November 21, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Advance HQ Eleventh AF is established on Shemya with Brigadier General Harry A. Johnson as Deputy Commander. Five B-24s fly air coverage for naval units; another fleet coverage mission by 10 B-25s is cancelled due to weather; before clearance can be obtained from the Soviets through diplomatic channels, a B-24 air drops provisions to a marooned crew of a B-24 which force landed on Kamchatka on November 17, 1944.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 42 P-51s and P-38s on armed reconnaissance attack fuel supplies and the town area at Ishan and road and rail traffic and other targets of opportunity N of Wanling, Burma and in the Chiuchiang area, S of Foochow, and at Hsuchang, Sincheng, and Sheklung.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 61 B-29s from Chengtu, bomb an aircraft plant at Omura on Kyushu; 13 B-29s bomb Shanghai, and several others hit alternates and targets of opportunity; the B-29s claim 27 fighters downed, the highest Twentieth AF claim to date.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 28 P-47s support ground forces in the Pinwe and Bhamo areas; 37 others hit supply areas, troop concentrations and strongholds at Langwa, Pinmalut, Hlebwe, Mutawng, and Nawnghkem; 15 P-47s hit targets of opportunity while sweeping the Kyaukme-Namyao road; 10 B-25s knock out bridges at Hsipaw and Bawgyo. Transports fly 280+ sorties to forward areas.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Seventh AF service groups are reassigned from the VII Air Service Area Command to the VII Bomber Command and VII Fighter Command, with one service group to support each tactical group in the field. B-24s from Guam bomb shipping and naval shore installations at Chichi Jima and Haha Jima. Five B-24s from Guam on armed reconnaissance bomb airfields on Iwo Jima

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Matina Airfield and Lumbia Airfield. Fighter-bombers hit troop barges and supply dumps in Ormoc Bay and numerous targets of opportunity throughout the Central Philippines. B-25s hit Langoan Airfield and Mapanget Airfield while B-24s bomb Ambesia Airfield. Lost is A-20G "Oh Please!" 43-9419 (MIA) and P-38J Lightning 43-28885 pilot 1st Lt. Stephen A. Borne (MIA).

USMC: Ditched is FG-1 Corsair 14053 pilot Captain Carroll E. McCullah (survived).