September 30, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 50+ P-47s hit various targets in the Myothit and Bhamo areas, attack targets of opportunity at Khalayang, sweep the Anisakan Airfield and Nawnghkio Airfield areas, bomb Nansiaung railroad bridge, and hit targets of opportunity on or near the Burma Road between Mangshih and Lashio; 11 B-25s knock out a span of the main bridge and damage 2 bypass bridges at Hsenwi. Eighteen B-24s haul fuel to Liuchow, Yungning, and Kunming.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 29 B-24s and 12 B-25s bomb Wuchou and Tien Ho Airfield and White Cloud Airfeild; 6 B-25s hit targets of opportunity S of Lungfukwan; nearly 100 P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance over wide areas of China S of the Yangtze River again hit numerous targets of opportunity, concentrating on river shipping.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Saipan based P-47s blast Pagan Airfield; later in the day a B-24 hits the same target. During the night of 30 Sep/1 Oct a Kwajalein based B-24 bombs Wake. HQ 494th Bombardment Group and the 864th, 865th, 866th and 867th Bombardment Squadrons move from Barking Sands to Angaur Airfield with B-24s (first mission is 22 Nov).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s from 5th BG, 307th BG and 90th BG strike oil installations at Balikpapan. Over the target, intercepted by 40 Japanese fighters. Three 5th BG B-24s were lost including B-24J 44-40529 pilot 1st Lt. Edgar H. Wittmann (MIA) and B-24J 44-40932 pilot Charles L Pierce (MIA). Ambesia Airfield is pounded by B-24s while B-25s hit Mapanget, Langoan, and Sidate, and P-38s hit shipping in Wasile Bay. Other B-25s attack shipping in the Halmahera waters. P-38s hit Amahai, Kairatoe and Halong Seaplane Base and Haroekoe Airfield. A-20s and fighter-bombers hit Babo, Urarom, and Fak Fak; A-20s and B-25s bomb Faan; the 23d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Wakde to Noemfoor with B-24s. Lost are F7A 44-40422 (MIA) and P-47D 42-23241 (MIA). Lost in a crash near Brisbane is B-25D 43-3488 (MIA).

USMC: Marines secure Ngesebus.

References
Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group "The Jolly Rogers" (1994) pages 136-137 (September 30, 1944)
Ken’s Men Against The Empire: The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume II: October 1943 to 1945 B-24 Era page 163 (September 30, 1944)