Chronology of World War II

May 1944

Sunday, May 14


Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 25 10th Air Force B-25s and P-51 fighter-bombers attack Japanese Army positions at Hopin.
  • 48 A-31s attack Japanese Army positions at Kalewa and near Bishenpur (India).
  • 24 A-31s attack Japanese Army troops and artillery positions at Lahaw.
  • 11 P-40s attack a rail shed at Myitkyina and a bridge and road targets at Kazu.
  • 12 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack traffic on the Tiddim road at Tonzang.
  • More than 20 P-38s and P-51s attack the airfield at Heho and the Kanguang airfield at Meiktila.
  • P-51s with the 311th Fighter Group’s 530th Fighter Squadron down 4 Japanese fighters over the Meiktila airfield at 0935 hours.
CHINA
  • 60 14th Air Force P-40s and P-51s attack river traffic, rail lines, and motor vehicles at Pailochi, Sienning, and Yoyang, and a supply area at Shayang.
  • 20 P-40 fighter-bombers attack several occupied villages and towns.
  • 6 Japanese bombers attack the airfield at Kienow.
  • P-40s with the 23d Fighter Group’s 75th Fighter Squadron down 2 Japanese fighters in a morning engagement near Yochow.
[rarr2rarr2 | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, Europe

There is a night raid on Bristol and southwestern England by 91 planes. 15 are lost.

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
  • 30 Mosquitos are sent to Ludwigshafen, 10 to Carpiquet airfield near Caen and 3 to Leverkusen, 43 aircraft lay mines from Kiel to Biscay, 6 aircraft are on Resistance operations, and there are 2 Serrate patrols and 1 RCM and 24 OTU sorties.
    • 3 mine-laying Lancasters and 1 OTU Wellington are lost.
[rarrrarr | rarr2rarr2]

Air Operations, New Guinea

  • V and XIII Bomber command B-24s, V Bomber Command B-25s and A-20s, and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack numerous targets between Hansa Bay and Wewak, and in the Wakde Islands area.
  • B-24s attack the Sorido airfield and supplies at Bosnik.
[larr2larr2 | rarr1rarr2]

Atlantic

In a German E-boat attack against Allied landing craft lying off the coast near the Isle of Wight, the French destroyer La Combattante sinks S-141 in which Dönitz's second son Klaus is serving. The young German is lost with the rest of the crew.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Italy

12,000 men, Moroccans and elements of the the 4th Mountain Div under the command of Gen Augustin Guillaume of the French Corps, break into the Ausente Valley, take Ausonia and push on over the Aurunci Mountains toward the next German line, hoping to break into it before the Germans can occupy it in strength. Their advance helps the American forces on their left to speed their own move foreward against the German 94th Div. The 78th Div of the British XIII Corps succeeds in crossing the Rapido River near Sant'Angelo in Theodice and in establishing a bridgehead across the river.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

New Britain

The Japanese, after holding up the American efforts to extend their beachheads for so long, retire on Rabaul. 5,000 men of the 65th Bde are dead and 500 have been taken prisoner, an enormous figure in view of the Japanese standards and their code of honor.

[rarrrarr | rarr]

New Guinea

The Americans evacuate by sea some units which the Japanese have managed to cut off.

[rarrrarr | rarrrarr]

Pacific

The Japanese destroyer Inazuma is sunk by the US submarine Bonefish (SS-223) in the Celebes Sea.

[larr2larr | rarrrarr]

Images from May 14, 1944

US Tanks in Coreno Ausonio, Italy, 14 May 1944


US tanks in Coreno Ausonio

Walking wounded coming back from the line for treatment during the attack across the River Gari (Rapido) on the Gustav Line, 14 May 1944.

Wounded Coming Back for Treatment


Wounded Coming Back for Treatment

Explosion from Shell Fired at German Positions in Minturno, Italy, 14 May 1944


Explosion from shell fired

K A Jacobs and R W North collecting ammunition from a pit immediately behind one of the forward New Zealand machine gun posts on the 8th Army Front in Italy, 14 May 1944

Collecting Ammunition


Collecting Ammunition

New Zealand Bren gunner C A Coleman provides covering fire in forward areas of 8th Army Front, 14 May 1944 [note the extra ammo clips to the left of the gunner]

Providing Covering Fire


provides covering fire

Half tracks passing newly constructed pontoon bridge across the Gargliano River in the San Andrea area. Fifth Army, San Andrea area, Italy. 14 May 1944

Crossing Over Pontoon Bridge


Crossing Over Pontoon Bridge

A group of German prisoners just captured by troops of the 4th Moroccan French Division. Fifth Army, Castello area, Italy. 14 May 1944

Group of German Prisoners


group of German prisoners

[May 13th - May 15th]