Air Operations, Carolines

• 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Ponape Island.
• 5th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Woleai Atoll.
• During the night, VII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Truk Atoll.

Air Operations, CBI

• 13 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Maymyo.
• 8 B-24s attack Namtu and fuel and supply dumps at Lashio.
• 12 10th Air Force B-25s and 12 P-51s attack Indaw and Mawlu.
• 12 B-25s attack a bivouac and dumps at Kamaing.
• 5 490th Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack three bridges in the Tangon area.
• 48 A-31s attack a bridge at Manipur and road targets near Tiddim.
• More than 20 A-31s attack Japanese Army positions and occupied villages near Buthidaung.
• 4 P-51 fighter-bombers attack a bridge at Shweli.
• 12 14th Air Force P-40s conducting an armed reconnaissance mission attack targets of opportunity at Bhamo, Hsenwi, Kutkai, Lashio, Loiwing, and Takaw.

Air Operations, Europe

• 24 Mosquitos are sent to bomb Cologne through a complete cloud cover with no losses.
• 40 Halifaxes and 18 Stirlings lay mines off Brest and Lorient and in the Frisians, 9 aircraft are involved in Resistance operations, 11 OTU aircraft and 4 Stirlings make leaflet flights over France, and there are 4 RCM sorties.
• There are no losses.

• More than 175 9th Air Force P-47 dive-bombers attack the marshalling Yards and targets of opportunity at Haine-St.-Pierre (France), Hasselt, Montignies-sur-Sambre, and Namur.

• 236 IX Bomber Command B-26s and 34 A-20s attack V-weapons sites and coastal defenses at Abbeville, Amiens, Berck-sur-Mer, Etaples, and St.-Omer.
• 4 B-26s are lost

• XII TAC A-20s attack an ammo dump.
• XII TAC fighter-bombers attack road, rail, and tactical targets around Rome and throughout the battle area.

• 15th Air Force B-17s attack the oil-producing and refining facilities at Ploesti.
• While escorting the B-17s, 31st Fighter Group P-51 pilots down 13 Axis fighters and damage or possibly down 7 others between noon and 1215 hours.
• 2 P-51s are lost with their pilots
• More than 100 304th Heavy Bomb Wing B-24s attack Turnu Severin and marshalling yards at Bucharest.
• 14th Fighter Group P-38 pilots down 10 Axis fighters between 1435 and 1445 hours.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• Beginning with uncontested dawn sweeps against Wakde Island and Sarmi by fighters from Task Group 58.1, US Navy surface forces and carrier aircraft from Task Force 58 and Task Force 78 mount a pre-invasion aerial bombardment of Aitape, Hollandia, airfields in the Hollandia area, Sawar, and the Wakde Islands. Though many Japanese aircraft are caught on the ground, few are destroyed owing to their having been degassed.
• In response to US Navy air strikes in the Hollandia area, the bulk of Japanese aircraft based at Manokwari are withdrawn beyond range to Sorong.
• Between 0750 and 1035 hours, US Navy F6Fs down 3 G4M 'Betty' bombers, 1 Ki-21 'Sally' bomber, 1 Ki-49 'Helen' bomber, and 3 fighters over the Hollandia area. During the afternoon, F6Fs down 7 Ki-21 'Sallys', 1 Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaissance plane, 1 Ki-51 'Sonia' bomber, 2 Ki-45 'Nick' fighters, and 1 A6M Zero.
• Throughout the day, V Bomber Command B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s mount a record 320 sorties against the Madang, Tadji, and Wewak areas. 21 380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based in Australia attack airfields on Noemfoor Island in the Schouten Islands.

Burma-India

The Chinese-American forces re-group to prepare an offensive against Myitkyina.

Free French, Command

Gen Henri Giraud resigns his post as Commander-in-Chief of French forces in North Africa.

Italy, Politics

At Salerno, Marshal Pietro Badoglio sets up the first Government of National Unit, which is made up of all the parties of the Committee of National Liberation.

New Guinea

In preparation for the Hollandia landings Adm Marc Mitscher leads TF 58 inlcuding 12 carriers in attacks on Wakde Island, Sawar, Sarmi and Hollandia itself. The carrier planes attack during the day and there are cruiser bombardments during the night. Many enemy aircraft are destroyed on the ground since there is no air opposition worth mentioning. These attacks continue into the next day.

Pacific

The US submarine Stingray (SS-186) is sunk when she strikes a submerged pinnacle west of the Marianas.

Turkey

Exports of chrome to Germany cease.

Images from April 21, 1944

The US landings at Tanahmera Bay

OS2U Floatplane Returns to USS Boston

Paris After Bombing

A One-man Submarine on Peter Beach