Air Operations, Europe

RAF Bomber Command drops 18,000 tons of bombs this month, more than half on Berlin which is attacked by large forces on 6 nights. Brunswick and Magdeburg are also heavily hit. The American heavy bombers of 8th and 15th Air Forces drop 22,000 tons as well as destroying many German planes in the air. Aircraft factories are among the main targets, especially at Brunswick, Halberstadt and Frankfurt. Both British and American heavy bombers are sent against the V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais. Although the US 8th Air Force now has Mustang fighters flying as escorts on its daylight raids, losses can be heavy. On January 11 a quarter of a force of 238 bombers is lost on a mission to Oschersleben. These losses do not reflect, however, the effects of attrition on the German fighter force. For night operations the Germans have now developed an airborne version of the radar-search receiver Naxos fitted to U-boats to enable them to detect centimetric radar. This is fitted to night fighters using H₂S transmissions to help them home into the bomber stream. It is not sufficiently precise for the actual interception.

A whole range of communications targets in Italy and southern Europe is attacked by the Allied theater forces. After January 22 11,000 tons of bombs are dropped in support of the Anzio operation.

Air Operations, Pacific

The tempo of the Allied effort quickens here, as elsewhere. Rabaul is attacked on 13 occasions, the Marshall Islands on 11 and other targets also suffer heavy blows.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• Beginning at 0611 hours, US carrier aircraft from Task Group 37.2 attack 2 Japanese light cruisers and 2 destroyers at Kavieng, New Ireland. Damage is negligible and 1 SB2C and 2 F6Fs are lost.
• VF-18 and VF-30 F6Fs down 13 A6M Zeros over the Kavieng area between 1045 and 1105 hours and a VF-18 F6F downs a Ki-61 'Tony' fighter at sea near Task Group 37.2 at 1352 hours.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack Borgen Bay, A-20s attack Japanese Army ground forces at Cape Gloucester, and V Fighter Command P-39s attack barges along the northern coast of New Britain.
• 15 of 21 XIII Bomber Command B-24s are sent, escorted by 48 AirSols F6Fs and 25 P-38s, to attack the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul through heavy anti-aircraft fire and as many as 90 Japanese fighters. 1 B-24 is lost over the target area and 2 battle-damaged B-24s crash-land at Torokina Field on Bougainville.
• A VMF-321 F4U downs an A6M Zero near Rabaul at 1210 hours and VF-33 and VF-40 F6Fs down 3 Japanese fighters over the Rabaul area between 1210 and 1220 hours.

Air Operations, Europe

• 421 Lancasters are sent to Berlin.
• There is a Mosquito diversionary raid to Hamburg, but does little to draw fighters away from the main bomber stream. They hit the stream early and are active against the bombers on the way to the city. 1,000 tons of bombs are dropped this night.
• 28 Lancasters are lost.

• 15 Mosquitos are involved in the diversion to Hamburg, 11 Mosquitos are sent to Witten, 7 to Duisburg, 4 to Bristillerie, 1 to Cologne, there are 6 RCM sorties and 11 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s, escorted by 16 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s, attack a bridge spanning the Mu River at Monywa. During the attack, quite by accident, one B-25 topples two spans while pulling up to avoid a tree. This event becomes the focus of further refinement that develops into a reliable bridge-busting tactic that will be used with great success in the future.
• 11 311th Fighter Group A-36s and 15 P-51s attack the airfield at Myitkyina.

Air Operations, Marshalls

16 VII Fighter Command P-39s strafe the harbor at Mille and shipping in the area.

Air Operations, New Guinea

More than 120 V Bomber Command B-25s, B-26s, and A-20s, and RAAF aircraft attack Japanese positions at Saidor with 218 tons of bombs in preparation for an amphibious assault by elements of the US 6th Army. Also, B-25s attack Alexishafen and Madang in distant support of the Saidor operation.

Air Operations, Solomons

• 4 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack Manob, 2 B-24s and 6 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Kahili, and AirSols SBDs attack Japanese Army ground forces around the Bougainville perimeter.
• The 13th Air Force activates the independent 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron to oversee radar-equipped SB-24s already operational in the region. The 5th Heavy Bomb Group’s 394th Heavy Bomb Squadron transfers its SB-24s and their crews to the 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron.
• A VF(N)-75 F4U night-fighter downs a D3A 'Val' dive bomber near the Torokina airfield on Bougainville at 2156 hours.

Argentina

All political parties are banned.

Britain, Home Front

Sir Edwin Lutyens, O.M., architect, dies at age 76.

China

Gen Stilwell sets up the operative headquarters of 'Zebra Force', a Chinese division armed and trained by the Americans.

Diplomatic Relations

The Russian government has rejected the proposal of the Yugoslav government-in-exile that the two should draw up a treaty of friendship and collaboration, implicitly guaranteeing the sovereignty and independence of Yugoslavia after the war. Moscow's attitude has to be considered in relation to the support given by the Russians to Marshal Tito in opposition to Gen Mihailovic, head of the Chetnik movement and supporter of the monarchy. London, too, after supporting Mihailovic for a long time, has recentyl changed its attitude, giving political and material support to the pro-Communist partisans, who are indeed the main military and political force in the country.

Eastern Front

The Russians capture Belokovorichi, only 43 km east of the old Polish frontier.

The Stavka creates a new 6th Tank Army.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• During a fighter sweep against Rabaul-area targets, VF-33 F6Fs down 6 A6M Zeros over Rabaul at 1130 hours. VMF-211, VMF-214, and VMF-321 F4Us down 8 Zeros between 1150 and 1210 hours. 1 F6F is lost.
• V Fighter Command P-40s attack barges, dumps, and anti-aircraft batteries at Cape Hoskins.
• During the night, 39 RAAF Beauforts based at Kiriwina attack airfields at Rabaul.

Air Operations, Europe

• The RAF sends 383 planes to attack Berlin. These include 362 Lancaster, 12 Mosquitoes and 9 Halifaxes. A total of 60 planes abort.
• German fighter controllers follow the bombers all the way to the target. Night fighters are sent to a radio beacon between Hannover and Bremen but these fighters miss the bomber stream and do not come into action until they are directed to Berlin. Most of the bomber casualties occur in the Berlin area. The time over the target is 2:48-2:56. About 1,066 tons of bombs are dropped which include 624 tons of high explosives and 442 tons of incendiaries. The planned route is one that is straight-in and straight-out to allow the bombers to fly into Berlin from the northwest to take advantage of a strong following wind from that direction. The bombers take off about midnight. Some of the German airfields are closed because of bad weather, but the Germans mount a large effort anyway. Between 150 and 200 nightfighers are in the air waiting the bomber stream. German controllers, however, get the timing wrong and the bombers fly past without the German fighters being released. The Pathfinders have difficulty concentrating their markings. The main force is depleted and arrives later than planned because of the weather. About 70 bombers drop their loads at various places in Berlin

  central, eastern and southeastern districts. Most of the bombers miss Berlin altogether. 87 people are killed in the raid. Bad weather in England on the return causes many planes to be diverted to other airfields, but ther are no crashes.

• 26 Lancasters are lost on the raid. The casualties include 10 Pathfinder aircraft; No 156 Squadron, from Warboys, loses 5 of its 14 aircraft taking part in the raid. The aircrew casualties include 168 killed and 31 POWs.

• 8 Mosquitos are sent to Duisburg, 3 to Bristillerie, 2 Beaufighters are on Serrate patrols, 26 aircraft lay mines in the Frisians and off French ports and there are 25 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

• XII Bomber Command B-26s attack a marshalling yard and two bridges.
• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a barracks, an iron works, and a marshalling yard.
• XIi Air Support Command A-36s attack the marshalling yards and harbor at Civitavecchia, a marshalling yard, gun emplacements, and targets of opportunity.
• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack various tactical targets, including a German Army road column mired in the snow in the Avezzano-Popili area.

• P-47s of the 15th Air Force's 325th Fighter Group conduct an uneventful sweep over Rome.

Air Operations, CBI

• 27 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 16 10th Air Force P-39s attack oilfields and a refinery at Yenangyaung. 13 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Yenangyaung refinery and a power station. 4 B-24s attack Akyab. 30 311th Fighter Group A-36s and 15 P-51s attack a bridge and the town area at Loilaw. 8 14th Air Force P-40 fighter-bombers attack a Japanese Army headquarters and barracks at Hopong.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Amboina Island and Pombelaa, Celebes.

Air Operations, Marshalls

VII Bomber Command B-24s passing through Hawkins Field on Betio attack the Maloelap Atoll. 9 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Jaluit Atoll. 9 VII Fighter Command P-39s attack shipping at the Mille Atoll. 3 B-24s are downed by anti-aircraft fire over Maloelap, which results in the termination of daytime heavy-bomber attacks against this target.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• Despite continuing bad weather which caused an earlier attack to be aborted, 40 V Bomber Command B-24s attack inland targets with nearly 100 tons of bombs, and 40 A-20s directly support the landing force with 36 tons of bombs dropped from extremely low levels. V Bomber Command B-25s and B-26s attack the airfield at Madang Airdrome to thwart Japanese efforts to attack the Saidor invasion force.
• P-40s with the 49th Fighter Group’s 7th Fighter Squadron down 2 of 9 Ki-49 'Helen' bombers and 3 of an estimated 20 fighter escorts near Saidor at 1610 hours.
• The airfield and harbor at Saidor are quickly overrun. Also, Australian Army ground troops driving along the coast occupy Sialum.
• During the night, Japanese nuisance bombers attack the Saidor invasion force.

Air Operations, Pacific

The first of 14 Allied bombing raids on airfields and shipping at Rabaul during the month takes place.

Air Operations, Solomons

24 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack supply dumps at Buka.

Eastern Front

The Russian Southern Fronts continue with their attacks, driving back the German troops in the area northwest of Kiev. The Soviets caputer Radovel, west of Korosten, just 18 miles from the 1939 Polish border.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• More than 30 AirSols fighters sweep the Rabaul area.
• VF-33 F6Fs and VMF-211, VMF-214, VMF-223, and VMF-321 F4Us down 9 Japanese fighters in the Rabaul area between 0815 and 0835 hours.
• Despite bad weather that causes many aborts, 6 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Kavieng and more than 20 V Bomber Command A-20s attack Borgen Bay.
• The US 1913th Engineer Aviation Battalion arrives at Cape Gloucester to rehabilitate and improve the airfield there on New Britain.

Air Operations, CBI

• 19 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 16 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack oil facilities at Yenangyaung. 10 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack oil facilities at Yenangyaung. 22 10th Air Force A-36s and P-51s attack a dump and a warehouse at Sahmaw. 5 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack the town area at Pingkai.

• 28 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack rail facilities at Lampang.

Air Operations, Europe

• 6 Mosquitos are sent to Solingen and 2 to Essen without a loss.

• XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack a rail station, gun emplacements around Cassino, the harbor at Civitavecchia, assorted rail and tactical targets, and motor vehicles.

• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack Sibenik, Spilt, and German Army troop concentrations at Projedor.

• 53 B-17s of the 5th Heavy Bomb Wing's 2nd and 99th Heavy Bomb Groups attack the ballbearing plant at Villarperosa, scoring 12 direct hits.
• 50 B-17s of the 5th Heavy BGomb Wint's 97th and 301st Heavy Bomb Groups attack a marshalling yard at Turin.

Air Operations, Marshalls

24 531st Fighter-Bomber Squadron A-24s attack a radar station and communications facilities at the Mille Atoll while 24 VII Fighter Command P-39 escorts strafe fuel storage and runways.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• More than 50 V Bomber Command B-24s and B-25s attack the Alexishafen area.
• Col Neel E. Kearby, the V Fighter Command commanding officer, downs a Ki-21 'Sally' bomber near Wewak at 1015 and an A6M Zero, also near Wewak, at 1445 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

15 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack supply dumps near Buka and 6 B-25s attack a bivouac near Kahili.

Atlantic

• The US destroyer Turner (DD-648) is sunk by internal explosion 3 miles north of Ambrose Lightship, New York Harbor. A Coast Guard helicopter transports needed blood plasma in the Navy's first operational use of the helicopter in treating casualties.
• The US destroyer Somers (DD-381) sinks the German blockade runner Weserland (6528t) 900 miles west of St. Helena and recovers 130 survivors.

Burma

In the extreme north of the country the Chinese 38th Division resumes its encounters with the Japanese in the area of Taihpa Ga.

Eastern Front

The Soviets capture Olevsk, only 10 miles from the 1939 Polish frontier, and Novograd-Volynskiy, west and southwest of Korosten. The railway line that leads from this area to Korosten is also taken.

Olevsk falls to the 13th Army and Novgorod Volnysky to 60th as the LIX Corps is forced back. The 3rd Guards Tank Army is only 40 miles north of Vinnitsa and the 1st Tank a similar distance northwest of Uman, both of these armies having swung to the south following their initial westward advance. However, the III Panzer Corps is beginning to deploy at Uman in order to block the path of the Russian advance behind the 8th Army. The 3rd Ukrainian Front is assaulting Kirovograd with its 5th Guards, 7th Guards and 53rd Armies, tying down the XL Panzer and LII Corps in the process.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• US Navy aircraft from Task Group 37.2 attack several Japanese destroyers at Kavieng, New Ireland, but are unable to score any hits. VF-18 F6Fs and a VT-17 TBF gunner down 2 A6M Zeros and an E13A 'Jake' reconnaissance plane over Kavieng between 0930 and 0945 hours. Also, VF-18 and VF-30 F6Fs down 2 G4M 'Betty' bombers at sea near Task Group 37.2 between 1115 and 1125 hours and VF-30 F6Fs down 1 Ki-21 'Sally' bomber and 6 A6M Zeros at sea at 1437 hours. 1 F6F is lost.
• Task Group 37.2 departs the area after recovery of its aircraft.
• When the XIII Bomber Command B-24s they are to escort to Rabaul are thwarted by bad weather, more than 40 AirSols fighters based at Torokina Field on Bougainville sweep the Rabaul area.
• VMF 211, VMF-214, VMF-223, and VMF-321 F4Us and a VF-30 F6F down 10 A6M Zeros over the Rabaul area between 1205 and 1330 hours.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack Japanese Army artillery batteries at Cape Gloucester.
• During the night, 21 RAAF Beauforts attack airfields in the Rabaul area.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and V Bomber Command B-25s attack shipping targets at and near Koepang, Timor.

Air Operations, Europe

In preparation for eventual disruptive action behind German lines, American and RAF aircraft start dropping arms and supplies of French, Belgian, Dutch and Italian partisan formations. The operation goes under the name of CARPETBAGGER.

• 80 aircraft, including 57 Stirlings, 12 Mosquitos and 11 Lancasters, are sent to hit two flying bomb sites, one in the Pas de Calais and one at Bristillerie near Cherbourg. Both targets are effectively attacked without any loss of aircraft.

• 13 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 3 to Krefeld, 2 to Cologne, there are 4 RCM sorties, 40 aircraft lay mines off Lorient and Brest and there are 8 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

• During the night, Operation CARPETBAGGER, the parchuting of agents and supplies by air to anti-Axis partisan forces in western Europe, begins with a drop by 8th Air Force special-operations B-24s over northern France. In this and numerous other clandestine missions, the supply drop takes place under the cover of a leaflet drop.

• Of 569 VIII Bomber Command heavy bombers dispatched, 313 B-17s and 132 B-24s attack the Kiel port area with more than 1,000 tons of bombes. 7 B-17s and 34 B-24s attack various targets of opportunity.
• 17 heavy bombers and their crews are lost
• Fighter support for the Kiel mission consistes of 70 P-38s of the 20th and 55th Fighter Groups and 42 P-51s of the 354th Fighter Group. Several Luftwaffe are damaged over the target by USAAF fighters. A 354th Fighter Group P-51 downs a Ju-88 over Kiel at 1224 hours.
• 1 P-38 and 1 P-51 are lost
• 68 3rd Bomb Division B-17s attack the city of Munster.
• 2 B-17s are lost in a collision over Germany

• Fighter support for the Munster mission consists of 430 VIII Fighter Command P-47s from 9 fighter groups. 7 Luftwaffe are downed by P-47s over northern Germany and Belgium between 1030 and 1100 hours.

• Despite poor weather and visibility, 253 IX Bomber Command B-17s attack V-weapons sites in France.

• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack Brodac and the marshalling yard and town at Travnik.

• A force of 108 15th Air Force B-17s briefed for an attack against marshalling yards at Sofia is forced to abort due to cloud cover over the target. 40 of the B-17s. however, drop about 81 tons of bombs on the rail lines around Dupnica.

Air Operations, Marshalls

During the night, 18 VII Bomber Command B-24s passing through Hawkins Field on Betio sow mines in the shipping channel giving access to Emidj Island in the Jaluit Atoll. This results in the withdrawal of Japanese shipping and all but one seaplane.

Air Operations, New Guinea

More than 100 V Bomber Command B-24s, B-25s, and B-26s attack Alexishafen, Bogadjim, Finschhafen, Madang, and ground targets near Saidor.

Air Operations, Solomons

XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the seaplane base and supply dumps at Sohano Island. 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Chabai and Tonolei Harbor. and US Navy PVs and AirSols fighters attack numerous targets on Bougainville.

Atlantic

The last German blockade-runner, Rio Grande, is sunk by the US destroyer Jouett (DD-396) and cruiser Omaha (CL-4) en route to the Far East.

Eastern Front

The Soviet offensive in the Ukraine continues with the capture of Belaya Tserkov, a railway town south of Kiev and then push on in the direction of Uman. The Russians cross the Polish frontier near Olevsk.

After a 4-day battle the 27th Army takes Belaya Tserkov. A rapid advance by the 60th Army pushes the LIX Corps back upon Rovno.

Air Operations, CBI

• 3 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 8 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack the bridge spanning the Mu River at Monywa.

Air Operations, Europe

• 348 Lancasters and 10 Pathfinder Halifaxes raid Stettin.
• The Mosquito diversion to Berlin keeps most of the fighters away from the main bomber force. The raid is classified successful.
• 14 Lancasters and 2 Halifaxes are lost.

• 13 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 25 to 4 other targets, there is 1 Mosquito RCM sortie, 1 Beaufighter Serrate patrol and 6 Lancasters lay mines off Swinemünde.
• There are no losses.

• 112 3rd Bomb Division B-17s, escorted by 76 78th Fighter Group P-47s, attack the Bordeaux/Merignac Airdrome. A P-47 downs 2 Bf-109s over La Rochelle at 1017 hours.
• 11 B-17s and 5 B-47s are lost with their crews
• 78 1st Bomb Division B-17s, escorted by 149 4th and 352nd Fighter Group P-47s, attack the Tours Airdrome. Escorts down 1 He-177 and 2 FW-190s between 1145 hours and noon.
• 1 B-17 is lost with its crew

• Escorted by 70 P-38s and 41 P-51s, 119 1st Bomb Division B-17s and 96 2nd Bomb Division B-24s attack the shipyards and aircraft-industry targets at Kiel.
• 5 B-17s, 5 B-24s, and 7 P-38s are lost
• Of 78 3rd Bomb Division B-17s briefed for an attack on ball-bearing factories at Elberfield, 73 attack various targets of opportunity after running into bad weather. Escort for this attack is provided by 243 P-47s from 4 VIII Fighter Command groups.

• XII Air Support Cokmmand A-36s attack gun emplacements and other tactical targets.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-24s, B-25s, and B-26s attack the Alexishafen, Bogadjim, and Madang areas, and barges at Finschhafen and near Saidor. V Fighter Command P-39s attack barges and artillery batteries between Sio and Bogadjim.

Air Operations, Solomons

An effort to move 150 AirSols SBDs and TBFs through the newly completed Piva Uncle airfield on Bougainville is thwarted by bad weater over Rabaul, and all the light bombers return to the Munda Point airfield on New Georgia. However, on the return flight, 21 TBFs and 26 SBDs attack known Japanese Army troop concentrations on Bougainville. Also, XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack Fauro Island, Poporang, and Tonolei, and supply dumps at Kahili. 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Japanese Army ground troops in Choiseul Bay and southern Buka.

Atlantic

The last German blockade-runner, the Burgenland, is scuttled en route from the Far East after being spotted by the US light cruiser Omaha (CL-4) and the destroyer Jouett (DD-396).

Burma

The Chinese 38th Division tries without success to capture the last Japanese strongpoint keeping them from the Tarung River.

Eastern Front

Before dawn Ivan S. Konev's 2nd Ukraine Front begins a new series of attacks toward Kirovgrad. Nikolai F. Vatutin's 1st Ukraine Front captures Berdichev, a rail and road junction south of Zhitomir, and Tarascha, south of Kiev.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

The Soviet 3rd Guards Tank and 18th Armies capture Berdichev. The 2nd Ukrainian Front opens its offensive against the German 8th Army. The 4th Guards, 52nd and 53rd Armies attack in the Kirovograd sector, with the 5th and 7th Guards assaulting farther south. The understrength 8th army is made up of LII, XLVII Panzer and XI Corps.[MORE]

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack Rein Bay and V Fighter Command P-39s attack barges between Rein Bay and Borgen Bay.
• 32 AirSols F4Us, 26 F6Fs, and 16 P-38s sent to sweep the Rabaul area, all but 16 P-38s and 8 F4Us abort because of bad weather. Nevertheless, P-38s with the 18th Fighter Group’s 44th Fighter Squadron, and the 347th Fighter Group’s commanding officer, down a total of 9 A6M Zeros over the Rabaul area between 1115 and 1145 hours. VMF-211 and VMF-214 F4Us down 2 Zeros near Rabaul between 1150 and noon. 2 P-38s are lost in the day's action.

Air Operations, CBI

• 10th Air Force A-36s and P-51s attack Japanese Army cavalry and dumps at Kamaing and mount ground-support missions at Sumprabum and Taihpa Ga. 12 P-40s attack dumps near Sahmaw and strafe Pahok.

• 2 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a troop ship on the Yangtze River near Tungting Lake.

Air Operations, Europe

• 16 Mosquitos are sent to Duisburg, 2 to Bristillerie, and 1 each to Dortmund and Solingen. 57 aircraft lay mines off the Biscay ports and there are 10 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

• XII Bomber Command B-26s attack an aircraft factory at Piaggio and marshalling yards at two locations.
• XII Air Supporto Command A-36s and P-40s attack gun emplacements, rail lines, and railroads in and around the battle area.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-24s and B-25s attack the Alexishafen and Bogadjim areas, B-25s attack targets of opportunity on the Huon Peninsula, and A-20s attack targets on the Bogadjim-Yaula road.

• The US 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion arrives at Saidor to make improvements to the airfield there.

Air Operations, Solomons

42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and US Navy PVs attack targets around Choiseul Bay.

Allied Preparations

A joint RAF-USAAF statement discloses the hitherto secret development of jet aircraft in Britain and the US. Full details of the Whittle turbojet were given to Gen Arnold in July 1941.

Atlantic

The US gunboat St. Augustine (PG-54) is sunk in a collision with the US merchant tanker Camas Meadows 73 miles south-southwest of Cape May, New Jersey.

Burma

Brig-Gen Frank Merrill will command a volunteer unit that will become known as 'Merrill's Marauders'.

Since all available landing craft in the sector are to be transferred to the Mediterranean, Adm Lord Mountbatten, Command-in-Chief of Allied forces in Southeast Asia, officially cancels the project for a landing in central Burma across the Bay of Bengal. There is talk of giving up all offensive action in Burma until Germany is defeated. When Gen Stilwell hears this he decides to send a mission to Washington to argue against Mountbatten's decision.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• In the first successful AirSols light-bomber mission of the Rabaul air campaign, approximately 150 SBDs and TBFs, escorted by 72 fighters, pass through the Piva Uncle airfield on Bougainville from the Munda Point airfield on New Georgia. Finding the primary target, the Tobera airfield at Rabaul, beneath heavy clouds, the light bombers attack a radar installation on Cape St. George, New Ireland. 1 F6F is downed, 2 F6Fs are lost when they collide, and 2 SBDs are lost in operational accidents during the return flight.
• VMF-211, VMF-215, and VMF-321 F4Us and VF-33 and VF-40 F6Fs down 10 A6M Zeros in the Rabaul area between 1100 and 1210 hours.
• XIII Bomber Command attack the Vunakanau airfield at Rabaul.
• 18 V Bomber Command B-24s attack Japanese Army defensive position at Cape Gloucester with 216 500-pound bombs while A-20s attack Japanese Army ground troops near Arawe.
• During the night, RAAF Beauforts based at Kiriwina mount the last in a three-week series of individual night-harassment attacks against the Rabaul area. Hereafter, such attacks will be conducted by AirSols aircraft based in the Solomon Islands. Such missions, mounted by a steady succession of multi-engine bombers, will be undertaken every night, weather permitting.

Air Operations, CBI

• 7 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 15 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack an oil refinery, fuel storage, and anti-aircraft batteries at Lanywa. 19 10th Air Force P-36s and P-51s attack troops and supply dumps at Nanyaseik.

• 4 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 6 14th Air Force P-40s attack shipping in the Yangtze River near Hukow and Shihhweiyao. 2 B-25s attack a passenger vessel at Hong Kong. 11 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack sampans on the Yangtze River between Hankow and Chiuchiang.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Boela, Ceram.

Air Operations, Europe

The deployment of the German flying bomb is hampered by a series of Allied air raids on launch sites which have been located by reconnaissance flights. A Mosquito is brought down by German air defenses and its Oboe navigational aid is captured intact and counter-measures quickly devised.

• 6 Mosquitos are sent to Krefeld, 5 to Duisburg, 1 aircraft is sent on a Resistance operation, and there are 28 OTU sorties. The Resistance operation aircraft - a No 138 Squadron Halifax - crashes in England soon after taking off, killing all 10 men on board, probably a crew of 7 and 3 passengers.

• Of 502 8th Air Force B-17s and B-24s dispatched, 417 attack the I.G. Farben plant at Ludwigshafen with nearly 1,000 tons of bombs.
• 12 bombers are lost with their crews; 14 crewmen are killed by enemy fire
• Escort for the bomber mission is provided by 71 P-38s, 463 P-47s, and 37 P-51s. 7 Luftwaffe fighters are downed over France and Germany between 1145 and 1340 hours.
• 1 P-38 and 5 P-47s are lost with their pilots

• 35 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack the Cherbourg/Maupertus Airdrome.

• XII Bomber Command B-25s attakc the Perugia Airdrome.
• XII Bomber Command B-26s attack marshalling yards at two locations and a bridge.
• XII Air Support Command A-20s, A-36s, and P-40s attack road, rail, and tactical targets in or near the battle area.

• P-38s of the 1st and 14th Fighter Groups down 5 Luftwaffe fighters and damage or possibly down several others in a running fight from Wiener-Neustadt southward between 1100 and 1140 hours.

• 15th Air Force B-17s attack a torpedo factory at Fiume.

• 48 15th Air Force B-17s attack an aircraft factory at Maribor.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-24s attack Lorengau in the Admiralty Islands. B-24s and B-25s, and V Fighter Command P-47 and P-40 fighter-bombers, attack Bogadjim, Erima, and Japanese Army defenses near Saidor, and the road into Boagjim.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-305 sinks the British frigate Tweed southwest of Ireland with the loss of 83 of her crew. 44 survivors are rescued by the British frigate Nene.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Fighter Command B-25s and A-20s attack Japanese Army ground positions near Arawe and fighters strafe a sawmill in the Cape Gloucester area.

Air Operations, CBI

• 20 311th Fighter Group A-36s and P-51s attack a bridge near Hopin and numerous rail targets at Tigyaingza.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Kendari (Celebes) and nearby targets.

Air Operations, Europe

• 10 Mosquitos are sent to Frankfurt, 8 to Solingen, 3 to Aachen and 2 to Dortmund.
• 2 Mosquitos are lost.

• XII Bomber Command B-26s attack marshalling yards at two locations.
• XII Air Support Command A-20s and A-36s attack rail targets in or near the battle area.
• XII Air Support Command P-40s provide direct support for US Army ground forces.

• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack the port area, warehouses, and the rail line at Metkovic.

• 109 15th Air Force B-17s destroy two-thirds of the aircraft factory at Reggio Emilia, thereby reducing production of Regianne Re-2005 and Savoia-Marchetti SM-79 fighters.

• The B-24 equipped 449th and 450th Heavy Bomb Groups of the 15th Air Force's 47th Heavy Bomb Wing, make their combat debuts with an attack on the Mostar Airdrome against virtually no opposition.
• There are no losses
[ | ]


---

Air Operations, Marshalls

15 VII Bomber Command B-24s pass through Hawkins Field, Betio to attack the Jaluit, Maloelap, and Wotje atolls. 2 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack shipping and gun emplacements in the Jaluit Atoll.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-24s, B-25s, and B-26s attack Bogadjim and the Bogadjim road, Madang, and Uligan Harbor.

Air Operations, Solomons

• XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack Kahili. 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Japanese Army ground troops on small islands near Bougainville.
• US surface warships bombard Japanese bases, including bypassed airbases, in the Shortland Islands.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Sunderland 'U' of No 10 Squadron RAAF sights a U-boat and begins an attack as the U-boat opens fire on the aircraft. The depth charges are not released on the first run, but six are released on the second run straddling the stern. U-426 lists to starboard and appears to sink by the stern.

U-426 Class Type VIIC CO Kapitänleutnant Christian Reich Location Atlantic, NW of the Cape Ortegal Cause Air attack Casualties 51 Survivors None

U-757 Class Type VIIC CO Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Deetz Location Atlantic, SW of the Cape Clear Cause Depth charge Casualties 49 Survivors None

• During the passage of Convoy OS-64 U-757 is detected close to the outer screen. The U-boat endures eight attacks by the British frigate Bayntun, the Canadian corvettes Camrose, Snowberry and Edmundston before sinking.

Britain, Command

ACM Sir Sholto Douglas is appointed C-in-C Coastal Command.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 16 AirSols TBFs and 23 SBDs based at Torokina Field on Bougainville attack the Tobera airfield at Rabaul with such accuracy that the base is temporarily closed due to the damage.
• When as many as 40 Japanese fighters attempt to intercept the light bombers, VMF-211, VMF-212, VMF-215 and VMF-321 F4Us and VF-33 F6Fs down 18 A6M Zeros and Ki-61 'Tony' fighers in the Rabaul area, especially around the Tobera airfield at Rabaul, between noon and 1345 hours. 1 F6F and 2 RNZAF Kittyhawks are lost, and 1 battle-damaged TBF ditches off the Torokina airfield at Bougainville.
• XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Vunakanau airfield at Rabaul. 6 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Taharai airfield and targets of opportunity on New Ireland.
• V Fighter Command P-40s attack Cape Beechey.

Air Operations, CBI

• 21 10 Air Force A-36s and P-51s attack a barracks, bridge, and supply dump in the Loilaw area. 8 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack Sadon.

• 2 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a ship near Swatow. 9 14th Air Force P-40s and P-51s strafe Yangtze River traffic at Puchi.

• 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack Lao Kay.

• 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack rail facilities at Atson.

• During the night, 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s sow mines in the Menam River estuary near Bangkok.

Air Operations, Europe

• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a marshalling yard and docking facilities at Ancona.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack tanks, trucks, and troop positions in and around the battle area.

• 15th Air Force B-17s attack the aircraft factory and a marshalling yard at Reggio Emilia.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack the Mostar Airdrome.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 5th Air Force bombers and fighters attack Alexishafen, Bogadjim, and Madang, defensive targets in the Saidor area, and Uligan Harbor.
• Col Neel E. Kearby, the V Fighter Command commanding officer, downs 2 Ki-61 Tony fighters in the Wewak area at about 1215 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack supply dumps at Kahili and the seaplane base at Buka. AirSols fighters attack numerous targets.

Burma

2 regiments of the Chinese 38th Division converge on the small town of Taihpa Ga, in the Hukawng valley, while other units of the division try to eliminate some Japanese infiltrations. On the Arakan front the XV Corps of the British 11th Army takes Maungdaw having advanced 20 miles from around Bawli Bazar near the Indian border. The offensive is part of a renewed Allied attempt to take Akyab, and Maungdaw is an important supply port for the Japanese. Despite the success, the Allied troops have an exposed left flank, against which huge Japanese forces are massing.

Diplomatic Relations

Churchill and de Gaulle meet in Marrakech, Morocco. The main issues are the role of the Free French forces in the forthcoming invasion of the continent and the degree of authority to be assumed by the French Committee in civil affairs inside France after the invasion.

Eastern Front

Vatutin's forces take Polonnoye, midway between Berdichev and Rovno, and farther south Konev's troops take Aleksandrovka.

The headquarters of the XLVII Panzer Corps is attacked, losing many men in the fighting and throwing the corps into confusion. Aleksandrovka falls to the 4th Guards Army.

Air Operations, Asia

RAF aircraft begin mining the mouths of the Salween near Moulmein, Burma. The Japanese will close Moulmein to all shipping in early March because of the mines.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 10 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Vunakanau airfield at Rabaul, but AirSols SBDs and TBFs prevented from attacking the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul because of bad weather attack the lighthouse on Cape St. George, New Ireland.
• V Fighter Command P-39s attack barges and occupied villages all along the New Britain coast.
• The XIII Bomber Command opens a night-bombing campaign against Rabaul during the night, when 20 5th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul with 500-pound bombs and parafrag clusters.

Air Operations, CBI

• 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the port area at Akyab. 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack a Sittang River ferry crossing at Mokpalin. 15 10th Air Force P-40s attack a bridge at Namti and 12 A-36s and P-51s attack a bivouac at Nanyaseik.

• 3 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 8 14th Air Force P-40s attack Yangtze River traffic between Anking and Chiuchiang, a bridge near Teian, and a rail line near Chiuchiang. 8 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s fighter-bombers attack a bridge at Kiechang and a troop train near Teian and 4 P-40s attack Yangtze River traffic, including three tankers, near Wusueh.
• A 23rd Fighter Group P-40 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter in an air battle over Chuichiang.

• 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack a marshalling yard and airfield at Bangkok.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Koepang, Timor.

Air Operations, Europe

• 10 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 7 to Solingen, 2 to Koblenz and 1 to Krefeld.
• There are no losses.

• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a town.
• XII Air Support Command aircraft attack numerous rail, road, tactical, and communications targets throughout central Italy.
• During the night, XII Bomber Command B-26s attack iron and steel works at Piombino.

• 15th Air Force B-17s attacking a marshalling yard at Sofia are attacked by an estimated 60 Axis fighters. 14th Fighter Group P-38 escorts down 9 Luftwaffe fighters over Sofia about 1230 hours.
• 2 B-17s are lost

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Skoplje.

Air Operations, Marshalls

• 4 VII Fighter Command P-39s attack the Mille Atoll, including a fuel-storage area.
• During the night, 16 VII Bomber Command B-24s based in the Ellice Islands pass through Hawkins Field, Betio, to attack the Maloelap Atoll. 4 B-24s based at Canton Island pass through Baker Island to attack the Mille Atoll.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• More than 100 V Bomber Command B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s attack Alexishafen, Bogadjim, Madang, and coastal targets between Madang and Sio.
• A 475th Fighter Group P-38 downs a Ki-61 'Tony' fighter over Wewak at 1105 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

5 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack supply dumps at Kahili while 4 B-24s attack Buka.

Burma

The British capture Maungdaw.

Eastern Front

The rail line between Smela and Kristinovka in the Ukraine is cut by the Russians. North of Kirovograd the Russians mop up a pocket in which several enemy divisions have been trapped. Meanwhile the Red Army resumes the offensive in the center, in the Mozyr area, west of the Dniepr and southwest of Gomel.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• More than 60 AirSols SBDs, escorted by 90 AirSols fighters, attack targets around Cape St. George.
• A P-38 with the 18th Fighter Group’s 44th Fighter Squadron downs 1 A6M Zero over the Rabaul area in an engagement at 1300 hours.

Air Operations, CBI

• 36 10th Air Force A-36s, P-40s, and P-51s attack a large Japanese Army encampment.

• Before dawn, 17 Japanese bombers mount an uncontested attack against the airfield at Suichwan. Later, all 3 bombers mounting a follow-on attack against Suichwan are downed by 23rd Fighter Group fighters.
• 23rd Fighter Group P-40s and P-51s down 3 Ki-48 'Lily' bombers over Suichwan airfield during a morning engagement.
• 8 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack an aluminum plant and the airfield at Takao, Formosa. 4 B-24s mine the harbors at Hong Kong and Takao and 1 B-24 attacks oil stores at Swatow.
• 1 B-24 is lost.

Air Operations, Europe

US P-38 Lightning and P-47 Thunderbolt long-range fighters flying over Germany are joined for the first time by the P-51 Mustang, but heavy losses are suffered as the Luftwaffe use rocket-firing fighters in new tactical formations against the incoming flights of bombers and escort fighters. The experience prompts the Allies to strengthen fighter escorts on such missions. Luftwaffe leaders cite evidence of the fresh successes of their fighter units to urge an increase in production, but Hitler, concentrating on the broader program of retaliation, orders more bombers.

• The Allies strategic air offensive against Germany (Operation POINTBLANK is officially inaugurated withe the dispatch of 663 8th Air Force heavy bombers against several industrial targets in Germany.
• 159 1st Bomb Division B-17s attack aircraft-iundustry targets at Oscherslaben.
• 34 B-17s are lost, 83 damaged by intense flak and fighter attacks; 9 crewmen killed, 349 missing
• 107 1st Bomb Division B-17s attack aircraft-industry targets at Halberstadt.
• 8 B-17s are lost, 42 are damaged
• Escort for the 1st Bomb Division is provided by 177 P-47s and 44 P-51s, who down 27 Luftwaffe fighters.
• 2 P-47s and their pilots are lost
• 234 3rd Bomb Division B-17s and 138 2nd Bomb Division B-24s briefed to attack aircraft-industry targets at Brunswick, are recalled because of bad weather. By then the bomber formations are over Germany, so a total of 285 heavy bombers attack various targets of opportunity through holes in the clouds.
• 16 B-17s and 2 B-24s are lost
• Escort for the Brunswick mission is provided by 49 P-38s and 322 P-47s. 2 Luftwaffe fighters are downed by P-47s.
• 1 P-38 and 1 P-47 are lost

• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a rail yard and a rail junction.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack numerous gun emplacements and rail and road targets in the battle area and central Italy.

• 15th Air Force B-17s attack the port and shipping in the harbor at Piraeus. 1st Fighter Group P-38s down 2 Bf-109s over the harbor area about 1310 hours.
• 6 B-17s are lost in a series of midair collisions in dense overcast

Air Operations, Marshalls

• 5 US Navy PB4Ys attack the Roi airfield on Kwajalein and 5 PB4Ys attack shipping in Kwajalein lagoon.
• 9 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack land targets and shipping in the Maloelap Atoll. four VII Fighter Command P-39s attack the airfield on Mille. One Japanese Navy gunboat is sunk in the Kwajalein atoll.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s and V Fighter Command P-39 and P-40 fighter-bombers attack Alexishafen, the Hansa Bay area, Uligan Harbor, and the Bogadjim road.
• 5th Air Force C-47s begin flying personnel and supplies into the newly reconditioned airfield at Saidor.

Air Operations, Pacific

43 Japanese landing barges are sunk off Cape Gloucester, New Britain.

Air Operations, Solomons

XIII Fighter Command P-39s attack targets of opportunity on Bougainville.

Eastern Front

The Red Army offensive in the central sector of the front in the Mozyr area continues. Hitler refuses to allow any rectification of the front and any strategic withdrawal, thus sacrificing men and materials in the vain hope of being able to regain the Dniepr line.

The Russian salient in eastern Poland is now 64 km across.

Tolbukhin's 4th Ukrainian Front joins the offensive in the Dniepr elbow, attacking the IV and XVII Corps with its 3rd Guards and 5th Shock Armies as it tries to link up with the 3rd Ukrainian Front.

Indian Ocean

• The cruiser Kuma is sunk by the British submarine Tally Ho. 138 men are lost.
• U-boats of the Monson group sink 17 ships over the next 3 months, but British warships intercept 2 re-fuelling tankers. Both are scuttled.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• In their unit’s first mission against Rabaul, 13 of 24 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s sent from the airfield at Stirling in the Treasury Islands are able to broach bad weather to attack the Vunakanau airfield at Rabaul during the morning. 19 XIII Bomber Command B-24s, escorted by approximately 50 AirSols fighters, attack the Tobera airfield at Rabaul late in the morning.
• VMF-215 F4Us down 3 A6M Zeros over the Tobera airfield at Rabail at 1140 hours. VF-40 F6Fs down 2 Zeros over the Vunakanau airfield at noon.
• During the night, 16 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul.

Air Operations, CBI

• More than 20 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack a marshalling yard at Letpadan and 10th Air Force fighters attack Myohaung.

• 14 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Bangkok.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Balikpapan, Dili, and Makassar.

Air Operations, Europe

Operation POINTBLANK gets under way, a strategic air offensive designed to cripple the German aeronautical industry and render the Luftwaffe ineffective befor the cross-Channel invasion. About 650 bombers of the US 8th Air Force attack factories in Halberstadt, Brunswick and Ochersleben. While the bombing may have had the desired effect, the price paid by the American air formations is very high. 60 aircraft are shot down in the course of the raid.

• XII Bomber Command B-25s and B-26s attack a dam and several bridges in central Italy.
• XII Air Support Command A-20s attack at town.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack numerous German Army defensive positions along the battle line and many rail targets in or near the battle area.

• 57th Fighter Group P-47s down 3 Bf-109s off the coast at Korcula during a morning mission.
• XII Air Suppoort Command P-40s attack a ship in the Krka River.

• 15th Air Force's 325th Fighter Group, in P-47s, strafes a marshalling yard and numerous buildings across central Italy during a fighter sweep to Rome.

Air Operations, Marshalls

21 531st Fighter-Bomber Squadron A-24s attack dumps and anti-aircraft batteries in the Mille Atoll. 20 VII Fighter Command P-39s strafe the airfield on Mille.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-24s and B-25s attack targets in the Alexishafen area as A-20s attack Warai.

Air Operations, Solomons

• AirSols fighters and fighter-bombers attack Japanese Army ground troops and targets of opportunity on Bougainville.
• A VMF(N)-531 PV crew downs a single-engine Japanese Navy plane near the Torokina airfield on Bougainville at 2205 hours.

Eastern Front

The Soviets capture Sarny, well inside former-Polish territory, after some violent fighting. The German Army Group South counterattacks in the area of Vinnitsa, southwest of Kiev.

The 1st Baltic Front attacks the II Corps of the 16th Army with the 3rd Shock Army and 10th Guards Army. Heavy fighting erupts around Novosokolinikov.

Sarny falls to the 13th Army as it reaches the Styr and Goryn Rivers. The 60th Army closes up to Shepetovka but German resistance is beginning to stiffen, slowing the pace of the attacks.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack Gasmata and 11 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Tobera, Rapopo, and Wide Bay.
• The US 864th Engineer Aviation Battalion arrives at Cape Gloucester, New Britain to help rehabilitate and improve the airfield there.
• During the night, 15 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Lakunai and Vunakanau airfields at Rabaul and other Rabaul-area targets.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 311th Fighter Group P-51s bomb Maran Ga and Shaduzup and attack Japanese Army ground troops at Lalawng Ga. 1 490th Medium Bomb Group B-25 and 4 P-51s attack supply dumps and the airfield at Myitkyina. 27 10th Air Force P-40s attack dumps and communications targets along the Kamaing-Mogaung road.

• 2 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack shipping, a radio station, and warehouses between Hong Kong and Hainan Island. 6 14th Air Force P-40s attack 2 Japanese Army pack trains between Lungling and Tengchung.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command bombers on antishipping sweeps attack a freighter off Tanimbar Island in the Molucca Islands.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Mosquitos are sent to Essen, 9 to Duisburg, 2 to Aachen and 2 to Koblenz.
• 1 Mosquito is lost.

• 193 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack V-weapons sites in France.

• XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s mount numerous tactical missions and attack road and rail targets in and around the battle area.

• MATAF fighter-bombers attack shipping at Sibenik and along the Krka River.

• As part of the preparation for the upcoming amphibious landings at Anzio, 100 15th Air Force B-17s and B-24s and 241 XII Bomber Command B-25s and B-26s, escorted by fighters from both air forces, attack the Rome-area airdromes at Centocelle, Ciampino, Guidonia, and Perugia. The bombers are credited with destroying or disabling most of the Luftwaffe aircraft based in central Italy. In the course of the bomber attacks, which take place about noon, 8 Bf-109s and 11 others are damaged or possibly downed by planes of the 14th anf 325th Fighter Groups.

Air Operations, Marshalls

9 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack shipping at the Wotje Atoll. 21 531st Fighter-Bomber Squadron A-24s and 16 VII Fighter Command P-39 escorts attack the Mille Atoll as does 10 VII Fighter Command P-39 fighter-bombers.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• More than 130 V Bomber Command B-24s and B-25s, and V Fighter Command P-40 fighter-bombers mount the final air attack against Alexishafen. B-24s and B-25s attack Kaukenau and Timoeka.
• A 418th Night Fighter Squadron P-38 downs a D3A 'Val' dive bomber over Alexishafen at 1845 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

A VF(N)-75 F4U downs a D3A 'Val' dive bomber near the Torokina airfield on Bougainville at 0415 hours.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-231 is spotted fully surfaced by Wellington 'L' of No 172 Squadron and attacked with three depth charges. The aircraft suffers flak damage and serious injury to the rear gunner and returns to base for medical assistane. The submarine is so badly damaged the decision is made to scuttle her.

U-231

Burma

In the Hukawng valley the Chinese 38th Division succeeds in eliminating a Japanese strongpoint in the Yupgang Ga area, so that they now control the whole of the Tarung River area. Some units cross the Tarung and thrust north as far as Tabawng.

Air Operations, Europe

• 496 Lancasters and 2 Halifaxes are sent to Brunswick, the first major raid on this city of the war.
• The German running commentary is heard following the progress of the bomber force from a position only 40 miles from the English coast and many German fighters enter the bomber stream soon after the German frontier is crossed near Bremen. The German fighters score steadily until the Dutch coast is crossed on the return flight. Brunswick is smaller than Bomber Command's usual targets and this raid is not a success. The city report describes this only as a 'light' raid, with bombs in the south of the city which reports only 10 houses destroyed and 14 people killed. Most of the bombs fall either in the countryside or in Wolfenbüttel and other small towns and villages to the south of Brunswick.
• 38 Lancasters are lost 11 of which are Pathfinders.
• 82 aircraft, including 59 Stirlings, 13 Halifaxes and 10 Mosquitos, are sent to attack the flying bomb sites at Ailly, Bonneton and Bristillerie.
• There are no losses.

• 11 Mosquitos are sent to Magdeburg, 6 to Berlin, there are 9 RCM sorties, 2 Serrate patrols, 29 aircraft laying mines off Brest and in the Frisians, and there are 36 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

• Due to bad weather over Germany, 552 8th Air Force heavy bombers are dispatched to attack 21 V-weapons sites around Pas-de-Calais. In the end, 422 B-17s and B-24s attack 20 of the briefed targets with more than 1,500 tons of bombs and 19 B-24s attack various targets of opportunities.
• 2 B-17s and 1 B-24 are lost with their crews
• Escort and support of the heavy bombers is provided by 645 USAAF fighters which are credited with downing 13 Luftwaffe fighters over France and Belgium between 1448 and 1530 hours.
• 3 US fighters are lost with their pilots

• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a bridge.
• XII Air Support Command A-20s provide direct support for US 5th Army Ground Forces around Monte Trocchio.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack numerous tactical, transportation, and communications targets, including an A-36 strike against the harbor at Anzio.

• Approximately 200 15th Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack the Mostar Airdrome. 82nd Fighter Group P-38s down 3 Luftwaffe fighters and damage several others over the target.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• In their first anti-shipping strike over Rabaul, 6 AirSols TBFs are forced to abort due to bad weather during the morning. Later in the day, 36 AirSols SBDs and 16 TBFs, escorted by more than 70 AirSols fighters, attack merchant ships and Japanese destroyers in Simpson Harbor after finding their primary target, the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul, beneath heavy cloud cover. 9 direct hits are scored on 7 merchant ships, and 2 Japanese destroyers are also damaged. 8 AirSols fighters are lost with 4 of their pilots, and a TBF and two SBDs are also downed in persistent attacks by an estimated 60 Japanese fighters during the approach and withdrawal phases of the strike.

• VMF-211, VMF-215, and VMF-321 F4Us and VF-40 F6Fs down 29 A6M Zeros, and VMTB-232 and VMSB-236 TBF and SBD crews down 4 Zeros, all in the Rabaul area, between 1225 and 1300 hours.
• V Bomber Command B-24s attack the Cape Busching area, B-25s and A-20s attack targets along the New Britain coasts, and 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Au and Cape Gazelle.

Air Operations, CBI

• 2 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack shipping off St. John Island. 4 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Weichow Island.

Air Operations, Gilberts

39 F4Us from VMF-113 and VMF(N)-532 are delivered to Hawkins Field, Betio aboard the escort carrier USS White Plains (CVE-66).

Air Operations, Marshalls

12 VII Bomber Command B-24s pass through Hawkins Field, Betio to attack the Kwajalein Atoll. 3 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack shipping at the Wotje Atoll while other B-25s attack the airfield and other targets there.

Air Operations, New Guinea

More than 50 V Bomber Command B-24s and B-25s and V Fighter Command P-40 fighter-bombers attack the Alexishafen and Erima areas.

Air Operations, Solomons

• 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Buka. and AirSols SBDs and P-39s attack Japanese Army ground troops on Bougainville.
• A P-38 with the 18th Fighter Group’s 44th Fighter Squadron downs a B5N 'Kate' torpedo bobmer near Cape Torokina, Bougainville, at 1550 hours.

China

In a letter to Chiang Kai-shek, Pres Roosevelt asks him to use his forces in Yunnan against the Japanese occupying Burma, at the same time as the British launch an offensive from India. He makes it clear to the Generalissimo that, if he does not agree, the United States may review its policy of aid to China.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

5 Air Force B-25s and P-39s attack Japanese Army troop positions along New Britain’s southern coast.

Air Operations, CBI

• 1 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 4 10th Air Force P-40s attack a train near Pinwe.

• 2 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a lighthouse on Nampang Island and a vessel off Swatow.

• 2 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a power plant and a Japanese gunboat at Hongay.

Air Operations, Europe

Sofia is attacked by Allied bombers, the beginning of a series of raids on Balkan cities.

• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a rail junction.
• XII Bomber Command B-26s attack Orvieto.
• XII Air Support Command's 79th Fighter Group, in P-40s, and an RAF fighter wing attack a railroad station.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack gun emplacements and troop positions in direct support of the US 5th Army.
• 12th Air Force P-40s on an armed recon attack several rail targets.
• 52nd Fighter Group Spitfires down 3 He-115 recon float planes over Savona harbor at 1545 hours.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Prato, nearby roads, and the town area at Pistoia.
• 15th Air Force B-17s attack marshalling yards at eight location and two rail bridges.

Air Operations, Gilberts

A P-39 with the 15th Fighter Group’s 46th Fighter Squadron downs a G3M 'Nell' bomber over Makin at 2020 hours.

Air Operations, Marshalls

9 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s mount a low-level attack against shipping and other targets in the Maloelap Atoll. 1 B-25 is lost to anti-aircraft fire.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-24s and B-25s attack Uligan Harbor. B-25s and V Fighter Command P-40s and P-47s attack targets in the Alexishafen, Bogadjim, Erima, and Madang areas.

Air Operations, Solomons

• 24 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s, escorted by 60 AirSols fighters, attack East Cape and XIII Fighter Command P-39s attack barges and motor vehicles at Chabai.
• 3 VMF-211 F4Us down an A6M Zero near Torokina Field on Bougainville at 1720 hours.

Argentina

An earthquake destroys the city of San Juan. About 1,600 people are killed.

Atlantic

• U-377, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Gerhard Kluth, is sunk by an acoustic torpedo fired from U-972, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Klaus König, who is to suffer a similar fate later in the month.

U-377 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Gerhard Kluth Location Atlantic, N of the Azores Cause German acoustic torpedo Casualties 52 Survivors None

U-972 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Klause-Dietrich König Location Atlantic, position unknown Cause Unknown Casualties 49 Survivors None

• U-972 is lost about the same time as U-377 probably from an accident from equipment or drill failure.

Britain, Politics

A British cabinet committee headed by Clement Atlee recommends the partition of Germany after the war.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• In support of a US Army ground offensive, 18 V Bomber Command B-24s and 20 B-25s attack Japanese Army ground forces around Arawe with 136 1,000-pound bombs.
• Japanese Army ground forces around Cape Gloucester break contact with the US 1st Marine Division and begin withdrawing eastward.

Air Operations, CBI

• 8 14 Air Force P-40s attack Pingkai and nearby targets of opportunity.

Air Operations, East Indies

Several 380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Amboina Island.

Air Operations, Europe

B-17s attack the Messerschmitt factory at Klagenfurt, Austria.

• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a marshalling yard and rail lines at Terni.
• XII Bomber Command B-26s attack a marshalling yard and bridge at Orte.
• XII Air Support Command A-20s attack Atina.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s attack rail lines, rail junctions, and several towns in and around the battle area.
• XII Air Support Command p-40s attack gun emplacements in and around Cassino and several other frontline towns.
• 33rd Fighter Group P-40s down 1 FW-190 in a morning clash over Anzio.
• 31st Fighter Group Spitfires down 3 Bf-109s and damage several others near Cassino at 1030 hours.

• 61 15th Air Force B-17s damage the Bf-109 components factory at Klagenfurt. 2 Bf-109s are and 2 more are probables by 14th Fighter Group P-38s at 1150 hours.
• 3 P-38s are lost.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack the landing ground at Osoppo.
• 15th Air Force B-17s attack the Villaorba Airdrome.

Air Operations, Marshalls

• 25 531st Fighter-Bomber Squadron A-24s, 16 46th Fighter Squadron P-39 fighter-bombers, and 45th Fighter Squadron P-40 fighter-bombers attack anti-aircraft batteries and barracks in the Mille Atoll. 2 P-39s are lost.
• P-39s with the 15th Fighter Group’s 46th Fighter Squadron down 2 G4M 'Betty' bombers over the Mille Atoll at 0600 hours.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 5th Air Force B-25s, A-20s, and P-40s attack Bogadjim, Erima, and Madang. V Fighter Command P-39s strafe the area between Bogadjim and Sio. V Bomber Command B-25s attack coastal targets.
• P-40s with the 8th Fighter Group’s 35th Fighter Squadron down a D3A 'Val' dive bomer and 17 Japanese fighters near Saidor at 1030 hours.

Allied Command

Gen Eisenhower formally assumes his duties as Commander in Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Forces.

Battle of the Atlantic

The German submarine U-544 is sunk by aircraft (VC-13) from the US escort carrier Guadalcanal (CVE-60) in the mid-Atlantic area.

U-544

Burma

Units of the Chinese 38th Division cross the Sanip River, but are held up by an enemy strongpoint near the confluence of the Tanai and Tarung Rivers. The Chinese 112th Regiment seizes Gum Ga and advances as far as Warang, where it halts.

Eastern Front

The Soviets break through in their attacks just north of Velikiye Luki. While the chief thrust of the Russian offensive is in the north, south of Leningrad, in the central sector the Red Army deepens the Sarny salient beyond the pre-war Polish frontier.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 29 AirSols SBDs and 18 VMTB-232 TBFs, escorted by 70 AirSols fighters, attack shipping in Simpson Harbor. 79 Japanese fighters are launched to intercept the bombers, but 5 Japanese merchant ships are confirmed sunk.
• 18th and 347th Fighter group P-38s down 6 A6M Zeros over the Rabaul area at 1230 hours. VMF-211, VMF-212, and VMF-321 F4Us down 10 Zeros, and VMTB-232 TBF crews down 2 Zero over the Rabaul area between 1230 and 1320 hours. VF-40 F6Fs down 2 Zeros over the Rabaul area between 1320 and 1330 hours. 5 P-38s, 1 F4U, 1 F6F, 1 SBD, and 1 TBF are lost.
• Japanese Army positions around Arawe are mopped up, but it has been decided that Arawe will not be the site of a new airfield after all.
• During the night, several XIII Bomber Command B-24s in two separate formations attack the Rabaul area.

Air Operations, CBI

• 10th Air Force A-36s and P-51s attack Japanese Army ground troops around Shaduzup, Ngamaw Ga, and Taro. A-36s and P-51s bomb rail cars, supply dumps, and warehouses at Sahmaw. P-40s attack the airfield at Myitkyina.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Bandanaira, Celebes.

Air Operations, Europe

• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack marshalling yards at three locations.
• XII Bomber Command B-26s attack a rail bridge and a marshalling yard.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s attack Anzio, Avezzano, and Tarquinia.
• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack the docks at Anzio and gun emplacements at two locations.

• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack the harbor at Sibenik.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Arezzo.
• 15th Air Force B-17s attack marshalling yards at two locations.

Air Operations, Marshalls

9 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s based at O’Hare Field, Abemama and 4 45th Fighter Squadron P-40s based at Starmann Field, Butaritari attack the Mille Atoll.

Air Operations, New Guinea

47 V Bomber Command B-24s and B-25s attack targets around Hansa Bay, B-25s attack Nubia, and V Fighter Command P-39s attack Rai Coast.

Air Operations, Solomons

During the night, 2 US Navy PVs attack a Japanese coastwatcher station on Choiseul.

Australia, Home Front

Meat rationing is introduced.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-305 is sunk in a depth-charge attack by the British destroyer Wanderer and the British corvette Geranium

U-305

Burma

The 113th Regt of the Chines 38th Division, bypassing a Japanese strongpoint on the Brangbram stream, advances on Taihpa Ga.

Eastern Front

Vatutin's troops take Slavuta, continuing the advance toward Rovno.

The German forces at Leningrad begin to crack under the weight of the Russian attacks. The dam at Krasnoye Selo is blown to flood the area and hold up the Russians. So far the 42nd Army has pushed 6 miles into the positions of the LIV and XXVI Corps and is about to turn toward Ropsha to link up with the 2nd Shock Army. However, the German defenses hold up the advance, enabling Kuchler to extricate his battered divisions despite Hitler's order to fight for every yard. Kuchler expects the Russians to attempt an encirclement operation at Uritsk and Ropsha.

Air Operations, CBI

• 18 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 9 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack a Japanese Army bivouac at Kyaukchaw. 20 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack the main airfield and a satellite one at Meiktila. 17 10th Air Force A-36s and P-51s attack Japanese Army ground troops, dumps, and workshops at Sawnghka. 11 P-40s attack Japanese Army ground troops and dumps at Shaduzup.
• A 311th Fighter Group P-51 downs a A6M Zero in an engagement near Ukyinkoi at 1140 hours and an 80th Fighter Group P-40 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter in an engagenent near Fort Hertz at 1250 hours.
• 3 10th Air Force transport aircraft are downed by Japanese fighters while dropping supplies to Allied ground troops near Sumprabum.

• 2 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail and port facilities at Campha Port, and oil storage at Mon Kay.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Laha, Ceram.

Air Operations, Europe

• XII Bomber Command B-26s attack the harbor at Piombino, factories, a bridge, and a rail line.
• XII Air Support Command A-20s attack gun emplacements.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack troops, motor vehicles, and gun emplacements in and around the battle area, and rail targets throughout central Italy.

• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack ships, port facilities, and railroads around Metkovic and Ploca.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack the marshalling yards at Pisa.
• 15th Air Force B-17s attack the marshalling yards at three locations and rail bridges at two locations.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 12 of 34 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s sent, escorted by more than 70 AirSols fighters, attack the Tobera airfield at Rabaul.
• 18th Fighter Group P-38s down 6 A6M Zeros over the Tobera airfield between 1230 and 1305 hours. 2 VF-30 F6Fs down an A6M Zero over Blanche Channel at 1245 hours. VMF-215 and VMF-321 F4Us down 10 Zeros and 2 Ki-61 'Tony' fighters in the Rabaul area between 1315 and 1510 hours.

Air Operations, Marshalls

12 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Mille Atoll. 25 531st Fighter-Bomber Squadron A-24s and 8 45th Fighter Squadron P-40 fighter-bombers attack an oil depot and a radio station on Jabor Island, in the Jaluit Atoll.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 2 V Fighter Command P-39 fighter-bombers attack barges around Cape Raoult.
• During the night, XIII Bomber Command B-24s organized into two waves attack Rabaul and the Vunakanau airfield there.

Air Operations, CBI

• 26 10th Air Force A-36s and P-51s attack road targets, and 4 P-40s attack an occupied town.

• 2 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 14 14th Air Force P-40s attack a barracks at Mon Kay.

• 16 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack a rail station in Bangkok.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Halong (Celebes) and Amboina Island.

Air Operations, Europe

Wing-Cmdr Lance Wade, American-born RAF fighter 'ace' with 25 victories, is killed in a flying accident over Italy. He was 28.

• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack the Rieti Airdrome.
• XIi Bomber Command B-26s attack the Viterbo Airdrome.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s attack troop positions and rail and communications targets along the US 5th Army battlefront at the Garigliano River.
• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack German Army troop positions and defended villages in the battle area.

• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack two schooners at Makarska.

• 15th Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack three airdromes around Rome.

Air Operations, Marshalls

• 17 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s mount a low-level attack against the Mille Atoll. 2 B-25s are lost.
• During the night, 13 VII Bomber Command B-24s pass through Hawkins Field, Betio to attack the Wotje Atoll.

Air Operations, New Guinea

57 V Bomber Command B-24s attack Boram, 2 B-24s attack a freighter at Aitape, and 65 V Bomber Command B-25s join RAAF bombers in supporting Australian Army ground troops clearing Shaggy Ridge.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-641 is ;sunk in a Hedgehog attack by the British corvette Violet near the convoy OS-65.

U-641

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 25 V Bomber Command A-20s attack Japanese Army ground troops around Gasmata and barges between Borgen Bay and Rein Bay. 18 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s, escorted by more than 70 AirSols fighters, attack the Vunakanau airfield at Rabaul, anti-aircraft batteries, and fuel dumps.
• VMF-211, VMF-215, and VMF-321 F4Us down 15 A6M Zeros in the Rabaul area between 1325 and 1330 hours.

Air Operations, Europe

• 769 aircraft are sent to Berlin. Included in this total are 495 Lancasters, 264 Halifaxes and 10 Mosquitos.
• The bomber approach route takes a wide swing to the north, but the German controller manages to feed his fighters into the bomber stream early and the fighters score steadily until the force is well on its way home. There are divesions but not large enough to deceive the Germans. The Berlin area is completely cloud-covered and results of the attack are unknown. The Pathfinder skymarking appears to have gone according to plan and crews who were scanning the ground with their H₂S sets believe that the attack falls on the eastern districts of Berlin. No major navigational problems are experienced. No photographic reconnaissance is possible until after a further 4 raids on Berlin are carried out but the various sources from which the Berlin reports are normally drawn all show a complete blank for this night. Over 2,300 tons of bombs are dropped.
• 22 Halifaxes and 13 Lancasters are lost. No 102 Squadron, from Pocklington, loses 5 of its 16 Halifaxes on this raid, 2 more crash in England and the squadron would lose 4 more aircraft in the next night's raid.
• 12 Mosquitos are sent to Düsseldorf, 4 to Kiel, 3 to Hannover, there are 6 RCM sorties, 5 Serrate patrols, 29 aircraft lay mines in the Frisians and off French ports, and there are 20 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack rail lines around Carsloi.
• XII Bomber Command B-26s attack a bridge and a marshalling yard.
• XII Air Support Command A-20s provide close support for US 5th Army ground forces around Minturno.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack rail targets and mount more than 200 close-support sorties in conjunction with the US 36th Infantry Division's crossing of the Rapido River.
• 31st Fighter Group Spitfires down 3 Luftwaffe fighters and damage or possibly down 4 others during afternoon missions over central Italy.

• 15th Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack the Centocelle, Ciampino, and Guidonia Airdromes around Rome.

Air Operations, CBI

• 5 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 16 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack rail lines, a rail bridge, and a pipeline in the Nattalin area. More than 40 10th Air Force A-36s and P-51s attack supply dumps along the rail line through the Mogaung area as well as warehouses at Mohnyin.

• 2 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a tanker and a freighter while conducting a sweep between Hong Kong and Swatow.

Air Operations, Marshalls

• 8 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Rakaaru Island, but other B-25s sent to attack shipping in the Ailinglaplap Atoll abort in the face of bad weather. Also, 9 45th Fighter Squadron P-40s strafe a Japanese Navy corvette at Jaluit. 4 P-40 fighter-bombers attack the Mille Atoll.
• During the night, 16 VII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Kwajalein Atoll.

Air Operations, New Guinea

37 V Bomber Command B-25s and 1 B-24 attack the Hansa Bay area. More than 60 B-25s support Australian Army ground forces clearing Shaggy Ridge. V Fighter Command P-39s attack Japanese Army ground troops at Weber Point.

Atlantic

US Tank Landing Ship LST-228 sinks after running aground off the Azores.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-263 is lost on an air-dropped mine laid during one of the RAF's 'Gardening' sorties.

U-263

Air Operations, Bismarcks

38 XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Borpop airfield on New Ireland. V Bomber Command B-25s and V Fighter Command P-39s strafe barges and targets of opportunity between Cape Raoult and Rein Bay. B-24s mount individual attacks against the Cape Hoskins airfield on New Britain and attack shipping near Kavieng.

Air Operations, Europe

In Operation STEINBOCK (IBEX), also known as the 'Little Blitz' on London, a motley force of 447 aircraft, including He-177 heavy bombers, are sent to bomb London. Only 32 tons of bombs are dropped on target. 9 planes are lost. There will be 13 similar attacks from January 29 to April 18.

• 648 aircraft are sent to Madgeburg. In this total are 421 Lancasters, 224 Halifaxes and 3 Mosquitos.
• The German controller again follows the progress of the bomber stream across the North Sea and many night fighters are in the stream before it crosses the German coast. The controller is slow to identify Magdeburg as the target, but this does not matter because most of the night fighters are able to stay in the bomber stream, a good example of the way the Tame Boar tactics are developing. The raid is not classified as a success. Some of the Main Force aircraft now have H₂S and winds which are stronger than forecast bring some of these into the target area before the Pathfinders' Zero Hour. The crews of 27 Main Force aircraft are anxious to bomb and do so before Zero Hour. The Pathfinders blame the fires started by this early bombing, together with some very effective German decoy markers, for their failure to concentrate the marking.
• 57 aircraft including 35 Halifaxes and 22 Lancasters are lost. It is probable that three quarters of the losses are caused by German night fighters. During this raid, 2 German night fighter 'aces' are killed: Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn Wittgenstein with 83 victories and Manfred Meurer with 65 victories.
• 22 Lancasters and 12 Mosquitos of Nos. 5 and 8 Groups carry out a diversionary raid to Berlin.
• 1 Lancaster is lost.
• 111 aircraft including 89 Stirlings, 12 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitos, are sent to hit 6 flying bomb sites in France.
• There are no losses.

• 8 Mosquitos are sent to Oberhausen, 5 to Rheinhausen, there are 6 RCM sorties, 5 Serrate patrols, 8 Wellingtons lay mines of St Nazaire and there are 16 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

• After being grounded for a full week by bad weather over the Continent, 795 8th Air Force B-17s and B-24s are dispatched against 36 B-weapons sites in the Cherbourg and Pas-de-Calais areas. Results are decidedly mixed due to heavy cloud cover. 401 of the heavy bombers never drop their bombs, but 26 V-weapons sits and several targets of opportunity, including three airdromes, are eventually attack by 394 bombers releasing 1,141 tons of bombs.
• 6 bombers are lost
• Escort and support for the mission is provided by 628 USAAF fighters. USAAF fighters down 7 Luftwaffe fighters.
• 1 P-47 and its pilot are lost

• 119 IX Bomber Command medium bombers also attack V-weapons sites.

• XII Bomber Command B-26s attack rail bridges around Orvieto.
• XII Bomber Command B-25s attack a bridge at Pontecorvo and rail lines around Rome.
• XII Air Support Command A-20s attack Atina.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack numerous tactical targets, troop concentrations, and a radar station in the US 5th Army zone.
• 325th Fighter Group P-47s down 4 FW-190s near Florence about 1230 hours.

• In an effort to stop at the source Luftwaffe bomber attacks on shipping and bases in Corsica and Sardinia, a total of 72 15th Air Force B-17s attack the Luftwaffe airdromes at Salon-de-Provence and Istres-le-Tube about noon with an aggregate of 228 tons of bombs. Damage is heavy and both bases are put out of commission temporarily just as a major Allied amphibious landing is about to take place in central Italy. 6 Luftwaffe fighters are downed over southern France by 1st and 82nd Fighter Group P-38 escorts.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack marshalling yards at Pisa, Pontedera, and Prato.
• 15th Air Force B-17s attack marshalling yards and a bridge at Rimini, and a marshalling yard at Porto Civitanova.

Air Operations, CBI

• 11 10th Air Force P-40s attack a bridge at Loilaw and a nearby town. 11 A-36s and P-51s attack Japanese Army ground troops near Kamaing. 16 A-36s and P-51s support Allied ground forces near Sumprabum.

Air Operations, East Indies

2 380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Waingapoe, Sumatra.

Air Operations, Marshalls

6 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Arno Atoll, 12 B-25s attack the Aur Atoll, 9 B-25s attack the Mille Atoll, and 23 531st Fighter-Bomber Squadron A-24s and 11 45th Fighter Squadron P-40 fighter-bombers attack barracks, two small ships, anti-aircraft batteries, and fuel stores in the Jaluit Atoll.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s and A-20s, and V Fighter Command P-39 fighter-bombers attack targets and Japanese Army ground troops in the Erima, Madang, and Saidor areas. P-40 dive-bombers support Australian Army ground forces clearing Shaggy Ridge. Also, B-24s mount individual attacks against shipping near Lorengau in the Admiralty Islands.

Air Operations, Pacific

For the third successive night American aircraft based on Attu, in the Aleutians, bomb targets in the area of Paramushiru-Shimushu, in the Kuril Islands.

Admiralty Islands

Relays of American bombers begin the 'softening-up' offensive in advance of the invasion, attacking Japanese shipping in the area. Photographic reconnaissance missions are carried out over Lorengau and Momote.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• V Bomber Command A-20s, V Fighter Command P-40s, and RAAF aircraft attack targets of opportunity along the New Britain coast.
• 27 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s, escorted by more than 90 AirSols fighters, attack the Lakunai airffield at Rabaul. 1 B-25 and 4 fighters are lost.
• A VMF-321 F4U downs an A6M Zero over New Ireland at 1415 hours. VMF-211 and VMF-215 F4Us down 15 A6M Zeros and Ki-61 'Tony' fighters in the Rabaul area between 1420 and 1440 hours. A VF-40 F6F downs an A6M Zero near Rabaul at 1450 hours.
• During the night, 33 XIII Bomber Command B-24s and 6 42d Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the town area in Rabaul. This is the largest night mission of the Rabaul campaign.

Air Operations, CBI

• 16 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Prome. 1 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25 and 16 10th Air Force A-36s and P-51s attack supply dumps and communications targets between Kumnyen and Ngamaw Ga. 12 A-36s and P-51s provide direct support for Allied ground forces around Sumprabum. 11 P-40 fighter-bombers attack a rail bridge at Namkwin.

• 12 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack bridges at Shektan and Sheklung. 16 14th Air Force P-51s and P-40s attack the airfield at Nanchang.

Air Operations, Europe

Allied aircraft drop 2 million leaflets on Rome announcing the imminent arrival of the liberation forces.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack the marshalling yard at Arezzo and a road defile at Terracina.
• 15th Air Force B-17s attack a marshalling yard and the airdrome at Pontedera, a marshalling yard and rail bridges at Terni, and highway and rail bridges around Pontecorvo and Stazione di Campoleone.
• In several afternoon clashes, 12th and 15th air force fighterd down 12 Luftwaffe fighters over central Italy especially between Anzio and Rome.

Air Operations, Marshalls

• 18 11th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based at Hawkins Field, Betio attack targets in the Jaluit, Kwajalein, and Mille atolls. 10 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Maloelap Atoll. 9 B-25s attack the Wotje Atoll. In the day's action, 3 B-25s are lost.
• The B-24s undertaking pre-invasion attacks on targets in the Kwajalein Atoll are not engaged by Japanese Navy defensive fighters for the first time since the bombing program began. In fact, Japanese Navy aerial resistance around the Kwajalein Atoll has ended.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 11 345th Medium Bomb Group B-25s and V Fighter Command P-38s working together attack numerous coastal targets and shipping. P-40 dive-bombers support Australian Army ground forces in the final clearing of the main Japanese Army defensive strongpoints on Shaggy Ridge.
• Along with the capture of Saidor, the seizure of Shaggy Ridge leaves the Allies in complete control of the Huon Peninsula.
• Japanese Army ground forces withdrawing toward Madang from Saidor and the Shaggy Ridge area of the Ramu Valley are attacked from the air.
• After a perios of bad weather, 2 F-5s of the 5th Air Force’s 8th Photographic Reconnissance Squadron are able to obtain good coverage of several invasion objectives in the Admiralty Islands.

Atlantic

US Tank landing craft LCT-582 sinks after running aground in the Azores.

Eastern Front

The Germans announce that they have repulsed the attacks of the Russian armies of the 1st Baltic Front under Yeremenko against Vitebsk, northwest of Smolensk. But Vitebsk, a crucial German strongpoint, is now completely surrounded by the Russians.

Despite a desperated appeal to Hitler, Kuchler is unable to gain authorization for a withdrawal.

New Britain

Squadrons of Zero fighters drawn from the Japanese 2nd Fleet's aircraft carriers arrive to reinforce the defenses of Rabaul, bringing the total to 92 fighters.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• V Bomber Command A-20s attack Japanese Army ground troops and anti-aircraft batteries near Gasmata and Cape Raoult.
• More than 60 Marine Corps SBDs, escorted by 80 AirSols fighters, attack the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul and coastal targets. 40 AirSols fighters later sweep the Rabaul area.
• A 347th Fighter Group P-38 downs an A6M Zero near the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul at 0915. VF-40 F6Fs down 2 Zeros over the Rapopo airfield at Rabaul at 0915 hours. VMF-211, VMF-212, and VMF-321 F4Us, and a VMSB-236 SBD crew down 29 A6M Zeros in the Rabaul area between 0912 and 0930 hours. In the unprecedented second mission, VMF-211, VMF-212, and VMF-321 F4Us down 16 more Zeros in the Rabaul area between 1710 and 1730 hours.
• During the night, 7 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Lakunai and Tobera airfields at Rabaul.

Air Operations, CBI

• 19 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s organized into two waves attack shipping at Mergui. 6 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 16 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack bridges at Myittha and Samon. 1 B-25 and 28 10th Air Force A-36s and P-51s attack dumps at Kamaing and Mogaung. 16 P-40s attack the airfield at Myitkyina, rail bridges at Loilaw, and rail cars at Pidaung.

• 9 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 28 14th Air Force P-40s attack the Kaitak airfield at Hong Kong. 2 B-25s attack three merchant ships near Wenchow.
• A 3d CACW Fighter Group P-40 downs an A6M Zero over Hong Kong at 1450 hours.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Flores Island in the Lesser Sunda Islands.

Air Operations, Europe

• 37 Mosquitos are sent to hit 6 different targets, there are 3 RCM sorties and 9 aircraft lay mines off Cherbourg, Brest and Le Havre.
• There are no losses.

• Approximately 200 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack V-weapons sites along the Channel coast.

• XII Bomber Command B-25s and B-26s attack targets in and around Avezzano, and B-25s also attack a road junction.
• XII Air Support Command A-20s attack Vallecorsa.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s attack numerous tactical targets.
• XII Air Support Command fighters cover the Anzio beachhead throughout the day.
• Spitfires of the 52nd Fighter Group's 2nd Fighter Squadron down 2 Ju-88s and 3 He-111s near the port of Viareggio about 1650 hours.
• The 414th Night-Fighter Squadron Beaufighter downs 1 Do-217 as it crosses the northern tip of Sardinia while another Beaufighter downs 1 Ju-88 from the same night-raiding formations.

• 57th Fighter Group P-47 fighter-bombers attack a bridge at Skradin.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack marshalling yards at three locations, the Rieti Airdrome, and several targets of opportunity.
• 15th Air Force B-17s attack marshalling yards at two locations, a rail line, a rail bridge, and two highway bridges.

Air Operations, Marshalls

21 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Taroa airfield at Maloelap. 23 VII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Wotje Atoll at dusk. One B-24 attacks the Mille Atoll after dropping out of the main formation because of engine trouble.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Fighter Command P-39s attack barges and coastal anti-aircraft batteries. 35 V Bomber Command B-24s are intercepted by an estimated 50 Japanese fighters while attacking Wewak. 8th, 49th, and 475th Fighter group P-38s down 19 Japanese fighters in the Wewak area between 1100 and 1130 hours. 5 P-38s are also lost in the action.

Air Operations, Solomons

20 XIII Fighter Command P-39s attack targets of opportunity in the Shortland Islands.

Eastern Front

Moscow announces that adverse weather conditions and difficult terrain have held up the Russian forces in the Vitebsk sector.