Summary of USAAF missions in Europe?

[The_Catman]

Hi

Is there a USAAF equivalent of Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt's "The Bomber Command War Diaries" that gives all the bombing missions undertaken by the USAAF in Europe?

Thanks for any help

Alex

[Ex Shack]

Hi Alex
A good candidate for what you are seeking is "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" by Roger A Freeman. It is very comprehensive for the ETO but does have a large amount of corrections for the daily sections on A/C losses. It was published by Arms and Armour Press and should still be found via Bookfinder and the like if the publishers cannot help
Regards
Dick

[The_Catman]

Originally Posted by Ex Shack

Hi Alex
A good candidate for what you are seeking is "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" by Roger A Freeman. It is very comprehensive for the ETO but does have a large amount of corrections for the daily sections on A/C losses. It was published by Arms and Armour Press and should still be found via Bookfinder and the like if the publishers cannot help
Regards
Dick

Hi Dick

That's great! Sounds just like what I am looking for.

I'll let you know how I get on

Regards
Alex

[Jim Oxley]

Also look at "Air War Over Europa Chronology 1942-1945 -America's Air War Against Germany In Europe And North Africa" by Eric Hammel. 570 pages. Details all missions flown - units, numbers involved, aircraft types, mission details etc - on a daily basis.

Not expensive and readily available.

[The_Catman]

Thanks Jim,

I've just ordered the Freeman book, but I'll look into this one as well

Regards
Alex

Another interesting reference book, "Combat Chronology 1941-1945" by Kit C. Carter and Robert Mueler, lists in general the bombing/attack missions by the USAAF in all theaters during WWII. Not as definitive as Freeman's 8th AF Diary, but also provides information on the lesser known combat theaters in the MTO, SWAP and Far East. It is a massive tome, much like Hamels excellent book. All these reference books seem to complement each other.

Norman Malayney

[Kutscha]

Online
http://paul.rutgers.edu/~mcgrew/wwii/usaf/html/

It doesn't get into great detail though.

example
TUESDAY, 4 JANUARY 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 174: 2 targets in Germany are hit; 19 bombers and 2 fighters are lost.
1. 371 of 439 B-17's and 115 of 130 B-24's are dispatched to the port area
at Kiel; 7 B-17's and 34 B-24's hit targets of opportunity; they claim 4-12-4
Luftwaffe aircraft; 11 B-17's and 6 B-24's are lost; 2 B-17's and 3 B-24's
are damaged beyond repair and 111 B-17's and 16 B-24's are damaged;
casualties are 22 KIA, 53 WIA and 170 MIA. 70 P-38's and 42 Ninth Air Force P-51's escort; they claim 1-1-4 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 and 1 P-51 are lost and 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair; casualties are 1 WIA and 2 MIA.
2. 68 of 75 B-17's hit Munster; 2 B-17's are lost, 1 is damaged beyond
repair and 35 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 20 MIA. 430 P-47's escort; they claim 7-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is damaged.
Mission 175: During the evening, 4 B-17's drop 800,000 leaflets on Orleans,
Lorient, Rouen and Tours, France at 2005-2021 hours; no losses. This is the first CARPETBAGGER operation from Tempsford, England on this night.
US airplanes begin flying supplies from UK to underground resistance forces

[The_Catman]

Thanks for the extra options.

I have received my copy of "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" and it has the info I wanted. Not as readable style as "The Bomber Command War Diaries" which is much better imho.

http://paul.rutgers.edu/~mcgrew/wwii/usaf/html/ is something to bookmark, puts things into a bigger context, eg links 17 August 43 Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission to later RAF mission to Peenemunde.

Looks like I don't need to buy another book!

Thanks again
Alex