Air Operations, CBI

• More than 40 10th Air Force A-31s attack artillery batteries at Buthidaung. 12 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack the airfield at Heho.

• 3 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack 2 bridges at Viet Tri.

• 12 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack targets in the Andaman Islands.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based in Australia undertake a 17-hour mission to attack the Japanese Navy base at Soerabaja, Java.

Air Operations, Europe

The 15th Air Force sends 500 sorties to Bucharest and Ploesti.

• 616 8th and 9th Air Force fightgers mount strafing missions against Luftwaffe bases in western and central Germany, but three fighter groups abort due to bad weather. 15 Luftwaffe fighters, 1 He-111, and 1 Fi-156 are downed in air-to-air combat, and 40 Luftwaffe aircraft are claimed as destroyed on the ground.
• In large part because of bad weather, 33 fighters are downed and 30 pilots lost

• The XII Air Support Command is redesignated XII Tactical Air Command (XII TAC).
• 12th Air Force B-25s and B-26s attack a marshalling yard, a tunnel, and several rail bridges in central Italy.
• XII TAC fighter-bombers attack ammo dumps, rail lines, and bridges in central Italy, as well as numerous tactical targets, including gun emplacements and tanks, in the US 5th Army battle area.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack marshalling yards at Bucharest.
• 15th Air Force B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Ploesti.

• 15th Air Force B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Nis.

Air Operations, New Guinea

More than 180 V Bomber Command B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s attack numerous targets in the Aitape area. 16 V Fighter Command P-40s attack barges at Seleo Island. 20 P-39s attack occupied villages, motor vehicles, and supply dumps around Hansa Bay and in the Alexishafen area.

Allied Planning

The CCS authorizes an increase in naval forces to support the new assessment that increases the number of assault divisions for NEPTUNE from three to five. The total naval force available includes 6 battleships, 22 cruisers, and 93 destroyers.

Burma-India

The airlift of the Chinese 50th Div to Maingkwan is almost completed. This division will be followed by the 14th. Chiang Kai-shek orders Gen Stilwell to move his troops cautiously into the Mogaung valley. Gen Chennault warns Chiang Kai-shek against the danger, which he believes to be imminent, of a huge Japanese air offensive against China. Mountbatten's headquarters are moved from New Delhi to Kandy, in Ceylon, a precaution which shows the danger threatening India.

Eastern Front

After fighting for several weeks the Russians take Tarnopol southeast of Lvov.

After heavy fighting the XLVIII Panzer Corps gains a little territory on the approaches to Tarnopol. However, the battle proves costly, many of the German tanks being disabled and much of their available fuel consumed. Inside Tarnopol the Germans in teh Zagrobela suburb prepare to break out. The 1,300 men, forced to leave their 700 wounded behind, will launch their attack the next day. The forces cut off in the second pocket have been largely destroyed.

Italy

The British X Corps replaces the II Polish Corps in the sector north of the 'Gustav' Line.

Pacific

• The US submarine Redfin (SS-272) attacks a Japanese convoy southwest of Mindanao and sinks the army cargo ship Shinyu Maru (4621t).
• The Japanese merchant cargo ship Sumida Maru (2022t) sinks on a mine off Honshu probably laid by the US submarine Steelhead (SS-280).
• The British submarine Storm sinks the Japanese minesweeper W-7 in the Andaman Islands area.

Images from April 15, 1944

US Patrol is Briefed

US Patrol Fires on German Position

Free French Force Radio Operator

US Patrol Fires Bazooka at German Position

US Patrol Again Fires at German Position