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XXXX TO COMMANDING OFFICER US 7TH FLEET XXXX
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XXXX STANDBY FOR ORDERS XXXX
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XXXX MAXIMUM EFFORT FROM ALL COMMANDS XXXX

5th Air Force Operations for November 9, 1944

Mission Outline:

43rd Bomb Group:
Attack enemy strategic targets on the Island of Panay as quickly as practicable, multiple sorties against these targets should be made. Secondary targets are Japanese airfields.

345th Bomb Group:
Conduct operations against enemy shipping in the Visayan Sea. Secondary targets should consist of enemy airfields on the Island of Negros.

475th Fighter Group:
Provide at least 16 escorts for the 43rd Bomb Group. Remaining 4 planes are to escort the 345th Bomb Group.

348th Fighter Group:
Provide 2 squadrons of escorts for the 345th Bomb Group.

8th Fighter Group:
Provide fighter cover for the allied airbases around Leyte and strategic targets in that area. Secondary mission to fighter sweep the Visayan Sea area when threat to allied bases has reduced.

VMF-115 and VMF-211:
Provide fighter cover for the invasion fleet and strategic targets around Leyte Gulf.

VC-20 and VC-81:
Provide fighter cover for the invasion fleet and the strategic targets around Leyte Gulf. Later in the day a secondary mission to attack shipping in or near the Visayan Sea with fighter bombers should be ran if practicable.

US Navy:
Two destroyer groups shall aggressively patrol Ormoc Bay and the southern portions of the Visayan Sea to intercept and sink any enemy reinforcement convoys attempting to reach Leyte. Two escort carrier groups and two transport groups shall maintain station in Leyte Gulf.

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XXXX TO IMPERIAL ARMY AND NAVY UNITS XXXX
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XXXX STANDBY FOR ORDERS XXXX
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XXXX EXECUTE OPERATIONS XXXXXXXX

Operations for November 9, 1944

Mission Outline:

755th and 762nd Kokutai:
Attack enemy shipping and strategic targets in and near Leyte Gulf as soon as practicable. Multiple sorties should be ran against this target.

201st Air Group:
Provide escort for the 755th and 762nd Kokutai and attack shipping in the Leyte Gulf area as soon as practicable.

252nd Air Group:
Provide fighter cover over shipping in the Visayan Sea.

341st Air Group:
Attack enemy shipping in the Leyte Gulf area and provide escort for the 755th and 762nd Kokutai.

22nd Sentai:
Provide escort for the 755th and 762nd Kokutai. If practicable, later in the day attack Allied airfields or shipping near Leyte.

52nd Sentai:
Provide combat air patrol over the Island of Panay and the strategic targets located there.

77th Sentai:
Provide combat air patrol over the Island of Panay and the strategic targets located there. If the threat of attack on Panay has lessened, then later in the day attack enemy airfields on Leyte.

78th Sentai:
Attack enemy shipping in the bay of Ormoc. Provide fighter cover over shipping in Visayan Sea. If practicable, later in the day, attack enemy air fields on Leyte.

200th Sentai:
Attack enemy shipping in the bay of Ormoc. Provide fighter cover over shipping in Visayan Sea.

Imperial Japanese Navy:
A destroyer group shall escort two transport groups from the Visayan Sea to the area just off the coast of A21 and maintain station there
until midnight.