August 1, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 B-25s bomb several points along the railway from Naba to Hopin; fighter-bombers attack Shwegu, hit bridges in the Mohnyin area, and support ground forces in the Myitkyina and Taungni sectors. During August 1944, the 89th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, based at Nagaghuli with P-47s, sends a detachment to operate from Dergaon.

CBI: Gen Stilwell, who is promoted to rank of full general, arrives in Kandy, Ceylon, and Adm Mountbatten leaves there for London to discuss future strategy in SEAC.

China: The siege of Heng-yang continues despite efforts of Chinese Army to break through enemy lines. Between May 26, 1944 to date, the 14th Air Force has flown 4,454 sorties in support of Chinese Army in eastern China.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Eight B-25s bomb Wuchang Airfield; 2 others hit the town of Siangyin; 90+ P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance hit trucks, troops, supplies, and river shipping in and around Hengyang, Leiyang, Sinshih, Hengshan, Liling, Changsha, and Siangyin; the airfield and railroad yards at Hengyang are also bombed. During Aug, the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth Air Force, based at Kunming with F-4s and F-5s, sends a detachment to operate from Kanchow, China.

AAFPOA is activated at Hickam Field with Lieutenant General Millard Harmon as Commanding General. Harmon is to be responsible to Lieutenant General Robert C Richardson, Jr, Commanding General US Army Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas (USAFPOA), for logistics and administration, and to Admiral Chester W Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPOA), for operations of AAF air units except those of the Twentieth Air Force. Concurrently, Harmon also is Deputy Commander of the 20th Air Force (20th AF) and is responsible directly to General Henry H "Hap" Arnold in all matters affecting the Twentieth in the POA.

Seventh Air Force: The 7th Air Force (7th AF) comes under control of Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas (AAFPOA). B-25s hit Ponape. Organized resistance ends on Tinian; P-47s and P-61s on Saipan will continue steady daylight and night combat patrols and strikes almost around the clock to the fall of Guam on August 10; most of the P-47 flying is devoted to neutralizing Pagan Airfield and Rota and for direct support of Marine and Army forces fighting on Saipan, Guam, and Tinian.

USMC: Tinian organized resistance comes to an end and this island was officially declared secure at a cost of 328 Marines killed and 1,571 wounded. The Japanese lost 5,000 dead. Marines begin to mop up. On Guam, III Amphib Corps continues to pursue enemy northward, reaching O-2 phase line beyond Agana-Pago Bay road.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24's bomb Utagal Island, Caroline Islands and Namlea Airfield. In New Guinea, weather cancels scheduled strikes against the Vogelkop Peninsula area, but a few B-25s hit shipping in the islands to the W, sinking luggers off Kaboe and Salawat Islands and strafing troops on the shores of MacCluer Gulf; the weather also restricts operations against the Wewak area; a few P-39s strafe coastal trails. During August 1944, Headquarters (HQ) 42d Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from Stirling to Hollandia, the 12th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, that has been operating from Stirling Airfield returns to base on Guadalcanal. Lost is B-25H 43-4332 pilot 2nd Lt. John Miller (MIA) and B-25D 41-30372 pilot 1st Lt. Roland F. Myers (MIA).

P-38s from 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) were scheduled to fly a mission over Ceram but canceled due to bad weather. Regardless, Col Charles H. MacDonald, Meryl Smith and Danny Miller invited Charles A. Lindbergh to participate in a fighter sweep over Palau in search of aerial victories. The four P-38s took off at 9:27am from Mokmer Drome on Biak Island flying northward for the 1,200 mile mission mostly over open ocean. Despite some bad weather the flight reached Peleliu roughly 2 hours 30 minutes later at an altitude of 15,000' and flew northward then dove down over Koror and were met by anti-aircraft fire then flew to Babelthuap then turned southward at low level and strafed several small vessels then spotted two A6M2-N Rufes and released their drop tanks to engage. One Rufe was shot down by MacDonald and crashed into the sea. Lindbergh attacked the second Rufe but accidentally fired on Smith's P-38 but missed. Suddenly another Zero was spotted above as Smith shot down the second Rufe. The Zero attempted to line up on Lindbergh but was chased away by MacDonald. Calling to withdraw after thirty minutes over the target area, the four spotted a Val dive bomber and MacDonald shot it down. While withdrawing southward, a Zero in pursuit was spotted by Lindbergh and he attempted to intercept it but the Zero got on his tail and opened fire but missed. In defense he made a hard right turn and the Zero was fired on by MacDonald and Miller and left smoking as the four departed. This was likely the most harrowing combat Lindbergh experienced and might have resulted in him being shot down.

Afterwards, MacDonald was grounded by General Paul Wurtsmith with sixty day "punitive leave" and sent to back to the United States as punishment for placing Lindbergh in a dangerous situation. Previously, 5th Fighter Command had stated it was impossible for fighters to escort bombers to Palau due to the distance and weather. The four P-38s fighter sweep revealed it was possible.

U.S. Army: PT Boats begins operations from Amsterdam Island. Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) shuttle aviation engineers and equipment to Middleburg, a more suitable airfield site than the mainland of the Vogelkop Peninsula. On Biak, engineers repair Borokoe Airfield runway to 4,000'. Mokmer Airfield rumway was extended to 7,000'.

In Aitape area, TED Force gets last of its 4 columns to Niumen Creek and consolidates perimeters along the creek. Japanese attack right flank of South Force in strength just as South Force is preparing a rcn in force. About 2 enemy cos make suicidal onslaughts against Tr C, 112th Cav, N of Afua, but are repulsed with heavy casualties. Tr G and elements of Co K, 127th Inf, then reconnoiter well beyond South Force's perimeter against scattered opposition.

U.S. Army Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas, under command of Gen Richardson, supersedes U.S. Army Forces in Central Pacific Area and contains all Army forces of South Pacific area as well. AAF POA is activated under Lt Gen Millard F. Harmon. Adm Halsey issues outline plan for invasion of western Carolines.