Chronology of World War II

March 1944

Friday, March 3

Admiralty Islands

The Japanese send in a strong night attack against the American force on Los Negros. The attackers take heavy losses however, and much of the Japanese strength on the island is thereby dissipated.

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Air Operations, Bismarcks

A VMF-223 F4U downs an A6M Zero over the Tobera airfield at Rabaul.

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Air Operations, Carolines

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Ponape Island.

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Air Operations, CBI

BURMA

14 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the airfields at Hsenwi, Lashio, and Loiwing. 22 341st Bomb Group B-25s, escorted by RAF fighters, attack the Fort White area. 10 B-25s and 4 10th Air Force P-51s attack the airfields at Katha, Mawlu, and Shwebo. 12 B-25s and 8 P-51s attack rail facilities at 2 locations. 6 459th Fighter Squadron P-38 fighter-bombers attack a bridge at Okshitpin. More than 70 B-25s, A-36s, P-40s, and P-51s attack numerous fuel and supply dumps, and road targets.

FRENCH INDOCHINA

14th Air Force P-40s attack a coal grading plant at Campha.

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Air Operations, Europe

Lightnings carry out a sweep over Berlin.

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:

16 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 10 to Düsseldorf, 1 to Krefeld, 2 to the flying-bomb site at Sottevaast, 45 aircraft lay mines off French ports, and there are 9 OTU sorties.

There are no losses.

3 Wellington minelaying sorties flown on this night by 300 (Polish) Squadron, based at Ingham, are the last Wellington operations flown by a normal Bomber Command squadron. RCM squadrons of No 100 Group will continue to use Wellingtons in small numbers for several months and the OTUs will use Wellingtons until the end of the war.

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Air Operations, New Guinea

After being diverted from the Admiralty Islands because of bad weather, more than 30 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Alexishafen and the Hansa Bay area. 20 V Bomber Command A-20s attack Erima. 20 P-39s attack Bogadjim and Madang.
During the afternoon, 6 345th Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 9 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s brave bad weather to bomb and strafe Japanese Army ground positions on Los Negros.
A 35th Fighter Group P-47 downs a Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaissance plane near Manam Island at 1010. V Fighter Command P-38s down 2 Ki-21 'Sally' bombers and 2 fighters over Hollandia between 1800 and 1815 hours.

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Burma

In the northeastern area that American 5307th 'provisional unit' occupies Lagang Ga and clears an open space for the dropping of supplies by air. The Japanese retire towards Walawbum, where they think they will find the Americans. A Chinese-American armored group, supported by units of the Chinese 22nd Div, occupies Ngam Ga, near Maingkwan, and repulses night counterattacks by the Japanese.

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Italy

There is another flurry of activity in the Anzio sector where the American 3rd Div meets and holds an attack near Ponte Rocco. After this failure the German 14th Army ceases bombardment and goes over to the defensive. In the afternoon the American division counter-attacks and re-takes some positions.

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New Guinea

Allied strategists are at work on the first draft of a plan for the invasion of Hollandia, in New Guinea. Since the Japanese bases are out of range of land-based aircraft it will be necessary to call on the aircraft carriers. The nearest air bases that the Japanese have to Hollandia are about 120 miles away in the Sarmia area and Wadke Island.

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Occupied Greece

Resistance groups EDES (Royalist) and ELAS (Communist) sign a 'cease-fire' agreement and promise to co-operate against the Germans.

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Pacific

The US submarine Narwhal (SS-167) sinks the Japanese river gunboat Karatsu in the Philippine Islands area.

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United States, Home Front

Under an agreement reached when Italy surrendered, Roosevelt announces that the Italian Fleet is to be distributed equally between the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union.

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