USAAF Combat Operations 1941

USAAF Worldwide Operations Chronology
                 COMBAT CHRONOLOGY OF THE US ARMY AIR FORCES

APRIL 1944


AIRCRAFT MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:
  A-20, Douglas Havoc
  A-36, North American Apache
  B-17, Boeing Flying Fortress
  B-24, Consolidated Liberator
  B-25, North American Mitchell
  B-26, Martin Marauder
  B-29, Boeing Superfortress
  Beaufighter, Bristol
  C-47, Douglas Skytrain
  F-4, Lockheed Lightning
  F-5, Lockheed Lightning
  F-7, Consolidated Liberator
  L-1, Stinson Vigilant
  L-4, Piper Cub/Grasshopper
  L-5, Stinson Sentinel
  P-38, Lockheed Lightning
  P-39, Bell Airacobra
  P-40, Curtiss
  P-47, Republic Thunderbolt
  P-51, North American Mustang
  P-70, Douglas
  Vengeance, Vultee

SATURDAY, 1 APRIL 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 14 P-38s hit a freight train and
damage a factory in the vicinity of Mandalay; near Rangoon, 16 B-24s hit a
railroad station and bomb Akyab while 6 B-25s damage a railroad bridge near
Nattalin.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): A flight of the 21st Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth Air Force, based at Kunming, China begins
operating from Liangshan, China with F-4s and F-5s.
  Moves in China during Apr: HQ 69th Composite Wing from Tsuyung to Kunming;
16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, based at Chengkung sends the
detachment at Tsuyung to Szemao with P-40s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 287: 440 bombers and 475
fighters are dispatched to bomb the chemical industry at Ludwigshafen,
Germany (the largest in Europe). 
  1. The 245 B-17s dispatched of the lead force abandon the mission over the
French coast due to heavy clouds; 7 B-17s are damaged.
  2. The 195 B-24s in the second force became widely dispersed and bomb
targets of opportunity; 101 hit Pforzheim; 38 hit Schaffhausen, Switzerland;
17 hit Strasbourg, France; and 9 hit Grafenhausen; Schaffhausen and
Strasbourg were mistaken as German towns; they claim 1-1-0 Luftwaffe aircraft;
12 B-24s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 42 damaged; casualties are 9
KIA, 12 WIA and 113 MIA.
  Escort is provided by 280 P-47s and 195 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s:
P-47s claim 13-1-19 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground 2 P-47s are lost and 12
damaged, 2 pilots are MIA; P-51s claim 5-2-4 aircraft, 2 P-51s are lost and 2
damaged, 2 pilots are MIA.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Moves in Italy during Apr: HQ
49th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) arrives from the US; HQ 68th Tactical
Reconnaissance Group from Manduria to Blida, Algeria.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s attack Leghorn
harbor, bridges at Orvieto, and railway track S of Poggibonsi; B-26s hit Arno
River railroad bridges at Signa, Riva-Trigoso, and Valdarno, while A-20s hit
ammunition dumps; P-40s hit targets in the vicinity of Gaeta, Formia tunnel,
several fuel dumps, bridges, and guns in the battle areas; P-47s bomb
Poggibonsi bridge and strafe a train; and fighters patrol the Anzio battle
area without incident.
  During Apr, XII Bomber Command moves from Trocchia, Italy to Corsica; 4th
Troop Carrier Squadron, 62d Troop Carrier Group, and 16th, 17th, 18th and
35th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 64th Troop Carrier Group begin operating from
bases in India until Jun 44 with C-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Abemama Island,
Gilbert Islands, strike Ponape Island, Caroline Islands; B-24s from Makin
Island, Gilbert Islands and Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands hit Truk
Atoll, Caroline Islands; and B-25s from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands bomb
Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls, Marshall Islands.
  78th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, moves from Stanley Field to
Mokuleia Field, Territory of Hawaii with P-47s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island,
Bismarck Archipelago, 24 B-25s bomb supply areas at Wunapope and Ratawul; 28
P-39s and P-40s hit the Toboi wharf area at Simpson Harbor; 3 P-40s follow
with a strike on oil and coal storage in same general area; fighters maintain
sweeps over Rabaul and New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago throughout
the day and B-25s harass Rabaul during the night of 1/2 Apr. On Bougainville
Island, Solomon Islands, 12 P-38s bomb the mission at Monoitu and 12 P-40s
hit Numa Numa supply dumps.
  The detachment of the 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4th
Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), operating from Munda, New Georgia
Island, Solomon Islands, with F-5s returns to base on Guadalcanal Island,
Solomon Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-25s and A-20s hit the Tadji
and Hansa Bay areas in New Guinea; B-24s bomb Boela, Ceram Island, Moluccas
Islands; and B-25s attack Penfoei, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands.
  Moves in New Guinea during Apr: 33d Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop
Carrier Group, from Garbutt Field, Townsville, Australia to Port
Moresby with C-47s; 63d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment
Group (Heavy), from Dobodura to Nadzab with B-24s.

SUNDAY, 2 APRIL 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 P-40s bomb Kamaing while 6
P-51s over the Katha area hit trucks near Bhamo and a storage area at Indaw.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 2 B-24s on a sea sweep from Hong Kong to
Formosa bomb a 215-ft (66 m) ship (reported sunk) and damage a large motor
launch.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): First operational B-29, piloted
by Colonel Leonard F Harman, lands at Chakulia, India.
  HQ 40th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) arrives at Chakulia, India from
the US.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 461st Bombardment Group (Heavy)
with B-24s becomes operational, making 16 heavy bomber groups now
operational. 
  530+ B-24s and B-17s (largest mission to date) attack targets in Austria
and Yugoslavia; the B-17s hit the ball bearing plant at Steyr, Austria and
marshalling yard at Brod, Yugoslavia; the B-24s hit an aircraft factory and
depot and ball bearing factory at Steyr, and in Yugoslavia, an air depot at
Mostar and marshalling yard at Bihac; fighters fly 150+ sorties in support of
the bombers; hundreds of enemy fighters oppose the missions and fierce air
battles result in 19 bombers shot down and several missing; the AAF claims
150+ enemy fighters.
  HQ 31st Fighter Group and 307th and 308th Fighter Squadrons move from
Castel Volturno to San Severo, Italy with P-51s.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack
railroad bridges at Arezzo, Fano, Ficulle, Magra, N of Orvieto, and S of
Poggibonsi, scoring some direct hits, hits on approaches, and several near
misses; fighter-bombers hit trucks and the railroad station at Fara in Sabina
and E and N of Anzio, attack the Formia tunnel, fly armed reconnaissance over
the Atina and Arce areas, bomb a factory and buildings N of Cassino, the town
of Pignataro Interamna and numerous bridges, dumps, gun positions and targets
of opportunity in or around the battle areas.
  99th Fighter Squadron, XII Air Support Command, attached to 324th Fighter
Group, moves from Capodichino to Cercola, Italy with P-40s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Eniwetok Atoll,
Marshall Islands hit Truk Atoll during the night of 1/2 Apr. During the day
B-25s bomb Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 31 B-24s fly a strike
against Dublon Island, Truk Atoll, causing considerable damage to the
warehouse and dock areas; the bombers claim 30+ fighters downed; 4 B-24s are
lost. On New Britain Island, 40+ fighter-bombers over Rabaul hit the SE part
of town, the Toboi wharf area, and N section of town along the Malaguna road;
and 7 B-25s hit Raluana Point while 23 pound Lakunai.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 120+ bombers
and fighters continue to hit targets in areas around Wewak, Hansa Bay,
Madang, Bogadjim, and other points along the NE coastline. B-25s also hit
Dili and Penfoei on Timor Island and Rambutyo Island, Bismarck Archipelago.
  310th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group, moves from Dobodura to Saidor,
New Guinea with P-47s.

MONDAY, 3 APRIL 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 4 B-25s damage the Tangon bridge
while 6 P-51s hit Anisakan airstrip in the Mandalay area; 20+ fighter-bombers
and 6 B-25s hit targets of opportunity S of Mupaw Ga and W of Mogaung, troops
near Bhamo, and knock out a bridge near Mogaung; during the night of 3/4 Apr
16 B-24s bomb oil and power facilities at Yenangyaung, Chauk, and Lanywa
while 8 P-38s hit Meiktila Airfield.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 4 rocket-firing P-40s, with 8 other
as top cover, damage 2 large river boats between Hengyang and Ichang. In
French Indochina, 4 P-40s flying a Red River sweep from Vinh Yen to Dong
Cuong sink 4 small boats, damage 3 more, and strafe 50-100 persons at a
loading point on the river; and 3 B-24s lay mines in the Haiphong area.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Because of a combat crew shortage
which has caused abolition of the 50-mission limit tour of duty and resulted
in fatigue and morale problems, IX Bomber Command establishes a new
operational leave policy. Maximum leaves for bomber crews are set at 1 week
between the 25th and 30th missions and 2 weeks between the 40th and 50th
missions.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 450+ B-17s and B-24s bomb
targets in Hungary and Yugoslavia; the B-17s hit an aircraft factory in
Budapest, Hungary and a marshalling yard at Brod, Yugoslavia; the B-24s hit a
marshalling yard at Budapest; 137 fighters escort the B-17s (B-24s miss the
rendezvous) to Budapest; the bombers and escorting fighters claim 24 enemy
aircraft shot down.                

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack
railway bridges at Orvieto, cutting approaches to a bridge to the N of town;
other medium bomber attacks on bridges abort because of weather but light
bombers successfully bomb an ammunition dump; A-36s attack the railway at
Attigliano and bomb an underpass in the area, while P-40s hit Sesti Bagni
railroad station, a supply dump SE of Frosinone, the town of Itri, a bivouac
area NW of Velletri and several trucks; and P-47s successfully bomb Pignataro
Interamna and nearby road junction.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok
Atoll during the night of 2/3 Apr, bomb Truk Atoll. B-25s from Abemama Island
follow with a daytime attack on Ponape Island; other B-25s from Abemama and
Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls.
  98th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves
from Tarawa Atoll to Eniwetok Atoll with B-24s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 23
B-25s pound the NE section of Rabaul; this strike follows larger than usual
(6 B-25s) heckling raids during the night of 2/3 Apr; and 50+ fighter-bombers
blast fuel stores at Keravia Bay. On Bougainville Island, AAF and US Navy
(USN) fighters strafe the Numa Numa trail area and maintain patrols.
  67th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, based in the Russell Islands,
Solomon Islands, ceases operating from Bougainville Island with P-38s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 300+ B-24s,
B-25s, A-20s, and P-38s blast airfields at Hollandia; most of the remaining
Japanese airplanes there are destroyed; of 60 intercepting Japanese fighters,
26 are claimed shot down; air opposition from Hollandia is very light
hereafter; 50+ P-40s, P-47s, and P-39s hit villages, communications, AA
positions, and other targets in areas around Wewak, Hansa Bay, Bogia and
Madang; and B-24s hit Langgoer and B-25s bomb the Babo area and Penfoei on
Timor Island.
  HQ 58th Fighter Group and 69th Fighter Squadron move from Dobodura to
Saidor, New Guinea with P-47s.

TUESDAY, 4 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ZONE OF INTERIOR: HQ Twentieth Air Force is activated in Washington, DC.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 120+ fighter-bombers and 4 B-25s
hit rail lines, storage areas and Japanese held villages around Mogaung and
Myitkyina and support ground forces near Kamaing and Myitkyina; during the
night of 4/5 Apr, 14 B-24s bomb the Moulmein railroad yards and jetties and
hit a Japanese HQ nearby at Nagorn Sawarn; and 25 P-51s and P-38s attack
Aungban and Anisakan Airfields.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): P-38s on armed reconnaissance strafe and
destroy 2 big fuel dumps, 12 fuel trucks, and 15-20 troops in the Wan Mong
Kang, Burma area.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Units arriving in England from the
US: HQ 339th Fighter Group at Fowlmere; and 836th, 837th, 838th and 839th
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 487th Bombardment Group, at Lavenham with
B-24s (first mission is 7 May).

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Units arriving in England from the
US: HQ 373d Fighter Group and 410th Fighter Squadron at Woodchurch with P-47s
(first mission is 8 May); HQ 404th Fighter-Bomber Group at Winkton; HQ 406th
Fighter-Bomber Group at Ashford; HQ 410th Bombardment Group (Light) and
644th, 645th, 646th and 647th Bombardment Squadrons (Light) at Birch with
A-20s (first mission is 4 May); and 393d and 394th Fighter Squadrons, 367th
Fighter Group, at Stony Cross with P-38s (first mission is 9 May).

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 300+ B-17s and B-24s attack
Bucharest, Rumania; both hit marshalling yards and the B-24s also hit an air
depot; fighters fly nearly 120 sorties in support of the mission; between 150
and 200 enemy fighters attack the bombers, shooting down 10; the bombers and
escorts claim 50+ aircraft destroyed in combat.
  309th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, moves from Castel Volturno to
San Severo, Italy with P-51s.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bomber missions
are aborted due to weather but light bombers manage to bomb an ammunition
dump and fighter-bombers bomb Terracina and Formia, attack a bridge and
several vehicles during armed reconnaissance of the Rome-Orte area, bomb Itri
and Fondi, hit numerous gun positions, a railway station, a bivouac area, and
a vehicle concentration, and attack targets of opportunity between Atina and
Cassino.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, flying out of the
Gilbert Islands, bomb Truk Atoll during the night. B-25s, from Abemama Island
and Tarawa Atoll, followup during the day with raids on Ponape Island, and
Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On Bougainville Island, 12
P-40s hit a barge hideout in Gazelle Harbor; 10 B-25s (rained out of Rabaul,
New Britain Island) bomb Buka Airfield on Buka Island, 23 P-39s hit the
Aitara area, and 11 P-40s bomb the Mamaregu barge hideout; 24 P-38s pound
Mamagata, Dio Dio, and the Miwo River area; and ground support missions along
Empress Augusta Bay are carried out by a variety of fighters.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 50+ B-24s
pound the Wewak area; and 12 P-39s hit villages, bridges and wooded areas
along the coast from Cape Gourdon to Bogia.

WEDNESDAY, 5 APRIL 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 13 B-24s bomb the railroad from
Moulmein to Kanchanaburi, destroying 3 bridges, damaging several others, and
causing much damage to track and railroad cars. 

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): P-40s from Yungning, China pound a railroad
siding at Na Cham, French Indochina, destroying 8 boxcars and a considerable
amount of track.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 288: 21 of 50 B-24s
dispatched hit V-weapon sites at St Pol/Siracourt, France without loss; heavy
clouds and the failure of blind-bombing equipment cause other B-24s to return
to base without bombing. 50 P-47s escort the B-24s without loss.
  Mission 289: 96 P-38s, 236 P-47s and 124 P-51s are dispatched to attack
airfields in Germany; heavy cloud hinders most groups: 1 P-38s is lost and 4
damaged, 1 pilot is MIA; P-47s claim 2-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft, 1 P-47 is lost
and 4 damaged, 1 pilot is MIA; P-51s claim 96-4-120 aircraft, 7 P-51s are
lost and 3 damaged, casualties are 1 KIA and 6 MIA. 
  During the night of 5/6 Apr, 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional)
dispatches 17 B-24s on CARPETBAGGER (air operations to drop supplies to
guerillas in Europe) missions; 1 B-24 is lost.
  Units arriving in England from the US: HQ 487th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
at Lavenham; 503d, 504th and 505th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons, 339th Fighter-
Bomber Group at Fowlmere with P-51s (first mission is 30 Apr); and 832d,
833d, 834th and 835th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 486th Bombardment Group
(Heavy), with B-24s (first mission is 7 May).

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Units arriving in England from the
US: HQ 36th Fighter Group and 22d Fighter Squadron at Kingsnorth with P-47s
(first mission is 8 May); HQ 50th Fighter Group and 10th, 81st and 313th
Fighter Squadrons at Lymington with P-47s (first mission is 1 May); HQ 367th
Fighter Group and 392d Fighter Squadron at Stony Cross with P-38s (first
mission is 9 May); HQ 397th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 596th, 597th,
598th and 599th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) at Gosfield with B-26s (first
mission is 20 Apr); 411th and 412th Fighter Squadrons, 373d Fighter Group at
Woodchurch with P-47s (first mission is 8 May); 506th, 507th and 508th
Fighter-Bomber Squadrons, 404th Fighter-Bomber Group, at Winkton with P-47s
(first mission is 1 May); and 513th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 406th Fighter-
Bomber Group, at Ashford with P-47s (first mission is 9 May).

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 334 B-17s and B-24s hit targets
in Rumania and Yugoslavia; the B-17s bomb a marshalling yard at Ploesti,
Rumania and Nis, Yugoslavia; the B-24s hit a marshalling yard at Ploesti and
Leskovac, Yugoslavia; fighters and AA shoot down 13 bombers.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather precludes all
light and medium bomber action; P-40s hit the Colleferro railway station,
several fuel dumps, and gun positions in the US Fifth Army battle areas;
A-36s bomb Formia, and railway stations NW of Rome and in the Frosinone area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit
Maloelap Atoll, bomb up again at Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands, and hit
Jaluit Atoll during the return trip.
  HQ 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Tarawa Atoll to Kwajalein
Atoll.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 12 B-25s pound Kara,
Bougainville Island. Bad weather cancels all missions against targets in the
Bismarck Archipelago.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 270+ B-24s,
B-25s, A-20s and P-38s hit Hollandia town and dock area and villages and
stores around Humboldt Bay; P-47s and P-40s blast numerous targets in the
Hansa Bay-Bogia and Wewak areas; and B-24s hit Kaimana and Efman Island.
B-25s bomb Koepang on Timor Island.
  Units moving from Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea: 82d Reconnaissance
Squadron (Fighter), 71st Reconnaissance Group, with P-39s; and 311th Fighter
Squadron, 58th Fighter Group, with P-47s.

THURSDAY, 6 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): 3d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), VI Bomber
Command, moves from David, Panama to Howard Field, Canal Zone with B-24s; the
squadron serves as a replacement training unit.

  ZONE OF INTERIOR:  General of the Army Henry H "Hap" Arnold assumes command
of the Twentieth Air Force at Washington, DC where HQ will remain until Jul
45. Chief of Staff is Brigadier General Haywood S Hansell, Jr (currently
Deputy Chief of Air Staff), with Colonel Cecil E Combs as his deputy for
operations.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 6 B-25s damage railroad and
rolling stock at Shwebo. 80+ fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s hit troops in the
Namti area, support ground forces NE of Kamaing, damage a bridge near
Myitkyina, and hit troops, oil dumps, and supplies at Mogaung and Manywet.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, P-40s from Suichwan pound a barrack
SW of Nanchang, causing heavy damage; a B-25 strike during the night of 6/7
Apr on airfields near Canton is curtailed by bad weather; only 1 B-25 reaches
the target, dropping fragmentation bombs on revetments.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 290: 12 of 12 B-24s hit
V-weapon sites at Watten, France without loss. Escort is provided by 27 P-47s
without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Units arriving in England from the
US with P-47s: 23d Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, at Kingsnorth (first
mission is 8 May); and 512th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 406th Fighter-Bomber
Group, at Ashford (first mission is 9 May).

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): B-24s bomb the airfield at
Zagreb, Yugoslavia; numerous other B-24s and B-17s abort because of weather;
escorting fighters and the bombers claim 17 enemy fighters destroyed in
combat; 6 US aircraft are shot down.
  HQ 451st Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 724th, 725th, 726th and 727th
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) move from San Pancrazio and Manduria to
Castelluccio Airfield, Italy with B-24s.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s hit Perugia
Airfield while B-26s bomb a bridge and its approaches NW of Orvieto; weather
prevents other medium bomber operations; fighter-bombers attack the railroad
stations at Capronica and Maccarese, guns SE of Littoria, a road bridge E of
Pescasseroli, railroad bridges in the Arezzo area, other rail facilities in C
Italy, and small transport vessels in the Aegean Sea.
  10th Troop Carrier Squadron, 60th Troop Carrier Group, moves from
Pomigliano to Brindisi, Italy with C-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll bomb
Wake Island. B-25s from Eniwetok Atoll hit Ponape Island twice. B-25s from
Abemama Island bomb Jaluit Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll, and hit Maloelap
Atoll during the return flight.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 34 B-24s pound Dublon
Island, Truk Atoll. On New Britain Island, 22 B-25s bomb Lakunai Airfield and
revetment area; 30+ fighter-bombers bomb the vicinity of Toboi wharf with
incendiaries while 20+ others carry out incendiary strike on Wunapope,
causing severe destruction to several buildings; and fighters maintain a
sweep over Rabaul and New Ireland Island areas.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, P-39s, P-40s
and P-47s continue to pound coastal targets in the Wewak, Aitape, and Madang
areas and at numerous other points along the coast. B-25s bomb Koepang, Timor
Island.

FRIDAY, 7 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 8 B-24s dispatched to destroy a convoy,
believed SE of Matsuwa Island, Kurile Islands, turn back due to engine,
navigation and weather difficulties. A flight of F-7As of the 2d
Photographic Charting Squadron, 1st Photographic Charting Group, 311th
Photographic Wing (Mapping and Charting), arrives in the Aleutian Islands;
its mission is mapping of the Kurile Islands. The squadron is based at
Peterson Field, Colorado Springs, Colorado and sends detachments to various
parts of the world to photo map.

  CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): 74th and 397th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy),
VI Bomber Command, move from Guatemala City, Guatemala and the Galapagos
Islands respectively to Rio Hato, Panama with B-24s.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20+ P-51s and B-25s hit gun
positions at Mawlu; throughout the Mogaung Valley 100+ fighter-bombers and 2
B-25s hit numerous targets including fuel and ammunition stores near Manywet,
supplies and a railroad station at Myitkyina, supplies and radio station at
Sahmaw, the Kamaing area, bridges at Nsopzup and supply dumps W of Mogaung;
30+ of the fighter-bombers carry out ground support missions at Shaduzup.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 7 P-40s strafe 3 barges and several junks at
Saint John Island, China, leaving them burning. 2 B-24s on a sweep from Hong
Kong to Formosa claim a large river boat and a small freighter sunk and 2
other freighters damaged; 1 B-24 is lost. 4 P-40s attack a large
concentration of small vessels at Haiphong, French Indochina, sinking at
least 4.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): HQ 462d Bombardment Group (Very
Heavy) arrives at Piardoba, India from the US.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, 400+ B-17s and B-24s
attack marshalling yards; the B-17s bomb Treviso; the B-24s hit Mestre and
Bologna; almost 100 P-38s provide escort; P-47s fly a sweep over the Gorizia-
Udine area; the bombers and fighters claim almost 20 aircraft shot down.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack
bridges, tracks and a viaduct at Attigliano, Ficulle, Certaldo, Pontassieve
and Incisa in Valdarno, and hit Prato marshalling yard; light bombers hit
an ammunition dump; Ausonia, Pignataro Interamna, San Apollinare and
Terracina are bombed by P-40s along with a dump and several gun positions SE
of Rome; P-47s also hit bridges and trucks in this same area and attack the
Empoli marshalling yard while A-36s hit gun emplacements, train and tracks in
the Orvieto area and vicinity and approaches to the Montalto di Castro
bridge.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit
Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll, and bomb Jaluit Atoll on the return
flight.  

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 50+
fighter-bombers pound supply areas at Ratawul; 9 B-25s hit Talili Bay, 11
bomb Vunakanau Airfield and 13 blast Tobera Airfield; 6 B-25s maintain night
heckling of the Rabaul area. On Bougainville Island, 4 P-40s bomb pillboxes
near the Reini River while 2 B-24s bomb Monoitu Mission.
  HQ 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Munda, New Georgia Island to
Momote Airfield, Los Negros Island, Admiralty Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-25s, A-20s
and P-39s hit villages, barges, a supply area, and coastal road in areas
around Madang, Tadji, Bogia, and Uligan Harbor; and B-24s bomb Langgoer and
Wakde Island. Other B-25s bomb barracks at Penfoei, Timor Island. 

SATURDAY, 8 APRIL 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, nearly 100 fighter-bombers and 2
B-25s again pound Mogaung Valley targets, including Manywet, storage areas
and railroad at Mogaung, positions at Shaduzup and general targets of
opportunity around Kamaing; 4 B-25s damage bridge and track at Sittang.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 11 B-24s bomb railroad yards at Hanoi, French
Indochina. In China, 6 B-25s damage several small ships in Yulinkan Bay; 2
others strafe an airfield on Weichow Island; 8 P-40s pound oil dumps at
Wanling, leaving the target area in flames. 9 B-24s bomb the airfield on
Samah Bay, Hainan Island; 4 others lay mines in the bay.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 291: 3 separate forces, a
total of 664 bombers divided into 13 combat wings, escorted by 780 fighters,
are dispatched against airfields in NW Germany and aircraft factories in the
Brunswick area; 34 bombers and 23 fighters are lost.
  1. 59 of 59 B-17s hit Oldenburg Airfield; 32 B-17s are damaged; casualties
are 5 WIA.
  2. 255 B-17s are dispatched to Achmer, Quakenbruck and Rheine Airfields; 83
hit Quakenbruck, 60 hit Achmer, 41 hit Rheine, 22 hit Twente Enschede, 21 hit
Hesepe, 19 hit Handorf and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 4 B-17s are lost and
128 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 3 WIA and 40 MIA.
  3. 350 B-24s are dispatched to aviation industry targets in Brunswick; 190
hit the primary, 59 hit Rosslingen, 48 hit Langenhagen Airfield and 6 hit
targets of opportunity; they claim 58-9-32 Luftwaffe aircraft; 30 B-24s are
lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 87 damaged; casualties are 8 KIA, 23 WIA
and 300 MIA.
  Escort is provided by 136 P-38s, 438 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
206 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the fighters claim 88-3-46 Luftwaffe
aircraft in the air and 49-6-38 on the ground: 5 P-38s are lost and 3
damaged, 5 pilots are MIA; 4 P-47s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 12
damaged, 4 pilots are MIA; 14 P-51s are lost and 3 damaged, 14 pilots are MIA.
  Mission 292: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1 million leaflets on Liege, Brussels,
Ghent, Antwerp, and Mont-sur-Sombre, Belgium at 2215-2227 hours without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In Belgium, 198 B-26s attack Hasselt
marshalling yard and hit Coxyde Airfield; and 32 P-47s bomb the area around
Hasselt.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): HQ 484th Bombardment Group
(Heavy) and 824th and 827th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) arrive at Torretto
Airfield, Italy from the US with B-24s; first mission is 29 Apr.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack a
bridge NW of Orte while A-20s successfully attack supply stores; fighter-
bombers hit several bridges, motor transport, and supply dumps in C Italy,
and bomb railroad tracks at Sesti Bagni and Maccarese.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s flying out of Kwajalein
Atoll, strike Truk Atoll; Abemama Island-based B-25s pound Ponape Island;
B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll and bomb
Jaluit Atoll during the return flight.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): During the night of 7/8 Apr
6 B-25s heckle the Kavieng Airfield area on New Ireland Island. On New
Britain Island, 50+ fighter-bombers hit the NE section of Rabaul and 24 B-25s
bomb the center of Lakunai Airfield. 4 B-24s again pound Monoitu Mission on
Bougainville Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, P-40s attack
targets of opportunity in the Aitape-Wewak area; and A-20s hit targets in the
Hansa Bay area, firing a fuel dump and destroying several warehouses and
other buildings at 3 plantations and strafing and bombing roads and bridges
along the coast.
  HQ 417th Bombardment Group (Light) moves from Dobodura to Saidor, New
Guinea.

SUNDAY, 9 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A weather sortie over Matsuwa Island is
negative due to low clouds and fog.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, the Mogaung Valley is pounded by
100+ fighter-bombers and a few B-25s; the aircraft hit town areas, bridges,
storage areas, support ground forces, and hit targets of opportunity in
general in or near Mogaung, Kamaing, Laban, Hopin, Myitkyina, and Nsopzup; 25
B-25s and P-51s hit fuel dumps at Indaw, bomb a road near Manhton and support
ground forces at Lasai; 6 B-24s bomb Mandalay railroad yards, another bombs
nearby Maymyo, and 13 others mine areas near Mandalay and Magwe; also in the
Mandalay area, 11 P-38s damage several locomotives, numerous railroad cars
and set a steamer afire near Ywataung.
  The detachment of the 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, Tenth Air Force,
operating from Hsinching, China transfers to Jorhat, India with F-7s; the
squadron is based at Guskhara, India.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25s claim a 200-ft (61 m)
tanker sunk off Cape Bastion and 3 fighters shot down over Yulinkan Bay.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 293: 542 bombers and 719
fighters are dispatched to aircraft factories and airfields in Germany and
Poland; the bombers claim 45-8-14 Luftwaffe aircraft; 32 bombers and 10
fighters are lost; 10 bombers are damaged beyond repair. Details are:
  1. 145 B-17s are dispatched to aviation industry at Rahmel, Poland and
Marienburg, Germany; 96 hit Marienburg, 41 hit Rahmel and 3 hit targets of
opportunity; 6 B-17s are lost and 44 damaged; casualties are 8 KIA, 9 WIA and
60 MIA.
  2. 151 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Focke-Wulf plant at Poznan, Poland
and the Heinkel plant at Warnemunde, Germany; 85 hit Warnemunde, 33 hit
Poznan and 18 hit Marienehe Airfield; 12 B-17s are lost and 93 damaged;
casualties are 6 WIA and 120 MIA.
  3. 246 B-24s are dispatched to hit an assembly plant at Tutow, Germany; 106
hit the primary, 14 hit Parchim, Germany and 6 hit targets of opportunity; 14
B-24s are lost and 30 damaged; casualties are 17 KIA, 6 WIA and 140 MIA.
  Escort is provided by 119 P-38s, 387 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
213 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the fighters claim 20-1-6 Luftwaffe
aircraft in the air and 19-0-8 on the ground; no fighter support is available
over the targets because of bad weather or distance: 2 P-38s are lost, 2
damaged beyond repair and 9 damaged, casualties are 1 KIA and 2 MIA; 4 P-47s
are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged, casualties are 2 KIA, 2
WIA and 3 MIA; 4 P-51s are lost and 1 damaged beyond repair, 1 pilot is MIA.
  Mission 294: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 2.752 million leaflets on Rouen, Paris,
Amiens and Caen, France at 2224-2338 hours without loss.
  23 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 14th Liaison Squadron, US Strategic
Air Forces in Europe (attached to US Third Army), arrives at Alderley Edge,
England from the US with L-5s; first mission is in Jul.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 815th, 816th, 817th and 840th 
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 483d Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrive at
Sterparone Airfield, Italy from the US with B-17s; first mission is 12 Apr.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, P-40 and A-36 fighter-
bombers bomb the railroad line between Rome and Bracciano, hitting tracks, a
station, and a warehouse; attack Littoria and Terracina, repair shops NW of
Valmontone and several gun positions; and bomb scattered motor transport
during armed reconnaissance of the Avezzano-Sora-Pontecorvo-Ceprano areas.
  379th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 310th Bombardment Group (Medium),
moves from Ghisonaccia, Corsica to Fano, Italy with B-25s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s on a photo reconnaissance
mission over Maloelap, Wotje, and Mille Atolls, Marshall Islands, and a
single Tarawa Atoll-based B-25 bombs Taroa Island, Maloelap Atoll; B-25s, in
a shuttle mission from Abemama Island, bomb Jaluit Atoll, rearm at Majuro
Atoll, and then hit Maloelap Atoll. 

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 23
B-25s bomb Lakunai; 31 fighter-bombers hit Ralum supply areas while 22 others
strike Wunapope; and during the night of 8/9 Apr, 7 B-25s fly heckling
missions against Rabaul.
  394th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), ceases
operating from Munda, New Georgia Island; the squadron is based on
Guadalcanal Island with B-24s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 55 B-25s bomb
the Aitape area while B-24s and A-20s hit Wewak, Boram, Cape Moem, AA
positions along Hansa Bay, and barges SE of Mushu Island and in the Wagol
River; and P-39s hit troops, barges, and bridges in the Madang, Awar, Bogia
and Bunabun areas.
  675th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 417th Bombardment Group (Light), moves
from Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea with A-20s.

MONDAY, 10 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, 3 B-24s fly armed
reconnaissance over Matsuwa and Onnekotan Islands.

  CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): 29th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), VI Bomber
Command, moves from the Galapagos Islands to Howard Field, Canal Zone with
B-24s.

  ZONE OF INTERIOR (First Air Force): 1st Search Attack Group and 2d, 3d
and 4th Search Attack Squadrons (Heavy) are disbanded at Langley Field,
Virginia; these units tested equipment and developed techniques and tactics
for ASW, flew ASW patrols and served as an OTU for radar training.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, about 100 fighter-bombers and a
few B-25s pound numerous targets, including an encampment SW of Mogaung,
positions near Kazu, a railroad and truck park at Myitkyina, a supply area S
of Myitkyina, and a bivouac area and supplies at Kamaing; some of the fighter-
bombers carry out support of ground forces NE of Kamaing; 40+ fighter-bombers
and B-25s over the Katha area hit a bridge at Thityabin, troops and supplies
at Shwegu, gun positions and troops S of Mawlu, and targets of opportunity
including a fuel dump; and 9 B-24s bomb the railroad station and jetty area
at Moulmein while 4 others mine the mouth of the Tavoy River.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 3 B-25s damage 2 bridges at Phu Dien Chau,
French Indochina, and destroy several buildings and some railroad track. 10
P-40s pound roads N and S of Wanling, Burma.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)
informally approve Operation MATTERHORN, the plan for the bombing of Japan by
B-29s based in the Calcutta, India area and staging through advanced fields
in the Chengtu, China area, which had been approved in principle by
President Franklin D Roosevelt on 10 Nov 43. The operational vehicle is to be
the 58th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) (4 bombardment groups) of the XX
Bomber Command, soon to be assigned to the newly activated Twentieth Air
Force, operating under General of the Army Henry H "Hap"  Arnold as executive
agent for the JCS.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 295: 729 bombers and 496
fighters are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets and airfields in
Belgium and France; 3 bombers and 2 fighters are lost.
  1. 238 B-17s are dispatched to bomb aviation industry targets in Belgium;
123 bomb the aviation industry and airfield at Evere, 52 hit Brussels/
Melsbroek Airfield, 39 hit aviation industry targets at Brussels, and 20 hit
Bergen op Zoom; 1 B-17 is lost and 99 damaged; casualties are 4 WIA and 10
MIA.
  2. 248 B-17s are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets and airfields
in Belgium and France; in Belgium, 62 hit Maldagem Airfield, 60 hit Diest/
Schaffen Airfield and 42 hit Florennes/Juzaine Airfield; in France, 21 hit
Courcelles and 21 hit Beaumont sur Oise Airfield; they claim 0-2-1 Luftwaffe
aircraft; 1 B-17 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 19 damaged; casualties
are 10 MIA.
  3. 243 B-24s are dispatched to hit the airfield and aviation industry
targets; in Belgium, 151 hit the airfield and aviation industry at Bourges;
in France, 28 hit Orleans/Bricy Airfield, 21 hit Romarantin Airfield and 15
hit V-weapon sites at Marquise/Mimoyecques; they claim 6-0-0 Luftwaffe
aircraft; 1 B-24 is lost and 3 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 10 MIA.
  Escort is provided by 51 P-38s, 295 P-47s and 150 Eighth and Ninth Air
Force P-51s: P-38s haveno claims or losses; P-47s claim 12-0-7 Luftwaffe
aircraft, 1 P-47 is lost and 4 damaged, 1 pilot is MIA; P-51s claim 40-0-16
aircraft, 1 P-51 is lost and 1 damaged, 1 pilot is MIA.
  Mission 296: Three forces are dispatched on fighter-bomber missions; all
include P-38 Droopsnoot aircraft:
  1. 39 P-38s are dispatched to attack Florennes/Juzaine Airfield, Belgium;
no losses or claims.
  2. 51 P-38s and 7 P-47s are dispatched to attack St Dizier, France; the
primary is cloud covered and 16 P-38s attack Coulommiers Airfield, France; 2
P-38s are lost and 1 damaged; 2 pilots are MIA; the P-47s claim 2-0-1
Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground.
  3. 28 P-38s and 46 P-47s are dispatched to bomb Gutersloh, Germany; 1 P-38
is lost, the pilot is MIA.
  Mission 297: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 2 million leaflets on Lille, Le Mans,
Chartres, Reims and Orleans, France at 2212-2258 hours local without loss.
  23 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 258 B-26s and 41 A-20s, including 12
aircraft dropping Window, attack coastal batteries at Le Harve/Le Grand
Hameau, France and military installation nearby. In Belgium during the
afternoon 267 B-26s and A-20s bomb the marshalling yard, airfield, coastal
defenses, and NOBALL targets at Charleroi/Montignies, Namur, Coxyde, Nieuport
and other points on the N coast of W Europe. 47 P-47s dive-bomb the airfield
at Evreux, France.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 776th Bombardment Squadron
(Heavy), 464th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives at Pantanella Airfield,
Italy from the US with B-24s; first mission is 30 Apr.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, A-20s hit an ammunition
dump at Gallicano nel Lazio; B-25s bomb the Orvieto marshalling yard and 2
bridges; B-26s hit Poggibonsi and Cecina railroad bridges and tracks, and
viaducts at Bucine and W of Arezzo; fighter-bombers operating over wide areas
of C Italy and in the battle zones hit railroad bridges, railroad cars, motor
transport, barracks, and troop concentrations with good effect.
  522d, 523d and 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons, 27th Fighter-Bomber Group,
move from Pomigliano to Castel Volturno, Italy with A-36s and P-40s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok
Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll (1 hits Ponape Island) while B-25s, based on Abemama
Island, strike Ponape. B-25s, flying a shuttle mission between Tarawa and
Majuro Atolls, pound Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 22
B-25s bomb the Ratawul supply area and 40+ fighter-bombers hit the runway at
Tobera, both strikes causing considerable damage; night harassment of the
Rabaul area continues.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): About 60 B-24s, teaming with
US destroyers offshore, bombard the Hansa Bay, New Guinea area, concentrating
on AA positions guarding airfields.
  672d Bombardment Squadron (Light), 417th Bombardment Group (Light), moves
from Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea with A-20s.

TUESDAY, 11 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Of 3 B-24s attempting to fly a photographic
and bombing run over Matsuwa Island installations, 2 must turn back; the
third bombs the runway area.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 17 P-51s and B-25s fly ground
support missions and bomb a road near Maungkan; Mogaung Valley targets are
pounded by 50+ fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s; targets include HQ and stores at
Sahmaw, HQ and ammunition dump SW of Mogaung, troops at Myitkyina, and
targets of opportunity to the S, a gun position S of Kamaing, and HQ at
Waingmaw.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 3 B-25s hit railroad
targets of opportunity N of Vinh and seriously damage a bridge S of Thanh
Hoa.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): Units arriving in India from the
US: HQ 444th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and 676th Bombardment Squadron
(Very Heavy) at Charra with B-29s (first mission is 5 Jun); and 25th
Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy), 40th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), at
Chakulia with B-29s (first mission is 5 Jun).

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 298: 917 bombers and 819
fighters are dispatched in 3 separate forces to bomb production centers
(primarily fighter aircraft factories) and targets of opportunity in N
Germany; 64 bombers are lost, one of the heaviest single-day losses of World
War II. The bombers also drop 2.4 million leaflets. Details are:
  1. 341 B-17s are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets at Sorau (108
bomb) and Cottbus (17 bomb); 127 hit Stettin, 20 hit Trechel, 16 hit
Dobberphel and 23 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 12-2-3 Luftwaffe
aircraft; 19 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 190 damaged;
casualties are 12 KIA, 13 WIA and 200 MIA.
  2. Of 302 B-17s dispatched, 172 hit Rostock, 52 hit Politz, 35 hit the
industrial area at Arnimswalde and 15 hit targets of opportunity; they claim
34-20-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 33 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and
153 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 9 WIA and 330 MIA.
  3. 274 B-24s are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets at
Oschersleben (121 bomb) and Berenburg (99 bomb); 9 bomb aviation industry
targets at Halberstadt, 9 bomb Eisleben and 5 hit targets of opportunity;
they claim 27-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 12 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond
repair and 63 damaged; casualties are 5 KIA, 9 WIA and 122 MIA.
  Escort is provided by 124 P-38s, 454 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
241 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the fighters claim 51-5-25 Luftwaffe
aircraft in the air and 65-0-67 on the grounds: no P-38s are lost; 7 P-47s
are lost and 16 damaged, 7 pilots are MIA; 9 P-51s are lost and 13 damaged, 9
pilots are MIA.
  Mission 299: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 2 million leaflets on Paris, Rouen, Le Mans,
Rennes, Vichy, Lyon, Limoges and Toulouse between 2301 and 0055 hours local
without loss.
  12 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In Belgium, 229 B-26s and 36 A-20s,
including 3 dropping Window, attack Charleroi/Montignies, military
installations on the coast, and Chievres Airfield. 90+ P-47s dive-bomb
a military installation and Gael Airfield, France.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s hit the Montalto
di Castro railroad bridge, while B-26s hit marshalling yards at Ancona and
Siena; fighter-bombers concentrate on attacks against railroad targets NE of
Rome and buildings inland from the E coast; tracks are hit hard in the
Arezzo-Pontassieve area as are stations at Maccarese and Cesano; an overpass,
bridges, railroad cars and dumps throughout C Italy are attacked, as is the
town of Gaeta.
  488th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 340th Bombardment Group (Medium),
moves from Gaudo Airfield, Italy to Alesan, Corsica with B-25s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from the Gilbert Islands
hit Ponape Island, rearm at Majuro Atoll, and carry out a shuttle mission
against Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Thirteenth Air Task Force
(Provisional) is created by General George C Kenney, Commanding General
Allied Air Force (Southwest Pacific Area), from elements of the Thirteenth
Air Force and other units. 
  On New Britain Island, about 40 fighter-bombers hit the E section of Rabaul
while 12 others strike Talili Bay ammunition dump; 24 B-25s blast supply
areas at Ratawul. On Bougainville Island, 20+ fighter-bombers are dispatched
against coastal gun positions but fail to locate their objective; 12 of the
fighter-bombers bomb Aitara while 2 claim destruction of a bridge near
Mawareka.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 80+ A-20s and
B-25s, supported by 30 P-47s and P-40s, blast AA positions, stores, dumps and
personnel areas at Hollandia; 50+ B-24s bomb barges, AA guns, and other
targets along Hansa Bay which is also hit by 12 B-25s. 12 other B-25s bomb
targets on Karkar Island.

WEDNESDAY, 12 APRIL 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 90+ P-40s, A-36s, P-51s, and B-25s
over the Mogaung Valley support ground forces, bomb supply areas, and hit
numerous targets of opportunity in areas around Mogaung, Myitkyina, Kamaing,
Taungni, and Shaduzup; 5 B-25s knock out a bridge at Natmauk while 2 others
damage the Pyu bridge near Rangoon; 5 B-24s bomb Nagorn Sawarn while 7 hit
the Moulmein railroad station and jetties and bomb the SE part of Prome.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 300: 455 bombers and 766
fighters dispatched to bomb industrial targets at Schweinfurt, Zwickau,
Oscheresleben, Schkeuditz, Halle and Leipzig are forced to abandon the
mission because of haze and multilayer clouds; Luftwaffe fighter opposition
is concentrated over N France and the bombers claim 10-6-7 fighters; 6
B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 25 B-24s are
damaged; casualties are 12 KIA, 16 WIA and 56 MIA. Escort is provided by
124 P-38s, 449 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 193 Eighth and Ninth
Air Force P-51s; they claim 18-1-3 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-8
on the ground; 3 P-38s and 2 P-51s are lost, 2 P-47s are damaged beyond
repair and 3 P-38s, 17 P-47s and 1 P-51 are damaged; 5 pilots are MIA.
  HQ 353d Fighter Group moves from Metfield to Raydon, England.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 231 B-26s and 20 A-20s attack
railroad, shore batteries, radar installations, airfields, and V-weapon sites
at Dunkirk and Courtrai/Wevelghem, France; Coxyde/Furnes, De Pannes-Bains,
Saint Ghislain and Ostend, Belgium; and points along the coast. 70+ P-47s
dive-bomb military installations in N France.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 483d Bombardment Group (Heavy)
with B-17s becomes operational, increasing the number of combat status bomber
groups to 17.
  Bad weather lifts, permitting bomber operations; almost 450 B-17s and B-24s
attack targets in Austria and Yugoslavia; the B-17s hit aircraft factories at
Fischamend Markt, Austria and Split, Yugoslavia; the B-24s hit the industrial
area at Wiener Neustadt and Bad Voslau, Austria and the marshalling yard and
air depot at Zagreb, Yugoslavia; 200+ P-38s and P-47s provide escort; the
bombers and fighters claim 30+ enemy aircraft shot down; 8 US airplanes are
known lost and several more fail to return.
  HQ 465th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 783d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)
arrive at Pantanell Airfield, Italy from the US with B-24s; first mission is
5 May.
  122d Liaison Squadron, 68th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from
Manduria, Italy to Blida, Algeria with B-17s; the squadron, which has been
transporting supplies to partisans and dropping leaflets in the MTO, will be
redesignated 885th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 12 May and was re-equipped
with B-24s.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers bomb rail
lines approaching the Monte Molino bridge and at a nearby junction to the
Viterbo line, railroad and road bridges S of Orvieto and at Certaldo, tracks
approaching a bridge at Impeda, and railroad bridges over the Var River and
at Albenga; light bombers pound the Zagarolo supply dump; fighter-bombers and
fighters (some operating with British aircraft) hit communications (mainly
railroad bridges), vehicles, supply dumps at various places, including
Arezzo, the island of Elba, Orvieto, NE of Grosseto, NW of Bracciano, Civita
Castellana, Montalto di Castro, between Piombino and Viterbo, in the
Castiglioncello area, NW of Montepescali and S of Cecina.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s, flying out of Abemama
Island, bomb Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll, and hit Jaluit Atoll on
the return trip.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): HQ 5th Bombardment Group
(Heavy) is ordered to move from Guadalcanal Island and New Georgia Island to
Los Negros Island where it will form the nucleus of the Thirteenth Air Task
Force.
  On New Britain Island, 23 B-25s and 11 P-39s pound the W section of Rabaul,
7 other B-25s cause considerable damage in the Ratawul supply area; 23
fighter-bombers blast the concrete airstrip at Vunakanau. On Bougainville
Island 12 fighter-bombers bomb and strafe the Numa Numa trail and pound the
harbor area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 180+ B-24s,
B-25s, and A-20s, supported by 60+ P-38s, bomb AA positions, airfields,
supply areas and shipping construction; B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and P-39s bomb
and strafe various targets at Wewak, Madang, along Hansa Bay and on Karkar
Island; other P-39s fly a barge sweep from Alexishafen up the coast as far as
the mouth of the Sepik River. 2 B-25s bomb Penfoei on Timor Island.

THURSDAY, 13 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly armed reconnaissance and bombing
runs over the airfield on Matsuwa Island and installations on Onnekotan
Island.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 90+ P-40s, P-51s and A-36s and a
few B-25s carry out ground support missions near Kamaing and hit assorted
targets throughout the Mogaung Valley; 12 B-25s and 11 P-51s support ground
forces at Mawlu.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 28 fighters attempt to intercept but fail to
make contact with 13 Japanese airplanes which bomb Namyung, China.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): Units arriving in India with
B-29s from the US: HQ 468th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and 792d, 793d,
794th and 795th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy) at Kharagpur; 677th and
679th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy), 444th Bombardment Group (Very
Heavy), at Charra; first mission for all units is 5 Jun 44.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 301: 626 bombers and 871
fighters are dispatched to hit targets in Germany; the bombers claim 22-13-34
Luftwaffe aircraft and the fighters claim 42-8-10 in the air and 35-0-21 on
the ground; 38 bombers and 9 fighters are lost; the bombers also drop 5.2
million leaflets on Germany; this mission is flown in conjunction with a raid
on Hungary by 500+ Fifteenth Air Force bombers and a Ninth Air Force B-26
raid in S The Netherlands; details are:
  1. 154 of 172 B-17s hit the industrial area at Schweinfurt and 1 hits a
target of opportunity; 14 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 127
damaged; casualties are 11 WIA and 139 MIA.
  2. 207 of 243 B-17s bomb aviation industry targets at Augsburg and 20 hit
the city of Augsburg; 18 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 178
damaged; casualties are 3 KIA, 16 WIA and 170 MIA.
  3. 211 B-24s are dispatched to hit Lechfeld Airfield; 93 hit the primary,
60 bomb aviation industry targets at Oberpfaffenhofen; 29 hit Lauffern and 2
hit targets of opportunity; 6 B-24s are lost and 45 damaged; casualties are 1
KIA, 3 WIA and 60 MIA.
  Escort is provided by 134 P-38s, 504 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
233 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; 3 P-38s are lost and 1 damaged beyond
repair; 2 P-47s are lost; and 4 P-51s are lost and 1 damaged beyond repair;
a total of 11 fighters are damaged; casualties are 2 WIA and 8 MIA.
  Mission 302: 4 of 5 B-17s dispatched drop 800,000 leaflets on Amsterdam,
The Hague and Eindhoven, The Netherlands at 2235-2252 hours without loss.

  SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (SHAEF): General of the
Army Dwight D Eisenhower formally assumes direction of air operations out of
the UK at 0000 hours (though he began informal exercise of this authority in
late Mar 44). This assumption of authority gives Eisenhower direction over
the Allied Expeditionary Air Force (AEAF), Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber
Command, and US Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSTAF) (the Fifteenth Air
Force retains some degree of independence) along with the US 1st Army Group,
British 21 Army Group, and Allied Naval Forces.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 121 B-26s and 37 A-20s attack
a marshalling yard, coastal batteries, airfields and V-weapon sites at Namur,
Chievres and Nieuport, Belgium; Le Havre, France; and along the N coast of
France in general; nearly 175 other aircraft abort missions mainly because of
weather; and 48 P-47s also dive-bomb V-weapon sites.
  Moves in England: HQ 358th Fighter Group and 365th, 366th and 367th Fighter
Squadrons from Raydon to High Halden with P-47s; HQ 362d Fighter Group from
Wormingford to Headcorn.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 535 heavy bombers (largest
bomber mission to date) bomb targets in Hungary; the B-17s bomb an aircraft
plant and depot at Gyor; the B-24s bomb an aircraft factory at Budapest and
air depots at Budapest, Tokol and Vecses; fighter opposition and AA account
for 14 US bombers and 1 fighter shot down; 40 enemy fighters are claimed shot
down and 120+ aircraft destroyed on the ground.
  779th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 464th Bombardment Group (Heavy),
arrives at Pantanella Airfield, Italy from the US with B-24s; first mission
is 30 Apr.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s attack Terni and
a bridge at Marsciano while B-26s bomb Ancona marshalling yard and a nearby
railroad bridge; fighter-bombers again strike mainly at communications, the
town of Itri, Cesano station, a factory at Fontana Liri, a railroad overpass
at Fara in Sabina, Anguillara, and bridges, trucks and other targets at
points throughout C Italy.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s out of Eniwetok Atoll
strike Truk Atoll; B-25s from Abemama Island hit Ponape Island; B-25s from
Tarawa Atoll bomb Jaluit Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll and hit Maloelap Atoll.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 24
B-25s blast Talili Bay and Ratawul supply areas and the town of Rabaul; 40+
fighter-bombers strike the Malaguna area NW of Rabaul; 17 fighter-bombers hit
personnel and supply areas at Mosigetta, Mawareka, Meive, and Maririei.
During the early morning 23 B-24s bomb Truk Atoll.
  394th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from
Guadalcanal Island to Momote Airfield, Los Negros Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 80+ B-24s and
A-20s pound the airfields at Dagua and But on the N coast of New Guinea; 33
A-20s hit Aitape; P-39s, B-25s, and B-24s fly light strikes against a variety
of targets along Hansa Bay, on Wakde Island, at Uligan, and several other
points along the coast.

FRIDAY, 14 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly armed photo reconnaissance mission
during early the morning over Matsuwa, Onnekotan, and Paramushiru Islands,
Kurile Islands. Photographs taken are negative due to cloud cover.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20 P-40s over the Mogaung Valley
attack a camp at Manywet; 20 P-51s and 3 B-25s support ground forces in the
Mawlu area.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 350th and 351st Fighter Squadrons,
353d Fighter Group, move from Metfield to Raydon, England with P-47s.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Moves in England: HQ 363d Fighter
Group and 380th, 381st and 382d Fighter Squadrons from Rivenhall to
Staplehurst with P-51s; 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, from
Boxted to Lashenden with P-51s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s attack Viterbo
Airfield and Leghorn marshalling yard, B-26s strike at Poggibonsi, Certaldo,
Cecina and Magra, attacking mostly rail facilities and hit Arezzo bridge and
viaduct and Bucine viaducts; fighter-bombers also concentrate on rail lines
and bridges and hit many supply dumps, gun positions and factories, generally
located NE of Rome.
  HQ 340th Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from Paestum, Italy to Corsica.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): A single B-24, enroute from
Kwajalein Atoll to Tarawa Atoll, bombs Jaluit Atoll; B-25s from Eniwetok
Atoll bomb Ponape Island while B-25s from Abemama Island strike Jaluit and
Maloelap Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as an arming station between strikes;
Japanese bombers carry out an ineffective raid on Eniwetok Atoll.
  26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves
from Tarawa Atoll to Kwajalein Atoll with B-24s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 19 B-24s on a mission to
the Caroline Islands bomb Eten, Param, and Kuop Islands and targets of
opportunity in Truk Atoll. On New Britain Island, 24 B-25s and 40+ fighter-
bombers blast a supply area at Ratawul; and 8 other fighter-bombers hit
Wunapope. 20+ fighter-bombers strike various targets in the NE part of
Bougainville Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-25s and
P-39s hit barges and luggers in Vanimo Harbor and at Bogia.
  673d Bombardment Squadron (Light), 417th Bombardment Group (Light), moves
from Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea with A-20s.

SATURDAY, 15 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): During the night of 14/15 Apr 3 B-24s on armed
reconnaissance mission over Matsuwa and Onnekotan Islands hit several targets
including Matsuwa Airfield; reconnaissance over Paramushiru Island fails due
to overcast.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 12 B-24s over the Andaman Islands attack
shipping and other targets at Port Blair. 12 P-38s hit Heho Airfield, Burma,
destroying several parked airplanes.
  19th Liaison Squadron, US Army Forces, CBI, arrives at Kanchrapara, India
with L-5s (first mission is in Jun 44).

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 3 B-25s knock out a bridge at Viet Tri,
French Indochina, and damage another.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 303: 616 fighters are
dispatched on strafing sweeps of C and W Germany, airfields being the primary
objectives; 33 fighters are lost: 132 P-38s claim 7-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft,
11 P-38s are lost and 16 damaged, 11 pilots are MIA; 262 P-47s claim 20-1-23
aircraft, 7 P-47s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 13 damaged, 7 pilots
are MIA; 222 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s claim 30-0-10 aircraft, 15
P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 5 damaged; 12 pilots are MIA.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Moves in England: HQ 100th Fighter
Wing from Ibsley to Lashenden; HQ 397th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 596th,
597th, 598th and 599th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) from Gosfield to
Rivenhall with B-26s (first mission is 20 Apr); 377th, 378th and 379th
Fighter Squadrons, 362d Fighter Group, from Wormingford to Headcorn with
P-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Clearing weather again permits
bomber operations. 448 B-17s and B-24s attack marshalling yards; B-17s hit
Ploesti, Rumania and Nis, Yugoslavia; B-24s hit Bucharest, Rumania; 150+
fighters provide escort. 
  A special group, led by Lieutenant Colonel Louis A Neveleff, flies from
HQ at Bari, Italy to Medeno Polji, Yugoslavia and from there the group
proceeds to Marshall Tito's HQ at Drvar, where Colonel Neveleff confers with
Tito and spends several days laying the groundwork for the evacuation of
downed US airmen in Yugoslav hands. Also, much information is gathered
regarding the military organization and political trend of the partisan
movement. The mission returns to Italy on 2 May and 122 men, mostly Fifteenth
Air Force airmen, are also evacuated.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers strike a
marshalling yard at Leghorn and a tunnel and railroad bridges in C Italy;
P-47s attack rail lines, bridges and ammunition dumps NE of Rome with good
results; other P-47s, P-40s and A-36s hit numerous targets, including rail
lines, motor transport shop, vehicles, tanks and gun positions, in C Italy
and in the US Fifth Army battle areas.
  XII Air Support Command is redesignated XII Tactical Air Command. 
  Moves in Italy: HQ 332d Fighter Group and 301st Fighter Squadron from
Montecorvino to Capodichino with P-39s; 486th Bombardment Squadron (Medium),
340th Bombardment Group (Medium), from Gaudo Airfield to Alesan, Corsica with
B-25s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Major General Robert W Douglass
Jr becomes Commanding General Seventh Air Force.
  B-25s, based on Tarawa Atoll, bomb Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll
and hit Jaluit and Mille Atolls on the return trip.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 24
B-25s bomb an ammunition dump on Talili Bay; 11 P-39s follow with a strike on
the same target; 3 P-38s fire the Wunapope supply area; other fighter-bomber
strikes on the same area are cancelled by weather. A few P-38s hit targets
in the NE part of Bougainville Island.
  72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from
Munda, New Georgia Island to Momote Airfield, Los Negros Island with B-24s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 180+ B-24s,
B-25s and A-20s bomb landing strips, off-shore islands and the entire coastal
area in the vicinity of Aitape; 16 P-40s strafe barges at nearby Seleo
Island; 20 P-39s hit villages, supply dumps, trucks and other targets along
Hansa Bay and in the Alexishafen area.

SUNDAY, 16 APRIL 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s hit a bridge over the
Mogaung River while 9 others, along with 12 P-51s, hit a warehouse and
railroad station at Mohnyin; 9 P-38s destroy 3 medium bombers at Zayatkwin
near Rangoon while 2 P-51s in the Mandalay area hit Anisakan Airfield,
destroying 2 airplanes.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): 768th Bombardment Squadron (Very
Heavy), 462d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), arrives at Piardoba, India with
B-29s; first mission is 5 Jun.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ 55th Fighter Group and 338th
and 343d Fighter Squadrons move from Nuthampstead to Wormingford, England
with P-38s.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ 410th Bombardment Group (Light)
and 644th, 645th, 646th and 647th Bombardment Squadrons (Light) move from
Birch to Gosfield, England with A-20s; first mission is 4 May.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 31st Fighter Group with P-51s
(transferred from Twelfth Air Force on 1 Apr) begins operations. It becomes
the fifth operational fighter group of the Fifteenth Air Force.
  432 B-17s and B-24s hit targets in Rumania and Yugoslavia; B-17s bomb the
industrial area at Belgrade, Yugoslavia and an aircraft plant at Brasov,
Rumania; B-24s hit marshalling yards at Brasov and Turnu Severin, Rumania;
90+ fighters fly escort while 50+ others, failing to rendezvous with the
bombers, strafe trains on the Craiova line E of Turnu Severin.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s bomb approaches to
Ficulle and Todi railway bridges; A-20s blast fuel supplies; P-40s, P-47s and
A-36s hit the Capranica viaduct, town of Zagarolo, railway at Spigno
Monferrato, marshalling yard at Orte-Terni, tunnel at Capranica and tracks,
vehicles, railway cars, ammunition dump, bridge, and targets of opportunity
at various points in C Italy.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s, staging through Eniwetok
Atoll, strike Truk Atoll; B-25s from Abemama Island hit Maloelap and Mille
Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a rearming base between the strikes.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 15 B-24s bomb the runway at
Satawan Atoll, Caroline Islands. On New Britain Island, 24 B-25s hit the
Ratawul supply area and alternate target of Raluana; at Rabaul 30+ fighter-
bombers attack area inland from Toboi wharf.
  23d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from
Munda, New Georgia Island to Momote Airfield, Los Negros Island with B-24s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 170+ B-24s,
B-25s and A-20s bomb Hollandia town and airfield and numerous other targets
in the area; P-39s hit a wooded area and communications targets along Hansa
Bay and attack villages and supply dumps from Bogia to Uligan Harbor; P-38s
hit Madang area; B-24s fly a light strike against Wakde Island; other
aircraft, operating singly or in pairs, attack targets of opportunity on the
N coast of New Guinea and SE coast of New Britain Island. Other B-25s bomb
Koepang on Timor Island. 

MONDAY, 17 APRIL 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 6 P-51s support ground forces near
Meza; 9 P-38s destroy several airplanes at Heho Airfield while 5 B-24s bomb
Ywataung; 26 B-25s and 36 P-51s support ground forces at Mawlu and bomb a
fuel dump at Kin; 13 other P-51s are diverted to intercept a Japanese force
over the Imphal, India area and claim 3 airplanes shot down.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 304: 14 of 15 B-24s bomb
the V-weapon site at Wizernes, France without loss; escort is provided by 33
P-47s. 
  Mission 305: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1.48 million leaflets on Rennes, Brest,
Nantes, Lorient and St Nazaire, France at 2248-2258 hours without loss.
  HQ 493d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 860th, 861st, 862d and 863d
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) move from Elveden Hall to Debach, England with
B-24s; first mission is 6 Jun.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Unit moves in England: HQ 70th
Fighter Wing from Boxted to Ibsley; and HQ 354th Fighter Group and 353d and
356th Fighter Squadrons from Boxted to Lashenden with P-51s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  AAF, MTO: 121st Liaison Squadron, AAF, MTO moves from Oran to Telergma,
Algeria with L-4s and L-5s; first mission is in Sep 44.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 470 B-17s and B-24s hit targets
in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia; B-17s bomb the industrial area, air depot and
marshalling yard at Belgrade, Yugoslavia; B-24s bomb the marshalling yard at
Sofia, Bulgaria; 200+ fighters escort the missions; US aircraft claim 25
enemy aircraft downed in combat.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s attack bridges N
of Orte and at Monte Molino, while A-20s pound a fuel dump NE of Rome; P-40,
P-47 and A-36 fighter-bombers hit motor transport stores and gun positions N
of Anzio, bomb Fara in Sabina station, hit tracks, trains and guns in the
Orte and Narni area and at other points N of Rome.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s, based on Tarawa Atoll,
strike Maloelap and Mille Atolls, rearming at Majuro Atoll between the raids.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 20 B-24s bomb the airfield
at Satawan Atoll. On New Britain Island, 24 B-25s pound runway and revetments
at Rapopo Airfield; 40+ fighter-bombers hit Matupi with incendiaries while 10
others pound the runway at Keravat.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 20+ B-24s bomb storage areas
and troop concentrations in Kai Island, Moluccas Islands. In New Guinea,
P-39s attack AA positions at Bogia; other planes, operating individually or
in pairs, attack Hollandia, Uligan Harbor and vicinity and the Madang area.
  674th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 417th Bombardment Group (Light), moves
from Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea with A-20s.

TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly armed reconnaissance over Matsuwa,
Onnekotan, and Paramushiru Islands; cloud cover and lack of moonlight permit
only bombing of Kashiwabara Airfield and the Banjo Cape area.               

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 7 B-24s bomb an oil plant at
Yenangyaung while 5, along with 7 P-38s, hit Ywataung; 6 B-25s score numerous
hits on the Mandalay-Shwebo railroad; and 15 B-25s and 4 P-51s bomb Kamaing
and hit the Myitkyina-Bhamo road.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): HQ 33d Fighter Group moves from Karachi,
India to Shwangliu, China.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 306 Part 1: 776 bombers
and 634 fighters are dispatched to hit airfields and aviation industry
targets in Germany; the AAF claims 33-5-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 19 bombers and
5 fighters are lost; due to poor weather, several units bomb targets of
opportunity in the Berlin area; details are:
  1. 275 of 280 B-17s hit aviation industry targets at Oranienburg, Perleberg
Airfield, Wittenberge and targets of opportunity; 3 B-17s are lost and 90
damaged; 29 airmen are MIA.
  2. 210 of 221 B-17s hit Oranienburg, Brandenburg, Luneburg Airfield,
Rathenow and targets of opportunity; 14 B-17s are lost and 94 damaged;
2 airmen are KIA, 12 WIA and 139 MIA.
  3. 248 of 275 B-24s hit Brandenburg, Rathenow, Cuxhaven, Wittenberge and
targets of opportunity; 2 B-24s are lost and 20 damaged; 5 airmen are WIA and
20 MIA.
  Escort is provided by 119 P-38s, 296 P-47s and 219 Eighth and Ninth Air
Force P-51s; 1 P-38, 1 P-47 and 3 P-51s are lost; 3 P-38s are damaged beyond
repair and 7 P-38s, 3 P-47s and 18 P-51s are damaged; 4 pilots are MIA.
  Mission 306 Part 2: 12 of 12 B-24s hit V-weapon sites at Watten, France; 1
B-24 is damaged; escort is provided by 36 P-47s without loss.
  Mission 307: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 2.56 million leaflets on Stavanger, Oslo,
Bergen and Trondheim, Norway at 2336-0041 hours without loss.
  HQ 492d Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at North Pickenham, England from
the US.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 277 B-26s, including 24 dropping
Window, and 37 A-20s bomb gun positions and marshalling yards at Dunkirk,
Calais, and Charleroi/Saint Martin, France.
  XIX Air Support Command is redesignated XIX Tactical Air Command and
becomes operational and IX Air Support Command is redesignated IX Tactical
Air Command.
  Unit moves in England: HQ 440th Troop Carrier Group from Bottesford to
Exeter; 423d Night Fighter Squadron, IX Tactical Air Command, arrives at
Chormy Down from the US with A-20s, the squadron mission will change to photo
recon and they will fly their first mission on 6 Jun and be redesignated
155th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 22 Jun.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, P-38s and P-47s
strafe Udine and Aiello Airfields and targets of opportunity in the
Basiliano, Sant' Andrea Island, and Cervignano del Friuli areas and in Golfo
di Panzano; other fighters fly cover for the strafing missions.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, P-47 fighter-bombers cut
several rail lines in the Florence and Arezzo areas and strafe trains and
motor transport; P-40s and P-47s hit Itri and a rail bridge and fuel dumps as
the campaign against communications continues.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): First Seventh Air Force attack
on the Marianas Islands takes place as B-24s escorting USN aircraft on a 
photographic reconnaissance mission from Eniwetok Atoll bomb Saipan Island.
Other B-24s staging through Eniwetok Atoll hit Truk Atoll.  B-25s from Tarawa
Atoll bomb Ponape Island; B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll bomb Wake Island after
failing to find shipping reported in the area; and B-25s from Abemama Island
bomb Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base between
strikes.
  19th Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, moves from Kualoa Field to
Bellows Field, Hawaii with P-47s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 14 B-24s bomb the airfield
at Satawan Atoll; on New Britain Island, 23 B-25s, weathered out of
Vunakanau, bomb Tobera Airfield; 12 others and 9 fighter-bombers which fail
to reach Rapopo bomb the airstrip at Keravat; Wunapope is hit by about 40
fighter-bombers, with considerable damage to the supply area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): The newly created (11 Apr)
Thirteenth Air Task Force (Provisional) commanded by Major General St Clair
Streett and temporarily composed of elements of the Thirteenth Air Force
(which is being moved to the SWPA), a few Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
squadrons, USN Seventh Fleet air units, and Fifth Air Force units in the
Admiralty Islands and New Britain Island, is placed under operational control
of Fifth Air Force Advanced Echelon. Operating out of Momote Airfield, Los
Negros Island, B-24s of Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb Woleai Atoll and
Mariaon Island, Caroline Islands. 
  In New Guinea, B-24s of the Fifth Air Force hit Manokwari and Babo; and the
Madang area is hit by fighter-bombers.
  HQ 54th Troop Carrier Wing moves from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea.

WEDNESDAY, 19 APRIL 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 6 B-25s and 8 P-51s attack troops
and stores NW of Banmauk; 10 P-38s hit the airfield near Meiktila; and 5
P-51s attack troop positions near Mawlu and a bridge at Shweli.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 3 B-25s damage a bridge at Thanh Moi, French
Indochina and score hits on railroad and buildings S of the bridge. 4 P-40s
attack the village of Takaw, Burma, causing several fires and sink a ferry-
boat in the area.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): XX Bomber Command is assigned
to HQ Twentieth Air Force.
  769th and 770th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy), 462d Bombardment Group
(Very Heavy), arrive at Piardoba, India from the US with B-29s; first mission
is 5 Jun.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 308 Part 1: 772 bombers
and 697 fighters are dispatched in 3 forces to bomb Germany; they claim
17-1-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 bombers and 2 fighters are lost:
  1. 271 of 277 B-17s hit the Kassel area, Eschwege Airfield, Limburg and a
target of opportunity; 5 B-17s are lost and 119 damaged; casualties are 1
KIA, 5 WIA and 47 MIA.
  2. 243 of 246 B-17s hit Lippstadt and Werl Airfields and a target of
opportunity; 21 B-17s are damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 8 WIA and 55 MIA.
  3. 230 of 249 B-24s bomb Paderborn and Gutersloh Airfields, Soest, Koblenz,
Buren and targets of opportunity; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 10 are
damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 3 WIA and 8 MIA.
  Escort is provided by 127 P-38s, 439 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
131 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; they claim 16-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2
P-51s are lost and 4 P-47s and 5 P-51s are damaged; 2 pilots are MIA.
  Mission 308 Part 2: 27 of 27 B-24s bomb V-weapon sites at Watten, France; 1
B-24 is lost; escort is provided by 47 Ninth Air Force P-47s without loss.
  HQ 56th Fighter Group and 61st and 63d Fighter Squadrons move from
Halesworth to Boxted, England with P-47s.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): After several weeks of instruction,
a IX Air Forces Services Command training exercise (Operation BOOMERANG) in
waterproofing and landing motor vehicles gets under way. This exercise, in
preparation for a cross-channel movement lasts several weeks and involves 55
units, over 650 vehicles, and more than 2,500 men. 
  350+ B-26s and A-20s bomb marshalling yards, city areas, and targets of
opportunity at Gunzburg, Ulm, Neu Ulm, Donauworth, and Schelklingen, Germany;
and fighters fly over 1,200 sorties against a variety of targets in NW Europe.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Bad weather severely restricts
operations. In Italy, B-26s hit Cecina railroad bridge and Ancona marshalling
yard while B-25s hit a marshalling yard at Piombino; P-47s hit railroad
tracks, a marshalling yard, junction, and railway cars between Pontedera and
Empoli and between Figline Valdarno and San Giovanni Valdarno.
  487th and 498th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 340th Bombardment Group
(Medium), move from Gaudo Airfield, Italy to Alesan, Corsica with B-25s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok
Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll. B-25s from the Gilbert Islands strike Ponape Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 21 B-24s bomb the airfield
at Satawan Atoll, hitting the target area with about 50 tons of high
explosives. On New Britain Island, 38 fighter-bombers hit Matupi supply areas
while 7 bomb Rapopo airstrip. Fighters hit the Numa Numa area on Bougainville
Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-24s hit
Urarom and Manokwari; B-25s, A-20s, and fighter aircraft strike a wide
variety of targets around Hollandia, Aitape, Bogia, Uligan, Bunabun, Madang
and Cape Croisilles. B-24s of the Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb Woleai Atoll.
  Unit moves in New Guinea: HQ 49th Fighter Group from Gusap to Finschhafen;
HQ 317th Troop Carrier Group from Port Moresby to Finschhafen; the detachment
of the 82d Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 71st Reconnaissance Group,
ceases operating from Finschhafen with returns to base at Saidor with P-39s.

THURSDAY, 20 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A B-24 aborts a weather mission to Shasukotan
Island, Kurile Islands

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER (CBI)

  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 11 B-25s hit a bivouac and supply area NW of
Manywet, Burma.
  5th Liaison Squadron, AAF, India-Burma Sector, arrives at Ledo, India from
the US with L-5s; first mission is 1 May.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 309: 842 bombers and 388
fighters are dispatched to hit V-weapon sites in France;  24 of 33 sites
briefed are hit; 9 bombers and 2 fighters are lost:
  1. 438 of 630 B-17s hit sites in the Pas de Calais and Cherbourg areas; 19
others hit targets of opportunity; 7 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair
and 309 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 25 WIA and 69 MIA.
  2. 113 of 212 B-24s hit sites in the Pas de Calais area; 2 B-24s are lost,
2 damaged beyond repair and 36 damaged; casualties are 10 KIA, 9 WIA and 20
MIA.
  Escort is provided by 89 P-38s, 211 P-47s and 88 P-51s; they claim 4-0-2
Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 4-0-0 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost and 1
damaged; 2 pilots are MIA.
  VIII Fighter Command flies 2 missions:
  1. 35 P-51 fighter-bombers are dispatched to Cambrai/Epinoy Airfield,
France; escort is to be provided by 31 P-47s but they are unable to locate
the P-51s; 33 P-51s hit the primary and 1 hits Vitry Airfield, France.
  2. 56 P-38 fighter-bombers are dispatched to hit St Trond Airfield, Belgium
but jettison their bombs in the English Channel after overcast prevents
location of the targets; escort is provided by 36 P-47s.
  Mission 310: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1.92 million leaflets on Nantes, Orleans,
Paris and Tours, France at 2238-2246 hours without loss.
  Six B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, almost 400 B-26s and
A-20s attack gun positions at Etaples, Bazinghen, Villerville, Gravelines and
Fecamp, the airfield at Poix, and V-weapon sites and targets of opportunity
in the Pas de Calais area; nearly 140 P-47s bomb marshalling yards at Creil
and Mantes-La-Jolie.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 300+ B-17s and B-24s attack
targets in Italy; the B-17s bomb marshalling yards at Ancona, Castelfranco,
Padua and Vicenza and Venice harbor installations; the B-24s hit marshalling
yards at Mestre, Reviso and Fano, Venice harbor, Monfalcone dockyards and
Trieste; 180+ other heavy bombers dispatched against communications targets
in N Italy are forced to abort due to bad weather; about 250 fighters provide
cover for the bombing raids.
  776th, 777th, 778th and 779th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 464th
Bombardment Group (Heavy), move from Pantanella Airfield to Gioia, Italy with
B-24s; first mission is 30 Apr.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium and light bombers
score hits on a marshalling yard and 3 fuel dumps at Leghorn and near misses
on Cecina and Certaldo bridges and Arezzo viaduct; fighter-bombers hit
railroad lines and fuel dump in the Florence area; bridges, dump, rail lines
and train cars near Civitavecchia and Zagarolo, at Sezze, near Ladispoli, SW
of Stimipliano and N of Monterotondo; and guns S of Albano Laziale; in the
battle area around Cassino fighter-bombers blast several gun positions and
hit bridges, trucks, troops and other targets, at several points, including
Falconara, Recanati, San Benedetto de Marsi, and the Fondi-Itri and Orte-
Orvieto areas.
  HQ 57th Bombardment Wing moves from Trocchia, Italy to Ghisonaccia,
Corsica.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll
search the area near Wake Island for shipping; finding none, the bombers hit
Wake and Peale Islands. Tarawa Atoll based B-25s, using Majuro Atoll as a
shuttle base between strikes, bomb Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls.
  396th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), moves
from Tarawa Atoll to Makin Island with B-25s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Major General Field Harris,
USMC, becomes Commander Air Solomons (COMAIRSOLS).
  With improved weather conditions bombing of targets in the Bismarck
Archipelago resumes; on New Britain Island, 22 B-25s hit the Matupi supply
area and 40+ fighter-bombers blast the airfields at Lakunai and Keravat.
  31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves
from Guadalcanal Island to Momote Airfield, Los Negros Island with B-24s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-24s bomb airfields on
Noemfoor Island. In New Guinea, B-25s, A-20s, and fighters hit a variety of
targets around Hollandia, on Cape Croisilles, in the Bunabun area and along
Hansa Bay. Woleai Atoll is again bombed by B-24s of the Thirteenth Air Task
Force.

FRIDAY, 21 APRIL 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s and 14 P-51s pound Indaw
and Mawlu, causing several fires in supply dumps and in the general target
areas; 12 B-25s bomb the camp and supply area at Kamaing. 8 B-24s bomb
storage and fuel dumps at Lashio and bomb Namtu; 13 B-24s bomb Maymyo while 5
B-25s knock out 3 bridges in the Tangon area; and 4 P-51s knock out a bridge
at Shweli.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 12 P-40s fly armed reconnaissance over roads
in Burma, strafing bridges, buildings, steamrollers, trucks, and troops in
areas around Takaw, Bhamo, Loiwing, Kutkai, Hsenwi, and Lashio; at least 3
steamrollers and 7 trucks are destroyed.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Eighth Air Force offensive against
German oil targets is scheduled to start on this date, but the mission is
cancelled because of bad weather.
  309th and 310th Troop Carrier Squadrons, Eighth Air Force, arrive at
Spanhoe, England from the US with C-47s; they will be reassigned to the Ninth
Air Force on 26 Apr.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, 236 B-26s and 34 A-20s
attack gun positions, coastal defenses and V-weapons sites at Etaples, at
Berck-sur-Mer, near Doullens, and in the Saint-Omer, Abbeville, and Amiens
area; 4 B-26s are lost; 175+ P-47s dive-bomb marshalling yards and
concentrations at Montignies-sur-Sambre, Hasselt, Namur, and Haine-Saint-
Pierre.
  405th and 406th Fighter Squadrons, 371st Fighter Group, based at Bisterne,
England with P-47s, begin operating from Ibsley, England.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 100+ B-24s bomb marshalling
yards at Bucharest, Rumania; all 17 bomb groups dispatched are recalled due
to bad weather but 7 groups fail to receive the recall signal; 150+ P-38s and
P-51s are dispatched as escort; 40+ rendezvous with the B-24s and battle some
30 fighters that attack the bomber force; the other fighters, failing to meet
the bombers, engage about 40 fighters; bombers and fighters claim 35 aerial 
combat victories; 10 US aircraft are shot down.
  HQ 464th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Pantanella Airfield to Gioia,
Italy.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, A-20s blast an
ammunition dump while P-47s attack train, rail lines, and motor transport
behind enemy lines; other P-47s, along with P-40s and A-36s, attack railway
lines and trains between Rome and Terni, between Rome and Tivoli, and between
Orte and Attigliano; hit a motor transport concentration NE of Rome; and
attack several bivouac areas and gun positions in the battle areas.           .

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll hit
Wotje Atoll. B-24s from Eniwetok Atoll, staging through Kwajalein, bomb Truk
Atoll. B-25s from Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll, bomb Ponape Island. Abemama
Island-based B-25s, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base, bomb Jaluit and
Maloelap Atolls.
  HQ 7th Fighter Wing and 21st Fighter Group are activated at Ft Shafter and
Wheeler Field, Hawaii respectively to provide air defense of the Hawaiian
Islands. No squadrons are assigned to the group until 15 Jun.
  531st Fighter Squadron, Seventh Air Force, moves from Bellows Field to
Kuoloa, Hawaii with P-38s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): HQ 307th Bombardment Group
(Heavy) is ordered to move from New Georgia and Guadalcanal Islands to the
Admiralty Islands, where it will become part of the Thirteenth Air Task
Force, serving operationally under the Fifth Air Force.
  In spite of heavy weather in the Bismarck Archipelago, 24 B-25s blast
Matupi supply area on New Britain Island; and 11 P-39s, closed out of Rabaul,
New Britain Island, bomb Tinputs Harbor on Bougainville Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 21 B-24s bomb airstrips on
Noemfoor Island. In New Guinea, about 320 B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s hit
numerous targets in the Tadji, Wewak, and Madang area, while a USN carrier
force hits Hollandia, Wakde, and Sawar as assault convoys approach the area.

SATURDAY, 22 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A weather sortie is aborted soon after take 
off due to weather.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s hit Kamaing while 5 B-25s
and 6 P-51s attack ammunition and other supplies at Hopin; 3 B-25s and 4 
P-51s hit a village NE of Bhamo while 7 P-51s attack Gokteik Viaduct.
  Detachment of 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, Tenth Air Force, operating from
Jorhat, India with F-7s returns to base at Guskhara.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 6 B-24s claim 4
freighters and a gunboat sunk near Cap-Saint-Jacques and 1 other knocks out a
bridge SW of Vinh. P-40s on armed reconnaissance over N Burma destroy 10
boxcars and a truck N of Lashio.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 311: 803 bombers and 859
fighters are dispatched to hit a marshalling yard at Hamm, Germany; the
bombers claim 20-6-8 Luftwaffe aircraft and the fighters claim 40-2-16; 15
bombers and 13 fighters are lost:
  1. 459 of 526 B-17s bomb the primary, 20 hit Bonn, 19 hit Soest, 15 hit
Hamm City and 1 hits a target of opportunity; 8 B-17s are lost, 1 is damaged
beyond repair and 138 are damaged; casualties are 7 WIA and 89 MIA.
  2. 179 of 277 B-24s hit the primary, 50 hit Koblenz and 36 hit targets of
opportunity; 7 B-24s are lost, 14 damaged beyond repair and 59 damaged;
casualties are 46 KIA, 28 WIA and 64 MIA.
  Escort is 132 P-38s, 485 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 242 Eighth
and Ninth Air Force P-51s; 2 P-38s, 5 P-47s and 6 P-51s are lost, 1 P-38 is
damaged beyond repair and 22 aircraft are damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and
12 MIA.
  Mission 312: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1.44 million leaflets on Orleans, Tours,
Paris, Nantes, Lille, Reims, Chartres and Rouen, France at 2251-2344 hours
without loss.
  Units arriving in England from the US: HQ 398th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
and 600th, 601st, 602d and 603d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) at Nuthampstead
with B-17s (first mission is 6 May); 844th, 845th, 846th and 847th
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 489th Bombardment Group (Heavy), at Halesworth
with B-24s (first mission is 30 May).

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 400+ B-26s and about 90 A-20s fly
two missions against V-weapon sites in the area of Saint-Omer and Hesdin,
France. Nearly 275 P-47s and P-51s dive-bomb marshalling yards in Belgium.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): HQ 483d Bombardment Group
(Heavy) moves from Tortorella to Sterparone Airfield, Italy.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s bomb a bridge and
tracks S of Ficulle and a bridge N of the town; other B-25s and B-26s attack
San Stefano al Mare harbor, the N section of Orvieto, Chiusi railroad bridge,
viaducts S and W of Arezzo and Bucine, Certaldo railroad bridge, bridge
approaches at Incisa in Valdarno, a bridge near Siena and viaduct at
Poggibonsi; A-20s hit Valmontone ammunition dump and Sonnino; P-47s hit a
railroad, trains, and tunnels in the Florence area and W of Chiusi,
marshalling yard at Siena, a vessel S of Savona, railroad lines S of Orte and
the town of Gaeta; and P-40s attack gun positions N of the Anzio beachhead
and bomb the Ferentino dump area and towns of Fondi, Terracina and Formia.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): During the night of 21/22 Apr,
B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll bomb Wotje Atoll; other B-24s from Kwajalein
follow with another raid on Wotje during the day. B-25s from Tarawa Atoll,
using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base for rearming, bomb Jaluit, Maloelap and
Mille Atolls.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island,
about 40 B-25s bomb supply areas at Ratawul and Talili Bay, pound Keravat and
hit the area between Rapopo and Cape Gazelle; and 40+ fighter-bombers attack
the runway and gun positions at Rapopo while 9 strike Lakunai airfield.
During the night of 22/23 Apr, 17 B-24s bomb Dublon, Param, and Eten Islands
in Truk Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 20+ B-24s bomb airstrips on
Noemfoor Island. In New Guinea, 8O+ B-24s and A-20s hit Boram and But
Airfields and other targets in the Wewak area; 100+ B-24s and B-25s pound
targets along Hansa Bay; and all through the day B-25s and fighter-bombers,
in flights of 1 to 20+ aircraft, attack areas around Hansa Bay, Wewak, Bogia,
Madang, and many other points along the N and E coast of New Guinea; many of
the strikes indirectly support Allied amphibious landings on the N coast to
the E and W of Hollandia, toward which a pincer movement is begun.
  HQ 375th Troop Carrier Group moves from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea.

SUNDAY, 23 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly weather and photographic
reconnaissance within 100 mi (160 km) of the Kurile Islands and photograph
Matsuwa Island.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 24 P-51s, 8 B-25s and 51 RAF
Vengeances attack Thetkegyin, Manipur bridge, Tiddim road and Japanese
positions at Indaw. 12 P-38s hit Kangaung Airfield near Meiktila; and 21
B-24s bomb railroads and jetties at Moulmein and Martaban.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 14 P-40s pound an artillery post at
Sienning and cavalry forces at Kuan-Fou-Chiao; 2 P-40s strafe barracks S of
Tengchung and 2 P-38s hit a truck convoy and barracks S of Chiengmai. 4 P-40s
blast a motor pool at Lashio, Burma.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): HQ 58th Bombardment Wing (Very
Heavy) moves from Chakulia to Kharagpur, India.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 313: 382 fighters attack
airfields and other targets in N France, Belgium and NW Germany; results are
generally good:
  1. 136 P-38s attack Laon, Tours and Chateaudun Airfields, France using
Droopsnoot aircraft; they claim 1-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 2
P-38s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged; 2 pilots are MIA.
  2. 166 P-47s attack Leningen, Le Culot and Chievres Airfields, Belgium and
Denain/Prouvy and Hagenau Airfields, France; they claim 7-0-22 Luftwaffe
aircraft on the ground; 5 P-47s are lost and 19 damaged; 5 pilots are MIA.
  3. 80 P-51s hit unknown targets; they claim 3-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the
ground; 2 are damaged; no losses.
  Mission 314: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1.78 million leaflets on Rennes, Brest,
Lorient, St Nazaire and Nantes, France at 2354-0012 hours without loss.
  9 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.
  4th, 7th, 18th and 391st Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 34th Bombardment
Group (Heavy), arrive at Mendelsham, England from the US with B-24s (first
mission is 23 May).

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 307 B-26s and 57 A-20s attack NOBALL
(V-weapon) targets, gun positions and marshalling yards in the Pas de Calais,
France area and in an adjacent area of Belgium. Around 1,000 P-47s and P-51s
dive-bomb numerous targets throughout France and the Low Countries.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Weather clears and bombers can
resume operations. 500+ B-17s and B-24s attack aircraft factories and
airfields in Austria; the B-17s hit the Wiener Neustadt industrial area; the
B-24s hit industrial areas at Schwechat and Bad Voslau and an air depot at
Wiener-Neustadt; close to 300 fighters provide support; many enemy fighters
attack fiercely, downing 12 bombers and 1 fighter; the bombers and escorts
claim 40+ air victories.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s hit bridges and
approaches at Attigliano; B-26s attack Incisa in Valdarno viaduct and bridge,
Cecina marshalling yard and attack, but fail to hit, Poggibonsi viaduct;
P-47s, A-36s, and P-40s hit rail lines and bridges NE of Rome and along the E
coast in several areas including points around Orvieto, Orte, Tivoli and
Capronica.
  HQ 321st Bombardment Group (Medium) and 445th and 448th Bombardment
Squadrons (Medium) move from Gaudo Airfield, Italy to Solenzara, Corsica with
B-25s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s based at Kwajalein Atoll
hit Truk and Wotje Atolls. Makin Island-based B-25s hit Ponape Island and
Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Weather again curtails
strikes, but several fighter-bombers hit Tobera, New Britain Island and 20+
B-25s blast Matupi Island.
  72d Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, moves from Makin Island to
Haleiwa Field, Hawaii with P-39Qs.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-24s continue to hit
airstrips on Noemfoor Island; they claim 14 air victories. In New Guinea, 90+
B-24s bomb Wewak, Boram, and But Airfields, a road near Boram, and track and
villages S of Dagua while 80+ B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s pound AA positions,
airfields, stores and troop concentrations along Hansa Bay; throughout the
day A-20s, P-47s, P-38s, and P-39s pound various targets along Hansa Bay, in
the Wewak area, and in the vicinity of Uligan Harbor and Cape Croisilles. 20+
B-24s of the Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb airfield and supply areas on
Woleai Atoll. In ground action Allied forces take Hollandia, Tumleo and Selo
Islands, and objectives around Tadji.
  39th Troop Carrier Squadron, 317th Troop Carrier Group, moves from Port
Moresby to Finschhafen, New Guinea with C-47s.

MONDAY, 24 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, a B-24 flies a photo
and bombing run over Matsuwa Island; later another B-24 flies weather and
bombing runs over Shasukotan, Yekaruma, Kharimkotan, and Onnekotan Islands.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 P-38s pound positions near
Buthidaung and in the Myohaung are; 100+ P-40s, P-51s, A-36s, and B-25s bomb
storage areas at Kamaing, Mogaung and Hopin, and railroads and other targets
at Myitkyina, Manywet and Chaungwa; 25 B-25s and P-51s hit Indaw and several
other B-25s bomb Pyingaing.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In Thailand, B-25s damage bridges near Dara
and Kengluang and strafe a factory at Dhasan. P-40s on a diversionary strike
strafe numerous targets of opportunity at Kengtung, Burma. B-25s on a sea
sweep hit 2 small steamers off Cape Bastion, China with cannon fire, claiming
1 vessel sunk and the other left burning.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): A B-29 piloted by Brigadier
General LaVern G Saunders, Commanding General 58th Bombardment Wing (Very
Heavy), arrives at Kwanghan, China. Accompanying the B-29 is another carrying
Major General Kenneth B Wolfe, Commanding General XX Bomber Command. These
are the first B-29s to fly over the Hump to China.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 315: 754 bombers and 867
fighters are dispatched to bomb airfields, aircraft production industries and
targets of opportunity in Germany; the bomber claim 20-1-36 Luftwaffe
aircraft and the fighters claim 124-6-58 fighters; 40 bombers and 17 fighters
are lost; details are:
  1. Of 281 B-17s dispatched, 109 hit Erding Air Depot, 84 hit aviation
industry targets at Oberpfaffenhofen, 57 hit Lansberg Airfield and 18 hit
targets of opportunity; 27 B-17s are lost and 112 damaged; casualties are 4
KIA, 22 WIA and 260 MIA.
  2. 243 B-17s are dispatched to bomb aviation industry targets at
Friedrichshafen/Lowenthal (98 bomb) and Friedrichshafen/Manzell (58 bomb),
industrial areas at Friedrichshafen/Manzell (58 bomb) and Neckarsulm (15
bomb); 3 also hit targets of opportunity; 9 B-17s are lost and 119 damaged;
casualties are 7 KIA, 4 WIA and 71 MIA.
  3. 230 B-24s are dispatched to bomb airfields; 120 hit Gablingen Airfield,
98 hit Leipheim Airfield and 1 hits a target of opportunity; 4 B-24s are lost
and 26 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 40 MIA.
  Escort is provided by 131 P-38s, 490 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
246 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s: P-38s claim 4-1-0 Luftwaffe aircraft, 1
P-38 is damaged beyond repair and 7 damaged; P-47s claim 2-1-0 aircraft in
the air and 36-0-16 on the ground, 5 P-47s are lost and 15 damaged, 5 pilots
are MIA; P-51s claim 64-4-2 aircraft in the air and 21-0-20 on the ground, 12
P-51s are lost and 8 damaged; 12 pilots are MIA.
  Mission 316: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1.12 million leaflets on Amsterdam,
Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, The Netherlands and Lille and Reims, France
at 2322-2344 hours without loss.
  8 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 38 B-26s dispatched against targets
in France are recalled because of bad weather. 32 P-47s dive-bomb the
Louvain, Belgium marshalling yard with good results.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 520+ bombers attack targets in
Rumania, Yugoslavia, and Italy; B-17s bomb a marshalling yard at Ploesti,
Rumania, an aircraft factory in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and the Ancona-Rimini
railroad line (this is the first Azon mission by 5 B-17s); the B-24s bomb
marshalling yards at Ploesti and Bucharest, Rumania; 250+ fighters fly
support for the bombers.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack
railroad bridges N and S of Orvieto, at Arezzo, at Grosseto and N and S of
Incisa in Valdarno; A-20s hit a dump at Valmontone; P-40s, P-47s and A-36s
hit shipping off Leghorn, Avezzano station, Orvieto and Terni marshalling
yards, Canino landing ground, railroad tracks at numerous points S of Orvieto
and rail lines, truck parks and targets of opportunity N of Rome.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Engebi Island,
Eniwetok Atoll, bomb Ponape Island while others, based on Makin Island, hit
Jaluit and Wotje Atolls.
  HQ 41st Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from Tarawa Atoll to Makin Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Weather continues to
curtail strikes in the the Bismarck Archipelago. On New Britain Island, 10
P-40s hit runway and revetments at Tobera; fighter sweeps account for several
trucks and barges in the Rabaul-New Ireland Island area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-24s again bomb parked
aircraft and other targets on Noemfoor Island. In New Guinea, 40+ B-24s bomb
airfields in the Wewak area; 140+ B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s hit stores, fuel
dumps and personnel areas along Hansa Bay; throughout the day B-25s and
fighter-bombers hit a variety of targets along the New Guinea coast including
Karkar Island, Uligan Harbor, Cape Croisilles, and the Madang area; Madang
falls to Allied ground forces.

TUESDAY, 25 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s photograph and bomb installations on
Matsuwa Island.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 B-25s attack Tiddim road; 80+
fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s hit a variety of targets at Kamaing, Nsopzup and
Mogaung; 12 P-51s hit Japanese HQ at Katha and supply huts at Hopin; near
Mandalay 12 B-24s bomb Monywa-Alon while 21 P-38s hit airfields at Heho,
destroying several aircraft in the air and on the ground.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 317 Part 1: 554 bombers
and 719 fighters are dispatched to hit marshalling yards and airfields in
France and Germany; 7 bombers and 2 fighters are lost; the bombers make no
Luftwaffe aircraft claims.
  1. 199 B-24s are dispatched to the marshalling yard at Mannheim, Germany; 7
bomb the primary, 16 bomb the marshalling yard at Landau, Germany and 8 hit
targets of opportunity; 5 B-24s are lost and 26 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA,
4 WIA and 49 MIA.
  2. 229 B-17s are dispatched to Nancy/Essay Airfield (42 bomb) and Metz/
Frascaty Airfield (98 bomb), France and 2 hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-17s
are lost and 33 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 3 WIA and 20 MIA.
  3. 121 of 126 B-17s hit Dijon/Longvic Airfield, France; 29 B-17s are
damaged; 2 airman are WIA.
  Escort is provided by 177 P-38s, 296 P-47s and 246 Eighth and Ninth Air
Force P-51s; the fighters claim 5-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and
29-7-42 on the ground; details are: P-38s claim 5-0-9 aircraft, 1 P-38 is
damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged, no casualties; P-47s claim 5-0-8
aircraft; 3 P-47s are damaged; 1 pilot is KIA; P-51s claim 24-7-26 aircraft,
2 P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged, 2 pilots are MIA.
  Mission 317 Part 2: 27 of 28 B-24s bomb V-weapons sites at Wizerenes,
France without loss.  Escort is provided by 40 P-47s.
  Mission 318: 6 of 6 B-17s drop 4.2 million leaflets on 20 towns in France
including Calais, Metz, Blainville, Paris, Mulhouse and Reims without loss.
  852d, 853d, 854th and 855th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 491st
Bombardment Group (Heavy), move from North Pickenham to Metfield, England
with B-24s; first mission is 2 Jun.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 240 B-26s and 69 A-20s bomb V-weapon
sites in the coastal area of France and gun positions at Le Treport,
Vareneville-sur-Mer, Fontenay-sur-Mer/Crisbec, Ault, Fecamp, Houlgate and
Saint-Pierre-du-Mont, France. About 150 P-47s dive-bomb airfields in France
and Belgium. Around 175 B-26s are forced to abort missions because of bad
weather.
  HQ 441st Troop Carrier Group and 99th, 100th and 301st Troop Carrier
Squadrons move from Langar to Merryfield, England with C-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, around 150 B-24s bomb
an aircraft factory at Turin, marshalling yard and bridge at Parma,
marshalling yard at Ferrara and several targets of opportunity; 300+ B-24s
and B-17s are forced to abort missions due to bad weather; 100+ fighters
escort the bomber missions into N Italy.
  782d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 465th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives
at Pantanella Airfield, Italy from the US with B-24s; first mission is 5 May.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, attacks against lines of
communications N of Rome continue; A-20s hit storage areas while medium
bombers attack Pesaro marshalling yard, dumps at Manoppello and bridges and
approaches at Incisa in Valdarno, Arezzo, Asciano, Magra, Ficulle and
Orvieto; viaducts at Incisa and Calafuria are attacked with poor results;
P-40s and P-47s hit roads, gun positions, railroads, ammunition dump and
trucks N of Rome, near Ficulle, Orte and Orvieto; and P-47s also damage
destroyers off Elba Island.
  HQ 47th Bombardment Group (Light) and 84th, 85th, 86th and 97th Bombardment
Squadrons (Light) move from Capodichino to Vesuvius Airfield, Italy with
A-20s.
  417th Night Fighter Squadron, Twelfth Air Force (attached to RAF No. 337
Wing), moves from La Senia, Algeria to Borgo, Corsica with Beaufighters; the
ground echelon has been at Borgo since Feb 44.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Kwajalein Atoll-based B-24s,
during the night of 24/25 Apr, staging through Eniwetok Atoll, strike Guam
Island, Marianas Islands and Truk Atoll, and during the day hit Wotje and
Maloelap Atolls. This is the first AAF mission against Guam. B-25s from
Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll bomb Ponape Island, and Makin Island-based
B-25s hit Jaluit and Wotje Atolls.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Just before dawn 15 B-24s
hit Dublon, Moen, Fefan, Uman and Falo Islands, Truk Atoll. 23 B-25s bomb the
airstrip and revetments at Tobera, New Britain Island. 12 P-39s leave
stockpiles aflame at Baitsi, Bougainville Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 12 B-25s bomb
troop areas in the Hollandia vicinity, attacking villages S of Tanahmerah and
huts and buildings along the road from Marneda to Banggerang; other aircraft
carry out similar strikes against Karkar Island and along Hansa Bay.

WEDNESDAY, 26 APRIL 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 3 B-24s bomb Akyab; 6 P-38s hit
the Tiddim road near Chindwin; 70 fighter-bombers and 3 B-25s pound numerous
targets at Mogaung, Kamaing and several points in the N part of the Mogaung
Valley; in Mandalay and the surrounding area, 9 B-24s bomb railroad yards and
engine sheds, and 9 P-38s hit stores and hangars.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In Burma, P-40s on armed reconnaissance from
Lashio to Man Kat cause considerable damage; 2 trucks, a warehouse, a water
tank, and 2 locomotives are destroyed, gun positions and a bridge are strafed
and a Japanese-occupied building is left in flames.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): Japanese fighters make their
first interception of B-29s as they are flying over the Hump; the brief
confrontation results in no losses on either aide.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 319 Part 1: 589 bombers
and 554 fighters are dispatched to targets in Germany; no claims of enemy
aircraft are made; 5 fighters are lost:
  1. Of 357 B-17s dispatched, 292 hit the industrial area at Brunswick, 47
hit the Hildesheim/Hannover area and 5 hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-17s
are damaged beyond repair and 121 damaged; casualties are 9 KIA and 3 WIA.
  2. The 238 B-24s dispatched to Paderborn fail to bomb because there were
no PFF aircraft in the formation; 18 B-24s were damaged; 1 airman was KIA.
  Escort is provided by 90 P-38s, 311 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
153 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; 1 P-38 and 4 P-51s are lost and 1 P-47
is damaged beyond repair; 1 pilot is KIA and 5 MIA.
  Mission 319 Part 2: 62 B-17s are dispatched to Cologne but are recalled at
mid-English Channel because of weather; some aircraft carry 2,000 lb (907 kg)
glide bombs on external racks. Escort is provided by 43 P-47s and 47 P-51s;
the P-47s claim 2-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft
  Fighter-bomber missions: 33 P-38s (including Droopsnoot aircraft), plus
escorts, hit Le Mans Airfield, France without loss; 24 P-51s, plus 4 escorts,
bomb Cormeilles-en-Vexin Airfield, France without loss.
  Mission 320: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 800,000 leaflets on Ghent, Antwerp,
Brussels, Liege and Gosselies, Belgium at 2330-2358 hours without loss.
  HQ 34th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Mendlesham, England from the
US.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): The Ninth Air Force Tactical Air
Plan for Operation NEPTUNE (actual operations within Operation OVERLORD; used
for security reasons on OVERLORD planning documents bearing place names and
dates) is published, 10 days after receiving formal Allied Expeditionary Air
Force (AEAF) directive ordering such a plan.
  Around 125 B-26s attack Plattling landing ground, Germany. Fighters fly
750+ sorties against scattered targets in NW Europe.
  Unit moves in England: HQ 50th Troop Carrier Wing from Bottesford to
Exeter; HQ 439th Troop Carrier Group and 91st, 92d, 93d and 94th Troop
Carrier Squadrons from Balderton to Upottery with C-47s; 95th, 96th, 97th and
98th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 440th Troop Carrier Group, from Bottesford to
Exeter with C-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, bad weather greatly
curtails activity; P-47s attack motor transport and railroad tracks and hit a
gas dump near Trasimeno Lake, a landing ground at Canino and marshalling
yards of Leghorn.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, having landed at Los
Negros Island after bombing Guam Island on 25 Apr, hit Ponape Island and
return to Kwajalein Atoll. B-25s based on Makin Island hit Jaluit and Wotje
Atolls.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 24
B-25s bomb the runway and dispersal area at Lakunai; and 35 fighter-bombers
pound the airfield at Tobera. 8 P-40s attack occupied areas along bays of
Tabut and Wariki, Bougainville Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 120+ B-25s and
A-20s pound the Wewak area, hitting airfields at Wewak, But, Dagua and Boram,
and supply areas, troops, and several small villages. 13 B-24s bomb Awar
Point, 20 P-39s and P-47s attack bridges and targets of opportunity near
Madang and 8 P-39s attack roads, villages, and supply dump near Bunabun
Harbor; a B-25 on reconnaissance sinks a lugger in the Sepik River; and
Allied ground forces take Hollandia and occupy Alexishafen.

THURSDAY, 27 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A B-25 bombs a submarine without success.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s hit the Kalemyo storage
area; 12 B-25s hit the railroad at 4 points around Shwebo; nearly 150 P-40s,
P-51s, A-36s and B-25s blast troops, fuel dumps, gun positions and railroad
yard at several locations in the Mogaung Valley, including Myitkyina,
Mogaung, Namti, Kamaing, Mohnyin, Hopin, Nanyaseik, Chaungwa and Myothit.       
  24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, based
at Guskhara, India, sends a detachment to Hsinching, China with F-7s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Rocket-firing P-40s attack 20 junks S of
Shasi, China.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 322: 596 bombers and 357
fighters are dispatched to bomb V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais and
Cherbourg areas of France; 4 bombers and 2 fighters are lost; the fighters
claim 0-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 307 of 393 B-17s and 169 of
203 B-24s hit the target; 3 B-17s are lost and 227 damaged; 1 B-24 is lost, 2
damaged beyond repair and 25 damaged; B-17s casualties are are 7 WIA and 30
MIA; B-24 casualties are 3 KIA, 9 WIA and 10 MIA; escort is provided by 47
P-38s, 262 P-47s and 48 P-51s; 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are lost; both pilots are
MIA.
  Mission 323: 486 bombers and 543 fighters are dispatched to bomb airfields,
marshalling yards and targets of opportunity in France and Belgium; 4 bombers
and 4 fighters are lost.
  1. 168 B-17s are dispatched to bomb Nancy/Essay Airfield (103 bomb) and
Toul/Croix de Metz landing ground (60 bomb), France; 2 B-17s are lost and 33
damaged; 20 airmen are MIA.
  2. Of 120 B-17s, 98 bomb Le Culot Airfield and 20 bomb Ostend/Middelkerke
Airfield, Belgium; 2 B-17s are lost and 29 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 20
MIA.
  3. Of 198 B-24s, 118 bomb Blainville sur L'eau marshalling yard and 72 bomb
Chalons sur Marne marshalling yard, France; 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair
and 22 damaged; casualties are 24 KIA, 6 WIA and 1 MIA.
  Escort is provided by 106 P-38s, 283 P-47s and 154 P-51s; the fighters
claim 3-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 4-0-5 on the ground; 4 P-47s
are lost and 2 P-47s and 1 P-51 are damaged; 3 airmen are MIA.
  Mission 324: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 3.36 million leaflets on 23 towns in France
including Cambrai, Orleans, Rennes, Nantes, Brest, Tours, Lorient, Caen, Le
Mans, Limoges and Chatearuoux without loss.
  Other missions:
  1. 21 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations; 1 B-24 is lost.
  2. 52 P-38s, using the Droopsnoot method, attack Roye Amy Airfield, France
without loss.
  3. 36 P-38s, using the Droopsnoot method, attack Albert/Meaulte Airfield,
France; 6 P-38s are damaged.
  4. 17 P-51s dive bomb Cormeilles-en-Vexin Airfield, France without loss.
  849th and 850th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 490th Bombardment Group
(Heavy), arrive at Eye, England from the US with B-24s; first mission is 31
May. 

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): About 450 B-26s and A-20s and 275+
P-47 and P-51 dive bombers attack gun emplacements, marshalling yards,
coastal batteries, airfields and several military installations in France and
Belgium.
  Unit moves in England: 24th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, III
Tactical Air Command, to Chalgrove from the US with F-5s (first mission is 23
May); 302d Troop Carrier Squadron, 441st Troop Carrier Group from Langar to
Merryfield with C-47s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather again severely
restricts operations; P-40s attack a supply dump N of Rome, scoring 7 hits in
the target area.
  12th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 3d Photographic Group
(Reconnaissance), based at Pomigliano, Italy, sends a detachment to operate
from Nettuno, Italy with F-5s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok
Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll during the night of 26/27 Apr. B-25s from Eniwetok
follow up during the day with 3 raids on Ponape Island; Makin Island-based
B-25s hit Jaluit, Wotje and Mille Atolls. 1 B-24 from Kwajalein Atoll, using
Makin Island as a rearming base, bombs Jabor and Emidj and Enybor Islands,
Jaluit Atoll.
  820th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), moves
from Tarawa Atoll to Makin Island with B-25s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 16 B-24s bomb Dublon, Eten,
Moen, and Fefan Islands, Truk Atoll in the early morning. On New Britain
Island, 24 B-25s blast the Talili Bay supply area; later a few P-39s hit the
same target.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, Babo is bombed
by 9 B-24s; 100+ B-24s, B-25s and A-20s attack Mushu and Kairiru Islands and
airfields at Wewak, Boram, Dagua and But; 120+ A-20s and fighter-bombers
blast the coastal areas of Hansa Bay and nearby villages, personnel areas NW
of Bunabun, and AA positions, villages and bridges from Bunabun to Cape
Croisilles.
  7th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, moves from Gusap to Finschhafen,
New Guinea with P-40s.

FRIDAY, 28 APRIL 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 P-38s blast the Tiddim road,
causing a roadblock; in the Mogaung Valley 80+ A-36s, P-40s, P-51s, and a
single B-25 pound the same general targets hit on the 27 Apr; in the Mandalay
area 7 B-25s knock out a railroad bridge S of Myingatha and a canal bridge
between Ye-u and Kinu.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 26 B-24s, escorted by 10 P-51s,
damage 2 bridges over the Yellow River N of Chengchow (the capture of which
by Japanese troops is acknowledged by the Chinese who evacuate Hulaokuan),
and pound a nearby storage area; 2 P-40s on armed reconnaissance strafe a
troop column NE of Tengchung; 3 B-25s on reconnaissance damage a small
steamer off the E coast of Hainan Island; 16 P-40s and 6 B-25s pound Yangsin
while 18 P-40s, P-38s, and P-51s strafe Nanchang barracks.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): MORNING OPERATIONS: Mission 325:
223 bombers are dispatched:
  1. 116 of 117 B-17s hit Avord Airfield, France; 2 B-17s are lost and 38
damaged; 20 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 118 P-47s and 87 P-51s;
they claim 0-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 8-0-3 on the ground; 2
P-51s are lost and 2 damaged; 2 pilots are MIA.
  2. 18 of 106 B-17s bomb the Sottevast, France V-weapon site and targets
of opportunity; clouds prevent most B-17s from bombing; 2 B-17s are lost and
47 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 21 MIA. Escort is provided by 46 P-47s
without loss.
  2 fighter-bomber missions are also flown against airfields in France:
    1. 34 P-38s using the Droopsnoot method, bomb Tours Airfield; 11 P-38s
fly escort; 1 P-38 is lost and 1 damaged; 1 pilot is MIA.
    2. 49 P-38s using the Droopsnoot method, bomb Chateaudun Airfield while 3
P-38s fly escort; 1 P-38 is damaged; 32 P-47s, with 4 P-47 escorts, dive-bomb
the same target; they claim 1-0-1 aircraft on the ground.
  AFTERNOON OPERATIONS: Mission 325: 47 of 47 B-24s bomb the Marquise/
Mimoyecques, France V-weapon sites; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 6
damaged; 9 airmen are WIA.  Escort is provided by 50 P-47s without loss.
  16 P-47s, with 8 escorts, dive bomb an unidentified airfield near Paris
without loss.
  NIGHT OPERATIONS: Mission 326: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1.64 million leaflets on
17 towns in Belgium, France and The Netherlands including Antwerp, Brussels,
Paris, Tours, Lorient, Nantes, Orleans, Zwolle, Leeuwarden, Turnhout and
Amersfoort without loss.
  21 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions without loss.
  848th and 851st Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 490th Bombardment Group
(Heavy), arrive at Eye, England from the US with B-24s; first mission is 4
Jun and 31 May respectively.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 18 B-26s bomb the airfield at
Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France as a secondary target. Nearly 250 B-26s
dispatched to bomb marshalling yards are recalled because of heavy cloud
cover over the targets.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Clearing weather again permits
bomber operations; 450+ B-17s and B-24s attack targets in Italy; 188 B-17s
bomb Piombino Steel Works and port; 168 B-24s bomb the port area at San
Stefano al Mare; and 108 B-24s bomb the port area at Orbetello; P-38s, P-51s
and P-47s provide escort.
  32d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 90th Photographic Wing
(Reconnaissance), arrives at San Severo, Italy from the US with F-5s; first
mission is 18 May.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack
Piombino, railway bridges N of Orvieto, Ficulle, and W of Arezzo, and hit
viaducts at Incisa in Valdarno and Piteccio; A-20s score hits on a fuel dump;
P-40s and P-47s hit a fuel dump NW of Ferentino, warehouses S of Avezzano,
several railway lines and targets of opportunity N of Rome, the Orbetello
railroad yards, San Stefano al Mare harbor, rail lines at points between Rome
and Avezzano, several gun emplacements, Follonica and Chiusi marshalling
yards, and cut railroad lines at several points NW of Rome; fighter-bombers
also hit Chiusi marshalling yard, tracks around Castiglione della Valle,
Cortona marshalling yard, Grosseto railroad bridge, scattered motor transport
and a barge near Follonica.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s, based on Makin Island,
strike Jaluit and Mille Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base between
strikes. A single B-24 from Kwajalein Atoll bombs islands in Jaluit Atoll,
hitting Emidj first, then rearming at Makin Island, and attacking Jabor and
Enybor during the return flight.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 24
B-25s bomb the Wunapope supply area and Rapopo airfield; and 30 fighter-
bombers hit the runway and revetments at Vunakanau. On Bougainville Island,
15 P-39s pound gun positions near Mamagata and hit nearby bivouac and supply
areas.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 160+ B-24s and
B-25s bomb Wakde, Biak and Efman Island airfields; 180+ P-47s, P-39s, A-20s
and P-70s hit a variety of targets along the N and NE New Guinea coast
including villages and supply areas in the Wewak and Boram areas, barges and
troops at the mouth of the Sepik River and at Murik Lakes, and enemy
communications and hideouts from the Sepik River to Cape Croisilles.
  21 B-24s of the Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb the airfield on Woleai
Atoll.

SATURDAY, 29 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 2 B-24s abort an armed photographic mission
due to weather.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 21 P-38s hit airfields in the Heho
area and claim 8 aircraft downed in combat; 25 P-51s and B-25s bomb several
buildings at Meza; 19 B-24s over Prome blast supply dumps in the area.
  19th Liaison Squadron, US Army Forces, CBI, moves from Kanchrapara to
Ondal, India with L-1s and L-5s.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-25s bomb a warehouse and barracks
at Shayang and attack 3 motor launches at Chiuchiang, leaving them burning.
  22d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), based
at Yankai, China with B-25s, sends a detachment to operate from Yunnani.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 327: 679 bombers and 814
fighters are dispatched to bomb Berlin, concentrating on railway facilities;
they claim 95-33-48 Luftwaffe aircraft; 63 bombers and 13 fighters are lost:
  1. 210 of 228 B-17s bomb Berlin; 10 B-17s are lost and 150 damaged; 1
airman is KIA, 7 WIA and 100 MIA.
  2. 218 B-17s are dispatched to Berlin; 158 hit the primary, 24 hit
Magdeburg, 10 hit Brandenburg and 4 hit targets of opportunity; 28 B-17s are
lost and 161 damaged; 4 airmen are KIA, 20 WIA and 260 MIA.
  3. 212 of 233 B-24s bomb Berlin; 25 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair
and 121 damaged; 13 airmen are KIA, 11 WIA and 246 MIA.
  Escort is provided by 117 P-38s, 463 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
234 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; 3 P-38s and 10 P-51s are lost; 1 P-47
is damaged beyond repair; 7 P-38s, 16 P-47s and 7 P-51s are damaged; 1 pilot
is WIA and 12 MIA.
  Mission 328: 4 of 4 B-17s drop 1.06 million leaflets on 21 towns in
Northern France and The Netherlands without loss.
  14 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 217 B-26s dispatched to bomb
marshalling yards in France abort the mission because of heavy cloud cover
over the target area.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): The 484th Bombardment Group
(Heavy) with B-24s is declared operational, the 18th operational group.
  573 B-17s and B-24s, with fighter escort, attack the Toulon, France naval
base and 5 B-17s attack the Rimini-Ancona railroad (second Azon mission).

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s attack the Terni
viaduct and Attigliano railway bridge, while B-26s bomb bridges and bridge
approaches at Pontassieve and Incisa in Valdarno; A-20s attack a dump NE of
Rome; P-40s and P-47s cut rail lines in many places NE of Rome, hit guns N of
Anzio and a dump SE of Rome, attack the town of Acquapendente, hit approaches
and tunnel S of Arezzo and bridge and trucks in the area, bomb Sinalunga
marshalling yard and bridge and approaches at Monte San Savino, and hit docks
at San Vincenzo and boats at Follonica.
  446th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 321st Bombardment Group (Medium),
moves from Gaudo Airfield, Italy to Solenzara, Corsica with B-25s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok
Atoll from Kwajalein Atoll bomb Truk and Jaluit Atolls. B-25s from Makin
Island also hit Jaluit Atoll and carry out 2 strikes against Ponape Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 40+ P-39s bomb and strafe
targets throughout Bougainville and Buka Islands, including Sipaai Mission,
the Kieta area, Lontis, Numa Numa, Ibu, Toborei, Totavi, Aitara and Baitsi;
24 B-25s bomb airfields at Kara and Buka. Allied fighter sweeps continue over
the N Solomons and New Ireland Island, where huts, barges, and other targets
of opportunity are attacked.
  HQ 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from New Georgia Island to Los
Negros Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 90+ B-24s and
B-25s bomb villages, AA positions and personnel areas in the Wakde Island,
Maffin Bay area, and along the coast of New Guinea from Takar to Verkam
Point; 40+ A-20s hit stores at Cape Wom, and targets of opportunity between
But and Dagua; 130+ A-20s, P-47s, and P-39s hit hideouts and movements along
the Sepik River and from the river's mouth to Cape Croisilles.

SUNDAY, 30 APRIL 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 31 B-25s blast a tank
concentration, bridges, supply dumps and general vicinity at Kalewa; 4 B-25s
damage 2 bridges N of Yamethin.
  5th Liaison Squadron, AAF, India-Burma Sector, moves from Ledo, India to
Shaduzup, Burma with L-1s and L-5s; first mission is 1 May.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): P-40s from Yungning, China knock out a bridge
near Dong Mo, French Indochina and strafe railroad targets of opportunity in
the area.
  The detachment of the 74th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, operating
from Liuchow returns to base at Kweilin, China with P-40s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 329: 295 bombers and 644
fighters are dispatched to 3 targets in France; the bombers claim 3-0-6
Luftwaffe aircraft and the fighters claim 18-1-5 in the air and 11-0-17 on
the ground; 1 bomber and 5 fighter are lost:
  1. 114 of 116 B-17s bomb Lyon/Bron Airfield; 1 B-17 is lost and 8 damaged;
10 airmen are MIA.
  2. 118 of 124 B-17s bomb Clermont-Ferrand/Aulnat Airfield; 9 B-17s are
damaged.
  3. 52 of 55 B-24s bomb V-weapon sites at Siracourt; 3 B-24s are damaged; 1
airman is WIA.
  Escort is provided by 128 P-38s, 268 P-47s and 248 Eighth and Ninth Air
Force P-51s: 44 P-38s, using the Droopsnoot method, bomb Tours Airfield, 1
P-38 is lost and 1 damaged, 1 pilot is MIA; 14 P-47s dive-bomb Romorantin
Airfield plus escort the bombers and claim 9-1-5 Luftwaffe aircraft, 4 P-47s
are damaged; P-51s claim 20-0-17 aircraft, 4 P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond
repair and 6 damaged, 1 airman is WIA and 3 MIA.
  Mission 330: 4 of 4 B-17s drop 2.23 million leaflets on 21 towns in
Belgium, France and The Netherlands including Zwolle, Hala, Alost, Louvain,
Leeuwarden, Reims, Metz, Strasburg, Epinal, Tours, Saarguemines, Mulhouse,
Troyes and Orleans without loss.
  Mission 331: 128 fighters carry out fighter-bomber attacks in France; 22
P-38s, with 24 escorts, attack Orleans/Bricy Airfield using the Droopsnoot
method, 2 are damaged; 21 P-47s, with 10 escorts, bomb the same target
shortly later and 5 hit a V-weapon site as a target of opportunity, 3 are
damaged; 51 P-51s swept the area before the attacks without loss.
  20 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 300+ B-26s and A-20s attack V-weapon
construction works and marshalling yards in France.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 464th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
with B-24s becomes the 19th operational bomb group.
  Around 500 bombers, with fighter escort, attack targets in Italy; B-17s
hit industrial areas at Milan and Varese and the Reggio Emilia air depot; the
B-24s bomb marshalling yards at Alessandria and Milan.
  HQ 485th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 828th, 829th, 830th and 831st
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) arrive at Venosa, Italy from the US with B-24s;
first mission is 10 May.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s attack railroad
bridges at Ficulle, N Orvieto and Marsciano, while B-26s hit bridges at
Cortona and Incisa in Valdarno and in the nearby areas; P-40s hit rail lines
and storage in many locations N of Rome, hit rail lines and a radar station
in the Orvieto area, cut railroads from Rome to Tivoli and to Civita
Castellana and hit targets of opportunity in the area; P-47s hit numerous
railroad lines, rail cars, and other targets N of Rome.
  Unit moves in Italy: HQ 86th Fighter-Bomber Group and 525th, 526th, and
527th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons from Pomigliano to Marcianise with P-40s; 85th
Fighter Squadron, 79th Fighter Group, from Capodichino to Pomigliano with
P-47s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 41 Kwajalein Atoll-based B-24s
bomb various targets at Wake Island. 11 Makin Island-based B-25s bomb Jaluit
Atoll while 8 from Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll bomb Ponape Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 10 P-39s bomb Porton
Plantations, Bougainville Island; 20+ other P-39s, in 11 sweeps, attack a
variety of targets of opportunity on Buka and Bougainville Islands, including
Ivituri Mission, the Kieta area and the Mamagata supply area. On New Britain
Island, 30+ P-40s and P-38s bomb Vunakanau Airfield and 23 B-25s bomb
Vunakambi Plantation.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 80+ P-39s and
P-47s make almost continuous attacks throughout the day against troops and
supplies along Hansa Bay; 40+ A-20s and B-25s bomb Wewak and nearby
plantation; B-24s hit Noemfoor Island with a light raid; B-24 reconnaissance
flights over the Manokwari area and Geelvink Bay result in claims of 6
Japanese interceptors shot down. P-70s hit targets of opportunity on the W
shore of Hansa Bay. 
  23 B-24s of the Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb Woleai Atoll.

SOURCES: 
AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force History,
  Headquarters USAF, 1961, ISBN 0-912799-02-1
COMBAT SQUADRONS OF THE AIR FORCE, WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force
  History, Headquarters USAF 1982
THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by the
  Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF, 1973
THE MIGHTY EIGHTH WAR DIARY by Roger A. Freeman, ISBN 1-85409-071-2

Jack McKillop
USAF (Airways and Air Communications Service)
1955-59

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|  Jack McKillop              |  Those who have long enjoyed such |
|  Bellcore                   |  privileges as we enjoy forget in |
|  Piscataway, NJ USA         |  time that men have died to win   |
|  [email protected]  |  them.                     FDR    |
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• With grateful thanks for the scholarship of Kit Carter, Robert Mueller and Jack McKillop •
• Thanks also to Charles McGrew •
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Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
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