May 17, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 17 MAY 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 18 B-25s bomb Chauk oil installations while 20 P-38s hit Kangaung Airfield; B-25s and fighter-bombers fly 90 sorties against Mogaung Valley targets, hitting targets of opportunity at Kazu and Namti and a bridge at Kamaing and supporting ground forces in the Myitkyina area.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, P-40s support ground forces at Mamien Pass, hit Japanese positions at Tatangtzu, damage a bridge and several trucks at Shweli, Burma, strafe troops at Luchiangpa and bomb and strafe a horse pack train near Tengchung; 7 B-25s and 13 P-40s pound the Shayang barracks area and hit troops and vehicles NE of Shasi.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Kwajalein bomb Wake while Engebi based B-25s hit Ponape.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 25 B-25s bomb Tobera Airfield while 43 P-39s, P-40s and P-38s, in conjunction with 40+ USN dive bombers, blast the Vunakanau area; fighters on sweeps hit a Nubai River bridge and strafe targets on Gazelle Peninsula. 39 fighter-bombers hit numerous targets in Bougainville area, including the Muguai area, a bridge north of Numa Numa, barges at Banin Harbor and the area around Ratsua.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, Allied forces land without opposition near Arare after a naval bombardment; B-24s and B-25s hit targets in the general vicinity at Sawar, Sarmi and the mouth of the Orai River; 100+ B-24s, with P-38 escort, pound AA positions at Bosnik, Sorido and Mokmer, and supply areas and airfield on Noemfoor; 120+ fighter-bombers, A-20s, B-25s and B-24s continue to hit the Wewak-Hansa Bay area; and HQ 49th Fighter Group moves from Finschhafen to Hollandia.

USMC: Forty-two SBD Dauntless dive bombers from VMSB-244 and VMSB-236 dive bomb and strafe Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. Lost is SBD Dauntless 28161 (MIA).