text: The London Gazette, December 31st 1946 - Supplement
  Newspaper 56 Pages
  ) vIRurnb, 3783837 I aJ FOURTH SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of TUESDAY, the 31 st of DECEMBER, 1946 published by fin Qty iiiy Registered as a newspaper THURSDAY, 2 JANUARY, 1947 The Air Ministry, January, 1947. AIR OPERATIONS B THEY ALLIED EXP EDIT IO NARY AIR FORCE IN N.W. EUROPE from November 15TH, 1943 to September 30TH 1944. The following despatch by the late Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory, K .C.B., D.S.O., Air Commandcr-in-Chief, Allied Expeditionary Air Force, was submitted to the Supreme Allied Commander in November, 1944. On relinquishing my command of the Allied Expeditionary Air Force I have the honour + o submit the following Despatch, covering its operations under my command during the period from 15th November, 1943 tof 30th September, 1944. Since this Despatch covers the air support of 'Ch e assault of Europe and the subsequent land operations, it necessarily includes reference to the strategical operations of the United States Eighth Air Force and the Royal Air Force Bomber Command in addition to the operations of these two Air Forces and the Royal Air Force Coastal Command directed to the tactical sup­port of the assault. As the period covered by the Despatch overextends ten and a half months of the most heavy and concentrated air war in the history of the world, I have not attempted to deal with the events on a day-to-day basis. Rather I have taken the tasks undertaken in the pre­liminary and preparatory phases and in the assault and post-assault phase and have attempted to show how these tasks were ful­filled, as well as briefly indicating what I feel are some of the outstanding features of these air operations. Par tI—C o m m and and Control Formation of A .E.A B.F. y a Directive (reference COSSAC (43)81) dated 16th November, 1943, issued by your Chief of Staff, I was informed that the Com­bined Chiefs of Staff had appointed me Air Gommander-in-Chief of the Allied Expedition­ary Air Force under yourself as the Supreme Allied Commander, and that I was to exercise operational command of the British and Ameri­can tactical air forces supporting the assault of Western Europe from the United Kingdom. I was also informed that a United States General would be appointed Deputy Air Commander-in- Chief, Allied Expeditionary Air Force. Major- General William 0 .Butler was the first General Officer to hold this post. He served in this capa­city from 1st January, 1944, to 25th March, 1944, and was succeeded by Major-General Hoyt S. Vandenberg who occupied the position until 8th August, 1944. Major-General Ralph Royce then held this appointment until the dis­bandment of A .E.A .F .on 14th October. 1944. Forces available 2. The forces under my command comprised the Royal Air Force Second Tactical Air Force, the United States Ninth Air Force and the forces of the Air Defence of Great Britain. The Royal Air Force Second Tactical Air Force and the formations of the Air Defence of Great Britain passed to my command on 15th November, 1943 the United States Ninth Air Force passed to my operational command on 15th December, 1943, but was not released from its commitment to assist the United States Strategic Air Forces in "Point-blank "operations until 10th March, *944-3. You will recall that a definition of the role of the strategic air forces was not covered in the original Directive tome, but was deferred to a later date. However, my plans were made on the assumption that I should be able to count on the full support of the strategic air forces when it was required.
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