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



Wednesday, 1 March, 1944

In the Admiralty Islands, about 30 B-24s and B-25s hit Los Negros Island and Lorengau, Manus Island.Other B-24s and B-25s drop supplies to Allied pound forces on Los Negros. In New Guinea, more than 100 B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter aircraft, along with Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft, pound Hansa Bay, Awar Point, an airfield in the Wewak area, and enemy installations and positions at Madang, Alexishafen, and Saiba. Detachment of 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, ceases operating from Port Moresby and returns to Finschhafen, New Guinea with F-5s. Moves in New Guinea during Mar: HQ 309th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) from Lae to Saidor; 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Reconnaissance Group, from Dobodura to Finschhafen with B-25s; 65th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), from Dobodura to Nadzab with B-24s.

Thursday, 2 March, 1944

In New Guinea, more than 80 B-24s and P-40s hit the Hansa Bay area, the airstrip at Nubia, and the Madang-Alexishafen area. More than B-25s and A-20s pound enemy forces on Los Negros Island as Allied ground forces occupy Momote Airfield; P-47s providing cover for the B-25s claim 7 enemy fighters shot down.

Friday, 3 March, 1944

In New Guinea, more than 30 B-24s hit the Hansa Bay and Alexishafen areas while 20 P-39s attack Madang and Bogadjim and 22 A-20s pound Erima. 14 A-20s and B-25s hit enemy positions on Los Negros Island.

Saturday, 4 March, 1944

More than 20 A-20s and B-25s support ground forces on Los Negros Island. In New Guinea, more than 30 B-24s with fighter escort, pound airfields in the Wewak area; more than 20 other B-24s bomb Hollandia; and A-20s bomb buildings and gun positions in the Saidor area. Moves in New Guinea: HQ 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) from Port Moresby to Nadzab; HQ of the 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy) from Dobodura to Nadzab.

Sunday, 5 March, 1944

About 30 B-24s bomb enemy positions on Los Negros Island. In NE Nea Guinea, elements of the US 32d Infantry Division land at Yaula; A-20s bomb and strafe the area; P-39's pound the areas around Madang and Erima; Australian ground forces break out of the Ramu Valley and retreat toward Madang. 71st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea with B-25s.

Monday, 6 March, 1944

B-25s continue to hit Japanese forces on Los Negros Island. In New Guinea, B-24s bomb the airstrip and other targets in the Awar-Nubia area; P-39s and RAAF aircraft hit Japanese forces around Madang. On New Britain Island, P-39s and P-38s strafe and divebomb the Cape Hoskins-Talasea area as US Marines land about midway up the coast of the Willaumez Peninsula in preparation for a drive on Talasea. 405th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea with B-25s.

Tuesday, 7 March, 1944

B-24s and B-25s continue to hit targets on Los Negros Island and other of the Admiralty Islands and bomb Boram Airfield, New Guinea. P-38s and RAAF aircraft attack targets in the Talasea area of New Britain Island. 823d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea with B-25s.

Wednesday, 8 March, 1944

B-25s carry out a number of low-level strikes as Allied ground forces capture Lombrun Plantation on Los Negros Island, virtually completing the capture of the island. In New Guinea, over 70 B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s bomb Nubia and Awar airstrips; the bombers and escorting fighters claim 17 aircraft shot down in the Wewak area.Fighters continue to strafe coastal targets in Northeast New Guinea and on New Britain Island. 822d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea with B-25s.

Thursday, 9 March, 1944

B-25s pound Lorengau and other targets on Manus Island. Numerous other Fifth Air Force aircraft carry out armed reconnaissance over wide reaches of the SWPA, attacking a variety of targets.

Friday, 10 March, 1944

11 B-25s bomb Lorengau and several targets of opportunity on Manus Island. B-24s and P-39s, operating singly or in pairs, attack numerous scattered targets of opportunity throughout the SWPA during armed reconnaissance flights.

Saturday, 11 March, 1944

12 B-25s pound Lorengau, Manus Island while 7 B-24s bomb enemy positions to the West of the town, as the preliminaries for invasion of Manus increase. In New Guinea, more than 80 B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s hit Boram Airfield while over 40 A-20s and P-39s attack targets in the Madang area; P-47s strafe the Hansa Bay area; other aircraft carry out armed reconnaissance and sweeps over wide reaches of Northeast New Guinea and the New Britain coastal areas. 64th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea with B-24s.

Sunday, 12 March, 1944

12 B-25s hit enemy positions and communication at Lorengau, Manus Island as landings on small offshore islands continue with a beachhead being established on Hauwei Island. More than 40 B-24s B-25s, and A-20s hit the Wewak, New Guinea area. 403d Bombardment Squadron, 43d Bombardment Group, moves from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea with B-24s.

Monday, 13 March, 1944

More than 160 B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, P-47s, and P-40s thoroughly pound the Wewak, New Guinea area; US aircraft claim 8 interceptors shot down. Other aircraft, operating singly or in flights of 2 or 3, attack several targets in the Northeast New Guinea-New Britain area. In the Admiralty Islands, Hauwei Island is cleared of enemy opposition and artillery is brought ashore. 340th Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, moves from Finschhafen to Saidor, New Guinea with P-47s.

Tuesday, 14 March, 1944

In New Guinea, over 80 B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s, supported by Allied fighters, pound the Wewak area; 17 other B-24s bomb the airfield at Tadji; and 8 A-20s carry out a sweep over the Madang area while 12 bomb the airstrip at Alexishafen. HQ 8th Fighter Group and 35th and 36th Fighter Squadrons move from Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island to Nadzab, New Guinea with P-40s and P-47s respectively.

Wednesday, 15 March, 1944

In New Guinea, more than 200 B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, P-38s, P-47s and P-40s pound Wewak township, blasting docks, warehouses, gun positions, and numerous other targets; fighters claim 11 enemy aircraft shot down. 36 B-25s bomb Tingo village and Lugos Mission area on Manus Island, where elements of the 1st Cavalry Division make an amphibious landing, take the mission and head East toward Lorengau.

Thursday, 16 March, 1944

On New Guinea, more than 70 B-24s, B-25s and A-20s hit AA positions, buildings and salvage dumps at Wewak and nearby Brandi Plantation; 19 B-25s bomb personnel and storage areas at Nubia; and B-24s and Catalinas attack a Japanese convoy near Hollandia. Other B-24s bomb docks and factory area at Soerabaja, Java. 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, moves from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea with F-5s.

Friday, 17 March, 1944

In New Guinea, almost 100 B-24s, B-25s and A-20s attack the Wewak area; P-38s hit the Hansa Bay area while other B-25s bomb the Madang-Alexishafen area. Soerabaja, Java naval base is bombed by B-24s.

Saturday, 18 March, 1944

In New Guinea, more than 100 B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s continue to pound the Wewak area, hitting AA positions and nearby Brandi Plantation; a Japanese supply convoy reaches Wewak but escapes bombardment.

Sunday, 19 March, 1944

In New Guinea, more than 100 B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and P-47s pound the Wewak area, hitting especially hard the Cape Moem and Cape Boram areas; other B-25s and P-39s, along with RAAF aircraft, bomb the Hansa Bay, Nubia, Madang, and Alexishafen areas and hit targets along Bogadjim Road; and 130 B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and P-38s virtually destroy a supply convoy proceeding from Wewak toward Hollandia, sinking at least 5 vessels. P-40s attack a bivouac area and AA on Garove Island, Bismarck Archipelago.

Monday, 20 March, 1944

In New Guinea, more than 30 B-24s bomb the airfield at Aitape; over 20 P-39s and A-20s hit Japanese HQ and other targets along the Bogadjim Road while B-25s and P-39s on armed reconnaissance hit targets at Milhanak, along the Gogol River, at Yeschan, Burui Airfield and at Erima; and at night B-24s bomb remnants of a supply convoy off Cape Terabu.On New Britain Island, P-40s on armed reconnaissance hit villages and barges along the Bangula Bay coast.

Tuesday, 21 March, 1944

In New Guinea, more than 140 B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, P-38s and P-40s attack numerous targets in the Wewak-Tadji-Hansa Bay-Schouten Island areas; and P-39s and RAAF fighter-bombers blast Japanese positions in the Madang area. P-40s and A-20s on armed reconnaissance attack targets on New Britain Island and on Garove Island to the North.

Wednesday, 22 March, 1944

In New Guinea, over 130 B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and P-40s attack the Wewak area, hitting enemy positions, AA guns, storage areas at Wewak, Boram, and Yeschan and hitting shipping offshore. Japanese HQ and troops are hit by 25 other aircraft in the Aitape-Tadji area; P-47s hit barges at Alexishafen while P-39s hit a HQ and supply dump along the Bogadjim Road: and A-20s hit barges near Pondo Plantation and hit Ewasse village.

Thursday, 23 March, 1944

In New Guinea, nearly 100 B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and P-47s hit numerous targets in the Aitape, Wewak, Alexishafen, and Hansa Bay areas; and B-24s bomb Babo and during the night attack shipping in the Bismarck Sea. On New Britain Island, 29 P-40s attack Talasea and nearby bivouacs, including Gogosi.

Friday, 24 March, 1944

In New Guinea, P-39s and P-40s hit Alexishafen with a dive bombing and strafing attack at midday; a single B-24 bombs nearby Sek Island; other B-24s on armed reconnaissance score a hit on a minesweeper. Organized Japanese resistance ends on Los Negros and Bougainville Islands, although considerable time will be required for mopping-up operations. HQ 475th Fighter Group moves from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea.

Saturday, 25 March, 1944

In New Guinea, more than 100 B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s continue pounding of the Wewak area, destroying supply dumps along the coast from Wewak Point to the airfield, a fuel dump West of Boram, and targets along the Sauri road and in the Cape Wom area; other A-20s attack the coastal area around Bunabun Harbor; and B-24s bomb the Babo-Urarom area. On New Britain Island, P-40s attack a Japanese HQ at Cape Hoskins. On Manus Island, the last major battle takes place; isolated enemy positions remain to be eliminated. Moves in New Guinea with P-38s: 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, from Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island to Nadzab; 432d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group from Dobodura to Nadzab.

Sunday, 26 March, 1944

In New Guinea, more than 220 B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and fighters hit Wewak, Boram, Cape Wom, Aitape, the Hansa Bay coast, Mushu Island, and the general area along the North coast of Northeast New Guinea, blasting storage areas, barges, shipping, grounded aircraft, fuel dumps and enemy troops; other A-20s hit Bunabun Harbor while P-39s hit the Madang area. On New Britain Island, P-39s and P-40s attack Cape Hoskins and troops in the Talasea area. On Manus Island, A-20s hit buildings and Japanese positions on the South shore. 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, moves from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea with P-38s.

Monday, 27 March, 1944

In New Guinea, over 200 B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, P-47s, P-40s and P-39s attack storage areas, shipping, bridges, fuel dumps, enemy troop concentrations and other targets in areas around Wewak, Hansa Bay, Ulipan Harbor, and Madang. Other aircraft carry out sweeps and armed reconnaissance over New Britain Island and the Bismarck Sea. 341st Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, moves from Finschhafen to Saidor, New Guinea with P-47s.

Tuesday, 28 March, 1944

B-24s hit Hollandia, New Guinea and Penfoei, Timor Island. Moves in New Guinea: 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, from Finschhafen to Nadzab with F-5s; and 418th Night Fighter Squadron, 308th Bombardment Wing, from Dobodura to Finschhafen with P-61s.

Wednesday, 29 March, 1944

Brigadier General Paul H. Prentiss is announced as Commanding General V Air Force Services Command and Brigadier General Warren R Carter as Commanding General 64th Troop Carrier Wing. In New Guinea, B-24s bomb Hollandia; B-25s and A-20s pound the Wewak area, hitting targets at Cape Wom and Dagua and attacking shipping throughout the day; more A-20s pound the Bogia-Bunabun area and P-39s hit an AA position at Erima in the Madang area; and P-47s and P-40s on a fighter sweep and armed reconnaissance strafe coastal targets of opportunity in Northeast New Guinea and New Britain Island. Moves in New Guinea: HQ 348th Fighter Group from Finschhafen to Saidor; 433d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, from Dobodura to Nadzab with P-38s.

Thursday, 30 March, 1944

In New Guinea, more than 60 B-24s, with support from more than 90 P-38s and P-47s, hit Hollandia in the first big daylight raid; airfields and fuel dumps are bombed; a large number of enemy aircraft are destroyed or damaged on the ground; escorting fighters claim about 10 interceptors shot down; B-25s, A-20s, P-47s, P-40s, and P-39s continue to blast Japanese installations and forces in areas around Wewak, Tadji and Madang. Moves in New Guinea: HQ 91st Photographic Wing (Reconnaissance) to Nadzab from the US; and 342d Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, from Finschhafen to Saidor with P-47s.

Friday, 31 March, 1944

In New Guinea, more than 60 B-24s, with P-38 support, pound Hollandia for the second successive day; 3 airfields in the area are thoroughly blasted and a large number of enemy aircraft destroyed; US aircraft claim 14 interceptors shot down; supplies, enemy troops, and coastal targets in the Tadji, Wewak, and Hansa Bay areas are hit by over 120 A-20s and B-25s.