USAAF Combat Operations 1941

USAAF Worldwide Operations Chronology
                 COMBAT CHRONOLOGY OF THE US ARMY AIR FORCES
                                
JANUARY 1944

AIRCRAFT MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:
  A-20, Douglas Havoc
  A-24, Douglas Dauntless
  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
  F-9, Boeing Flying Fortress
  F6F, Grumman Hellcat (USN)
  L-5, Stinson Sentinel
  Me 110, Messerschmitt
  P-38, Lockheed Lightning
  P-39, Bell Airacobra
  P-40, Curtiss
  P-47, Republic Thunderbolt
  P-51, North American Mustang
  P-70, Douglas
  SBD, Douglas Dauntless (USN)
  Spitfire, Vickers Supermarine
  TBF, Grumman Avenger (USN)
  Ventura, Lockheed
  Zeke, Mitsubishi A6M

SATURDAY, 1 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 6 B-25's, along mith 16 P-38's, 
attack a bridge on the Mu River between Ywataung and Monywa; Major Robert A 
Erdin, piloting the lead B-25, pulls up during his bomb run to avoid a tree; 
he releases his bombs as he noses up, and topples 2 spans of the bridge into 
the river; subsequent tests prove this a good bridge-bombing maneuver; the 
tactic is refined and the squadron [the 490th Bombardment Squadron (Medium),
341st Bombardment Group (Medium)] becomes so proficient as to gain the 
sobriquet "Burma Bridge Busters." Further N, 11 A-36's and 15 P-5l's pound
the airfield at Myitkyina, Burma.
  The 315th Troop Carrier Squadron is activated at Dinjan, India assigned
to the Tenth Air Force and equipped with C-47's.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 4 P-40's bomb and strafe targets of 
opportunity in Indochina, including barracks and rafts along the Yuan River 
in the Cam Duong-Lao Kay area.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): The Operational Research Section, 
organized at Hq VIII Bomber Command in Oct 43, is made a special staff 
section, accountable directly to the US Chiefs of Staff (CoS). It is composed 
mostly of civilian specialists trained in statistical analysis and other 
disciplines pertinent to studying operations of a strategic bombing force. 
The section subsequently proves of great value in improving the effectiveness 
of strategic bombing.
  HQ 491st and it's 852d, 853d, 854th and 855th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy)
transfer without personnel and equipment from the US to England. They will
be equipped with B-24's and fly their first mission on 2 Jun.
  The 856th, 857th, 858th and 859th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 492d
Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfer from the US to North Pickenham, England
with B-24's. They will fly their first mission on 11 May.
  HQ 493d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and it's 860th, 861st, 862d and 863d
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) transfer without personnel and equipment from 
the US to England; they will fly their first mission with B-24's on 6 Jun.

  US STRATEGIC AIR FORCES IN EUROPE (USSAFE): USSAFE is established for 
operational control of the Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  ARMY AIR FORCES, MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (AAFMTO): A complete 
reorganization of USAAF units in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
(MTO) takes place: US Army Air Forces, North African Theater of Operations
(USAAFNATO) is redesignated AAF Mediterranean Theater of Operations (AAFMTO); 
XII Air Force Services Command becomes AAF Services Command Mediterranean 
Theater of Operations (AAFSCMTO); III Air Services Area Command (Special) 
becomes XII Air Force Services Command; II Air Services Area Command becomes 
XV Air Force Services Command; XII Air Force Engineer Command (Provisional) 
becomes AAF Engineer Command, Mediterranean Theather of Operations 
(Provisional); and XII Air Force Training Command is changed to XII Air Force 
Training and Replacement Command. The XII Bomber Command, Twelfth Air Force
is reorganized as an medium bomber organization, 3 B-25 groups and the 3
B-26 groups of the 42d Bombardment Wing (Medium), under Brigadier General
Robert D Knapp.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): The 3 remaining B-26 groups of 
the Fifteenth Air Force are transferred to the Twelfth Air Force, leaving the 
Fifteenth with 6 heavy bomber [2d, 93d, 97th, 99th, 30lst, 376th Bombardment 
Groups (Heavy)] and 4 fighter groups (1st, 14th, 82d, and 325th), or 4 B-17, 
2 B-24, 1 P-47, and 3 P-38 groups.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): HQ 33d Fighter Group transfers
from Santa Maria to Cercola, Italy.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 16 P-39's strafe the harbor of 
Mille Atoll in the Marshall Islands and attack shipping N of the atoll; 2 
small vessels are heavily damaged.
  During the month of Jan 44, HQ VII Bomber Command transfers from Funafuti
Atoll in the Ellice Islands to Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 868th Bombardment Squadron 
(Heavy) is activated to work directly under the XIII Bomber Command. The 
unit, equipped with radar equipped B-24's used for night missions, becomes 
known as the "Snooper Squadron."  They will fly their first mission on 4 Jan; 
they used their airborne radar for low-level attacks at night, and for 
pathfinder operations.
  15 B-24's, escorted by 70+ P-38's and US Navy (USN) F6F's, bomb Lakunai 
Airfield on New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago; fighter and AA 
opposition is heavy, with 80-90 fighters attempting interception. US airplanes 
claim 20 fighters shot down; 1 B-24 is shot down and 2, severely damaged, 
crashland at Torokina on Bougainville Island in the Solomon Islands. Allied 
fighters join USN dive bombers in support of ground forces in the Torokina 
area. 6 B-25's and 2 B-24's bomb Kahili and 4 B-24's hit Manob, both on
Bougainville.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): On New Guinea, 120+ B-24's, 
B-25's and A-20's pound the Saidor area in preparation for an Allied 
invasion; other B-25's bomb Madang and Alexishafen. On New Britain Island, 
A-20's continue to hit troop concentrations in the Cape Gloucester area; 
B-25's hit positions at Borgen Bay; and P-39's strate barges along New
Britain's N coast.
  HQ 312th Bombardment Group (Light) arrives at Gusap, New Guinea from the
US.
  The 500th Bombardment Squdron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium),
transfers from Port Moresby to Dobodura, New Guinea with B-25's.

SUNDAY, 2 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 27 B-25's and 16 P-39's hit a fuel 
plant and work shops at Yenangyaung and set the oilfield aflame; 13 B-24's 
also hit the refinery, causing a large fire, and bomb a power station; 4 
other B-24's bomb Akyab on the W coast; about 30 A-36's and P-51's score hits 
on the Loilaw bridge approaches and bomb the towns in the vicinity.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 8 P-40's bomb and strafe Japanese HQ and 
barracks at Hopang, China.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): P-47's fly an uneventful 
sweep over the Rome area.
  The 720th and 722d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 450th Bombardment Group 
(Heavy), arrive at Manduria, Italy from the US with B-24's; they will fly 
their first mission on 9 Jan.
  The 724th, 725th, 726th and 727th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 451st 
Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrive at Gioia del Colle, Italy from the US with 
B-24's; they will fly their first mission on 30 Jan.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's bomb the Terni
marshalling yard and iron works and nearby barracks; P-40's and Spitfires 
from the AAF, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Royal Australian Air Force 
(RAAF), South African Air Force (SAAF), and Royal Air Force (RAF) blast 
snowbound vehicles in the Aveziano-Popoli area, warehouses at San Benedetto 
de Marsi and gun positions and defended areas around Chieti; A-36's hit 
Civitavecchia harbor and marhalling yard to the S of town, the Anagni
marshalling yard and nearby pun positions, and other targets of opportunity; 
B-26's bomb bridges at Riva Santo Stefano and Ventimiglia, the marshalling
yard at Arma di Taggia, and bridge over the Var River.
  HQ 340th Bombardment Group (Medium) and it's 488th Bombardment Squadron
(Medium) transfer from Foggia to Pompeii, Italy with B-25's.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands, B-24's, 
staging through Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, bomb Maloelap Atoll; 9 B-25's 
hit targets on Jaluit Atoll; and P-39's strafe shipping at Mille Atoll.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 24 B-25's bomb Buka supply 
area on Buka Island. 30+ Allied fighters sweep Rabaul area on New Britain 
Island, claiming 11 airplanes shot down; 1 US Navy (USN) fighter is lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): Elements of the US 32d 
Infantry Division make an amphibious landing at Saidor, New Guinea following 
a preparatory naval bombardment; Bad weather prevents preparatory air 
strikes, but 80+ B-24's and A-20's pound positions in coordination with the 
landings; the harbor and airfield are captured. Other B-24's bomb Pombelaa,
Celebes Island and Amboina Island, Moluccas Islands. B-25's and B-26's bomb 
Madang, New Guinea. P-40's strafe the airfield, AA positiona, barges, and 
supply dump at Cape Hoskins on New Britain Island.

MONDAY, 3 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 22 A-36's and P-51's hit
warehouses and dump area at Sahmaw; 19 B-25's, along with 16 P-38's, bomb a 
pumping station at Yenangyaung, setting oil tanks afire; 10 B-24's follow 
with a strike on the same target, causing explosions and leaving the target
in flames.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 28 B-24's attack the railroad yards 
at Lampang; 5 fighter-bombers attack the town of Pingkai.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Special Night Operation: 1 B-17 is 
dispatched on an Oboe test against Germany but turns back due to an oxygen 
failure in the tail gun position.
  HQ 452d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and it's 728th, 729th, 730th and 731st
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) arrives at Deopham Green, England from the US
with B-17's; first mission is 5 Feb.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Lieutenant General Nathan F 
Twining becomes Commanding General, Fifteenth Air Force. 
  In Italy, B-17's escorted by P-38's, bomb the Villarperosa ball bearing 
works and Lingotto marshalling yard and Fiat motor works in the Turin area. 
P-47's fly top cover for the B-17's as far as the Italian coast, then turn 
and carry out an uneventful sweep over the Rome area.
  Arrivals in Italy from US:
  719th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 449th Bombardment Group (Heavy), to
Grottaglie with B-24's; first mission is 8 Jan.
  721st and 723d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 450th Bombardment Group 
(Heavy), to Manduria with B-24's; first mission is 8 Jan.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Brigadier General Edward M Morris 
assumes command of the XII Fighter Command. 
  In Yugoslavia, B-25's bomb a troop concentration area at Prijedor, and hit 
Split and Sibenik. In Italy, P-40's and A-36's bomb gun positions near 
Cassino, the Anagni railroad station, a village near Vicenza, the railway and 
trains between Ceccano and Segni, and the harbor at Civitavecchia; P-40's, 
with SAAF and RCAF Spitfires, hit 100+ vehicles in the Avezzano-Sulmona area;
other P-40's, with AAF, RAF, SAAF, and RAAF fighters, hit targets in the
Filetto-Tollo areas in support of ground troops.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 24 A-24's from Makin Island,
Gilbert Islands dive-bomb AA positions and radar and radio facilities on 
Mille Atoll, Marshall Islands. 20 supporting P-39's strafe runways and oil 
storage.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 30+ Allied fighters again 
sweep the Rabaul area, New Britain Island, claiming 6 Zekes shot down. 6 
B-24's bomb Kavieng, New Ireland Island, and several others abort due to bad 
weather. 6 B-25's bomb Moisuru a bivouac area near Kahili, on Bougainville 
Island and 15 more hit supply areas near the Buka Passage.
  23d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), begins 
movement from Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands to Munda, New Georgia 
Island with B-24's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 50+ B-24's and B-25's bomb 
the Alexishafen area in New Guinea. 20+ A-20's hit positions at Borgen Bay, 
New Britain Island.
  388th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 312th Bombardment Group (Light), 
transfers from Port Moresby to Gusap, New Guinea with P-40's; first mission
is 13 Jan; they will transition to A-20's in Feb.

TUESDAY, 4 JANUARY 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 174: 2 targets in Germany 
are hit; 19 bombers and 2 fighters are lost.
  1. 371 of 439 B-17's and 115 of 130 B-24's are dispatched to the port area 
at Kiel; 7 B-17's and 34 B-24's hit targets of opportunity; they claim 4-12-4 
Luftwaffe aircraft; 11 B-17's and 6 B-24's are lost; 2 B-17's and 3 B-24's 
are damaged beyond repair and 111 B-17's and 16 B-24's are damaged; 
casualties are 22 KIA, 53 WIA and 170 MIA. 70 P-38's and 42 Ninth Air Force 
P-51's escort; they claim 1-1-4 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 and 1 P-51 are 
lost and 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair; casualties are 1 WIA and 2 MIA.
  2. 68 of 75 B-17's hit Munster; 2 B-17's are lost, 1 is damaged beyond 
repair and 35 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 20 MIA. 430 P-47's escort;
they claim 7-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is damaged.
  Mission 175: During the evening, 4 B-17's drop 800,000 leaflets on Orleans, 
Lorient, Rouen and Tours, France at 2005-2021 hours; no losses. This is the
first CARPETBAGGER operation from Tempsford, England on this night.
  US airplanes begin flying supplies from UK to underground resistance forces 
in W Europe, this operation being coded CARPETBAGGER.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): XIX Air Support Command is activated 
at Middle Wallop England with Major General Elwood R Quesada in command; XIX 
will support Patton's Third Army in Europe.
  258 B-26's bomb NOBALL targets (V-weapons sites) in France. Weather makes 
bombing difficult, and results range from unknown to good.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 100+ B-17's are dispatched to 
bomb the Dupnica area of Bulgaria; 29 bomb the target area, but heavy cloud 
cover causes 77 B-17's to return bombs to base; P-38's escort the B-17's the 
total distance to and from targets; P-47's provide escort part way.
  HQ 449th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Grottaglie, Italy from the US.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Yugoslavia, B-25's bomb the 
Brodac town area and marshalling yard, and the town of Travnik. P-40's hit 
a bridge and trains and fly patrols over the battleline in Italy.
  Transfers in Italy:
  HQ XII Bomber Command and HQ 57th Bombardment Wing from Bari and Foggia 
respectively to Trocchia.
  HQ 3d Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) and 12th Photographic 
Reconnaissance Squadron from San Severo to Pomigliano with F-4's and F-5's.
  380th and 428th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 310th Bombardment Group 
(Medium), from Philippeville, Algeria to Ghisonaccia, Corsica with B-25's.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 18 B-24's, staging through 
Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, bomb Emidj Island, Marshall Islands.
  HQ 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfers from Nanumea Island, Ellice 
Island to Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon Islands, 
B-24's bomb Sohano Island, concentrating on the seaplane base and supply 
area. B-25's pound gun positions at Tonolai and bomb Chabai, Bougainville 
Island. P-39's, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Ventura's, and night 
fighters, operating individually or in small flights, hit targets on 
Bougainville, including barges at Mutupina Point and along the Jaba River, 
and areas around Buka, Buka Island, Bonis, Poporang Island, Papas, and Banin. 
40+ Allied fighters attack the Rabaul area on New Britain Island and claim at 
least 10 airplanes shot down.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 100+ heavy 
and medium bombers bomb the Alexishafen, Madang, and Bogadjim  areas and hit 
troops and supplies between Finschhafen and Saidor. On New Britain island, 
B-25's attack artillery positions in the Cape Gloucester area.  B-24's and 
B-25's hit shipping at Koepang, Timor Island and in nearby waters.
  421st Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command, arrives at Milne Bay, New 
Guinea from the US with P-70's; first mission is 29 Feb.

WEDNESDAY, 5 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 3 B-25's, supported by 8 P-38's, 
attack the Mu River bridge between Monywa and Ywataung which is being 
rebuilt; hits are scored on the E bank near the bridge and several sheds are 
set afire; the escorting fighters damage several nearby railway cars, strafe 
the nearby town, set a barge afire, blow up 4 tin buildings, and claim a 
river steamer sunk.
  20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, AAF 
India-Burma Sector, arrive at Guskhara, India from the US with P-40's and 
F-7's respectively; first missions are 31 Jan and in Mar 44 respectively.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): An Eighth Air Force report 
concludes that the US daylight strategic bombing program against Germany will 
be threatened unless steps are taken to reduce the enemy's fighter force, 
which has increased in strength in the W as a result of step-up in 
production, strengthening of firepower, and transfer of a larger percentage 
of fighters to the Western Front. 
  Mission 176: Four targets are hit costing 24 bombers and 12 fighters.
  1. 119 of 131 B-17's and 96 of 114 B-24's hit the shipyard and industrial
area at Kiel, Germany plus 10 aircraft hit targets of opportunity; they claim 
41-6-13 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-17's and 5 B-24's are lost, 3 B-17's and 1 
B-24 are damaged beyond repair and 61 B-17's and 15 B-24's are damaged; 
casualties are 36 KIA, 5 WIA and 100 MIA. This mission is escorted by 70 
P-38's and 41 Ninth Air Force P-51's; they claim 22-1-8 Luftwaffe aircraft; 
7 P-38's are lost; casualties are 7 MIA.
  2. 112 of 117 B-17's hit the Bordeaux/Merignac Airfield in France; they
claim 50-10-9 Luftwaffe aircraft; 11 B-17's are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair 
and 49 damaged; casualties are 11 KIA, 21 WIA and 110 MIA. This mission is 
escorted by 76 P-47's; they claim 2-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 P-47's are 
lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; casualties are 5 MIA.
  3. 78 of 79 B-17's hit the Tours Airfield in France; they claim 2-0-0 
Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-17 is lost and 10 damaged; casualties are 10 MIA. 
This  mission is escorted by 149 P-47's; they claim 3-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 
1 P-47 is damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; no casualties.
  4. 73 of 78 hit targets of opportunity at Neuss, Geilenkirchen, Dusseldorf 
and Wassenburg, Germany; they claim 2-5-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 B-17's are 
lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 22 damaged; casualties are 2 WIA and 20 
MIA.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Transfers:
  154th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 68th Tactical Reconnaissance Group 
(attached to Fifteenth Air Force), from Nouvion to Oran, Algeria with P-38's.
  717th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 449th Bombardment Group (Heavy), from
US to Grottaglie, Italy with B-24's; first mission is 8 Jan.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, A-36's hit gun positions 
N of Mignano and on the S slope of Monte Porchia. Weather cancels other 
operations.
  489th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 340th Bombardment Group (Medium), 
transfers from Foggia to Pompeii, Italy with B-25's.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): B-25's bomb concentrations 
in the Choiseul Bay area, New Georgia Island and Hahela Mission on S Buka 
Island, while B-24's attack Tonolai, the Kahili supply area, Fauro Island, 
and Poporang building area, Bougainville Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-24's and 
medium bombers bomb the Alexishafen, Madang, and Bogadjim areas and attack 
barges from Finschhafen to Saidor; and P-39's hit barges and gun positions 
during a sweep from Sio to Bogadjim.

THURSDAY, 6 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, P-51's and A-36's carry out 
ground support missions at Sumprabum and Taihpa Ga and hit a cavalry bivouac 
and dumps at Kamaing; 12 P-40's attack a supply dump S of Sahmaw Junction 
and strafe Pahok.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25's bomb a troop ship on the 
Yangtze River, NE of Tungting Lake; the vessel is reported as sunk.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Lieutenant General James H 
Doolittle assumes command, replacing Lieutenant General Ira C Eaker who will 
go to Italy as Commanding General Mediterranean Allied Air Force (MAAF).
  Mission 177: During the evening, 5 B-17's drop 984,000 leaflets on Amiens, 
Lille, Valenciennes, Cambrai and Reims, France without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ 436th Troop Carrier Group and
79th, 80th, 81st and 82d Troop Carrier Squadrons arrive at Bottesford, 
England from the US with C-47's.

  US STRATEGIC AIR FORCES IN EUROPE (USSAFE): General Carl Spaatz assumes
command and names Major Generals Frederick L Anderson and Hugh J Knerr as 
Deputy Commanding Generals for operations and administration.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Control of Fifteenth Air Force 
operations against targets of the Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO) is placed 
under USSAFE.
  718th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 449th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 
arrives at Grottaglie, Italy from the US with B-24's; first mission is 8 Jan.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-26's bomb Pontedera 
hitting the marshalling yard and Piaggio aircraft factory there, the Lucca 
marshalling yard, and the railway N of Follonica; P-40 and A-36 fighter-
bombers attack gun positions in the Cervaro-Monte Trocchio area and near 
Aquino, the town of Cervaro, the railway at Civitavecchia, trains N and E of 
Rome, the Velletri train station, and the town of Fondi.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 78th Fighter Squadron, 15th 
Fighter Group, transfers from Haleiwa Field to Stanley Field, Territory of 
Hawaii with P-40's.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): P-38's sweep the Rabaul 
area, New Britain Island, claiming 9 Zekes shot down during a running 
battle over the Cape Gazelle area. B-25's and RNZAF Ventura's bomb and strafe
targets in the Choiseul Bay area, New Georgia Island, including jetty areas
and buildings at Tarekekori, targets on Morgusaia Island, and gun positions
on Kondakanimboko Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-24's and 
B-25's bomb the Alexishafen and Bogadjim areas; A-20's attack targets along 
the road from Bogadjim to Yaula; B-25's attack targets of opportunity on the 
Huon Peninsula and others hit the Borgen Bay area; and P-39's strafe barges 
at Borgen and Rein Bays.
  389th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 312th Bombardment Group (Light),
transfers from Port Moresby to Gusap, New Guinea with P-40's; first mission 
is 14 Jan; they transition to A-20's in Feb.

FRIDAY, 7 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 7 B-25's and 15 P-38's pound the
Lanywa area, hitting the oil plant and storage tanks, causing several fires, 
and strafe several AA positions; 19 A-36's and P-51's bomb supply and troop 
concentrations at Nanyaseik.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 4 B-25's and 6 P-40's sink 2 large 
boats on the Yangtze River S of Hukow and sink a large powerboat, a barge, 
and a small ore craft at Shihhweiyao; 11 P-38's claim between 30 and 40 
sampans destroyed along the river from Hankow to Chiuchiang; and 2 B-25's on
a sea sweep claim a 300-ft (91 m) passenger vessel sunk S of Hong Kong.
  HQ 341st Bombardment Group (Medium) transfers from the Tenth Air Force to
the Fourteenth Air Force and moves from Kurmitola, India to Kunming, China.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 351 of 382 B-17's and 69 of 120
B-24's hit the I G Faren Industrie plant at Ludwigshafen, Germany; they claim 
30-6-17 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-17's and 17 B-24's are lost, 2 B-17's and 2 
B-24's are damaged beyond repair and 104 B-17's and 18 B-24's are damaged; 
casualties are 14 KIA, 13 WIA and 121 MIA. 71 P-38's, 463 P-47's and 37 Ninth 
Air Force P-51's escort; they claim 7-0-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 and 5 
P-47's are lost and 1 P-47 is damaged; casualties are 6 MIA.
  Mission 179: During the evening, 5 B-17's drop 1.08 million leaflets on 
Paris, Chartres, Caen and Evreux, France without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 35 B-26's bomb the Cherbourg/
Maupertus Airfield. Bad weather restricts further operations.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, B-17's, with P-38
escort, bomb an aircraft factory at Maribor and a torpedo factory at Fiume; 
the P-38's battle a superior number of enemy fighters over the Maribor area; 
3 P-38's are lost and several are missing; 4 fighters are claimed destroyed,
with 1 probably downed and 4 damaged, during the fierce half-hour fight.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's strike Perugia
Airfield; A-20's hit defenses in close support of the US Fifth Army; B-26's
hit the marshalling yards at Foligno and Arezzo and attack a bridge at 
Roccasecca; A-36's hit gun positions, trucks, and trains in the Cervaro-
Aquino-Cassino area, bomb the Aquino station, and hit the Velletri railway
yards; P-40's give close support in the Monte Maio, Monte La Chiaia, Monte 
Porchia, and Cedro Hill areas as the US Fifth Army drives toward the Rapido
River.
  Air echelon of the 417th Night Fighter Squadron, Twelfth Air Force, 
transfers from Tafaraoui to La Senia, Algeria with Beaufighters; ground 
echelon is at Ghisonaccia, Corsica.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Major General Hubert R 
Harmon becomes Commanding General. 8 squadrons of Allied fighters support USN
dive bombers in an attack on the Cape Saint George area, New Ireland Island.
B-24's bomb Vunakanau Airfield, New Britain Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-24's, 
B-25's, P-39's, and P-47's bomb the Alexishafen-Madang area, hit Erima, 
Bogadjim, and targets along the Bogadjim Road, attack positions from Weber 
Point to Vincke Point, and strafe huts and barges near Sidor. On New Britain 
Island, B-24's bomb the Cape Gloucester area and A-20's hit forces near 
Arawe. B-24's also hit Lorengau, Manus Island and Boela, Ceram Island.

SATURDAY, 8 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20 P-51's and A-36's knock out a 
bridge N of Hopin, destroy a warehouse and railroad tracks in the area, and 
destroy a locomotive and damage numerous railroad cars at Tigyaingza.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 22d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st 
Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Chakulia, India to Yangkai, China 
with B-25's.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 180: During the evening,
5 B-17's drop 2.292 million leaflets on Antwerp and Brussels, Belgium; and 
Rennes, Brest and Nantes, France without loss.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 449th and and 450th Bombardment 
Groups (Heavy) with B-24's become operational, giving the Fifteenth a total 
of 8 heavy bomber groups. 
  B-24's bomb the airfield at Mostar, Yugoslavia. B-17's hit the Reggio 
Emilia aircraft factory; P-38's and P-47's fly escort.
  HQ 1st Fighter Group and 27th and 94th Fighter Squadrons transfer from 
Gioia del Colle to Salsola Airfield, Italy with P-38's.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): B-25's bomb the harbor, 
warehouses, and railway at Metkovic, Yugoslavia. In Italy, A-20's hit railway 
stations at Frosinone and in the Colleferro-Segni area; B-26's bomb 
marshalling yards at Grosseto and Lucca; P-40's support the US Fifth Army in 
the mountains E and SE of Cassino, and, with A-36's, hit railway targets S of 
Rome at Aquino, Frosinone, Palestrina and Castelforte; other P-40's hit 
Avezzano, and A-36's blast trains and vessels in the vicinity of Tarquinia.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 15 B-24's, staging through 
Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, bomb shipping and shore installations at 
several locations on Wotje, Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls, Marshall Islands; and 
2 B-25's from Tarawa hit shipping and gun positions on Jaluit.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon Islands, 
B-24's bomb Kahili, Bougainville Island; and B-25's hit concentrations on 
Siposai and Kondakanimboko Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-24's, medium 
bombers, and a few fighters, attack the Madang area, bomb Uligan Harbor, and 
hit Bogadjim and the Bogadjim Road. On New Britain Island, fighters strafe 
the Sag Sag sawmill in the Cape Gloucester area and B-25's and A-20's hit 
positions near Arawe. B-24's bomb Kendari and other targets on Celebes 
Island.
 
SUNDAY, 9 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 21 P-51's and A-36's attack the Loilaw,
Burma area, severely damaging a bridge, hitting an ammunition storage 
building, and scoring direct hits on large barracks.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 9 fighters strafe 6 steamboats and 
many smaller craft on the Yangtze River at Puchi; 2 B-25's on a sea sweep 
bomb a 200-ft (61 m) vessel S of Swatow, reporting the ship destroyed. 8
fighter-bombers hit Sadon, Burma and in French Indochina, 4 bomb the Atson 
railroad yards and Lao Kay railroad station.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO): Prime Minister Winston S Churchill 
and General Charles A De Gaulle meet at Marrakesh, French Morocco. They 
discuss cooperation of a French expeditionary force in invasion of Europe and 
the degree of authority of the French inside France after the invasion.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): B-17's hit the docks and 
shipping at Pola, Yugoslavia.
  71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, transfers from Gioia del Colle to 
Salsola Airfield, Italy with P-38's.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's attack the 
marshalling yard and docks at Ancona; P-40's hit tanks and trucks at Palena 
and S of Sulmona, and positions and vehicles near Cervaro; and A-36's hit 
positions in the same area.
  414th Night Fighter Squadron, 63d Fighter Wing, based at Elmas, Sardinia 
with Beaufighters, sends a detachment to operate from Ghisonaccia, Corsica.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon Islands, 
B-25's hit Buka seaplane base on Buka Island and the Kahili supply area on 
Bougainville; fighters strafe the Cape Dunganon area and along the Ramusian 
River W of Teop. On New Britain Island, 7 squadrons of Allied fighters cover 
a USN dive bomber strike on Tobera; 2 squadrons of B-24's pound Vunakanau
Airfield. 6 B-25's bomb Taharai Airfield, New Ireland Island and afterwards
some hit targets of opportunity on the island.
  Transfers from Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands to Munda, New Georgia
Island:
  23d and 72d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy),
with B-24's.
  371st and 372d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group 
(Heavy), with B-24's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, fighters and 
bombers attack Alexishafen, Madang, Bogadjim, Uligan Harbor, and the area E 
of Saidor; and Cape Beechey is strafed by P-40's.
  Transfers in New Guinea:
  36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, from Nadzab to Finschhafen with 
P-47's.
  498th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium), from 
Port Moresby to Dobodura with B-25's.

MONDAY, 10 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 A-36's and P-51's hit a bivouac 
area at Nanyaseik; and 15 P-40's attack a bridge at Namti, damaging railroad 
tracks and the S approach to the bridge. During the night of 9/10 Jan, 7 
B-24's lay mines in the Menam River estuary near Bangkok, Thailand and in the 
Rangoon River estuary. B-24's during the day bomb marshalling yard and 
airfield in the Bangkok area and hit the main jetty at Akyab, Burma. 9 B-25's 
mine the Mokpalin, Burma ferry crossing over the Sittang River.
  315th Troop Carrier Squadron, Tenth Air Force, transfers from Dinjan to 
Sylhet, India with C-47's.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 8 P-51's bomb the approach to the
Kienchang bridge and attack a troop train N of Teian damaging the train and 
killing an estimated 100 soldiers; 3 B-25's and 8 P-40's sweep the area from 
Anking to Chiuchiang, sinking a large motor launch, 2 100-ft (30.5 m) barges, 
and a tug on the Yangtze River, and attacking a bridge at Teian and tracks S 
of Chiuchiang; 2 B-25's and 4 P-40's attack shipping on the Yangtze River 
near Wusueh, sinking a launch and leaving 3 tankers burning.
  491st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), 
transfers from Chakulia, India to Yangkai, China with B-25's.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 181: During the evening, 5 
B-17's drop 4.8 million leaflets on Orleans, Chateauroux, Rouen, Le Mans and 
Tours, France without loss.
  HQ 93d Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) transfers from Horsham St Faith to
Elveden Hall, England.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ 366th Fighter Group and 390th 
Fighter Squadron arrives at Membury, England from the US with P-47's; first 
mission is 14 Mar.
  71st, 72d, 73d and 74th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 434th Troop Carrier Group, 
transfer from Welford Park to Fulbeck, England with C-47's.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): B-17's bomb Sofia, Bulgaria
causing considerable damage in the marshalling yards. B-24's hit the 
marshalling yard at Skoplje, Yugoslavia. P-38's and P-47's provide escort.
Around 60 Luftwaffe fighters attack the Sofia force and a fierce air battle 
ensues; 2 B-17's are lost; they claim 28 aircraft shot down.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's hit San Benedetto 
de Marsi; P-40's, with RAF, SAAF, and RAAF airplanes, hit communications, gun 
positions, trucks, and tanks at numerous points in and NW of the battle area; 
other P-40's give close support to ground forces in the Chieti area; and  
A-36's hit trucks, tanks, trains, and other targets of opportunity N of Rome.
  Transfers:
  HQ 47th Bombardment Group (Light) from Vincenzo Airfield to Vesuvius 
Airfield, Italy.
  Air echelon of the 417th Night Fighter Squadron, Twelfth Air Force
(attached to RAF 337 Wing) from Tafaraoui to La Senia, Algeria with
Beaufighters; ground echelon is at Ghisonaccia, Corsica.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands, 4 
P-39's from Makin Island, Gilbert Islands strafe Mille Atoll; 1 of the 
P-39's drops 2 500-lb (227 kg) bombs on the fuel storage area; during the 
night of 10/11 Jan, 16 B-24's, staging through Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands 
from the Ellice Islands, bomb Maloelap Atoll; 4 others, staging through Baker 
Island from Canton Island, Phoenix Islands, hit Mille Atoll.
  392d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 
transfers from Canton Island to Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands with B-24's.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Major General Hubert R 
Harmon, Commanding General, begins a heavy bomber campaign of night strikes. 
5th Bombardment Group (Heavy) opens the night raids sending 20 B-24's on a 
strike against Lakunai Airfield, New Britain Island after a morning raid by 
10 B-24's against nearby Vunakanau airfield. 5 B-24's hit the Kahili supply 
area, Bougainville Island while 4 hit the Chinatown area of Buka Island. AAF 
and USN fighters cover a USN dive bomber strike against Cape Saint George,
New Ireland Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 100+ heavy, 
medium, and light bombers, and fighters attack the Madang, Alexishafen, and 
Bogadjim areas and the coastline from Madang to Sio. P-39's strafe scattered 
villages and barges on New Britain Island. B-25's bomb Koepang, Timor Island.
  Transfers to Nadzab New Guinea:
  33d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium), from 
Dobodura with B-25's; squadron will be redesignated 33d Bombardment Squadron 
(Heavy) on 3 Feb and transition to B-24's.
  69th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, from Port Moresby 
with C-47's.

TUESDAY, 11 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 36 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's 
pound an encampment containing about 4,900 troops and a large quantity of 
supplies, causing considerable damage by accurate bombing and strafing.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Before daylight 14 Japanese bombers hit the
airfield at Suichwan, China; during the morning 3 medium bombers and 15 
fighters follow up with a second strike; 7 P-51's and 5 P-40's intercept the
second attack, claiming 3 medium bombers shot down. 8 B-24's bomb the harbor, 
aluminum plant, and airfield at Takao, Formosa; 1 bombs oil storage at 
Swatow, China. 4 B-24's mine harbors at Takao and Hong Kong; 1 B-24 is lost.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 182. Three aviation
industry targets in Germany are hit; fierce opposition estimated at 500
Luftwaffe fighters is encountered and 60 bombers and 5 fighters are lost.
  1. 177 B-17's are dispatched to Oschersleben; 139 hit the primary and 20
hit targets of opportunity; they claim 174-32-63 Luftwaffe aircraft; 34 
B-17's are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 83 damaged; casualties are 9 
KIA, 11 WIA and 349 MIA.
  2. 114 B-17's are dispatched to Halberstadt; 52 hit the primary and 55 hit 
targets of opportunity; they claim 35-11-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 8 B-17's are 
lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 42 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 18 WIA 
and 81 MIA.
  177 P-47's and 44 Ninth Air Force P-51's escort; they claim 29-11-14 
Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-47's are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 4 P-47's 
and 1 P-51 are damaged; casualties are 2 KIA and 2 MIA. Major James H Howard, 
a P-51 pilot of the 354th Fighter Group, shot down an Me 110 and then found 
himself the lone escort for a B-17 group being attacked by 30 Luftwaffe 
aircraft. For the next 30 minutes, he kept turning into the enemy fighters 
and firing until only one gun was firing; by this time, he was credited with 
2-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft and saved the B-17's. Major Howard was awarded the 
Medal of Honor.
  3. 234 B-17's and 138 B-24's are dispatched to Brunswick; 47 B-17's hit the 
primary, 114 hit Osnabruck, 25 hit Bielefeld, 22 hit Peine, 10 hit Herford 
and 1 hit Nienburg; no B-24's hit the primary, 58 hit Meppen, 1 hits Lingen 
and 7 hit other targets; they claim 19-17-16 Luftwaffe aircraft; 16 B-17's 
and 2 B-24's are lost, 1 each damaged beyond repair and 47 B-17's and 7 
B-24's damaged; casualties are 5 WIA and 176 MIA. This mission is escorted by 
49 P-38's and 322 P-47's; they claim 2-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 and 2 
P-47's are lost and 1 P-47 is damaged; casualties are 1 MIA. Among the PFF 
aircraft are 4 B-24's, this being the first time B-24's are used in this 
capacity.
  HQ 96th Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) is activated at Horsham St Faith,
England.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

 STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): B-17's, with P-38 escort, bomb 
the harbor at Piraeus, Greece; they destroy 8 attacking fighters; 6 B-17's 
are lost in midair collisions in the heavy overcast.
  Transfers in Italy:
  HQ 82d Fighter Group and 95th, 96th and 97th Fighter Squadrons from Lecce 
to Vincenzo Airfield with P-38's.
  HQ 456th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 744th, 745th, 746th and 747th 
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) to Cerignola from the US with B-24's; first 
mission is 10 Feb.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-26's attack the iron 
and steel works at Piombino during the night of 10/11 Jan; during the day,
B-25's bomb Falconara (hitting the railroad junction) and railroad yards at 
Fabriano; P-40's and A-36's blast defenses and gun positions in Cervaro-Monte 
Trocchio, a gun position N of Minturno, the towns of Sora and Isola del Liri, 
road traffic in the Macerata-Aquila-Popoli area, and railroad facilities at 
San Giorgio del Sannio.
  Transfers:
  HQ 87th Fighter Wing to Nouvion, Algeria from the US.
  84th and 85th Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 47th Bombardment Group 
(Light), from Vincenzo Airfield to Vesuvius Airfield, Italy with A-20's.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands, 9 
B-25's from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands hit 5 vessels and land
installations at Maloelap Atoll; a 5000-ton cargo ship and a small vessel are 
sunk; 4 P-39's from Makin Island, Gilbert Islands dive-bomb and strafe 
runways on Mille Atoll.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): About 90 Allied fighters 
cover 60+ USN dive bombers attacking the Cape Saint George area, New Ireland
Island. 2 flights of P-39's strafe targets of opportunity from Numa Numa to
Koromira, Bougainville Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-25's, 
P-39's, and P-40's hit Uligan Harbor, barges and the road near Bogadjim, the 
Hansa Bay area, and the town of Alexishafen.

WEDNESDAY, 12 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20+ B-25's and P-38's hit the 
marshalling yard at Letpadan, damaging warehouses, engine sheds, and other
buildings; the fighters also strafe Myohaung, setting 3 buildings afire.
  27th Troop Carrier Squadron, Tenth Air Force (attached to the Troop
Carrier Command, Eastern Air Command), arrives at Sylhet, India from the US
with C-47's.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 14 B-24's bomb the Bangsue marshalling yard 
at Bangkok, Thailand.
  HQ 69th Composite Wing transfers from Kunming to Tsuyung, China.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 389th Fighter Squadron, 366th 
Fighter Group, arrives at Membury, England from the US with P-47's; first 
mission is 14 Mar.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, P-47's fly a fighter 
sweep in the Rome area, strafing the marshalling yard at Teramo and buildings 
between the Tronto and Tesino Rivers.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Colonel Archibald Y Smith assumes 
command of the XII Air Force Training and Replacement Command.
  In Italy, B-25's and B-26's bomb the Giulianova railway bridge and attack a 
dam and road bridge; A-20's hit San Donato; P-40's attack a vessel in the 
Krka River of Yugoslavia, hit enemy defensive positions at San Biagio 
Saracinesa, Sant' Elia Fiumerapido, Monte Trocchio, and Atina, and bomb 
Vallerotonda; A-36's attack the Avezzano railroad yards, a village near 
Atina, railroad facilities at Cisterna di Latina, and numerous trucks and 
train cars in the Rome area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 21 A-24's from Makin Island,
Gilbert Islands dive-bomb AA positions and the storage area on Mille 
Atoll, Marshall Islands and 20 supporting P-39's strafe runways.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 13 
B-25's of the 42d Bombardment Group (Medium), on their first mission against 
the Rabaul area, bomb Vunakanau Airfield in the early morning, and 16 B-24's 
hit Lakunai Airfield during the night of 12/13 Jan; 19 B-24's, with an escort 
of about 50 fighters, pound the airstrip and other targets at Tobera. On 
Bougainville Island, 3 flights of P-39's bomb and strafe Teop, Inus Point, 
Numa Numa, and Piano Mission; other aircraft on armed reconnaissance and 
sweeps hit several targets of opportunity throughout the Bougainville area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-24's and 
B-25's attack the Alexishafen area and A-20's hit Warai. B-24's attack 
Balikpapan, Borneo; Makassar, Celebes Island; and Dili, Timor Island.

THURSDAY, 13 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 6 P-51's hit troop concentrations
at Lalawng Ga and bomb Maran Ga and Shaduzup; 27 P-40's attack a
communication center and dumps along the Kamaing-Mogaung road; and 4 P-51's
and a B-25 pound the airfield and supply area at Myitkyina.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 2 B-25's on a sweep from Hong Kong to Hainan 
Island attack 4 large boats, several warehouses, a radio station, and a car 
at Fort Bayard, China; 1 of the vessels explodes; 6 P-40's on armed 
reconnaissance strafe 4 pack trains of about 15 animals each between Lungling 
and Tengchung.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): Major General Kenneth B Wolfe,
Commanding General, arrives at New Delhi, India with the advanced echelon of
XX Bomber Command staff. This is the first important movement of personnel
for Operation MATTERHORN (the plan approved in Apr 44 for the bombing of
Japan by B-29's based in the Calcutta, India area and staging through
advanced fields in the Chengtu, China area). 

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 193 B-26's bomb NOBALL (V-weapon)
targets in France. Fighter pilots report being tracked by AA rockets.
  Transfers in England: HQ 100th Fighter Wing from Greenham Common to Ibsley
and HQ 368th Fighter Group and 395th, 396th and 397th Fighter Squadrons to 
Greenham Common from the US with P-47's; first mission is 14 Mar.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, B-17's bomb 
Centocelle and Guidonia airfields and B-24's hit Perugia airfield. P-38's 
provide escort, and P-47's fly top cover for the B-17 missions. The heavy 
bombers destroy several fighters in aerial combat.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's and B-26's bomb
Guidonia, Centocelle, and Ciampino airfields; A-20's strike the town of Atina. 
AAF, RAF, SAAF, and RAAF fighter-bombers hit shipping along the Dalmatian 
coast at Sibenik and in the Krka River of Yugoslavia. A-36's hit the town and 
railway yards at Isola del Liri, a factory at Colleferro, docks at Formia, 
railroad yards at Valmontone, and a railway station SE of Frosinone. P-40's 
hit Sant' Elia Fiumerapido, San Biagio, Saracinesa, and a rail and road 
junction near Villa Latina.
  86th and 97th Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 47th Bombardment Group 
(Light), transfer from Vincenzo Airfield to Vesuvius Airfield, Italy with 
A-20's.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands, 9 
B-25's from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands attack harbor shipping at Wotje 
Atoll; 21 A-24's from Makin Island, Gilbert Islands dive-bomb dock, barracks, 
and storage area on Mille Atoll; some of the 16 escorting P-39's strafe
ground targets, and 10 other P-39's carry out strafing mission over Mille
Atoll.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): HQ Thirteenth Air Force 
moves from Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands to Guadalcanal, Solomon 
Islands. 
  During predawn hours 11 B-25's bomb Tobera, Rapopo, the Wide Bay area, and 
coast S of Rapopo, New Britain Island. P-39's strafe Tinputs, Bougainville 
Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): HQ V Fighter Command 
transfers from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea and Major General Paul B 
Wurtsmith becomes Commanding General, V Fighter Command. 
  In New Guinea, 130+ B-24's, B-25's and P-40's attack Alexishafen. B-24's
bomb Gasmata Island off New Britain Island. B-24's and B-25's strike Kaukenau 
and Timoeka, New Guinea and score hit on a freighter off Tanimbar Island,
Moluccas Islands.

FRIDAY, 14 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): Bad weather limits operations to fighter 
patrols in the Sumprabum, Burma area.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 4 B-25's on a coastal sweep from 
Pakhoi to Haiphong, French Indochina bomb a group of buildings on Weichow
Island; 2 B-24's damage 2 vessels near Saint John Island.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 183: 356 of 374 B-17's and
156 of 178 B-24's hit 20 of 21 V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area of 
France; 19 B-24's hit targets of opportunity; they claim 8-0-1 Luftwaffe
aircraft; 2 B-17's and 1 B-24 are lost, 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and
66 B-17's and 9 B-24's are damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 11 WIA and 31 MIA.
98 P-38's, 504 P-47's and 43 Ninth Air Force P-51's escort; they claim 14-1-0 
Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38, 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are lost, 1 P-47 is damaged 
beyond repair and 9 P-47's and 1 P-51 are damaged; casualties are 3 MIA.
  Mission 184: During the evening, 4 B-17's drop 840,000 leaflets on Amiens, 
Lille, Cambrai and St. Omer France without loss.
  Mission 185: 2 B-17's are dispatched to Wesel, Germany for a night test
of Oboe Mk II; 1 aircraft aborts and 1 drops 2 tons of high explosive bombs
on the target without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ 71st Fighter Wing transfers from 
Aldermaston to Greenham Common, England.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Around 200 B-24's and B-17's 
attack the town area and airfield at Mostar, Yugoslavia. P-38's provide 
escort throughout the missions, and P-47's join the B-17's at the target and 
cover the flight back to base.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's strike the 
Pontecorvo bridge; A-20's offer close support to US Fifth Army forces in the 
Monte Trocchio area; P-40's blast Loreto tank repair shops; P-40's and A-36's 
hit defenses in the San Giuseppe, Sant' Elia Fiumerapido. and Monte Trocchio
areas; A-36's also attack road and buildings E of Minturno, the town of Isola
del Liri, and the harbor at Anzio.
  Transfers in Italy: HQ 321st Bombardment Group (Medium) and 445th, 446th,
447th and 448th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) from Amendola to Vincenzo
Airfield with B-25's and 308th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, from
Pomigliano to Castel Volturno with P-51's.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands, 12 
B-24's, staging through Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, bomb 3 islands in 
Kwajalein Atoll; 3 B-25's from Makin Island, Gilbert Islands fly a mission 
against shipping at Wotje Atoll; 2 of the B-25's attack 2 small vessels, 
sinking 1 and damaging the other; the other B-25 bombs a runway and building 
on the S part of Wotje.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 
during the night of 13/14 Jan, 15 B-24's bomb Vunakanau and Lakunai 
Airfields, Rabaul, Rapopo and Malaguna; just before dawn, 12 B-25's hit Au 
and Cape Gazelle and Buka, Buka Island in the Solomon Islands. P-39's join
USN SBD's in bombing Wakunai, Bougainville Island. 70+ Allied fighters
support a strike by 50+ USN dive bombers against shipping in Simpson Harbor 
at Rabaul; the fighters claim 27 aircraft shot down.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 50+ B-24's, 
B-25's, and P-40's hit the Alexishafen and Erima area. On New Britain Island, 
B-24's bomb Cape Busching; B-25's attack targets  of opportunity along the N 
coast, and A-20's strike villages along the S coast.

SATURDAY, 15 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 4 P-40's and a B-25 over N Burma hit a train 
at Pinwe.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 2 B-25's on a sea sweep along the French
Indochina coast bomb the Hongay power plant and sink a gunboat in a nearby 
cove to the SW; a coal grading building at Campha Port is also bombed. 2 
B-25's on a sweep off the SE China coast sink a wooden vessel off Swatow and 
damage the lighthouse on Nampana Island. 2 others shoot down a Japanese 
bomber N of Chikhom, China.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  MEDITERRANEAN ALLIED AIR FORCE (MAAF): Lieutenant General Ira C Eaker, 
USAAF, assumes command of MAAF and Army Air Forces, MTO (AAFMTO), replacing
Air Chief Marshall Sir Arthur Tedder, RAF, and General Carl Spaatz, who
along with Air Vice Marshall Sir Arthur Coningham, RAF, and numerous other 
American and British officers have departed for the UK.

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, B-24's bomb the Prato 
marshalling yard and industrial area, and also hit roads in the area and drop 
several bombs on the town of Pistoia. B-17's concentrate on railroad yards 
and bridges in the Florence area at Certaldo, Poggibonsi, Montalto di Castro, 
Arezzo, Civitavecchia, and near Porto Civitanova and Orvieto, and hit 
scattered targets of opportunity. Fighters escort all the missions.
  HQ 306th and 307th Bombardment Wings (Heavy) are activated at Bari, Italy. 
  HQ 455th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 740th, 741st, 742d and 743d
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) arrive at San Giovanni, Italy from the US with 
B-24's; first mission is 12 Feb.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's attack the 
Foligno railway junction; B-26's bomb bridges at Orvieto. P-40's of the 79th 
Fighter Group and RAF 239 Wing hit the San Valentino station in a joint
attack; A-36's and other P-40's, in support of US Fifth Army forces, hit gun
positions and strongpoints, especially at Picinisco and Atina; P-40's on
armed reconnaissance hit the railroad W of Frosinone station and strafe the
Ceccano station and railway cars.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 9 B-25's from Tarawa Atoll,
Gilbert Islands flying at deck-level bomb and strafe shipping and shore 
installations at Maloelap Atoll, Marshall Islands; 2 vessels are hit and the 
oil dump, hangars, other buildings, and runways are damaged; 1 B-25 crashes 
at sea after being hit by AA fire.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On Bougainville Island in 
the Solomon Islands, 24 B-25's, with 60 fighters escorting, pound East Cape; 
and P-39's attack barges and trucks at Chabai.
  HQ 347th Fighter Group and it's 339th Fighter Squadron transfer from 
Guadalcanal Island to Stirling Island, Treasury Islands with P-38's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-24's and 
B-25's pound Uligan Harbor; P-40's, P-47's, and B-25's hit the Madang, 
Alexishafen, Erima, and Bogadjim area. Enemy positions along the S coast of 
New Britain Island are attacked by B-25's and P-39's.
  499th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium), 
transfers from Port Moresby to Dobodura, New Guinea with B-25's.

SUNDAY, 16 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 8 P-40's attack the town of Pingkai, China and 
strafe targets of opportunity in the surrounding valley area.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO): General Dwight D Eisenhower assumes 
duties of Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force (AEF).

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): B-24's attack the Osoppo, Italy 
landing ground and the town of Zara, Yugoslavia; they claim 9 Luftwaffe 
aircraft; 1 B-24 is lost. B-17's bomb the Messerschmitt factory at 
Klagenfurt, Austria and the landing ground at Villaorba, Italy. Escorting 
P-38's claim 9 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 P-38's are lost.
  Transfers in Italy: HQ 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 342d Bombardment
Squadron (Heavy) from Cerignola to Amendola with B-17's; HQ 454th Bombardment
Group (Heavy) and 736th and 737th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) to San
Giovanni from the US with B-24's, first mission is 8 Feb; and 154th Tactical
Reconnaissance Squadron, 68th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (attached to
Fifteenth Air Force), begins a movement from Oran, Algeria to Bari, Italy
with P-38's.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's bomb the 
marshalling yard and choke points at Terni; B-26's attack the marshalling 
yard and bridge at Orte; A-20's bomb the town of Atina; P-40's attack bridges 
in the San Giorgio del Sannio area and gun emplacements near Cassino; Sant' 
Angelo in Theodice and Picinisco; A-36's hit the railway junction at Cecina, 
road and railway S of Siena, and the town areas of Avezzano and Formia.
  Transfers in Italy: HQ 79th Fighter Group and 85th and 86th Fighter
Squadrons from Madna Airfield to Capodichino with P-40's; and 99th Fighter
Squadron, XII Air Support Command (attached to 79th Fighter Group), from
Madna Airfield to Capodichino with P-40's.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 25 A-24's, 16 P-39's, and 8 
P-40's from Makin Island, Gilbert Islands strike Mille Atoll, Marshall 
Islands; the A-24's bomb and strafe AA positions and storage areas, the 
P-40's bomb and strafe barracks and AA emplacements and the P-39's strafe 
runways; 2 P-39's are lost; P-39's sent up on interceptor missions claim 3 
Japanese airplanes destroyed over Mille Atoll and Makin Island.
  Transfers:
  28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Seventh Air Force, to Kipapa 
Airfield, Territory of Hawaii from the US with F-5's.
  431st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), from 
Funafuti Atoll, Ellice Islands to Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands with B-24's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, the Madang, 
Erima, and Bogadjim areas are hit by B-25's, A-20's, and P-40's; P-39's 
strafe the area from Sio to Bogadjim; and B-25's bomb the area N from Cape 
Croisilles. B-24's and B-25's attack positions near Arawe, New Britain 
Island. B-24's carry out a light raid on the harbor of Amboina Island, 
Moluccas Islands.

MONDAY, 17 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, A-36's and P-51's support ground
forces in the Shaduzup-Ngamaw Ga area and near Taro; others bomb supply 
dumps, warehouses, and rolling stock at Sahmaw; and P-40's hit Myitkyina 
Airfield.
  Transfer: HQ 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy) from Pandaveswar to Kurmitola,
India.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, B-17's attack the 
marshalling yard at Prato and the marshalling yard and bridge at Pontassieve; 
B-24's bomb the marshalling yard at Arezzo; and P-38's and P-47's provide 
escort.
  Transfers in Italy: HQ 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 343d Bombardment 
Squadron (Heavy) from Manduria to Lecce with B-24's; 340th, 341st and 414th 
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy), from Cerignola
to Amendola with B-17's.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's attack 
marshalling yards at Terni, Chiaravalle, and Montemarciano; B-26's strike the 
Orte railway bridge and Viterbo marshalling yard; P-40's hit the Sibenik, 
Yugoslavia harbor, the bridge at San Giorgio del Sannio, gun positions at San 
Giuseppe and Formia and docks at Anzio; A-36's bomb Anzio, the Avezzano town 
area and road junction, and Tarquinia town and factory buildings.
  Transfers in Italy: 87th Fighter Squadron, 79th Fighter Group, from Madna 
Airfield to Capodichino with P-40's; 92d Fighter Squadron, 81st Fighter
Group, from Castelvetrano, Sicily to Capodichino with P-39's.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 9 B-25's from Abemama Island,
Gilbert Islands, bomb and strafe Mille Atoll, Marshall Islands, hitting the
runway, AA positions, radio tower, warehouse area, lagoon dredges and 
possible oil dumps. 4 P-40's from Makin Island, Gilbert Islands, bomb and 
strafe the Mille Atoll landing ground.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, AAF 
and US fighters support a USN dive-bomber strike on shipping at Rabaul; they
claim 18 Japanese airplanes; 10 Allied fighters are lost. During the night of
17/18 Jan, a few B-24's, in 2 flights, bomb the Rabaul area, while 2 RNZAF
Ventura's bomb the Kalakapisi coast watcher station at Choiseul Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 47 B-24's and 
B-25's bomb the Hansa Bay area; B-25's bomb Nubia; P-39's strafe the Rai 
Coast; and B-24's bomb Bandanaira, Celebes Islands.

TUESDAY, 18 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 P-38's hit the airfield and 
satellite field at Meiktila; 18 B-24's and 9 B-25's bomb the encampment area
at Kyaukchaw; 17 A-36's and P-51's hit troops, dumps, and workshops at 
Sawnghka; 11 P-40's attack troops and stores at Shaduzup; 3 transport 
aircraft are lost to Japanese fighters during a supply dropping mission SE
of Sumprabum.       

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 2 B-25's bomb the 
railroad yard and wharf at Campha Port and oil storage facilities at Mon Cay.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): B-17's attack marshalling 
yards, a bridge and an airfield in the Florence, Italy area; P-38's and 
P-47's provide close escort.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-26's hit the harbor, 
tin mills, steel works, power house, and blast furnaces at Piombino, and bomb 
the Montalto di Castro railroad and bridge; B-25's hit the town and railway 
viaduct at Terni, and A-20's blast gun positions in the Minturno area; P-40's 
hit trains, wharves and vessels in the Ploca and Metkovic, Yugoslavia areas; 
A-36's and P-40's pound troops, trucks, and gun positions in the Minturno 
area and near Pontecorvo and Atina, hit a gasoline dump at Pignataro 
Interamna, a warehouse at Fontana Liri, a factory at Ceprano, the rail and 
road junction at Avezzano, and railway at Santa Marinella.
  Transfers in Italy: 81st and 434th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 12th
Bombardment Group (Medium), from Foggia to Gaudo Airfield with B-25's; 307th
Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, from Pomigliano to Castel Volturno with
P-51's; 344th, 345th and 415th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 98th
Bombardment Group (Heavy), from Manduria to Lecce with B-24's.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands, 12 
B-25's from Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands, attack barracks area, runway and 
gun position on the N part of Mille Atoll; 25 A-24's and 8 P-40's from Makin 
Island, Gilbert Islands pound the oil storage area on the S side of Jabor 
Island in Jaluit Atoll; the P-40's also strafe a radio station in the target 
area.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 34 
B-25's supported by 70+ fighters, pound Tobera; and single B-24's on armed 
reconnaissance bomb the Maliai, Vunakanau, and Lakunai areas.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, the Hansa Bay 
area is bombed by 40 B-24's. 70+ B-25's pound the Madang and Bogadjim areas 
and positions around Shaggy Ridge; 55 P-38's and P-40's engage a like number 
of Japanese fighters over Wewak, losing 3 P-38's and claiming 12 shot down.
Other B-24's bomb Laha, Celebes Islands. 
  HQ 345th Bombardment Group transfers from Port Moresby to Dobodura, New
Guinea.

WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 16 B-24's bomb the marshalling yard and Don 
Maung railroad station at Bangkok, Thailand. In Burma, 4 P-40's hit the town 
of Wakshang; 26 A-36's and P-51's hit targets along roads from Ngamaw Ga to
Maingkwan to Mashi Daru.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 14 P-40's and 2 B-25's attack the barracks 
area at Mon Cay, French Indochina.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, B-24's and B-17's hit 
airfields at Perugia, Iesi, Centocelle, and Ciampino; P-38's fly close escort
for all the missons while P-47's fly top cover over Ciampino and Centocelle 
and carry out a sweep over the Rome area.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's bomb Rieti 
Airfield; B-26's hit the airfield at Viterbo; A-20's attack the marshalling 
yard at Colleferro; P-40's bomb and strafe 2 schooners at Makarska,
Yugoslavia; A-36's hit guns, trucks, and trains N of Rome and fly 70+ sorties
against rail, communications and troop positions in the US Fifth Army battle
area as the Garigliano bridgehead expands; P-40's also hit defended positions
in the battle area and near Scauri, Tremensuoli, and Alvito.
  Transfers in Italy: HQ 12th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 82d and 83d
Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) from Foggia to Gaudo Airfield with B-25's; HQ
27th Fighter-Bomber Group and 522d, 523d and 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons
from Paestum to Pomigliano with A-36's; HQ 31st Fighter Group and 309th
Fighter Squadron from Pomigliano to Castel Volturno with P-51's.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 17 B-25's from Tarawa Atoll,
Gilbert Islands, hit Mille Atoll, Marshall Islands; flying at low altitude,
the B-25's score hits on gun positions, fuel dumps, and the airfield area in 
general; AA fire claims 2 B-25's.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Attacks during the day are 
limited to isolated strikes on shipping and other targets of opportunity by 
aircraft on armed reconnaissance over Bougainville Island, New Ireland
Island, and Saint George Channel. During the night of 19/20 Jan, 11 B-24's, 
in 2 waves, fly strikes against Rabaul and Vunakanau targets on New Britain
Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 57 B-24's bomb Boram, New
Guinea; 17 more bomb Amboina Island, Moluccas Islands, and Halong, Celebes
Islands; and 2 others score hits on freighter near Aitape, New Guinea. 65 
B-25's, along with RAAF airplanes, pound positions in the Shaggy Ridge, New
Guinea area. 2 P-39's bomb barges in the Cape Raoult, New Britain Island area.
  25th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance
Group begins transfer from Brisbane, Australia to Lae, New Guinea with F-5's.

THURSDAY, 20 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In N Burma, 40+ A-36's and P-51's hit 
storage dumps along the railway in the Mogaung area and billets and warehouse 
area at Mohnyin. In S Burma, 16 P-38's and 6 B-25's knock out a railroad 
bridge, pipeline, and railroad tracks in the Nattalin area.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 2 B-24's on sweep from Hong Kong to Swatow,
China, attack a freighter and a tanker, which are reported sinking.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 186: during the evening, 4 
of 5 B-17's drop 960,000 leaflets on Lille, Brest, Caen and Chartres, France 
without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ 437th Troop Carrier Group and
83d, 84th, 85th Troop Carrier Squadrons arrive at Balderton, England from the 
US with C-47's.

  US STRATEGIC AIR FORCES IN EUROPE (USSAFE): General Carl Spaatz, as 
Commanding General USSAFE, formally assumes administrative responsibility for 
all USAAF units in the UK. His HQ is located at Bushy Park, formerly Eighth
Air Force HQ.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, B-24's and B-17's 
bomb airfields at Guidonia, Centocelle, and Ciampino;  P-38's provide escort
and P-47's carry out sweeps over the targets. Other P-47's escort transport
airplanes on a mission to Yugoslavia.
  HQ 451st Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfers from the US to Gioia del
Colle, Italy.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-26's bomb the Viterbo 
marshalling yard and attack a bridge at Pontecorvo; B-25's attack railroads 
in the Carsoli area; A-20's give close support to the US 5th Infantry 
Division in the Minturno area; British and US P-40's follow RAF light bombers
in a raid on the Popoli station; A-36's pound a rail and road crossing at
Viterbo. and P-40's hit communications at Frosinone, Palestrina, and Carsoli,
where a traffic block is created; A-36's and P-40's fly nearly 200 sorties in
support of the US Fifth Army ground forces as the 36th Infantry Division
begins an assault across the Rapido River in the Theodice area; and P-40's
hit targets along the British Eighth Army front.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands, 13 
B-24's, staging through Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, hit Wotje Atoll during 
the night of 19/20 Jan; 8 B-25's from Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands, bomb 
Rakaaru Island; other B-25's sent from Tarawa Atoll against shipping at 
Ailinglapalap Atoll, abort because of bad weather; 9 P-40's from the Gilbert 
Islands strafe a corvette and a schooner at Jaluit Atoll, mortally damaging 
both vessels; 4 other P-40's bomb Mille Atoll.
  HQ 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 98th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) 
transfer from Funafuti and Nukufetau Islands, Ellice Islands respectively to 
Tarawa Atoll with B-24's.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Several targets on 
Bougainville Island are bombed by 2 squadrons of B-24's. 18 B-25's, with 
about 70 escorting fighters, pound the airfield, fuel dump and gun positions,
at Vunakanau and Rabaul, New Britain Island.
  HQ 42d Bombardment Group (Medium) and 75th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) 
transfer from the Russell Islands to Sterling Island, Treasury Islands with
B-25's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 37 B-25's and 
a B-24 bomb and strafe the Hansa Bay area; 60+ B-25's hit positions on Shaggy 
Ridge; and  P-39's strafe troops at Weber Point. 25 A-20's hit positions 
between Borgen Bay and Rein Bay, New Britain Island, and hit barge hideouts
and enemy held areas on Gasmata Island.
  Transfers in New Guinea: HQ 71st Reconnaissance Group from Port Moresby to
Nadzab; "A" flight of the 110th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 71st
Reconnaissance Group, based at Port Moresby, begins operating from Gusap with 
P-39Q's.

FRIDAY, 21 JANUARY

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 11 P-40's score near misses on the 
Loilaw bridge and strafe Budagon nearby, starting several fires. 16 A-36's and 
P-51's support ground forces near Sumprabum, and 11 more bomb forces SW of 
Kamaing.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 187: 36 V-weapon sites
in France, 34 in the Pas de Calais area and 2 in the Cherbourg area, are
targetted; 24 are attacked by 302 of 597 B-17's and 68 of 198 B-24's; 15
B-17's and 9 B-24's hit targets of opportunity (2 V-weapon sites and 3
airfields); they claim 5-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-24's and a B-17 are
lost, 3 B-24's are damaged beyond repair, and 103 B-17's and 41 B-24's are
damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 31 WIA and 74 MIA. This mission is escorted
by 49 P-38's, 531 P-47's and 48 Ninth Air Force P-51's; they claim 6-0-4
Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 2-2-0 on the ground; 1 P-47 is lost, 1
is damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; casualties are 1 MIA.
  Mission 188: During the night, 5 of 5 B-17's drop 1.2 million leaflets on
Reims, Nantes, Le Mans, Tours and Orleans, France without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 119 B-26's bomb V-weapon sites in 
France.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): B-17's bomb airfields at Istres-
Le-Tube and Salon-de-Provence, France, and in Italy, railroad bridges at
Porto Civitanova, and a bridge and marshalling yard at Rimini, Italy; B-24's
attack the marshalling yards at Pontedera and Prato; P-38's fly escort; and
P-47's sweep over wide areas around Rome and Florence.
  738th and 739th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 454th Bombardment Group 
(Heavy) arrives at San Giovanni, Italy from the US with B-24's; first mission 
is 8 Feb.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-26's hit railroad 
bridges N and S of Orvieto; B-25's bomb chokepoints around Rome and 
unsuccessfully attack the Pontecorvo bridge; A-20's attack communications at 
Atina; P-40's hit shipping at Povlje, Yugoslavia; other P-40's and A-36's 
attack strongpoints, trucks, a command post, a HQ building, and radar station 
in the battle area; P-40's also give close support to US Fifth Army troops 
which are hardpressed at both Garigliano and the Rapido River bridgeheads;
and A-36's bomb Veletri, a concentration at Minturno, and the area S of Viterbo.
  "B" and "C" Flights of the 15th Combat Mapping Squadron, 5th Photographic
Reconnaissance Group, depart Colorado Springs, Colorado to join "A" Flight.
The 15th, based at Bari, Italy with F-5's and B-25's, has been in the MTO 
since Dec 42.
  381st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 310th Bombardment Group (Medium), 
transfers from Philippeville, Algeria to Ghisonaccia, Corsica with B-25's.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands, 16 
B-24's staging through Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands during the night of 
20/21 Jan, bomb targets on Kwajalein Atoll; 6 Tarawa-based B-25's hit Arno 
Atoll, and 12 bomb Aur Atoll; 9 B-25's from Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands, 
hit gun positions, barracks, and runways on Mille Atoll; 23 A-24's and 11
P-40's from Makin Island, Gilbert Islands, attack gun positions, ammunition
and oil storage, barracks, and 2 small vessels at Jaluit Atoll.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 38 B-24's pound the runway 
and revetment area at Borpop Airfield, New Ireland Island. On Bougainville
Island, P-39's strafe Kara and Kahili; and RNZAF Ventura's and B-24's on
armed reconnaissance bomb Kalakapisi, Nukiki, and Buka on Buka Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-25's, 
A-20's, and P-39's bomb the Madang area, and strafe villages near Saidor and 
troops from Reiss Point to Erima. On New Britain Island, B-25's and P-39's 
strafe barges from Cape Raoult to Rein Bay and hit targets of opportunity 
along the the N coast; single B-24's on armed reconnaissance blast a control 
tower at Hoskins airfield, and hit ships near Kavieng, New Ireland Island and 
at Lorengau, Manus Island. 2 B-24's bomb Waingapoe, Sunda Island.

SATURDAY, 22 JANUARY 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): HQ 343d Fighter Group transfers from Amchitka 
Island, Aleutian Islands to Alexai Point, Alaska.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 16 B-24's bomb an encampment at 
Prome; 16 A-36's and P-51's and a single B-25 attack communications and 
supply dumps between Kumnyen and Ngamaw Ga; 12 A-36's and P-51's support 
ground forces in the Sumprabum area; 11 P-40's severely damage the Namkwin 
railroad bridge.
  492d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers 
from Panagarh to Madhaiganj, India with B-24's.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 11 P-40's and 5 P-51's strafe the
newly opened Nanchang airfield, killing about 20 troops and destroying an 
airplane and a truck; 12 P-38's knock out bridges at Shektan and Sheklung.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ 457th Bombardment Group (Heavy) 
arrives at Glatton, England from the US.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ 363d Fighter Group and 382d 
Fighter Squadron transfer from Keevil to Rivenhall, England with P-51's;
first mission is 24 Feb.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, unescorted B-17's and 
B-24's bomb the Terni and Arezzo marshalling yards, Pontedera marshalling 
yard and airfield, a road and rail junction NW of Frascati, Terracina road 
defile and Pontecorvo bridge and town area; P-38's strafe targets in the 
Arce-Frosinone area, including several vehicles and train cars; P-47's on a
sweep over the Rome area encounter several fighters, and claim 5 shot down; 2 
P-47's are lost.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, maximum support is given 
to Allied landings at Anzio, which are begun by the US Fifth Army's VI Corps 
at 0200; fighter-bombers, light and medium bombers direct efforts toward 
isolating the landing area by cutting roads, bridges, and railroads and 
obstructing towns in the surrounding region, at Valetri, Valmontone, 
Colleferro, Ceprano, and Fondi and hitting traffic and communications 
throughout the area; fighters maintain a patrol over shipping and beachhead 
and successfully intercept several enemy fighter-bomber missions directed 
against the landings.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands, 18
B-24's, flying from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, hit targets on Kwajalein,
Jaluit and Mille Atoll; 10 B-25's from Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands hit
Maloelap Atoll; 9 others, flying out of Tarawa, bomb shipping and shore
installations at Wotje Atoll; 3 B-25's are lost during the day's missions; 10
Japanese aircraft are claimed shot down.       

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 27 
B-25's, with 90+ supporting fighters, attack Lakunai Airfield, doing 
considerable damage to runway and revetment areas; they claim 18 Japanese 
aircraft; 1 B-25 and 4 fighters are lost. 6 B-25's and 30+ B-24's pound the
town of Rabaul.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-25's strafe villages, 
bridges, and barges from Cape Gourdon to Cape Croisilles, New Guinea, and hit
shipping at Papitalai, Los Negros Island, sinking a small vessel and a barge 
and severely damaging a jetty. A-20's, P-40's and RAAF aircraft hit numerous
scattered targets of opportunity on New Britain Island.

SUNDAY, 23 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 19 B-24's, in 2 waves, attack 
shipping at Mergui, claiming a 350-ft (107 m) vessel and 2 small boats 
destroyed; 6 B-25's and 16 P-38's knock out a bridge at Myittha, damage a 
bridge at Samon, and damage several trucks and railroad cars; 28 A-36's and 
P-51's and a single B-25 pound supply dumps at Kamaing and Mogaung, achieving 
excellent results; 16 P-40's hit Myitkyina Airfield, railroad cars at 
Pidaung, and a railroad bridge at Loilaw.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 28 P-40's and 9 B-25's from Kweilin 
pound Kai Tek Airfield in the Hone Kong-Kowloon area; and 2 B-25's heavily 
damage 3 merchant vessels S of Wenchow.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 232: 5 B-17's drop 250
bundles of leaflets on Rennes, Le Mans, Chartres, Lille and Orleans, France
at 2136-2232 hours without loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Nearly 200 B-26's bomb V-weapon 
sites in the French coastal area.
  75th and 77th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 435th Troop Carrier Group, transfer
from Langer to Welford Park, England with C-47's.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, B-17's bomb road 
bridges at Pontecorvo and Ceprano, railroad line and bridge at Falconara, 
Marittima, and marshalling yards at Poggibonsi and Siena; P-47's escort the
B-17's to the latter 2 targets; B-24's bomb Rieti Airfield, Porto Civitanova 
marshalling yard, and targets of opportunity, including a bridge near Cagli, 
marshalling yard N of Perugia, and landing strip S of Iesi; P-47's and P-38's 
carry out sweeps in wide areas around Rome and Florence, reaching out to 
Viterbo, Rieti, Orte, and Terni.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Colonel William S Gravely takes 
command of XII Air Force Training and Replacement Command.
  B-26's bomb the area S of Avezzano while B-25's hit the town of Avezzano 
and road junction at Monte Cornacchia; A-20's bomb Vallecorsa with good 
results; A-36's attack Vallecorsa, road junctions at Fondi and in the 
Priverno area, the town of Ceccano, and railroad at Sezze; P-47's bomb the 
bridge at Skradin, Yugoslavia; RAF Desert Air Force (DAF) fighters strafe
tanks and trucks on the British Eighth Army front, and XII Air Support
Command fighters cover the US Fifth Army's Anzio beachhead during the day.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands, 21 
B-25's from Tarawa Atoll and Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands, hit Taroa 
Island, Maloelap Atoll; the B-25's claim 3 fighters shot down; 23 B-24's, 
flying out of Makin and Abemama Islands, Gilbert Islands, bomb Wotje Atoll at 
dusk; 1 B-24 bombs Mille Atoll during return flight after developing engine 
trouble.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 80
AAF, USN and US Marine Corps (USMC) fighters support 60+ USN dive bombers in
a strike on the Lakunai Airfield and Matupi Harbor area; they claim 30+
Japanese aircraft; 3 Allied fighters are lost; later, 40+ fighters sweep the
Rabaul area; during the night of 23/24 Jan, 7 B-25's hit Tobera and Lakunai.
20 P-39's strafe targets of opportunity in the Shortland Island area. 
  67th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, transfers from Woodlark
Island to Russell Island, Solomon Islands with P-39's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 35 B-24's, 
with fighter escort, bomb Wewak; 50 Japanese fighters intercept; in the 
ensuing air battle US aircraft claim 12 of the fighters shot down; 5 US 
fighters are lost; P-39's strafe barges and AA positions at Uligan Harbor and 
on the Rai Coast. In New Britain, A-20's hit forces and AA positions near 
Cape Raoult and Gasmata Island. B-24's hit Flores Island, Lesser Sunda 
Islands.
  25th Liaison Squadron, V Bomber Command attached to 5212th Photographic 
Wing (Provisional), begins moving from Brisbane, Australia to Lae, New Guinea 
with L-5's.

MONDAY, 24 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-25's on sea sweeps claim sinking 
of a merchant ship W of Nampang Island, 2 freighters, a cargo-passenger 
vessel, and a coastal cargo boat anchored in Li-Shan Bay, and a cargo-
passenger vessel at Paichuan Island.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 191: 857 B-17's and B-24's 
are put into the air with intentions of bombing transportation and 
industrial targets at Frankfurt-Heddernheim, Frankfurt/Main and Russelsheim.
Most bombers had trouble forming up in bad weather and only 563 of the 857
airborne were dispatched; all of the B-24's were recalled. Because of 
worsening weather all groups were recalled at 1020 hours but 58 B-17's bombed
the Zukunft Power Station near Eschweiler; they claimed 1-0-3 Luftwaffe 
aircraft; 2 B-17's were lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 5 damaged; 
casualties were 5 KIA and 21 MIA.
  Escorting were 101 P-38's, 535 P-47's and 42 Ninth Air Force P-51's; the
fighters were assigned area patrol, protecting all bombers as they passed
through their designated area but this was abandoned when the bombers were
recalled; they claim 19-4-9 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 P-38's, 3 P-47's and 2
P-51's were lost and 6 P-47's were damaged; casualties are 9 MIA.
  The RAF and USAAF in the United Kingdom, agree to place most of the
available P-51's in the Eighth Air Force for long range escort of heavy
bomber's. Eventually the Eighth is to be equipped almost exclusively with
P-51's, with the P-38's and P-47's to be transferred to the Ninth Air Force.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 175+ B-26's attack V-weapon sites
in the coastal area of France.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): B-24's bomb the airfield and 
town area at Skoplje, Yugoslavia. In Bulgaria, B-17's hit the marshalling 
yard at Vrattsa and the Dolno Tserovene area, both targets of opportunity. 
P-38's escort the B-24's while P-47's accompany the B-17's.
  736th and 737th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 454th Bombardment Group
(Heavy), transfer from Torretto to San Giovanni, Italy with B-24's; first
mission is 8 Feb.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Weather cancels all medium and 
light bomber operations. In Italy, fighters maintain cover over the Anzio 
beachhead (Anzio and Nettuno are captured during the day) and encounter 
increased air attacks; 3 fighters are claimed destroyed in aerial combat, 
while 1 Allied fighter is lost. P-40 fighter-bombers hit road at Penne, while 
A-36's bomb Velletri and the road junction E of town, and hit other
communications targets.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands, 24
A-24's from Makin Island, Gilbert Islands, supported by 12 P-39's and 7
P-40's, hit gun positions, storage areas, and barracks on Mille Atoll. In the
late afternoon, 8 B-25's, staging through Makin Island, bomb the airfield on
Wotje Atoll. During the night of 24/25 Jan, 9 B-25's from Tarawa Atoll,
Gilbert Islands, and 12 B-24's from the Ellice Islands, bomb several targets
in Maloelap Atoll. 1 other B-24 bombs Mille Atoll.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): A large concentration of 
USAAF, USN, USMC, and RNZAF fighters support USN and USMC TBF's dive-bombing
shipping in Simpson Harbor and Keravia Bay, New Britain Island; several 300-
to 500-ft (91 to 152 m) vessels are damaged or sunk; US aircraft claim 20+
fighters shot down.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 40+ B-24's 
bomb airfields at Wewak and Boram; 50+ B-25's and P-47's hit Madang and 
troops in the vicinity and bomb the Hansa Bay area; 38 other B-25's attack 
shipping and harbor installations on Manus Island, Admiralty Islands.
  HQ 22d Bombardment Group (Medium) and 19th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) 
transfer from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea with B-26's. They are
transitioning to B-24's and will be redesignated a Heavy unit on 3 Feb.

TUESDAY, 25 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): B-25's on sweeps of the E China coast claim 
a patrol boat, a tanker and 2 freighters sunk S off Wenchow.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 192: During the evening,
5 of 5 B-17's drop 1.2 million leaflets on Caen, Reims, Chartres,
Chateauroux and Brest, France without loss.
  Mission 193: In an Oboe Mk II test, the Oboe equipment failed 3 minutes
before the target (Aachen, Germany) and the B-17 dropped on the ETA; the
B-17 was damaged by flak.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Nearly 150 B-26's, airborne to bomb 
V-weapon sites in France, are forced to abandon the missions because of heavy 
clouds.
  HQ 391st Bombardment Group (Medium) arrives at Matching, England from the
US.
  HQ 435th Troop Carrier Group and 76th and 78th Troop Carrier Squadrons 
transfer from Langer to Welford Park, England with C-47's.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, B-17's bomb targets 
of opportunity (highways and railroad bridges) at Pedaso, SE of Pedaso, at 
Stazione di Monte Silvano and on the Vomano River NW of Pescara; other B-17's 
return bombs to base after finding targets obscured by bad weather.
  HQ 456th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 745th, 746th and 747th transfer from 
Cerignola to Stornara, Italy with B-24's; first mission is 10 Feb.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's bomb Valmontone; 
B-26's hit the Sezze marshalling yard, the Sezze-Bassiano road, Amelia, and 
Rieti marshalling yard; A-20's attack Terelle; A-36's hit Civita Castellana, 
Itri, Velletri, and railroad rolling stock in the area; P-40's hit Velletri 
and Belmonte in Sabina and strafe trucks E of Fondi; P-40's and P-47's hit 
shipping in Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia, and nearby road and rail traffic. British 
fighters of the RAF DAF hit bridge approaches at Popoli, near the British
Eighth Army front.
  Detachment of the 416th Night Fighter Squadron, Twelfth Air Force (attached 
to RAF No. 286 Wing) at Rerhaia, Algeria returns to base at Grottaglie, Italy 
with Beaufighters. 

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands, 24
A-24's from Makin Island, Gilbert Islands, supported by 12 P-39's, attack gun
positions on Mille Atoll; 8 B-25's from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, bomb a
vessel and shore targets at Taroa Island, Maloelap Atoll; later, in a dusk
attack, 18 B-24's flying out of the Gilbert Islands bomb Kwajalein Atoll,
hitting runways and AA positions.
  26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 
transfers from Nukufetau Island, Ellice Islands to Tarawa Atoll with B-24's.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 19 B-24's, following 3 
which drop flares, attack Lakunai airfield, New Britain Island, during the 
late evening.
  106th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), Thirteenth Air Force (attached 
to 42d Bombardment Group (Medium)) transfers from Guadalcanal Island, Solomon 
Islands to Sterling Island, Treasury Islands with B-25's. It will be 
redesignated 100th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 9 May.
  419th Night Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, based on Guadalcanal
Island, sends a detachment to Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands with 
P-70's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 50+ B-24's 
pound the Hansa Bay area; 37 B-25's bomb Alexishafen and Madang; and P-39's
strafe barges on the Rai Coast. P-40's and A-20's hit Gasmata Island off
New Britain Island. 50+ B-25's bomb Lorengau, Manus Island and Momote, Los 
Negros Island.

WEDNESDAY, 26 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 15 B-24's bomb Maungdaw; 7 B-25's 
and 3 fighters hit a camp at Razabil and attack targets of opportunity between
Maungdaw and Buthidaung.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 18 P-40's from Kunming bomb and 
strafe the airfield and barracks at Kengtung.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 144 B-26's scheduled to bomb 
V-weapon sites in France are recalled because of bad weather.
  573d, 574th and 575th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 391st Bombardment
Group (Medium), arrives at Matching, England from the US with B-26's;
first mission is 15 Feb.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, A-20's attack Cisterna 
di Latina, toward which the US Fifth Army's VI Corps is moving; A-36's and 
P-40's fly harassing attacks against roads and railroads, bombing at Belmonte 
in Sabina, Cisterna, Itri, Ceccano, Frosinone, Poggio Mirteto and at points 
around these towns; A-36's destroy a fuel dump and several trucks and 
artillery caissons in the Ceprano-Priverno area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands, 9
B-25's from Makin Island, Gilbert Islands, hit several targets in Maloelap
Atoll; about 20 fighters attack the formation; 12 P-40's, meeting the
returning B-25's over Aur Atoll, join the battle against the fighters,
claiming 10+ destroyed; the B-25's claim 5 shot down; several more are
destroyed on the ground or while taking off during the bombing raid. 9 B-25's
from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands hit Aineman Island in Jaluit Atoll, and
nearby shipping.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 80+ Allied fighters cover a 
strike by 50+ USN dive bombers on the Lakunai area AA positions and
revetments on New Britain Island; 3 Allied fighters are lost; 20+ Japanese
airplanes are claimed shot down.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 42 B-24's bomb Momote, Los 
Negros Island and Lorengau, Manus Island. In New Guinea, 140+ B-24's, A-20's, 
P-39's, and P-40's hit the Alexishafen-Madang area. 18 B-25's bomb Bogia 
village. On New Britain Island, A-20's hit the Cape Raoult area and P-40's 
strafe barges along the N coast.
  26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance 
Group, transfers from Brisbane, Australia to Dobodura, New Guinea with F-5's; 
first mission is 10 Feb.

THURSDAY, 27 JANUARY 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 194: 5 of 5 B-17's drop
1.44 million leaflets on Paris, Rennes, Le Mans and Orleans, France without
loss.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 572d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 
391st Bombardment Group (Medium), arrives at Matching, England from the US
with B-26's; first mission is 15 Feb.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In France, B-17's bomb 
airfields at Salon-de-Provence and Montpellier-Frejorgues; B-24's hit Istres-
Le-Tube Airfield; P-38's fly escort. In Italy, other P-38's sweep the Rome 
area, and P-47's sweep the Florence area. The heavy bombers and fighter 
escorts claim 20+ aircraft shot down.
  Transfers in Italy: HQ 306th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) from Bari to Foggia;
744th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 456th Bombardment Group (Heavy), from
Cerignola to Stornara with B-24's.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's attack roads at 
Velletri, the railway at Colleferro and marshalling yard at Orte; B-26's bomb 
bridges at Ceprano and marshalling yard at Terni; A-20's give close support 
to the US Fifth Army attack near Terelle; A-36's bomb railways and buildings 
at Poggio Mirteto, Ceccano, and Ciampino, hit rail and road traffic S of 
Rome, and, with P-40's, hit the town of Piedimonte; 70+ P-40's provide close
support to Fifth Army forces in Cisterna di Latina and Atina, bombing gun 
positions; Allied fighters over the Anzio beachhead successfully meet 
increased enemy air effort, claiming 28 aircraft downed in aerial combat.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Gilbert Islands, 6 B-25's
from Tarawa Atoll hit Nauru Island, and 9 staging through Makin Island hit 
Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands; 23 A-24's, supported by 10 P-39's, pound Mille 
Atoll, Marshall Islands; and 7 B-24's, staging through Makin Island, bomb 
Taroa Island in Maloelap Atoll, Marshall Islands, in a dusk attack.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 19 B-25's, with and escort 
of 60+ AAF and USN fighters, pound Lakunai airfield, New Britain Island; 6 US
fighters are lost; US aircraft claim 20+ Japanese fighters shot down. On
Bougainville Island, P-39's ranging over a wide area, strafe targets of
opportunity at Motupena, Gazelle Harbor, and Buka Island. 2 squadrons of
B-24's blast concentrations at Sulphur Creek in the Rabaul area of New
Britain Island.
  72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based at
Munda, New Georgia Island ceases operating from Guadalcanal Island with 
B-24's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 41 B-24's bomb Lorengau, 
Manus Island. Almost 70 B-25's, A-20's, and P-39's, along with several RAAF
aircraft attack the Madang and Bogia areas of New Guinea. B-24's hit a
freighter and the town area at Dili, Timor Island, and shipping at Sorong and
MacCluer Gulf.
  39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, transfers from Nadzab to Gusap, 
New Guinea with P-47's.

FRIDAY, 28 JANUARY 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 195: 54 B-24's in 2 groups 
are dispatched to the Bonnieres V-weapon site in France; 2 Gee-H equipped PFF 
aircraft lead each group; due to technical difficulties, the second formation
was ordered to follow the lead and bomb the same target as a secondary; 4 
minutes before the target the leader of one section accidentally released and 
the following 11 aircraft did likewise; 31 hit the primary; 1 B-24 is
damaged. 122 P-47's provide escort without loss. 
  Gee-H is more accurate than H2X but is of use only against targets within
the 200-mi (320 km) beacon range; later, aircraft are equipped with both 
devices.
  Mission 196: During the evening, 5 of 5 B-17's drop 1.36 million leaflets
on Amiens, Rouen, Cambrai, Reims and Caen, France without loss.
  Mission 197: During the night, 1 B-17 on an Oboe Mk II test drops 2 tons
of bombs on Emmerich, Germany.
  748th, 749th, 750th and 751st Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 457th
Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrive at Glatton, England from the US with
B-17's; first mission is 21 Feb.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, B-17's, with fighter 
escorts, bomb Aviano Airfield and Verona marshalling yard; B-24's hit the 
marshalling yard at Ferrara.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's attack the Orte 
marshalling yard; B-26's hit bridges at Orvieto and Montalto di Castro; 
A-20's bomb Cisterna di Latina with good results; P-40's and P-47's bomb 
the Popoli road junction, and A-36's hit railroad, road, and gun positions in 
the Cassino-Vicenza-Velletri areas, the Colleferro marshalling yard, and 
Atina town area; P-40's hit Terelle, Belmonte in Sabina, and Cisterna; Allied 
fighters over the Anzio area claim 21 aircraft shot down.
  416th Night Fighter Squadron, 62d Fighter Wing, transfers from Grottaglie
to Pomigliano, Italy with Beaufighters.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): AAF aircraft from the Gilbert
Islands bomb the Marshall Islands, i.e., 9 B-25's, staging through Makin 
Island bomb Taroa Island in Maloelap Atoll; B-24's, staging through Tarawa
Atoll and Makin Island and taking off at varying intervals, carry out several
hours of strikes against Wotje, Kwajalein, Maloelap, and Jaluit Atolls.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, AAF
and USN fighters support a USN dive-bomber attack on targets in the Rabaul
area; 5 P-38's are lost; Allied aircraft claim about 30 aircraft shot down;
at Lakunai airfield, one of the targets, 20-30 parked aircraft are destroyed
and several AA positions are destroyed or damaged; and 25 B-25's, covered by
12 P-38's, pound Tobera Airfield. 16 P-39's strafe the Shortland Island area.
  HQ 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfers from Guadalcanal Island to
Munda, New Georgia Island.i
  424th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based 
on Guadalcanal with B-24's begins operating from Munda, New Georgia Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-25's attack targets of 
opportunity from Bogia to Cape Croisilles, New Guinea. On New Britain Island, 
A-20's attack in the Cape Gloucester area; P-40's hit the airfield at 
Hoskins; and P-39's strafe barges in Rein Bay.
  HQ 417th Bombardment Group (Light) and 672d, 673d, 674th and 675th
Bombardment Squadrons (Light) arrive at Cape Sudest, New Guinea from the US
with A-20's; first mission is 27 Mar.

SATURDAY, 29 JANUARY 1944

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 13 B-24's, supported by 16
P-38's, bomb gasoline plants at Yenangyaung, causing large fires; 1 B-24
later bombs Akyab; 6 B-25's attack bridges at Meza and Pyintha, damaging the 
former and blasting railroad approaches to the latter.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 198: Led by PFF aircraft, 
675 B-17's and 188 B-24's are dispatched to hit the industrial area at 
Frankfurt, Germany; 590 B-17's and 170 B-24's hit the primary target; 46 
B-17's bomb Ludwigshafen due to a deviation from planned bomb route; they 
claim 75-27-48 Luftwaffe aircraft; 24 B-17's and 5 B-24's are lost, 2 B-17's 
and 3 B-24's are damaged beyond repair and 116 B-17's and 19 B-24's are 
damaged; casualties are 22 KIA, 32 WIA and 299 MIA. Escort is 89 P-38's, 503 
P-47's and 40 Ninth Air Force P-51's; they claim 47-6-14 Luftwaffe aircraft; 
5 P-38's and 10 P-47's are lost, 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair and 3 P-38's 
and 1 P-47 are damaged; casualties are 14 MIA.
  This is first Eighth Air Force mission in which more than 700 aircraft
attack targets.
  Mission 199: During the evening, 5 of 5 B-17's drop 1.2 million leaflets
on Lille, Tours, Lorient, Nantes and Valenciennes, France without loss.
  HQ 458th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Horshal St Faith, England
from the US.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 80+ B-26's bomb V-weapon sites in
coastal France.
  HQ 84th Fighter Wing arrives at Keevil, England from the US.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, B-24's bomb the Siena 
marshalling yard through overcast; B-17's bomb marshalling yards at Ancona, 
Fabriano, Rimini, and Bologna; P-47's sweep over the Rome and Florence areas.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's bomb San 
Benedetto de Marsi marshalling yard; B-26's hit bridges N of Rome; P-47's 
bomb a munitions factory at Bussi sul Tirino; P-40's and A-36's, in support
of US Fifth Army forces, bomb positions in the Anzio beachhead area and hit 
enemy forward road and rail communications; fighters on patrol over Anzio 
meet little air opposition.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): As a US invasion force 
approaches the Marshall Islands, B-24's, attacking from bases in the Gilbert
Islands, maintain day and night attacks (both multiple-plane missions and 
single-plane attacks at intervals) against Maloelap, Jaluit, Aur, Wotje, and 
Mille Atolls, Marshall Islands. 9 B-25's from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, 
also carry out a strike against shipping and shore installations at Wotje. 18 
A-24's, supported by 12 P-40's, hit Jaluit. 12 P-39's, operating in flights 
of 4 aircraft, patrol and strafe Mille all day to deny the use of the 
airfield to the enemy.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 
about 60 Allied fighters cover a strike by 40 USN dive bombers on Tobera;
Lakunai airfield is pounded by 19 B-24's, escorted by P-38's and USN
fighters; at Tobera and Lakunai, Allied aircraft claim 20+ Japanese shot 
down.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 40+ B-25's bomb Bogia and 
Nubia landing grounds, New Guinea. 45 A-20's hit positions in the Cape
Gloucester, New Britain Island area.

SUNDAY, 30 JANUARY 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ZONE OF INTERIOR (Third Air Force): The air echelon of the 19th
Photographic Charting Squadron, 11th Photographic Group (Mapping), begins
operating from Cairo, Egypt with F-9's to photo-map the Middle East and
Africa. The ground echelon remains at MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS
  
  BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 6 B-25's attack bridges at Meza, 
Zawchaung, and N of Kyungon; Meza bridge is put out of commission, Kyungon 
bridge demolished, and Zawchaung bridge damaged; a locomotive and tender are 
destroyed at the latter target; and a single B-25 attacks vehicles and other 
targets of opportunity between Taihpa Ga and Tsumhpawng Ga.

  CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 20 P-40's fly armed reconnaissance over E 
Burma. 8 of them strafe buildings at Loi wing Airfield, Burma.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 200: 623 B-17's and 154 
B-24's are dispatched to hit aviation industry plants in Brunswick, Germany 
but cloud cover prevents visual bombing; 597 B-17's hit the secondary target, 
the city of Brunswick and 2 others hit targets of opportunity; the B-24's
find dense smoke and contrails over the secondary and 104 bomb Hannover and
39 hit other targets of opportunity; the bombers claim 51-7-27 Luftwaffe
aircraft; 18 B-17's and 2 B-24's are lost, 3 B-17's are damaged beyond repair 
and 104 B-17's and 11 B-24's are damaged; casualties are 4 KIA, 14 WIA and 
206 MIA. Escort includes 635 P-38's, P-47's and Ninth Air Force P-51's; they
claim 45-15-31 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-38's and 2 P-47's are lost, 2 P-38's,
3 P-47's and 2 P-51's are damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 4 MIA.
  Mission 201: During the evening, 5 of 5 B-17's drop 1.2 million leaflets
on Chateauroux, Brest, Chartres, Le Mans and Caen, France without loss.
  Mission 202: In a night Oboe Mk II test, 1 B-17 drops 2 bombs on Duren,
Germany.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): The 451st Bombardment Group
(Heavy) with B-24's, becomes operational, making a total of 9 heavy bomber
operational.
  In Italy, B-17's hit airfields and landing grounds at Villaorba, Maniago 
and Lavariano; B-24's bomb Udine Airfield and Fier radar station; P-38's 
escort the B-17's on the Villaorba and Maniago missions and P-38's and some 
RAF Spitfires escort the B-24's on the Udine mission; P-47's carry out a
sweep over the Villaorba area; the B-24's and fighters claim 60+ aircraft
shot down and a larger number destroyed on the ground.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's hit road 
junctions at Valmontone and Genzano di Roma, and bomb the town of Monte 
Compatri; weather cancels all B-26 operations and several B-25 missions. 
A-20's hit the town of and road junction near Cori, and XII Air Support 
Command fighter-bombers hit Sora; US and RAF fighters hit barges and fishing 
boats off Zara and Trojica, Yugoslavia; fighters on patrol over Anzio meet
no air opposition.
  415th Night Fighter Squadron, 64th Fighter Wing, transfers from 
Montecorvino to Marcianise, Italy with Beaufighters. The detachment operating 
from Gaudo Airfield also transfers.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands, P-40's 
and P-39's maintain patrols over Mille Atoll, bombing and strafing the 
airfield to prevent its use by the enemy against invading US forces; B-24's 
maintain all-night strikes against Kwajalein Atoll in preparation for the 
invasion the following morning; the invasion of Majuro Atoll begins during 
the night of 30/31 Jan.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 20 P-39's attack Kunrai,
Bougainville Island. On New Britain Island, 26 B-25's, with large fighter 
cover, bomb Lakunai Airfield; 18 B-24's, supported by fighters, hit Vunakanau 
Airfield; 50 Allied fighters support a USN dive bomber strike on shipping in
the Rabaul area; altogether 20+ Japanese fighters are claimed shot down.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 34 B-25's bomb the Hansa Bay 
area and Nubia landing strip, New Guinea. On New Britain Island, A-20's fly
a barge sweep along the N coast and P-39's strafe barges and fuel dumps at 
Rein Bay.
  90th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 3d Bombardment Group (Light), transfers 
from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea with A-20's.

MONDAY, 31 JANUARY 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

  ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, 5 bombers fly a 
negative sea-search mission.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 203: 74 of 74 B-24's hit
V-weapon site construction at St. Pol/Siracourt, France; 2 aircraft are
damaged beyond repair; no losses. The B-24's are escorted by 114 P-47's.
  Mission 204: 70 of 75 P-47 fighter-bombers, escorted by 47 P-38's and 87
P-47's bomb Gilze-Rijen Airfield, The Netherlands; they claim 13-1-1
Luftwaffe aircraft; 6 P-38's are lost, 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair and
2 P-47's damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 6 MIA.
  Transfers in England: HQ 357th Fighter Group and 362d Fighter Squadron from
Raydon to Leiston with P-51's (first mission is 11 Feb); HQ 358th Fighter
Group and 367th Fighter Squadron from Leiston to Raydon with P-47's and is
reassigned to the Ninth Air Force on 1 Feb.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): B-17's and B-24's bomb
airfields at Aviano and Udine, Italy; P-38's and P-47's provide escort.
B-17's with P-38 escort, hit Klagenfurt Airfield, Austria; they claim 16
aircraft shot down.

  TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, A-20's bomb Artena and 
road junction N of town; P-40's and A-36's, operating E of the Anzio battle 
area, hit a road junction at Sezze, the town of Fondi, and junction and town
area at Priverno; P-47's bomb San Benedetto de Marsi; the XII Air Support 
Command flies 250+ sorties over the Anzio beachhead; air opposition is 
absent.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marshall Islands as US 
Army and USMC troops land on Kwajalein Atoll, under overall command of
Admiral Raymond A Spruance, the USAAF hits other atolls. 19 A-24's bomb Mille
Atoll airfield, over which P-39's and P-40's maintain all-day cover and
harassment; 9 P-40's carry out a strafing mission against Jaluit Atoll;
during the night of 31 Jan/1 Feb, 8 B-24's, attacking at intervals, bomb
Wotje Atoll.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 40+ Allied fighters cover a 
strike by USN dive bombers on Tobera, New Britain Island; 8 enemy aircraft
are claimed shot down; this strike is immediately followed by an attack by 17
B-24's, with fighter support, on the same target.
  The detachment of the 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4th
Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), operating from Munda, New Georgia Island 
with F-5's, returns to base on Guadalcanal Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, A-20's attack 
Uligan Harbor and P-39's strafe Bogadjim, Bostrem Bay, and landing strip at 
Alexishafen. B-24's hit a motor vessel off Ceram Island.
  89th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 3d Bombardment Group (Light), transfers 
from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea with A-20's.

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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