USAAF CHRONOLOGY
JANUARY - MARCH 1944
1/1/44 USSAFE USSAFE is established for operational control of Eighth and Fifteenth AFs. (See 22 Feb 44.)" 1/1/44 Eighth AF The Operational Research Section, organized at Hq VIII BC in Oct 43, is made a special staff section, accountable directly to the CoS. It is composed mostly of civilian specialists trained in statistical analysis and other disciplines pertinent to studying operations of a strat bombing force. The section subsequently proves of great value in improving effectiveness of strat bombing.
1/1/44 AAFMTO Complete reorganization of USAAF units in MTO takes place: USAAFNATO is redesignated MTO (AAFMTO); XII AFSC becomes AAFSCMTO; III Air Serv Area Cmd (Sp) becomes XII AFSC; II Air Serv Area Cmd becomes XV AFSC; XII AF Engineer Cmd (Prov) becomes AAF Engineer Cmd, MTO (Prov); and XII AF Trg Cmd is changed to XII AF Trg and Repl Cmd. XII BC is reorganized as an MB organization (3 B-25 gps and the 3 B-26 gps of 42d Bomb Wg) under Gen Knapp.
1/1/44 Fifteenth AF The 3 remaining MB gps (B-26's) of Fifteenth AF are transferred to Twelfth AF, leaving the Fifteenth with 6 HB (2d, 93d, 97th, 99th, 301st, 376th) and 4 ftr gps (1st, 14th, 82d, and 325th), or 4 B-17, 2 B- 24, 1 P-47, and 3 P-38 gps.
1/1/44 Tenth AF 6 B-25's, along with 16 P-38's, attack bridge on Mu R between Ywataung and Monywa. Maj Robert A Erdin, piloting the lead MB, 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 is a good bridge-bombing maneuver. The tactic is refined and the sq (490th Sq) becomes so proficient as to gain the sobriquet 'Burma Bridge Busters.' Further N, 11 A-36's and 15 P-51's pound A/F at Myitkyina.
1/1/44 Fourteenth AF 4 P-40's bomb and strafe T/Os in Indochina, including barracks and rafts along the Yuan R in the Cam Duong-Lao Kay area.
1/1/44 Fifth AF 120-plus B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's pound Saidor area in preparation for Allied invasion. Other B-25's bomb Madang and Alexishafen. A-20's continue to hit troop concentration in Cape Gloucester area. B- 25's hit positions at Borgen Bay. P-39's strafe barges along New Britain's N coast.
1/1/44 Thirteenth AF 868th Bomb Sq is activated to work directly under XIII BC. The unit, equipped with SB-24's (radar equipped aircraft used for night missions), becomes known as the 'Snooper Squadron.' 15 B-24's, escorted by 70-plus P-38's and F6F's, bomb Lakunai A/F. Ftr and AA opposition is heavy, with 80-90 ftrs attempting interception. US airplanes claim 20 ftrs shot down. 1 B-24 is shot down and 2, severely damaged, crash-land at Torokina. Allied ftrs join Navy dive bmrs in spt of ground forces in Torokina area. 6 B-25's and 2 B-24's bomb Kahili. 4 B-24's hit Manob.
1/1/44 Seventh AF 16 P-39's strafe Mille harbor and attack shipping N of Mille. 2 small vessels are heavily damaged.
1944 1/2/44 Twelfth AF B-26's bomb Terni M/Y and iron works and nearby barracks. P-40's and Spitfires from AAF, RCAF, RAAF, SAAF, and RAF blast snowbound vehicles in Avezzano-Popoli area, warehouses at San Benedetto de Marsi and gun positions and defended areas around Chieti. A-36's hit Civitavecchia harbor and M/Y to the S of town, Anagni M/Y and nearby gun positions, and other T/Os. B-26's bomb bridges at Riva Santo Stefano and Ventimiglia, M/Y at Arma di Taggia, and bridge over Var R.
1/2/44 Fifteenth AF P-47's fly uneventful sweep over Rome area.
1/2/44 Tenth AF 27 B-25's and 16 P-39's hit fuel plant and work shops at Yenangyaung and set oilfield aflame. 13 B- 24's also hit the refinery, causing large fire, and bomb a power station. 4 other B-24's bomb Akyab on W coast. About 30 A-36's and P-51's score hits on Loilaw bridge approaches and bomb towns in the vicinity.
1/2/44 Fourteenth AF 8 P-40's bomb and strafe Japanese HQ and barracks at Hopang.
1/2/44 Fifth AF Elements of US 32d Div make amphibious landing at Saidor following preparatory naval bombardment.
Bad weather prevents preparatory air strikes, but over 80 B-24's and A-20's pound positions in coordination with the landings. Harbor and A/F are captured. Other B-24's bomb Pombelaa and Amboina. B-25's and B-26's bomb Madang. P-40's strafe A/F, AA positions, barges, and supply dump at Cape Hoskins.
1/2/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-25's bomb Buka supply area. 30-plus Allied ftrs sweep Rabaul area, claiming 11 airplanes shot down. 1 Navy ftr is lost.
1/2/44 Seventh AF B-24's, staging through Tarawa, bomb Maloelap. 9 B-25's hit tgts on Jaluit. P-39's strafe shipping at Mille.
1/3/44 Twelfth AF Gen Morris assumes cmd of XII FC. B-25's bomb troop concentration area at Prijedor, and along with SAAF and RAF Baltimores, hit Split and Sibenik. P-40's and A-36's bomb gun positions near Cassino, Anagni railroad station, village near Vicenza, railway and trains between Ceccano and Segni, and harbor at Civitavecchia. P-40's, with SAAF and RCAF Spitfires, hit over 100 vehicles in Avezzano- Sulmona area. Other P-40's, with AAF, RAF, SAAF, and RAAF ftrs, hit tgts in Filetto-Tollo areas in spt of ground troops.
1/3/44 Fifteenth AF Gen Twining becomes CG. B-17's, escorted by P-38's bomb Villarperosa ball bearing works and Lingotto M/Y and Fiat motor works in Turin area. P-47's fly top cover for the HBs as far as Italian coast, then turn and carry out uneventful sweep over Rome area.
1/3/44 Tenth AF 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 pumping station at Yenangyaung, setting oil tanks afire. 10 B-24's follow with strike on a pumping station at Yenangyaung, causing explosions and leaving tgt in flames.
1/3/44 Fourteenth AF 28 B-24's attack railroad yards at Lampang. 5 FB's attack town of Pingkai.
1/3/44 Fifth AF 50-plus B-24's and B-25's bomb Alexishafen area. More than 20 A-20's hit positions at Borgen Bay.
1/3/44 Thirteenth AF 30-plus Allied ftrs again sweep Rabaul area, claiming 6 Zeros shot down. 6 B-24's bomb Kavieng, and several others abort due to bad weather. 6 B-25's bomb Moisuru bivouac area near Kahili, and 15 more hit supply areas near Buka Passage.
1/3/44 Seventh AF 24 A-24's from Makin dive-bomb AA positions and radar and radio facilities on Mille. 20 supporting P- 39's strafe runways and oil storage.
1/4/44 Eighth AF Over 500 HBs attack tgts in Germany with most of them bombing port area, sub yards, and industrial area of Kiel. City of Munster i9 also attacked. US airplanes begin flying supplies from UK to underground resistance forces in W Europe, this operation being coded CARPETBAGGER.
1/4/44 Ninth AF XIX A Spt Cmd is activated in England, and stationed at Middle Wallop. Gen Quesada assumes cmd.
253 B-26's bomb NOBALL tgts in France. Weather makes bombing difficult, and results range from unknown to good.
1/4/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb Brodac town area and M/Y, and town of Travnik. P-40's hit bridge and trains and fly patrols over battleline in Italy.
1/4/44 Fifteenth AF Over 100 B-17's are dispatched to bomb Dupnica area in Bulgaria. 29 bomb the tgt area, but heavy cloud cover causes 77 HBs to return bombs to base. P-38's escort the HBs the total distance to and from tgts. P-47's provide escort part way.
1/4/44 Fifth AF Over 100 HBs and MBs bomb Alexishafen, Madang, and Bogadj im areas and hit troops and supplies between Finschhafen and Saidor. B-25's attack arty positions in Cape Gloucester area. B-24's and B- 25's hit shipping at Koepang and in nearby waters.
1/4/44 Thirteenth AF B-24's bomb Sohano I, concentrating on seaplane base and supply area. B-25's pound gun positions at Tonolai and bomb Chabai. P-39's, B-34's, and night ftrs, operating individually or in small flights, hit tgts on Bougainville, including barges at Mutupina Pt and along Jaba R, and areas around Buka, Bonis, Poporang I, Papas, and Banin. 40-plus Allied ftrs attack Rabaul area and claim at least 10 airplanes shot down.
1/4/44 Seventh AF 18 B-24's, staging through Tarawa, bomb Emidj.
1/5/44 Eighth AF Eighth AF report concludes that US daylight strategic bombing program against Germany will be threatened unless steps are taken to reduce the enemy's ftr force, which has increased in strength in the W as a result of step-up in production, strengthening of firepower, and transfer of larger percentage of ftrs to Western Front. 426 HBs attack tgts in Germany and France. 216 of these hit Kiel while the others bomb Tours and Bordeaux A/Fs, and metals plant and M/Y at Neuss. About 25 losses are suffered in these raids.
1/5/44 Twelfth AF A-36's hit gun positions N of Mignano and on S slope of Monte Porchia. Weather cancels other operations.
1/5/44 Tenth AF 3 B-25's, supported by 8 P-38's, attack Mu R bridge between Monywa and Ywataung which is being rebuilt. Hits are scored on E bank near the bridge and several sheds are set afire. The escorting ftrs damage several nearby railway cars, strafe nearby town, set a barge afire, blow up 4 tin buildings, and claim a river steamer sunk.
1/5/44 Fifth AF HBs and MBs bomb Alexishafen, Madang, and Bogadjim areas and attack barges from Finschhafen to Saidor. P-39's hit barges and gun positions during sweep from Sio to Bogadjim.
1/5/44 Thirteenth AF B-25's bomb concentrations in Choiseul Bay area and Hahela Mission on S Buka I, while B-24's attack Tonolai, Kahili supply area, Fauro I, and Poporang building area.
1/6/44 USSAFE Gen Spaatz assumes cmd and names Gen Frederick Anderson and Gen Knerr as Dep CGs for operations and administration.
1/6/44 Eighth AF Gen Doolittle assumes cmd, replacing Gen Eaker who will go to Italy as CG MAAF.
1/6/44 Twelfth AF B-26's bomb Pontedera hitting M/Y and Piaggio aircraft factory there, Lucca M/Y, and railway N of Follonica. P-40 and A-36 FBs attack gun positions in Cervaro-Monte Trocchio area and near Aquino, town of Cervaro, railway at Civitavecchia, trains N and E of Rome, Velletri train station, and town of Fondi.
1/6/44 Fifteenth AF Control of Fifteenth AF operations against tgts of CBO is placed under USSAFE.
1/6/44 Tenth AF P-51's and A-36's carry out ground spt missions at Sumprabum and Taihpa Ga and hit cav bivouac and dumps at Kamaing. 12 P-40's attack supply dump S of Sahmaw Junction and strafe Pahok.
1/6/44 Fourteenth AF 2 B-25's bomb a troop ship on the Yangtze, NE of Tungting Lake. The vessel is reported as sunk.
1/6/44 Fifth AF B-24's and B-25's bomb Alexishafen and Bogadjim areas. A-20's attack tgts along road from Bogadjim to Yaula. B-25's attack T/Os on Huon Peninsula and others hit Borgen Bay area. P-39's strafe barges at Borgen and Rein Bays.
1/6/44 Thirteenth AF P-38's sweep Rabaul area, claiming 9 Zeros shot down during running battle over Cape Gazelle area.
B-25's and B-34's bomb and strafe tgts in Choiseul Bay area, including jetty areas and buildings at Tarekekori, tgts on Morgusaia I, and gun positions on Kondakanimboko I.
1/7/44 Eighth AF 420 HBs hit I G Farben Industrie plant at Ludwigshafen. 12 aircraft are lost on mission.
1/7/44 Ninth AF 35 B-36's bomb Cherbourg/Maupertus A/F. Bad weather restricts further operations.
1/7/44 Twelfth AF B-25's strike Perugia A/F. A-20's hit defenses in close spt of US Fifth Army. B-26's hit M/Ys at Foligno and Arezzo and attack bridge at Roccasecca. A-36's hit gun positions, trucks, and trains in Cervaro- Aquino-Cassino area, bomb Aquino station, and hit Velletri railway yards. P-40's give close spt in Monte Maio, Monte La Chiaia, Monte Porchia, and Cedro Hill areas as Fifth Army drives toward Rapido R.
1/7/44 Fifteenth AF 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 ftrs over Maribor area. 3 P-38's are lost and several others are missing. 4 ftrs are claimed destroyed, with 1 probably downed and 4 damaged, during the fierce half-hr fight.
1/7/44 Tenth AF 7 B-25's and 15 P-38's pound Lanywa area, hitting 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.
1/7/44 Fourteenth AF 4 B-25's and 6 P-40's sink 2 large boats on the Yangtze 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. 2 B-25's on sea sweep claim a 300-ft passenger vessel sunk S of Hong Kong.
1/7/44 Fifth AF B-24's, B-25's, P-39's, and P-47's bomb Alexishafen-Madang area, hit Erima, Bogadjim, and tgts along Bogadjim Road, attack positions from Weber Pt to Vincke Pt, and strafe huts and barges near Saidor. B-24's bomb Cape Gloucester area. A-20's hit forces near Arawe. B-24's also hit Lorengau and Boela.
1/7/44 Thirteenth AF Gen Hubert Harmon becomes CG. 8 sqs of Allied ftrs spt Navy dive bmrs in attack on Cape Saint George area. B-24's bomb Vunakanau A/F.
1/8/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb harbor, warehouses, and railway at Metkovic. A-20's hit railway stations at Frosinone and in the Colleferro-Segni area. B-26's bomb M/Ys at Grosseto and Lucca. P-40's spt US Fifth Army in mts E and SE of Cassino, and, with A-36's, hit railway tgts S or Rome at Aquino, Frosinone, Palestrina, and Castelforte. Other P-40's hit Avezzano, and A-36's blast trains and vessels in vicinity of Tarquinia.
1/8/44 Fifteenth AF The 449th and 450th Bomb Gps (B-24's) become operational, giving the Fifteenth a total of 8 HB gps.
B-24's bomb Mostar A/F. B-17's hit Reggio Emilia aircraft factory. P-38's and P-47's fly escort.
1/8/44 Tenth AF 20 P-51's and A-36's knock out bridge N of Hopin, destroy warehouse and railroad tracks in the area, and destroy a locomotive and damage numerous railroad cars at Tigyaingza.
1/8/44 Fifth AF HBs, MBs, and a few ftrs, attack Madang area, bomb Uligan Harbor, and hit Bogadjim and Bogadjim Road. Ftrs strafe Sag Sag sawmill in Cape Gloucester area. B-25's and A-20's hit positions near Arawe. HBs bomb Kendari and other tgts on Celebes.
1/8/44 Thirteenth AF B-24's bomb Kahili. B-25's hit concentrations on Siposai and Kondakanimboko Is.
1/8/44 Seventh AF 15 B-24's, staging through Tarawa, bomb shipping and shore installations at several locations on Wotje, Maloelap, and Jaluit Atolls. 2 B-25's from Tarawa hit shipping and gun positions on Jaluit.
1/9/44 International Churchill and De Gaulle meet at Marrakesh. 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.
1/9/44 Twelfth AF B-25's attack M/Y and docks at Ancona. P-40's hit tanks and trucks at Palena and S of Sulmona, and positions and vehicles near Cervaro. A-36's hit positions in same area.
1/9/44 Fifteenth AF B-24's bomb Mostar A/F. B-17's hit aircraft factory and M/Y at Reggio Emilia. P-38's and P-47's provide escort.
1/9/44 Tenth AF 21 P-51's and A-36's attack Loilaw area, severely damaging a bridge, hitting ammo storage building, and scoring direct hits on large barracks.
1/9/44 Fourteenth AF 9 ftrs strafe 6 steamboats and many smaller craft on the Yangtze at Puchi. 2 B-25's on sea sweep bomb 200-ft vessel S of Swatow, reporting the ship destroyed. 8 FBs hit Sadon, and 4 bomb Atson railroad yards and Lao Kay railroad station.
1/9/44 Fifth AF Ftrs and bmrs attack Alexishafen, Madang, Bogadjim, Uligan Harbor, and area E of Saidor. Cape Beechey is strafed by P-40's.
1/9/44 Thirteenth AF B-25's hit Buka seaplane base and Kahili supply area. Ftrs strafe Cape Dunganon area and along Ramusian R W of Teop. 7 sqs of Allied ftrs cover Navy dive bmr strike on Tobera. 2 sqs of B-24's pound Vunakanau A/F. 6 B-25's bomb Taharai A/F and afterwards some hit T/Os on New Ireland.
1/10/44 Twelfth AF B-25's hit San Benedetto de Marsi. P-40's, with RAF, SAAF, and RAAF airplanes, hit comm, gun positions, trucks, and tanks at numerous points in and NW of battle area. Other P-40's give close spt to ground forces in Chieti area. A-36's hit trucks, tanks, trains, and other T/Os N of Rome.
1/10/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's bomb Sofia, causing considerable damage in M/Ys. B-24's hit M/Y at Skoplje. P-38's and P- 47's provide escort. Around 60 ftrs attack the Sofia force and fierce air battle ensues. 2 HBs are lost.
The B-17's and ftr escorts claim 28 aircraft shot down.
1/10/44 Tenth AF 12 A-36's and P-51's hit bivouac area at Nanyaseik. 15 P-40's attack bridge at Namti, damaging railroad tracks and the S approach to the bridge. During 9/10 Jan 7 B-24's lay mines in Menam R estuary near Bangkok and in Rangoon estuary. The HBs during the day bomb M/Y and A/F in Bangkok area and hit main jetty at Akyab. 9 B-25's mine Mokpalin ferry crossing over Sittang R.
1/10/44 Fourteenth AF 8 P-31's bomb approach to Kienchang bridge and attack troop train N of Teian damaging the train and killing an estimated 100 soldiers. 3 B-25's and 8 P-40's sweep area from Anking to Chiuchiang, sinking a large motor launch, 2 100-ft barges, and a tug on the Yangtze, 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 near Wusueh, sinking a launch and leaving 3 tankers burning.
1/10/44 Fifth AF Over 100 HBs, MBs, LBs, and ftrs attack Madang, Alexishafen, and Bogadjim areas and coastline from Madang to Sio. P-39's strafe scattered villages and barges in New Britain. B-25's bomb Koepang.
1/10/44 Thirteenth AF Gen Hubert Harmon, CG, begins HB campaign of night strikes. The 5th Bomb Gp opens the night raids sending 20 HBs on a strike against Lakunai A/F after a morning raid by 10 B-24's against nearby Vunakanau A/F. 5 B-24's hit Kahili supply area while 4 hit Chinatown area of Buka. AAF and Navy ftrs cover Navy dive bmr strike against Cape Saint George.
1/10/44 Seventh AF 4 P-39's from Makin strafe Mille. 1 of the ftrs drops 2 500-lb bombs on fuel storage area. During 10/11 Jan, 16 B-24's, staging through Tarawa from Ellice Is, bomb Maloelap; 4 others, staging through Baker from Canton I, hit Mille.
1/11/44 Eighth AF Over 570 B-17's and B-24's bomb industrial tgts and T/Os in Oschersleben, Halberstadt, and near Brunswick. Fierce opposition, estimated at 500 ftrs, is encountered, and 60 bmrs are lost. Among the Pathfinder aircraft are 4 B-24's, this being the first time B-24's are used in this capacity.
1/11/44 Twelfth AF B-26's attack iron and steel works at Piombino during 10/11 Jan. During the day, B-25's bomb Falconara (hitting railroad junction) and railroad yards at Fabriano. P-40's and A-36's blast defenses and gun positions in CervaroMonte Trocchio, gun position N of Minturno, towns of Sora and Isola del Liri, road traffic in Macerata\\Aquila-Popoli area, and railroad facilities at San Giorgio del Sannio.
1/11/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's, with P-38 escort, bomb harbor at Piraeus. The HBs and ftrs destroy 8 attacking ftrs. 6 HBs are lost in midair collisions in heavy overcast.
1/11/44 Tenth AF 36 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's pound encampment containing about 4,900 troops and a large quantity of supplies, causing considerable damage by accurate bombing and strafing.
1/11/44 Fourteenth AF Before daylight 14 Japanese bmrs hit Suichwan A/F. During the morning 3 MBs and 15 ftrs follow up with second strike. 7 P-51's and 5 P-40's intercept the second attack, claiming 3 MBs shot down. 8 B- 24's bomb harbor, aluminum plant, and A/F at Takao. 1 bombs oil storage at Swatow. 4 B-24's mine harbors at Takao and Hong Kong. 1 HB is lost.
1/11/44 Fifth AF B-25's, P-39's, and P-40's hit Uligan Harbor, barges and road near Bogadjim, Hansa Bay area, and town of Alexishafen.
1/11/44 Thirteenth AF About 90 Allied ftrs cover 60-plus Navy dive bmrs attacking Cape Saint George area. 2 flights of P- 39's strafe T/Os from Numa Numa to Koromira.
1/11/44 Seventh AF 9 B-25's from Tarawa hit 5 vessels and land installations at Maloelap. A 5000-ton cargo ship and a small vessel are P-39's from Makin dive-bomb and strafe runways on Mille.
1/12/44 Twelfth AF Col Archibald Y Smith assumes cmd of XII AF Trg and Repl Cmd. B-25's and B-26's bomb Giulianova railway bridge and attack a dam and road bridge. A-20's hit San Donato. P-40's attack vessel in Krka R, hit enemy defensive positions at San Biagio Saracinesa, Sant' Elia Fiumerapido, Monte Trocchio, and Atina, and bomb Vallerotonda. A-36's attack Avezzano railroad yards, village near Atina, railroad facilities at Cisterna di Latina, and numerous trucks and train cars in Rome area.
1/12/44 Fifteenth AF P-47's fly ftr sweep in Rome area, strafing M/Y at Teramo and buildings between Tronto and Tesino Rivers.
1/12/44 Tenth AF 20-plus B-25's and P-38's hit M/Y at Letpadan, damaging warehouses, engine sheds, and other buildings.
The ftrs also strafe Myohaung, setting 3 buildings afire.
1/12/44 Fourteenth AF 14 B-24's bomb Bangsue M/Y at Bangkok.
1/12/44 Fifth AF B-24's and B-25's attack Alexishafen area. A-20's hit Warai. B-24's attack Balikpapan, Makassar, and Dili.
1/12/44 Thirteenth AF 13 B-25's of 42d Bomb Gp, on their first mission against Rabaul area, bomb Vunakanau A/F in early morning, and 16 B-24's hit Lakunai A/F during 12/13 Jan. 19 B-24's, with escort of about 50 ftrs, pound airstrip and other tgts at Tobera. 3 flights of P-39's bomb and strafe Teop, Inus Pt, Numa Numa, and Piano Mission. Other aircraft on armed rcn and sweeps hit several T/Os throughout Bougainville area.
1/12/44 Seventh AF 21 A-24's from Makin dive-bomb AA positions and storage area on Mille. 20 supporting P-39's strafe runways.
1/13/44 Ninth AF 193 B-26's bomb NOBALL tgts in France. Ftr pilots report being tracked by AA rockets.
1/13/44 Twelfth AF B-25's and B-26's bomb Guidonia, Centocelle, and Ciampino A/Fs. A-20's strike town of Atina. AAF, RAF, SAAF, and RAAF FBs hit shipping along Dalmatian coast at Sibenik and in Krka R. A-36's hit town and railway yards at Isola del Liri, factory at Colleferro, docks at Formia, railroad yards at Valmontone, and railway station SE of Frosinone. P-40's hit Sant' Elia Fiumerapido, San Biagio, Saracinesa, and rail and road junction near Villa Latina.
1/13/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's bomb Centocelle and Guidonia A/Fs and B-24's hit Perugia A/F. P-38's provide escort, and P- 47's fly top cover for the B-17 missions. The HBs destroy several ftrs in aerial combat.
1/13/44 Tenth AF Gen Wolfe, CG, arrives at New Delhi with ADVON of XX BC staff. This is the first important movement of personnel for Operation MATTERHORN. 6 P-51's hit troop concentrations at Lalawng Ga and bomb Maran Ga and Shaduzup. 27 P-40's attack comm center and dumps along Kamaing-Mogaung road. 4 P-51's and a B-25 pound A/F and supply area at Myitkyina.
1/13/44 Fourteenth AF 2 B-25's on sweep from Hong Kong to Hainan attack 4 large boats, several warehouses, radio station, and a car at Ft Bayard. 1 of the vessels explodes. 6 P-40's on armed rcn strafe 4 pack trains of about 15 animals each between Lungling and Tengchung.
1/13/44 Fifth AF Gen Wurtsmith becomes CG V FC. 130-plus B-24's, B-25's, and P-40's attack Alexishafen. B-24's bomb Gasmata. B-24's and B-25's strike Kaukenau and Timoeka and score hit on freighter off Tanimbar Is.
1/13/44 Thirteenth AF HQ moves from Espiritu Santo to Guadalcanal. During predawn hrs 11 B-25's bomb Tobera, Rapopo, Wide Bay area, and coast S of Rapopo. P-39's strafe Tinputs area.
1/13/44 Seventh AF 9 B-25's from Tarawa attack harbor shipping at Wotje. 21 A-24's from Makin dive-bomb dock, barracks, and storage area on Mille. Some of 16 escorting P-39's strafe ground tgts, and 10 other P-39's carry out strafing mission over Mille.
1/14/44 Eighth AF 527 B-17's and B-24's bomb 20 V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area.
1/14/44 Twelfth AF B-25's strike Pontecorvo bridge. A-20's offer close spt to US Fifth Army forces in Monte Trocchio area.
P-40's blast Loreto tank repair shops. P-40's and A-36's hit defenses in San Giuseppe, Sant' Elia Fiumerapido, and Monte Trocchio areas. A-36's also attack road and buildings E of Minturno, town of Isola del Liri, and harbor at Anzio.
1/14/44 Fifteenth AF Around 200 B-24's and B-17's attack town area and A/F at Mostar. P-38's provide escort throughout the missions, and P-47's join the B-17's at the tgt and cover the flight back to base.
1/14/44 Tenth AF Bad weather limits operations to ftr patrols in Sumprabum area.
1/14/44 Fourteenth AF 4 B-25's on coastal sweep from Pakhoi to Haiphong bomb group of buildings on Weichow I. 2 B-24's damage 2 vessels near Saint John I.
1/14/44 Fifth AF 50-plus B-24's, B-25's, and P-40's hit Alexishafen and Erima area. B-24's bomb Cape Busching. B- 25's attack T/Os along N coast of New Britain, and A-20's strike villages along S coast.
1/14/44 Thirteenth AF During 13/14 Jan, 15 B-24's bomb Vunakanau and Lakunai A/Fs, Rabaul, Rapopo, and Malaguna.
Just before dawn, 12 B-25's hit Au, Cape Gazelle, and Buka. P-39's join Navy SBD's in bombing Wakunai. 70-plus Allied ftrs spt strike by more than 50 Navy dive bmrs against shipping in Simpson Harbor. Ftrs claim 27 aircraft shot down.
1/14/44 Seventh AF 12 B-24's, staging through Tarawa, bomb 3 islands in Kwajalein Atoll. 3 B-25's from Makin fly mission against shipping at Wotje. 2 of the MBs attack 2 small vessels, sinking 1 and damaging the other. The other B-25 bombs a runway and building on S part of Wotje.
1/15/44 MAAF Gen Eaker assumes cmd of MAAF and AAFMTO, replacing ACM Tedder and Gen Spaatz, who along with AVM Coningham and numerous other American and British officers have departed for UK.
1/15/44 Twelfth AF B-25's attack Foligno railway junction. B-26's bomb bridges at Orvieto, P-40's of 79th Ftr Gp and RAF 239 Wg hit San Valentino station in joint attack. A-36's and other P-40's, in spt of US Fifth Army forces, hit gun positions and strongpoints, especially at Picinisco and Atina. P-40's on armed rcn hit railroad W of Frosinone station and strafe Ceccano station and railway cars.
1/15/44 Fifteenth AF B-24's bomb Prato M/Y and industrial area, and also hit roads in area and drop several bombs in town of Pistoia. B-17's concentrate on railroad yards and bridges in Florence area at Certaldo, Poggibonsi, Montalto di Castro, Arezzo, Civitavecchia, and near Porto Civitanova and Orvieto, and hit scattered T/Os. Ftrs escort all the missions.
1/15/44 Tenth AF 4 P-40's and a B-25 over N Burma hit train at Pinwe.
1/15/44 Fourteenth AF 2 B-25's on sea sweep along Indochina coast bomb Hongay power plant and sink gunboat in nearby cove to the SW. Coal grading building at Campha Port is also bombed. 2 B-25's on sweep off SE China coast sink wooden vessel off Swatow and damage lighthouse on Nampang I. 2 others shoot down Japanese bmr N of Chikhom.
1/15/44 Fifth AF B-24's and B-25's pound Uligan Harbor. P 10's, P 17's, and B-25's hit Madang, Alexishafen, Erima, and Bogadj im area. Enemy positions along S coast of New Britain are attacked by B-25's and P-39's.
1/15/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-25's, with 60 ftrs escorting, pound East Cape. P-39's attack barges and trucks at Chabai.
1/15/44 Seventh AF 9 B-25's from Tarawa flying at deck-level bomb and strafe shipping and shore installations at Maloelap. 2 vessels are hit and oil dump, hangars, other buildings, and runways are damaged. 1 B-25 crashes at sea after being hit by AA fire.
1/16/44 ETO Gen Eisenhower assumes duties of Supreme Cmdr, AEF.
1/16/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb M/Y and choke points at Terni. B-26's attack M/Y and bridge at Orte. A-20's bomb town of Atina. P-40's attack bridges in San Giorgio del Sannio area and gun emplacements near Cassino, Sant' Angelo in Theodice, and Picinisco. A-36's hit railway junction at Cecina, road and railway S of Siena, and town areas of Avezzano and Formia.
1/16/44 Fifteenth AF B-24's attack Osoppo landing ground and town of Zara. The HBs claim 9 ftrs shot down. 1 B-24 is destroyed in aerial combat. B-17's bomb Messerschmitt factory at Klagenfurt and landing ground at Villaorba. Escorting ftrs claim 3 aircraft destroyed. 3 P-38's are shot down.
1/16/44 Fourteenth AF 8 P-40's attack town of Pingkai and strafe T/Os in surrounding valley area.
1/16/44 Fifth AF Madang, Erima, and Bogadjim areas are hit by B-25's, A-20's, and P-40's. P-39's strafe area from Sio to Bogadjim. B-25's bomb area N from Cape Croisilles. B-24's and B-25's attack positions near Arawe.
B-24's carry out light raid on Amboina harbor.
1/16/44 Seventh AF 25 A-24's, 16 P-39's, and 8 P-40's from Makin strike Mille. 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 airplanes destroyed over Mille and Makin.
1/17/44 Twelfth AF B-25's attack M/Ys at Terni, Chiaravalle, and Montemarciano. B-26's strike Orte railway bridge and Viterbo M/Y. P-40's hit Sibenik harbor, bridge at San Giorgio del Sannio, gun positions at San Giuseppe and Formia, and docks at Anzio. A-36's bomb Anzio, Avezzano town area and road junction, and Tarquinia town and factory buildings.
1/17/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's attack M/Y at Prato and M/Y and bridge at Pontassieve. B-24's bomb M/Y at Arezzo. P-38's and P-47's provide escort.
1/17/44 Tenth AF A-36's and P-51's spt ground forces in Shaduzup-Ngamaw Ga area and near Taro. Others bomb supply dumps, warehouses, and rolling stock at Sahmaw. P-40's hit Myitkyina A/F.
1/17/44 Fifth AF 47 B-24's and B-25's bomb Hansa Bay area. B-25's bomb Nubia. P-39's strafe Rai Coast. B-24's bomb Bandanaira.
1/17/44 Thirteenth AF AAF and Navy ftrs spt Navy dive-bmr strike on shipping at Rabaul. 18 airplanes are claimed shot down. 10 Allied ftrs fail to return from mission. During 17/18 Jan, a few B-24's, in 2 flights, bomb Rabaul area, while 2 B-34's bomb Kalakapisi coast watcher station at Choiseul I.
1/17/44 Seventh AF 9 B-25's from Abemama bomb and strafe Mille, hitting runway, AA positions, radio tower, warehouse area, lagoon dredges, and possible oil dumps. 4 P-40's from Makin bomb and strafe Mille landing ground.
1/18/44 Twelfth AF B-26's hit harbor, tin mills, steel works, power house, and blast furnaces at Piombino, and bomb Montalto di Castro railroad and bridge. B-25's hit town and railway viaduct at Terni, and A-20's blast gun positions in Minturno area. P-40's hit trains, wharves and vessels in Ploca and Metkovic areas. A- 36's and P-40's pound troops, trucks, and gun positions in Minturno area and near Pontecorvo and Atina, hit petrol dump at Pignataro Interamna, warehouse at Fontana Liri, factory at Ceprano, rail and road junction at Avezzano, and railway at Santa Marinella.
1/18/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's attack M/Ys, a bridge and an A/F in Florence area. P-38's and P-47's provide close escort.
1/18/44 Tenth AF 12 P-38's hit A/F and satellite field at Meiktila. 18 B-24's and 9 B-25's bomb 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 airplanes are lost to Japanese ftrs during supply dropping mission SE of Sumprabum.
1/18/44 Fourteenth AF 2 B-25's bomb railroad yard and wharf at Campha Port and oil storage facilities at Mon Cay.
1/18/44 Fifth AF Hansa Bay area is bombed by 40 B-24's. Other B-24's positions around Shaggy Ridge. 55 P-38's and P-40's engage a like number of ftrs over Wewak, losing 3 P-38's and claiming 12 shot down.
1/18/44 Thirteenth AF 34 B-25's supported by 70-plus ftrs, pound Tobera. Single B-24's on armed rcn bomb Maliai, Vunakanau, and Lakunai areas.
1/18/44 Seventh AF 12 B-25's from Abemama attack barracks area, runway, and gun positions on N part of Mille. 25 A24' s and 8 P-40's from Makin pound oil storage area S of Jabor on Jaluit. The P-40's also strafe a radio station in tgt area.
1/19/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb Rieti A/F. B-26's hit A/F at Viterbo. A-20's attack M/Y at Colleferro. P-40's bomb and strafe 2 schooners at Makarska. A-36's hit guns, trucks, and trains N of Rome and fly over 70 sorties against rail, comm and troop positions in US Fifth Army battle area as Garigliano bridgehead expands.
P-40's also hit defended positions in battle area and near Scauri, Tremensuoli, and Alvito.
1/19/44 Fifteenth AF B-24's and B-17's hit A/Fs at Perugia, Iesi, Centocelle, and Ciampino. P-38's fly close escort for all the missions while P-47's fly top cover over Ciampino and Centocelle and carry out sweep over Rome area.
1/19/44 Tenth AF 16 B-24's bomb M/Y and Don Maung railroad station at Bangkok. 4 P-40's hit town of Wakshang. 26 A-36's and P-51's hit tgts along roads from Ngamaw Ga to Maingkwan to Mashi Daru.
1/19/44 Fourteenth AF 14 P-40's and 2 B-25's attack barracks area at Mon Cay.
1/19/44 Fifth AF 57 B-24's bomb Boram, 17 more bomb Amboina and Halong, and 2 others score hits on freighter near Aitape. 65 B-25's, along with RAAF airplanes, pound positions in Shaggy Ridge area. 2 P-39's bomb barges in Cape Raoult area.
1/19/44 Thirteenth AF Attacks during the day are limited to isolated strikes on shipping and other T/Os by aircraft on armed rcn over Bougainville, New Ireland, and Saint George Channel. During 19/20 Jan, 11 B-24's, in 2 waves, fly strikes against Rabaul and Vunakanau tgts.
1/19/44 Seventh AF 17 B-25's from Tarawa hit Mille. Flying at low altitude, the MBs score hits on gun positions, fuel dumps, and the A/F area in general. AA fire claims 2 B-25's.
1/20/44 USSAFE Gen Spaatz, as CG US SAFE, formally assumes administrative responsibility for all US AAFs in UK.
His HQ is located at Bushy Park, formerly Eighth AF HQ.
1/20/44 Twelfth AF B-26's bomb Viterbo M/Y and attack bridge at Pontecorvo. B-25's attack railroads in Carsoli area. A- 20's give close spt to US 5th Div in Minturno area. British and US P-40's follow RAF LBs in raid on Popoli station. A-36's pound rail and road crossing at Viterbo, and P-40's hit comm at Frosinone, Palestrina, and Carsoli, where a traffic block is created. A-36's and P-40's fly nearly 200 sorties in spt of US Fifth Army ground forces as 36th Div begins assault across the Rapido R in Sant' Angelo in Theodice area. P-40's also hit tgts along British Eighth Army front.
1/20/44 Fifteenth AF B-24's and B-17's bomb A/Fs at Guidonia, Centocelle, and Ciampino. P-38's provide escort, and P- 47's carry out sweeps over the tgts. Other P-47's escort transport airplanes on mission to Yugoslavia.
1/20/44 Tenth AF In N Burma, 40-plus A-36's and P-51's hit storage dumps along railway in Mogaung area and billets and warehouse area at Mohnyin. In S Burma, 16 P-38's and 5 B-25's knock out railroad bridge, pipeline, and railroad tracks in Nattalin area.
1/20/44 Fourteenth AF 2 B-24's on sweep from Hong Kong to Swatow attack a freighter and a tanker, which are reported sinking.
1/20/44 Fifth AF 37 B-25's and a B-24 bomb and strafe Hansa Bay area. Over 60 B-25's hit positions on Shaggy Ridge. P-39's strafe troops at Weber Pt. 25 A-20's hit positions between Borgen Bay and Rein Bay and hit barge hideouts and enemy held areas in Gasmata area.
1/20/44 Thirteenth AF Several tgts on Bougainville are bombed by 2 sqs of B-24's. 18 B-25's, with about 70 escorting ftrs, pound A/F, fuel dump, gun positions, at Vunakanau and Rabaul.
1/20/44 Seventh AF 13 B-24's, staging through Tarawa, hit Wotje Atoll during 19/20 Jan. 8 B-25's from Abemama bomb Rakaaru. Other B-25's sent from Tarawa against shipping at Ailinglapalap Atoll abort because of bad weather. 9 P-40's from Gilbert Is strafe a corvette and a schooner at Jaluit, mortally damaging both vessels. 4 other P-40's bomb Mille.
1/21/44 Eighth AF 390 HBs attack 24 V-weapon sites and T/Os in France, concentrating on Pas de Calais area. Of the nearly 800 HBs dispatched, 401 are forced to abort because of clouds which prevent 12 objectives from being attacked.
1/21/44 Ninth AF 119 B-25's bomb V-weapon sites in France.
1/21/44 Twelfth AF B-26's hit railroad bridges N and S of Orvieto. B-25's bomb chokepoints around Rome and unsuccessfully attack Pontecorvo bridge. A-20's attack comm at Atina. P-40's hit shipping at Povlje. Other P-40's and A-36's attack strongpoints, trucks, a cmd post, HQ building, and radar station in battle area. P- 40's also give close spt to US Fifth Army troops which are hardpressed at both Garigliano and Rapido R bridgeheads. A-36's bomb Velletri, concentration at Minturno, and area S of Viterbo.
1/21/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's bomb A/Fs at Istres-Le-Tube and Salon-de-Provence, railroad bridges at Porto Civitanova, and bridge and M/Y at Rimini. B-24's attack M/Ys at Ponte-dera and Prato. P-38's fly escort. P-47's sweep over wide areas around Rome and Florence.
1/21/44 Tenth AF 11 P-40's score near misses on Loilaw bridge and strafe Budagon nearby, starting several fires. 16 A- 36's and P-51's spt ground forces near Sumprabum, and 11 more bomb forces SW of Kamaing.
1/21/44 Fifth AF B-25's, A-20's, and P-39's bomb Madang area, and strafe villages near Saidor and troops from Reiss Pt to Erima. B-25's and P-39's strafe barges from Cape Raoult to Rein Bay and hit T/Os along N coast of New Britain. Single B-24's on armed rcn blast control tower at Hoskins A/F, and hit ships near Kavieng and at Lorengau. 2 B-24's bomb Waingapoe.
1/21/44 Thirteenth AF 38 B-24's pound runway and revetment area at Borpop A/F. P-39's strafe Kara and Kahili. B-34's and B-24's on armed rcn bomb Kalakapisi, Nukiki, and Buka A/F.
1/21/44 Seventh AF 16 B-24's staging through Tarawa during 20/21 Jan, bomb tgts on Kwajalein. 6 Tarawa-based B-25's hit Arno Atoll and 12 bomb Aur Atoll. 9 B-26's from Abemama hit gun positions, barracks, and runways on Mille. 23 A-24's and 11 P-40's from Gilbert Is base attack gun positions, ammo and oil storage, barracks, and 2 small vessels at Jaluit.
1/22/44 Twelfth AF Maximum spt is given to Allied landings at Anzio, which are begun by US Fifth Army's VI Corps at 0200. FBs, LBs, and MBs direct efforts toward isolating landing area by cutting roads, bridges, and railroads and obstructing towns in the surrounding region, at Velletri, Valmontone, Colleferro, Ceprano, and Fondi, and hitting traffic and comm throughout the area. Ftrs maintain patrol over shipping and beachhead and successfully intercept several enemy FB missions directed against the landings.
1/22/44 Fifteenth AF Unescorted B-17's and B-24's bomb Terni and Arezzo M/Ys, Pontedera M/Y and A/F, road and rail junction NW of Frascati, Terracina road defile, and Pontecorvo bridge and town area. P-38's strafe tgts in Arce-Frosinone area, including several vehicles and train cars. P-47's on sweep over Rome area encounter several ftrs, and claim 5 shot down; 2 P-47's fail to return.
1/22/44 Tenth AF 16 B-24's bomb encampment at Prome. 16 A-36's and P-51's and a single B-25 attack comm and supply dumps between Kumnyen and Ngamaw Ga. 12 A-36's and P-51's spt ground forces in Sumprabum area. 11 P-40's severely damage Namkwin railroad bridge.
1/22/44 Fourteenth AF 11 P-40's and 5 P-51's strafe newly opened Nanchang A/F, killing about 20 troops and destroying an airplane and a truck. 12 P-38's knock out bridges at Shektan and Sheklung.
1/22/44 Fifth AF B-25's strafe villages, bridges, and barges from Cape Gourdon to Cape Croisilles, and hit shipping at Papitalai, sinking small vessel and a barge and severely damaging jetty. A-20's, P-40's and RAAF aircraft hit numerous scattered T/Os on New Britain.
1/22/44 Thirteenth AF 27 B-25's, with 90-plus supporting ftrs, attack Lakunai A/F, doing considerable damage to runway and revetment areas. 1 B-25 and 4 ftrs are shot down. US airplanes claim 18 Japanese downed. 6 B-25's and 30-plus B-24's pound town of Rabaul.
1/22/44 Seventh AF 18 B-24's, flying from Tarawa, hit tgts on Kwajalein, Jaluit, and Mille. 10 B-25's from Abemama hit Maloelap; 9 others, flying out of Tarawa, bomb shipping and shore installations at Wotje. 3 B-25's are lost during the day's missions. 10 aircraft are claimed shot down.
1/23/44 Eighth AF 23 P-47's attack Gilze-Rijen A/F.
1/23/44 Ninth AF Nearly 200 B-26's bomb V-weapon sites in French coastal area.
1/23/44 Twelfth AF Col William S Gravely takes cmd of XII AF Trg and Repl Cmd. B-26's bomb area S of Avezzano while B-25's hit 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 Priverno area, town of Ceccano, and railroad at Sezze. P-47's bomb bridge at Skradin. DAF ftrs strafe tanks and trucks on British Eighth Army front, and XII A Spt Cmd ftrs cover US Fifth Army's Anzio beachhead during the day.
1/23/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's bomb road bridges at Pontecorvo and Ceprano, railroad line and bridge at Falconara Marittima, and M/Ys at Poggibonsi and Siena. P-47's escort HBs to latter 2 tgts. B-24's bomb Rieti A/F, Porto Civitanova M/Y, and T/Os, including bridge near Cagli, M/Y 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.
1/23/44 Tenth AF 19 B-24's, in 2 waves, attack shipping at Mergui, claiming a 350-ft vessel and 2 small boats destroyed. 6 B-25's and 16 P-38's knock out bridge at Myittha, damage 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 A/F, railroad cars at Pidaung, and railroad bridge at Loilaw.
1/23/44 Fourteenth AF 28 P-40's and 9 B-25's from Kweilin pound Kai Tek A/F in Hong Kong-Kowloon area. 2 B-25's heavily damage 3 merchant vessels S of Wenchow.
1/23/44 Fifth AF 35 B-24's, with ftr escort, bomb Wewak. 50 Japanese ftrs intercept. In the ensuing air battle US aircraft claim 12 of the ftrs shot down. 5 US ftrs are lost. P-39's strafe barges and AA positions at Uligan Harbor and on Rai Coast. A-20's hit forces and AA positions near Cape Raoult and Gasmata. B-24's hit Flores I.
1/23/44 Thirteenth AF 80 AAF, Navy, and Marine ftrs spt 60-plus Navy dive bmrs in strike on Lakunai A/F and Matupi Harbor area. 3 Allied ftrs are lost. US airplanes claim more than 30 aircraft shot down. Later, 40-plus ftrs sweep Rabaul area. 20 P-39's strafe T/Os in Shortland I area. During 23/24 Jan, 7 B-25's hit Tobera and Lakunai.
1/23/44 Seventh AF 21 B-25's from Tarawa and Abemama hit Taroa I. The MBs claim 3 ftrs shot down. 23 B-24's, flying out of Makin and Abemama, bomb Wotje at dusk. 1 HB bombs Mille during return flight after developing engine trouble.
1/24/44 Eighth AF 857 HBs are put into the air with intentions of bombing transportation and industrial tgts at Frankfurt- Heddernheim, Frankfurt/Main, and Russelsheim. Unpredicted multi-layer clouds and haze impede assemblies, and only 452 planes are dispatched to the tgts. Cloud formations and dense contrails over English Channel make holding formation impossible, and the bmrs are recalled, with exception of a combat wg which is approaching German border. 56 planes of this wg attack power station near Eschweiler before returning to base. British and US in UK agree to place most of the available P-51's in the Eighth AF for long-range escort of HBs. 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 AF.
1/24/44 Ninth AF More than 175 MBs attack V-weapon sites in coastal area of France.
1/24/44 Twelfth AF Weather cancels all MB and LB operations. Ftrs maintain cover over Anzio beachhead (Anzio and Nettuno are captured during the day) and encounter increased air attacks. 3 ftrs are claimed destroyed in aerial combat, while 1 Allied ftr is lost. P-40 FBs hit road at Penne, while A-36's bomb Velletri and road junction E of town, and hit other comm tgts.
1/24/44 Fifteenth AF B-24's bomb A/F and town area at Skoplje. B-17's hit M/Y at Vrattsa and Dolno Tserovene area, both T/Os. P-38's escort the B-24's while P-47's accompany the B-17's.
1/24/44 Fourteenth AF B-25's on sea sweeps claim sinking of merchant ship W of Nampang I, 2 freighters, a cargo-passenger vessel, and a coastal cargo boat anchored in LiShan Bay, and a cargo-passenger vessel at Paichuan I.
1/24/44 Fifth AF 40-plus B-24's bomb A/Fs at Wewak and Boram. More than 50 B-25's and P-47's hit Madang and troops in vicinity and bomb Hansa Bay area. 38 other B-25's attack shipping and harbor installations on Manus I.
1/24/44 Thirteenth AF A large concentration of AAF, Navy, Marine, and RN ZAF ftrs spt Navy and Marine TBFs dive-bombing shipping in Simpson Harbor and Keravia Bay. Several 300500-ft vessels are damaged or sunk. US airplanes claim more than 20 ftrs shot down.
1/24/44 Seventh AF 24 A-24's from Makin, supported by 12 P-39's and 7 P-40's, hit gun positions, storage areas, and barracks on Mille. In late afternoon, 8 B-25's, staging through Makin, bomb A/F on Wotje. During 24/25 Jan, 9 B-25's from Tarawa and 12 B-24's from Taroa bomb several tgts in Maloelap. 1 other B-24 bombs Mille.
1/25/44 Eighth AF 62 P-47's attack Leeuwarden and Gilze-Rijen A/Fs.
1/25/44 Ninth AF Nearly 150 B-26's, airborne to bomb V-weapon sites in France, are forced to abandon missions because of heavy clouds.
1/25/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb Valmontone. B-26's hit Sezze M/Y, Sezze-Bassiano road, Amelia, and Rieti M/Y. 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, and nearby road and rail traffic. British and AAF ftrs of DAF hit bridge approaches at Popoli, near British Eighth Army front.
1/25/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's bomb T/Os highways and railroad bridges) at Pedaso, SE of Pedaso, at Stazione di Monte Silvano, and on Vomano R NW of Pescara. Other B-17's return bombs to base after finding tgts obscured by bad weather.
1/25/44 Fourteenth AF B-25's on sweeps of E China coast claim a patrol boat, a tanker and 2 freighters sunk S of Wenchow.
1/25/44 Fifth AF 50-plus B-24's pound Hansa Bay area. 37 B-25's bomb Alexishafen and Madang. P-39's strafe barges on Rai Coast. P-40's and A-20's hit Gasmata. More than 50 B-25's bomb Lorengau and Momote.
1/25/44 Thirteenth AF 19 B-24's, following 3 which drop flares, attack Lakunai A/F during late evening.
1/25/44 Seventh AF 24 A-24's from Makin, supported by 12 P-39's, attack gun positions on Mille. 8 B-25's from Tarawa bomb a vessel and shore tgts at Taroa. Later, in a dusk attack, 18 B-24's flying out of Gilbert Is bomb Kwajalein, hitting runways and AA positions.
1/26/44 Ninth AF 144 B-26's scheduled to bomb V-weapon sites in France are recalled because of bad weather.
1/26/44 Twelfth AF A-20's attack Cisterna di Latina, toward which 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 fuel dump and several trucks and arty caissons in Ceprano-Priverno area.
1/26/44 Tenth AF 15 B-24's bomb Maungdaw. 7 B-25's and 3 ftrs hit camp at Razabil and attack T/Os between Maungdaw and Buthidslung.
1/26/44 Fourteenth AF 18 P-40's from Kunming bomb and strafe A/F and barracks at Kengtung.
1/26/44 Fifth AF 42 B-24's bomb Momote and Lorengau. 140-plus B-24's, A-20's, P-39's, and P-40's hit Alexishafen- Madang area. 18 B-25's bomb Bogia village. A-20's hit Cape Raoult area and P-40's strafe barges along N coast of New Britain.
1/26/44 Thirteenth AF 80-plus Allied ftrs cover strike by more than 50 Navy dive bmrs on Lakunai area AA positions and revetments. 3 Allied ftrs are lost. More than 20 airplanes are claimed shot down.
1/26/44 Seventh AF 9 B-25's from Makin hit several tgts in Maloelap Atoll. About 20 ftrs attack the formation. 12 P-40's, meeting the returning MBs over Aur Atoll, join battle against the ftrs, claiming more than 10 destroyed.
The MBs claim 5 shot down. Several more are destroyed on ground or while taking off during the bombing raid. 9 B-25's from Tarawa hit Aineman I, Jaluit Atoll, and nearby shipping.
1/27/44 Twelfth AF B-25's attack roads at Velletri, railway at Colleferro, and M/Y at Orte. B-26's bomb bridges at Ceprano and M/Y at Terni. A-20's give close spt to US Fifth Army attack near Terelle. A-26'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 town of Piedimonte. More than 70 P-40's provide close spt to Fifth Army forces in Cisterna di Latina and Atina, bombing gun positions. Allied ftrs over Anzio beachhead successfully meet increased enemy air effort, claiming 28 airplanes downed in aerial combat.
1/27/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's bomb A/Fs at Salon-de-Provence and Montpellier-Frejorgues. B-24's hit Istres-Le-Tube A/F. P- 38's fly escort. Other P-38's sweep Rome area, and P-47's sweep Florence area. HBs and ftr escorts claim over 20 aircraft shot down.
1/27/44 Fifth AF 41 B-24's bomb Lorengau. Almost 70 B-25's, A-20's, and P-39's, along with several RAAF airplanes attack Madang and Bogia areas. B-24's hit freighter and town area at Dili and shipping at Sorong and MacCluer Gulf.
1/27/44 Thirteenth AF 19 B-25's, with escort of 60-plus AAF and Navy ftrs, pound Lakunai A/F. 6 US ftrs are lost. US airplanes claim more than 20 ftrs shot down. P-39's ranging over wide areas strafe T/Os at Motupena, Gazelle Harbor, and Buka I. 2 sqs of B-24's blast concentrations at Sulphur Creek in Rabaul area.
1/27/44 Seventh AF 6 B-2B's from Tarawa hit Nauru, and 9 staging through Makin hit Wotje. 23 A-24's, supported by 10 P- 39's, pound Mille. 7 B-24's, staging through Makin, bomb Taroa in a dusk attack.
1/28/44 Eighth AF 43 B-24 is bomb V-weapon site at Bonnieres, using GeeH blind-bombing device for first time. (Gee-H is more accurate than H2X but is of use only against tgts within the 200-mi beacon range. Later, aircraft are equipped with both devices).
1/28/44 Twelfth AF B-25's attack Orte M/Y. 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 Popoli road junction, and A-36's hit railroad, road, and gun positions in Cassino-Vicenza-Velletri areas, Colleferro M/Y, and Atina town area. P-40's hit Terelle, Belmonte in Sabina, and Cisterna. Allied ftrs over Anzio area claim 21 airplanes shot down.
1/28/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's, with ftr escorts, bomb Aviano A/F and Verona M/Y. B-24's hit M/Y at Ferrara.
1/28/44 Fifth AF B-25's attack T/Os from Bogia to Cape Croisilles. A-20's attack in Cape Gloucester area. P-40's hit A/F at Hoskins. P-39's strafe barges in Rein Bay.
1/28/44 Thirteenth AF AAF and Navy ftrs spt Navy dive-bmr attack on tgts in Rabaul area. 5 P-38's are lost. Allied aircraft claim about 30 airplanes shot down. At Lakunai A/F, one of the tgts, 20-30 parked airplanes are destroyed and several AA positions are destroyed or damaged. 25 B-25's, covered by 12 P-38's, pound Tobera A/F. 16 P-39's strafe Shortland I area.
1/28/44 Seventh AF 9 B-25's, staging through Makin, bomb Taroa. B-24's, staging through Tarawa and Makin and taking off at varying intervals, carry out several hours of strikes against Wotje, Kwajalein, Maloelap, and Jaluit.
1/29/44 Eighth AF 763 HBs led by Path finder aircraft hit war industries at Frankfurt/Main. 46 HBs bomb Ludwigshafen (T/O) due to deviation from planned bomb route. Ftr opposition is fierce and 29 aircraft are lost. This is first Eighth AF mission in which more than 700 aircraft attack tgts.
1/29/44 Ninth AF More than 80 B-26's bomb V-weapon sites in coastal France.
1/29/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bon San Benedetto de Marsi M/Y. B-26's hit bridges N of Rome. P-47's bomb munitions factory at Bussi sul Tirino. P-40's and A-36's, in spt of US Fifth Army Forces, bomb positions in Anzio beachhead are and hit enemy forward road and rail comm. Ftrs on patrol over Anzio meet little air opposition.
1/29/44 Fifteenth AF B-24's bomb Siena M/Y through overcast. B-17's bomb M/Y's at Ancona, Fabriano, Rimini, and Bologna. P-47's sweep over Rome and Florence areas.
1/29/44 USSR Soviet Army clears Germans from Moscow-Leningrad rail line. Russians launch attack against German salient in Ukraine.
1/29/44 Tenth AF 13 B-24's, supported by 16 P-38's, bomb gasoline plants at Yenangyaung, causing large fires. 1 HB later bombs Akyab. 6 B-25's attack bridges at Meza and Pyintha, damaging the former and blasting railroad approaches to the latter.
1/29/44 Fifth AF 40-plus B-25's bomb Bogia and Nubia landing grounds. 45 A-20's hit positions in Cape Gloucester area.
1/29/44 Thirteenth AF About 60 Allied ftrs cover strike by 40 Navy dive bmrs on Tobera. Lakunai A/F is pounded by 19 B- 24's, escorted by P-38's and Navy ftrs. At Tobera and Lakunai, Allied airplanes claim more than 20 Japanese shot down.
1/29/44 Seventh AF As US invasion force approaches the Marshalls, B-24's, attacking from bases in the Gilberts, maintain day and night attacks (both multiple-plane missions and single-plane attacks at intervals) against Maloelap, Jaluit, Aur Atoll, Wotje, and Mille. 9 B-25's from Tarawa also carry out 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 use of the A/F to the enemy.
1/30/44 Eighth AF 701 Hbs hit city of Brunswick, using blind-bombing equipment to bomb through the overcast. 51 Hbs bomb T/Os, including city of Hannover. 20 aircraft are lost on mission.
1/30/44 Twelfth AF B-25's hit road junctions at Valmonte and Genzano di Roma, and bomb town of Monte Compatri.
Weather cancels all B-26 operations and several B-25 missions. A-20's hit town of and road junction near Cori, and XII A Spt Cmd Fbs hit Sora. US and British ftrs hit Barges and fishing boats of Zara and Trojica. Ftrs on patrol over Anzio meet no air opposition.
1/30/44 Fifteenth AF 451st Bomb Gp (B-24) becomes operational, making a total of 9 HB gps in Fifteenth AF. B-17's hit A/Fs and landing grounds at Villaorba, Maniago, and Lavariano. B-24's bomb Udine A/F and Fier radar station. P-38's escort B-17's on Villaorba and Maniago missions, and P-38's and some British Spitfires escort B-24's on Udine mission. P-47's carry out sweep over Villaorba area. The Hbs and ftrs claim over 60 airplanes shot down and a number destroyed on the ground.
1/30/44 Tenth AF 6 B-25's attack bridges at Mexa, 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 tgt. A single B-25 attacks vehicles and other T/Os between Taihpa Ga and Tsumhpawng Ga.
1/30/44 Fourteenth AF 20 P-40's fly armed rcn over E Burma. 8 of them strafe buildings at Loiwing A/F.
1/30/44 Fifth AF 34 B-25's bomb Hansa Bay area and Nubia landing strip. A-20's fly barge sweep along N coast of New Britain. P-39's strafe barges and fuel dumps at Rein Bay.
1/30/44 Thirteenth AF 20 P-39's attack Kunrai. 26 B-25's, with large ftr cover, bomb Lakunai A/F. 18 B-24's, supported by ftrs, hit Vunakanau A/F. 50 Allied ftrs spt Navy dive bmr strike on shipping in Rabaul area. Altogether 20-plus ftrs are claimed shot down in the attacks in New Britain area.
1/30/44 Seventh AF P-40's and P-39's maintain patrols over Mille, bombing and strafing the A/F to prevent its use by the enemy against invading forces. B-24's maintain all-night strikes against Kwajalein in preparation for the invasion the following morning. Invasion of Majuro Atoll begins during 30/31 Jan.
1/31/44 Eighth AF 74 B-24's bomb V-weapons site construction at Saint-Pol/Siracourt. 70 P-47 Fbs, escorted by 87 P- 47's and 47 P-38's, bomb Gilze-Rijen A/F; 84 ftrs are encountered and fighting is fierce; 6 P-38's are lost in battle; US aircraft account for 13 ftrs destroyed.
1/31/44 Twelfth AF A-20's bomb Artena and road junction to N of Town. P-40's and A-36's, operating E of Anzio battle area, hit road junction at Sezze, town of Fondi, and junction and town area at Priverno. P-47's bomb San Benedetto de Marsi. XII A Spt Cmd flies over 250 sorties over Anzio beachhead. Air Opposition is absent.
1/31/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's and B-24's bomb A/F at Aviano and Udine. P-38's and P-47's provide escort, hit Klagenfurt A/F.
Hbs and ftrs claim 16 airplanes shot down.
1/31/44 Fifth AF A-20's attack Uligan Harbor. P-39's strafe Bogadjim, Bostrem Bay, and landing strip at Alexishafen. B- 24's hit motor vessel off Ceram.
1/31/44 Thirteenth AF 40-plus Allied ftrs cover strike by Navy dive bmrs on Tobera. 8 airplanes are claimed shot down. The strike is immediately followed by an attack by 17 B-24's, with ftr spt, on same tgt.
1/31/44 Seventh AF As US Army and Marine troops land on Kwajalein, under overall cmd of Adm Spurance, Seventh AF hits other atolls in the Marshalls. 19 A-24's bomb Mille A/F, over which P-39's and P-40's maintain allday cover and harassment. 9 P-40's carry out strafing mission against Jaluit. During 31 Jan/1 Feb, 8 B-24's, attacking at intervals, bomb Wotje.
1/31/44 Eleventh AF 5 bmrs fly a negative sea-search mission.
2/2/44 Fifteenth AF B-24's, with Spitfire escort, bomb radar station at Durazzo.
2/2/44 USSR Stalin agrees to provide 6 bases for US aircraft in USSR. Soviet Army crosses into Estonia, and in Ukraine attacks along a 60-mile front.
2/2/44 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Sorong and Alexishafen. Nearly 50 A-20's pound installations in Madang area. B-25's hit New Britain coastal tgts from Cape Gauffre to Rein Bay. Other B-25's attack shipping off Tingwon Is and off SE coast of New Britain.
2/2/44 Seventh AF A-24's and P-40's from Makin bomb Mille runways and gun positions and along with P-39 escort strafe NE tip of the island. B-24's from Tarawa bomb Rongelap I.
2/3/44 Eighth AF 543 Hbs attack Wilhelmshaven while 61 bomb Emden T/Os. Bad weather causes more than 100 HB to abort mission.
2/3/44 Ninth AF 358th Ftr Gp becomes operational. This is the first of 17 ftr gps which are to be added by 9 May 44 to the Ninth AF, which previously had only 1 ftr gp, the 354th. 52 B-26's bomb V-weapon sites on W coast of France. Weather causes over 100 other aircraft to abandon mission.
2/3/44 Twelfth AF MB missions are all abortive. A-36's, hit roads and other tgts S of Rome, destroying or damaging numerous trucks and bombing towns of Seese and Fondi as US ground forces meet strong resistance in drive toward Cassino. P-47's hit Manopello and railroad facilities at Sulmona. Ftrs patrol Anzio area.
2/3/44 Fifteenth AF B-24's, finding primary tgt obscured by bad weather, bomb T/Os (railroad yards and stations) at Stimigliano and Sulmona. Other B-24's return to base without bombing. P-47's fly ftr sweep over Prato-Pontassieve area.
2/3/44 Tenth AF 16 P-38's attack bridges, encampments, and buildings along Prome-Taungup road. 1 bridge is knocked out and another damaged. Atugboat is sunk at Akyab. 14 A-36's and a B-25 attack troops and camp area at Kumnyen and Lalawng Ga, and hit motor pool and repair depot at Shingban. 16 P- 51's hit encampment at Sawnghka.
2/3/44 Fifth AF Nearly 100 B-24's and B-25's, supported by P-38's, P-40's and P-47's, pound A/Fs in Wewak area.
About 80 airplanes are destroyed on the ground an in the air. A-20's attack Alexishafen and Hansa Bay areas. P-39's and B-25's on armed rcn hit trucks at Erima, barges on New Britain coast, shipping in N Bismarck Sea, and Momote and Hyane Harbor.
2/3/44 Thirteenth AF AAF P-40's and Navy ftrs cover Navy dive-bmr strike on Tobera. 15 B-24's with P-38 and Navy ftr escort bomb A/F at Lakunai. Allied aircraft claim 13 interceptors downed during the 2 strikes.
2/3/44 Seventh AF P-40's from Makin bomb and strafe Mille.
2/4/44 USSTAF Abbreviation for US Strategic Air Forces in Europe is changed from USSAFE to USSTAF.
2/4/44 Eighth AF 433 HBs are to attack industry and railroad yards at Frankfurt/Main but due to bad weather and navigational difficulties more than 200 of them bomb T/Os, including Koblenz, Giessen, Siegen and Trier.
2/4/44 Ninth AF Gen Weyland becomes CG of XIXA Spt Cmd.
2/4/44 Twelfth AF Weather prevents all MB, LB, and FB missions. P-40's and Spitfires maintain patrols over Aniz area, where a strong German counter-offensive had been launched during 3/4 Feb.
2/4/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's bomb Antheror viaduct and Toulon harbor. B-24's are forced by bad weather to return bombs to base. Many of the B-17's returning from Toulon raid are forced to land at various friendly fields because of unsafe flying conditions.
2/4/44 Tenth AF 12 P-51's strafe runways and buildings at Indaw.
2/4/44 Fifth AF B-24's and B-25's carry out small raids against Laha, Namlea, and Amboina. 170-plus B-24's, A-20's, and B-25's bomb But and Dagua A/Fs, Marienberg, and Madang-Alexishafen area. P-39's bomb and strafe Atemble and strafe T/O's in Alexishafen area.
2/4/44 Thirteenth AF 25 B-25's, escorted by 40-plus ftrs, pound A/F at Tobera. 18 B-24's, covered by 30-plus P-38's and Navy ftrs, hit A/F at Vunakanau.
2/4/44 Seventh AF B-24's, flying from Tarawa and Makin, bomb Wotje, Maloelap, and Mille. B-25's from Tarawa and Abemama also hit Wotje and Maloelap. P-40's based at Makin bomb and strafe Mille.
2/5/44 Eighth AF 450 B-17's and B-24's attack A/Fs at Chateauroux, Avord, Tours, Chateaudum, Orleans, and Villacoublay, and aircraft works at Villacoublay. In view of previous decision to concentrate most of trg activities of Eighth AF in Com Cmd, a decision is made to transfer HQ from Limavady, N Ireland, to Cheddington, England, to bring it closer to the combat crew trg stations over which it is to be given supervision. Most of the transfer is completed between 7 and 15 Feb.
2/5/44 Ninth AF Around 180 B-26's attack 6 V-weapon sites in N France.
2/5/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb Terni M/Y, and A-20's hit Lanuvio and Piedimonte areas. P-40's and A-36's hit road junctions at Cisterna di Latina, Vetralla, and Velletri, bomb towns of Vetralla, Ardea, and Villa Santa Lucia degli Abruzzi, and attack motor transport at several points, including areas N, NE and SE of Rome.
2/5/44 Tenth AF In early morning hours, 8 B-24's bomb A/F at Heho while 6 others hit Aungban A/F. 9 B-25's follow with strikes on Heho, Sagaing, and Myittha A/Fs. During daylight hrs 14 FBs hit M/Y at Wuntho.
During 5/6 Feb, 9 B-24's again hit Heho and 4 bomb Aungban.
2/5/44 Fourteenth AF 8 B-24's during 5/6 Feb bomb Bangkok. 3 others hit Nakhon Nayok and unidentified A/F on Mekong R. 2 B-24's and 2 B-25's attack convoy E of Hong Kong and claim 2 freighters and 3 smaller cargo vessels sunk. 4 P-40's on armed rcn strafe big wagon and truck column N of Hsenwi. 4 others bomb and strafe Hopang, causing large fires in the village.
2/5/44 Fifth AF 70-plus B-25's and A-20's attack Hansa Bay area. 48 B-24's pound Hoskins A/F, and some also bomb Gasmata, after weather prevents attack on Kavieng. B-24's fly light raid on Kamimana. B-25's on armed rcn in W Bismarck Sea claim 1 freighter sunk; others bomb wrecked ships off New Hanover.
2/5/44 Thirteenth AF 24 P-40's join 40 plus Navy ftrs in covering a strike by more than 60 Navy dive bmrs on Lakunai. This strike is followed by an attack of 13 B-24's, with 30-plus P-38 and Navy ftr escort, on same tgt.
2/5/44 Seventh AF P-40's from Makin dive-bomb and strafe oil storage area, radio facilities, and small craft at Jaluit. P- 39's strafe runways on Mille.
2/5/44 Eleventh AF 6 B-24's and 16 P-38's join Navy aircraft to fly air cover in several relays during retirement of US light cruisers and destroyers following bombardment of installations in the Kurabu Cape-Musashi Bay areas. Shortly afterwards, the aircraft also photograph and attack installations at Paramushiru and Shimushu.
2/6/44 Eighth AF 206 HBs attack A/Fs at Sanint-Andre-de-L'Eure, Evreux/Fauville, Chateaudun, and Caen/Carpiquet, and rocket-launching installation at Eclimeux as T/Os. Bad weather causes more than 400 HBs to abandon mission.
2/6/44 Ninth AF Around 120 B-26's bomb V-weapons sites, A/Fs, and a factory, all in France. Principal tgts bombed are at Rosieres-en-Santerre, Amiens/Glisy, Cormeilles-en-Vexin, and Grandvilliers.
2/6/44 Twelfth AF B-26's bomb Orte M/Y while B-25's hit Frascati road junction. A-20's bomb Campoleone railroad station and town of Roccasecca. P-40's bomb Cisterna di Latina, Santa Lucia (near Campoleone), Cori (and nearby road junction), and Atina. A-36's hit San Stefano al Mare, Cisterna di Latina, Frascati and Albano Laziale, and strike numerous vehicles, railroad cars and other T/Os on armed rcn missions N and S of Rome. German counteroffensive against Anzio beachhead and on Cassino front forces Allied withdrawal.
2/6/44 Fifteenth AF Bad weather restricts operations to photo and weather rcn flights.
2/6/44 Tenth AF 12 P-51's hit warehouses and freight cars at Wuntho and claim 4 warehouses destroyed.
2/6/44 Fourteenth AF 11 P-40's on armed rcn strafe sampans and power launches between Yoyang and Puchi. 6 B-25's knock out bridges and damage 3 trains at Anxuan, Tien An, Phong Loc and Dong Hoi.
2/6/44 Fifth AF B-25's and B-24's pound Bunabun Harbor, Madang, and tgts from Bogia to Cape Croisilles. Others bomb tgts in Admiralty Is (concentrating on Momote) and carry out light attacks on Talasea village and Cape Dampier gun positions in New Britain. P-39's strafe and sink barges near Nubia. A-20's hit shipping near Kairiru and Mushu Is causing considerable damage and destruction.
2/6/44 Thirteenth AF B-34's and P-39's hit barges in Green I area. Lakunai A/F is hit by 32 B-25's, covered by more than 60 AAF and Navy ftrs, and shortly afterwards by 19 B-24's, escorted by nearly 50 Allied ftrs. Allied aircraft claim 16 airplanes shot down. Lakunai is practically unserviceable as result of cumulative damage.
2/6/44 Seventh AF B-24's from Tarawa hit Maloelap and Wotje. A-24's and P-40's from Makin attack Mille. Tarawa-based P-39's strafe Jaluit.
2/7/44 Twelfth AF B-26's bomb bridge approach S of Manziana. B-25's hit Viterbo M/Y and, in spt of US Fifth Army troops, bomb town of Cisterna di Latina as enemy counterattack begins in Anzio area. A-20's hit Piedimonte and road junction and railway station at Campoleone. A-36's hit San Stefano al Mare and nearby railroad siding, Pontecorvo and Belmonte in Sabina, plus several T/Os and tgts in spt of ground forces in battle areas. P-40's attack observation tower at Littoria, trucks at Villa Santa Lucia degli Abruzzi, Campoleone, a railroad gun, Sezze railroad yards, Cisterna di Latina, and gun positions in battle areas. Ftrs encounter heavy aircraft activity over Anzio battle area and claim 16 shot down.
2/7/44 Fifteenth AF Bad weather again limits operations to photo and weather rcn missions.
2/7/44 Tenth AF A single B-25 bombs motor pool at Sumprabum.
2/7/44 Fourteenth AF 16 P-40's and 4 P-51's damage railroad bridges at Kienchang and Puchi and strafe warehouses at Teian. 2 B-25's score 2 direct hits on powerplant at Thanh Hoa, strafe nearby barracks, and attack radio station at Vinh.
2/7/44 Fifth AF 14 B-24's bomb Amboina and Lautem. P-39's fly strafing sweeps over New Britain. Single B-25's on rcn bomb Garua Harbor, Cape Dampier, and Kavieng.
2/7/44 Thirteenth AF P-40's join Navy ftrs in covering Navy dive-bmr strike on Tobera. Several gun positions and grounded aircraft are hit and runway is bombed into unserviceable condition. 11 aircraft are claimed shot down.
Vunakanau A/F is bombed by 17 B-24's, escorted by P-38's and Navy ftrs.
2/7/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Tarawa and Abemama hit Wotje and Maloelap. P-40's from Makin hit storage area at Jaluit.
2/8/44 Eighth AF 237 HBs attack Frankfurt/Main (using blindbombing techniques), and 127 bomb V-weapon installations at Watten and Siracourt. 78 HBs bomb T/Os, including Wiesbaden.
2/8/44 Ninth AF HQ Ninth AF extends IX BC's choice of tgts considerably, although first priority for POINTBLANK missions (spt of CBO) and next priority for CROSSBOW tgts (V-weapon sites) is maintained. In morning raid, nearly 200 MBs attack V-weapon sites and T/Os in NW France. In afternoon raid, more than 100 B-26's bomb V-weapon sites and military installations in same general area, most of the MBs attacking Breck-sur-Mer. This is IX BC's first 2-mission day.
2/8/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb Cisterna di Latina. B-26's hit Siena M/Y and warehouses, and railway bridge NE of Civita Castellana. A-20's bomb Piedimonte. A-36's attack gun positions near Ausonia, tracks between Rome and Orte, and town of Veroli, and fly strafing and bombing sweeps in Anzio battle area against motor transport, gun positions, road junction E of Cisterna di Latina, and town of Pontecorvo. P-40's hit Roccasecca, Castello, Caprile, Piedimonte, Aquino, and other tgts, including supply dump and gun positions. P-47's bomb Atina. DAF Mrs (US and British) destroy large number of trucks near Sora.
2/8/44 Fifteenth AF 454th Bomb Gp (B-24) becomes operational, giving Fifteenth 10 operational HB gps. B-24's bomb A/Fs at Viterbo, Tarquinia, Orvieto, Piombino, and Prato. B-17's hit M/Y at Verona. P-38's and P-47's escort the Orvieto, Piombino, and Prato missions.
2/8/44 Tenth AF 7 B-25's bomb bridges at Budalin and Songon, displacing a section of the former and destroying an approach to the latter. 7 others hit stronghold at Badana. 16 A-36's and P-51's and a single B-25 hit camp at Mogaung. 4 P-51's strafe railroad cars NW of Myitkyina while a lone B-25 bombs camp at Kumnyen.
2/8/44 Fifth AF Nearly 50 A-20's and B-25's hit Alexishafen and Madang areas. P-39's strafe T/Os during sweeps over wide areas of NE New Guinea and New Britain. During 8/9 Feb, B-25's bomb Toeal.
2/8/44 Thirteenth AF P-39's over Bougainville bomb and strafe Tiaraka huts and bivouac area.
2/8/44 Seventh AF B-24's from Makin and Abemama hit Maloelap and Mille.
2/9/44 Ninth AF 133 B-26's bomb V-weapon sites in coastal France, M/Ys t Tergnier, and T/Os in area. This marks the first of the IX BC raids on M/Ys.
2/9/44 Twelfth AF B-25's and B-26's, in lose spt to US Fifth Army forces, attack motor transport and troop concentrations in Campoleone area while A-20's blast another troop concentration to the W. P-40's hit Cisterna di Latina and gun positions. A-36's and P-40's pound concentration points of counterattack against Fifth Army beachhead in Anzio area, strike along main Fifth Army front, and attack villages of Piedimonte and Aquino and gun positions near Cassino and Ausonia.
2/9/44 Fifteenth AF Weather grounds all aircraft with exception of 1 P-38 which flies weather rcn mission.
2/9/44 Tenth AF B-25's, P-51's, P-38's, P-40's, and A-36's carry out 75 attack sorties against Seinnyinba, bivouac and supply areas in MogaungLoilaw area, bivouac and buildings at Pyindaw, camps at Kumnyen and near Maingkwan and Shingban, and storage area and bivouac on Mogaung/Kamaing road near Sawnghka.
A bridge over Namtawng R near Maingkwan also is destroyed.
2/9/44 Fourteenth AF 16 P-40's strafe and bomb large barracks and oil storage at Chefang and pound town areas of Homun and Mangshih. 2 B-25's demolish wireless station SW of Haiphong.
2/9/44 Fifth AF Occupation of Huon Peninsula is completed as US and Australian forces meet SE of Saidor. A-20's pound village of Mindiri. B-24's bomb Amboina and Lautem.
2/9/44 Thirteenth AF P-40's and Navy ftrs cover Navy dive-bmr attack on Vunakanau A/F, scoring many hits on AA positions, buildings, and runways. 24 B-24's with Navy ftr escort follow with strike on same tgt, hitting runways and revetment area. 19 B-24's, with 20 P-38's supporting, hit Tobera A/F, thoroughly saturating runway.
2/9/44 Seventh AF A-24's from Makin, along with supporting P-40's, bomb and strafe oil storage and gun positions on Jaluit. During a dusk-to-dawn operation on 9/10 Feb B-24's operating at intervals from Tarawa maintain strikes against Wotje Atoll and Taroa.
2/10/44 Eighth AF 138 HBs attack industrial area of Brunswick; fierce opposition accounts for loss of 29 aircraft. 28 airplanes bomb A/F at Gilze-Rijen.
2/10/44 Ninth AF 114 B-26's attack V-weapon sites in coastal France, A/Fs at Poix and Beauvais/Tille, bridge at Le Crotoy, and coastal battery N of Conch R.
2/10/44 Twelfth AF LB and MB missions are aborted because of bad weather. P-40's and A-36's spt unsuccessful attempt of US Fifth Army's 1st Div to stem attack in Carroceto area. P-47's fail to locate tgt (Sora) and drop bombs at T/Os.
2/10/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's bomb Albano Laziale, Cisterna di Latina, and Cecina. B-24's strike Campoleone and Velletri. P- 38's bomb and strafe Tivoli, Vicovaro, and Monterotondo area. P-47's fly uneventful sweeps over Cisterna di Roma and Albano. Numerous HBs are forced to abort operations because of unsafe flying conditions.
2/10/44 Tenth AF 9 B-24's bomb Ban Mah arsenal at Bangkok and Don Maung A/F immediately to the N. 3 B-24's bomb Prome and Akyab, 9 B-25's pound Chiradan and Godusara, and 16 P-51's hit barracks and road at Chishidu.
2/10/44 Fourteenth AF 8 P-40's bomb Wanling and vicinity while 3 others fly top cover. The tgt area, a supply, staging, and trg center, is heavily damaged. 5 B-24's during 9/10 Feb mine mouth of the Yangtze. B-25's on sea sweeps claim 2 freighters sunk near Hainan I and SW of Hong Kong. 12 P-51's and P-38's strafe boats and parked airplanes in Chiuchiang area. 12 P-40's strafe power boats and sampans along the Yangtze from Puchi to Yoyang.
2/10/44 Fifth AF 50-plus B-24's bomb Boram A/F and harbor at Wewak. 6 B-25's and a B-24 hit Momote A/F and jetties at Manus I. P-39's strafe T/Os during sweep over wide areas of New Britain. The junction of Allied forces from Arawe and Cape Gloucester marks completion of campaign for W end of New Britain; occasional missions will still be flown in the area, but most will be restricted to barge sweeps and patrols.
2/10/44 Thirteenth AF P-40's and Navy ftrs cover Navy dive-bmr attack on Vunakanau A/F. B-25's with ftr escort bomb Vunakanau later in the day. Tobera is pounded by 21 B-24's supported by P-38's and Navy ftrs. The Allied airplanes claim 30-plus aircraft downed in New Britain area. P-39's hit buildings at Bonis and barges in Matchin Bay and near Green I.
2/10/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Tarawa hit Wotje and Maloelap. 3 B-24's from Abemama, sent to bomb weather and radio station on Rongelap I, abort due to fuel leak in lead HB. Attempt to bomb Jaluit during return flight is unsuccessful.
2/11/44 Eighth AF 180 HBs attack industrial tgts at Frankfurt/Main and V-weapon site at Saint-Pol/Siracourt. 130 HBs bomb Ludwigshafen and other T/Os when failure of blind-bombing equipment causes diversion from primary tgts. First P-51's join VIII FC.
2/11/44 Ninth AF Most of 139 B-26's dispatched to attack NOBALL tgts in N France are recalled because of bad weather.
35 manage to bomb M/Y at Amiens.
2/11/44 Fifteenth AF All operations grounded by bad weather.
2/11/44 Twelfth AF Bad weather cancels operations.
2/11/44 Tenth AF 10 A-36's and P-51's hit supply area at Sawnghka. 12 A-36's and P-51's and a single B-25 bomb supply and bivouac area at Pyindaw. 8 P-51's hit road junction near Mogaung and nearby supply area. 8 P-51's and P-40's on armed rcn strafe large river steamer and a launch in Mandalay-Shwebo area.
2/11/44 Fourteenth AF 12 P-38's knock out 1 bridge and damage another at Sheklung. 6 B-25's, escorted by 20 US and Chinese P-40's, bomb storage area at Kai Tek A/F. The P-40's claim 5 ftrs shot down. Japanese aircraft bomb and strafe Namyung, putting the field out of use for several days.
2/11/44 Fifth AF About 50 B-24's pound A/F at Kavieng, and 2 bomb Garove I. 7 B-24's bomb Kendari A/F and Dili. P- 40's and RAAF airplanes pound forces still remaining in Saidor area. Ftr sweeps and armed rcn continue over wide areas of SWPA.
2/11/44 Thirteenth AF P-40's join Navy ftrs in covering Navy dive-bmr strike on Wunapope. 22 B-25's, escorted by Navy ftrs, pound Vunakanau A/F. Tobera A/F is bombed by 15 B-24's with P-38 and Navy ftr escort.
2/11/44 Seventh AF P-40's and P-39's dive-bomb and strafe hangar and A/F installations and gun positions on Mille.
2/12/44 Eighth AF 85 B-24's bomb V-weapon installation at Saint-Pol/Siraourt.
2/12/44 Twelfth AF B-25's attack gun positions at Campoleone and surrounding area. B-26's hit Cecina. A-36's hit airplanes and trucks on landing ground and in area near Fabrica di Roma, attack troops in the area, bomb gun positions SW of Rocasecca, and hit towns of Fondi and Januvio. P-40's attack Cisterna di Roma, Sezze station and road junction, Cori, and gun positions NW of Atina.
2/12/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's and B-24's strike troop concentrations and highways in Cecina area and near Lake Nemi. Bad weather causes all other missions to abort.
2/12/44 Tenth AF 8 P-40's hit town of Ransa and motor convoys S of Sumrabum. 40 P-51's and A-36's attack bivouacs at Walawbum, bivouac and motor pool at Padaw, storage area at road junction near Chishidu, and town of Chishidu. 30-plus P-51's and B-25's hit camps between Tsumhpawng Ga and Walawbum, storage area and motor pool S of Kamaing, motor convoy on Myitkyina-Sumprabum road, town of Namting, and bridges at Meza and Kanni.
2/12/44 Fourteenth AF 9 P-40's pound warehouse area at Wanling. 6 others bomb barracks at Vinh and strafe Dong Cuong A/F, railroad yards at Cam Duong, and sampans at Phu Tho. 5 B-25's on sea sweep in Gulf of Tonkin claim 2 trawlers sunk and hit shore T/Os SW of Haiphong. A single B-25 damages bridge at Ha Trung.
24 P-38's, P-51's, and P-40's intercept 25 ftrs near Suichwan, claiming 7 shot down. 2 US ftrs are lost.
2/12/44 Fifth AF Gen Connell resumes cmd of V AFSC. About 50 A-20's blast occupied areas SE of Wewak.
2/12/44 Thirteenth AF 23 B-25's, with Navy ftrs in spt, bomb Tobera A/F. 21 B-24's, escorted by P-39's and Navy ftrs, pound Vunakanau A/F. P-40's join Navy ftrs in covering Navy dive-bmr strike on Lakunai.
2/12/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Tarawa and Abemama hit Wotje and Maloelap. A-24's and P-39's from Makin bomb and strafe Mille.
2/13/44 CCS CCS accepts revision of CBO Plan. The tgts are reduced to a number that can be decisively attacked and tgt lists are revised to keep up with the effort of the Germans to relocate vital industrial plants.
Disruption of comm lines and reduction of German air power are high priority aims included in CCS directive on this date.
2/13/44 Eighth AF 377 B-17's and B-24's bomb 17 V-weapon tgts in Pas de Calais area. 39 bomb T/Os in the area.
2/13/44 Ninth AF 182 MBs attack V-weapon sites in coastal area of France. 16 others bomb secondary tgts in the area.
2/13/44 Twelfth AF B-26's bomb Bucine viaduct. B-25's and A-20's spt Fifth Army forces N and E of Anzio beachhead, blasting ammo dump and troop and vehicle concentrations. P-40 and A-36 FBs give spt in same areas, hitting troop concentrations, railway tunnel, buildings, vehicles, supply dump, and gun positions.
2/13/44 Fifteenth AF Operations are restricted to weather rcn.
2/13/44 Tenth AF 6 P-51's and a B-25 damage road bridge and 2 warehouses in Wuntho area. 32 P-51's and A-36's hit supply area and radio installations S of Kamaing and blast bivouacs S of Walawbum. 18 P-51's hit road and railroad junction N of Sahmaw, bivouac N of Kamaing, and camp between Tsumhpawng Ga and Walawbum. During the night, 16 B-24's bomb Heho A/F.
2/13/44 Fourteenth AF 23 B-24's pound railroad shops at Vinh. 4 B-25's hit convoy E of Foochow, claiming 3 freighters and a transport sunk. 4 other B-25's damage 2 vessels off SW Hainan I and bomb dock, railroad, and oil dump at Bakli. 6 P-40's bomb and strafe barracks and hangars at Phu Tho and strafe freight cars at Yen Bay and Suo Ha.
2/13/44 Fifth AF 24 A-20's hit Aitape. 70-plus B-25's pound Momote A/F. 35 B-24's bomb Kavieng A/F.
2/13/44 Thirteenth AF 20 B-25's bomb Tobera A/F, and 23 B-24's bomb Lakunai A/Fs. Both forces are escorted by ftrs. P- 40's and Navy ftrs escort Navy SBD's and TBF's divebombing runway and AA positions at Vunakanau.
2/13/44 Seventh AF During 13/14 Feb, B-24's from Tarawa, operating individually at intervals, bomb Wotje, Taroa, and Mille.
2/14/44 SHAEF Gen Eisenhower establishes HQ SHAEF. COSSAC comes under control of SHAEF.
2/14/44 Eighth AF 46 P-47 FBs attack Gilze-Rijen A/F. (Primary tgt, Eindhoven A/F, is overcast).
2/14/44 Twelfth AF Twelfth AF loses several of its operational units, the 12th Bomb and 33d and 81st Ftr Gps being transferred to India, and the 52d TC Wg and its 4 gps being sent to UK. B-25's bomb Perugia M/Y, A-20's hit Grottaferrata. A-36's attack guns in Pontecorvo area, railway yards at Civita Castellana and Frosinone, motor transport near Genzano di Roma, A/F at Furbara, and Ferentino railway station, some of the missions being in direct spt of US Fifth Army main front. P-40's bomb and strafe troop concentrations N and E of Anzio beachhead, scoring hits on tanks, motor transport, and guns near Cisterna di Roma, Cori, and Rocca di Papa. P-47's hit Colleferro and dump at Valmontone. P-40's score direct hits on vessel and fuel dump in Rogoznica area.
2/14/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's attack M/Ys at Modena, Brescia, and Verona and several T/Os including A/F and Piaggio aircraft factory at Pontedera and railroad bridges and lines at Parma, Sassuolo, Rubiera, and S of Vicenza. HBs and escorting P-47's claim 20 ftrs shot down. B-24's bomb M/Ys at Mantua, Verona, Massa Lombarda, Ferrara and Arezzo, and T/Os including Pisa M/Y, Prato M/Y, A/Fs at Pisa and Pontedera, and road-rail junction near Vaiano.
2/14/44 Tenth AF P-51's and A-36's carry out 70-plus sorties against a variety of tgts in Burma. Tgts include supply area at Shingban, truck convoy N of Maingkwan, supply dumps and motor transport in Kamaing area, bivouac near Mogaung, troop and vehicle concentrations between Mogaung and Kamaing, arty positions at Laawn Ga, and railroad station and warehouses at Lundaung.
2/14/44 Fifth AF A-20's with P-40 spt, bomb and strafe Dagua A/F, destroying and damaging over 20 aircraft. 80 plus B-25's pound Momote A/F. More Lhan 40 B-24's bomb A/Fs at Kavieng and Panapai.
2/14/44 Thirteenth AF B-24's bomb Rabaul area in a diversionary strike while Navy TBF's lay mines in Simpson Harbor. 30 escorted B-25's pound Vunakanau A/F while 28 B-24's, also with escort, bomb Rapopo A/F. P-40's and Navy ftrs escort Navy dive-bmr raid on Tobera gun positions and A/F revetments. 4 B-25's also bomb Tobera. On Bougainville weather clears, permitting the first attacks, by 19 B-25's, on Kara and Kahili, in recent weeks. P-39's attack Puriata R bridges.
2/14/44 Seventh AF 40-plus B-24's from 11th and 30th Bomb Gps, flying out of Makin and Tarawa, strike Ponape in first Seventh AF raid on the Caroline Is. 2 of the HBs hit alternate tgt of Emidj I.
2/15/44 Eighth AF 51 B-24's bomb V-weapon site at Saint-Pol/Siracourt. 34 P-47's bomb T/O, an A/F believed to be Coxyde or Nieuport.
2/15/44 Ninth AF 194 B-26's bomb V-weapon sites, Cherbourg/Maupertus A/F, and T/Os during morning mission. 122 B-26's again bomb V-weapon construction sites in coastal area of N France during afternoon.
2/15/44 Twelfth AF B-26's and B-25's bomb Monte Cassino Benedictine Abbey in spt of NZ Corps assault to establish bridgehead across the Rapido S of Cassino. Other B-26's bomb railroad at Monte Molino and M/Y at Montepescali. A-20's attack motor transport, roads, and road junction in Albano Laziale area and NW of Valmontone. P-40's bomb concentrations near Cisterna di Roma, and dumps in Valmontone and Rocca di Papa areas. A-36's hit concentrations N of Anzio beachhead, strafe trucks and barracks in Frosinone-Rieti areas, bomb Tiburtina and Trastevere M/Ys in Rome area, and hit buildings N of Velletri.
2/15/44 Fifteenth AF Around 100 B-17's bomb Monte Cassino Benedictine Abbey. 60-plus B-24's attack Poggibonsi M/Y, Campoleone, and Porto d' Ascoli. Heavy cloud cover causes numerous aborts. All the missions are unescorted.
2/15/44 Tenth AF P-40's, P-51's, and A-36's hit tgts in Burma, including rice mill and radio station at Waingmaw, T/Os along Hukawng-Walawbum road, motor pool and dumps in Kamaing area, troops and supplies at Padi Ga and canal bridge at Ye-u. P-40's also drop land mines on Nampaung.
2/15/44 Fourteenth AF 4 B-25's on sweep of Gulf of Tonkin coastal areas and N Indochina score direct hit on steamer at Haiphong and nearby railroad station, damage bridges near Viet Tri and patrol launch at Hanoi, and hit engine sheds at Thanh Hoa.
2/15/44 Fifth AF 70-plus B-24's, A-20's, and B-25's bomb Kavieng town area, harbor, and shipping and Panapai A/F. 17 other B-24's, prevented by weather from reaching Panapai, bomb Talasea on New Britain.
2/15/44 Thirteenth AF 23 B-25's, with ftr cover, bomb runway and dispersal area of Vunakanau A/F. 20 B-24's hit Borpop A/F, causing heavy damage in runway and revetment areas. In ground action, US and NZ troops land on Nissan I in Green Is, 40 mi NW of Buka; opposition is weak and organized resistance will end on 23 Feb.
2/15/44 Seventh AF B-24's from Tarawa and Makin pound Ponape and Mille. 10 P-40's from Makin bomb and strafe runways and a disabled vessel at Mille.
2/16/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb Orte M/Y and attack Campoleone area. B-26's bomb San Stefano al Mare and hit area near Perugia railroad bridge, bridge N of Orvieto, factory near Marsciano bridge, and bridge at Albinia Station. A-20's, with RAF and SAAF Baltimores and Spitfires, hit concentrations in Anzio battle area.
A-36's bomb Rome/Tiburtina and Rome/Ostiense M/Ys in Rome area. P-40's attack Monte Cassino Abbey, pound tanks, trucks, and troop concentrations along US Fifth Army front, and hit towns of Fondi and Roccasecca. Ftrs over Anzio encounter increased air effort in conjunction with all-out ground offensive against Allied beachhead.
2/16/44 Fifteenth AF B-24's, unescorted, bomb M/Ys at Pontassieve, Siena, Poggibonsi, and Prato, bridge at Cecina, and railroad and highway near Rieti.
2/16/44 Tenth AF A-36's and P-51's hit supply dumps, troop concentrations, and encampment area near Myitkyina, Kamaing, Tonkin, and Walawbum. B-25's and P-51's destroy 3 locomotives at Kyaingkwin.
2/16/44 Fourteenth AF 2 B-25's knock out railroad bridge at Yen Bay and damage 2 other bridges to the S near the coast.
2/16/44 Fifth AF 40-plus B-25's attack convoy off New Hanover. Over 30 B-24's bomb Panapai A/F and Kavieng, and some hit Cape Balangori and Talasea. 19 B-24's and B-25's bomb Halong. P-40's hit shipping and barges in Wewak area.
2/16/44 Thirteenth AF 12 B-24's, with 30 plus P-38's and Navy F4U's, pound runway at Vunakanau A/F.
2/16/44 Seventh AF B-24's from Tarawa bomb Wotje Atoll and Taroa I. P-40's from Makin fly 2 bombing/strafing strikes against Jaluit. A-24's bomb Mille.
2/17/44 Ninth AF Advanced HQ, Ninth AF, is opened at Hillingdon House, Uxbridge. It is later joined in the area by advanced units of IX FC and by troop carrier units, all of which form a nucleus of advons so as to centralize tac operations in anticipation of combat on the Continent.
2/17/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb Campoeone and Lanuvio area, B-25's hit dumps SW of Rome and N of Anzio, also hitting guns nearby. A-20's blast dump and troop concentrations in Anzio area. P-47's bomb dumps near Valmontone. A-36's hit Carroceto, concentrations SE of Rome, and railroad underpass and a factory N of Anzio. P-40's blast enemy transport, runs, and assembly areas N of Cisterna di Latina, trucks N of Anzio and N of beachhead battleline, railroad stations at Campoleone and Caroceto, and bivouac areas, dumps, a factory, and bridge in battle area. This entire air effort (the heaviest o date in spt of troops) is aimed at helping prevent breakthrough at he beachhead, where Germans are committed to full-strength counteroffensive. A-36's bomb Monte Casino Abbey in only air action on US Fifth Army main front.
2/17/44 Fifteenth AF 455th and 456th bomb Gps become operational giving he Fifteenth AF 12 B-24 gps. Unescorted B- 17's and B-24's attack Camoleone and Grottaferrata, motor transport parks in Campoleone junction and Rocca di Papa areas, troop concentration near Frascati, stores depots in Grottaferrata area, and other tgts in adv of US Fifth Army's Anzio battle line which is under heavy counterattack by German forces.
2/17/44 USSR Soviet Army completes reduction of German pockets W of Cherkassy.
2/17/44 Tenth AF 38 A-36's and P-51's on armed rcn hit troops and supplies from Lonkin to Kamaing. 6 P-51's hit supply areas along roads around Lonton and Manywet; 2 others hit road junction near Maingkwan. 2 B- 25's and 6 P-51's strike road bridge, railroad station, and rail cars in Pyingaing area. 2 B-25's and 6 P- 51's attack but fail to damage bridge near Ye-u.
2/17/44 Fourteenth AF 4 B-25's on sweep of Gulf of Tonkin score 2 direct hits on freighter at Vinh, damage bridge approach and locomotive at Yen Xuon Station, and destroy locomotive at Yen Ly Station.
2/17/44 Fifth AF 40 B-24's bomb Panapai A/F and Talasea. 16 B-25's claim 2 surface vessels and a submarine sunk off New Hanover. 16 P-47's strafe T/Os in Alexishafen area.
2/17/44 Thirteenth AF 20 P-40's join 40 plus Navy ftrs in covering an attack by 70 Navy dive bmrs on shipping in Keravia Bay. 8 airplanes are claimed shot down. 2 Navy ftrs are lost. In N Solomons Allied ftrs hit Queen Carola Harbor, Kessa Plantation and bridge N of Kahili.
2/17/44 Seventh AF B-24's from Tarawa and Abemama hit Ponape, Kusaie I, and Jaluit. P-40's strafe floatplanes off Emidj, as USN TF begins heavy attack on Truk.
2/18/44 Eighth AF HQ issues orders to establish a photo rcn wg (8th Rcn Wg (Prov) ) in Cheddington. The purpose is to make the Eighth independent in aerial rcn and to consolidate the efforts of units presently engaged in this and related activities. Col Elliott Roosevelt, Director of Rcn for Ninth AF, is named CO.
2/18/44 Twelfth AF A-20's hit troop concentration near Piedimonte. XII A Spt Cmd P-40's and A-36's fly 17 missions in spt of US Fifth Army troops resisting counteroffensive, which reaches its deepest penetration into Anzio beachhead on this day. Objectives include tanks, vehicles, gun positions, troop concentrations, and railroad underpass along the Anzio/Albano Laziale axis. Ftrs over Anzio successfully intercept air strikes on beachhead. NZ troops capture Cassino Station.
2/18/44 Fifteenth AF Operations are restricted to photo and weather rcn.
2/18/44 Tenth AF 40-plus B-25's, A-36's and P-51's attack town of Ye-u and nearby bridge, bivouacs N of Laban, bridges in Pyingaing area and along Mu R, supply and troop concentrations at Waingmaw, radio station and supply area near Kamaing, and gun emplacements SE of Taihpa Ga. The strikes are generally successful.
2/18/44 Fourteenth AF 4 B-25's on sweep of Gulf of Tonkin damage 2 large boats N of Bakli Bay, destroy ammo dump at Phu Ly, and knock out nearby railroad bridge.
2/18/44 Fifth AF B-25's and RAAF Beaufighters hit Koepang. P-39's strafe T/Os at Madang and Cape Raoult.
2/18/44 Thirteenth AF 34 B-25's and 18 B-24's, both forces with ftr escorts, pound Vunakanau A/F. 2 B-25's and 4 P-38's hit Tobera A/F.
2/18/44 Seventh AF P-40's from Makin bomb and strafe Jaluit and Mille. US forces land at Engebi.
2/19/44 Twelfth AF Col Peter S Rask becomes acting CO of XII TCC until its disbandment on 5 Mar 44. B-25's blast troop concentrations to N of Anzio beachhead. A-36's and P-40's keep troops, tanks, and motor transport in beachhead battle area under attack, flying over 200 sorties in more than 20 missions as Allied counterattack turns tide of battle. Ftrs maintain control over N part of battle area.
2/19/44 Fifteenth AF Operations are again limited to rcn flights.
2/19/44 Tenth AF 60-plus A-36's and P-51's and a few B-25's hit a variety of tgts in Burma. Tgts include fuel and supply dumps at Manywet and in Shaduzup area, Tonkin-Kansi road and a junction W of Manywet, Mu R bridge at Ye-u, railroad cars and tracks, locomotives, and river traffic between Monywa and Natyekan and between Alon and Segyi. Rail and road traffic in Bhamo and Hukawng Valley-Kamaing areas is also hit.
2/19/44 Fourteenth AF B-24's, B-25's, and P-40's fly sea sweeps over widespread coastal areas from Formosa Straits to Indochina, claiming 3 ships sunk and others damaged. Railroad bridges, trains, and other T/Os near coastal areas are also attacked.
2/19/44 Fifth AF 12 B-25's attack shipping SW of New Ireland, claiming a small freighter and a patrol boat sunk and other vessels damaged. 7 A-20's hit shipping at Kavieng. Single B-24's and B-25's carry out armed rcn over wide areas of Bismarck Sea.
2/19/44 Thirteenth AF 20 P-40's and 40-plus Navy ftrs escort about 70 Navy dive bmrs in attack on Lakunai A/F. Ftr cover claims 22 airplanes shot down. 6 B-24's bomb same tgt immediately afterward. 14 B-24's, with P-38 and Navy ftr escort, hit Tobera A/F.
2/19/44 Seventh AF B-24's from Tarawa and Makin pound Ponape and Kusaie I. B-25's from Tarawa hit Wotje while Makin-based P-40's bomb and strafe Mille. US forces land on Eniwetok Is.
2/20/44 Eighth AF Over 1,000 HBs are dispatched to bomb German ftr aircraft production centers. Nearly 900 HBs attack assigned tgts or T/Os. This mission, the first in which the Eighth dispatches over 1,000 planes, begins 'Big Week' attacks on German aircraft plants and A/Fs.
2/20/44 Ninth AF 35 B-26's bomb Haamstede A/F as a T/O, after about 100 MBs abort attacks on other A/Fs because of weather.
2/20/44 Twelfth AF B-26's hit troop concentrations along roads in Vallalta area, B-25's hit dumps and assembly areas at N edge of Anzio beachhead, and A-20's bomb troop and motor transport concentration SE of Carroceto.
A-26's and P-40's hit troops, trucks, and tanks NE of Carroceto, bomb town of Fondi, factory E of Carroceto, town of Piedimonte, and hit guns and T/Os along N line of beachhead. Axis attempt to achieve breakthrough is decisively defeated in center of salient created by counteroffensive and efforts end.
2/20/44 Fifteenth AF B-24's blast troop concentrations in Anzio beachhead area as Axis efforts end.
2/20/44 Tenth AF Bad weather limits operations to routine patrol over Sumprabum.
2/20/44 Fifth AF HQ Fifth AF ADVON and HQ V BC move from Nadzab to Port Moresby. 38 B-24's bomb Alexishafen- Hansa Bay area. 18 B-24's bomb A/F at Laha and 12 others hit shipping off Kavieng.
2/20/44 Thirteenth AF 35 B-25's, with ftr escort, pound Lakunai A/F. P-39's attack barge traffic, which has greatly increased off SE and NW Bougainville, claiming 20 of the craft sunk.
2/20/44 Seventh AF 9 B-25's from Tarawa bomb A/F at Wotje. P-40's from Makin strafe and bomb runways and small vessels at Mille.
2/21/44 Eighth AF 764 B-17's and B-24's bomb aircraft industry at Brunswick and A/F and storage park at Diepholz. T/Os hit in W Germany because of thick overcast over primary tgts are Hannover, M/Y at Lingen, and A/Fs at Achmer, Bramsche, Hopsten, Rheine, Quakenbruck, Vorden, Ahlhorn, and Hesepe. Only 3 airplanes are lost.
2/21/44 Ninth AF 18 B-26's bomb Coxyde A/F. Weather causes almost 190 aborts. The Ninth's Pathfinder Sq (provisionally activated on 13 Feb) takes part in this operation, its first venture into combat. 185 aircraft scheduled to attack other A/Fs in the Netherlands and France in afternoon are recalled because of bad weather.
2/21/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb Orte M/Y, and B-26's hit Imperia docks. A-20's pound troop concentrations near Campoleone, along with P-40's and A-36's which also hit a fuel dump, tank and truck concentrations, and gun positions in the area. FBs also bomb and block Itri-Gaeta road.
2/21/44 Tenth AF 50-plus P-51's and A-36's and a few B-25's hit cmd post at Shingban, town of Mohnyin, bridge at Loilaw, camp at Shaduzup, 2 bridges at Namkwin, and warehouses and other buildings at Kawlin and Wuntho. FBs attacking fuel dump at Pin Hmi drop bombs in wrong area. B-25's, escorted by Spitfires and Hurricanes, score effective hits on tunnel on Maungdaw-Buthidaung road.
2/21/44 Fifth AF Almost 30 A-20's hit Madang and Hansa Bay area. P-39's hit Raiven Plantation. 40-plus B-24's bomb Rein Bay and Eleonora Bay areas; others attack shipping off New Hanover.
2/21/44 Thirteenth AF 15 B-24's bomb Lakunai A/F; 4 others, with ftr spt, attack A/F at Rapopo. 20 P-38's join Navy ftrs in covering Navy dive bmr strikes on Lakunai gun positions. In Bougainville area 3 B-24's bomb Kara A/F while P-39's hit buildings at Tsundawan and in area S of Tabut, and bomb barges and jetty in Matchin Bay area.
2/21/44 Seventh AF B-24's from Tarawa and Abemama hit Ponape, Kusaie, and Jaluit. B-25's from Abemama bomb Maloelap. P-40's from Makin hit Mille. US forces gain complete control of Eniwetok Is.
2/22/44 USSTAF HQ Eighth AF is redesignated as Hq, USSTAF.
2/22/44 Eighth AF HQ VIII BC is redesignated as HQ, Eighth AF. 101 HBs hit aircraft production centers at Bernburg, Halberstadt, and Aschersleben in conjunction with Fifteenth AF strike at Regensburg; 35 aircraft are lost to fierce ftr opposition. 154 HBs attack various T/Os (Wernigerode, Marburg/Lahn, Magdeburg, Bunde, Nijmegen, Arnhem, and Enschede) and fly diversionary attack against A/F at Aalborg, which cannot be bombed because of clouds; 6 aircraft are lost.
2/22/44 Ninth AF 66 B-26's bomb Gilze-Rijen A/F. Bad weather causes more than 100 others to abort.
2/22/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb Foligno M/Y and Montalto di Castro railroad bridge, and B-26's attack Albinia Station railroad bridge. A-20's hit area E of Campoleone. P-47's strike troops, gun positions, and road junction N of Carroceto, roads near Roccasecca, and town of Campoleone. A-36's hit guns NW of Carroceto and town of Formia. P-40's attack guns SE of Campoleone.
2/22/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's attack Petershausen M/Y, Regensburg aircraft factory, and Zagreb. A large force of B-24's hits Regensburg aircraft plants about the same time as the B-17 attack. Other B-24's pound town of Sibenik and harbor at Zara. HBs claim 40 ftrs destroyed. 13 HBs are lost.
2/22/44 Tenth AF 70-plus B-25's, P-51's, and P-40's again hit variety of tgts in Burma. Bridges are severely damaged or put out of use at Zawa, Tindeinyan, Ye-u, Namkwin, and Loilaw. Warehouses and supply dumps are hit at Segyi and at Chantha, and at Pahok road and railroad junction are blasted. Also hit are T/Os at Kawlum and along Walawbum-Kamaing road.
2/22/44 Fourteenth AF P-40's on armed rcn strafe A/F at Kengtung and nearby truck convoy. At Bhamo a large rivercraft is hit and left sinking.
2/22/44 Fifth AF 30-plus B-25's and P-39's attack Madang area. More than 60 B-25's and B-24's pound Iboki Plantation in spt of US Marines advancing on the area from Natamo, (and who capture Perry I).
2/22/44 Thirteenth AF 20 P-40's and 40-plus Navy ftrs cover 70 Navy dive bmrs attacking Keravia Bay shipping. 40-plus B- 24's, with ftr escorts, bomb Lakunai and Keravat A/Fs.
2/22/44 Seventh AF 1 B-24 bombs Kusaie. 8 A-24's and 9 P-40's from Makin bomb Mille. 1 P-40 launches rockets against A/F tgts in first such attack by a Seventh AF aircraft.
2/23/44 Twelfth AF P-40's hit gun position N of Campoleone and patrol Anzio area. Weather forbids other operations by Twelfth AF.
2/23/44 Fifteenth AF B-24's bomb industrial complex at Steyr. Other HBs are forced to abort because of bad weather. HBs and escorting ftrs claim over 30 aircraft shot down.
2/23/44 Tenth AF 14 B-24's bomb A/Fs and other tgts at Akyab and Dabaing. 3 B-26's and 12 P-51's hit radio station at Man Pang; 4 other P-51's hit warehouses at Chantha.
2/23/44 Fourteenth AF 4 B-25's attack 2 ships in Gulf of Tonkin and hit railroad cars and engine shed at Van Trai Station. 4 P- 40's strafe Lashio A/F.
2/23/44 Fifth AF Almost 50 A-20's and B-24's blast A/F, buildings, and AA positions in Wewak area.
2/23/44 Thirteenth AF 9 B-25's, with Navy ftr spt, bomb Vunakanau A/F; 10 other B-25's hit Keravat A/F. 4 B-34's on armed rcn over New Ireland strafe Cape Saint George area and bomb buildings and pier at Labur Bay. 4 B- 24's attack bivouacs in upper Saua R area. 16 P-38's dive-bomb Wunapope supply area. Some attack town of Rabaul. This is first P-38 bombing raid on the Rabaul area. (P-38's, now free from constant responsibility of guarding bmrs against interceptors, will continue to divebomb Rabaul area through April. During the latter part of this campaign against the famed Japanese garrison, which is to be bypassed by Allied ground forces, P-39's will add their strength due to completion of an airstrip on Nissan I in the Green Is. By 20 Apr only 120 of 1400 buildings in Rabaul will still be standing).
2/23/44 Seventh AF P-40's from Makin bomb Mille. 2 small boats are destroyed by strafing. B-25's from Abemama hit Taroa. B-24's from Makin and Tarawa bomb Kusaie, Ponape, and Jaluit.
2/24/44 Eighth AF 231 B-17's bomb Schweinfurt ball bearing plant (11 losses suffered) while 238 B-24's hit factory and A/F at Gotha (33 aircraft lost). 236 HBs attack secondary tgt of Rostock due to overcast at primary objectives of Poznan, Tutow, and Krzesiny. 61 HBs attack Eisenach, a T/O. RAF BC follows up with attack during 24/26 Feb of Schweinfurt.
2/24/44 Ninth AF Advanced HQ IX A Spt Cmd (set up at Uxbridge on 15 Feb) assumes operational control of its gps, which hitherto had operated under orders from VIII FC. 22 B-26's bomb A/Fs at Leeuwarden, Deelen, and Gilze-Rijen on morning mission. 145 B-26's bomb NOBALL tgts between Saint-Omer and Abbeville during afternoon.
2/24/44 Twelfth AF B-26's hit Fabrica di Roma landing ground. P-40's and A-36's hit gun positions, troop concentrations, trucks, and tanks in battle areas. P-47's bomb bridge at Arce.
2/24/44 Fifteenth AF B-17's (in coordination with Eighth AF raids on Germany) bomb aircraft factory at Steyr and oil refinery at Fiume. HBs and escorting ftrs claim 35 ftrs shot down. 19 US aircraft are lost.
2/24/44 Tenth AF 12 B-24's pound harbor area at Moulmein, railroad sidings at Martaban, and T/Os near Mingaladon A/F and Zayat. Ftrs carry out numerous patrol and offensive sorties over Sumprabum area.
2/24/44 Fourteenth AF 7 B-25's bomb warehouse and dock area at Wuhu and 3 hit railroad yards and docks at Hongay. 9 P- 40's attack docks and railroad yards at Campha Port. 10 P-38's on sweep of Yangtze R from Chihchow to Pengtse claim 4 river steamers, 5 tugs, 5 motor launches, and 15 sampans destroyed.
2/24/44 Fifth AF 30-plus A-20's hit Wewak area, blasting fuel dumps, trucks, A/Fs, aircraft, and supply stores. B-24's bomb Momote and Alexishafen.
2/24/44 Thirteenth AF P-40's and Navy ftrs escort Navy dive bmr attack on Wunapope supply area. Some of the ftrs later strafe sub off Cape Gazelle. 20-plus B-25's, some with Navy ftr escorts, attack Tobera, Keravat, and Vunakanau A/Fs and town of Rabaul. 14 P-38's hit Wunapope and C