February 21, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 50+ P-51s and A-36s and a few B-25s hit a command post at Shingban, the town of Mohnyin, a bridge at Loilaw, a camp at Shaduzup, 2 bridges at Namkwin, and warehouses and other buildings at Kawlin and Wuntho; fighter-bombers attacking a fuel dump at Pin Hmi drop bombs in the wrong area; B-25s, escorted by RAF Spitfires and Hurricanes, score effective hits on a tunnel on the Maungdaw-Buthidaung road.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Tarawa and Abemama hit Ponape, Kusaie, and Jaluit. B-25s from Abemama bomb Maloelap. P-40s from Makin hit Mille. US forces gain complete control of Eniwetok Island. 9th Troop Carrier Squadron, Seventh Air Force, arrives at Hickam Field from the US with C-47s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): Almost 30 A-20s hit Madang and the Hansa Bay area. On New Britain, P-39s hit Raiven Plantation; 40+ B-24s bomb Rein Bay and Eleonora Bay areas; others attack shipping off New Hanover sinking Kokai Maru and Kowa Maru. Damaged and ditched is B-25D "Bugger Off" 41-30061 pilot 1st Lt George I. Davis crew rescued. Lost on a transport flight is B-25D "Available Jones" 41-30374 (MIA). Crashed in an emergency landing attempt is L-5A "Termite" 42-98085 (survived). Lost is P-47D 42-22941 (survived).

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Fifteen B-24s bomb Lakunai Airfield; four others, with fighter support, attack the airfield at Rapopo; 20 P-38s join USN fighters in covering a USN dive bomber strikes on Lakunai gun positions. In Bougainville, three B-24s bomb Kara Airfield while P-39s hit buildings at Tsundawan and in the area south of Tabut, and bomb barges and jetty in the Matchin Bay area.

USMC: Sixteen F4U Corsairs from VMF-216 fly a high roving cover mission for SBD Dauntless dive bombers, TBF Avengers and B-24 Liberators on a bombing mission over Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul. Inbound, two F4Us aborted the mission due to mechanical issues. Returning, F4U Corsair 17879 pilot 1st Lt. William J. O'Brien, III ditched into into Saint Georges Channel and rescued by RNZAF PBY Catalina NZ4014. Also ditched is F4U Corsair 56132 pilot Major H. A. Pehl and rescued by RNZAF PBY Catalina NZ4014.


RNZAF: PBY Catalina NZ4014 rescued downed pilots Major H. A. Pehl and 1st Lt. William J. O'Brien, III.