# USAAF Chronology:

    COMBAT CHRONOLOGY OF THE US ARMY AIR FORCES
    APRIL 1944
    FTP SITES
      1. ftp.rutgers.edu in directory pub/wwii/usaf
      2. byrd.mu.wvnet.edu (129.71.32.152) in pub/history/military/airforce/
         wwii_chronology

    AIRCRAFT MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:
      A-20, Douglas Havoc
      A-36, North American Apache
      B-17, Boeing Flying Fortress
      B-24, Consolidated Liberator
      B-25, North American Mitchell
      B-26, Martin Marauder
      B-29, Boeing Superfortress
      Beaufighter, Bristol
      C-47, Douglas Skytrain
      F-4, Lockheed Lightning
      F-5, Lockheed Lightning
      F-7, Consolidated Liberator
      L-1, Stinson Vigilant
      L-4, Piper Cub/Grasshopper
      L-5, Stinson Sentinel
      P-38, Lockheed Lightning
      P-39, Bell Airacobra
      P-40, Curtiss
      P-47, Republic Thunderbolt
      P-51, North American Mustang
      P-70, Douglas
      Vengeance, Vultee

    SATURDAY, 1 APRIL 1944

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 14 P-38s hit a freight train and
    damage a factory in the vicinity of Mandalay; near Rangoon, 16 B-24s hit a
    railroad station and bomb Akyab while 6 B-25s damage a railroad bridge near
    Nattalin.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): A flight of the 21st Photographic
    Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth Air Force, based at Kunming, China begins
    operating from Liangshan, China with F-4s and F-5s.
      Moves in China during Apr: HQ 69th Composite Wing from Tsuyung to Kunming;
    16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, based at Chengkung sends the
    detachment at Tsuyung to Szemao with P-40s.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 287: 440 bombers and 475
    fighters are dispatched to bomb the chemical industry at Ludwigshafen,
    Germany (the largest in Europe).
      1. The 245 B-17s dispatched of the lead force abandon the mission over the
    French coast due to heavy clouds; 7 B-17s are damaged.
      2. The 195 B-24s in the second force became widely dispersed and bomb
    targets of opportunity; 101 hit Pforzheim; 38 hit Schaffhausen, Switzerland;
    17 hit Strasbourg, France; and 9 hit Grafenhausen; Schaffhausen and
    Strasbourg were mistaken as German towns; they claim 1-1-0 Luftwaffe aircraft;
    12 B-24s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 42 damaged; casualties are 9
    KIA, 12 WIA and 113 MIA.
      Escort is provided by 280 P-47s and 195 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s:
    P-47s claim 13-1-19 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground 2 P-47s are lost and 12
    damaged, 2 pilots are MIA; P-51s claim 5-2-4 aircraft, 2 P-51s are lost and 2
    damaged, 2 pilots are MIA.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Moves in Italy during Apr: HQ
    49th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) arrives from the US; HQ 68th Tactical
    Reconnaissance Group from Manduria to Blida, Algeria.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s attack Leghorn
    harbor, bridges at Orvieto, and railway track S of Poggibonsi; B-26s hit Arno
    River railroad bridges at Signa, Riva-Trigoso, and Valdarno, while A-20s hit
    ammunition dumps; P-40s hit targets in the vicinity of Gaeta, Formia tunnel,
    several fuel dumps, bridges, and guns in the battle areas; P-47s bomb
    Poggibonsi bridge and strafe a train; and fighters patrol the Anzio battle
    area without incident.
      During Apr, XII Bomber Command moves from Trocchia, Italy to Corsica; 4th
    Troop Carrier Squadron, 62d Troop Carrier Group, and 16th, 17th, 18th and
    35th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 64th Troop Carrier Group begin operating from
    bases in India until Jun 44 with C-47s.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Abemama Island,
    Gilbert Islands, strike Ponape Island, Caroline Islands; B-24s from Makin
    Island, Gilbert Islands and Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands hit Truk
    Atoll, Caroline Islands; and B-25s from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands bomb
    Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls, Marshall Islands.
      78th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, moves from Stanley Field to
    Mokuleia Field, Territory of Hawaii with P-47s.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island,
    Bismarck Archipelago, 24 B-25s bomb supply areas at Wunapope and Ratawul; 28
    P-39s and P-40s hit the Toboi wharf area at Simpson Harbor; 3 P-40s follow
    with a strike on oil and coal storage in same general area; fighters maintain
    sweeps over Rabaul and New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago throughout
    the day and B-25s harass Rabaul during the night of 1/2 Apr. On Bougainville
    Island, Solomon Islands, 12 P-38s bomb the mission at Monoitu and 12 P-40s
    hit Numa Numa supply dumps.
      The detachment of the 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4th
    Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), operating from Munda, New Georgia
    Island, Solomon Islands, with F-5s returns to base on Guadalcanal Island,
    Solomon Islands.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-25s and A-20s hit the Tadji
    and Hansa Bay areas in New Guinea; B-24s bomb Boela, Ceram Island, Moluccas
    Islands; and B-25s attack Penfoei, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands.
      Moves in New Guinea during Apr: 33d Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop
    Carrier Group, from Garbutt Field, Townsville, Australia to Port
    Moresby with C-47s; 63d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment
    Group (Heavy), from Dobodura to Nadzab with B-24s.

    SUNDAY, 2 APRIL 1944

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 P-40s bomb Kamaing while 6
    P-51s over the Katha area hit trucks near Bhamo and a storage area at Indaw.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 2 B-24s on a sea sweep from Hong Kong to
    Formosa bomb a 215-ft (66 m) ship (reported sunk) and damage a large motor
    launch.

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): First operational B-29, piloted
    by Colonel Leonard F Harman, lands at Chakulia, India.
      HQ 40th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) arrives at Chakulia, India from
    the US.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 461st Bombardment Group (Heavy)
    with B-24s becomes operational, making 16 heavy bomber groups now
    operational.
      530+ B-24s and B-17s (largest mission to date) attack targets in Austria
    and Yugoslavia; the B-17s hit the ball bearing plant at Steyr, Austria and
    marshalling yard at Brod, Yugoslavia; the B-24s hit an aircraft factory and
    depot and ball bearing factory at Steyr, and in Yugoslavia, an air depot at
    Mostar and marshalling yard at Bihac; fighters fly 150+ sorties in support of
    the bombers; hundreds of enemy fighters oppose the missions and fierce air
    battles result in 19 bombers shot down and several missing; the AAF claims
    150+ enemy fighters.
      HQ 31st Fighter Group and 307th and 308th Fighter Squadrons move from
    Castel Volturno to San Severo, Italy with P-51s.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack
    railroad bridges at Arezzo, Fano, Ficulle, Magra, N of Orvieto, and S of
    Poggibonsi, scoring some direct hits, hits on approaches, and several near
    misses; fighter-bombers hit trucks and the railroad station at Fara in Sabina
    and E and N of Anzio, attack the Formia tunnel, fly armed reconnaissance over
    the Atina and Arce areas, bomb a factory and buildings N of Cassino, the town
    of Pignataro Interamna and numerous bridges, dumps, gun positions and targets
    of opportunity in or around the battle areas.
      99th Fighter Squadron, XII Air Support Command, attached to 324th Fighter
    Group, moves from Capodichino to Cercola, Italy with P-40s.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Eniwetok Atoll,
    Marshall Islands hit Truk Atoll during the night of 1/2 Apr. During the day
    B-25s bomb Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 31 B-24s fly a strike
    against Dublon Island, Truk Atoll, causing considerable damage to the
    warehouse and dock areas; the bombers claim 30+ fighters downed; 4 B-24s are
    lost. On New Britain Island, 40+ fighter-bombers over Rabaul hit the SE part
    of town, the Toboi wharf area, and N section of town along the Malaguna road;
    and 7 B-25s hit Raluana Point while 23 pound Lakunai.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 120+ bombers
    and fighters continue to hit targets in areas around Wewak, Hansa Bay,
    Madang, Bogadjim, and other points along the NE coastline. B-25s also hit
    Dili and Penfoei on Timor Island and Rambutyo Island, Bismarck Archipelago.
      310th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group, moves from Dobodura to Saidor,
    New Guinea with P-47s.

    MONDAY, 3 APRIL 1944

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 4 B-25s damage the Tangon bridge
    while 6 P-51s hit Anisakan airstrip in the Mandalay area; 20+ fighter-bombers
    and 6 B-25s hit targets of opportunity S of Mupaw Ga and W of Mogaung, troops
    near Bhamo, and knock out a bridge near Mogaung; during the night of 3/4 Apr
    16 B-24s bomb oil and power facilities at Yenangyaung, Chauk, and Lanywa
    while 8 P-38s hit Meiktila Airfield.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 4 rocket-firing P-40s, with 8 other
    as top cover, damage 2 large river boats between Hengyang and Ichang. In
    French Indochina, 4 P-40s flying a Red River sweep from Vinh Yen to Dong
    Cuong sink 4 small boats, damage 3 more, and strafe 50-100 persons at a
    loading point on the river; and 3 B-24s lay mines in the Haiphong area.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Because of a combat crew shortage
    which has caused abolition of the 50-mission limit tour of duty and resulted
    in fatigue and morale problems, IX Bomber Command establishes a new
    operational leave policy. Maximum leaves for bomber crews are set at 1 week
    between the 25th and 30th missions and 2 weeks between the 40th and 50th
    missions.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 450+ B-17s and B-24s bomb
    targets in Hungary and Yugoslavia; the B-17s hit an aircraft factory in
    Budapest, Hungary and a marshalling yard at Brod, Yugoslavia; the B-24s hit a
    marshalling yard at Budapest; 137 fighters escort the B-17s (B-24s miss the
    rendezvous) to Budapest; the bombers and escorting fighters claim 24 enemy
    aircraft shot down.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack
    railway bridges at Orvieto, cutting approaches to a bridge to the N of town;
    other medium bomber attacks on bridges abort because of weather but light
    bombers successfully bomb an ammunition dump; A-36s attack the railway at
    Attigliano and bomb an underpass in the area, while P-40s hit Sesti Bagni
    railroad station, a supply dump SE of Frosinone, the town of Itri, a bivouac
    area NW of Velletri and several trucks; and P-47s successfully bomb Pignataro
    Interamna and nearby road junction.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok
    Atoll during the night of 2/3 Apr, bomb Truk Atoll. B-25s from Abemama Island
    follow with a daytime attack on Ponape Island; other B-25s from Abemama and
    Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls.
      98th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves
    from Tarawa Atoll to Eniwetok Atoll with B-24s.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 23
    B-25s pound the NE section of Rabaul; this strike follows larger than usual
    (6 B-25s) heckling raids during the night of 2/3 Apr; and 50+ fighter-bombers
    blast fuel stores at Keravia Bay. On Bougainville Island, AAF and US Navy
    (USN) fighters strafe the Numa Numa trail area and maintain patrols.
      67th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, based in the Russell Islands,
    Solomon Islands, ceases operating from Bougainville Island with P-38s.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 300+ B-24s,
    B-25s, A-20s, and P-38s blast airfields at Hollandia; most of the remaining
    Japanese airplanes there are destroyed; of 60 intercepting Japanese fighters,
    26 are claimed shot down; air opposition from Hollandia is very light
    hereafter; 50+ P-40s, P-47s, and P-39s hit villages, communications, AA
    positions, and other targets in areas around Wewak, Hansa Bay, Bogia and
    Madang; and B-24s hit Langgoer and B-25s bomb the Babo area and Penfoei on
    Timor Island.
      HQ 58th Fighter Group and 69th Fighter Squadron move from Dobodura to
    Saidor, New Guinea with P-47s.

    TUESDAY, 4 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ZONE OF INTERIOR: HQ Twentieth Air Force is activated in Washington, DC.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 120+ fighter-bombers and 4 B-25s
    hit rail lines, storage areas and Japanese held villages around Mogaung and
    Myitkyina and support ground forces near Kamaing and Myitkyina; during the
    night of 4/5 Apr, 14 B-24s bomb the Moulmein railroad yards and jetties and
    hit a Japanese HQ nearby at Nagorn Sawarn; and 25 P-51s and P-38s attack
    Aungban and Anisakan Airfields.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): P-38s on armed reconnaissance strafe and
    destroy 2 big fuel dumps, 12 fuel trucks, and 15-20 troops in the Wan Mong
    Kang, Burma area.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Units arriving in England from the
    US: HQ 339th Fighter Group at Fowlmere; and 836th, 837th, 838th and 839th
    Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 487th Bombardment Group, at Lavenham with
    B-24s (first mission is 7 May).

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Units arriving in England from the
    US: HQ 373d Fighter Group and 410th Fighter Squadron at Woodchurch with P-47s
    (first mission is 8 May); HQ 404th Fighter-Bomber Group at Winkton; HQ 406th
    Fighter-Bomber Group at Ashford; HQ 410th Bombardment Group (Light) and
    644th, 645th, 646th and 647th Bombardment Squadrons (Light) at Birch with
    A-20s (first mission is 4 May); and 393d and 394th Fighter Squadrons, 367th
    Fighter Group, at Stony Cross with P-38s (first mission is 9 May).

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 300+ B-17s and B-24s attack
    Bucharest, Rumania; both hit marshalling yards and the B-24s also hit an air
    depot; fighters fly nearly 120 sorties in support of the mission; between 150
    and 200 enemy fighters attack the bombers, shooting down 10; the bombers and
    escorts claim 50+ aircraft destroyed in combat.
      309th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, moves from Castel Volturno to
    San Severo, Italy with P-51s.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bomber missions
    are aborted due to weather but light bombers manage to bomb an ammunition
    dump and fighter-bombers bomb Terracina and Formia, attack a bridge and
    several vehicles during armed reconnaissance of the Rome-Orte area, bomb Itri
    and Fondi, hit numerous gun positions, a railway station, a bivouac area, and
    a vehicle concentration, and attack targets of opportunity between Atina and
    Cassino.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, flying out of the
    Gilbert Islands, bomb Truk Atoll during the night. B-25s, from Abemama Island
    and Tarawa Atoll, followup during the day with raids on Ponape Island, and
    Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On Bougainville Island, 12
    P-40s hit a barge hideout in Gazelle Harbor; 10 B-25s (rained out of Rabaul,
    New Britain Island) bomb Buka Airfield on Buka Island, 23 P-39s hit the
    Aitara area, and 11 P-40s bomb the Mamaregu barge hideout; 24 P-38s pound
    Mamagata, Dio Dio, and the Miwo River area; and ground support missions along
    Empress Augusta Bay are carried out by a variety of fighters.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 50+ B-24s
    pound the Wewak area; and 12 P-39s hit villages, bridges and wooded areas
    along the coast from Cape Gourdon to Bogia.

    WEDNESDAY, 5 APRIL 1944

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 13 B-24s bomb the railroad from
    Moulmein to Kanchanaburi, destroying 3 bridges, damaging several others, and
    causing much damage to track and railroad cars.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): P-40s from Yungning, China pound a railroad
    siding at Na Cham, French Indochina, destroying 8 boxcars and a considerable
    amount of track.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 288: 21 of 50 B-24s
    dispatched hit V-weapon sites at St Pol/Siracourt, France without loss; heavy
    clouds and the failure of blind-bombing equipment cause other B-24s to return
    to base without bombing. 50 P-47s escort the B-24s without loss.
      Mission 289: 96 P-38s, 236 P-47s and 124 P-51s are dispatched to attack
    airfields in Germany; heavy cloud hinders most groups: 1 P-38s is lost and 4
    damaged, 1 pilot is MIA; P-47s claim 2-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft, 1 P-47 is lost
    and 4 damaged, 1 pilot is MIA; P-51s claim 96-4-120 aircraft, 7 P-51s are
    lost and 3 damaged, casualties are 1 KIA and 6 MIA.
      During the night of 5/6 Apr, 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional)
    dispatches 17 B-24s on CARPETBAGGER (air operations to drop supplies to
    guerillas in Europe) missions; 1 B-24 is lost.
      Units arriving in England from the US: HQ 487th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
    at Lavenham; 503d, 504th and 505th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons, 339th Fighter-
    Bomber Group at Fowlmere with P-51s (first mission is 30 Apr); and 832d,
    833d, 834th and 835th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 486th Bombardment Group
    (Heavy), with B-24s (first mission is 7 May).

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Units arriving in England from the
    US: HQ 36th Fighter Group and 22d Fighter Squadron at Kingsnorth with P-47s
    (first mission is 8 May); HQ 50th Fighter Group and 10th, 81st and 313th
    Fighter Squadrons at Lymington with P-47s (first mission is 1 May); HQ 367th
    Fighter Group and 392d Fighter Squadron at Stony Cross with P-38s (first
    mission is 9 May); HQ 397th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 596th, 597th,
    598th and 599th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) at Gosfield with B-26s (first
    mission is 20 Apr); 411th and 412th Fighter Squadrons, 373d Fighter Group at
    Woodchurch with P-47s (first mission is 8 May); 506th, 507th and 508th
    Fighter-Bomber Squadrons, 404th Fighter-Bomber Group, at Winkton with P-47s
    (first mission is 1 May); and 513th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 406th Fighter-
    Bomber Group, at Ashford with P-47s (first mission is 9 May).

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 334 B-17s and B-24s hit targets
    in Rumania and Yugoslavia; the B-17s bomb a marshalling yard at Ploesti,
    Rumania and Nis, Yugoslavia; the B-24s hit a marshalling yard at Ploesti and
    Leskovac, Yugoslavia; fighters and AA shoot down 13 bombers.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather precludes all
    light and medium bomber action; P-40s hit the Colleferro railway station,
    several fuel dumps, and gun positions in the US Fifth Army battle areas;
    A-36s bomb Formia, and railway stations NW of Rome and in the Frosinone area.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit
    Maloelap Atoll, bomb up again at Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands, and hit
    Jaluit Atoll during the return trip.
      HQ 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Tarawa Atoll to Kwajalein
    Atoll.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 12 B-25s pound Kara,
    Bougainville Island. Bad weather cancels all missions against targets in the
    Bismarck Archipelago.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 270+ B-24s,
    B-25s, A-20s and P-38s hit Hollandia town and dock area and villages and
    stores around Humboldt Bay; P-47s and P-40s blast numerous targets in the
    Hansa Bay-Bogia and Wewak areas; and B-24s hit Kaimana and Efman Island.
    B-25s bomb Koepang on Timor Island.
      Units moving from Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea: 82d Reconnaissance
    Squadron (Fighter), 71st Reconnaissance Group, with P-39s; and 311th Fighter
    Squadron, 58th Fighter Group, with P-47s.

    THURSDAY, 6 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): 3d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), VI Bomber
    Command, moves from David, Panama to Howard Field, Canal Zone with B-24s; the
    squadron serves as a replacement training unit.

      ZONE OF INTERIOR:  General of the Army Henry H "Hap" Arnold assumes command
    of the Twentieth Air Force at Washington, DC where HQ will remain until Jul
    45. Chief of Staff is Brigadier General Haywood S Hansell, Jr (currently
    Deputy Chief of Air Staff), with Colonel Cecil E Combs as his deputy for
    operations.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 6 B-25s damage railroad and
    rolling stock at Shwebo. 80+ fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s hit troops in the
    Namti area, support ground forces NE of Kamaing, damage a bridge near
    Myitkyina, and hit troops, oil dumps, and supplies at Mogaung and Manywet.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, P-40s from Suichwan pound a barrack
    SW of Nanchang, causing heavy damage; a B-25 strike during the night of 6/7
    Apr on airfields near Canton is curtailed by bad weather; only 1 B-25 reaches
    the target, dropping fragmentation bombs on revetments.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 290: 12 of 12 B-24s hit
    V-weapon sites at Watten, France without loss. Escort is provided by 27 P-47s
    without loss.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Units arriving in England from the
    US with P-47s: 23d Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, at Kingsnorth (first
    mission is 8 May); and 512th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 406th Fighter-Bomber
    Group, at Ashford (first mission is 9 May).

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): B-24s bomb the airfield at
    Zagreb, Yugoslavia; numerous other B-24s and B-17s abort because of weather;
    escorting fighters and the bombers claim 17 enemy fighters destroyed in
    combat; 6 US aircraft are shot down.
      HQ 451st Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 724th, 725th, 726th and 727th
    Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) move from San Pancrazio and Manduria to
    Castelluccio Airfield, Italy with B-24s.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s hit Perugia
    Airfield while B-26s bomb a bridge and its approaches NW of Orvieto; weather
    prevents other medium bomber operations; fighter-bombers attack the railroad
    stations at Capronica and Maccarese, guns SE of Littoria, a road bridge E of
    Pescasseroli, railroad bridges in the Arezzo area, other rail facilities in C
    Italy, and small transport vessels in the Aegean Sea.
      10th Troop Carrier Squadron, 60th Troop Carrier Group, moves from
    Pomigliano to Brindisi, Italy with C-47s.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll bomb
    Wake Island. B-25s from Eniwetok Atoll hit Ponape Island twice. B-25s from
    Abemama Island bomb Jaluit Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll, and hit Maloelap
    Atoll during the return flight.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 34 B-24s pound Dublon
    Island, Truk Atoll. On New Britain Island, 22 B-25s bomb Lakunai Airfield and
    revetment area; 30+ fighter-bombers bomb the vicinity of Toboi wharf with
    incendiaries while 20+ others carry out incendiary strike on Wunapope,
    causing severe destruction to several buildings; and fighters maintain a
    sweep over Rabaul and New Ireland Island areas.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, P-39s, P-40s
    and P-47s continue to pound coastal targets in the Wewak, Aitape, and Madang
    areas and at numerous other points along the coast. B-25s bomb Koepang, Timor
    Island.

    FRIDAY, 7 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 8 B-24s dispatched to destroy a convoy,
    believed SE of Matsuwa Island, Kurile Islands, turn back due to engine,
    navigation and weather difficulties. A flight of F-7As of the 2d
    Photographic Charting Squadron, 1st Photographic Charting Group, 311th
    Photographic Wing (Mapping and Charting), arrives in the Aleutian Islands;
    its mission is mapping of the Kurile Islands. The squadron is based at
    Peterson Field, Colorado Springs, Colorado and sends detachments to various
    parts of the world to photo map.

      CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): 74th and 397th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy),
    VI Bomber Command, move from Guatemala City, Guatemala and the Galapagos
    Islands respectively to Rio Hato, Panama with B-24s.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20+ P-51s and B-25s hit gun
    positions at Mawlu; throughout the Mogaung Valley 100+ fighter-bombers and 2
    B-25s hit numerous targets including fuel and ammunition stores near Manywet,
    supplies and a railroad station at Myitkyina, supplies and radio station at
    Sahmaw, the Kamaing area, bridges at Nsopzup and supply dumps W of Mogaung;
    30+ of the fighter-bombers carry out ground support missions at Shaduzup.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 7 P-40s strafe 3 barges and several junks at
    Saint John Island, China, leaving them burning. 2 B-24s on a sweep from Hong
    Kong to Formosa claim a large river boat and a small freighter sunk and 2
    other freighters damaged; 1 B-24 is lost. 4 P-40s attack a large
    concentration of small vessels at Haiphong, French Indochina, sinking at
    least 4.

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): HQ 462d Bombardment Group (Very
    Heavy) arrives at Piardoba, India from the US.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, 400+ B-17s and B-24s
    attack marshalling yards; the B-17s bomb Treviso; the B-24s hit Mestre and
    Bologna; almost 100 P-38s provide escort; P-47s fly a sweep over the Gorizia-
    Udine area; the bombers and fighters claim almost 20 aircraft shot down.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack
    bridges, tracks and a viaduct at Attigliano, Ficulle, Certaldo, Pontassieve
    and Incisa in Valdarno, and hit Prato marshalling yard; light bombers hit
    an ammunition dump; Ausonia, Pignataro Interamna, San Apollinare and
    Terracina are bombed by P-40s along with a dump and several gun positions SE
    of Rome; P-47s also hit bridges and trucks in this same area and attack the
    Empoli marshalling yard while A-36s hit gun emplacements, train and tracks in
    the Orvieto area and vicinity and approaches to the Montalto di Castro
    bridge.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit
    Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll, and bomb Jaluit Atoll on the return
    flight.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 50+
    fighter-bombers pound supply areas at Ratawul; 9 B-25s hit Talili Bay, 11
    bomb Vunakanau Airfield and 13 blast Tobera Airfield; 6 B-25s maintain night
    heckling of the Rabaul area. On Bougainville Island, 4 P-40s bomb pillboxes
    near the Reini River while 2 B-24s bomb Monoitu Mission.
      HQ 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Munda, New Georgia Island to
    Momote Airfield, Los Negros Island, Admiralty Islands.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-25s, A-20s
    and P-39s hit villages, barges, a supply area, and coastal road in areas
    around Madang, Tadji, Bogia, and Uligan Harbor; and B-24s bomb Langgoer and
    Wakde Island. Other B-25s bomb barracks at Penfoei, Timor Island.

    SATURDAY, 8 APRIL 1944

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, nearly 100 fighter-bombers and 2
    B-25s again pound Mogaung Valley targets, including Manywet, storage areas
    and railroad at Mogaung, positions at Shaduzup and general targets of
    opportunity around Kamaing; 4 B-25s damage bridge and track at Sittang.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 11 B-24s bomb railroad yards at Hanoi, French
    Indochina. In China, 6 B-25s damage several small ships in Yulinkan Bay; 2
    others strafe an airfield on Weichow Island; 8 P-40s pound oil dumps at
    Wanling, leaving the target area in flames. 9 B-24s bomb the airfield on
    Samah Bay, Hainan Island; 4 others lay mines in the bay.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 291: 3 separate forces, a
    total of 664 bombers divided into 13 combat wings, escorted by 780 fighters,
    are dispatched against airfields in NW Germany and aircraft factories in the
    Brunswick area; 34 bombers and 23 fighters are lost.
      1. 59 of 59 B-17s hit Oldenburg Airfield; 32 B-17s are damaged; casualties
    are 5 WIA.
      2. 255 B-17s are dispatched to Achmer, Quakenbruck and Rheine Airfields; 83
    hit Quakenbruck, 60 hit Achmer, 41 hit Rheine, 22 hit Twente Enschede, 21 hit
    Hesepe, 19 hit Handorf and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 4 B-17s are lost and
    128 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 3 WIA and 40 MIA.
      3. 350 B-24s are dispatched to aviation industry targets in Brunswick; 190
    hit the primary, 59 hit Rosslingen, 48 hit Langenhagen Airfield and 6 hit
    targets of opportunity; they claim 58-9-32 Luftwaffe aircraft; 30 B-24s are
    lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 87 damaged; casualties are 8 KIA, 23 WIA
    and 300 MIA.
      Escort is provided by 136 P-38s, 438 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
    206 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the fighters claim 88-3-46 Luftwaffe
    aircraft in the air and 49-6-38 on the ground: 5 P-38s are lost and 3
    damaged, 5 pilots are MIA; 4 P-47s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 12
    damaged, 4 pilots are MIA; 14 P-51s are lost and 3 damaged, 14 pilots are MIA.
      Mission 292: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1 million leaflets on Liege, Brussels,
    Ghent, Antwerp, and Mont-sur-Sombre, Belgium at 2215-2227 hours without loss.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In Belgium, 198 B-26s attack Hasselt
    marshalling yard and hit Coxyde Airfield; and 32 P-47s bomb the area around
    Hasselt.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): HQ 484th Bombardment Group
    (Heavy) and 824th and 827th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) arrive at Torretto
    Airfield, Italy from the US with B-24s; first mission is 29 Apr.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack a
    bridge NW of Orte while A-20s successfully attack supply stores; fighter-
    bombers hit several bridges, motor transport, and supply dumps in C Italy,
    and bomb railroad tracks at Sesti Bagni and Maccarese.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s flying out of Kwajalein
    Atoll, strike Truk Atoll; Abemama Island-based B-25s pound Ponape Island;
    B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll and bomb
    Jaluit Atoll during the return flight.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): During the night of 7/8 Apr
    6 B-25s heckle the Kavieng Airfield area on New Ireland Island. On New
    Britain Island, 50+ fighter-bombers hit the NE section of Rabaul and 24 B-25s
    bomb the center of Lakunai Airfield. 4 B-24s again pound Monoitu Mission on
    Bougainville Island.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, P-40s attack
    targets of opportunity in the Aitape-Wewak area; and A-20s hit targets in the
    Hansa Bay area, firing a fuel dump and destroying several warehouses and
    other buildings at 3 plantations and strafing and bombing roads and bridges
    along the coast.
      HQ 417th Bombardment Group (Light) moves from Dobodura to Saidor, New
    Guinea.

    SUNDAY, 9 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A weather sortie over Matsuwa Island is
    negative due to low clouds and fog.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, the Mogaung Valley is pounded by
    100+ fighter-bombers and a few B-25s; the aircraft hit town areas, bridges,
    storage areas, support ground forces, and hit targets of opportunity in
    general in or near Mogaung, Kamaing, Laban, Hopin, Myitkyina, and Nsopzup; 25
    B-25s and P-51s hit fuel dumps at Indaw, bomb a road near Manhton and support
    ground forces at Lasai; 6 B-24s bomb Mandalay railroad yards, another bombs
    nearby Maymyo, and 13 others mine areas near Mandalay and Magwe; also in the
    Mandalay area, 11 P-38s damage several locomotives, numerous railroad cars
    and set a steamer afire near Ywataung.
      The detachment of the 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, Tenth Air Force,
    operating from Hsinching, China transfers to Jorhat, India with F-7s; the
    squadron is based at Guskhara, India.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25s claim a 200-ft (61 m)
    tanker sunk off Cape Bastion and 3 fighters shot down over Yulinkan Bay.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 293: 542 bombers and 719
    fighters are dispatched to aircraft factories and airfields in Germany and
    Poland; the bombers claim 45-8-14 Luftwaffe aircraft; 32 bombers and 10
    fighters are lost; 10 bombers are damaged beyond repair. Details are:
      1. 145 B-17s are dispatched to aviation industry at Rahmel, Poland and
    Marienburg, Germany; 96 hit Marienburg, 41 hit Rahmel and 3 hit targets of
    opportunity; 6 B-17s are lost and 44 damaged; casualties are 8 KIA, 9 WIA and
    60 MIA.
      2. 151 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Focke-Wulf plant at Poznan, Poland
    and the Heinkel plant at Warnemunde, Germany; 85 hit Warnemunde, 33 hit
    Poznan and 18 hit Marienehe Airfield; 12 B-17s are lost and 93 damaged;
    casualties are 6 WIA and 120 MIA.
      3. 246 B-24s are dispatched to hit an assembly plant at Tutow, Germany; 106
    hit the primary, 14 hit Parchim, Germany and 6 hit targets of opportunity; 14
    B-24s are lost and 30 damaged; casualties are 17 KIA, 6 WIA and 140 MIA.
      Escort is provided by 119 P-38s, 387 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
    213 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the fighters claim 20-1-6 Luftwaffe
    aircraft in the air and 19-0-8 on the ground; no fighter support is available
    over the targets because of bad weather or distance: 2 P-38s are lost, 2
    damaged beyond repair and 9 damaged, casualties are 1 KIA and 2 MIA; 4 P-47s
    are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged, casualties are 2 KIA, 2
    WIA and 3 MIA; 4 P-51s are lost and 1 damaged beyond repair, 1 pilot is MIA.
      Mission 294: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 2.752 million leaflets on Rouen, Paris,
    Amiens and Caen, France at 2224-2338 hours without loss.
      23 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 14th Liaison Squadron, US Strategic
    Air Forces in Europe (attached to US Third Army), arrives at Alderley Edge,
    England from the US with L-5s; first mission is in Jul.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 815th, 816th, 817th and 840th
    Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 483d Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrive at
    Sterparone Airfield, Italy from the US with B-17s; first mission is 12 Apr.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, P-40 and A-36 fighter-
    bombers bomb the railroad line between Rome and Bracciano, hitting tracks, a
    station, and a warehouse; attack Littoria and Terracina, repair shops NW of
    Valmontone and several gun positions; and bomb scattered motor transport
    during armed reconnaissance of the Avezzano-Sora-Pontecorvo-Ceprano areas.
      379th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 310th Bombardment Group (Medium),
    moves from Ghisonaccia, Corsica to Fano, Italy with B-25s.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s on a photo reconnaissance
    mission over Maloelap, Wotje, and Mille Atolls, Marshall Islands, and a
    single Tarawa Atoll-based B-25 bombs Taroa Island, Maloelap Atoll; B-25s, in
    a shuttle mission from Abemama Island, bomb Jaluit Atoll, rearm at Majuro
    Atoll, and then hit Maloelap Atoll.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 23
    B-25s bomb Lakunai; 31 fighter-bombers hit Ralum supply areas while 22 others
    strike Wunapope; and during the night of 8/9 Apr, 7 B-25s fly heckling
    missions against Rabaul.
      394th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), ceases
    operating from Munda, New Georgia Island; the squadron is based on
    Guadalcanal Island with B-24s.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 55 B-25s bomb
    the Aitape area while B-24s and A-20s hit Wewak, Boram, Cape Moem, AA
    positions along Hansa Bay, and barges SE of Mushu Island and in the Wagol
    River; and P-39s hit troops, barges, and bridges in the Madang, Awar, Bogia
    and Bunabun areas.
      675th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 417th Bombardment Group (Light), moves
    from Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea with A-20s.

    MONDAY, 10 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, 3 B-24s fly armed
    reconnaissance over Matsuwa and Onnekotan Islands.

      CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): 29th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), VI Bomber
    Command, moves from the Galapagos Islands to Howard Field, Canal Zone with
    B-24s.

      ZONE OF INTERIOR (First Air Force): 1st Search Attack Group and 2d, 3d
    and 4th Search Attack Squadrons (Heavy) are disbanded at Langley Field,
    Virginia; these units tested equipment and developed techniques and tactics
    for ASW, flew ASW patrols and served as an OTU for radar training.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, about 100 fighter-bombers and a
    few B-25s pound numerous targets, including an encampment SW of Mogaung,
    positions near Kazu, a railroad and truck park at Myitkyina, a supply area S
    of Myitkyina, and a bivouac area and supplies at Kamaing; some of the fighter-
    bombers carry out support of ground forces NE of Kamaing; 40+ fighter-bombers
    and B-25s over the Katha area hit a bridge at Thityabin, troops and supplies
    at Shwegu, gun positions and troops S of Mawlu, and targets of opportunity
    including a fuel dump; and 9 B-24s bomb the railroad station and jetty area
    at Moulmein while 4 others mine the mouth of the Tavoy River.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 3 B-25s damage 2 bridges at Phu Dien Chau,
    French Indochina, and destroy several buildings and some railroad track. 10
    P-40s pound roads N and S of Wanling, Burma.

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)
    informally approve Operation MATTERHORN, the plan for the bombing of Japan by
    B-29s based in the Calcutta, India area and staging through advanced fields
    in the Chengtu, China area, which had been approved in principle by
    President Franklin D Roosevelt on 10 Nov 43. The operational vehicle is to be
    the 58th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) (4 bombardment groups) of the XX
    Bomber Command, soon to be assigned to the newly activated Twentieth Air
    Force, operating under General of the Army Henry H "Hap"  Arnold as executive
    agent for the JCS.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 295: 729 bombers and 496
    fighters are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets and airfields in
    Belgium and France; 3 bombers and 2 fighters are lost.
      1. 238 B-17s are dispatched to bomb aviation industry targets in Belgium;
    123 bomb the aviation industry and airfield at Evere, 52 hit Brussels/
    Melsbroek Airfield, 39 hit aviation industry targets at Brussels, and 20 hit
    Bergen op Zoom; 1 B-17 is lost and 99 damaged; casualties are 4 WIA and 10
    MIA.
      2. 248 B-17s are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets and airfields
    in Belgium and France; in Belgium, 62 hit Maldagem Airfield, 60 hit Diest/
    Schaffen Airfield and 42 hit Florennes/Juzaine Airfield; in France, 21 hit
    Courcelles and 21 hit Beaumont sur Oise Airfield; they claim 0-2-1 Luftwaffe
    aircraft; 1 B-17 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 19 damaged; casualties
    are 10 MIA.
      3. 243 B-24s are dispatched to hit the airfield and aviation industry
    targets; in Belgium, 151 hit the airfield and aviation industry at Bourges;
    in France, 28 hit Orleans/Bricy Airfield, 21 hit Romarantin Airfield and 15
    hit V-weapon sites at Marquise/Mimoyecques; they claim 6-0-0 Luftwaffe
    aircraft; 1 B-24 is lost and 3 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 10 MIA.
      Escort is provided by 51 P-38s, 295 P-47s and 150 Eighth and Ninth Air
    Force P-51s: P-38s haveno claims or losses; P-47s claim 12-0-7 Luftwaffe
    aircraft, 1 P-47 is lost and 4 damaged, 1 pilot is MIA; P-51s claim 40-0-16
    aircraft, 1 P-51 is lost and 1 damaged, 1 pilot is MIA.
      Mission 296: Three forces are dispatched on fighter-bomber missions; all
    include P-38 Droopsnoot aircraft:
      1. 39 P-38s are dispatched to attack Florennes/Juzaine Airfield, Belgium;
    no losses or claims.
      2. 51 P-38s and 7 P-47s are dispatched to attack St Dizier, France; the
    primary is cloud covered and 16 P-38s attack Coulommiers Airfield, France; 2
    P-38s are lost and 1 damaged; 2 pilots are MIA; the P-47s claim 2-0-1
    Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground.
      3. 28 P-38s and 46 P-47s are dispatched to bomb Gutersloh, Germany; 1 P-38
    is lost, the pilot is MIA.
      Mission 297: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 2 million leaflets on Lille, Le Mans,
    Chartres, Reims and Orleans, France at 2212-2258 hours local without loss.
      23 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 258 B-26s and 41 A-20s, including 12
    aircraft dropping Window, attack coastal batteries at Le Harve/Le Grand
    Hameau, France and military installation nearby. In Belgium during the
    afternoon 267 B-26s and A-20s bomb the marshalling yard, airfield, coastal
    defenses, and NOBALL targets at Charleroi/Montignies, Namur, Coxyde, Nieuport
    and other points on the N coast of W Europe. 47 P-47s dive-bomb the airfield
    at Evreux, France.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 776th Bombardment Squadron
    (Heavy), 464th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives at Pantanella Airfield,
    Italy from the US with B-24s; first mission is 30 Apr.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, A-20s hit an ammunition
    dump at Gallicano nel Lazio; B-25s bomb the Orvieto marshalling yard and 2
    bridges; B-26s hit Poggibonsi and Cecina railroad bridges and tracks, and
    viaducts at Bucine and W of Arezzo; fighter-bombers operating over wide areas
    of C Italy and in the battle zones hit railroad bridges, railroad cars, motor
    transport, barracks, and troop concentrations with good effect.
      522d, 523d and 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons, 27th Fighter-Bomber Group,
    move from Pomigliano to Castel Volturno, Italy with A-36s and P-40s.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok
    Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll (1 hits Ponape Island) while B-25s, based on Abemama
    Island, strike Ponape. B-25s, flying a shuttle mission between Tarawa and
    Majuro Atolls, pound Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 22
    B-25s bomb the Ratawul supply area and 40+ fighter-bombers hit the runway at
    Tobera, both strikes causing considerable damage; night harassment of the
    Rabaul area continues.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): About 60 B-24s, teaming with
    US destroyers offshore, bombard the Hansa Bay, New Guinea area, concentrating
    on AA positions guarding airfields.
      672d Bombardment Squadron (Light), 417th Bombardment Group (Light), moves
    from Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea with A-20s.

    TUESDAY, 11 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Of 3 B-24s attempting to fly a photographic
    and bombing run over Matsuwa Island installations, 2 must turn back; the
    third bombs the runway area.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 17 P-51s and B-25s fly ground
    support missions and bomb a road near Maungkan; Mogaung Valley targets are
    pounded by 50+ fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s; targets include HQ and stores at
    Sahmaw, HQ and ammunition dump SW of Mogaung, troops at Myitkyina, and
    targets of opportunity to the S, a gun position S of Kamaing, and HQ at
    Waingmaw.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 3 B-25s hit railroad
    targets of opportunity N of Vinh and seriously damage a bridge S of Thanh
    Hoa.

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): Units arriving in India from the
    US: HQ 444th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and 676th Bombardment Squadron
    (Very Heavy) at Charra with B-29s (first mission is 5 Jun); and 25th
    Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy), 40th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), at
    Chakulia with B-29s (first mission is 5 Jun).

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 298: 917 bombers and 819
    fighters are dispatched in 3 separate forces to bomb production centers
    (primarily fighter aircraft factories) and targets of opportunity in N
    Germany; 64 bombers are lost, one of the heaviest single-day losses of World
    War II. The bombers also drop 2.4 million leaflets. Details are:
      1. 341 B-17s are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets at Sorau (108
    bomb) and Cottbus (17 bomb); 127 hit Stettin, 20 hit Trechel, 16 hit
    Dobberphel and 23 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 12-2-3 Luftwaffe
    aircraft; 19 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 190 damaged;
    casualties are 12 KIA, 13 WIA and 200 MIA.
      2. Of 302 B-17s dispatched, 172 hit Rostock, 52 hit Politz, 35 hit the
    industrial area at Arnimswalde and 15 hit targets of opportunity; they claim
    34-20-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 33 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and
    153 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 9 WIA and 330 MIA.
      3. 274 B-24s are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets at
    Oschersleben (121 bomb) and Berenburg (99 bomb); 9 bomb aviation industry
    targets at Halberstadt, 9 bomb Eisleben and 5 hit targets of opportunity;
    they claim 27-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 12 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond
    repair and 63 damaged; casualties are 5 KIA, 9 WIA and 122 MIA.
      Escort is provided by 124 P-38s, 454 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
    241 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the fighters claim 51-5-25 Luftwaffe
    aircraft in the air and 65-0-67 on the grounds: no P-38s are lost; 7 P-47s
    are lost and 16 damaged, 7 pilots are MIA; 9 P-51s are lost and 13 damaged, 9
    pilots are MIA.
      Mission 299: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 2 million leaflets on Paris, Rouen, Le Mans,
    Rennes, Vichy, Lyon, Limoges and Toulouse between 2301 and 0055 hours local
    without loss.
      12 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In Belgium, 229 B-26s and 36 A-20s,
    including 3 dropping Window, attack Charleroi/Montignies, military
    installations on the coast, and Chievres Airfield. 90+ P-47s dive-bomb
    a military installation and Gael Airfield, France.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s hit the Montalto
    di Castro railroad bridge, while B-26s hit marshalling yards at Ancona and
    Siena; fighter-bombers concentrate on attacks against railroad targets NE of
    Rome and buildings inland from the E coast; tracks are hit hard in the
    Arezzo-Pontassieve area as are stations at Maccarese and Cesano; an overpass,
    bridges, railroad cars and dumps throughout C Italy are attacked, as is the
    town of Gaeta.
      488th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 340th Bombardment Group (Medium),
    moves from Gaudo Airfield, Italy to Alesan, Corsica with B-25s.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from the Gilbert Islands
    hit Ponape Island, rearm at Majuro Atoll, and carry out a shuttle mission
    against Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Thirteenth Air Task Force
    (Provisional) is created by General George C Kenney, Commanding General
    Allied Air Force (Southwest Pacific Area), from elements of the Thirteenth
    Air Force and other units.
      On New Britain Island, about 40 fighter-bombers hit the E section of Rabaul
    while 12 others strike Talili Bay ammunition dump; 24 B-25s blast supply
    areas at Ratawul. On Bougainville Island, 20+ fighter-bombers are dispatched
    against coastal gun positions but fail to locate their objective; 12 of the
    fighter-bombers bomb Aitara while 2 claim destruction of a bridge near
    Mawareka.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 80+ A-20s and
    B-25s, supported by 30 P-47s and P-40s, blast AA positions, stores, dumps and
    personnel areas at Hollandia; 50+ B-24s bomb barges, AA guns, and other
    targets along Hansa Bay which is also hit by 12 B-25s. 12 other B-25s bomb
    targets on Karkar Island.

    WEDNESDAY, 12 APRIL 1944

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 90+ P-40s, A-36s, P-51s, and B-25s
    over the Mogaung Valley support ground forces, bomb supply areas, and hit
    numerous targets of opportunity in areas around Mogaung, Myitkyina, Kamaing,
    Taungni, and Shaduzup; 5 B-25s knock out a bridge at Natmauk while 2 others
    damage the Pyu bridge near Rangoon; 5 B-24s bomb Nagorn Sawarn while 7 hit
    the Moulmein railroad station and jetties and bomb the SE part of Prome.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 300: 455 bombers and 766
    fighters dispatched to bomb industrial targets at Schweinfurt, Zwickau,
    Oscheresleben, Schkeuditz, Halle and Leipzig are forced to abandon the
    mission because of haze and multilayer clouds; Luftwaffe fighter opposition
    is concentrated over N France and the bombers claim 10-6-7 fighters; 6
    B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 25 B-24s are
    damaged; casualties are 12 KIA, 16 WIA and 56 MIA. Escort is provided by
    124 P-38s, 449 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 193 Eighth and Ninth
    Air Force P-51s; they claim 18-1-3 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-8
    on the ground; 3 P-38s and 2 P-51s are lost, 2 P-47s are damaged beyond
    repair and 3 P-38s, 17 P-47s and 1 P-51 are damaged; 5 pilots are MIA.
      HQ 353d Fighter Group moves from Metfield to Raydon, England.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 231 B-26s and 20 A-20s attack
    railroad, shore batteries, radar installations, airfields, and V-weapon sites
    at Dunkirk and Courtrai/Wevelghem, France; Coxyde/Furnes, De Pannes-Bains,
    Saint Ghislain and Ostend, Belgium; and points along the coast. 70+ P-47s
    dive-bomb military installations in N France.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 483d Bombardment Group (Heavy)
    with B-17s becomes operational, increasing the number of combat status bomber
    groups to 17.
      Bad weather lifts, permitting bomber operations; almost 450 B-17s and B-24s
    attack targets in Austria and Yugoslavia; the B-17s hit aircraft factories at
    Fischamend Markt, Austria and Split, Yugoslavia; the B-24s hit the industrial
    area at Wiener Neustadt and Bad Voslau, Austria and the marshalling yard and
    air depot at Zagreb, Yugoslavia; 200+ P-38s and P-47s provide escort; the
    bombers and fighters claim 30+ enemy aircraft shot down; 8 US airplanes are
    known lost and several more fail to return.
      HQ 465th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 783d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)
    arrive at Pantanell Airfield, Italy from the US with B-24s; first mission is
    5 May.
      122d Liaison Squadron, 68th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from
    Manduria, Italy to Blida, Algeria with B-17s; the squadron, which has been
    transporting supplies to partisans and dropping leaflets in the MTO, will be
    redesignated 885th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 12 May and was re-equipped
    with B-24s.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers bomb rail
    lines approaching the Monte Molino bridge and at a nearby junction to the
    Viterbo line, railroad and road bridges S of Orvieto and at Certaldo, tracks
    approaching a bridge at Impeda, and railroad bridges over the Var River and
    at Albenga; light bombers pound the Zagarolo supply dump; fighter-bombers and
    fighters (some operating with British aircraft) hit communications (mainly
    railroad bridges), vehicles, supply dumps at various places, including
    Arezzo, the island of Elba, Orvieto, NE of Grosseto, NW of Bracciano, Civita
    Castellana, Montalto di Castro, between Piombino and Viterbo, in the
    Castiglioncello area, NW of Montepescali and S of Cecina.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s, flying out of Abemama
    Island, bomb Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll, and hit Jaluit Atoll on
    the return trip.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): HQ 5th Bombardment Group
    (Heavy) is ordered to move from Guadalcanal Island and New Georgia Island to
    Los Negros Island where it will form the nucleus of the Thirteenth Air Task
    Force.
      On New Britain Island, 23 B-25s and 11 P-39s pound the W section of Rabaul,
    7 other B-25s cause considerable damage in the Ratawul supply area; 23
    fighter-bombers blast the concrete airstrip at Vunakanau. On Bougainville
    Island 12 fighter-bombers bomb and strafe the Numa Numa trail and pound the
    harbor area.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 180+ B-24s,
    B-25s, and A-20s, supported by 60+ P-38s, bomb AA positions, airfields,
    supply areas and shipping construction; B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and P-39s bomb
    and strafe various targets at Wewak, Madang, along Hansa Bay and on Karkar
    Island; other P-39s fly a barge sweep from Alexishafen up the coast as far as
    the mouth of the Sepik River. 2 B-25s bomb Penfoei on Timor Island.

    THURSDAY, 13 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly armed reconnaissance and bombing
    runs over the airfield on Matsuwa Island and installations on Onnekotan
    Island.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 90+ P-40s, P-51s and A-36s and a
    few B-25s carry out ground support missions near Kamaing and hit assorted
    targets throughout the Mogaung Valley; 12 B-25s and 11 P-51s support ground
    forces at Mawlu.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 28 fighters attempt to intercept but fail to
    make contact with 13 Japanese airplanes which bomb Namyung, China.

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): Units arriving in India with
    B-29s from the US: HQ 468th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and 792d, 793d,
    794th and 795th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy) at Kharagpur; 677th and
    679th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy), 444th Bombardment Group (Very
    Heavy), at Charra; first mission for all units is 5 Jun 44.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 301: 626 bombers and 871
    fighters are dispatched to hit targets in Germany; the bombers claim 22-13-34
    Luftwaffe aircraft and the fighters claim 42-8-10 in the air and 35-0-21 on
    the ground; 38 bombers and 9 fighters are lost; the bombers also drop 5.2
    million leaflets on Germany; this mission is flown in conjunction with a raid
    on Hungary by 500+ Fifteenth Air Force bombers and a Ninth Air Force B-26
    raid in S The Netherlands; details are:
      1. 154 of 172 B-17s hit the industrial area at Schweinfurt and 1 hits a
    target of opportunity; 14 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 127
    damaged; casualties are 11 WIA and 139 MIA.
      2. 207 of 243 B-17s bomb aviation industry targets at Augsburg and 20 hit
    the city of Augsburg; 18 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 178
    damaged; casualties are 3 KIA, 16 WIA and 170 MIA.
      3. 211 B-24s are dispatched to hit Lechfeld Airfield; 93 hit the primary,
    60 bomb aviation industry targets at Oberpfaffenhofen; 29 hit Lauffern and 2
    hit targets of opportunity; 6 B-24s are lost and 45 damaged; casualties are 1
    KIA, 3 WIA and 60 MIA.
      Escort is provided by 134 P-38s, 504 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
    233 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; 3 P-38s are lost and 1 damaged beyond
    repair; 2 P-47s are lost; and 4 P-51s are lost and 1 damaged beyond repair;
    a total of 11 fighters are damaged; casualties are 2 WIA and 8 MIA.
      Mission 302: 4 of 5 B-17s dispatched drop 800,000 leaflets on Amsterdam,
    The Hague and Eindhoven, The Netherlands at 2235-2252 hours without loss.

      SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (SHAEF): General of the
    Army Dwight D Eisenhower formally assumes direction of air operations out of
    the UK at 0000 hours (though he began informal exercise of this authority in
    late Mar 44). This assumption of authority gives Eisenhower direction over
    the Allied Expeditionary Air Force (AEAF), Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber
    Command, and US Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSTAF) (the Fifteenth Air
    Force retains some degree of independence) along with the US 1st Army Group,
    British 21 Army Group, and Allied Naval Forces.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 121 B-26s and 37 A-20s attack
    a marshalling yard, coastal batteries, airfields and V-weapon sites at Namur,
    Chievres and Nieuport, Belgium; Le Havre, France; and along the N coast of
    France in general; nearly 175 other aircraft abort missions mainly because of
    weather; and 48 P-47s also dive-bomb V-weapon sites.
      Moves in England: HQ 358th Fighter Group and 365th, 366th and 367th Fighter
    Squadrons from Raydon to High Halden with P-47s; HQ 362d Fighter Group from
    Wormingford to Headcorn.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 535 heavy bombers (largest
    bomber mission to date) bomb targets in Hungary; the B-17s bomb an aircraft
    plant and depot at Gyor; the B-24s bomb an aircraft factory at Budapest and
    air depots at Budapest, Tokol and Vecses; fighter opposition and AA account
    for 14 US bombers and 1 fighter shot down; 40 enemy fighters are claimed shot
    down and 120+ aircraft destroyed on the ground.
      779th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 464th Bombardment Group (Heavy),
    arrives at Pantanella Airfield, Italy from the US with B-24s; first mission
    is 30 Apr.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s attack Terni and
    a bridge at Marsciano while B-26s bomb Ancona marshalling yard and a nearby
    railroad bridge; fighter-bombers again strike mainly at communications, the
    town of Itri, Cesano station, a factory at Fontana Liri, a railroad overpass
    at Fara in Sabina, Anguillara, and bridges, trucks and other targets at
    points throughout C Italy.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s out of Eniwetok Atoll
    strike Truk Atoll; B-25s from Abemama Island hit Ponape Island; B-25s from
    Tarawa Atoll bomb Jaluit Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll and hit Maloelap Atoll.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 24
    B-25s blast Talili Bay and Ratawul supply areas and the town of Rabaul; 40+
    fighter-bombers strike the Malaguna area NW of Rabaul; 17 fighter-bombers hit
    personnel and supply areas at Mosigetta, Mawareka, Meive, and Maririei.
    During the early morning 23 B-24s bomb Truk Atoll.
      394th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from
    Guadalcanal Island to Momote Airfield, Los Negros Island.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 80+ B-24s and
    A-20s pound the airfields at Dagua and But on the N coast of New Guinea; 33
    A-20s hit Aitape; P-39s, B-25s, and B-24s fly light strikes against a variety
    of targets along Hansa Bay, on Wakde Island, at Uligan, and several other
    points along the coast.

    FRIDAY, 14 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly armed photo reconnaissance mission
    during early the morning over Matsuwa, Onnekotan, and Paramushiru Islands,
    Kurile Islands. Photographs taken are negative due to cloud cover.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20 P-40s over the Mogaung Valley
    attack a camp at Manywet; 20 P-51s and 3 B-25s support ground forces in the
    Mawlu area.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 350th and 351st Fighter Squadrons,
    353d Fighter Group, move from Metfield to Raydon, England with P-47s.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Moves in England: HQ 363d Fighter
    Group and 380th, 381st and 382d Fighter Squadrons from Rivenhall to
    Staplehurst with P-51s; 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, from
    Boxted to Lashenden with P-51s.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s attack Viterbo
    Airfield and Leghorn marshalling yard, B-26s strike at Poggibonsi, Certaldo,
    Cecina and Magra, attacking mostly rail facilities and hit Arezzo bridge and
    viaduct and Bucine viaducts; fighter-bombers also concentrate on rail lines
    and bridges and hit many supply dumps, gun positions and factories, generally
    located NE of Rome.
      HQ 340th Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from Paestum, Italy to Corsica.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): A single B-24, enroute from
    Kwajalein Atoll to Tarawa Atoll, bombs Jaluit Atoll; B-25s from Eniwetok
    Atoll bomb Ponape Island while B-25s from Abemama Island strike Jaluit and
    Maloelap Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as an arming station between strikes;
    Japanese bombers carry out an ineffective raid on Eniwetok Atoll.
      26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves
    from Tarawa Atoll to Kwajalein Atoll with B-24s.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 19 B-24s on a mission to
    the Caroline Islands bomb Eten, Param, and Kuop Islands and targets of
    opportunity in Truk Atoll. On New Britain Island, 24 B-25s and 40+ fighter-
    bombers blast a supply area at Ratawul; and 8 other fighter-bombers hit
    Wunapope. 20+ fighter-bombers strike various targets in the NE part of
    Bougainville Island.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-25s and
    P-39s hit barges and luggers in Vanimo Harbor and at Bogia.
      673d Bombardment Squadron (Light), 417th Bombardment Group (Light), moves
    from Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea with A-20s.

    SATURDAY, 15 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): During the night of 14/15 Apr 3 B-24s on armed
    reconnaissance mission over Matsuwa and Onnekotan Islands hit several targets
    including Matsuwa Airfield; reconnaissance over Paramushiru Island fails due
    to overcast.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 12 B-24s over the Andaman Islands attack
    shipping and other targets at Port Blair. 12 P-38s hit Heho Airfield, Burma,
    destroying several parked airplanes.
      19th Liaison Squadron, US Army Forces, CBI, arrives at Kanchrapara, India
    with L-5s (first mission is in Jun 44).

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 3 B-25s knock out a bridge at Viet Tri,
    French Indochina, and damage another.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 303: 616 fighters are
    dispatched on strafing sweeps of C and W Germany, airfields being the primary
    objectives; 33 fighters are lost: 132 P-38s claim 7-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft,
    11 P-38s are lost and 16 damaged, 11 pilots are MIA; 262 P-47s claim 20-1-23
    aircraft, 7 P-47s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 13 damaged, 7 pilots
    are MIA; 222 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s claim 30-0-10 aircraft, 15
    P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 5 damaged; 12 pilots are MIA.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Moves in England: HQ 100th Fighter
    Wing from Ibsley to Lashenden; HQ 397th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 596th,
    597th, 598th and 599th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) from Gosfield to
    Rivenhall with B-26s (first mission is 20 Apr); 377th, 378th and 379th
    Fighter Squadrons, 362d Fighter Group, from Wormingford to Headcorn with
    P-47s.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Clearing weather again permits
    bomber operations. 448 B-17s and B-24s attack marshalling yards; B-17s hit
    Ploesti, Rumania and Nis, Yugoslavia; B-24s hit Bucharest, Rumania; 150+
    fighters provide escort.
      A special group, led by Lieutenant Colonel Louis A Neveleff, flies from
    HQ at Bari, Italy to Medeno Polji, Yugoslavia and from there the group
    proceeds to Marshall Tito's HQ at Drvar, where Colonel Neveleff confers with
    Tito and spends several days laying the groundwork for the evacuation of
    downed US airmen in Yugoslav hands. Also, much information is gathered
    regarding the military organization and political trend of the partisan
    movement. The mission returns to Italy on 2 May and 122 men, mostly Fifteenth
    Air Force airmen, are also evacuated.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers strike a
    marshalling yard at Leghorn and a tunnel and railroad bridges in C Italy;
    P-47s attack rail lines, bridges and ammunition dumps NE of Rome with good
    results; other P-47s, P-40s and A-36s hit numerous targets, including rail
    lines, motor transport shop, vehicles, tanks and gun positions, in C Italy
    and in the US Fifth Army battle areas.
      XII Air Support Command is redesignated XII Tactical Air Command.
      Moves in Italy: HQ 332d Fighter Group and 301st Fighter Squadron from
    Montecorvino to Capodichino with P-39s; 486th Bombardment Squadron (Medium),
    340th Bombardment Group (Medium), from Gaudo Airfield to Alesan, Corsica with
    B-25s.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Major General Robert W Douglass
    Jr becomes Commanding General Seventh Air Force.
      B-25s, based on Tarawa Atoll, bomb Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll
    and hit Jaluit and Mille Atolls on the return trip.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 24
    B-25s bomb an ammunition dump on Talili Bay; 11 P-39s follow with a strike on
    the same target; 3 P-38s fire the Wunapope supply area; other fighter-bomber
    strikes on the same area are cancelled by weather. A few P-38s hit targets
    in the NE part of Bougainville Island.
      72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from
    Munda, New Georgia Island to Momote Airfield, Los Negros Island with B-24s.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 180+ B-24s,
    B-25s and A-20s bomb landing strips, off-shore islands and the entire coastal
    area in the vicinity of Aitape; 16 P-40s strafe barges at nearby Seleo
    Island; 20 P-39s hit villages, supply dumps, trucks and other targets along
    Hansa Bay and in the Alexishafen area.

    SUNDAY, 16 APRIL 1944

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s hit a bridge over the
    Mogaung River while 9 others, along with 12 P-51s, hit a warehouse and
    railroad station at Mohnyin; 9 P-38s destroy 3 medium bombers at Zayatkwin
    near Rangoon while 2 P-51s in the Mandalay area hit Anisakan Airfield,
    destroying 2 airplanes.

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): 768th Bombardment Squadron (Very
    Heavy), 462d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), arrives at Piardoba, India with
    B-29s; first mission is 5 Jun.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ 55th Fighter Group and 338th
    and 343d Fighter Squadrons move from Nuthampstead to Wormingford, England
    with P-38s.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): HQ 410th Bombardment Group (Light)
    and 644th, 645th, 646th and 647th Bombardment Squadrons (Light) move from
    Birch to Gosfield, England with A-20s; first mission is 4 May.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 31st Fighter Group with P-51s
    (transferred from Twelfth Air Force on 1 Apr) begins operations. It becomes
    the fifth operational fighter group of the Fifteenth Air Force.
      432 B-17s and B-24s hit targets in Rumania and Yugoslavia; B-17s bomb the
    industrial area at Belgrade, Yugoslavia and an aircraft plant at Brasov,
    Rumania; B-24s hit marshalling yards at Brasov and Turnu Severin, Rumania;
    90+ fighters fly escort while 50+ others, failing to rendezvous with the
    bombers, strafe trains on the Craiova line E of Turnu Severin.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s bomb approaches to
    Ficulle and Todi railway bridges; A-20s blast fuel supplies; P-40s, P-47s and
    A-36s hit the Capranica viaduct, town of Zagarolo, railway at Spigno
    Monferrato, marshalling yard at Orte-Terni, tunnel at Capranica and tracks,
    vehicles, railway cars, ammunition dump, bridge, and targets of opportunity
    at various points in C Italy.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s, staging through Eniwetok
    Atoll, strike Truk Atoll; B-25s from Abemama Island hit Maloelap and Mille
    Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a rearming base between the strikes.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 15 B-24s bomb the runway at
    Satawan Atoll, Caroline Islands. On New Britain Island, 24 B-25s hit the
    Ratawul supply area and alternate target of Raluana; at Rabaul 30+ fighter-
    bombers attack area inland from Toboi wharf.
      23d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from
    Munda, New Georgia Island to Momote Airfield, Los Negros Island with B-24s.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 170+ B-24s,
    B-25s and A-20s bomb Hollandia town and airfield and numerous other targets
    in the area; P-39s hit a wooded area and communications targets along Hansa
    Bay and attack villages and supply dumps from Bogia to Uligan Harbor; P-38s
    hit Madang area; B-24s fly a light strike against Wakde Island; other
    aircraft, operating singly or in pairs, attack targets of opportunity on the
    N coast of New Guinea and SE coast of New Britain Island. Other B-25s bomb
    Koepang on Timor Island.

    MONDAY, 17 APRIL 1944

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 6 P-51s support ground forces near
    Meza; 9 P-38s destroy several airplanes at Heho Airfield while 5 B-24s bomb
    Ywataung; 26 B-25s and 36 P-51s support ground forces at Mawlu and bomb a
    fuel dump at Kin; 13 other P-51s are diverted to intercept a Japanese force
    over the Imphal, India area and claim 3 airplanes shot down.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 304: 14 of 15 B-24s bomb
    the V-weapon site at Wizernes, France without loss; escort is provided by 33
    P-47s.
      Mission 305: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1.48 million leaflets on Rennes, Brest,
    Nantes, Lorient and St Nazaire, France at 2248-2258 hours without loss.
      HQ 493d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 860th, 861st, 862d and 863d
    Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) move from Elveden Hall to Debach, England with
    B-24s; first mission is 6 Jun.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): Unit moves in England: HQ 70th
    Fighter Wing from Boxted to Ibsley; and HQ 354th Fighter Group and 353d and
    356th Fighter Squadrons from Boxted to Lashenden with P-51s.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      AAF, MTO: 121st Liaison Squadron, AAF, MTO moves from Oran to Telergma,
    Algeria with L-4s and L-5s; first mission is in Sep 44.

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 470 B-17s and B-24s hit targets
    in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia; B-17s bomb the industrial area, air depot and
    marshalling yard at Belgrade, Yugoslavia; B-24s bomb the marshalling yard at
    Sofia, Bulgaria; 200+ fighters escort the missions; US aircraft claim 25
    enemy aircraft downed in combat.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s attack bridges N
    of Orte and at Monte Molino, while A-20s pound a fuel dump NE of Rome; P-40,
    P-47 and A-36 fighter-bombers hit motor transport stores and gun positions N
    of Anzio, bomb Fara in Sabina station, hit tracks, trains and guns in the
    Orte and Narni area and at other points N of Rome.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s, based on Tarawa Atoll,
    strike Maloelap and Mille Atolls, rearming at Majuro Atoll between the raids.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 20 B-24s bomb the airfield
    at Satawan Atoll. On New Britain Island, 24 B-25s pound runway and revetments
    at Rapopo Airfield; 40+ fighter-bombers hit Matupi with incendiaries while 10
    others pound the runway at Keravat.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 20+ B-24s bomb storage areas
    and troop concentrations in Kai Island, Moluccas Islands. In New Guinea,
    P-39s attack AA positions at Bogia; other planes, operating individually or
    in pairs, attack Hollandia, Uligan Harbor and vicinity and the Madang area.
      674th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 417th Bombardment Group (Light), moves
    from Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea with A-20s.

    TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly armed reconnaissance over Matsuwa,
    Onnekotan, and Paramushiru Islands; cloud cover and lack of moonlight permit
    only bombing of Kashiwabara Airfield and the Banjo Cape area.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 7 B-24s bomb an oil plant at
    Yenangyaung while 5, along with 7 P-38s, hit Ywataung; 6 B-25s score numerous
    hits on the Mandalay-Shwebo railroad; and 15 B-25s and 4 P-51s bomb Kamaing
    and hit the Myitkyina-Bhamo road.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): HQ 33d Fighter Group moves from Karachi,
    India to Shwangliu, China.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 306 Part 1: 776 bombers
    and 634 fighters are dispatched to hit airfields and aviation industry
    targets in Germany; the AAF claims 33-5-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 19 bombers and
    5 fighters are lost; due to poor weather, several units bomb targets of
    opportunity in the Berlin area; details are:
      1. 275 of 280 B-17s hit aviation industry targets at Oranienburg, Perleberg
    Airfield, Wittenberge and targets of opportunity; 3 B-17s are lost and 90
    damaged; 29 airmen are MIA.
      2. 210 of 221 B-17s hit Oranienburg, Brandenburg, Luneburg Airfield,
    Rathenow and targets of opportunity; 14 B-17s are lost and 94 damaged;
    2 airmen are KIA, 12 WIA and 139 MIA.
      3. 248 of 275 B-24s hit Brandenburg, Rathenow, Cuxhaven, Wittenberge and
    targets of opportunity; 2 B-24s are lost and 20 damaged; 5 airmen are WIA and
    20 MIA.
      Escort is provided by 119 P-38s, 296 P-47s and 219 Eighth and Ninth Air
    Force P-51s; 1 P-38, 1 P-47 and 3 P-51s are lost; 3 P-38s are damaged beyond
    repair and 7 P-38s, 3 P-47s and 18 P-51s are damaged; 4 pilots are MIA.
      Mission 306 Part 2: 12 of 12 B-24s hit V-weapon sites at Watten, France; 1
    B-24 is damaged; escort is provided by 36 P-47s without loss.
      Mission 307: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 2.56 million leaflets on Stavanger, Oslo,
    Bergen and Trondheim, Norway at 2336-0041 hours without loss.
      HQ 492d Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at North Pickenham, England from
    the US.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 277 B-26s, including 24 dropping
    Window, and 37 A-20s bomb gun positions and marshalling yards at Dunkirk,
    Calais, and Charleroi/Saint Martin, France.
      XIX Air Support Command is redesignated XIX Tactical Air Command and
    becomes operational and IX Air Support Command is redesignated IX Tactical
    Air Command.
      Unit moves in England: HQ 440th Troop Carrier Group from Bottesford to
    Exeter; 423d Night Fighter Squadron, IX Tactical Air Command, arrives at
    Chormy Down from the US with A-20s, the squadron mission will change to photo
    recon and they will fly their first mission on 6 Jun and be redesignated
    155th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 22 Jun.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, P-38s and P-47s
    strafe Udine and Aiello Airfields and targets of opportunity in the
    Basiliano, Sant' Andrea Island, and Cervignano del Friuli areas and in Golfo
    di Panzano; other fighters fly cover for the strafing missions.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, P-47 fighter-bombers cut
    several rail lines in the Florence and Arezzo areas and strafe trains and
    motor transport; P-40s and P-47s hit Itri and a rail bridge and fuel dumps as
    the campaign against communications continues.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): First Seventh Air Force attack
    on the Marianas Islands takes place as B-24s escorting USN aircraft on a
    photographic reconnaissance mission from Eniwetok Atoll bomb Saipan Island.
    Other B-24s staging through Eniwetok Atoll hit Truk Atoll.  B-25s from Tarawa
    Atoll bomb Ponape Island; B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll bomb Wake Island after
    failing to find shipping reported in the area; and B-25s from Abemama Island
    bomb Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base between
    strikes.
      19th Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, moves from Kualoa Field to
    Bellows Field, Hawaii with P-47s.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 14 B-24s bomb the airfield
    at Satawan Atoll; on New Britain Island, 23 B-25s, weathered out of
    Vunakanau, bomb Tobera Airfield; 12 others and 9 fighter-bombers which fail
    to reach Rapopo bomb the airstrip at Keravat; Wunapope is hit by about 40
    fighter-bombers, with considerable damage to the supply area.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): The newly created (11 Apr)
    Thirteenth Air Task Force (Provisional) commanded by Major General St Clair
    Streett and temporarily composed of elements of the Thirteenth Air Force
    (which is being moved to the SWPA), a few Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
    squadrons, USN Seventh Fleet air units, and Fifth Air Force units in the
    Admiralty Islands and New Britain Island, is placed under operational control
    of Fifth Air Force Advanced Echelon. Operating out of Momote Airfield, Los
    Negros Island, B-24s of Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb Woleai Atoll and
    Mariaon Island, Caroline Islands.
      In New Guinea, B-24s of the Fifth Air Force hit Manokwari and Babo; and the
    Madang area is hit by fighter-bombers.
      HQ 54th Troop Carrier Wing moves from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea.

    WEDNESDAY, 19 APRIL 1944

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 6 B-25s and 8 P-51s attack troops
    and stores NW of Banmauk; 10 P-38s hit the airfield near Meiktila; and 5
    P-51s attack troop positions near Mawlu and a bridge at Shweli.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 3 B-25s damage a bridge at Thanh Moi, French
    Indochina and score hits on railroad and buildings S of the bridge. 4 P-40s
    attack the village of Takaw, Burma, causing several fires and sink a ferry-
    boat in the area.

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): XX Bomber Command is assigned
    to HQ Twentieth Air Force.
      769th and 770th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy), 462d Bombardment Group
    (Very Heavy), arrive at Piardoba, India from the US with B-29s; first mission
    is 5 Jun.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 308 Part 1: 772 bombers
    and 697 fighters are dispatched in 3 forces to bomb Germany; they claim
    17-1-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 bombers and 2 fighters are lost:
      1. 271 of 277 B-17s hit the Kassel area, Eschwege Airfield, Limburg and a
    target of opportunity; 5 B-17s are lost and 119 damaged; casualties are 1
    KIA, 5 WIA and 47 MIA.
      2. 243 of 246 B-17s hit Lippstadt and Werl Airfields and a target of
    opportunity; 21 B-17s are damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 8 WIA and 55 MIA.
      3. 230 of 249 B-24s bomb Paderborn and Gutersloh Airfields, Soest, Koblenz,
    Buren and targets of opportunity; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 10 are
    damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 3 WIA and 8 MIA.
      Escort is provided by 127 P-38s, 439 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
    131 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; they claim 16-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2
    P-51s are lost and 4 P-47s and 5 P-51s are damaged; 2 pilots are MIA.
      Mission 308 Part 2: 27 of 27 B-24s bomb V-weapon sites at Watten, France; 1
    B-24 is lost; escort is provided by 47 Ninth Air Force P-47s without loss.
      HQ 56th Fighter Group and 61st and 63d Fighter Squadrons move from
    Halesworth to Boxted, England with P-47s.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): After several weeks of instruction,
    a IX Air Forces Services Command training exercise (Operation BOOMERANG) in
    waterproofing and landing motor vehicles gets under way. This exercise, in
    preparation for a cross-channel movement lasts several weeks and involves 55
    units, over 650 vehicles, and more than 2,500 men.
      350+ B-26s and A-20s bomb marshalling yards, city areas, and targets of
    opportunity at Gunzburg, Ulm, Neu Ulm, Donauworth, and Schelklingen, Germany;
    and fighters fly over 1,200 sorties against a variety of targets in NW Europe.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Bad weather severely restricts
    operations. In Italy, B-26s hit Cecina railroad bridge and Ancona marshalling
    yard while B-25s hit a marshalling yard at Piombino; P-47s hit railroad
    tracks, a marshalling yard, junction, and railway cars between Pontedera and
    Empoli and between Figline Valdarno and San Giovanni Valdarno.
      487th and 498th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 340th Bombardment Group
    (Medium), move from Gaudo Airfield, Italy to Alesan, Corsica with B-25s.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok
    Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll. B-25s from the Gilbert Islands strike Ponape Island.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 21 B-24s bomb the airfield
    at Satawan Atoll, hitting the target area with about 50 tons of high
    explosives. On New Britain Island, 38 fighter-bombers hit Matupi supply areas
    while 7 bomb Rapopo airstrip. Fighters hit the Numa Numa area on Bougainville
    Island.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-24s hit
    Urarom and Manokwari; B-25s, A-20s, and fighter aircraft strike a wide
    variety of targets around Hollandia, Aitape, Bogia, Uligan, Bunabun, Madang
    and Cape Croisilles. B-24s of the Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb Woleai Atoll.
      Unit moves in New Guinea: HQ 49th Fighter Group from Gusap to Finschhafen;
    HQ 317th Troop Carrier Group from Port Moresby to Finschhafen; the detachment
    of the 82d Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 71st Reconnaissance Group,
    ceases operating from Finschhafen with returns to base at Saidor with P-39s.

    THURSDAY, 20 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A B-24 aborts a weather mission to Shasukotan
    Island, Kurile Islands

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER (CBI)

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 11 B-25s hit a bivouac and supply area NW of
    Manywet, Burma.
      5th Liaison Squadron, AAF, India-Burma Sector, arrives at Ledo, India from
    the US with L-5s; first mission is 1 May.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 309: 842 bombers and 388
    fighters are dispatched to hit V-weapon sites in France;  24 of 33 sites
    briefed are hit; 9 bombers and 2 fighters are lost:
      1. 438 of 630 B-17s hit sites in the Pas de Calais and Cherbourg areas; 19
    others hit targets of opportunity; 7 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair
    and 309 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 25 WIA and 69 MIA.
      2. 113 of 212 B-24s hit sites in the Pas de Calais area; 2 B-24s are lost,
    2 damaged beyond repair and 36 damaged; casualties are 10 KIA, 9 WIA and 20
    MIA.
      Escort is provided by 89 P-38s, 211 P-47s and 88 P-51s; they claim 4-0-2
    Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 4-0-0 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost and 1
    damaged; 2 pilots are MIA.
      VIII Fighter Command flies 2 missions:
      1. 35 P-51 fighter-bombers are dispatched to Cambrai/Epinoy Airfield,
    France; escort is to be provided by 31 P-47s but they are unable to locate
    the P-51s; 33 P-51s hit the primary and 1 hits Vitry Airfield, France.
      2. 56 P-38 fighter-bombers are dispatched to hit St Trond Airfield, Belgium
    but jettison their bombs in the English Channel after overcast prevents
    location of the targets; escort is provided by 36 P-47s.
      Mission 310: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1.92 million leaflets on Nantes, Orleans,
    Paris and Tours, France at 2238-2246 hours without loss.
      Six B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, almost 400 B-26s and
    A-20s attack gun positions at Etaples, Bazinghen, Villerville, Gravelines and
    Fecamp, the airfield at Poix, and V-weapon sites and targets of opportunity
    in the Pas de Calais area; nearly 140 P-47s bomb marshalling yards at Creil
    and Mantes-La-Jolie.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 300+ B-17s and B-24s attack
    targets in Italy; the B-17s bomb marshalling yards at Ancona, Castelfranco,
    Padua and Vicenza and Venice harbor installations; the B-24s hit marshalling
    yards at Mestre, Reviso and Fano, Venice harbor, Monfalcone dockyards and
    Trieste; 180+ other heavy bombers dispatched against communications targets
    in N Italy are forced to abort due to bad weather; about 250 fighters provide
    cover for the bombing raids.
      776th, 777th, 778th and 779th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 464th
    Bombardment Group (Heavy), move from Pantanella Airfield to Gioia, Italy with
    B-24s; first mission is 30 Apr.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium and light bombers
    score hits on a marshalling yard and 3 fuel dumps at Leghorn and near misses
    on Cecina and Certaldo bridges and Arezzo viaduct; fighter-bombers hit
    railroad lines and fuel dump in the Florence area; bridges, dump, rail lines
    and train cars near Civitavecchia and Zagarolo, at Sezze, near Ladispoli, SW
    of Stimipliano and N of Monterotondo; and guns S of Albano Laziale; in the
    battle area around Cassino fighter-bombers blast several gun positions and
    hit bridges, trucks, troops and other targets, at several points, including
    Falconara, Recanati, San Benedetto de Marsi, and the Fondi-Itri and Orte-
    Orvieto areas.
      HQ 57th Bombardment Wing moves from Trocchia, Italy to Ghisonaccia,
    Corsica.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll
    search the area near Wake Island for shipping; finding none, the bombers hit
    Wake and Peale Islands. Tarawa Atoll based B-25s, using Majuro Atoll as a
    shuttle base between strikes, bomb Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls.
      396th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), moves
    from Tarawa Atoll to Makin Island with B-25s.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Major General Field Harris,
    USMC, becomes Commander Air Solomons (COMAIRSOLS).
      With improved weather conditions bombing of targets in the Bismarck
    Archipelago resumes; on New Britain Island, 22 B-25s hit the Matupi supply
    area and 40+ fighter-bombers blast the airfields at Lakunai and Keravat.
      31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves
    from Guadalcanal Island to Momote Airfield, Los Negros Island with B-24s.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-24s bomb airfields on
    Noemfoor Island. In New Guinea, B-25s, A-20s, and fighters hit a variety of
    targets around Hollandia, on Cape Croisilles, in the Bunabun area and along
    Hansa Bay. Woleai Atoll is again bombed by B-24s of the Thirteenth Air Task
    Force.

    FRIDAY, 21 APRIL 1944

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s and 14 P-51s pound Indaw
    and Mawlu, causing several fires in supply dumps and in the general target
    areas; 12 B-25s bomb the camp and supply area at Kamaing. 8 B-24s bomb
    storage and fuel dumps at Lashio and bomb Namtu; 13 B-24s bomb Maymyo while 5
    B-25s knock out 3 bridges in the Tangon area; and 4 P-51s knock out a bridge
    at Shweli.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 12 P-40s fly armed reconnaissance over roads
    in Burma, strafing bridges, buildings, steamrollers, trucks, and troops in
    areas around Takaw, Bhamo, Loiwing, Kutkai, Hsenwi, and Lashio; at least 3
    steamrollers and 7 trucks are destroyed.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Eighth Air Force offensive against
    German oil targets is scheduled to start on this date, but the mission is
    cancelled because of bad weather.
      309th and 310th Troop Carrier Squadrons, Eighth Air Force, arrive at
    Spanhoe, England from the US with C-47s; they will be reassigned to the Ninth
    Air Force on 26 Apr.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In France, 236 B-26s and 34 A-20s
    attack gun positions, coastal defenses and V-weapons sites at Etaples, at
    Berck-sur-Mer, near Doullens, and in the Saint-Omer, Abbeville, and Amiens
    area; 4 B-26s are lost; 175+ P-47s dive-bomb marshalling yards and
    concentrations at Montignies-sur-Sambre, Hasselt, Namur, and Haine-Saint-
    Pierre.
      405th and 406th Fighter Squadrons, 371st Fighter Group, based at Bisterne,
    England with P-47s, begin operating from Ibsley, England.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 100+ B-24s bomb marshalling
    yards at Bucharest, Rumania; all 17 bomb groups dispatched are recalled due
    to bad weather but 7 groups fail to receive the recall signal; 150+ P-38s and
    P-51s are dispatched as escort; 40+ rendezvous with the B-24s and battle some
    30 fighters that attack the bomber force; the other fighters, failing to meet
    the bombers, engage about 40 fighters; bombers and fighters claim 35 aerial
    combat victories; 10 US aircraft are shot down.
      HQ 464th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Pantanella Airfield to Gioia,
    Italy.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, A-20s blast an
    ammunition dump while P-47s attack train, rail lines, and motor transport
    behind enemy lines; other P-47s, along with P-40s and A-36s, attack railway
    lines and trains between Rome and Terni, between Rome and Tivoli, and between
    Orte and Attigliano; hit a motor transport concentration NE of Rome; and
    attack several bivouac areas and gun positions in the battle areas.           .

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll hit
    Wotje Atoll. B-24s from Eniwetok Atoll, staging through Kwajalein, bomb Truk
    Atoll. B-25s from Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll, bomb Ponape Island. Abemama
    Island-based B-25s, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base, bomb Jaluit and
    Maloelap Atolls.
      HQ 7th Fighter Wing and 21st Fighter Group are activated at Ft Shafter and
    Wheeler Field, Hawaii respectively to provide air defense of the Hawaiian
    Islands. No squadrons are assigned to the group until 15 Jun.
      531st Fighter Squadron, Seventh Air Force, moves from Bellows Field to
    Kuoloa, Hawaii with P-38s.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): HQ 307th Bombardment Group
    (Heavy) is ordered to move from New Georgia and Guadalcanal Islands to the
    Admiralty Islands, where it will become part of the Thirteenth Air Task
    Force, serving operationally under the Fifth Air Force.
      In spite of heavy weather in the Bismarck Archipelago, 24 B-25s blast
    Matupi supply area on New Britain Island; and 11 P-39s, closed out of Rabaul,
    New Britain Island, bomb Tinputs Harbor on Bougainville Island.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 21 B-24s bomb airstrips on
    Noemfoor Island. In New Guinea, about 320 B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s hit
    numerous targets in the Tadji, Wewak, and Madang area, while a USN carrier
    force hits Hollandia, Wakde, and Sawar as assault convoys approach the area.

    SATURDAY, 22 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A weather sortie is aborted soon after take
    off due to weather.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s hit Kamaing while 5 B-25s
    and 6 P-51s attack ammunition and other supplies at Hopin; 3 B-25s and 4
    P-51s hit a village NE of Bhamo while 7 P-51s attack Gokteik Viaduct.
      Detachment of 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, Tenth Air Force, operating from
    Jorhat, India with F-7s returns to base at Guskhara.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 6 B-24s claim 4
    freighters and a gunboat sunk near Cap-Saint-Jacques and 1 other knocks out a
    bridge SW of Vinh. P-40s on armed reconnaissance over N Burma destroy 10
    boxcars and a truck N of Lashio.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 311: 803 bombers and 859
    fighters are dispatched to hit a marshalling yard at Hamm, Germany; the
    bombers claim 20-6-8 Luftwaffe aircraft and the fighters claim 40-2-16; 15
    bombers and 13 fighters are lost:
      1. 459 of 526 B-17s bomb the primary, 20 hit Bonn, 19 hit Soest, 15 hit
    Hamm City and 1 hits a target of opportunity; 8 B-17s are lost, 1 is damaged
    beyond repair and 138 are damaged; casualties are 7 WIA and 89 MIA.
      2. 179 of 277 B-24s hit the primary, 50 hit Koblenz and 36 hit targets of
    opportunity; 7 B-24s are lost, 14 damaged beyond repair and 59 damaged;
    casualties are 46 KIA, 28 WIA and 64 MIA.
      Escort is 132 P-38s, 485 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 242 Eighth
    and Ninth Air Force P-51s; 2 P-38s, 5 P-47s and 6 P-51s are lost, 1 P-38 is
    damaged beyond repair and 22 aircraft are damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and
    12 MIA.
      Mission 312: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1.44 million leaflets on Orleans, Tours,
    Paris, Nantes, Lille, Reims, Chartres and Rouen, France at 2251-2344 hours
    without loss.
      Units arriving in England from the US: HQ 398th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
    and 600th, 601st, 602d and 603d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) at Nuthampstead
    with B-17s (first mission is 6 May); 844th, 845th, 846th and 847th
    Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 489th Bombardment Group (Heavy), at Halesworth
    with B-24s (first mission is 30 May).

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 400+ B-26s and about 90 A-20s fly
    two missions against V-weapon sites in the area of Saint-Omer and Hesdin,
    France. Nearly 275 P-47s and P-51s dive-bomb marshalling yards in Belgium.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): HQ 483d Bombardment Group
    (Heavy) moves from Tortorella to Sterparone Airfield, Italy.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s bomb a bridge and
    tracks S of Ficulle and a bridge N of the town; other B-25s and B-26s attack
    San Stefano al Mare harbor, the N section of Orvieto, Chiusi railroad bridge,
    viaducts S and W of Arezzo and Bucine, Certaldo railroad bridge, bridge
    approaches at Incisa in Valdarno, a bridge near Siena and viaduct at
    Poggibonsi; A-20s hit Valmontone ammunition dump and Sonnino; P-47s hit a
    railroad, trains, and tunnels in the Florence area and W of Chiusi,
    marshalling yard at Siena, a vessel S of Savona, railroad lines S of Orte and
    the town of Gaeta; and P-40s attack gun positions N of the Anzio beachhead
    and bomb the Ferentino dump area and towns of Fondi, Terracina and Formia.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): During the night of 21/22 Apr,
    B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll bomb Wotje Atoll; other B-24s from Kwajalein
    follow with another raid on Wotje during the day. B-25s from Tarawa Atoll,
    using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base for rearming, bomb Jaluit, Maloelap and
    Mille Atolls.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island,
    about 40 B-25s bomb supply areas at Ratawul and Talili Bay, pound Keravat and
    hit the area between Rapopo and Cape Gazelle; and 40+ fighter-bombers attack
    the runway and gun positions at Rapopo while 9 strike Lakunai airfield.
    During the night of 22/23 Apr, 17 B-24s bomb Dublon, Param, and Eten Islands
    in Truk Atoll.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 20+ B-24s bomb airstrips on
    Noemfoor Island. In New Guinea, 8O+ B-24s and A-20s hit Boram and But
    Airfields and other targets in the Wewak area; 100+ B-24s and B-25s pound
    targets along Hansa Bay; and all through the day B-25s and fighter-bombers,
    in flights of 1 to 20+ aircraft, attack areas around Hansa Bay, Wewak, Bogia,
    Madang, and many other points along the N and E coast of New Guinea; many of
    the strikes indirectly support Allied amphibious landings on the N coast to
    the E and W of Hollandia, toward which a pincer movement is begun.
      HQ 375th Troop Carrier Group moves from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea.

    SUNDAY, 23 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly weather and photographic
    reconnaissance within 100 mi (160 km) of the Kurile Islands and photograph
    Matsuwa Island.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 24 P-51s, 8 B-25s and 51 RAF
    Vengeances attack Thetkegyin, Manipur bridge, Tiddim road and Japanese
    positions at Indaw. 12 P-38s hit Kangaung Airfield near Meiktila; and 21
    B-24s bomb railroads and jetties at Moulmein and Martaban.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 14 P-40s pound an artillery post at
    Sienning and cavalry forces at Kuan-Fou-Chiao; 2 P-40s strafe barracks S of
    Tengchung and 2 P-38s hit a truck convoy and barracks S of Chiengmai. 4 P-40s
    blast a motor pool at Lashio, Burma.

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): HQ 58th Bombardment Wing (Very
    Heavy) moves from Chakulia to Kharagpur, India.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 313: 382 fighters attack
    airfields and other targets in N France, Belgium and NW Germany; results are
    generally good:
      1. 136 P-38s attack Laon, Tours and Chateaudun Airfields, France using
    Droopsnoot aircraft; they claim 1-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 2
    P-38s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged; 2 pilots are MIA.
      2. 166 P-47s attack Leningen, Le Culot and Chievres Airfields, Belgium and
    Denain/Prouvy and Hagenau Airfields, France; they claim 7-0-22 Luftwaffe
    aircraft on the ground; 5 P-47s are lost and 19 damaged; 5 pilots are MIA.
      3. 80 P-51s hit unknown targets; they claim 3-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the
    ground; 2 are damaged; no losses.
      Mission 314: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1.78 million leaflets on Rennes, Brest,
    Lorient, St Nazaire and Nantes, France at 2354-0012 hours without loss.
      9 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.
      4th, 7th, 18th and 391st Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 34th Bombardment
    Group (Heavy), arrive at Mendelsham, England from the US with B-24s (first
    mission is 23 May).

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 307 B-26s and 57 A-20s attack NOBALL
    (V-weapon) targets, gun positions and marshalling yards in the Pas de Calais,
    France area and in an adjacent area of Belgium. Around 1,000 P-47s and P-51s
    dive-bomb numerous targets throughout France and the Low Countries.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Weather clears and bombers can
    resume operations. 500+ B-17s and B-24s attack aircraft factories and
    airfields in Austria; the B-17s hit the Wiener Neustadt industrial area; the
    B-24s hit industrial areas at Schwechat and Bad Voslau and an air depot at
    Wiener-Neustadt; close to 300 fighters provide support; many enemy fighters
    attack fiercely, downing 12 bombers and 1 fighter; the bombers and escorts
    claim 40+ air victories.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s hit bridges and
    approaches at Attigliano; B-26s attack Incisa in Valdarno viaduct and bridge,
    Cecina marshalling yard and attack, but fail to hit, Poggibonsi viaduct;
    P-47s, A-36s, and P-40s hit rail lines and bridges NE of Rome and along the E
    coast in several areas including points around Orvieto, Orte, Tivoli and
    Capronica.
      HQ 321st Bombardment Group (Medium) and 445th and 448th Bombardment
    Squadrons (Medium) move from Gaudo Airfield, Italy to Solenzara, Corsica with
    B-25s.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s based at Kwajalein Atoll
    hit Truk and Wotje Atolls. Makin Island-based B-25s hit Ponape Island and
    Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Weather again curtails
    strikes, but several fighter-bombers hit Tobera, New Britain Island and 20+
    B-25s blast Matupi Island.
      72d Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, moves from Makin Island to
    Haleiwa Field, Hawaii with P-39Qs.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-24s continue to hit
    airstrips on Noemfoor Island; they claim 14 air victories. In New Guinea, 90+
    B-24s bomb Wewak, Boram, and But Airfields, a road near Boram, and track and
    villages S of Dagua while 80+ B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s pound AA positions,
    airfields, stores and troop concentrations along Hansa Bay; throughout the
    day A-20s, P-47s, P-38s, and P-39s pound various targets along Hansa Bay, in
    the Wewak area, and in the vicinity of Uligan Harbor and Cape Croisilles. 20+
    B-24s of the Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb airfield and supply areas on
    Woleai Atoll. In ground action Allied forces take Hollandia, Tumleo and Selo
    Islands, and objectives around Tadji.
      39th Troop Carrier Squadron, 317th Troop Carrier Group, moves from Port
    Moresby to Finschhafen, New Guinea with C-47s.

    MONDAY, 24 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, a B-24 flies a photo
    and bombing run over Matsuwa Island; later another B-24 flies weather and
    bombing runs over Shasukotan, Yekaruma, Kharimkotan, and Onnekotan Islands.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 P-38s pound positions near
    Buthidaung and in the Myohaung are; 100+ P-40s, P-51s, A-36s, and B-25s bomb
    storage areas at Kamaing, Mogaung and Hopin, and railroads and other targets
    at Myitkyina, Manywet and Chaungwa; 25 B-25s and P-51s hit Indaw and several
    other B-25s bomb Pyingaing.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In Thailand, B-25s damage bridges near Dara
    and Kengluang and strafe a factory at Dhasan. P-40s on a diversionary strike
    strafe numerous targets of opportunity at Kengtung, Burma. B-25s on a sea
    sweep hit 2 small steamers off Cape Bastion, China with cannon fire, claiming
    1 vessel sunk and the other left burning.

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): A B-29 piloted by Brigadier
    General LaVern G Saunders, Commanding General 58th Bombardment Wing (Very
    Heavy), arrives at Kwanghan, China. Accompanying the B-29 is another carrying
    Major General Kenneth B Wolfe, Commanding General XX Bomber Command. These
    are the first B-29s to fly over the Hump to China.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 315: 754 bombers and 867
    fighters are dispatched to bomb airfields, aircraft production industries and
    targets of opportunity in Germany; the bomber claim 20-1-36 Luftwaffe
    aircraft and the fighters claim 124-6-58 fighters; 40 bombers and 17 fighters
    are lost; details are:
      1. Of 281 B-17s dispatched, 109 hit Erding Air Depot, 84 hit aviation
    industry targets at Oberpfaffenhofen, 57 hit Lansberg Airfield and 18 hit
    targets of opportunity; 27 B-17s are lost and 112 damaged; casualties are 4
    KIA, 22 WIA and 260 MIA.
      2. 243 B-17s are dispatched to bomb aviation industry targets at
    Friedrichshafen/Lowenthal (98 bomb) and Friedrichshafen/Manzell (58 bomb),
    industrial areas at Friedrichshafen/Manzell (58 bomb) and Neckarsulm (15
    bomb); 3 also hit targets of opportunity; 9 B-17s are lost and 119 damaged;
    casualties are 7 KIA, 4 WIA and 71 MIA.
      3. 230 B-24s are dispatched to bomb airfields; 120 hit Gablingen Airfield,
    98 hit Leipheim Airfield and 1 hits a target of opportunity; 4 B-24s are lost
    and 26 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 40 MIA.
      Escort is provided by 131 P-38s, 490 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
    246 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s: P-38s claim 4-1-0 Luftwaffe aircraft, 1
    P-38 is damaged beyond repair and 7 damaged; P-47s claim 2-1-0 aircraft in
    the air and 36-0-16 on the ground, 5 P-47s are lost and 15 damaged, 5 pilots
    are MIA; P-51s claim 64-4-2 aircraft in the air and 21-0-20 on the ground, 12
    P-51s are lost and 8 damaged; 12 pilots are MIA.
      Mission 316: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1.12 million leaflets on Amsterdam,
    Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, The Netherlands and Lille and Reims, France
    at 2322-2344 hours without loss.
      8 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 38 B-26s dispatched against targets
    in France are recalled because of bad weather. 32 P-47s dive-bomb the
    Louvain, Belgium marshalling yard with good results.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 520+ bombers attack targets in
    Rumania, Yugoslavia, and Italy; B-17s bomb a marshalling yard at Ploesti,
    Rumania, an aircraft factory in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and the Ancona-Rimini
    railroad line (this is the first Azon mission by 5 B-17s); the B-24s bomb
    marshalling yards at Ploesti and Bucharest, Rumania; 250+ fighters fly
    support for the bombers.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack
    railroad bridges N and S of Orvieto, at Arezzo, at Grosseto and N and S of
    Incisa in Valdarno; A-20s hit a dump at Valmontone; P-40s, P-47s and A-36s
    hit shipping off Leghorn, Avezzano station, Orvieto and Terni marshalling
    yards, Canino landing ground, railroad tracks at numerous points S of Orvieto
    and rail lines, truck parks and targets of opportunity N of Rome.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Engebi Island,
    Eniwetok Atoll, bomb Ponape Island while others, based on Makin Island, hit
    Jaluit and Wotje Atolls.
      HQ 41st Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from Tarawa Atoll to Makin Island.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Weather continues to
    curtail strikes in the the Bismarck Archipelago. On New Britain Island, 10
    P-40s hit runway and revetments at Tobera; fighter sweeps account for several
    trucks and barges in the Rabaul-New Ireland Island area.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-24s again bomb parked
    aircraft and other targets on Noemfoor Island. In New Guinea, 40+ B-24s bomb
    airfields in the Wewak area; 140+ B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s hit stores, fuel
    dumps and personnel areas along Hansa Bay; throughout the day B-25s and
    fighter-bombers hit a variety of targets along the New Guinea coast including
    Karkar Island, Uligan Harbor, Cape Croisilles, and the Madang area; Madang
    falls to Allied ground forces.

    TUESDAY, 25 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s photograph and bomb installations on
    Matsuwa Island.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 B-25s attack Tiddim road; 80+
    fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s hit a variety of targets at Kamaing, Nsopzup and
    Mogaung; 12 P-51s hit Japanese HQ at Katha and supply huts at Hopin; near
    Mandalay 12 B-24s bomb Monywa-Alon while 21 P-38s hit airfields at Heho,
    destroying several aircraft in the air and on the ground.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 317 Part 1: 554 bombers
    and 719 fighters are dispatched to hit marshalling yards and airfields in
    France and Germany; 7 bombers and 2 fighters are lost; the bombers make no
    Luftwaffe aircraft claims.
      1. 199 B-24s are dispatched to the marshalling yard at Mannheim, Germany; 7
    bomb the primary, 16 bomb the marshalling yard at Landau, Germany and 8 hit
    targets of opportunity; 5 B-24s are lost and 26 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA,
    4 WIA and 49 MIA.
      2. 229 B-17s are dispatched to Nancy/Essay Airfield (42 bomb) and Metz/
    Frascaty Airfield (98 bomb), France and 2 hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-17s
    are lost and 33 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 3 WIA and 20 MIA.
      3. 121 of 126 B-17s hit Dijon/Longvic Airfield, France; 29 B-17s are
    damaged; 2 airman are WIA.
      Escort is provided by 177 P-38s, 296 P-47s and 246 Eighth and Ninth Air
    Force P-51s; the fighters claim 5-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and
    29-7-42 on the ground; details are: P-38s claim 5-0-9 aircraft, 1 P-38 is
    damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged, no casualties; P-47s claim 5-0-8
    aircraft; 3 P-47s are damaged; 1 pilot is KIA; P-51s claim 24-7-26 aircraft,
    2 P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged, 2 pilots are MIA.
      Mission 317 Part 2: 27 of 28 B-24s bomb V-weapons sites at Wizerenes,
    France without loss.  Escort is provided by 40 P-47s.
      Mission 318: 6 of 6 B-17s drop 4.2 million leaflets on 20 towns in France
    including Calais, Metz, Blainville, Paris, Mulhouse and Reims without loss.
      852d, 853d, 854th and 855th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 491st
    Bombardment Group (Heavy), move from North Pickenham to Metfield, England
    with B-24s; first mission is 2 Jun.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 240 B-26s and 69 A-20s bomb V-weapon
    sites in the coastal area of France and gun positions at Le Treport,
    Vareneville-sur-Mer, Fontenay-sur-Mer/Crisbec, Ault, Fecamp, Houlgate and
    Saint-Pierre-du-Mont, France. About 150 P-47s dive-bomb airfields in France
    and Belgium. Around 175 B-26s are forced to abort missions because of bad
    weather.
      HQ 441st Troop Carrier Group and 99th, 100th and 301st Troop Carrier
    Squadrons move from Langar to Merryfield, England with C-47s.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, around 150 B-24s bomb
    an aircraft factory at Turin, marshalling yard and bridge at Parma,
    marshalling yard at Ferrara and several targets of opportunity; 300+ B-24s
    and B-17s are forced to abort missions due to bad weather; 100+ fighters
    escort the bomber missions into N Italy.
      782d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 465th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives
    at Pantanella Airfield, Italy from the US with B-24s; first mission is 5 May.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, attacks against lines of
    communications N of Rome continue; A-20s hit storage areas while medium
    bombers attack Pesaro marshalling yard, dumps at Manoppello and bridges and
    approaches at Incisa in Valdarno, Arezzo, Asciano, Magra, Ficulle and
    Orvieto; viaducts at Incisa and Calafuria are attacked with poor results;
    P-40s and P-47s hit roads, gun positions, railroads, ammunition dump and
    trucks N of Rome, near Ficulle, Orte and Orvieto; and P-47s also damage
    destroyers off Elba Island.
      HQ 47th Bombardment Group (Light) and 84th, 85th, 86th and 97th Bombardment
    Squadrons (Light) move from Capodichino to Vesuvius Airfield, Italy with
    A-20s.
      417th Night Fighter Squadron, Twelfth Air Force (attached to RAF No. 337
    Wing), moves from La Senia, Algeria to Borgo, Corsica with Beaufighters; the
    ground echelon has been at Borgo since Feb 44.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Kwajalein Atoll-based B-24s,
    during the night of 24/25 Apr, staging through Eniwetok Atoll, strike Guam
    Island, Marianas Islands and Truk Atoll, and during the day hit Wotje and
    Maloelap Atolls. This is the first AAF mission against Guam. B-25s from
    Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll bomb Ponape Island, and Makin Island-based
    B-25s hit Jaluit and Wotje Atolls.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Just before dawn 15 B-24s
    hit Dublon, Moen, Fefan, Uman and Falo Islands, Truk Atoll. 23 B-25s bomb the
    airstrip and revetments at Tobera, New Britain Island. 12 P-39s leave
    stockpiles aflame at Baitsi, Bougainville Island.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 12 B-25s bomb
    troop areas in the Hollandia vicinity, attacking villages S of Tanahmerah and
    huts and buildings along the road from Marneda to Banggerang; other aircraft
    carry out similar strikes against Karkar Island and along Hansa Bay.

    WEDNESDAY, 26 APRIL 1944

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 3 B-24s bomb Akyab; 6 P-38s hit
    the Tiddim road near Chindwin; 70 fighter-bombers and 3 B-25s pound numerous
    targets at Mogaung, Kamaing and several points in the N part of the Mogaung
    Valley; in Mandalay and the surrounding area, 9 B-24s bomb railroad yards and
    engine sheds, and 9 P-38s hit stores and hangars.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In Burma, P-40s on armed reconnaissance from
    Lashio to Man Kat cause considerable damage; 2 trucks, a warehouse, a water
    tank, and 2 locomotives are destroyed, gun positions and a bridge are strafed
    and a Japanese-occupied building is left in flames.

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): Japanese fighters make their
    first interception of B-29s as they are flying over the Hump; the brief
    confrontation results in no losses on either aide.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 319 Part 1: 589 bombers
    and 554 fighters are dispatched to targets in Germany; no claims of enemy
    aircraft are made; 5 fighters are lost:
      1. Of 357 B-17s dispatched, 292 hit the industrial area at Brunswick, 47
    hit the Hildesheim/Hannover area and 5 hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-17s
    are damaged beyond repair and 121 damaged; casualties are 9 KIA and 3 WIA.
      2. The 238 B-24s dispatched to Paderborn fail to bomb because there were
    no PFF aircraft in the formation; 18 B-24s were damaged; 1 airman was KIA.
      Escort is provided by 90 P-38s, 311 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
    153 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; 1 P-38 and 4 P-51s are lost and 1 P-47
    is damaged beyond repair; 1 pilot is KIA and 5 MIA.
      Mission 319 Part 2: 62 B-17s are dispatched to Cologne but are recalled at
    mid-English Channel because of weather; some aircraft carry 2,000 lb (907 kg)
    glide bombs on external racks. Escort is provided by 43 P-47s and 47 P-51s;
    the P-47s claim 2-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft
      Fighter-bomber missions: 33 P-38s (including Droopsnoot aircraft), plus
    escorts, hit Le Mans Airfield, France without loss; 24 P-51s, plus 4 escorts,
    bomb Cormeilles-en-Vexin Airfield, France without loss.
      Mission 320: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 800,000 leaflets on Ghent, Antwerp,
    Brussels, Liege and Gosselies, Belgium at 2330-2358 hours without loss.
      HQ 34th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Mendlesham, England from the
    US.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): The Ninth Air Force Tactical Air
    Plan for Operation NEPTUNE (actual operations within Operation OVERLORD; used
    for security reasons on OVERLORD planning documents bearing place names and
    dates) is published, 10 days after receiving formal Allied Expeditionary Air
    Force (AEAF) directive ordering such a plan.
      Around 125 B-26s attack Plattling landing ground, Germany. Fighters fly
    750+ sorties against scattered targets in NW Europe.
      Unit moves in England: HQ 50th Troop Carrier Wing from Bottesford to
    Exeter; HQ 439th Troop Carrier Group and 91st, 92d, 93d and 94th Troop
    Carrier Squadrons from Balderton to Upottery with C-47s; 95th, 96th, 97th and
    98th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 440th Troop Carrier Group, from Bottesford to
    Exeter with C-47s.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, bad weather greatly
    curtails activity; P-47s attack motor transport and railroad tracks and hit a
    gas dump near Trasimeno Lake, a landing ground at Canino and marshalling
    yards of Leghorn.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, having landed at Los
    Negros Island after bombing Guam Island on 25 Apr, hit Ponape Island and
    return to Kwajalein Atoll. B-25s based on Makin Island hit Jaluit and Wotje
    Atolls.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 24
    B-25s bomb the runway and dispersal area at Lakunai; and 35 fighter-bombers
    pound the airfield at Tobera. 8 P-40s attack occupied areas along bays of
    Tabut and Wariki, Bougainville Island.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 120+ B-25s and
    A-20s pound the Wewak area, hitting airfields at Wewak, But, Dagua and Boram,
    and supply areas, troops, and several small villages. 13 B-24s bomb Awar
    Point, 20 P-39s and P-47s attack bridges and targets of opportunity near
    Madang and 8 P-39s attack roads, villages, and supply dump near Bunabun
    Harbor; a B-25 on reconnaissance sinks a lugger in the Sepik River; and
    Allied ground forces take Hollandia and occupy Alexishafen.

    THURSDAY, 27 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A B-25 bombs a submarine without success.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s hit the Kalemyo storage
    area; 12 B-25s hit the railroad at 4 points around Shwebo; nearly 150 P-40s,
    P-51s, A-36s and B-25s blast troops, fuel dumps, gun positions and railroad
    yard at several locations in the Mogaung Valley, including Myitkyina,
    Mogaung, Namti, Kamaing, Mohnyin, Hopin, Nanyaseik, Chaungwa and Myothit.
      24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, based
    at Guskhara, India, sends a detachment to Hsinching, China with F-7s.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Rocket-firing P-40s attack 20 junks S of
    Shasi, China.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 322: 596 bombers and 357
    fighters are dispatched to bomb V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais and
    Cherbourg areas of France; 4 bombers and 2 fighters are lost; the fighters
    claim 0-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 307 of 393 B-17s and 169 of
    203 B-24s hit the target; 3 B-17s are lost and 227 damaged; 1 B-24 is lost, 2
    damaged beyond repair and 25 damaged; B-17s casualties are are 7 WIA and 30
    MIA; B-24 casualties are 3 KIA, 9 WIA and 10 MIA; escort is provided by 47
    P-38s, 262 P-47s and 48 P-51s; 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are lost; both pilots are
    MIA.
      Mission 323: 486 bombers and 543 fighters are dispatched to bomb airfields,
    marshalling yards and targets of opportunity in France and Belgium; 4 bombers
    and 4 fighters are lost.
      1. 168 B-17s are dispatched to bomb Nancy/Essay Airfield (103 bomb) and
    Toul/Croix de Metz landing ground (60 bomb), France; 2 B-17s are lost and 33
    damaged; 20 airmen are MIA.
      2. Of 120 B-17s, 98 bomb Le Culot Airfield and 20 bomb Ostend/Middelkerke
    Airfield, Belgium; 2 B-17s are lost and 29 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 20
    MIA.
      3. Of 198 B-24s, 118 bomb Blainville sur L'eau marshalling yard and 72 bomb
    Chalons sur Marne marshalling yard, France; 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair
    and 22 damaged; casualties are 24 KIA, 6 WIA and 1 MIA.
      Escort is provided by 106 P-38s, 283 P-47s and 154 P-51s; the fighters
    claim 3-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 4-0-5 on the ground; 4 P-47s
    are lost and 2 P-47s and 1 P-51 are damaged; 3 airmen are MIA.
      Mission 324: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 3.36 million leaflets on 23 towns in France
    including Cambrai, Orleans, Rennes, Nantes, Brest, Tours, Lorient, Caen, Le
    Mans, Limoges and Chatearuoux without loss.
      Other missions:
      1. 21 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations; 1 B-24 is lost.
      2. 52 P-38s, using the Droopsnoot method, attack Roye Amy Airfield, France
    without loss.
      3. 36 P-38s, using the Droopsnoot method, attack Albert/Meaulte Airfield,
    France; 6 P-38s are damaged.
      4. 17 P-51s dive bomb Cormeilles-en-Vexin Airfield, France without loss.
      849th and 850th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 490th Bombardment Group
    (Heavy), arrive at Eye, England from the US with B-24s; first mission is 31
    May.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): About 450 B-26s and A-20s and 275+
    P-47 and P-51 dive bombers attack gun emplacements, marshalling yards,
    coastal batteries, airfields and several military installations in France and
    Belgium.
      Unit moves in England: 24th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, III
    Tactical Air Command, to Chalgrove from the US with F-5s (first mission is 23
    May); 302d Troop Carrier Squadron, 441st Troop Carrier Group from Langar to
    Merryfield with C-47s.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather again severely
    restricts operations; P-40s attack a supply dump N of Rome, scoring 7 hits in
    the target area.
      12th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 3d Photographic Group
    (Reconnaissance), based at Pomigliano, Italy, sends a detachment to operate
    from Nettuno, Italy with F-5s.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok
    Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll during the night of 26/27 Apr. B-25s from Eniwetok
    follow up during the day with 3 raids on Ponape Island; Makin Island-based
    B-25s hit Jaluit, Wotje and Mille Atolls. 1 B-24 from Kwajalein Atoll, using
    Makin Island as a rearming base, bombs Jabor and Emidj and Enybor Islands,
    Jaluit Atoll.
      820th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), moves
    from Tarawa Atoll to Makin Island with B-25s.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 16 B-24s bomb Dublon, Eten,
    Moen, and Fefan Islands, Truk Atoll in the early morning. On New Britain
    Island, 24 B-25s blast the Talili Bay supply area; later a few P-39s hit the
    same target.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, Babo is bombed
    by 9 B-24s; 100+ B-24s, B-25s and A-20s attack Mushu and Kairiru Islands and
    airfields at Wewak, Boram, Dagua and But; 120+ A-20s and fighter-bombers
    blast the coastal areas of Hansa Bay and nearby villages, personnel areas NW
    of Bunabun, and AA positions, villages and bridges from Bunabun to Cape
    Croisilles.
      7th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, moves from Gusap to Finschhafen,
    New Guinea with P-40s.

    FRIDAY, 28 APRIL 1944

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 P-38s blast the Tiddim road,
    causing a roadblock; in the Mogaung Valley 80+ A-36s, P-40s, P-51s, and a
    single B-25 pound the same general targets hit on the 27 Apr; in the Mandalay
    area 7 B-25s knock out a railroad bridge S of Myingatha and a canal bridge
    between Ye-u and Kinu.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 26 B-24s, escorted by 10 P-51s,
    damage 2 bridges over the Yellow River N of Chengchow (the capture of which
    by Japanese troops is acknowledged by the Chinese who evacuate Hulaokuan),
    and pound a nearby storage area; 2 P-40s on armed reconnaissance strafe a
    troop column NE of Tengchung; 3 B-25s on reconnaissance damage a small
    steamer off the E coast of Hainan Island; 16 P-40s and 6 B-25s pound Yangsin
    while 18 P-40s, P-38s, and P-51s strafe Nanchang barracks.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): MORNING OPERATIONS: Mission 325:
    223 bombers are dispatched:
      1. 116 of 117 B-17s hit Avord Airfield, France; 2 B-17s are lost and 38
    damaged; 20 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 118 P-47s and 87 P-51s;
    they claim 0-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 8-0-3 on the ground; 2
    P-51s are lost and 2 damaged; 2 pilots are MIA.
      2. 18 of 106 B-17s bomb the Sottevast, France V-weapon site and targets
    of opportunity; clouds prevent most B-17s from bombing; 2 B-17s are lost and
    47 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 21 MIA. Escort is provided by 46 P-47s
    without loss.
      2 fighter-bomber missions are also flown against airfields in France:
        1. 34 P-38s using the Droopsnoot method, bomb Tours Airfield; 11 P-38s
    fly escort; 1 P-38 is lost and 1 damaged; 1 pilot is MIA.
        2. 49 P-38s using the Droopsnoot method, bomb Chateaudun Airfield while 3
    P-38s fly escort; 1 P-38 is damaged; 32 P-47s, with 4 P-47 escorts, dive-bomb
    the same target; they claim 1-0-1 aircraft on the ground.
      AFTERNOON OPERATIONS: Mission 325: 47 of 47 B-24s bomb the Marquise/
    Mimoyecques, France V-weapon sites; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 6
    damaged; 9 airmen are WIA.  Escort is provided by 50 P-47s without loss.
      16 P-47s, with 8 escorts, dive bomb an unidentified airfield near Paris
    without loss.
      NIGHT OPERATIONS: Mission 326: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1.64 million leaflets on
    17 towns in Belgium, France and The Netherlands including Antwerp, Brussels,
    Paris, Tours, Lorient, Nantes, Orleans, Zwolle, Leeuwarden, Turnhout and
    Amersfoort without loss.
      21 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions without loss.
      848th and 851st Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 490th Bombardment Group
    (Heavy), arrive at Eye, England from the US with B-24s; first mission is 4
    Jun and 31 May respectively.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 18 B-26s bomb the airfield at
    Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France as a secondary target. Nearly 250 B-26s
    dispatched to bomb marshalling yards are recalled because of heavy cloud
    cover over the targets.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): Clearing weather again permits
    bomber operations; 450+ B-17s and B-24s attack targets in Italy; 188 B-17s
    bomb Piombino Steel Works and port; 168 B-24s bomb the port area at San
    Stefano al Mare; and 108 B-24s bomb the port area at Orbetello; P-38s, P-51s
    and P-47s provide escort.
      32d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 90th Photographic Wing
    (Reconnaissance), arrives at San Severo, Italy from the US with F-5s; first
    mission is 18 May.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack
    Piombino, railway bridges N of Orvieto, Ficulle, and W of Arezzo, and hit
    viaducts at Incisa in Valdarno and Piteccio; A-20s score hits on a fuel dump;
    P-40s and P-47s hit a fuel dump NW of Ferentino, warehouses S of Avezzano,
    several railway lines and targets of opportunity N of Rome, the Orbetello
    railroad yards, San Stefano al Mare harbor, rail lines at points between Rome
    and Avezzano, several gun emplacements, Follonica and Chiusi marshalling
    yards, and cut railroad lines at several points NW of Rome; fighter-bombers
    also hit Chiusi marshalling yard, tracks around Castiglione della Valle,
    Cortona marshalling yard, Grosseto railroad bridge, scattered motor transport
    and a barge near Follonica.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s, based on Makin Island,
    strike Jaluit and Mille Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base between
    strikes. A single B-24 from Kwajalein Atoll bombs islands in Jaluit Atoll,
    hitting Emidj first, then rearming at Makin Island, and attacking Jabor and
    Enybor during the return flight.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 24
    B-25s bomb the Wunapope supply area and Rapopo airfield; and 30 fighter-
    bombers hit the runway and revetments at Vunakanau. On Bougainville Island,
    15 P-39s pound gun positions near Mamagata and hit nearby bivouac and supply
    areas.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 160+ B-24s and
    B-25s bomb Wakde, Biak and Efman Island airfields; 180+ P-47s, P-39s, A-20s
    and P-70s hit a variety of targets along the N and NE New Guinea coast
    including villages and supply areas in the Wewak and Boram areas, barges and
    troops at the mouth of the Sepik River and at Murik Lakes, and enemy
    communications and hideouts from the Sepik River to Cape Croisilles.
      21 B-24s of the Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb the airfield on Woleai
    Atoll.

    SATURDAY, 29 APRIL 1944

    AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 2 B-24s abort an armed photographic mission
    due to weather.

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 21 P-38s hit airfields in the Heho
    area and claim 8 aircraft downed in combat; 25 P-51s and B-25s bomb several
    buildings at Meza; 19 B-24s over Prome blast supply dumps in the area.
      19th Liaison Squadron, US Army Forces, CBI, moves from Kanchrapara to
    Ondal, India with L-1s and L-5s.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-25s bomb a warehouse and barracks
    at Shayang and attack 3 motor launches at Chiuchiang, leaving them burning.
      22d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), based
    at Yankai, China with B-25s, sends a detachment to operate from Yunnani.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 327: 679 bombers and 814
    fighters are dispatched to bomb Berlin, concentrating on railway facilities;
    they claim 95-33-48 Luftwaffe aircraft; 63 bombers and 13 fighters are lost:
      1. 210 of 228 B-17s bomb Berlin; 10 B-17s are lost and 150 damaged; 1
    airman is KIA, 7 WIA and 100 MIA.
      2. 218 B-17s are dispatched to Berlin; 158 hit the primary, 24 hit
    Magdeburg, 10 hit Brandenburg and 4 hit targets of opportunity; 28 B-17s are
    lost and 161 damaged; 4 airmen are KIA, 20 WIA and 260 MIA.
      3. 212 of 233 B-24s bomb Berlin; 25 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair
    and 121 damaged; 13 airmen are KIA, 11 WIA and 246 MIA.
      Escort is provided by 117 P-38s, 463 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and
    234 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; 3 P-38s and 10 P-51s are lost; 1 P-47
    is damaged beyond repair; 7 P-38s, 16 P-47s and 7 P-51s are damaged; 1 pilot
    is WIA and 12 MIA.
      Mission 328: 4 of 4 B-17s drop 1.06 million leaflets on 21 towns in
    Northern France and The Netherlands without loss.
      14 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions without loss.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 217 B-26s dispatched to bomb
    marshalling yards in France abort the mission because of heavy cloud cover
    over the target area.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): The 484th Bombardment Group
    (Heavy) with B-24s is declared operational, the 18th operational group.
      573 B-17s and B-24s, with fighter escort, attack the Toulon, France naval
    base and 5 B-17s attack the Rimini-Ancona railroad (second Azon mission).

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s attack the Terni
    viaduct and Attigliano railway bridge, while B-26s bomb bridges and bridge
    approaches at Pontassieve and Incisa in Valdarno; A-20s attack a dump NE of
    Rome; P-40s and P-47s cut rail lines in many places NE of Rome, hit guns N of
    Anzio and a dump SE of Rome, attack the town of Acquapendente, hit approaches
    and tunnel S of Arezzo and bridge and trucks in the area, bomb Sinalunga
    marshalling yard and bridge and approaches at Monte San Savino, and hit docks
    at San Vincenzo and boats at Follonica.
      446th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 321st Bombardment Group (Medium),
    moves from Gaudo Airfield, Italy to Solenzara, Corsica with B-25s.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok
    Atoll from Kwajalein Atoll bomb Truk and Jaluit Atolls. B-25s from Makin
    Island also hit Jaluit Atoll and carry out 2 strikes against Ponape Island.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 40+ P-39s bomb and strafe
    targets throughout Bougainville and Buka Islands, including Sipaai Mission,
    the Kieta area, Lontis, Numa Numa, Ibu, Toborei, Totavi, Aitara and Baitsi;
    24 B-25s bomb airfields at Kara and Buka. Allied fighter sweeps continue over
    the N Solomons and New Ireland Island, where huts, barges, and other targets
    of opportunity are attacked.
      HQ 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from New Georgia Island to Los
    Negros Island.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 90+ B-24s and
    B-25s bomb villages, AA positions and personnel areas in the Wakde Island,
    Maffin Bay area, and along the coast of New Guinea from Takar to Verkam
    Point; 40+ A-20s hit stores at Cape Wom, and targets of opportunity between
    But and Dagua; 130+ A-20s, P-47s, and P-39s hit hideouts and movements along
    the Sepik River and from the river's mouth to Cape Croisilles.

    SUNDAY, 30 APRIL 1944

    CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

      BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 31 B-25s blast a tank
    concentration, bridges, supply dumps and general vicinity at Kalewa; 4 B-25s
    damage 2 bridges N of Yamethin.
      5th Liaison Squadron, AAF, India-Burma Sector, moves from Ledo, India to
    Shaduzup, Burma with L-1s and L-5s; first mission is 1 May.

      CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): P-40s from Yungning, China knock out a bridge
    near Dong Mo, French Indochina and strafe railroad targets of opportunity in
    the area.
      The detachment of the 74th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, operating
    from Liuchow returns to base at Kweilin, China with P-40s.

    EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 329: 295 bombers and 644
    fighters are dispatched to 3 targets in France; the bombers claim 3-0-6
    Luftwaffe aircraft and the fighters claim 18-1-5 in the air and 11-0-17 on
    the ground; 1 bomber and 5 fighter are lost:
      1. 114 of 116 B-17s bomb Lyon/Bron Airfield; 1 B-17 is lost and 8 damaged;
    10 airmen are MIA.
      2. 118 of 124 B-17s bomb Clermont-Ferrand/Aulnat Airfield; 9 B-17s are
    damaged.
      3. 52 of 55 B-24s bomb V-weapon sites at Siracourt; 3 B-24s are damaged; 1
    airman is WIA.
      Escort is provided by 128 P-38s, 268 P-47s and 248 Eighth and Ninth Air
    Force P-51s: 44 P-38s, using the Droopsnoot method, bomb Tours Airfield, 1
    P-38 is lost and 1 damaged, 1 pilot is MIA; 14 P-47s dive-bomb Romorantin
    Airfield plus escort the bombers and claim 9-1-5 Luftwaffe aircraft, 4 P-47s
    are damaged; P-51s claim 20-0-17 aircraft, 4 P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond
    repair and 6 damaged, 1 airman is WIA and 3 MIA.
      Mission 330: 4 of 4 B-17s drop 2.23 million leaflets on 21 towns in
    Belgium, France and The Netherlands including Zwolle, Hala, Alost, Louvain,
    Leeuwarden, Reims, Metz, Strasburg, Epinal, Tours, Saarguemines, Mulhouse,
    Troyes and Orleans without loss.
      Mission 331: 128 fighters carry out fighter-bomber attacks in France; 22
    P-38s, with 24 escorts, attack Orleans/Bricy Airfield using the Droopsnoot
    method, 2 are damaged; 21 P-47s, with 10 escorts, bomb the same target
    shortly later and 5 hit a V-weapon site as a target of opportunity, 3 are
    damaged; 51 P-51s swept the area before the attacks without loss.
      20 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions without loss.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 300+ B-26s and A-20s attack V-weapon
    construction works and marshalling yards in France.

    MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO)

      STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): 464th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
    with B-24s becomes the 19th operational bomb group.
      Around 500 bombers, with fighter escort, attack targets in Italy; B-17s
    hit industrial areas at Milan and Varese and the Reggio Emilia air depot; the
    B-24s bomb marshalling yards at Alessandria and Milan.
      HQ 485th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 828th, 829th, 830th and 831st
    Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) arrive at Venosa, Italy from the US with B-24s;
    first mission is 10 May.

      TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s attack railroad
    bridges at Ficulle, N Orvieto and Marsciano, while B-26s hit bridges at
    Cortona and Incisa in Valdarno and in the nearby areas; P-40s hit rail lines
    and storage in many locations N of Rome, hit rail lines and a radar station
    in the Orvieto area, cut railroads from Rome to Tivoli and to Civita
    Castellana and hit targets of opportunity in the area; P-47s hit numerous
    railroad lines, rail cars, and other targets N of Rome.
      Unit moves in Italy: HQ 86th Fighter-Bomber Group and 525th, 526th, and
    527th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons from Pomigliano to Marcianise with P-40s; 85th
    Fighter Squadron, 79th Fighter Group, from Capodichino to Pomigliano with
    P-47s.

    PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 41 Kwajalein Atoll-based B-24s
    bomb various targets at Wake Island. 11 Makin Island-based B-25s bomb Jaluit
    Atoll while 8 from Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll bomb Ponape Island.

    SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 10 P-39s bomb Porton
    Plantations, Bougainville Island; 20+ other P-39s, in 11 sweeps, attack a
    variety of targets of opportunity on Buka and Bougainville Islands, including
    Ivituri Mission, the Kieta area and the Mamagata supply area. On New Britain
    Island, 30+ P-40s and P-38s bomb Vunakanau Airfield and 23 B-25s bomb
    Vunakambi Plantation.

    SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 80+ P-39s and
    P-47s make almost continuous attacks throughout the day against troops and
    supplies along Hansa Bay; 40+ A-20s and B-25s bomb Wewak and nearby
    plantation; B-24s hit Noemfoor Island with a light raid; B-24 reconnaissance
    flights over the Manokwari area and Geelvink Bay result in claims of 6
    Japanese interceptors shot down. P-70s hit targets of opportunity on the W
    shore of Hansa Bay.
      23 B-24s of the Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb Woleai Atoll.

    SOURCES:
    AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force History,
      Headquarters USAF, 1961, ISBN 0-912799-02-1
    COMBAT SQUADRONS OF THE AIR FORCE, WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force
      History, Headquarters USAF 1982
    THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by the
      Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF, 1973
    THE MIGHTY EIGHTH WAR DIARY by Roger A. Freeman, ISBN 1-85409-071-2

    Jack McKillop
    USAF (Airways and Air Communications Service)
    1955-59

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