Chronology of World War II

Thursday, February 17

Operation HAILSTONE


Operation H<small>AILSTONE</small>
Operation HAILSTONE was a massive naval air attack launched on February 16-17, 1944 by the United States Navy against the Japanese naval and air base at Truk Island. The American attack was extraordinarily successful, sinking 15 Japanese warships, 32 merchant ships, and destroying 270 warplanes.