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.

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• In response to US Navy air strikes in the Hollandia area, the bulk of Japanese aircraft based at Manokwari are withdrawn beyond range to Sorong.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.

Turkey

Exports of chrome to Germany cease.

Images from April 21, 1944

The US landings at Tanahmera Bay, 21 April 1944

OS2U Floatplane Returns to USS Boston after Rescuing an Airman, 21 April 1944

Paris After Bombing, 21 April 1944

A One-man Submarine on Peter Beach

The one-man submarine which landed on Peter Beach, Anzio Beachhead area, Italy, is examined by U.S. soldiers- 21 April 1944. The tube on the left is the torpedo, the other is the driving compartment, housing one man. The torpedo tube is shackled to the driving tube and can be released, allowing the pilot to return safely. Ordinarily the torpedo is underneath the drive tube. The submarine pilot was a 17 year old Nazi who was captured.