March 25, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
SATURDAY, 25 MARCH 1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Two B-24s from Shemya bomb Kurabu Cape and the
north coast of Onnekotan.
CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): 29th and 31st Fighter Squadrons, XXVI Fighter Command,
begin a movement from Casa Larga, Panama and Howard Field respectively,
to the US.
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 B-24s hit Mogaung supply dumps, causing
fires and much smoke; 12 P-40s bomb the Kamaing area; Japanese aircraft (5 medium
bombers and 30 fighters) attack Allied airstrips at Chittagong and Cox's Bazaar,
India and Anisakan, Burma; Tenth Air Force and RAF interceptors claim 7 aircraft
shot down.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, six B-24s from Chengkung bomb a motor
pool and fuel dump at Mangshih, demolishing a sizeable portion of the target
area.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Advanced HQ Seventh Air Force in Tarawa is disbanded
and the Seventh's operations in the C Pacific forward area are placed under
the VII Bomber Command at Kwajalein. B-25s from Eniwetok pound Ponape and claim 4 fighters shot down. B-25s
from Abemama bomb Maloelap HQ VII Bomber Command moves from Tarawa
Atoll to Kwajalein Atoll.
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 23 B-25s
pound the Ratawul supply area while 34 fighter-bombers hit Keravia Bay fuel
stores. On Bougainville, 20+ fighter-bombers hit a Miwo River bridge and nearby
bivouac area and bomb a truck park W of the Omoi River.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 100+ B-24s,
B-25s, and A-20s continue pounding of the Wewak area, destroying supply dumps along the coast from Wewak Point to Wewak Airfield, a fuel dump west of Boram, and targets along the Sauri
road and in the Cape Wom area; other A-20s attack the coastal area around Bunabun Harbor; and B-24s bomb the Babo-Urarom area. On New Britain , P-40s attack a Japanese HQ at Cape Hoskins. On Manus,
the last major battle takes place; isolated enemy positions remain to be eliminated.
Moves in New Guinea with P-38s: The 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, moves from Cape Gloucester to Nadzab;
432nd Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group from Dobodura to Nadzab.
USN: Lost is PV-1 Ventura 34614 (MIA) on a mission against Shumshu.
USMC: Lost is SNJ Texan 7008 (MIA).
RNZAF: Damaged is TBF NZ2510.
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