Admiralty Islands

A second wave of 1,000 men from the US 5th Cav Regt arrives at Los Negros. The forces already established on the island take Momote airfield with the help of fire support from destroyers offshore.

Air Operations, CBI

• 20 10th Air Force P-40s attack a fuel dump at Myitkyina, artillery batteries at Shinban, and motor vehicles near Walawbum. 8 P-51s and A-36s attack a Japanese Army bivouac near Mogaung. 5 P-51s attack Japanese Army artillery batteries around Maingkwan.

• 10 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s armed with 1,000-pound bombs dive-bomb bridges along the Yangtze River between Chiuchiang and Nanchang. 3 direct hits are claimed. Also, 2 14th Air Force P-40s attack a barracks and airfield at Kengtung.

• 4 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a ship at Mon Cay and rail facilities at Campha.

Air Operations, Europe

• 117 Halifaxes and 6 Mosquitos of Nos. 4, 6 and 8 Groups attack the SNCA aircraft factory at Meulan-Les-Meureaux, 15 miles outside of Paris. The Oboe marking is accurate and the bombing seriously damages the factory buildings.
• There are no losses.
• 15 Lancasters of No. 617 Squadron carry out a successful raid on an aircraft factory at Albert, France. 13 Mosquitos are sent to 3 targets in Germany and 1 flying-bomb site, there are 2 RCM sorties and 8 Serrate patrols, 8 Stirlings lay mines off French Channel ports, 44 aircraft are involved in Resistance operations, and there are 10 OTU sorties.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 1More than 80 V Bomber Command B-24s and P-40 fighter-bombers attack the airfield at Nubia, and targets in the Alexishafen, Hansa Bay, and Madang areas.
• Despite communications problems that result in US Army casualties on the ground, more than 60 V Bomber Command B-25s and A-20s, and 24 348th Fighter Group P-47s and 475th Fighter Group P-38s attack Japanese Army ground forces on Los Negros Island throughout the day. Also, several 375th Troop Carrier Group B-17s drop supplies, strafe ground targets, and even down a Japanese fighter.
• 348th Fighter Group P-47s down 7 A6M Zeros over or near Manus Island.

Burma

In the northeast the units of the American 'provisional unit' re-group southwest of Tanai River. British forces moving from Ledo, in Assam, cross the Chindwin River near Singkaling Hkamti on boats dropped by parachute.

In the Arakan the 81st West African Div takes Apaukwa, but is driven out again by violent Japanese counterattacks.

Diplomatic Relations

Owing to Turkey's reluctance to join the war or to make any other contribution to the Allied effort, Lend-Lease aid is cut off.

Italy

With transportation in turmoil, hundreds of Italians jump aboard a freight train in the mountains near Salerno. When it stalls, most of the crowded flatcars are in a tunnel. Toxic fumes from the engine's low-grade fuel blows into the tunnel and at least 426 people die of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Kesselring calls of the German Anzio offensive despite Hitler's disapproval.

Images from March 2, 1944

F6F over Koror Palau, March 1944

The crew of Lancaster 'C for Charlie' of No 44 Squadron try to warm themselves in their Nissen hut quarters at Dunholme Lodge, after returning from a raid on Stuttgart, 2 March 1944.

No 44 Squadron Lancaster Crew

American Field Service Ambulance near Cassino, March 1944

New Zealand's 8th Brigade Brigadier Leonard Goss awards US Staff Sergeant Harry Stickel an Air Medal on Stirling Island, 2 March 1944

Awarding an Air Medal