Air Operations, Bismarcks

More than 20 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Matupi Island and Rapopo. 21 XIII Bomber Command B-24s and 17 XIII FIghter Command P-38 fighter-bombers attack the Rapopo airfield at Rabaul.

Air Operations, Carolines

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Ponape Island.

Air Operations, CBI

• 8 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 4 10th Air Force P-51s attack bridges at Meza, Natmauk, and Sinthe.

• 2 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack Weichow Island.

• 16 14th Air Force P-40s attack warehouses and rail and port facilities at Hongay while 2 P-40s attack a ship at Campha.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack ground targets in the Molucca Islands.

Air Operations, Europe

The Climax of 'Big Week' as 830 bombers of the US 8th Air Force and 150 bombers of the 15th Air Force, with fighter escorts, attack the Messerschmitt works at Regensburg and Augsburg. The Americans claim 142 fighters shot down. 1,000 fighters are destroyed on assembly lines and 1,000 more are lost due to temporary disruption of production. 38 bombers and 8 fighters are lost in the raid.

• 594 aircraft are sent to Augsburg. In this total are 461 Lancasters, 123 Halifaxes and 10 Mosquitos.
• The bombing at Augsburg is outstandingly successful in clear weather conditions and against this 'virgin' target with only weak flak defences. The Pathfinder ground-marking is accurate and the raid becomes controversial because of the effects of its outstanding accuracy. The beautiful old center of Augsburg is completely destroyed by high explosives and fire, with much less than the usual spread of bombing to the more modern outer areas, where some industry is located.
• There are 246 large or medium fires and 820 small ones. The temperature is so cold (minus 18 degree Celsius) that the River Lech is frozen over and many of the water hoses also freeze. The Germans publicize it as an extreme example of 'terror bombing'.
• 16 Lancasters and 5 Halifaxes are lost. It is believed that the various diversions and the splitting of the main force into 2 waves helped keep the casualties low.

• 131 aircraft lay mines in Kiel Bay, 22 Mosquitos bomb airfields in Holland, 15 Mosquitos are sent on diversionary raids to 4 towns north of the Augsburg routes, there are 5 RCM sorties, and 10 Serrate patrols.
• 3 Halifaxes and 1 Stirling are lost in the mine-laying operations.

Air Operations, Marshalls

41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Mille and Wotje atolls. 15th Fighter Group P-40 fighter-bombers attack the Jaluit Atoll.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Madang and the Momote airfield on Los Negros. A-20s attack airfields in the Alexishafen area.

Allied Planning

Churchill assures Roosevelt that the campaign in northern Burma will not be given up in favor of an amphibious operation in central Burma or the opening up of another front in the Dutch East Indies.

Burma

In the northeast of the country the American units have their first skirmish with Japanese patrols. In the Arakan the West African 81st Div takes Kyauktaw in the Kaladan valley.

New Britain

A battalion of the 5th Marine Regt lands at Iboki Plantation. US destroyers shell the Japanese bases at Rabaul, New Britain, and Kavieng, New Ireland, both already almost completely blockaded and neutralized by the long air and naval offensive.

Norwegian Sea

U-990 sinks the British destroyer Mahratta 280 miles from the North Cape while escorting Convoy JW-57 with the loss of 220 of her crew. 16 survivors are picked up by the British destroyers Impulsive and Wanderer.

Images from February 25, 1944

At their Warminster, England base on a cold 25 February 1944, the 3rd Armoured Division's commander Major General Leroy Watson stands next to a Sherman tank with from right: Montgomery, Eisenhower and Tedder. The three Allied leaders are watching a live firing demonstration as part of a tour of various units who would be committed to the invasion of Normany in June.

Allied Leaders Watching a Live Firing Demonstration

Karl Bischoff's Staff (Bischoff: 4th from the right)

On 25 February 1944 the Auschwitz commandant Arthur Liebehenschel informed that the chief of the Central Construction Office SS-Sturmbannführer Karl Bischoff had been awarded the War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords for his constributions to victory through his work in construction. The Birkenau camp, four crematories and gas chambers as well as hundreds other camp buildings were constructed under Bischoff's direction. In the picture: Karl Bischoff's staff (Bischoff: 4th from the right).

P-51 Mustangs, Lancashire, England, 25 February 1944

A view of the hanger deck level catapult, taken 25 February 1944. Hornet was the only carrier to keep its hanger deck catapult until the end of the war. Since the aircraft could not benifit from the ship steaming into the wind, these catapults were deemed unpractical, and replaced with a second flight deck catapult.

Hanger Deck Level Catapult

On the sunny doorstep of their home in Burton Bradstock, Police Constable Trevett introduces the Welch family to their new lodger. T/5 J B Reilly (of 302 N Burgher Avenue, Staten Island, New York) is being billeted with Mr and Mrs S J Welch and their daughter Margaret. Although there is an American army camp in Burton Bradstock, many of the GIs are billeted with local families.

Many GIs Billeted with Local Families

American Information Bureau

Mary Malcolm (from North Adams, Massachusetts) of the American Red Cross and driver Steve Wilczynski (from Omaha, Nebraska) collect flowers from the American Information Bureau in Winchester to take to the American hospital, also in Winchester. The flowers have been collected from local gardens for this purpose. The various signs on the windows of the Bureau read 'The services of this bureau are placed at the disposal of all members of the USA forces. Information and advice on travelling and hospitality will be readily given'; 'Canadians we are at your service'; and 'Americans welcome to this city'. The Bureau is housed in what was once the shop of the J R Wood Coal and Coke Company Ltd.

Cookhouse of the American Camp at Burton Bradstock, Dorset

Betty ‘Freckles’ Mackay and Chris Kerley stand outside the cookhouse of the American camp at Burton Bradstock, Dorset and drink the cocoa they have just been given by Corporal David Roberts (of RR4 Albia, Iowa), who is leaning out of the window to chat to them. According to the original caption, these two children are big favourites in the camp and call at the cookhouse regularly after school. Betty’s nickname was given to her by the GIs.

The Great Panjandrum at Westward Ho!, an abortive attempt at beach clearing. One of the British innovations for the invasion that was not adopted, the rocket powered device was intended to blow up mines on enemy beaches.

An Abortive Attempt at Beach Clearing