Air Operations, Europe

American heavy bombers drop 30,000 tons of bombs on a selection of targets including Berlin (see March 6-8), Brunswick, Friedrichshafen, French airfields and V-weapons sites. RAF Bomber Command makes over 8,000 sorties, including 4 1,000-bomber raids during which 27,000 tons of bombs are dropped. Objectives include Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Berlin, Essen, Nuremberg (see March 30-31) and rail targets in France for OVERLORD. US and British medium and fighter bombers attack targets in occupied territory.

The Mediterranean air forces also hit rail targets in northern Italy.

During daylight on 5 days during the first 16 days of March, 2 RAF Bomber Command Oboe Mosquitos act as 'formation leaders' for bomber units of the 2nd Tactical Air Force attacking flying-bomb sites. The formation bombs as soon as it sees the bombs of the Oboe Mosquito being released. There are no losses from these sorties.

Admiralty Islands

On Los Negros the US forces eliminate some small Japanese units that have infiltrated their lines during the night. Steps are also taken to strengthen the perimeter while waiting for reinforcements. In the evening the Japanese attack again but are unable to break the American lines. Their efforts go on all night.

Gen Walter Krueger, commanding the US 6th Army, orders Gen Innis P. Swift, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, to proceed with the occupation of the whole archipelago to secure sites for air and naval bases.

Air Operations, CBI

• 56 10th Air Force P-51s and A-36s attack troops and dumps at Sawnghka. 8 P-40s attack a bridge at Namkwin. 4 P-40s attack the airfield at Myitkyina.

• 14 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 16 14th Air Force P-40s attack Nanchang.

Air Operations, Europe

• 557 aircraft are sent to Stuttgart. In this total are 415 Lancasters, 129 Halifaxes and 13 Mosquitos.
• Thick clouds on the routes to and from the target area make it difficult for the German fighters to get into the bomber stream.
• 3 Lancasters and 1 Halifax are lost.

• 18 Mosquitos attack airfields in Holland, 11 Mosquitos make a diversionary raid to Munich, there are 6 RCM Sorties and 10 Serrate patrols. 1 Mosquito is sent to a flying-bomb site, 10 Halifaxes and 1 Stirling are on Resistance operations, and there are 16 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack motor vehicles and gun emplacements in support of the US 5th Army.
• XiI Air Support Command P-47s attack a vessel in the Adriatic Sea.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• As the weather clears over the Admiralty Islands, nearly 30 V Bomber Command B-24s and B-25s attack Los Negros Island and Lorengau (Manus Island) throughout the day. 375th Troop Carrier Group B-17s air-drop 3 tons of supplies, including blood and plasma, to US Army ground forces on Los Negros.

• More than 100 B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s, with a heavy fighter escort and RAAF bombers, attack the airfields in the Wewak area, Awar Point, Hansa Bay, and Japanese Army ground defenses at Alexishafen, Madang, and Saiba.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-709 is sighted by an aircraft from the US carrier USS Block Idland only 20 miles from the carrier on the evening of February 29th. Just after 2100 the destroyer escort Bronstein illuminates the U-boat on the surface. U-709 dives quickly hastened by a barrage of gunfire, 2 Hedgehog salvos from Bronstein and more Hedgehogs and depth charges from destroyer escords Thomas and Bostwick. A final deep-set pattern was delivered by Thomas on the morning of March 1st. Following the explosions, breaking-up noises are heard and wreckage appears on the surface.

U-709

Class	Type VIIC
CO	Oberleutnant Rudolf Ites
Location	Atlantic, N of the Azores
Cause	Depth charge
Casualties	52
Survivors	None

• The German submarine U-603 is sunk by the US destroyer escort Bronstein (DE-189) in the North Atlantic area. The Bronstein (DD-189) and the destroyer escorts Thomas (DE-102) and Bostwick (DE-189) together sink the German submarine U-709 in the same area.

U-603 Class Type VIIC CO Kapitänleutnant Joachim Bertelsmann Location Atlantic, N of the Azores Cause Depth charge Casualties 51 Survivors None

U-358 Class Type VIIC CO Kapitänleutnant Rolf Manke Location North Atlantic Cause Gunfire/depth charge Casualties 43 Survivors 1

• U-358 sinks the British frigate Gould north-northeast of the Azores with the loss of 123 of her crew. There are 14 survivors. After being submerged for 38 hours and enduring several depth charge attacks, U-358 is forced to surface and is then sunk by gunfire from the British frigate Affleck with the loss of 50 of her crew of 51.

Admiralty Islands

A second wave of 1,000 men from the US 5th Cav Regt arrives at Los Negros. The forces already established on the island take Momote airfield with the help of fire support from destroyers offshore.

Air Operations, CBI

• 20 10th Air Force P-40s attack a fuel dump at Myitkyina, artillery batteries at Shinban, and motor vehicles near Walawbum. 8 P-51s and A-36s attack a Japanese Army bivouac near Mogaung. 5 P-51s attack Japanese Army artillery batteries around Maingkwan.

• 10 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s armed with 1,000-pound bombs dive-bomb bridges along the Yangtze River between Chiuchiang and Nanchang. 3 direct hits are claimed. Also, 2 14th Air Force P-40s attack a barracks and airfield at Kengtung.

• 4 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a ship at Mon Cay and rail facilities at Campha.

Air Operations, Europe

• 117 Halifaxes and 6 Mosquitos of Nos. 4, 6 and 8 Groups attack the SNCA aircraft factory at Meulan-Les-Meureaux, 15 miles outside of Paris. The Oboe marking is accurate and the bombing seriously damages the factory buildings.
• There are no losses.
• 15 Lancasters of No. 617 Squadron carry out a successful raid on an aircraft factory at Albert, France. 13 Mosquitos are sent to 3 targets in Germany and 1 flying-bomb site, there are 2 RCM sorties and 8 Serrate patrols, 8 Stirlings lay mines off French Channel ports, 44 aircraft are involved in Resistance operations, and there are 10 OTU sorties.

• 84 3rd Bomb Division B-17s, escorted by 281 USAAF fighters, attack the Chartres Airdrome with 158 tons of bombs.
• 1 B-17 is lost

• Of 327 1st Bomb Division B-17s and 154 2nd Bomb Division B-24s dispatched to attack marshalling yards at Frankfurt am Main, only 101 B-17s and 36 B-24s are able to located the assigned target area through thick cloud cover. 192 B-17s and 46 B-24s attack various targets of opportunity.
• 589 USAAF fighters are assigned to escort and support the Frankfurt am Main mission. VIII Fighter Command escort pilots down 16 Luftwaffe fighters alon the heavy-bomber route, primarily over Belgium, between 1145 and 1420 hours.
• 4 fighters are lost with 3 of the pilots

• In two separate missions, the IX Bomber Command mounts a total of 353 B-26 sorties against V-weapons sites and the Amiens/Glisy, Rosieres-en-Santerre, and Tergnier Airdromes.
• In IX Bomber Command's first directed mission against the Axis rail system, 126 B-26s attack a marshalling yard at Amiens.

• 12th Air Force B-26s attack and assembly area near Carroceto.
• 12th Air Force B-25s and B-26s attack an assembly area and gun emplacements near Cisterna di Roma.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack troop positions and gun emplacements in the Anzio battle area and around Cisterna and Littoria.

• XII Air Support Command P-47s attack a ship off Sibenik.

• 15th Air Force B-17s, B-24s, P-38s, and P-47s mount 351 bomber sorties and more than 150 fighter sorties against targets around the Anzio beachhead.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 1More than 80 V Bomber Command B-24s and P-40 fighter-bombers attack the airfield at Nubia, and targets in the Alexishafen, Hansa Bay, and Madang areas.

Admiralty Islands

The Japanese send in a strong night attack against the American force on Los Negros. The attackers take heavy losses however, and much of the Japanese strength on the island is thereby dissipated.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

A VMF-223 F4U downs an A6M Zero over the Tobera airfield at Rabaul.

Air Operations, Carolines

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Ponape Island.

Air Operations, CBI

• 14 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the airfields at Hsenwi, Lashio, and Loiwing. 22 341st Bomb Group B-25s, escorted by RAF fighters, attack the Fort White area. 10 B-25s and 4 10th Air Force P-51s attack the airfields at Katha, Mawlu, and Shwebo. 12 B-25s and 8 P-51s attack rail facilities at 2 locations. 6 459th Fighter Squadron P-38 fighter-bombers attack a bridge at Okshitpin. More than 70 B-25s, A-36s, P-40s, and P-51s attack numerous fuel and supply dumps, and road targets.

• 14th Air Force P-40s attack a coal grading plant at Campha.

Air Operations, Europe

Lightnings carry out a sweep over Berlin.

• 16 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 10 to Düsseldorf, 1 to Krefeld, 2 to the flying-bomb site at Sottevaast, 45 aircraft lay mines off French ports, and there are 9 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.
• 3 Wellington minelaying sorties flown on this night by 300 (Polish) Squadron, based at Ingham, are the last Wellington operations flown by a normal Bomber Command squadron. RCM squadrons of No 100 Group will continue to use Wellingtons in small numbers for several months and the OTUs will use Wellingtons until the end of the war.

• 748 8th Air Force heavy bombers are dispatched against industrial and aviation-industry targets in Berlin, Oranienburg, and Erkner, bud bad weather results in 669 abors. Only 75 B-17s and 4 B-24ss attack targets of opportunity.
• 8 bombers are lost to enemy fire, 3 downed from midair collision

• A record 730 USAAF fighters escort the bombers. 8 Luftwaffe fighters are downed over Germany between 1130 and 1230 hours.
• 6 P-51s and 1 P-38 are lost with 6 pilots, 1 P-47 crash-lands at its base

• 216 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack German Army installations at two locations, and the Beauvais/Tille, Laon/Couvron, Montdidier, Rosieres-en-Santerre, and Roye/Amy Airdromes.

• All three B-26 groups of the 42nd Medium Bomb Wing attack a marshalling yard at Ostiense with all bombs falling within 200 yards of the target. Damage to tracks, facilities, and rolling stock is extensive. B-26s also attack Benedetto de Marsi.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s attack a tent camp and a train between Rome and Magliano Romano.
• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack gun emplacements north of the Anzio beachhead area.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack the landing ground at Canino, and the Fabrica di Roma and Viterbo Airdromes, but results are poor due to cloud cover over the targets. At least 80 B-24s and more than 100 P-38s abort because of bad weather.
• 15th Air Force B-17s attack Rome's Littorio and Tiburtina marshalling yards with results rated as 'good'.
• While supporting the Viterbo attack, 325th Fighter Group P-47 pilots down 7 Luftwaffe fighters between 1135 hours and noon.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• After being diverted from the Admiralty Islands because of bad weather, more than 30 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Alexishafen and the Hansa Bay area. 20 V Bomber Command A-20s attack Erima. 20 P-39s attack Bogadjim and Madang.
• During the afternoon, 6 345th Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 9 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s brave bad weather to bomb and strafe Japanese Army ground positions on Los Negros.
• A 35th Fighter Group P-47 downs a Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaissance plane near Manam Island at 1010. V Fighter Command P-38s down 2 Ki-21 'Sally' bombers and 2 fighters over Hollandia between 1800 and 1815 hours.

Admiralty Islands

Adm Victor A. C. Crutchley's cruiser TF 74 shells Japanese batteries on Hauwei and Ndrilo(Norilo?) which have been hampering access to Seeadler Bay. US reinforcments are landed on Los Negros.

Air Operations, CBI

• More than 60 10th Air Force P-51s, P-40s, and A-36s attack road targets, dumps, and bivouacs over a wide area.

• 6 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack the airfield at Kiungshan on northern Hainan Island with parafrag bomb clusters dropped at high speed and from only 150 feet of altitude. An estimated 20 Japanese airplanes are destroyed by the bomb clusters and strafing, and 3 of the B-25s are only slightly damaged by ground fire. In addition, a 3rd CACW Fighter Group P-40 escort downs a twin-engine airplane in a multi-plane engagement over the airfield at 1225 hours.
• 2 CACW B-25s, escorted by 4 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s, attack shipping on the Yangtze River. When they are attacked by 10 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters, the 449th Fighter Squadron P-38 escorts down 3 of the 'Oscars' over Shihweiyao at 1305 hours. 2 P-38s are damaged beyond repair in crash landings at the airfield at Suichwan.
• A P-51 with the 23rd Fighter Group’s 76th Fighter Squadron downs 1 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter over Wuhu at an unstated time.
• Japanese bombers cause considerable damage during an uncontested attack against the Suichwan airfield.

• 6 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack port facilities at Campha and a chromium mine at Thanh Hoa. 2 14th Air Force P-40s attack rail facilities and warehouses at Campha and Hongay. 5 P-40s sent against Cao Bang accidently attack the Chinese city of Lungchow, because of bad weather.

Air Operations, Europe

About 600 Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the US 8th Air Force carry out the first daylight raid on Berlin. Because of bad weather over the target area, the raid is diverted to bomb Cologne, Bonn, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt instead. They meet with powerful resistance by fighters and anti-aircraft guns and lose nearly 80 aircraft.

• 15 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 6 to Duisburg, 1 to Aachen and 1 to Sottevaast, 10 Halifaxes lay mines off Brest, 76 aircraft are involved in Resistance operations, and 16 Lancasters of No. 617 Squadron are sent to bomb the La Ricamerie needle-bearing factory near Lyons, but are unable to locate the target because of clouds and return without bombing.
• There are no losses.

• Although 502 1st and 3rd Bomb Division B-17s are dispatched to attack industrial suburbs of Berlin, unfavorable weather conditions over most of Germany prevent all but one 30-plane 3rd Division combat wing from reaching its primary target. A total of 219 1st and 3rd Bomb Division B-17s attack targets of opportunity in the Ruhr.
• Of the 30-plane raid, 5 B-17s are lost, 10 B-17s are lost over the Ruhr
• Of 770 USAAF fighters dispatched, a record 24 fail to return to their bases. Of these, it appears 11 of 33 P-51s dispatched by the 363rd Fighter Group are lost in weather-related accidens over the Dutch coast. VIII Fighter Command escort pilots down 7 Luftwaffe over Germany between 1215 and 1340 hours.

• 251 IX Bomber Command B-26s and 21 A-20s dispatched against several airfields in France abort in the face of heavy cloud cover over the targets.

• Most of the 12th Air Force is grounded by bad weather, but a few XII Air Support Command P-40s attack gun emplacements in the battle area.

Air Operations, Marshalls

• 7th Air Force and 4th Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing squadrons (including attached US Navy squadrons) based in the Marshall and Gilbert islands open an organized and methodical offensive to neutralize bypassed Japanese bases in the region, especially at the Jaluit, Maloelap, Mille, and Wotje atolls.
• On this first day of what will be a very long operation, strong anti-aircraft opposition is encountered, especially by Majuro-based VMSB-331 SBDs engaged in an attack against the Jaluit Atoll. As a result, target plans are altered in favor of a heavy early campaign emphasis against anti-aircraft defenses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• Throughout the day, 16 V Bomber Command B-25s and 12 A-20s brave bad weather to bomb and strafe Japanese Army ground troops on Los Negros Island. More than 30 V Bomber Command B-24s attack airfields in the Wewak area. 22 B-24s attack Hollandia. A-20s attack artillery batteries and buildings in the Saidor area.
• 35th Fighter Group P-47s down 2 Japanese fighters in the Wewak area at 1115 hours, and 2 fighters over the Bogadjim road at 1220 hours.
• During the might, V Bomber Command bombers open a series of light harrassing raids against Hollandia-area airfields.

Arctic

U-472 is spotted on the surface by Swordfish 'B' of 816 NAS from HMS Chaser for the passage of convoy RA-57 from the Kola Inlet. The aircraft attacks and scores two hit with bombs on the hull. The U-boat begins to leak oil and her course becomes very erratic. A call is put out to the British destroyer HMS Onslaught. When the destroyer is within range, she opens up with her 4.7-in main armament but the submarine is already sinking. The Onslaught starts trying to rescue the crew of the U-boat.

U-472

Burma

In the northeast the Americans occupy a part of the road leading from Walawbum to Kamaing, and begin to shell Walawbum. The Japanese try unsuccessfully to attack the Americans on the flank, and launch a violent attack against the units manning Lagang Ga. The attack is contained.

The Chinese-American armored group advances from Ngam Ga to Tsamat Ga, near Maingkwan, and the Japanese evacuate Tsamat Ga.

Admiralty Islands

The US 7th Cav moves into the northern half of Los Negros. Gen Swift takes personal command of the new phase. A third wave of 1,400 troops arrives with destroyers which also give fire support.

Air Operations, Carolines

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Ponape and Kusaie islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• At the start of Operation THURSDAY—what will be a massive offensive in Burma—USAAF light cargo aircraft of the 10th Air Force’s provisional, composite No. 1 Air Commando (formerly the 5318th Air Unit) airlift a 2-brigade British Army deep-penetration force (known as 'Chindits’) to landing zones in central Burma, 50 miles east of Indaw and far behind Japanese Army lines. Following a combat jump by US Army engineers, who clear a landing ground known as Broadway, 32 of 67 troop and cargo gliders sent deliver 539 ground troops, 3 mules, and 65,972 pounds of cargo (including several bulldozers). The gliders that abort (because a second landing ground has been blocked by Japanese Army ground troops) all return safely to their bases. By nightfall, the first of 62 fully laden C-47s are able to land at a newly created runway at Broadway. And during the night, a second landing zone is used by a dozen troop-laden gliders.
• 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 10th Air Force P-51s, P-40s, and A-36s mount more than 60 effective sorties throughout the day against Japanese Army ground troops, dumps, a bridge, and road targets around Myitkyina, Shingban, and Zigon.

• 8 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the airfield at Chiengmai.

Air Operations, Europe

• 9 Mosquitos are sent to Duisburg and 1 to Aachen, there are 4 RCM sorties and 4 Serrate patrols, and 49 Stirlings and 17 Halifaxes are on Resistance operations.
• 1 Halifax is lost.

• 207 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack V-weapons sites around St.-Omer and Abbeville.
• 219 2nd Bomb Division B-24s are dispatched against three Luftwaffe airdromes in France, but cloud cover over the targets forces 164 to attack four other airdromes, and the rest abort.
• Escort for the B-24s is provided by 307 USAAF fighters. VIII Fighter Command escort pilots down 16 Luftwaffe aircraft over France between 1130 and 1305 hours.
• 5 USAAF fighters are lost with 4 pilots, 3 are lost in operational accidents with 1 pilot

• Most of the 12th Air Force is grounded by bad weather, but XII Air Support Command A-36s attack Formia, and P-40s attack Pontecorvo.

Air Operations, Marshalls

VMSB-231 SBDs attack anti-aircraft defenses on the Jaluit Atoll. Atoll. From this day forward, VMSB-231 and VMSB-331 will mount alternating attacks almost daily attacks against Jaluit and other bypassed Marshall Islands s bases.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• Nearly 30 V Bomber Command B-24s attack Japanese Army defensive positions on Los Negros Island.
• As elements of the US 32nd Infantry Division land at Yaula, in northeastern New Guinea, about 30 miles from Saidor, V Bomber Command A-20s attack targets throughout the area. Also, V Fighter Command P-39s attack Erima and Madang.
• A V Fighter Command senior pilot downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter over the airfield at Dagua at 1325 hours. 348th Fighter Group P-47s down 3 G3M 'Nell' bombers and 1 Ki-43 'Oscar' over Wewak at 1720 hours.

Arctic

Swordfish 'F' of 816 NAS sights U-366 12 miles from the outer screen of convoy RA-57. The aircraft climbs and maneuvers so as to attack the U-boat from 90 degrees. Rockets are fired from 1,200 feet and 3 hits are observed aft of the conning tower. The U-boat's bow rises up and sinks stern first.

U-366

Admiralty Islands

Another American regiment lands on Los Negros and joins up with the units pursuing the retreating Japanese. The beachhead is widened to take in the villages of Salami and Porlaka.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Fighter Command P-38 and P-39 dive-bombers attack the Cape Hoskins airfield on New Britain in support of a US Marine landing on the Willaumez Penensula aimed at securing Talasea.

Air Operations, Europe

• US heavy bombers raid Berlin for the first time. A force of 730 B-17s and B-24s of the 8th Air Force bombers is sent. and 69 are lost. They bomb the city and the nearby Erkner ball-bearing works. Escorting the bombers are 796 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s plus 2 RAF Mustang squadrons. The US aircraft fight running battles with German interceptors from the Dutch coast to Berlin. There is heavy flak over the target.
• 69 bombers are lost

• 261 Halifaxes and 6 Mosquitos of Nos. 4, 6 and 8 Groups make the first in a series of raids on railway targets in France and Belgium in preparation for the invasion. 1 site hit is the Trappes marshalling yards on the Paris-Brittany line.
• There are no losses.

• 15 Mosquitos are sent to Hannover, 6 to Kiel and 1 to Krefeld, there is 1 RCM sortie, and 30 aircraft are on Resistance operations.
• There are no losses.

• In the war's first attack on Berlin by USAAF day bombers, 504 8th Air Force B-17s and 226 B-24s are dispatched against industrial targets in and around the city. However, a total of 474 B-17s and 198 B-24s attack a wide variety of secondary targets and targets of opportunity in the Berlin area through breaks in the heavy cloud cover. Luftwaffe fighter opposition is concentrated and fierce.
• 53 B-17s and 16 B-24s are lost, 293 B-17s and 54 B-24s are damaged, 5 B-17s and 1 B-24 are written off; crew losses: 17 killed, 31 wounded, 686 missing
• Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by a record 801 USAAF fighters, 86 P-38s, 615 P-47s, and 100 P-51s. VIII Fighter Command fighters down a record Luftwaffe fighters and attack aircraft along the bomber routes and over Berlin between 1130 and 1500 hours.
• 5 P-51s, 5 P-47s, and 1 P-38 are lost with their pilots

• 260 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack V-weapons sites, the Beauvais/Tille Airdrome, and a marshalling yard at Hirson, but 50 other B-26s and A-20s dispatched against a marshalling yard at Creil abort because of bad weather.

• XII Air Support Command A-36s attack motor vehicles and rail cars.
• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack a town and gun emplacements near the Anzio beachhead.

Air Operations, CBI

• 4 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack a bridge spanning the Sittang River and adjacent anti-aircraft batteries. 18 10th Air Force P-40s and P-51s attack a bridge at Sawnghka and dumps at Walawbum.

• 14 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s sow mines around Kham Yi Island, and attack Prong Island and a marshalling yard at Pegu.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Japanese Army positions on Los Negros Island. V Bomber Command B-24s attack an airfield and other targets in the Awar-Nubia area. RAAF bombers and V Fighter Command P-39s attack Japanese Army ground troops near Madang.

Arctic

Swordfish 'X' of 816 NAS from HMS Chaser spots U-973 about 15 miles ahead of convoy RA-57. The aircraft attacks firing 6 rockets, of which one was seen to hit. The U-boat begins to weave erratically before sinking bow first.

U-973

Argentina

The Foreign Ministry repudiates the breaking off of relations with the Tripartite Pact countries.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-744 leads escorts of convoy HX-280 on quite a chase. Over 291 depth charges are dropped in an attempt to subdue the U-boat. Having been under for over 24 hours, the U-boat commander decides to surface. The Canadian corvette HCMS Chilliwack happens to be just ahead of the U-boat. Chilliwack opens up with all her guns that she can bring to bear. U-744 is clearly sinking, so she is scuttled.

U-744

Admiralty Islands

The Japanese batteries at the entrance to Seeadler Bay are bombarded once again by Adm Victor Crutchley's 3 cruisers and 4 destroyers. American advance guards capture Papitalai and the eastern part of Seeadler Harbor in Los Negros Island. B-25 aircraft are able to make emergency landings on Momote airfield.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• RAAF bombers and 80th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack Talasea in support of US Marine Corps ground operations against the base.
• AirSols fighters pass through Nissan airfield in the Green Islands as they attack Kavieng for the first time.

Air Operations, Carolines

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Kusaie Island.

Air Operations, CBI

• 2 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack Japanese Army ground forces near Shaduzup. 1 B-25 attacks a bridge and barges near Shwebo. More than 20 10th Air Force P-51s and A-36s attack targets of opportunity while sweeping the area between Walawbum and Shaduzup.

Air Operations, Europe

Allied bombers attack the marshalling yards in Florence and Rome.

• 304 aircraft are sent to Le Mans. Included in this total are 242 Halifaxes, 56 Lancaster and 6 Mosquitos of Nos. 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups.
• The target is covered in cloud but heavy damage is believed to have been caused to the railway yards where about 300 bombs fell. 250 railway wagons are destroyed, many railway lines are cut, a turntable is put out of action and 6 locomotives damaged.
• There are no losses.

• 15 Mosquitos are sent to 4 German targets, there are 4 RCM sorties, 1 Serrate patrolm and 6 OTU sorties, and 51 aircraft are involved in Resistance operations.
• There are no losses.

• A total of 112 IX Bomber Command B-26s and 18 A-20s attack military installations near Creil-sur-Mer and Greny, V-weapons sites along the Channel coast, and various targets of opportunity. 150 other B-26s dispatched against a marshalling yard at Creil are recalled due to bad weather.

• 12th Air Force B-25s attack Rome's Ostiense marshalling yards.
• 12th Air Forces B-26s attack a marshalling yard at Littoria.
• XII Air Support Command A-20s attack a railroad station.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s attack a railroad station near Civitavecchia, gun emplacements around the Littoria Airdrome, communications targets, and a train.

• 15th Air Force B-17s attack the Toulon naval base.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack a defended town, marshalling yards at four locations, and the Fabrica di Roma, Orvieto, and Viterbo Airdromes.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-24s and B-24s attack the airfield at Bioram and Japanese Army ground troops on Los Negros Island. Only 5 of 17 B-25s assigned to attack islands in Seeadler Harbor are able to complete their mission in the face of bad weather.
• A damaged V Bomber Command B-25 lands at the Momote airfield on Los Negros, which is declared operational during the day.

Admiralty Islands

The capture of Los Negros is virtually complete. The first American ships tie up in Seeadler Harbor without the Japanese guns being able to fire upon them.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• Although the withdrawal of many AirSols fighters from the besieged Bougainville airfields results in the availability of no escorts, XIII Bomber Command B-24s and B-25s nonetheless attack targets in the Rabaul area. Also, P-39s based at the Nissan airfield mount their first attack against Rabaul.
• US Marine ground forces occupy the Talasea airfield on New Britain.

Air Operations, Carolines

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Kusaie and Ponape islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• 23 No. 1 Air Commando P-51s attack the airfields at Anisakan, Onbauk, and Shwebo, where more than 30 Japanese aircraft are destroyed on the ground and 2 P-51s are downed by ground fire. In a follow-up attack, 5 No. 1 Air Commando B-25s and 2 P-51s attack the Shwebo airfield. Also, 3 10th Air Force B-25s attack bridges at Lalawng and Warazup. 16 P-51s and A-36s attack targets of opportunity between Chanmoi and Shaduzup. 9 No. 1 Air Commando B-25s attack Japanese airfields during the evening.
• A No. 1 Air Commando P-51 downs 2 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters over the airfield at Onbauk during an afternoon mission. A No. 1 Air Commando P-51A downs an 'Oscar' fighter Ki-43 over the Anisakan airfield during an afternoon mission.

Air Operations, Europe

US heavy bombers raid Berlin again with the Erkner(Erker?) ball-bearing factory being their main target. 75 direct hit on the target are reported. 580(590?) bombers are sent but the force again loses about 10 percent(37 planes?) of its number despite an escort of 800 fighters. The raid results in the halting of ball-bearing production for some time.

• 320 8th Air Force B-17s and 150 B-24s attack the Berlin/Erkner aircraft-industry complex with nearly 1,000 tons of bombs, and 36 B-17s and 33 B-24s attack targets of opportunity in the Berlin area. There is a massed Luftwaffe fighter assault on the leadinb B-17 formation, the 3rd Bomb Division's 45th Combat Bomb Wind.
• 28 B-17s and 9 B-24s are lost
• Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by 891 USAAF fighters. VIII Fighter Command escort pilots down 77 Luftwaffe fighters and attack aircraft over German between 1230 and 1620 hours.
• 18 USAAF fighters are lost with their pilots, 16 are written off

• IX Bomber Command B-26s attack the Volkel and Soesterberg Airdromes in separate morning and afternoon missions, respectively.

• 12th Air Force B-25s attack the marshalling yard ar Orte and the rail line between Orte and Fabrica di Roma.
• 12th Air Force B-26s attack Rome's Tiburtina marshalling yard and port facilities at Porto Santo Stefano.

• XII Air Support Command A-36s attack a castle, a bridge, gun emplacements, and a road junction.
• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack gun emplacements and a road junction near Rome and strafe motor vehicles on the Appian Way.
• XII Air Support Command P-47s attack gun emplacements in the battle area.

Air Operations, Marshalls

8 G4M 'Betty' bombers evade US Marine Corps night fighters and attack Engebi Island in the Eniwetok Atoll for approximately 90 minutes beginning at 0407 hours. 1 Marine is killed on the ground, and 7 are wounded.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• In the Admiralty Islands, V Bomber Command B-25s mount numerous low-level attacks in support of US Army ground forces completing the seizure of Los Negros Island. 17 B-24s and 11 B-25s attack targets on Manus Island and islands in Seeadler Harbor.
• More than 70 V Bomber Command B-24s, B-25s, and A-20 attack the airfields at Awar and Nubia.
• A 49th Fighter Group P-40 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter near Wewak at 1400 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

• Japanese Army artillery destroys a XIII Bomber Command B-24 and 3 F4Us, and damages 19 other aircraft at the Piva Uncle and Piva Yoke airfields on Bougainville. Air, naval, and artillery attacks are mounted against the Japanese artillery position.
• During the day, AirSols light bombers and fighter-bombers complete 120 effective sorties against the Japanese Army artillery bomarding their bases and Japanese Army ground troops attempting to break into the Allied Bougainville perimeter. Approximately half of the 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s based at Stirling Airfield in the Treasury Islands also take part in attacking Japanese Army ground troops in the Empress Augusta Bay area.

Bougainville

The Japanese surprise the Americans by opening a tremendous artillery fire on the beachhead and the Piva runways, destroying 1 bomber and 3 fighters and damaging 19 more. The American bombers are immediately evacuated and transferred to New Georgia. American field guns, supported by fire from a number of destroyers and by bombers, try to locate and silence the enemy artillery. During the night 2 Japanese companies attack the American positions in the 37th Division's defensive sector.

Burma

The Japanese offensive U-GO begins. The aim is to destroy the British forces around Imphal and Kohima and then push on through the passes to Dimapur, cutting off the Chinese and Americans in the north, and with the road to India ahead. 3 divisions of Gen Renya Mutaguchi's 15th Army are to be employed in the initial operations. The offensive begins with advances by Gen Motoso Yanagida's 33rd Division against the positions of Gen David T. Cowan's 17th Indian Division around Tiddim. These attacks are meant to commit the British reserves so that when the main attack goes in its task will be easier.

The British are well aware that the Japanese plan to attack, but they underestimate the strength of the force to be used. The plan is for the 17th and 20th Indian Divisions, both in fairly advance positions, to fall back to around Imphal and protect and live off the large base organization there. The British forces at this stage are all from Lt-Gen Sir Geoffrey Scoones' IV Corps. It is an essential part of the Japanese plan to capture large quantities of British supplies because most of their advances are to be made over jungle tracks impassable to supply vehicles. Food is the crucial element of the problem. It is precisely because of these difficulties that the British expect a smaller attack.

Admiralty Islands

An American brigade lands at Salami Plantation, Los Negros and the first US planes begin operations from Momote airfield.

Air Operations, Carolines

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Kusaie and Ponape islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the airfield at Tavoy Airdrome. 10 B-24s attack a bridge and dumps at Kamaing. 8 B-24s attack Mogaung. 10 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack the airfields at Katha and Indaw. 10th Air Force P-51s, P-40s, and A-36s attack Japanese Army ground forces at Shaduzup and Walawbum, and dumps at Pyindaw.

• 13 CACW B-25s, escorted by 24 CACW P-40s, attack a foundry and floating docks at Shihhweiyao. 14th Air Force P-40s sweeping the Gulf of Tonkin coast attack an airfield on Weichow Island.
• 3rd CACW Fighter Group P-40d down a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter and an A6M Zero near Shihweiyao at 1405 hours.

• More than 40 14th Air Force P-40s attack the airfield at Mon Cay, shipping at Hongay and Campha, a military base at Cao Bang, and a barracks at Luc Nam.

Air Operations, Europe

• 44 Lancasters of No. 5 Group raid an aircraft factory at Marignane near Marseilles. It is an accurate raid in bright moonlight.
• There are no losses.

• 8 Mosquitos are sent to Düsseldorf and there are 2 Serrate patrols.
• There are no losses.

• Briefed for specific targets in the Berlin area, 339 8th Air Force B-17s are force by weather conditions to execute an area attack with 795 tons of bombs.
• 2nd Bomb Division B-24 formations, which are also briefed for berlin, attack various anti-aircraft concentrations at Brunswick, Hannover, and Nienburg after the lead pathfinder experiences an equipment failure.
• 8 heavy bombers are lost
• Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by 808 USAAF fighters, which account for no enemy aircraft downed.

• 12th Air Force B-25s attack the port facilities at Porto Santo Stefano and a bridge.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s attack a railroad station.
• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack several gun emplacements near the battle area.

Air Operations, Marshalls

G4M 'Betty' bombers evade a pair of VMF(N)-532 F4U night fighters over Engebi Island in the Eniwetok Atoll at 0400 hours, score a direct hit on the air-search radar, and spend a leisurely two hours circling over the US base to drop their bombs. The island’s bomb dump is hit, as is a small fuel dump, but none of the parked aircraft are hit. The bombers also strafe ground targets before escaping without damage.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack Lorengau and other targets on Manus Island.
• 12 RAAF P-40s move into the Momote airfield on Los Negros.

Air Operations, Solomons

Japanese Army artillery bombards airfields on Bougainville, and Japanese Army infantry breaks into the Bougainville perimeter. Throughout the day AirSols SBDs, TBFs, and fighters mount 107 sorties against several hills in the area occupied by the Japanese. A VMSB-244 SBD from which air strikes and artillery fire is being directed is struck by a bullet or shells and blown up in mid-air.

Argentina, Home Front

President Pedro P. Ramirez resigns following an army coup.

Atlantic

The US destroyer escort Leopold (DE-319) is sunk by a torpedo from U-255 south of Iceland.

Bougainville

The Japanese resume their attacks along the perimeter of the Cape Torokina beachhead and succeed in making a small break in the lines of the American 37th Division. Counterattacks to eliminate the salient are unsuccessful. The Japanese switch their artillery fire from the Piva runways to the Torokina airfield.

Admiralty Islands

New American aircraft arrive at Momote airfield, Los Negros. Other aircraft begin a series of attacks against Manus Island, the biggest island in the archipelago, in preparation for the landing.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

In their ongoing campaign against Rabaul, AirSols light bombers drop, for the first time, new 500-pound incendiary cluster bombs that each dispense 128 bomblets. The new bomb is especially effective against supply dumps.

Air Operations, Carolines

In their first mission from the Engebi airfield on Eniwetok, 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Kusaie Island.

Air Operations, CBI

• 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack Kamaing and Mogaung in the morning, and 23 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack both targets again in the afternoon. Also, more than 40 10th Air Force P-38s, P-40s, and P-51s attack Japanese Army ground troops and dumps near Mogaung, artillery batteries at Walawbum, the airfield at Anisakan, rail facilities at Anisakan and Myitnge, and the town area at Laban.

• 6 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the port area at Kowloon. 14th Air Force P-40s and P-51s attack the airfield at Foochow, a bridge, factory, and barracks at Sienning, and a barracks at Nanchang.
• While attacking shipping and barges at Anking during a sweep along the Yangtze River, 2 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s, escorted by 8 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s, are attacked by 18 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters. No confirmed victories are credited from the melee.

• 14 Air Force P-51s and P-40s attack a barracks at Ha Coi and shipping at Campha and Hongay.

Air Operations, Europe

• 102 Lancasters of No. 5 Group carry out moonlight raids on 4 factories in France. 33 planes hit the Michelin works at Clermont-Ferrand, 30 to an aircraft factory at Châteauxroux, 26 to Ossun, and 16 to the La Ricamerie factory. All targets are bombed successfully.
• 1 Lancaster on the Clermont-Ferrand raid is lost.

• 29 Mosquitos are sent to Duisburg and 93 aircraft are involved in Resistance operations without a loss.

• 12th Air Force B-25s attack a marshalling yard at Littoria.
• 12th Air Force B-26s attack Rome's Tiburtina marshalling yard and a rail bridge at Orvieto.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s attack troop positions, tanks, gun emplacements, and railroad targets.

Air Operations, New Guinea

11 V Bomber Command B-25s attack Lorengau and B-25s and RAAF P-40s attack targets of opportunity on Manus.

Air Operations, Solomons

40 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Japanese Army positions in the hills around Empress Augusta Bay, and AirSols light bombers and fighters mount 160 sorties against Japanese artillery and positions around the embattled Bougainville perimeter.

Allied Planning

The Allied Joint Chiefs of Staff determine the timetable for the Pacific: April 15, invasion of Hollandia, New Guinea; June 15, invasion of the Marianas; September 15, invasion of the Palau Islands; November 15, landing on Mindanao in the Philippines; February 15, 1945, invasion of Formosa.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Sunderland 'U' of No 422 Squadron RCAF, escorting convoy SC-154, sights U-625. The aircraft attack through flak and drops six depth charges which straddle the target. The U-boat dived only to resurface a short time later obviously heavily damaged with the crew abandoning the ship.

U-625 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Siegfried Straub Location Atlantic, W of Cape Clear Cause Air attack Casualties 53 Survivors None

U-845 Class Type IXC/40 CO Korvettenkapitän Walter Weber Location Atlantic Cause Depth charge/gunfire Casualties 10 Survivors 45

• U-845 is trailing convoy SC-154 when she is spotted on the surface by the Canadian destroyer St Laurent and the frigate Owen Sount. The U-boat dives on being spotted and goes deep. Three depth-charge attacks are launched, followed by a Hedgehog attack and then a seried of creeping attacks by St Laurent and the British destroyer Forester. These produced nothing in the way of a result. Before new attacks could be launched, U-845 surfaces and gunfire is exchanged. The U-boat is heavily damaged and the crew is taking to their dinghies.

Bougainville

The Japanese take an important feature on the perimeter of the Cape Torokina beachhead, Hill 260, and drive off repeated American counterattacks. Elsewhere on the perimeter the Americans manage to reduce, but not to eliminate, the salient that the Japanese have won in their line.

Burma

The Japanese attack the rear of 17th Division's positions at Tongzang. They also bomb the Chowringee landing strip in central Burma. This strip was build by the Chindits and valuable for supplying the columns operating in the enemy's rear. It is becoming clear to the British command that the Japanese offensive is under way.

Diplomatic Relations

Ireland refuses to oust Axis diplomats as requested by the US.

Admiralty Islands

Advance guards are sent to scout landing places on Manus Island. One unit lands on Butjo Luo offshore and takes heavy punishment from the Japanese defenders.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

RAAF fighters relieve the 8th Fighter Group’s 35th and 80th Fighter squadrons at the Cape Gloucester airfield on New Britain, and the 2 USAAF squadrons (in P-40s and P-38s, respectively) transfer to the Nadzab airfield on New Guinea.

Air Operations, CBI

• 2 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and more than 70 10th Air Force P-51, P-40, and A-36 fighter-bombers attack road targets, fuel and ammunition dumps, artillery batteries, and targets of opportunity at Gahtawng, Laban, Mogaung, Pandaw, Saungka, and Shaduzup.
• 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s down 12 Japanese fighters and one unidentified airplane over Aungban at 0800 hours. 1 P-38 and its pilot are lost.

• 10 14th Air Force P-40s attack Ha Coi, barges at Campha, and buildings on Weichow Island (China).

Air Operations, Central Pacific

VII Bomber Command B-24s based on Kwajalein attack Wake Island. This is the first land-based attack against that isolated target.

Air Operations, Europe

US bombers raid Toulon, Padua and Florence.

• 47 Mosquitos are sent to hit 6 German cities, the largest being 20 to Hamburg, there are 4 Serrate patrols and 21 OTU sorties, 43 aircraft lay mines in the Frisians and off Brest and the Biscay ports, and 22 aircraft are on Resistance operations.
• 1 mine-laying Stirling is lost.

• 34 B-24s ot the 2nd Bomb Division's 44th and 93rd Heavy Bomb Groups attack a V-weapons site at Wizernes with 127 tons of bombs.
• Escort was to have been provided by 213 P-47s of the 352nd and 353rd Fighter Groups, but the fighters, which abort due to bad weather, undertake low-level sweeps.
• 3 P-47s are lost and 2 of the pilots

• All 124 8th Air Force B-17s dispatched attack marshalling yards at Munster and nearby targets of opportunity.
• 1 B-17 is lost
• Escort is provided by 90 P-47s and 50 P-51s from three fighter groups.
• 2 355th Fighter Group P-51s and their pilots are lost

• 114 IX Bomber Command B-26s are dispatched against V-weapons sites in northern France. 61 are able to attack the assigned targets while 53 abort due to bad weather.
• 36 352nd Fighter Group P-47s equipped with a single 500-pound bomb apiece attack the submarine pens at St.-Nazaire en masse at wave-top height from the direction of the Bay of Biscay, then make their withdrawal across the Brittany Peninsula to the English Channel. The German defenses are caught by surprise by the wave-top skip-bombing attack, but results are unknown. During the withdrawal, P-47 pilots strafe targets of opportunity all across Brittany.
• 1 P-47 and its pilot are lost, 1 battle-damaged P-47 crashes in the English Channel, 3 P-47s are badly damaged

• 12th Air Force B-25s and B-26s attack marshalling yards at three locations.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s, P-40s, and P-47s attack rail and tactical targets in and around the battle areas.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack the harbor and naval base at Toulon.
• Escort for this mission is provided by 1st Fighter Group P-38s which down 7 Luftwaffe fighters.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack the Iesi Airdrome and marshalling yards at two locations.
• 15th Air Force B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Padua.
• Escort is provided by 325th Fighter Group P-47s whose pilots down 11 Luftwaffe fighter around Padua between 1120 and 1230 hours.
• 3 P-47s are lost

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 7 V Bomber Command B-24s mount low-level strafing and bombing attacks against Japanese Army ground positions near Lorengau (Manus Island) while 12 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the town itself. RAAF P-40s based at the Momote airfield on Los Negros also attack ground targets.
• More than 80 V Bomber Command B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s attack the airfield at Boram.; 40 A-20s and V Fighter Command P-39 fighter-bombers attack the Madang area. P-47s attack ground targets around Hansa Bay.
• 348th Fighter Group P-47s down 14 Japanese fighters over Wewak between 1045 and 1105 hours. 35th Fighter Group P-47s down 6 Japanese fighters over the Wewak area at 1250 hours, and 3 fighters over the Wewak area at 1405 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

A Japanese Army ground attack toward the Piva Uncle and Piva Yoke airfields on Bougainville is barely contained by US Army ground forces with the aid of AirSols light bombers and fighters. 4 XIII Bomber Command B-24s and 63 XIII Fighter Command P-40s attack Japanese ground troops and bivouacs in several outlying areas of Bougainville.

Algeria, Home Front

Pierre Pucheu, former Vichy Minister of the Interior, is sentenced to death by a military court in Algiers. He is the first of the collaborators to be tried.

Atlantic

The German submarines U-380 and U-410 are sunk off Toulon, France by US Army aircraft.

Battle of the Atlantic

UIT-22, formerly the Italian submarine Alpino Bagnoli, is employed as a cargo-carrier between Europe and the Far East. The U-boat is bombed and sunk by South African aircraft of No 226 and 279 Squadrons.

UIT-22

Admiralty Islands

After a violent preliminary air bombardment, a squadron of the US 7th Cavalry lands on Hauwei Island, north of Manus, and manages to establish a small beachhead there. There is strong Japanese resistance under the command of Col Yoshio Ezaki.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

VMF-216 and VMF-222 F4Us down 4 A6M Zeros in the Rabaul area between 1100 and 1145 hours. These Japanese aircraft have been assembled by maintenance personnel from numerous wrecks and spare parts.

Air Operations, CBI

• 1 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25 and more than 50 10th Air Force P-51s, P-40s, and A-36s attack Shaduzup, supply dumps at Malakawng and Manywet, and troops and supplies near Kamaing and at Shedwiyang.

Air Operations, Europe

• 11 Mosquitos are sent to Aachen and 3 to Duisburg without a loss.

• Despite bad weather, 52 2nd Bomb Division B-24s attack the St.-Pol/Siracourt Airdrome or nearby targets of opportunity.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 12 V Bomber Command B-25s attack Japanese Army ground troops and communications facilities at Lorengau, Manus Island. More than 40 B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s attack targets around Wewak.
• 35th Fighter Group P-47s and 49th Fighter Group P-40s down a total of 18 Japanese fighters over the Wewak area between 1040 and 1130 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

• The Japanese Army attack against the Piva Uncle and Piva Yoke airfields on Bougainville falters but cannot be fully contained by US Army ground forces. Japanese artillery, which has been silent for two days, bombards the airfield complex with great intensity. One Piper Cub is destroyed and steel planking on the runway is damaged.
• Throughout the day, 114 AirSols SBDs and 45 TBFs continuously attack Japanese ground troops and artillery batteries.

Allied Planning

The Allied Joint Chiefs of Staff issue a directive for Gen MacArthur and Adm Nimitz laying down the principles of collaboration between the two commanders, and setting as their objectives February 1945 the invasion of Luzon and Formosa. The projected invasion of Kavieng is cancelled. Instead, Emira in the St Matthias Islands will be occupied. The need to invade Hollandia, in New Guinea, is confirmed. Kavieng and Rabaul are to be neutralized and isolated with the least possible expenditure of forces.

Bougainville

The Japanese are unable to exploit the small penetration made the previous day in the direction of the Piva airfield, and have to give ground in face of the American's determined counter-attacks.

Burma

In the northeast of the country the Chinese and Americans try to surround the Japanese 18th Division, cutting the Kamaing road south of Jambu Bum Pass. In the Arakan sector the 15th Indian Division advances towards Razabil. The Japanese 33rd Division reaches Witok on the approaches to the Shenan Saddle.

Diplomatic Relations

London orders a halt to all travel between the Irish Republic and Great Britain because the Irish refused to order German and Japanese diplomats out of the country.

Admiralty Islands

After receiving some tank support Hauwei is completely overrun by the American landing force. Artillery is landed to support the coming operations on Manus.

Air Operations, CBI

• 2 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and more than 140 10th Air Force P-51s, P-40s, and A-36s attack Loilaw and Namti, a bridge and targets of opportunity around Shaduzup, and dumps near Seton and Warazup.
• Japanese aircraft attack an advance airfield used by 10th Air Force aircraft to support the British Army’s Chindit deep-penetration force.

• 8 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 4 51st Fighter Group P-40s attack the airfield and seaplane base at Kiungshan, Hainan. 16 14th Air Force P-40s attack a bridge at Puchi.
• P-40s with the 51st Fighter Group’s 26th Fighter Squadron down 3 Ki-44 'Tojo' fighters over the Kiungshan airfield at Hainan.

Air Operations, Europe

• 213 Halifaxes and 9 Mosquitos of Nos. 4, 6 and 8 Groups are sent back to Le Mans. Reports from the ground indicate the Maroc Station and 2 nearby factories are severely damaged, many lines are cut, 15 locomotives and 800 railway wagons are destroyed.
• 1 Halifax is lost.

• 39 Mosquitos are sent to 5 German targets, the largest raid being 26 planes to Frankfurt, there are 4 RCM sorties, 4 Serrate patrols and 21 OTU sorties, 25 Stirlings and 10 Halifaxes lay mines off French Channel ports, and 19 aircraft are on Resistance operations.
• 1 mine-laying Stirling is lost.

• A total of 271 8th Air Force B-17s and B-24s, escorted by 213 VIII Fighter Command P-47s, are dispatched against V-weapons sites around Pas-de-Calais, but bad weather is encountered and only 7 B-17s attack a target of opportunity near Poix with a total of 21 tons of bombs.
• 2 B-17s are downed by enemy fire, 74 are damaged, 1 is written off; 6 crewmen are killed, 1 wounded, 20 missing

• Of 77 IX Bomber Command B-26s dispatched, 40 attack V-weapons sites, but 37 abort due to bad weather.

• 12th Air Force B-25s attack marshalling yards at Perugia and Spoleto, and chokepoints around Terni.
• 12 Air Force B-26s attack rail lines and bridges between Florence and Rome, and a defended town.

• XII Air Support Command A-36s attack rail targets.
• XII Air Suppoort Command P-40s attack gun emplacements near the Anzio beachhead and a supply dump.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• More than 160 5th Air Force B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, P-47s, and P-40s attack targets in the Wewak area.
• 49th Fighter Group P-40s and a 35th Fighter Group P-47 down 5 Japanese fighters over the Wewak area between 1115 and 1140 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

• A US Army counterattack forces Japanese Army ground forces to abandon their attack against the airfield on Bougainville.
• Throughout the day, 131 SBD sorties and 95 TBF sorties drop 123 tons of bombs on Japanese ground troops and artillery batteries. 27 XIII Fighter Command P-38s, P-39s, and P-40s attack Japanese Army supply dumps.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-852 fires on the survivors of the torpedoed Greek ship Peleus. 32 of 35 are killed.
• In a combined operation using aircraft (VC-95) from the US escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9, the destroyer Hobson (DD-464), the destroyer escort Haverfield, a Canadian vessel and British aircraft, the German submarine U-575 is sunk in the North Atlantic area.

U-575

Burma

The Japanese 33rd and 15th Divisions advancing toward the Imphal plain in Operation U-GO take the British by surprise and threaten to cut them off. Gen Scoones authrorizes 17th and 20th Divisions to withdraw from their advanced positions to Imphal. Gen Douglas D. Gracey with 20th Division has made better preparations for this move than Cowan with 17th. Scoones and his superiors Slim and George Giffard agree that reinforcements are needed and Mountbatten therefore sends requests to the highest level for the use of American aircraft (those normally used for ferrying supplies to the Chinese) to move 5th Division from the Arakan. The Japanese begin air attacks against the Chindits' 'Broadway' airfield which is used for bringing in supplies.

Air Operations, Carolines

During the night, 22 30th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s pass through Kwajalein to attack the seaplane base and an airfield on Truk. This is the first mission against the Japanese Navy base by land-based bombers from the Marshall Islands. 9 B-24s are unable to locate Truk in bad weather, but several of them are able to attack Ponope Island.

Air Operations, CBI

• 3 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and more than 90 10 Air Force P-51s, P-40s, and A-36s attack Japanese Army ground troops, dumps, and occupied villages in the Mogaung Valley. 41 A-31s and RAF aircraft attack Japanese Army ground positions in the Chin Hills and the Arakan coastal region.

• 20 Japanese bombers mount unchallenged attacks against the airfields at Hengyang and Suichwan.

Air Operations, Europe

• 30 Mosquitos are sent to Düsseldorf, 2 Mosquitos make RCM sorties, and 3 Halifaxes are on Resistance operations.
• There are no losses.

• 12th Air Force B-25s attack marshalling yards at Orte and Terni.
• 12th Air Force B-26s attack a marshalling yard and a chemical plant.
• XII Air Support Command A-20s attack a German Army tank repair shop.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-47s attack Ostia and nearby railroad stations.
• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack gun emplacements around the Anzio beachhead.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• More than 80 5th Air Force B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s attack targets in the Wewak area. 17 B-24s attack the airfield at Tadji. 12 A-20s attack an airfield at Alexishafen. 8 A-20s sweep the Madang area. Also, USAAF and RAAF aircraft attack pre-invasion targets on Manus Island.
• 35th Fighter Group P-47s and 49th Fighter Group P-40s down 7 Japanese fighters over the Wewak area between 1105 and 1125 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

• A VMF(N)-531 PV crew downs a floatplane near the Torokina airfield on Bougainville at 0214 hours.
• Throughout the day, AirSols SBDs and TBFs drop 145 tons of bombs on Japanese Army ground troops and artillery ringing the embattled Bougainville perimeter. Japanese artillery fire this day is negligible. Also, 22 XIII Fighter Command P-39s and P-40s attack a Japanese Army assembly and bivouac area. P-38s, P-39s, and P-40s attack barges and targets of opportunity all along coastal Bougainville.

Bougainville

The Americans take steps to consolidate the positions retaken around the defensive perimeter of the Cape Totokina beachhead.

Burma

The 17th Indian Division starts its withdrawal a crucial 24 hours late. The Japanese have created 4 roadblocks on the route it must take to Imphal. To the north 20th Division is pulling back in a more controlled manner.

Admiralty Islands

After the usual bombardment by aircraft, ships and artillery units of 7th and 8th Cavalry Regiments or the 1st Cavalry Division are landed on the north coast of Manus Island near Lugos Mission. They take this village and advance toward Lorengau by two routes, one along the coast and the other inland. On Los Negros Island units of the 5th Cavalry advance to the west in the southern part of the island. By taking the Admiralty Islands, the US will further isolate Japanese forces in New Britain and New Guinea.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

A VMF-222 F4U downs an A6M2-N 'Rufe' float plane over New Ireland at 1730 hours.

Air Operations, Europe

• 863 aircraft are sent to bomb Stuttgart. In this total are 617 Lancasters, 230 Halifaxes and 16 Mosquitos.
• The bomber force flies over France nearly as far as the Swiss border before turning northeast for the approach to Stuttgart. This tactic delays the German fighters from contacting the bomber stream until just before the target is reached. Many air combats ensue. Adverse winds delay the opening of the attack and the same winds may have caused the Pathfinder marking to fall back well short of the target, despite the clear weather conditions. Some of the early bombing hits the center of Stuttgart but most falls in the open country southwest of the city. The Akademie is damaged in the center of Stuttgart and some houses are destroyed in the southwest suburbs.
• 27 Lancasters and 10 Halifaxes are lost.
• 140 aircraft including 94 Halifaxes, 38 Stirlings and 8 Mosquitos, attack the railway yards at Amiens.
• 2 Halifaxes and 1 Stirling are lost.
• 22 Lancasters of No. 5 Group are sent to an aircraft engine factory at Woippy, near Metz. Bombing is abandoned because of heavy cloud cover.
• There are no losses.

• 17 Mosquitos are sent to 5 German targets and 10 to airfields in Holland, there are 2 RCM sorties, 11 Serrate patrols and 18 OTU sorties, 2 Stirlings lay mines off Trexel, and 31 aircraft are on Resistance operations.
• 1 Serrate Mosquito is lost.
• Allied bombers obliterate Cassino town, dropping 1,107 tons of bombs.

• 185 3rd Bomb Division B-17s and 145 2nd Division B-24s attack aircraft-industry targets in Brunswick.
• Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by 588 USAAF P-38s and P-47s, including 86 from the 9th Air Force. Escort pilots down 35 Luftwaffe fighters over Germany between 1015 and 1230 hours.
• 5 fighters are lost with their pilots

• As part of a test to increase the effectiveness of the P-47 as a fighter-bomber, 2 353rd Fighter Group P-47s equipped with 2 1,000-pound bombs apiece attack a barge in the Zuider Zee.

• 118 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack the Chievres Airdrome and the marshalling yards at two locations.
• In an afternoon test of Oboe guidance equipment turned over by the 8th Air Force, IX Bomber Command B-26s attack the Coxyde Airdrome with poor results.

• During the afternoon, 7 366th Fighter Group P-47s conduct the 9th Air Force's first dive-bombing mission when they attack the St.-Valery-en-Caux Airdrome with one 250-pound bomb apiece.

• In the largest air operation in the theater to date, more than 1,000 Allied warplanes level Monte Cassino monastery and nearby German Army defensive positions with 1,200 tons of bombs. The 12th and 15th Air Forces provide 275 heavy bombers and nearly 200 medium bombers, which drob more than 2,000 1,000-pound bombs. Although the Benedictine monastery is completely demolished, the ground attack fails.
• Although no official start date is ever set, Allied warplanes in Italy effectively commence Operation STRANGLE, the aerial interdiction of the suppliy network in use by German Army forces in Italy. The wide-ranging operation will continue into late May and will eventually result in an 80 percent reduction in the German Army's ability to supply its combat divisions in Italy.

Air Operations, CBI

• 31 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and more than 20 RAF Wellingtons and Beaufighters attack dumps and targets of opportunity around Rangoon. 24 10th Air Force A-31s and RAF aircraft attack Japanese Army ground positions in the Arakan coastal region. 10th Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers attack a broad range of targets throughout Burma.

• 8t 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack a barracks near Bangkok.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• More than 200 5th Air Force B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, P-38s, P-40s, and P-47s attack numerous targets in and around Wewak.
• In conjunction with a naval and artillery bombardment, 36 345th Medium Bomb Group B-25s organized into several waves attack Japanese Army ground positions on Manus Island as elements of the US 1st Cavalry Division mount their invasion of the island from neighboring Los Negros Island. Hereafter, nearly all ground-support missions in the Admiralty Islands will be undertaken by RAAF P-40s and, from the last week of March, RAAF Spitfires.
• 8th Fighter Group P-38s, 35th Fighter Group P-47s, and 49th Fighter Group P-40s down 9 Japanese fighters over the Wewak area between 1015 and 1115 hours.
• During the night, 2 Japanese bombers mount an ineffective attack against Gusap. One of the bombers is shot down.

Air Operations, Solomons

Japanese Army ground forces renew their attack against the Piva Uncle and Piva Yoke airfields on Bougainville, but US Army ground forces are able to retake lost ground with the aid of more than 50 combat sorties by AirSols bombers and fighters.

Battle of the Atlantic

Aircraft from the British escort carrier Vindex makes contact with U-653. British sloops Starling, Magpie and Wild Goose are dispatched to the area. After Starling's first ten-charge pattern, underwater explosions are heard and wreckage appears on the surface.

U-653

Admiralty Islands

On Manus Island the US 8th Cavalry, with tank support, continues its advance on two center-lines toward Lorengau airfield. As the Japanese resistance stiffens the Americans launch a heavy bombing attack during the night.

In Los Negros Island US units land without opposition at Chaporowan Point, and elsewhere the advance proceeds.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• In the first light-bomber mission of its kind, 24 US Marine Corps SBDs and 24 TBFs based at the Piva Uncle airfield on Bougainville pass through the Nissan airfield in the Green Islands to attack Kavieng.
• 2 18th Fighter Group P-38s down a Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaissance plane over the Vunakanau airfield at Rabaul at 1545 hours.

Air Operations, CBI

• 8 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack a bridge near Rangoon. 29 10th Air Force A-31s attack Japanese Army ground positions in the Arakan coastal region.

• 7 14th Air Force P-40s attack several launches on the Yangtze River and a dump and a barracks at Sienning.

Air Operations, Europe

• 130 aircraft repeat the previous night's attack on Amiens. Included in this total are 81 Halifaxes, 41 Stirlings and 8 Mosquitos. It is reported as another successful bombing.
• There are no losses.
• 21 Lancasters of No. 5 Group, mostly from 617 Squadron, carry out a successful precision attack on the Michelin tire factory at Clermont-Ferrand. No aircraft are lost.

• 8 Mosquitos are sent to Cologne and 1 to Duisburg, there are 2 RCM sorties and and 2 Serrate patrols, and 3 Stirlings lay mines off the Dutch coast.
• There are no losses.

• 401 8th Air Force B-17s attack Augsburg.
• 64 8th Air Force B-17s attack targets of opportunity at Ulm and Gessertshausen.
• 197 2nd Bomb Division B-24s attack Friedrichshafen.
• 13 B-24s attack targets of opportunity.
• 18 B-17s and 5 B-24s are lost, 179 heavy bombers damaged; 7 crewmen killed, 217 lost
• Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by a record 868 USAAF fighters, including 237 from the 9th Air Force. VIII Fighter Command pilots down 75 Luftwaffe fighers along the bomber routes between 1030 and 1335 hours.
• 10 escorts are lost with 9 pilots

• 12th Air Force medium bombers and XII Air Support Command aircraft attack gun emplacements in the Cassino battle area.
• XII Air Support Command fighter-bombers attack gun emplacements around the Anzio beachhead area.

• 15th Air Force B-17s attack German Army troop concentrations.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 19 V Bomber Command B-25s attack troop concentrations and dumps at Nubia. B-24s and US Navy PBYs attack a Japanese convoy near Hollandia. More than 70 V Bomber Command B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s attack dumps, buildings, and anti-aircraft batteries at Wewak and Brandi Plantation. 5th Air Force aircraft also damage two merchant ships in a Japanese convoy approaching Wewak. Japanese fighters based in the Wewak area are withdrawn to protect Hollandia.
• US Army ground forces overrun portions of the Lorengau airfield at Manus against stiff opposition.

Baltic Sea

• U-1013 is sunk in a collision with U-286 during working-up exercises.

U-1013 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Gerhard Lincke Location Baltic, E of Rugen Cause Collision Casualties 25 Survivors 26

U-28 Class Type VII CO Oberleutnant zur See Dietrich Sachse Location Baltic, off Neustadt Cause Accident Casualties None Survivors 50

• U-28 is lost in a diving accident although the details of which are unknown.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The German submarine U-801 is sunk by aircraft (VC-6) from the US escort carrier Block Island (CVE-21), the destroyer Corry (DD-463) and the destroyer escort Bronstein (DE-189) west of the Cape Verde Islands.

U-801 Class Type IXC/40 CO Kapitänleutnant Hans-Joachim Brans Location Atlantic near Cape Verde Islands Cause Air attack Casualties 9 Survivors 47

U-392 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Henning Schumann Location Strait of Gibraltar Cause Depth charge Casualties 52 Survivors None

• Two PBY5s of VP-63 are carrying out MAD sweeps in the Strait of Gibraltar when one obtains a contact. 47 retrobombs are dropped before the aircraft request the British destroyer HMS Vanoc. An unsuccessful Hedgehog attack is made by the Vanoc before contact is lost to both the destroyer and the aircraft. The British frigate Affleck joins the action and attacks with Hedgehog. Three distinct explosions are heard followed by breaking-up noises and oil and wreckage appearing on the surface.

Burma

Chindit troops cut the Mandalay-Myitkyina rail link just north of the vital Japanese supply base at Indaw, thereby making Japanese resupply of the retreating 18th Division extremely difficult. However, Japanese progress in the Imphal offensive means that many Allied troops are now being redirected away from the Myitkyina offensive.

Admiralty Islands

The US 7th and 8th Cavalry Regiments on Manus capture Lorengau airfield, their main objective. The airfield is considered too small for use by US aircraft and another will have to be built. The Americans are engaged with the Japanese defenders on Los Negros and take some of their positions.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

US Army ground forces occupy the Gasmata airfield on New Britain.

Air Operations, Carolines

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Ponape Island.

Air Operations, CBI

• 24 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 12 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack supply dumps in the Chin Hills. More than 30 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 10th Air Force P-51s and A-36s attack bridges at Shweli and others spanning the Irrawaddy River, and supply dumps and Japanese Army ground positions in the Kamaing area. 2 B-25s attack an oil facility at Chauk. 18 10th Air Force A-31s attack Japanese Army ground positions and occupied villages in the Chin Hills. 22 A-31s attack Japanese Army ground troops near Thaungdut. 37 P-40 fighter-bombers attack the airfield at Myitkyina. Other fighters conduct numerous sorties against a wide range of targets.

• 5 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack boatyards at Vinh and sawmills at Ben Thuy.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the naval base at Soerabaja, Java.

Air Operations, Europe

200 US 15th Air Force bombers raid industrial targets in Vienna.

• 28 Mosquitos are sent to Cologne and 2 to Aachen, and 1 Mosquito makes an RCM sortie without a loss.

• The VIII Figher Command dispatches 135 P-47s from the 78th, 353rd, 359th, and 361s Fighter Groups to deliver low-level strafing attacks against Luftwaffe airdromes in France. Weather disrupts several of the planned attacks, but all four groups do end up delivering attacks of one sort or another.
• 2 78th Fighter Group P-47s and their pilots are lost

• 70 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack a marshalling yard at Creil.

• 15th Air Force B-24s are dispatched to attack several Bf-109 component factories near Vienna, at Fischamend Markt and Schwechat. Weather forces 125 B-24s bound for Fischamend Markt to abort, and the 192 B-24s bound for Schwechat drop 379 tons of bombs through solid clouds simply by estimating their time of arrival over the target. Miraculously, many of the bombs strike an industrial area.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• Nearly 100 V Bomber Command B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s attack targets in the Wewak area. B-25s attack targets in the Alexishafen-Madang area. V Fighter Command P-38s attack targets in the Hansa Bay area.
• US Army ground forces overrun the Lorengau airfield at Manus, but the facility is found to be inadequate for use as a USAAF base, and so a search for a new airfield location is begun.

Air Operations, Solomons

A Japanese night heckler drops bombs on Torokina Island. This first such attack in more than a month kills a member of Marine Air Group 24 and wounds 7 others.

Bougainville

The Japanese carry out more attacks on the defensive perimeter of the Cape Torokina beachhead in the area held by the US 129th Infantry. They succeed in making a few small breaks in the American positions, but are then driven back.

Admiralty Islands

The village of Lorengau on Manus is taken by the US forces. On Los Negros American units advancing from the perimeter of Papitalai Mission beachhead come up against Japanese units, which put up a determined opposition.

Air Operations, Carolines

2 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s based on Engebi Island in the Eniwetok Atoll attack Ponape Island.

Air Operations, CBI

• Sixteen 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 41 10th Air Force A-31s attack Japanese Army ground positions near Kalewa. 22 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack oil dumps and occupied villages in the Kalewa area. More than 20 B-25s and P-51s attack Japanese ground forces near the Chindwin River. 12 A-31s attack Japanese ground positions in the Arakan coastal region. 14 P-51s attack motor vehicles and supply dumps near Mandalay. 20 P-51, P-40, and A-36 fighter-bombers attack targets around Kamaing. 10 fighter-bombers attack river traffic near Katha.

• 16 14th Air Force P-40s attack Yangtze River traffic.
• A 449th Fighter Squadron P-38 downs a Ki-45 'Nick' fighter near the airfield at Suichwan during the morning. A 23rd Fighter Group P-40 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter over Chiuchiang at 1045 hours.

• 14th Air Force P-40s attack a bridge at Haiphong, shipping at several coastal locations, and a rail bridge and several buildings at Lang Son.

Air Operations, Europe

• 846 aircraft are sent to Frankfurt. In this total are 620 Lancasters, 209 Halifaxes and 17 Mosquitos.
• The German fighter force is again split. Part of it is lured north by the Heligoland mining operation, but the rest waits in Germany and meets the bomber stream just before the target area. Heavy cloud make it difficult for these fighters to have much success. The Pathfinders mark the target accurately and this leads to heavy bombing of the eastern, central and western districts of Frankfurt. The later phases of the bombing are scattered, but this is almost inevitable with such a large force. And, newer crews are usually allocated to the final waves.

• 12 Halifaxes and 10 Lancasters are lost.
• 17 Mosquitos are sent to airfields in Holland, Belgium and France, 12 Mosquitos are sent to Aachen, Dortmund and Duisburg, 98 aircraft are involved in the Heligoland mining diversion, 11 Mosquitos are on a diversionary raid to Kassel, there are 4 RCM sorties, 13 Serrate patrols and 18 OTU sorties, and 8 aircraft are involved in Resistance operations. 19 Lancasters of No. 5 Group, including 13 from 617 squadron, make an accurate raid on an explosives factory at Bergerac, France. There are no losses on these operations and the Serrate Mosquitos claim 3 Ju-88s destroyed.
• In the heaviest air raid of the war so far, 1,000 RAF bombers make a devastating night raid on Frankfurt (Hamburg?), dropping 3,000 tons of bombs.

• 284 1st Bomb Division B-17s attack aircraft-industry targets at Oberpfaffenhofen and the Landsberg, Lechfelc, and Mimmingen Airdrome.
• 198 2nd Bomb Division B-24s attack aircraft-industry targets around Friedrichshafen.

• 198 3rd Bomb Division B-17s attack Munich and other targets of opportunity in the Munich area.
• 15 B-17s and 28 B-24s are downed, 4 heavy bombers are written off; 10 crewmen killed, 22 wounded, 438 missiong
• Escort and support is provided by a record 925 USAAF fighters, including 261 from the 9th Air Force. USAAF escort pilots down 38 Luftwaffe aircraft over Germany and eastern France between 1230 and 1630 hours.
• 13 escorts are lost with 12 pilots, 3 are written off

• 12th Air Force B-25s and B-26s, and XII Air Support Command A-20s attack the rail line at Colleferro, the marshalling yard at Foligno, a rail bridge, and marshalling yards at Orvieto, the port area at Piombino, a rail bridge at Poggibonsi, and an assembly area north of the Anzio beachhead.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s, P-40s, and P-47s attack tactical targets in and around the Anzio battle area, troop concentrations near Cassino, and various rail and road targets.

• Responding to reports that as many as 235 Luftwaffe fighters have returned to the Udine Airdrome complex in northeastern Italy, 15th Air Force planners conceive a brilliant plan to eradicate them. First, 95 P-38s strafe lines of supply and communication in northeastern Italy and conduct a sweep over the Udine-Villaorba area, an operation that holds most Luftwaffe fighters in the area on the ground. Next, 113 B-17s make a feint toward southern Germany ay of the Yugoslav coast, a move that draws up Luftwaffe fighers based at the Kagenfurt and Graz Airdromes, in southern Austria. These B-17s next turn sharply west, which in turn draws the Luftwaffe interceptor force toward northeastern Italy. The B-17s drop 20-pound fragmentation bombe on the Udine and Villaorba Airdromes at 1013 hours, and the USAAf fighters in the area attack the Luftwaffe fighters out of Graz and Klagenfurt. As the B-17s and all the USAAF fighters leave the area, the Luftwaffe fighters must land at the Udine area's three undamaged airfields to rearm and refuel. As the Luftwaffe fighters are being serviced at the Gorizia, Lavariano, and Maniago satellite fields, those bases are bombed between 1059 and 1111 hours, respectively, 72, 67, and 121 B-24s, which sow 32,370 20-pound fragmentation bombs that destroy or damage 56 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground. In the air between 0925 and 1005, 15th Air Force P-38 and P-47 pilots down 17 Luftwaffe aircraft.
• The cost to the 15th Air Force, in the course of 406 heavy bomber and 168 fighter sorties: 7 bombers, 4 fighters
• In addition to attacks on the airdromes, 15th Air Force P-38s and P-47s attack a tanker in Mariano Lagoon, destroy 6 seaplanes at Belvedere, and attack two trains and two rsilroad stations.

Air Operations, Marshalls

• US carrier aircraft from Fleet Carrier Air Group 5 (USS Lexington) attack the Mille Atoll.
• VMF-111 F4U fighter-bombers based at Starmann Field on Butaritari attack anti-aircraft batteries in the Mille Atoll with 1,000-pound bombs. This is the first sanctioned mission in which F4Us equipped with bomb shackles are employed.

Axis Diplomacy

Adm Miklos Horthy, the Regent of Hungary, is summoned to visit Hitler. He refuses to sign a document requesting direct intervention and is arrested. The Germans are preparing to occupy Hungary.

Admiralty Islands

The US 8th Cavalry begins to mop up the eastern part of Manus Island.

Air Operations, Central Pacific

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Wake Island.

Air Operations, CBI

• USAAF transports diverted from the Hump ferry route begin airlifting Indian Army troops to the Arakan front in Burma, where the fresh troops are used to deter a Japanese Army ground offensive.
• More than 20 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 459th Fighter Squadron P-38 fighter-bombers attack Wuntho. 3 B-25s attack Indaw. 2 B-25s attack dumps and Japanese ground troops in the Mogaung Valley. More than 20 10th Air Force A-31s attack Japanese ground positions and occupied villages in the Chin Hills and along the Chindwin River. 16 P-51s attack the airfield at Meiktila.

• 2 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s, escorted by 9 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s and 2 51st Fighter Group P-51s, sweep the Yangtze River at low level. 1 P-38 destroys a locomotive near Anking and another strafes a river steamer.

Air Operations, Europe

• There is a night raid on the northeast coast of England with Hull being the intended target. 9 planes are lost.
• In Operation STRANGLE the MAAF begins a 3-week all-out offensive against the Italian railway system, designed to isolate German forces in Italy. Fighter-bombers and medium bombers attack bridges, viaducts and railroad off-loading points while the heavy bombers attack marshalling yards, repair shops and junctions in northern Italy. Secondary targets include harbors and coastal shipping. 19,460 tons of bombs are dropped in March. In April and May Operation STRANGLE merges into the air phase of Operation DIADEM (see May 11), when 51,500 tons of bombs are dropped. Great damage is done but bad weather and multiplicity of targets 'cheats' an ambitious plan.

• 9 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 8 to Düsseldorf and 4 to Aachen, 19 Stirlings lay mines off the Dutch and French coasts, there are 4 RCM sorties, 3 Serrate patrols and 6 OTU sorties.
• 1 RCM Wellington is lost.

• 173 1st and 3rd Bomb Division B-17s, escorted by P-47s, attack V-weapons sites.

• 20 78th Fighter Group P-47s, escorted by 10 other P-47s, dive-bomb the Gilze-Rijen Airdrome.

• During the morning, 16 9th Air Force P-47 dive-bombers attack a Luftwaffe airfield near Boulogne-sur-Mer.
• 152 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack V-weapons sites around St.-Omer.
• During the afternoon, 65 IX Bomber Command A-20s attack the St.-Omer V-weapons sites again.

• 12th Air Force B-25s attack the marshalling yard at Avezzano, a bridge and the marshalling yard at Orte, and a bridge near Orvieto.
• 12th Air Force B-26s attack a road bridge near Arezzo and port facilities at San Stefano al Mare.

• XII Air Support Command A-20s attack tank repair shops near Tivoli.
• XII Air Support Command P-40s and P-47s attack gun emplacements and troop concentrations near the Anzio beachhead battle area.

• Although unable to reach their target at Steyr because of bad weather, a total of 234 15th Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack the Klagenfurt Airdrome with 589 tons of bombs.
• 76 B-24s attack the Graz Airdrme with 183 tons of bombs.
• 12 B-24s are downed at Graz, 6 B-24s are lost at Klagenfurt, including 2 lost in a collision

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack marshalling yards at Knin and Metkovic.

• Components of the MATAF, including the 12th Air Force, are directed to expand their ongoing attacks against Axis lines of communication throughout Italy by targeting ports, rail lines, and marshalling yards. As previously mentioned, this is Operation STRANGLE.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• More than 100 5th Air Force B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and P-47 fighter-bombers attack the Wewak area. B-25s, P-39s, and RAAF aircraft attack the Alexishafen, Hansa Bay, Madang, and Nubia areas. P-40s attack Garove Island (Bismarck Archipelago). 40 V Bomber Command B-24s, 56 B-25s, 33 A-20s, and numerous P-38 fighter-bombers destroy a Japanese convoy returning to Hollandia from Wewak. 2 A-20s are lost in a collision during the convoy attack.
• A 348th Fighter Group P-47 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter over Wewak at 0955 hours.

Battle of the Atlantic

The German submarine U-1059 is sunk by aircraft from the US escort carrier Block Island (CVE-21) in the Atlantic area.

U-1059

Burma

In the northeast sector, a detachment sent from the British and Chinese strongpoint at Fort Hertz occupies the village of Sumprabum. The US 5307th unit (Merrill's Marauders) is ordered to block the road to Kamaing near Inkangahtawng.

In the central sector the 5th Indian Division moves, partly by train and partly by air, into the area where the Japanese pressure is strongest.

Eastern Front

Konev's 2nd Ukraine Front forces reach and crosses the Dniestr near Yampol capturing Soroki a little to the south. Northwest of Konev's forces the German strongpoint of Mogilev-Podolsky is taken by assault by Soviet divisions converging from northeast and southeast. Near Dubno the Russians also take the town of Krzemieniec(Kremenech?).

The 1st Belorussian Front launches a limited attack north of the Pripet Marshes.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• In an operation covered by US carrier aircraft from elements of Task Force 36, a US Marine infantry regiment lands without opposition on Emirau Island in the St. Mathias Islands. 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s also participate in covering the landings. To help cover the Emirau landings, US carrier aircraft from Task Group 36.3 attack Kavieng, New Ireland.
• 2 VC-63 fighters down a Ki-61 'Tony' fighter at sea at 1700 hours.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Moulmein-Martaban area. More than 20 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and P-51s attack transportation and communications targets around Katha. 12 10th Air Force A-31s attack Japanese Army ground positions in the Arakan coastal region. 6 459th Fighter Squadron P-38 fighter-bombers attack a bridge at Lamu. More than 100 P-51, P-40, and A-36 fighter-bombers attack dumps and other targets in the Mogaung Valley, Myitkyina, Sahmaw, and Sumprabum.

Air Operations, Europe

• 27 Mosquitos are sent to Cologne, 6 to Aachen and 3 to Oberhausen, 18 aircraft lay mines of the Channel and Biscay coasts, There is 1 RCM sortie, 3 Serrate patrols and 4 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

• Of 353 8th Air Force B-17s dispatched, high cloud cover force all but 146 to abort. The day's secondary target, Frankfurt am Main, and several targets of opportunity are attacked. Only 1 of 92 B-24s dispatched drops its bombs on a target of opportunity.
• 5 B-17s and 2 B-24s are lost, 165 heavy bombers are damaged
• Escort for the heavy bombers is provided by 594 fighters, including 79 from the 9th Air Force.
• 8 escorts are lost with their pilots

• IX Bomber Command B-26s and A-20s attack a marshalling yard, locomotive works, and a rail bridge at Creil, and four V-weapons sites.
• 85 IX Fighter Command P-47s dive-bombers and escorts attack the Abbeville/Drucat, Conches, and Poix Airdromes. 2 Bf-109s are downed near Charleville at 1130 hours.

• 12th Air Force B-25s attack marshalling yards at two locations and the port area of San Stefano al Mare.

• 12th Air Force B-26s attack Port Ercole, rail bridges at two locations, and ships and port facilities at Piombino.
• XII Air Support Command A-20s attack a factory.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s attack a rail kine and drop food parcels to Allied ground troops around Cassino.
• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack fuel dumps, gun emplacements, and troop concentrations in the Cassino area.
• XII Air Support Comand P-47s attack fuel dumps.

Air Operations, New Guinea

More than 30 V Bomber Command B-24s attack the airfield at Aitape. B-25s and V Fighter Command P-39s attack the Burui airfield, Erima, and other targets. More than 20 A-20s and P-39s attack a Japanese Army headquarters and other targets on the Bogadjim road. P-40s attack barges and villages around Bangula Bay.

Air Operations, Solomons

During the day, US Marine Corps SBDs and TBFs begin moving through Piva Uncle Airfield on Bougainville to mount the first attacks against Rabaul in 16 days. From this point forward, despite light but incessant incoming artillery and sniper fire, AirSols aircraft return to Bougainville to resume a regular schedule of target-suppression attacks against Rabaul.

Bismarcks

Gen A. H. Noble's 4th Marines are landed on Emirau Island in the St Matthias group north of New Ireland. There is no Japanese resistance. They occupy the island to turn it into a base for aircraft and small ships. This completes the series of operations called CARTWHEEL, directed toward the capture of Rabaul. Adm R. M. Griffin leads 4 battleships and 2 carriers in attacks on Kavieng as a covering operation. 4 more carriers and 7 cruisers are in direct support of the landings.

Burma

The first brigade of 5th Division has arrived at Imphal by air. A battalion is sent to Kohima. The Chinese and Americans secure the Hukawng Valley.

Eastern Front

The Russians capture Mogilev Podolsky and Vinnitsa both important communications centers. The Russian advance in all sectors of the Ukraine is in considerable strength on a very wide front giving the Germans little opportunity for concentrated resistance. Having crossed the Dniestr north of Kishinev they push on toward Prut. The 1st Ukraine Front capture Vinnitsa on the Bug River.

Admiralty Islands

On Los Negros Island the US 5th and 12 Cavalry try to join up their two beachheads so that they can mop up the Japanese forces still holding out.

Air Operations, Carolines

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Ponape Island.

Air Operations, CBI

• More than 25 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 459th Fighter Squadron P-38 fighter-bombers attack two bridges near Meza and several other targets. More than 30 10th Air Force A-31s attack Japanese Army ground positions in the Chin Hills and Arakan coastal region. 6 P-38s attack oil dumps at Monywa. 2 B-25s and more than 80 P-51s, P-40s, and A-36s attack Kamaing, Manywet, Myitkyina, and a bridge at Hopet.

Air Operations, Europe

• 56 2nd Bomb Division B-24s attack V-weapons sites around Watten.
• VIII Fighter Command fighter pilots down 10 Luftwaffe aircraft over France between 1345 and 1530 hours.

• 12th Air Force B-25s attacks a bridge a Poggibonsi.
• 12th Air Force B-26s attack the viaducts at Arezzo and Bucine, and the rail bridges at Cecina and Poggibonsi.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s drop food parcels to ground troops around Cassino.
• XII Air Support Command P-40 fighter-bombers attack tactical targets around the Anzio beachhead.
• XII Air Support Command P-47s attack rail bridges north or Rome.
• During the day the 31st Fighter Group Spitfire pilots down 5 Bf-109s over central Italy.

Air Operations, New Guinea

More than 140 5th Air Force bombers, fighter-bombers, and fighters attack targets at Hansa Bay, Tadji, Wewak, and the Scouten Islands. V Fighter Command P-39s and RAAF fighter-bombers attack Japanese Army ground positions in the Madang area.

Burma

The 20th Indian Division has completed its withdrawal most successfully. It now holds positions on the Shanan Hills and between Palel and Wangjing. The 17th Division is still fighting its way back north through the Japanese roadblocks inflicting heavy casualties on the 33rd Division as it does so.

Air Operations, Europe

• 8th Air Force bombs Berlin.

• 816 aircraft are sent to Frankfurt. Included in this total are 620 Lancasters, 184 Halifaxes and 12 Mosquitos.
• Again, an indirect route is employed, this time crossing the Dutch coast north of the Zuider Zee and then flying almost due south to Frankfurt. This, and the Kiel minelaying diversion, confuse the Germans for some time. Hannover is forecast as the main target. Only a few fighters eventually find the bomber stream. The marking and bombing are accurate and Frankfurt suffers another heavy blow. Reports from the ground show that the damage is even more severe than in the raid carried out 4 nights earlier. Half of the city is without gas, water and electricity 'for a long period'. All parts of the city are hit but the greatest weight of the attack falls in the western districts. The report particularly mentions severe damage to the industrial areas along the main road to Mainz.
• 26 Lancasters and 7 Halifaxes are lost.
• 20 Mosquitos are sent to attack night-fighter airfields, 128 Halifaxes and 18 Stirlings lay mines in Kiel Bay and off Denmark, 22 Mosquitos are on diversionary and harassing raids to Berlin, Dortmund, Hannover and Oberhausen, 20 OTU Wellingtons make leaflet flights over France, and there are 16 RCM sorties and 16 Serrate patrols.
• 1 mine-laying Halifax is lost.

• 657 8th Air Force heavy bombers diverted by bad weather from attacking several aircraft factories at Oranienburg and Basdorf attack Berlin and a small number of targets of opportunity with a total of 1,471 tons of bombs.
• 12 heavy bombers are lost, 1 interned in Sweden, 347 damaged
• Escort is provided by 817 fighters, including 221 from the 9th Air Force, but only 2 Luftwaffe aircraft are downed.

• 12th Air Force B-25s attack the road bridge near Poggivonsi.
• 12th Air Force B-26s attack a viaduct near Arezzo and a rail bridge at Poggivonsi.
• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack gun emplacements.
• When Mt. Vesuvius erupts, the 340th Medium Bomb Group, based at Pompeii Airdrome, is forced to evacuate on short notice. Few human casualties result from the rain of hot rocks, but every one of the group's 88 B-25s is destroyed.

• Approximately 100 15th Air Force B-24s attack marshalling yards at Bologna and Rimini.
• More than 100 15th Air Force B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Verona.

Air Operations, New Guinea

More than 130 V Bomber Command B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s, and V Fighter Command P-40 fighter-bombers attack numerous targets in the Wewak area. 25 bombers and fighter-bombers attack targets in the Aitape and Tadji areas. V Fighter Command P-47s attack barges near Alexishafen. P-39s attack a Japanese Army headquarters and supply dumps along the Bogadjim road.

Air Operations, CBI

• 4 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack supply dumps at Prome. More than 20 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 10th Air Force P-51s support Allied ground troops near Katha and Mawlu. 36 A-31s attack 2 occupied villages and Japanese Army ground troops along the Chindwin River. 1 459th Fighter Squadron P-38 damages a bridge near Pyinmana. More than 100 P-51, P-40, and A-36 fighter-bombers attack numerous targets in the Mogaung Valley.

• 4 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack road, rail, and ground targets in northern French Indochina.

Axis Politics

The Germans announce from Berlin that a new Hungarian Government has been formed and will be led by Field Marshal Dome Sztojay.

Burma

The Chindits continue to carry out nuisance actions and sabotage against the Japanese in central Burma, and new units reach them by air.

Japan advances its large-scale offensive into India from Burma. Units of the 18th Army reach a point 30 miles east of Imphal in the mountainous area of Manipur.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

29 V Fighter Command P-40s attack Talasea and nearby Japanese Army bivouacs.

Air Operations, CBI

• 12 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack port and facilities Moulmein and the rail line at two bridges between Moulmein and Bangkok (Thailand). 12 B-24s and 10 459th Fighter Squadron P-38 fighter-bombers attack Kalewa. 9 490th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack Kaing and Shwebo. 9 B-25s and 12 10th Air Force P-51 fighter-bombers attack fuel and ammunition dumps at Indaw. 12 A-31s attack Japanese Army ground positions in the Chin Hills. 12 P-51s attack Naba. 4 P-40s attack supply dumps at Kamaing. 30 10th Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers sweep the Mogaung Valley.

• 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail facilities at Vinh and Van Trai, and 3 bridges between Vinh and Thanh Hoa.

Air Operations, Europe

8th Air Force attacks the Hamm marshalling yards.

• 143 aircraft are sent to Laon. In this total are 83 Halifaxes, 48 Stirlings and 12 Mosquitos of Nos. 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups.
• The weather in the target area is clear, but the Master Bomber orders the attack stopped after 72 aircraft have bombed. Reports from the ground say that half the bombs hit the railway yards and the rest are scattered in an area up to over 2 miles from the target. The bombing does cut through lines but these are repaired the following day. 83 houses around the station are hit but only 7 civilians are killed and 9 injured because most of the people who lived near the station move to other parts of Laon at night.
• 2 Halifaxes are lost.
• 20 Lancasters of No. 5 Group, including some from 617 Squadron, bomb an aircraft engine factory near Lyons without a loss.

• Mosquitos are sent to Dortmund and 2 to Oberhausen, 2 Stirlings lay mines off Brittany, there are 5 RCM sorties, 4 Serrate patrols and 6 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

• Bad weather obliges 707 of 765 8th Air Force heavy bombers dispatched to attack secondaries and targets of opportunity with an aggregate of 1,755 tons of bombs.
• 22 B-17s and 6 B-24s are lost, 322 heavy bombers are damaged
• Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by 841 fighters, including 226 from the 9th Air Force. Escort pilots down 20 Luftwaffe fighters over Belgium and Germany between 0957 hours and noon.
• 4 escorts are lost with their pilots

• During the morning, 220 IX Bomber Command B-26s mount an attack against the Beaumont-le-Roger and Beauvais/Tille Airdromes and a marshalling yard at Creil.
• During the afternoon, 146 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack a marshalling yard at Haine-St.-Pierre.

• 12th Air Force B-25s attack a rail bridge.
• 12th Air Force B-26s attack a marshalling yard at Florence.
• XII Air Support Command A-36s attack tactical targets in the Cassino battle area.
• XII Air Support Command P-40s attack gun emplacements in the Cassino-Esperia battle area.

Air Operations, Carolines

41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Ponape Island.

Air Operations, Central Pacific

VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Wake Island.

Air Operations, Marshalls

In the first shuttle-bombing mission of its kind in the region, 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s based in the Gilbert Islands attack the Jaluit and Maloelap atolls, then fly on to the US Navy’s new airfield in the Majuro Atoll. After re-arming at Majuro, the B-25s attack targets in the Marshalls on their way back to the Gilberts. Hereafter, all of the 41st Group’s missions against bypassed Japanese bases will be shuttle missions.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• Nearly 100 V Bomber Command B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s, and V Fighter Command P-47 fighter-bombers attack the Aitape, Alexishafen, Hansa Bay areas. B-24s attack Babo.
• During the night, V Bomber Command B-24s attack shipping in the Bismarck Sea.

Bougainville

The Japanese make a general attack against the Cape Torokina beachhead, but make only minimal progress in the face of heavy barrages laid down by the American artillery.

Burma

The 14th LRP Brigade lands at 'Aberdeen' landing zone near Manhton in support of Chindit operations.