Admiralty Islands

On Los Negros Island the US 5th and 12 Cav try to join up their 2 beachheads so that they can mop up the Japanese forces still holding out.

Air Operations, Carolines

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Ponape Island.

Air Operations, CBI

• More than 25 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 459th Fighter Squadron P-38 fighter-bombers attack two bridges near Meza and several other targets. More than 30 10th Air Force A-31s attack Japanese Army ground positions in the Chin Hills and Arakan coastal region. 6 P-38s attack oil dumps at Monywa. 2 B-25s and more than 80 P-51s, P-40s, and A-36s attack Kamaing, Manywet, Myitkyina, and a bridge at Hopet.

Air Operations, Europe

• 56 2nd Bomb Division B-24s attack V-weapons sites around Watten.
• VIII Fighter Command fighter pilots down 10 Luftwaffe aircraft over France between 1345 and 1530 hours.

• 12th Air Force B-25s attacks a bridge a Poggibonsi.
• 12th Air Force B-26s attack the viaducts at Arezzo and Bucine, and the rail bridges at Cecina and Poggibonsi.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s drop food parcels to ground troops around Cassino.
• XII Air Support Command P-40 fighter-bombers attack tactical targets around the Anzio beachhead.
• XII Air Support Command P-47s attack rail bridges north or Rome.
• During the day the 31st Fighter Group Spitfire pilots down 5 Bf-109s over central Italy.

Air Operations, New Guinea

More than 140 5th Air Force bombers, fighter-bombers, and fighters attack targets at Hansa Bay, Tadji, Wewak, and the Scouten Islands. V Fighter Command P-39s and RAAF fighter-bombers attack Japanese Army ground positions in the Madang area.

Burma

The 20th Indian Div has completed its withdrawal most successfully. It now holds positions on the Shanan Hills and between Palel and Wangjing. The 17th Div is still fighting its way back north through the Japanese roadblocks inflicting heavy casualties on the 33rd Div as it does so.

CBI

The Chinese 22nd and 38th Divisions and elements of the 1st Provisional Tank Group continue to attack toward Jambu Bum. A battalion and other elements of the Marauders advance toward Inkangahtawng.

Eastern Front

The XLVIII Panzer Corps, having relieved Tarnopol, is brought under intense attack by the 1st Guards Army and has to fall back. The 1st Tank Army struggles to break through the German positions at Cherny Ostrov, being bogged down by both the mud and severe German resistance.

Italy

Gen Alexander, Commander-in-Chief of the XV Army Group, calls a conference of the commanders engaged on the 'Gustav' Line to consider the possibility of suspending operations immediately. Gen Freyberg opposes the suggestion, still convinced that his troops can break through the front at Cassino.

The US 34th Div arrives at Anzio as reinforcements.

New Guinea

The US forces of the 32nd Div moving west from Yalau Plantation make contact with the units of the Australian 7th Div advancing north from inland on the Huon Peninsula about 8 miles form the plantation.

Images from March 21, 1944

Dummy Bofors Gun and Crew

German Soldiers on a Train

Soldiers Evacuating People from Vesuvius Eruption

Looking Across the Wingspan of a Messerschmitt Me 323

Italian Residents Fleeing San Sebastiano

Air Marshal Hill Inspects Wreckage of Ju-188E-1

Italian Children Watch as Mount Vesuvius Erupts

Before the Offensive on the Narva Bridgehead

German Soldier with a Panzer-Büchse

Home Destroyed by Volcanic Eruption

German Soldier with an 'Ofenrohr' / 'Panzerschreck'

Hitler Youth Visit the 12th SS Panzer Division