October 18, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 1944

ALASKA Four B-25s bomb Kurabu Cape Airfield on Paramushiru and Suribachi; 8-12 interceptors attack the B-25s, which claim two victories.

(CBI) BURMA-INDIA In Burma, 13 P-47s attack Mingaladon Airfield, 21 support ground forces in the Mohnyin area, 8 knock out 2 bridges at Wanting, and 6 hit troops near Hwemun; 6 B-25s damage approaches to 2 road bridges at Wuntho; 6 other B-25s damage approaches to 2 bridges at Namhkai and Meza. Transports again fly nearly 300 sorties to several locations in the CBI. In India, the 3d Combat Cargo Squadron, 1st Combat Cargo Group, moves from Sylhet to Tulihal with C-47s.

CHINA In China, 100+ P-40s and P-51s fly armed reconnaissance over vast areas of China S of the Yangtze River, attack town areas, troops, rivercraft, gun positions, supply facilities, airfields, and other targets of opportunity around Kweiping, Shangkaishow, Tajungchiang, Konghow, Wuchou, Shepchung, Hsinganhsien, Tengyun, Liutu, Tanchuk, and Takhing. Railroad targets at Lang Son, French Indochina are also attacked. The flight of the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF, operating from Liangshan moves to Hanchung, China with F-5s (squadron is based at Kunming).

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA: B-24s out of Saipan bomb Haha Jima while P-47s bomb and strafe Pagan.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA: Bad weather curtails a major strike on Balikpapan of 120+ B-24s and fighters, only 8 B-24s and 8 P-38s reach the target. P-38s hit barges, small shipping, and vehicles on the west coast of Mindanao. B-24s attack Sagan Airfield and Babo Airfield. B-25s and fighter-bombers again hit Namlea Airfield, Amboina and Liang on Ambon, and nearby targets, attack targets of opportunity at Djailolo and in the Wasile Bay area, and pound Urarom, Manokwari, Babo, Sagan, Otawiri, and other Vogelkop area targets in New Guinea. HQ 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Wakde to  Morotai. The 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Nadzab to Biak with C-47s. Lost is P-61A Black Widow 42-5515 (MIA).

RAAF: Ditched near Manokwari is P-40N A29-641.

US Army: Destroyed by a mine on Peleliu is M4 Sherman.

USN: STAG-1 three TDR-1 Assault Drones armed with a 2000 pound bomb each target the German Lighthouse at Cape St. George on southern New Ireland. The first TDR-1 No. 1 impacted between the tower and radar installations but failed to detonate. The second TDR-1 No. 2 hit 30' from the base of the target and exploded but did not destroy the lighthouse. The third TDR-1 No. 3 drone was lost due to a material failure.