May 19, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
FRIDAY, 19 MAY 1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A B-24 flies armed reconnaissance over Shimushu and Ketoi.
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, A-36s, P-40s, P-51s and a few B-25s
fly 140+ attack sorties against various targets in the Mogaung Valley, concentrating
on gun positions in the Myitkyina area; 8 B-25s damage railroad tracks in the
Myingatha-Saye area and 16 P-38s hit the airfield at Nawnghkio.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 31 fighters support ground forces in
the Salween area at Chiangtso, Watien, and Mamien Pass; 4 P-40s knock out a
bridge at Shweli, Burma, 13 P-40s bomb and strafe the Puchi area and 16 P-40s
and P-38s damage a bridge at Tayeh and hit military installations and other
buildings at Yangsin; 11 P-51s bomb a village near Anking, causing large explosions
and fires; two B-24s on a sea sweep seriously damage two freighters south of Hong Kong;
16 CACW P-40s pound trucks, tanks and troops in the Ichang-Tangyang-Loyang area
and attack river traffic at Itu on the Yangtze River.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s based on Engebi hit
Ponape and B-25s from Makin hit Nanru.
USN: Third Raid on Marcus carrier aircraft from a three-carrier task force under the command of Rear Admiral
A. E. Montgomery hit Marcus with a predawn fighter sweep then strafed and bombed
Marcus for two consecutive days.
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 40+ P-39s, P-38s and P-40s
hit Makada Island. Sixteen B-25s bomb gun positions and supply
area at Talili Bay. On Bougainville, 20 AAF fighters
and a few USN aircraft bomb huts and bridges at Monoitu, Porton, Toborei, Moisuru and Tsimba.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-24s, A-20s
and P-38s hit airfields and shipping in the Manokwari-Noemfoor Island area;
other B-24s pound beach defenses at Bosnik on Biak and hit the area between Bosnik and Mokmer; 270+ A-20s, P-47s, P-38s and B-25s continue to blast Wewak knocking out radar and radio stations and attack targets of opportunity from Wewak to the Hansa Bay area.
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