December 2, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 2 DECEMBER 1944

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): Four B-25s damage several buildings at Hsenwi, Burma. 39 P-51s, P-40s, and P-38s on armed reconnaissance attack troops, horses, trucks, railroad yards, shipping, storage facilities, and road machinery between Yungfengshih and Paoching, China; N of Wanling, from Wanling to Lashio and in Lashio; in the Chiuchiang area, Nan Tan, and at Kichang, China.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 40 fighter-bombers fly close support strikes in the Bhamo battle sector; supply areas, ammunition dumps, personnel and tank concentrations, and strongholds at Mayathein, Kwingyi, Nanthe, Hsai-hkao, Hsenwi, Man Hkam, Wuntho, Tedaw, and Old Lashio are hit by 60+ fighter-bombers; Sixteen others hit rolling stock on the rail line between Hsipaw and Lashio and strafe a supply train in Pangkyawng; 10 B-25s pound several N Burma bridges, knocking out road bridges at Tonglau and Nam Nung and 2 railroad bridges at Tangon. Transports fly 286 sorties to forward areas.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Twenty-three B-24s from Guam hit Iwo Jima. During the night of 2/3 Dec 3 B-24s on snooper missions from Saipan and Guam bomb an airfield on Iwo Jima.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s hit Dumaguete Airfield and Matina Airfield and Cagayan Airfield. B-24s and B-25s attack Borebore Airfield and Kendari Airfield. Fighter-bombers in the central Philippines and Mindanao support ground forces and hit supplies, communications, and a variety of targets of opportunity. B-25s bomb Namlea Airfield and attack shipping off Ceram. The 19th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Leyte to Angaur Airfield with B-24s.