Air Operations, Aleutians

11th Air Force aircraft mount numerous small strikes against Kiska amounting to 13 B-24 sorties, 16 B-25 sorties, 32 P-38 sorties, and 8 P-40 sorties. One B-25 is lost.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack the Rapopo airfield at Rabaul, a Japanese submarine off Cape Turner, the town of Ubili, and targets in the Cape Gloucester area.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the approaches to a bridge at Pazundaung.
• 8 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a bridge at Myitnge.
• 51st Fighter Group P-40s attack Japanese Army ground positions near Sumprabum.
• 23rd Fighter Group P-40s, based in China, attack the dock area and storage facilties at Mong Yaw.

• 12 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s, based in China, attack a power plant and rail yards at Lao Kay.

Air Operations, Europe

• 16 Mosquitos attack the railway shops at Paderborn nearly 200 miles inland and score direct hits.
• 1 Mosquito is lost.

• 2 Wellingtons of No. 1 Group lay mines in the Frisians without a loss.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• B-17s from the 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack Marienberg.
• B-25s attack Lae.
• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack but fail to hit cargo ships encountered at sea.

Air Operations, Solomons

XIII Bomber Command B-17s and B-24s mount small harrassment strikes against the airfield on Ballale, the Kahili airfield on Bougainville, and Vila airfield on Kolombangara.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-600 hits 3 ships with a single salvo of 'pattern-running' torpedoes (FAT).

The fast Convoy HX-229 of 40 ships from New York, and the slower Convoy SC-122 of 58 ships from Nova Scotia are attacked by 37 U-boats in 3 groups. 21 ships are lost in return for 1 U-boat. These first 3 weeks of March signal a turning-point: from now on carrier support goups and long-range reconnaissance aircraft will take their toll of the U-boats. There will no longer be substantial gaps in Allied coverage of the Atlantic, no areas where U-boats can operate freely.

Diplomatic Relations

In a letter to Roosevelt, Stalin, who has taken at face value Churchill's forecasts of his letter of February 9th, complains in blunt language about the 'treachery', as he describes the delay to the operations in Africa and the preparations for the landing in Sicily, of the Western Allies. 'Your far from clear reply to the question of the opening of a second front in France has aroused here an uneasiness that cannot be hidden.' And he has some justification for his bluntness.

Eastern Front

The 16th Army's X Corps loses Kholm to 3rd Shock Army after a long struggle.

The XLVIII Panzer Corps and SS Panzer Corps link up as they drive east of Kharkov. As the SS advance out of Kharkov, they force the Soviets to relinquish control of the factory district, the Tractor Factory falling after a brief struggle. SS Totenkopf clears Chuguyev and harries the Soviets back to the Donets.

The Stavka appoints Gen Sokolovsky to command of the West Front while Koniev moves to the Northwest Front.

North Africa

8th Army is involved in sharp skirmishes on the approaches to the Mareth Line as it clears the way for its coming full-dress attack.

The US II Corps completes preparations for its attack. The 1st Div, which is to lead off, moves forward during the night to its line of departure. The 1st Armored Div is greatly hampered by muddy terraine as it moves into position to protect the left flank of the 1st Div.

In the British 1st Army's V Corps area, Y Div, consisting of the 38th Brigade and the 1st Parachute Brigade, is dissolved upon relief of the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Div. This is the first unit of the 1st Div to arrive in Tunisia.

The British 8th Army, as a preliminary to it main assault on the Mareth Line, conducts limited attacks during the night to mislead the enemy and drive in his outposts. The actions are largely successful.

Pacific

The 'Cactus Striking Force' shells Vila.