Admiralty Islands

There are US air attacks on Momote and Lorengau, as well as Wewak in New Guinea, in preparation for the planned reconnaissance in force shortly to be executed. The troops for this operation are now embarking in Oro Bay, New Guinea.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• AirSols light bombers attack antiaircraft batteries around the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul. 3 XIII Fighter Command P-38s attack a radar station at Cape St. George.
• A VMF-223 F4U downs an A6M2-N 'Rufe' float plane over the Borpop airfield on New Ireland at 1135 hours. a VMSB-241 SBD crew downs a G4M 'Betty' bomber over the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul during the morning. A VMF-217 F4U downs an E13A 'Jake' reconnaissance float plane near Cape Orford at 1300 hours. A 348th Fighter Group P-47 downs a Ki-21 'Sally' bomber near the Cape Hoskins airfield on New Britain at 1700 hours.

Air Operations, Carolines

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Ponape Island.

Air Operations, CBI

• 2 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 10th Air Force P-51s and A-36s attack numerous targets.

• 8 14th Air Force P-40s attack a rail bridge at Puchi.

• 4 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail yards and a distillery at Nam Dinh while conducting an otherwise fruitless anti-shipping sweep.

Air Operations, Marshalls

41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Mille and Wotje atolls. 531st Fighter-Bomber Squadron A-24s and 15th Fighter Group P-40 fighter-bombers attack the Jaluit and Mille atolls.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• More than 30 V Bomber Command B-24s, supported by V Fighter Command P-40s, attack Boram, Tadji, and Wewak. 27 B-25s attack targets in the Hansa Bay area. More than 30 38th Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Momote airfield on Los Negros and the Lorengau airfiel on Manus and other targets in the Admiralty Islands. A-20s attack Alexishafen and Marakum.
• Covered by B-25s attacking nearby airfields, a US Navy PBY lands a US Army reconnaissance team on Los Negros Island in the Admiralty group. When a Japanese bivouac is located, pre-invasion bombardment plans are set in motion.

Argentina, Home Front

Juan Perón is appointed War Minister.

Eastern Front

Von Manstein's Army Group South, to be renamed Army Group North Ukraine in March, launches powerful counterattacks against Russian positions west of the Styr River in pre-war Poland. The Russians capture Bezhakitsy, west of Chelm in Poland.

Images from February 27, 1944

Captain W Guest-Gordons, Intelligence Officer with No. 2 Infantry Brigade, Examines a German Panzerfaust Anti-Tank Weapon, Anzio, 27 February 1944

Two captured German Paratroopers Carrying a Wounded British Soldier Who Had Lost a Foot on a Mine

Gunners of 78th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery make use of ‘liberated’ sunshades to keep the rain off while making a brew, Anzio, Italy, 27 February 1944.

Trying to Keep the Rain Off

German 17cm Kanone 18, Italy, February 1944