July, 1944

Sunday, 2 July, 1944
In New Guinea, B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s, and fighter-bombers, along with naval guns, bombard the Kamiri area of Noemfoor Island, after which Allied amphibious forces land with little opposition and secure the beachhead; other B-25s attack barges near Manokwari; and HQ 308th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) and HQ 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy) move from Oro Bay and Nadzab respectively to Owi, Schouten Islands.

Monday, 3 July, 1944
In New Guinea, P-38s and B-25s hit personnel and supply areas South of Kamiri and support invading ground forces as they push East along the North coast of Noemfoor Island; Efman Island, Manokwari, and Biak Island are attacked by B-24s, A-20s, and fighters; the Wewak coastal area continues under sustained air attack as Allied aircraft pound targets including forces at Brandi Plantation and supplies and a bridge near But; Larat is also bombed; and the 70th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Nadzab to Hollandia with C-47s. B-24s hit airstrips, AA positions, and targets of opportunity in the Yap Island group, at Woleai Atoll in the Caroline Islands, and at Peleliu Island; Saumlakki, Tanimbar Island, Moluccas Islands is also bombed.

Tuesday, 4 July, 1944
In New Guinea, A-20s continue support of Allied ground forces pushing East and Southeast from the Kamiri Airfield area on Noemfoor Island and taking Kamiri village and Kornasoren Airfield; P-47s strafe targets of opportunity at nearby Biak Island while B-24s bomb airfield at Efman Island; other aircraft bomb and strafe troops East of Maffin Bay; personnel areas at But and Dagua and barges at Wewak Point are also attacked; and the 388th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 312th Bombardment Group (Light), moves from Nadzab to Hollandia with A-20s. B-24s hit shipping and airfields in the Amboina, Ambon Island-Ceram Island area. B-24s bomb Yap Island and hit airstrips in Woleai and Sorol Atolls in the Caroline Islands and Peleliu Island.

Wednesday, 5 July, 1944
In the area around Wewak, New Guinea, A-20s and fighter-bombers hit dumps at Dagua and attack barges during the night of 4/5 July; light strikes are flown in support of troops on Noemfoor Island and against barges, airfields, and troop concentrations on Efman and Biak Islands and at Moemi, Manokwari, and in the Wakde area. B-24s bomb airstrips and AA guns on Yap Island and Woleai Atoll; Sorol Atoll and Peleliu Island are also hit.

Thursday, 6 July, 1944
In New Guinea, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers continue to pound the Wewak area, concentrating on troops S of Matapau; B-25s and fighter-bombers sweep the North coast of the Vogelkop Peninsula and offshore islands, hitting targets of opportunity; other fighter-bombers hit the Manokwari area and buildings at Ransiki, Moari, and Oransbari; airfields, gun positions, communication targets, and supply dumps in the area around Babo are hit by B-24s, A-26s, A-20s, and P-38s. B-24s bomb the town and warehouse area of Yap Island and a few hit the airfield at Woleai Atoll.

Friday, 7 July, 1944
In New Guinea, B-24s and A-20s bomb Moemi and Nabire Airfields; supply dumps along the WiskeRiver are also attacked; a few fighter-bombers and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft attack barges, gun positions, and troops along the coast in the Wewak area. B-24s bomb Yap Island, Sorol Atoll radio station, and runway in Woleai Atoll.

Saturday, 8 July, 1944
In New Guinea, medium bombers and fighter-bombers hit fuel dumps, barges, villages, and various other targets at Babo, Fak Fak, Sagan, Kokas, at the mouth of the Maroe River, along Cape Kariensore, and W of Namber; B-25s, A-20s, fighter-bombers and a few B-24s attack Wewak, hitting barges, gun positions, and communication targets.

Sunday, 9 July, 1944
In New Guinea, A-20s and fighter-bombers pound shipping, airfields, troops, and other targets at Babo, Manokwari, Efman, Biak and various points along the coastline of Geelvink Bay; B-25s and fighter-bombers sink a 3,000-ton vessel and several barges around Halmahera Island, Moluccas Islands; dumps at Marubian, Kairiru, and Niap and a bridge at But are bombed by B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers; B-24s bomb Namlea Airfield and attack Yap Island and Woleai Atoll.

Monday, 10 July, 1944
In New Guinea, B-24s attack Laha, Namlea, and targets of opportunity in the Boeroe Island, Sunda Islands-Ceram Island-Ambon Island area; A-20s, fighter-bombers, and a B-25 hit troops, villages, and barges in the Wewak area; the 64th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Nadzab to Owi, Schouten Islands with B-24s; and the 67th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, and 387th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 312th Bombardment Group (Light), move from Nadzab to Hollandia with C-47s and A-20s respectively. B-24s bomb airfields and town areas at Yap Island, Gagil-Tomil Island, Yap Islands and Sorol Atoll. Operations also include small-scale strikes in the Wakde area and snooper and armed reconnaissance missions over the Caroline Islands. The 529th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 380th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Long Strip to Darwin, Australia with B-24s.

Tuesday, 11 July, 1944
In New Guinea, B-24s pound airfield at Babo while A-20s hit supply dumps at Kokas; B-25s bomb airfields at Manokwari, Waren, and Moemi during the night; A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Sarmi-Sawar area and bomb airfields, shipping, and various occupied areas and installations on Halmahera Island, in the Schouten Islands, on Boeroe Island, and the Palau Islands, and in Woleai Atoll; and the 65th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Nadzab to Owi, Schouten Islands with B-24s.

Wednesday, 12 July, 1944
In New Guinea, B-24s hit Manokwari Airfield; weather curtails further operations in the Geelvink Bay area; A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers again hit troop concentrations and barges in the Wewak area; the 386th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 312th Bombardment Group (Light), moves from Nadzab to Hollandia with A-20s; and the 432d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, moves from Hollandia to Biak Island with P-38s. Smaller strikes by B-24s and B-25s are flown against the airfield at Laha on Amboina Island, Celebes Islands; Dili on Timor Island; and on Koer Island, New Guinea. B-24s pound Yap Island.

Thursday, 13 July, 1944
B-24s again bomb Yap Island and Sorol Atoll. In New Guinea, B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s bomb gun positions and the airfield at Babo and in the Manokwari area and hit a supply depot at Kokas; fighter-bombers support Allied ground forces in the Aitape area while A-20s and fighter-bombers pound occupied areas and gun positions in the Wewak area and on Mushu Island; and the 498th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Nadzab to Biak Island with B-25s. B-24s also hit Amahai Airfield on Ceram Island, Celebes Islands.

Friday, 14 July, 1944
B-24s continue to blast Yap Island. Oil reservoirs and wells at Boela, Ceram Island are bombed and strafed by A-20s and B-24s and B-25s attack barge facilities and gun positions at Lautem, Timor Island. On the Vogelkop Peninsula of New Guinea, P-61s hit airfields while B-25s bomb a barge terminal at Kokas; A-20s hit Japanese forces at Sauri and bomb the airfield at But; fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Aitape area along the Driniumor River and Koronal Creek and blast troop concentrations near Afua; and HQ 475th Fighter Group and 433d Fighter Squadron move from Hollandia to Biak Island with P-38s.

Saturday, 15 July, 1944
B-24s blast Yap Island, scoring numerous hits in the town area and on a radio station and barracks area. In New Guinea, B-24s, penetrating a heavy weather front, bomb the airfield on Efman Island while B-25s hit enemy forces along Korrido Anchorage, and A-20s blast gun emplacements on an island off Manokwari; B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers again pound troop concentrations over a wide area around Wewak; and the 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, moves from Hollandia to Biak Island with P-38s.

Sunday, 16 July, 1944
B-24s continue bombing Yap Island and also hit Atamboea Airfield on Timor Island. In New Guinea, other B-24s pound AA positions at Manokwari; fighter-bombers bomb supply dumps North of Moemi and attack shipping in the Kokas-Babo area; bombers and fighters again hit troop and supply concentrations in the Wewak sector; troop carrier missions to forward bases, especially Biak Island, increase; and the 82d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Owi, Schouten Islands to Biak Island with P-39s.

Monday, 17 July, 1944
Operations against the Caroline Islands are restricted to snooper missions against Yap Island and Woleai Atoll and Fuiloro, Timor Island is bombed by B-25s. In New Guinea, B-24s bomb gun positions around Manokwari and airfield at Moemi; B-25s sink a large lugger in Kaiboes Bay; A-20s, B-25s, and P-39s hit troop concentrations and supplies between Aitape and Wewak at Abau, Parakaviu, Nyaparake, and East of Tadji and bomb Boram airfield and Cape Moem.

Tuesday, 18 July, 1944
B-24s strike Yap Island, bombing the town and Blelatsch peninsula; several of the B-24s bomb Sorol Atoll. In New Guinea, bad weather prevents strikes on the Vogelkop Peninsula; fighter-bombers continue to hit barges, supply routes, and troop concentrations in the coastal area from Aitape to Wewak.

Wednesday, 19 July, 1944
B-24s, striking in 2 waves, attack the airfield on Yap Island; several of the B-24s become separated from the formations and bomb Ngulu and Sorol Atolls in the Caroline Islands. In New Guinea, weather again cancels strikes on the Vogelkop Peninsula area; fighter-bomber's hit stores, gun positions, and targets of opportunity along the Dandriwad River and support Allied ground forces in the Sarmi-Sawar sector.

Thursday, 20 July, 1944
In New Guinea, B-24s hit the airfield and AA guns at Manokwari and AA at Moemi; B-25s hit shipping off Sorong, in Kaiboes Bay, and off Misool Island, and bomb Kasim Island; A-20s support Allied ground forces in the Sarmi sector; A-20s and a B-25 bomb supply dumps at Cape Moem, Wom, and Sauri while fighter-bombers hit targets of opportunity along the Yakamul coastal road and troops on Kairiru Island; and the 63d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Nadzab to Owi, Schouten Islands with B-24s. B-24s bomb the W part of Yap Island town and in the Moluccas Islands, Namlea Airfield on Buru Island and shipping in Kayeli Bay. B-25s hit shipping at Dili on Timor Island.

Friday, 21 July, 1944
B-24s again pound Yap Island, concentrating on the airfield; fighters, many dropping phosphorus bombs on the bomber formation, attack fiercely but ineffectively; the B-24s claim 7 fighters shot down. In New Guinea, B-24s bomb AA positions and the airfield at Manokwari; A-20s hit barracks at Nabire; P-39s hit caves and barge hideouts on the North coast of Biak Island and support ground forces along the Verkam River; B-25s hit shipping at several points around the long coastline of the Vogelkop Peninsula; B-25s and A-20s pound But, and P-39s bomb a bridge nearby; P-47s follow with an attack on But and also hit Wewak jetties and Kairiru Island. In Australia, the 531st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 380th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Long Strip to Darwin with B-24s.

Saturday, 22 July, 1944
B-24s again attack the airfield on Yap Island. In New Guinea, B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and an assortment of fighter-bombers direct their main attacks against several shipping terminals on the Vogelkop Peninsula area, sink a submarine chaser off Morotai, bomb Saumlakki on Tanimbar Island, and hit But Airfield and personnel areas, barge hideouts, supply and ammunition dumps, bridges and roads at, and to the W of, Wewak; HQ 35th Fighter Group moves from Gusap to Owi, Schouten Islands; and 19th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Nadzab to Owi, Schouten Islands with B-24s.

Sunday, 23 July, 1944
B-24s again bomb Yap Island, hitting the town area and airfield. In New Guinea, airfields and shipping terminals over widespread areas of the Vogelkop Peninsula and nearby islands are pounded by B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers; But Airfield is again the main target in Northeast New Guinea; communications, supplies, barges, and troop concentrations from Wewak to Yakamul are also bombed and strafed throughout the day; HQ 345th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 500th and 501st Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from Nadzab to Biak Island with B-25s; the 25th and 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadrons, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, move from Nadzab to Biak Island and Hollandia respectively with F-5s; and the 460th Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command, moves from Gusap to Nadzab with A-20s.

Monday, 24 July, 1944
Operations in the Caroline Islands are restricted to B-24 snooper strikes; other B-24s bomb AA positions at Saumlakki, Tanimbar Island. In New Guinea, bad weather cancels scheduled strikes in the Vogelkop Peninsula area; 18 A-20s and a B-25 bomb But Airfield, P-47s hit supply areas at Sauri, and P-39s bomb and strafe bridges and supply dumps in the Suain area; HQ 85th Fighter Wing moves from Gusap to Hollandia; and the 499th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Nadzab to Biak Island. In the Solomon Islands, the 390th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium), based in the Russell Islands ceases operating from Stirling Island with B-25s.

Tuesday, 25 July, 1944
B-24s bomb the airfield and other targets in Woleai Atoll. In New Guinea, bad weather again cancels strikes in the Vogelkop Peninsula, but C-47s complete 48 missions to Biak Island despite the weather; communications and troop concentration along the coast in the general area of Wewak are attacked throughout the day; and the detachment of the 419th Night Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, operating from Nadzab with P-61s, returns to base on Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands.

Wednesday, 26 July, 1944
B-24s again hit supply areas, communication, and other targets on Woleai Atoll. In New Guinea, B-24s bomb airfields at Babo and Ransiki; A-20s and B-25s, along with RAAF fighter-bombers, hit troop concentrations, small shipping, mortar positions, shore guns, and other targets of opportunity along the Hollandia-Aitape-Wewak coastline; B-25s bomb Langgoer; the 408th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Nadzab to Owi, Schouten Islands with B-24s; and the 419th Night Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, based on Guadalcanal Island, sends a detachment to operate from Noemfoor Island with P-61s.

Thursday, 27 July, 1944
B-24s hit the airfield on Woleai Atoll and supply areas on Mariaon and Tagaulap Islands in the Caroline Islands. In the Moluccas Islands, B-24s bomb the airfield at Lolobata and Miti while B-25s hit Galela Airfield on Halmahera Island. B-24s bomb Laha, Amboina Island; Namlea, Buru Island; and Cape Chater and Dili, Timor Island. In New Guinea, B-24s and B-25s bomb shipping and air facilities at Ransiki, Moemi, and Babo, hit a freighter in Kaiboes Bay, and bomb AA positions at Kokas, while A-20s blast fuel dumps at Nabire; P-39s strafe concentrations and small vessels along the West coast of Geelvink Bay; A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers hit troop concentrations, supply dumps, gun positions, barges, and a variety of other targets along the coast from Aitape to Wewak to Cape Moem.

Friday, 28 July, 1944
Targets in Woleai Atoll are bombed by 4 squadrons of B-24s; the airfield and supply area are well covered; Laha, Amboina Island and Cape Chater, Timor Island are hit by B-24s while B-25s bomb supply dumps at Maumere, Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands. In New Guinea, B-24s and A-20s pound airfields at Manokwari and Babo, bivouac areas at Kasoeri, and shipping in Kaimana Bay; P-39s hit Windissi and other Geelvink Bay villages; A-20s and fighter-bombers blast stores, troop concentrations, communications targets, barges, and targets of opportunity in the Wewak, Cape Moem, and But areas; HQ 309th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) moves from Saidor to Noemfoor Island; and the 403d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Nadzab to Owi, Schouten Islands with B-24s.

Saturday, 29 July, 1944
B-24s bomb supply areas in Woleai Atoll; the nearby islands of Mariaon and Tagaulap are also hit. Other B-24s bomb airfields at Boela on Ceram Island, Namlea on Buru Island and Cape Chater on Timor Island. In New Guinea, B-24s pound Moemi, Sagan, Otawiri, and Urarom; B-25s hit oil targets at Karaka, shipping off Sorong and Cape Fatagar, and a supply village West of Babo; P-39s bomb Windissi and strafe troop concentrations along the West shore of Geelvink Bay for the third consecutive day; in Northeast New Guinea bombers and fighters continue pounding the North coast, hitting troops, bridges and stores at Wewak and along Harech Creek, and targets of opportunity in the Yakamul area; and the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Finschhafen to Biak with B-25s.

Sunday, 30 July, 1944
The supply area on Woleai Atoll is again bombed by B-24s; other B-24s and P-38s attack the airfield and oil installations at Boela, Ceram Island while more P-38s attack shipping off East Ceram Island, off Amboina Island, and near Talaga, Sanana Island, Moluccas Islands; B-25s hit airfields at Penfoei and Koepang on Timor Island. B-24s hit Morotai Island, Celebes Islands. In New Guinea, P-39s support Allied ground forces on Biak Island and continue to patrol West Geelvink Bay, hitting barges in Bentoni Bay and troops at Idorra; Allied forces (Task Force TYPHOON) land on the North coast of Vogelkop Peninsula near Mar; the landings, made without preparatory bombardment to achieve surprise, meet no opposition; bombers and fighters continue to pound troop concentrations, barges, ships, fuel dumps, communications and other targets between Wewak and Aitape.

Monday, 31 July, 1944
B-24s again strike Woleai Atoll; airfields at Lolobata and Galela on Halmahera Island also are hit by B-24s. In New Guinea, P-39s continue to hit villages on the West coast of Geelvink Bay; in Northeast New Guinea fighter-bombers continue pounding Japanese concentrations and targets of opportunity on the North coast, particularly between Wewak and Yakamul; A-20s support Australian ground forces in the Hansa Bay area, hitting troop positions West of the Sepik River and troop concentrations at Singarin and Kopa.

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