Air Operations, Carolines

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Ponape Island on the return flight from the Momote airfield on Los Negros to Eniwetok.

Air Operations, CBI

• 12 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Homalin and the marshalling yard at Indaw.
• 32 10th Air Force A-31s attack Kalewa, Tiddim, and Kohima (India).
• 16 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack the Kangaung airfield at Meiktila.
• 12 P-38 fighter-bombers attack targets along the Tiddim road.
• 23 P-40s and 4 A-36s attack troops, artillery positions, and dumps in the Myitkyina area.
• 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s down 2 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters over the Kangaung airfield at Meiktila at 1500 hours.

Air Operations, Europe

• 24 Mosquitos are sent to Dortmund, 16 to Berlin and 6 to a railway junction at Lison, France, 30 aircraft lay mines off various coasts, 4 aircraft are on Resistance operations, and there are 2 Serrate patrols and 2 RCM and 8 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack Manokwari.
• B-24s, A-20s, and V Fighter Command P-38s attack Biak Island.
• P-40s attack targets along the Biri River.
• B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and P-39s attack numerous targets between Hansa Bay and Wewak.

China

The Chinese launch a counteroffensive in Honan Province.

Italy

Operation BUFFALO begins as the Anzio beachhead bursts into new activity with a fierce bombardment from more than 500 Allied guns along with a raid on Cisterna by 60 light bombers. This is followed by an attack on Cisterna by 3 divisions of US VI Corps, the 45th, 3rd and 1st Arm. Also involved in the Anzio breakout is the 100th Japanese Infantry Battalion, make up of Americans of Japanese descent.

The German defense of Gen Eberhard von Mackensen's 14th Army is strong and casualties are heavy but some gains are made. The Americans reach the Cisterna-Rome railway line and take about 1,500 prisoners, but their losses are extremely high. The 3rd Div alone has 950 dead, wounded and missing. Advance guards of the US 85th Div of the II Corps reach Terracina while inland both the French and Canadians break into the 'Senger' Line.

In the British 8th Army sector under Gen Leese, the Canadian I Corps pushes forward to the Azuino-Pontecorvo road, breaching the 'Senger' Line. The Canadian 5th Arm Div bursts through the corridor.

New Guinea

The US forces advance from the Tor estuary toward Sarmi but meet heavy resistance only a short way from their start line. At Aitape the Japanese continue to force slight withdrawals back to Tadji, where the airfield is situated..

Occupied France

Paris radio announces the railway system is in chaos (see May 20).

Pacific

The Japanese submarine RO-104 is sunk by the US destroyer escort England (DE-635) north of the Bismarck Archipelago.

Wake Island

The destroyer bombardment of the previous day is followed up by heavy air attacks from the carriers of Adm Alfred Montgomery's TG 58.2.

Images from May 23, 1944

Column of American Medical Vehicles during the Drive towards Rome, 23 May 1944

American Troops Camped by the Roadside during the Drive towards Rome, 23 May 1944

Valentine Bridgelayer Tank, near Melfa, Italy, 23 May 1944

Knocked Out German Reconnaissance Car near Itri, Italy, 23 May 1944

LST-480 burns again, 23 May 1944. The sunken LST-353 where the disaster originated lies off her starboard bow

LST-480 Burning Again

US Tank Unit Mobilizes at Anzio, Italy, 23 May 1944

Unidentified Canadian Infantrymen Advancing towards Melfa, Italy, 23 May 1944

Medium armored car of 1st Recon. Rgr. Royal Armored Corps, parked behind a wrecked M-4 tank. The M.A.C. is maintaining contact with advance elements. Fifth Army, Borgo Sabotino area, Italy. 23 May 1944.

Medium Armored Car of Royal Armored Corps

Batch of prisoners entering gates to prisoner of war collecting point operated by 1st Armored Division. Amongst the first to be captured in the new beachhead offensive. Fifth Army, Campo Morta area, Italy. 23 May 1944.

Prisoner of War Collecting Point

Building on Fire in Gaeta, Italy, 23 May 1944

Major-General B.M. Hoffmeister, General Officer Commanding 5th Canadian Armoured Division, in the turret of the Sherman tank "Vancouver" near Castrocielo, Italy, 23 May 1944.

Maj-Gen B. M. Hoffmeister, CO 5th Canadian Armored Division

German Shells Bursting near Cisterna, Italy, 23 May 1944