Admiralty IslandsThe Japanese batteries at the entrance to Seeadler Bay are bombarded once again by Adm Crutchley's 3 cruisers and 4 destroyers. American advance guards capture Papitalai and the eastern part of Seeadler Harbor in Los Negros Island. B-25 aircraft are able to make emergency landings on Momote airfield. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Bismarcks
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, CarolinesVII Bomber Command B-24s attack Kusaie Island. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, CBIBURMA
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, EuropeAllied bombers attack the marshalling yards in Florence and Rome. RAF BOMBER COMMANDEvening Ops:
FRANCE:
ITALY:
FRANCE:
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, New Guinea
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() BurmaThe Chinese and Americans concentrate for the occupation of Walawbum where there are still substantial forces in the vicinity. About 2,000 Japanese are surrounded in the Hukawng Valley. In Operation U-GO the 33rd Div of Lt-Gen Renya Mutaguchi's 15th Army launches a major offensive across the Chindwin River. The goal of the operation is to spoil any Allied offensive moves in central Burma by crossing into India, pushing Allied forces out of Burma in the process, cutting the Assam-Burma railway used for supplying Stilwell's Myitkyina offensive, and also occupying Imphal and Kohima and the flat territory between. The first part of the offensive involves the Japanese 33rd Div advancing out and cutting the Tiddim-Imphal Road, a major Allied supply route to Imphal, and trapping the 17th Indian Div based between Tiddim and Tongzang. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() CBIAt Walawbum, The Chinese 22nd Division, reinforced by Marauders and supported by tanks from the 1st Provisional Tank Group, breaks the front lines of the Japanese 18th Division. They recapture jeeps, armored cars, and trucks that had been captured from the British at Rangoon in 1942. They also acquire the official seal of the 18th Division. About 2,500 Marauders are still fit for combat. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Diplomatic RelationsMoscow says it considers the Curzon line unacceptable as the postwar border between Russia and Poland, holding that the frontier should be farther west. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Eastern FrontSOUTHERN SECTORThe 1st Ukrainian Front advances rapidly. The 60th, 1st Guards and 3rd Guards Tank Armies approach Tarnopol, Chernyi and Ostrov. The 38th Army advances upon Starokonstantinovka. Hitler orders Tarnopol held to the last man, even if encircled. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Germany, Home FrontMembers of the Nazi organization for women are making house-to-house calls to recruit females between the ages of 17 and 45 to work 'in the service of the community'. This is to bolster Germany's depleted labor force. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() New BritainThe Japanese defend Volupai plantation, especially the trails leading out, as they are the main routes of escape to Rabaul for the Japanese. The 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, attacks and pushes the enemy back along the trails. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() SolomonsThe Japanese have at last assembled large forces around the US beachhead on Bougainville and are preparing a major attack. On the Green Islands the Allied forces have now completed the construction of an airfield. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() United States, PlanningSWPA headquarters notifies Alamo Force to prepare plans to seize Aitape and Hollandia. Aitape is 90 miles west-northwest of Wewak and has an airfield. Hollandia is a major Japanese base located on the coast of north-central New Guinea. Gen MacArthur is reading the Japanese military codes provided by Ultra. He realizes that Hollandia has few defenses against amphibious attack and the Japanese are anticipating an attack on Madang. In defending against the expected attack on Madang, the Japanese are moving fighter aircraft into Hollandia and preparing tto defend Hansa Bay and Wewak. MacArthru plans to bypass these defenses completely and attack the Japanese where they least expect it. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Images from March 7, 1944
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[March 6th - March 8th] |