Air Operations, Asia

RAF aircraft begin mining the mouths of the Salween near Moulmein, Burma. The Japanese will close Moulmein to all shipping in early March because of the mines.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 10 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Vunakanau airfield at Rabaul, but AirSols SBDs and TBFs prevented from attacking the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul because of bad weather attack the lighthouse on Cape St. George, New Ireland.
• V Fighter Command P-39s attack barges and occupied villages all along the New Britain coast.
• The XIII Bomber Command opens a night-bombing campaign against Rabaul during the night, when 20 5th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul with 500-pound bombs and parafrag clusters.

Air Operations, CBI

• 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the port area at Akyab. 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack a Sittang River ferry crossing at Mokpalin. 15 10th Air Force P-40s attack a bridge at Namti and 12 A-36s and P-51s attack a bivouac at Nanyaseik.

• 3 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 8 14th Air Force P-40s attack Yangtze River traffic between Anking and Chiuchiang, a bridge near Teian, and a rail line near Chiuchiang. 8 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s fighter-bombers attack a bridge at Kiechang and a troop train near Teian and 4 P-40s attack Yangtze River traffic, including three tankers, near Wusueh.
• A 23rd Fighter Group P-40 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter in an air battle over Chuichiang.

• 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack a marshalling yard and airfield at Bangkok.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Koepang, Timor.

Air Operations, Europe

• 10 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 7 to Solingen, 2 to Koblenz and 1 to Krefeld.
• There are no losses.

• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a town.
• XII Air Support Command aircraft attack numerous rail, road, tactical, and communications targets throughout central Italy.
• During the night, XII Bomber Command B-26s attack iron and steel works at Piombino.

• 15th Air Force B-17s attacking a marshalling yard at Sofia are attacked by an estimated 60 Axis fighters. 14th Fighter Group P-38 escorts down 9 Luftwaffe fighters over Sofia about 1230 hours.
• 2 B-17s are lost

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Skoplje.

Air Operations, Marshalls

• 4 VII Fighter Command P-39s attack the Mille Atoll, including a fuel-storage area.
• During the night, 16 VII Bomber Command B-24s based in the Ellice Islands pass through Hawkins Field, Betio, to attack the Maloelap Atoll. 4 B-24s based at Canton Island pass through Baker Island to attack the Mille Atoll.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• More than 100 V Bomber Command B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s attack Alexishafen, Bogadjim, Madang, and coastal targets between Madang and Sio.
• A 475th Fighter Group P-38 downs a Ki-61 'Tony' fighter over Wewak at 1105 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

5 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack supply dumps at Kahili while 4 B-24s attack Buka.

Burma

The British capture Maungdaw.

Eastern Front

The rail line between Smela and Kristinovka in the Ukraine is cut by the Russians. North of Kirovograd the Russians mop up a pocket in which several enemy divisions have been trapped. Meanwhile the Red Army resumes the offensive in the center, in the Mozyr area, west of the Dniepr and southwest of Gomel.

The 61st and 70th Armies of the Belorussian Front launch a limited attack around Mozyr striking the center of the 2nd Army.

The 3rd Ukrainian Front begins its new offensive, striking the German 6th Army in the Dniepr elbow. The 37th and 46th Armies attack toward Apostolovo, hitting the LVII Panzer Corps hard.

Italy

A powerful German counterattack is launched near Cervara and Monte La Chiaia. The 5th Army cross the Peccia River.

Italy, Politics

The trial of the Fascist hierarchs at Verona ends with death sentences on 18 of the 19 accused.

New Britain

Following reports that the Japanese have brought in fresh troops, the Americans send reinforcements to their troops round the Arawe defensive perimeter. The Japanese counerattack from positions on the rear of the Aogiri Ridge. Five times the Japanese attack the marines holding the crest of the ridge. Mortar and artillery fire hitting at times within 50 yards of the marines stops the attackers. The 37 millimeter gun Col Lewis C. Walt has brought forward fires canister shells against the enemy infantry. A Japanese officer leading one attack is killed just a few steps from Walt's position.

New Guinea

Japanese concentrations give warning of a coming attack on the beachhead on Saidor, and it is decided to send reinforcements. The airfield at Saidor becomes operational for US aircraft.

Pacific

• The US submarine Seawolf (SS-197) begins a series of attacks on a Japanese convoy about 70 miles north of Naha, Okinawa, sinking the army cargo ship Asuka Maru (7523t) and the merchant cargo ship Getsuyo Maru (6440t).
• The US submarine Steelhead (SS-280), in the midst of a typhoon, attacks a Japanese convoy south of Honshu and sinks the repair ship Yamabiko Maru (6795t).

Images from January 10, 1944

Prisoners from the Goering Division

Dornier Do 22KI

Crash on the Guadalcanal

Burial of US Soldier in Marazanello

Aiming a PIAT Anti-tank Weapon

Firing a PIAT Anti-tank Weapon

Cape Torokina, Bougainville