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 Home > History > The 5th Air Force in WWII > February 1944



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.