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E N C L O S U R E
DIRECTIVE FOR COMBINED BOMBER OFFENSIVE
1. MISSION
Your over-all mission remains: “The progressive destruction and dislocation of the German military, industrial and economic system, the disruption of vital elements of lines of communication and the material reduction of German air combat strength, by the successful prosecution of the Combined Bomber Offensive from all convenient bases,” as directed in the Final Report at SEXTANT.
2. OBJECTIVES
Under this general mission the objective of the Bomber Command, RAF, and the USSAFE, are:
a. Primary objective: The German Air Force
Depletion of the German Air Force, with primary importance upon the German fighting forces, by all means available, including attacks against the following precision targets and the industrial areas and facilities supporting them.
(1) Equal first priority
German S/E fighter airframe and component production.
German T/E fighter airframe and component production.
Axis controlled ball-bearing production.
(2) Second priority
Installations supporting the German fighter air forces.
b. Other objectives:
(1) CROSSBOW.
Operations, by all means available, will be taken to neutralize the threat developing under CROSSBOW.
(2) Berlin and other industrial areas.
Attacks should be delivered upon Berlin, or other important industrial areas, by both the Bomber Command, RAF and the USSAFE, (the latter utilizing blind bombing techniques as necessary) whenever weather or tactical conditions are suitable for such operations and unsuitable for operations against the primary objective. Targets should be selected so as to cause maximum assistance in achieving primary aims of reducing strength of German Air Force.
(3) Targets in South Eastern Europe:
Attacks should be delivered by 15th U.S. Army Air Force and by the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces upon cities, transportation targets and other suitable objectives in Balkans and in satellite countries of South Eastern Europe, whenever weather or tactical conditions prevent operations against POINTBLANK objectives or in support of land operations in Italy.
3. CONCEPT
The overall reduction of German air combat strength, in its factories, on the ground, and in the air, through mutually supporting attacks by both strategic air forces, pursued with relentless determination against the same target areas or systems, so far as tactical conditions allow, in order to create the air situation most propitious for OVERLORD, is the immediate purpose of the Bomber Offensive.
4. COORDINATION
a. The Chief of the Air Staff, RAF, as agent for the Combined Chiefs of Staff, is charged with the coordination of Bomber Command, RAF, and USSAFE operations.
b. The CG, USSAFE, is charged with the coordination of operations of the 8th and 15th U.S. Army Air Forces, and shall give particular heed to the integration of attacks from the Mediterranean, complementary to those from the United Kingdom, upon these primary objectives.
5. “OVERLORD” AND “RANKIN”
Preparation and readiness for the direct support of OVERLORD and RANKIN should be maintained without detriment to the Combined Bomber Offensive.
OUTGOING MESSAGE
P A R A P H R A S E
CG AAF/MTO LA MARSA NO 405
CG FREEDOM ALGIERS NO 9338
It is desired to invite your attention to CCS 400/2 dated December 4, 1943 and CCS 387/3 dated December 5, 1943, with reference to your communication to General Giles of January 23, 1944. You should, as Commander in Chief Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, receive directives concerning operation of the 12th but not, except in emergency, the 15th Air Force from Allied Commander in Chief, Mediterranean. You should, as Senior US Army Air Forces officer in Mediterranean, look to CG NATOUSA for administrative directives concerning both 12th and 15th Air Forces. To War Department orders number R-7248 signed Ulio covering your transfer from UK to Algiers for duty as Commander in Chief Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, your attention is also invited.
CM-OUT-3750 (9 Feb 44)
Transcribed from Official 15th Air Force Records, Sourced, U.S. National Archives
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