graz, Furstenfeld, and Klagenfurt. 1 bomber bombs
Pula, Yugoslavia. P-38s and P-51s fly 270+ sorties escorting the bombers; other
P-38s carry out reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, bad weather curtails operations; A-20s and medium bombers are
grounded and fighters and fighter- bombers fly only 14 sorties, 12 against
communications targets N of the battle area and 2 weather reconnaissance
sorties.

FRIDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather cancels bombing operations; 1 B-17 and 1 B-24 drop supplies in N
Italy. 33 P-51s, with 14 others flying top cover, strafe Kurilovec Airfield in
Yugoslavia; 11 other P-51s escort a Royal Air Force (RAF) supply dropping
mission over Yugoslavia. 11 P-38s fly photo and weather reconnaissance; photo
reconnaissance is covered by 24 other P-38s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, medium bombers, taking advantage of improving weather conditions
in NE Italy, hit bridges at Lavis, Chiusaforte, Calliano, Mantua, Rovereto,
Calcinato, and Dogna; bad weather at bases restricts XXII Tactical Air Command
aircraft to 5 weather reconnaissance sorties.

SATURDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Weather again cancels bombing operations. P-38s fly photo and weather
reconnaissance. P-51s escort the photo reconnaissance aircraft while other
P-38s escort Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (MATAF) B-25s on a
transport run to Yugoslavia.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, weather restricts combat operations to an attack by 4 P-47s on the
Sonico marshalling yard.

SUNDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather cancels bombing operations for the third successive day. 24
B-24s and 1 B-17 drop supplies and leaflets in N Yugoslavia. 8 P-38s carry out
photo and weather reconnaissance missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, medium bombers bomb railroad bridges at Ala, San Michele all'
Adige, Lavis, Dogna, and Bodrez, and attack the Ala marshalling yard; XXII
Tactical Air Command fighters and fighter-bombers escort the medium bombers
and, in widespread areas of N Italy, destroy 2 bridges, damage 8 others, and
blast rolling stock.

MONDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   730+ B-17s and B-24s bomb oil storage at Regensburg, Germany, the main
station and 2 marshalling yards at Salzburg, Austria, the marshalling yards at
Rosenheim, Germany and Villach, Austria, and Straubing, Germany railroad
installations; 6 bombers bomb the Comeglians, Italy road bridge. P-38s and
P-51s escort the bombers, fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance support
missions, and accompany 25 B-24s on a supply mission to Yugoslavia.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25s score excellently against the San Ambrogio di Valpolicella
landslide (the overhanging cliff collapses on the railroad by bombing) and
bridges at San Michele all' Adige and Calliano; during the night of 4/5 Feb,
XXII Tactical Air Command A-20 intruder missions hit lights, motor transport,
and roads in the Po Valley and areas S of Bologna; fighters and fighter-bombers
fly 270+ sorties against communications targets in N Italy; incendiary bombing
of a truck park damages numerous vehicles.

TUESDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather permits only supply and reconnaissance missions; 5 P-38s
complete weather and photo reconnaissance while 12 B-24s and 1 B-17 drop
supplies in Yugoslavia.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25s attack railroad targets on the line running N to the Brenner
Pass, damaging bridges at Rovereto and Ala; marshalling yards at Rovereto and
San Ambrogio di Valpolicella and a bridge at Crema are less successfully hit;
fighter-bombers cut railroad bridges at Nervesa delta Battaglia and San Michele
all'Adige; the P-47s claim 3 fighters destroyed in combat N of Verona and
attack numerous targets of opportunity throughout the target areas; during the
night of 5/6 Feb, A-20s attack lights, roads, and motor transport in the C Po
Valley.

WEDNESDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   680 B-17s and B-24s bomb oil refineries at Moosbierbaum, Schwechat, and the
Lobau, Floridsdorf, Korneuburg and Kagran refineries in the Vienna, Austria
area; oil storage at Pula, Yugoslavia; shipyard and harbor of Trieste, Italy;
the town of Bratislava, Czechoslovakia; Zwolfaxing Airfield, Austria; and
several scattered targets of opportunity; 274 P-38s and P-51s provide escort. 8
B-24s drop supplies in Yugoslavia. 18 P-51s strafe the Zeltweg Airfield in
Austria and the surrounding area while in Yugoslavia, 10 P-38s sweep the
Zagreb-Karlovac- Sisak area. Other P-38s fly reconnaissance and escort
operations.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 6/7 Feb, A-20s bomb lights and movement over
extensive areas of N Italy; during the day B-25 blasts cut bridges at Bodrez
and Lavis, a viaduct at Lavis, and block rail lines at San Michele all'Adige
and Mantua; XXII Tactical Air Command P-47s destroy 4 railroad bridges and
damage another severely in the NE and C Po Valley and Brenner Pass, and blast
dumps and sugar refineries in the Mantua, Brescia, and Reggio Emilia areas.

THURSDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Austria, 500+ B-24s and B-17s bomb SE Vienna communications targets and
the marshalling yard at Graz, plus several targets of opportunity; 270+ P-38s
and P-51s escort. In Yugoslavia, 12 B-24s drop supplies and 11 P-51s sweep the
Zagreb area. Other P-51s and P-38s fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance
escort.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 7/8 Feb, A-20s on intruder missions bomb
various targets at 58 points in the Po Valley and Brenner Pass area; medium
bombers during the day attack bridges at Calliano, Chiusaforte, Dogna and
Piacenza; fighters and fighter-bombers closely support US Fifth Army forces in
the Serchio Valley where counterattacks oppose the Allied offensive-and destroy
the Nervesa della Battaglia railroad bridge and oil dump N of Mestre.

FRIDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   During the night of 8/9 Feb, 1 B-17 and 10 B-24s drop supplies in N Italy.
During the day in Austria, 49 bombers hit the Moosbierbaum oil refinery; 5
others bomb marshalling yards at Graz and Bruck an der Mur. 11 B-24s drop
supplies in C Yugoslavia, while P-38s and P-51s fly reconnaissance missions and
reconnaissance and supply escort.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 8/9 Feb, A-20s and A-26s on intruder missions
attack communications targets throughout the C and NE Po Valley; weather
restricts daytime operations to weather reconnaissance and supply dropping
missions.

SATURDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather prevents bombing; 12 B-24s drop supplies in Yugoslavia while
P-38s fly reconnaissance and escort missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 9/10 Feb, A-20s and A-26s hit railroads,
lights, and movement in the Po Valley and Brenner area and bomb docks at La
Spezia; weather cancels all but 2 medium bomber missions; however, the B-25s
cut bridges at Palazzuolo sull' Oglio and Romano di Lombardia; fighter-bombers
concentrate on railroads in NE Italy, and destroy numerous vehicles in a truck
park in the Mantua area.

SUNDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather limits operations to B-24 supply mission to Yugoslavia during
the night of 10/11 Feb and to P-38 reconnaissance missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, A-20s on night intruder missions attack enemy movement and lights
at various points in N Italy, hit bridges in the Po Valley, and attack
frontline positions in the N Apennines; weather grounds the medium bombers but
fighters and fighter-bombers blast railroad bridges and lines in the NE and C
Po Valley and stores and supply dumps in the C and W Po River areas.

MONDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Continued bad weather restricts operations to reconnaissance and
reconnaissance escort by P-38s and P-51s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, A-20s, during the night of 11/12 Feb, bomb communications targets
in the Po Valley and NE Italy, including the Brenner Pass area; bad weather
during the day restricts medium bomber operations to bombing the bridge at Ala
and a a sugar refinery at Legnago; only 1 fighter gp, the 57th, can operate,
hitting bridges, rail lines, and guns in the Po Valley.

TUESDAY, 13 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In the Vienna area of Austria, 640+ B-17s and B-24s with fighter support hit
the S ordnance depot, S and SE goods yards and depot, C repair shops, and
Matzleinsdorf marshalling yard, and the marshalling yards at Graz, Austria;
Sarvar, Hungary; and in Yugoslavia, 2 at Zagreb and 2 at Maribor, the Pula
harbor, the Maribor locomotive depot and rolling stock repair shops, and
several targets of opportunity. P-38s and P-51s carry out reconnaissance and
reconnaissance escort missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 12/13 Feb, A-20s attack enemy movement in the C
and NC Po Valley; medium bombers hit bridges at Calcinato, Dogna, and
Chiusaforte and the bridge approach at Lavis; fighter-bombers fly nearly 350
sorties against enemy communications in N Italy including marshalling yards at
Verona, Parma, and Vicenza.

WEDNESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   500+ B-24s and B-17s bomb the Moosbierbaum, Vienna/Lobau,
Vienna/Floridsdorf, and Schwechat oil refineries in the Vienna, Austria area;
marshalling yards at Graz, Gleisdorf, Klagenfurt, and Villach, Austria; Celje,
Maribor, and Zagreb, Yugoslavia; and several scattered targets of opportunity;
P-38s also bomb the Moosbierbaum refinery and Maribor marshalling yard; other
P-38s and P-51s escort the bombers, fly photo and weather reconnaissance, and
escort reconnaissance missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 13/14 Feb, A-20s bomb the bridge approach at
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana and hit targets of opportunity in the Po Valley;
during the day medium bombers bomb bridges or bridge approaches at San Michele
all'Adige, Tarvisio, Bressanone, and hit guns near Ponte Gardena; fighters and
fighter-bombers, operating in poor weather, attack mainly communications
targets in the Po Valley.

THURSDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Austria, 650+ B-24s and B-17s bomb 5 station freight yards, SE goods
depot, Korneuburg oil refinery, and Vienna/Floridsdorf, Matzleinsdorf, and
Penzing marshalling yards all in the Vienna area, plus marshalling yards at
Klagenfurt, Wiener-Neustadt and Graz, the Graz ordnance depot, shipyards in
Fiume, Italy and scattered targets of opportunity are also hit; fighters escort
the bombers and fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, medium bombers bomb the Spilimbergo ammunition dumps through an
overcast, but are forced by the bad weather to cancel all other operations;
fighter-bombers, limited by weather, concentrate on railway targets in NE and W
Po Valley.

FRIDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   630+ B-24s and B-17s bomb airfields at Regensburg, Landsberg, and Neubiberg,
Germany; marshalling yards at Rosenheim, Germany, Hall, and Innsbruck, Austria,
and Bolzano, and Vipiteno, Italy, plus scattered targets of opportunity in
Austria and N Italy; P-38s and P-51s escort the bombers, fly reconnaissance
missions, and escort reconnaissance and supply operations.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, bad weather grounds medium bombers; fighter-bombers cut rail lines
at the S end of Garda Lake, and bomb an ammunition and fuel dump E of Nervesa
della Battaglia and an ammunition dump E of Villafranca in Lunigiana.

SATURDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   About 500 B-17s and B-24s attack the marshalling yard, station, and benzol
plant at Linz, steel works at Judenburg, tank works at Steyr and Sankt
Valentin, marshalling yards at Graz, Wels, Bruck an der Mur, and Villach,
Austria; plus shipyards and harbors at Fiume and Trieste, Italy, and Pula,
Yugoslavia. P-38s and P-51s escort the bombers, fly reconnaissance missions,
and supply drops, strafe rail lines in the Vienna-Linz, Austria area and
aircraft at Ardning and Grafenstein Austria, and fly weather and photo
reconnaissance.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, medium bombers bomb bridges at Chiusaforte, Bressanone, Crema, and
Dogna; fighters and fighter- bombers hit communications targets in the Po
Valley and damage bridges at Nervesa della Battaglia, Cittadella, Calliano,
Ala, and Pordenone; also bombed are guns and dumps from the S of La Spezia E to
the battle area below Bologna.

SUNDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   During the night of 17/18 Feb, 24 B-24s drop supplies in N Italy; during the
day 160 B-17s bomb a benzol plant, main marshalling yard and station at Linz,
Austria; 20 P-38s provide escort; almost 290 B-24s, with fighter escorts, are
recalled because of weather from missions dispatched against targets in
Austria; weather also causes the recall of 52 P-51s on a strafing mission. A
few P-38s complete reconnaissance missions but most are recalled as weather
worsens. In Italy, the detachments of the 71st and 94th Fighter Squadrons, 1st
Fighter Group, operating from Vincenzo Airfield with P-38s, return to base at
Salsola Airfield.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 17/18 Feb, A-20s bomb targets in the Po Valley,
including the towns of Nogara, Castelfranco Veneto, Modena, Cremona, Bovolone,
and Isola della Scala, bridges at Cittadella and Villafranca in Lunigiana, and
airfields at Ghedi and Villafranca in Lunigiana; all B-25 missions abort due to
weather except an attack on the Ala rail bridge; fighters and fighter-bombers
fly less than 100 sorties, hitting ammunition dumps and railroad bridges and
lines, mainly in the Po Valley.

MONDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   During the night of 18/19 Feb, 11 B-24s drop supplies in N Italy. In Austria
during the day almost 500 B-24s and B-17s, escorted by about 220 P-51s and
P-38s, bomb 2 marshalling yards and the S station area in Vienna, marshalling
yards at Klagenfurt, Graz, and Bruck an der Mur; marshalling yards at Maribor,
Yugoslavia; shipyards in Fiume, Italy; and the Pula, Yugoslavia harbor and
military installations. In Austria, 51 P-51s strafe rail and river traffic and
airfields between Linz and Vienna and in the Graz area; other P-51s and P-38s
fly escort and reconnaissance missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Brigadier General Edward M Morris takes command of the XII Air Force
Services Command (until 1 Jan 44 designated the III Air Service Area Command).
In Italy, bad weather grounds the medium bombers; fighter-bombers, some bombing
by radar-control because of heavy clouds, attack-communications and dumps in
the W Po Valley and NE Italy, and claim several rail line cuts in the Brenner
area.

TUESDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   520+ B-17s, with fighter escort, and B-24s bomb the Lobau, Vienna and
Schwechat, Austria oil refineries and Floridsdorf marshalling yard at Vienna,
steel works at Kapfenberg, Austria, harbor at Pula, Yugoslavia, and shipyards
at Trieste and Fiume, Italy.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   The 27th and 86th Fighter Groups and an air service group are transferred
from the Twelfth AF to the First Tactical Air Force (Provisional) in France; HQ
86th Fighter Group moves from Pisa, Italy to Tantonville, France. In Italy,
A-20s on night intruder missions during the night of 19/20 Feb, bomb targets of
opportunity at over 30 points in the C Po Valley, several rail diversions, and
marshalling yards at Villafranca in Lunigiana, Roncanova, Bovolone, Cerea,
Legnago, Cittadella, Casa di David, Isola della Scala, Castelfranco Veneto, and
Nogara; fighter- bombers devote their main effort to support the US Fifth Army
offensive in the Monte Torraccia area; medium bombers bomb bridges at
Montebello, Chiusaforte, Salzano, and Calcinato; the detachment of the 416th
Night Fighter Squadron, 62d Fighter Wing, operating from Etain, France with
Mosquitos, returns to base at Pisa.

WEDNESDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   During the night of 20/21 Feb, 1 B-17 and 13 B-24s drop supplies in N Italy.
During the day 500+ B-17s and B-24s with fighter escorts bomb Vienna, Austria
railroad targets (C yards, S station, and Matzleinsdorf marshalling yard),
marshalling yards at Bruck an der Mur, Wiener-Neustadt, and Zeltweg, Austria,
and Sopron, Hungary, and shipyards at Trieste and Fiume, Italy. HQ 1st Fighter
Group moves from Vincenzo Airfield to Salsola Airfield, Italy and the
detachment of the 27th Fighter Squadron ceases operating from Vincenzo and
returns to base at Salsola with P-38s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, night fighters and A-20s on intruder missions during the night of
20/21 Feb, continue to attack communications and supplies in the Po Valley;
medium bombers, during the day, bomb bridges at Dogna, Crema, and Romano di
Lombardia; fighter-bombers devote their main effort to close support of ground
forces along the W and C US Fifth Army front, and also hit communications to
the N of the battleline and in the Po Valley.

THURSDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   The Fifteenth's participation in Operation CLARION includes 350+ B-17s and
B-24s bombing 50+ separate communications targets in Germany, Austria, and
Italy, including some 25 marshalling yards and numerous railroad lines and
bridges; fighters fly 300+ escort and strafing sorties.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 21/22 Feb, A-20s attack an ammunition dump,
railroad bridges and lines, and road lights in the Po Valley; B-25s bomb
railroad bridges and marshalling yards at Lavis, Bressanone, and Ala, cutting
the bridge at Lavis and the through tracks at the Ala marshalling yard;
fighters and fighter-bombers continue to support US Fifth Army forces S and SW
of Bologna and hit communications targets, dumps, vehicles, and guns in and N
of the battle area in the Apennines Mountains and in the Po Valley, and bomb
airfields at Ghedi and Bergamo.

FRIDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 1945 STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   About 380 B-17s and B-24s hit the marshalling yards at Villach, Worgl,
Knittelfeld, and Klagenfurt, Austria and Udine, Italy, plus Kitzbuhel, Austria
railroad junction; 140+ P-38s and P-51s provide escort; some of the fighters
strafe areas NW of Linz, Austria and N of Munich, Germany; 35 other P-38s
dive-bomb the Worgl marshalling yard and afterwards 30 of them strafe the rail
line from Rosenheim, Germany- Innsbruck, Austria-Landeck, Austria; other P-38s
and P-51s fly reconnaissance and escort missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, A-20s on intruder missions during the night of 22/23 Feb, hit
marshalling yards and airfields throughout N Italy; medium bombers concentrate
on the N end of the Brenner Pass, damaging bridges at Campo San Pietro and a
railroad fill at San Felice del Benaco and hitting bridges at Dogna;
fighter-bombers pound airfields, and enemy movement in the C and N Po Valley,
and damage 5 bridges and cut rail lines at numerous points.

SATURDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   500+ B-17s and B-24s (with fighter escorts) attack the Udine, Padua, Verona,
and Ferrara marshalling yards and Ferrara railroad bridge in Italy; marshalling
yards at Graz and Klagenfurt, Austria;  and several targets of opportunity.
During the previous night 20 B-24s continue supply drops in N Italy.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 23/24 Feb, A-20s bomb marshalling yards,
including those at Castelfranco Veneto, Rovereto, Villafranca di Verona, and
Legnago, and airfields at Villafranca di Verona, Ghedi, and Bergamo; medium
bombers bomb rail lines, bridges, bridge approaches, and fills at Bozzolo,
Santa Margherita d'Adige, San Michele all'Adige, Pizzighetone, and Lavis, and
severely damage the Sesto Calende industrial complex; fighter-bombers hit
communications, mainly airfields, railroad bridges, lines, and marshalling
yards at several points including Villafranca, Calliano, N of Nervesa della
Battaglia, N of Santa Margherita d'Adige, Bergamo, Pavullo nel Frigano, Isola
della Scala, and Motta di Livenza; fighters and fighter-bombers support US
Fifth Army forces, hitting gun positions in advance of the battlefront, at
Montese and E of Modena, and blast targets in the battle area as the 10th
Mountain Division reaches the summit of Monte Torraccia.

SUNDAY, 25 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Austria, 600+ B-17s and B-24s bomb marshalling yards in Amstetten, 2 in
Linz, 2 in Villach, and Salzburg, plus the Linz benzol plant and ordnance depot
and several targets of opportunity. Fighters escort and some afterwards strafe
targets of opportunity in Austria, SE Germany, and W Czechoslovakia. In
Germany, 37 P-51s strafe railroad targets in the
Rosenheim-Muhldorf-Landshut-Augsburg areas. Routine reconnaissance and supply
missions continue.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 24/25 Feb, A-20s attack marshalling yards at
Villafranca di Verona, Cittadella, Castelfranco Veneto, Trento, and Turin, and
airfields at Villafranca di Verona and Bergamo; medium bombers cut or damage
bridges at Vipiteno, Dogna, Ala, and Campo San Pietro, and a railroad fill at
San Felice del Benaco; XXII Tactical Air Command fighters and fighter-bombers
are restricted by ground haze in the Po Valley but attack rail lines,
marshalling yards, rolling stock, motor transport, and dumps.

MONDAY, 26 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   During the night of 25/26 Feb, supply drops to N Italy continue. In Austria
during the day 32 P-38s dive- bomb and strafe the Graz-Bruck an der Mur-Wiener
Neustadt rail lines and 12 others fly top cover. Other P-38s and P-51s fly
reconnaissance and escort missions. 102 B-24s, with fighter escort, dispatched
against tactical targets in Yugoslavia, are recalled when clouds completely
cover the objectives.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 25/26 Feb, A-20s considerably damage
marshalling yards at Castelfranco Veneto and Bazzano; medium bombers bomb
railroad bridges at Legnago, Ala, Pontetidone, and San Michele all'Adige;
fighters and fighter-bombers hit bridges, marshalling yards, rail lines, and
transport targets at numerous points including Nervesa della Battaglia, Ora,
Bologna, Trento, Vicenza, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, and Avisio, and bomb
airfields at Ghedi and Bergamo; XXII Tactical Air Command aircraft also support
US Fifth Army forces in the battle area S of Bologna.

TUESDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   540+ B-24s and B-17s, with fighter escort, bomb marshalling yards at
Augsburg, Germany and Salzburg, Lienz, and Jenbach, Austria plus several
targets of opportunity; escorting fighters strafe targets of opportunity during
the return flight. Routine reconnaissance and supply missions continue.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 26/27 Feb, A-20s bomb enemy movement at 14
different places in the Po Valley, marshalling yards at Villafranca di Verona
and Isola della Scala, the town of Bazzano, and airfields at Villafranca di
Verona and Ghedi; XXII Tactical Air Command fighter-bombers concentrate on
railroad cutting in the Brenner area and NE Italy, claiming 36 cuts, and attack
rolling stock in the Villach, Austria area; medium bombers destroy a railroad
diversion bridge at San Michele all'Adige and cut approaches on the Ala and
Lavis bridges and effectively blast the Spilimbergo and Pagnocco dumps.

WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   About 680 B-17s and B-24s bomb marshalling yards at Lienz, Austria; Ora,
Bolzano, Vipiteno, Vicenza, Fortezza, Bressanone, Brunico, Brescia, and
Conegliano, Italy, and bridges at Albes and Verona-Parona di Valpolicella,
Italy; 109 P-51s provide escort; 75 P-38s divebomb the Sankt Veit an der Glan
marshalling yard in Austria and strafe rail lines in the Sankt Veit,
Austria-Klagenfurt, Austria-Villach, Austria-Ljubljana, Yugoslavia areas; other
P-38s and P-51s (about 25) strafe rail traffic around Bruck an der Mur,
Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, and Worgl, Austria and Passau, Germany, and attack
Bjelovar Airfield in Yugoslavia, destroying an enemy-held B-24 and P-38;
reconnaissance and supply flights are maintained.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 27/28 Feb, A-20s attack a few marshalling
yards, bridges, rail lines, and general movement but because of bad weather are
recalled by midnight; XII Tactical Air Command fighter-bombers continue to
pound communications and other targets, including Ghedi and Vicenza Airfields,
ammunition dumps near Codroipo and W of Villafranca di Verona, and shell
loading plant SW of Piacenza; medium bombers bomb bridges at Ala, Santa
Margherita d'Adige, San Michele all'Adige, Ponte di Piave, and Pordenone, and a
railway embankment at Salorno.

MARCH 1945 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

THURSDAY, 1 MARCH 1945

AFRICA-MIDDLE EAST THEATER (AMET):
   US Army Forces in the Middle East (USAFIME) takes over NW Africa from MTO US
Army and is redesignated the Africa-Middle East Theater (AMET).

ARMY AIR FORCE, MTO:
   "A" and "D" Flights of the 121st Liaison Squadron, AAF, MTO, operating from
Vittel, France with L-4s and L-5s, return to base at Florence, Italy.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Austria, 630+ B-24s and B-17s bomb the Moosbierbaum oil refinery and
alternate targets and targets of opportunity including marshalling yards at
Sankt Polten, Amstetten, Villach, Klagenfurt, Knittelfeld, Feldbach, and the
marshalling yards at Jesenice and Maribor, Yugoslavia, plus several scattered
targets of opportunity; 220+ fighters provide escort; 22 P-38s bomb the
Moosbierbaum refinery and Tulln marshalling yard (afterward 12 of them strafe
the Wiener-Neustadt-Gloggnitz) rail lines); 47 other P-38s strafe rail traffic
around Graz and W of Vienna.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 28 Feb/1 Mar, A-20s fly intruder missions
against targets at Lecco and in the Parma area, starting large fires and
causing several explosions during a strike on the Casarsa delta Delizia
temporary railroad bridge, and hit bridges at Nervesa delta Battaglia and
Sacile; weather cancels all daytime operations except for reconnaissance and
supply runs.

FRIDAY, 2 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Austria, 470 B-24s and B-17s, with fighters flying escort, bomb
marshalling yards at Linz, Sankt Polten, Amstetten, Graz, and Knittelfeld, and
Brescia, Italy; 31 P-51s on a strafing mission attack rail and river
communications from Linz to Regensburg, Germany, while 18 others fly top cover;
F-5s fly reconnaissance missions. During the night of 1/2 Mar, B-24s drop
supplies in N Italy and C Yugoslavia.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, weather again grounds the medium bombers; fighter-bombers and
fighters hit communications, ammunition and stores dumps, 2 sugar refineries,
guns, vehicles, and buildings S of Bologna and in the Po Valley, and the
airfield at Aviano and Lonate Pozzolo.

SATURDAY, 3 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Rapidly deteriorating weather cancels bombing operations. In Austria, P-51s
strafe rail traffic between Leibnitz and SW of Spittal an der Drau and attack
the airfield S of Graz; P-38s fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort. 1
B-24, of 6 dispatched, drops supplies in N Yugoslavia. HQ 31st Fighter Group
and the 307th and 308th Fighter Squadrons move from San Severo to Mondolfo,
Italy with P-51s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, overcast skies and turbulent winds hamper medium bomber missions
against communications in the Brenner area, allowing only limited success
against targets; the Crema and Fidenza Bridges in the Po Valley are damaged;
XXII Tactical Air Command fighter-bombers, destroy a sugar refinery at Verona
and achieve good results against communications and dumps in the C Po Valley
and Brenner area; other fighters and fighter-bombers support the US Fifth Army
S of Bologna; A-20s during the night of 2/3 Mar, hit roads, ammunition
supplies, and vehicles at several points in the Po Valley, particularly in the
Bologna-Modena regions, and bomb the Legnano marshalling yard.

SUNDAY, 4 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   630+ B-24s and B-17s, with fighter escort, bomb marshalling yards at Sopron
(2 yards) and Szombathely, Hungary; Knittelfeld, Zeltweg, Graz, Sankt Veit an
der Glan and Wiener- Neustadt, Austria; Zagreb (2 yards) and Lbubljana,
Yugoslavia; and several scattered targets of opportunity; other B-24s, with
P-51 escort, drop supplies in Yugoslavia; F-5s, P-38s and P-51s fly
reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort operations. The 309th Fighter
Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, moves from San Severo to Mondolfo, Italy with
P-51s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, good flying weather permits a full-scale effort; medium bombers
hit 7 railroad bridges on the Brenner line and in NE Italy; the Salorno
railroad fill receives a particularly good concentration of bombs; XXII
Tactical Air Command P-47s concentrate on communications targets in the Po
Valley, knocking out a span of the Cittadella railway bridge; Brazilian P-47s
blast an ammunition dump at Villafranca di Verona; during the night of 3/4 Mar,
A-20s bomb the bridge and bridge approaches at Casarsa della Delizia, Ostiglia,
and Nervesa della Battaglia, the radar station at Vignola, and lights, motor
transport, roads, and other targets of opportunity at over 30 places in the C
Po Valley.

MONDAY, 5 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather limits operations to supply, escort, and reconnaissance
missions. HQ 306th Fighter Wing moves from Lesina to Fano, Italy; HQ 325th
Fighter Group and the 317th and 319th Fighter Squadrons move from Lesina to
Rimini, Italy with P-51s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, A-20s hit lines of communications in the N Po Valley during the
night of 4/5 Mar; results are generally good; bad daytime weather grounds the
medium bombers; XXII Tactical Air Command fighter-bombers and fighters operate
on a greatly reduced scale, mostly in the C Po Valley, hitting bridges at
Casarsa della Delizia, Nervesa della Battaglia, Ostiglia, and Ostellato, and
attacking the town of Vignola.

TUESDAY, 6 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather restricts all operations except reconnaissance and a supply
mission, with escort, to Yugoslavia. The 302d Fighter Squadron, 332d Fighter
Group, is inactivated at Ramitelli Airfield, Italy.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, medium bombers pound communications in the Brenner Pass and hit
bridges at Pordenone, Ossenigo, Enego, Ora, Pizzighetone, and San Ambrogio di
Valpolicella; fighters and fighter-bombers concentrate on close support of the
US Fifth Army S and SW of Bologna; during the night of 5/6 Mar, a few A-20s
bomb targets of opportunity in the Po Valley.

WEDNESDAY, 7 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Continued bad weather limits operations to a supply drop in Yugoslavia and
routine reconnaissance and escort missions; all bombing operations are
cancelled and 42 P-51s sent on a strafing mission against railroad
communications in Austria are recalled. The 318th Fighter Squadron, 325th
Fighter Group, moves from Lesina to Rimini, Italy with P-51s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25s continue interdiction of enemy communications, damaging a
railroad bridge at Longarone and railroad fills at Peri and Ossenigo; the XXII
Tactical Air Command concentrates on communications in the NE, Po Valley and
fuel and ammunition dumps in the C part of the Valley with generally good
results; during the night of 6/7 Mar, A-20s hit the Ostiglia crossing and
bridges at Nervesa della Battaglia and Casarsa della Delizia, and bomb targets
of opportunity in the Brenner area.

THURSDAY, 8 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   550+ B-17s and B-24s hit marshalling yards at Hegyeshalom and Komarom,
Hungary, and Verona, Italy, the locomotive depot at Maribor, Yugoslavia, and
the steel works at Kapfenberg, Austria; P-51s and P-38s fly escort and
reconnaissance missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, medium bombers are hampered by heavy clouds but hit the Novara
marshalling yard, Longarone and Mori rail fills, and Rovereto bridge; fighters
and fighter-bombers pound communications and supplies, destroy a road bridge SW
of Bologna, severely damage an ammunition plant and surrounding complex NW of
Milan, and hit several other targets, including a bridge near Montebello which
Brazilian P-47s operating with the XXII Tactical Air Command cut in half;
A-20s, operating during the night of 7/8 Mar, attack river crossings at
Borgoforte, Cremona, Ostiglia, San Benetto Po, Viadana, and Ora, and numerous
vehicles, lights, and general movement in the C Po Valley and along the Brenner
line.

FRIDAY, 9 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   372 B-17s and B-24s, with fighter escorts, bomb marshalling yards at Graz (2
yards), Klagenfurt, Sankt Stefan, and Sankt Paul, Austria, and Ljubljana,
Yugoslavia; river bridges at Sankt Paul are also bombed; 27 P-38s bomb the
Knittelfeld, Austria marshalling yard and 13 others strafe the Graz,
Austria-Maribor, Yugoslavia railroad lines. Routine supply, reconnaissance, and
escort missions continue.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25s hit bridges at San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, San Michele
all'Adige, Bozzolo, Santa Margherita d'Adige, Ora, and Montebello, the
marshalling yard at Ora, and the bridge approach at Ala; fighters and
fighter-bombers attack bridges, railroads, vehicles, trains, supply dumps,
parked airplanes, buildings, and other targets over wide areas, including
Milan, Cittadella, Ala, Santa Margherita d'Adige, La Spezia, Ghedi, Lecco, and
the battle area in the N Apennines. A-20s, on intruder missions during the
night of 8/9 Mar, bomb river crossings in the Po Valley at several locations,
among them Ostiglia, San Benedetto Po, and Borgoforte.

SATURDAY, 10 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Italy, 191 heavy bombers hit the Verona-Parona di Valpolicella railroad
bridge; 1 other bombs the Voghera marshalling yard. Supply missions to
Yugoslavia and reconnaissance operations continue.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, A-20s bomb bridges and other communications targets in the E Po
Valley during the night of 9/10 Mar; B-25s bomb bridges at Ora, Bozzolo, and
San Michele all'Adige, and a railroad fill at the Ceraino railroad station;
fighters and fighter-bombers hit communications and targets of opportunity at
various locations in the E Po Valley, including several bridges, and numerous
ammunition dumps and vehicles.

SUNDAY, 11 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather limits operations to reconnaissance and supply missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25s of the 57th Bombardment Wing score damaging hits on a bridge
and fills at San Michele all'Adige, Volargne, and Ossenigo, and, attacking a
target in Austria for first time, bomb a bridge at Drauburg; fighters and
fighter-bombers of the XXII Tactical Air Command hit rail lines and dumps in
the C Po Valley and in the Brenner area; during the night of 10/11 Mar A-20s
hit several Po River crossings, Ghedi and Pavia Airfields, road junctions, and
other targets in the Po Valley.

MONDAY, 12 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Austria, 790 B-24s and B-17s bomb the Floridsdorf oil refinery at Vienna
and alternate targets, the marshalling yards at Graz, Zeltweg, and
Wiener-Neustadt; 98 P-38s bomb the Knittelfeld railroad bridge (2 others hit
nearby targets of opportunity) and strafe communications in the
Wiener-Neustadt-Graz-Klagenfurt areas. 12 P-38s sweep the Zagreb, Yugoslavia
area.  Bad weather forces 60 P-51s sent against Austrian communications to
abort; a supply mission to Yugoslavia and reconnaissance operations are
successful.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25s hit 7 railroad bridges, cutting two, and fills--severely
damaging one and a train--in the Brenner area and in NE Italy as far E as the
Yugoslav border area; fighter- bombers blast communications in N Italy, making
36 rail cuts, 19 of them on the Brenner line; P-47s also bomb and severely
damage a munitions factory NW of Zagreb, Yugoslavia; during the night of 11/12
Mar, A-20s on intruder missions hit Po River crossings, a sugar refinery,
vehicles, and trains.

TUESDAY, 13 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Germany, 569 B-24s and B-17s bomb the marshalling yard at Regensburg; 3
other bombers bomb the Landshut marshalling yard and targets of opportunity;
280+ P-38s and P-51s provide escort and several strafe rail traffic in Germany
and Austria during the return flight; 41 P-51s on a strafing mission attack
rail traffic in the Munich-Landshut-Regensburg and Ingolstadt, Germany areas
and between Vienna and Wiener-Neustadt, Austria. Photo reconnaissance is
particularly extensive, with 18 F-5s covering areas of Germany, Austria,
Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, and N Italy; 41 fighters escort the photo
missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25s bomb railroad bridges and fills at Perca, Vo Sinistro,
Pizzighetone, Salorno, and Sacile; fighters and fighter-bombers attack bridges,
flak positions, ammunition and a supply dump, rail lines, various other
targets, and fly close support to the US Fifth Army force as the XXII Tactical
Air Command operates over wide areas of N Italy from the N Apennines through
the Po Valley, and into NE Italy; on the night of 12/13 Mar, A-20s hit
railroads, Po River crossings, dumps, and movement, mainly in the Po Valley.

WEDNESDAY, 14 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   634 B-17s and B-24s, with fighter escorts, hit the Szony and Almasfuzito oil
refineries and marshalling yards at Komarom, Hungary; Nove Zamky,
Czechoslovakia; Zagreb, Yugoslavia; and Wiener-Neustadt, Graz, and Knittelfeld,
Austria. 90 P-38s dive-bomb bridges at Ptuj, Yugoslavia, 42 of them afterwards
strafing rail traffic in Yugoslavia and Austria. 21 P-51s also strafe rail
traffic in Austria. B-17s and B-24s drop supplies in N Italy and in Yugoslavia.
F-5s continue reconnaissance missions, including a larger than usual number of
photo reconnaissance flights (most of them heavily escorted) over Italy,
Germany, Austria, and Yugoslavia. The 71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group,
moves from Sallsola Airfield to Lesina, Italy with P-38s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25s damage bridges at Casarsa della Delizia, Cittadella,
Vipiteno, and Campo; fighters and fighter- bombers attack communications,
ammunition and supply dumps, motor transport, trains, buildings, and other
targets, escort medium bombers, and support ground forces, operating over much
of N Italy from the Apennine battle area N and NE. A-20s hit river crossings
and targets of opportunity in the Po Valley during the night of 13/14 Mar.

THURSDAY, 15 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Germany, 109 B-17s bomb the oil refinery at Ruhland (marking the
Fifteenth's deepest penetration into Germany). 103 others bomb the alternate
target, the refinery at Kolin, Czechoslovakia. 470+ other bombers attack
targets in Austria, including Moosbierbaum, Schwechat, and Vienna/Floridsdorf
oil refineries, marshalling yards at Wiener-Neustadt, Sankt Polten, Graz, Bruck
an der Mur, Klagenfurt, and Murzzuschlag, and a bridge at Klagenfurt. Supply
missions to N Italy and Yugoslavia continue, along with extensive photo and
weather reconnaissance. Fighters fly 300+ sorties in escort of the bombers and
supply and reconnaissance flights.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25s attack railroad bridges and fills at Salzano, Canale
d'Isonzo, Rovereto, Palazzolo sull'Oglio, Romano di Lombardia, and Mori;
fighters and fighter-bombers of the XXII Tactical Air Command concentrate on
communications lines in NE Italy, particularly the Brenner rail line, and also
blast several supply and ammunition dumps; A-20s continue intruder missions
during the night of 14/15 Mar, hitting Po River crossings and fills in the San
Ambrogio di Valpolicella area.

FRIDAY, 16 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   720+ B-24s and B-17s bomb the Korneuburg, Vienna/Floridsdorf, Schwechat, and
Moosbierbaum, Austria oil refineries and marshalling yards at Sankt Veit an der
Glan, Amstetten, and Graz, Austria and Varazdin and Pragersko, Yugoslavia; 52
P-51s strafe rail lines in the Vienna and Linz, Austria and  Passau and
Regensburg, Germany areas and the airfield at Mettenheim, Germany. B-17s and
B-24s continue supply drops to N Italy and Yugoslavia while F-5s and P-38s fly
extensive weather and photo reconnaissance missions; fighters fly 300+ sorties
in escort of the bombers, supply runs, and reconnaissance operations. HQ 1st
Fighter Group and the 27th and 94th Fighter Squadrons move from Salsola
Airfield to Lesina, Italy with P-38s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   B-25s of the 57th Bombardment Wing, flying their farthest N penetration to
date, bomb the Brixlegg, Austria railroad bridge. In Italy, B-25s also hit the
Spilimbergo power plant, with excellent results, and lightly damage 3 bridges
on the Brenner line, 1 in the C Po Valley, and 1 in NE Italy; XXII Tactical Air
Command fighter-bombers continue to attack communications in the Po Valley and
NE Italy, while A-20s bomb bridges and targets of opportunity on night intruder
missions along the Po R and in the N Po Valley.

SATURDAY, 17 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather grounds the bombers. In Yugoslavia, 98 P-38s dive-bomb the Ptuj
and Zagreb railroad bridges, the Klinca Sela marshalling yard, and the Sisak
marshalling yard and bridge; B-24s, with fighter escort, drop supplies and
F-5s, P-38s and P-51s fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort. During the
night of 17/18 Mar, B-24s drop supplies in N Italy.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, A-20s and B-26s during the night of 16/17 Mar, bomb Po River
crossings, other bridges, lights, and movements in the Po Valley; B-25s bomb
railroad bridges and fills at Cittadella, San Michele all' Adige, Aldeno,
Bozzolo, Canneto sull' Oglio, Pontetidone, Pizzighettone, and Pontevico;
fighters and fighter-bombers are greatly restricted by bad weather but score
effectively against dumps, bridges, railroads, marshalling yards, trains, and
buildings mainly in the Po Valley.

SUNDAY, 18 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather limits operations to reconnaissance and supply missions, a
fighter-bomber attack by P-38s on the Varazdin, Yugoslavia railroad bridge,
after which many of the P-38s strafe railroad communications in the Zagreb,
Varazdin and Maribor, Yugoslavia, and Villach, Austria areas, and a strafing
mission against rail communications and airfields in the Graz and
Wiener-Neustadt, Austria, Maribor, Yugoslavia, and Szombathely, Hungary areas.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 17/18 Mar, A-20s and A-26s continue intruder
missions in the Po Valley, concentrating on Po River crossings; B-25s bomb the
railroad bridges at Bozzolo, and Palazzuolo sull' Oglio, the railroad fill at
Salorno, and the causeway at Mantua; fighters and fighter-bombers hit dumps and
support ground forces S of Bologna, and attack communications targets over wide
areas of the Po Valley; the most devastating raid of the day is flown against
the Novara marshalling yard where 14 locomotives are destroyed.

MONDAY, 19 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   800+ B-17s and B-24s, with fighter escorts, hit marshalling yards at
Landshut, Passau, Muhldorf, Plattling, Garching an der Alz and Altenmarkt an
der Alz, Germany, and Sankt Veit an der Glan, Lambach, Klagenfurt, Austria and
54 P-51s strafe railroads in the target areas; 36 P-38s bomb the marshalling
yard at Varazdin, Yugoslavia; B-24s drop supplies in Yugoslavia while P-38s and
P-51s fly reconnaissance and escort.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, XXII Tactical Air Command A-20s strike heavily against general
movement in the Po Valley during the night of 18/19 Mar, and are followed
during the day by fighter and fighter-bomber attacks on communications in the C
Po Valley and NE Italy where numerous rail cuts are made, 3 bridges damaged,
and several supply dumps hit; medium bombers damage a bridge at Muhldorf,
Germany, bridges and fills at Perca, and at 7 other locations on the N Italian
approaches to the Brenner Pass.

TUESDAY, 20 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Austria, 760+ B-17s and B-24s, with fighter escort, hit the Korneuburg
and Kagran oil refineries, the marshalling yards at Wels, Sankt Polten,
Amstetten, Wiener-Neustadt, and Klagenfurt, and the tank works at Steyr.
Routine supply, reconnaissance, and escort missions continue. The 885th
Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 2641st Special Group, moves from Brindisi to
Rosignano, Italy with B-17s and B-24s (the squadron transports supplies to
partisans and drops leaflets).

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, XXII Tactical Air Command A-20s during the night of 19/20 Mar
continue intruder missions into the Po Valley while fighters and
fighter-bombers pound communications targets in the Valley during the day and
severely damage fuel dumps near Mantua; medium bombers hit 4 bridges on the
Brenner line and 2 others in NE Italy and hit other bridge approaches nearby.
HQ 79th Fighter Group moves from Fano to Cesenatico, Italy.

WEDNESDAY, 21 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   660+ B-24s and B-17s, with fighter escorts, bomb the Neuburg an der Donau
Airfield, Germany, marshalling yards at Villach (2 yards), Klagenfurt, Graz and
Bruck and der Mur, Austria, and Pragersko, Yugoslavia, 3 oil refineries and a
goods depot at Vienna, Austria, and 4 scattered targets of opportunity; supply
and reconnaissance missions with escort are flown.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   A-20s continue to attack communications in the Po Valley especially the Po
River crossings during the night of 20/21 Mar; during the day fighter-bombers
concentrate on railroad targets (lines, trains, bridges, and viaducts) and
dumps in the Po Valley and areas N of the battleline in the N Apennines; medium
bombers bomb a railroad fill at Salorno, bridges at Casarsa della Delizia and
Pizzighettone, marshalling yards at Vipiteno and Brennero, and bridge
approaches at Campo. The 86th and 87th Fighter Squadrons, 79th Fighter Group,
move from Fano to Cesenatico, Italy with P-47s.

THURSDAY, 22 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   680+ B-17s and B-24s (with Eighth and Fifteenth AF fighter escort) hit the
Ruhland, Germany and Kralupy and Vltava, Czechoslovakia oil refineries (some
bombers on the Ruhland raid bomb the Lauta aluminum works to the N), a railroad
communications and ordnance depot, a marshalling yard, and 2 oil refineries at
Vienna, Austria, marshalling yards at Graz, Wels, Zeltweg and Klagenfurt,
Austria, and Neratovice, Czechoslovakia, and scattered targets of opportunity;
reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort missions are also flown.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 21/22 Mar, A-20s and A-26s continue intruder
raids concentrating on Po River crossings in the E Po Valley; during the day
P-47s blast rail lines, trains and other communications targets, especially in
the E Po Valley and areas to the N. In Austria, B-25s destroy a bridge at
Brixlegg, severely damage the Steinach bridge, and hit bridge approaches at
Muhlberg and the town of Matrei am Brenner. Weather prevents successful attacks
on 2 targets in N Italy.

FRIDAY, 23 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   658 B-17s and B-24s, (with fighter escort) hit oil refineries at Ruhland,
Germany, and at Vienna, Austria, marshalling yards at Budejovice,
Czechoslovakia and Gmund, Sankt Polten and Sankt Valentin, Austria, and a tank
works at Sankt Valentin, plus scattered targets of opportunity. 40+ F-5s, P-38s
and P-51s fly reconnaissance.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, A-20s attack loading points and crossings along the Po River
during the night of 22/23 Mar; P-47s concentrate on communications and general
movement in the lower Brenner area during the day; the fighter-bombers also
blast several dumps in the C Po Valley; B-25s hit bridges, railroad fills, and
bridge approaches in the Brenner area at Matrei am Brenner, Austria and
Pordenone, Salorno, San Michele all' Adige, Vo Sinistro, Longarone, and Perca,
Italy.

SATURDAY, 24 MARCH 1945

ARMY AIR FORCE, MTO:
   Lieutenant General John K Cannon takes command of AAFMTO, and shortly
afterwards also takes over the Mediterranean Allied Air Force (MAAF).

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   660 B-24s and B-17s bomb a tank factory at Berlin and airfields at Munich
and Neuburg an der Donau, Germany, plus the Budejovice, Czechoslovakia
marshalling yard, and alternate targets and targets of opportunity including
airfields at Plattling and Erding, Germany and Udine, Italy; P-38s and P-51s
escort the missions against German targets and fly reconnaissance.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 23/24 Mar, A-20s and A-26s pound marshalling
yards, river crossings and other bridges, and a variety of other targets in the
Po Valley and NE Italy where fighters and fighter-bombers during the day
destroy or damage numerous rail lines and train cars; B-25s bomb bridges or
bridge approaches at Piacenza, Chiari, Perea, Casarsa della Delizia and
Palazzolo sull'Oglio, Italy and Muhlberg and Steinach, Austria. The 85th
Fighter Squadron, 79th Fighter Group, moves from Fanto to Cesenatico, Italy
with P-47s.

SUNDAY, 25 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Czechoslovakia, 650+ B-17s and B-24s strike 2 airfields and a tank works
at Prague (the patterns of the bombs also hit 2 other nearby airfields) and an
airfield at Cheb. Alternate targets that are bombed include Wels, Austria and
Udine Airfield, Italy. P-38s and P-47s escort the bombers, and sweep and strafe
the Nurnberg- Eibelstadt-Wurzburg-Regensburg, Germany areas, and fly
reconnaissance operations.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 24/25 Mar, A-20s and A-26s continue intruder
missions, attacking Po River crossings and railroad and motor transport
targets; P-47s, during the day, raid railroad bridges and lines, hitting
targets at Lavis, Casarsa della Delizia, San Michele all'Adige, Pavia, Santa
Margherita d'Adige, and other points in the Po Valley and NE Italy, and bomb
fuel dumps N of the battle area; 6 medium bomber missions against bridges and
fills in Italy and Austria are ineffective because of bad weather.

MONDAY, 26 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   500+ B-17s and B-24s, escorted by P-51s and P-38s attack marshalling yards
at Wiener-Neustadt, Strasshof, Bruck an der Leitha, and Neunkirchen, Austria,
Bratislava, Czechoslovakia and Szombathely, Hungary; 46 P-38s dive-bomb the
bridge at Ybbs, Austria while 26 P-51s, covered by 13 others, strafe rail
traffic in the Wiener-Neustadt, Austria-Vienna-Budejovice, Czechoslovakia
areas; other P-38s and P-51s fly reconnaissance operations.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, weather grounds the medium bombers and hampers operations in
general; during the night of 26/27 Mar, 3 A-20s hit bridges at Cittadella and
Verona; fighter-bombers, operating on a reduced scale, hit communications
targets in the W Po Valley, cutting a road bridge and several railroads, and
attacking several targets of opportunity.

TUESDAY, 27 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather limits operations to 3 P-38 reconnaissance flights.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Weather cancels all combat operations. The 416th Night Fighter Squadron, 62d
Fighter Wing, moves from Pisa to Pontedera, Italy with Mosquitos.

WEDNESDAY, 28 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Unfavorable weather restricts operations to reconnaissance flights by 5
F-5s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, bad weather grounds the medium and light bombers; fighters and
fighter-bombers are limited to weather reconnaissance and some armed
reconnaissance in the Milan area where they harass communications.

THURSDAY, 29 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Continued bad weather limits operations to reconnaissance and reconnaissance
escort missions by 23 P-38s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, clear weather during the night of 28/29 Mar, permits A-20s to hit
rail loading points, trains, vehicles, roads, and bridges at many places in the
Po Valley as well as river crossings at Borgoforte, Lodi, San Benedetto Po,
Ostiglia, and Casalmaggiore, a factory at Brescia, and motor transport movement
in the Milan-Piacenza area; bad morning weather cancels medium bomber
operations except for a pamphlet mission over Bologna; when the weather clears
about 1200 hours, XXII Tactical Air Command fighter-bombers hit dumps at La
Spezia and other points near the battle area, the Lavis viaduct, railroad
bridges or approaches at Ora, Santa Margherita d' Adige, Nervesa della
Battaglia, Rovereto, Ala, and other locations, and many vehicles and train cars
and other targets of opportunity throughout the Po Valley and NE Italy; the
16th Troop Carrier Squadron, 64th Troop Carrier Group, based at Rosignano
Airfield begins operating from Brindisi with C-47s.

FRIDAY, 30 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Austria, 60+ B-17s and B-24s bomb the Vienna N stations and goods depot,
the Graz and Klagenfurt marshalling yards, the Kapfenberg tank works, and
several minor targets of opportunity; 28 P-38s and P-51s sweep the Zagreb,
Yugoslavia-Graz, Austria area and others fly reconnaissance.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 29/30 Mar, A-20s and A-26s continue to pound Po
River crossings, loading points, and other communications in the Po Valley;
during the day XXII Tactical Air Command fighters and fighter-bombers fly some
400 sorties against fuel and ammunition dumps, stores, bridges, rail lines,
marshalling yards, buildings, motor vehicles, trains, and a variety of targets
over wide areas of N Italy; weather forces the medium bombers to attack mainly
alternate targets; the B-25s bomb railroad bridges (or bridge approaches) at
San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Rovereto, Chiari, Palazzolo sull'Oglio, Legnago,
Ora, and Romano di Lombardia.

SATURDAY, 31 MARCH 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   540 B-24s and B-17s bomb the Linz main railroad station and sidings, and the
marshalling yards at Villach, Austria and Treviso, Italy and 3 minor targets of
opportunity; P-51s and P-38s provide escort; 37 other fighters on sweeps and
strafings attack railroad targets in the Munich, Germany-Linz,
Austria-Regensburg, Germany area and 43 hit similar targets in the Prague,
Czechoslovakia area; still other F-5s, P-38s and P-51s fly extensively
reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, medium bombers bomb several targets (mostly alternates) in the Po
Valley and Brenner area despite bad weather; B-25s hit bridges or bridge
approaches at San Michele all'Adige, Crema, Canneto sull'Oglio, Legnago, and
Manerbio and Steinach, Austria, and a rail embankment at Salorno; XXII Tactical
Air Command A-20s and other aircraft hit Po River crossings during the night of
30/31 Mar at Casalmaggiore, Ostiglia, Borgoforte, and San Benedetto Po, rail
facilities at Piacenza and Cittadella, plus nearby ammunition dumps and other
targets; fighter-bombers continue to pound communications and dumps at Lavis,
Casarsa della Delizia, San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Legnago, and several other
points in the Po Valley and NE Italy; the 97th Bombardment Squadron (Light),
47th Bombardment Group (Light), moves from Grossetto to Pisa with A-20s and
A-26s.

APRIL 1945 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

SUNDAY, 1 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Almost 400 B-24s and B-17s bomb the Maribor, Yugoslavia railroad bridge,
marshalling yards at Sankt Polten, Selzthal, Zeltweg, Graz, and Villach,
Austria, the railroad bridge at Krieglach, Austria, and gun positions on the
Adriatic coast near Venice, Italy; 82 P-38s bomb the Ybbs, Austria railroad
bridge while 52 P-51s strafe rail traffic in the Prague-Plzen, Czechoslovakia
area; other P-38s and P-51s fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 31 Mar/1 Apr, A-20s and A-26s on intruder
missions over the Po Valley continue to attack road and railroad bridges, motor
transport, loading points, and other targets; principal strikes are made at Po
River bridges; fighters and fighter-bombers during the day strike rail bridges,
dumps, rail lines, marshalling yards, trains, vehicles, gun positions, several
buildings (including an ammunition plant and truck factory), and a variety of
targets of opportunity in the Po Valley and NE Italy; medium bombers hit
railroad bridges at Calcinato, Crema, Mantua, Monselice, Colle Isarco, San
Ambrogio di Valpolicella, and Perea; HQ 87th Fighter Wing is disbanded at
Florence; HQ 321st Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from Solenzara, Corsica to
Falconara.

MONDAY, 2 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Almost 600 B-24s and B-17s, with fighter escorts, bomb communications
targets in Austria including the marshalling yards at Graz, Sankt Polten, and
Krems, and a railroad bridge on the Sulm River; 38 P-38s dive-bomb a railroad
bridge at Wildon; 71 P-38s and 55 P-51s strafe Vienna-Munich, Germany and
Wiener-Neustadt-Maribor, Yugoslavia rail traffic; others carry out photo and
weather reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort flights.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Major General Benjamin W Chidlaw takes command of the Twelfth AF and will
shortly take over command of the Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force
(MATAF) also.
   In Italy, A-20s and A-26s continue intruder missions during the night of 1/2
Apr concentrating on Po River crossings and other Po Valley communications
targets; B-25s bomb railroad bridges at Fornovo di Taro, Drauburg, San Michele
all' Adige, Matrei am Brenner, Steinach, and Colle Isarco, and a railroad fill
at Vo Sinistro; fighters and fighter-bombers again hit communications in the Po
Valley but divert sizeable effort to attacks on methane plants in the C Po
area; the P-47s are attacked by about 40 fighters during the day, 13 are
claimed destroyed; HQ 340th Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from Alesan,
Corsica to Rimini.

TUESDAY, 3 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   95 P-38s divebomb the Tainach- Stein railroad bridge in Austria; other P-38s
and P-51s fly reconnaissance and escort missions; bad weather prevents bomber
operations. HQ 325th Fighter Group and the 317th, 318th and 319th Fighter
Squadrons move from Rimini to Mondolfo, Italy with P-51s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 2/3 Apr A-20s bomb the marshalling yard at
Mantua, several Po River crossings and other communications targets in the Po
Valley; weather hampers operations during the day; medium bombers cancel most
missions, but manage to bomb the Po Valley bridges at Camposanto, Usigliano,
and Modena; the XXII Tactical Air Command [including Brazilian and South
African Air Force (SAAF) units] blast communications, fuel dumps, methane
plants, trains, motor transport at numerous points in N Italy (mainly in the Po
Valley), including Parma, Modena, Fidenza, Lodi, Bergamo, Reggio Emilia, and
Piacenza. The detachment of the 414th Night Fighter Squadron, XXII Tactical Air
Command, operating from Florennes, Belgium with Beaufighters, moves to
Strossfeld, Germany.

WEDNESDAY, 4 APRIL 1945

ARMY AIR FORCE, MTO:
   HQ 90th Photographic Wing (Reconnaissance) begins a movement from San
Severo, Italy to the US.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Again bad weather prevents bomber operations and limits efforts to
reconnaissance and escort missions and to strafing attacks by 94 P-51s on rail
traffic in the Munich and Regensburg, Germany; Plzen, Czechoslovakia; and Linz,
and Gmunden, Austria areas.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25s continue to blast communications along the Brenner rail
line, ranging from the railroad bridge at Drauburg to the Camposanto railroad
bridge; the B-25s also inflict considerable damage on the Merano methanol
plant; P-47s concentrate on enemy movement, rail lines, and ammunition and fuel
dumps throughout the Po Valley. The 489th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 340th
Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Alesan, Corsica to Rimini, Italy with
B-25s.

THURSDAY, 5 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   457 B-24s and B-17s attack a railroad bridge at Dravograd, Yugoslavia,
marshalling yards and locomotive depots at Brescia, Alessandria, and Turin,
Italy, and the airfield at Udine, Italy; 96 P-38s dive-bomb the Radovljica,
Yugoslavia railroad bridge, 27 P-51s with 13 flying top cover, strafe rail
communications in the Munich, Regensburg, and Passau, Germany, and Linz,
Austria areas; 20+ P-38s fly reconnaissance missions; around 300 fighter
sorties are flown to escort transport, reconnaissance, and bomber missions
(including an RAF raid on the Monfalconei, Italy shipyards).

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   B-25s bomb 5 bridges in N Italy and Austria, at Steinach, Austria, and
Matrei am Brenner, Modena, Salorno, and San Michele all'Adige, and blast gun
positions at La Spezia, Italy; these attacks follow night raids by A-20s and
A-26s on bridges at Lavis, Ala, San Michele all'Adige, San Ambrogio di
Valpolicella, Piazzola sul Brenta, Cittadella, and Montebello, Italy and other
targets; fighters and fighter bombers devote their largest effort to close
support of ground forces, blasting occupied areas and gun positions in the
Massa Lombarda area, and also attack communications and dumps in the Po Valley.

FRIDAY, 6 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Italy, 387 B-17s and B-24s, with fighter escort, bomb marshalling yard
flak positions and an ordnance depot at Verona and a marshalling yard and small
arms plant at Brescia; 179 other bombers sent against targets in N Italy are
recalled; 81 P-38s dispatched to bomb a bridge in Austria abort due to weather;
14 manage to attack bridges near the Austro-Italian border; 6 P-51s (of 54
airborne) strafe railroad targets in the Straubing-Plattling, Germany area;
others fly reconnaissance missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Brigadier General Thomas C Darcy takes command of the XXII Tactical Air
Command.
   In Italy, A-20s and A-26s on night intruder missions during the night of 5/6
Apr, bomb several bridges in the Po River Valley, scoring good results on 8 of
the targets, also hitting an assembly area along the Po River; XXII Tactical
Air Command fighters and fighter-bombers hit lines of communications, mainly in
the Po Valley, and support US Fifth Army forces attacking toward Massa
Lombarda; B-25s cancel missions against targets on the Brenner line due to
weather, but hit 6 bridges in the C Po Valley and gun positions at La Spezia.
The 446th and 448th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 321st Bombardment Group
(Medium), move from Solenzara, Corsica to Falconara, Italy with B-25s.

SATURDAY, 7 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   128 B-17s and B-24s attack the Mezzocorona railroad bridge and nearby road
bridge, and the Verona-Parona di VaIpolicella railroad bridge in Italy, and
marshalling yards at Innsbruck, Sankt Veit an der Glan, and Klagenfurt,
Austria; 500+ bombers return to base without bombing because of multi-layer
clouds; 82 P-38s bomb the Tainach- Stein railroad bridge in Austria; 74 others
sent against a bridge in S Austria abort due to weather.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, during the night of 6/7 Apr, A-20s and A-26s bomb bridges at
Lavis, Ala, Rovereto, and San Ambrogio di VaIpolicella, and several Po River
crossings; during the day weather grounds the medium bombers; XXII Tactical Air
Command fighters and fighter bombers, operating on a limited scale, hit the
Montechino oilfield, ammunition dumps and communications targets N of the
battle area, and gun positions in the Monte Belvedere-Strettoia area in which
US Fifth Army forces push N. Units moving from Corsica to Italy: HQ 57th
Bombardment Wing and HQ 310th Bombardment Group (Medium) with the 380th, 381st
and 428th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) from Ghisonaccia to Fano with B-25s;
the 486th, 487th and 488th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 340th Bombardment
Group (Medium), from Alesan to Rimini with B-25s.

SUNDAY, 8 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   500+ B-24s and B-17s, with fighter escorts, attack communications in N
Italy, concentrating on the transportation system feeding into the Brenner
Pass; bridges, viaducts, and marshalling yards are hit at or near Bressanone,
Campodazzo, Vipiteno, Fortezza, Campo di Trens, Mezzocorona, Avisio, Brescia,
Gorizia, Pordenone, and Ponte Gardena; a power dam at Ponte Gardena is also
hit; 168 P-38s bomb the Rattenberg, Austria and Garmisch, Germany railroad
bridges and strafe rail traffic in the Munich, Germany and Salzburg and Linz,
Austria areas.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 7/8 Apr, A-20s and A-26s hit command posts and
dumps; medium bombers, despite bad weather bomb railroad bridges at Salorno,
San Michele all' Adige, Vo Sinistro, and Bondeno, a railroad fill and canal at
Salorno, and gun positions at La Spezia; XXII Tactical Air Command
fighter-bombers concentrate their efforts on the Brenner area communications
(cutting lines in 31 places and damaging 4 bridges), oil fields in the C Po
Valley, and points further N; the 445th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 321st
Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Solenzara, Corsica to Falconara with
B-25s.

MONDAY, 9 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Italy, 825 B-24s and B-17s in close coordination with the British Eighth
Army, pound gun positions and other forward military targets SE of Bologna, in
the area immediately W and SW of Lugo; 88 P-51s provide target cover. 150+
P-38s bomb and strafe railroad bridges at Rattenberg, Seefeld, and Telfs,
Austria and Rosenheim, Germany, and to the S near the Austro-German border, and
also hit rail lines in the Munich-Rosenheim, Germany area. 90+ P-51s escort
supply (to N Italy) and transport missions and support MATAF aircraft attacking
positions in the Imola, Italy area; other airplanes continue reconnaissance
operations.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, A-20s and A-26s on intruder missions during the night of 8/9 Apr,
bomb bridges, vehicles, and targets of opportunity in the Po River Valley and
NE Italy; during the day B-25s and XXII Tactical Air Command fighter-bombers
[in conjunction with RAF Desert Air Force (DAF) fighter-bombers and
Mediterranean Allied Strategic Air Force (MASAF) heavy bombers] blast gun
positions, troop concentrations, enemy HQ, and strongroupoints in the
Lugo-Imola area in support of a British Eighth Army offensive; other XXII
Tactical Air Command fighter-bombers bit communications in N Italy (including
the Brenner line) and methane plant and ammunition and fuel dumps in the W C Po
Valley.

TUESDAY, 10 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   648 B-24s and B-17s, in support of British Eighth Army forces, blast
artillery positions, machinegun nests, and infantry defenses along the Santerno
River in Italy; this effort represents the largest number of Fifteenth AF heavy
bombers attacking targets in a single day as of this date; 88 P-51s fly target
cover. 152 P-38s dive- bomb bridges, a tunnel and marshalling yards at Seefeld
and Worgl, Austria.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 9/10 Apr, A-20s and A-26s hit guns and other
close support targets along the British Eighth Army front (which stretches from
W of Imola to Comacchio Lagoon and the coast) and also hit several Po River
crossings and attack the Brenner line bridges at Lavis, Rovereto, and San
Michele all'Adige; during the day B-25s and XXII Tactical Air Command
fighter-bombers continue pounding support targets along the battlefront;
fighter-bombers also attack bridges on the Brenner line and communications and
other targets in the Po Valley.

WEDNESDAY, 11 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   544 B-24s and B-17s hit communications in N Italy, concentrating on the
transportation system feeding into the Brenner area, in an effort to hamper the
enemy's supply and escape routes; the bombers bomb bridges at Padua, Vipiteno,
Campodazzo, Ponte Gardena, and Campo di Trens, marshalling yards at Bronzolo
and Ora, a vehicle repair shop at Osoppo, and a fuel depot at Goito. 40 P-38s
dive-bomb the Rosenheim, Germany railroad bridge. 40 other P-38s and 29 P-51s
strafe rail traffic in the Munich and Regensburg, Germany; Plzen,
Czechoslovakia; and Linz and Salzburg, Austria areas. 250+ fighters escort the
bomber missions, reconnaissance and supply missions, and operations against N
Italian targets by MATAF aircraft.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 10/11 Apr, A-20s and A-26s bomb bridges at
Lavis, Ala, Rovereto, San Michele all'Adige, and San Ambrogio di Valpolicella,
and hit vehicles, Po River crossings and targets of opportunity in the Po
Valley; medium bombers continue to support British Eighth Army forces between
Imola and Comacchio Lagoon, bomb guns SE of La Spezia in front of the US Fifth
Army advance, and bomb 4 bridges on the Brenner line; XXII Tactical Air Command
fighter-bombers also fly support on the Eighth Army front, and hit
communications (including the Brenner line) and fuel and ammunition dumps in
the N.

THURSDAY, 12 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   400+ B-17s and B-24s hit communications in N Italy and S Austria, attacking
railroad bridges at Padua, Ponte di Piave and Nervesa della Bataglia, Italy,
and Sankt Veit an der Glan, Austria, an ammunition dump at Malcontenta, and
supply dump at Peschiera del Garda, Italy; 124 P-51s provide escort. 123 P-38s
bomb railroad bridges at Unzmarkt and Arnoldstein, Austria; 128 B-24s, with
P-51 escort, sent against N Italian communications abort due to bad weather. 38
P-51s escort MATAF B-25s on raids in N Yugoslavia.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 11/12 Apr, A-20s and A-26s hit Po River
crossings; medium bombers, restricted by low clouds, bomb approaches to the
Maribor, Yugoslavia bridge, hit targets along the Brenner rail line, and
support the British Eighth Army in the Argenta area; fighter-bombers attack NE
Italian railroad lines, including fuel dumps and communications targets in the
Po Valley.

FRIDAY, 13 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather limits operations to reconnaissance and escort missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25s are restricted by weather to 1 mission, an attack on a road
bridge at Mollinella; fighter bombers continue to hit communications and dumps
in the Po Valley and guns in the La Spezia area; during the night of 12/13 Apr,
A-20s and A-26s attack Po River crossings at San Benedetto Po, Ostiglia,
Piacenza, and Casalmaggiore, bridges at San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, and motor
transport and targets of opportunity in the Milan area.

SATURDAY, 14 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   318 B-17s and B-24s hit ammunition factories at Avigliana, Spilimbergo,
Malcontenta, and Palmanova, and a motor transport depot at Osoppo, Italy and
the Klagenfurt, Austria marshalling yard as a target of opportunity; 158
fighters provide escort; 29 P-38s bomb and strafe railroad targets in the
Munich and Regensburg, Germany- Linz, Austria areas; 54 P-51s fly escort for
MATAF B-25s bombing targets in N Italy.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 13/14 Apr, A-20s and A-26s continue to hit
communications in the Po Valley; bad weather over the N part of the Brenner
line prevents medium bomber attacks but the B-25s hit alternates on the S part
of line at Salorno, San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, and Chiusaforte, bomb guns SE
of La Spezia in support of the US Fifth Army, and hit 5 defensive positions
along the British Eighth Army front in the Argenta area; fighter-bombers
concentrate on supporting Fifth Army forces SW of Bologna.

SUNDAY, 15 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Italy, 830 B-17s and B-24s, in support of the US Fifth Army, blast gun
positions, supply dumps, troop concentrations, maintenance installations, and
German HQ along highways leading from Bologna; 145 P-38s furnish escort;
another force of 312 B-17s and B-24s bomb rail diversion bridges at Nervesa
della Battaglia, Ponte di Piave, and Casarsa della Delizia, and an ammunition
factory and stores at Ghedi; 191 P-51s provide escort. 36 P-38s and 36 P-51s
strafe rail communications in the area bounded by Munich, Germany, Salzburg and
Linz, Austria, Plzen, Czechoslovakia, and Regensburg, Germany; 12 of the P-38s
skipbomb rail targets in the Salzburg-Linz, Austria area, including the
Vocklabruck marshalling yard; 8 P-38s furnish top cover for the strafing
missions. 128 P-51s provide uneventful escort for MATAF bombers on 3 missions
to N Italy. Other P-38s and P-51s carry out reconnaissance and reconnaissance
escort operations. Today's effort is the largest of World War II by the
Fifteenth AF (most fighters and bombers dispatched and attacking, and the
largest bomb tonnage dropped) during a 24-hour period; 1,142 heavy bombers bomb
targets.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 14/15 Apr, A-20s and A-26s concentrate on
communications targets in the Po Valley, particularly the Po River crossings;
during the day medium bombers and fighter-bombers concentrate on direct support
of the US Fifth and British Eighth Army drives, hitting troop concentrations,
guns, strongpoints, and a variety of targets in areas S of Bologna, around
Medicina and Sasso Marconi and at other points in battle areas.

MONDAY, 16 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   98 B-24s, escorted by 102 P-51s, bomb positions SW of Bologna, Italy; almost
700 B-24s and B-17s abort due to bad weather. 36 P-51s sweep areas S of Munich,
Germany, Plzen, Czechoslovakia, and Linz, Austria and 4 strafe an airfield E of
Munich, Germany.  Other P-51s and P-38s fly escort and reconnaissance missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 15/16 Apr, A-20s and A-26s hit Po River
crossings, the towns of Vignola, Zoeca, and Sassuolo, and several targets of
opportunity in the Po Valley; during the day medium bombers bomb bridges on the
Reno River near Bologna, blast troop reserve areas SE of Portomaggiore on the
British Eighth Army front, and attack troop concentrations S of Portomaggiore;
fighters and fighter-bombers concentrate most of their effort on close support
targets in the US Fifth Army battle area S and SW of Bologna.

TUESDAY, 17 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Italy, 751 B-24s and B-17s, in support of the US Fifth Army, hit troop
concentrations, supply dumps, gun positions, and HQ immediately S and SW of
Bologna; 143 P-51s provide escort. 147 P-38s divebomb railroad bridges at
Seefeld and Mariahof, Austria. 14 P-51s, with 10 flying top cover, strafe
targets of opportunity in the Munich, Germany, Plzen, Czechoslovakia, and Linz,
Austria areas. 61 P-51s escort MATAF supply missions to N Italy and bombing
raids on bridges in W Austria. Other P-38s and P-51s fly reconnaissance and
reconnaissance escort.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 16/17 Apr, A-20s and A-26s hit Po River
crossings and several towns W and SW of Bologna; during the day B-25s of the
57th Bombardment Wing successfully attack 4 Reno River bridges near Bologna and
close support targets on the British Eighth Army front to the SW, and
extensively damage 4 bridges in N Italy and Austria on the Brenner rail line;
XXII Tactical Air Command fighters and fighter-bombers concentrate on close
support of the US Fifth Army S and W of Bologna.

WEDNESDAY, 18 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Italy, 473 B-24s and B-17s, with an escort of 89 P-51s, support the US
Fifth Army offensive in the Bologna area, blasting defensive positions and
communications in areas around the city; 78 P-38s dive-bomb railroad a bridge
at Malborghetta Valbruna, while 87 others dive-bomb 2 railroad bridges at and
SE of Kolbnitz, Austria. P-51s sweep the Augsburg, Germany, Plzen,
Czechoslovakia, and Linz, Austria areas, escort reconnaissance missions flown
by P-38s, and escort MATAF B-25s and C-47s on bombing and supply operations.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 17/18 Apr, A-20s and A-26s pound communications
in the S Po Valley and towns of Vignola, Bazzano, and Sassuolo in the US Fifth
Army battle area; medium bombers hit 2 railroad fills and a bridge on the S
Brenner line and troop concentrations on the US Fifth and British Eighth Army
fronts, SW of Bologna and in the Dugnano Paderno area; fighter-bombers of the
XXII Tactical Air Command also concentrate on support targets in the Fifth Army
battle area.

THURSDAY, 19 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   619 B-17s and B-24s attack rail communications in S Germany, Austria, and N
Italy, bombing the Rattenberg, Austria railroad bridge and marshalling yards at
Lienz, Klagenfurt and Linz, Austria; Bischofshofen and Rosenheim, Germany; and
in Italy, the Avisio viaduct, Vipiteno railroad bridge, AA batteries near
Grisolera and Santo Stino di Livenza, and several minor targets of opportunity.
78 P-38s divebomb the marshalling yard at Weilheim, Germany.  Other P-38s and
P-51s fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort, and escort MATAF B-25s and
C-47s. B-24 units moving from Italy to the US: HQ 98th and 343d, 344th, 345th
and 415th Bombardment Squadrons from Lecce; HQ 376th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
and 512th, 513th, 514th and 515th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) from San
Pancrazio.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 18/19 Apr, A-20s and A-26s bomb roads,
vehicles, and lights in the Bologna, Turin, Milan, and Mantua areas, and
continuing to pound Po River crossings, hit 8 bridges; medium bombers bomb
bridges in the Brenner Pass and support ground forces at several points
including Budrio, Vignola, and San Martino in the Soverzano areas;
fighter-bombers hit dumps, communications, and close support targets in the US
Fifth Army battle areas S and W of Bologna.

FRIDAY, 20 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bombers again pound railway systems and road bridges in an effort to hinder
the supply or withdrawal of enemy forces in N Italy; 700+ B-24s and B-17s hit
railroad bridges at Campodazzo, Ponte Gardena, and Campo di Trens, a viaduct at
Avisio, marshalling yards at Vipiteno, Fortezza, and Brennero, and road bridges
at Lusia, la Carrare, and Boara Pisani, and in Austria, the Mariahof viaduct
and Innsbruck marshalling yard. 115 P-38s divebomb the Innsbruck, Austria-
Rattenberg, Austria-Rosenheim, Germany railroad line, hitting marshalling yards
at Hall, Schwaz, Jenbach, Kundl, and Worgl, Austria and Kiefersfelden, Germany,
4 rail bridges, and several box cars, and cut rail lines at 42 places between
Innsbruck and Rosenheim. Other P-38s and P-51s escort heavy bombers, MATAF
supply runs to N Italy, Hungary, and Yugoslavia, and MATAF B-25 raids in N
Italy, and fly reconnaissance.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 19/20 Apr, A-20s and A-26s on night intruder
missions continue to pound Po River crossings and vehicle movement throughout
the Valley; medium bombers considerably damage 4 of 6 railroad bridges and
fills attached on the Brenner line, and also hit HQ in the battle area and 2
Reno River bridges N of Bologna; fighter-bombers again support US Fifth Army
elements S and W of Bologna as they begin to emerge from the Apennines onto the
Po plain.

SATURDAY, 21 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   240 B-17s and B-24s, with P-51 escort, bomb marshalling yards at Rosenheim,
Germany and Attnang-Puchheim, Spittal an der Drau, and Vocklabruck, Austria;
400+ B-24s and their fighter escorts, sent to attack communications in N Italy,
abort due to bad weather; 138 P-38s bomb railroad lines and facilities in the
Munich and Rosenheim, Germany-Rattenberg, Austria areas; other P-38s fly
reconnaissance while P-51s escort reconnaissance flights, MATAF medium bomber
operations to Austria, and US and RAF supply and transport missions to
Yugoslavia. HQ 52d Fighter Group moves from Madna Airfield to Piagiolino
Airfield, Italy.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 20/21 Apr, A-20s and A-26s bomb Po River
crossings with good results; weather curtails daytime operations but medium
bombers score hits on the Matrei am Brenner bridge on the Brenner rail line in
Austria and in the late afternoon hit Po River crossings; XXII Tactical Air
Command fighters and fighter bombers, grounded most of the day, fly close
support to the US Fifth Army which drives into Bologna (a longstanding
objective) and begins to push rapidly across the plain toward the Po River.

SUNDAY, 22 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather cancels all bomber operations. 258 P-51s and P-38s fly armed
reconnaissance over NE Italy, bombing marshalling yards, bridges, railroads,
highways, and several buildings and strafing an airfield, rail and road
traffic, and numerous other targets of opportunity; other P-38s fly
reconnaissance while P-51s escort reconnaissance and supply missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   The entire night and day effort is concentrated against German forces
retreating N across the Po River in face of Allied forces which send advance
elements racing to the S bank; medium bombers fly 16 missions against ferries
and pontoon bridge sites on the Po between Casalmaggiore and Polesella; XXII
Tactical Air Command A-20s and A-26s, fighter-bombers, and fighters maintain
night and day attacks on Po crossings and enemy movement; the command claims
900+ motor and horse-drawn vehicles destroyed.

MONDAY, 23 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Italy, 719 B-24s and B-17s attack bridges over the Brenta and Adige
Rivers (at Bonavigo, Zevio, Albaredo d'Adige, 2 at Legnano, Badia, 3 at Padua,
and Cavarzere) and hit a supply dump at Peschiera del Garda; 165 P-38s and
P-51s on armed reconnaissance of NE Italy bomb and strafe rail and road
bridges, highways, trains and vehicles, and other targets of opportunity; other
P-38s fly reconnaissance; and other P-51s escort reconnaissance flights and
MATAF B-25 missions against targets in N Italy.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 22/23 Apr, A-20s and A-26s and night fighters
hit Po River crossings, a marshalling yard, airfields, vehicles, trains, and
targets of opportunity in general in the N and W Po Valley; during the day
medium bombers pound Po River crossings, road bridges over the Brenta River,
and hit the Brenner rail line at 4 points; fighters and fighter-bombers on
armed reconnaissance in the N and W Po Valley attack motor transport, road
bridges, and numerous targets in support of the US Fifth Army, elements of
which cross the Po River. The detachment of the 414th Night Fighter Squadron,
62d Fighter Wing, operating from Strossfeld, Germany with Beaufighters, returns
to base at Pontedera, Italy.

TUESDAY, 24 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   About 700 B-24s and B-17s attack railroad bridges at Malborghetto Kolbnitz,
Drauburg and Arnoldstein, Austria and in Italy, railroad bridges at Valbruna,
Fermata di Brondolo, Casarsa della Delizia, and Latisana, road bridges at
Spilinibergo, Bassano del Grappa, and Friola, a motor transport depot at
Osoppo, marshalling yards at San Ambrogio di Valpolicella and Rovereto, and a
supply dump at Peschiera del Garda. 79 P-38s and 90 P-51s fly armed
reconnaissance over wide areas of N Italy, many strafing tactical targets N of
the advancing US Fifth and British Eighth Armies; the P-38s carry out several
dive-bombing missions, claiming 1 bridge destroyed and 5 damaged. Other P-51s
and P-38s fly 186 sorties in escort of the bombers, reconnaissance missions,
and MATAF operations. 22 P-38s complete reconnaissance flights. The 2d, 4th and
5th Fighter Squadrons, 52d Fighter Group, move from Madna Airfield to
Piagiolino Airfield, Italy with P-51s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 23/24 Apr, A-20s and A-26s bomb airfields at
Villafranca di Verona, Ghedi, and Bergamo, marshalling yards at Trento,
Piacenza. and Fidenza, and vehicles and other targets of opportunity throughout
the Po Valley and elsewhere in N Italy; medium bombers hit 6 Po River crossings
and (as ground forces reach and cross the Po at several points, relieving
necessity for many attacks along the river) then carry out 6 attacks between
Verona and Trento on the Brenner rail line; fighters and fighter-bombers blast
vehicles on the Po Valley roads N of the river and up to the Brenner rail line,
and also hit roads and vehicles between La Spezia and Parma.

WEDNESDAY, 25 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   In Austria, 467 B-17s and B-24s bomb the main marshalling yard station, and
sidings, N and S main marshalling yards and freight yard at Linz, the major
Austrian traffic center along the railline running N to Prague, Czechoslovakia,
plus the Wels marshalling yard (an alternate) and several targets of
opportunity. 119 P-38s and P-51s fly armed reconnaissance over N Italy, a few
strafing road traffic. The P-38s dive-bomb road and rail bridges and raillines.
P-38s and P-51s fly almost 300 sorties in escort of the heavy bombers, P-38
reconnaissance flights, and MATAF B-26 raids.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, all combat operations are aimed at plugging retreat routes and
disrupting transport in the N Po Valley and points to the N; medium bombers hit
the Adige River crossing at Cavarzere and marshalling yard at Gorizia, and
attack 5 bridges and fills on the Brenner line in Austria and N Italy, damaging
2 of the targets; fighters and fighter-bombers harass the retreating forces in
the N Po Valley; during the night of 24/25 Apr, A-20s and A-26s and night
fighters attack the crossings of the Adige and Po Rivers and the Canale Bianco,
and strike airfields at Villafranca di Verona, Udine, and Bergamo, and
marshalling yards at Brescia and Verona.

THURSDAY, 26 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   107 B-24s bomb a motor transport depot at Tarvisio, Italy, and marshalling
yards at Sachsenburg, Lienz, Spittal an der Drau, and Klagenfurt, Austria (all
targets of opportunity); 117 B-17s and 196 B-24s, also dispatched against
targets in N Italy, abort due to bad weather; 155 fighters provide escort; 75
P-38s and 102 P-51s fly armed reconnaissance over N Italy; of these, 12 P-38s
and 48 P-51s strafe targets of opportunity; all of the P-38s dive-bomb rail
lines and road bridges; 16 other P-38s dive-bomb the NW part of Alesso, Italy;
reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort and supply escort missions by P-38s
and P-51s continue as usual.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 25/26 Apr, XXII Tactical Air Command aircraft
hit marshalling yards, airfields, motor transport, and other communications
targets, mainly in the N Po Valley; medium bombers complete 1 of 4 missions
dispatched (clouds obscures 3 targets), hitting the Chioggia bridge and
knocking out a span; XXII Tactical Air Command fighters and fighter-bombers
attack enemy movement throughout the afternoon, destroying 150+ motor
transport.

FRIDAY, 27 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather cancels bomber operations and hampers fighter missions; 8 P-51s
and 2 P-38s complete weather reconnaissance missions; other fighters sent on
reconnaissance escort and armed reconnaissance flights abort.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Bad weather throughout N Italy holds operations to a minimum; XXII Tactical
Air Command fighters and fighter-bombers operate during the latter part of the
afternoon, closely supporting ground forces in the battle area N of the Po
River, hitting guns, vehicles, railroads, train cars, and Bergamo Airfield as
the US 1st Armored Division spearheads the drive to the NW.

SATURDAY, 28 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Continued bad weather cancels heavy bomber operations and limits fighters to
escort and weather reconnaissance missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Weather severely curtails operations. In Italy, XXII Tactical Air Command
fighters and fighter-bombers, flying 100+ sorties, hit enemy movement in the
battle area at several points from S of Piacenza to NW of Milan; medium bombers
are grounded.

SUNDAY, 29 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather again prevents bomber operations. 8 P-51s and P-38s complete
weather and photo reconnaissance missions. 39 P-51s fly armed reconnaissance
over NE Italy; 5 of the fighters bomb and 4 strafe various targets of
opportunity, claiming 4 motor transports destroyed and a reconnaissance car and
2 parked aircraft damaged.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, weather again restricts operations; the medium bombers are
grounded; fighters and fighter-bombers attack retreating forces and
communications throughout NE Italy including Thiene Airfield and claim 350+
motor transport destroyed; enemy forces in Italy, commanded by General Heinrich
von Vietinghoff surrender unconditionally at Caserta, effective 2 May; HQ 57th
Fighter Group and 64th, 65th and 66th Fighter Squadrons move from Grosseto to
Villafranca di Verona, with P-47s.

MONDAY, 30 APRIL 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   For the fourth consecutive day bad weather cancels bomber operations; P-38s
fly reconnaissance, escorted by P-51s. Other P-51s and P-38s escort
supply-dropping missions to N Italy and Yugoslavia.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy during the night of 29/30 Apr, A-20s and A-26s hit motor transport
near Lake Como and roads in the Trento, San Michele all'Adige, and Bolzano
areas; bad weather grounds the medium bombers; fighter-bombers fly armed
reconnaissance over N Italy, blasting guns, vehicles, and other targets of
opportunity; the 12th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 3d Photographic
Group (Reconnaissance) moves from Peretola Airfield, Florence to Villafranca
with F-5s.

MAY 1945 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

TUESDAY, 1 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Despite bad weather 27 B-17s bomb the main station and marshalling yard at
Salzburg, Austria; this is the final Fifteenth AF bombing mission of the war;
P-38s and P-51s fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort missions.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   During the night of 30 Apr/1 May A-20s and A-26s bomb targets of opportunity
in N Italy; bad weather during the day cancels medium bomber operations;
fighter-bombers destroy numerous motor and horse-drawn vehicles in NE Italy; US
Fifth Army forces approach the Brenner Pass on the Austro-Italian border, while
British Eighth Army elements make contact with Yugoslav troops of Marshal Tito
near Monfalcone; the flight of the 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 3d
Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), operating from Pisa with F-5s returns to
base at Peretola Airfield, Florence.

WEDNESDAY, 2 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather limits operations to 1 weather reconnaissance mission.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Bad weather continues; medium bombers are grounded while the XXII Tactical
Air Command flies an uneventful armed reconnaissance in NE Italy.

THURSDAY, 3 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Bad weather again restricts operations to reconnaissance and reconnaissance
escort missions by 20 P-38s and escort of Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air
Force (MATAF) a B-25 leaflet dropping mission in N Italy.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   To assure that the enemy implements the surrender terms in Italy and to
observe road activity, fighters fly reconnaissance missions over N Italy and SW
Austria; medium bombers drop leaflets in several areas where enemy troops might
be unaware of the surrender. The 121st Liaison Squadron, Twelfth AF (attached
to Fifth Army), moves from Florence to Verona, Italy with L-4s and L-5s.

FRIDAY, 4 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   No offensive operations; activity is limited to reconnaissance missions
(with escort), escort of MATAF leaflet drops in N Italy, and escort of C-47s on
supply dropping missions to Yugoslavia. HQ 332d Fighter Group and the 100th and
301st Fighter Squadrons move from Ramitelli Airfield to Cattolica, Italy with
P-51s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   The XXII Tactical Air Command continues flying visual reconnaissance during
the night and day in N Italy; the US 85th Infantry Division reaches the
Austrian border near San Candido and pushes on to the Brenner Pass at Vipiteno
without opposition.

SATURDAY, 5 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   14 P-51s escort MATAF C-47s on supply-dropping missions over Yugoslavia. The
99th Fighter Squadron, 332d Fighter Group, moves from Ramitelli to Cattolica,
Italy with P-51s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   XXII Tactical Air Command fighters continue reconnaissance flights over N
Italy, SW Austria, and as far N as Munich, Germany; fighters destroy numerous
aircraft at an airfield SE of Munich.

SUNDAY, 6 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   9 P-38s escort RAF Balkan AF supply-dropping missions to Yugoslavia.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Brigadier General Robert S Israel, Jr takes command of the XXII Tactical Air
Command. Fighters fly reconnaissance over the French and Italian Alps.

MONDAY, 7 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   13 P-51s escort 3 RAF Balkan AF supply dropping missions to Yugoslavia.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   P-47s fly reconnaissance over the Austrian Alps. HQ 57th Fighter Group and
the 65th Fighter Squadron move from Verona to Grosseto, Italy with P-47s.

TUESDAY, 8 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   All Fifteenth AF aircraft stand down on V-E Day and offensive operations
end. Subsequent operations involve transport, supply, training, and movement
flights.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Transports carry out evacuation and supply missions in S Europe. The 64th
and 66th Fighter Squadrons, 57th Fighter Group, move from Villafranca di Verona
to Grosseto, Italy with P-47s.

WEDNESDAY, 9 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Unit movements from Italy to the US: the 828th, 829th, 830th and 831st
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 485th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Venosa with
B-24s; during May 45, HQ 47th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) from Manduria.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   With combat operations in S Europe at an end, transport aircraft continue
supply and evacuation missions. The 447th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 321st
Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Solenzara, Corsica to Falconara, Italy
with B-25s. In late May 45, HQ 60th Troop Carrier Group and 10th, 11th, 12th
and 28th Troop Carrier Squadrons begin a movement from Pomigliano, Italy to
Waller Field, Trinidad with C-47s.

SATURDAY, 12 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   HQ 450th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 723d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)
begin a movement from Manduria, Italy to the US with B-24s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Large-scale redeployment of Twelfth AF units officially begins (although the
first large movement to the ZI has earlier taken place on 12 Jan 45, followed
by redeployment of various units to all the theaters). On 12 May, the Twelfth
has 198 units assigned and 8 attached; by the end of May, 17 assigned units
will be redeployed from the theater, 43 assigned service units disbanded (and
personnel used to form 21 new service units), 9 assigned units transferred to
other HQ in the theater, and 1 attached unit released-leaving 150 assigned and
7 attached units intact. The 12th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 3d
Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) moves from Villafranca to Peretola
Airfield, Florence, Italy with F-5s.

SUNDAY, 13 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   B-24s units beginning a movement from Italy to the US: 717th Bombardment
Squadron (Heavy), 449th Bombardment Group (Heavy), from Grottagie; 720th
Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 450th Bombardment Group (Heavy), from Manduria.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   The 16th Troop Carrier Squadron, 64th Troop Carrier Group, ceases operating
from Brindisi and returns to Rosignano Airfield, Italy with C-47s.

TUESDAY, 15 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Unit moves in Italy: HQ 483d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 815th, 816th,
817th and 840th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) from Sterparone Airfield to Pisa
with B-17s; HQ 485th Bombardment Group (Heavy) begins a movement from Venosa to
the US; 716th, 718th and 719th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 449th Bombardment
Group (Heavy), begin a movement from Grottaglie to the US with B-24s; 773d
Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 463d Bombardment Group (Heavy), based at Celone
Airfield with B-17s, sends a detachment to operate from Port Lyautey, French
Morocco transporting men from Europe to N Africa.

WEDNESDAY, 16 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   B-24 units beginning a movement from Italy to US: HQ 449th Bombardment Group
(Heavy) from Grottaglie; 721st and 722d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 450th
Bombardment Group (Heavy), from Manduria.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   The 121st Liaison Squadron, Twelfth AF (attached to Fifth Army), moves from
Verona to Manerba, Italy with UC-78s, L-4s and L-5s.

SUNDAY, 20 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   The 885th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 2641st Special Group (Provisional),
moves from Brindisi to Rosignano, Italy with B-17s and B-24s.

WEDNESDAY, 23 MAY 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   HQ 64th Troop Carrier Group and 16th, 17th, 18th and 35th Troop Carrier
Squadrons begin a movement from Rosignano Airfield, Italy to Waller Field,
Trinidad with C-47s.

THURSDAY, 24 MAY 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   The 7th Troop Carrier Squadron, 62d Troop Carrier Group, moves from
Tarquinia to Rosignano, Italy with C-47s.

FRIDAY, 25 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   HQ 484th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 824th, 825th, 826th and 827th
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) move from Torretto Airfield, Italy to Casablanca,
French Morocco with B-24s and begin transporting troops.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   HQ 62d Troop Carrier Group moves from Tarquinia to Rosignano Airfield,
Italy.

SATURDAY, 26 MAY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Brigadier General James A Mollison assumes command of the Fifteenth AF. The
772d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 463d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from
Celone Airfield to Pomigliano Airfield, Italy with B-17s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Brigadier General Charles T Myers assumes command of the Twelfth AF. The 4th
and 8th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 62d Troop Carrier Group, move from Tarquinia
to Rosignano Airfield, Italy with C-47s.

JUNE 1945 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

FRIDAY, 1 JUNE 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   During early Jun, HQ 465th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 780th, 781st, 782d
and 783d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) begin a movement from Pantanella
Airfield, Italy to Waller Field, Trinidad, BWI with B-24s.

MONDAY, 4 JUNE 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   HQ 451st Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 724th, 725th, 726th and 727th
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), begin a movement from Castelluccio, Italy to the
US with B-24s.

WEDNESDAY, 6 JUNE 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   B-24 unit moves from Italy to Waller Field, Trinidad, BWI: HQ 460th
Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 760th, 761st, 762d and 763d Bombardment Squadrons
(Heavy) from Spinazzola; HQ 464th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 776th, 777th,
778th and 779th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) from Pantanella Airfield.

THURSDAY, 7 JUNE 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Major Gustav M Minton Jr, takes command of HQ XXII Tactical Air Command,
which ceases to function; Major Minton continues in the command until transfer
to Army Air Forces Service Command, Mediterranean Theater of Operations
(AAFSCMTO) on 12 Aug.

FRIDAY, 15 JUNE 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   HQ 460th Bombardment Group (Heavy) begins a movement from Spinazzola, Italy
to Waller Field, Trinidad, BWI.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   The 86th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 47th Bombardment Group (Light), moves
from Grosseto to Pisa, Italy with A-20s.

SUNDAY, 17 JUNE 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   HQ 47th Bombardment Group (Light) and 84th and 85th Bombardment Squadrons
(Light) move from Grosseto to Pisa, Italy.

FRIDAY, 22 JUNE 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Unit moves from Italy to the US: 84th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 47th
Bombardment Group (Light), begins a movement from Pisa; 99th Fighter Squadron,
332d Fighter Group from Cattolica.

SATURDAY, 23 JUNE 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   The 85th and 86th Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 47th Bombardment Group
(Light), begin a movement from Pisa, Italy to the US.

SUNDAY, 24 JUNE 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   HQ 47th Bombardment Group (Light) begins a movement from Pisa, Italy to the
US.

MONDAY, 25 JUNE 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   The 97th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 47th Bombardment Group (Light),
begins a movement from Pisa, Italy to the US.

SATURDAY, 30 JUNE 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   The organization charts show a further net loss during Jun 45; 16 units have
been transferred to other HQ within the theater, 1 sent directly to the
Pacific, another redeployed to the US, 3 disbanded, 9 provisional units
discontinued, and 5 attached units relieved (plus a Brazilian unit attached for
operations being released); only 2 units are added to the Twelfth.

JULY 1945 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

SUNDAY, 1 JULY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Unit moves:
   - HQ 461st Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 764th, 765th, 766th and 767th
Bombardment Squadrons from Torretto Airfield, Italy to the US with B-24s;
   - 154th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium), Fifteenth AF, from Bari,
Italy to the US.
   Unit moves during Jul 45:
   - HQ 55th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) from Spinazzola to Bari, Italy;
   - HQ 301st Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 32d, 352d, 353d and 419th
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) from Lucera, Italy to the US with B-17s;
   - HQ 325th Fighter Group and 317th, 318th and 319th Fighter Squadrons from
Mondolfo to Vincenzo Airfield, Italy;
   - HQ 454th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 736th, 737th, 738th and 739th
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) from San Giovanni, Italy to the US with B-24s;
   - 740th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 455th Bombardment Group (Heavy), from
San Giovanni to Bari, Italy with B-24s.

SUNDAY, 8 JULY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   HQ 52d Fighter Group moves from Piagiolino Airfield to Lesina, Italy.

TUESDAY, 10 JULY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   The 2d, 4th and 5th Fighter Squadrons, 52d Fighter Group, move from
Piagiolina Airfield to Lesina, Italy with P-51s.

THURSDAY, 12 JULY 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   HQ XII Air Forces Service Command is disbanded at Siena, Italy.

SATURDAY, 14 JULY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   The 308th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, moves from Mondolfo to
Triolo, Italy with P-51s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   HQ 350th Fighter Group and 345th, 346th and 347th Fighter Squadrons begin a
movement from Pisa, Italy to the US.

SUNDAY, 15 JULY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Unit moves in Italy:
   - HQ 306th Fighter Wing begins a movement from Fano to the US;
   - HQ 31st Fighter Group and 307th and 309th Fighter Squadrons from Mondolfo
to Triolo Airfield with P-51s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Unit moves in Italy:
   - HQ 57th Fighter Group and 64th, 65th and 66th Fighter Squadrons from
Grosseto to Bagnoli with P-47s;
   - 414th Night Fighter Squadron, Twelfth AF, from Pontedera to Bagnoli with
P-61s.

MONDAY, 16 JULY 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Unit moves in Italy:
   - 121st Liaison Squadron, Twelfth AF, from Manerba to Florence with UC-78s,
L-4s and L-5s;
   - the 486th, 487th, 488th and 489th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 340th
Bombardment Group (Medium), begins a movement from Rimini to the US.

WEDNESDAY, 18 JULY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   HQ 332d Fighter Group and 100th and 301st Fighters Squadrons move from
Cattolica to Lucera, Italy with P-51s.

THURSDAY, 19 JULY 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   HQ 456th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 744th, 745th, 746th and 747th
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) begin a movement from Stornara, Italy to the US
with B-24s.

WEDNESDAY, 25 JULY 1945

   AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND (North African Division): Units inactivated at
Casablanca, French Morocco:
   - HQ 303d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 358th, 359th 360th and 427th
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy);
   - HQ 379th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 524th, 525th, 526th and 527th
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy);
   - HQ 484th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 824th, 825th, 826th and 827th
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy).

THURSDAY, 26 JULY 1945

ETO (Ninth Air Force):
   HQ 79th Fighter Group and 85th and 86th Fighter Squadrons move from
Cesenatico, Italy to Horsching, Austria with P-47s.

FRIDAY, 27 JULY 1945

ETO (Ninth Air Force):
   Unit moves in Europe: 87th Fighter Squadron, 79th Fighter Group, from
Cesenatico, Italy to Horsching, Austria with P-47s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   HQ 340th Bombardment Group (Medium) begins a movement from Rimini, Italy to
the US.

TUESDAY, 31 JULY 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Organizational charts show a great decrease in Jul in the size of the
Twelfth AF due to redeployment, transfer, disbandment, and discontinuance of 50
units; only 5 new units are added to the Twelfth and this leaves 77 assigned
and 3 attached units compared to 122 assigned and 2 attached the previous
month; the Twelfth practically ceases to be a flying AF as only 2 bombardment
groups (medium), a night fighter squadron, and a reconnaissance group remain as
flying units and the planes from these units are shortly transferred to Army
Air Forces Services Command, MTO.

AUGUST 1945 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

WEDNESDAY, 1 AUGUST 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   HQ 52d Fighter Group and 2d, 4th and 5th Fighter Squadrons begin a movement
from Lesina, Italy to the US.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   Unit moves in Italy to Pomigliano during Aug 45:
   - HQ XXII Tactical Air Command from Florence;
   - HQ 57th Bombardment Wing from Fano;
   - HQ 62d Fighter Wing from Antignano;
   - the 5th and 12th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadrons, 3d Reconnaissance
Group, from Peretola Airfield, Florence with F-5s.
   Units beginning a movement from Italy to the US during Aug 45:
   - 121st Liaison Squadron, Twelfth AF, from Florence;
   - 445th, 446th, 447th and 448th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 321st
Bombardment Group (Medium), from Falconara.

THURSDAY, 2 AUGUST 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   HQ 459th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 756th, 757th, 758th and 759th
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) begin a movement from Giulia Airfield, Italy to
the US with B-24s.

FRIDAY, 3 AUGUST 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Brigadier General William L Lee takes command of the Fifteenth AF.

SUNDAY, 5 AUGUST 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   HQ 31st Fighter Group and 307th, 308th, and 309th Fighter Squadrons begin a
movement from Triolo Airfield, Italy to the US.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   HQ 57th Fighter Group and 65th and 66th Fighter Squadrons begin a movement
from Bagnoli, Italy to the US.

MONDAY, 6 AUGUST 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   The 64th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group, begins a movement from
Bagnoli, Italy to the US.

TUESDAY, 7 AUGUST 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   The 414th Night Fighter Squadron, Twelfth AF, begins a movement from
Bagnoli, Italy to the US.

WEDNESDAY, 8 AUGUST 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   The 37th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 5th Reconnaissance Group,
moves from San Severo to Bari, Italy with F-5s.

SATURDAY, 11 AUGUST 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   The 32d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 5th Reconnaissance Group,
moves from San Severo to Bari, Italy with F-5s.

MONDAY, 13 AUGUST 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   The 416th Night Fighter Squadron, XXII Tactical Air Command, moves from
Pontedera, Italy to Horsching, Austria with P-61s.

TUESDAY, 14 AUGUST 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   HQ 310th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 379th, 380th, 381st and 428th
Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from Fano to Pomigliano, Italy with B-25s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   All units are transferred or redeployed with the exception of the 6719th WAC
HQ Platoon (an assigned unit) and a Detachment, 1054th MP Company, Aviation.

THURSDAY, 23 AUGUST 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   The 23d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 3d Reconnaissance Group, moves
from Peretola Airfield, Florence to Pomigliano, Italy with F-5s.

SUNDAY, 26 AUGUST 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   HQ 3d Reconnaissance Group moves from Florence to Pomigliano, Italy.

TUESDAY, 28 AUGUST 1945

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   With the discontinuance of the 6719th WAC HQ Platoon, the Detachment, 1054th
MP Company, Aviation, remains the only unit still attached to Twelfth AF.

THURSDAY, 30 AUGUST 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   HQ 82d Fighter Group and 95th, 96th and 97th Fighter Squadrons move from
Vincenzo Airfield to Lesina, Italy with P-38s.

FRIDAY, 31 AUGUST 1945

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
   Colonel Elmer J Rogers Jr assumes command of HQ Fifteenth AF until it's
inactivation on 15 Sep 45.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   HQ Twelfth AF is inactivated in Italy.