Air Operations, CBI

• 18 10th Air Force B-25s attack oil facilities at Chauk.
• More than 20 A-31s attack Japanese Army positions at Buthidaung and near Labawa.
• 20 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack the Kangaung airfield at Meiktila.
• B-25s and fighter-bombers mount more than 90 sorties against targets in the Mogaung Valley, including missions supporting Allied ground forces at Myitkyina.
• 80th Fighter Group P-40s down 3 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters over Kamaing at 0845 hours.

• 7 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 13 14th Air Force P-40s attack Japanese Army ground troops and motor vehicles near Shasi and attack a barracks at Shayang.
• P-40s support Chinese Army ground forces in the Mamien Pass and attack Japanese Army positions at Tatangtzu and Luchiangpa, a pack train near Tengchung, and a bridge and motor vehicles at Shweli.
• 23rd Fighter Group P-40s engage in an afternoon melee near Hengyang in which no Japanese airplanes are brought down.

• More than 20 10th Air Force A-31s attack the Bishenpur and Moirang areas.

Air Operations, Central Pacific

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Wake Island.

Air Operations, East Indies

• Carrier aircraft from the British Far Eastern Fleet’s Task Force 66 (HMS Illustrious) and the USS Saratoga (Fleet Carrier Air Group 12) attack the naval base at Soerabaja (Java) and a nearby aviation fuel refinery. One VT-12 TBM is lost with its crew.
• A VF-12 F6F downs a G4M 'Betty' bomber and a VB-12 SBD downs a transport plane, both near Soerabaja at 0740 hours.
• During the night, 7 380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the naval base at Soerabaja, Java.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• Supported by 6 XIII Bomber Command B-24s, 38 V Bomber Command B-25s, and 15 V Fighter Command P-40s, US Army ground forces land at Arara, New Guinea, on the mainland directly opposite the Wakde Islands. Throughout the day, flights of 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s orbit the landing area and provide close support as needed.
• 99 V Bomber Command and XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Mokmer and Sorido airfields on Biak and Bosnik on Biak Island.
• V Bomber Command B-24s and B-25s attack targets around Sarmi, Sawar, and the mouth of the Orai River.
• V Fighter Command P-38s attack supply dumps and airfields on Noemfoor Island.
• B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers mount more than 120 sorties throughout the day against numerous targets between Hansa Bay and Wewak.
• 475th Fighter Group P-38s down 3 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters over Noemfoor Island at 1210 hours.

Air Operations, Pacific

During the night B-24 Liberator bombers carry on the attack from bases in the Southwest Pacific, devastating the base depots at Surabaya, Java.

Atlantic

32 German MTBs lay mines off the English south and east coasts and fight inconclusive engagements with both British patrols and a German convoy.

Britain, Home Front

Kathleen Ferrier takes part in a performance of Handel's 'Messiah' at Westminster Abbey.

Burma

The Chinese and American forces take Myitkyina airfield in a surprise attack. A battalion of Merrill's Marauders occupies the village of Pamati, a crossing-place on the Irrawaddy River. A number of Chinese units are sent by air from Ledo, in India, to take part in the attack on Myitkyina town.

China

Street fighting breaks out in Loyang between Chinese and Japanese forces.

Dutch East Indies

The oil installations at Surabaya on Java are attacked by aircraft from the carriers Illustrious and Saratoga. The carriers are escorted by the battleships of Adm Sir James Somerville's Eastern Fleet, designated TF 65 for the ocasion (the carriers are TF 66). The damage inflicted is not in fact as great as the attackers believe. 1 Japanese freighter is sunk and 12 aircraft are destroyed on the ground. Of the 85 attacking planes only 1 is lost.

Italy

Although Kesselring, commanding Army Group C, has given von Vietinghoff 3 more divisions they have been unable to halt the continued Allied progress in the Liri Valley and to the south. The US 85th Div has gotten as far as Formia, while on the right some units of the 88th Div approach Maranola and others move towards Monte Grande.

In the French sector the Algerians of the French Expeditionary Corps take Esperia, which the Germans have abandoned, but suddenly run into fierce resistance on the road that runs from Esperia toward Sant'Olivo. Some French units push on toward Monte Oro, a little north of Esperia, which overlooks the 'Senger' Line. The French 1st Motorized Div continues its advance along the south bank of the Liri River, but is halted by fire from the enemy dug in on Monte Oro, and by mines. With the capture of Monte Faggeta by the Moroccan 4th Motorized Div, the French Expeditionary Corps controls the Itri-Pico road, the highway used by the German XIV Panzer Corps for supplies. Kesselring, fearing that communication with his rear areas may be cut, orders a withdrawal.

In the Cassino sector the divsions of the Polish II Corps take Sant'Angelo hill, north of Monte Cassino. During the night the German parachutists begin to withdraw from Monte Cassino. The many breaches in the Gustav line by the Allied forces have made their position indefensible.

Mediterranean

The German submarine U-616 is sunk in the western Mediterranean through the combined efforts of the US destroyers Gleaves (DD-423), Hilary P. Jones (DD-427), Ellyson (DD-454), Hambleton (DD-455), Kodman (DD-456), Emmons (DD-457), Macomb (DD-458), Nields (DD-616) and British aircraft.

New Guinea

Task Force Tornado begins the preliminary phases of the operations against Wadke Island, landing a regiment of infantry near Arare, on the coast of Dutch New Guinea, opposite the island. The landing has been preceded by a powerful naval bombardment. Adms Victor Crutchley and Russell lead the cruisers and destroyers which give cover. Following a technique already tried out on many occasions, guns have been landed and carry out a systematic hammering of the main objectives. Other units occupy the islet of Insumanai, not manned by the Japanese.

Occupied France

The Resistance attack the CAM ball-bearing factory at Ivry-sur-Seine.

Images from May 17, 1944

A 17-pdr anti-tank gun and crew near Cassino, 17 May 1944. A Sherman tank can be seen in the background.

A 17-pdr Anti-Tank Gun and Crew

Knocked Out German Tank in Ausente Valley, Italy, 17 May 1944

Gunners of the New Zealand Divisional Artillery manhandling their gun as a result of a target switch on the Cassino Front in Italy, 17 May 1944

Target Switching

Churchill tank crews of HQ Troop, 51 RTR share out rations near their camouflaged vehicles before going into action in support of 1st Canadian Division, Italy 17 May 1944

Churchill Tank Crews of HQ Troop

Damaged Village of Santa Maria Infante, Italy, 17 May 1944

US Tanks and Soldiers Roll Over Wakde Island, 17 May 1944

Boat Building at 1 NZ Convalescent Depot in Santo Spirito, Italy, 17 May 1944

Churchill tanks of 25th Tank Brigade going forward to support 1st Canadian Division, Italy, 17 May 1944. This was the first deployment of Churchills in Italy

Churchill Tanks in Italy

American Soldiers in Santa Maria, Italy, 17 May 1944

Only slight opposition was encountered when a regimental combat team debarked on 17 May 1944 at Arare just east of a major enemy supply and staging point at Sarmi, Dutch New Guinea

155mm Howtizer M1918 Firing on Japanese Positions

Chinese Crew of a 105-mm Howitzer at Myitkyina, Burma, May 1944

French Tank in Ausonia, Italy, 17 May 1944

Oberst Willy Langkeit, Ritterkreuz, Kommandeur of Panzer-Regiment 'Großdeutschland' with crew, rest in front of his Panther Ausf.A (turmnummer '01'), near of Iasi, municipality in the Moldavia region, north-eastern Romania. 17 May 1944.

Panzer Crew in Romania