August 24, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 24 AUGUST 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 9 B-25s bomb Kangon; 3 P-47 flights support British troops NE of Pinbaw, hitting forces and gun emplacements near Namyin Te and Nansankyin; 4 P-47s bomb Nankan; and 4 P-51s strafe vehicles along the Shweli River and bomb a storage area south of Hopin.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, town areas, river and road traffic, railroad targets, and other targets of opportunity in or near Hengyang, Chuchou, Siangtan, and Yangtien are attacked by 8 B-25s and 25 P-40s; 19 other P-40s hit similar targets of opportunity at Yungeheng, Anjen, along the central Yangtze River, and S of Mangshih; and the 528th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group, moves from Tingkawk Sakan to Shwangliu with P-51s.

AAF, POA (Seventh Air Force): P-47s from Saipan pound Aguijan and Pagan. B-24s from the Marshalls bomb Truk. B-25s hit Nauru.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): The advanced air echelon of Brigadier General Emmett O'Donnell Jr's HQ 73d Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) arrives in the Mariana Islands with B-29s, the first Twentieth AF contingent to arrive; the ground echelon arrives by water on 16 Sep

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Shipping in Lembeh Strait, Celebes Island, is attacked by B-25s, while B-24s bomb Lolobata Airfield on Halmahera. HQ 307th Bombardment Group moves from Los Negros to Wakde; the 100th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), Thirteenth Air Force [attached to 42d Bombardment Group], moves from Stirling to Sansapor but continues operating from Hollandia with B-25; and the 340th Fighter Squadron and 341st Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group move from Wakde to Noemfoor with P-47s.

RAAF: Lost is P-40N Kittyhawk A29-631 (MIA) and Beaufort A9-390 (survived).