March 13, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
MONDAY, 13 MARCH 1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 140+ P-40s, A-36s, and P-51s along
with 2 B-25s pound numerous targets of opportunity in the Shaduzup area, knock
out a span of a bridge in Shaduzup, hit the town of Loilaw, pound supply and
ammunition dumps near Warazup and Seton, and bomb a building area N of Namti.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Eight B-24s and four P-40s attack Kiungshan Airfield and Kiungshan Seaplane Base; and 16 P-40s bomb a bridge
at Puchi, scoring direct hits on both approaches. HQ 312th Fighter Wing is
activated at Kunming.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Engebi bomb Kusaie while B-24s from Tarawa hit Ponape. B-25s from Abemama and Tarawa pound Mille. 38th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment
Group (Heavy), moves from Nanumea to Kwajalein; the squadron continues operating from Makin with
B-24s until March 22.
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain , 2 B-24s with USN fighter escort, and 22 B-25s bomb the Rabaul area,
hitting the NW part of Rabaul and
harbor and waterfront section; and 27 P-39s, P-40s, and P-38s pound the Vunapope supply area. 31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy),
ceases operating from Munda Airfield with B-24s and returns to base on Carney Field.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 160+ B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, P-47s,
and P-40s thoroughly pound the Wewak area; US aircraft claim 8 interceptors shot down. Other aircraft,
operating singly or in flights of 2 or 3, attack several targets in the NE
New Guinea-New Britain area. 312th BG strikes Alexishafen and
loose three planese due to weather: A-20G "Francie II" 42-54117, A-20G
42-54082 (MIA and A-20G 42-54085 (MIA). Lost is B-25D "How's Your Ole' Tomato" 41-30664. In the Admiralties, Hauwei is cleared of enemy opposition and artillery is
brought ashore. 340th Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, moves from Finschhafen to Saidor with P-47s.
|
