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.
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