February 2, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 1944

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): A-24s and P-40s from Makin bomb runways at Mille Airfield and gun positions on Mille and along with P-39 escort strafe the northeast tip of Mille; B-24s from Tarawa bomb Rongelap Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based at Carney Field begins operating from Munda Airfield with B-24s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-24s bomb Sorong and Alexishafen; nearly 50 A-20s pound installations in the Madang area. B-25s hit coastal targets on New Britain Island from Cape Gauffre to Rein Bay. Other B-25s attack shipping off Tingwon Island in the Bismarck Archipelago and off the SE coast of New Britain. Lost is B-25G 42-64810 pilot 1st Lt George R. Gable, Jr. (MIA) and C-47A "Shack Trooper" 42-23487 (MIA).