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, Europe

• Of 258 8th Air Force B-17s dispatched against a number of V-weapons sites around Pas-de-Calais, 109 attack assigned targets and 23 attack various targets of opportunity.
• Escort for the B-17s is provided by 197 fighters, including 21 P-51s ot the newly re-equipped squadron of the 4th Fighter Group. 1 Luftwaffe fighter is downed.
• There are no USAAF losses
• Three 2nd Bomb Division B-24 groups are dispatched against V-weapons sites but, of 81 B-24s dispatched, only 49 attack their assigned targets. Escort for the B-24s is provided by 61 56th Fighter Group P-47s.

• XII Air Support Command A-36s attack the Guidonia and Littoria Airdromes, the port area at Ladispoli, and rail cars north of Rome.
• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack Littoria and nearby road targets.

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.

New Britain

At Arawe, a company of the 112th Cavalry with two platoons of tanks advances north to locate the enemy and finds the area abandoned.

Pacific

• The US submarine Cod (SS-224) sinks the Japanese army cargo ship Taisoku Maru (2473t) west of Halmahera.
• The US submarine Trout (SS-202) sinks the Japanese cargo ship Aki Maru (11,409t) east of Formosa.
• The US submarine Grayback (SS-208) sinks the Japanese cargo ship Ceylon Maru (4905t) in the East China Sea.

Southwest Pacific

The Alamo Scouts, an independent reconnaissance unit, land a six-man team on Los Negros to gain firsthand information on Momote airfield and the status of Japanese forces on the island.

Images from February 27, 1944

Examining a German Panzerfaust

German Paratroopers Carrying a Wounded British Soldier

Trying to Keep the Rain Off

German 17-cm Kanone 18