Highlights of Day by Day Air Operations
9 August 1944

This was the busiest day since XIX TAC became operational. There were more missions (72) and more sorties (780) than on any previous day. Nineteen enemy planes were destroyed, claims being 13-2-0 in the air and 6-0-2 on the ground. Nine United States pilots and planes were lost.

All but two of the groups flew three missions. The three squadrons of the 363d Group and the 405th and 406th Squadrons of the 371st Group flew five missions. These squadrons averaged 11 hours and 45 minutes in the air.

A rocket squadron, the 513th of the 406th Group, was now in action, and 16 five-inch rockets were launched against ground targets, in addition to 58.5 tons of general-purpose bombs and numerous rounds of .50-caliber ammunition.

Thirty-seven tactical and photographic reconnaissance sorties aided in keeping an eye on the enemy.