February 16, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, A-36s and P-51s hit supply dumps,
troop concentrations and an encampment area near Myitkyina, Kamaing, Tonkin
and Walawbum; B-25s and P-51s destroy 3 locomotives at Kyaingkwin. 118th Tactical
Reconnaissance Squadron, AAF, India-Burma Sector (attached to Tenth Air Force),
arrives at Gushkara, India from the US with P-51s.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 2 B-25s knock out a railroad bridge at Yen Bay,
French Indochina and damage 2 other bridges to the S near the coast. 74th Fighter
Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, based at Kweilin with P-40s, sends a detachment
to Liuchow.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Tarawa bomb Wotje and Taroa; P-40s from Makin fly two bombing-strafing
strikes against Jaluit; A-24s bomb Mille.
USN: American forces make an amphibous landing at Eniwetok. Task Force 58 (TF-58) under the command of Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher begin fighter sweeps for "Operation Hailstone" against Truk. In total, 400 tons of bombs and torpedo rained down on the
lightly defended base. After a day of attacks, forty ships and
thousands of men went to the bottom. USN carrier aircraft claim 200 enemy aircraft
and 20 ships including Naka and Gyoraitei No.10. Lost is F6F 65894 (MIA).
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 40+ B-25s from the 345th BG attack a convoy off New Hanover and sinks Sanko Maru, HA-52 Type B Midget Submarine and CH-39. 30+ B-24's bomb Panapai
Airfield and Kavieng and some hit Cape Balangori and Talasea. 19 B-24s
and B-25s bomb Halong. P-40s hit shipping and barges
in the Wewak area. Transfers in New Guinea: HQ 345th Bombardment
Group (Medium) from Dobodura to Nadzab; 25th Liaison Squadron, 5212th Photographic
Wing (Provisional), from Lae to Nadzab with L-5s. Lost is P-39N Airacobra 42-18812 (MIA).
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Twelve B-24s escorted by 45 P-38s
and USN F4Us bomb Vunakanau Airfield runway in cloudy weather conditions.
IJN: At Rabaul, forty-five Zeros are scrambled to intercept the U.S. air raid but no interception takes place but one Zero from 253 Kokutai returns with serious damage.
During the day, Admiral Kusaka orders alll 2nd Carrier Division planes at Truk to transfer to Rabaul as reinforcements.
References
South Pacific Air War (2024) pages 533 (February 16, 1944)
|
