November 16, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 1944

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 23 B-24s bomb Changsha; 8 B-25s hit Lohochai and bomb the Wanling, Burma area. In French Indochina, 16 B-25s hit Nghia Trang, Duc Tho, Nha Trang, and Do Len. 70+ P-40s and P-51s over SE and SW China on armed reconnaissance attack road, river, and rail traffic, town areas, and other targets of opportunity at several scattered locations.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, thirty P-47s hit troop concentrations and supply areas at Naungmo, Nawngmoloi, and Lashio; 11 support ground forces in the Pinwe area, 4 attack bridges at Meza and over the Sindaw River; 4 bomb the Meza railroad station, 16 sweep the railroad from Sagaing to Kanbalu, and 16 strafe Nawnghkioand Hsumhsai Airfields. Transports fly 270+ sorties to forward bases and frontline areas.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Twelve B-24s from Saipan bomb shipping off Chichi Jima while two others attack barges at Haha Jima. 12 P-47s and 3 P-38s hit Pagan Airfield on Pagan in the first combat strike by P-38s in the Mariana Islands. During the night of 16/17 Nov a snooper mission in the Bonins and a single B-24 attacks shipping.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Colonel Willard R. Wolfinbarger becomes Commanding Officer of the XIII Fighter Command. In the Central Philippines and Mindanao area B-25s, B-24s, and fighter-bombers hit airfields, harbors, shipping, and targets of opportunity. In the Kendari area and on the northeast peninsula of Celebes and Halmahera, B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers pound airfields, villages and shipping. B-25s also support ground forces on Mapia Island and bomb Namlea Airfield. B-24s from the 5th BG bomb Japanese warships off northern Borneo. Lost is B-24J 44-40962 pilot Norris (6 MIA, 4 rescued) and B-24J 44-40924 pilot Coberly (3 MIA, 1 KIA, 9 rescued) and B-24J 44-41387 pilot Saalfield (10 MIA). Units moving to Leyte: HQ 3d Bombardment Group and 90th Bombardment Squadron from Hollandia with A-20s; HQ 348th Fighter Group from Noemfoor.