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syscom3
Pacific Historian
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 9 B-24s take off from Shemya to search for enemy shipping, but return due to heavy icing and squalls; 6 P-40s fly a search mission between Shemya and halfway to Attu; and HQ XI Bomber Command moves from Adak to Shemya.
KURILES: SHirakami IJN, Japanese Minelayer, Sunk south of the Kuriles in a collision with army transport Nachiran Maru.
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 22 B-25s, some supported by Royal Air Force (RAF) Spitfires and Hurricanes, bomb the Ft White area; 10 B-25s and 4 P-51s pound airfields at Katha, Mawlu and Shwebo; 12 B-25s and 8 P-51s hit railroad targets and a warehouse at Kyaikthin and Kyunhla; 14 B-24s covered by 22 P-40s hit airfields at Lashio, Hsenwi and Loiwing; 70+ P-40s, A-36s, P-51s, and B-25s hit fuel storage, supply areas, roads, and other
targets over widespread areas of Burma, including Shingban, Myitkyina, Zigyun, Mogaung, Manywet, and Washawng; 6 P-38s attack the Okshitpin bridge but the target is not damaged.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): P-40s damage a coal grading building at Campha Port, French Indochina.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s out of Makin bomb Ponape . B-25s from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert , hit Maloelap Atoll. This date marks the beginning of Operation FORAGER, the capture of the S Marianas (Saipan, Tinian, and Guam ) for bases for B-29 strikes against Japan. Seventh Air Force aircraft maintain neutralization strikes against airfields in the Caroline and continue hitting Wake and the bypassed Marshalls.
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): P-40s and USN fighters cover a USN dive bomber strike on Rabaul and Simpson Harbor; 24 B-25s follow with an attack on Rabaul, which later in the day is bombed by 20 B-24s. 5 P-38s bomb radar installations at Cape Saint George, while 10 bomb Buka Airfield, Buka, Solomon . P-39s hit targets of opportunity on the E part of Shortland and the W part of Buka.
RNZAF - 18 Squadron F4Us spot a pair of Japanese tanks near Ruri Bay on Bougainville, and return to bomb them. Later, seven more aircraft bomb and strafe them, leaving one on fire and exploding.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 30+ B-24s hit the Hansa Bay and Alexishafen areas while 20 P-39s attack Madang and Bogadjim and 22 A-20s pound Erima. 14 A-20s and B-25s hit enemy positions on Los Negros.
PACIFIC SUB OPS:
0100: USS Gurnard sinks a civilian cargo ship at 05-53 N, 111-12 E.
2200: USS Pintado sinks the destroyer AKIKAZE at 16-48 N, 117-17 E, NW of Manila.
KURILES: SHirakami IJN, Japanese Minelayer, Sunk south of the Kuriles in a collision with army transport Nachiran Maru.
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 22 B-25s, some supported by Royal Air Force (RAF) Spitfires and Hurricanes, bomb the Ft White area; 10 B-25s and 4 P-51s pound airfields at Katha, Mawlu and Shwebo; 12 B-25s and 8 P-51s hit railroad targets and a warehouse at Kyaikthin and Kyunhla; 14 B-24s covered by 22 P-40s hit airfields at Lashio, Hsenwi and Loiwing; 70+ P-40s, A-36s, P-51s, and B-25s hit fuel storage, supply areas, roads, and other
targets over widespread areas of Burma, including Shingban, Myitkyina, Zigyun, Mogaung, Manywet, and Washawng; 6 P-38s attack the Okshitpin bridge but the target is not damaged.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): P-40s damage a coal grading building at Campha Port, French Indochina.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s out of Makin bomb Ponape . B-25s from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert , hit Maloelap Atoll. This date marks the beginning of Operation FORAGER, the capture of the S Marianas (Saipan, Tinian, and Guam ) for bases for B-29 strikes against Japan. Seventh Air Force aircraft maintain neutralization strikes against airfields in the Caroline and continue hitting Wake and the bypassed Marshalls.
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): P-40s and USN fighters cover a USN dive bomber strike on Rabaul and Simpson Harbor; 24 B-25s follow with an attack on Rabaul, which later in the day is bombed by 20 B-24s. 5 P-38s bomb radar installations at Cape Saint George, while 10 bomb Buka Airfield, Buka, Solomon . P-39s hit targets of opportunity on the E part of Shortland and the W part of Buka.
RNZAF - 18 Squadron F4Us spot a pair of Japanese tanks near Ruri Bay on Bougainville, and return to bomb them. Later, seven more aircraft bomb and strafe them, leaving one on fire and exploding.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 30+ B-24s hit the Hansa Bay and Alexishafen areas while 20 P-39s attack Madang and Bogadjim and 22 A-20s pound Erima. 14 A-20s and B-25s hit enemy positions on Los Negros.
PACIFIC SUB OPS:
0100: USS Gurnard sinks a civilian cargo ship at 05-53 N, 111-12 E.
2200: USS Pintado sinks the destroyer AKIKAZE at 16-48 N, 117-17 E, NW of Manila.