World War II in real time

Day 1621 of World War II, February 17th 1944

Eastern Front

The End At Korsun: Led by the remnants of the elite 5th SS Panzer Division, Group Stemmermann launches their attempt to break out of the Korsun Pocket. In a blinding snowstorm they manage to find a seam in the Soviet defenses. At dawn, the weather clears and the Soviet cavalry and aircraft pounce on the columns of fleeing Germans. Having abandoned their heavy equipment, the breakout turns into a rout as desperate men flee from the carnage. General Stemmermann was killed in action along with many of his men. The Russian attacks force many of the refugees away from the bridge over the Gniloy Tikich River. When the fugitives reached the bank, many chose to swim the near freezing river rather than be captured. In the end, some did escape. Estimates vary greatly. Around 35,000 men escaped. They had little other than their personal weapons and often not even that. In the final analysis, the escapees were badly shaken and any semblance of organization had evaporated. The Germans had lost 10 divisions for some time to come.

Map: The German breakout



Italian Campaign

The Germans continue their counterattack against the Anzio beachhead hitting the US 45th Division particularly hard. Although both sides suffered heavy losses, the Germans came very near a decisive breakthrough to the beach. US artillery units firing over open sights from the beach and ships off shore managed to stop and turn back the German drive. At Casino, the 4th Indian Division managed to capture a part of the Cassino defenses (Point 593) but it was lost to German counterattacks.

Photo: Jeeps assembled ready for transporting supplies to the forward positions, 17 February 1944



The 455th and 456th Bombardment Groups (Heavy) become operational giving the Fifteenth Air Force 12 B-24 groups. In Italy, unescorted B-17s and B-24s attack Campoleone and Grottaferrata, motor transport parks in the Campoleone junction and Rocca di Papa areas, a troop concentration near Frascati, stores depots in the Grottaferrata area, and other targets in advance of the US Fifth Army's Anzio battle line which is under heavy counterattack by German forces.

US Twelfth Air Force B-25s bomb the Campoleone and Lanuvio area, B-25s hit dumps SW of Rome and N of Anzio, and also hit guns nearby; A-20s blast a dump and troop concentrations in the Anzio area; P-47s bomb dumps near Valmontone; A-36s hit Carroceto, concentrations SE of Rome, and a railroad underpass and a factory N of Anzio; P-40s blast enemy transport, guns, and assembly areas N of Cisterna di Latina, trucks N of Anzio and N of the beachhead battleline, railroad stations at Campoleone and Carroceto, and bivouac areas, dumps, a factory, and bridge in the battle area; this entire air effort (the heaviest to date in support of troops) is aimed at helping prevent a breakthrough at the beachhead, where the Germans are committed to a full-strength counter-offensive; A-36s bomb Monte Cassino Abbey in the only air action on the US Fifth Army main front.

Off Anzio, destroyers Madison (DD-425) and Eberle (DD- 430) make sound contact 25 miles southwest of the port; five-hour search yields no result. Tank landing craft LCT-277 is damaged in air raid.

During German air raid on the port of Naples, Italy, U.S. freighter James Guthrie is damaged by bomb; there are no casualties among the ship's company.

German submarine U-371 attacks Naples-bound convoy SNF 17 about 30 miles north-northeast of Bougie, Algeria, and torpedoes U.S. freighter Maiden Creek, 37°08'N, 05°27'E. Initially, the ship is abandoned, but is reboarded and prepared for towing. U-371 again torpedoes Maiden Creek, the resulting explosion killing six merchant seamen and two of the 29-man Armed Guard.

Destroyer MacKenzie (DD-614) joins three British escort vessels for submarine hunt off Philippeville, with no results.

United Kingdom

Advanced HQ, Ninth Air Force, is opened at Hillingdon House, Uxbridge. It is later joined in the area by advanced units of the IX Fighter Command and by troop carrier units, all of which form a nucleus of advanced echelons so as to centralize tactical operations in anticipation of combat on the Continent.

Battle of the Atlantic

Aircraft (VC 6) from escort carrier Block Island (CVE- 21), along with destroyer Corry (DD-463), and destroyer escort Bronstein (DE-189) sink German submarine U-801 west of the Cape Verdes, 16°42'N, 30°26'W.

Battle of the Indian Ocean

Last survivors of U.S. tanker H.D.Collier, torpedoed and shelled by Japanese submarine I-26 on 13 March 1944, are rescued by steamship Karagola.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy transport USS General R. L. Howze (AP-134) at anchor off San Francisco, California (USA), on 17 February 1944



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Thomason (DE-203) off Charleston, South Carolina (USA), on 17 February 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 16D



Photo: The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Miami (CL-89) steaming in heavy seas during her shakedown cruise on 17 February 1944



Pacific War

GILBERT AND MARSHALL ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

TF 58 (Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance), which includes nine carriers and six battleships, strikes Japanese installations and shipping at Truk, in Operation Hailstone inflicting massive damage; enemy air attacks in response succeed in only damaging carrier Intrepid (CV-11) with an aerial torpedo, 07°23'N, 153°32'E.

Photo: A U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless of bombing squadron VB-16 off the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-16) pictured over Dublon and Eten Island en route to strike Japanese installations at Truk, 17-18 February 1944. VB-16 operated from Lexington during the period September 1943-June 1944, and was for a time one of only two Dauntless squadrons assigned to Pacific fleet carriers. The squadron also participated in the famous attack against the Japanese Fleet during the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944



Photo: U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers of Bombing Squadron 16 (VB-16) off USS Lexington (CV-16) fly low over Japanese installations on Param Island, Truk Atoll, 17-18 February 1944. Note the smoke rising from the buildings

SB2Cs and TBFs from carrier Bunker Hill (CV-17) and TBFs from small carrier Cowpens (CVL-25) sink Japanese light cruiser Naka 35 miles west of Truk, 07°15'N, 151°15'E, while battleships New Jersey (BB-62) and Iowa (BB-61), heavy cruisers Minneapolis (CA-36) and New Orleans (CA-32) and destroyers Radford (DD-446) and Burns (DD-588) sink training cruiser Katori northwest of Truk, 07°45'N, 151°20'E, after she had been damaged by planes from carriers Yorktown (CV-10), Intrepid (CV- 11) and Bunker Hill (CV-17) and small carrier Cowpens. TG 50.3 gunfire sinks destroyer Maikaze 40 miles northwest of Truk, 07°45'N, 151°20'E. Destroyer Burns (DD-588), detached from TG 50.9, sinks Japanese submarine chaser Ch 24 west of Truk, 07°24'N, 150°30'E.



Photo: A U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless of Bombing Squadron 5 (VB-5) lands on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) after striking the Japanese base at Truk, 17-18 February 1944. The Yorktown senior Landing Signal Officer, Lt. JG Red Voltz, is visible on the right. Two planes in the landing circle can be seen in the background



Photo: Japanese shipping under air attack in Truk Lagoon, as seen from a USS Intrepid (CV-11) aircraft on the first day of raids, 17 February 1944. Dublon Island is at left, with Moen Island in the background. Four of these ships appear to have been hit by this time

TF 58 planes sink Japanese destroyer Oite (carrying survivors of light cruiser Agano sunk the day before), 07°40'N, 151°45'E; destroyer Tachikaze, 07°40'N, 151°55'E; armed merchant cruiser Akagi Maru, 07°54'N, 151°25'E; auxiliary submarine depot ship Heian Maru; aircraft transport Fujikawa Maru; transports Rio de Janeiro Maru, Kiyozumi Maru, Aikoku Maru, Gosei Maru, Hanakawa Maru, Hokuyo Maru, Amagisan Maru, and Kensho Maru; Matsutani Maru, 07°23'N, 151°05'E; Momokawa Maru, 07°20'N, 151°53'E; Reiyo Maru, 07°25'N, 151°45'E; San Francisco Maru, 07°22'N, 151°54'E; Seiko Maru, 07°22'N, 151°45'E; Taiho Maru, 07°22'N, 151°34'E; Zukai Maru,07°46'N, 150°27'E; No.6 Unkai Maru; Yamagiri Maru, 07°23'N, 151°51'E; fleet tankers Fujisan Maru, Hoyo Maru (damaged on 4 November 1943 by submarine Scorpion), Shinkoku Maru, and No.3 Tonan Maru; water carrier Nippo Maru, 07°20'N, 151°40'E; auxiliary vessel Yamakisan Maru, 07°25'N, 151°45'E; army cargo ships Nagano Maru and Yubai Maru; merchant cargo ship Taikichi Maru; and motor torpedo boat Gyoraitei No.10, 07°31'N, 151°59'E.



Photo: The Japanese light cruiser Katori burning off Truk Lagoon, as seen from U.S. Navy Grumman TBF Avenger of Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) from USS Intrepid (CV-11) on 17 February 1944. The destroyer Maikaze is in the left distance. Katori was damaged by air attack and sunk with Maikaze off Truk by the heavy cruisers USS New Orleans (CA-32), USS Minneapolis (CA-36) and the destroyers USS Radford (DD-446) and USS Burns (DD-588)



TF 58 aircraft damage Japanese destroyers Shigure and Matsukaze, submarines I 10 and RO 37, target ship Hakachi, repair ship Akashi, ammunition ship Soya, seaplane tender Akitsushima, and auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 20.

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 38 A-36s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance hit troops and supplies from Lonkin to Kamaing; 6 P-51s hit supply areas along roads around Lonton and Manywet; 2 others hit a road junction near Maingkwan; 2 B-25s and 6 P-51s strike a road bridge, railroad station, and rail cars in the Pyingaing area; 2 B-25s and 6 P-51s attack but fail to damage a bridge near Ye-u.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 4 B-25s on a sweep of the Gulf of Tonkin score 2 direct hits on a freighter at Vinh, damage a bridge approach and locomotive at Yen Xuon Station, and destroy a locomotive at Yen Ly Station.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Tarawa Atoll and Abemama Island hit Ponape and Kusaie Islands, and Jaluit Atoll. P-40s strafe floatplanes off Emidj Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 20 P-40s join 40+ USN fighters in covering an attack by 70 USN dive bombers on shipping in Keravia Bay, New Britain Island; 8 Japanese aircraft are claimed shot down; 2 USN fighters are lost. In the N Solomons Allied fighters hit Queen Carola Harbor, Kessa Plantation and a bridge N of Kahili.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): 40 B-24s bomb Panapai Airfield, New Ireland Island and Talasea, New Britain Island. 16 B-25s claim 2 surface vessels and a submarine sunk off New Hanover Island. 16 P-47's strafe targets of opportunity in the Alexishafen, New Guinea area. HQ 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group moves from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea.

ALASKA

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Edward C. Daly (DE-17) operating in Alaskan waters, life lines and netting and other exposed surfaces white with frozen spray, as seen from a Fleet Air Wing 4 aircraft, 17 February 1944



PACIFIC

Destroyer Nicholas (DD-449) sinks Japanese submarine I-11 northwest of the Marshalls, 10°34'N, 173°31'E.

Submarine Cero (SS-225) sinks Japanese transport Jozan Maru between Truk and New Ireland, 00°53'N, 146°26'E.

Submarine Sargo (SS-188), in attack on Japanese convoy about 150 miles northeast of Palau, sinks ammunition ship Nichiro Maru and damages oiler Sata, 08°50'N, 135°40'E.

Submarine Tang (SS-306) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking army cargo ship Gyoten Maru and merchant tanker Kuniei Maru about 130 miles west-northwest of Truk, 08°00'N, 149°17'E, and survives depth-charging by escorts (escort vessel Amakusa, submarine chaser Ch 31, auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 24 and auxiliary minesweeper Hagoromo Maru are screening the merchantmen).

Navy SBDs and TBFs bomb Japanese shipping in Keravia Bay, near Rabaul, sinking minesweeper W.26 (which had been damaged previously, 2 November 1943, and had been beached at that time to prevent her loss), guardboat No.2 Fuku Maru, and army cargo ship Iwate Maru.

USAAF B-25s attack Japanese ships going to the aid of convoy attacked north of New Hanover the day before (see 16 February), damaging Kashi Maru and forcing her to be run aground to prevent sinking.

USAAF P-40s attack Japanese shipping at Jaluit atoll, damaging cargo ship Chosen Maru.

Japanese merchant tanker Zuih_ Maru is damaged by mine downstream from Woosung, China.

Day 1623 of World War II, February 19th 1944

Eastern Front

German forces have reduced General Bor-Komorowski's hold on Warsaw to three isolated pockets, and the Polish Home Army and the attempt by communist partisans' (the People's Guard) to regain control of Warsaw must now depend on substantial aid from the Russians, poised just on the other side of the river Vistula. But Stalin has refused to aid the valiant Poles. The Russians have three operational airfields a few minutes' flight from Warsaw, while the RAF and South African bombers attempting to drop supplies to the Poles must fly from Foggia across Europe under constant Luftwaffe attacks. Of ten bombers which set out for Warsaw from Italy three days ago, six failed to return. What makes the loss of these aircraft and crews especially sad is that Stalin will not allow the RAF supply planes to land on Russian-controlled airfields. The Poles seem doomed in the face of such intransigence.

Air War over Europe

823 RAF aircraft - 561 Lancasters, 255 Halifaxes, 7 Mosquitos were sent to Leipzig. 78 aircraft - 44 Lancasters and 34 Halifaxes - were lost, 9.5 per cent of the force. The Halifax loss rate was 13.3 per cent of those dispatched and 14.9 per cent of those Halifaxes which reached the enemy coast after 'early returns' had turned back. The Halifax IIs and Vs were permanently withdrawn from operations to Germany after this raid. This was an unhappy raid for Bomber Command. The German controllers only sent part of their force of fighters to the Kiel minelaying diversion. When the main bomber force crossed the Dutch coast, they were met by a further part of the German fighter force and those German fighters which had been sent north to Kiel hurriedly returned. The bomber stream was thus under attack all the way to the target. There were further difficulties at the target because winds were not as forecast and many aircraft reached the Leipzig area too early and had to orbit and await the Pathfinders. 4 aircraft were lost by collision and approximately 20 were shot down by flak. Hptm. Martin Becker of 2./NJG 6 claimed 4 Lancasters. Leipzig was cloud-covered and the Pathfinders had to use skymarking. The raid appeared to be concentrated in its early stages but scattered later.

45 RAF Stirlings and 4 Pathfinder Halifaxes minelaying in Kiel Bay, 16 Oboe Mosquitos bombing night-fighter airfields in Holland, 15 Mosquitos on a diversion raid to Berlin, 12 Serrate patrols. 1 Mosquito lost from the Berlin raid. 3 Mosquitos attacked Aachen and 3 more bombed flying-bomb sites in France without loss. Total effort for the night: 921 sorties, 79 aircraft (8.6 per cent) lost. This was the heaviest Bomber Command loss of the war so far, easily exceeding the 58 aircraft lost on 21/22 January 1943 when Magdeburg was the main target.

Italian Campaign

After three days of desperate fighting the Allied divisions trapped on the Anzio beach-head halted a major German offensive. The attack was launched on 16 February, with General von Mackensen's XIV Armee supported by the Luftwaffe. A sustained artillery barrage opened up a gap in the sector held by the US 45th Division, and for a time, it appeared as though the Allied would be split in two. Panzers poured through the gap, but themselves came under attack as the Allies concentrated their own fire more effectively. Still, though, the Germans pushed the Allies back towards the beaches. But determined fighting by the British 1st and US 45th Divisions, backed by air and naval bombardment, checked the Germans at Carroceto Creek.

Motor torpedo boats engage German convoy southeast of Elba. Light cruiser 'Philadelphia' (CL-41) arrives off Anzio to provide gunfire support; she is thrice under shore battery fire but suffers no damage in the encounters. Destroyer 'Madison' (DD-425) conducts unsuccessful hunt for enemy submarine believed off Anzio.

In Italy, B-25s blast troop concentrations to the N of Anzio beachhead; A-36s and P-40s keep troops, tanks, and motor transport in the beachhead battle area under attack, flying 200+ sorties in 20+ missions as an Allied counterattack turns the tide of battle; fighters maintain control over the N part of the battle area.

Battle of the Atlantic

'U-264' is sunk at 17:07 hours by depth charges from the British sloops HMS 'Woodpecker' and 'Starling'. 52 survivors (No casualties). 'U-386' is sunk by depth charges from the British frigate HMS 'Spey'. 33 dead and 16 survivors.

United States

Photo: United States Navy destroyer escort USS Ray K. Edwards (DE-237), later converted during construction into high-speed transport USS Ray K. Edwards (APD-96), being launched at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina



Photo: The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Miami (CL-89) at Trinidad, British West Indies, with her crew at quarters on deck, 19 February 1944. Note her Measure 32, Design 1D camouflage, considerably worn away forward by wave action. Miami was then on her shakedown cruise



Pacific War

GILBERT AND MARSHALL ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

Marines and Army troops (Brigadier General Thomas E. Watson, USMC) supported by naval bombardment land on Eniwetok Island. The operation is under the command of Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill.
USAAF, USN and USMC land-based aircraft bomb airfield and other Japanese installations at Rabaul. The area has been repeatedly pounded, and after this date theJapanese abandon air defense of Rabaul.

Photo: Landing craft pass supporting warships in the Battle of Eniwetok, 19 February 1944



BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): 60+ A-36s and P-51s and a few B-25s hit a variety of targets in Burma; targets include fuel and supply dumps at Manywet and in the Shaduzup area, the Tonkin-Kansi road and a junction W of Manywet, the Mu River 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 the Bhamo and Hukawng Valley-Kamaing areas is also hit.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): B-24s, B-25s, and P-40s fly sea sweeps over wide-spread coastal areas from the Formosa Straits to French Indochina, claiming 3 ships sunk and others damaged; railroad bridges, trains, and other targets of opportunity near coastal areas are also attacked.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Tarawa Atoll and Makin pound Ponape and Kusaie Islands; B-25s from Tarawa hit Wotje Atoll while Makin based P-40s bomb and strafe Mille Atoll. US forces land on Eniwetok Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 20 P-40s and 40+ USN fighters escort about 70 USN dive bombers in an attack on Lakunai Airfield; fighter cover claims 22 Japanese aircraft shot down; 6 B-24s bomb the same target immediately afterward; 14 B-24s, with P-38 and USN fighter escort, hit Tobera Airfield. 12th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, based on Guadalcanal with P-38s, begins operating from Stirling. 69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from the Renard Field to Stirling with B-25s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): 12 B-25s attack shipping SW of New Ireland Island, claiming a small freighter and a patrol boat sunk and other vessels damaged. 7 A-20s hit shipping at Kavieng. Single B-24s and B-25s carry out armed reconnaissance over wide areas of the Bismarck Sea. 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, from Dobodura to Finschhafen with F-5s (detachment is at Port Moresby); 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, from Finschhafen to Cape Gloucester with P-40s.

NEW CALEDONIA

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Manning (DE-199) at anchor off Nouméa, New Caledonia, on 19 February 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 13D



PACIFIC

Submarine Cero (SS-225) attacks Japanese cargo ship No.18 Shinsei Maru while en route to Palau, 03°34'N, 136°36'E, but does not score any damage on her quarry.

Submarine Grayback (SS-208) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Taikei Maru southwest of Takao, Formosa, 21°48'N, 119°50'E; subsequently, Grayback sinks army cargo ship Toshin Maru, 21°46'N, 120°06'E, which had arrived on the scene and rescued Taikei Maru's survivors.

Submarine Jack (SS-259) attacks Japanese convoy of six tankers shepherded by escort vessel Shimushu in South China Sea about 300 miles west of Luzon, sinking merchant tankers Kokuei Maru and Nanei Maru, 14°34'N, 114°11'E; Nichirin Maru, 15°40'N, 115°48'E; and Ichiyo Maru 15°46'N, 115°57'E.

USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) sink auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 34 west of Kavieng, 02°45'S, 150°47'E; B- 25s, A-20s, and P-38s (5th Air Force) wipe out Japanese convoy O-902 off Kavieng, sinking submarine chasers Ch 22 and Ch 40, 03°04'S, 150°42'E, and cargo vessels No.1 Shinto Maru and Shinkiku Maru, 02°46'N, 150°42'E.

USAAF B-24s and B-25s sink Japanese cargo vessel Ebon Maru at Kusaie.

USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese cargo ship Tairyu Maru and damage auxiliary submarine chaser Chikuzen Maru in Formosa Strait, 25°25'N, 121°30'E.

Japanese cargo ship Kogen Maru is sunk in collision in Kii Channel, 35°00'N, 135°00'E.

Day 1625 of World War II, February 21st 1944

Eastern Front

2nd Baltic Front continues its attacks capturing Soltsy and Kholm. To the south, 3rd Ukrainian Front continues its offensive threatening to surround Krivoi Rog.

Continuation War

Photo: Oulu People's House has been damaged in a bombing on 21st February 1944. The house was built in 1904



Air War over Europe

Mission 228: 3 areas in Germany are targeted with the loss of 16 bombers and 5 fighters:

1, - 336 B-17s are dispatched to the Gütersloh, Lippstadt and Werl Airfields; because of thick overcast, 285 hit Achmer, Hopsten, Rheine, Diepholz, Quakenbrück and Bramsche Airfields and the marshaling yards at Coevorden and Lingen; they claim 12-5-8 Luftwaffe aircraft; 8 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 63 damaged; casualties are 4 KIA, 13 WIA and 75 MIA.

2, - 281 B-17s are dispatched to Diepholz Airfield and Brunswick; 175 hit the primaries and 88 hit Ahlhorn and Vörden Airfields and Hannover; they claim 2-5-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; five B-17s are lost, three damaged beyond repair and 36 damaged; casualties are 20 KIA, 4 WIA and 57 MIA.

3, - 244 B-24s are dispatched to Achmer and Handorf Airfields; 11 hit Achmer Airfield and 203 hit Diepholz, Verden and Hesepe Airfields and Lingen; they claim 5-6-4 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 6 damaged; casualties are three WIA and 31 MIA.

Escort for Mission 228 is provided by 69 P-38s, 542 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 68 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the P-38s claim 0-1-0 Luftwaffe aircraft, 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair; the P-47s claim 19-3-14 Luftwaffe aircraft, two P-47s are lost, two are damaged beyond repair, three are damaged and two pilots are MIA; the P-51s claim 14-1-4 Luftwaffe aircraft, three P-51s are lost and the pilots are MIA. German losses were 30 Bf 109s and Fw 190s, 24 pilots killed and seven wounded.[20]

Mission 229: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 250 bundles of leaflets on Rouen, Caen, Paris and Amiens, France at 2215–2327 hours without loss.

17 RAF Mosquitos to Duisburg, Stuttgart and 2 flying-bomb sites, 1 Serrate patrol, 41 aircraft minelaying in the Frisians and off French ports, 10 OTU sorties. 1 Stirling minelayer lost.

18 B-26s bomb Coxyde Airfield, Belgium; weather causes almost 190 aborts. The Ninth Air Force's Pathfinder Squadron (provisionally activated on 13 Feb) takes part in this operation, its first venture into combat. 185 aircraft scheduled to attack other airfields in the Netherlands and France in the afternoon are recalled because of bad weather.

Italian Campaign

In Italy, B-25s bomb Orte marshalling yard, and B-26s hit Imperia docks; A-20s pound troop concentrations near Campoleone, along with P-40s and A-36s which also hit a fuel dump, tank and truck concentrations, and gun positions in the area; fighter-bombers also bomb and block the Itri-Gaeta road.

Photo: Men of the 2/7th Middlesex Regiment in one of their machine gun carriers at Anzio, 21 February 1944



Photo: Men of the 2/7th Middlesex Regiment carry out maintenance on a Vickers machine gun at Anzio, 21 February 1944



United States

Photo: Russian naval officers inspecting 105mm at U.S. Assault Training Center. 21 February, 1944



Photo: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Franklin (CV-13) in the Elizabeth River, off Norfolk, Virginia (USA), on 21 February 1944. She is accompanied by three local harbor tugs. Franklin is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 6a. This paint scheme was changed a few months later, on the port side only, to Measure 32, Design 3a. The ship's starboard side retained the Design 6a pattern



Photo: View of the island of the U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Charger (CVE-30) on 21 February 1944. Note the mast structure, radars, rear admiral's flag, and signal balls. The SC radar is visible above the island, the YE homing beacon in the hightest antenna



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 50+ P-51s and A-36s and a few B-25s hit a command post at Shingban, the town of Mohnyin, a bridge at Loilaw, a camp at Shaduzup, 2 bridges at Namkwin, and warehouses and other buildings at Kawlin and Wuntho; fighter-bombers attacking a fuel dump at Pin Hmi drop bombs in the wrong area; B-25s, escorted by RAF Spitfires and Hurricanes, score effective hits on a tunnel on the Maungdaw-Buthidaung road.

CHINA

The Chinese 8th Route Army takes Taiku, China.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Tarawa Atoll and Abemama Island hit Ponape and Kusaie Islands and Jaluit Atoll. B-25s from Abemama bomb Maloelap Atoll. P-40s from Makin hit Mille Atoll. US forces gain complete control of Eniwetok Island. 9th Troop Carrier Squadron, Seventh Air Force, arrives at Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii from the US with C-47s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 15 B-24s bomb Lakunai Airfield; 4 others, with fighter support, attack the airfield at Rapopo; 20 P-38s join USN fighters in covering a USN dive bomber strikes on Lakunai gun positions. In the Bougainville Island area 3 B-24s bomb Kara Airfield while P-39s hit buildings at Tsundawan and in the area S of Tabut, and bomb barges and jetty in the Matchin Bay area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): Almost 30 A-20s hit Madang and the Hansa Bay area. On New Britain Island, P-39s hit Raiven Plantation; 40+ B-24s bomb the Rein Bay and Eleonora Bay areas; others attack shipping off New Hanover Island. Lost on a transport flight is B-25D 41-30374. Crashed in an emergency landing attempt is L-5A "Termite" 42-98085.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

Photo: A line up of Vultee Vengeance dive bomber aircraft of No. 21 Squadron RAAF in the dispersal area of Nadzab airdrome, Markham Valley, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. In the foreground is aircraft coded MJ-N, RAAF s/n A27-60



JAPAN

The Japanese prime minister, General Hideki Tojo, today sacked the heads of the Japanese army and navy following last week's catastrophic losses to the Allies at Truk. Japan's strategic outlying defence base in the South-west Pacific. General Tojo, who takes over as chief of the army general staff, succeeding the disgraced General Sugiyama, is being accused of running a one-man cabinet. In addition to being premier, he is minister of war, controller of munitions, minister of commerce and industry, and minister of education. A protest has been issued by one of the emperor's brothers, Imperial Prince Chichibu, and dissident general staff officers have nicknamed Tojo "Takauji"- a reference to a 14th century military upstart.

PACIFIC

Navy SBDs and TBFs bomb antiaircraft positions at Lakunai aerodrome and shore installations at Rabaul, sinking guardboat No.2 Yawata Maru.

USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) strike Japanese five-ship convoy (evacuating 751st Air Group maintenance people to Japan, via Palau) off New Hanover, sinking auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 38 and Cha 48, 02°30'S, 149°55'E, transport Kokai Maru and gunboat Kowa Maru, 02°30'S, 150°15'E, and damaging tug Nagaura, which, after effecting repairs, rescues some of the survivors of the two Marus and continues on her voyage north (see 22 February).

Submarine Cero (SS-225) damages Japanese army cargo ship Hasshu Maru north of New Guinea, 00°10'S, 139°45'E.

British submarine HMS Tally Ho sinks Japanese army cargo ship No.6 Taigen Maru in Strait of Malacca, 04°00'N, 101°00'E.

Day 1627 of World War II, February 23rd 1944

Eastern Front

The 2nd Baltic and Volkhov Fronts continue their offensive in northern Russia capturing Strugi Krasneyye and 1st Belorus Front drives toward Dno.

Air War over Europe

Mission 232: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 250 bundles of leaflets on Rennes, Le Mans, Chartres, Lille and Orleans, France at 21:36–22:32 hours without loss.

US Fifteenth Air Force B-24s bomb the industrial complex at Steyr, Austria. Other heavy bombers are forced to abort because of bad weather; the bombers and escorting fighters claim 30+ aircraft shot down. Oblt. Walther Dahl of III./JG 3 shot down 2 four-engined bombers and a P-38 to bring his score to 61 kills.

17 RAF Mosquitos to Düsseldorf, 2 Serrate patrols, 3 OTU sorties. No aircraft lost. A Mosquito of No. 692 Squadron RAF dropped a 4,000-lb bomb on Düsseldorf. This is double the original bombload of the Mk IV. To carry this large device, the bomb-bay is bulged. The Mosquitos of the Light Night Striking Force regularly carried such heavy bombs during the remaining months of the war to targets as far distant as Berlin.

A Do 217 night-fighter made a perfect belly-landing near Cambridge after its crew bailed out over London and delivered to the Allies a near- perfect example of a German night-fighter. The plane was soon used for RAF purposes.

Italian Campaign

General Lucian Truscott takes full command of VI Corps at Anzio, replacing General Lucas as the Germans regroup for a fresh series of counterattacks against the beleaguered troops.

In Italy, P-40s hit a gun position N of Campoleone and patrol the Anzio area. Weather prevents other operations.

Battle of the Atlantic

'U-257' is sunk in the North Atlantic, by depth charges from frigates HMCS 'Waskesiu' and HMS 'Nene'. 30 dead and 19 survivors. According to a crewmember on the HMCS 'Waskesiu' the HMS 'Nene' only participated in picking up survivors while the Canadian frigate dropped the depth charges, after both frigates had picked up an ASDIC signal that the Canadians insisted was a U-boat, which sank the boat.

Battle of the Indian Ocean

U.S. tanker E.G. Seubert, in convoy PA 69, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-510 about 200 miles fromAden, 13°45'N, 48°56'E; three of the 27-man Armed Guard (including its commander) perish, as do three of the ship's merchant complement. Australian minesweeper HMAS Tamworth and Indian Navy corvette RINS Orissa rescue survivors.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Doherty (DE-14) underway off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 23 February 1943



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 14 B-24s bomb airfields and other targets at Akyab and Dabaing; 3 B-25s and 12 P-51s hit a radio station at Man Pang; 4 other P-51s hit warehouses at Chantha.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): 4 B-25s attack 2 ships in the Gulf of Tonkin and hit railroad cars and engine shed at Van Trai Station, French Indochina. 4 P-40s strafe Lashio Airfield, Burma.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): P-40s from Makin bomb Mille Atoll; 2 small boats are destroyed by strafing; B-25s from Abemama hit Taroa. B-24s from Makin and Tarawa Atoll bomb Kusaie and Ponape Islands and Jaluit Atoll.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 4 B-24s on armed reconnaissance strafe the Cape Saint George area and bomb buildings and pier at Labur Bay and 4 B-24s attack bivouacs in the upper Saua River area. 9 B-25s, with USN fighter support, bomb Vunakanau Airfield; 10 other B-25s hit Keravat Airfield; 16 P-38s dive-bomb the Vunapope supply area and some attack the town of Rabaul; this is the first P-38 bombing raid on the Rabaul area; (P-38s, now free from constant responsibility of guarding bombers against interceptors, will continue to dive-bomb the Rabaul area through Apr 44; during the latter part of this campaign against the famed Japanese garrison, which is to be bypassed by Allied ground forces, P-39s will add their strength due to completion of an airstrip on Nissan Island in the Green Islands; by 20 Apr only 120 of 1400 buildings in Rabaul will still be standing).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): Almost 50 A-20s and B-24s blast the airfield, buildings, and AA positions in the Wewak, New Guinea area. Units moving from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea: HQ 90th Bombardment Group and 320th, 321st and 400th Bombardment Squadrons with B-24s; 500th and 501st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium), with B-25s.

MARIANA AND PALAU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

During strikes on Japanese shipping in Tanapag harbor, Saipan, F6Fs, TBFs and SBDs from carriers Essex (CV-9) and Yorktown (CV-10) (in TG 58.2) damage cargo ship Shoan Maru, 15°15'N, 145°45'E; planes from carrier Bunker Hill (CV-17) (in TG 58.3) sink cargo vessel Seizan Maru off Tinian, 15°00'N, 145°30'E.

Photo: A Japanese bomber flies through tracers and "flak" bursts just aft of the U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24), during an attack on Task Group 58.2 off the Mariana Islands, 23 February 1944. The plane crashed and exploded a few seconds later, missing the ship. The photo was taken from USS Essex (CV-9)



PACIFIC

Submarine Balao (SS-285), in attack on Japanese convoy about 35 miles north of Biak, New Guinea, sinks army cargo ship Nikki Maru, 00°11'S, 135°00'E.

Submarine Cod (SS-224) sinks Japanese fleet tanker No.3 Ogura Maru off Halmahera, 04°23'N, 129°05'E.

Submarine Plunger (SS-179), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks transport Kimishima Maru about 200 miles northwest of Chichi Jima, 30°11'N, 140°49'E.

Submarine Pogy (SS-266) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking merchant cargo ship Horei Maru, 26°20'N, 126°11'E, and damaging merchant tanker Teikon Maru, 26°22'N, 126°16'E, about 60 miles west of Okinawa.

Submarine Snook (SS-279) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking transport Kayo Maru about 120 miles north- northwest of Chichi Jima, 28°49'N, 141°13'E.

Submarine Sunfish (SS-281) and planes from carrier Yorktown (CV-10) sink Japanese collier Shinyubari Maru about 40 miles west of Saipan, 15°23'N, 145°03'E.

Submarine Tang (SS-306) sinks Japanese repair ship Yamashimo Maru west of Saipan, 14°45'N, 144°32'E. The cataclysmic explosion of the enemy auxiliary damages Tang, but not badly enough to prevent the boat from remaining on patrol.

Japanese gunboat Eiko Maru is sunk by aircraft north of Saipan, 15°12'N, 144°52'E, as she proceeds to the position of the loss of Fukuyama Maru that had been sunk by Tang (SS-306) on 22 February.

Japanese cargo ship Gyoko Maru is destroyed by accidental explosion in Naha harbor, Okinawa, 26°13'N, 127°40'E.

Day 1629 of World War II, February 25th 1944

YouTube (Tojo Takes Control)



Air War over Europe

Mission 235: In the final "Big Week" mission, 4 targets in Germany are hit; 31 bombers and 3 fighters are lost.

1, - 268 B-17s are dispatched to aviation industry targets at Augsburg and the industrial area at Stuttgart; 196 hit Augsburg and targets of opportunity and 50 hit Stuttgart; they claim 8-4-4 Luftwaffe aircraft; 13 B-17s are lost and 172 damaged; casualties are 12 WIA and 130 MIA.

2, - 267 of 290 B-17s hit aviation industry targets at Regensburg and targets of opportunity; they claim 13-1-7 Luftwaffe aircraft; 12 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 82 damaged; casualties are 4 KIA, 12 WIA and 110 MIA.

3, - 172 of 196 B-24s hit aviation industry targets at Furth and targets of opportunity; they claim 2-2-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 6 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 44 damaged; casualties are 2 WIA and 61 MIA.

Escort is provided by 73 P-38s, 687 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 139 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the P-38s claim 1-2-0 Luftwaffe aircraft, 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair; the P-47s claim 13-2-10 Luftwaffe aircraft, 1 P-47 is lost and 6 damaged, 1 pilot is MIA; the P-51s claim 12-0-3 Luftwaffe aircraft, 2 P-51s are lost and 1 damaged beyond repair, 2 pilots are MIA.

Mission 236: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 250 bundles of leaflets on Grenoble, Toulouse, Chartres, Caen and Raismes, France at 2129–2335 hours without loss

594 RAF aircraft - 461 Lancasters, 123 Halifaxes, 10 Mosquitos - on the first large raid to Augsburg. The various diversions and the splitting of the main bomber force into 2 waves again reduced casualties still further. 21 aircraft - 16 Lancasters, 5 Halifaxes - lost, 3.6 per cent of the force; at least 4 of these casualties were due to collision. The bombing at Augsburg was outstandingly successful in clear weather conditions and against this 'virgin' target with only weak flak defences. The Pathfinder ground-marking was accurate and the raid became controversial because of the effects of its outstanding accuracy. Serious damage is done to the engineering works and aircraft components factory. 85,000 people are made homeless. The beautiful old centre of Augsburg was completely destroyed by high explosive and fire, with much less than the usual spread of bombing to the more modern outer areas, where some industry was located. There were 246 large or medium fires and 820 small ones; the temperature was so cold (minus 18" Celsius) that the River Lech was frozen over and many of the water hoses also froze. The Germans publicized it as an extreme example of 'terror bombing'.

191 B-26 Marauders bomb Venlo, Saint-Trond, and Cambrai/Epinoy Airfields, France in a morning raid as a diversion in support of the VIII Bomber Command heavy bombers over Germany; 36 abort, mainly because of a navigational error; 164 B-26s dispatched against military targets in France during the afternoon are recalled because of bad weather.

Major General Paul L Williams becomes Commanding General of the Ninth Air Force's IX Troop Carrier Command.

131 RAF aircraft minelaying in Kiel Bay, 22 Mosquitos to airfields in Holland, 15 Mosquitos on diversionary raids to 4 towns to the north of the Augsburg routes, 5 RCM sorties, 10 Serrate patrols. 3 Halifaxes and 1 Stirling lost from the minelaying operation.

Italian Campaign

The destroyer HMS ''Inglefield' is sunk at dusk off Anzio by a Hs293A Glide bomb and sinks very rapidly off Anzio. There are 35 casualties and 157 survivors.

In Italy, US Twelfth Air Force P-40s attack guns and troop concentrations east of Campoleone and in the Carroceto area; A-36 Apaches bomb the towns of Terracina and Sperlonga and roads in the area; P-40s also maintain patrols over Anzio. Other B-17s hit the air depot at Klagenfurt, Austria, and the dock area at Pola, Italy. B-24s attack the Fiume, Italy, marshalling yard and port and hit the Zell-am-See, Austria, railroad and Graz airfield and the port area at Zara, Yugoslavia; 30+ US aircraft are lost; they claim 90+ fighters shot down.

Battle of the Atlantic

'U-91' is sunk by the British destroyers HMS 'Affleck', 'Gore' and 'Gould'. 36 dead and 16 survivors.

Arctic naval operations

The Artic convoys from Britain to Russia begin to dominate their German adversaries as the latest convoy (JW-57 with 43 merchants) comes through with no merchant losses. The only loss was the destroyer HMS 'Mahratta' when it takes a hit from a Zaunkönig fired by 'U-990' (Kapitanleutnant Hubert Nordheimer) and then one more torpedo and sinks at 2055. The destroyer explodes and sinks within minutes. Despite the fact that destroyers HMS 'Impulsive' and 'Wanderer' are quickly on the scene there are 220 casualties and just 16 survivors in the freezing waters. The commander, ten officers and 209 ratings lost their lives.

'U-601' sunk in the Arctic Ocean NW of Narvik, Norway by depth charges from an RAF 210 Sqn Catalina aircraft. 51 dead (all hands lost).

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cony (DD-508) in San Francisco Bay, California (USA), 25 February 1944. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 21D



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Tatum (DE-789) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 25 February 1944, enroute to Norfolk, Virginia (USA). She and USS Borum (DE-790) were escorting the escort carrier USS Kasaan Bay (CVE-69) northward. They had stopped to drop three medical cases at the Naval Operating Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on the previous day. Tatum is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 11D



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Beale (DD-471) underway on 25 February 1944 with all guns trained to starboard



Photo: The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Vincennes (CL-64) off Boston, Massachusetts (USA), on 25 February 1944. Her camouflage is Measure 33, Design 3D



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Irwin (DD-794) off San Pedro, California (USA), 25 February 1944



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 B-25s and 4 P-51s attack bridges at Meza, Sinthe, and Natmauk, causing light damage to the bridges and destroying 3 locomotives and several railroad cars. 91st Fighter Squadron, 81st Fighter Group, arrives at Karachi, India from Italy; they will be equipped with P-47Ds and enter combat on 16 Jun.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 16 P-40s attack docks, railroad yards and warehouses at Hongay; in the harbor 1 large boat is sunk and another damaged; 2 P-40's hit a cargo vessel at Campha Port, leaving it sinking; 2 others bomb and strafe Weichow Island.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): P-40s out of Makin bomb and strafe targets at Jaluit Atoll; B-25's from Tarawa Atoll and Abemama Island hit Mille and Wotje Atolls; B-24s from Abemama and Tarawa pound Ponape Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, P-39s on armed reconnaissance bomb an AA position at Monoitu, hit the Aitara area, and attack a barge in the Cape Gazelle area; 20+ B-25s hit Matupi and Rapopo; 21 B-24s and 17 P-38s follow shortly with another strike on Rapopo.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): B-25's pound Lorengau and the Alexishafen-Madang areas and Momote Airfield and A-20s bomb airfields at Alexishafen, New Guinea. HQ 85th Fighter Wing arrives at Gusap from the US.

BISMARKS

In the Bismarck Archipelago, the USN's Destroyer Division 90 under Commander Edmund B. Taylor, bombards Rabaul on New Britain Island. Destroyer Squadron 12 under Captain Rodger W. Simpson, en route to bombard Kavieng on New Ireland Island and its airstrips, shipping, and fortifications, encounters a Japanese army cargo ship. In the ensuing action, destroyers USS Farenholt, USS Buchanan, USS Lansdowne, USS Woodworth and USS Lardner sink the enemy freighter. Japanese shore batteries subsequently give DesRon 12 a warm reception, damaging USS Buchanan and USS Farenholt.

ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s from Shemya are over Matsuwa shortly after midnight 24/25 Feb on a photographic reconnaissance and bomb run; the mission is not completed due to weather.

PACIFIC

Destroyer Squadron 12 (Captain Rodger W. Simpson), en route to bombard Kavieng and its airstrips, shipping, and fortifications, encounters Japanese army cargo ship Tatsugiko Maru. In the ensuing action, destroyers Farenholt (DD-491), Buchanan (DD-484), Lansdowne (DD- 486), Woodworth (DD-460), and Lardner (DD-487) sink the enemy freighter at 02°46'N, 150°42'E. Japanese shore batteries subsequently give DESRON 12 a warm reception, damaging Buchanan and Farenholt, 02°20'S, 151°02'E.

Submarine Hoe (SS-258) attacks Japanese convoy at the mouth of Davao Gulf, 75 miles south of Davao, P.I., sinking fleet tanker Nissho Maru, 05°50'N, 126°00'E and damaging fleet tanker Kyokuto Maru, 05°38'N, 126°00'E, south of Davao Gulf.

Submarine Rasher (SS-269) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Ryusei Maru, 07°55'S, 115°15'E and merchant cargo ship Tango Maru, 07°41'S, 115°10'E off north coast of Bali.

Submarine Tang (SS-306) continues pursuit of Japanese convoy engaged the previous day, and sinks fleet tanker Choko Maru west of Saipan, 15°46'N, 144°10'E.

Day 1631 of World War II, February 27th 1944

Eastern Front

Twelve He 111s of I./KG 4 and 14 He 111s of I./KG 27 made a dusk attack on Kirovgrad North airfield. After the bombs were dropped, 2 fires and one explosion south of the runway were observed. Hits were recorded on the runway, hangers and the southern part of the airfield.

Air War over Europe

Major General Elwood R Quesada (reappointed Commanding General IX Fighter Command on 21 Feb) receives authority to revive the IX Fighter Command (existing only on paper since creation of the IX Air Support Command) on a temporary basis as an operational HQ to function as a Combined Control Center with RAF 11 Group at Uxbridge, England, where Fighter Command will prepare operations orders for Ninth Air Force fighter and fighter-bomber groups. Quesada retains command of the IX Air Support Command.

Italian Campaign

Light cruiser 'Philadelphia' (CL-41) carries out seven gunfire support missions off Anzio.

In Italy, A-36s attack Littoria and Guidonia Airfields and Ladispoli dock area; rail cars NE of Rome are also attacked; P-40s follow up with a raid against Littoria and hit trucks and other targets in the area; weather prevents other operations by the Twelfth Air Force.

Photo: Captain W Guest-Gordons, Intelligence Officer with No. 2 Infantry Brigade, examines a German Panzerfaust anti-tank weapon, Anzio, 27 February 1944



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 30+ P-51s and A-36s and 2 B-25s hit ammunition dumps near the Kamaing-Walawbum road, warehouses, railroad and power facilities, bridges, and targets of opportunity in the Ye-u and Tindeinyan areas.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 4 B-25s fly a sea sweep from Vinh to Nam Dinh, bombing the Nam Dinh distillery and railroad yards; no ships are sighted. 8 P-40s hit the railroad bridge at Puchi, China, rendering it unusable.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): A-24s and P-40s from Makin pound Jaluit and Mille Atolls, while B-25s from Abemama Island hit Wotje and Mille Atolls; B-24s from Makin and Tarawa bomb Ponape Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 16 P-39s strafe barges and other targets of opportunity along the SW coast of Bougainville Island throughout the day. Vunapope is attacked by 21 B-24s and 24 B-25s (both forces supported by fighter escorts) and by 14 P-38s; P-40s and USN fighters cover a USN dive bomber strike on Lakunai AA positions. 3 P-38s strafe a radar station at Cape Saint George.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): Colonel Jarred V Crabb becomes Commanding General V Bomber Command. 30+ B-24s, with P-40 support, hit airfields at Boram, Wewak, and Tadji, 27 B-25s hit the Hansa Bay area, and over 30 A-20s attack Alexishafen and Marakum village with RAAF Vultee Vengances attack Alexishafen. Vengance A27-83 is lost. 30+ other B-25s attack Momote, Lorengau and other targets. P-39s maintain armed reconnaissance over New Britain. Lost on a reef is SS President Grant.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

Photo: Near Alexishafen,New Guinea. In flight, Vultree Vengeance dive bombers aircraft of NO. 24 squadron RAAF from an air raid on the Japanese-held airstrip on the North coast of New Guinea, February 27 1944



GILBERT AND MARSHALL ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

Covered by large infantry landing craft LCI(L)-24, Army units carry out unopposed occupation of the Magine Islands.

Photo: U.S. Marine Corps Vought F4U-1 Corsairs of Marine Fighter Squadron 113 (VMF-113) on Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, in 1944. VMF-113 began operating from Engebi on 27 February 1944 as part of the 4th Base Defense Air Wing



PACIFIC

Submarine Cod (SS-224) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Taisoku Maru west of Halmahera, 02°00'S, 127°40'E.

Submarine Trout (SS-202) sinks Japanese cargo ship Aki Maru east of Formosa, 22°40'N, 131°50'E. Submarine Grayback (SS-208) sinks Japanese cargo ship Ceylon Maru in the East China Sea, 31°50'N, 127°45'E.