March 26, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 26 MARCH 1944

First Air Force: Crashed is B-24E 41-28525 (KIA, one survivor).

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 3 B-24s and 3 B-25s bomb troops along the Imphal-Tiddim road near Chindwin; 70+ fighter-bombers and a lone B-25 attack targets in the Mogaung Valley area, including Manywet Airfield and Myitkyina Airfield, and bridges, roads, railroads and targets of opportunity at Mogaung, Kamaing and Myitkyina; in the Katha area 8 P-51s and 3 B-25s hit a Japanese bivouac NE of Bhamo and claim 6 warehouses destroyed at Nankan. 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Tenth Air Force [attached to 5320th Air Defense Wing (Provisional)] moves from Guskhara to Kisselbari with P-40s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Four B-25s hit the Bakli Bay area; two merchant vessels are claimed sunk, and damage is done to tracks and loading equipment. Four P-40s on a sweep of the north coast of the Gulf of Tonkin sink an ore boat and damage 4 barges.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Eniwetok based B-25s strike Ponape, lost is B-25G 42-64832 (MIA). and B-25G 42-64954 (four rescued) B-25s from Tarawa hit Jaluit, rearm at Majuro, and hit Jaluit again on the return flight to Tarawa.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 23 B-25s hit Vunakanau Airfield and 37 fighter-bombers attack supply areas along Talili Bay; B-25s continue to heckle the Rabaul area during the night. In the Bougainville area 3 B-24s and 20 fighter-bombers hit pillboxes and targets of opportunity on off the Tekessi River mouth and near Monoitu; fighter-bombers again support ground forces along Empress Augusta Bay, hitting a supply dump N of the Reini River and enemy positions near the mouths of the Tekessi and Maririei Rivers; the fighter-bombers claim destruction of a bridge over the Puriata River. Twenty-four B-24s on a mission against Truk fail to reach the target and instead bomb Pulusuk, Caroline; several of the B-24s are forced to land on Green Island because of fuel shortages.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 220+ B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and fighters hit Wewak, Boram, Cape Wom, Aitape, the Hansa Bay coast, Mushu, and the general area along the N coast of NE New Guinea, blasting storage areas, barges, shipping, grounded aircraft, fuel dumps and enemy troops; other A-20s hit Bunabun Harbor while P-39s hit the Madang area. Lost is A-20G 43-9118 pilot Captain Glen O. Richardson (MIA) and A-20G 43-9625 pilot 1st John W. Hoover (KIA). P-39s and P-40s attack Cape Hoskins and troops in the Talasea area. On Manus, A-20s hit buildings and Japanese positions on the S shore. Lost on local flight is B-25D 41-30259 pilot 2nd Lt. Russell N. Erum (MIA). 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group moves from Dobodura No 12 to Nadzab No 3 with P-38s.