Saturday, 1 April, 1944 B-25s and A-20s hit the Tadji and Hansa
Bay areas in New Guinea; B-24s bomb Boela, Ceram Island, Moluccas Islands;
and B-25s attack Penfoei, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands. Moves in New
Guinea during Apr: 33d Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group,
from Garbutt Field, Townsville, Australia to Port Moresby with C-47s; 63d
Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), from Dobodura
to Nadzab with B-24s.
Sunday, 2 April, 1944 In New Guinea, more than 120 bombers and
fighters continue to hit targets in areas around Wewak, Hansa Bay, Madang,
Bogadjim, and other points along the Northeast coastline. B-25s also hit
Dili and Penfoei on Timor Island and Rambutyo Island, Bismarck
Archipelago. 310th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group, moves from
Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea with P-47s.
Monday, 3 April, 1944 In New Guinea, over 300 B-24s, B-25s,
A-20s, and P-38s blast airfields at Hollandia; most of the remaining
Japanese airplanes there are destroyed; of 60 intercepting Japanese
fighters, 26 are claimed shot down; air opposition from Hollandia is very
light hereafter; more than 50 P-40s, P-47s, and P-39s hit villages,
communications, AA positions, and other targets in areas around Wewak,
Hansa Bay, Bogia and Madang; and B-24s hit Langgoer and B-25s bomb the
Babo area and Penfoei on Timor Island. HQ 58th Fighter Group and 69th
Fighter Squadron move from Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea with P-47s.
Tuesday, 4 April, 1944 In New Guinea, over 50 B-24s pound the
Wewak area; and 12 P-39s hit villages, bridges and wooded areas along the
coast from Cape Gourdon to Bogia.
Wednesday, 5 April, 1944 In New Guinea, more than 270 B-24s,
B-25s, A-20s and P-38s hit Hollandia town and dock area and villages and
stores around Humboldt Bay; P-47s and P-40s blast numerous targets in the
Hansa Bay-Bogia and Wewak areas; and B-24s hit Kaimana and Efman Island.
B-25s bomb Koepang on Timor Island. Units moving from Dobodura to Saidor,
New Guinea: 82d Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 71st Reconnaissance
Group, with P-39s; and 311th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group, with
P-47s.
Thursday, 6 April, 1944 In New Guinea, P-39s, P-40s and P-47s
continue to pound coastal targets in the Wewak, Aitape, and Madang areas
and at numerous other points along the coast. B-25s bomb Koepang, Timor
Island.
Friday, 7 April, 1944 In New Guinea, B-25s, A-20s and P-39s hit
villages, barges, a supply area, and coastal road in areas around Madang,
Tadji, Bogia, and Uligan Harbor; and B-24s bomb Langgoer and Wakde Island.
Other B-25s bomb barracks at Penfoei, Timor Island.
Saturday, 8 April, 1944 In New Guinea, P-40s attack targets of
opportunity in the Aitape-Wewak area; and A-20s hit targets in the Hansa
Bay area, firing a fuel dump and destroying several warehouses and other
buildings at 3 plantations and strafing and bombing roads and bridges
along the coast. HQ 417th Bombardment Group (Light) moves from Dobodura to
Saidor, New Guinea.
Sunday, 9 April, 1944 In New Guinea, 55 B-25s bomb the Aitape
area while B-24s and A-20s hit Wewak, Boram, Cape Moem, AA positions along
Hansa Bay, and barges Southeast of Mushu Island and in the Wagol River;
and P-39s hit troops, barges, and bridges in the Madang, Awar, Bogia and
Bunabun areas. 675th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 417th Bombardment Group
(Light), moves from Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea with A-20s.
Monday, 10 April, 1944 About 60 B-24s, teaming with US
destroyers offshore, bombard the Hansa Bay, New Guinea area, concentrating
on AA positions guarding airfields. 672d Bombardment Squadron (Light),
417th Bombardment Group (Light), moves from Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea
with A-20s.
Tuesday, 11 April, 1944 In New Guinea, more than 80 A-20s and
B-25s, supported by 30 P-47s and P-40s, blast AA positions, stores, dumps
and personnel areas at Hollandia; over 50 B-24s bomb barges, AA guns, and
other targets along Hansa Bay which is also hit by 12 B-25s. 12 other
B-25s bomb targets on Karkar Island.
Wednesday, 12 April, 1944 In New Guinea, more than 180 B-24s,
B-25s, and A-20s, supported by over 60 P-38s, bomb AA positions,
airfields, supply areas and shipping construction; B-24s, B-25s, A-20s,
and P-39s bomb and strafe various targets at Wewak, Madang, along Hansa
Bay and on Karkar Island; other P-39s fly a barge sweep from Alexishafen
up the coast as far as the mouth of the Sepik River. 2 B-25s bomb Penfoei
on Timor Island.
Thursday, 13 April, 1944 In New Guinea, over 80 B-24s and
A-20s pound the airfields at Dagua and But on the North coast of New
Guinea; 33 A-20s hit Aitape; P-39s, B-25s, and B-24s fly light strikes
against a variety of targets along Hansa Bay, on Wakde Island, at Uligan,
and several other points along the coast.
Friday, 14 April, 1944 In New Guinea, B-25s and P-39s hit barges
and luggers in Vanimo Harbor and at Bogia. 673d Bombardment Squadron
(Light), 417th Bombardment Group (Light), moves from Dobodura to Saidor,
New Guinea with A-20s.
Saturday, 15 April, 1944 In New Guinea, more than 180
B-24s, B-25s and A-20s bomb landing strips, off-shore islands and the
entire coastal area in the vicinity of Aitape; 16 P-40s strafe barges at
nearby Seleo Island; 20 P-39s hit villages, supply dumps, trucks and other
targets along Hansa Bay and in the Alexishafen area.
Black Sunday
Sunday, 16 April, 1944 In New Guinea the Fifth Air Force lost
thirty-seven aircraft to a late-afternoon frontal system which cut them
off from their home bases of Gusap, Nadzab and Saidor. Another nine were
seriously damaged and, as a result, the Fifth Air Force suffered its
biggest operational loss of the war. The freak weather created the biggest
weather-related loss in aviation history. Also in New Guinea, over 170
B-24s, B-25s and A-20s bomb Hollandia town and airfield and numerous other
targets in the area; P-39s hit a wooded area and communications targets
along Hansa Bay and attack villages and supply dumps from Bogia to Uligan
Harbor; P-38s hit Madang area; B-24s fly a light strike against Wakde
Island; other aircraft, operating singly or in pairs, attack targets of
opportunity on the Northeast coast of New Guinea and Southeast coast of
New Britain Island. Other B-25s bomb Koepang on Timor Island.
Monday, 17 April, 1944 More than 20 B-24s bomb storage areas
and troop concentrations in Kai Island, Moluccas Islands. In New Guinea,
P-39s attack AA positions at Bogia; other planes, operating individually
or in pairs, attack Hollandia, Uligan Harbor and vicinity and the Madang
area. 674th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 417th Bombardment Group (Light),
moves from Dobodura to Saidor, New Guinea with A-20s.
Tuesday, 18 April, 1944 The newly created (11 April) Thirteenth
Air Task Force (Provisional) commanded by Major General St .Clair Streett
and temporarily composed of elements of the Thirteenth Air Force (which is
being moved to the SWPA), a few Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
squadrons, USN Seventh Fleet air units, and Fifth Air Force units in the
Admiralty Islands and New Britain Island, is placed under operational
control of Fifth Air Force Advanced Echelon. Operating out of Momote
Airfield, Los Negros Island, B-24s of Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb
Woleai Atoll and Mariaon Island, Caroline Islands. In New Guinea,
B-24s of the Fifth Air Force hit Manokwari and Babo; and the Madang area
is hit by fighter-bombers. HQ 54th Troop Carrier Wing moves from Port
Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea.
Wednesday, 19 April, 1944 In New Guinea, B-24s hit
Urarom and Manokwari; B-25s, A-20s, and fighter aircraft strike a wide
variety of targets around Hollandia, Aitape, Bogia, Uligan, Bunabun,
Madang and Cape Croisilles. B-24s of the Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb
Woleai Atoll. Unit moves in New Guinea: HQ 49th Fighter Group from Gusap
to Finschhafen; HQ 317th Troop Carrier Group from Port Moresby to
Finschhafen; the detachment of the 82d Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter),
71st Reconnaissance Group, ceases operating from Finschhafen with returns
to base at Saidor with P-39s.
Thursday, 20 April, 1944 B-24s bomb airfields on Noemfoor
Island. In New Guinea, B-25s, A-20s, and fighters hit a variety of targets
around Hollandia, on Cape Croisilles, in the Bunabun area and along Hansa
Bay. Woleai Atoll is again bombed by B-24s of the Thirteenth Air Task
Force.
Friday, 21 April, 1944 21 B-24s bomb airstrips on Noemfoor
Island. In New Guinea, about 320 B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s hit numerous
targets in the Tadji, Wewak, and Madang area, while a USN carrier force
hits Hollandia, Wakde, and Sawar as assault convoys approach the area.
Saturday, 22 April, 1944 More than 20 B-24s bomb
airstrips on Noemfoor Island. In New Guinea, over 80 B-24s and A-20s hit
Boram and But Airfields and other targets in the Wewak area; over 100
B-24s and B-25s pound targets along Hansa Bay; and all through the day
B-25s and fighter-bombers, in flights of 1 to more than 20 aircraft,
attack areas around Hansa Bay, Wewak, Bogia, Madang, and many other points
along the North and East coasts of New Guinea; many of the strikes
indirectly support Allied amphibious landings on the North coast to the
East and West of Hollandia, toward which a pincer movement is begun. HQ
375th Troop Carrier Group moves from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea.
Sunday, 23 April, 1944 B-24s continue to hit airstrips on
Noemfoor Island; they claim 14 air victories. In New Guinea,
more than 90 B-24s bomb Wewak, Boram, and But Airfields, a road
near Boram, and track and villages S of Dagua while over 80 B-24s, B-25s,
and A-20s pound AA positions, airfields, stores and troop concentrations
along Hansa Bay; throughout the day A-20s, P-47s, P-38s, and P-39s pound
various targets along Hansa Bay, in the Wewak area, and in the vicinity of
Uligan Harbor and Cape Croisilles. More than 20 B-24s of the
Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb airfield and supply areas on Woleai Atoll.
In ground action Allied forces take Hollandia, Tumleo and Selo Islands,
and objectives around Tadji. 39th Troop Carrier Squadron, 317th Troop
Carrier Group, moves from Port Moresby to Finschhafen, New Guinea with
C-47s.
Monday, 24 April, 1944 B-24s again bomb parked aircraft and other
targets on Noemfoor Island. In New Guinea, over 40 B-24s bomb airfields in
the Wewak area; more than 140 B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s hit
stores, fuel dumps and personnel areas along Hansa Bay; throughout the day
B-25s and fighter-bombers hit a variety of targets along the New Guinea
coast including Karkar Island, Uligan Harbor, Cape Croisilles, and the
Madang area; Madang falls to Allied ground forces.
Tuesday, 25 April, 1944 In New Guinea, 12 B-25s bomb troop areas
in the Hollandia vicinity, attacking villages South of Tanahmerah and huts
and buildings along the road from Marneda to Banggerang; other aircraft
carry out similar strikes against Karkar Island and along Hansa Bay.
Wednesday, 26 April, 1944 In New Guinea, more than 120 B-25s
and A-20s pound the Wewak area, hitting airfields at Wewak, But, Dagua and
Boram, and supply areas, troops, and several small villages. 13 B-24s bomb
Awar Point, 20 P-39s and P-47s attack bridges and targets of opportunity
near Madang and 8 P-39s attack roads, villages, and supply dump near
Bunabun Harbor; a B-25 on reconnaissance sinks a lugger in the Sepik
River; and Allied ground forces take Hollandia and occupy Alexishafen.
Thursday, 27 April, 1944 In New Guinea, Babo is bombed
by 9 B-24s; over 100 B-24s, B-25s and A-20s attack Mushu and Kairiru
Islands and airfields at Wewak, Boram, Dagua and But; more than 120 A-20s
and fighter-bombers blast the coastal areas of Hansa Bay and nearby
villages, personnel areas Northwest of Bunabun, and AA positions, villages
and bridges from Bunabun to Cape Croisilles. 7th Fighter Squadron, 49th
Fighter Group, moves from Gusap to Finschhafen, New Guinea with P-40s.
Friday, 28 April, 1944 In New Guinea, more than
160 B-24s and B-25s bomb Wakde, Biak and Efman Island airfields;
over 180 P-47s, P-39s, A-20s and P-70s hit a variety of targets along
the North and Northeast New Guinea coast including villages and supply
areas in the Wewak and Boram areas, barges and troops at the mouth of the
Sepik River and at Murik Lakes, and enemy communications and hideouts from
the Sepik River to Cape Croisilles. 21 B-24s of the Thirteenth Air Task
Force bomb the airfield on Woleai Atoll.
Saturday, 29 April, 1944 In New Guinea, more than 90 B-24s
and B-25s bomb villages, AA positions and personnel areas in the Wakde
Island, Maffin Bay area, and along the coast of New Guinea from Takar to
Verkam Point; over 40 A-20s hit stores at Cape Wom, and targets of
opportunity between But and Dagua; over 130 A-20s, P-47s, and P-39s
hit hideouts and movements along the Sepik River and from the river's
mouth to Cape Croisilles.
Sunday, 30 April, 1944 In New Guinea, over 80 P-39s and P-47s
make almost continuous attacks throughout the day against troops and
supplies along Hansa Bay; more than 40 A-20s and B-25s bomb Wewak and
nearby plantation; B-24s hit Noemfoor Island with a light raid; B-24
reconnaissance flights over the Manokwari area and Geelvink Bay result in
claims of 6 Japanese interceptors shot down. P-70s hit targets of
opportunity on the West shore of Hansa Bay. 23 B-24s of the Thirteenth Air
Task Force bomb Woleai Atoll.
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