World War II in real time

Day 1711 of World War II, May 17th 1944

Western Front (1944)

General Eisenhower set D-Day for June 5th.

Air War over Europe

A formation of 6 P-51s from RAF No. 65 Sqdrn and 2 from RAF No. 122 Sqdrn attacked the Aalborg area. At first mistaken as German aircraft, the Mustangs were allowed to split into 2 groupd and attack the airfield from the north and the south. Over Aalborg they found a number of training aircraft from 10. and 13./KG 30 and the A-Staffel of JG 11. Most were unarmed except some practice bombs and a small amount of ammunition. Two aircraft from 10./KG 30, 3 from 13./KG 30, 1 from from 2./KG 26 and 3 from JG 11 fell prey to the Mustangs. An He 177A-5 from 4./KG 100 had just taken off and was attacked by a P-51 and made an emergency landing. A Ju 88A-17 from 2./KG 26 and 3 Ju 88A-4s were attacked and fell on the Danish countryside.

Italian Campaign

Kesselring and Vietinghoff are unable to stop the Allied advance in the Liri Valley. Kesselring orders the defenders of Cassino to withdraw as he releases 3 fresh divisions from his reserves. The US 5th Army continues its drive north capturing Piumarolo, Monte Faggeta, Esperia, Formia, and Sant'Angelo.

Photo: Churchill tank crews HQ Troop, 51st Royal Tank Regiment, 25th Tank Brigade, share out rations near their camouflaged vehicles before going into action in support of 1st Canadian Division, Italy, 17 May 1944



Photo: A 17-pdr anti-tank gun and crew near Cassino, 17 May 1944. A Sherman tank can be seen in the background



Photo: Churchill tanks of 25th Tank Brigade going forward to support 1st Canadian Division, Italy. This was the first time Churchills had been used in Italy, 17 May 1944



The USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy dispatches 450+ bombers to hit targets in Italy and Yugoslavia; B-17s bomb the marshalling yard at Ancona, Italy and troop concentrations at Bihac, Yugoslavia while B-24s bomb the port areas at San Stefano al Mare, Piombino, Portoferraio and Orbetello, Italy. P-38s strafe airfields at Ghedi, Villafranca di Verona, Modena, Forli and Reggio Emilia, Italy while other fighters fly 130+ sorties of bomber escort duty.

Battle of the Mediterranean

'U-616' scuttled in the Mediterranean east of Cartagena, Spain after fatal damage from depth charges from destroyers USS 'Nields', 'Gleaves', 'Ellyson', 'Macomb', 'Hambleton', 'Rodman' and 'Emmons', and by depth charges from an RAF 36 Sqn Wellington in a 3 day-long action. 53 survivors (No casualties).

United Kingdom

The prime ministers of Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa tonight endorsed not only war plans but also peace aims. At the end of a series of meetings in London, they declared: "We give thanks for deliverance from the worst perils and now we hold back nothing to end mankind's agony." The Empire leaders reaffirmed that after victory the British Commonwealth will join in setting up a world organization with necessary power to preserve peace. They added:

"We rejoice to proclaim our kinship to one another. We have stood together through two world wars and have been welded the stronger. This unity will do further service to mankind."

Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 18 B-25s bomb Chauk oil installations while 20 P-38s hit Kangaung Airfield; B-25s and fighter-bombers fly 90 sorties against Mogaung Valley targets, hitting targets of opportunity at Kazu and Namti and a bridge at Kamaing and supporting ground forces in the Myitkyina area.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, P-40s support ground forces at Mamien Pass, hit Japanese positions at Tatangtzu, damage a bridge and several trucks at Shweli, Burma, strafe troops at Luchiangpa and bomb and strafe a horse pack train near Tengchung; 7 B-25s and 13 P-40s pound the Shayang barracks area and hit troops and vehicles NE of Shasi.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Kwajalein bomb Wake while Engebi based B-25s hit Ponape.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 25 B-25s bomb the airfield at Tobera while 43 P-39s, P-40s and P-38s, in conjunction with 40+ USN dive bombers, blast the Vunakanau area; fighters on sweeps hit a Nubai River bridge and strafe targets on Gazelle Peninsula. 39 fighter-bombers hit numerous targets in Bougainville Island area, including the Muguai area, a bridge N of Numa Numa, barges at Banin Harbor and the area around Ratsua.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, Allied forces land without opposition near Arare after a naval bombardment; B-24s and B-25s hit targets in the general vicinity at Sawar, Sarmi and the mouth of the Orai River; 100+ B-24s, with P-38 escort, pound AA positions at Bosnik, Sorido and Mokmer, and supply areas and airfield on Noemfoor; 120+ fighter- bombers, A-20s, B-25s and B-24s continue to hit the Wewak-Hansa Bay area; and HQ 49th Fighter Group moves from Finschhafen to Hollandia.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

In an operation timed to coincide with the Wakde landings, planes from an Allied task force (Admiral James F. Somerville, RN) that includes carrier Saratoga (CV-3) and British carrier HMS Illustrious bomb Japanese shipping and harbor installations at Surabaya, Java, in Operation TRANSOM. British planes sink transport Shinrei Maru; Saratroga's damage Patrol Boat No.36, auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 107 and Cha 108, cargo ships Ch_ka Maru and Tencho Maru, and tanker Y_sei Maru

Photo: Bombing up a Royal Navy Grumman Avenger Mk.II aircraft of 832 or 845 Naval Air Squadron on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (87) sailing in the Indian Ocean in readiness for the raid on Soerabaya, Java, in May 1944. The air strike against the Japanese held naval base was carried out by British, American, Australian, French and Dutch units. Several of the armourers are stood inside the aircraft's open bomb bay



Photo: Surabaya under attack by Allied carrier aircraft on 17 May 1944 during Operation Transom



Photo: View of the attack on Surabaya, Netherlands East Indies, on 17 May 1944 by aircraft from the aircraft carriers USS Saratoga (CV-3) and HMS Illustrious (87) during "Operation Transom"



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 406, MAY 17, 1944

Ventura and Coronado search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and Navy Hellcat fighters bombed and strafed remaining enemy objectives in the Marshall Islands during the day and night of May 15 (West Longitude Date). Fuel storage facilities, runways, and buildings were hit,

PACIFIC

TF 77 (Rear Admiral William M. Fechteler) lands Army 163d Regimental Combat Team (Reinforced) in Wakde-Toem area, New Guinea, preceded by cruiser and destroyer bombardment (Rear Admiral Russell S. Berkey, Captain Albert G. Noble) in Operation STRAIGHTLINE.

Destroyers Frazier (DD-607) and Meade (DD-602) bombard Japanese defenses on Eniben Island, Maloelap Atoll, Marshalls.

Submarines Sand Lance (SS-381) and Tunny (SS-282) attack convoy 3503, the four Marus carrying Japanese soldiers earmarked for service at Yap and Palau, and the three escorts. Sand Lance torpedoes and sinks transport Taikoku Maru about 60 miles west of Saipan, 14°57'N, 144°47'E; Tunny torpedoes and sinks army cargo ship Nichiwa Maru west of the Marianas, 14°49'N, 142°39'E. Sand Lance torpedoes army cargo ship Fukko Maru, 14°49'N, 142°23'E when she stops to pick up Nichiwa Maru's survivors. Although destroyer Minazuki and submarine chasers Ch 31 and Ch 32 claim the destruction of Sand Lance and Tunny, both boats survive enemy depth-chargings.

USAAF P-38s, P-39s and P-40s carry out sweeps for targets in the Bismarck Archipelago; these operations may account for the sinking of Japanese guardboat Zuiho Maru off Duke of York Isle, 04°12'S, 152°20'E.

Day 1713 of World War II, May 19th 1944

Western Front (1944)

Photo: The Queen and Princess Elizabeth talk to paratroopers in front of a Halifax aircraft during a tour of airborne forces preparing for D-Day, 19 May 1944



Air War over Europe

The USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England flies Mission 358: 888 bombers and 700 fighters in two forces are dispatched to hit targets in Germany; very heavy cloud cover forces the bombers to use H2X PFF methods; Luftwaffe resistance is heavy and 28 bombers and 19 fighters are lost; U.S. fighters claim 77-0-33 Luftwaffe aircraft: 588 B-17s are dispatched to Berlin; 495 hit the primary, 49 hit the port area at Kiel and one hits a target of opportunity; 16 B-17s are lost. 300 B-24s are dispatched to the industrial area at Brunswick; 272 hit the primary and one bombs a target of opportunity; 12 B-24s are lost. Escort is provided by 155 P-38 Lightnings, 182 P-47 Thunderbolts and 363 P-51 Mustangs of the Eighth Air Force and 264 Ninth Air Force aircraft; the P-38s claim 0-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground, the P-47s claim 29-0-16 in the air and 2-0-0 on the ground and the P-51s claim 41-0-5 in the air and 4-0-10 on the ground; 4 P-38s, 4 P-47s and 11 P-51s are lost.

143 RAF aircraft - 106 Halifaxes, 32 Lancasters, 5 Mosquitos of Nos 4 and 8 Groups attacked the railway yards at Boulogne. Only 1 of the Oboe Mosquitos was able to mark the target but the bombing was accurate. The local report says that the main station was badly damaged; 33 civilians were killed. No aircraft lost. 118 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitos of Nos 1 and 8 Groups carried out a particularly accurate attack on the railway yards at Orleans. 1 Lancaster lost. 112 Lancasters and 9 Mosquitos of Nos 5 and 8 Groups found that their railway target at Amiens was cloud-covered and the Master Bomber ordered the attack to stop after 37 Lancasters had bombed. 1 Lancaster lost. 113 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitos of No 5 Group to attempt the difficult task of attacking the railway installations in the centre of Tours. A previous No 5 Group raid had destroyed the yards on the outskirts of the town. Both the marking and the bombing force were ordered to carry out their tasks with particular care and to be prepared to wait until the Master Bomber was satisfied that the surrounding housing areas were not hit. The raid continued until well after the planned period but no fighters appeared and no aircraft were lost. Much damage was caused to the railways but some bombs did fall to the west of the target. Le Mans: 112 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitos of Nos 3 and 8 Groups. The majority of the bombs hit the railway yards and caused serious damage. The local report says that the locomotive sheds were destroyed, an ammunition train (or some ammunition wagons) blew up, 2 main lines were destroyed and all other lines blocked because overhead power lines were brought down across the tracks. Unfortunately the Lancasters of the Master Bomber and his deputy collided over the target and crashed. The Master Bomber was a brilliant young New Zealander, Wing Commander JF Barron, DSO and Bar, DFC, DFM, and the Deputy Master Bomber was Squadron Leader JM Dennis, DSO, DFC They were both killed; both were from No 7 Squadron. 1 other Lancaster was lost. 58 Halifaxes of No 6 Group and 6 Pathfinder Mosquitos attacked a coastal gun position at Le Clipon but there was haze and the results are not known. No aircraft lost. 63 aircraft - 42 Halifaxes, 15 Lancasters, 6 Mosquitos of Nos 6 and 8 Groups bombed a gun position at Merville near Dunkirk. Some bombs did fall in the battery position despite the presence of haze. No aircraft were lost. 39 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitos of No 8 Group to attack a radar station at Mont Couple. The Mosquitos were not able to use their Oboe equipment but 31 Lancasters used their H2S sets to make a timed run from the coast and bomb the approximate position of the target. 1 Lancaster shot down by flak. 29 Mosquitos to Cologne, 10 RCM sorties, 8 Serrate and 23 Intruder patrols, 24 Halifaxes and 4 Stirlings minelaying off the French coast, 12 OTU sorties. 1 OTU Wellington lost.

Italian Campaign

US troops occupy Gaeta and Monte Grande. The Gustav line, the German defense line in Italy, collapsed under heavy assault by Allied troops. British troops captured Aquino airfield in the Liri valley southeast of Rome.

At the Turchino Pass outside Genoa the SS shoot 59 Italian captives from the Marassi Prison in Genoa in revenge for an attack on a movie theatre for German troops four days earlier that killed five German soldiers and injured 15. One of those present is senior Nazi official SS Major Friedrich Engel. He claims the German navy ordered the shootings. The prisoners were bound in pairs and forced to walk onto a plank laid over the open grave, where they were shot. The victims then fell into the pit, on top of he freshly killed bodies.

The USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy dispatches 500+ B-17s and B-24s to hit communications targets, ports, and oil storage in northeastern, central and western Italy; B-17s hit oil storage facilities at Porto Marghera and railroad bridges at Casarea, Latisana and Rimini; B-24s hit port areas at La Spezia and Leghorn; fighters fly 250+ sorties in support. These operations are notable for the absence of enemy fighter opposition.

At 1755, the 'Fort Missanabie' in Convoy HA-43, was torpedoed and sunk by 'U-453' south of Taranto. The master, ten crewmembers and one gunner were lost. 35 crewmembers and 13 gunners were picked up by the Norwegian merchantman 'Spero' and Italian corvette 'Urania' and landed at Augusta, Sicily. The 'Fort Missanabie' was the last success of U-boats in the Mediterranean.

Light cruiser 'Brooklyn' (CL-40) shells German supply dumps at Terracina, Sperlonga, and Ganta, Italy.

Battle of the Mediterranean Sea

'U-960' sunk in the Mediterranean NW of Algiers, by destroyers USS 'Niblack' and 'Ludlow' and RAF 36 and 500 Sqn Wellingtons. 31 dead and 20 survivors.

United Kingdom

Photo: HMS AVONVALE, 19 May 1944



United States

The Undersecretary of the Navy, James V. Forrestal, becomes the Secretary of the Navy.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destryoer escort USS Hayter (DE-212) off the Charleston Naval Shipyard, South Carolina (USA), 19 May 1944. Note that the torpedo tubes were replaced by 40mm single guns. However, the 28mm quadruple mount was retained



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, A-36s, P-40s, P-51s and a few B-25s fly 140+ attack sorties against various targets in the Mogaung Valley, concentrating on gun positions in the Myitkyina area; 8 B-25s damage railroad tracks in the Myingatha-Saye area and 16 P-38s hit the airfield at Nawnghkio.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 31 fighters support ground forces in the Salween area at Chiangtso, Watien, and Mamien Pass; 4 P-40s knock out a bridge at Shweli, Burma, 13 P-40s bomb and strafe the Puchi area and 16 P-40s and P-38s damage a bridge at Tayeh and hit military installations and other buildings at Yangsin; 11 P-51s bomb a village near Anking, causing large explosions and fires; 2 B-24s on a sea sweep seriously damage 2 freighters S of Hong Kong; 16 CACW P-40s pound trucks, tanks and troops in the Ichang-Tangyang-Loyang area and attack river traffic at Itu on the Yangtze River.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-25s based on Engebi hit Ponape Island and B-25s from Makin hit Nanru.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (Thirteenth Air Force): 40+ P-39s, P-38s and P-40s hit Makada Island, Bismarck Archipelago. 16 B-25s bomb gun positions and supply area at Talili Bay, New Britain Island. On Bougainville Island, 20 AAF fighters and a few USN aircraft bomb huts and bridges at Monoitu, Porton, Toborei, Moisuru and Tsimba.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): B-24s, A-20s and P-38s hit airfields and shipping in the Manokwari-Noemfoor Island area; other B-24s pound beach defenses at Bosnik on Biak Island and hit the area between Bosnik and Mokmer; 270+ A-20s, P-47s, P-38s and B-25s continue to blast Wewak, knocking out radar and radio stations and attack targets of opportunity from Wewak to the Hansa Bay area.

SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

Photo: The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Cleveland (CL-55) underway in Solomon Islands waters on 19 May 1944 with a waterspout in the background. This was one day before Cleveland bombarded an island in the Solomons and was straddled by return fire



MARCUS ISLANDS

Third Raid on Marcus: Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery's Task Group 58.6, consisting of the aircraft carriers USS Essex, with Carrier Air Group Fifteen, and USS Wasp, with CVG-14, attack Marcus Island in the North Pacific. The new light aircraft carrier USS San Jacinto, with Light Carrier Air Group 51, is detached to the north to screen for the rest of the force. Two of the purposes of the raid are to test new target-briefing procedures and also determine the effect of high-velocity attack rockets (HVARs) on ground targets.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 408, MAY 19, 1944

Wake Island was bombed during daylight on May 17 (West Longitude Date) by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force. Peale Island and Heel Point were the principal targets. Intense antiaircraft fire was encountered, and one of our aircraft was shot down.

An airstrip at Ponape Island was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchells on May 17. No antiaircraft fire was encountered.

Enemy positions in the Marshalls were attacked on May 17 by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and Navy Hellcat fighters. Repair work on the airstrip at Wotje was interrupted by Corsairs which strafed several vehicles and de­stroyed two trucks.

ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): A B-24 flies armed reconnaissance over Shimushu and Ketoi Islands, Kurile Islands.

PACIFIC

Submarine Skate (SS-305) sinks Japanese guardboat Meisho Maru off Ogasawara-Gunto, 28°56'N, 141°38'E.

USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force) on antishipping sweep of the South China Sea bomb Japanese convoy no.87, but only succeed in inflicting minor damage upon cargo ship Yamadori Maru.

Day 1715 of World War II, May 21st 1944

Air War over Europe

510 RAF Lancasters and 22 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3, 5 and 8 Groups carried out the first large raid on Duisburg for a year. 29 Lancasters were lost, 5.5 per cent of the force. The target was covered by cloud but the Oboe skymarking was accurate and much damage was caused in the southern areas of the city. 25 Mosquitos to Hannover and 8 to Courtrai, 9 RCM sorties, 28 Serrate and 7 Intruder patrols. No aircraft lost. Minelaying: 70 Lancasters and 37 Halifaxes to the Frisians, Heligoland, the Kattegat and Kiel Bay. 3 Lancasters lost.

Allied air forces launch Operation Chattanooga, the systematic destruction by bombardment of enemy rail targets. The USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England flies Mission 360: 150 bombers and 48 fighters hit V-weapon sites in France without loss; 25 of 40 B-17s hit Marquise/Mimoyecques; and 99 of 110 B-24s hit Siracourt. Escort is provided by 48 P-47 s without loss. 617 fighters are dispatched on strafing missions to attack rail stock in Germany; 27 fighters are lost; 91 of 225 locomotives attacked are destroyed; P-47s also dive bomb rail bridges in W Germany; and 1 P-51 pilot claims 25 cows killed; participating are: 145 P-38s claim 2-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 6-0-3 on the ground; eight P-38s are lost,. 139 P-47s claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air; four P-47s are lost. 333 P-51 Mustangs claim 17-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 77-0-64 on the ground; 15 P-51s are lost.

The USAAF's Ninth Air Force in England dispatches 50 B-26 Marauders to bomb airfields at Abbeville/Drucat. 600+ P-47s and P-51s attack railroad rolling stock.

Italian Campaign

'U-453' sunk in the Ionian Sea NE of Cape Spartivento, by depth charges from destroyers HMS 'Termagant', 'Tenacious' and 'Liddesdale'.

The US 5th Army continues moving forward capturing Fondi and Campodimele. Fighting at Pico continues.

Photo: Dummy Sherman tank in the Anzio bridgehead, 21 May 1944



In NC Italy, medium bombers are restricted by bad weather but bomb a few bridges and roads, while light bombers hit a bivouac area; fighter-bombers continue support of ground forces, hitting troops, vehicles, roads and railroads in or near the battle areas, particularly around Sezze, Ceccano, San Giovanni Valdarno and Pontecorvo.

United Kingdom

In the early hours of the morning, two Bf 109G-6 fighters landed at Manston airfield in Kent. The first Bf 109, piloted by Fw. Manfred Gromill of 3./JG 301 made a wheels down landing intact at 02:40 hours. Fw. Gromill thought that he was on a German airfield. The second Bf 109, flown by Lt. Horst Prenzel, Staffelfuhrer of 3./JG 301, landed 20 minutes later and made a good landing but the pilot thought that he was going to overshoot the runway and raised the undercarriage, causing considerable damage. Both pilots were from St. Dizier on a mission against Allied night bombers.

Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 120+ P-40s, P-51s, A-36s and B-25s hit Mogaung, Myitkyina, the Talawgyi-Hokat area, and Kamaing; gun positions around Myitkyina and Mogaung are also hit; a single B-24 bombs NW part of Mandalay; 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, based at Kisselbari, India with P-40s, sends a detachment to Tingkawk Sakan.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): 27th Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Sylhet, India to Yunnani, China; during the next nine months, detachments will operate from Chanyi, Chengtu and Kunming at various times.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): 53 B-24s from Kwajalein bomb various targets in Wotje Atoll; 41 B-25s, based on Makin, follow up with bombing, cannonading and strafing attack on the atoll. 8 B-24s stage through Eniwetok to strike Rota and rearm at Los Negros.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 3 B-24s, 30+ P-39s and P-40s, and 40+ USN dive bombers hit Vunakanau Airfield and nearby plantation; 8 P-38s, followed shortly by USN aircraft, bomb Lakunai Airfield. Lost is TBF 23987.

40+ P-39s, P-38s, and P-40s fly sweeps over Bougainville; bridges at Rigu Mission and Shishigatero are reported demolished.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): B-24s, A-20s and P-38s attack airfields, town areas, barges, personnel and supply areas, and fuel dumps at Manokwari, Urarom, along the Moemi River and on Noemfoor and Biak Islands; fighter-bombers. A-20s and B-25s continue almost constant pounding of supply dumps, camps, AA positions and a variety of targets along the coast from Wewak to Hansa Bay. Lost is B-25D "Tin Liz" 41-30074; and 13th Bombardment Squadron, 3d Bombardment Group, moves from Nadzab to Hollandia with A-20s. Thirteenth Air Task Force B-24s bomb Truk Atoll.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

The Airfield at Arare is reopened by US engineers.

HAWAII

Accidental explosion occurs in tank landing ship LST-353 as she is being loaded with mortar ammunition at West Loch, Pearl Harbor. The cataclysmic blasts result in the loss of LST-39, LST-43, LST-69, LST-179, LST-353, and LST-480; tank landing craft LCT-961, LCT-963, and LCT-983; 17 tracked landing vehicles (LVT); and eight 155-millimeter guns. LST-205 and LST-225 are damaged. During firefighting efforts, big harbor tugs Osceola (YTB-129) and Hoga (YTB-146); medium harbor tug Geronimo (YTM-119); little harbor tugs YTL-233, YTL-306, YTL-307, YTL-308, YTL-309, and YTL-339; net tender (tug class) Tamaha (YTM-12); and Navy-chartered tug Mikioi suffer varying degrees of damage.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 410, MAY 21, 1944

A single Liberator of the Eleventh Army Air Force bombed Shimushiru and Ketoi Islands in the Kuriles on the night of May 18‑19 (West Longitude Date). No opposition was encountered.

Shimushu Island was bombed by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four before dawn on May 19. Large fires were started at an airfield. Anti­aircraft fire was meager.

Nauru Island was attacked by Mitchell medium bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force during daylight on May 19 (West Longitude Date). The phosphate workings and defense installations were hit. Explosions and fires were observed. Antiaircraft fire was intense.

Ponape Island was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchells on May 19. An airfield was the principal target. Meager antiaircraft fire was encountered.

Remaining enemy positions in the Marshall Islands were bombed on the night of May 18‑19 and during daylight on May 19 by Catalina and Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, and Navy Hellcat fighters.

PACIFIC

In a reprise of the type of raid conducted on Jaluit on 13-14 May, Navy F4Us and PV-1s and USAAF B-24s and B- 25s bomb Japanese positions on Wotje atoll. Navy PB2Ys had harassed the atoll the previous night.

Oiler Neches (AO-47) is damaged by mine about 630 miles west of Los Angeles.

Submarine Billfish (SS-286) damages Japanese cargo ship Bokuy_ Maru west-southwest of the Marianas, 13°42'N, 140°41'E; Coast Defense Vessel No.12 counterattacks unsuccessfully.

Submarine Cero (SS-225) attacks, unsuccessfully, Japanese convoy, and survives enemy antisubmarine efforts conducted by Anshu Maru, No.5 Takunan Maru, and No.17 Shonan Maru, 05°15'N, 128°55'E.

Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) attacks, unsuccessfully, 12- ship Japanese convoy en route from Cebu to Wasile, 08°15'N, 127°15'E.

Day 1717 of World War II, May 23rd 1944

Air War over Europe

46 RAF Mosquitos - 24 to Dortmund, 16 to Berlin and 6 to a railway junction at Lison in France, 2 RCM sorties, 2 Serrate patrols, 30 aircraft minelaying off various coasts, 4 aircraft on Resistance operations, 8 OTU sorties. No aircraft lost.

The USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England flies three missions. Mission 364: 1,045 bombers and 562 fighters are dispatched to hit airfields and rail targets in France; three bombers are lost: 1. 580 B-17 Flying Fortresses are dispatched to the marshalling yard at Metz (34 bomb), Epinal (36 bomb) and Chaumont (54 bomb); airfields at Orleans/Bricy (17 bomb) and Chateaudun (18 bomb); secondary targets hit are marshalling yards at Saarbrucken, Germany (139 bomb), Bayon (12 bomb), the town of Neunkirchen, Germany (37 bomb), Caen/Carpiquet Airfield (18 bomb) and 12 hit targets of opportunity; two B-17s are lost. 2. 465 B-24s are dispatched to hit airfields at Orleans/Bricy (167 bomb), Bourges (84 bomb), Avord (88 bomb) and Etampes/Mondesir (97 bomb); one aircraft hits a target of opportunity; one B-24 is lost. Escort is provided by 96 P-38s, 142 P-47 Thunderbolts and 324 P-51 Mustangs; none are lost and no Luftwaffe aircraft are claimed.

Mission 365: 103 P-51s are dispatched to bomb a railroad bridge at Hasselt, Belgium; 75 bomb escorted by 14 acting as top cover; one P-51 is lost.

Mission 366: Four of five B-17s drop 928,000 leaflets on Belgium and The Netherlands without loss.

Seven B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.

The USAAF's Ninth Air Force in England dispatches B-26 Marauders and P-38s against targets in France; 15 B-26s bomb the airfield at Beaumont-le-Roger in a predawn attack; during the afternoon 58 B-26s bomb coastal batteries at Etretat/Sainte-Marie-Au-Bosc, Maisy and Mont Fleury; and 120+ P-38s strafe and bomb rolling stock in central France.

Italian Campaign

US VI Corps attacks Cisterna making some gains at Anzio. Forcing a drive from the beach-head towards the hills. The US 6th Corps in the Anzio beachhead begin offensive operations to link up with the rest of the US 5th Army. The initial attacks are directed at Cisterna. The fighting is very heavy and losses are severe. Meanwhile, other elements of the 5th Army reaches Terracina. The Carleton and York Regiment of the 1st Canadian Division, with the 25th British Tank Brigade, break through the Hitler Line, one kilometre south of Aquino. Tanks of the Canadian 5th Armoured Division race through the breach toward the Melfa River. The West Nova Scotia and Royal 22nd regiments of the Canadian 1st Division drive nearly a mile through the Hitler Line, reporting that they have met their division's final objective. German forces counterattack the American breakout from Anzio, with eight Tiger tanks but is finally broken up.

The USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy sends 300+ B-17s and B-24s to attack troop concentrations and communications in the rear of the battle area, at Avezzano, Subiaco, Valmontone, Marino, Nemi and Grottaferrata; P-38s and P-51s provide escort; other P-38s, covered by P-47s, strafe the airfield at Ferrara.

Light cruiser 'Brooklyn' (CL-40) and destroyers 'Kearny' (DD-432) and 'Ericsson' (DD-440) shell enemy positions in vicinity of Ardea, Italy, with good results. The three ships repeat bombardment of troop concentrations and supply dumps on 24 and 26 May with equal success.

Light cruiser 'Philadelphia' (CL-41) and destroyer 'Laub' (DD-613) are damaged in collision 20 miles southwest of Nettuno, Italy.

Submarine chaser PC-626 captures German speedboat off Anzio and takes crew prisoner.

German occupied Poland

The Germans cease to look for the remains of the V2 rocket which fell into the River Bug on 20 May. The Poles now remove the rocket with a team of horses and transport it on two heavy farm carts to a barn in the village of Holowczyce-Kolonia.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS William C. Cole (DE-641) in San Francisco Bay (USA) on 23 May 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 14D



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Griswold (DE-7) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 23 May 1944. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 31 or 32, Design 22D



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 P-38s bomb Tiddim road; 12 B-24s bomb the Indaw marshalling yard and Homalin; 16 P-38s attack Kangaung Airfield; and 23 P-40s and 4 A-36s bomb gun positions, troops and supply dumps in the Myitkyina area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): Makin based B-25s strike Jaluit Atoll. B-24s returning from Los Negros where they landed after the raid on Rota on 21 May, bomb Ponape.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED WAKE ISLAND

Third Wake Raid--Carrier Task Group 58.6 (Rear Admiral A. E. Montgomery) shifted from Marcus to hit Wake with five composite bombing, strafing and rocket strikes.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 2 B-24s bomb Tobera, while 32 B-25s and 40+ P-39s, P-38s and P-40s attack gun positions near Rabaul, near Lakunai and in the vicinity of Tunnel Hill Road. On Bougainville Island, 51 P-39s and 8 P-40s attack huts, barges, bridges and
other targets of opportunity at several locations.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): B-24s hit Manokwari while B-24s, A-20s and P-38s hit targets on Biak Island, including trucks at Borokoe, AA positions and control tower at Mokmer Airfield, the village of Sorido and offshore targets at Bransfari; P-40s hit troops on Wakde Island and on the Biri River; P-38s support ground forces in the Aitape area; A-20s, P-39s. B-24s and B-25s maintain bombing and strafing of the Wewak-Hansa Bay area.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 412, MAY 23, 1944

Army, Navy, and Marine shore‑based aircraft dropped 230 tons of bombs on Wotje Atoll on May 21 (West Longitude Date). 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 flew 207 sorties in the coordinated attack. Specific targets were strafed by Mitchell bombers and Corsair fighters. Antiaircraft fire was meager. All of our planes returned, although ten suffered minor damage.

Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed Mille Atoll on May 21.

PACIFIC

Destroyer escort England sinks Japanese submarine RO-104, 250 miles north-northwest of Kavieng, 01°26'N, 149°20'E.

Submarine Cero (SS-225) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Taijun Maru and teams with Ray (SS-271) to torpedo and damage army tanker Kenwa Maru off Halmahera Island, 02°42'N, 128°08'E.

Submarine Raton (SS-270) sinks Japanese merchant vessel Koshin Maru west of Borneo, 00°25'S, 107°34'E.

PB4Y damages Japanese cargo vessel Hakko Maru near Helen Reef, 00°25'S, 107°34'E.

Day 1719 of World War II, May 25th 1944

Air War over Europe

In Belgium 247 B-17s are dispatched against marshalling yards at Brussels/Schaerbeck (52 bomb), Brussels/Midi (29 bomb) and Leige/Guillemines (50 bomb); other marshalling yards hit are Brussels/Melsbroek (18 bomb) and Liege/Renory (50 bomb); two B-17s are lost. 18 of 38 B-17s and 18 of 18 B-24s hit Fecamp gun battery without loss. 15 B-17s hit St Valery gun battery without loss. Escort is provided by 136 P-38s, 181 P-47 Thunderbolts and 287 P-51 Mustangs; P-38s claim 3-1-0 Luftwaffe aircraft, 9 P-38s are lost; P-47s claim 4-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 3-0-5 on the ground; P-51s claim 6-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft, three P-51s are lost.

The USAAF's Ninth Air Force in England dispatches 225+ B-26 Marauders to attack bridges near Liege, Belgium and airfields at Lille/Nord and Monchy-Breton, France. About 250 P-47s dive-bomb various targets in western Europe.

Italian Campaign

Patrols of the US II and III Corps linked up on the Pontine Marshes near Terracina, today bringing the four-month ordeal of the beach-head to an end. The race to Rome is on, but the great political prize may prove harder to reach than the battle maps suggest. The Germany army is retreating systematically north-west to new defensive positions - the Caesar Line - after fierce resistance at Cisterna in which more than 950 men of the US 3rd Division were killed or injured. The German 10.Armee is in serious situation as it is authorized to withdraw to the Ceasar line north of Rome. The American commander, General Mark Clark, is anxious for the beach-head forces to head straight for Rome. However, the Allied supreme commander, General Alexander, has ordered a US attack on Valmontone which, he hopes, will trap the German 10.Armee in a pincer movement with the advance of the British Eighth Army in the south. Clark has compromised. He has ordered the Anzio commander, Major-General Lucien Truscott, to split his forces and attack both along Highway 7 at Albano with the US VI Corps and at Valmontone to comply with Alexander's orders. The attack on Valmontone - a vital road junction on Highway 6 - began today, but was stopped almost immediately by German tanks and anti-tank guns.

The USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy sends 340+ bombers to attack targets in France and Italy; B-17s attack the marshalling yard at Lyon, France; B-24s attack marshalling yards at Amberieux, Toulon and Givors, France, and in Italy, the port area at Monfalcone, airfield at Piancenza and industrial area at Porto Marghera; P-38s and P-51s fly 200+ sorties in support.

The German paratroopers and glider-borne troops, drop on Tito's HQ in Drvar, Bosnia. Tito and Major Randolph Churchill, the prime minister's son, escape successfully, after the Germans surround partisan headquarters in this village. Major Churchill, who is serving with the British military mission here, had left the headquarters a few minutes before the attack. Tito was forced to leave one of his staff officers dying in agony from a head wound. Two war correspondents, Stoyan Pribichevich of Time-Life and John Talbot of Reuters were captured, although the Time-Life man managed to escape. The attack known as Operation Knight's Move, is believed to have been masterminded by SS Major Otto Skorzeny, the man who rescued Mussolini. Other members of the British mission are understood to have left the headquarters several days earlier.

Battle of the Atlantic

'U-853' drove off an attack by three RN Swordfish from MAC ship 'Empire MacKendrick'. All were damaged and one was deemed a total loss on return to the ship and was jettisoned.

'U-476' scuttled after aircraft attack the previous day at 0102 NW of Trondheim by torpedoes from 'U-990'. 'U-990' was sunk in North Sea west of Bodö, later that day, by depth charges from an RAF 59 Sqn Liberator. 20 dead and 33 survivors.

German occupied Poland

An RAF Dakota takes off from Brindisi in Italy and heads for Tarnow in Poland for a night landing. There it is met by a reception party of 400 partisans and the Polish Underground with 50 kilos of components from the stolen rocket, and a Polish engineer who is to accompany the finds to London. The pilot of the Dakota is F/Lt. Culliford and his Polish co-pilot as F/O Szajer. The Dakota bogs down in mud whilst it is being loaded and a farm cart has to be dismantled and used to provide boards to lay under the wheels, before a takeoff is managed after some considerable difficulty, and the Dakota and its "treasure" makes the long flight back to Hendon.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Raleigh (CL-7) off the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington (USA), 25 May 1944, following overhaul. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 1d



Photo: The U.S. Navy fleet oiler USS Mississinewa (AO-59) anchored in the Hampton Roads area, Virginia (USA), on 25 May 1944. The photo was taken from an aircraft from Naval Air Station a NAS Hampton Roads, flying at an altitude of 90 metres. Mississinewa is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3AO



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 28 P-38s sweep over the Mandalay area; 12 of them hit about 10 railroad cars near Shwebo, leaving them burning; B-24s hit targets in the Katha area, 6 of them bombing Indaw and 4 bombing the Naba rail junction area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-25s flying out of Engebi bomb Ponape.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 3 B-24s bomb Rabaul, Lakunai, and Rapopo; 8 P-38s hit Vulcan Crater barge hideout; 12 B-25s, clouded out of Vunakanau, hit the Talili Bay supply area. On Bougainville Island, 15 B-25s, 32 P-39s and P-40s, and 25 USN dive bombers hit supply areas at Porton; 4 other P-40s hit trucks at Monoitu Mission; 16 P-39s attack several targets of opportunity, including the Cape Lahan radar station.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): B-24s attack shipping at Halmahera Island and in New Guinea, hit Mokmer and targets in the Wakde area; 90+ fighter-bombers, A-20s, B-25s, and B-24s pound numerous targets in the Wewak area. Units of the 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group moving in New Guinea: air echelon of 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), from Finschhafen to Wakde with B-25s; 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, based at Gusap begins operating from Tadji with P-40s.

ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): 1 Shemya based B-24 flies reconnaissance and bombing mission in the C Kurile Islands; another B-24 aborts due to equipment failure.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 521, MAY 25, 1944

Pacific and Far East.

1. U. S. submarines have reported the sinking of fifteen vessels, includ­ing one combatant ship, as a result of operations against the enemy in these waters, as follows

1 destroyer
1 large cargo transport
1 large tanker
2 medium cargo transports
7 medium cargo vessels
1 small transport
1 medium tanker
1 small tanker

2. These actions have not been announced in any previous Navy Depart­ment communiqué.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 45, MAY 25, 1944

Carrier‑based aircraft of a Pacific Fleet Task Force commanded by Rear Admiral A. E. Montgomery, U. S. Navy, attacked Marcus Island on May 19 and 20 (West Longitude Date) and Wake Island on May 23.

At Marcus our aircraft in 373 sorties dropped 148 tons of bombs on air­drome installations. Ammunition and supply dumps were destroyed and gun positions and buildings damaged. Only two enemy aircraft were seen in the area: one of these a medium bomber was shot down near the target and the other, also a twin‑engine plane, was strafed on the ground. A small cargo ship was set afire north of Marcus. Our losses were four planes and three men.

One hundred and fifty tons of bombs were dropped on Wake in 354 sorties. No enemy aircraft were sighted in the Wake area. Twenty buildings were destroyed and others damaged; storage areas and other airdrome in­stallations were heavily hit. Several small craft were sunk or damaged. None of our planes was shot down.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 415, MAY 25, 1944

Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed Ponape Island on May 23 (West Longitude Date).

Enemy positions in the Marshall Islands were attacked on May 23 by Mitchell bombers 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. Defense instal­lations were bombed and severely strafed.

PACIFIC

Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking guardboat Dait_ Maru and merchant cargo ship _saka Maru north of Palau, 11°14'N, 135°12'E.

Day 1721 of World War II, May 27th 1944

YouTube (Breakout from Anzio!)



Air War over Europe

162 RAF Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3 and 8 Groups to attack the Rothe Erde railway yards at Aachen. 12 Lancasters lost, 7.0 per cent of the force. The railway lines at the yards, which were not seriously hit in the raid of 2 nights earlier, were now severely damaged and all through traffic was halted. A large proportion of delayed-action bombs were dropped. The local people were impressed that the whole raid only lasted 12 minutes. 23 Mosquitos to Berlin and 6 to Düsseldorf, 7 RCM sorties, 28 Serrate and 10 Intruder patrols, 60 aircraft minelaying from Le Havre to the River Gironde, 10 aircraft on Resistance operations, 7 OTU sorties. 3 Mosquitos - 2 Intruders and 1 Serrate - lost.

344 USAAF Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses are dispatched to marshalling yards at Ludwigshafen (150 bomb) and Mannheim (125 bomb); 18 hit Lachen/Apeyerdorf, 19 hit the Mannheim area and 6 hit targets of opportunity; 12 B-17s are lost. 269 B-17s are dispatched to marshalling yards at Karlsruhe (98 bomb) and Strasbourg, France (49 bomb) and aviation factory at Strasbourg/Meinau, France (53 bomb); seven B-17s are lost. 69 of 86 B-24s bomb an aviation factory at Woippy, France; three others hit targets of opportunity. 36 of 40 B-17s bomb Fecamp gun battery, France without loss. 18 of 18 B-24s bomb St Valery, France without loss. Escort is provided by 170 P-38s, 238 P-47 Thunderbolts and 302 P-51 Mustangs; one P-38 is lost; P-47s claim 1-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 2-0-0 on the ground without loss; P-51s claim 34.5-1-4 aircraft in the air and 7-0-2 on the ground with the loss of six P-51s. 425 Ninth Air Force aircraft also support the mission; they claim 4-0-0 with the loss of one.

USAAF Eighth Air Force Mission 373: 1,126 bombers and 710 fighters in six forces are dispatched against rail targets in France and Germany and gun batteries in France; 24 bombers and 7 fighters are lost; the fighters claim 35.5-1-5 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 9-0-2 on the ground. 369 B-24s are dispatched to marshalling yards at Saarbrucken (145 bomb), Neunkirchen (66 bomb) and Kons/Karthus (72 bomb); 3 others hit targets of opportunity; five B-24s are lost.

USAAF Eighth Air Force Mission 374: 24 P-47s hit a barge convoy between Willenstadt and Meerije, The Netherlands; two barges are destroyed.

The USAAF's Ninth Air Force in England dispatches about 590 B-26 Marauders to attack railroads, bridges, and marshalling yards in France. P-47s bomb targets in northwestern Europe.

331 RAF aircraft - 267 Halifaxes, 56 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitos - to attack the military camp at Bourg Léopold in Belgium. 9 Halifaxes and 1 Lancaster lost, 3.0 per cent of the force. 1 Oboe-aimed target indicator fell right on the target and the bombing which followed caused severe damage to the camp. 100 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitos of No 5 Group to attack a railway junction and workshops at Nantes. The first 50 Lancasters bombed so accurately that the Master Bomber ordered the remainder of the force to retain their bombs. 1 Lancaster lost. 78 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitos of No 8 Group attacked the airfield at Rennes in good visibility. The marking was good and the bombing was very accurate. Much damage to the airfield installations was caused and there was a large explosion, probably in the bomb dump. 272 aircraft - 208 Lancasters, 49 Halifaxes, 15 Mosquitos - carried out raids on 5 coastal-battery positions on the French coast. All of the targets were bombed satisfactorily. 1 Lancaster and 1 Mosquito lost.

Italian Campaign

Artena is held by the 3rd Division in the face of German counterattacks.

Photo: Sherman OP tank attached to a regiment of Priest 105mm self-propelled guns, 27 May 1944



The USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force dispatches almost 700 bombers to hit France; B-17s bomb the marshalling yard at Avignon while B-24s bomb airfields at Montpellier and Salon and marshalling yards at Nimes, Marseille/St Charles and Marseille/La Blancharde; escort is provided by P-38s and P-51s.

U.S. motor torpedo boats attack three German F-lighters in vicinity of Vada Rocks, sinking two and damaging one; PTs also attack an enemy motor vessel.

Arctic naval operations

'U-292' sunk west of Trondheim, by depth charges from an RAF 59 Sqn Liberator. 51 dead (all hands lost).

United Kingdom

Photo: Aerial photograph of RAF Wattisham the control tower and airfield code are in front of the four C-Type hangars on the right, 27 May 1944



United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Corbesier (DE-438) on 27 May 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 31, Design 22D. The photo was taken off the New York Naval Shipyard, two months after being commissioned. She had been in the yard for post-shakedown availability from 20 to 27 May, when she shifted her berth to Pier 35 of the New York Naval Shipyard Annex for resupply



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): 15 B-24s bomb Pakokku and Nyaung-u, Burma.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 24 rocket-firing P-40s hit the barracks area W of Sinyang, military installations and trucks at Nanchang, and troops, trucks, barracks, and warehouse area in the Puchi vicinity.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): 24 B-24s from Kwajalein and 52 B-25s from Engebi pound Ponape.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, about 200 AAF, USMC and USN aircraft (fighters, dive-bombers, and B-25s) are sent against gun positions on Hospital Point; 160+ aircraft bomb the targets with more than 90 tons (99.2 tonnes) of explosives, destroying or damaging several of the guns; other fighters hit targets of opportunity in the Rabaul area and a barge off SW New Ireland Island; and 4 B-24s bomb Tobera. AAF fighters attack beached barges in the Chabai area and in Buka Passage, Aku and Nova Plantation and a bridge over the Oamai River; detachment of 419th Night Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, operating from Bougainville since Jan with P-61s, returns to base on Guadalcanal Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): Babo and Biak are pounded by 170+ B-24s and B-25s; after the aerial and naval bombardment, Allied amphibious forces land on Biak in the Bosnik area, secure the beachhead, and gain control of a trail over ridges to the inland plateau to the N. Japanese aircraft attack the landing area. Lost is Ki-45 piloted by Takada. About 170 A-20s, P-38s, P-40s and B-25s blast the Wewak area. Lost is P-47D 42-22661.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

In New Guinea, Operation HORLICKS commences. A naval bombardment by heavy and light cruisers and destroyers of the U.S. Navy's Task Groups 77.2 and 77.3. The U.S. 41st Infantry Division (minus) then lands on Biak Island in Geelvink Bay.

The first wave lands exactly as planned, but strong currents carry subsequent units well west of their designated landing beaches. Fortunately, only nominal Japanese resistance is encountered because the landings catch the Japanese flat-footed. After securing the beachhead, the soldiers gain control of a trail over ridges to the inland plateau to the north.

MARIANA AND PALAU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

Photo: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Essex (CV-9) turns into the wind on 27 May 1944, just before the Marianas campaign. The light carrier behind (right of frame) is USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) and the Essex-class carrier (top left of frame) is USS Wasp (CV-18). Curtiss SB2C Helldiver and Grumman TBF Avenger bombers of Carrier Air Group 15 (CVG-15) are visible on Essex` flight deck



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 421, MAY 27, 1944

Shimushu in the Kurile Islands was bombed by a Ventura search plane of Fleet Air Wing Four before dawn on May 25 (West Longitude Date). No opposition was encountered.

Matsuwa Island was bombed by a Liberator of the Eleventh Army Air Force before dawn on May 25 without opposition.

Ponape Island was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchells on May 25. Docks, warehouses, and gun positions were hit. Meager antiaircraft fire was encountered.

Enemy objectives in the Marshall Islands were bombed on May 25 by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Corsair fighters and Dauntless dive bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, and Navy Hellcat fighters. Antiaircraft fire ranged from medium to moderate. Runways, antiaircraft batteries, and barracks were hit. One Corsair fighter made a forced landing near Wotje Atoll and its pilot was rescued.

ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): 2 bombers fly weather and armed photo reconnaissance and bomb Ushishiru Island, Kurile Islands.

PACIFIC

Motor torpedo boat PT-339, damaged by grounding off Pur Pur, western New Guinea, 04°01'S, 144°41'E, is scuttled by her crew to prevent capture.

Submarine chaser SC-699 is damaged by crashing Japanese plane off western New Guinea, 01°12'S, 136°13'E.

British submarine HMS Templar sinks Japanese cargo ship Tyokai Maru in Strait of Malacca.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Phelps (DD-360) underway at sea on 27 May 1944