February 5, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Six B-24s and sixteen P-38s join USN aircraft to fly air cover in several relays during retirement of US light cruisers and destroyers following bombardment of installations in the Kurabu Cape to Musashi Bay areas; shortly afterwards, the aircraft also photograph and attack installations at Paramushiru and Shimushu.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma during the early morning hours, eight B-24s bomb at Heho Airfield while 6 others hit Aungban Airfield; Nine B-25s follow with strikes on Heho Airfield, Sagaing and Myittha Airfields. During the daylight hours 14 fighter-bombers hit the marshalling yard at Wuntho; during the night of 5/6 Feb, 9 B-24s again hit Heho and 4 bomb Aungban.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 8 B-24s during the night of 5/6 Feb bomb Bangkok. 3 others hit Nakhon Nayok and an unidentified airfield on the Mekong River both in French Indochina. Two B-24s and two B-25s attack a convoy east of Hong Kong and claim two freighters and three smaller cargo vessels sunk. In Burma, 4 P-40s on armed reconnaissance strafe a big wagon and truck column N of Hsenwi; 4 others bomb and strafe Hopang, causing large fires in the village.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-40s from Makin dive-bomb and strafe oil storage area, radio facilities, and small craft at Jaluit; P-39s strafe runways at Mille Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 70+ B-25s and A-20s attack the Hansa Bay area; 48 B-24s pound Hoskins Airfield, and some also bomb Gasmata, after weather prevents an attack on Kavieng. B-24s fly a light raid on Kaimana. B-25s on armed reconnaissance in the Bismarck Sea claim 1 freighter sunk; others bomb wrecked ships off New Hanover.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 68 fighters including 24 P-40s plus 44 USN fighters and RNZAF PKittyhawks 68 escort 48 SBDs and 18 TBFs striking Lakunai Airfield. Over the target, intercepted by roughly 40 Zeros. Some drop aerial bombs on the formation but only a few Zeros made firing passes against the bombers. Some made feint attacks. The escorts claim 5 Zeros. Two RNZAF Kittyhawks, a Corsair, and an Avenger were lost.

This strike is followed by an attack of 13 B-24s, with 30+ P-38 and USN fighter escort on the same target. The Allies claim five Zekes. Lost was a Corsair and Avenger.

RNZAF: P-40N Kittyhawks from No. 18 Squadron escort SBDs and TBFs. Lost are P-40N NZ3120 pilot Flying Officer Ronald Bremner (MIA) and P-40N NZ3126 pilot Sgt Bruce Nicholson (MIA).

References
South Pacific Air War (2024) pages 531 (February 5, 1944)