April 8, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 8 APRIL 1944

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

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

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

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

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): P-40s attack targets of opportunity in the Aitape-Wewak area; and A-20s hit targets in the Hansa Bay area, firing a fuel dump and destroying several warehouses and other buildings at 3 plantations and strafing and bombing roads and bridges along the coast. 417th Bombardment Group HQ moves from Dobodura to Saidor. Crashed is P-38 pilot Kuzmack (KIA).

USMC: Lost is FG Corsair 13259 (rescued). Lost is F4U Corsair 18113 (MIA).