Air Operations, Carolines

41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Ponape Island.

Air Operations, CBI

• 36 10th Air Force A-31s attack Paungbyin and Imphal (India). More than 20 A-31s attack Japanese Army positions near Buthidaung. 3 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 20 10th Air Force P-51s support Allied ground troops around Mawlu. 20 P-40s attack a Japanese Army camp at Manywet.

Air Operations, Japan

• During the morning, 3 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s reconnoiter Matsuuwa, Onnekotan, and Paramushiro islands, but they are unable to photograph the targets because of cloud cover.
• During the night, 3 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s attack Matusuwa, the airfield there, and Onnekotan islands, but must bypass Paramushiro because of cloud cover.

Air Operations, Marshalls

When 12 G4M 'Betty' bombers attempt to attack the US airbase complex on Engebi Island, VMF(N)-532 F4U night-fighters based at Engebi down 2 of the 'Bettys' 12 and 38 miles from the island at 0111 and 0112 hours, respectively. These are the first successful night interceptions by US Marine Corps F4Us. The surviving 'Bettys' release their bombs at sea and withdraw. One Marine Corps night-fighter pilot who is incorrectly vectored becomes lost and is never seen again, and another pilot bails out of his battle-damaged fighter.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s and V Fighter Command P-39s attack luggars along the coast.

Britain, Home Front

In a step to prevent any word leaking out on Allied plans for the invasion of France, Britian sharply restricts diplomatic privileges. Communications are censored. No code traffic is permitted. Pouches are to be inspected. Only US, Russian and British Dominion offices are exempt.

Burma

The Japanese road block at Zubza is broken by the 5th Bde, 2nd Div and the 161st Bde at Jotsoma relieved by the attacks of other units of the 2nd Indian Div. The Jotsoma position is useful for the Allies as an ideal location for bringing artillery fire down on the Japanese around Kohima.

China

Chiang Kai-shek, pressed by the Americans, decides to order Chinese troops to open an offensive in Burma across the Salween River. Mountbatten recommends that the Chinese and Americans operating in the north of Burma should confine themselves to taking on as many of the enemy units as possible, their only major objective being the capture Myitkyina. The vital issue in this sector is the reopening of the road from India to China.

Eastern Front

The 1st and 2nd Ukraine Fronts capture Tarnopol, southeast of Lvov, and reach the Carpathians, driving a massive wedge between the German Army Group South and Army Group A.

The XLVIII Panzer Corps resumes its counterattack toward Tarnopol but after a brief advance is brought to a halt.

The 51st Army reaches the outskirts of Sevastopol and launches an immediated assault upon the city. Desperate defense by scratch forces hold it off while the XLIX Mountain assembles.

Greece

The first Jews from Greece begin being transported from Athens to the Auschwitz concentration camp.

India, Home Front

The Fort Stikene, a ship carrying explosives and cotton bales, catches fires and explodes in the Bombay Docks. 27 ships are wrecked, approximately 740 are killed or missing, 476 servicemen and 1,000 Indians are injured. 40,000 tons of food are also lost leading to semifamine conditions in India later. 10,000 troops and Indians move 1 million tons of rubble in the next 6 months. (see September 10, 1944.)

Soviet Union, Home Front

Gen Nikolai F. Vatutin, ex-commander of the victorious 1st Ukraine Front, who was shot in an ambush by Ukrainian nationalists February 29, 1944, dies.

Images from April 14, 1944

Aftermath of the Bombay Explosion, 14 April 1944

On Exercise in the South of England, 14 April 1944

Patients on Stretcher-Jeep near Cassino, April 1944