american units in Operation Starkey

[brewerjerry]

Hi all,
A strange thought occured to me .......
I have seen plenty of photos on the RAF markings for Operation Starkey, but I can't recall anything showing the american units.
Anyone know which units were involved?
Did they carry , ( as I assume ) , the same Operation Starkey markings as the RAF aircraft ?
Cheers
Jerry

[brewerjerry]

Hi All,

No excuses just a bump, of an old thread,

As I still haven't found any info anywhere.

cheers
Jerry

[Graham Boak]

As this was an exercise for the tactical units, did the US have any 9th AF units in the UK at this time? If so, these would be your prime candidates. Being involved in the strategic bombing of Germany, I doubt if any of the 8th AF units would have been involved, but that is a presumption.

[niallc]

There was indeed considerable participation by the 8th Air Forece in Starkey even though, like Bomber Command the high command didn't have much appetite for an unwanted diversion from their one true purpose. Of the 25,000 or so sorties flown during Starkey (16 Aug-9 Sept) around a third were bomber sorties - many flown by the B17s of the 8th. Most of these however were during the preparatory phase of Starkey.
As for the markings it's worth remembering that these were only applied overnight on September 8th - when it had been decided that the 9th would indeed be "D-Day". They were also only applied to aircraft operating at low level in proximity to the amphibious force (The smoke-laying Bostons being a prime example).
The primary targets for the morning of the 9th (i.e after the markings had been applied) were coastal gun positions. Whirlwinds followed by Typhoons attacked those at Hardelot while another 5 positions were each due to be attacked 4 times at approx. 30 minute intervals from 0830 onwards by small forces (10-20 a/c) of Mitchells, Venturas and, according to 11 Group records, Marauders. These last must have been US aircraft.
Since the amphibious force turned back at around 0900 at least some of these ops were cancelled. Certainly the Whirlwinds and Typhoons second op to Hardelot and later briefed ops to airfield targets were scrubbed, partly because Starkey was effectively over once the ships had turned back and partly because of deteriorating weather.
Despite this, if the aircraft were briefed to perform these sorties it seems logical to assume that they were painted with the temporary markings even if they did not eventually actually operate and that ought to include the B26s of whatever US units were briefed. The question is - which units were they?
NiallC

[shooshoobaby]

There were 4 8th Air Force B - 26 groups involved in
Operation Starkey.
322d BG , 323d BG , 386th BG , 387th BG
Early 9/43 flew at least 1 and sometimes 2 Missions
for 8 straight days.
Escorted by RAF Spitfires.
" The Mighty Eighth " by Freeman Page 60
Mike

[brewerjerry]

Hi All,
Many thanks for the time and replies/info, gives me a few new areas to research.
Cheers
Jerry

[brewerjerry]

Hi All
Just for info

I found this during a search, it covers the US heavy bombers on op starkey

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/mission/1715

Wonder if the escorting P-47's had starkey markings

cheers
jerry