February 29, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
TUESDAY, 29 FEBRUARY 1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 7 B-25s knock spans out of 2 bridges
N of Taungtha and damage bridges S of Myingyan and between Panaing and Mahlaing;
7 B-25s and 4 P-51s bomb a radio station at Sinkan, score near misses on a
bridge below Kawlin, and knock out 2 bridges in the Ye-u area. 40+ P-51s, A-36s
and P-40s hit a supply area S of Seton, camp and stores near Mogaung (at Pagoda
Peak), and railroad station at Myitkyina.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 23 B-24s pound the warehouse area at
Yoyang, causing several fires and secondary explosions; 12 B-25s bomb Yoyang
railroad yards; 16 P-40s provide support; 2 B-25s on a sweep of the NE China
coast sink 3 sampans and damage a merchant ship at Siachwan Tao; 6 P-40s bomb
and strafe ammunition dumps at Kunlong; 12 P-38s and P-51s sink a large motor
launch NE of Anking, strafe barracks and 3 tugs in the Teian area, hit barracks
NW of Nanchang and strafe railroad installations at Yangsin; 4 P-40s hit a
barracks W of Nanchang; 2 B-25s sink a large river craft on the Yangtze River
near Chiuhsienchen and damage 2 more nearby.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s bomb Maloelap, Mille and Wotje; B-25s hit Jaluit and Mille; P-40s attack Mille.
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 23
B-25s, with USN fighter escort, pound the Rabaul area; later 12 P-38s hit targets
in the same area. 16 AAF fighters, along with 16 USN fighters, hit targets
of opportunity throughout S Bougainville and Shortland.
Numerous other fighters, in forces of varying sizes, attack barges and scattered
targets of opportunity throughout the N Solomons, Bismarck Archipelago, and
waters in between.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): Over Los Negros, due to bad weather only seven B-24s and 8 B-25s manage to attack enemy positions and guns; Other B-24s
and A-20s hit Erima, Wewak, Tadji, Awar and Hollandia. Lost is B-24D 42-72899 and B-25D "BAR-FLY" 41-30593 (survived), P-38 pilot 1st Lt. Paul R. Zimmer (survived), P-38 pilot 2nd Lt. Harold R. Howard (MIA) and F-5B 42-67384 pilot Captain Sheldon P. Hallett (MIA).
U.S. Army: 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Brigade commanded by Brigadier General William C. Chase landed on the southern shore of Hyane Harbor on Los Negros and temporarily took Momote Airfield and then fall back
to the beachhead on Jamandilai Point.
RAF: Liberators bomb Rangoon. Over the target, enemy fighters intercept the formation. Lost is Liberator VI "Daring Diana" BZ962 (MIA).
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