Chronology of World War II

February 1944

Wednesday, February 9


Air Operations, Bismarcks

  • AirSols SBDs, escorted by many AirSols fighters, attack Rabaul's Vunakanau airfield, 24 XIII Bomber Command B-24s, escorted by many AirSols fighters, attack the Vunakanau airfield again. 19 B-24s supported by 20 XIII Fighter Command P-38s attack the Tobera airfield at Rabaul.
  • VMF-215, VMF-217, and VF-17 F4Us down 10 A6M Zeros, 1 Ki-43 'Oscar' figher, and 1 Ki-44 'Tojo' fighter over the Rabaul area between 1230 and 1300 hours. 347th Fighter Group P-38s down 6 Zeros over the Tobera airfield at Rabaul at 1300 hours.
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Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s, 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s, and 10 Air Force P-40s, P-51s, and A-36s attack several bridges and numerous Japanese Army bivouacs and supply dumps across a wide area of northern Burma.
CHINA
  • 116 14th Air Force P-40 fighter-bombers attack an oil dump and barracks at Chefang and town areas at Homun and Mangshih.
  • During the night, 5 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s sow mines at the mouth of the Yangtze River.
FRENCH INDOCHINA
  • 2 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a wireless station near Haiphong.
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Air Operations, Europe

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 8 Mosquitos are sent to Elberfeld, 7 to Krefeld and 1 to Aachen.
    • 1 Mosquito is lost on the Krefeld raid.

Crews Undergoing Training


Crews Undergoing Training
US 9th AIR FORCE
FRANCE:
  • 79 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack various V-weapons sites and several targets of opportunity.
US 12th AIR FORCE
FRANCE:
  • In the first mission of its kind, 54 B-26s from the 322nd and 386th Medium Bomb Groups attack the marshalling yard at Tergnier with excellent results.
ITALY:
  • XII Bomber Command B-25s and B-26s provide close support for US Army ground forces.
  • XII Air Support Command A-20s attack troop concentrations.
  • XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack troop positions, assembly points, and gun emplacements in and around the battle area.
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Air Operations, Marshalls

  • 531st Fighter-Bomber Squadron A-24s and 15th Fighter Group P-40 fighter-bombers attack the Jaluit Atoll.
  • Throughout the night, VII Bomber Command B-24s mount individual and small attacks against the Wotje Atoll and the Taroa airfield on Maloelap.
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Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command A-20s attack Mindiri.

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Battle of the Atlantic

During February 8-9 Walker's 2nd Support Group destroys three U-boats in the space of 15 hours. There were no survivors from any of the sinkings and no clues from the wreckage, it is not possible to tell in what order the U-boats were sunk.

U-238

ClassType VIIC
CO Kapitänleutnant Horst Hepp
Location Atlantic, SW of Cape Clear
Cause Depth charge
Casualties 50
Survivors None

U-734

ClassType VIIC
CO Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Jörg Blauert
Location Atlantic
Cause Hedgehog
Casualties 46
Survivors None
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Britian, Home Front

The Bishop of Chichester questions the wisdom of RAF 'area bombing' raids on German cities, during a debate in the House of Lords. Viscount Cranbourne, replying, concedes that, if necessary, the British Government are prepared to 'bring the whole life of the German cities... to a standstill, in order to paralyze enemy production.'

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CBI

President Roosevelt requests that Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek allow a US observer mission to visit the Chinese Communist stronghold in Yenan to gather intelligence on Japanese forces and seek assistance in recovering downed American flyers. Chiang Kai-shek, suspicious of American motives, rejects the request. Chiang has perhaps 500,000 troops in Yenan, all watching the Communists as they conduct a guerrilla campaign against the Japanese. Chiang wants no US contact with Mao Tse-tung (Mao Zedong), the leader of the Chinese Communists.

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Diplomatic Relations

Roosevelt requests Chiang's permission to send a US military mission to the Chinese Communist base area and headquarters in Shensi Province.

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Eastern Front

Bloody battles in the Kirovograd region, west of the Dniepr, are bringing about the annihilation of the German 8th Army. The Russian forces involved are the 3rd Ukrainian Front under Rodion Malinovsky and the 2nd Ukrainian Front under Ivan S. Konev. The Germans make renewed efforts to supply the Korsun pocket by flying large quantities of fuel and ammunition. They evacuate some of the wounded.

The Russians capture Oredezh near Leningrad.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

The 7th Guards Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front is embroiled in heavy fighting west of Kirovograd.

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Italy

At Anzio the German LXXVI Panzer Corps and the 1st Parachute Corps capture the Carroceto and Aprilia salients. The British 1st Div under Gen William R. C. Penney is driven out of Aprilia but manages to keep control of 'The Factory'. In the Cassino sector the US II Corps' effort to reach the Via Casilina fails.

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New Britain

Moving for 11 days, Lt-Col Puller's force reaches Gilnit village and occupies the Japanese supply base at Nigol, discovering 34 supply barges, along with weapons, ammunition, and food.

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Images from February 9, 1944

Landing Accident


Landing Accident

Landing Accident


Landing Accident

Sir Harold Alexander in Italy


Sir Harold Alexander in Italy

Inspecting the Leg of a Mule


Inspecting the Leg of a Mule

Living Quarters near Nettuno


Living Quarters near Nettuno

Smoke Rising From Buildings in Cassino


Smoke Rising From Buildings in Cassino

[February 8th - February 10th]