Tuesday, 1 February, 1944
Weather prevents 50 B-24s sent against installations in the Admiralty Islands
from reaching the target; 2 B-24s bomb a freighter Northeast of Vanimo, New
Guinea while a single B-24 on armed reconnaissance strafes barges in the
Solomon Sea. HQ 308th and 309th Bombardment Wings (Heavy) and 310th Bombardment
Wing (Medium) are activated at Oro Bay, Lae and Gusap New Guinea respectively;
the wings will operate with various groups that are attached for brief periods.
Transfers in New Guinea: 8th Bombardment Squadron (Light) from Dobodura to
Nadzab with A-20s; 421st Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command, from
Milne Bay to Nadzab with P-70s. In New Guinea during February 1944, a detachment
of the 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance
Group, based at Dobodura, begins operating from Port Moresby with F-5s.
Wednesday, 2 February, 1944
In New Guinea, B-24s bomb Sorong and Alexishafen; nearly 50 A-20s pound
installations in the Madang area. B-25s hit coastal targets on New Britain
Island from Cape Gauffre to Rein Bay. Other B-25s attack shipping off Tingwon
Island in the Bismarck Archipelago and off the Southeast coast of New Britain
Island.
Thursday, 3 February, 1944
In New Guinea, nearly 100 B-24s and B-25s, supported by P-38s, P-40s and
P-47s, pound airfields in the Wewak area; about 80 aircraft are destroyed
on the ground and in the air; A-20s attack Alexishafen and the Hansa Bay
areas; P-39s and B-25s on armed reconnaissance hit trucks at Erima, barges
on the New Britain coast, shipping in the North Bismarck Sea, and Momote
and Hyane Harbor on Los Negros Island. Transfers in New Guinea: HQ 3d Bombardment
Group (Light) from Dobodura to Nadzab; 25th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron,
6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, from Brisbane, Australia to Lae with
F-5s, first mission on 5 February; 673d Bombardment Squadron (Light), 417th
Bombardment Group (Light), from Cape Sudest to Dobodura with A-20s, first
mission on 25 March.
Friday, 4 February, 1944
In the Moluccas Islands, B-24s and B-25s carry out small raids against Laha
on Ambon Island, Namlea on Buru Island and Amboina on Ambon Island. In New
Guinea, over 170 B-24s, A-20s. and B-25s bomb But and Dagua Airfields, Marienberg
and the Madang Alexishafen area; P-39s bomb and strafe Atemble and strafe
targets of opportunity in the Alexishafen area. 672d, 674th and 675th Bombardment
Squadrons (Light), 417th Bombardment Group (Light), transfer from Cape Sudest
to Dobodura, New Guinea with A-20s, first mission on 25 March.
Saturday, 5 February, 1944
In New Guinea, over 70 B-25s and A-20s attack the Hansa Bay area; 48 B-24s
pound Hoskins Airfield, and some also bomb Gasmata Island off New Britain
Island, after weather prevents an attack on Kavieng, New Ireland Island.
B-24s fly a light raid on Kaimana, New Guinea. B-25s on armed reconnaissance
in the W Bismarck Sea claim 1 freighter sunk; others bomb wrecked ships off
New Hanover Island.
Sunday, 6 February, 1944
In New Guinea, B-25s and B-24s pound Bunabun Harbor, Madang, and targets
from Bogia to Cape Croisilles; P-39s strafe and sink barges near Nubia; and
A-20s hit shipping near Kairiru and Mushu Islands causing considerable damage
and destruction.Other bombers hit targets in the Admiralty Islands (concentrating
on Momote on Los Negros Island) and carry out light attacks on Talasea village
and Cape Dampier gun positions on New Britain Island.
Monday, 7 February, 1944
14 B-24s bomb Amboina, Ambon Island and Lautem, Timor Island. P-39s fly strafing
sweeps over New Britain Island. Single B-25s on reconnaissance bomb Garua
Harbor, Cape Dampier on New Britain Island and Kavieng on New Ireland Island.
Transfers in New Guinea: HQ 35th Fighter Group from Nadzab to Gusap; HQ 417th
Bombardment Group (Light) from Cape Sudest to Dobodura; 25th Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, from Lae
to Nadzab with F-5s; 110th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 71st Reconnaissance
Group, from Port Moresby to Gusap with P-39Qs.
Tuesday, 8 February, 1944
In New Guinea, nearly 50 A-20s and B-25s hit the Alexishafen and Madang areas;
P-39s strafe targets of opportunity during sweeps over wide areas of Northeast
New Guinea and New Britain Island; during the night of 8/9 Feb, B-25s bomb
Toeal.
Wednesday, 9 February, 1944
On New Guinea, the occupation of the Huon Peninsula is completed as US and
Australian forces meet Southeast of Saidor; A-20s pound the village of Mindiri.
B-24s bomb Amboina, Ambon Island and Lautem, Timor Island.
Thursday, 10 February, 1944
More than 50 B-24s bomb Boram Airfield and harbor at Wewak. 6 B-25s and a
B-24 hit Momote Airfield on Los Negros Island and jetties at Manus Island.
P-39s strafe targets of opportunity during a sweep over wide areas of New
Britain Island. The junction of Allied forces from Arawe and Cape Gloucester
marks the completion of the campaign for the West end of New Britain Island;
occasional missions will still be flown in the area, but most will be restricted
to barge sweeps and patrols.
Friday, 11 February, 1944
About 50 B-24s pound the airfield at Kavieng, New Ireland Island, and 2 bomb
Garove Island. 7 B-24s bomb Kendari Airfield, Celebes Island and Dili, Timor
Island. P-40s and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft pound Japanese
forces still remaining in the Saidor, New Guinea area. Fighter sweeps and
armed reconnaissance continue over wide areas of the SWPA. 25th Liaison Squadron,
512th Photographic Wing (Provisional), arrives at Lae, New Guinea from Brisbane,
Australia with L-5s.
Saturday, 12 February, 1944
Brigadier General Carl W. Connell resumes command of the V Air Force Services
Command. About 50 A-20s blast occupied areas Southeast of Wewak, New
Guinea.
Sunday, 13 February, 1944
24 A-20s hit Aitape, New Guinea. More than 70 B-25s pound Momote Airfield
on Los Negros Island and 35 B-24s bomb Kavieng Airfield on New Ireland
Island.
Monday, 14 February, 1944
A-20s with P-40 support, bomb and strafe Dagua airfield, New Guinea, destroying
and damaging more than 20 aircraft. Over 80 plus B-25s pound Momote Airfield
on Los Negros Island. More than 40 B-24s bomb the airfields at Kavieng
and Panapai on New Ireland Island. 20th Combat Mapping Squadron, 6th Photographic
Group, moves from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea with F-7s; first mission
is 5 April.
Tuesday, 15 February, 1944
On New Ireland Island, over 70 B-24s, A-20s, and B-25s bomb the Kavieng town
area, harbor, and shipping and Panapai Airfield; 17 other B-24s, prevented
by weather from reaching Panapai, bomb Talasea on New Britain Island.
Wednesday, 16 February, 1944
More than 40 B-25s attack a convoy off New Hanover Island. Over
30 B-24's bomb Panapai Airfield and Kavieng on New Ireland Island, and some
hit Cape Balangori and Talasea, New Britain Island. 19 B-24s and B-25s bomb
Halong in the Celebes Islands. P-40s hit shipping and barges in the Wewak,
New Guinea area. Transfers in New Guinea: HQ 345th Bombardment Group (Medium)
from Dobodura to Nadzab; 25th Liaison Squadron, 5212th Photographic Wing
(Provisional), from Lae to Nadzab with L-5s.
Thursday, 17 February, 1944
40 B-24s bomb Panapai Airfield, New Ireland Island and Talasea, New Britain
Island. 16 B-25s claim 2 surface vessels and a submarine sunk off New Hanover
Island. 16 P-47's strafe targets of opportunity in the Alexishafen, New Guinea
area. HQ 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group moves from Port Moresby to
Nadzab, New Guinea.
Friday, 18 February, 1944
B-25s and RAAF Beaufighters hit Koepang, Timor Island. P-39s strafe targets
of opportunity at Madang, New Guinea and Cape Raoult, New Britain Island.
499th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves
from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea with B-25s.
Saturday, 19 February, 1944
12 B-25s attack shipping Southwest of New Ireland Island, claiming a small
freighter and a patrol boat sunk and other vessels damaged. 7 A-20s hit shipping
at Kavieng, New Ireland Island. Single B-24s and B-25s carry out armed
reconnaissance over wide areas of the Bismarck Sea. Movements in New Guinea:
26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance
Group, from Dobodura to Finschhafen with F-5s (a detachment is at Port Moresby);
35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, from Finschhafen to Cape Gloucester,
New Britain Island with P-40s.
Sunday, 20 February, 1944
In New Guinea, 38 B-24s bomb the Alexishafen-Hansa Bay area. 18 B-24s bomb
the airfield at Laha, Ambon Island and 12 others hit shipping off Kavieng,
New Ireland Island. Transfers in and out of New Guinea: HQ Fifth Air Force
advance echelon and HQ V Bomber Command from Port Moresby to Nadzab; HQ 8th
Fighter Group from Finschhafen to Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island; 498th
Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium), from Dobodura
to Nadzab with B-25s.
Monday, 21 February, 1944
In New Guinea, almost 30 A-20s hit Madang and the Hansa Bay area. On New
Britain Island, P-39s hit Raiven Plantation; more than 40 B-24s bomb the
Rein Bay and Eleonora Bay areas; others attack shipping off New Hanover
Island.
Tuesday, 22 February, 1944
More than 30 B-25s and P-39s attack the Madang, New Guinea area.
60+ B-25s and B-24s pound Iboki Plantation on New Britain Island in support
of US Marines (USMC) advancing on the area from Natamo (and who capture Perry
Island). 319th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy),
moves from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea with B-24s.
Wednesday, 23 February, 1944
Almost 50 A-20s and B-24s blast the airfield, buildings, and AA positions
in the Wewak, New Guinea area. Units moving from Dobodura to Nadzab, New
Guinea: HQ 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 320th, 321st and 400th Bombardment
Squadrons (Heavy) with B-24s; 500th and 501st Bombardment Squadron (Medium),
345th Bombardment Group (Medium), with B-25s.
Thursday, 24 February, 1944
In New Guinea, 23 B-24s and 39 A-20s thoroughly pound the Hansa Bay area.
Nearly 20 other B-24s bomb Nubia and Awar Airfields. In preparation for the
Allied landing, More than 50 B-25s and B-24s pound Momote on Los
Negros Island, Lorengau on Manus Island and other targets in the Admiralty
Islands. 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, moves from Dobodura, New
Guinea to Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island with P-38s.
Friday, 25 February, 1944
B-25's pound Lorengau on Manus Island and the Alexishafen-Madang, New Guinea
areas and Momote Airfield on Los Negros Island and A-20s bomb airfields at
Alexishafen, New Guinea. HQ 85th Fighter Wing arrives at Gusap, New Guinea
from the US.
Saturday, 26 February, 1944
In New Guinea, B-24s bomb Wewak and Momote on Los Negros Island; B-25s, along
with P-39s, hit the Madang-Alexishafen area and A-20s hit Angorum.
Sunday, 27 February, 1944
Colonel Jarred V. Crabb becomes Commanding General V Bomber Command. In New
Guinea, 30+ B-24s, with P-40 support, hit airfields at Boram, Wewak, and
Tadji, 27 B-25s hit the Hansa Bay area, and over 30 A-20s attack Alexishafen
and Marakum village. More than 30 other B-25s attack Momote on Los Negros
Island, Lorengau on Manus Island and other targets in the Admiralty Islands.
P-39s maintain armed reconnaissance over New Britain Island.
Monday, 28 February, 1944
In New Guinea, 23 B-24s and 39 A-20s thoroughly pound the Hansa Bay area.
Nearly 20 other B-24s bomb Nubia and Awar Airfields. In preparation for the
Allied landing, over 50 B-25s and B-24s pound Momote on Los Negros Island,
Lorengau on Manus Island and other targets in the Admiralty Islands. 80th
Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, moves from Dobodura, New Guinea to Cape
Gloucester, New Britain Island with P-38s.
Tuesday, 29 February, 1944
Allied amphibious forces land on Los Negros Island, temporarily taking Momote
Airfield and then falling back to the beachhead on Jamandilai Point; weather
prevents full air support but 7 B-24s and 8 B-25s manage to attack enemy
positions and guns. Other B-24s and A-20s hit Erima, Wewak, Tadji, Awar,
and Hollandia, New Guinea. |