March 19, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 19 MARCH 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20+ B-25s and P-38s hit Wuntho; 70+ fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s over the Mogaung Valley bomb supply dumps, enemy positions, and targets of opportunity throughout the area, concentrating attacks in and near Kamaing, Mogaung and Sumprabum; and 16 P-51s hit barracks and a supply area at Meiktila Airfield while B-25s hit Indaw. 82d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th Bombardment Group (Medium), arrives at Tezgaon from Italy with B-25s; first mission is 21 Apr.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25s, 9 P-38s and 3 P-51s on a Yangtze River sweep damage several river vessels, hit a fort at Chihchow and bomb Nanchang Airfield.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s pound Wake from Kwajalein. B-25s from Abemama and Tarawa hit Maloelap, Jaluit, and Mille. A single B-24 from Tarawa bombs Mille and photographs Mille and Majuro.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 30+ fighter-bombers over the Rabaul area pound an ammunition dump and other targets around Cape Tawui; and 24 B-25s blast the Vunapope area, concentrating on workers' quarters. 24 B-24s bomb Panapai Airstrip causing considerable damage to the runways.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 100+ B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and P-47s pound the Wewak area, hitting the Cape Moem and Cape Boram areas; other B-25s and P-39s, along with RAAF aircraft, bomb the Hansa Bay, Nubia, Madang, and Alexishafen areas and hit targets along Bogadjim Road; and 130 B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and P-38s virtually destroy a supply convoy proceeding from Wewak toward Hollandia sinking at least five vessels. P-40s attack a bivouac area and AA on Garove Island. Lost are B-24D "Big Ass Bird II" 42-72801 pilot 1st Lt. Otto H. Martens (MIA), B-25D "Miss Ellen" 41-30185 pilot 1st Lt. Alan S. Anderson (MIA), A-20G 43-9477 pilot 1st Lt. John Soloc (rescued) and P-38H pilot 2nd Lt. Irwin Weiss (MIA).