February 9, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
WEDNESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, B-25s, P-51s, P-38s, P-40s, and A-36s carry out 75 attack sorties against Seinnyinba, bivouac and supply areas in the Mogaung-Loilaw area, bivouac and buildings at Pyindaw, camps at Kumnyen and near Maingkwan and Shingban, and storage area and bivouac on the Mogaung-Kamaing road near Sawnghka; a bridge over the Namtamng River near
Maingkwan also is destroyed.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 16 P-40s strafe and bomb large barracks and oil storage at Chefang and pound town areas of Homun and Mangshih. Two B-25s demolish a radio station SW of Haiphong.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): A-24s from Makin along with supporting P-40s, bomb and strafe oil storage and gun positions on Jaluit; during a dusk-to-dawn operation on 9/10 Feb B-24s operating at intervals from Tarawa maintain strikes against Wotje and Taroa.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): The occupation
of the Huon Peninsula is completed as US and Australian forces meet SE of Saidor;
A-20s pound the village of Mindiri. B-24s bomb Amboina and Lautem.
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): P-40s
and USN fighters and RNZAF P-40s cover a USN dive-bomber attack on Vunakanau Airfield, scoring many hits on AA positions, buildings, and runways; 24 B-24s with USN
fighter escort follow with a strike on the same target hitting runways and
revetment area; 19 B-24s with 20 P-38s supporting, hit Tobera Airfield thoroughly
saturating the runway.
RNAF: Kittyhawks from No. 18 Squadron escort USN dive bomber attack on Vunakanau Airfield. Lost is P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3127 pilot Sgt Ronald Reardon (MIA) crashed into Kabanga Bay.
References
South Pacific Air War (2024) pages 532 (February 9, 1944)
"The ninth brought a triple attack of strike aircraft, B-25s and B-24s . Liberator gunners claimed three Zekes over Tobera, and P-38s added five in combats over Tobera and Gazelle Cape . Corsairs claimed twelve fighters over Vunakanau, including an Oscar and Tojo . Forty-eight Japanese fighters claimed thirty-four victories for three losses."
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