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XXXX TO HQ 5th AF CIC Leyte Operations Area XXXX
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 December 7, 1944

Mission Outline:

43rd Bomb Group:
Attack enemy strategic targets on the Islands of Negros and Panay as soon as practicable, multiple sorties are required. Escort will be provided by elements of the 475th Fighter Group. Escort shall consist of at least two squadrons.

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

475th Fighter Group:
Provide at two squadrons of escorts for the 43rd Bomb Group.

348th Fighter Group:
Provide two squadrons for combat air patrol over allied airfields on Leyte and shipping in Leyte Gulf.

8th Fighter Group:
Provide escort for the 345th Bomb Group. Secondary mission, fighter sweep over Negros Island.

VMF-115 and VMF-211:
Provide fighter cover over US Navy shipping entering Ormoc Bay. Secondary mission is to attack enemy shipping in the Visayan Sea.

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

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. Run the invasion convoy to the area offshore of A21 and maintain station until dark. Two escort carrier groups and one 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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Operations for December 7, 1944

Mission Outline:

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

762nd Kokutai:
Attack enemy shipping in and near Ormoc Bay.

201st Air Group:
Provide 8 N1K2's for combat air patrol over shipping in Visayan Sea. Remainder of the N1K2's are to provide combat air patrol over Negros and Panay Islands to protect the strategic targets located there.

252nd Air Group:
Provide fighter cover over Panay and Negros Islands to protect the strategic targets located there.

341st Air Group:
Escort 762nd Kokutai.

22nd Sentai:
Attack enemy shipping in Ormoc Bay.

52nd Sentai:
Escort 755th Kokutai to targets in and near Leyte Gulf.

77th Sentai:
Provide fighter cover over Panay and Negros Islands to protect the strategic targets located there. Secondary mission to attack enemy shipping in and near Ormoc Bay.

78th Sentai:
Attack enemy shipping in Leyte Gulf and strategic targets on Leyte and Samar Islands.

200th Sentai:
Provide 8 Ki-84's for combat air patrol over shipping in Visayan Sea. Remainder of Ki-84's to escort 755th Kokutai to targets in and near Leyte Gulf and to be attached to (based with) 755th Kokutai.

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