Highlights of Day by Day Air Operations
23 August 1944

With the enemy endeavoring to give increased air cooperation to his hard-pressed ground forces, especially along the Seine west of Paris, the Third Army reported that the 79th Infantry Division bridgehead in the Mantes-Gassicourt sector was attacked by rocket planes intermittently during the day. Although our air cover in the area was tripled, no rocket-firing planes were seen.

Flying armed reconnaissance ahead of our columns thrusting east past Sens and Troyes, P-47's had just dropped eight 500-pound bombs on a gun position east of Joigny when Combat Command "A" of the 4th Armored Division reported it was being strafed 12 miles northeast of Sens. The remaining bombs were jettisoned, and the Thunderbolts, from 9,000 feet, bounced five Me-109's at 6,500 feet, shooting down two probably another for no loss. In all, 463 combat and 70 reconnaissance sorties were flown, in spite of poor visibility, cloud, and showers over bases and targets during a part of the day. Claims against enemy aircraft totals 5-4-7 for loss of two, one of which was to flak.

Word was received that Paris had fallen. Another phase had come to an end.