World War II in real time

Day 1650 of World War II, March 17th 1944

Eastern Front

Zhukov's 1st Ukrainian Front takes Dubno and continues to drive south and west. The swift advance of the Red Army in the Ukraine has brought it close to the Romanian border. Dubno, the old fortress where the legendary Cossack warrior Taras Bulba fought, fell to Zhukov today and Konev crossed the river Dniester and wheeled north to encircle the 1.PanzerArmee. With the Lvov to Odessa railway line cut, the key supply route to the southern sector of von Manstein's Army group has been broken, and as the Russians advance they threaten to split the German forces in Poland from those in southern Russia.

Continuation War

The Finns are procrastinating in their peace negotiations with the USSR despite being offered what seem to observers to be reasonable terms to end their ill-fated alliance with Germany. The Finns' reply today is being described by the Russians as "negative". The sticking-point now seems to be not the proposed occupation of Hango base, but the fate of German forces in northern Finland. Commanded by General Dietl, they are 100,000 strong and well-equipped. Russia wants then interned, but Finland wants to repatriate them to Germany "with full military honours." From the contemporary Finnish point of view the greatest problems with the Soviet terms presented in Spring 1944 were twofold: 1) The Soviet demand of 600 million (uninflated 1938) USD as war reparations. The economic experts deemed it impossible to pay in the time frame demanded by the Soviets. In the peace concluded in September 1944 the sum was halved to 300 million USD and more time was given. 2) The internment of Germans. Again the time given by the Soviets to accomplish the internment was deemed to be impossibly short, and the Germans were thought still to be strong enough to attempt to occupy Finland.

Air War over Europe

28 RAF Mosquitos flew to Cologne and 2 to Aachen, 1 Mosquito on RCM sortie. No losses.

American B-24s, escorted by P-47s and P-38s, today opened the Allied bombing assault on Austria with a raid by more than 200 planes on industrial targets in Vienna. The planes of the US 15th Army Air Force, flew from airfields in Italy. Some 100 B-17s aborted the raid because of bad weather.

US Eighth Air Force Mission 263: 135 P-47s are dispatched on low level strafing attacks against airfields in France; 25 attack Soesterburg Airfield, The Netherlands and 25 attack Chartres, France; they claim 3-2-8 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground, 2 P-47s are lost, the pilots are MIA. 70 US Ninth Air Force B-26s bomb the marshalling yard at Criel-sur-Mer, France.

Italian Campaign

The battle for Cassino rages on as New Zealand and Indian troops attack southwest of the town along Snake's Head Ridge capturing the railway station. The Germans meanwhile launch counterattacks against Castle and Hangman's Hill. In Italy, B-25s bomb Montepescali marshalling yard, Cecina, Roccasecca and Castrocielo, while A-20s hit troop concentrations in the Cassino area; and fighter-bombers hit guns in the Cassino area and attack a nearby railroad bridge and underpass with good results.

Photo: A view looking towards Cassino, 17 March 1944



Photo: Men of the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers read 'Ireland's Saturday Night', a Belfast newspaper, in their foxhole in the Anzio bridgehead, 17 March 1944



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.

Battle of the Atlantic

'U-28' a type VIIA, was sunk at the U-Boat pier at Neustadt after an operational accident. It was raised later the same month, but struck 4/Aug/44.

'U-801' (type IXC/40) is sunk near the Cape Verde Islands, by a Fido homing torpedo from 2 Avenger aircraft (VC-9) of the US escort carrier USS 'Block Island' and depth charges and gunfire from the US destroyer USS 'Corry' and the destroyer escort 'Bronstein'. 10 dead and 47 survivors. The boat was attacked by an Avenger aircraft from the escort carrier USS 'Block Island' in the Mid Atlantic on 16 Mar, 1944. One man died and 9 men were wounded. The U-boat was sunk the next day.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Corry (DD-463) with nets over her side, rescuing survivors of German submarine U-801, after the submarine had been sunk by aircraft and surface ships of the USS Block Island (CVE-21) Hunter-Killer-Group in position 16°41'N, 29°58'W, 17 March 1944. U-801 was sunk by a Fido homing torpedo by two Avenger and one Wildcat aircraft of Composite Squadron 6 (VC-6) from USS Block Island, along with depth charges and gunfire from Corry and USS Bronstein (DE-189). Lieutenant Junior Grade Paul Sorenson strafed and Lieutenant Junior Grade Charles Woodell depth charged U-801



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 destroyer USS Wedderburn (DD-684) off San Francisco, California (USA) on 17 March 1944. Shie is painted in Camouflage Measure 31, Design 22D



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Riley (DE-579) underway off Boston, Massacusetts (USA), on 17 March 1944



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 31 B-24s and 20+ Royal Air Force (RAF) Wellingtons and Beaufighters pound supply dumps and targets of opportunity in the Rangoon area while 8 other B-24s hit barracks near Bangkok; numerous US and RAF medium and fighter-bombers attack villages, Japanese positions, ammunition dumps, tanks, and many other targets of opportunity in the Chin Hills, at Chindwin, in the Mogaung Valley, and in areas around Mandalay. Air Commando Combat Mission N0. 29. 2:35 Flight time Hailakandi, Eassam to Kawlin, Burma. Bombed supply dumps.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll fly the first Seventh Air Force mission against Truk Atoll, Caroline, hitting Dublon and Eten before dawn; alternate targets of Oroluk Anchorage and Ponape Town are also hit. B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap Atoll. A-24s, P-39s, and P-40s used against Mille and Jaluit Atolls during Operations FLINTLOCK (operations against Kwajalein and Majuro) and CATCHPOLE ( have returned to Oahu for rest and re-equipment. 27th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Nanumea to Kwajalein Atoll with B-24s; they have been operating from Abemama since 26 Feb.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): Major General Hubert R Harmon, Commanding General Thirteenth Air Force, becomes Commander Air Solomons (COMAIRSOLS). 50+ B-25s, P-40s, P-39s and P-38s and USN fighters pound Vunapope supply areas; 24 B-25s, with USN fighter escort, bomb Lakunai Airfield; 22 unescorted B-24s, finding Tobera clouded over, bomb the airfield at Rapopo as a secondary target.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): 200+ B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, P-38s, P-47s and P-40s pound Wewak township, blasting docks, warehouses, gun positions, and numerous other targets; fighters claim 11 enemy aircraft shot down. 36 B-25s bomb Tingo village and Lugos Mission area on Manus, where elements of the 1st Cavalry Division make an amphibious landing, take the mission and head E toward Lorengau.

ADMIRALTY ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

US 7th 8th Cavalry Divisions land on Manus Island in the Admiralities.

Day 1652 of World War II, March 19th 1944

Eastern Front

German forces launch Unternehmen Margaret, the military occupation of Hungary. With Stalin's armies now thrusting towards Germany's flank in south-eastern Europe, Hitler has sent in troops to occupy Hungary and seize vital communications for the defence of the Danube plain - the highway into the Reich. This forces Hungary to stay in the field fighting for the Axis as well as securing oil for the Reich. Edmund Veesenmayer, the German ambassador plenipotentiary with "special powers" in Hungary, is mobilizing "all resources for final victory", and Hungary's 767,000 Jews, hitherto unharmed through four years of war, are to be sent on their way to Auschwitz.

The advance of the Red Army continues unabated as Konev's 2nd Ukrainian Front crosses the Dneipr River west of Yampol and captures Soroki. To the north and west, Zhukov's 1st Ukrainian Front takes Krzemienic.

Air War over Europe

The German 352nd Infantry Division is deployed along the coast of France.

US Eighth Air Force Mission 266: V-weapon sites in France are hit. 117 of 129 B-17s hit sites at Wizernes and Watten; 1 B-17 is lost and 74 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 10 MIA. 56 of 64 B-17s hit Marquise/Mimoyecques; 14 B-17s are damaged; 1 crewman is WIA. Escort is provided by 82 P-47s; 1 is damaged and the pilot is WIA.

US Eighth Air Force Mission 267: 6 of 6 B-17s drop 300 bundles of leaflets on The Hague, Rotterdam, Leeuwarden, Utrecht and Amsterdam, The Netherlands at 2114-2140 hours without loss.

US Eighth Air Force Mission 268: 35 P-47s [25 with 500-pound (227 kg) bombs] are dispatched to Gilze-Rijen Airfield, The Netherlands; 20 of the 25 bomb without loss; 39 P-51s fly a supporting sweep.

152 US Ninth Air Force B-26s and 65 A-20s attack NOBALL (V-weapon) targets in the Saint-Omer area during morning and afternoon missions; 16 P-47s dive-bomb the airfield between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Le Touquet; the morning raids precede an Eighth Air Force attack with B-17s on V-weapon sites.

21 RAF Mosquitos - 9 to Berlin, 8 to Düsseldorf and 4 to Aachen, 4 RCM sorties, 3 Serrate patrols, 19 Stirlings minelaying off Dutch and French coasts, 6 OTU sorties. 1 RCM Wellington lost.

In an attack that was part reprisal for the devastation of German cities by the RAF and USAAF Hull was selected for 131 bomber sorties by the Luftwaffe. Something like 92 tonnes of bombs were dropped, but mainly because of late and inaccurate target marking, none of them fell on Hull as intended. This was probably due to poor estimation of wind velocity, flares were dropped too far to the south and almost all of the bombs intended for Hull, fell S of the Humber, in Lincolnshire and Norfolk. One of the aircraft participating, a Junkers Ju 88 was shot down near the Humber Lightship.

Italian Campaign

Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (MATAF) issues a directive for Operation STRANGLE, to interdict supply movements in Italy by destroying marshalling yards and attacking rail lines and ports in a concentrated campaign.

US Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack a road bridge W of Arezzo and port installations at San Stefano al Mare; B-25s hit a bridge approach in S Orvieto, marshalling yards at Avezzano and Orte and a bridge at Orte; tank repair shops near Tivoli are bombed by A-20s; and P-47s and P-40s strike at enemy concentrations, dumps and guns in the US Fifth Army main battle area and in the area N of the Anzio beachhead.

460th Bombardment Group (Heavy) with B-24s is declared operational making a total of 14 bomb groups operational in the Fifteenth Air Force.

Battle of the Atlantic

'U-1059' (type VIIF) is sunk, south-west of Cape Verde Island by depth charges dropped from American Avenger aircraft of Squadron VC-6, operating from USS 'Block Island'. Eight of the U-boat crew survive, but 47 are lost. Even as 'U-1059' was sinking, it succeeded in bringing down one of the attacking Avengers by gunfire.

The 'Seakay' (Master Alfred Kristian Jorgensen) in station #51 of convoy CU-17 was hit by one FAT torpedo from 'U-311' about 375 miles west of Fastnet, just when the convoy made an emergency turn to port. The torpedo struck the starboard bow at the after bulkhead of the forward dry cargo hold and set the kerosene, the deck cargo and the forward pump room on fire. The flames shot 25 feet above the deck and the crew immediately tried to extinguish the fire, but the ship sank rapidly and the ten officers, 46 crewmen, 28 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) and one passenger (US Army security officer) abandoned ship five minutes after the hit in four lifeboats and a raft. One boat overturned during the launch and caused the loss of one armed guard. The tanker capsized within 18 minutes, but remained afloat with the stern out of the water at a 45° angle and was scuttled by escort vessels with 45 shells and three depth charges.

'U-256' shot down an RAF 224 Sqn Liberator. The aircraft smashed into the sea 500m away from the boat and exploded.

Battle of the Mediterranean

234 US Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s, escorted by 100+ fighters, bomb the air depot at Klagenfurt, Austria; 150+ B-24s also hit the air depot at Graz, Austria and the marshalling yards at Knin and Metkovic, Yugoslavia; Luftwaffe fighters provide fierce opposition and along with AA fire, shoot down 17 bombers and 1 fighter; US aircraft claim 30 enemy fighters destroyed in combat.

Yugoslav partisans attack Trieste, on the border of Italy and Croatia.

Battle of the Indian Ocean

U.S. freighter John A. Poor is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-510 at 13°58'N, 70°30'E; 25 of the 43-man merchant complement perish with the ship, as do 9 of the 30-man Armed Guard.

United States

Photo: Launch of the U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Dayton (CL-105) at the New York Shipbuilding Company, Camden, New Jersey (USA), on 19 March 1944



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Boyd (DD-544) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 19 March 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 31, Design 10D



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 24 B-24s and 12 P-38s attack supply dumps in the Kalewa area in the Chin Hills region; 30+ B-25s, P-51s and A-36s damage Shweli and Mogaung bridges and hit positions and supply dumps in the Kamaing area; 37 P-40s blast the Myitkyina Airfield; numerous other aircraft fly miscellaneous sorties over the Sumprabum area; and 2 B-25s cause fires among oil installations at Chauk. 24th Photographic Squadron (Heavy), Tenth Air Force, based at Guskhara with F-7s, sends a detachment to operate from Hsinching, China.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 5 B-25s bomb and strafe boatyards at Vinh and hit lumber stores and sawmills at nearby Ben Thuy.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-24s and B-25s from Tarawa Atoll bomb, respectively, Ponape and Jaluit Atoll Atoll. 392d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Abemama to Kwajalein Atoll with B-24s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 31 fighter-bombers and 31 B-25s pound supply areas at Vunapope and at Ralum. On Bougainville, a few fighter-bombers hit a Japanese bivouac area on Matchin Bay. 20+ B-24s pound the airstrip at Namatanai, New Ireland.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): Almost 100 B-24s, B-25s and A-20s attack the Wewak area; P-38s hit the Hansa Bay area while other B-25s bomb the Madang-Alexishafen area. Soerabaja, Java naval base is bombed by B-24s.

ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly armed reconnaissance over Onnekotan , Kurile , before dawn releasing bombs through the overcast.

PACIFIC

TG 74.5 concludes its bombardment of Japanese positions in Wewak area. Destroyer Daly (DD-519) sinks auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 10 off Mushu, Wewak, 03°33'S, 143°38'E.

USAAF B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and P-38s (5th Air Force) destroy four-ship Japanese convoy 50 miles northwest of Wewak, sinking cargo ships Yakumo Maru and Taiei Maru and their escorts, auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 47 and Cha 49, 02°55'S, 143°40'E.

U.S. freighter Oriental is damaged by mine east of Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 15°31'36"S, 167°17'49"E, but makes port under own power; there are no casualties among the ship's complement, which includes a 28-man Armed Guard.

Day 1654 of World War II, March 21st 1944

Eastern Front

As Konev's forces press the attack against Hube's 1.PanzerArmee from the east. Zhukov turns his forces south ripping a massive hole between the 4. and 1. PanzerArmee and driving behind 1. PanzerArmee in an attempt to force them to withdraw into Rumania.

Photo: German Infantry fighting vehicle, destroyed Soviet tank, 21 March 1944



Air War over Europe

27 RAF Mosquitos flew to Cologne, 6 to Aachen and 3 to Oberhausen, 1 RCM sortie, 3 Serrate patrols, 18 aircraft minelaying off Channel and Biscay coasts, 4 OTU sorties. No losses.

US Eighth Air Force Mission 270: 56 of 65 B-24s hit V-weapon sites at Watten, France; 7 B-24s are damaged; escort is provided by48 P-47s without loss.

US Eighth Air Force Mission 271: 41 P-51s carry out a sweep of the Bordeaux, France area; they claim 12-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 9-0-4 on the ground; 7 P-51s are lost and 2 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 7 MIA.

US Eighth Air Force Mission 272: 6 of 6 B-17s drop 300 bundles of leaflets on The Hague, Amsterdam, Leeuwarden, Rotterdam and Utrecht, The Netherlands at 2102-2133 hours without loss.

Italian Campaign

In Italy, B-25s make an unsuccessful attempt to bomb the Poggibonsi bridge; weather cancels other B-25 missions and all A-20 operations; B-26s attack Arezzo and Bucine viaducts and Poggibonsi and Cecina railroad bridges; P-47s hit railroad bridges N of Rome while P-40s bomb targets in the Anzio area; and A-36s drop food in the Cassino area.

Photo: Dummy Bofors gun and crew in the Anzio bridgehead, 21 March 1944



Photo: Royal Engineers building a road in the Anzio bridgehead, 21 March 1944



German occupied France

Photo: Atlantic Wall, Sentries on the Beach, 21 March 1944



Photo: Atlantic Wall, Panzer VI (Tiger I), 21 March 1944



United Kingdom

Photo: Royal Navy Captain class frigate HMS Stockham, anchored at Greenock, 21 March 1944



Photo: AEC armoured car in the water during wading trials at Weymouth, 21 March 1944



United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy troop transport USS Wakefield (AP-21) off the Boston Naval Shipyard, Massachusetts (USA), in March 1944. Wakefield had been completely rebuilt at Boston after a large onboard fire in September 1942



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Lamons (DE-743) at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 21 March 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 11D



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Hammann (DE-131) off the New York Naval Shipyard (USA) on 21 March 1944



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 25 B-25s and P-51s destroy 1 bridge and damage another near Meza, pound buildings and targets of opportunity in the Mawlu area and hit a locomotive and several trucks in the Banmauk-Indaw area; 6 P-38s bomb Monywa oil dumps, causing several large fires; and 80+ fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s hit the town of Manywet, storage area at Myitkyina, buildings at Kamaing and Myitkyina, and warehouses, bypass, and bridge at Hopin. HQ 12th Bombardment Group (Medium) arrives at Tezgaon, India and 83d and 434th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) arrive at Kurmitola, India from Italy with B-25s; first mission is 27 Apr.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Tarawa Atoll hit Mille and Maloelap Atolls and Ponape. Tarawa-based B-25s also pound Maloelap.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 30+ fighter-bombers and 24 B-25s pound the Lakunai Airfield area; 22 B-24s bomb Vunakanau Airfield; and fighters carry out barge sweeps in the Rabaul area. On Bougainville , 14 P-39s hit Numa Numa; small strikes are flown against Monoitu and a bridge at Meive, and fighter-bombers support ground forces and bomb a bivouac along Empress Augusta Bay.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): 140+ B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, P-38s and P-40s attack numerous targets at Kairiru Island, Wewak-Tadji- Hansa Bay-Schouten areas; and P-39s and RAAF fighter-bombers blast Japanese positions in the Madang area. P-40s and A-20s on armed reconnaissance attack targets on New Britain and on Garove to the N.

PACIFIC

Submarine Bashaw (SS-241) damages Japanese salvage vessel Urakami Maru in the Palaus, 06°55'N, 136°29'E.

U.S. aircraft sink Japanese transport Atsu Maru, north of New Guinea.

Day 1656 of World War II, March 23rd 1944

Eastern Front

The 1st Ukrainian Front drives between Proskurov and Tarnapol threatening to split the 1. and 4.Panzerarmees, and surrounding the German Army headquarters at Tarnopol.

In the wake of their occupation if Hungary, the Germans today strengthened their position in Romania, which was occupied in October 1940. The dictator, Marshal Ion Antonescu, a longtime admirer of Hitler, was told that 500,000 German troops were being sent in to safeguard communications and protect the oil-wells for Germany. With the Red Army on his borders, Antonescu was less than enthusiastic. Hitler was unmoved. Four Panzer and several infantry divisions have already moved in. As Sovet troops advance into Bessarabia, the BBC today broadcast a warning to Romanians: abandon the Nazis or face retribution from the Allies.

Air War over Europe

143 RAF aircraft - 83 Halifaxes, 48 Stirlings, 12 Mosquitos - of Nos 3,4,6 and 8 Groups to Laon. 2 Halifaxes lost. The weather in the target area was clear but the Master Bomber ordered the attack to be stopped after 72 aircraft had bombed. The local report states that about half of the bombs hit the railway yards but the remainder were scattered in an area up to 3 km from the target. The bombing did cut the through lines but these were repaired the following day. 83 houses around the station were hit but only 7 civilians were killed and 9 injured because most of the people who lived near the station moved to other parts of Laon at night.

20 Lancasters of RAF No 5 Group, including No 617 Squadron, bombed an aero-engine factory near Lyons without loss.

220 US Ninth Air Force B-26s on a morning mission bomb Creil marshalling yard and airfields at Beaumont-le-Roger and Beauvais/Tille; in an afternoon raid, 146 bomb Haine-Saint-Pierre marshalling yard.

13 RAF Mosquitos to Dortmund and 2 to Oberhausen, 5 RCM sorties, 4 Serrate patrols, 2 Stirlings minelaying off Brittany, 6 OTU sorties. No losses.

US Eighth Air Force Mission 275: 524 B-17s and 244 B-24s are dispatched to attack airfields in W Germany and aircraft factories in the Brunswick area; due to unfavorable weather conditions, only 68 B-24s hit a primary target and 639 bombers hit secondary targets and targets of opportunity; the bombers claim 33-8-11 Luftwaffe aircraft; 22 B-17s, 6 B-24s and 4 P-51s are lost; details are: 205 B-17s hit Brunswick and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 16 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 221 damaged; casualties are 3 KIA, 6 WIA and 158 MIA. 47 B-17s hit the secondary target at Munster, 83 hit Hamm, 67 hit Ahlen and 19 hit Neubeckum; 6 B-17s are lost and 56 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 3 WIA and 61 MIA. 68 B-24s hit the primary target, Handorf Airfield; 36 hit Achmer City, 21 hit Achmer Airfield, 12 hit Munster, 52 hit Osnabruck and 14 hit other targets of opportunity; 6 B-24s are lost and 45 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 59 MIA. Escort is provided by 119 P-38s, 539 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 183 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; details are: P-47s claim 4-0-10 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged. P-51s claim 18-1-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 P-51s are lost and 1 damaged; 4 pilots are MIA. The fighters also claim 2-0-10 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground.

Italian Campaign

The unsuccessful Allied assault, spearheaded by the New Zealand Corps, is called off. British General Harold Alexander halts the Cassino operation due to weather and strong resistance.

In Italy, US Twelfth Air Force B-26s bomb Florence/Campo di Marte marshalling yard while B-25s hit the Pontassieve railway bridge and its approaches; P-40s attack guns in the Cassino-Esperia area, causing many fires and explosions; A-36s bomb the Cassino area with good results; the Germans have been forced into a narrow zone in the W edge of Cassino but still hold positions commanding the town and the Abbey.

United Kingdom

Photo: Winston Churchill fires an American .30 carbine during a visit to the US 2nd Armored Division on Salisbury Plain, 23 March 1944



Battle of the Atlantic

Naval Air Facility, Dunkeswell, England, is established.

Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In the Chin Hills region of Burma, 12 B-24s and 10 P-38s bomb Kalewa, and 9 B-25s attack Kaing and Shwebo; in the Katha area 12 P-51s bomb Naba Station while 12 others join 9 B-25s in attacking ammunition and gas dumps at Indaw; 4 P-40s bomb stores at Kamaing while 30+ other fighters fly armed reconnaissance over the Mogaung Valley in general; and 12 B-24s pound Moulmein jetty and attack Moulmein-Bangkok railroad targets, destroying 2 bridges, damaging several others, and scoring effective hits on 2 trains.
Air Commando Combat Mission N0.36 3:15 Flight Time Hailakandi, Assam to Indaw, Burma. Bombed Japanese supply dumps. Bad weather forced us to land at Broadway. Had to roll 55 gallon gasoline drums through dense elephant grass and refuel using a hand pump. Spent the night on the plane.
Note: As our missions were low level we had not been carrying any oxygen (none of my crew even had oxygen masks) and could not get over the weather front between Burma and Assam. It was a bit spooky as us fly boys were down and parked some 150 miles behind enemy lines and the night (noises )?. I think the Chindit grunts got a big kick out of our concerns.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, B-25s on a railroad sweep N from Vinh destroy 2 engines and several boxcars at Van Trai Station yards and attack 3 bridges between Vinh and Thanh Hoa. HQ 312th Fighter Wing moves from Kunming to Chengtu, China.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Kwajalein bomb Wake; B-25s flying out of Eniwetok Atoll hit Ponape; and Tarawa Atoll-based B-25s strike Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls, commencing a series of B-25 shuttle-missions between Tarawa or Makin and the USN's new base at Majuro which is used as the rearming base for the return strike.

Photo: Wake Island under attack by U.S. Army Air Forces Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers on 23 March 1944, as seen from one of the planes



SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 14 P-38s bomb targets of opportunity at Komaleai Point on Bougainville while 24 B-25s hit the Buka area of Buka after weather prevented scheduled attacks on Rabaul.On New Britain , fighters fly sweeps over Rabaul and general New Ireland area, and 12 P-40s bomb fuel dump at Keravia Bay; 15 B-24s out of 24 dispatched plow through the bad weather and bomb the Ratawul supply area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, nearly 100 B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and P-47s hit numerous targets in the Aitape, Wewak, Alexishafen, and Hansa Bay areas; and B-24s bomb Babo and during the night attack shipping in the Bismarck Sea. On New Britain , 29 P-40s attack Talasea and nearby bivouacs, including Gogosi.

SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Spence (DD-512) steaming in Iron Bottom Sound, off Guadalcanal, with her crew manning the rails, 23 March 1944. Savo Island is visible in the distance. The photo was taken from the light cruiser USS Montpelier (CL-57)



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570) underway in the vicinity of the Solomon Islands on 23 March 1944. Note crewmen standing at quarters on the destroyer's main deck and superstructure. The photo was taken from the light cruiser USS Montpelier (CL-57)



ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): A detachment of the 11th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group, begins operating from Amchitka with P-40s and P-38s; the squadron is based on Adak .

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 323, MARCH 23, 1944

Liberator bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force and Liberator search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Ponape and Kusaie on March 21 (West Longitude Date). Large fires were started among warehouses and barracks.

Ventura search planes and Hellcat fighters of Fleet Air Wing Two, Libera­tor and Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force, and Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed four enemy‑held atolls in the, Marshalls. An ammunition dump was observed to explode on one atoll and fires and explosions were seen on others.

Seventy tons of bombs were dropped in all these operations. All of our planes returned.

PACIFIC

Destroyers Franks (DD-554) and Haggard (DD-555) bombard Japanese installations on Mussau Islands in the St. Matthias group, Bismarck Archipelago.

Tank landing craft LCT-315 is sunk by explosion of undetermined origin, Eniwetok Atoll. The blast levels buildings and tents nearby.

Submarine Tunny (SS-282) sinks Japanese submarine I-42 six miles southwest of Angaur, Palaus, 06°40'N, 134°03'E.

Day 1658 of World War II, March 25th 1944

YouTube (Germany Invades Hungary)



Eastern Front

Zhukov continues his drive between 1st and 4th Panzer Armies taking Proskurov and throwing a Tank Army across the Dniepr River. Hube's 1.Panzerarmee is now facing Red Army forces to the west, north and east and his back is against the Dniepr River already breached by enemy forces. Manstein, after confronting Hitler in person and threatening to resign, received permission to move this army to the west, against Zhukov's forces.

Soviet air force bombs the city of Tartu, Estonia.

Air War over Europe

192 RAF aircraft - 92 Halifaxes, 47 Lancasters, 37 Stirlings, 16 Mosquitos - attacked railway yards at Aulnoye in France. No aircraft lost. 22 Lancasters of RAF No 5 Group to an aero-engine factory at Lyons, 10 Mosquitos to Berlin and 2 to Hamm, 7 Serrate patrols, 14 Stirlings minelaying in Brittany to the Frisians, 5 OTU sorties. No losses.

140+ US Ninth Air Force B-26s attack the Hirson, France marshalling yard.

Ignoring Churchill's request for aerial attacks on V-weapon bases in France, Eisenhower gives priority to the bombing of transport and communications centres.

Italian Campaign

After a week of bitter fighting around the bomb-shattered town of Cassino, the Allied offensive, aimed at dislodging the German from the monastery, has been called off. Last night the Gurkha, Essex and Rajput Regiments were evacuated from their position on Hangman's Hill. The losses sustained in this abortive attack have been severe. The 2nd New Zealand Division has lost 63 officers and over 800 men dead, wounded or missing, while the 4th Indian Division lost 1,000 men and 65 officers.

Weather severely curtails operations. In Italy, B-26s bomb the Leghorn dockyard and town of Rignano sull' Amo; P-40 fighter-bombers attack gun positions in the Anzio beachhead battle area; and fighters fly cover over the Anzio and Cassino areas.

Battle of the Atlantic

'U-976' (type VIIC) is sunk in the Bay of Biscay near St. Nazaire by gunfire from two British Mosquito aircraft from Sqdn. 248/L/I. 4 of the U-Boat crew are lost, but 49 survive.

United States

(Sixth Air Force): 29th and 31st Fighter Squadrons, XXVI Fighter Command, begin a movement from Casa Larga, Panama and Howard Field, Canal Zone respectively, to the US.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Robert E. Peary (DE-132) underway off New York City (USA) on 25 March 1944



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 B-24s hit Mogaung supply dumps, causing fires and much smoke; 12 P-40s bomb the Kamaing area; Japanese aircraft (5 medium bombers and 30 fighters) attack Allied airstrips at Chittagong and Cox's Bazaar, India and Anisakan, Burma; Tenth Air Force and RAF interceptors claim 7 aircraft shot down.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 6 B-24s from Chengkung bomb a motor pool and fuel dump at Mangshih, demolishing a sizeable portion of the target area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): Advanced HQ Seventh Air Force in Tarawa Atoll is disbanded and the Seventh's operations in the C Pacific forward area are placed under the VII Bomber Command at Kwajalein Atoll. B-25s from Eniwetok Atoll pound Ponape and claim 4 fighters shot down. B-25s from Abemama bomb Maloelap Atoll. HQ VII Bomber Command moves from Tarawa Atoll to Kwajalein Atoll.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain , 23 B-25s pound the Ratawul supply area while 34 fighter-bombers hit Keravia Bay fuel stores. On Bougainville , 20+ fighter-bombers hit a Miwo River bridge and nearby bivouac area and bomb a truck park W of the Omoi River.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 100+ B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s continue pounding of the Wewak area, destroying supply dumps along the coast from Wewak Point to the airfield, a fuel dump W of Boram, and targets along the Sauri road and in the Cape Wom area; other A-20s attack the coastal area around Bunabun Harbor; and B-24s bomb the Babo-Urarom area. On New Britain , P-40s attack a Japanese HQ at Cape Hoskins. On Manus, the last major battle takes place; isolated enemy positions remain to be eliminated. Moves in New Guinea with P-38s: 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, from Cape Gloucester to Nadzab; 432d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group from Dobodura to Nadzab.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

Japanese resistance nears the end on Manus and Los Negros.

Photo: The U.S. Navy motor torpedo boat tender USS Oyster Bay (AGP-6) tending PT boats in Seeadler Harbor, Admiralty Islands, on 25 March 1944



ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): 2 Shemya based B-24s bomb Kurabu Cape and the N coast of Onnekotan.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 325, MARCH 25, 1944

Seventh Army Air Force Liberators bombed Wake Island on March 23 West Longitude Date). Petroleum storage tanks and barracks were hit. Anti­aircraft fire was intense.

In the Marshalls, four enemy‑held atolls were bombed by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Liberator and Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force, and Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing.

In the Carolines, Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed Ponape on March 22 and 23 (West Longitude Dates). Ant Island was bombed on March 23.

Approximately 115 tons of bombs were dropped in these operations. All of our planes returned.

PACIFIC

Destroyer escort Manlove (DE-36) and submarine chaser PC-1135 sink Japanese submarine I-32, 50 miles south of Wotje, 08°30'N, 170°10'E.

Submarine Pollack (SS-180) attacks Japanese convoy, and sinks submarine chaser Ch 54, about 50 miles north of Muko Jima, Bonins, 28°44'N, 141°45'E.

Day 1660 of World War II, March 27th 1944

Eastern Front

The Red Army takes Kamenets-Podolski, in the Ukraine. General Hube finishes preparations for his attack west into Zhukov's flank as the noose around his trapped forces continues to tighten. It would take two weeks of heavy fighting, but Hube's pocket would move west, through Zhukov's rear area and regain its freedom of action. German troops rush to reinforce Rumania as Soviet forces approach the border.

Air War over Europe

Eighth Air Force Mission 282: Airfields in France are attacked by 701 bombers. 285 of 290 B-17s hit the following airfields: St Jean D/Angely (55), La Rochell/La Leu (59), Chartres (60), Tours/Parcay Meslay Air Depot (74), Usine Liotard Air Depot (35) and targets of opportunity (2); 1 B-17 is lost and 37 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 10 MIA. 248 of 256 B-17s hit the following airfields: Bordeaux/Merignac (123), Cayeux (118) and Chartres (7); 2 B-17s are lost and 51 damaged; casualties are 11 KIA, 2 WIA and 20 MIA. All 168 B-24s hit the following airfields: Pau/Ont Long (72), Biarritz (49) and Mont de Marsan (47); 3 B-24s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 18 damaged; casualties are 20 KIA, 1 WIA and 31 MIA. Escort is provided by 132 P-38s, 706 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 122 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; results are: 2 P-38s lost and 1 damaged beyond repair; 2 pilots are MIA. P-47s claim 6-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 P-47s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; 1 pilot is WIA and 5 are MIA. P-51s claim 2-0-3 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 30-1-11 on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost and 1 damaged; 3 pilots are MIA.

18 Ninth Air Force B-26s attack V-weapon sites in N France; 35 others abort due primarily to failure of blind-bombing equipment. The onset of bad weather makes this the last B-26 mission until 8 Apr.

4 RAF Mosquitos to Duisburg and 3 to Krefeld. No losses.

The Luftwaffe returned to England by night and the target were the harbour installations at Bristol while a coordinated attack was undertaken against night-fighter airfields in the area by Me 410s of I./KG 51. By this time only 297 bombers were available for operations over Britain and flares were to be dropped by Ju 188s of II./KG 2. In an attempt to jam British radar, 'Duppel' anti-radar foil was also dropped, first off-shore but later spreading almost over the entire area. 116 of 139 crews claimed to have attacked the target with 100 tonnes of bombs including HE and Phosphorus Oil IB - the first time these were used on Bristol. In actual fact, no bombs fell on Bristol and those that managed to get near the city were led astray by inaccurate marking. 13 bombers were lost and another 3 crashed in France. Incidents were reported over the whole of Southern England, from Hastings to North Somerset with the highest concentration around Highbridge and Weston.

Italian Campaign

Twelfth Air Force A-20s, A-36s, B-25s, P-40s and P-47s attack railway tracks, bridges, command posts and supply dumps.

The Destroyer 'Livermore' (DD-429) provides gunfire support at Anzio while the Motor torpedo boat PT-207 is damaged by naval gunfire off Anzio-Nettuno.

An Allied force of American and British motor torpedo boats and British motor gunboats (Commander Allen, RN) destroys six German ferry barges off Vada Rocks, Corsica. U.S. motor torpedo boats PT-208, PT-214 and PT-218 participate in the battle.

Photo: Front cover of the March 27, 1944, issue of Life magazine, featuring a photograph captioned "Landing Craft, Infantry" (U.S.S. LCI 220)





Vichy France

The Vichy French government authorises Frenchmen to enroll in the SS.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Gendreau (DE-639) underway in San Francisco Bay (USA) on 27 March 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 11D



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 B-24s hit supply dumps at Kamaing, while about 50 fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s hit troops in in the Myitkinya area and support ground forces near Kamaing; in the Katha area 12 B-25s and 16 P-38s and P-51s hit a bridge and railroad facilities near Meza and a railroad near Kawlin.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-25s pound the Viet Tri, French Indochina area, damaging 2 factories, a bridge and several railroad cars. In China 60+ P-40s, P-38s, and P-51s attack troops and buildings at Sienning and Kwanyinchow, hit a bridge, warehouse, and general area at Anyi, damage bridges at Kienchang and Puchi and pound Nanchang Airfield and surrounding areas.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-25s and B-24s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap, Mille and Wotje Atolls; B-25s from Eniwetok Atoll bomb Jaluit Atoll and strafe and cannonade Ponape ; and a single B-24 from Tarawa Atoll bombs Jabor in Jaluit Atoll. 9th Troop Carrier Squadron, Seventh Air Force, moves from Hickam Field to Abemama with C-47s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 23 B-25s hit Vunapope with incendiaries; and 34 fighter-bombers follow in rapid succession with another incendiary strike, leaving the entire vicinity in flames. 9 P-40s hit fuel dump at the mouth of Tekessi River on Bougainville.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): 200+ B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, P-47s, P-40s and P-39s attack storage areas, shipping, bridges, fuel dumps, enemy troop concentrations and other targets in areas around Wewak, Hansa Bay, Ulipan Harbor, and Madang. Other aircraft carry out sweeps and armed reconnaissance over New Britain and the Bismarck Sea. 341st Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, moves from Finschhafen to Saidor with P-47s.

MARIANA AND PALAU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

Photo: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) at sea while participating in strikes on the Palau Islands, 27 March 1944. She is painted in camouflage Measure 33, Design 6A



AUSTRALIA

Photo: General McArthur and Admiral Nimitz, March 27 1944



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 327, MARCH 27, 1944

Ponape Island was bombed on March 25 (West Longitude Date) by Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force accompanied by Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing. The attacking planes were inter­cepted by 15 Zeros. Four Zeros were shot down and one was probably shot down. Corsair fighters strafed the runways. Intense antiaircraft fire was encountered. Ujelang Atoll was also strafed by these planes.

On the same day Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force, and Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed four enemy‑held atolls in the Marshalls. Fires were started and heavy explosions observed.

All of our planes returned from all of these operations.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 328, MARCH 27, 1944

Mitchell medium bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force, accompanied by Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, bombed Ponape on March 26 (West Longitude Date). Nine of 15 intercepting Zeros were shot down by our fighters, and three were probably shot down. The town of Ponape and military installations were bombed and strafed. Antiaircraft fire was intense.

Coronado search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two strafed a small vessel near Ujelang, and bombed Kusaie Island and Pingelap Atoll.

On the same day, Seventh Army Air Force Mitchell bombers, Fleet Air Wing Two Ventura search planes and Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing Dauntless bombers and Corsair fighters raided three enemy positions in the Marshall Islands.

PACIFIC

Destroyer Hoel (DD-533) encounters and sinks outrigger canoe bound from Mussau, St. Matthias Group, Bismarck Archipelago, to Tingwon Island, part of the effort to evacuate the Mussau garrison by any means available.

Motor torpedo boats PT-121 and PT-353 are mistakenly sunk by friendly bomber, Bismarck Archipelago, 05°17'S, 151°01'E.

Submarine Hake (SS-256) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Yamamizu Maru about 75 miles south of Borneo, 03°53'S, 109°42'E.

Submarine Rasher (SS-269), in attack on Japanese convoy in the Java Sea, sinks army cargo ship Nichinan Maru about 50 miles north of Bali, 07°27'S, 115°55'E.

RAAF Catalinas sink Japanese merchant cargo vessel Shinsei Maru in Banda Sea north of Dowalger Island, 07°44'S, 130°02'E.

Day 1662 of World War II, March 29th 1944

Eastern Front

Photo: A 50 mm Pak 38 anti-tank gun emplacement on the Eastern Front. Visible soldiers of the 14th Grenadier Division of the Waffen SS "Galizien", March 1944



Air War over Europe

76 Halifaxes and 8 Mosquitos of RAF Nos 4, 6 and 8 Groups attacked the railway yards at Vaires, near Paris, in bright moonlight. The bombing was very accurate and 2 ammunition trains which were present blew up. 1 Halifax lost. 19 Lancasters of RAF No 5 Group to the aero-engine factory at Lyons, which was bombed accurately. Mosquitos: 32 to Kiel, where 47 people were killed and 134 were injured, 11 to Krefeld, 5 to Aachen and 4 to Cologne. No losses.

77 US Eighth Air Force B-24s are dispatched to V-weapon sites at Watten, France; only 30 bomb because of PFF failures; 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 6 damaged; casualties are 18 KIA and 1 WIA. Escort is provided by 37 P-47s; no claims or losses.

US Eighth Air Force Mission 284: 236 B-17s are dispatched to Germany; 193 hit the secondary target (Brunswick), 20 hit Unterluss, 18 hit Stedorf and 2 hit other targets of opportunity; the B-17s claim 8-3-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 9 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 66 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 5 WIA and 90 MIA. Escort is provided by 50 P-38s, 242 P-47s and 136 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the fighters claim 44-4-13 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 13-7-14 on the ground; results are: 2 P-38s lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 2 pilots are KIA and 2 MIA. 1 P-47 lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 8 damaged; 2 pilots are WIA. 9 P-51 lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 3 damaged; 1 pilot is WIA and 8MIA.

Italian Campaign

About 400 US Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s (largest total to date) hit 3 targets in Italy; the B-17s bomb the ball bearing factory, marshalling yard and industrial area at Turin; the B-24s hit Bolzano and Milan marshalling yards; P-47s and P-38s fly escort; the bombers and fighters claim 13 aircraft destroyed; 6 US aircraft are lost.

US Twelfth Air Force B-25s attack Viterbo Airfield, causing considerable damage to the target; B-26s hit Leghorn and many small craft nearby. French B-26s attached to the Twelfth Air Force bomb Portoferraio on Elba; P-40s attack supply dumps and a bivouac area SE of Rome, a tank repair shop E of Rome and guns and supply dumps E of Velletri; P-47s cut lines at a railway overpass W of Rome while A-36s bomb harbors at San Stefano al Mare and Civitavecchia and hit nearby targets of opportunity; Spitfires, P-40s, and P-47s patrol the Anzio battle area.

Destroyers 'Ericsson' (DD-440) and 'Kearny' (DD-432), along with submarine chasers PC-626, PC-556, and PC-558, and four British destroyers--HMS 'Laforey', HMS 'Tumult', HMS 'Hambledon', and HMS 'Blencathra'--begin submarine hunt 30 miles northeast of Palermo, Sicily. Their efforts culminate in the sinking of German submarine 'U-223'.

Battle of the Atlantic

'U-961' (type VIIC) is sunk east of Iceland, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS 'Starling'. 49 dead (all hands lost).

Battle of the Mediterranean

Destroyer 'John D. Ford' (DD-228 ) is damaged when accidentally rammed by British armed trawler HMS 'Kingston Agate' while departing Gibraltar, British Crown Colony.

Battle of the Indian Ocean

U.S. freighter Richard Hovey is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-26 at 16°40'N, 64°30'E, and abandoned. I-26 then surfaces and after shelling the ship and setting her afire (Richard Hovey sinks subsequently), fires upon the lifeboats and rafts, killing one Armed Guard sailor. The Japanese submarine then rams and sinks one of the boats before taking four POWs and clearing the area.

Iraq

Photo: Two crew members of a Sherman tank of the Scinde Horse, part of the Indian 31st Armoured Division in Iraq, March 1944




Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20+ P-51s and B-25s over the Katha area hit the railroad and warehouse at Indaw in support of the ground forces nearby; 12 P-38s join numerous RAF aircraft in strikes on airfields, railroads, riverboats, and a variety of targets in the Mandalay area; 12 B-24s pound the Victoria Lake region near Rangoon; 80+ fighter-bombers and a few B-25s blast targets throughout the Mogaung Valley, including the Waingmaw area, Mogaung, Nanyaseik, guns NE of Kamaing, and numerous scattered fortifications, supply areas, troop concentrations and pillboxes; 80+ other fighters maintain patrol of the Sumprabum area. HQ 1st Air Commando Group is activated at Hailakandi, India; the group consists of a HQ plus the following sections: bomber with B-25s, fighter with P-51s, light-plane with L-1 and L-5s, transport with C-47s, glider with CG-4As and TG-5s and light-cargo with UC-64's.
IJA 31st Division cuts the road between Impal and Kohima at Maran.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 12 P-40s and 3 P-51s attack the railroad station area at Nanchang, causing much damage to buildings and yards; the fighter-bombers also strafe the airfield and attack a nearby bridge.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Kwajalein Atoll hit Jaluit and Rongelap Atolls; B-25s from Eniwetok Atoll strike Ponape while others from Tarawa Atoll bomb Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls. Lost on a mission against Truk is B-24J 42-73466.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): In the Rabaul area, 19 fighter-bombers hit targets of opportunity along the Miwo River and at Mawareka and Kimaku; 8 others abort because of bad weather; fighters sweeping the vicinity of Rabaul strafe shipping in Keravia Bay and knock out a gun position at Cape Tawui; 24 B-25s and 11 P-40s get through the bad weather and pound supply areas at Vunapope and Ratawul, respectively. On Bougainville, a few P-38s hit Numa Numa while other fighter-bombers again support ground forces at the mouth of the Tekessi River. B-24s of the 307th Bombardment Group carry out the first daylight raid on Truk Atoll, bombing the airfield on Eten; the mission is staged from Munda, through Torokina, Bougainville for arming and Nissan, Solomon for refueling before the strike; the unescorted B-24s claim 31 interceptors destroyed, along with almost 50 aircraft on the ground; 2 B-24s are lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): Brigadier General Paul H Prentiss is announced as Commanding General V Air Force Services Command and Brigadier General Warren R Carter as Commanding General 64th Troop Carrier Wing. B-24s bomb Hollandia; B-25s and A-20s pound the Wewak area, hitting targets at Cape Wom and Dagua and attacking shipping throughout the day; Lost is B-25D 41-30040. More A-20s pound the Bogia-Bunabun area and P-39s hit an AA position at Erima; and P-47s and P-40s on a fighter sweep and armed reconnaissance strafe coastal targets of opportunity in NE New Guinea and New Britain.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 329, MARCH 29, 1944

Four enemy positions in the Marshalls were bombed and strafed on March 27 (West Longitude Date) by Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force, Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two and Navy Hellcat fighters. Meager antiaircraft fire was encountered. None of our planes was shot down.

On the same day a Coronado search plane of Fleet Air Wing Two dropped bombs on Pakin Island.

PACIFIC

Motor gunboat PGM-8 is damaged when she runs aground off Kundu Kundu Island.

Submarine Haddo (SS-255) damages Japanese army cargo ship Nichian Maru in South China Sea, 17°42'N, 109°57'E.

Submarine Tunny (SS-282) damages Japanese battleship Musashi off Palau, 07°30'N, 134°30'E.