World War II in real time

Day 1665 of World War II, April 1st 1944

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Eastern Front

The 40,000 strong German Force near Skala is caught between the 1st and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts. Elements of Zhukov's 1st Ukrainian Front reaches the Jabolnica Pass in the Carpathian Mountains. However, he is forced to redirect much of his force north of the Dniepr to contend with the unexpected movement of Hube's 1.PanzerArmee across his route of advance.

Photo: Soldiers of the Byelorussian Front during a short respite after fighting, 1 April 1944



Air War over Europe

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

35 RAF Mosquitos bombed Hannover through thin cloud. No aircraft lost.

7 RAF Mosquitos to Aachen, 6 to Krefeld and 2 to La Glacerie flying-bomb site, 1 RCM sortie, 4 Serrate patrols, 34 Halifaxes minelaying off the Dutch coast, 9 aircraft on Resistance operations. No aircraft lost.

26 USAAF bombers kill 50 Swiss civilians as they mistakenly drop 400 bombs on Schaffhausen, Switzerland, mistaking it for German territory.

Italian Campaign

US Twelfth Air Force B-25s attack Leghorn harbor, bridges at Orvieto, and railway track south of Poggibonsi; B-26 Marauders hit Arno River railroad bridges at Signa, Riva-Trigoso, and Valdarno, while A-20s hit ammunition dumps; P-40s hit targets in the vicinity of Gaeta, Formia tunnel, several fuel dumps, bridges, and guns in the battle areas; P-47s bomb Poggibonsi bridge and strafe a train; and fighters patrol the Anzio battle area without incident.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Convoy UGS 36 is attacked by German torpedo bombers off Algiers; tank landing ship LST-526 is damaged when low- flying enemy plane knocks off radio antenna. US freighter 'Jared Ingersoll' is torpedoed; destroyer escort 'Mills' (DE-383) and British tug 'Mindful' rescue the crew (including the 29-man Armed Guard) from the sinking ship. After one attempt to quell the fires consuming the ship fails, 'Mills' places a firefighting party on board which succeeds in its attempt; the destroyer escort then assists in towing 'Jared Ingersoll' out of danger. Beached off Algiers, the freighter is subsequently returned to service.

United Kingdom

Photo: Photograph of Modified Black Swan-class sloop HMS Hind, April 1, 1944



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

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

CHINA

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

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

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

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 24 B-25s bomb supply areas at Vunapope and Ratawul; 28 P-39s and P-40s hit the Toboi wharf area at Simpson Harbor; 3 P-40s follow with a strike on oil and coal storage in same general area; fighters maintain sweeps over Rabaul and New Ireland throughout the day and B-25s harass Rabaul during the night of 1/2 Apr. On Bougainville, 12 P-38s bomb the mission at Monoitu and 12 P-40s hit Numa Numa supply dumps. The detachment of the 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), operating from Munda, with F-5s returns to base on Guadalcanal. Lost is SB-24D "Sergeant Stripes... Forever!" Serial Number 42-63805.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

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

JAPANESE OCCUPIED NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

B-24s bomb Boela on Ceram Island in Moluccas Islands, and B-25s attack Penfoei on Timor Island in the Lesser Sunda Islands.

GILBERT AND MARSHALL ISLAND CAMPAIGN

Caroline Islands - Aircraft of Task Force 58 commence an all-out attack against Woleai Atoll and a minor raid on Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands. This concludes three days of attacks against targets in the western Carolines including the Palau Islands. During these three days, the USN estimates that the Japanese lost 150 aircraft in the air and on the ground; and two destroyers, four escort ships and several auxiliary and merchant vessels. Aerial mines are also dropped in the main fleet anchorage in the Palau Islands which will block it for six weeks. US losses are 58 aircraft and 18 airmen. During the 3 days of attacks, 130,000 tons of shipping is sunk.

Photo: Strike photograph of Woleai Island (Falalap) taken by U.S. Navy Grumman TBF-1 Avenger aircraft from Torpedo Squadron VT-10, 1 Apri 1944. VT-10 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 10 (CVG-10) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6)



Photo: The U.S. Navy submarine USS Harder (SS-257) running on the surface en route to rescue airmen shot down during strikes against Woleai atoll, circa 1 April 1944



NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Grayson (DD-435) with a sister ship in Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands, on 1 April 1944



HAWAII

Photo: The U.S. Navy submarine tender USS Bushnell (AS-15) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (USA), circa in April 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 5AS



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 332, APRIL 1, 1944

Liberator bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed Dublon, Moen and Eten Islands in the Truk Atoll at night on March 30 (West Longitude Date). Hits were made on the airstrip at Moen and in barracks areas. Several delayed explosions were observed. Two enemy planes intercepted our bomb­ers, but all returned safely.

Three enemy positions in the Marshall Islands were bombed and strafed by Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force and Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing. A Daunt­less bomber was shot down by antiaircraft fire near one objective and its crew rescued by a destroyer.

PACIFIC

Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese cargo ship Minami Maru at Kaito Daito Jima, 25°57'N, 131°19'E.

Japanese minelayer Nasami sinks as the result of damage suffered off Rabaul, New Britain, on 30 March.

Photo: The U.S. Navy fleet oiler USS Severn (AO-61) and the escort carrier USS Rudyerd Bay (CVE-81) steaming together in April 1944, before Rudyerd Bay received her dazzle pattern camouflage

Day 1667 of World War II, April 3rd 1944

Air War over Europe

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

Italian Campaign

Mount Vesuvius erupts sending clouds of dust and rock falling onto Allied merchant ships in the Bay of Naples. Tom Stainton and his ship are forced to move out to sea to avoid damage.

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

450+ US Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s bomb targets in Hungary and Yugoslavia; the B-17s hit an aircraft factory in Budapest, Hungary and a marshalling yard at Brod, Yugoslavia; the B-24s hit a marshalling yard at Budapest; 137 fighters escort the B-17s (B-24s miss the rendezvous) to Budapest; the bombers and escorting fighters claim 24 enemy aircraft shot down. Seven Heja II fighters of the Hungarian Air Force stationed on a field near Budapest manage to get airborne, and thereby only proved their inadequacy against modern aircraft. Still underpowered and lacking an oxygen supply, they had difficulty operating above 15,000 feet, which was still several thousand feet below the altitude preferred by the bomber formations.

Time Magazine: 1944 Chapin map of the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy during World War II for TIME Magazine, 3 April 1944



Arctic naval operations

Germany's one surviving battleship, the 'Tirpitz', has been disabled again by a daring navy attack. Repairs on the 'Tirpitz' following the midget submarine attack last September had just been completed. The Royal Navy learnt from Ultra codebreaking that she was ready to sail and sent two carriers to Altenfjord. HMS 'Victorious' and HMS 'Furious' sailed as near as they dared and launched their 41 Fairey Barracuda bombers at 4.15 this morning. They scored 14 hits on the 'Tirpitz', causing 438 German casualties. The bombs did not pierce the ship's heavy armour, but the 'Tirpitz' will not sail again for three months.

Germany

The German Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop orders all deliveries of food supplies to Finland to cease. This is in retaliation to the Finnish peace-probes, which the Germans have discovered, apparently from their spies in the Swedish airport which the Finnish envoys used in their trip. This embargo puts Finland in a very hard position; because of the wartime, the majority of Finnish supplies come from Germany or countries allied to it.

Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

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

CHINA

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

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

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

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

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

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

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

NEW HEBRIDES

Photo: Allied shipping at the naval base dock, and in the channel at Espiritu Santu, New Hebrides, 3 April 1944. Aore and Malo islands are in the background. Numerous Liberty ships are in view



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 337, APRIL 3, 1944

Seventh Army Air Force Liberators bombed Dublon in the Truk Atoll on April 1 (West Longitude Date). Three fighters which attempted interception and light antiaircraft fire caused no damage to our planes.

On the same day Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force escorted by Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed Ponape, start­ing fires among barracks in the area used for the servicing of planes.

In the Marshalls four enemy‑held atolls were bombed and strafed by Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force, Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, and Navy Hellcat fighters. Hits were made on runways and in storage areas.

All of our planes returned from all of these operations.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 338, APRIL 3, 1944

Eleven atolls in the Marshall Islands have been reconnoitered by our forces and U. S. sovereignty established thereon subsequent to the occupation of Kwajalein, Eniwetok and Majuro Atolls.

These are Wotho, Ujae, Lae, Lib, Namu, Ailinglapalap, Namorik, Ebon, Kill, Arno and Bikini.

Most of these atolls were taken without resistance. Light opposition en­countered on others was quickly overcome. We took some prisoners.

PACIFIC

TU 57.10.9, composed of destroyer escort Sanders (DE-40), tank landing ship LST-127 and infantry landing craft LCI-346 and LCI-449 occupies Mejit Island, Marshalls. The occupation is unopposed.

Transport Kenmore (AP-162) is damaged by grounding, Nawiliwili, T.H.

Submarine Pollack (SS-180), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks army cargo ship Tosei Maru about 325 miles south of Yokohama, Japan, 30°14'N, 139°44'E.

Day 1669 of World War II, April 5th 1944

Eastern Front

Malinovski's Advancing elements of the 3rd Ukrainian Front cut the last rail line to Odessa near the town of Kishinev as the collapse of the southern German forces continues. Soviet troops enter Tarnopol.

The US Fifteenth Air Force dispatches 95 B-17s and 135 B-24s against marshalling yards at Ploesti. Five B-24s are lost. The US Fifteenth Air Force also dispatches B-17s and B-24s to attack marshalling yards in Yugoslavia. The B-17s bomb a marshalling yard at Nis while the B-24s hit a marshalling yard at Leskovac.

Air War over Europe

The US Eighth Air Force flies Mission 288: 21 B-24s dispatched hit V-weapon sites at St Pol/Siracourt without loss; heavy clouds and the failure of blind-bombing equipment cause other B-24s to return to base without bombing. 50 P-47s escort the B-24s without loss.

The US Eighth Air Force flies Mission 289: 96 P-38s, 236 P-47 Thunderbolts and 124 P-51 Mustangs are dispatched to attack airfields in Germany; heavy cloud hinders most groups: 1 P-38s is lost; P-47s claim 2-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft, 1 P-47 is lost; P-51s claim 96-4-120 aircraft, 7 P-51s are lost.

144 RAF Lancasters and 1 Mosquito of No 5 Group succesfully attacked the Gnome et Rhône aero-works at Toulouse, France, effecting the complete destruction of the factory. 1 Lancaster exploded in the air over the target. 24 Stirlings minelaying off Biscay ports, 37 aircraft on Resistance operations. No losses.

Italian Campaign

Weather precludes all light and medium bomber action by the US Twelfth Air Force; P-40s hit the Colleferro railway station, several fuel dumps, and gun positions in the US Fifth Army battle areas; A-36 Apaches bomb Formia, and railway stations northwest of Rome and in the Frosinone area.

In response to Allied interdiction during Operation 'Strangle', the Germans ordered all supply columns after 5 April to move only at night, meaning convoys could no longer make round trips in one day.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Leutze (DD-481) underway in Eliott Bay, Washington (USA), 5 April 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 31, Design 16D



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

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

CHINA

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

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

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

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 12 B-25s bomb Kara (Bougainville). Bad weather cancels all missions against targets in the Bismarck Archipelago.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 270+ B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and P-38s hit Hollandia town and dock area and villages and stores around Humboldt Bay. Lost is A-20G 43-9469. P-47s and P-40s blast numerous targets in the Hansa Bay-Bogia and Wewak areas; and B-24s hit Kaimana and Efman Island. Units moving from Dobodura to Saidor: 82d Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 71st Reconnaissance Group, with P-39s; and 311th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group, with P-47s.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

Fifth Air Force B-25s bomb Koepang on Timor Island.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 340, APRIL 5, 1944

Ponape was bombed from low level by Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force on April 3 (West Longitude Date). Moderate antiaircraft fire damaged three of our planes.

Sixty tons of bombs were dropped on four enemy positions in the Marshalls by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchell bombers, Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing Dauntless bombers and Corsair fighters, and Navy Hellcat fighters. Runways were hit, fires started, and at one objective hits were made among a group of motorized vehicles. Antiaircraft fire ranged from moderate to meager.

Two Navy search Liberators of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed and sank a small cargo vessel docked at Wake Island.

All of our planes returned from these operations.

PACIFIC

Harbor tug YT-247 is swamped, founders and sinks while in tow of tug Sunnadin (ATO-28) en route from Pearl Harbor to Palmyra, 425 miles south by west of Oahu, 14°14'N, 158°59'W.

PB4Y (VB 109) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 46 off Moen island, Truk, 07°26'N, 151°52'E.

TBMs and FM-2s (VC 66) damage Japanese submarine I-45, 650 miles northeast of Majuro, 14°27'N, 176°37'E.

Japanese army cargo ship Tenryu Maru is sunk by aircraft at Rabaul.

Day 1671 of World War II, April 7th 1944

Eastern Front

Generalmajor Ferdinand Schorner makes an inspection of the defenses of Fortress Crimea. He states that everything is sufficient.

Heavy fighting continues at Razdelnaya as the trapped German and Rumanian forces continue to hold out. Further to the north, the German garrison trapped in Tarnopol makes an unsuccessful attempt at withdrawal. Elements of the II SS Panzer Korps (9th and 10th SS Panzer Divisions) begin counterattacks toward the besieged city.

Italian Campaign

400+ US Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack marshalling yards; the B-17s bomb Treviso, the B-24s hit Mestre and Bologna; almost 100 P-38s provide escort; P-47s fly a sweep over the Gorizia-Udine area; the bombers and fighters claim almost 20 aircraft shot down. US Twelfth Air Force B-25s and B-26 Marauders attack bridges, tracks and a viaduct at Attigliano, Ficulle, Certaldo, Pontassieve and Incisa in Valdarno, and hit the Prato marshalling yard; A-20 Havocs hit an ammunition dump; Ausonia, Pignataro Interamna, San Apollinare and Terracina are bombed by P-40s along with a dump and several gun positions southeast of Rome; P-47 Thunderbolts also hit bridges and trucks in this same area and attack the Empoli marshalling yard while A-36 Apaches hit gun emplacements, train and tracks in the Orvieto area and vicinity and approaches to the Montalto di Castro bridge.

The remaining units of JG 2, after a day of heavy fighting, packed up their equipment and headed for Marseille, France, their Med operation days over. In action for 5 weeks and with about 18 aircraft at any given time, I./JG 2's pilots claimed 52 enemy machines. On this performance, 1./JG 2 would seem to be the most effective part of the Gruppe, scoring high and incurring no casualties.

Battle of the Atlantic

Destroyer USS 'Champlin' (DD-601) is damaged when she intentionally rams German submarine 'U-856', 380 miles (612 km) southeast of Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, Canada. 'Champlin' and destroyer escort USS 'Huse' (DE-145) had teamed to sink 'U-856'.

Germany

In a desperate effort to rescue Berlin from the chaos created by Allied bombing, Hitler has suspended civil law and administration and installed Göbbels as Stadtspresident with unlimited powers. The city's military commanders, and the chiefs of police, fire brigades, medical, ambulance and rescue services, as well as food and relief organizations will be answerable to him alone. Shop assistants, office workers and commercial travellers are being drafted into labour units to clear bomb damage. Under the relentless air attacks, Berlin's fire-fighting services have broken down, relief organizations have failed to provide enough food and clothing for bombing victims, and wide-spread looting has been reported. There have been repeated outbreaks of disorder, with SS troops forced to intervene. The destruction of police records has allowed what the authorities call "undesirable characters" to evade arrest and roam the city without identity papers.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Lake (DE-301) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 7 April 1944. she is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 22D



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Lake (DE-301) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 7 April 1944. she is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 22D



Pacific War

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

CHINA

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

INDIA

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

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

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

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

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

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

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

ALASKA

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

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 42, APRIL 7, 1944

Supplementing Pacific Ocean Areas communiqué Number 41, the following information is now available concerning operations of Pacific Fleet forces under the tactical command of Admiral R. A. Spruance, U. S. Navy, against enemy installations and forces in the Western Carolines. The Palau Islands were attacked on March 29‑30 (West Longitude Date); Yap and Ulithi Islands on March 30 and Woleai Island on March 31 by planes from carrier task forces commanded by Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, U. S. Navy. Damage to enemy surface ships at Palau included:

Sunk: Two destroyers, one unidentified combat ship, two large cargo vessels, six medium cargo vessels, eight small cargo vessels, three large oilers, one medium oiler, one small oiler, one patrol vessel.

Damaged: One destroyer.

Beached and burning: One large repair ship, one medium oiler, two small oilers, one small cargo vessel.

Burning: Two small cargo vessels.

Beached and damaged: One large cargo vessel, two medium cargo vessels, five small cargo vessels.

Beached: One small cargo vessel.

Ground installations destroyed at Palau: Forty buildings at Arakabe­san ; at seaplane base four hangars and small buildings; at Malakal, more than twenty warehouses destroyed and extensive damage to docks and numer­ous large fires; at Koror, warehouses, dumps and hangars destroyed; at Angaur, phosphate plant damaged including docks and storage buildings; at Babelthuap, ore dock damaged.

Enemy aircraft casualties at Palau: Destroyed airborne, 93; destroyed ground or water, 39. Probably destroyed or damaged airborne, 29; probably destroyed or damaged on ground or water, 20.

At Ulithi several small vessels were sunk, the dock, radio station and other buildings damaged.

At Yap airdrome facilities and buildings in the settlement were damaged.

At Woleai seven planes were destroyed and five probably destroyed and extensive ground installations were damaged on Mariaon and Woleai Islands, including stores, dumps, buildings, and small craft.

During the night preceding and following our attacks on Palau our car­rier aircraft shot down 17 attacking enemy planes and four were shot down by ships' antiaircraft batteries. Three small enemy ships were also sunk at sea by ships' gunfire.

During the night of March 28 (West Longitude Date) one of our sub­marines torpedoed an enemy battleship of unidentified class departing Palau under escort. Although she suffered considerable damage she was able to escape at moderate speed under protection of her destroyer escort.

Our combat losses in these operations were 25 planes and 18 aircraft per­sonnel. There was no damage to our surface ships.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 342, APRIL 7, 1944

Forty‑four tons of bombs were dropped on Wake Island by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force on the night of April 5‑6 (West Longitude Date). Large explosions were observed in storage areas and in an area devoted to repair and maintenance of aircraft.

On the same day Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed Ponape Island starting a large fire on one of the airfields.

Four enemy positions in the Marshall Islands were bombed and strafed by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force, and Navy Hellcat fighters. Runways were hit and gun positions strafed. All of our planes returned from all of these operations.

PACIFIC

Destroyer Saufley (DD-465) sinks Japanese submarine I-2, 50 miles west-northwest of New Hanover, 02°17'S, 149°14'E.

Submarine Pampanito (SS-383) is damaged by depth charges off the Marianas, 12°46'N, 143°49'E, but remains on patrol.

Submarine Scamp (SS-277) is damaged by bomb from Japanese floatplane off Mindanao, 05°02'N, 126°07'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.

Day 1673 of World War II, April 9th 1944

Eastern Front

Red Army forces continue to advance in southwestern Ukraine and Rumania as 3rd Ukrainian Front forces reach the Odessa and 4th Ukrainian Front forces break the German lines at Kerch and storm into the Crimean peninsula.

Air War over Europe

The US Eighth Air Force flies Mission 293: 542 bombers and 719 fighters are dispatched to aircraft factories and airfields in Germany and Poland; the bombers claim 45-8-14 Luftwaffe aircraft; 32 bombers and 10 fighters are lost. 41 B-17s bomb the aviation industry at Rahmel, Poland and 96 attack Marienburg, Germany; 3 others hit targets of opportunity; 6 B-17s are lost. 33 B-17s bomb the Focke-Wulf plant at Poznan, Poland and 85 bomb the Heinkel plant at Warnemunde, Germany; 18 others hit Marienehe Airfield; 12 B-17s are lost. 106 B-24s bomb an assembly plant at Tutow, Germany; 14 hit Parchim, Germany and 6 hit targets of opportunity; 14 B-24s are lost. Escort is provided by 119 P-38s, 387 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 213 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the fighters claim 20-1-6 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 19-0-8 on the ground; no fighter support is available over the targets because of bad weather or distance: 2 P-38s, 4 P-47s and 4 P-51s are lost.

During US Eighth Air Force Mission 294, 5 B-17s drop 2.752 million leaflets on Rouen, Paris, Amiens and Caen, France at 2224-2338 hours without loss. During the night, 23 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations delivering supplies to the Resistance.

239 RAF aircraft - 166 Halifaxes, 40 Lancasters, 22 Stirlings, 11 Mosquitos of Nos 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups - to railway yards at Lille. 1 Lancaster lost. 225 aircraft - 166 Lancasters, 49 Halifaxes, 10 Mosquitos to another railway target, this time at Villeneuve St Georges near Paris. No aircraft lost. 36 Mosquitos to Mannheim and 8 to four other targets, 16 Serrate patrols, 103 Lancasters of Nos 1 and No 5 Groups minelaying off Danzig, Gdynia and Pillau in the Baltic, 61 aircraft on Resistance operations, 9 OTU sorties. 9 Lancasters from the minelaying force and 1 Serrate Mosquito were lost. Oblt. Berger from 2./NJG 3 claimed 3 bombers and Hptm. Werner Husemann of Stab I./NJG 3 claimed 2 bombers.

Italian Campaign

US Twelfth Air Force P-40 and A-36 Apache fighter-bombers bomb the railroad line between Rome and Bracciano, hitting tracks, a station, and a warehouse; attack Littoria and Terracina, repair shops northwest of Valmontone and several gun positions; and bomb scattered motor transport during armed reconnaissance of the Avezzano-Sora-Pontecorvo-Ceprano areas.

Battle of the Atlantic

Rockets and machine gun fire from four TBM Avengers and FM-2 Wildcats of Composite Squadron 58 (VC-58) in the escort aircraft carrier USS 'Guadalcanal' (CVE-60), together with depth charges from destroyer escorts USS 'Pillsbury' (DE-133), USS 'Pope' (DE-134), USS 'Flaherty' (DE-135), and USS 'Chatelain' (DE-149), sink German submarine 'U-515' at 1515 hours local off Madeira Island, Portugal. 44 of the 60 man crew on the U-boat survive.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Chatelain (DE-149) attacking the surfaced German submarine U-515 in the Atlantic Ocean on 9 April 1944. The photo was taken from a Grumman TBM Avenger of Composite Squadron 58 (VC-58) from the escort carrier USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60)



Photo: The German submarine U-515 being attacked by the U.S. Navy destroyer escorts USS Chatelain (DE-149), assisted by USS Pillsbury (DE-133), USS Pope (DE-134), USS Flaherty (DE-135) and aircraft of Composite Squadron 58 (VC-58) from the escort carrier USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60), 9 April 1944



Photo: The German submarine U-515 afire and sinking after having been attacked by the U.S. Navy destroyer escorts USS Pope (DE-134), USS Chatelain (DE-149), USS Pillsbury (DE-133) and USS Flaherty (DE-135) on 9 April 1944



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

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

CHINA

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

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

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

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

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

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): 55 B-25s bomb the Aitape area while B-24s and A-20s hit Wewak, Boram, Cape Moem, AA positions along Hansa Bay, and barges SE of Mushu Island and in the Wagol River; and P-39s hit troops, barges, and bridges in the Madang, Awar, Bogia and Bunabun areas. Lost is B-24J "Super" 42-73338. 675th Bombardment Squadron, 417th Bombardment Group , moves from Dobodura to Saidor with A-20s.

ALASKA

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

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 344, APRIL 9, 1944

Operations to soften up Truk continued. Moen and Dublon Islands in the Truk Atoll were bombed by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force at night on April 7 (West Longitude Date). At Moen the air strip was bombed and at Dublon wharfs and fuel reservoirs were hit.

Single Liberators from the same force bombed alternate targets at Oroluk, Ponape and Ujelang.

Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force escorted by Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing also bombed and strafed Ponape on April 7 (West Longitude Date). Antiaircraft fire was moderate.

Four enemy‑held atolls in the Marshalls were bombed and strafed by Mitchells of the Seventh Army Air Force, Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, and Navy Hellcat fighters. At one objective a large explosion was observed near hangars, and at another explosions and fires were caused among barracks, warehouses, and gun emplacements. Antiaircraft fire ranged from moderate to meager.

PACIFIC

Submarine chaser SC-984 is damaged by grounding, Cooks Reef, near Mai Island, New Hebrides. She is abandoned the following day, a total loss.

Submarine Seahorse (SS-304) attacks Japanese convoy MATSU No.4, and sinks transport Misaku Maru about 40 miles west of Saipan, 15°32'N, 145°00'E.

Submarine Trigger (SS-237) is again damaged by depth charges off the Marianas, 19°03'N, 142°31'E, but remains on patrol.

Submarine Whale (SS-239) sinks Japanese army cargo ship H_nan Maru off northwestern coast of Kyushu, 33°45'N, 128°42'E.

USAAF B-25s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese merchant vessel Hokurei Maru off southern tip of Hainan Island, 19°00'N, 110°00'E

Japanese hospital ship Takasago Maru is damaged by mine off Palau.

Day 1675 of World War II, April 11th 1944

Eastern Front

Kerch Falls to the Soviets: The Soviet 4th Ukrainian Front, under the command of Marshal Fyodor Tolbukhin, successfully captured the strategic port city of Kerch in the Crimea, forcing the German forces to retreat towards Sevastopol. 

Air War over Europe

Six RAF Mosquitoes of No. 613 Squadron precision-bomb the Gestapo offices in the Kleizkamp Art Galleries, The Hague, destroying files on the resistance and Dutch people earmarked for deportation.

Photo: The tower of the Peace Palace is visible in the background



229 US Ninth Air Force B-26s and 36 A-20s, including 3 dropping Window, attack Montignies Airfield at Charleroi, military installations on the coast, and Chievres Airfield. 90+ US Ninth Air Force P-47s dive-bomb a military installation and Gael Airfield, France.

The US Eighth Air Force flies Mission 298: 917 bombers and 819 fighters are dispatched in 3 separate forces to bomb production centres (primarily fighter aircraft factories) and targets of opportunity in northern Germany; 64 bombers are lost, one of the heaviest single-day losses of the War. The bombers also drop 2.4 million leaflets: 108 B-17s hit aviation industry targets at Sorau and 17 bomb Cottbus; 127 hit Stettin, 20 hit Trechel, 16 hit Dobberphel and 23 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 12-2-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 19 B-17s are lost. 172 B-17s hit Rostock, 52 hit Politz, 35 hit the industrial area at Arnimswalde and 15 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 34-20-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 33 B-17s are lost. 121 B-24s hit aviation industry targets at Oschersleben and 99 bomb Bernburg; 9 bomb aviation industry targets at Halberstadt, 9 bomb Eisleben and 5 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 27-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 12 B-24s are lost. Escort is provided by 124 P-38s, 454 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts and 241 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51 Mustangs; the fighters claim 51-5-25 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 65-0-67 on the grounds: 7 P-47s and 9 P-51s are lost.

Photo: Aerial view of the bombing of AGO Flugzeugwerke at Oschersleben, Germany, 11 April 1944



Photo: U.S. Army Air Forces reconnaissance photo of the AGO Flugzeugwerke aircraft factory, Oschersleben, Germany, folllowing the attack on 11 April 1944



341 RAF Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3, 5 and 8 Groups despatched to Aachen. 9 Lancasters lost, 2.6 per cent of the force. This raid was accurate and caused widespread damage and fires in the centre of Aachen and in the southern part of the town, particularly in the suburb of Burtscheid. This was Aachen's most serious raid of the war. Control of the air-raid services was quickly lost when one of the first salvoes or bombs cut communications between the main operations centre and outlying posts. 7 Mosquitos to bomb night-fighter airfields, 36 Mosquitos on diversion raid to Hannover and 3 each to Duisburg and Osnabrück, 7 RCM sorties, 7 Serrate patrols, 35 Halifaxes and 8 Stirlings minelaying off Brest and in the Kattegat, 26 aircraft on Resistance operations, 8 OTU sorties. No aircraft lost.

Italian Campaign

US Twelfth Air Force B-25s hit the Montalto di Castro railroad bridge, while B-26s hit marshalling yards at Ancona and Siena; fighter-bombers concentrate on attacks against railroad targets northeast of Rome and buildings inland from the east coast; tracks are hit hard in the Arezzo-Pontassieve area as are stations at Maccarese and Cesano; an overpass, bridges, railroad cars and dumps throughout central Italy are attacked, as is the town of Gaeta.

Increased German aerial mining activities are noted off Anzio.

Convoy GUS 37 is attacked by German bombers and torpedo bombers east of Algiers. Destroyer escort 'Holder' (DE-401) is damaged by aerial torpedo 35 miles northeast of Algiers, as she lays smoke ahead of the convoy. Freighter 'Charles Piez' is damaged by strafing, her crew (including a 28- man Armed Guard), however, suffers no casualties. Aerial torpedoes narrowly miss destroyer escorts 'Stanton' (DE-247) and 'Swasey' (DE-248 ).

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy fleet oiler USS Manatee (AO-58) at anchor in Hampton Roads, Virginia (USA), 11 April 1944. She was then in her shakedown period. Manatee is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 5AO



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

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

CHINA

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

INDIA

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

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

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

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

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

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (Fifth Air Force): 80+ A-20s and B-25s, supported by 30 P-47s and P-40s, blast AA positions, stores, dumps and personnel areas at Hollandia; 50+ B-24s bomb barges, AA guns, and other targets along Hansa Bay which is also hit by 12 B-25s. 12 other B-25s bomb targets on Karkar Island. Lost are P-47D 42-75291, P-47D 42-22953 and P-47D 42-75289. Also, P-47D 42-76059 goes MIA searching for these three lost P-47s the same day.

ALASKA

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

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer seaplane tender USS Gillis (AVD-12) leaving the auxiliary floating drydock ARD-6 at Dutch Harbor, Alaska (USA), on 11 April 1944



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 347, APRIL 11, 1944

Ailuk, Rongelap, Likiep and Utirik Atolls and Mejit Island in the Mar­shalls have been reconnoitered by our forces and U. S. sovereignty established thereon.

An airfield at Ponape Island was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchells on April 9 (West Longitude Date). On the same day Liberator and Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force, Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and Navy Hellcat fighters dropped 55 tons of bombs on four enemy positions in the Marshalls. Wharves, barracks, hangars, gun positions and air strips were hit in these raids.

One search plane of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Ulul Island and another strafed two small craft near Ponape.

Day 1677 of World War II, April 13th 1944

Eastern Front

The Red Army captures Simferopol. Soviet forces continue to sweep through the Crimea as the 17.Armee begins to disintegrate into a routed mob heading for the dubious safety of Sevastopol. Feodosia and Simferopolo both fall.

Air War over Europe

US and RAF tactical bombing forces begin attacks on coastal defenses in northern France in preparation for the cross-channel attack, now seven weeks away. The US Ninth Air Force dispatches 121 B-26s and 37 A-20s to attack a marshalling yard, coastal batteries, airfields and V-weapon sites at Namur, Chievres and Nieuport, Belgium; Le Havre, France; and along the northern coast of France in general; nearly 175 other aircraft abort missions mainly because of weather; and 48 P-47s also dive-bomb V-weapon sites.

During Eighth Air Force Mission 302, 4 B-17s drop 800,000 leaflets on Amsterdam, The Hague and Eindhoven at 2235-2252 hours without loss.

The US Eighth Air Force flies Mission 301: 626 bombers and 871 fighters are dispatched to hit targets in Germany; the bombers claim 22-13-34 Luftwaffe aircraft and the fighters claim 42-8-10 in the air and 35-0-21 on the ground; 38 bombers and 9 fighters are lost; the bombers also drop 5.2 million leaflets on Germany; this mission is flown in conjunction with a raid on Hungary by 500+ Fifteenth Air Force bombers. 154 B-17s hit the industrial area at Schweinfurt and 1 hits a target of opportunity; 14 B-17s are lost. 207 B-17s bomb aviation industry targets at Augsburg and 20 hit the city of Augsburg; 18 B-17s are lost. 93 B-24s hit Lechfeld Airfield; 60 bomb aviation industry targets at Oberpfaffenhofen; 29 hit Lauffern and 2 hit targets of opportunity; 6 B-24s are lost. Escort is provided by 134 P-38s, 504 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts and 233 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; 3 P-38s, 2 P-47s and 4 P-51s are lost.

29 RAF Mosquitos were dispatched to Berlin but observation of bombing results was not possible because of the glare of massed searchlights. No aircraft lost. 6 Mosquitos to Düren and 3 to Dortmund, 10 Stirlings and 6 Halifaxes minelaying off Cherbourg, Le Havre and La Pallice. No losses.

Italian Campaign

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

535 US Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers (largest bomber mission to date) bomb targets in Hungary; 163 B-17s bomb an aircraft plant and depot at Gyor while 324 B-24s bomb an aircraft factory at Budapest and air depots at Budapest, Tokol and Vecses; fighter opposition and AA account for 14 US bombers and 1 fighter shot down; 40 enemy fighters are claimed shot down and 120+ aircraft destroyed on the ground. The Hungarian fighters include sixteen Hungarian-made Me-210Cs, but these failed to shoot down any American aircraft, but lost several of their number including at least one to Hungarian anti-aircraft fire, which knocked out one of its engines. Casualties amount to 1,073 killed and about 500 injured, prompting a mass evacuation of 100,000 people from the city (mostly children, elderly and pregnant women).

United Kingdom

General Dwight D Eisenhower formally assumes direction of air operations out of the UK at 0000 hours (though he began informal exercise of this authority in late March 2944). This assumption of authority gives Eisenhower direction over the Allied Expeditionary Air Force (AEAF) consisting of the RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force and the USAAF Ninth Air Force; RAF Bomber Command; and US Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSTAF) consisting of the USAAF Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces (the Fifteenth Air Force retains some degree of independence) along with the US 1st Army Group, British 21 Army Group, and Allied Naval Forces.

Sweden

Britain and America demand that Sweden stop exporting ball bearings to Germany.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Eugene E. Elmore (DE-686) at sea off Boston, Massachusetts (USA), at 1600 hours on 13 April 1944. She was photographed by a K-class blimp of squadron ZP-11



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

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

CHINA

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

INDIA

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

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

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

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

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

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

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

GILBERT AND MARSHALL ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

Photo: A U.S. Navy Consolidated PB4Y-1 Liberator patrol bomber takes off from Eniwetok Airfield (Stickell Field), 13 April 1944. The photo was taken from the top of the observation tower. Note other PB4Y's parked beyond the runway, and two Liberty ships in the distance. Bombing Squadrons VB-108 and VB-109 flew from Eniwetok in April 1944



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 352, APRIL 13, 1944

Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four bombed Paramushiru and Shimushu in the Kurile Islands before dawn on April 12 (West Longitude Date). Hits were obtained on airfields and fires started. Light antiaircraft fire did no damage to our planes.

Liberator bombers of the Eleventh Army Air Force bombed Shasukotan and Matsuwa Islands on the same day. No opposition was encountered.

All of our planes returned.

ALASKA

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

PACIFIC

Submarine Harder (SS-257) sinks Japanese destroyer Ikazuchi 180 miles south-southwest of Guam, 10°13'N, 143°51'E.