SATURDAY, 20 MAY 1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 100+ A-36s, P-40s and P-51s pound gun
positions, attack bridges, bomb troops and hit numerous targets of opportunity
in areas around Myitkyina, Kamaing, Nanyaseik, and Nsopzup; 16 RAF Vengeances
and 2 P-38s hit targets in the Arakan area, including a signal center SE of
Buthidaung, gun positions SE of Maungdaw and a jetty at Akyab; about 40 B-24s
and P-51s hit oil installations at Yenangyaung and Chauk, airfield at Pakokku,
and town of Akyab. In India, HQ 1st Air Commando Group moves from Hailakandi to Asansol; the group consists of the following sections: bomber (B-25s), fighter
(P-51s), light-plane (L-1 & L-5), transport (C-47), glider (CG-4) and light-cargo
(UC-64); the bomber section is eliminated and after converting from P-51s to
P-47s, the group begins a training program; a detachment of 9th Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, operating from Dinjan since Sep 43 returns to base at Barrackpore with F-5s.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, nineteen B-24s attack a convoy south of Hong Kong claiming two motor launches sunk and damaging several larger vessels; three B-24s
are lost at sea; 37 P-40s hit trucks, armored vehicles, river traffic and troops in or near Shasi, Ichang, Tangyang, Chingmen, Loyang and Loning;
on the Salween front 43 fighters and 8 B-25s support ground forces and damage
a bridge N of Tengchung over the Shweli River.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Engebi bomb Ponape.
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On Bougainville, 22
B-25s, 44 P-39s, P-40s, and P-38s and 30+ USN and US Marine Corps (USMC) aircraft
pound AA positions, bivouacs and supply areas from the Muguai-Ebery's Lease
area to the Maika area; Twenty-four P-39s hit barges in Matchin Bay, AA guns
on Sohano, and bridges
at Kieta. Three B-24s bomb the Tobera Airfield runway.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-24s, A-20s
and B-25s hit airstrips, revetments, supply area, AA positions and shipping
at Manokwari, Noemfoor and Biak and Mawi Bay; A-20s, B-25s and fighter-bombers
continue to pound airfields, coastal villages, bridges, supply dumps, trucks
and various other targets at Wewak and from Wewak to the shore of Hansa Bay.
RAAF: Ditched is Beaufort A9-571 (MIA, one rescued eight days later).
