Air Operations, Bismarcks29 V Fighter Command P-40s attack Talasea and nearby Japanese Army bivouacs. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Carolines41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Ponape Island. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, CBIBURMA
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Central PacificVII Bomber Command B-24s attack Wake Island. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Europe8th Air Force attacks the Hamm marshalling yards. RAF BOMBER COMMANDEvening Ops:
GERMANY:
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, MarshallsIn the first shuttle-bombing mission of its kind in the region, 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s based in the Gilbert Islands attack the Jaluit and Maloelap atolls, then fly on to the US Navy’s new airfield in the Majuro Atoll. After re-arming at Majuro, the B-25s attack targets in the Marshalls on their way back to the Gilberts. Hereafter, all of the 41st Group’s missions against bypassed Japanese bases will be shuttle missions. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, New Guinea
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() BougainvilleThe Japanese make a general attack against the Cape Torokina beachhead, but make only minimal progress in the face of heavy barrages laid down by the American artillery. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() BurmaThe 14th LRP Brigade lands at 'Aberdeen' landing zone near Manhton in support of Chindit operations. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() CBITwo battalions of Merrill's Marauders arrive at Inkanghtawng intending to block the Kamaing Road, but the Japanese are in defensive positions. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Eastern FrontIn a new series of attacks 1st Ukraine Front drives south from between Proskurov and Tarnopol, the Wehrmacht's stronghold and operational base, threatening to divide 1st and 4th Pzr Armies from each other. Kapychintsy is taken. SOUTHERN SECTORThe 1st Guards Army renews its attack around Tarnopol and encircles the town for a second time. The main German combat line is pushed back more than 15 miles to the west, leaving Group Neinhoff isolated. Gen Neinhoff, commandant of the Tarnopol fortress, has just 4,600 men. To prevent the isolation of the 1st Panzer Army on the Dniestr and its retreat into Rumanian, Manstein warns Hube of possible Soviet intentions and orders him to pull his forces back to the west if threatened with encirclement, However, under intense attack, Hube continues to fall back to the south. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ItalyGen Alexander decides to call off frontal attacks on the 'Gustav' Line. A new lull follows on the Cassino front while the combatants wait for better weather. Meanwhile Operation STRANGLE is launched, the air action on a huge scale to disrupt the lines of communication between central northern Italy and the front. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() New GuineaThe RECKLESS Task Force is assembled under the I Corps commander, Lt-Gen Robert L. Eichelberger. The Aitape landing force is comprised of the 163rd RCT of the 41st Infaantry Division. It is commanded by Brig-Gen Jens A. Doe and has a combination of 7,000 combat troops and nearly 9,000 service and air force personnel in support. It is to seize the Tadji airfield and make it operational for Allied aircraft to support the Hollandia landings. The Hollandia Task force is composed of the 24th Infantry Division and the 41st Infantry Division (less the 163rd). The 41st Division, commanded by Maj-Gen Horace A. Fuller, will land at Humboldt Bay; the 24th Division, commanded by Maj-Gen Frederick A. Irving, will land at Tanahmerah Bay. The divisions will move to capture the several airfields in the area and consolidate forces to defend the established perimeter. Task Force 77, under Rear-Adm Daniel E. Barbey, will support the landing along with Task Force 58 from 5th Fleet, which will provide carrier air support. The total operation consists of 58,000 men, 13,000 of whom are engineers essential to opening roads through nearly impassable jungle and building the airfields necessary to support offensive operations. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Pacific
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() St Matthias IslandsUS destroyers shell the Japanese seaplane base on Elouae, an islet southwest of Mussau Island, where an American patrol from Emira has discovered that the Japanese have a small seaplane base. SolomonsThe Japanese try another attack on the American positions on Bougainville but can still make no progress and again lose heavily. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Images from March 23, 1944
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[March 22nd - March 24th] |