MONDAY, 10 APRIL 1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Three B-24s fly armed reconnaissance
over Matsuwa and Onnekotan.
CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): 29th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), VI Bomber
Command, moves from the Galapagos to Howard Field with B-24s.
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, about 100 fighter-bombers and a few
B-25s pound numerous targets, including an encampment SW of Mogaung, positions
near Kazu, a railroad and truck park at Myitkyina, a supply area south of Myitkyina,
and a bivouac area and supplies at Kamaing; some of the fighter-bombers carry
out support of ground forces NE of Kamaing; 40+ fighter-bombers and B-25s over
the Katha area hit a bridge at Thityabin, troops and supplies at Shwegu, gun
positions and troops S of Mawlu, and targets of opportunity including a fuel
dump; and 9 B-24s bomb the railroad station and jetty area at Moulmein while 4 others mine the mouth of the Tavoy River.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 3 B-25s damage 2 bridges at Phu Dien Chau, French
Indochina, and destroy several buildings and some railroad track. 10 P-40s pound
roads N and S of Wanling, Burma.
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)
informally approve Operation MATTERHORN, the plan for the bombing of Japan by
B-29s based in the Calcutta area and staging through advanced fields
in the Chengtu area, which had been approved in principle by President
Franklin D Roosevelt on 10 November 1943. The operational vehicle is to be the 58th
Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) (4 bombardment groups) of the XX Bomber Command,
soon to be assigned to the newly activated Twentieth Air Force, operating under
General of the Army Henry H. "Hap" Arnold as executive agent for the
JCS.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s staging through Eniwetok, bomb Truk (one hits Ponape) while B-25sased on Abemama strike Ponape. B-25s, flying a shuttle mission between Tarawa and Majuro, pound Maloelap and Jaluit.
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, twenty-two
B-25s bomb the Ratawul supply area and 40+ fighter-bombers hit the runway at Tobera Airfield, both strikes causing considerable damage; night harassment of the Rabaul
area continues.
USN: Avengers from VT-305 bomb Vunakanau Airfield.
PT Boat captain Lt Commander Davis serves as spotter aboard
USS Hutchins (DD-476) to pinpoint coastal targets for shore bombardment using a minimum
of shells by a destroyer group with USS Bache (DD-470) and USS Daly (DD-519) that conduct shore bombardments
of Madang, Alexishafen, Ulingan and Hansa Bay.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): About 60 B-24s, teaming with
US destroyers offshore, bombard the Hansa Bay area, concentrating
on AA positions guarding airfields. Lost is B-24D "Hot Garters" 42-41188 (MIA / POW). 672d Bombardment Squadron, 417th
Bombardment Group, moves from Dobodura to Saidor with A-20s.
