March 22, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
WEDNESDAY, 22 MARCH 1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): Japanese troops move into India from Burma and
penetrate to 30 miles east of Imphal. In Burma, 100+ fighters and fighter-bombers
over the Mogaung Valley attack troops, storage, and other targets and cause
several fires throughout the area; 20+ P-51s and B-25s carry out ground support
missions in the Mawlu area near Katha; near Rangoon four B-24s set fire to the target. P-38
damages railroad bridges and several trucks at Pyinmana. 92d Fighter Squadron,
81st Fighter Group, arrives at Karachi from Italy; they will be equipped
with P-47s and enter combat on 1 Jun.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 4 B-25s from Yangkai hit several targets in and around Phu Dien Chau, Ha Trung, Dong Giao and Nam
Dinh; results include 3 locomotives destroyed and another damaged, 3 125-ft
(38 m) steamers damaged, and a bridge roadbed weakened; 1 B-25 is lost.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Abemama and Tarawa bomb Mille and Jaluit. 38th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group
(Heavy), ceases operating from Makin and
returns to base on Kwajalein with B-24s.
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 30+ fighter-bombers
hit a supply area along the Laruma River. Thirteen B-24s carry out small
strikes against Buka, Monoitu, Kahili, and Kara. 23 B-25s
pound Lakunai Airfield, 10 B-24s bomb Tobera, and a single B-24 hits Rabaul.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 130+ B-24s,
B-25s, A-20s, and P-40s attack the Wewak area,
hitting enemy positions, AA guns, storage areas at Wewak, Boram, and Yeschan and hitting shipping offshore at Kairiru
Island. Japanese
HQ and troops are hit by 25 other aircraft in the Aitape-Tadji area;
P-47s hit barges at Alexishafen while
P-39s hit a HQ and supply dump along the Bogadjim Road: and A-20s hit barges
near Pondo Plantation and hit Ewasse village. 49th FG P-40 bomb the Tadji area. Lost are A-20G 43-9133 (KIA), P-40N piloted by Cash (KIA) and B-24D "Weezie" 42-41081 (KIA) on a courier flight.
USMC: Lost are PBJ 35124 pilot Major J. K. Smith (MIA) and PBJ 35117 pilot 1st Lt. William D. Graul (MIA).
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