USAAF CHRONOLOGY 1944

JANUARY - MARCH 1944

APRIL - JUNE 1944

JULY - SEPTEMBER 1944

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 1944

 

4/1/44 Eighth AF 438 B-17's and B-24's are dispatched to bomb chemical industry at Ludwigshafen (largest in Europe).

All 192 B-17's of the lead force abandon mission over French coast due to heavy clouds. The 246 B- 24's in second force became widely dispersed; 162 bomb T/Os (Pforzheim and Grafenhausen); 26 bomb Schaffhausen, Switzerland, and Strasbourg, France, mistaking them for German towns.

4/1/44 Twelfth AF B-25's attack Leghorn harbor, bridges at Orvieto, and railway track S of Poggibonsi. B-26's hit Arno R railroad bridges at Signa, Riva-Trigoso, and Valdarno, while A-20's hit ammo dumps. P-40's hit tgts in vicinity of Gaeta, Formia tunnel, several fuel dumps, bridges, and guns in battle areas. P-47's bomb Poggibonsi bridge and strafe train. Ftrs patrol Anzio battle area without incident.

4/1/44 Tenth AF 10 A-31's hit troop positions SW of Buthidaung. 40-plus A-31's pound Homalin-Thaungdut-Paungbyin areas. In vicinity of Mandalay 14 P-38's hit freight train and damage a factory. Near Rangoon 16 B- 24's hit a railroad station and bomb Akyab while 6 B-25's damage railroad bridge near Nattalin.

4/1/44 Fifth AF B-25's and A-20's hit Tadji and Hansa Bay areas. B-24's bomb Boela. B-25's attack Penfoei.

4/1/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-25's bomb supply areas at Wunapope and RatawuI. 28 P-39's and P-40's hit Toboi wharf area at Simpson Harbor. 3 P-40's follow with strike on oil and coal storage in same general area. 12 P-38's bomb mission at Monoitu. Ftrs maintain sweeps over Rabaul and New Ireland throughout the day and B-25's harass Rabaul during 1/2 Apr. 12 P-40's hit Numa Numa supply dumps.

4/1/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Abemama strike Ponape; B-24's from Makin and Kwajalein hit Truk. B-25's from Tarawa bomb Maloelap and Jaluit.

4/2/44 Twelfth AF MBs 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. FBs hit trucks and railroad station at Fara in Sabina and E and N of Anzio, attack Formia tunnel, fly armed rcn over Atina and Arce areas, bomb factory and buildings N of Cassino, town of Pignataro Interamna, and numerous bridges, dumps, gun positions and T/Os in or around battle areas.

4/2/44 Fifteenth AF 461st Bomb Gp (B-24) becomes operational, making 16 HB gps now operational in Fifteenth AF. More than 530 B-24's and B-17's (largest Fifteenth AF mission to date) attack ball bearing plant and aircraft factory at Steyr, M/Ys at Bihac and Brod, troop concentration at Bihac, and A/F at Mostar. Ftrs fly over 150 sorties in spt of the HBs. Hundreds of ftrs oppose the missions. Fierce air battles result in 19 HBs shot down and several missing. The HBs and ftr escorts claim to have destroyed over 150 ftrs in combat.

4/2/44 E Europe Soviet Army enters Rumania.

4/2/44 Tenth AF 12 A-31's hit troop positions E and S of Buthidaung. 60 A-31's pound positions along upper Chindwin R and hit Paungbyin and Nawngpu-awng. 12 P-40's bomb Kamaing while 6 P-51's over Katha area hit trucks near Bhamo and storage area at Indaw.

4/2/44 Fourteenth AF 2 B-24's on sea sweep from Hong Kong to Formosa bomb a 215-ft ship (reported sunk) and damage a large motor launch.

4/2/44 Fifth AF More than 120 bmrs and ftrs continue to hit tgts in areas around Wewak, Hansa Bay, Madang, Bogadjim, and other points along NE New Guinea coastline. MBs also hit Dili, Penfoei, and Rambutyo I.

4/2/44 Thirteenth AF 31 B-24's fly strike against Dublon, causing considerable damage to warehouse and dock areas The HBs claim 30-plus ftrs downed 4 B-24's are lost. 40-plus FBs over Rabaul hit SE part of town, Toboi wharf area, and N section of town along Malaguna road. 7 B-25's hit Raluana Pt while 23 pound Lakunai.

4/2/44 XX BC First operational B-29, piloted by Col Leonard F Harman, lands at Chakulia.

4/2/44 Seventh AF B-24's from Eniwetok hit Truk during 1/2 Apr. During the day B-25's bomb Jaluit and Maloelap.

4/3/44 Ninth AF Because of combat crew shortage which has caused abolition of the 50-mission limit tour of duty and resulted in fatigue and morale problems, IX BC establishes new operational leave policy. Maximum leaves for bmr crews are set at 1 week between the 25th and 30th missions and 2 weeks between the 40th and 50th missions.

4/3/44 Twelfth AF MBs attack railway bridges at Orvieto, cutting approaches to bridge at N of town. Other MB attacks on bridges abort because of weather but LBs successfully bomb ammo dump. A-36's attack railway at Attigliano and bomb underpass in the area, while P-40's hit Sesti Bagni railroad station, supply dump SE of Frosinone, town of Itri, bivouac area NW of Velletri, and several trucks. P-47's successfully bomb Pignataro Interamna and nearby road junction.

4/3/44 Fifteenth AF More than 450 B-17's and B-24's bomb aircraft factory and M/Y at Budapest, and M/Ys at Knin, Brod, and Drnis. 137 ftrs escort the B-17's (B-24's miss rendezvous) to Budapest. HBs and escorting ftrs claim 24 aircraft shot down.

4/3/44 Tenth AF 36 A-31's bomb areas along the upper Chindwin R. In Mandalay area 4 B-25's damage Tangon bridge while 6 P-61's hit Anisakan airstrip. 20-plus FBs and 6 B-25's hit T/Os S of Mupaw Ga and W of Mogaung, troops near Bhamo, and knock out bridge near Mogaung. During 3/4 Apr 16 B-24's bomb oil and power facilities at Yenangyaung, Chauk, and Lanywa while 8 P-38's hit Meiktila A/F.

4/3/44 Fourteenth AF 4 rocket-firing P-40's, with 8 other as top cover, damage 2 large river boats between Hengyang and Ichang. 4 others flying Red R 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 R. 3 B-24's lay mines in Haiphong area.

4/3/44 Fifth AF More than 300 B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and P-38's blast A/Fs at Hollandia. Most of the remaining Japanese airplanes there are destroyed. Of 60 intercepting ftrs, 26 are claimed shot down. Air opposition from Hollandia is very light hereafter. 50-plus P-40's, P-47's, and P-39's hit villages, comm, AA positions, and other tgts in areas around Wewak, Hansa Bay, Bogia, and Madang. B-24's hit Langgoer and B-25's bomb Babo area and Penfoei.

4/3/44 Thirteenth AF 23 B-25's pound NE section of Rabaul. This strike follows larger than usual (6 B-25's) heckling raids during 2/3 Apr. 50-plus FBs blast fuel stores at Keravia Bay. On Bougainville, AF and Navy ftrs strafe Numa Numa trail area and maintain patrols.

4/3/44 Seventh AF B-24's, staging through Eniwetok during 2/3 Apr, bomb Truk. B-25's from Abemama follow with daytime attack on Ponape. Other B-25's from Abemama and Tarawa hit Maloelap and Jaluit.

4/4/44 Twelfth AF MB missions are aborted due to weather. LBs manage to bomb an ammo dump. FBs bomb Terracina and Formia, attack bridge and several vehicles during armed rcn of Rome-Orte area, bomb Itri and Fondi, hit numerous gun positions, a railway station, a bivouac area, and a vehicle concentration, and attack T/Os between Atina and Cassino.

4/4/44 Fifteenth AF Over 300 B-24's and B-17's attack M/Y at Budapest. Ftrs fly nearly 120 sorties in spt of the mission.

Between 150 and 200 enemy ftrs attack the HBs, shooting down 10. HBs and escorts claim over 50 aircraft destroyed in combat.

4/4/44 Tenth AF 120-plus FBs and 4 B-25's hit rail lines, storage areas and Japanese held villages around Mogaung and Myitkyina, and spt ground forces near Kamaing and Myitkyina. 80-plus A-31's hit enemy positions E of Imphal. During 4/5 Apr, 14 B-24's bomb Moulmein railroad yards and jetties and hit Japanese HQ nearby at Nagorn Sawarn. 27 P-51's and P-38's attack Aungban and Anisakan A/Fs.

4/4/44 Fourteenth AF P-38's on armed rcn strafe and destroy 2 big fuel dumps, 12 fuel trucks, and 15-20 troops in Wan Mong Kang area.

4/4/44 Fifth AF 50-plus B-24's pound Wewak area. 12 P-39's hit villages, bridges, and wooded areas along coast from Cape Gourdon to Bogia.

4/4/44 Thirteenth AF 12 P-40's hit barge hideout in Gazelle Harbor. 10 B-25's (rained out of Rabaul) bomb Buka A/F, 23 P- 39's hit Aitara area, and 11 P-40's bomb Mamaregu barge hideout. 24 P-38's pound Mamagata, Dio Dio, and Miwo R area. Ground spt missions along Empress Augusta Bay are carried out by a variety of ftrs.

4/4/44 Twentieth AF Twentieth AF is constituted and activated in Washington, DC.

4/4/44 Seventh AF B-24's, flying out of the Gilberts, bomb Truk during the night. B-25's, from Abemema and Tarawa, followup during the day with raids on Ponape, Jaluit, and Maloelap.

4/5/44 Eighth AF 21 B-24's bomb V-weapon installation at Saint-Pol/Siracourt. Heavy clouds and failure of blind-bombing equipment cause more than 30 other HBs to return to base without bombing. More than 450 P- 47's, P-38's, and P-51's attack A/Fs and other ground tgts in Germany and W Europe.

4/5/44 Twelfth AF Weather precludes all LB and MB action. P-40's hit Colleferro railway station, several fuel dumps, and gun positions in US Fifth Army battle areas. A-36's bomb Formia, and railway stations NW of Rome and in Frosinone area.

4/5/44 Fifteenth AF 334 B-17's and B-24's bomb Ploesti, town area of Leskovac, and M/Y at Nish. Ftrs and AA shoot down 13 HBs.

4/5/44 Tenth AF 13 B-24's bomb railroad from Moulmein to Kanchanaburi, destroying 3 bridges, damaging several others, and causing much damage to track and railroad cars. 6 A-31's over Chindwin area pound T/Os around Thaungdut.

4/5/44 Fourteenth AF P-40's from Yungning pound railroad siding at Na Cham, destroying 8 boxcars and a considerable amount of track.

4/5/44 Fifth AF 270-plus B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and P-38's hit Hollandia town and dock area and villages and stores around Humboldt Bay. P-47's and P-40's blast numerous tgts in Hansa Bay-Bogia and Wewak areas.

B-24's hit Kaimana and Efman I. B-25's bomb Koepang.

4/5/44 Thirteenth AF 12 B-25's pound Kara. Bad weather cancels all missions against tgts in the Bismarcks.

4/5/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Tarawa hit Maloelap, bomb up again at Majuro, and hit Jaluit during return trip.

4/6/44 Eighth AF 12 B-24's bomb V-weapon site at Watten.

4/6/44 Twelfth AF B-25's hit Perugia A/F while B-26's bomb bridge and its approaches NW of Orvieto. Weather prevents other MB operations. FBs attack railroad stations at Capronica and Maccarese, guns SE of Littoria, road bridge E of Pescasseroli, railroad bridges in Arezzo area, other rail facilities in C Italy, and small transport vessels in the Aegean.

4/6/44 Fifteenth AF B-24's bomb Zagreb A/F. Numerous other B-24's and B-17's abort because of weather. Escorting ftrs and the HBs claim 17 ftrs destroyed in combat. 6 US aircraft are shot down.

4/6/44 Tenth AF 6 B-25's damage railroad and rolling stock at Shwebo. 6 A-31's bomb Tamanthi area. 80-plus FBs and 2 B-25's hit troops in Namti area, spt ground forces NE of Kamaing, damage a bridge near Myitkyina, and hit troops, oil dumps, and supplies at Mogaung and Manywet.

4/6/44 Fourteenth AF P-40's from Suichwan pound barrack SW of Nanchang, causing heavy damage. B-25 strike during 6/7 Apr on A/Fs near Canton is curtailed by bad weather; only 1 MB reaches tgt, dropping fragmentation bombs on revetments.

4/6/44 Fifth AF P-39's, P-40's, and P-47's continue to pound coastal tgts in Wewak, Aitape, and Madang areas and at numerous other points along coast. B-25's bomb Koepang.

4/6/44 Thirteenth AF 34 B-24's pound Dublon. 22 B-25's bomb Lakunai A/F and revetment area. 30-plus FBs bomb vicinity of Toboi wharf with incendiaries while more than 20 others carry out incendiary strike on Wunapope, causing severe destruction to several buildings. Ftrs maintain sweep over Rabaul and New Ireland areas.

4/6/44 Twentieth AF Gen Arnold assumes cmd of Twentieth AF at Washington, DC where HQ will remain until Jul 45. CoS is Gen Hansell (currently Dep Chief of Air Staff), with Col Cecil E Combs as his dep for operations.

4/6/44 Seventh AF B-24's from Kwajalein bomb Wake. B-25's from Eniwetok hit Ponape twice. B-25's from Abemama bomb Jaluit, rearm at Majuro, and hit Maloelap during return flight.

4/7/44 Twelfth AF MBs attack bridges, tracks, and viaduct at Attigliano, Ficulle, Certaldo, Pontassieve, and Incisa in Valdarno, and hit Prato M/Y. LBs hit ammo dump. Ausonia, Pignataro Interamna, San Apollinare, and Terracina are bombed by P-40's along with dump and several gun positions SE of Rome. P-47's also hit bridges and trucks in this same area and attack Empoli M/Y while A-36's hit gun emplacements, train and tracks in Orvieto area and vicinity and approaches to Montalto di Castro bridge.

4/7/44 Fifteenth AF Over 400 B-24's and B-17's attack M/Ys at Treviso, Mestre, Bologna, and Ferrara. Almost 100 P-38's provide escort. P-47's fly sweep over Gorizia-Udine area. HBs and ftrs claim almost 20 aircraft shot down.

4/7/44 Tenth AF 9 A-31's hit Japanese positions near Buthidaung in Arakan area while 24 others over Chindwin region attack villages around Thaungdut and Tamanthi. 20-plus P-51's and B-25's hit gun positions at Mawlu.

Throughout Mogaung Valley more than 100 FBs and 2 B-25's hit numerous tgts including fuel and ammo stores near Manywet, supplies and railroad station at Myitkyina, supplies and radio station at Sahmaw, Kamaing area, bridges at Nsopzup and supply dumps W of Mogaung. 30-plus of the FBs carry out ground spt missions at Shaduzup.

4/7/44 Fourteenth AF 7 P-40's strafe 3 barges and several junks at Saint John I, leaving them burning. 2 B-24's on sweep from Hong Kong to Formosa claim a large river boat and a small freighter sunk and 2 other freighters damaged. 1 HB is lost. 4 P-40's attack a large concentration of small vessels at Haiphong, sinking at least 4.

4/7/44 Fifth AF B-25's, A-20's, and P-39's hit villages, barges, supply area, and coastal road in areas around Madang, Tadji, Bogia, and Uligan Harbor. Other B-25's bomb barracks at Penfoei. B-24's pound Langgoer and Wakde Is.

4/7/44 Thirteenth AF 50-plus FBs pound supply areas at Ratawul. 9 B-25's hit Talili Bay, 11 bomb Vunakanau A/F, and 13 blast Tobera A/F. 6 B-25's maintain night heckling of Rabaul area. 4 P-40's bomb pillboxes near Reini R while 2 B-24's bomb Monoitu Mission.

4/7/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Tarawa hit Maloelap, rearm at Majuro, and bomb Jaluit on return flight.

4/7/44 Eleventh AF 8 B-24's dispatched to destroy a convoy, believed SE of Matsuwa I, turn back due to engine, navigation, and weather difficulties. A flight of F-7A's of the 2d Photo Charting Sq (1st Photo Gp, 311th Photo Wg), arrives. Its mission is mapping of Kuril Is.

4/8/44 Eighth AF 3 separate forces, a total of 639 B-17's and B-24's divided into 13 combat wgs, are dispatched against A/Fs in NW Germany and aircraft factories in Brunswick area. More than 600 HBs bomb tgts, with the largest force (192 B-17's) striking at Brunswick. The other HBs bomb A/Fs including those at Oldenburg, Quakenbruck, Achmer, Rheine, Hesepe, Handorf, and Twente. 34 US bmrs are lost.

4/8/44 Ninth AF 198 B-26's attack Hasselt M/Y and hit Coxyde A/F. 32 P-47's bomb area around Hasselt.

4/8/44 Twelfth AF MBs attack bridge NW of Orte while A-20's successfully attack supply stores. FBs hit several bridges, motor transport, and supply dumps in C Italy, and bomb railroad tracks at Sesti Bagni and Maccarese.

4/8/44 USSR Soviet forces open offensive in Crimea.

4/8/44 Tenth AF 20-plus A-31's hit troop positions near Buthidaung. Nearly 50 others bomb Kohima and Homalin.

Nearly 100 FBs and 2 B-25's again pound Mogaung Valley tgts, including Manywet, storage areas and railroad at Mogaung, positions at Shaduzup, and general T/Os around Kamaing. 4 B-25's damage bridge and track at Sittang.

4/8/44 Fourteenth AF 11 B-24's bomb railroad yards at Hanoi. 6 B-25's damage several small ships in Yulinkan Bay. 2 others strafe A/F on Weichow I. 8 P-40's pound oil dumps at Wanling, leaving tgt area in flames. 9 B-24's bomb A/F on Samah Bay; 4 other s lay mines in the bay.

4/8/44 Fifth AF P-40's attack T/Os in Aitape-Wewak area. A-20's hit tgts in Hansa Bay area, firing fuel dump and destroying several warehouses and other buildings at 3 plantations, and strafing and bombing roads and bridges along the coast.

4/8/44 Thirteenth AF During 7/8 Apr 6 B-25's heckle Kavieng A/F area. 50-plus FBs hit NE section of Rabaul. 24 B-25's bomb center of Lakunai A/F. 4 B-24's again pound Monoitu Mission.

4/8/44 Seventh AF B-24's flying out of Kwajalein, strike Truk. Abemamabased B-25's pound Ponape. B-25's from Tarawa hit Maloelap, rearm at Mojuro, and bomb Jaluit during return flight.

4/9/44 Eighth AF 399 B-17's and B-24's bomb aircraft factories and A/Fs in Germany and Poland: A/F and assembly plant at Tutow is hit by 104 B-24's; Focke-Wulf plant at Poznan by 33 B-17's; Heinkel plant at Warnemunde by 86 B-17's; aircraft plant and A/F at Rahmel by 40 HBs; A/F and assembly plant at Marienburg by 98 HBs; and A/Fs at Parchim and Rostock by 46 HBs. No ftr spt is available over the tgts because of bad weather or distance. No diversionary missions are flown. German ftrs are able to concentrate on the bmr formations, and 32 HBs are lost.

4/9/44 Twelfth AF P-40 and A-36 FBs bomb 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 rcn of Avezzano-Sora-Pontecorvo-Ceprano areas.

4/9/44 Tenth AF 40-plus A-31's hit troop positions NW of Imphal and Thaungdut and bomb Kanglatongbi and Nawngpuawng. The Mogaung Valley is pounded by over 100 FBs and a few B-25's; the aircraft hit town areas, bridges, storage areas, spt ground forces, and hit T/Os in general in or near Mogaung, Kamaing, Laban, Hopin, Myitkyina, and Nsopzup. 25 B-25's and P-51's hit fuel dumps at Indaw, bomb road near Manhton, and spt ground forces at Lasai. 6 B-24's bomb Mandalay railroad yards, another bombs nearby Maymyo, and 13 others mine areas near Mandalay and Magwe. Also in Mandalay area, 11 P-38's damage several locomotives, numerous railroad cars, and set a steamer afire near Ywataung.

4/9/44 Fourteenth AF 2 B-25's claim a 200-ft tanker sunk off Cape Bastion and 3 ftrs shot down over Yulinkan Bay.

4/9/44 Fifth AF 55 B-25's bomb Aitape area while B-24's and A-20's hit Wewak, Boram, Cape Moem, AA positions along Hansa Bay, and barges SE of Mushu I and in Wagol R. P-39's hit troops, barges, and bridges in Madang, Awar, Bogia, and Bunabun areas.

4/9/44 Thirteenth AF 23 B-25's bomb Lakunai. 31 FBs hit Ralum supply areas while 22 others strike Wunapope. During 8/9 Apr 7 B-25's fly heckling missions against Rabaul.

4/9/44 Seventh AF B-24's on photo rcn mission over Maloelap, Wotje, and Mille, and a single Tarawa-based B-25 bombs Taroa. B-26's, in shuttle mission from Abemama, bomb Jaluit, rearm at Majuro, and then hit Maloelap.

4/9/44 Eleventh AF A weather sortie over Matsuwa is negative due to low clouds and fog.

4/10/44 Eighth AF More than 650 HBs hit A/Fs at Evere, Brussels, Florennes, Diest, Maldegem, Bourges, Orleans, and Romorantin, bomb aircraft factories at Evere, Brussels, Bourges, and Orleans, and attack a V-weapon site at Marquise/Mimoyecques.

4/10/44 Ninth AF 258 B-26's and 41 A-20's, including 12 aircraft dropping Window, attack coastal batteries at Le Harve/Le Grand Hameau and military installation nearby. During the afternoon 267 B-26's and A-20's bomb M/Y, A/F, coastal defenses, and NOBALL tgts at Charleroi/Montignies, Namur, Coxyde, Nieuport, and other points on N coast of W Europe. 47 P-47's dive-bomb Evreux A/F.

4/10/44 Twelfth AF A-20's hit ammo dump at Gallicano nel Lazio. B-25's bomb Orvieto M/Y and 2 bridges. B-26's hit Poggibonsi and Cecina railroad bridges and tracks, and viaducts at Bucine and W of Arezzo. FBs operating over wide areas of C Italy and in battle zones hit railroad bridges, railroad cars, motor transport, barracks, and troop concentrations with good effect.

4/10/44 USSR Red Army captures Odessa.

4/10/44 Tenth AF 18 A-31's pound troop positions throughout Arakan area. 18 others strike troops and other tgts around Maungkan and Kangpokpi. About 100 FBs and a few B-25's pound numerous tgts, including encampment SW of Mogaung, positions near Kazu, railroad and truck park at Myitkyina, supply area S of Myitkyina, and bivouac area and supplies at Kamaing. Some of the FBs carry out spt of ground forces NE of Kamaing. 40-plus FBs and B-25's over Katha area hit bridge at Thityabin, troops and supplies at Shwegu, gun positions and troops S of Mawlu, and T/Os including a fuel dump. 9 B-24's bomb railroad station and jetty area at Moulmein while 4 others mine mouth of Tavoy R.

4/10/44 Fourteenth AF 3 B-25's damage 2 bridges at Phu Dien Chau and destroy several buildings and some railroad track.

10 P-40's pound roads N and S of Wanling.

4/10/44 Fifth AF About 60 B-24's, teaming with US destroyers offshore, bombard Hansa Bay area, concentrating on AA positions guarding A/Fs.

4/10/44 Thirteenth AF 22 B-25's bomb Ratawul supply area and 40-plus FBs hit runway at Tobera, both strikes causing considerable damage. Night harassment of Rabaul area continues.

4/10/44 Twentieth AF JCS informally approve MATTERHORN plan (approved in principle by Roosevelt on 10 Nov 43) for early sustained bombing of Japan by B-29's based in Calcutta area and staging through fields in area of Chengtu. The operational vehicle is to be the 58th Bomb Wg (4 bomb gps) of XX BC, soon to be assigned to the newly activated Twentieth AF, operating under Gen Arnold as executive agent for JCS.

4/10/44 Seventh AF B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, bomb Truk (1 hits Ponape) while B-25's, based on Abemama, strike Ponape. B-25's, flying shuttle mission between Tarawa and Majuro, pound Maloelap and Jaluit.

4/10/44 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's fly armed rcn over Matsuwa and Onnekotan Is.

4/11/44 Eighth AF 830 B-17's and B-24's in 3 separate forces bomb production centers (primarily ftr aircraft factories) and T/Os in N Germany at Oschersleben, Bernburg, Halberstadt (Force I); Sorau, Cottbus, Arnimswalde, Stettin, Politz, Gulzow, Zarnglaff and Rostock (Forces II and III). Enemy opposition downs 64 HBs, one of the heaviest single-day losses of World War II.

4/11/44 Ninth AF 229 B-26's and 36 A-20's, including 3 dropping Window, attack Charleroi/Montignies, military installations on coast, and Chievres A/F. Over 90 P-47's dive-bomb military installation and Gael A/F.

4/11/44 Twelfth AF B-25's hit Montalto di Castro railroad bridge, while B-26's hit M/Ys at Ancona and Siena. FBs concentrate on attacks against railroad tgts NE of Rome and buildings inland from E coast. Tracks are hit hard in Arezzo-Pontassieve area as are stations at Maccarese and Cesano. Overpass, bridges, railroad cars, and dumps throughout C Italy are attacked, as is town of Gaeta.

4/11/44 Tenth AF 12 A-31's attack village SW of Buthidaung. 17 P-51's and B-25's fly ground spt missions and bomb road near Maungkan. Mogaung Valley tgts are pounded by 50-plus FBs and 2 B-25's; tgts include HQ and stores at Sahmaw, HQ and ammo dump SW of Mogaung, troops at Myitkyina, and T/Os to the S, gun position S of Kamaing, and HQ at Waingmaw.

4/11/44 Fourteenth AF 3 B-25's hit railroad T/Os N of Vinh and seriously damage a bridge S of Thanh Hoa.

4/11/44 Fifth AF 80-plus A-20's and B-25's, supported by 30 P-47's and P-40's, blast AA positions, stores, dumps, and personnel areas at Hollandia. More than 50 B-24's bomb barges, AA guns, and other tgts along Hansa Bay which is also hit by 12 B-25's. 12 other B-25's bomb tgts on Karkar I.

4/11/44 Thirteenth AF Thirteenth Air TF (Prov) is created by Gen Kenney, CG Allied AF (SWPA), from elements of Thirteenth AF and other units. About 40 FBs hit E section of Rabaul while 12 others strike Talili Bay ammo dump.

24 B-25's blast supply areas at Ratawul. On Bougainville 20-plus FBs are dispatched against coastal gun positions but fail to locate objective. 12 of the FBs bomb Aitara while 2 claim destruction of bridge near Mawareka.

4/11/44 Seventh AF B-25's from the Gilberts hit Ponape, rearm at Majuro, and carry out shuttle mission against Jaluit and Maloelap.

4/11/44 Eleventh AF Of 3 B-24's attempting to fly photo and bombing run over Matsuwa I installations, 2 must turn back.

The third bombs the runway area.

4/12/44 Eighth AF 443 B-17's and B-24's dispatched to bomb industrial tgts at Schweinfurt, Zwickau, Oschersleben, Leipzig, Schkeuditz, and Halle are forced to abandon mission because of haze and multilayer clouds.

Ftr opposition is concentrated over N France and 6 HBs are lost.

4/12/44 Ninth AF 231 B-26's and 20 A-20's attack railroad, shore batteries, radar installations, A/Fs, and V-weapon sites at Dunkirk, Courtrai/Wevelghem, Coxyde/Furnes, De Pannes-Bains, Saint Ghislain, Ostend, and points along coast. Over 70 P-47's dive-bomb military installations in N France.

4/12/44 Twelfth AF MBs bomb rail lines approaching Monte Molino bridge and at nearby j unction to Viterbo line, railroad and road bridges S of Orvieto and at Certaldo, tracks approaching bridge at Imperia, and railroad bridges over Var R and at Albenga. LBs pound Zagarolo supply dump. FBs and ftrs (some operating with British airplanes) hit comm (mainly railroad bridges), vehicles, a supply dumps at various places, including Arezzo, island of Elba, Orvieto, NE of Grosseto, NW of Bracciano, Civita Castellana, Montalto di Castro, between Piombino and Viterbo, in Castiglioncello area, NW of Montepescali, and S of Cecina.

4/12/44 Fifteenth AF 483d Bomb Gp (B-17) becomes operational, increasing number of combat status HB gps in Fifteenth AF to 17. Bad weather lifts, permitting HB operations. Almost 450 B-17's and B-24's attack aircraft factories at Fischamend Markt and Wiener-Neustadt and Bad Voslau assembly plant and A/F. Over 200 P-38's and P-47's provide escort. HBs and ftrs claim over 30 aircraft shot down. 8 US airplanes are known lost and several more fail to return.

4/12/44 Tenth AF 24 B-34's blast troop positions near Buthidaung. 35 A-31's hit Paungbyin and SW of Imphal. 90-plus P-40's, A-36's, P-51's, and B-25's over Mogaung Valley spt ground forces, bomb supply areas, and hit numerous T/Os in areas around Mogaung, Myitkyina, Kamaing, Taungni, and Shaduzup. 5 B-25's knock out bridge at Natmauk while 2 others damage Pyu bridge near Rangoon. 5 B-24's bomb Nagorn Sawarn while 7 hit Moulmein railroad station and jetties and bomb SE part of Prome.

4/12/44 Fifth AF 180-plus B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's, supported by over 60 P-38's, bomb AA positions, A/Fs, supply areas, and shipping construction. B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and P-39's bomb and strafe various tgts at Wewak, Madang, along Hansa Bay, and on Karkar I. Other P-39's fly barge sweep from Alexishafen up the coast as far as mouth of Sepik R. 2 B-25's bomb Penfoei.

4/12/44 Thirteenth AF 5th Bomb Gp is ordered to move from Guadalcanal and New Georgia to Los Negros where it will form nucleus of Thirteenth Air TF. 23 B-25's and 11 P-39's pound W section of Rabaul, 7 other B-25's cause considerable damage in Ratawul supply area. 23 FBs blast concrete airstrip at Vunakanau. On Bougainville 12 FBs bomb and strafe Numa Numa trail and pound harbor area.

4/12/44 Seventh AF B-25's, flying out of Abemama, bomb Maloelap, rearm at Majuro, and hit Jaluit on return trip.

4/13/44 SHAEF Gen Eisenhower formally assumes direction of air operations out of UK at midnight (though he began informal exercise of this authority in late Mar). This assumption of authority gives Eisenhower direction over AEAF, RAF BC, and USSTAF (Fifteenth AF retains some degree of independence) along with US 1st Army Gp, 21 Army Gp, and Allied Naval Forces.

4/13/44 Eighth AF 153 HBs attack industrial tgts at Schweinfurt. 230 Hbs strike Augsburg, concentrating on Messerschmitt plant. 183 other bmrs hit A/Fs and other T/Os in Oberpfaffenhofen, Lechfeld, and Lauffen am Neckar. This mission is flown in conjunction with a raid on Hungary by over 500 Fifteenth AF HBs and a Ninth AF B-26 raid in S Netherlands. Although ftr opposition is dispersed, enemy aircraft and AA account for most of 38 HBs lost by Eighth AF.

4/13/44 Ninth AF 121 B-26's and 37 A-20's attack M/Y, coastal batteries, A/Fs, and V-weapon sites at Namur, Chievres, Nieuport, Le Havre, and along N coast of France in general. Nearly 175 other aircraft abort missions mainly because of weather. 48 P-47's also dive-bomb V-weapon sites.

4/13/44 Twelfth AF B-25's attack Terni and bridge at Marsciano while B-26's bomb Ancona M/Y and nearby railroad bridge. FBs again strike mainly at comm, town of Itri, Cesano station, factory at Fontana Liri, railroad overpass at Fara in Sabina, Anguillara, and bridges, trucks, and other tgts at points throughout C Italy.

4/13/44 Fifteenth AF 535 HBs (largest HB mission to date by Fifteenth AF) bomb A/F aircraft factory, and rolling stock plant at Gyor, Vecses and Tokol A/Fs and Repulogepgyar aircraft components plant at Budapest, and M/Y at Brod. Ftrs fly over 200 sorties in spt of the HBs. Ftr opposition and AA account for 14 US HBs and 1 ftr shot down. Nearly 40 ftrs are claimed shot down and 120-plus aircraft destroyed on the ground.

4/13/44 Tenth AF 24 A-31's hit gun positions and telegraph installations at Buthidaung. About 90 A-31's pound a variety of tgts at Churachandpur riddim, Sagolmang, Kanglatongbi, Thayaung, Tamanthi, Minthami, and Thaungdut. 90-plus P-40's, P-51's and A-36's and a few B-25's carry out ground spt missions near Kamaing and hit assorted tgts throughout the Mogaung Valley. 12 B-25's and 11 P-51's spt ground forces at Mawlu.

4/13/44 Fourteenth AF 28 ftrs attempt to intercept but fail to make contact with 13 Japanese airplanes which bomb Namyung.

4/13/44 Fifth AF 80-plus B-24's and A-20's pound the A/Fs at Dagua and But on N coast of New Guinea. 33 A-20's hit Aitape. P-39's, B-25's, and B-24's fly light strikes against a variety of tgts along Hansa Bay, on Wakde, at Uligan, and several other points along the coast.

4/13/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-25's blast Talili Bay and Ratawul supply areas and town of Rabaul. 40-plus FBs strike Malaguna area NW of Rabaul. 17 FBs hit personnel and supply areas at Mosigetta, Mawareka, Meive, and Maririei. During the early morning 23 B-24's bomb Truk.

4/13/44 Seventh AF B-24's out of Eniwetok strike Truk. B-25's from Abemama hit Ponape. B-25's from Tarawa bomb Jaluit, rearm at Majuro, and hit Maloelap.

4/13/44 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's fly armed rcn and bombing runs over A/F at Matsuwa and installations on Onnekotan Is.

4/14/44 Twelfth AF B-25's attack Viterbo A/F and Leghorn M/Y, B-26's strike at Poggibonsi, Certaldo, Cecina, and Magra, attacking mostly rail facilities and hit Arezzo bridge and viaduct and Bucine viaducts. FBs also concentrate on rail lines and bridges and hit many supply dumps, gun positions and factories, generally located NE of Rome.

4/14/44 Tenth AF 20-plus A-31's hit troop positions near Buthidaung. 36 A-31's pound Paungbyin and area N of Imphal.

20 P-40's over Mogaung Valley attack camp at Manywet. 20 P-51's and 3 B-25's spt ground forces in Mawlu area.

4/14/44 Fifth AF B-25's and P-39's hit barges and luggers in Vanimo Harbor and at Bogia.

4/14/44 Thirteenth AF 19 B-24's on mission to the Carolines bomb Eten, Param, and Kuop Is and T/Os on Truk Atoll. 24 B- 25's and 40-plus FBs blast supply area at Ratawul. 8 other FBs hit Wunapope. More than 20 FBs strike various tgts in NE part of Bougainville.

4/14/44 Seventh AF A single B-24, en route from Kwajalein to Tarawa, bombs Jaluit. B-25's from Eniwetok bomb Ponape while B-25's from Abeama strike Jaluit and Maloelap, using Majuro as arming station between strikes.

Japanese bmrs carry out ineffective raid on Eniwetok.

4/14/44 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's fly armed photo rcn mission during early morning over Matsuwa, Onnekotan, and Paramushiru Is. Photographs taken are negative due to cloud cover.

4/15/44 Eighth & Ninth AFs 530 Eighth AF and 86 Ninth AF ftrs conduct sweeps over C and W Germany. Bad weather prevents attacks on most major ground tgts. Ftrs claim 58 aircraft destroyed in air and on ground. 33 US ftrs are lost, 19 to unknown causes (probably due mainly to bad weather) and the others to enemy action and accidents.

4/15/44 Twelfth AF XII A Spt Cmd is redesignated XII TAC. MBs strike M/Y at Leghorn and a tunnel and railroad bridges in C Italy. P-47's attack rail lines, bridges, and ammo dumps NE of Rome with good results. Other P- 47's and P-40's and A-36's hit numerous tgts, including rail lines, motor transport shop, vehicles, tanks, and gun positions, in C Italy and in US Fifth Army battle areas.

4/15/44 Fifteenth AF Clearing weather again permits HB operations. 448 B-24's and B-17's attack Bucharest, Ploesti, and Nish M/Y. Over 150 ftrs provide escort. A special group, led by Lt Col Louis A Neveleff, flies from HQ at Bari to Medeno Polji. From there the group proceeds to Marshal Tito's HQ at Drvar, where Col Neveleff confers with Tito and spends several days laying groundwork for evacuation of downed Fifteenth AF airmen in Yugoslav hands. Also, much information is gathered regarding military organization and political trend of the partisan movement. The mission returns to Italy on 2 May. 122 men, mostly Fifteenth AF airmen, are also evacuated.

4/15/44 Tenth AF 40-plus A-31's hit gun positions at Buthidaung. 12 B-24's over Andaman Is attack shipping and other tgts at Port Blair. 12 P-38's hit Heho A/F, destroying several parked airplanes.

4/15/44 Fourteenth AF 3 B-25's knock out a bridge at Viet Tri and damage another.

4/15/44 Fifth AF 180-plus B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's bomb landing strips, offshore islands, and entire coastal area in vicinity of Aitape. 16 P-40's strafe barges at nearby Seleo I. 20 P-39's hit villages, supply dumps, trucks, and other tgts along Hansa Bay and in Alexishafen area.

4/15/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-25's bomb ammo dump on Talili Bay; 11 P-39's follow with strike on same tgt. 3 P-38's fire Wunapope supply area; other FB strikes on same area are cancelled by weather. A few P-38's hit tgts in NE part of Bougainville.

4/15/44 Seventh AF Gen Douglass becomes CG Seventh AF. B-25's, based on Tarawa, bomb Maloelap, rearm at Majuro, and hit Jaluit and Mille on return trip.

4/15/44 Eleventh AF During 14/15 Apr 3 B-24's on armed rcn mission over Matsuwa and Onnekotan I hit several tgts including Matsuwa A/F. Rcn over Paramushiru fails due to overcast.

4/16/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb approaches to Ficulle and Todi railway bridges. A-20's blast fuel supplies. P-40's, P-47's, and A-36's hit Capranica viaduct, town of Zagarolo, railway at Spigno Monferrato, M/Y at OrteTerni, tunnel at Capranica, and tracks, vehicles, railway cars, ammo dump, bridge, and T/Os at various points in C Italy.

4/16/44 Fifteenth AF 31st Ftr Gp (P-51) (transferred from Twelfth AF on 1 Apr) begins operations. It becomes the fifth operational ftr gp of Fifteenth AF. 432 HBs attack Brasov M/Y, Turnu Severin M/Y and A/F, aircraft factory and A/F at Belgrade, and M/Y at Nish. Over 90 ftrs fly escort while 50-plus others, failing to rendezvous with HBs, strafe trains on Crcliova line E of Turnu-Severin.

4/16/44 USSR Soviet forces capture Yalta.

4/16/44 Tenth AF In Arakan area 20-plus A-31's pound troop positions S and SW of Buthidaung. More than 50 others hit Churachandpur, Homalin, Nawngpu-awng, Tiddim Road, and bridge at Manipur Road. 12 B-25's hit bridge over Mogaung R while 9 others, along with 12 P-51's, hit warehouse and railroad station at Mohnyin. 9 P-38's destroy 3 MBs at Zayatkwin near Rangoon while 2 P-51's in Mandalay area hit Anisakan A/F, destroying 2 airplanes.

4/16/44 Fifth AF 170-plus B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's bomb Hollandia town and A/F and numerous other tgts in the area. P-39's hit wooded area and comm tgts along Hansa Bay and attack villages and supply dumps from Bogia to Uligan Harbor. P-38's hit Madang area. Other B-25's bomb Koepang. B-24's fly light strike against Wakde. Other aircraft, operating singly or in pairs, attack T/Os on N coast of New Guinea and SE coast of New Britain.

4/16/44 Thirteenth AF 15 B-24's bomb runway at Satawan. 24 B-25's hit Ratawul supply area and alternate tgt of Raluana.

At Rabaul 30-plus FBs attack area inland from Toboi wharf.

4/16/44 Seventh AF B-25's, staging through Eniwetok, strike Truk. B-25's from Abemama hit Maloelap and Mille, using Majuro as a rearming base between the strikes.

4/17/44 Eighth AF 14 B-24's bomb V-weapon installation at Wizernes in Pas de Calais area. No ftr opposition is offered and all US aircraft return without damage.

4/17/44 Twelfth AF B-25's attack bridges N of Orte and at Monte Molino, while A-20's pound fuel dump NE of Rome. P40, P-47, and A-6 FBs hit motor transport stores and gun positions N of Anzio, bomb Fara in Sabina station, hit tracks, trains and guns in Orte and Narni area and at other points N of Rome.

4/17/44 Fifteenth AF 470 B-17's and B-24's hit Belgrade/Sava M/Y and Rogozarski A/F and aircraft factory as well as lkarus aircraft factory at Belgrade, Zemun A/F, and M/Y at Sofia. More than 200 ftrs escort the missions. US aircraft claim 25 airplanes downed in combat.

4/17/44 Tenth AF 36 A-31's again pound positions SW of Buthidaung. 2 B-24's bomb Akyab. 6 P-51's spt ground forces near Meza. 60-plus A-31's hit scattered villages and pound Kalewa and Yaingangpokpi. 9 P-38's destroy several airplanes at Heho A/F while 5 B-24's bomb Ywataung. 26 B-25's and 36 P-51's spt ground forces at Mawlu and bomb fuel dump at Kin. 13 other P-51's are diverted to intercept Japanese force over Imphal area and claim 3 airplanes shot down.

4/17/44 Fifth AF 20-plus B-24's bomb storage areas and troop concentrations in Kai Is. P-39's attack AA positions at Bogia. Other planes, operating individually or in pairs, attack Hollandia, Uligan Harbor and vicinity, and Madang area.

4/17/44 Thirteenth AF 20 B-24's bomb A/F at Satawan. 24 B-25's pound runway and revetments at Rapopo A/F. 40-plus FBs hit Matupi with incendiaries while 10 others pound runway at Keravat.

4/17/44 Seventh AF B-25's, based on Tarawa, strike Maloelap and Mille, rearming at Majuro between the raids.

4/18/44 Eighth AF More than 750 HBs attack aircraft industries, A/Fs and T/Os at Germendorf, Annahof, Brandenburg, Rathenow, Luneburg, Perleberg, Wittenberge, Birkenwerder, Cuxhaven, and Barnewitz, and a Vweapon site at Watten. 19 US HBs are lost.

4/18/44 Ninth AF XIX A Spt Cmd is redesignated XIX TAC and becomes operational. IX A Spt Cmd is redesignated IX TAC. 277 B-26's (including 24 dropping Window) and 37 A-20's bomb gun positions and M/Ys at Dunkirk, Calais, and Charleroi/ Saint Martin.

4/18/44 Twelfth AF P-47 FBs cut several rail lines in Florence and Arezzo areas and strafe trains and motor transport. P- 40's and P-47's hit Itri and rail bridge and fuel dumps as campaign against comm continues.

4/18/44 Fifteenth AF P-38's and P-47's strafe Udine and Aiello A/Fs and T/ Os in Basiliano, Sant' Andrea I, and Cervignano del Friuli areas and in Golfo di Panzano. Other ftrs fly cover for the strafing missions.

4/18/44 Tenth AF 24 A-31's bomb positions SW of Buthidaung while 2 B-24's bomb Akyab. 7 B-24's bomb oil plant at Yenangyaung while 5, along with 7 P-38's, hit Ywataung. 6 B-25's score numerous hits on Mandalay- Shwebo railroad. 42 A-31's attack Ft White, Tiddim, and Tamu. 15 B-25's and 4 P-51's bomb Kamaing and hit Myitkyina-Bhamo road.

4/18/44 Fifth AF The newly created (11 Apr) Thirteenth Air TF (Prov), commanded by Gen Streett and temporarily composed of elements of Thirteenth AF (which is being moved to SWPA), a few RAAF sqs, Seventh US Fleet air units, and Fifth AF units in the Admiralties and New Britain, is placed under operational control of Fifth AF/ADVON. Operating out of Momote, B-24's of Thirteenth Air TF bomb Woleai and Mariaon Is. B-24's of Fifth AF hit Manokwari and Babo. Madang area is hit by FBs.

4/18/44 Thirteenth AF 14 B-24's bomb A/F at Satawan, 23 B-25's, weathered out of Vunakanau, bomb Tobera A/F. 12 others and 9 FBs which fail to reach Rapopo bomb airstrip at Keravat. Wunapope is hit by about 40 FBs, with considerable damage to the supply area.

4/18/44 Seventh AF First Seventh AF attack on the Marianas takes place as B-24's escorting Navy photo airplanes on rcn mission from Eniwetok bomb Saipan. Other B-24's staging through Eniwetok hit Truk. B-25's from Tarawa bomb Ponape. B-24's from Kwajalein bomb Wake after failing to find shipping reported in the area. B-25's from Abemama bomb Jaluit and Maloelap, using Majuro as shuttle base between strikes.

4/18/44 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's fly armed rcn over Matsuwa, Onnekotan, and Paramushiru Is. Cloud cover and lack of moon permit only bombing of Kashiwabara A/F and Banjo Cape area.

4/19/44 Eighth AF 747 HBs in three forces bomb industrial tgts in Kassel area; A/Fs at Eschwege, Lippstadt, Werl, Paderborn, and Gutersloh; and other tgts at Limburg, Buren, Kall, and Soest, in morning operations.

During afternoon 27 B-24's bomb V-weapon site at Watten. 6 HBs are lost.

4/19/44 Ninth AF After several weeks of instruction a IX AFSC trg 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- plus B-26's and A-20's bomb M/Ys, city areas, and T/Os at Gunzburg, Ulm, Neu Ulm, Donauworth, and Schelklingen. Ftrs fly over 1,200 sorties against a variety of tgts in NW Europe.

4/19/44 Twelfth AF Bad weather severely restricts operations. B-26's hit Cecina railroad bridge and Ancona M/Y while B- 25's hit M/Y at Piombino. P-47's hit railroad tracks, M/Y, junction, and railway cars between Pontedera and Empoli and between Figline Valdarno and San Giovanni Valdarno.

4/19/44 Tenth AF 50-plus A-31's hit positions and supply dumps near Buthidaung and E of Maungdaw. 40-plus A-31's hit Churachandpur, Pyingaing, Tamu, and T/Os N of Kalewa. 6 B-25's and 8 P-51's attack troops and stores NW of Banmauk. 10 P-38's hit A/F near Meiktila. 5 P-51's attack troop positions near Mawlu and bridge at Shweli.

4/19/44 Fourteenth AF 3 B-25's damage a bridge at Thanh Moi and score hits on railroad and buildings S of bridge. 4 P-40's attack village of Takaw, causing several fires, and sink a ferryboat in the area.

4/19/44 Fifth AF B-24's hit Urarom and Manokwari. B-25's, A-20's, and ftr aircraft strike wide variety of tgts around Hollandia, Aitape, Bogia, Uligan, Bunabun, Madang, and Cape Croisilles. B-24's of Thirteenth Air TF bomb Woleai.

4/19/44 Thirteenth AF 21 B-24's bomb Satawan A/F, hitting the tgt area with about 50 tons of high explosives. 38 FBs hit Matupi supply areas while 7 bomb Rapopo airstrip. Ftrs hit Numa Numa area.

4/19/44 Twentieth AF XX BC is assigned to Twentieth AF.

4/19/44 Seventh AF B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, bomb Truk. B-25's from the Gilberts strike Ponape.

4/20/44 Eighth AF 666 HBs attack V-weapon installations and T/Os in Pas de Calais and Cherbourg areas. 33 P-51 FBs attack A/Fs at Cambrai/Epinoy, Vitry-en-Artois, and Laon/Athies. 53 P-38's dispatched to bomb Saint- Trond A/F jettison bombs in English Channel after overcast prevents location of tgts.

4/20/44 Ninth AF Almost 400 B-26's and A-20's attack gun positions at Etaples, Bazinghen, Villerville, Gravelines, and Fecamp, A/F at Poix, and V-weapon sites and T/Os in Pas de Calais area. Nearly 140 P-47's bomb M/Ys at Creil and Mantes-La-Jolie.

4/20/44 Twelfth AF MBs and LBs score hits on M/Y and 3 fuel dumps at Leghorn and near misses on Cecina and Certaldo bridges and Arezzo viaduct. FBs hit railroad lines and fuel dump in Florence area; bridges, dump, rail lines, and train cars near Civitavecchia and Zagarolo, at Sezze, near Ladispoli, SW of Stimigliano and N of Monterotondo; and guns S of Albano Laziale. In battle area around Cassino FBs blast several gun positions and hit bridges, trucks, troops and other tgts at several points, including at Falconara, Recanati, San Benedetto de Marsi, and Fondi-Itri and Orte-Orvieto areas.

4/20/44 Fifteenth AF More than 300 HBs attack Monfalcone shipyards, Tagliamento-Casarsa della Delizia railroad bridge, M/Ys at Fano, Vicenza, Ancona, Mestre, Treviso, and Trieste, and harbor and shipping at Venice. 180- plus other HBs dispatched against comm tgts in N Italy are forced to abort due to bad weather. About 250 ftrs provide cover for the bombing raids.

4/20/44 Tenth AF 11 B-25's hit bivouac and supply area NW of Manywet. 24 A-31's pound positions at Tiddim.

4/20/44 Fifth AF B-24's bomb A/Fs on Noemfoor. B-25's, A-20's, and ftrs hit a variety of tgts around Hollandia, on Cape Croisilles, in Bunabun area, and along Hansa Bay. Woleai is again bombed by B-24's of Thirteenth Air TF.

4/20/44 SOPAC Gen Harris, USMC, becomes COMAIRSOLS.

4/20/44 Thirteenth AF With improved weather conditions heavy bombing of tgts in the Bismarcks resumes. 22 B-25's hit Matupi supply area. 40-plus FBs blast the A/Fs at Lakunai and Keravat.

4/20/44 Seventh AF B-24's from Kwajalein search area near Wake for shipping. Finding none, the HBs hit Wake and Peale Is. Tarawa-based base between strikes, bomb Maloelap B-25's, using Majuro as a shuttle and Jaluit.

4/20/44 Eleventh AF A B-24 aborts a weather mission to Shasukotan I.

4/21/44 Eighth AF Eighth AF offensive against German oil tgts is scheduled to start on this date, but mission is cancelled because of bad weather.

4/21/44 Ninth AF 236 B-26's and 34 A-20's attack gun positions, coastal defenses and V-weapons sites at Etaples, at Berck-sur-Mer, near Doullens, and in Saint-Omer, Abbeville, and Amiens area. 4 B-26's are lost. More than 175 P-47's dive-bomb M/Ys and concentrations at Montignies-sur-Sambre, Hasselt, Namur, and Haine-Saint-Pierre.

4/21/44 Twelfth AF A-20's blast ammo dump while P-47's attack train, rail lines, and motor transport behind enemy lines.

Other P-47's, along with P-40's and A-36's, attack railway lines and trains between Rome and Terni, between Rome and Tivoli, and between Orte and Attigliano; hit motor transport concentration NE of Rome; and attack several bivouac areas and gun positions in battle areas.

4/21/44 Fifteenth AF Over 100 B-24's bomb Bucharest M/Y and Turnu-Severin. All 17 bomb gps dispatched are recalled due to bad weather but 7 gps fail to receive recall signal. Over 150 P-38's and P-51's are dispatched as escort. 40-plus rendezvous with the B-24's and battle some 30 ftrs that attack the HB force. The other ftrs, failing to meet the HBs, engage about 40 ftrs. HBs and ftrs claim 35 aerial combat victories.

10 US aircraft are shot down.

4/21/44 Tenth AF 20-plus A-31's hit villages and Japanese positions near Buthidaung. 12 B-25's and 14 P-51's pound Indaw and Mawlu, causing several fires in supply dumps and in the general tgt areas. 48 A-31's attack Tiddim Road and bridge at Manipur. 12 B-25's bomb camp and supply area at Kamaing. 8 B-24's bomb storage and fuel dumps at Lashio and bomb Namtu. 13 B-24's bomb Maymyo while 5 B-25's knock out 3 bridges in Tangon area. 4 P-51's knock out bridge at Shweli.

4/21/44 Fourteenth AF 12 P-40's fly armed rcn 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.

4/21/44 Fifth AF 21 B-24's bomb airstrips on Noemfoor. About 320 B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's hit numerous tgts in Tadji, Wewak, and Madang area, while a Navy carrier force hits Hollandia, Wakde, and Sawar as assault convoys approach the area.

4/21/44 Thirteenth AF 307th Bomb Gp (H) is ordered to move from New Georgia and Guadalcanal to the Admiralty Is, where it will become part of Thirteenth Air TF, serving operationally under Fifth AF. In spite of heavy weather in the Bismarcks, 24 B-25's blast Matupi supply area. 11 P-39's, closed out of Rabaul, bomb Tinputs Harbor.

4/21/44 Seventh AF B-24's from Kwajalein hit Wotje. B-24's from Eniwetok, staging through Kwajalein, bomb Truk. B-25's from Engebi bomb Ponape. Abemama-based B-25's, using Majuro as a shuttle base, bomb Jaluit and Maloelap.

4/22/44 Eighth AF 631 B-17's and B-24's bomb M/Y at Hamm. 18 others bomb secondary tgts in Hamm while 125 attack tgts at Koblenz, Bonn, and Soest. 15 HBs are lost, mostly to AA fire. 13 escorting ftrs are lost. US HBs claim 20 airplanes destroyed and ftrs claim 34 destroyed.

4/22/44 Ninth AF Over 400 B-26's and about 90 A-20's fly two missions against V-weapon sites in area of Saint-Omer and Hesdin. Nearly 275 P-47's and P-51's dive-bomb M/Ys in Belgium.

4/22/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb bridge and tracks S of Ficulle and bridge N of the town. Other B-25's and B-26's attack San Stefano al Mare harbor, N section of Orvieto, Chiusi railroad bridge, viaducts S and W of Arezzo and Bucine, Certaldo railroad bridge, bridge approaches at Incisa in Valdarno, bridge near Siena and viaduct at Poggibonsi. A-20's hit Valmontone ammo dump and Sonnino. P-47's hit railroad, trains, and tunnels in Florence area and W of Chiusi, M/Y at Siena, vessel S of Savona, railroad lines S of Orte, and town of Gaeta. P-40's attack gun positions N of Anzio beachhead and bomb Ferentino dump area and towns of Fondi, Terracina, and Formia.

4/22/44 Tenth AF More than 30 A-31's bomb Bishenpur and Kohima. 12 B-25's hit Kamaing while 5 B-25's and 6 P-51's attack ammo and other supplies at Hopin. 3 B-25's and 4 P-51's hit village NE of Bhamo while 7 P- 51's attack Gokteik Viaduct.

4/22/44 Fourteenth AF 6 B-24's claim 4 freighters and a gunboat sunk near Cap-Saint-Jacques. 1 other knocks out bridge SW of Vinh. P-40's on armed rcn over N Burma destroy 10 boxcars and a truck N of Lashio.

4/22/44 Fifth AF More than 20 B-24's bomb airstrips on Noemfoor. 80-plus B-24's and A-20's hit Boram and But A/Fs and other tgts in Wewak area; more than 100 B-24's and B-25's pound tgts along Hansa Bay; and all through the day B-25's and FBs, in flights of 1 to more than 20 aircraft, attack areas around Hansa Bay, Wewak, Bogia, Madang, and many other points along N and E coast of New Guinea. Many of the strikes indirectly spt Allied amphibious landings on N coast to the E and W of Hollandia, toward which a pincer movement is begun.

4/22/44 Thirteenth AF About 40 B-25's bomb supply areas at Ratawul and Talili Bay, pound Keravat, and hit area between Rapopo and Cape Gazelle. 40-plus FBs attack runway and gun positions at Rapopo while 9 strike Lakunai A/F. During 22/23 Apr, 17 B-24's bomb Dublon, Param, and Eten Is.

4/22/44 Seventh AF During 21/22 Apr, B-24's from Kwajalein bomb Wotje. Other B-24's from Kwajalein follow with another raid on Wotje during the day. B-25's from Tarawa, using Majuro as a shuttle base for rearming, bomb Jaluit, Maloelap, and Mille.

4/22/44 Eleventh AF A weather sortie is aborted soon after take off due to weather.

4/23/44 Eighth AF 346 P-47's, P-38's, and P-51's fly missions against A/Fs and other tgts in N France, Belgium, and NW Germany. Results are generally good. 7 airplanes are lost, all to flak.

4/23/44 Ninth AF 307 B-26's and 57 A-20's attack NOBALL tgts, gun positions, and M/Ys in Pas de Calais area and in adjacent area of Belgium. Around 1,000 P-47's and P-51's divebomb numerous tgts throughout France and the Low Countries.

4/23/44 Twelfth AF B-25's hit bridges and approaches at Attigliano. B-26's attack Incisa in Valdarno viaduct and bridge, Cecina M/Y, and attack, but fail to hit, Poggibonsi viaduct. P-47's, A-36's, and P-40's hit rail lines and bridges NE of Rome and along E coast in several areas including points around Orvieto, Orte, Tivoli, and Capronica.

4/23/44 Fifteenth AF Weather clears and HBs can resume operations. Over 500 B-24's and B-17's attack aircraft factories and A/Fs at Wiener-Neustadt, Schwechat, and Bad Voslau. Close to 300 ftrs provide spt. Many enemy ftrs attack fiercely, downing 12 HBs and 1 ftr. The HBs and escorts claim over 40 air victories.

4/23/44 Tenth AF 24 P-51's, 8 B-25's, and 51 A-31's attack Thetkegyin, Manipur bridge, Tiddim road, and Japanese positions at Indaw. 18 A-31's hit positions near Buthidaung. 12 P-38's hit Kangaung A/F near Meiktila.

21 B-24's bomb railroads and jetties at Moulmein and Martaban.

4/23/44 Fourteenth AF 14 P-40's pound arty post at Sienning and cav forces at Kuan-Fou-Chiao. 2 P-40's strafe barracks S of Tengchung, and 2 P-38's hit truck convoy and barracks S of Chiengmai. 4 P-40's blast motor pool at Lashio.

4/23/44 Fifth AF B-24's continue to hit airstrips on Noemfoor. The HBs claim 14 air victories. More than 90 B-24's bomb Wewak, Boram, and But A/Fs, road near Boram, and track and villages S of Dagua while 80- plus B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's pound AA positions, A/Fs, stores, and troop concentrations along Hansa Bay. Throughout the day A-20's, P-47's, P-38's, and P-39's pound various tgts along Hansa Bay, in Wewak area, and in vicinity of Uligan Harbor and Cape Croisilles. 20-plus B-24's of Thirteenth Air TF bomb A/F and supply areas on Woleai. In ground action Allied forces take Hollandia, Tumleo and Selo Is, and objectives around Tadji.

4/23/44 Thirteenth AF Weather again curtails strikes, but several FBs hit Tobera and 20-plus B-25's blast Matupi I.

4/23/44 Seventh AF B-24's based at Kwajalein hit Truk and Wotje. Makinbased B-25's hit Ponape, Jaluit, and Maloelap.

4/23/44 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's fly weather and photo rcn within 100 mi of the Kuril Is and photograph Matsuwa.

4/24/44 Eighth AF 716 B-17's and B-24's bomb A/Fs, aircraft production industries, and T/Os at Landsberg, Oberpfaffenhofen, Erding, Friedrichshafen, Manzell, Lowental, Gablingen, Leipheim and Neckarsulm.

Although a large Fifteenth AF raid on Ploesti and Bucharest draws many ftrs, 250 German aircraft oppose this Eighth AF mission. More than 125 of these ftrs concentrate on lead force over Landsberg- Oberpfaffenhofen-Erding area and down at least 15 HBs in a 30- to 45-min battle. Total losses for the day are 39 B-17's and B-24's.

4/24/44 Ninth AF 38 B-26's dispatched against tgts in France are recalled because of bad weather. 32 P-47's divebomb Louvain M/Y with good results.

4/24/44 Twelfth AF MBs attack railroad bridges N and S of Orvieto, at Arezzo, at Grosseto, and N and S of Incisa in Valdarno. A-20's hit dump at Valmontone. P-40's, P-47's, and A-36's hit shipping off Leghorn, Avezzano station, Orvieto and Terni M/Ys, Canino landing ground, railroad tracks at numerous points S of Orvieto, and rail lines, truck parks, and T/Os N of Rome.

4/24/44 Fifteenth AF 520-plus B-17's and B-24's bomb M/Ys at Bucharest and Ploesti, hit aircraft factory at Belgrade, and attack rail line between Rimini and Ancona. Over 250 ftrs fly spt for the HBs.

4/24/44 Tenth AF 36 A-31's and 8 P-38's pound positions near Buthidaung and Myohaung area. 60-plus A-31's hit troop concentration near Ft White and towns of Kohima and Ukhrul. 100-plus P-40's, P-51's, A-26's, and B- 25's bomb storage areas at Kamaing, Mogaung, and Hopin, and railroads and other tgts at Myitkyina, Manywet, and Chaungwa. 25 B-25's and P-51's hit Indaw and several other B-25's bomb Pyingaing.

4/24/44 Fourteenth AF B-25's damage bridges near Dara and Kengluang and strafe factory at Dhasan. P-40's on diversionary strike strafe numerous T/Os at Kengtung. B-25's on sea sweep hit 2 small steamers off Cape Bastion with cannon fire, claiming 1 vessel sunk and the other left burning.

4/24/44 Fifth AF B-24's again bomb parked aircraft and other tgts on Noemfoor. 40-plus B-24's bomb A/Fs in Wewak area. More than 140 B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's hit stores, fuel dumps, and personnel areas along Hansa Bay. Throughout the day MBs and FBs hit a variety of tgts along New Guinea coast including Karkar I, Uligan Harbor, Cape Croisilles, and Madang area. Madang falls to Allied ground forces.

4/24/44 Thirteenth AF Weather continues to curtail strikes in the Bismarcks. 10 P-40's hit runway and revetments at Tobera.

Ftr sweeps account for several trucks and barges in Rabaul New Ireland area.

4/24/44 Twentieth AF A B-29 piloted by Gen Saunders, CG 58th Bomb Wg, arrives at Kwanghan. Accompanying the VHB is another B-29 carrying Gen Wolfe, CG XX BC. These are the first B-29's to fly over the Hump to China.

4/24/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Engebi bomb Ponape while others, based at Makin, hit Jaluit and Wotje.

4/24/44 Eleventh AF A B-24 flies a photo and bomb run over Matsuwa I. Later another B-24 flies weather and bomb runs over Shasukotan, Yekaruma, Kharimkotan, and Onnekotan Is.

4/25/44 Eighth AF Nearly 300 B-17's and B-24's bomb M/Ys at Mannheim and Landau, and A/Fs at Esseyles-Nancy, Metz/Frescati, and Dijon/ Longvic.

4/25/44 Ninth AF 240 B-26's and 69 A-20's bomb V-weapon sites in coastal area of France and gun positions at Le Treport, Varengeville-sur-Mer, Fontenay-sur-Mer/Crisbec, Ault, Fecamp, Houlgate, and Saint-PierreduMont.

About 150 P-47's dive-bomb A/Fs in France and Belgium. Around 175 MBs are forced to abort missions because of bad weather.

4/25/44 Twelfth AF Attacks against lines of comm N of Rome continue. A-20's hit storage areas while MBs attack Pesaro M/Y, 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-40's and P-47's hit roads, gun positions, railroads, ammo dump and trucks N of Rome, near Ficulle, Orte and Orvieto. P-47's also damage destroyers off Elba.

4/25/44 Fifteenth AF Around 150 B-24's bomb aircraft factory at Turin, M/Y and bridge at Parma, M/Y at Ferrara, and several T/Os. Over 300 B-24's and B-17's are forced to abort missions due to bad weather. Over 100 ftrs escort the HB missions into N Italy.

4/25/44 Tenth AF 12 A-31's again hit positions at Buthidaung and bomb Paletwa. 12 A-31's bomb Kohima while 8 B-25's attack Tiddim road. 80-plus FBs and 2 B-25's hit a variety of tgts at Kamaing, Nsopzup, and Mogaung.

12 P-51's hit Japanese HQ at Katha and supply huts at Hopin. Near Mandalay 12 B-24's bomb Monywa-Alon while 21 P-38's hit A/Fs at Heho, destroying several aircraft in the air and on the ground.

4/25/44 Fifth AF 12 B-25's bomb troop areas in Hollandia vicinity, attacking villages S of Tanahmerah and huts and buildings along road from Marneda to Banggerang. Other airplanes carry out similar strikes against Karkar I and along Hansa Bay.

4/25/44 Thirteenth AF Just before dawn 15 B-24's hit Dublon, Moen, Fefan, Uman, and Falo Is. 23 B-25's bomb airstrip and revetments at Tobera. 12 P-39's leave stockpiles aflame at Baitsi.

4/25/44 Seventh AF Kwajalein-based B-24's, during 24/25 Apr, staging through Eniwetok, strike Truk and Guam and during day hit Wotje and Maloelap. This is first Seventh AF mission against Guam. B-25's from Engebi bomb Ponape, and Makinbased B-25's hit Jaluit and Wotje.

4/25/44 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's photograph and bomb installations on Matsuwa I.

4/26/44 Eighth AF 292 HBs strike at industrial center of Brunswick, a secondary tgt, when heavy cloud cover prevents bombing primary tgts of industry at Fallersleben, Waggum, Paderborn, Gutersloh and Cologne. Nearly 50 other HBs bomb T/Os in Hildesheim-Hannover area. 31 P-38 FBs attack A/F near Le Mans during morning, and 24 P-51's dive-bomb Cormeilles-en-Vexin A/F in afternoon. Opposition is very light and ineffective.

4/26/44 Ninth AF Ninth AF Tac Air Plan for Operation NEPTUNE is published, 10 days after receiving formal AEAF directive ordering such a plan. Around 125 MBs attack Plattling landing ground. Ftrs fly over 750 sorties against scattered tgts in NW Europe.

4/26/44 Twelfth AF Bad weather greatly curtails activity. P-47's attack motor transport and railroad tracks and hit gas dump near Trasimeno Lake, landing ground at Canino, and M/Ys of Leghorn.

4/26/44 Tenth AF 18 A-31's hit positions N and S of Buthidaung while 3 B-24's bomb Akyab. Near Chindwin 6 P-38's hit Tiddim road while 3 A-31's attack Japanese HQ in Kohima vicinity. 70 FBs and 3 B-25's pound numerous tgts at Mogaung, Kamaing, and several points in N part of the Mogaung Valley. In Mandalay and surrounding area, 9 B-24's bomb railroad yards and engine sheds, and 9 P-38's hit stores and hangars.

4/26/44 Fourteenth AF P-40's on armed rcn 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 Japaneseoccupied building is left in flames.

4/26/44 Fifth AF 120-plus B-25's and A-20's pound the Wewak area, hitting A/Fs at Wewak, But, Dagua, and Boram, and supply areas, troops, and several small villages. 13 B-24's bomb Awar Pt, 20 P-39's and P-47's attack bridges and T/Os near Madang and 8 P-39's attack roads, villages, and supply dump near Bunabun Harbor. A B-25 on rcn sinks a lugger in Sepik R. Allied ground forces take Hollandia and occupy Alexishafen.

4/26/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-25's bomb runway and dispersal area at Lakunai. 35 FBs pound A/F at Tobera. 8 P-40's attack occupied areas along bays of Tabut and Wariki.

4/26/44 Twentieth AF Ftrs make first interception of B-29's as the VHBs are flying over the Hump. The brief confrontation results in no losses on either side.

4/26/44 Seventh AF B-24's, having landed at Los Negros after bombing Guam on 25 Apr, hit Ponape and return to Kwajalein. B-25's based on Makin hit Jaluit and Wotje.

4/27/44 Eighth AF More than 450 B-17's and B-24's bomb A/Fs, M/Ys, and T /Os in France and Belgium, the principal tgts being at Chalons-sur-Marne, Blainville-sur-l'Eau, Essey-lesNancy, Toul/Croix-de-Metz, Le Culot and Ostend/Middelkerke.

4/27/44 Ninth AF About 450 B-26's and A-20's and more than 275 P-47 and P-51 dive bmrs attack gun emplacements, M/Ys, coastal batteries, A/Fs, and several military installations in France and Belgium.

4/27/44 Twelfth AF Weather again severely restricts operations. P-40's attack a supply dump N of Rome, scoring 7 hits in tgt area.

4/27/44 Tenth AF 24 A-31's attack positions in Buthidaung area. 12 B-25's hit Kalemyo storage area while 36 A-31's pound Kohima-Kanglatongbi area. 12 B-25's hit railroad at 4 points around Shwebo. Nearly 150 P- 40's, P-51's, A-36's, and B-25's blast troops, fuel dumps, gun positions, and railroad yard at several locations in Mogaung Valley, including Myitkyina, Mogaung, Namti, Kamaing, Mohnyin, Hopin, Nanyaseik, Chaungwa, and Myothit.

4/27/44 Fourteenth AF Rocket-firing P-40's attack 20 junks S of Shasi.

4/27/44 Fifth AF Babo is bombed by 9 B-24's. More than 100 B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's attack Mushu and Kairiru Is and A/Fs at Wewak, Boram, Dagua, and But. 120-plus A-20's and FBs blast coastal areas of Hansa Bay and nearby villages, personnel areas NW of Bunabun, and AA positions, villages, and bridges from Bunabun to Cape Croisilles.

4/27/44 Thirteenth AF 16 B-24's bomb Dublon, Eten, Moen, and Fefan Is in early morning. 24 B-25's blast Talili Bay supply area; later a few P-39's hit same tgt.

4/27/44 Seventh AF B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, bomb Truk during 26/27 Apr. B-26's from Eniwetok follow up during the day with 3 raids on Ponape. Makin-based B-25's hit Jaluit, Wotje, and Mille. 1 B-24 from Kwajalein, using Makin as a rearming base, bombs Emidj, Jabor, and Enybor.

4/27/44 Eleventh AF A B-25 bombs a submarine without success.

4/28/44 Eighth AF 116 B-17's bomb Avord A/F and 14 attack V-weapons site at Sottevast. 34 P-38's attack aircraft repair depot at Tours while 49 P-38's, followed by 32 P-47 dive bmrs, strike A/F at Chateaudun. Later during the day 47 B-24's bomb V-weapon site at Marquise/Mimoyecques and 11 P-47's carrying fragmentation bombs attack A/F NE of Paris.

4/28/44 Ninth AF 18 B-26's bomb A/F at Cormeilles-en-Vexin as secondary tgt. Nearly 250 B-26's dispatched to bomb M/Ys are recalled because of heavy cloud over tgts.

4/28/44 Twelfth AF MBs attack Piombino, railway bridges in N Orvieto, Ficulle, and W of Arezzo, and hit viaducts at Incisa in Valdarno and Piteccio. A-20's score hits on fuel dump. P-40's and P-47's hit fuel dump NW of Ferentino, warehouses S of Avezzano, several railway lines and T/Os N of Rome, Orbetello railroad yards, San Stefano al Mare harbor, rail lines at points between Rome and Avezzano, several gun emplacements, Follonica and Chiusi M/Ys, and cut railroad lines at several points NW of Rome. FBs also hit Chiusi M/Y, tracks around Castiglione della Valle, Cortona M/Y, Grosseto railroad bridge, scattered motor transport, and a barge near Follonica.

4/28/44 Fifteenth AF Clearing weather again permits HB operations. More than 450 B-17's and B-24's attack harbors at Piombino and San Stefano al Mare and rail and road tgts at Orbetello. P-38's, P-51's, and P-47's provide escort.

4/28/44 Tenth AF 24 A-31's hit positions near Buthidaung. 36 A-31's bomb positions at Sangshak-Sansak while 12 P- 38's blast Tiddim road, causing a roadblock. In Mogaung Valley 80-plus A-36's, P-40's, P-51's, and a single B-25 pound same general tgts hit on the 27th. In Mandalay area 7 B-25's knock out railroad bridge S of Myingatha and canal bridge between Ye-u and Kinu.

4/28/44 Fourteenth AF 26 B-24's, escorted by 10 P-51's, damage 2 bridges over Yellow R N of Chengchow (the capture of which by Japanese troops is acknowledged by the Chinese who evacuate Hulaokuan), and pound nearby storage area. 2 P-40's on armed rcn strafe troop column NE of Tengchung. 3 B-25's on rcn damage small steamer off E coast of Hainan. 16 P-40's and 6 B-25's pound Yangsin while 18 P-40's, P-38's, and P-51's strafe Nanchang barracks.

4/28/44 Fifth AF More than 160 B-24's and B-25's bomb Wakde, Biak, and Efman I A/Fs. 180-plus P-47's, P-39's, A- 20's, and P-70's hit a variety of tgts along N and NE New Guinea coast including villages and supply areas in Wewak and Boram areas, barges and troops at mouth of Sepik R and at Murik Lakes, and enemy comm and hideouts from Sepik R to Cape Croisilles. 21 B-24's of Thirteenth Air TF bomb A/F on Woleai.

4/28/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-25's bomb Wunapope supply area and Rapopo A/F. 30 FBs hit runway and revetments at Vunakanau. 15 P-39's pound gun positions near Mamagata and hit nearby bivouac and supply areas.

4/28/44 Seventh AF B-25's, based at Makin, strike Jaluit and Mille, using Majuro as a shuttle base between strikes. A single B-24 from Kwajalein bombs islands in Jaluit Atoll, hitting Emidj first, then rearming at Makin, and attacking Jabor and Enybor during return flight.

4/29/44 Eighth AF 679 B-17's and B-24's bomb Berlin, concentrating on railway facilities in Friedrichstrasse section in center of city. 38 other HBs bomb T/Os in area, including Magdeburg. Opposition by an estimated 350 ftrs is fierce. 64 HBs claim 73 ftrs destroyed while US ftrs claim 22.

4/29/44 Ninth AF 217 B-26's dispatched to bomb M/Ys in France abort mission because of heavy cloud cover over tgt area.

4/29/44 Twelfth AF B-25's attack Terni viaduct and Attigliano railway bridge, while B-26's bomb bridges and bridge approaches at Pontassieve and Incisa in Valdarno. A-20's attack dump NE of Rome. P-40's and P- 47's cut rail lines in many places NE of Rome, hit guns N of Anzio and dump SE of Rome, attack town of Acquapendente, hit approaches and tunnel S of Arezzo and bridge and trucks in area, bomb Sinalunga M/Y and bridge and approaches at Monte San Savino, and hit docks at San Vincenzo and boats at Follonica.

4/29/44 Fifteenth AF 484th Bomb Gp (B-24) is declared operational. The Fifteenth AF now has 18 HB gps. Over 400 B-24's and B-17's, with ftr escorts, attack Toulon naval base, Drnis M/Y, and Rimini-Ancona railroad.

4/29/44 Tenth AF 12 A-31's pound positions near Buthidaung. 21 P-38's hit A/Fs in Heho area and claim 3 aircraft downed in combat. 25 P-51's and B-25's bomb several buildings at Meza. 19 B-24's over Prome blast supply dumps in the area.

4/29/44 Fourteenth AF B-25's bomb warehouse and barracks at Shayang and attack 3 motor launches at Chiuchiang, leaving them burning.

4/29/44 Fifth AF More than 30 B-24's and B-25's bomb villages, AA positions, and personnel areas in Wakde Is, Maffin Bay area, and along coast of New Guinea from Takar to Verkam Pt. 40-plus A-20's hit stores at Cape Wom, and T/Os between But and Dagua. 130-plus A-20's, P-47's, and P-39's hit hideouts and movements along Sepik R and from the river's mouth to Cape Croisilles.

4/29/44 Thirteenth AF More than 40 P-39's bomb and strafe tgts throughout Bougainville and Buka, including Sipaai Mission, Kieta area, Lontis, Numa Numa, Ibu, Toborei, Totavi, Aitara, and Baitsi. 24 B-25's bomb A/Fs at Kara and Buka. Allied ftr sweeps continue over N Solomons and New Ireland, where huts, barges, and other T/Os are attacked.

4/29/44 Seventh AF B-24's, staging through Eniwetok from Kwajalein bomb Truk and Jaluit. B-25's from Makin also hit Jaluit and carry out 2 strikes against Ponape.

4/29/44 Eleventh AF 2 B-24's abort an armed photo mission due to weather.

4/30/44 Eighth AF 114 B-17's bomb Lyon/ Bron A/F, 117 B-17's bomb Clermont-Ferrand/Aulnat A/F, and 52 B-24's hit Vweapon site construction at Siracourt. In conjunction with these HB operations, 44 P-38's conduct high altitude bombing of A/F at Tours. During afternoon 22 P-38's, employing high-level bombing tactics, attack A/F at Orleans/Bricy, followed immediately by 21 P-47's that dive-bomb the tgt. Enemy opposition accounts for 1 HB and 5 ftrs.

4/30/44 Ninth AF Over 300 B-26's and A-20's attack V-weapon construction works and M/Ys in France.

4/30/44 Twelfth AF B-25's attack railroad bridges at Ficulle, N Orvieto and Marsciano, while B-26's hit bridges at Cortona and Incisa in Valdarno and in nearby areas. P-40's hit rail lines and storage in many locations N of Rome, hit rail lines and radar station in Orvieto area, cut railroads from Rome to Tivoli and to Civita Castellana, and hit T/Os in the area. P-47's hit numerous railroad lines, rail cars, and other tgts N of Rome.

4/30/44 Fifteenth AF 464th Bomb Gp (B-24) becomes the nineteenth HB gp declared operational by Fifteenth AF. Around 500 HBs, with ftr escorts, attack M/Ys at Alessandria, Milan, and Castel Maggiore, aircraft factory at Milan, and railroad between Rimini and Ancona.

4/30/44 Tenth AF In Chindwin area, 31 B-25's blast tank concentration, bridges, supply dumps, and general vicinity at Kalewa. 4 B-25's damage 2 bridges N of Yamethin.

4/30/44 Fourteenth AF P-40's from Yungning knock out bridge near Dong Mo and strafe railroad T/Os in the area.

4/30/44 Fifth AF More than 80 P-39's and P-47's make almost continuous attacks throughout the day against troops and supplies along Hansa Bay. 40-plus A-20's and B-25's bomb Wewak and nearby plantation. B-24's hit Noemfoor I with light raid. B-24 rcn flights over Manokwari area and Geelvink Bay result in claims of 6 interceptors shot down. P-70's hit T/Os on W shore of Hansa Bay. 23 B-24's of Thirteenth Air TF bomb Woleai Is.

4/30/44 Thirteenth AF 10 P-39's bomb Porton Plantations. 20-plus other P-39's, in 11 sweeps, attack a variety of T/Os on Buka and Bougainville, including Ivituri Mission, Kieta area, and Mamagata supply area. More than 30 P-40's and P-38's bomb Vunakanau A/F. 23 B-25's bcmb Vunakambi Plantation.

4/30/44 Seventh AF 41 Kwajalein-based B-24's bomb various tgts at Wake. 11 Makin-based B-25's bomb Jaluit, while 8 from Engebi bomb Ponape.

5/1/44 Eighth AF More than 500 HBs are dispatched on an early morning mission to attack 23 V-weapon sites in Pas de Calais area. Bad weather causes many aborts. 129 of these HBs manage to attack V-weapon sites at Marquise/Mimoyecques, Watten, and Bois de l'Enfer and A/Fs at Paix, Montdidier, and Roye/Amy.

In afternoon raid 328 B-17's and B-24's bomb M/Ys at Troyes, Reims, Sarreguemines, Metz, Liege, and Brussels.

5/1/44 Ninth AF The last of the 11 bomb gps (8 medium and 3 light) of IX BC becomes operational. 450 B-26's and A- 20's attack numerous M/Ys and industrial tgts in France and Belgium.

5/1/44 Twelfth AF MBs attack bridges at Albinia Station, NW of Chiusi, in and near Grosseto, near Monte Molino, Calafuria, and at Pontedera. Also attacked are viaduct at Monte Catellana and M/Ys at Florence/Campo di Marte and Florence, with particularly good results at Florence. LBs hit ammo dump at Fara in Sabina. P-40's and P-47's hit rail tracks in Rome area, Priverno station, guns N of Anzio, dumps at Frascati, stations at Colleferro and Frosinone, tracks at Orbetello and Orvieto, bridge and tunnel N of Todi, road in Canino, dump and factory at Stimigliano, vessels E of Piombino, factory E of Cecina, bridge approaches at Grosseto and Arezzo, dump at Grosseto, and tunnel at Rignano sull 'Arno.

5/1/44 Tenth AF 18 P-38's and A-31's hit troop positions and supply dumps. 7 P-40's over Mogaung Valley hit Kamaing and attack positions N of Nanyaseik. 30-plus B-24's bomb Maymyo, Mandalay M/Y, and oil facilities at Yenangyaung.

5/1/44 Fourteenth AF 32 P-40's hit tgts over wide areas of S China, Burma and Indochina. The FBs knock out bridge at Wan Lai-Kam, pound motor pool at Wan Pa-Hsa, and strafe railroad station and A/F at Yuncheng, damage 3 bridges and hit numerous boxcars at Bac Le, Dinh Ca, and Dong Mo, and bomb carbide mines at Loc Binh. Dong Dang and Na Cham railroad yards are also strafed. 7 B-25's and 8 P-40's bomb Tangyang A/F and nearby cav post. 2 B-25's over Amoy claim a small freighter sunk. 15 enemy airplanes bomb airstrips at Ankang and Hengyang.

5/1/44 Fifth AF 180-plus MBs, LBs, and ftrs pound Wewak and Hansa Bay areas throughout the day. Numerous coastline tgts are hit, including A/Fs, vehicles, comm, villages, AA positions, bivouacs, supplies, barges, and offshore islands. B-24's of Thirteenth Air TF hit Woleai and Eauriprik Is.

5/1/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-24's over Borpop area attack coastal guns. 40-plus FBs and more than 30 Navy dive bmrs pound Vunakambi Plantation. 38 P-39's, flying 18 different missions, hit a variety of tgts on SW Bougainville, including missions at Tinputs, Koromira, and Tsimba, Hongorai R crossing, Numa Numa bridge, and huts at Aravia and Kunapaupau.

5/1/44 Twentieth AF By this date all 4 VHB fields in Chengtu area are open to B-29 traffic.

5/1/44 Seventh AF Shore-based AF Forward Area (TF 59) is activated to control all Army, Navy, and Marine shore-based aircraft in the C Pacific forward area. The cmd is headed by Gen Hale, former CG of the Seventh. B- 25's from Makin bomb Jaluit.

5/1/44 Eleventh AF A single weather sortie is flown.

5/2/44 Eighth AF 50 B-24's bomb V-weapon installation at Saint-Pol/Siracourt.

5/2/44 Ninth AF More than 250 B-26's and A-20's bomb M/Ys at Busigny, Valenciennes, and Blanc-Misseron. Over 400 P-47's and P-51's divebomb A/Fs and M/Ys in France and the Low Countries.

5/2/44 Twelfth AF Attacks against rail lines and bridges in N Italy continue. MBs bomb approach to bridge in N Oriveto, bridges in S Ficulle and in Marsciano, and M/Ys in Florence/ Campo di Marte and W and NW Florence. LBs hit ammunition dump NE of Rome. P-40's and P-47's hit rail lines N of Rome, bridges SW of Rome, guns N of Anzio, road at Montefiascone, road bridge at Cecina, trucks and planes at Malignano landing ground, and several other dumps, roads, and rail lines in N Italy.

5/2/44 Fifteenth AF More than 250 B-24's, most with ftr escort, attack La Spezia dock and harbor installations, M/Ys at Castel Maggiore and Parma, railroad bridges at Faenza and Orbetello, and several T/Os. Over 300 other HBs are forced to abort because of weather.

5/2/44 EAC TCC, until this date a major subordinate component of EAC, is placed under Third Tac AF, another EAC component.

5/2/44 Tenth AF 24 A-31's hit villages and defensive positions near Buthidaung.

5/2/44 Fourteenth AF 3 B-24's claim 2 freighters sunk in S end of Formosa straits.

5/2/44 Fifth AF 140-plus A-20's and FBs it bridges, barges, gun positions, roads, personnel, supplies, huts, and tent areas from Wewak to Hansa Bay throughout the day. 2 B-25's bomb A/Fs at Wewak and Boram. 8 others it Wakde I oil stores, huts, AA positions, trucks, and other T/Os. A/F on Biak I is bombed by 2 B-24's.

5/2/44 Thirteenth AF 22 P-39's bomb village N of Kieta, airstrip and buildings of Koromira and Rigu Missions. P-40's also hit Kieta area. Ftr sweeps over Rabaul area continue. FBs hit Vunakambi Plantation supply area with incendiaries. B-25's pound Talili area.

5/2/44 Seventh AF B-24's, staging through Eniwetok from Kwajalein, bomb Truk during the night. During the day B-25's based at Makin hit Jaluit and Wotje, using Majuro as a shuttle base to rearm between strikes. B-25's from Engebi pound Ponape.

5/3/44 Eighth AF 47 B-24's bomb V-weapon site at Wizernes.

5/3/44 Twelfth AF B-25's and B-26's pound railway bridges at Monte Molino, Orvieto, and Taggia, bridge approaches at Ficulle and Imperia, and Ventimiglia M/Ys. A-20's attack ammo dumps. P-40's and P-47's attack rail lines, bridge, dump, guns, and building in battle area and score 4 direct hits on observation post S of Cassino; vessels and docks at Civitavecchia and Montalto di Castro, and road bridges and rail lines in the area; town of Fondi and rail lines and bridges nearby; railway bridges at Foligno, Sant' Elpidio a Mare, and Grosseto; viaduct at Terni; and numerous vehicles, dumps, railroads, vessels, and other tgts in battle areas and in N Italy.

5/3/44 Tenth AF 18 A-31's again hit defensive positions near Buthidaung. 12 B-25's and 40-plus A-31's hit Kohima and Kalewa. 28 FBs pound ammo dumps and other supplies at Mohnyin and N of Nanyaseik. 9 P-38's hit A/Fs in Meiktila area. 7 P-40's attack Lakatkawng and spt ground forces in the area.

5/3/44 Fourteenth AF 7 CACW B-25's bomb Mihsien town area and also hit numerous vehicles and troops NE of Mihsien, between Yochou and Hsuchang, at Chihsien and N of Yenling. The MBs also strafe town of Hsiangcheng.

4 B-26's and 8 P-40's pound storage area at Tangyang A/F. 10 CACW P-40's score 11 direct hits on bridge over the Yellow R NW of Chenghsien, and destroy 15 trucks and many troops between Loyang and Luchou. 10 other P-40's on armed rcn sink 3 sampans near Cat Ba I, knock out bridge at Bac Le, damage another at Kep, and pound Na Cham railroad yards.

5/3/44 Fifth AF 72 B-24's, B-25's, and A-20's thoroughly blast Wewak and Boram A/Fs in a single raid. About 120 A- 20's, B-25's, and FBs, operating throughout the day, hit Wewak and Hansa Bay areas, including tgts at Nubia, Uligan, Mushu I, Wewak, and Boram. A/Fs at Maffin Bay is bombed by B-25's.

5/3/44 Thirteenth AF 8 P-39's bomb buildings at Monoitu. 17 others, in the course of 6 missions, hit T/Os, including Japanese-occupied huts and buildings at Toiemonapu, Tinputs, and Sisiruai, and bivouacs at Tarlena, Ratsua, and Mawareka. 24 B-25's bomb Kulon Plantation and a personnel concentration to the NE.

Allied ftr sweeps over N Solomons and the Bismarcks continue. P-40's returning from New Britain area bomb Pororan.

5/3/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Kwajalein bomb Wotje while others, based at Makin, strike both Jaluit and Wotje, using Majuro as a rearming base between raids.

5/4/44 Eighth AF 851 B-17's and B-24's (13 combat wgs) take off to bomb industries at Brunswick and Berlin. Because of thick cloud conditions less than 300 HBs proceed and these are forced to abandon mission over the Low Countries. 48 B-17's manage to attack Bergen/Alkmaar A/F during withdrawal.

5/4/44 Ninth AF More than 170 B-26's and 36 A-20's bomb gun emplacements and other military tgts at Etretat/Sainte- Marie-Au-Bosc, Etaples, Le Treport, Ault, Fecamp, and Ouistreham.

5/4/44 Twelfth AF Main effort again is against lines of comm. MBs hit bridges, tracks, and M/Ys. P-40's, A-36's, and P- 47's hit rail lines in and around Priverno, guns and radar station N of Anzio, railroad cars, rail lines, and bridge in Orte-Attigliano and Orte-Narni areas, motor transport and stores E of Frascati, M/Ys at Colleferro and Follonica, and trucks and personnel on Fondi-Pico road. Vessels at Leghorn and numerous railroad tgts at scattered points are attacked.

5/4/44 Tenth AF 12 A-31's bomb Kaladan while a single B-24 bombs Akyab. 12 B-25's damage bridge at Kalemyo and bomb Tiddim, while 24 A-31's hit Kohima. 24 B-24's bomb Mandalay M/Y and barracks and general area at Maymyo. 2 P-51's knock out bypass bridge near Shweli.

5/4/44 Fourteenth AF 8 P-40's hit gun positions at Pailochi. 2 B-25's strafe 12 sampans between Hong Kong and Luichow Peninsula, killing many soldiers on board.

5/4/44 Fifth AF 26 B-24's of Thirteenth Air TF bomb Mokmer A/F. 60-plus B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and P-47's pound A/Fs, road, bridges, shipping, barges and other tgts in Wewak area. A-20's attack bridges over Awar R and T/Os in Hansa Bay area while FBs hit T/Os in Ramu R Valley and on Hansa Bay coast.

5/4/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-25's bomb Talili Bay area. 43 FBs hit Vunakanau A/F. Allied ftr sweeps over the Bismarcks continue.

38 P-39's, flying 18 missions, hit several tgts on Bougainville, including buildings at Sovele, Tinputs, Reboine Bay area, Monoitu, and in area N of Taki. T/Os in Koromira area are also attacked.

5/4/44 Seventh AF 12 B-25's, based at Makin, pound Jaluit and Wotje, using Majuro as a shuttle base for rearming between the strikes. 39 B-24's from Kwajalein and Eniwetok hit Ponape.

5/5/44 Eighth AF 33 B-24's bomb V-weapon installation at Sottevast.

5/5/44 Ninth AF Gen Wood assumes cmd of IX AFSC.

5/5/44 Twelfth AF A-20's bomb supply dump W of Albano Laziale. XII TAC A-36's, P-47's, and P-40's fly 24 missions cutting rail lines N and NE of Rome, and hitting guns N of Anzio beachhead and N of Gaeta, and a dump near Frascati. Bridges at Orvieto and W of Lake Bolsena are damaged by direct hits, a barge at San Stefano al Mare is hit, several trucks destroyed or damaged, rail lines are cut in several places near Sesti Bagni, and airplanes are hit at Canino landing ground. DAF P-47's attacks S of Pisa.

5/5/44 Fifteenth AF 465th Bomb Gp (B-24) becomes operational, making total of 20 HB gps operational in Fifteenth AF.

640-plus B-24's and B-17's (the largest force of HBs dispatched by Fifteenth AF to date) attack M/Y at Ploesti and troop concentrations and town area at Podrorica. Ftrs fly over 240 sorties in spt.

5/5/44 Tenth AF 18 A-31's hit concentrations SE of Buthidaung. 15 P-38's hit tgts along Tiddim road while 40-plus A- 31's pound gun positions, camps, villages, and supply dumps SW of Bishenpur and at Kalewa. 3 B- 25's bomb Thayaung A/F area. More than 80 P-40's, P-51's, A-36's, and B-25's carry out spt of ground forces, hit gun positions and supply dumps, attack troop concentrations, and blast numerous T/Os throughout the Mogaung Valley. 11 A-31's bomb Naba and vicinity while 3 B-25's and 6 FBs hit ammo dump N of Mohnyin. 12 P-38's bomb large warehouse E of Monywa. 6 B-24's lay mines in harbor off Koh Si Chang I.

5/5/44 Fourteenth AF 11 B-24's bomb docks and shipping at Haiphong. 14 P-40's damage bridges at Hsenwi and Wan Pa- Hsa and hit barracks and destroy several trucks at Kentung. 8 B-25's and 23 FBs attack warehouse area at Chiuchiang, causing large fires. 25 CACW B-25's and P-40's thoroughly pound Sinyang M/ Y and storage area. 10 P-40's sweep road from Loyang to Juchou, claiming 40-50 vehicles and numerous troops destroyed.

5/5/44 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Mokmer A/ F while B-25's hit supply areas at Wakde I and along coast of Maffin Bay. A- 20's and FBs again pound tgts around Wewak and along coast of Hansa Bay, hitting supply and personnel areas, warehouses, and occupied villages.

5/5/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-25's bomb gun positions at Buka. 34 P-39's hit various tgts on Bougainville and Buka, including buildings at Porton, Chabai, and Kohiso, pillbox at Pau I, and road near Tsundawan. Supply area at Chabai is bombed by 12 other P-39's. P-40's bomb buildings at Kieta and at nearby Rigu Mission. Ftr patrols continue over N Solomons and the Bismarcks.

5/5/44 Seventh AF During 4/5 May B-24's from Kwajalein stage through Eniwetok and bomb Truk. During the day B-25's from Eniwetok strike Ponape, and 10 from Makin hit Jaluit and Wotje, using Majuro as rearming base between the attacks.

5/6/44 Eighth AF 70 B-24's bomb V-weapon site at Siracourt. Over 90 others, scheduled to attack similar installations at Sottevast and La Glacerie, fail to bomb because of total overcast at tgts.

5/6/44 Ninth AF 76 B-26's and A-20's dispatched to attack coastal defenses abort mission because of weather.

5/6/44 Twelfth AF A-20's pound storage area at Itri. A-36's hit rail lines in Viterbo area. P-40's hit guns, tracks, and railroad station in and around Frosinone, and rail lines, stations, roads, and town area in and near Itri, Colleferro, and Sezze. P-47's hit Certaldo M/Y and numerous railroad and highway tgts, including several bridges.

5/6/44 Fifteenth AF About 300 B-17's and B-24's, escorted by P-51's and P-38's, bomb A/F, aircraft factory, and M/Y at Brasov.

5/6/44 Tenth AF 24 A-31's continue pounding positions near Buthidaung. 14 B-25's bomb Indainggyi, destroy Sibong bridge, and damage road at Hpaungzeik. 40-plus A-31's bomb troop concentrations NE of Palel and hit Thaungdut area. 90-plus P-40's, A-31's, P-51's, and B-25's attack wide variety of tgts throughout Mogaung Valley. 18 FBs and 6 B-25's spt ground forces at Mawlu while 3 B-25's and 4 P-51's hit positions at Nalong.

5/6/44 Fourteenth AF 61 P-40's and 5 B-25's attack tgts throughout S China and Indochina. Numerous vehicles and troops are destroyed in Hsiangcheng, Loyang, and Luchou areas. 8 boxcars are destroyed and 70 more damaged between Thanh Moi and Bac Le and between Phu Lang Thuong and Lang Son. A barge is sunk at Campha Port and numerous sampans and small craft sunk or damaged at Cat Ba I. Main buildings at Nanchang mines are destroyed, Sienning bridge is damaged, and several railroad cars and vehicles are destroyed near Puchi. 14 B-25's and 28 FBs pound A/F and surrounding area at Hankow.

5/6/44 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Penfoei and Biak I. 150-plus B-25's, A-20's, and FBs, operating almost continuously throughout the day, blast a variety of tgts from Wewak to the shores of Hansa Bay. B-24's of Thirteenth Air TF again bomb Woleai.

5/6/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-25's and 12 P-39's pound the Talili Bay area. 37 P-39's and 19 P-40's attack tgts in Porton area.

5/6/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Makin and Kwajalein hit Wotje and Jaluit. B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, escort Navy airplanes on photo rcn of Guam. The B-24's bomb Guam from 20,000 ft, scoring hits on 2 A/Fs and a town area and proceed to Los Negros to prepare for return flight. The HBs claim 4 interceptors shot down.

5/7/44 Eighth AF 549 B-17's bomb city of Berlin, 167 B-24's bomb industrial center of Osnabruck, 145 B-24's strike industrial area of Munster, and around 30 other HBs bomb various T/Os in Germany in morning raids.

During the afternoon 19 B-24's bomb M/Ys at Liege and 9 bomb T/Os. This is the first day in which over 900 Eighth AF HBs attack tgts and the second time in which over 1,000 are airborne on a singleday's operations. 9 bmrs are lost.

5/7/44 Twelfth AF Weather remains poor and precludes MB operations. A-20's hit dump SW of Albano Laziale. FBs hit comm, especially roads, with excellent results. Roads, motor transports, trains, gun positions, bridges, tracks, M/Ys, harbor areas, and other tgts are attacked in areas around Stimigliano, Vetralla, Viterbo, Bracciano, Anzio, Manziana, Acquapendente, Civitavecchia, Terracina, Rome, and Elba I.

5/7/44 Fifteenth AF 420-plus B-17's and B-24's bomb M/Ys in Bucharest. 62 P-51's escort HBs to tgt and 53 provide withdrawal escort. 84 P-38's and P-51's fly tgt cover. 38 B-17's attack bridge at Belgrade.

5/7/44 Tenth AF 35 A-31's pound area around Bishenpur. 15 P-38's hit Kangaung area. 4 P-40's hit T/Os along road from N of Nanyaseik to Kamaing. 4 B-24's lay mines in Gulf of Siam off Sattahib.

5/7/44 Fourteenth AF 4 B-25's hit vehicle concentrations W and NW of Hsiangcheng and bomb town of Chiahsien, and 4 P- 40's destroy at least 25 trucks between the 2 towns. 8 P-40's destroy or damage 40-60 trucks, tanks, and other vehicles during road sweeps from Loyang to Yenshih and from Yehhsien to Paofeng. 8 P- 40's strafe forces and equipment E of Luchou, while 4 hit railroad T/Os at Lang Son.

5/7/44 Fifth AF B-24's, B-25's, and P-40's hit Urarom, Biak I, HollandiaWakde coast, and Sawar-Maffin Bay area. A- 20's, B-25's, and FBs again attack T/Os from Wewak to area around Hansa Bay and strafe villages along Sepik R.

5/7/44 Thirteenth AF 15 B-25's, hampered by bad weather, attack coastal gun on Cape Friendship and bomb W coast of Rantan I. 70-plus P-39's, P-38's, and P-40's bomb numerous tgts throughout Buka and bougainville, including shipping and supply area at Chabai and Tsirogei, huts at Hiru Hiru, near Tonu, and at Monoitu, and bridges W of Haigi and on Miwo R.

5/7/44 Seventh AF B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, bomb Truk during 6/7 May. B-25's from Engebi hit Ponape during the following day. Makin-based B-25's bomb Jaluit and Wotje.

5/8/44 ETO Gen Eisenhower sets D-Day for Normandy invasion as 5 Jun. Date subsequently will be changed to 6 Jun.

5/8/44 Eighth AF During the morning 378 B-17's bomb Berlin, 287 B-24's and 49 B-17's strike aircraft factories near Brunswick, and 29 HBs attack Brandenburg and scattered T/Os in the area; 36 bmrs are lost on these raids. In afternoon 52 B-17's bomb 1 V-weapon site at Sottevast, 29 B-17's bomb sites at La Glacerie, and 56 B-24's bomb M/Ys at Brussels, with 5 HBs being lost in these afternoon operations.

5/8/44 Ninth AF About 450 B-26's and A-20's bomb M/Ys, coastal defenses, bridges, A/Fs, and V-weapons sites in France and Belgium.

5/8/44 Twelfth AF FBs hit roads and railroads N of Rome, supply dump N of Anzio beachhead, and station at Colleferro.

Numerous trucks and railroad cars are destroyed and many troops killed. Attacks against rolling stock on Rome-Orte rail line are especially effective.

5/8/44 Tenth AF 12 A-31's continue attacks on sector SE of Buthidaung. 9 B-24's and 9 B-25's bomb Moirang and a village to the N, causing considerable damage including the destruction of a road bridge. 12 P-38's hit Kangaung A/F.

5/8/44 Fifth AF B-24's and P-40's operating in Geelvink Bay area attack Mokmer A/F and nearby shipping. A-20's and FBs continue to pound T/Os along NE New Guinea coast from Wewak to Hansa Bay and along Sepik R.

5/8/44 Thirteenth AF FBs pound Tobera A/F and strafe T/Os in the area. 2 sqs of B-24's bomb gun positions at Sohano I and Hahilia while 30-plus P-39's and P-40's hit areas around Porton, Tsimba, Tarara, Kieta, Numa Numa, Tsirogei, and at several other points. B-25's blast coast near Banin, hit Sohano I, and bomb A/F areas at Bonis and Buka.

5/8/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Engebi strike Ponape while Makin-based B-25's pound Jaluit and Wotje, using Majuro as a shuttle base between strikes. B-24's that landed at Los Negros after Guam strike on 6 May return to the Marshalls, bombing Ponape en route.

5/9/44 Eighth AF A total of 797 B-17's and B-24's bomb A/Fs at Saint Dizier Robinson, Thionville, Juvincourt-et-Damary, Laon/Athies, Laon/Couvron, Lille, Nivelles, Saint-Trond, and Florennes; and M/Ys at Liege, Thionville, and Luxembourg. This is start of an offensive against A/Fs, set within a month of Normandy invasion so that the GAF will not have time to recover before D-Day.

5/9/44 Ninth AF The 367th and 406th Ftr Gps become operational, bringing the ftr gp total of the Ninth AF to 18. over 40 MBs attack M/Ys, railway batteries, coastal defense batteries, bridges, and NOBALL sites in France.

5/9/44 Twelfth AF B-26's hit Incisa in Valdarno railroad bridge and viaduct while A-20's attack fuel dumps. FBs again blast roads and railroads and other tgts at various locations N of Rome, including Lake Bolsena, Civitavecchia, Colleferro, Civita Castel-lana, Orte, and San Giovanni Valdarno.

5/9/44 USSR Soviet Army captures Sevastopol.

5/9/44 Tenth AF 20-plus A-31's continue attacks on Buthidaung area, hitting troop concentrations and supply dumps.

More than 100 A-31's, P-51's, and B-25's hit positions and occupied areas at Moirang, Kanglatongbi, Myothit, and SE of Palel, and severely damage bridge over Uyu R near Nawngpuawng. Mogaung Valley tgts, including tgts in spt of ground forces near Kamaing, are pounded by more than 60 B-25's, A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's. 9 P-51's hit troops and gun positions at Mawlu and Namkwin and hit Nalong area. 3 B-24's blast barracks area at Nagorn Sawarn while 3 P-51's hit Anisakan A/F, destroying or damaging 20-plus trucks, 2 airplanes, and a locomotive. 8 B-24's lay mines in Moulmein area, 2 others make diversionary strike on Martaban, and 5 mine Mergui waterfront.

5/9/44 Fifth AF More than 50 B-24's and B-25's bomb Langgoer and Faan airstrips, and Bosnik supply area and Mokmer A/F. 220-plus A-20's and FBs continue to blast numerous T/Os along NE New Guinea coastline from Wewak to Hansa Bay area. 12 B-24's of Thirteenth Air TF bomb Woleai.

5/9/44 Thirteenth AF 33 FBs pound A/ F at Lakunai. Ftr sweeps over New Ireland and New Britain continue. On Bougainville 30-plus P-39's and P-38's hit barges in Porton-Chabai area, huts at Kieta, and ammo dump S of Aitara Mission. 10 other P-38's and 12 B-25's bomb Bonis A/F and nearby T/Os in Buka Passage.

5/9/44 Seventh AF During 8/9 May B-24's stage through Kwajalein to bomb Truk. Makin-based B-25's hit Wotje and Jaluit, using Majuro as a rearming point between attacks.

5/10/44 Ninth AF About 300 MBs attack M/Ys, A/Fs, and NOBALL tgts in France and Belgium. P-47's and P-51's divebomb tgts in NW Europe for the sixth straight day. Bad weather causes large number of aborts.

5/10/44 Twelfth AF Weather permits MB operations for first time in several days. B-25's hit bridges near San Giovanni Valdarno, Orvieto, and Monte Molino, and Terni viaduct. B-26's attack bridges W of Arezzo. FBs continue attacks on roads and railroads N of Rome. Tgts in areas of Avezzano, Civitavecchia, Furbara, Terni, Todi, Orvieto, Manciano, Perugia, Monte San Savino, and La Spezia, and near Rome are attacked.

5/10/44 Fifteenth AF 485th Bomb Gp (B-24) is declared operational, giving Fifteenth AF its planned operational strength of 21 HB gps. The 52d Ftr Gp (P-51) also begins operations with the Fifteenth on this date, making a total of 6 ftr gps. Around 400 HBs attack A/F and industrial complex at Wiener-Neustadt. Over 200 ftrs provide spt. 19 HBs hit Knin railroad center. Over 300 HBs are forced to abort due to bad weather which has halted operations for the past few days. Opposition is fierce against the Wiener-Neustadt missions. 21 HBs and 1 ftr are lost. US aircraft claim 50 combat victories.

5/10/44 CBI In drive to free the Burma Road, Chinese troops cross Salween R on a 100-mi front and attack Japanese positions in N Burma.

5/10/44 Tenth AF 12 A-31's hit Buthidaung area. More than 70 B-25's, A-36's, P-51's, P-40's, and 10 B-24's blast numerous tgts, concentrating on barracks and storage in Myitkyina-Mogaung vicinity and also hitting gun positions and bridges at Kamaing, and railroad siding and buildings at Mohnyin. 60-plus A-31's hit Kohima and Bishenpur, and damage bridge near Kalewa. 16 P-38's destroy several aircraft in strikes on Aungban and Kangaung A/Fs.

5/10/44 Fourteenth AF P-40's sink 6 large junks and damage several others in Fan Tou Bay, and destroy several trucks between Wan Pa-Hsa and Mong Ho Pung. 28 P-40's bomb Tengchung town area, strafe nearby truck convoy, damage bridges at Tingka, Bac Le and Hsenwi, hit power dam at Tasa, bomb tank and truck dispersal area at Hsiangcheng, and hit 30-plus railroad cars at Lang Giai, Dong Dang, and Na Cham.

5/10/44 Fifth AF 120-plus B-24's, A-20's, and FBs, along with RAAF airplanes, maintain attacks on T/Os along NE New Guinea coast from Hansa Bay area to Wewak. 2 B-24's hit Mokmer A/F. 45 B-24's of Thirteenth Air TF bomb A/F on Eten I and warehouse area at Dublon.

5/10/44 Thirteenth AF 41 FBs attack Tobera A/F. 11 B-25's hit Matupi I. Ftrs on sweep hit trucks W of Keravat. 4 B-25's bomb Muguai Mission. 61 P-39's (some back from Tobera strike) and 12 P-40's attack tgts throughout Buka-Bougainville area, including bridge over Crepers R, supply area at Mawareka, barge at Chabai, village on Schwarze Pt, pillbox at Gohi, and general area of Porton Plantations.

5/10/44 Seventh AF B-24's from Kwajalein bomb Wake during 9/10 May. During the day, B-25's from Engebi bomb Ponape while Makin-based B-25's raid Jaluit and Wotje.

5/10/44 Eleventh AF The Eleventh directs its components to place more emphasis on photographing and bombing of specific tgts instead of general rcn.

5/11/44 Eighth AF 164 B-24's bomb M/Ys at Mulhouse, Belfort, and Epinal; 24 bomb secondary tgts of M/Ys at Chaumont; 66 attack Orleans/Bricy and other tgts of last resort. 5 bmrs are lost in these early afternoon raids. In late afternoon 2 forces, totaling 549 B-17's, bomb M/Ys at Saarbrucken, Ehrang, Volkingen, KonzKarthaus, Thionville, Liege, Brussels/Midi, Brussels/Schaerbeek, Bettembourg, and elsewhere in Luxembourg. 8 bmrs are lost.

5/11/44 Ninth AF More than 330 MBs attack A/Fs at Beaumont-le-Roger and Cormeilles-en-Vexin and M/Ys at Aerschot and Mezieres/Charleville. Bad visibility and failure to rendezvous with ftrs cause over 100 aborts. This is start of Ninth's participation in AAF pre-invasion offensive against A/Fs.

5/11/44 Twelfth AF MBs, hampered by weather, attack Portoferraio, bridges near Orvieto and Ficulle, tracks at Piombino, viaduct at Poggibonsi, and bridges at Certaldo and Signa. FBs hit Fondi, rail lines NE of Rome, A/F at Littoria, rail facilities in Perugia area, barge, harbor area, and factory in Portoferraio area, and tracks near Castiglione d'Orcia. Other FBs attack numerous positions along main front as US Fifth and British Eighth Armies begin assault through the Gustav Line and the drive toward Rome.

5/11/44 Tenth AF 24 A-31's hit Japanese positions at Labawa and SE of Maungdaw. 36 A-31's hit positions at Kohima and Potsangbam. In Mogaung Valley 70-plus B-25's, A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's, attack Myitkyina and Pinbaw areas, Sahmaw, tgts NW of Kamaing, gun positions at Nsopzup, and T/Os along road from Inkangahtawng to Kamaing. 24 P-51's attack A/F at Meiktila, Anisakan, and Heho, shooting down 13 airplanes in the area. 14 B-24's pound Maymyo railroad station. 12 B-25's attack railroad in Shwebo- Sagaing area. 12 other B-25's knock out bridges at Pyu, Thawatti, Ela, and 7 mi S of Ela.

5/11/44 Fourteenth AF 24 P-40's knock out main bridge N of Mangshih, bomb town area of Lungchwanchiang, damage radio station on Cat Ba I and destroy several large junks off shore, and attack power dam W of Cao Bang, buildings at Dong Dang, and boxcars and oil drums at Lang Giai. 6 B-25's and 24 P-40's (some firing rockets) pound railroad yards and depot at Sinyang, blast warehouse area 30 mi to the N, and sink a small freighter, 3 motor launches, and several sampans between Siaokan and Chienli. 2 B-25's and 4 P-40's hit troops, tanks, and trucks in Yenshih-Tengfeng-Mihsien area and in Luchou-Hsiangcheng vicinity. 6 P-40's pound supply dumps at Mienchih and 13 P-40's sink at least 5 supply boats on the YanFtze in the Hosueh area.

5/11/44 Fifth AF 130-plus B-24's and B-25's bomb gun emplacements and supply areas on Wakde and Mokmer A/F and T/Os on Biak. 220-plus FBs, A-20's, B-24's, and B-25's continue to pound coastal bridges and villages, fuel dumps, vehicles, gun positions, supply areas, bivouacs, and various tgts along the shoreline from Hansa Bay to Wewak.

5/11/44 Thirteenth AF 8 P-38's bomb supply-personnel area W of Tobera. 12 B-25's, 12 P-40's and 3 B-24's hit Vunakanau A/F. Ftrs on sweeps and bombing missions over the Bismarcks hit various tgts at Kabanga Plantation, Gazelle Peninsula area, N of Sae R, and at Labout. 70-plus P-39's, P-40's, and P-38's (flying total of 18 missions) attack variety of tgts, including piers at Chabai, Ratsua, and Porton, wooded area near Pipipaia, town of Siruluna, bridge at Tokinotu, and A/F at Buka.

5/11/44 Seventh AF B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, bomb Truk during 10/11 May. During day B-25's from Engebi hit Ponape while others, based at Makin, pound Jaluit.

5/12/44 Eighth AF 800 B-17's and B-24's operating in 3 forces, bomb oil plants, other industrial tgts, M/Ys, A/Fs, and some unidentified T/Os at Merseburg, Lutzkendorf, Zeitz, Bohlen, Zwickau, Gera, Chemnitz, and Brux.

An estimated 430 ftrs offer intense opposition. 46 HBs are lost.

5/12/44 Ninth AF IX TCC carries out EAGLE, a full-scale exercise of the tactics and techniques of paradrop, glider tow, parapack in resupply, air landing of supplies, and medical evacuation as a dress rehearsal for the airborne invasion of Normandy. More than 450 MBs attack coastal defenses, A/Fs, bridges, railroads and railroad guns, and V-weapon sites in France and Belgium. Thick haze impedes visibility and causes many aborts.

5/12/44 Twelfth AF A-20's blast cmd posts along main battlefront as Allied ground forces seek to break through Gustav Line. MBs hit concentration near Fondi, attack forces at Vallecorsa and Pastena, and bomb numerous positions along main front. FBs pound cmd posts, guns, bridges, road and rail traffic, and troops along assault front and in rear areas, concentrating especially on the Monte Cassino Benedictine Abbey and surrounding area.

5/12/44 Fifteenth AF Around 730 B-17's and B-24's (largest HB force used by Fifteenth AF on any day to this time) attack German HQs at Massa d'Albe and Monte Soratte; town of Civitavecchia; A/Fs at Tarquinia and in surrounding area; M/Ys at Chivasso, Piombino, Marina di Carrara, Viareggio, and Ferrara; Orbetello I; Piombino harbor; docks and comm at San Stefano al Mare; harbor, M/Y, and railroad bridge at Chiavari; La Spezia M/Y and harbor; and several T/Os. 26 P-38's strafe Piacenza A/F. Other ftrs fly over 250 sorties in spt of bombing missions.

5/12/44 Tenth AF 24 A-31's hit positions at Labawa and SSE of Maungdaw. 36 A-31's hit villages around Bishenpur while 4 B-25's strike at Tiddim road NNW of Tonzang. 50-plus B-25's and FBs knock out railroad bridge at Pinbaw, pound gun positions and supply area at Myitkyina and hit defensive positions near Kazu-Tiangsup. 4 B-25's damage Myothit bridge while 8 P-38's bomb Kyaukye. 21 P-51's hit A/Fs at Meiktila and Heho, claiming 8 interceptors downed. 4 B-25's knock out bridge at Daga while 2 others bomb camp at Taungbaw.

5/12/44 Fourteenth AF 16 P-40's and 11 B-25's hit several tgts in S China and in Indochina. Military installations, arty positions, and tank concentrations are pounded in Yoyang area, a bridge and several trucks are damaged at Sienning, a naval vessel is attacked at Hong Kong, a radio station on Cat Ba I is bombed, and railroad yards, supply dump, and river junks are blasted in Phu Lang Thuong area.

5/12/44 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Mokmer A/F and attack tgts on Ceram, Amboina and Timor. A-20's, B-25's and FBs blast villages, coastal bridges and roads, vehicles, airstrip at Boram, and other tgts throughout WewakHansa Bay region.

5/12/44 Thirteenth AF 12 B-25's and 20plus P-40's and P-38's pound Tobera airstrip and nearby personnel areas; some of the B-25's returning from Tobera bomb Sohano I. 12 P-39's and about 70 Navy SBD's and TBF's sink numerous barges throughout Rabaul area, especially at Simpson Harbor and Keravia Bay. Gun positions in Matupi area are also attacked.

5/12/44 Seventh AF 12 Makin-based B-25's bomb Nauru. A single B-24 from Kwajalein bombs Jaluit.

5/12/44 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 reconnoiters and bombs Matsuwa I installations, concentrating on the A/F on Tagan Cape.

5/13/44 Eighth AF 689 B-17's and B-24's bomb A/Fs, M/Ys, aircraft assembly plant, and T/Os at Tutow, Osnabruck, Barth, Sylt I, Stettin, and Stralsund. 12 HBs are lost.

5/13/44 Ninth AF More than 300 B-26's and A-20's bomb A/Fs, coastal defenses, railway battery, and V-weapon sites in France and Belgium. P-47's carry out dive-bombing raids on various tgts.

5/13/44 Twelfth AF MBs, LBs, and FBs continue to attack lines of comm but devote main effort to spt of Allied ground forces push against Gustav Line (French Expeditionary Force with US Fifth Army gains spectacular breakthrough by fierce assault). A-20's hit cmd post; B-26's damage Cortona, Certaldo, Signa, and Montepescali bridges; B-25's blast towns in rear of battleline with good results at Pastena, Pico, Vallecorsa and Itri; and FBs carry out armed rcn and scheduled attacks against comm, road and rail traffic, and gun positions along immediate battleline and in areas around Esperia, Pico, Sant' Oliva, Pignataro Interamna, Arce, Fondi, Perugia, Todi, Spoleto, Terni, Orvieto, Chiusi, Rieti, and N of Rome.

5/13/44 Fifteenth AF HBs continue interdiction in spt of ground forces. 670-plus B-17's and B-24's, mostly with ftr escort, attack M/Ys at Trento, Bronzola, Fidenza, Piacenza, Faenza, Imola, Cesena, Modena, Parma, San Rufillo, Borgo San Lorenzo, Castel Maggiore and Bologna, and hit railroad bridges at Bolzano and Avisio. Ftrs sweep Bologna-Modena area.

5/13/44 Tenth AF Nearly 100 P-40's and P-51's over Mogaung Valley hit gun positions, bridges, spt ground forces (near Nanyaseik), and hit numerous T/Os throughout the whole valley. 12 A-36's hit positions near Maungdaw. 19 B-25's and 46 A-31's pound several points along road and bomb troop concentrations at Bishenpur. 30-plus B-24's, B-25's, A-36's, and P-51's hit Indaw, Taungbaw, and Mohnyin. 11 B-25's bomb Monywa.

5/13/44 Fourteenth AF 19 B-25's hit storage and warehouse areas at Mangshik and Lungling, bridge at Hsenwi, truck and tank concentrations SW of Loyang, and town area of Lungling. 39 P-40's hit military installations at Mengta and Tating, village N of Kaitou bridge at Tingka, and truck concentration at Yingyangchen.

5/13/44 Fifth AF B-24's hit dispersal areas on Japen I, supply areas and AA guns at Bosnik, and A/Fs at Sorido, Namber, and near Moemi R. B-24's and B-25's hit A/Fs in the Wakde-Maffin-Sawar-Arare area. More than 200 FBs, A-20's, and B-25's thoroughly pound A/Fs, bridges, fuel dumps, vehicles, villages, AA guns, and supply areas in WewakHansa area.

5/13/44 Thirteenth AF 50-plus P-39's and P-40's attack piers at Ratsua, Porton, Chabai, and Tarlena. 30-plus other FBs hit various tgts, including supply area SE of Bonis, town of Chabai, village near Ibu, and huts and villages along Numa Numa trail. 3 B-25's hit coastal guns at Hahela Mission. 21 B-25's and more than 40 P- 39's, P-40's, and P-38's pound supply areas at Talili Bay. Ftr sweeps over N New Britain and New Ireland continue. Many T/Os are strafed.

5/13/44 Seventh AF B-24's, staging through Eniwetok from Kwajalein, bomb Truk during the early morning hours. Other HBs from Kwajalein bomb Maloelap and Jaluit. B-25's from Engebi hit Ponape.

5/13/44 Eleventh AF 1 B-25 flies a shipping strike and strafes 2 fishing vessels.

5/14/44 Twelfth AF Spt for Allied ground assault into Gustav Line continues as aircraft hit at lines of comm N and NW of Rome and blast tgts in immediate battle area. MBs claim hits on bridges, bridge approaches, and viaducts at Chiani, Marsciano, Monte Molino, Castiglione d'Orcia, San Giovanni Valdarno, Poggibonsi, Tabianello, and Arezzo. A-20's pound cmd posts in battle area. FBs hit stations, tracks, roads, town areas, bridges, gun positions, and T/Os in immediate battle area and in or near Esperia, Terni, Narni, Itri, Terracina, Perugia, Chiusi, Orvieto, San Giovanni Valdarno, Maranola, and other locations N of Rome.

5/14/44 Fifteenth AF Just over 700 B-24's and B-17's attack M/Ys at Vicenza, Padua, Ferrara, Treviso, Mestre, Mantua, and Piove di Sacco, and A/Fs at Piacenza and Reggio Emilia. Ftrs fly over 170 sorties in escort. 48 P- 38's strafe Aviano and Villaorba A/Fs.

5/14/44 Tenth AF 24 A-31's bomb troops and gun positions at Lahaw. 12 P-38's hit Tiddim road at Tonzang, causing roadblock. 48 A-31's bomb positions at Kalewa and S of Bishenpur. 11 P-40's hit bridge and road at Kazu and railroad shed at Myitkyina. 25 B-25's and P-51's hit troop positions at Hopin. Meiktila and Heho A/Fs are hit by 20-plus P-51's and P-38's. The ftrs claim 4 airplanes downed in combat.

5/14/44 Fourteenth AF 60 P-40's and P-51's hit trucks at Yoyang, river shipping, boxcars, and trucks at Pailochi and Sienning, and storage area at Shayang. 20 other P-40's bomb and strafe towns near Mamien Pass, Pingkai and areas around Mengta and Tating. 6 Japanese bmrs hit Kienow, rendering A/F temporarily unusable.

5/14/44 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Bosnik supply areas and Sorido runway. In Wakde-Sawar-Maffln Bay area, villages and AA positions are pounded by B-24's and B-25's. FBs, A-20's, B-24's, and B-25's maintain strikes against A/Fs, bridges, trucks, villages, and other tgts in Wewak-Hansa Bay area.

5/14/44 Thirteenth AF 23 B-25's bomb Tobera airstrip. 44 FBs pound supply and personnel areas at Vunakanau. P-39's and P-40's strafe tgts in N and E Gazelle Peninsula, and ftr patrols over Rabaul area attack several T/Os.

In Buka-Bougainville area, 40-plus P-39's and P-40's bomb Hangan, Tsirogei, Tokiparo, pier at Kessa Plantation, and near Ibu.

5/14/44 Seventh AF 53 B-24's from Kwajalein and 43 B-25's from Makin join Navy aircraft in pounding Jaluit.

5/15/44 Eighth AF 38 B-17's attack V-weapon site at Marquise/Mimoyecques while 90 B-24's bomb similar tgt at Saint- Pol/Siracourt.

5/15/44 Ninth AF 45 A-20's and B-26's bomb A/Fs at Creil and Evreux/Fauville, and Somain M/Y. Over 300 others are forced to abandon missions because of thick clouds.

5/15/44 Twelfth AF MBs and LBs again hit comm lines N and NW of the front while FBs in close spt of Allied ground assault through Gustav Line blast gun positions, motor transport, ammo supplies, bridges, rolling stock, and other military tgts in the battle area. The MBs and LBs also hit harbors and vessels along coasts at Piombino, Talamone, Portoferraio, and Ancona.

5/15/44 Fifteenth AF Weather cancels all operations except ftr sweep over Toulon-Marseille area.

5/15/44 Tenth AF 20-plus A-31's hit gun positions W of Buthidaung and signal center to the SE. 19 B-25's pound T/Os along Tiddim road while 36 A-31's hit Moirang. 20-plus B-25's and FBs hit gun positions at Hopin and A/F at Myitkyina. 17 P-38's attack Heho and Kangaung A/F, claiming 15 aircraft destroyed, most of them in the air. 7 B-24's bomb Myitkyina, Kalewa, and Mandalay.

5/15/44 Fourteenth AF B-25's strike Kengluang bridge and hit installations near Wan Pa-Hsa. P-40's strafe troops near Pingkai, along Mamien Pass, and in the Mengta area.

5/15/44 Fifth AF Wewak-Hansa Bay area is again hit by A-20's, B-24's, and FBs. B-24's and B-25's attack numerous tgts in Wakde-Sawar-Sarmi-Maffin Bay areas and on Biak I. Thirteenth Air TF B-24's from the Admiralties bomb supply and bivouac areas on Mariaon and Tagaulap Is and AA guns on Woleai and Paliau Is.

5/15/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-25's and 40-plus P-40's, P-38's, and P-39's, along with TBF's and SBD's, pound area N of Muguai, and hit Maika area between Muguai and Ebery's Lease. 40-plus ftrs on sweeps over Bougainville and Shortland Is attack AA positions, trucks, and huts at several locations including Kieta, Cape Friendship, and Chabai areas. Allied ftr sweeps continue over Rabaul area; several T/Os, including a concentration of barges in Keravia Bay, are hit.

5/15/44 Seventh AF Operations are limited to photo rcn of Jaluit from Kwajalein.

5/16/44 International US, UK, USSR, Belgium, Norway and the Netherlands sign agreement concerning the administration of countries as they are liberated.

5/16/44 Twelfth AF MBs attack railroad bridges and a tunnel in C Italy. LBs blast guns in Roccasecca while FBs and ftrs just behind enemy lines seek out motor transport tgts, crater roads, and hit bridges, harassing the already strained comm network, while US Fifth Army troops push rapidly W and NW and British Eighth Army forces push through last defenses of Gustav Line in effort to isolate Cassino, a joint effort by British 13 Corps and Polish 2 Corps.

5/16/44 Tenth AF 30-plus A-31's pound Kohima, Moirang, and S of Buthidaung. About 70 B-25's and FBs hit Myitkyina and Hopin areas. 11 B-24's hit Ywataung and Sagaing M/Ys and town of Akyab.

5/16/44 Fourteenth AF 8 B-24's blast motor pool and warehouse areas at Mangshih.

5/16/44 Fifth AF Fifth AF aircraft continue to pound a variety of tgts in Netherlands New Guinea and NE New Guinea.

Tgts include A/Fs and supply areas on Noemfoor and Biak Is, AA guns, supplies, and occupied villages in Wakde I-Maffin-Sawar coastal area, and bridges, villages, troop concentrations, and AA positions.

5/16/44 Thirteenth AF 40-plus FBs hit Vunakanau area. Ftrs on sweeps hit barges at Jacquinot Bay and Mioko Harbour, vehicles at Kurakakaul, Mandres Bay, and Vunarima, and N of Vunakanau, a small vessel in Mandres Bay, and a sawmill at Keravat. FBs hit occupied areas at Tunuru, near Kieta, near Manetai Mission, and at Tinputs.

5/16/44 Seventh AF Kwajalein-based B-24's pound Wake. B-25's from Makin hit Nauru and Ponape.

5/17/44 Twelfth AF Operations continue in spt of Allied ground assault. B-26's bomb road bridges in immediate battle area with generally fair results. Roads are blocked in Frosinone. B-25's bomb landing ground at Viterbo while A-20's bomb cmd post near Valmontone and drop supplies to French troops on Monte Revole.

FBs hit railroads, bridges, trucks, and gun positions behind and along battle front with good results, destroying or severely damaging 6 bridges, creating road blocks in towns of Vallecorsa and Pico, blasting gun emplacements at Cassino, and hitting numerous T/Os.

5/17/44 Fifteenth AF More than 450 B-24's and B-17's bomb Piombino and San Stefano al Mare harbors and shipping in the areas, harbor area and nearby steel works in Portoferraio, causeway at Orbetello, M/Y at Ancona, and town of Bihac. P-38's strafe A/Fs at Ghedi, Villafranca di Verona, Modena, Forli, and Reggio Emilia while other ftrs fly over 130 sorties of escort duty.

5/17/44 Tenth AF 20-plus A-31's hit positions S of Buthidaung and S of Labawa. An equal number pound Bishenpur- Moirang area. 18 B-25's bomb Chauk oil installations while 20 P-38's hit Kangaung A/F. B-25's and FBs fly 90 sorties against Mogaung Valley tgts, hitting T/Os at Kazu and Namti and bridge at Kamaing, and supporting ground forces in Myitkyina area.

5/17/44 Fourteenth AF P-40's spt ground forces at Mamien Pass, hit Japanese positions at Tatangtzu, damage bridge and several trucks at Shweli, strafe troops at Luchiangpa, and bomb and strafe horse pack train near Tengchung. 7 B-25's and 13 P-40's pound Shayang barracks area and hit troops and vehicles NE of Shasi.

5/17/44 Fifth AF Allied forces land without opposition near Arare after naval bombardment. Fifth AF B-24's and B-25's hit tgts in general vicinity at Sawar, Sarmi, and mouth of Orai R. More than 100 B-24's, with P-38 escort, pound AA positions on Bosnik, Sorido, and Mokmer, and supply areas and A/F on Noemfoor.

120 plus FBs, A-20's, B-25's, and B-24's continue to hit Wewak-Hansa Bay area.

5/17/44 Thirteenth AF 25 B-25's bomb A/F at Tobera while 43 P-39's, P-40's, and P-38's, in conjunction with 40-plus Navy dive bmrs, blast Vunakanau area. Ftrs on sweeps over the Bismarcks hit Nubai R bridge and strafe tgts on Gazelle Peninsula. 39 FBs hit numerous tgts in Bougainville area, including Muguai area, bridge N of Numa Numa, barges at Banin Harbor, and area around Ratsua.

5/17/44 Seventh AF B-24's from Kwajalein bomb Wake while Engebi-based B-25's hit Ponape.

5/18/44 Twelfth AF MBs continue to hit rail bridges, bombing farther into the N of Italy and thus putting more pressure on the strained German comm system. LBs hit storage areas. FBs continue close spt to Allied ground forces, hitting town areas, roads, enemy positions, railroads, and numerous other tgts in battle area, including points in or around Pico, Pontecorvo, Fondi, Terracina, Ceccano, Pastena, San Giovanni Valdarno, Perugia, Terni, Spoleto, Sant' Elpidio a Mare, Pedaso, and N of Rome, as British Eighth Army completes reduction of Gustav Line in Liri R Valley with capture of Cassino, while US Fifth Army takes Formia.

5/18/44 Fifteenth AF Almost 450 B-17's and B-24's, most with ftr escort, attack M/Ys at Belgrade and Nish and oil refineries at Ploesti. Over 300 other HBs abandon missions because of bad weather. Ftrs strafe Nish and Scutari A/Fs.

5/18/44 Tenth AF 12 A-31's bomb Daletme while 36 hit tgts SW of Homalin, S of Bishenpur, and at Moirang. 140-plus FBs and 6 B-25's pound numerous tgts throughout Mogaung Valley, concentrating on bridges (at least 4 are knocked out) and spt of ground forces in areas around Myitkyina, Nanyaseik, Kamaing, Namkwin, Kazu, Lonkin, and Katkyo. 8 B-25's knock out Mu R bridge and damage Chaungu bridge approaches. 12 P-38's destroy several airplanes at Shwebo.

5/18/44 Fourteenth AF 6 B-25's and 12 P-40's pound barracks and warehouse areas at Chienyangi, causing many fires. 30 P-40's spt ground forces in Salween area, hitting troops and positions at Tengchung, Tatangtzu, Mamien Pass, and Luchiangpa. 12 B-24's bomb towns of Lungling and Tengchung. 25 CACW and CAF P-40's attack trucks, armor, and troops at Chueh-shan and Loning, causing widespread destruction.

5/18/44 Fifth AF More than 100 FBs, A-20's, B-25's, and B-24's pound T/Os in Wewak-Hansa Bay area throughout the day. B-24's hit T/Os on Halmahera I and bomb Bosnik. B-25's hit Larot and Saumlakki.

5/18/44 Thirteenth AF 10 P-39's hit barges off Porton. 40-plus P-38's and P-39's pound supply area N of Muguai.

5/18/44 Seventh AF B-25's based at Makin bomb Taroa, rearm at Majuro, and attack same tgt during return flight to base.

5/18/44 Eleventh AF Over the Kurils, a B-24 on weather rcn hits a Japanese aircraft and 2 B-25's sink an auxiliary vessel.

Another is sunk shortly before midnight by 2 other B-25's.

5/19/44 Eighth AF 493 B-17's bomb Friedrichstrasse section of Berlin, and 49 bomb port facilities at Kiel. 273 B-24's hit industrial area at Brunswick. 8 other HBs attack T/Os and last resort tgts in Germany. Enemy resistance is heavy, and 28 HBs and 20 escort ftrs are lost. US bmrs and ftrs claim 164 aircraft destroyed.

5/19/44 Ninth AF About 290 B-26's and A-20's bomb coastal defenses, port area, railway battery, and NOBALL tgts in France. More than 125 others fail to bomb because of extremely thick haze. About 300 P-47's divebomb tgts in France.

5/19/44 Twelfth AF MBs hit railroad bridges in NC Italy while LBs bomb ammo dump. FBs continue spt to Allied forces advancing rapidly N and W, blasting road network in battle area, and hitting motor transport, bridges, town areas, and T/Os, in areas around San Giovanni Valdarno, Pastena, Vallecorsa, Terracina, Fondi, Pistoia and elsewhere.

5/19/44 Fifteenth AF HBs hit comm tgts, ports, and oil storage in NE, C, and NW Italy. Over 500 B-17's and B-24's hit railroad bridges at Latisana, Tagliamento, Casarsa della Delizia, and Rimini, M/Ys at Forli, Faenza, and Bologna, oil storage at Porto Marghera, port and M/Y at La Spezia, harbor at Leghorn, and harbor and rail installations at Genoa. Ftrs fly over 250 sorties in spt. These operations are notable for absence of ftr opposition.

5/19/44 Tenth AF A-31's again hit various tgts in Arakan area. A-31's fly over 60 sorties against villages S of Bishenpur and gun positions at Kanglatongbi. A-36's, P-40's, P-51's and a few B-25's fly 140-plus attack sorties against various tgts in the Mogaung Valley, concentrating on gun positions in Myitkyina area. 8 B-25's damage railroad tracks in Myingatha-Saye area and 16 P-38's hit A/F at Nawnghkio.

5/19/44 Fourteenth AF 31 ftrs spt ground forces in Salween area at Chiangtso, Watien, and Mamien Pass. 4 P-40's knock out bridge at Shweli, 13 P-40's bomb and strafe Puchi area, and 16 P-40's and P-38's damage bridge at Tayeh and hit military installations and other buildings at Yangsin. 11 P-51's bomb village near Anking, causing large explosions and fires. 2 B-24's on sea sweep seriously damage 2 freighters S of Hong Kong. 16 CACW P-40's pound trucks, tanks, and troops in Ichang-Tangyang-Loyang area and attack river traffic at Itu on the Yangtze R.

5/19/44 Fifth AF B-24's, A-20's and P-38's hit A/Fs and shipping in Manokwari-Noemfoor I area. Other B-24's pound beach defenses at Bosnik on Biak I and hit area between Bosnik and Mokmer. 270-plus A-20's, P- 47's, P-38's, and B-2B's continue to blast Wewak, knocking out radar and radio stations, and attack T/Os from Wewak to Hansa Bay area.

5/19/44 Thirteenth AF More than 40 P-39's, P-38's, and P-40's hit Makada I. 16 B-25's bomb gun positions and supply area at Talili Bay. 20 AAF ftrs and a few Navy airplanes bomb huts and bridges at Monoitu, Porton, Toborei, Moisuru, and Tsimba.

5/19/44 Seventh AF B-25's based at Engebi hit Ponape and B-25's from Makin hit Nauru.

5/19/44 Eleventh AF A B-24 flies armed rcn over Shimushu and Ketoi Is.

5/20/44 Eighth AF 287 B-17's and B-24's bomb A/Fs, aircraft works, and M/Ys at Orly, Villacoublay, Reims and Reims/Champagne. Large force of nearly 250 HBs scheduled to bomb at Liege and Brussels is forced to abort because of dense cloud cover over tgts.

5/20/44 Ninth AF Around 450 MBs attack A/Fs, coastal defenses, and V-weapon site in France. About 250 aborts are caused mainly by bad cloud conditions and failure to rendezvous with ftrs. P-47's dive-bomb tgts in NW Europe.

5/20/44 Twelfth AF Weather prevents operations by MBs and LBs. FBs continue to hit comm and gun positions in battle area. Areas in and around Vallecorsa and Terracina are hit especially hard. Ftrs maintain patrols and rcn, destroying or damaging numerous vehicles between Pisa and Pistoia.

5/20/44 Tenth AF 100-plus A-36's, P-40's, and P-51's pound gun positions, attack bridges, bomb troops, and hit numerous T/Os in areas around Myitkyina, Kamaing, Nanyaseik, and Nsopzup. 16 A-31's and 2 P-38's hit tgts in Arakan area, including signal center SE of Buthidaung, gun positions SE of Maungdaw, and jetty at Akyab. 24 A-31's bomb positions at Churachandpur. About 40 B-24's and P-51's hit oil installations at Yenangyaung and Chauk, A/F at Pakokku, and town of Akyab.

5/20/44 Fourteenth AF 13 B-24's attack convoy S of Hong Kong claiming 2 motor launches sunk and damaging several larger vessels. 3 HBs are lost at sea. 37 P-40's hit trucks, armored vehicles, river traffic, and troops in or near Shasi, Ichang, Tangyang, Chingmen, Loyang, and Loning. On Salween front 43 ftrs and 8 MBs spt ground forces and damage bridge N of Tengchung over Shweli R.

5/20/44 Fifth AF B-24's, A-20's, and B-25's hit airstrips, revetments, supply areas, AA positions, and shipping at Manokwari, Noemfoor and Biak Is, and Mawi Bay. A-20's, B-25's, and FBs continue to pound A/Fs, coastal villages, bridges, supply dumps, trucks, and various other tgts at Wewak and from Wewak to shore of Hansa Bay.

5/20/44 Thirteenth AF 22 B-25's, 44 P-39's, P-40's, and P-38's and 30-plus Navy and Marine aircraft pound AA positions, bivouacs, and supply areas from Muguai-Ebery's Lease area to Maika area. 24 other P-39's hit barges in Matchin Bay, AA guns at Sohano I, and bridges at Kieta. 3 B-24's bomb Tobera runway while 2 B- 24's, with Navy ftr escort, attack barges and a launch NW of Rabaul.

5/20/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Engebi bomb Ponape.

5/21/44 Eighth AF 99 B-24's bomb V-weapon site at Siracourt while 25 B-17's strike similar installation at Marquise/Mimoyecques.

5/21/44 Ninth AF 50 B-26's bomb A/F at Abbeville/Drucat. Over 600 P-47's and P-51's attack railroad rolling stock in France.

5/21/44 Twelfth AF In NC Italy, MBs are restricted by bad weather but bomb a few bridges and roads, while LBs hit a bivouac area. FBs continue spt of ground forces, hitting troops, vehicles, roads, and railroads in or near battle areas, particularly around Sezze, Ceccano, San Giovanni Valdarno, and Pontecorvo.

5/21/44 Tenth AF A few A-31's continue attacks against gun positions in Arakan area. 120-plus P-40's, P-51's, A-36's, and B-25's hit Mogaung, Myitkyina, Talawgyi-Hokat area, and Kamaing. Gun positions around Myitkyina and Mogaung are also hit. 21 A-31's hit troop concentrations at Homalin and score hits on Manipur bridge. A single B-24 bombs NW part of Mandalay.

5/21/44 Fifth AF B-24's, A-20's, and P-38's attack A/Fs, town areas, barges, personnel and supply areas, and fuel dumps at Manokwari, Urarom, along Moemi R, and on Noemfoor and Biak Is. FBs, A-20's, and B-25's continue almost constant pounding of supply dumps, camps, AA positions and a variety of tgts along coast from Wewak to Hansa Bay. Thirteenth Air TF B-24's bomb Truk.

5/21/44 Thirteenth AF 3 B-24's, 30-plus P-39's and P-40's, and over 40 Navy dive bmrs hit Vunakanau A/F and nearby plantation.

8 P-38's, followed shortly by Navy aircraft, bomb Lakunai A/F. More than 40 P-39's, P-38's, and P-40's fly sweeps over Bougainville. Bridges at Rigu Mission and Shishigatero are reported demolished.

5/21/44 Seventh AF 53 B-24's from Kwajalein bomb various tgts in Wotje Atoll. 41 B-25's, based on Makin, follow up with bombing, cannonading, and strafing attack on the atoll. 8 B-24's stage through Eniwetok, strike Rota, and rearm at Los Negros.

5/22/44 Eighth AF Occupancy of all planned Eighth AF stations in Britain is completed with transfer of A/F at N Pickenham from RAF to the Eighth. Total stations number 77, including 66 A/Fs, occupied by 82 operational or HQ units. 269 B-17's bomb shipyards at Kiel and 23 others release bombs prematurely in Kiel area. 94 B-24's attack V-weapon site at Siracourt.

5/22/44 Ninth AF Around 330 B-26's and A-20's bomb A/Fs and other tgts in Cherbourg, Calais, and Paris areas while a like number of P-47's and P-51's dive-bomb M/Ys, A/Fs and other tgts in same general areas.

5/22/44 Twelfth AF 332d Ftr Gp is assigned to Fifteenth AF. This move, following a series of reassignments of ftr gps to Fifteenth AF and to India, leaves XII FC with only 1 ftr gp. MBs are inactive or abortive except for a raid on Cave. FBs maintain close spt of the ground adv, hitting at motor transport, roads, and bridges in battle areas and nearby points in C Italy, including Terracina, Ceccano, Sezze, Bastia, points between Rome and Bracciano Lake, and near Balsorano.

5/22/44 Fifteenth AF As weather again clears, 550-plus B-17's and B-24's concentrate on comm and military tgts in C and NW Italy, attacking P-49 Pescina, troop concentrations at Avezzano, port and oil depot at La Spezia, supply and ammo dumps at Marina di Carrara, port and harbor installations at Piombino, railroad and highway bridges in Pineto area, railroad from Ancona to Pescara and N of Pescara, and towns of Valmontone and Palestrina. Ftrs fly over 200 sorties in escort to HBs. There is no ftr opposition.

5/22/44 Fourteenth AF 2 B-25's attack large concentration of sampans in Honghai Bay. 2 others heavily damage a 150-ft cargo vessel near Hong Kong. 22 P-51's pound town of Anking and military area NE of Nanchang. 24 P-40's hit Sienning area, bombing factory W of town, damaging bridge near town, and strafing numerous trucks in the vicinity. 23 P-40's hit road and river traffic in areas around Loyang, Loning, and Itu. 5 P-40's bomb Yangsin.

5/22/44 Fifth AF B-24's and B-25's bomb Manokwari, shipping E of Cape Manggoear, and storage areas and Sorido village on Biak I. P-40's hit supply and fuel dumps, trucks, and other T/Os in area of Wakde Is. B-24's, B-25's, and FBs continue to bomb and strafe various tgts in Wewak-Hansa Bay area.

5/22/44 Thirteenth AF 40-plus P-39's, P-38's, and P-40's hit T/Os in coastal area near Talili Bay. 24 B-25's pound Mioko I.

40-plus P-39's bomb Bonis supply area and blast 4 small bridges near Kieta.

5/22/44 Seventh AF 8 B-25's based on Engebi bomb Ponape. Weather cancels other strikes.

5/22/44 Eleventh AF 2 Attu-based B-25's on a shipping strike near Paramushiru bomb and strafe a picket boat, which is left sinking.

5/23/44 Eighth AF 804 B-17's and B-24's bomb tgts at Hamburg, Saarbrucken, Metz, Epinal, Bayon, Chaumont, Etampes, Chateaudun, Caen/Carpiquet, Bourges, Avord, and Orleans/Bricy. Ftr opposition is very light; one bmr is downed by AA fire.

5/23/44 Ninth AF In predawn mission 15 B-26's bomb A/F at Beaumont-le-Roger. During afternoon 58 B-26's bomb coastal batteries at Etretat/ Sainte-Marie-Au-Bosc, Maisy, and Mont Fleury. Over 120 P-38's strafe and bomb rolling stock in C France.

5/23/44 Twelfth AF MBs abort missions because of weather. LBs hit comm between Cisterna di Roma and Campoleone.

FBs actively spt general offensive of Allied ground forces in Liri Valley and at Anzio where US and British forces break out of the beachhead. Ftrs on armed rcn join in the attacks and numerous enemy vehicles, gun positions, transport routes, and personnel are hit hard in areas in and around Terracina, Littoria, Norma, Marcigliana, Fara in Sabina, Borghetto, Arezzo, and Civita Castellena. M/Y on Empoli- Siena line is hit also.

5/23/44 Fifteenth AF 300-plus B-17's and B-24's concentrate attacks on troop concentrations and comm in rear of battle area, at Avezzano, Subiaco, Valmontone, Marino, Nemi and Grottaferrata. P-38's and P-51's provide escort. Other P-38's, covered by P-47's, strafe A /F at Ferrara.

5/23/44 Tenth AF 12 P-38's bomb Tiddim road and 32 A-31's bomb Kohima, Tiddim, and Kalewa. 12 B-24's bomb Indaw M/Y and Homalin. 16 P-38's attack Kangaung A/F. 23 P-40's and 4 A-36's bomb gun positions, troops, and supply dumps in Myitkyina area.

5/23/44 Fifth AF B-24's hit Manokwari while B-24's, A-20's, and P-38's hit tgts at Biak I, including trucks at Borokoe, AA positions and control tower at Mokmer A/F, village of Sorido, and offshore tgts at Bransfari. P-40's hit troops on Wakde and on Biri R. P-38's spt ground forces in Aitape area. A-20's, P-39's, B-24's, and B- 25's maintain bombing and strafing of Wewak-Hansa Bay area.

5/23/44 Thirteenth AF 2 B-24's bomb Tobera, while 32 B-25's and 40-plus P-39's, P-38's, and P-40's attack gun positions near Rabaul, near Lakunai, and in vicinity of Tunnel Hill Road. In Bougainville area 51 P-39's and 8 P- 40's attack huts, barges, bridges, and other T/Os at several locations.

5/23/44 Seventh AF Makin-based B-25's strike Jaluit. B-24's returning from Los Negros, where they landed after raid on Rota on 21 May, bomb Ponape.

5/24/44 Eighth AF 400 B-24's attack A/Fs at Orly, Melun, Creil, and Poix. 447 B-17's bomb Berlin while 72 attack T/Os in the area. Enemy opposition is heavy and 33 HBs are lost.

5/24/44 Ninth AF More than 450 MBs attack A/Fs, coastal defenses, and V-weapon sites in France. P-38's and P-47's dive-bomb 4 landing fields in France.

5/24/44 Twelfth AF MBs, LBs, and Fbs fly numerous sorties in spt of rapidly advancing ground forces and in attacks against rail lines, bridges, and roads in NC Italy. MBs hit at least 5 bridges, create several road blocks and cause havoc in comm to N of battle area. LBs blast bivouac area. FBs have great success in attacks on motor transports, mainly in battle area, and in conjunction with British airplanes destroy over 300 and damage as many more.

5/24/44 Fifteenth AF 620-plus B-17's and B-24's attack Avisio viaduct, Atzgersdorf aircraft components factory, town of Neunkirchen, A/Fs at Munchendorf, Graz, Wollersdorf, Bad Voslau and Zagreb, and Varazdin M/Y.

Escorting ftrs fly over 250 sorties. Enemy ftr opposition is especially heavy against Bad Voslau force, downing 6 HBs.

5/24/44 Tenth AF 60-plus A-31's bomb enemy positions in Palel-Chassud area, hit village near Moirang, and attack truck park beside Tiddim road. 20-plus P-40's in Myitkyina vicinity destroy 3 barracks buildings and knock out a railway bridge and a machinegun post. A single B-24 bombs Gwa in Arakan area.

5/24/44 Fifth AF A-20's hit A/Fs at Namber and Kamiri. More than 200 A-20's, P-38's, P-47's P-39's, and B-25's continue to blast T/Os in WewakHansa Bay area throughout the day.

5/24/44 Thirteenth AF In Rabaul area 19 P-38's, P-40's, and 22 B-25's attack Hospital Point gun positions. 2 other B-25's hit town of Rabaul. Ftr patrols hit various T/Os in Rabaul area and S New Ireland. 51 P-39's, P-40's, and P-38's, and a single B-24, attack various Buka-Bougainville tgts including Buka A/F, E Bougainville coastal bridges, and Cape Lalahan radar station.

5/24/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Makin pound Wotje and Jaluit, using Majuro as a shuttle base for rearming between the strikes. B-25's based at Engebi hit Ponape.

5/24/44 Eleventh AF 2 bmrs fly weather and photo rcn over Shimushu and bomb Matsuwa area.

5/25/44 Eighth AF 859 B-17's and B-24's operating in 4 forces bomb M/Ys at Mulhouse, Troyes, Tonnerre, Belfort, Sarreguemines, Thionville, Metz, Blainville-sur-l'Eau, Liege, Brussels, Alost, and Charleroi; A/Fs at Esseyles-Nancy and Bretigny-sur-Orge; and coastal batteries at Fecamp and Saint-Valery-en-Caux. 2 HBs are downed by AA fire and 2 are lost to unknown causes.

5/25/44 Ninth AF Over 225 MBs attack bridges near Liege and A/Fs at Lille/ Nord and Monchy-Breton. About 250 P-47's dive-bomb various tgts in NW Europe.

5/25/44 Twelfth AF Twelfth AF has most active day to date against enemy forces in Italy. Some MBs continue to pound bridges in NC Italy, damaging several bridges and viaducts, while others join FBs and LBs in close spt of ground troops in battle area and behind enemy lines. Motor transport N and S of Rome and N of Anzio is hit hard by the air attacks. US Fifth Army achieves a solid front with junction of VI Corps (Anzio force) and II Corps (advancing along W coast) during the morning near Borgo Grappa.

5/25/44 Fifteenth AF 340-plus B-17's and B-24's attack M/Y's at Lyon, Carnoules, Amberieu-en-Buguey, and Givors, while another 250-plus Hbs hit Porto Marghera oil stores, Monfalcone harbor and shipping, and Piacenza A/F and dispersal area. P-38's and P-51's fly more than 200 sorties in spt.

5/25/44 SE Europe German paratroops attack Marshal Tito's HQ in Bosnia, but Tito and Maj Randolph Churchill escape to the mountains.

5/25/44 Tenth AF 28 P-38's sweep over Mandalay area. 12 of them hit about 10 railroad cars near Shwebo, leaving them burning. In the Chindwin area 20 A-31's attack a bivouac and score hits on Manipur R bridge at Tonzang. B-24's hit tgts in Katha area, 6 of them bombing Indaw and 4 bombing Naba rail junction area.

5/25/44 Fifth AF B-24's attack shipping at Halmahera and hit Mokmer and tgts in Wakde area. 90-plus FBs, A-20's, B- 25's, and B-24's pound numerous tgts in Wewak area.

5/25/44 Thirteenth AF 3 B-24's bomb Rabaul, Lakunai, and Rapopo. 8 P-38's hit Vulcan Crater barge hideout. 12 B-25's, clouded out of Vunakanau, hit Talili Bay supply area. 15 B-25's, 32 P-39's, and P-40's, and 25 Navy dive bmrs hit supply areas at Porton. 4 other P-40's hit trucks at Monoitu Mission. 16 P-39's attack several T/Os, including Cape Lalahan radar station.

5/25/44 Seventh AF B-25's flying out of Engebi bomb Ponape.

5/25/44 Eleventh AF 1 Shemya-based B-24 flies rcn and bombing mission in the C Kurils. Another B-24 aborts due to equipment failure.

5/26/44 Eighth AF Eighth AF reaches its peak strength in number of ftr gps when 479th Ftr Gp (P-38) becomes operational.

(By end of year all ftr gps except one will be converted to P-51's).

5/26/44 Ninth AF Nearly 400 B-26's and A-20's attack A/Fs at Beaumont-sur-Oise and Chartres and bridges at Vernon and Poissy. 108 P-47 and P-51 FBs hit bridge at Oissel and A/Fs at Creil, Cormeilles-en-Vexin and Evreux/Fauville. P-47's and P-38's dive-bomb tgts in NW Europe.

5/26/44 Twelfth AF MBs hit railway tgts in Florence area and bomb roads in battle area with good results. LBs hit Frascati. Other MBs join FBs in assault against motor transport achieving wide-spread enemy vehicle destruction, especially on the RomeBracciano road over which enemy is pouring reinforcements S toward battle area.

5/26/44 Fifteenth AF Almost 700 B-17's and B-24's attack M/Ys at Saint-Etienne, Lyon, Nice, Chambery, and Grenoble.

HBs also hit Var R bridge and troop concentrations at Bihac. Ftrs escort the HBs and strafe and divebomb A/F at Donji Zemunik.

5/26/44 Fourteenth AF 23 P-40's sink several supply boats on Yangtze R near Shihshow, strafe troops at Shasi, hit road traffic near Loyang, and strafe pontoon bridges, supply dumps, and troops at Shanhsien. 7 P-40's bomb town of Hsing-tzu. 2 B-25's damage a small tanker N of Swatow.

5/26/44 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Biak I while B-25's hit Wakde I and nearby coastal areas. Other B-25's bomb a variety of tgts in Aroe Is. 100-plus A-20's, B-25's and FBs continue to blast coastal region around Wewak.

Villages and gun positions on Hansa Bay are also hit.

5/26/44 Thirteenth AF 24 P-39's and P-40's hit Rabaul area while 12 B-25's bomb supply areas at Talili Bay. More than 40 P- 39's and P-40's hit barges NW of Ballale I, supply areas and other tgts at Porton, and piers at Ratsua and Soraken.

5/26/44 Seventh AF 46 B-25's, flying out of Makin, attack Emidj. 9 B-25's from Engebi fly successful search mission for a downed B-25 crew in the vicinity of Ponape and Pakin Is. After locating the survivors, later picked up by Navy destroyer, the MBs attack Pakin and Ponape with cannon and machinegun fire.

5/26/44 Eleventh AF 2 B-24's off on an armed photo mission over Shimushu turn back due to mechanical troubles.

5/27/44 Eighth AF 923 B-17's and B-24's bomb M/Ys, aircraft industries, and A/F at Ludwigshafen, Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Konz-Karthaus, Neunkirchen, Saarbrucken, Lachen/Speyerdorf, Strasbourg, and Woippy. Coastal batteries at Fecamp and Saint-Valeryen-Caux also are bombed. Opposition is heavy and 24 HBs are lost on mission.

5/27/44 Ninth AF About 690 MBs attack railroad, bridges, and M/Ys in France. P-47's bomb tgts in NW Europe.

5/27/44 Twelfth AF MBs concentrate efforts against lines of comm in Orvieto area. A-20's bomb storage area. FBs pound a much reduced flow of motor transport behind enemy lines and hit railroads, gun positions, bridges, and T/Os in and behind battle area, hitting tgts at Subiaco, Sora, Tivoli, Frosinone, Capena, and Orvieto, W of Bracciano Lake, between Sulmona and San Benedetto de Marsi, and at several other points.

5/27/44 fifteenth AF Almost 700 B-17's and B-24's, with P-38 and P-51 escorts, bomb M/Ys at Avignon, Montpellier- Frejorgues, Nimes, Marseilles-Blancarde, and Marseille-SaintCharles, A/F at Salon-de-Provence, and port of Razanac.

5/27/44 Tenth AF 15 B-24's bomb Pakokku and Nyaung-u.

5/27/44 Fourteenth AF 24 rocket-firing P-40's hit barracks area W of Sinyang, military installations and trucks at Nanchang, and troops, trucks, barracks, and warehouse area in Puchi vicinity.

5/27/44 Fifth AF Babo A/F and Biak I are pounded by 170-plus B-24's and B-25's. After the aerial and naval bombardment, Allied amphibious forces land on Biak in the Bosnik area, secure beachhead, and gain control of trail over ridges to inland plateau to the N. About 170 A-20's, P-38's, P-40's, and B-25's blast Wewak area.

5/27/44 Thirteenth AF About 200 AAF, Marine, and Navy aircraft (ftrs, dive bmrs, and B-25's) are sent against gun positions on Hospital Pt. 160-plus aircraft bomb the tgts with more than 90 tons of explosives, destroying or damaging several of the guns. Other ftrs hit T/Os in Rabaul area and a barge off SW New Ireland. 4 B-24's bomb Tobera. AAF ftrs attack beached barges in Chabai area and in Buka Passage, Aku and Nova Plantation, and bridge over Oamai R.

5/27/44 Seventh AF 24 B-24's from Kwajalein and 52 B-25's from Engebi pound Ponape.

5/27/44 Eleventh AF 2 bmrs fly weather and armed photo rcn and bomb Ushishiru I.

5/28/44 Eighth AF Almost 900 HBs attack aircraft works, synthetic oil plants, military vehicle plants and repair depots at Ruhland, Dessau, Cologne, Merseburg, Zeitz, Konigsberg, Lutzkendorf, Magdeburg, and nearly 30 different T/Os. An estimated 450 ftrs oppose the mission with about 350 concentrating in Magdeburg area. 32 US bmrs are lost.

5/28/44 Ninth AF Over 600 B-26's and A-20's bomb M/Ys, naval yards, railway bridges, and V-weapon sites in France and Belgium. 8 aircraft are lost. P-47's dive-bomb several tgts in same general area.

5/28/44 Twelfth AF MBs hit bridges, viaducts, and railroad lines at several locations in C Italy, including Narni, Cortona, Terni, Ladispoli, Torrita di Siena, Magnano, Recco, Arezzo, Rapallo, Vado, Bucine, and Castiglion Fiorentino. LBs hit ammo dump while FBs continue close spt to advancing ground forces, encountering considerably less enemy motor transport behind lines because of the heavy attrition of recent days. Many roads, railroads, and bridges are hit as well as numerous other tgts along the battlefront which now stretches from W coast SW of Carroceto to the NE almost to Valmontone, then SW to just above Sezze, and from there rambles E to NE to E coast below Pescara.

5/28/44 Fifteenth AF More than 100 B-24's bomb Genoa harbor and Vercelli M/Y. P-38's fly ftr sweeps against A/Fs in Kurilovec area and vehicles, comm lines, and T/Os in Knin-Bihac-Banjaluka area.

5/28/44 Tenth AF 10 B-24's pound Kalemyo while 3 B-25's hit Tiddim road. 50-plus FBs and a few B-25's hit various tgts at or near Mogaung, Myitkyina, Hopin, and Sahmaw. 76 FBs and 24 B-25's bomb M/Ys at Namma and Katha, hit several tgts in Mohnyin-Hopin area, and bomb railroad between Naba and Namma.

5/28/44 Fourteenth AF 14 P-40's in spt of ground forces in Salween area strafe oil storage at Hsiangta, bomb and strafe Watien area, and destroy 1 bridge and damage another on Shweli R N of Tengchung. 2 B-25's sink a patrol boat and damage another near Saint John I.

5/28/44 Fifth AF In spt of ground forces on Biak I, B-24's and B-25's hit villages, supply areas, troop concentrations, and gun positions on Biak, Noemfoor, and Japen Is. A-20's, B-25's, and FBs blast troop concentrations, AA positions, and supply dumps in Wewak area. A-20's supporting ground forces in heavy fighting in Sarmi area, hit positions with minimum-level strikes. B-24's bomb Boela. Thirteenth Air TF B- 24's bomb A/F on Woleai.

5/28/44 Thirteenth AF 3 B-24's, followed by 23 B-25's and 12 P-38's, blast A/F at Lakunai. 33 P-39's and P-40's join 40-plus dive bmrs in strike on Tobera airstrip. 5 MBs hit Namatanai supply and personnel area. FBs hit Tsundawan supply area, huts and buildings at Gohi, Nova, and Monoitu, suspected barge hideout near Tonolai, and AA guns at Ballale I.

5/28/44 Seventh AF 29 B-25's stage from Eniwetok, bomb Jaluit, and land at Makin. B-24's from Eniwetok bomb Saipan and Guam. Those bombing Guam turn S to Los Negros to rearm while the others return to Eniwetok.

B-25's flying from Engebi bomb Mille. HBs escort Navy photo planes over the Marianas.

5/28/44 Eleventh AF 2 B-24's fly rcn and drop bombs on Shimushu and Matsuwa. 1 B-25 and P-38's fly guardship coverage mission, 2 other B-25's fly a negative anti-shipping sweep.

5/29/44 Eighth AF 881 HBs attack synthetic oil plant at Politz, A/Fs at Hohn and Schneidemuhl, A/F and aircraft assembly plant at Tutow, and aircraft factories and assembly plants at Leipzig, Cottbus, Sorau, Krzesiny, and Poznan. 34 HBs are lost on mission.

5/29/44 Ninth AF Over 450 B-26's and A-20's bomb A/F, M/Ys, railroad bridges, coastal battery, and NOBALL tgts in France and Belgium. Over 200 P-47's bomb tgts in same area.

5/29/44 Twelfth AF B-25's bomb rail bridges near Bucine and at Poggibonsi and Lisciano. B-26's hit viaducts at Terni and near Stifone, railroad junction and M/Y at Terentola, Castiglion Fiorentino bridge, the Voltri shipyards, and a bridge nearby. A-20's hit troops in bivouac and bomb supply dump. FBs continue to blast motor transport between battlelines and Rome. Transports evacuate over 400 wounded from Anzio area.

5/29/44 Fifteenth AF 829 B-17's and B-24's (largest number of Fifteenth AF HBs completing attacks in a single day up to this time) bomb A/Fs and aircraft factories at Wollersdorf, Wiener-Neustadt, and Atzgersdorf, and attack A/Fs, troops, and supply concentrations at Zegar, Zavalje, Prijedor, Bosanski Novi, Knin, Banjaluka, Drvar, Livno, and Basanska Krupa. P-38's and P-51's escort the Austrian missions while P- 38's accompany the HBs to Yugoslav tgts and afterwards strafe numerous T/Os. Ftr opposition over Yugoslavia is negligible but around 150 ftrs attempt interception over Austria, principally in Wiener- Neustadt area. 23 US aircraft are lost. HBs and ftrs claim over 60 ftrs shot down.

5/29/44 Tenth AF 27 B-25's and 40-plus FBs pound troops and positions at Bhamo and Mohnyin, railroad at Mogaung, and warehouses at Sahmaw.

5/29/44 Fourteenth AF 7 B-24's pound areas along Burma Road, 3 bomb town of Wanling, and 2 attack convoy of Hainan, claiming a 250-ft freighter sunk. 26 P-40's and P-38's attack troops at Lushan, pound barracks and demolish 7 trucks at Yuanchu, bomb and strafe general area at Nanchang, and destroy several buildings along Hsiang R N of Changsha.

5/29/44 Fifth AF B-24's pound gun positions, defense areas, and troops, as first tank battle of SWPA is fought W of Parai on Biak I. Other B-24's pound A/Fs on nearby mainland at Timoeka and Babo. A-20's, B-25's, and P-47's, along with RAAF airplanes and a few HBs from the Biak strike, saturating Wewak area with continuous air strikes. In WakdeSarmi battle zone, B-25's and P-40's hit forces in Mount Saskin area. B-24's of Thirteenth Air TF bomb Woleai and other nearby islands in the Carolines.

5/29/44 SOPAC Gen Moore, USMC, takes over as COMAIRSOLS.

5/29/44 Thirteenth AF Almost 100 B-25's, P-38's, P-39's, and a variety of Navy airplanes pound the Rabaul area, with AAF aircraft concentrating on Nordup supply area and the others concentrating on Hospital Pt AA positions.

24 P-39's and 16 P-40's blast occupied areas W of Tinputs Harbor and at Arigua Plantation.

5/29/44 Seventh AF Operations are restricted to photo missions over Wotje, Mille, and Jaluit.

5/29/44 Eleventh AF At dawn 2 B-25's photograph and bomb Shimushu and Matsuwa (secondary). During early afternoon 2 B-25's escorted by 4 P-38's strafe, bomb and sink a patrol boat in the Kurils. Later 4 other B-25's unsuccessfully attack 2 vessels off Shimushu.

5/30/44 UK Loading of assault forces for OVERLORD begins.

5/30/44 Eighth AF 911 HBs operating in 6 forces attack aircraft factories, A/Fs, and depots at Dessau, Oschersleben, Halberstadt, Rotenburg, Zwischenahn, Oldenburg, Diepholz, and Handorf; M/Ys at Brussels, Troyes, and Reims; V-weapon sites at Watten and Siracourt; and various T/Os.

5/30/44 Ninth AF Over 320 MBs attack A/Fs at Denain/Prouvy and Mantes/ Limay, and highway bridges at Meulan and Rouen. Nearly 400 P-47's dive-bomb tgts in NW Europe.

5/30/44 Twelfth AF B-26's and B-25's destroy or damage 10 bridges, bridge approaches, and viaducts which affect supply routes to battlefronts across C Italy. LBs and FBs blast motor transports and gun positions in battle area and hit tgts in and around towns in the area, including Guidonia, Ariccia, Alatri, and Veroli.

Transport airplanes evacuate wounded from Nettuno.

5/30/44 Fifteenth AF Nearly 500 B-17's and B-24's attack A/F and aircraft factory at Wels, factories at Pottendorf, Neudorfl, and Neunkirchen and M/Y at Zagreb. P-38's and P-51's provide escort. Many of the ftrs strafe T/Os in areas around Zut, Brod, Susak, Bihac, Medak, and along Karlovac-Livno road.

5/30/44 Tenth AF 9 B-25's attack railroad between Namma and Hopin. B-25's and FBs fly 100 sorties against railroad tgts, hitting tracks, rolling stock, stations, and bridges in vicinities of Mogaung, Myitkyina, Hopin, and Loilaw. Imphal-Tiddim road is bombed by 3 B-24's.

5/30/44 Fourteenth AF 48 ftrs spt ground forces in Mamien Pass-Watien-Chiangtso area. 31 supply airplanes drop food and ammo to friendly forces in Mamien Pass area. 13 B-25's damage Wan Pa-Hsa bridge and bomb town of Lungling, destroying 6 warehouses and starting several big fires. 8 P-51's hit railroad T/Os on sweeps from Peking, Chengting, Pingting, Linfen, and Puchou. 16 P-38's and P-51's dive-bomb installations at W end of Nanchang bridge, causing much damage. 5 B-25's and 12 P-40's strafe troops, supplies, and occupied strongpoints at Loyang and at several locations along Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. Japanese air strikes on Hengyang and Liangshan A/Fs destroy 4 US airplanes, damage several others, and blow up a fuel dump.

5/30/44 Fifth AF B-25's hit enemy positions as fighting on Biak I slacks temporarily. Other B-25's bomb A/F and nearby AA guns and fuel at Timoeka. B-24's and A-20's hit Japen I. In Wakde-Sarmi battle area, B-25's bomb and strafe shoreline from NW of Sawar to Sarmi Pt. Wewak area is again blasted by 70-plus A-20's, B-24's, and B-25's, along with RAAF aircraft. Thirteenth Air TF B-24's hit Truk Atoll, Woleai, and Puluwat group.

5/30/44 Thirteenth AF 23 B-26's bomb personnel areas NE of Tobera. 40-plus P-38's, P-40's, and P-39's bomb supply dump near Ratawul. 33 P-39's and 8 P-40's demolish bridges at Kirinani and over the Siaibai R. Log ramp over Miwo R is damaged and road between Puriata R and Kiaraba is hit. The FBs also attack Buka runway, Chabai barge anchorage, and Soraken supply area.

5/30/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Engebi bomb Ponape, which is also hit by B-24's returning from shuttle base at Los Negros. 2 forces of B-24's from Kwajalein strike Truk and Wake.

5/30/44 Eleventh AF 1 B-25 and 2 P-38's fly guardship cover.

5/31/44 Eighth AF 371 HBs attack M/Ys at Schwerte, Hamm, Osnabruck, Geseke, and Roosendaal; A/Fs at Luxeuil-les- Bains, Gilze-Rijen, and Florennes; and 5 bridges in France. The mission against the bridges, using radio-controlled bombs, is unsuccessful. 6 combat wgs sent to bomb A/Fs, M/Ys, and factories in France are recalled because of bad weather. 79 P-47's using dive bombing and 'Droopsnoot' (ftr equipped with bombsight) tactics attack Gutersloh A/F. 35 P-38's, unable to locate primary tgt of Lingen A/F, bomb A/F NE of Rheine, believed to be Hopsten.

5/31/44 Ninth AF About 200 B-26's bomb lock and highway bridges at Bennecourt, Courcelles-sur-Seine, and Rouen.

5/31/44 Twelfth AF MBs of 43d and 57th Bomb Wgs give close spt to ground forces in fierce fighting S of Rome, hitting numerous troop concentrations, roads and town areas, including points in or near Albano Laziale, Genzano di Roma, Ariccia, Frascati, Civitella Roveta, Subiaco, Cave, Nettuno, and Grottaferrata. XII TAC A-20's and FBs blast tgts in same general area, hitting troops bridges, supplies, guns, and vehicles at or near Rocca di Papa, Ariccia, Marino, Frascati, Grottaferrata, Lanuvio, Montalto di Castro, and Manciano. C-47's evacuate casualties from Anzio.

5/31/44 Fifteenth AF 480-plus B-17's and B-24's bomb oil refineries and comm tgts in Ploesti area. Ftrs fly over 200 sorties in spt. 15 HBs are lost to flak and ftrs. Over 40 enemy airplanes are shot down.

5/31/44 Tenth AF 12 B-25's hit Tiddim road while 36 A-31's hit supply dumps, villages, and gun positions in the Ukhrul- Moirang area. 130-plus B-25's, A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's hit troops, defensive positions, arty emplacements, boats, railroad facilities, and villages in Myitkyina-Mogaung area, buildings at Tahona, river boats at Lonkin and Kamaing, docks at Bhamo, railroad cars at Namti, and positions NW of Mohnyin. 21 other B-25's and FBs pound the Bhamo town area and A/F. 10 B-24's bomb Ye-u, demolishing several buildings.

5/31/44 Fourteenth AF 51 P-51's and P-40's pound shipping along the Yangtze, claiming direct hits on 5 small ships. 16 P- 51's and P-40's bomb Kweiyi and Yoyang and installations on river to the S. 10 P-38's bomb bridge and warehouse area at Nanchang. 12 P-40's bomb Pingkiang. 4 B-25's bomb Hankow A/F, Pailochi, and motor convoy at Yoyang. 6 other B-25's knock out bridge at Kengluang. 13 B-24's pound town of Lungling, causing big fires, while 14 B-24's, supported by P-40's blast warehouse area at Lashio. 4 P- 40's destroy several aircraft during strafing runs on Linfen and Hohsien A/Fs.

5/31/44 Fifth AF B-25's and A-20's hit Babo area, bomb A/F near Ransiki R, cover beachhead on Biak I, and attack fishing boats on shore of Japen I. P-47's and B-25's pound villages, barges, and gun positions in WakdeSarmi battle area. B-24's, P-39's, and RAAF airplanes continue to hit Wewak and Hansa Bay areas.

5/31/44 Thirteenth AF 12 P-38's bomb Vulcan Crater barge hideout. 22 P-39's and 12 P-40's blast supply dumps near Ratawul. 33 B-25's pound Rabaul truck concentrations, wharf area, and NE section of town. 5 B-25's bomb T/Os along NW New Ireland coast. P-39's bomb several tgts, including Soraken, Arigua, and several barges and vehicles.

5/31/44 Eleventh AF During the morning 2 B-25's and 4 P-38's fly guardship cover. A bmr flies a weather mission while another reconnoiters and hits Buroton Bay.

6/1/44 Ninth AF Around 100 B-26's bomb A/Fs and coastal defense batteries from Belgian border to Cherbourg Peninsula.

6/1/44 Twelfth AF MBs, LBs, and FBs continue spt of ground troops, striking concentrations, bivouac areas, motor transport, railways and roads, bridges, trains and other tgts. Ftrs fly sweeps over battle areas, escort MBs, and carry out sweeps along E Italian coast.

6/1/44 Tenth AF 7 B-25's pound bridges at Songon and Bongyaung and hit Imphal-Tiddim road. 20-plus others fly ammo into Imphal area. 19 P-40's hit tgts in Myitkyina area.

6/1/44 Fourteenth AF 25 FBs hit Chenghsien railroad yards. 18 FBs bomb docks, gunboat, and barracks in Chiuchiang area and strafe about 300 troops at Sanyenchiao.

6/1/44 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Amboina, Boeroe, and Kai Is. B-25's and A-20's attack T/Os in Kaukenau area, at Ransiki, and on Noemfoor and Biak Is. A-20's, B-25's, and P-39's hit villages, bivouac, and other T/Os in coastal area from Wakde Is to Hollandia. Bombing of Wewak-Hansa Bay coast continues.

6/1/44 Thirteenth AF XIII BC moves from the New Hebrides to Los Negros. 9 B-25's bomb Matupi I and 3 hit SE part of Rabaul. 12 others pound personnel and supply area NE of Tobera. 30-plus P-38's and P-40's hit Talili Bay supply areas. 5 MBs hit barge hideout and buildings on Duke of York I. 30-plus P-39's attack Tonolai, Arigua, Arawa, and barges at Sohano I.

6/1/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Eniwetok hit Ponape.

6/1/44 Eleventh AF 2 B-24's from Shemya photograph and bomb installations at Buroton Bay including a suspected seaplane base and the harbor area. Of 2 B-25's and 4 P-38's taking off for guardship cover mission, 3 aircraft abort with engine trouble. 2 other B-25's fly a negative antishipping sweep.

6/1/44 ZI AAF Redistribution Center is redesignated AAF Personnel Distribution Cmd.

6/2/44 Eighth AF Role of bmrs from 2-5 Jun in preparation for invasion of Normandy on 6 Jun includes continuation of attacks against transportation and A/F tgts in N France and the institution of a series of blows against coastal defenses, mainly located in Pas de Calais coastal area, to deceive the enemy as to the sector to be invaded (Operation COVER). In the first mission on 2 Jun, 776 HBs attack tgts at Boulogne-sur- Mer, Wimereux, Equihen-Plage, Hardelot Plage, Neufchatel, Dannes, Plage-Sainte-Cecile, Stella- Plage, Breck-surMer, and Saint-Aubin. Opposition is confined to AA fire and is generally ineffective.

The second mission of 2 Jun is carried out by 300 HBs attacking A/Fs and railroad facilities at or near Massy/Palaiseau, Conches, Beaumont-sur-Oise, Juvisy-sur-Orge, Acheres, Paris, Versailles/Matelots, Bretigny-sur-Orge, and Creil. 8 bmrs are lost to AA fire.

6/2/44 Ninth AF Special conference for ground liaison offlcers is held by 21 Army Gp officers who present a detailed exposition of the plan for the landings in Normandy. About 350 B-26's and A-20's bomb NOBALL tgts and coastal def batteries along Channel coast. P-38's and P-47's dive-bomb tgts in the area, including V-weapon sites, fuel dump, railroad junctions and bridges.

6/2/44 Twelfth AF MBs attack road and rail bridges from N of battle area just below Rome to areas N of Rome. FBs continue to blast motor transport, railways, trains, cmd posts, roads, and bridges in battle area, having particularly good success against vehicles.

6/2/44 Fifteenth AF Shuttle-bombing between Italy and USSR (Operation FRANTIC) is started. Under cmd of Gen Eaker, 130 B-17's, escorted by 70 P-51's, bomb M/Y at Debreczen and land in Soviet Union-the HBs at Poltava and Mirgorod, the ftrs at Piryatin. 1 HB is lost over tgt. 27 other B-17's, forced off course en route to Oradea M/Y, also hit Debreczen. Nearly 400 other HBs attack M/Ys at Szeged, Miskolc, Szolnok, Cluj, Simeria, and Oradea. P-51's and P-38's provide escort.

6/2/44 Tenth AF B-25's continue to fly ammo into Imphal area. 12 B-24's airborne against Yenangyaung fail to hit primary but unload against alternates in the area.

6/2/44 Fourteenth AF 80-plus P-40's and P-51's pound troops and vehicles at Tungcheng and Chungyang and strafe concentration of about 75 sampans on Tungting Lake.

6/2/44 Fifth AF B-25's bomb Kaukenau-Timoeka area while B-24's bomb positions N of Mokmer A/F. B-24's and B- 25's hit bivouacs NE of Sawar A/F and near Wiske R and bomb roads along W bank of the Orai R. B- 24's, P-39's, and RAAF airplanes hit Wewak area. Thirteenth Air TF B-24's bomb Dublon.

6/2/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-24's pound Nordup area. 48 P-38's, P-39's, and P-40's attack Vunakanau area. 30-plus P-39's attack A/F at Buka and supplies in Kara-Kahili area.

6/2/44 Seventh AF B-25's based at Makin strike Nauru.

6/2/44 Eleventh AF 2 B-24's, finding Shimushiru overcast, bomb and photograph Matsuwa (secondary) during dawn.

6/3/44 Eighth AF In Operation COVER, 338 HBs attack coastal defenses in the Pas de Calais area, bombing a total of 22 assigned tgts. In second mission of the day 215 HBs attack 16 of the tgts bombed during the first mission. No bmrs are lost on either mission.

6/3/44 Ninth AF Over 250 B-26's and A-20's bomb A/Fs, highway bridges, and coastal def batteries in N France. Over 400 P-38's and P-47's divebomb tgts in NW Europe.

6/3/44 Twelfth AF MBs pound bridges in C Italy, further damaging the enemy's comm system. FBs continue close spt of embattled ground forces immediately S of Rome and attack several bridges N of the city to hinder a possible withdrawal of enemy forces. LBs attack ammo and fuel dumps.

6/3/44 Fifteenth AF Bad weather drastically curtails operations. 36 B-24's bomb waterfront area of Omis and 38 hit port area and W part of Split. Ftrs sent to strafe T/Os in tgt areas abandon mission because of low clouds over tgts.

6/3/44 Tenth AF 15 B-25's pound Imphal-Tiddim road while a few P-40's hit Mogaung area. B-25 ammo lift to Imphal area continues.

6/3/44 Fourteenth AF P-40's spt ground forces at Watien and Tatangtzu, destroy 2 barges and damage others in Gulf on Tonkin, and strafe 40 barges carrying horses and troops in Tungting Lake area N of Nanhsien. B-25's, P-40's, and P-51's pound Pingkiang area.

6/3/44 Fifth AF B-25's, A-20's, and B-24's hit Timoeka A/F and nearby villages, shipping off Manokwari, Seroei Village on Japen I, and positions N of Mokmer, and strafe Mokmer, Sorido and Kamiri A/Fs. P-38's and P-47's battle ftrs over Biak I and over Babo area. P-47's and P-40's hit Sawar A/F, supplies and fuel dumps in Sarmi and Orai R areas, and hideouts and occupied areas along coast. B-24's and FBs maintain consistent pounding of numerous tgts in Wewak-Hansa Bay coastal region. B-24's of Thirteenth Air TF bomb Eten and Dublon.

6/3/44 Thirteenth AF All scheduled strikes on Rabaul area are cancelled due to weather conditions. 20-plus P-39's, turned back from Rabaul area, hit Tsundawan-Porton road, vehicles in Komai area, and AA position at Kara.

6/3/44 Seventh AF B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, strike Truk in predawn raid. B-25's from Engebi bomb Nauru.

6/3/44 Eleventh AF 2 B-25's and 2 P-38's fly guardship cover. 2 other B-25's fly a negative shipping search.

6/4/44 Eighth AF In the first mission of the day the escort is to be divided between Pas de Calais (COVER) area and the Normandy assault (NEPTUNE ) area. However, D-Day is postponed 24 hrs and the NEPTUNE force is cancelled. 231 HBs attack 7 tgts in Pas de Calais area. In the second mission 283 aircraft bomb 8 coastal def positions in same area. Third mission of the day consists of attacks by 400 HBs on 10 tgts including A/Fs, railway junctions and bridges. No bmrs are lost on any of the missions.

6/4/44 Ninth AF Over 300 B-26's and A-20's bomb highway bridge and coastal batteries in France. Almost 200 P-47's and P-51's dive-bomb bridges, railroad junction, rolling stock and T/Os in France.

6/4/44 Twelfth AF MBs hit railroad bridges in NC Italy. FBs concentrate on motor transport on roads N of Rome over which enemy is retreating as US Fifth Army columns converge on the city amidst enthusiastic welcome by the populace. A record number of over 600 motor transport are claimed destroyed and almost as many more damaged by Twelfth AF and RAF units of MATAF.

6/4/44 Fifteenth AF More than 650 B-17's and B-24's attack comm in NW Italy and on both sides of FrancoItalian frontier, hitting M/Y and repair works at Turin, M/Ys at Genoa and Novi Ligure, bridges at Gad and Orelle, and viaducts at Recco and Antheor. Ftrs fly over 200 sorties in spt of the HBs.

6/4/44 Tenth AF 20-plus P-40's hit Myitkyina area while 19 others hit various points in N Burma, including Haka, Kamaing, Kamasaing, Tagwin, and Bilumyo. B-25's continue ammo lift to Imphal.

6/4/44 Fourteenth AF P-40's bomb arty positions and T/Os in Watien area of Salween battle front. Others bomb railroad T/Os in NE Indochina.

6/4/44 Fifth AF A-20's bomb town and harbor at Manokwari and shipping to the E in Geelvink Bay. B-24's bomb Namber and Borokoe A/Fs while ftrs battle enemy airplanes in general area. B-24's bomb area near Orai R mouth while A-20's hit Wewak and FBs pound Hansa Bay coast.

6/4/44 Thirteenth AF Bad weather again prevents strikes against Rabaul area. P-39's flying a total of 55 sorties, blast truck park near Komai, strafe huts at Doure, and attack pier at Tunuru. 8 P-38's weathered out of Rabaul strike Tonolai supply area. A lone B-25 bombs Kahili.

6/4/44 Seventh AF During the night B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, hit Truk. B-25's from Engebi follow with daylight raid on Ponape.

6/4/44 Eleventh AF 2 B-24's fly uneventful rcn over Shimushiru. Fuel shortage and equipment failure prevent flying to Matsuwa (secondary). Later, a B-25 and 2 P-38's fly a guardship cover mission.

6/5/44 Eighth AF 629 HBs attack 6 coastal def installations in Cherbourg-Caen area and 8 in Pas de Calais area, along with 3 V-weapon sites and a railroad bridge. 6 bmrs are lost. 7 P-51 FBs attack truck convoy near Lille, destroying 2 trucks.

6/5/44 Ninth AF Over 100 B-26's bomb coastal def batteries in France. More than 100 P-47's dive-bomb tgts in same area.

6/5/44 Twelfth AF MBs pound road bridges just N of forces retreating from Rome while FBs continue attacks against motor transport, railway lines and roads in battle areas and N of Rome, destroying many vehicles and train cars, and scoring numerous hits on bridges, tracks, and roads, as most of US Fifth Army assault forces cross the Tiber in pursuit of enemy and British Eighth Army forces E of Rome prepare to adv astride the Tiber against Terni and Rieti.

6/5/44 Fifteenth AF 440-plus HBs attack M/Ys at Ferrara, Forli, Faenza, Castel Maggiore, and Bologna, bomb bridges, bridge approaches, and surrounding areas at Rimini, Fornovo di Taro, and Pioppi, and attack viaduct at Vado Ligure. P-38's and P-51's fly escort. 53 P-38's strafe Ferrara and Poggio Renatico A/Fs and 40 strafe and dive-bomb A/Fs at Bologna and Reggio Emilia.

6/5/44 Tenth AF 9 B-25's bomb Bhamo and 4 hit bridge at Ledan Chaung, while others continue ammo haul into Imphal. 50 FBs pound Myitkyina area and 20-plus others hit Loilaw, Tagwin, Namti, and Mogaung.

6/5/44 Fourteenth AF 12 P-40's spt ground forces at Watien and Lameng on Salween front. 18 P-24's and 12 P-40's bomb Lashio. 7 B-24's blast barracks and warehouse area at Namhkam. 8 P-40's hit 15 tanks at Taying. 29 P-40's attack numerous oil barges near Yuankiang, leaving 16 of them burning.

6/5/44 Fifth AF P-39's and RAAF airplanes attack Wewak area. B-24's bomb area N of Sorido A/F. During 5/6 Jun an all-night series of harassing raids by Japanese airplanes destroy several Allied aircraft on Wakde.

6/5/44 Thirteenth AF 23 B-25's bomb truck park at Rabaul. 22 P-39's strike Ratawul. 11 P-38's hit barges and buildings in Vulcan Crater area. 30-plus P-39's hit vehicles in KomaiTobago vicinity, a wooded supply area N of Buka A/F, and Cape Tanabom and Kangu Hill areas.

6/5/44 Twentieth AF The Twentieth flies its first VHB combat mission. Of 98 B-29's airborne from India, 77 bomb primary tgt-the railroad shops at Bangkok. 5 VHBs are lost to nonbattle causes.

6/5/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Makin hit Nauru. B-24's from Eniwetok escort photo aircraft over Guam, bomb the island, and proceed to Los Negros for rearming. B-25's from Engebi strike Ponape.

6/6/44 Eighth AF Eighth reaches its top strength as 493d Bomb Gp (H) becomes operational, making a total of 40 HB gps now operational. HBs fly 4 missions in spt of the invasion of Normandy. 1,361 HBs are dispatched on first mission of the day. 1,015 of the HBs attack the beach installations, 47 bomb transportation chokepoints in town of Caen, and 21 bomb alternate tgts. Overcast and inability of HBs to locate (or absence of) Pathfinder leaders causes failure of some units to attack. The second mission strikes at transportation chokepoints in towns immediately around the assault area. Total cloud cover causes most of the 528 HBs dispatched to return with their bombs but 37 bmrs manage to bomb secondary tgt of Argentan. The third mission is dispatched against the important comm center of Caen. 56 B-24's bomb through overcast skies. Transportation chokepoints in towns immediately S and E of assault area are the objectives of the fourth mission for the Eighth. 553 HBs bomb tgts including Vire, Saint- Lo, Coutances, Falaise, Lisieux, Thury-Harcourt, Pont-l'Eveque, Argentan, and Conde-sur-Noireau. In all, 1,729 HBs of Eighth AF drop 3,596 tons of bombs during D-Day, suffering only 3 losses (to ground fire and a collision). VIII FC has threefold mission of escorting HBs, attacking any movement toward assault area, and protecting Allied shipping. The ftrs fly 1,880 sorties including FB attacks against 17 bridges, 10 M/Ys, and a variety of other tgts including convoy, railroad cars, siding, rail and highway junctions, tunnel, and a dam. Very little air opposition is encountered. The ftrs claim 28 German aircraft destroyed and 14 damaged. Also destroyed are 21 locomotives and two carloads of ammunition.

Numerous tgts are damaged including locomotives, trucks, tank cars, armored vehicles, goods carriers, barges, and tugboats. Tgts attacked with unreported results include warehouses, radar towers, barracks, troops, arty, staff cars, 85 trains, and a variety of other tgts. 25 VIII FC aircraft are lost.

6/6/44 Ninth AF More than 800 A-20's and B-26's bomb coastal def batteries, rail and road junctions and bridges, and M/Ys in spt of the invasion forces landing in Normandy. Over 2,000 ftrs fly sweeps, escort for MBs and TCs, ground spt, and divebombing missions over W France. During the preceding fight and during the day over 1,400 C-47's, C-53's, and gliders deliver glider troops and paratroops, including 3 full airborne divs, which are to secure beach exits to facilitate inland movement of seaborne assault troops.

A total of about 30 airplanes MBs, (ftrs and transports) are lost.

6/6/44 Twelfth AF MBs, LBs, FBs, and ftrs all hit comm lines N of Rome to slow enemy retreat. Bridges, road junctions, rail lines, roads, and motor transport are continually attacked throughout the day, as British Eighth Army forces W of Tiber reach Civita Castellana and US Fifth Army forces push N and W toward Viterbo and Civitavecchia.

6/6/44 Fifteenth AF Shuttle-bombing (FRANTIC) continues as 104 B-17's and 42 P-51's (having flown to USSR from Italy on 2 Jun) attack A/F at Galati and return to Soviet shuttle bases. 8 enemy ftrs are shot down and 2 P- 51's are lost. 570-plus other HBs, with ftr escorts, bomb oil refineries in Ploesti area, M/Ys at Brasov and Pitesti, Brasov wagon and armament works, Turnu-Severin canal, and M/Y at Belgrade.

6/6/44 Tenth AF 24 B-25's attack Waingmaw, Wuntho-Hopin area, and Imphal-Tiddim road. Others maintain ammo lift into Imphal. 24 A-36's, 11 P-51's, and 45 P-40's pound Myitkyina. About 40 A-36's and P-40's hit Mogaung, Mohnyin, Lachigahtawng, Pakhren-Sakan, and Kadu areas.

6/6/44 Fourteenth AF 50 P-40's attack shipping, horses, and troops in Fulinpu Kweiyi vicinity, 10 P-51's and 6 B-25's pound Tayang Chiang, and 5 B-25's bomb Pailochi A/F. 9 P-40's hit road and rail T/Os in Yellow R area. 2 others sink a junk and damage others at Kwangchow Wan.

6/6/44 Fifth AF B-24's and B-25's bomb shipping near Efman and Waigeo Is. A-20's hit A/F at Babo, and A-20's and B-25's hit Namber A/F and tanks near Mokmer. P-39's, A-20's, and RAAF airplanes continue to pound Wewak-Hansa Bay area, hitting supply dumps and hideouts. B-24's hit islands in Truk Atoll.

6/6/44 Thirteenth AF P-38's bomb supply dump near Nordup. P-39's and Navy aircraft hit vehicles near Hari. Other P-39's pound pier and buildings in SE Kahili.

6/6/44 Seventh AF B-24's returning to Eniwetok from Los Negros (where they rearmed after bombing Guam the previous day) hit Ponape.

6/7/44 Eighth AF AEAF directs air attacks against congested points to delay movement of more enemy forces into assault area. In first mission 402 HBs, including 20 Pathfinders, attack tgts at Flers, Conde-sur- Noireau, Falaise, Argentan, L'Aigle, and Lisieux. Second mission is directed at Kerlin/Bastard A/F and at bridges, railroad junctions, depots, and station at Nantes, Angers, Tours, and adjacent areas. 498 HBs attack; heavy cloud prevents almost 100 others from bombing tgts. VIII FC furnishes area spt for beachhead areas in early morning and to HB operations at midday and in late afternoon, at the same time maintaining harassment of comm and flying shipping patrol. The ftrs encounter about 150 aircraft during the day, destroying 31. Enemy ftrs account for 4 ftrs lost. FB attacks are flown against about 50 tgts, including M/Ys, sidings, trains, tunnels, bridges, convoys, A/Fs, and railroads. In almost 1,000 sorties, 25 ftrs are lost.

6/7/44 Ninth AF 600-plus MBs hit bridges, junctions, trestles, coastal and field batteries, and M/Ys in France in spt of invasion. Over 1,100 ftrs spt ground troops by dive bombing and strafing, escort MBs and transports, and make sweeps throughout the battle area as Bayeux is liberated and the BayeuxCaen road is cut.

400-plus C-47's, C-53's, and gliders resupply paratroops in the assault area.

6/7/44 Twelfth AF Weather hampers MB operation but several rail and road bridges and viaducts are attacked. FBs blast retreating motor transport and troops, and hit bridges N of Rome. Numerous vehicles are destroyed immediately N of Rome and especially in Subiaco area near Rome. Many hits are scored on roads and railroads, and several railroad cars and gun emplacements are destroyed. US Fifth Army captures Civitavecchia.

6/7/44 Fifteenth AF Fifteenth AF reaches its planned operational strength of 21 HB gps and 7 ftr gps as 332d Ftr Gp (P- 47) begins operations. 340 B-17's and B-24's, some with ftr cover, hit Leghorn dock and harbor installations, Voltri shipyards, Savona railroad junction, and Vado Ligure M/Y, Antheor viaduct, and Var R bridge. 42 P-38's bomb Recco viaduct and 32 P-47's fly uneventful sweep over Ferrara-Bologna area.

6/7/44 Tenth AF 11 B-24's bomb Wuntho and Kalemyo. 9 B-25's hit Wuntho-Shwebo railroad and bridge at Thityabin.

Other B-25's continue flying ammo to Imphal. A few P-51's hit Lachigahtawng.

6/7/44 Fourteenth AF 10 B-25's bomb Lashio and T/Os along Salween front. 3 B-25's and 15 FBs bomb tank concentrations at Taying, destroy several locomotives at Linfen, and pound railroad yards at Chenghsien. P-40's and B-25's strafe sampans at Ft Bayard and sink a schooner off Nampang I. 2 rocket-firing P-40's damage processing building at carbide mines at Na Duong.

6/7/44 Fifth AF B-25's bomb Biak I, hitting gun positions near Bosnik, airstrip at Sorido, and Borokoe road. A-20's hit shipping in Manokwari area. B-25's blast supply areas near Orai R. FBs and A-20's continue pounding Wewak-Hansa Bay coast. Thirteenth Air TF B-24's hit various tgts on Truk Atoll (weather permits only 10 of 48-airplane force to reach tgt area).

6/7/44 Thirteenth AF All scheduled strikes in Rabaul area are weathered out. P-39's and P-38's hit several T/Os on Bougainville, including occupied areas at Monoitu.

6/7/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Makin bomb Ponape.

6/8/44 USSTAF Gen Spaatz, CG, places oil in first priority as tgt for USSTAF as result of the destructive effect achieved by several missions against oil centers in May.

6/8/44 Eighth AF Attacks are made on comm to isolate German forward elements, and A/Fs are bombed to prevent German air spt. Cloud conditions prevent over 400 HBs from executing assignments but 735 attack tgts including A/Fs at Rennes and Le Mans and bridges, M/Ys and other railroad facilities, and various T/Os at or near Tours, Nantes, Cinq Marsla-Pile, Pontaubalt, La Vicomte-sur-Rance, Angers, Orleans, la Friliere, Etampes, and Morigny. 3 bmrs are lost. VIII FC, flying 1,405 ftr sorties on this day, sends FB attacks against nearly 75 tgts, including railroad facilities, bridges, convoys, A/Fs, barges, radio towers, troop concentration, a transformer, and a coastal gun. Ftrs and FBs destroy nearly 400 rail, ground transport, and military vehicles and claim 46 airplanes destroyed. 22 ftrs of VIII FC are lost.

6/8/44 Ninth AF Around 400 MBs attack rail and road bridges and junctions, rail sidings, M/Ys, town areas, fuel storage tanks, ammunition dumps, troop concentration and strong points in the Calais area. Around 1,300 ftrs provide spt to MBs and high cover over assault area, and bomb and strafe bridges, M/Ys, gun batteries, rail facilities, vehicles, towns, and troop concentrations.

6/8/44 Twelfth AF Weather again restricts activity. Many MB missions are abortive, though several bridges, railroad lines, and guns are attacked. A-20's hit town of Bolsena and tgts in surrounding areas. FBs and ftrs continue to patrol battle areas destroying motor transport, and attacking train cars, roads, rail-lines, and enemy concentrations, as US Fifth Army approaches Viterbo and British Eighth Army pushes toward Orvieto.

6/8/44 Fifteenth AF 52 B-17's, with P-47 escort, bomb navy yard and dry-docks at Pola.

6/8/44 Tenth AF B-24's mine Bangkok and Mergui areas. B-25's maintain ammo supply to Imphal. 9 B-25's pound Imphal-Tiddim road and a few A-36's and P-51's hit the enemy in Mogaung area.

6/8/44 Fourteenth AF 19 P-40's bomb docks, warehouses, and military installations at Ichang and Shasi and strafe 2 cav units at Nanying. 4 P-51's attack railroad traffic in Singtai-Chengting area.

6/8/44 Fifth AF B-25's, P-38's, B-24's, and A-20's battle enemy ftrs over Manokwari and Efman-Schouten Is areas, bomb small freighter off Manokwari, and hit gun emplacements and occupied areas at Kamiri, at Namber, and near Sorido. P-40's hit supply areas and villages in vicinity of Sarmi. A-20's again hit Wewak area. B-24's from the Admiralties hit Truk.

6/8/44 Thirteenth AF 24 B-25's bomb supply area at Ratawul. 32 P-39's bomb Tsirogei and supply area N of Buka. 6 P-38's hit Monoitu Mission.

6/8/44 Seventh AF During 7/8 Jun, B-24's from Eniwetok bomb Truk and Ponape. B-25's from Makin follow up during day with strike against Nauru.

6/9/44 Eighth AF Bad weather prevents HB operations. One ftr sq attacks shipping and another sq flies escort for photo rcn mission (not completed), losing 2 ftrs.

6/9/44 Twelfth AF MBs again hit enemy comm, bombing bridges with good results. LBs hit T/Os in Acquapendente area.

FBs and ftrs continue to pound motor transport retreating up Italian peninsula, and to bomb roads and railways in path of enemy retreat, as US Fifth Army reaches Viterbo, where British Eighth Army shortly makes contact with it.

6/9/44 Fifteenth AF Around 500 B-24's and B-17's bomb industrial tgts and an A/F around Munich and attack oil storage at Porto Marghera. P-47's, P-38's, and P-51's fly over 250 sorties in spt of the Munich raids. HBs and ftrs claim over 30 aircraft destroyed. 13 US airplanes are lost.

6/9/44 Tenth AF 5 B-25's carry out strike on Imphal-Tiddim road while 20-plus others continue to supply ammo to Imphal area. More than 40 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's hit Myitkyina, Mogaung, and Kadu.

6/9/44 Fourteenth AF P-40's, P-51's, and B-25's fly more than 200 sorties against numerous tgts throughout the Tungting Lake area. River shipping of all description is pounded, several troop concentrations are attacked, A/Fs at Hankow and Wuchang are bombed, and towns of Ichang, Siangyin, Yuankiang, and Kiaotow are hit. 4 HB and FB sorties over S China Sea result in claims of 3 sea going vessels, a tug, and a barge sunk.

6/9/44 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Peleliu A/F. A-20's bomb shipping in Manokwari harbor. B-24's, A-20's, B-25's, and P- 39's, along with RAAF planes, drop about 140 tons of bombs on various tgts in Wewak area. B-24's of Thirteenth Air TF bomb Alet A/F and T/Os in Truk.

6/9/44 Thirteenth AF 32 B-25's, 20 P-39's, and 5 P-38's pound supplies and gun positions in Ratawul-Talili Bay area. other B-25's attack pier at New Massava Plantation and railroad to Mandres Saw Mill. P-39's hit town of Buka, supply area to the N of the A/F, and Arigua Plantation.

6/9/44 Seventh AF During 8/9 Jun B-24's from Eniwetok bomb Truk.

6/10/44 Eighth AF Bad weather restricts operations to NW France. 873 HBs are airborne but over 200 abort due to cloud conditions. 589 including 31 Pathfinders, attack 8 A/Fs in France and 9 coastal installations in Pas de Calais area. One B-24 is downed by AA at Evreux. VIII FC, flying over 1,600 sorties, supports HB missions and launches attacks against about 80 tgts, including railroad facilities, convoys, tank column, trucks, radar station, tunnels, gun emplacement, supply dump, and a power plant. About 225 vehicles, including train engines and cars, are destroyed, along with 16 enemy aircraft. 25 ftrs are lost.

6/10/44 Ninth AF IX TAC establishes its first station on the Continent, at au Guay. 500-plus B-26's and A-20's bomb tgts in assault area in France. Tgts include military concentrations, road and rail bridges and junctions, arty batteries, M/Ys, and town areas. Aircraft of more than 15 ftr gps fly escort to bmrs and transports, and bomb numerous tgts in spt of ground assault, including rail facilities, roads, troop concentrations, arty, and town areas.

6/10/44 Twelfth AF MBs attack bridges, railroads, and roads N, NE, and NW of Rome. LBs hit motor transport in town of Arcidosso. FBs and ftrs bomb and strafe motor transport and roads N of battle area, destroying numerous vehicles, especially along the roads between Rome and Vetralla. In ground action Indian 4th Div takes Pescara and Chieti, while 2d NZ Div reaches Avezzano E of Rome. XII BC is disbanded in Corsica.

6/10/44 Fifteenth AF More than 550 B-17's and B-24's attack oil stores at Porto Marghera, oil refinery at Trieste, M/Ys at Mestre, Trieste, and Ancona, and A/F at Ferrara. P-51's and P-38's fly escort, strafe T/Os between Bucharest and Danube R and S of Craiova, and dive-bomb an oil refinery at Ploesti.

6/10/44 Tenth AF 23 B-24's bomb tgts at Chauk, Lonywa, and Yenangyaung while 29 others supply ammo to Imphal area. 50 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's blast tgts at Myitkyina, Mogaung and Tapo.

6/10/44 Fourteenth AF 23 P-40's and P-51's hit railroad traffic and tracks at Linfen and Loning and tank concentration at Lingpao. 6 P-40's hit bridge at Tasa. B-25's, P-40's, P-51's, and P-38's carry out 150-plus sorties against numerous tgts throughout Tungting Lake area. Numerous rivercraft are destroyed or damaged, Kukang and other villages NE of Changsha are bombed, Hankow-Wuchang A/F revetments and buildings are pounded, Changshowkai area is blasted, and several river landings and storage installations in the lake area are attacked. 3 B-24's on S China Sea sweep claim 1 small cargo ship sunk.

6/10/44 Fifth AF A-20's hit A/F at Babo, destroying grounded aircraft, fuel dump, several buildings, and a gun position.

A-20's, B-25's, and RAAF airplanes hit Wewak area with more than 100 tons of bombs.

6/10/44 Thirteenth AF 8 P-38's skip-bomb supply tunnels at Keravia Bay while 4 others strafe nearby AA positions. AA guns S of Rapopo are attacked by 12 B-25's, 20 P-39's, and 20-plus Navy dive bmrs. Other B-25's bomb Ratawul. 31 P-39's and 20-plus Navy aircraft hit Chinatown at Buka and a supply area NE of the airstrip, a barge at Sohano I, trucks near Tsirogei, and a ford near Monoitu.

6/10/44 Seventh AF B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, bomb Truk and Ponape during 9/10 Jun. B-25's from Makin hit Nauru during the day.

6/11/44 Eighth AF Weather prevents operations against priority tgts in Germany 90 the HBs attack bridges on the Loire, bridges and A/Fs on Brest Peninsula and near Paris, and coastal defenses in Pas de Calais area. Of 1,043 HBs airborne, over 400 abort or fail to bomb due to clouds and absence or malfunction of Pathfinders. 640 HBs bomb tgts, including 10 A/Fs and landing grounds, several bridges, and various T/Os. 3 HBs are lost. VIII FC supports HBs over NW France and Ninth AF MBs attack Paris area. FBs attack over 60 tgts, including railroad yards, sidings, junctions, bridges, trains, A/Fs, convoys, an oil tanker, a power station, and warehouses. Ftrs destroy 5 aircraft. VIII FC loses 8 ftrs.

6/11/44 Ninth AF 129 B-26's and A-20's bomb rail and road bridges and intersections, rail lines, oil tanks, arty, and town areas, in morning operations. Bad weather prevents afternoon operations. 10 ftr gps fly escort and strafe and bomb bridges, railroads, gun emplacements, rail and road traffic, and M/Ys in spt of Allied ground troops in France.

6/11/44 Twelfth AF Weather cancels all LB and MB operations. FBs and ftrs, operating on a reduced scale, hit vehicles, roads, and bridges N of battleline which US Fifth Army's VI Corps has extended 65 mi N of Rome.

6/11/44 Fifteenth AF 126 B-17's and 60 P-51's depart Russian shuttle bases for Italy to complete the first FRANTIC operation.

On the way 121 B-17's bomb A/F at Focsani; 1 B-17 is lost. 540-plus other B-17's and B-24's attack oil installations at Constanta and Giurgiu (both raids having ftr escorts) oil refinery and M/Y at Smederovo. The HBs and ftrs claim total of 50 airplanes destroyed during the day's missions.

6/11/44 Tenth AF 30 B-25's continue flying ammo to Imphal area. 55 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's attack tgts at Myitkyina, Mogaung, Indawgyi Lake, and Padaung.

6/11/44 Fourteenth AF In China's Tungting Lake area 80-plus P-40's, P-51's, and P-38's pound towns of Lanchi and Anking, hit cav compound at Kintsing, attack Japanese HQ, positions, and river traffic N of Changsha, destroy or damage several boats, barges, and sampans at Changsha, and strafe numerous T/Os throughout the entire region. In Yellow R area, 27 B-25's and P-40's pound barracks, fortifications, tank concentration, several armored vehicles, and cav forces at Iching and Lingpao. 3 B-25's on sea sweep in S China Sea claim 1 600ft freighter sunk.

6/11/44 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Sorido A/F and surrounding areas as US carrier forces attack Saipan, Tinian and Guam.

B-25's, A-20's, and P-47's continue to saturate Wewak-Hansa Bay coastline with bombs. Other B-24's bomb Dublon and Peleliu A/F.

6/11/44 Thirteenth AF 130-plus B-25's, P-38's P-39's, and Navy dive bmrs pound AA positions S and SW of Rapopo. P-39's fly 44 sorties against occupied areas at Komai, Kakaura, and Quaga, AA guns at Kangu Hill, and plantations at Arigua and Tsirogei.

6/11/44 Seventh AF B-24's from Eniwetok hit Truk during 11/12 Jun. B-25's follow with raid against Ponape during the morning.

6/12/44 Eighth AF With bad weather over top priority tgts in Germany, HB efforts are directed against A/Fs and landing grounds in NE France and rail and road bridges on the Brest Peninsula. 1,278 HBs, including 25 Pathfinders, drop 3,295 tons of bombs on 22 of the primary tgts and on secondary and T/Os. 8 HBs are lost, mostly to ground fire. VIII FC furnishes spt for HB missions and Ninth AF MBs, and attacks enemy communications and troop movements. Ftrs damage M/Ys at Juvisy-sur-Orge and Melun and several freight trains, and destroy 108 locomotives, train cars, trucks, tanks, and other vehicles. One gp of P-47's is attacked by 50 German ftrs in a fierce battle, 8 P-47's and 5 Me-109's being shot down. During the day VIII FC flies 1,002 sorties and claims 26 aircraft destroyed. Losses total 17.

6/12/44 Ninth AF 509 B-26's and A-20's bomb M/Ys, road and rail junctions, bridges, arty, town areas, troop concentrations, and various T/Os in France. Aircraft of more than 15 ftr gps fly close and area spt for bmrs and bomb and strafe rail lines, gun batteries, bridges, fortifications, radar installation, tanks, ammo dumps, town areas and strongpoints in battle area of France.

6/12/44 Twelfth AF MBs hit bridges, viaducts, and rail lines at Collazone, Perugia, Foligno, Massa Lombarda, Pietrasanta, Cattolica, Pesaro, Arezzo, and Bucine. LBs hit Arcidosso and motor transport in the area. FBs are restricted by bad weather but attack several bridges and roads in line of enemy retreat which at its farthest point is N and W of Viterbo.

6/12/44 Tenth AF More than 30 B-25's continue to supply troops at Imphal with ammo. 16 P-40's hit Mogaung and T/Os in N Burma.

6/12/44 Fourteenth AF 50 P-40's, P-51's, and B-25's hit troop concentrations in Yellow R area at Lingpao and S of Loyang. In Tungting Lake area about 100 P-40's and P-51's attack numerous supply boats and other river and lake traffic, and hit dock areas and warehouses at Lanchi, Yuankiang, and at scattered points. Also hit are villages and troops in Changsha and Kuanchuang areas.

6/12/44 Fifth AF Fierce ground fighting continues on Biak I while Japanese airplanes attack Allied ground forces and shipping offshore; P-47's battle attacking aircraft, shooting down several. P-47's and A-20's hit troop concentrations, comm, and various other tgts in Wewak and Hansa Bay areas. B-24's bomb Peleliu A/F and Dublon I.

6/12/44 Thirteenth AF 6 B-24's bomb runways at Tobera and Rapopo. 22 P-39's and 10 P-38's join 20-plus Navy airplanes in attacks on supply dumps near Ralum. 20 B-25's pound Malapau village. 44 P-39's hit Baku A/F, Tsirogei plantation, barges and pier S of Kleine I, and occupied area W of Komai.

6/12/44 Seventh AF Eniwetok-based B-24's hit Truk during 11/12 Jun and again during the day.

6/13/44 Eighth AF Bad weather cancels large-scale bombing of high priority tgts in Germany. Overcast bombing against tac tgts in NW France is undertaken. On first mission of the day cloud cover is less than anticipated and visual runs are made by 128 B-17's against A/Fs at Dreux, Saint Andre-de-L'Eure, and Evreux.

On second mission 208 HBs, including 15 Pathfinders, attack A/Fs at Beauvais/Nivillers and Beaumont-sur-Oise, and bridges and scattered tgts between Brittany and the assault area. Bridges bombed are at Porcaro, Montfort-sur-Meu, Ploermel, La Vicomte-sur-Rance, Saint-Vincent-sur-Oust, and Vannes. AA fire downs 2 B-24's. VIII FC furnishes spt for the HB missions and conducts FB and strafing attacks against bridges, trains, trucks, and other vehicles. The ftrs, flying a total of 782 sorties, claim 6 airplanes, bomb 5 bridges, and deStlOy 3 locomotives, 23 trucks, and 4 other vehicles.

Losses of VIII FC total 4.

6/13/44 Ninth AF 397 B-26's and A-20's bomb rail and road junctions, M/Ys, and fuel dumps in assault areas in France.

Aircraft of 9 ftr gps escort bmrs and attack bridges, M/Ys, troop areas, rail and road traffic, gun emplacements, ammo dumps, and other tgts.

6/13/44 UK The first V-1 lands in S England. More land during 13/14 Jun, and throughout the rest of the month.

6/13/44 Twelfth AF MBs bomb shipping at Leghorn with excellent results and score numerous hits on bridges, viaducts, rail lines, and roads in NC Italy. FBs continue to disrupt retreat over entire area N of battle zone as British Eighth Army's 13 Corps pushes toward Orvieto and 10 Corps reaches Terni.

6/13/44 Fifteenth AF 560-plus B-17's and B-24's, most with ftr escorts, attack A/F at Oberpfaffenhofen, aircraft component plants at Munich-Allach, M/Ys at Innsbruck, Munich, and Porto Marghera, and several T/Os in Germany, Austria, and Italy. HBs and ftrs claim over 30 aircraft shot down. 10 US airplanes are lost and several others are missing.

6/13/44 Tenth AF A few P-51's hit Mogaung while 39 B-25's fly ammo to Imphal area.

6/13/44 Fourteenth AF 18 B-25's and 56 FBs pound M/Y at Wuchang. About 70 other B-25's and FBs attack a variety of other tgts in the Tungting Lake region, including many river vessels, A/F at Pailochi, troop positions NE of Changsha, warehouse and factory area at Shasi, and numerous general T/Os. 12 FBs hit Japanese HQ and barracks at Loyang. 4 B-24's over S China Sea claim 1 cargo vessel sunk. 4 P-40's pound Japanese positions at Watien and Kaitou.

6/13/44 Fifth AF More than 100 A-20's and a few B-25's and P-39's attack miscellaneous tgts in Wewak area. P-39's hit area around Hollandia and P-47's bomb bridge over Orai R and fuel dumps near Sarmi. A-20's blast enemy positions N of Borokoe. B-24's bomb airstrip at Liang. B-24's from Admiralty Is bomb Woleai, Dublon, and Satawan.

6/13/44 Thirteenth AF 9 P-38's and 23 P-39's hit Ralum and AA positions to the S. 24 B-25's bomb Tobera AA guns and A/F; 15 others, in 2 waves, bomb Praed Pt. 6 B-24's also bomb Tobera. 31 P-39's and 12 Navy aircraft attack supply dumps at Buka and Tapsadawato, bomb approach to Abia R bridge, and hit garden area at Tabago.

6/13/44 Seventh AF Attack during 12/13 Jun by B-24's from Eniwetok against Truk and Ponape is followed by daylight attack by Makin-based B-25's against Nauru and Ponape.

6/13/44 Eleventh AF During 12/13 June 6 B-24's dispatched to fly an offensive sweep and provide air cover for a naval TF abort missions due to weather.

6/14/44 Eighth AF Bad weather again covers all strategic tgts in Germany except one in the extreme NW. Major effort is against tac objectives, mainly in France. 1,314 HBs attack tgts, including oil refinery at Emmerich, an A/F and a bridge in Germany, 16 A/Fs in France and 1 in Belgium, 14 bridges, CROSSBOW supply sites, and scattered T/Os in France. HB losses total 14. VIII FC ftrs escort the HBs and engage in heavy aerial combat as ftrs intercept the HB forces. VIII FC loses 4 aircraft while destroying 4 of the enemy. P-47's bomb and strafe 3 A/Fs, 2 M/Ys, an ammo dump, and several other T/Os.

6/14/44 Ninth AF Over 500 B-26's and A-20's attack rail comm SW of Paris and highway comm centers S of beachhead area. Junctions, bridges, M/Ys, gun emplacements, and various defensive strongpoints are included.

Over 15 ftr gps fly escort and attack numerous ground tgts, including rail lines running from SW of Paris to Rennes area, and highway traffic in Cherbourg Peninsula and S of beachhead area to the Loire R.

6/14/44 Twelfth AF MBs bomb several bridges and viaducts in NC Italy, with especially good results on viaduct and railway bridge N of Arezzo. Ships in Leghorn harbor also are hit. LBs pound ammo supplies. FBs continue to attack roads and bridges in and just N of battle area (only small number of vehicles are seen) as US Fifth Army forces take Magliano and Orvieto falls to elements of British Eighth Army.

6/14/44 Fifteenth AF More than 550 B-17's and B-24's attack oil refineries and other tgts in Hungary and Yugoslavia, including Budapest, Petfurdo, Komarom, Osijek, and Sisak. P-38's, P-47's, and P-51's escort HBs and P-38's strafe and dive-bomb A/F at Kecskemet.

6/14/44 Tenth AF 21 B-25's continue ammo supply to Imphal vicinity. A few P-40's hit Mogaung area.

6/14/44 Fourteenth AF 43 P-40's attack river shipping, troops, and villages in Tungting Lake area, at or near Lanchi, Changsha, Chulianchiao, and Linyang.

6/14/44 Fifth AF A-20's, B-25's, and P-39's hit Wewak area. B-24's bomb Kamiri A/F. A-20's hit A/F at Babo, Orai R bridge, and fuel dumps, and other tgts near the river's mouth. Halong seaplane base is hit by B-24's.

6/14/44 Thirteenth AF 80-plus B-25's, P-38's, P-39's, and Navy aircraft hit supply areas and underground storages along N shore of Gazelle Peninsula from Vulcan Crater to Wunapope. Ralum, Keravia Bay, and Wunapope stores are the hardest hit. P-39's fly 27 sorties along E shoreline of Bougainville from Bonis to Kieta, hitting Monoitu, Bonis, and pier at Kieta Mission.

6/14/44 Eleventh AF 4 B-24's fly extensive photo rcn over the C and N Kurils. They are attacked by some 20 ftrs of which 3 are damaged.

6/15/44 Eighth AF 1,225 HBs operating in 8 forces bomb Misburg oil refinery in Germany and numerous tac tgts in France, including 9 A/Fs, an aircraft plant, a CROSSBOW supply site, 11 bridges, a M/Y, and various scattered tgts. Losses total 4 HBs. VIII FC escorts the HBs, flies shipping patrol, and carries out FB attack on bridges at Etaples. Ftr attacks destroy a locomotive and 5 trucks, along with 5 aircraft. A total of 762 ftr sorties are flown. No losses are suffered.

6/15/44 Ninth AF Over 550 B-26's and A-20's direct main attacks against fuel and ammo dumps, rail and highway comm, and armd div HQ S of bridgehead on Douve R. Over 1,400 ftrs fly armed rcn in Valognes- Cherbourg area, W part of Cherbourg Peninsula, and along comm lines S to Loire. Ftrs also attack shipping between the Channel Is and Cherbourg Peninsula.

6/15/44 Twelfth AF MBs blast rail and road bridges in La Spezia sector and in area S of Florence. LBs again hit ammo supplies. FBs and ftrs hit bridges and roads N of battlelines (again only scattered motor transport tgts are available for strafing). US Fifth Army patrols move into Grosseto and British Eighth Army pushes beyond Todi toward Perugia.

6/15/44 Fifteenth AF Weather cancels bombing operations. P-51's and P-38's strafe La Jasse, Orange/Plan de Dieu, Orange/Caritat, Avignon/Chateau-Blanc, and Avignon/Pujaut A/Fs.

6/15/44 Tenth AF 30 B-25's fly ammo to Imphal area. 27 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's pound Mogaung and Myitkyina.

6/15/44 Fourteenth AF 24 P-40's hit Japanese cav forces at Chuchou and several supply boats on Siang-Chiang R. 10 P-40's destroy or damage several tanks, trucks, and train cars between Loyang and Shanhsien. 24 B-24's bomb warehouse area at Canton, causing heavy damage.

6/15/44 FEAF FEAF is formed with jurisdiction over Fifth and Thirteenth AFs. Gen Kenney becomes CG FEAF, with HQ in Brisbane. FEAF HBs, MBs, LBs, and ftrs attack barges in Manokwari area, village in Wakde area. Also bombed are A/Fs on Timor and Truk. Thirteenth AF airplanes still in Solomon-Bismarck area hit Tobera A/F and forces on Bougainville. Amphibious forces of US Marines land on Saipan.

6/15/44 SOPAC COMAIRSOLS is dissolved, to be replaced by a new cmd, Air Comd, Northern Solomons (COM AIRNORSOLS).

6/15/44 Thirteenth AF HQ Thirteenth AF moves from Guadalcanal to Los Negros, from which the HBs have been operating since Apr as Thirteenth Air TF. Gen Streett becomes CG Thirteenth AF, which becomes part of FEAF.

The MBs and ftrs, together with other COMAIRSOLS airplanes, continue to maintain the neutralization of Rabaul and the pounding of the Bougainville-Buka area through Jul and into Aug.

6/15/44 Twentieth AF B-29's bomb Japan. With the exception of Eleventh AF's raids on the Kurils, this is first air attack against Japan since Doolittle's raid. 47 B-29's, operating out of Chengtu, bomb primary tgt of Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata. The Twentieth's first combat loss during a bombing mission results when ftrs destroy a B-29 down with engine trouble at Neihsiang A/F in China.

6/15/44 Eleventh AF 2 B-24's fly armed photo rcn over Shimushiru I.

6/16/44 Eighth AF 313 HBs, including 22 Pathfinders, attack 4 A/Fs and 4 CROSSBOW supply sites in France, losing a B-17 to ground fire. P-38's of VIII FC cease flying shipping patrol as of this date. 18 escort HB missions and attack a concentration of stalled trains between Angouleme and Poitiers, dropping external fuel tanks on them and firing the tanks by strafing. The same tactics are used on trains in M/Y at Saint-Pierre-d'Excideuil. Heavy damage is inflicted on both tgts, including heavy troop casualties. At Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise a large number of railroad cars are burned by oil and phosphorous bombs and strafing attacks. Other M/Ys, a power station, railroad station, trains, barges, tanks, trucks, gun emplacements, AA tower, and an armored vehicle are attacked. A total of about 400 railroad cars are attacked and about half of them set on fire. In general the ftr attacks are highly effective.

6/16/44 Ninth AF Bad weather prevents bmr operations. More than 500 ftrs strafe and bomb rail lines, bridges, and highway traffic in Cherbourg Peninsula.

6/16/44 Twelfth AF B-26's and B-25's hit rail and road bridges, viaduct, and other comm tgts at Casalecchio di Reno/Villa Vergano, Lissone, Viareggio, Pisa, Vernio, Grizzana, and Pietrasanta. A-20's continue to hit ammo supplies. FBs continue interdiction by hitting bridges, trucks, rail lines, and other tgts closer to the front, which now reaches across Italy from W coast near Grosseto to E coast in vicinity of Macerata.

6/16/44 Fifteenth AF Almost 600 HBs attack oil tgts at Vienna and Bratislava. Between 200 and 250 ftrs attack the formations and 15 US aircraft are shot down. HBs and escorting ftrs claim 70 airplanes destroyed.

6/16/44 Tenth AF 28 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's hit Myitkyina and T/Os in N Burma.

6/16/44 FEAF Bmrs and ftrs hit widespread tgts in SWPA and in SOPAC. Personnel areas and barges along coast in Wewak and Hansa Bay areas are hit throughout the day. A/Fs and shipping at Efman and Samate Is and at Babo and Sorong are attacked. Dublon and Yap are bombed. HBs hit Vunakanau A/F at Rabaul. HBs, MBs, LBs and ftrs attack a large variety of T/Os on Gazelle Peninsula from Tobera A/F to Rabaul.

6/16/44 SOPAC Gen Mitchell, USMC, becomes head of COMAIRNORSOLS.

6/16/44 Seventh AF B-25's, based at Makin, hit Ponape.

6/17/44 Eighth AF During first mission, 231 HBs, including 16 Pathfinders, attack 8 A/Fs in N France. Clouds and malfunction of blind-bombing equipment cause nearly 100 aborts. 2 HBs are lost. Favorable break in weather over N France permits a second mission. 273 B-24's bomb 3 A/Fs and 2 landing strips, along with some T/Os, in same general area hit by the earlier mission. 1 B-24 is lost to AA fire. VIII FC ftrs escort both HB missions and during first mission P-38's bomb 2 bridges N of Paris, damaging 1 of them severely. After escorting second mission, a P-51 gp bombs 2 M/Ys with good results. Other ftrs bomb a bridge and a M/Y as T/Os. 15 locomotives, train cars, trucks, and other vehicles are destroyed, along with 5 airplanes. VIII FC loses 8 ftrs while flying 1,027 sorties during the day.

6/17/44 Ninth AF Operational control of air-ground coordination of FB missions moves from HQ Ninth AF and 21 Army Gp Combined Control Center (in UK) to Adv HQ IX TAC (in Normandy) operating in close proximity to US First Army. 265 MBs attack fuel dumps, a bridge and a railway line S of battle area in France.

Over 1,300 ftrs fly escort and top cover, and strafe and bomb troop concentrations, military vehicles, bridges, gun emplacements, tanks, and other tac tgts.

6/17/44 Twelfth AF Except for a B-26 attack on 1 bridge and an A-20 raid on an ammo dump, weather prevents completion of LB and MB missions. FBs are also restricted but manage to hit several gun positions, comm tgts, boats, small ships, barges, and T/Os in battle area and at various other locations including Capo d'Enfola and other points on Elba (where French forces land and begin clearing island), and Rio Marina.

6/17/44 Fifteenth AF Operations are limited to rcn missions.

6/17/44 Tenth AF 8 A-36's attack forces at Mogaung. 25 B-25's fly ammo to Imphal area.

6/17/44 Fourteenth AF B-25's and FBs attack large troop concentrations at Shanglishih and Fenglinpu, bomb town of Lanchi and nearby villages, attack 4 villages in Chuchou area, hit troop barges at Changsha, damage several supply boats at Yiyang, and bomb military installations at Ichang.

6/17/44 FEAF MBs, LBs, and ftrs hit shipping in Sorong harbor and airstrips in Babo area. In Wewak area, A-20's, B- 25's, and ftrs continue to pound barges and villages. HBs again bomb Truk, hitting tgts on Eten and Dublon. HBs hit Lakunai A/F while A-20's, B-25's, and ftrs attack numerous tgts between Rapopo and Tobera.

6/17/44 Seventh AF B-24's, flying from Kwajalein, bomb Ponape. B-25's from Makin hit Nauru.

6/17/44 Eleventh AF 12 B-25's fly 3 air cover missions for Naval TF on withdrawal, following the shelling of Kurabu Cape installations.

6/18/44 Eighth AF 1,239 HBs operating in 4 forces attack oil industries at Oslebshausen, Hamburg, and Misburg, dock area and city of Hamburg, A/Fs at Stade and Hassum, and various tgts at Brunsbuttelkoog, Bremerhaven, Nordenham, and Helgoland, and V-weapon site at Watten. A total of 566 ftrs fly uneventful escort to the HB missions, all returning safely to base. 11 HBs are lost, 10 to AA fire and the other to unknown causes.

6/18/44 Ninth AF About 130 A-20's and B-26's bomb fuel dumps at Foret d'Andaine and Conches and M/Ys at Rennes and Meudon during the morning, and NOBALL tgts in the afternoon. Ftrs, in addition to escort duty, continue strafing and bombing rail lines, troop concentrations, and highway traffic in Cherbourg Peninsula.

6/18/44 Twelfth AF Bad weather grounds MBs and LBs. FBs and ftrs are restricted to patrols, mainly over Piombino area and island of Elba, during which several gun positions, boats, and barges are hit.

6/18/44 Tenth AF 16 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's hit Myitkyina and Mogaung.

6/18/44 Fourteenth AF B-25's and P-40's bomb Yoyang and hit shipping and posts in Siang-Chiang R delta area. P-40's and P-51's attack about 100 supply boats in lower Tungting Lake area, strafe cav forces between Siangyin and Changsha, and hit village just E of Changsha.

6/18/44 FEAF A-20's, B-25's, and ftrs, along with RAAF airplanes, continue to pound supplies and occupied areas along coast in Wewak area. B-24's hit tgts in Truk. A variety of ftr and bmr aircraft unload 18 tons of bombs on numerous tgts around Rabaul. Ftrs continue sweeps against T/Os along coastal areas of Bougainville.

6/18/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Makin pound Nauru. B-24's stage through Eniwetok to bomb Truk.

6/19/44 Eighth AF During the morning 259 B-17's bomb A/Fs at Cazaux, Bordeaux/Merignac and Landes de Bussac, and landing strip at Corme-Ecluse. Bad weather causes nearly 200 aborts among the HBs and prevents nearly 200 ftrs from effecting rendezvous and providing escort for the bmrs. 217 P-38's and P- 51's manage to complete escort missions. On another morning mission, 201 HBs bomb 17 V-weapon sites in Pas de Calais area. None of the HBs or the 95 escorting P-38's are lost. In the afternoon, 270 HBs bomb 18 V-weapon sites, including most of those bombed in the morning mission. A P-38 gp, after completing escort duty, dive-bombs and strafes transportation tgts in NE France, destroying a locomotive and 3 barges. Losses during the day amount to 7 HBs and 16 ftrs.

6/19/44 Ninth AF A/F at Cardonville, the first US field in France, becomes operational. Around 200 ftrs carry out uneventful armed rcn and patrols in the morning, and dive-bomb 6 NOBALL tgts in the afternoon.

6/19/44 Twelfth AF Weather again grounds LBs and MBs. FBs of 87th Ftr Wg spt French forces which complete occupation of island of Elba during afternoon. FBs of the 87th and other units of XII TAC hit railroads, gun emplacements, factory, and shipping in and N of battle area at scattered points in countryside and in and near towns of Pontedera, Leghorn, Sestri Levante, and Viareggio.

6/19/44 Tenth AF 30 B-25's complete ammo run to Imphal. 33 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's strike Myitkyina, Mogaung, and Pinbaw.

6/19/44 Fourteenth AF About 150 FBs and 8 B-25's again pound a variety of tgts throughout Tungting Lake area. Tgts include much shipping from Siangyin to Chuchou, and at various points along Siang-Chiang R, villages and compounds between Yiyang and Changsha, and boats and river area at Anking. 18 P-40's damage 2 bridges and destroy about 20 fuel trucks at Yuncheng. On Salween front 15 P-40's hit trucks and military installations. 4 B-25's bomb Kengluang bridge.

6/19/44 FEAF Over 100 A-20's and FBs maintain strikes along coast around Wewak, hitting supply and bivouac areas, roads, personnel, and a coastal gun position. A-20's hit A/Fs at Manokwari, Noemfoor I, and Moemi. B-25's hit forces in Cape Orford region. HBs bomb Dublon and Eten.

6/19/44 Seventh AF B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, strike Truk. B-24's from Kwajalein and B-25's out of Makin pound Ponape.

6/19/44 Eleventh AF 2 B-24's fly armed photo rcn over Paramushiru and bomb Suribachi area with unobserved results.

6/20/44 Eighth AF In the morning 1,257 B-17's and B-24's attack 14 strategic tgts in N Germany, including oil refineries, synthetic oil plants, a tank ordnance depot, and a military vehicle manufacturing plant. The HBs are escorted by 760 ftrs of which nearly half strafe 6 A/Fs and several other ground tgts, with claims of 13 aircraft and 10 locomotives destroyed. Also during the morning 130 B-24's bomb 10 V-weapon sites in Pas de Calais area; 42 P-47's provide spt, destroying 3 aircraft. During the afternoon 216 HBs attack 10 V-weapon sites in same area and T/Os which are mainly A/Fs in France and Belgium. 108 P-47's and P-51's provide uneventful escort. Total losses for the day are 50 HBs and 7 ftrs. HBs and ftrs claim 76 aircraft destroyed.

6/20/44 Ninth AF About 370 B-26's and A-20's bomb 9 V-weapon sites in France and a coastal def battery at Houlgate.

Over 1,000 ftrs operating over front-line areas, Cherbourg Peninsula, and S to Dreux, bomb and strafe rail lines, M/Ys, bridges, troop concentrations and other tgts.

6/20/44 Twelfth AF Weather continues to hamper operations but 60-plus MBs manage to attack rail tgts between Genoa and La Spezia. FBs destroy several road bridges in battle area and to the N, and damage several other road and rail bridges as Allies' rapid adv slows down due to enemy's ability to strengthen his position and form a delaying line across Italy to S of Gothic Line (Pisa-Rimini) where he is prepared to make a stand. FBs also damage a 20,000-ton aircraft carrier in Genoa harbor.

6/20/44 EAC AC Mellersh assumes cmd of Strategic Air Force, EAC.

6/20/44 Tenth AF 5 B-24's fly fuel to Kamaing while 13 B-25's supply ammo to Imphal. 2 B-25's hit bridge at Banchaung. 8 A-36's and 3 P-40's attack tgts at Myitkyina.

6/20/44 Fourteenth AF In Yangtze R Tungting Lake area about 120 B-25's and FBs again attack a wide variety of tgts, pound river shipping at numerous points, hit villages and supply lines in Pinkiang area, and bomb towns of Changsha, Pingsiang and Ikiawan. In Salween R area 24 B-25's pound Lungling and 16 P-40's hit troops and positions at Tengchung and Chenanso. In Yellow R area 8 P-40's pound railroad yards and strafe about 75 trucks, destroying more than 20 of them. 3 B-24's over S China Sea attack shipping, claiming a 5,000-ton commercial ship sunk.

6/20/44 FEAF A-20's, P-39's, and RAAF aircraft, pound areas along coast in general area of Wewak. B-24's bomb Kamiri A/F and attack Woleai and Dublon. B-25's, P-38's, and other Allied airplanes (including some of RNZAF) blast AA positions S and SW of Rapopo.

6/20/44 Seventh AF B-25's from Makin strike Ponape. Kwajalein based B-24's bomb Truk.

6/21/44 Eighth AF The Eighth begins shuttle bombing missions (FRANTIC) between UK and bases in USSR. P-47's (2 gps) escort the HBs from just off German coast to Stendal where a P-51 gp continues escort to, and spt over, the tgt (synthetic oil plant at Ruhland). 123 B-17's bomb primary tgt, 21 bomb Elsterwerda, and a lone B-17 bombs Riesa due to a bomb rack malfunction. After the attack, the supporting P-51 gp is relieved 50 mi SE of Poznan by 65 other P-51's which are to accompany the HBs to USSR. 50 mi SE of Brest Litovsk 20 to 30 ftrs attack the force. In the resulting battle 1 US and 6 German ftrs are destroyed. A single B-17 is lost (to unknown causes) on the flight. 144 HBs land in USSR, 73 at Poltava, and the rest at Mirgorod. The 64 remaining P-51's land at Piryatin. The shuttle run is made in conjunction with a large-scale effort against tgts in Berlin area. 935 HBs attack city areas, motor industries, and T/Os in and near Berlin, Genshagen, Basdorf, Rangsdorf, Trebbin, Belzig, Potsdam, Stendal, and surrounding areas. 19 HBs are lost. Ftrs fly 902 sorties in spt of this mission, claiming 18 ftrs destroyed, with a loss of 6. In late afternoon 31 B-24's bomb CROSSBOW supply sites at Oisemont/Neuville and Saint-MartinL'Hortier and 39 bomb rocket site at Siracourt. AA fire shoots down 1 B-24. 3 ftr gps fly 101 sorties, meeting no enemy aircraft, but 1 gp strafes railroad and canal tgts.

During 21/22 Jun the 73 B-17's which earlier landed at Poltava are attacked for 2 hrs by an estimated 75 German bmrs led by airplanes dropping flares. 47 HBs are destroyed and most of the remainder severely damaged. Heavy damage is also suffered by stores of fuel and ammo.

6/21/44 Ninth AF Over 250 B-26's and A-20's bomb 13 V-weapon sites in Pas de Calais area. Over 700 ftrs escort Eighth AF HBs over Germany, bomb bridges S and W of Paris, and strafe rail and road traffic and comm centers N and W of Paris.

6/21/44 Twelfth AF MBs have excellent results against rail bridges in N and NC Italy, also hitting viaducts, road bridges, and other comm tgts, and bombing ships at Leghorn harbor. LBs again hit ammo supply while FBs concentrate on rail and road bridges over large area including locations in vicinity of Gothic Line and at points to the N.

6/21/44 Tenth AF 34 B-25's maintain ammo run to Imphal. 61 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's pound Myitkyina and Mogaung.

6/21/44 Fourteenth AF 11 FBs hit river shipping, barracks, and cav forces at Siangtan and Hengshan.

6/21/44 FEAF P-39's and RAAF airplanes hit dumps and bivouacs at Suain and attack other tgts in Wewak area. A- 20's attack various T/Os in Paniai Lakes area while B-25's hit villages on coast of Netherlands New Guinea E of Maffin Bay. B-24's bomb Kamiri A/F and other tgts on Noemfoor and attack shipping in Palau Is and at Dublon.

6/21/44 Seventh AF B-24's based on Kwajalein, bomb Truk.

6/22/44 Eighth AF In morning mission 216 HBs attack 12 CROSSBOW installations in Pas de Calais area. Some of the 212 spt ftrs strafe coastal defenses. During the afternoon 718 HBs attack 22 tgts in France and Belgium, including M/Ys transformer stations, A/Fs, bridges, fuel storage facilities, railroad facilities, CROSSBOW supply site, and numerous T/Os. Ftrs escort the mission and 3 P-47 gps strafe and bomb transportation tgts, destroying an ammo train, 6 other freight cars, and a truck. 8 HBs are lost, mostly to ground fire. Because of attack on B-17's at Poltava on shuttle mission, the B-17's at Mirgorod and P-51's at Piryatin are moved farther E into USSR. They are to be returned to Mirgorod and Piryatin to be dispatched to bases in Italy as soon as weather permits. The move is fortunate as German bmrs strike both Piryatin and Mirgorod during 22/23 Jun.

6/22/44 Ninth AF Around 600 B-26's and A-20's and over 1,200 ftrs fly missions during the day. The main effort consists of an attack on tip of Cherbourg Peninsula in spt of US VII Corps assault on port of Cherbourg.

Beginning 1 hr before ground attack and continuing until attack begins ftrs and FBs pound whole area S of city from low level. As ground assault begins, B-26's and A-20's strike series of strongpoints selected by US First Army, forming a 55-min aerial barrage moving N in adv of ground forces. Later in the day MBs attack M/Ys, fuel dumps and a German HQ. FBs fly armed rcn over various railroads and bomb rail facilities, trains, road traffic, and gun emplacements in France. 25 FBs are lost during the day's operations.

6/22/44 Twelfth AF MBs attack railway bridges and viaducts in NC Italy, at Marzabotto, Boccheto, and Gricigliana, A-20's again hit ammo supplies. FBs pound road and rail bridges, mainly in Pisa area, and cut rail lines between Bologna and Pistoia.

6/22/44 Fifteenth AF Following 5 consecutive days of bad weather more than 600 HBs bomb tgts in N Italy, hitting motor transport works at Turin and Chivasso, M/Ys at Parma, Modena, Fornovo di Taro, Bologna, Castel Maggiore, and Ferrara, oil storage at Fornovo di Taro, harbor at Pola, A/F at Poggio Renatico, and highway and railroad bridges at Nervesa della Battaglia and Rimini. Ftrs fly more than 250 sorties in spt of the missions.

6/22/44 Tenth AF 6 B-24's fly fuel to Kamaing while 40 B-25's supply Imphal with ammo. 40 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's hit Mogaung and Myitkyina while 10 others hit tgts at Hopin, Namma, and Sahmaw.

6/22/44 Fourteenth AF 18 P-40's destroy 20-plus trucks between Hsuchang and Lohochai. 4 P-40's damage a troop steamer in Tungting Lake. 13 B-24's bomb Bakli harbor, damaging dock facilities and claiming 1 freighter sunk.

6/22/44 FEAF B-25's, A-20's, and P-47's hit shipping at Efman I and A/Fs and T/Os on Noemfoor, attack Manokwari, and hit villages in the Sarmi area. Attacks by A-20's and ftrs, along with RAAF airplanes, on wide coastal area around Wewak continue. B-24's bomb Yap, Sorol, and Woleai. B-25's join the Allied aircraft in pounding Nordup and Ralum.

6/22/44 Seventh AF B-24's, staging through Eniwetok from Kwajalein, hit Truk; 1 bombs Ponape. First ftrs of Seventh AF arrive in Marianas; 22 aircraft of 19th Ftr Sq, taking off from aircraft carrier, land on Saipan.

6/23/44 Eighth AF At midday 211 HBs attack 12 CROSSBOW installations, damaging at least 6 of them. Ftr spt is furnished by 4 P-51 gps (161 aircraft) all of which afterward strafe transportation tgts in Paris area, destroying 3 locomotives, 100 pieces of rolling stock, and 14 motor vehicles. An exploding ammo train causes a low-flying P-51 to crash, the only airplane lost on the mission. During the late afternoon 196 HBs attack A/Fs at Juvincourt-et-Damary. Laon/Athies, and Coulommiers, and a railroad bridge at Nanteuil-sur-Marne. Over 100 HBs abort because of heavy clouds over tgts. 226 P-47's and P-51's provide spt. Afterwards part of a P-47 gp bombs and strafes a M/Y while the remainder of the gp bombs and strafes a train carrying trucks and armored cars, destroying the locomotive, 3 trucks, and an armored car, and damaging 20 freight cars. Total losses are 7 HBs, mostly to AA fire.

6/23/44 Ninth AF Bad weather prevents MB and LB missions during morning. In the afternoon over 175 B-26's and A- 20's bomb 7 V-weapon sites in France. Around 630 ftrs provide escort and also bomb and strafe rail and road traffic and comm centers. 200 C-47's and C-53's fly supplies to the Continent.

6/23/44 Twelfth AF Weather cancels MB operations. A-20's continue to attack ammo supplies. FB operations are restricted but P-47's hit rail comm at 4 different points in battle area as fierce struggle for Chiusi takes place.

6/23/44 Fifteenth AF More than 400 B-17's and B-24's attack oil storage at Giurgiu, 2 oil refineries at Ploesti, and M/Y at Nish. More than 100 US aircraft are shot down. HBs and escorting ftrs claim more than 30 aircraft destroyed.

6/23/44 Tenth AF 12 B-24's fly gasoline to Kamaing while 29 B-25's make ammo run to Imphal. About 80 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's attack Mogaung, Myitkyina, Taungni, and bridge at Namkwi.

6/23/44 Fourteenth AF 20 B-24's bomb docks at Hankow. In Tungting Lake area 70-plus B-25's and FBs attack wide variety of river shipping at several locations, bomb runway at Hengyang, strafe cav troops in the area, and hit towns and villages of Chuchou, Ikiawan, Chuting, Chwanchishih, and Siangtan. 30 B-25's and FBs hit various T/Os along Yellow R.

6/23/44 FEAF Wewak area is again pounded throughout the day by A-20's, P-39's, P-47's, and RAAF airplanes. A few A-20's and A-26's on barge search bomb offshore islands near Manokwari. This marks SWPA debut of the A-26. P-47's on sweeps strafe areas E of Maffln. B-24's hit A/F at Yap and Woleai. HBs on armed rcn bomb Dublon, Koror, and Peleliu. B-24's bomb Tobera A/F. B-25's along with other Allied airplanes, hit AA positions S and SW of Rapopo.

6/23/44 Seventh AF Eniwetok-based B-24's strike Truk. B-25's from Engebi pound Ponape. During the evening, B-24's from Kwajalein also attack Ponape.

6/23/44 Eleventh AF 2 B-25's fly a negative shipping sweep.

6/24/44 Eighth AF During the morning 317 B-17's bomb dock area, aircraft factory, steelworks, and coke oven plant at Bremen, and shipyard, railroad station and warehouses at Warnemunde. 6 ftr gps provide escort: 1 gp strafes A/F and rail transport in the Munster and Hamm areas. A second force of 334 B-24's attack tgts in France, including railway bridges at Saumur and Tours/La Riche, A/Fs and landing strip at Toussus-Le-Noble, Orleans/Bricy, Chateaudun, and Foret-de-Bourse, and T/Os at Conches, Dreux, and Pont-Audemer. 288 ftrs fly escort, part of which afterwards strafe road and rail transport, destroying 4 locomotives and a rail tank car, along with 4 enemy ftrs in aerial combat. 4 HBs and 1 ftr are lost, all to AA fire. 145 HBs airborne to attack 12 CROSSBOW sites in Pas de Calais area are prevented by overcast from bombing the sites, but 12 fly S and release bombs near the industrial area of Rouen losing 1 B-17 to AA fire. During the afternoon 163 HBs attack 5 electrical stations, 7 V-weapon sites, Saint-Pol-sur-Mer M/Ys, and a missile platform. 118 sorties are flown by supporting ftrs which, after HBs withdraw, attack ground tgts destroying 1 airplane a locomotive, and a truck.

6/24/44 Ninth AF 430-plus B-26's and A-20's attack tgts in France, including 4 gun positions, 3 V-weapon sites, 3 fuel dumps, 2 M/Ys, and a railroad bridge. Over 200 transports fly supplies to the Continent. 11 ftr gps provide escort, attack fuel dumps, rail tgts and bridges W of Paris and S of the Loire, and fly armed rcn S of Cherbourg Peninsula and SW of Paris.

6/24/44 Twelfth AF Weather cancels MB operations. FB activity is restricted but P-47's attack several bridges, railway lines, guns, and other tgts in Lucca area and other points along and N of battleline.

6/24/44 Fifteenth AF 335 B-17's and B-24's bomb railroad repair depot at Craiova, railroad bridge at Piatra, and oil refinery at Ploesti. 33 P-51's sweep Ploesti-Bucharest area while other P-51's, P-38's, and P-47's fly 220-plus sorties in spt of HBs. HBs and ftrs claim over 20 aircraft shot down. 10 US airplanes are downed and several others are missing.

6/24/44 Tenth AF 11 B-24's fly gasoline to Kamaing while 35 B-25's supply Imphal with ammo. 60-plus A-36's, P-51's, P- 40's, and P-38's attack Myitkyina, Mogaung, Mawlaik-Kin area, Pinbaw, and Hopin.

6/24/44 Fourteenth AF 60-plus P-40's and P-38's bomb towns of Siangsiang and Yuankiang, attack cav forces in Hengyang area, and damage a pontoon bridge between Tungcheng and Pingkiang. 4 B-25's and a few P-40's knock out bridge N of Chenghsien.

6/24/44 FEAF Fifth AF and RAAF airplanes continue to blast stores, personnel areas, roads, and bridges in general area of Wewak. B-25's, A-26's, and A-20's hit enemy positions in caves E of Mokmer A/F, attack shipping in Babo area (on MacCluer Gulf), and bomb Kamiri and Kornasoren A/Fs. HBs, MBs, and ftrs, along with other Allied airplanes, hit Tobera A/F, AA guns at Wunapope, and buildings at Nordup.

6/24/44 Seventh AF P-47's, based on Saipan, strafe remnants of enemy forces on the island and also hit forces left on Tinian.

6/24/44 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's at dawn bomb area N of A/F at Kurabu Cape. Later 2 B-25's fly a negative shipping search.

6/25/44 Eighth AF During the morning 236 B-17's bomb Toulouse/Francazal and Toulouse/Blagnac A/F's and oil dumps at Montbartier. 10 B-17's bomb scattered T/Os. 107 B-24's bomb Avord and Bourges A/Fs. 176 B-17's drop supplies to French interior forces. A total of 8 HBs are lost. VIII FC flies 639 sorties in supporting operations. In addition 5 ftr gps carry out strafing activities, claiming numerous ground tgts including 6 airplanes on a landing ground and the A/F at Bourges. 19 enemy ftrs are claimed destroyed in aerial combat. During midday 153 B-24's bomb 17 power and transformer stations in effort to disrupt flow of electric power to V-weapon stations. 64 B-24's, hampered by cloud over primary aiming points, bomb miscellaneous last resort tgts, including A/Fs at Peronne and Nuncq. Ftr spt is provided by 3 gps. All airplanes return safely. In night mission 300 B-17's and B-24's bomb 7 railway bridges and 2 A/Fs in Paris area. 69 HBs attack alternate tgts, including A/Fs of Orly, Romilly-sur-Seine, and Etampes/Mondesir. Ftrs fly 346 sorties in escort and tgt area spt. A P-38 gp strafes ground tgts in Angers, Le Mans-Laval area, and a P-47 gp bombs and strafes an alternate landing ground near Evreux/Fauville A/F. HB losses total 7. Ftrs claim 6 airplanes destroyed against no losses. In USSR, Eighth AF HBs and ftrs are flown, at daybreak, from dispersal bases to Poltava and Mirgorod and loaded and fueled with intentions of bombing oil refinery at Drohobycz and proceeding to base in Italy.

Bad weather cancels the mission until the following day. The aircraft return to dispersal bases for the night as precaution against air attacks.

6/25/44 Ninth AF 400-plus B-26's and A-20's hit fuel dumps at Foret d'Andaine, Foret d'Ecouves, and Senonches, and rail bridges at Cherisy, Chartres, Oiseme and Epernon. 14 ftr gps send airplanes on escort, and on armed rcn and dive bombing missions over Chartres, Dreux, Argentan, Tours, and Orleans areas.

Transports fly supply and evacuation missions to France.

6/25/44 Twelfth AF Bad weather again prevents operations by MBs. LBs hit enemy ammo supply. FBs bomb towns of San Quirico di Moriano and Castelfiorentino and several rail lines and bridges in battle area near Gothic Line. Piombino falls to US Fifth Army during the day, and the enemy withdraws from Chiusi during 25/ 26 Jun after several days of resisting British Eighth Army forces attacking the town.

6/25/44 Fifteenth AF 650-plus B-17's and B-24's attack M/Y and oil installations at Sete and Balaruc-le-Vieux, telephone exchange at Le Pontet, railroad bridges at Tarascon and Arles, M/Ys and bridges at Avignon, and harbor facilities along S coast of France. Ftrs fly almost 200 sorties in spt. 1 ftr gp strafes tgts along Fiume-Senje road and at other points on Istrian peninsula.

6/25/44 Tenth AF More than 50 B-25's make ammo run to Imphal. 60-plus A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's pound Myitkyina and Mogaung. 2 B-25's bomb Mohnyin-Mawhun railroad.

6/25/44 Fourteenth AF 31 B-25's, P-40's, and P-51's hit towns of Siangtan and Ichang, attack sampans at Wukou, destroy about 50 trucks and strafe concentrations of troops and horses in Tangyang-Pingkiang and Siangtan- Yungfengshih areas, and pound river dock and sampans at Siangsiang. 7 CACW B-25's bomb Shayang storage area. 23 B-25's and P-40's bomb storage area and damage bridge at Chenghsien.

6/25/44 FEAF Wewak area continues under attack of Fifth AF and RAAF aircraft. Personnel areas at But, Dagua, and Suain and barges at Mushu and Kairiru Is are hit. P-40's and B-24's strike Kamiri A/F while A- 20's, P-47's, and B-25's hit villages along Tor R and P-47's hit tanks along Wiske R. B-24's pound Yap and Sorol. MBs and ftrs, along with other Allied airplanes, hit AA positions near Wunapope and blast plantations along Wide Bay.

6/25/44 Seventh AF P-47's based on Saipan carry out rcn and strafing missions over Saipan and Tinian. B-24's based on Kwajalein hit Truk and Wotje.

6/25/44 Eleventh AF Two B-24's bomb the A/F at Kurabu Cape.

6/26/44 Eighth AF 72 B-17's leave Poltava and Mirgorod, rendezvous with 55 P-51's from Piryatin, bomb oil refinery and M/Y at Drohobycz (1 returns to USSR because of mechanical trouble), and then proceed to Foggia.

Fifteenth AF P-51's meet formation an hr after the attack and escort the B-17's to Italy. It is planned to return the HBs to bases in UK on 27 Jun but bad weather delays this move until 5 Jul.

6/26/44 Ninth AF Weather cancels all Ninth AF operations save a few ftr sorties which result in claims against a few military vehicles and 3 airplanes as US ground forces capture Cherbourg. 3 US ftrs are lost.

6/26/44 Twelfth AF Bad weather grounds MBs. FBs, operating on reduced schedule, hit railroad tgts and other tgts in battle area S of Gothic Line.

6/26/44 Fifteenth AF 677 B-17's and B-24's attack tgts in Vienna area, hitting aircraft factory at Schwechat, M/Y at Vienna/Floridsdorf, and refineries at Korneuburg, Vienna/Floridsdorf, Moosbierbaum, Schwechat, Winterhafen, and Lobau. Ftrs fly over 260 sorties in spt. An estimated 150 to 175 enemy ftrs attack formations. Nearly 30 US aircraft (mostly HBs) are lost. US claims total more than 60 enemy ftrs.

6/26/44 Tenth AF 30-plus B-25's fly ammo to Imphal. More than 80 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's pound Myitkyina. 7 Other FBs hit Waingmaw, Loilaw, and Pyindaw.

6/26/44 Fourteenth AF 14 B-24's blast Hankow, causing heavy damage and fires. 180-plus MBs and FBs attack river shipping and several villages in Tungting Lake area. Towns of Yuankiang, Sinshih, Siangtan, Liling, and Hengshan are bombed, as is warehouse area at Yuhsien. Numerous troop and truck concentrations and other T/Os throughout the entire region are attacked. In Salween area 14 B-25's and 36 P-40's knock out bridge at Tingka, damage another near Mangshih, bomb military installations at Tengchung, strafe Japanese positions at Lungling, and hit T/Os between Lungling and Tengchung. Japanese bomb Lingling A/F, damaging runway and destroying a P-51.

6/26/44 FEAF Wewak area is hit throughout the day by Fifth AF B-24's and P-39's, along with US Navy and RAAF airplanes: P-38's, P-47's, A-20's, A-26's, B-24's, and B-25's attack A/Fs, shipping, villages, town areas, roads, and numerous other tgts at Efman, Noemfoor, Japen, and Biak Is, at Manokwari and Ransiki, and near Sarmi. B-24's bomb tgts on Yap and Sorol Is; others on armed rcn bomb airstrips at Woleai and Peleliu. AAF and other Allied aircraft hit A/Fs, AA positions, and other tgts in Rabaul and Cape Orford areas.

6/26/44 Seventh AF Saipan-based P-47's continue to hit enemy forces remaining on Saipan and on Tinian while P-61's carry out night patrols over Saipan. B-25's from Makin pound Ponape and Nauru.

6/26/44 Eleventh AF 12 B-25's fly 3 4- plane air cover missions for Naval TF on withdrawal following shelling of Kurabu Cape installations.

6/27/44 Eighth AF 40 B-24's bomb CROSSBOW supply site at Saint Leu-d'Esserent while 51 others bomb M/Ys and A/F at nearby Creil. 5 B-24's are downed by AA fire. 101 B-17's bomb CROSSBOW supply sites at Saint- Martin-l'Hortier, Biennais, Beauvoir-Riviere, and Domleger, and a canal lock at Espierres, losing 1 plane to AA fire. 183 P-51's spt the HBs, losing 2 ftrs to enemy aircraft and destroying 6 ftrs. After completing escort, the P-51's bomb and strafe T/Os, including M/Ys, bridges, railroads, transportation and A/F installations, and dispersal areas.

6/27/44 Ninth AF Bad weather precludes bmr operations. Over 700 ftrs take part in various operations. Most of them fly high cover over assault areas and bomb and strafe rail and road traffic and comm centers in France.

6/27/44 Twelfth AF Continued bad weather cancels MB operations. LBs again hit ammo supplies. FBs hit roads, bridges, rail lines, and other tgts in and near battleline.

6/27/44 Fifteenth AF Around 300 B-17's and B-24's bomb M/Ys at Budapest and Brod. 75 to 90 enemy ftrs attack the formations.

3 HBs are lost. Hbs and escorting ftrs claim over 30 planes shot down. 90 P-51's sweep Budapest area, claiming 7 ftrs destroyed.

6/27/44 Tenth AF 8 B-24's fly gasoline to Kamaing while 52 B-25's continue ammo run to Imphal.

6/27/44 Fourteenth AF In Tungting Lake area 160 MBs and FBs hit troop concentrations, supplies, and river and road traffic between Changsha and Hengyang, bomb arty concentrations at Sinsiang, attack waterfront and docks at Hengshan, pound villages near Chuchou, and attack numerous T/Os throughout the lake region. 4 B-25's over Formosa Strait claim 2 cargo vessels sunk and others damaged.

6/27/44 FEAF Fifth AF and RAAF LBs and FBs continue to attack Wewak area, hitting troop concentrations, villages, ammo dumps, and warehouses. B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, A-26's, P40's and P-47's hit A/Fs, gun positions, and various other tgts in or near Babo, Manokwari, Biak I, Noemfoor I, Ransiki, Waren, and Moemi. B-24's bomb Yap and Sorol; others on photo rcn flight bomb Woleai and Ifalik Is. Thirteenth AF ftrs and bmrs join other Allied airplanes from the N Solomons in bombing AA positions at Ralum and other tgts in Rabaul area.

6/27/44 Seventh AF P-47's continue strafing and rocket attacks on Tinian, Saipan, and Rota while P-61's carry out defensive night patrols. B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, pound Truk. During the night a single B-24 bombs Ponape.

6/28/44 Eighth AF 672 B-17's and B-24's bomb A/Fs at Laon/Couvron, Laon/ Athies, and Juvincourt-et-Damary; rail bridges at Fismes and Anizy-leChateau; fuel storage dump at Dugny; M/Ys at Saarbrucken; and T/Os, including A/Fs at Denain/Prouvy, Le Bourget, and Florennes, and railroad chokepoint near Tergnier.

Nearly 300 HBs abort because of heavy cloud and dense contrails at operational level. 566 ftrs spt the HBs, destroying 2 ftrs in aerial combat and suffering no losses. HB losses total 2. About one-third of the escorting ftrs afterward bomb and strafe transport tgts, claiming 3 locomotives and an armored vehicle destroyed.

6/28/44 Ninth AF 220-plus ftrs, based on Continent, attack railroad facilities, bridges, fuel and ammo dumps, arty, troop concentrations, vehicles, and other tgts. Bad weather cancels bmr and ftr operations from UK.

6/28/44 Twelfth AF Bad weather cancels all LB and MB operations. FBs carry out rail-cutting missions N of battleline in NC Italy.

6/28/44 Fifteenth AF 229 B-24's bomb M/Y and 2 oil refineries at Bucharest; 138 others hit Karlovo A/F. 40 ftrs carry out sweep over Bucharest area while other ftrs fly more than 230 sorties in escort of HBs. 20-plus enemy ftrs are claimed shot down, mostly by the ftrs during sweep over Bucharest.

6/28/44 Tenth AF 8 B-24's fly fuel to Kamaing. Ammo delivery to Imphal is continued by 47 B-25's. 14 other B-25's pound Naba-Mawlin railroad.

6/28/44 Fourteenth AF In Yangtze R Tungting Lake area B-25's and FBs fly more than 160 sorties attacking river shipping at several locations, bombing towns of Hengshan, Liling, and Pingkiang, and bombing Japanese HQ and gun sites in Siangsiang area. Also in Hengyang area the MBs and FBs hit rear supply bases and cav and inf concentrations.

6/28/44 FEAF Attacks on Wewak area continue. Japanese HQ and comm in Suain-Karowop Plantation area and coastal road from Babiang to Nyaparake are hit. A/F and fuel dumps on Noemfoor I, Japanese positions and occupied areas and buildings on Biak and Efman Is, village near Babo, and Tor R and Maffin Bay areas are attacked. B-24's bomb A/F and town on Yap and comm on Sorol and Woleai. AA guns E of Tobera area are attacked.

6/28/44 Seventh AF P-47's and P-61's carry out daylight raids and defensive night patrols over Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

6/29/44 Eighth AF 82 B-17's bomb synthetic oil plant at Bohlen, 61 strike aircraft components factory at Wittenberg, 31 bomb aero engine works at Leipzig/Taucha, 39 hit ftr assembly plant at Leipzig/Heiterblick, and 42 bomb T/Os at Wittenberg, Quakenbruck, and Limbach-Oberfrohna. 390 B-24's bomb aircraft assembly plant at Bernburg, ftr assembly factory at Oschersleben, aero engine works at Magdeburg-Neustadt, aircraft components factory at Aschersleben, airpark at Stendal, and T/Os including A/Fs at Burg and Gardelegen and M/Y at Oebisfelde-Kaltendorf. 51 B-24's bomb motor transport plant at Fallersleben and personnel camp S of Mittelland Canal. Clouds cause assembly problems and over 400 HBs abort without reaching enemy territory. Total HBs losses for the day number 15.14 gps from VIII FC and 1 from Ninth AF escort the HBs. Flights from 9 of these gps afterwards strafe parked aircraft, trains, barges, a factory, road vehicles, and soldiers. 3 ftrs are lost. 33 enemy airplanes are claimed destroyed.

6/29/44 Ninth AF Almost 200 B-26's and A-20's bomb gun batteries on Cap de la Hague, bridges and rail lines in Rennes-Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcourt-Vitre areas, and rail bridge at Oissel. Ftrs fly armed rcn and attack enemy airplanes, road and rail traffic, gun positions, bridges and other tgts in wide areas throughout NW France.

6/29/44 Twelfth AF FBs, MBs, and LBs attack ammo dumps, viaducts, bridges, railroad cars, landing grounds, roads, motor transport, and other tgts along battleline in NC Italy and at various points to the N.

6/29/44 Tenth AF 16 B-24's continue fuel lift to Kamaing. 45 B-25's haul ammo to Imphal. 23 other B-25's bomb Tamu.

19 A-36's, P-51's, and P-38's hit Myitkyina and Myitnge bridge. A B-25 bombs tgts in Mohnyin-Naba area.

6/29/44 Fourteenth AF In Tungting Lake area 60-plus MBs and FBs hit shipping, gun positions, troop concentrations, and general T/Os at several locations, including Lingyang, Liling, Hengyang, Yuhsien, Hengshan, Siangsiang, Chaling, and Yiyang. 3 B-24's bomb Takao docks. P-40's damage bridge and attack rail traffic at Phu Lang Thuong.

6/29/44 FEAF Japanese concentrations at Aitape and a variety of T/Os including barges, villages and bivouacs in Wewak area are hit by A-20's, B-25's, and FBs. B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and FBs attack A/Fs and AA guns at Babo, Manokwari, Waren, and Moemi, barges at Noemfoor, and villages E of Maffln Bay. AA positions S of Ralum are bombed.

6/29/44 Seventh AF P-47's carry out bombing and strafing missions over Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. B-24's, staging through Eniwetok, pound Truk while B-25's based at Makin hit Ponape.

6/29/44 Eleventh AF 2 B-25's fly a negative shipping sweep.

6/30/44 Eighth AF 136 HBs attack A/Fs at Montdidier, Evreux/Fauville, Conches, Le Culot, and Coxyde/Furnes. P-51's furnish escort and afterwards strafe M/Ys, A/Fs, barges, barracks, a train, a factory, and a warehouse with good results. No enemy aircraft are encountered and no airplanes are lost.

6/30/44 Ninth AF 125-plus B-26's and A-20's, using blind-bombing methods in bad weather, bomb fuel dumps and road junctions at Conde-sur-Vire, Foret de Conches, Conde-sur-Noireau, and Thury-Harcourt. Around 250 others are forced to abort due to weather. 600-plus ftrs escort bmrs, fly cover over the beach, and bomb M/Ys at Chartres and Verneuil-sur-Avres, bridges E of Paris, and Evreux-Bueil, and Breux-sur- Avre-Trappes rail lines. The ftrs fly armed rcn in Seine-Loire gap and along the Loire, and Continentbased ftrs of IX TAC attack comm tgts in adv of US and British positions.

6/30/44 Twelfth AF Weather again restricts MB operations but B-25's attack Pietrasanta railway bridge and Marradi viaduct and tunnel. FBs hit rail lines, bridges, railroad cars, guns, motor transport, and other tgts along battleline and area to the N in Pistoia area.

6/30/44 Fifteenth AF Bad weather causes over 450 HBs and more than 150 ftrs to abort missions. 188 HBs, escorted by 138 ftrs, hit A/F at Zagreb and T/Os in Hungary and Yugoslavia, including M/Ys at Kaposvar, Osztopan and Split, highway bridge at Brac I, A/F at Banjaluka, and city of Budapest. 130-plus ftrs provide escort.

6/30/44 Tenth AF 47 B-25's continue Imphal ammo run while 17 B-25's haul gasoline to Kamaing. 18 B-25's bomb Tamu and 6 hit Wainggyo. 11 P-38's attack Myitnge bridge.

6/30/44 Fourteenth AF MBs and FBs again pound numerous tgts in Tungting Lake area, concentrating on river shipping, town areas, troop concentrations, and road traffic. Towns bombed include Pingkiang, Hengshan, Liling, Yuhsien, Siangyin, and Chuchou. Also hit is A/F at Hengyang and bridges at Leiyang and Liling. 15 P- 40's over NE Indochina damage bridge approaches at Phu Lang Thuong and blast 3 trains.

6/30/44 FEAF Barges, troop concentrations, and other T/Os near Nyaparake and Suain are attacked. Kamiri and Namber A/Fs, supply areas, and defensive positions on Noemfoor I are hit. Tobera and Erventa I are also bombed.

6/30/44 Seventh AF P-47's on Saipan continue to pound entry forces remaining on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.