May 8, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 8 MAY 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 9 B-24s and 9 B-25s bomb Moirang and a village to the north causing considerable damage including the destruction of a road bridge. Twelve P-38s hit Kangaung Airfield.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Engebi strike Ponape while Makin based B-25s pound Jaluit and Wotje, using Majuro as a shuttle base between strikes. B-24s that landed at Los Negros after the strike on Guam on 6 May return to the Marshalls, bombing Ponape en route.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Fighter-bombers pound Tobera Airfield and strafe targets of opportunity in the area. two squadrons of B-24s bomb gun positions at Sohano and Hahilia, New Britain. On Bougainville, 30+ P-39s and P-40s hit areas around Porton, Tsimba, Tarara, Kieta, Numa Numa, Tsirogei and at several other points and B-25s blast the coast near Banin, hit Sohano, and bomb Bonis Airfield and Buka Airfield. 390th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium), based in the Renard Field with B-25s, ceases operating from Stirling.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-24s and P-40s operating in the Geelvink Bay area attack Mokmer Airfield and nearby shipping; A-20s and fighter-bombers continue to pound targets of opportunity along the northeast New Guinea coast from Wewak to Hansa Bay and along the Sepik River.

USN: USS Bennett (DD-473) was patrolling the Shortland Islands area when puffs of smoke from 140mm Naval Guns were observed on Poporang Island with four shells straddled the destroyer.