March 4, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 4 MARCH 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 60+ A-36s, P-51s and P-40s, and a single B-25 bomb dumps, roads, bivouac area, and other targets in the Seton, Sawnghka, Pinbaw and Walawbum areas; numerous fighters carry out patrol and armed reconnaissance sorties in the Sumprabum area. 459th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, moves from Kurmitola to Chittagong with P-38s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Five B-25s and twenty-three P-40s (16 of them Chinese) pound Kiungshan Airfield; the airfield is heavily damaged and several parked aircraft are destroyed; 17 Japanese aircraft are claimed shot down; 4 P-38s and 2 Chinese B-25s claim a freighter, a tanker, and a motor launch sunk in the Shihhweiyao and Wuhu areas; 6 waves of Japanese aircraft bomb Suichwan Airfield, causing considerable damage. In French Indochina, 6 B-25s bomb the Thanh Hoa chromium mine and Campha Port; 2 P-40s strafe railroad yards and warehouses at Hongay and Campha Port; 5 P-40s are dispatched to bomb Cao Bang but because of bad weather attack Chinese-held Lungchow, China by mistake.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-40s from Makin bomb and strafe runways at Mille Airfield. B-25s from Tarawa bomb installations and runways at Wotje Airfield.

RNZAF: In the morning, the remaining two Japanese tanks at Ruri Bay on Bougainville attacked yesterday were discovered camoflaged by a Boomerang and attacked by three other 18 Squadron Corsair, but they arrived too late to destroy them.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain, P-40s join USN fighters and dive bombers in a strike on AA positions and targets of opportunity in the Rabaul area; 4 patrolling; 48 B-25s and 12 P-38s, along with 20+ USN fighters, hit the Rabaul town area in three closely spaced attacks. P-38s also attack targets of opportunity on Duke of York Island. Twelve P-39s hit Monoitu and targets of opportunity along the SW coast of Bougainville. Shortland targets of opportunity are hit by P-40s on patrol.

RNZAF: Venturas hit targets of opportunity along both coasts and at Vunalama and Mandres Plantations. Also, Venturas join USN planes in attacks on Japanese embarkation ports around Choiseul Bay.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 20+ A-20s and B-25s support ground forces on Los Negros. More than 30 B-24s with fighter escort, pound airfields in the Wewak area; 20+ other B-24s bomb Hollandia; and A-20s bomb buildings and gun positions in the Saidor area. HQ 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) from Port Moresby to Nadzab; HQ 43d Bombardment Group from Dobodura to Nadzab. Lost on a patrol mission is P-38G "Veni Vidi Vici" 42-12705 (MIA).

U.S. Army: On Los Negros the remaining Japanese defenders launch a series of suicide charges against the Americans and are defeated.

IJA: First day of the Talili Bay Massacre (Tunnel Hill Massacre) when a group of Allied prisoners are executed by the Japanese Army 6th Kempei Tai (Military Police).