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



First Daylight Raid on the Philippines since
MacArthur was driven out of Corregidor

Friday, 1 September, 1944

More than 50 B-24s bomb Sasa, Matina, and Likanan Airfields on Mindanao Island, Philippine Islands; others, failing to reach Mindanao, hit Beo in the Talaud Islands. Fighter-bombers hit Boela and Amahai Airfield on Ceram Island, Moluccas Islands.In New Guinea, A-20s, P-40s and B-25s bomb runways at Babo and Urarom; and HQ 374th Troop Carrier Group moves from Townsville, Australia to Nadzab.

Saturday, 2 September, 1944

On Mindanao Island, 24 B-24s bomb supply and personnel areas at Lasang, 12 B-24s hit shipyards and personnel areas at Bunawan, and 22 B-24s hit Likanan Airfield. B-25s hit warehouses and shipyards along Lembeh Strait, while other B-25s hit a position near Pitoe Airfield on S Morotai Island, Moluccas Islands. B-24s bomb Koror Island, Palau Islands. In New Guinea, fighter-bombers hit the Sorong area and forces at Cape Pus and Boikin.

Sunday, 3 September, 1944

On Celebes Island, B-24s pound Langoan Airfield and Lembeh Strait warehouses and shipping. B-25s hit the village of Tobelo on Halmahera Island. Fighter-bombers hit oil tanks and a radio station at Boela on Ceram Island. In New Guinea, fighter-bombers hit Babo, Warren and Nabire Airfields, Manokwari storage and personnel areas, strafe areas along MacCluer Gulf, and fly coastal sweeps in the Wewak area, strafing troops, supplies, and occupied areas; HQ XIII Bomber Command moves from Los Negros Island, Admiralty Islands to Wakde Island; and the 20th Combat Mapping Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, moves from Nadzab to Biak Island with B-24s and F-7s.

Monday, 4 September, 1944

Bad weather cancels most large-scale operations. In New Guinea, A-20s and B-25s hit Urarom Airfield and fighter-bombers attack Moemi and hit Napido. During the night of 4/5 September, B-24s bomb Kendari Airfield on Celebes Island.

Tuesday, 5 September, 1944

B-24s hit the airfield on Peleliu Island, Palau Islands. Small-scale B-24 strikes hit Kendari Airfield on Celebes Island while fighter-bombers attack Galela and nearby villages on Halmahera Island, Moluccas Islands. Almost 60 B-24s blast Langoan Airfield on Celebes Island while a sizeable B-25 force bombs Djailolo Airfield, several villages, and Kaoe AA positions on Halmahera Island. In New Guinea, fighter-bombers hit Soepiori Peninsula villages and Waren and Moemi Airfields; the 405th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Nadzab to Biak Island with B-25s; and the 547th Night Fighter Squadron, Fifth Air Force, arrives at Oro Bay from the US with P-38s and P-61s.

Wednesday, 6 September, 1944

On Mindanao Island, B-24s pound Santa Ana port and B-25s bomb Buayan Airfield in the first medium bomber raid in the Philippine Islands since early 1942; several B-24s, turning back from the Santa Ana strike, bomb Rainis in the Talaud Islands; B-25s hit Galela on Halmahera Island and the S coast of Morotai Island while on Halmahera Island, fighter-bombers hit Kaoe Airfield and bomb a Djailolo Airfield runway. In New Guinea, A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers hit airfields at Manokwari, Moemi, Ransiki, and Waren, and stores and personnel area at Nabire; P-40s attack S Soepiori Island and Napido; P-39s strafe barges and huts at Suain; the 69th, 310th and 311th Fighter Squadrons, 58thFighter Group, move from Saidor to Noemfoor Island with P-47s; and the 71st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Nadzab to Biak Island with B-25s.

Thursday, 7 September, 1944

B-24s pound Menado area on Celebes Island and B-25s hit Wasile Bay villages on Halmahera Island; other B-24s strike Galela in force while P-38s dive-bomb Djailolo and airfield on Halmahera Island. A-20s bomb Boela Airfield, Ceram Island and B-25s sink a lugger in Bara Bay. In New Guinea, A-20s hit Mongosah Airfield while fighter-bombers hit Manokwari Airstrip and villages in the Schouten Islands and strafe and bomb Wewak Airfield and surrounding areas; and the 25th Liaison Squadron, 91st Photographic Wing (Reconnaissance), moves from Nadzab to Biak Island with L-5s.

Friday, 8 September, 1944

B-24s pound Langoan Airfield, Celebes Island. On Halmahera Island, B-25s hit Galela and Tobelo while B-24s bomb Lolobata and P-47s attack Kaoe Airfield and AA positions, Djailolo Airfield and barges at Point Lelo; P-38s hit Boela, Ceram Island while B-25s hit small shipping at Ceram. In New Guinea, B-24s bomb airfields at Langgoer, Faan, Letfoean, and Toeal; fighter-bombers and A-20s hit airstrips and targets of opportunity at Efman, Samate, Babo, Urarom, Manokwari, Moemi, and Ranski; P-39s strafe the Wewak coastal area; and the 673d and 674th Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 417th Bombardment Group (Light), move from Saidor to Noemfoor Island with A-20s.

Saturday, 9 September, 1944

B-24s bomb Mapanget Airfield, Celebes Island. More than 100 fighter-bombers and A-20s pound airfields in the Moluccas Islands, i.e., Liang on Ambon Island, Haroekoe on Haroekoe Island, Boela on Ceram Island, and Namlea on Buru Island. B-24s hit Galela Airfield on Halmahera Island. In New Guinea, fighter-bombers hit Moemi, Manokwari, and Ransiki airstrips while B-25s hit Babo Airfield; and HQ 417th Bombardment Group (Light) moves from Saidor to Noemfoor Island.

Sunday, 10 September, 1944

On Celebes Island, B-24s pound airfields at Langoan and Mapanget and hit Tomohon and the waterfront area of Menado. On Halmahera Island, Lolobata and Hate Tabako Airfields are bombed and areas along Wasile Bay strafed. B-25s, A-20s, and P-38s hit airfields and oil storage at Namlea on Buru Island, and Amahai and Boela on Ceram Island while B-24s hit Laha Airfield, Celebes Island. In New Guinea, A-20s and fighters hit airfields at Samate, Sagan, Nabire, Urarom, Manokwari, Moemi, and Ransiki; the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, moves from Nadzab to Biak Island with F-5s; and the 672d Bombardment Squadron (Light), 417th Bombardment Group (Light), moves from Saidor to Noemfoor Island with A-20s.

Monday, 11 September, 1944

B-24s hit airfields at Galela and Miti on Halmahera Island. B-25s bomb Kairatoe Airfield and village on Celebes Island and Boela Airfield on Ceram Island while P-38s hit airfields at Namlea on Buru Island and Amahai and oil tanks at Boela, Ceram Island. A-20s and B-25s hit Kaoe Airfield on Halmahera Island and scattered targets of opportunity. In New Guinea, A-20s strike Otawiri, Sagan, Nabire, and Urarom Airfields while fighter-bombers hit airfields and AA guns at Manokwari and Ransiki; the 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Tadji to Biak Island with P-40s.

Tuesday, 12 September, 1944

B-24s pound 3 airfields in the Menado area on Celebes Island. B-24s and B-25s bomb Kaoe and Galela Airfields on Halmahera Island, and radar facilities on Morotai Island. B-24s hit Lautem on Timor Island. P-38s dive-bomb Namlea runways on Buru Island while P-47s hit Boela on Ceram Island. In New Guinea, A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers hit airfields, AA guns, and other targets at Babo, Mongosah, Manokwari, Sagan, Moemi, and Samate; and the 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, move from Noemfoor Island to Owi, Schouten Islands with P-47s.

Wednesday, 13 September, 1944

B-24s and B-25s hit 4 airfields and bomb villages on Morotai Island. In New Guinea, B-25s hit Langgoer Airfield while A-20s and fighter-bombers hit 2 airfields on Efman Island; A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers hit Babo AA positions and airfields at Manokwari and Ransiki; HQ Thirteenth AF moves from Los Negros Island to Hollandia.

Thursday, 14 September, 1944

On Celebes Island, B-25s pound Mapanget airstrip and the Menado area. B-24s hit 4 airfields on Halmahera Island. In New Guinea, A-20s and B-25s bomb Babo Airfield while fighter-bombers make scattered small raids on AA positions, airfields, and targets of opportunity on the Vogelkop Peninsula; the 69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Hollandia to Sansapor; and the 100th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), Thirteenth Air Force [attached to 42d Bombardment Group (Medium)], ceases operating from Hollandia with B-25s and returns to base at Sansapor.

Friday, 15 September, 1944

On Halmahera Island, B-24s, A-20s, and P-47s bomb Kaoe, Lolobata, and Hate Tabako. In New Guinea, P-39s bomb Manokwari Airfield and town area; and the 675th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 417th Bombardment Group (Light), moves from Saidor to Noemfoor Island with A-20s.

Saturday, 16 September, 1944

On Celebes Island, B-24s bomb Kendari air depot and Ambesia Airfield while B-25s attack a large warehouse at Gorontalo and B-24s and B-25s hit Kairatoe and Kamarian. B-25s and B-24s pound Namlea on Buru Island, Liang on Ambon Island, Haroekoe on Haroekoe Island, and Laha on Amboina Island. In New Guinea, fighter-bombers hit Manokwari, Sagan, Moemi, and Warren airstrips; HQ 42d Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from Hollandia to Sansapor; the 64th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal Island,  Solomon Islands, to Biak Island with C-47s; and the 418th Night Fighter Squadron, 310th Bombardment Wing (Medium), moves from Hollandia to Owi, Schouten Islands with P-61s.

Sunday, 17 September, 1944

B-25s bomb Buayoan Airfield on Mindanao Island. B-24s, B-25s, and P-38s hit Langoan Airfield on Celebes Island. B-25s and P-39s, fighting bad weather, attack a variety of targets, including airfields and villages in Amboina-Ceram Islands area. In New Guinea, P-47s and P-40s pound the airfield on Samate Island.

Monday, 18 September, 1944

B-24s blast several targets in the Davao, Mindanao Island area, including oil storage at Sasa. B-25s hit Langoan Airfield and lake area on Celebes Island. Bad weather forces B-24s over the Ceram-Amboina Islands area to individually attack targets which include 4 airfields. In New Guinea, B-25s hit Samate Airfield and fighter-bombers hit the airfield and town of Manokwari and AA guns at Moemi; HQ 310th Bombardment Wing (Medium) moves from Hollandia to Morotai Island; and the 371st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based on Wakde Island with B-24s begins operating from NoemfoorIsland.

Tuesday, 19 September, 1944

Striking all principal targets in Northeast Celebes, B-24s, B-25s, and P-38s hit the Amoerang port area, Menado fuel tanks and shipping personnel areas and AA guns at Mapanget and Sidate, bivouac, supply areas, and lookout towers along Lembeh Strait, Langoan Airfield, and Kakas rest camp. In New Guinea, HQ 8th Fighter Group and the 36th Fighter Squadron move from Owi, Schouten Islands to Morotai Island with P-38s; and HQ 347th Fighter Group and the 339th Fighter Squadron move from Sansapor to Middleburg Island with P-38s.

Wednesday, 20 September, 1944

Despite poor weather over Celebes Island, the Menado area is again attacked and B-24s hit Mapanget and Sidate Airfields and supply dumps and other targets of opportunity. On Halmahera Island, B-24s hit Djailolo. A-20s and P-47s strike Kaoe Airfields during the night of 19/20 September. B-24s, B-25s , and fighter-bombers, striking during the night of 19/20 September and during the day, pound airfields at Amahai on Ceram Island, Namlea on Buru Island, Liang and Laha on Amboina Island, the town of Lautem on Timor Island, and several targets of opportunity. During the night of 20/21 September a few B-24s again hit the Menado and Sidate area on Celebes Island. In New Guinea, fighter-bombers hit AA guns and targets of opportunity at Moemi and Ransiki Airfields and hit a supply dump further East along the Orai River; the 75th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Hollandia to Sansapor with B-25s; the 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, moves from Owi, Schouten Islands to Morotai Island with P-38s; the 370th and 372d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based on Wakde Island with B-24s, begin operating from Noemfoor Island.

Thursday, 21 September, 1944

B-24s attack Laha on Amboina Island and Kairatoe Airfield on Celebes Island and shipping in Piroe Bay. On Celebes Island, P-38s and B-25s hit Menado, Tomohon, the Kakas rest camp, small craft near Belang Island, Kairatoe, and Namlea Airfield on Buru Island, and a barge off Kaoe Point, Halmahera Island. In New Guinea, fighter-bombers hit Windissi and Ransiki and strafe targets of opportunity near the Orai River; during the night of 21/22 September, fighter-bombers hit the Geelvink Bay-Bentoni Bay area; the 13th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands to Biak Island with C-47s (squadron is operating from Los Negros Island); the detachment of the 421st Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command, operating from Wakde Island with P-38s and P-61s, returns to base at Nadzab.

Friday, 22 September, 1944

On Celebes Island, B-24s again pound Sidate and Mapanget. B-24s and B-25s bomb Amahai on Ceram Island and Liang on Ambon Island and the airfield on Haroekoe Island. In New Guinea, A-20s pound Urarom Airfield while fighter-bombers hit Idorra, Windissi, Moemi, and Kaimana; HQ 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Wakde Island to Noemfoor Island; the 342d Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, moves from Wakde Island to Noemfoor Island with P-47s.

Saturday, 23 September, 1944

During night and day raids B-24s and B-25s concentrate on Sidate and Mapanget Airfields on Celebes Island. P-47s pound Kaoe Airfield on Halmahera Island. In New Guinea, P-47s and P-40s bomb AA guns at Manokwari, Moemi, and Ransiki Airfields; HQ Thirteenth Air Force moves from Hollandia to Noemfoor Island; the 460th Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, moves from Nadzab to Noemfoor Island with P-47s.

Sunday, 24 September, 1944

B-24s and B-25s bomb Amahai Airfield and Boela on Ceram Island, Namlea Airfield on Buru Island, and Haroekoe Airfield on Haroekoe Island and B-24s hit Lautem on Timor Island. In New Guinea, fighter-bombers attack Babo, Urarom, and Manokwari Airfields while B-25s bomb Sorong.

Monday, 25 September, 1944

On Celebes Island, B-24s hit Kendari Airfield and B-25s bomb Langoan Airfield. A-20s fire storage areas and hit personnel areas on the West shore of Kaoe Bay on Halmahera Island. Namlea Airfield on Buru Island is again bombed by B-24s. P-38s pound Kairatoe Airfield on Celebes Island and Boela Airfield on Ceram Island. In New Guinea, B-25s and A-20s hit Sagan and Urarom Airfields while P-40s attack Kaimana.

Tuesday, 26 September, 1944

B-25s bomb Maumere Bay, Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands. B-25s and B-24s bomb Liang Airfield on Ambon Island and Kendari Airfield on Celebes Island. In New Guinea, P-40s hit Kokas; the 31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Wakde Island to Noemfoor Island with B-24s; the 424th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group (Medium), based on Wakde Island with B-24s, begins operating from Noemfoor Island.

Wednesday, 27 September, 1944

B-24s bomb Menado personnel and supply areas on Celebes Island. B-25s attack oil tanks at Boela, Ceram Island and hit Old Namba Airfield on Buru Island. In New Guinea, P-40s hit Ransiki, Kokas, and Warren Airfield and shipping in the Vogelkop Peninsula area; HQ 375th Troop Carrier Group moves from Nadzab to Biak Island; the 72d and 394th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), move from Wakde Island to Noemfoor Island with B-24s. HQ 35th Fighter Group moves from Owi, Schouten Islands to Morotai Island.

Thursday, 28 September, 1944

On Celebes Island, B-25s on a shipping sweep attack small vessels off Kairatoe and A-20s bomb Langoan Airfield. P-38s hit barge and the town area at Pajahi in the Moluccas Islands. In New Guinea, P-47s pound Manokwari Airfield.

Friday, 29 September, 1944

Kendari Airfield on Celebes Island is bombed by B-24s. B-25s hit both Namlea Airfields on Buru Island while B-24s blast Liang on Ambon Island and Haroekoe Airfield on Haroekoe Island. In New Guinea, A-20s and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft, continue to pound Urarom Airfield; other A-20s bomb Faan Airfield.

Saturday, 30 September, 1944

B-24s strike oil installations at Balikpapan, Borneo. On Celebes Island, Ambesia Airfield is pounded by B-24s while B-25s hit Mapanget, Langoan, and Sidate, and P-38s hit shipping in Wasile Bay. Other B-25s attack shipping in the Halmahera Island waters. P-38s hit Amahai on Ceram Island, Kairatoe and Halong seaplane base on Celebes Island, and Haroekoe Airfield on Haroekoe Island. In New Guinea, A-20s and fighter-bombers hit Babo, Urarom, and Fak Fak; A-20s and B-25s bomb Faan; the 23d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Wakde Island to Noemfoor Island with B-24s.