Wednesday 1 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-24s bomb
airfields at Cebu City on Cebu Island and Alicante on Negros Island and
supply dumps at Del Monte on Mindanano Island; fighter-bombers hit
Bacolod, Alicante, and Carolina Airfields on Negros Island; P-47s attack
shipping and shore targets during a sweep over the Sulu Archipelago. P-38s
and B-25s pound Namlea Airfield on Buru Island in the Moluccas Islands.
A-20s and B-25s hit Babo Airfield in New Guinea. The 394th
Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from
Noemfoor Island off New Guinea to Morotai Island, Moluccas Islands. During
Nov 44: - HQ V Bomber Command and HQ V Fighter Command
move from Owi, Schouten Islands to Leyte Island, Philippine
Islands. - HQ 2d Combat Cargo Group and the 5th, 6th, 7th
and 8th Combat Cargo Squadrons arrive on Biak Island off New Guinea
from the US with C-46s.
Thursday 2 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-24s over
Ormoc Bay on Leyte Island attack a Japanese convoy, claiming 1 transport
sunk and another damaged; P-38s hit smaller shipping in Ormoc Bay, strafe
vehicles from Ormoc to Valencia, Mindanao Island, and bomb San Enrique; on
Mindanao Island, B-25s pound Matina, Libby, Davao and Likanan Airfields;
the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Tactical
Reconnaissance Group, arrives at Tacloban, Leyte Island from Biak Island
with B-25s; the 432d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, arrives at
Dulag, Leyte Island from Biak Island with P-38s. During the night of 2/3
Nov B-24s bomb Makassar on Celebes Island, concentrating on the wharf
area. The 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4th Photographic
Group (Reconnaissance), arrives on Morotai Island from Guadalcanal Island,
Solomon Islands with B-25s and F-5s (detachments are operating from
Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands and Sansapor, New Guinea).
Friday 3 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-25s bomb
Alicante Airfield on Negros Island and P-40s hit a highway and oil dump N
of Ormoc on Leyte Island; HQ 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group moves
from Biak Island to Leyte Island; the 110th Tactical Reconnaissance
Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Biak Island to
Dulag, Leyte Island but the air echelon operates from Tacloban, Leyte
Island with P-40s. A-20s and B-25s bomb Babo Airfield on New Guinea.
During the night of 3/4 Nov harassing strikes are flown at airfields in
the C Philippine Islands, on the Northeast peninsula of Celebes Island,
and on Halmahera Island in the Moluccas Islands.
Saturday 4 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-24s again
pound Alicante Airfield on Negros Island; the 8th Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, arrives at
Dulag, Leyte Island from Biak Island with F-5s. The detachment of the 17th
Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4th Photographic Group
(Reconnaissance), ceases operating from Sansapor, New Guinea with F-5s and
returns to base on Morotai Island.
Sunday 5 November 1944 B-24s and P-40s attack airfields and
barges in the C Philippine Islands. B-24s also hit the town of Bima and
Waingapoe Bay shipping on Soembawa Island in the Lesser Sunda Islands.
B-25s and fighter-bombers strike airfields, troop concentrations, and
communications targets throughout the Halmahera Island area and Northeast
peninsula of Celebes Island. Fighter-bombers and A-20s hit Amahai and
targets of opportunity on the S coast of Ceram Island. Almost 50 A-20s,
supporting ground forces, blast installations in Sarmi, New Guinea area.
HQ 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group arrives on Leyte Island from Biak
Island. The ground echelons of the 35th and 36th Fighter Squadrons, 8th
Fighter Group, move from Morotai Island to Dulag, Leyte Island (air
echelon continues to operate P-38s from Morotai).
Monday 6 November 1944 B-24s strike Lahug, Cebu Island and
Fabrica, Negros Island Airfields, while fighter-bombers pound Palompon on
Leyte Island, a bridge North of Valencia on Mindanao Island, and barges in
Ormoc Bay, Leyte Island, all in the Philippine Islands. B-24s bomb Malili
on Celebes Island. The 822d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th
Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Biak Island to Morotai Island with
B-25s.
Tuesday 7 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-24s and
fighter-bombers hit Fabrica, Alicante, and Bacolod Airfields on Negros
Island, and Opon Airfield on Cebu, Island; shipping at various C
Philippine Islands locations, and communications and supply targets at
Tambuco, Ormoc, and Palompon on Leyte Island, Valencia on Mindanao Island,
and other areas; P-38s and B-25s hit Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao Island
and targets of opportunity in Macajalar Bay on Mindanao Island, and Mandai
Airfield on Celebes Island; the 89th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 3d
Bombardment Group (Light), moves from Hollandia, New Guinea to Dulag,
Leyte Island with A-20s. On Celebes Island, B-25s hit Tanamon, Mapanget,
and Langoan. On Halmahera Island, B-25s and fighter-bombers hit Galela,
Miti, and Kaoe Airfields. In sweeps over Boeroe Island, Lesser Sunda
Islands, and Ceram Island, Moluccas Islands, small groups of B-25s and
P-38s hit runways and small shipping. B-24s bomb Raba Estate in the Sunda
Islands. In New Guinea, the 4th Photographic Charting Squadron, 311th
Photographic Wing (Mapping and Charting) (attached to Thirteenth AF),
arrives at Hollandia from the US with F-7s (the squadron will begin
mapping of the SW and W Pacific in Dec 44).
Wednesday 8 November 1944 B-24s again hit Alicante Airfield
on Negros Island. On Celebes Island, B-25s bomb Langoan Airfield while
P-38s on sweeps over the Kendari area hit parked aircraft, shipping, the
nickel mine, and other targets of opportunity. On Halmahera Island, B-25s
attack Kaoe and Hate Tabako Airfield while others hit targets of
opportunity on Ceram Island. The 12th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter
Group, based at Sansapor, New Guinea, begins operating from Morotai Island
with P-38s. The 424th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment
Group (Heavy), that has been operating from Noemfoor Island with B-24s,
returns to base on Wakde Island.
Thursday 9 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands,
fighter-bombers attack a convoy off the West coast of Leyte Island and hit
barges and shipping near Ormoc; B-24s bomb Carolina Airfield on Negros
Island. B-25s attack several airfields and villages in the Northeast
peninsula of Celebes and Halmahera Islands. A-20s strike Piroe on Ceram
Island. HQ 309th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) moves from Noemfoor Island to
Owi, Schouten Islands. The 70th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group,
based at Sansapor, New Guinea, begins operating from Morotai Island with
P-38s. The 408th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d Bombardment Group
(Heavy), moves from Owi, Schouten Island to Leyte Island with B-24s; the
431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, moves from Biak Island to
Dulag, Leyte Island with P-38s.
Friday 10 November 1944 B-25s and A-20s over Ceram Island
bomb Haroekoe Airfield, Piroe, and targets of opportunity on the South
coast. In the Philippine Islands, fighter-bombers again hit Ormoc Bay,
Leyte Island shipping while B-25s join US Navy aircraft in shipping
strikes throughout the same area; at least 3 destroyers are claimed sunk;
B-24s in the area bomb the town of Ormoc; the 19th and 33d Bombardment
Squadrons (Heavy), 22d Bombardment Group (Heavy), move from Owi, Schouten
Islands to Leyte Island with B-24s; the 460th Fighter Squadron, 348th
Fighter Group, moves from Noemfoor Island to Tacloban, Leyte Island with
P-47s; the 500th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group
(Medium), moves from Biak Island to Dulag, Leyte with B-25s (squadron
continues operating from Biak). The 371st, 372d and 424th Bombardment
Squadrons, 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), move from Wakde Island to
Morotai Island with B-24s (squadrons are operating from Noemfoor
Island).
Saturday 11 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-24s
hit Dumaguete Airfield on Negros Island while fighter-bombers hit shipping
in the Palompon area of Leyte Island and targets of opportunity at
Valencia on Mindanao Island. Over Halmahera Island, fighter-bombers and
B-25s hit shipping and Namlea Airfield on Buru Island. On Celebes Island,
P-38s hit Kendari Airfield and B-24s bomb the Ninring River area.
Sunday 12 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-24s bomb
Alicante Airfield on Negros Island while on Leyte Island, fighter-bombers
hit Linao barges on the West coast and shipping in Ormoc Bay; B-25s bomb
Daliao and Matina Airfields on Mindanao Island. B-24s and fighter-bombers
over Northeast Celebes and Halmahera Islands attack shipping and Djailolo
Airfield on Halmahera Island. 50+ B-25s blast Mapia and Asia Islands, New
Guinea. Units moving to Leyte Island, Philippine Islands: HQ 91st
Photographic Wing (Reconnaissance) moves from Biak Island; HQ 345th
Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 498th and 499th Bombardment Squadrons
(Medium) from Biak Island with B-25s (squadrons continue to operate from
Biak Island). The 370th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment
Group (Heavy), ceases operating from Noemfoor Island with B-24s and
returns to base on Wakde Island.
Monday 13 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-24s
pound Fabrica Airfield on Negros Island while fighter-bombers hit shipping
and other targets of opportunity; a few fighter-bombers hit Legaspi
Airfield on Luzon Island; B-25s, with P-38 cover, hit San Roque Airfield
and the town of Zamboanga on Mindanao Island; the 433d Fighter Squadron,
475th Fighter Group, moves from Biak Island to Dulag, Leyte Island with
P-38s; the 501st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group
(Medium), moves from Biak Island to Dulag, Leyte Island but continues to
operate from Biak. Over Halmahera Island and in the Ceram Island area
fighter-bombers and A-20s bomb airfields and various targets of
opportunity. Pegun Island, New Guinea, is blasted by 2 waves of 70
A-20s.
Tuesday 14 November 1944 B-25s pound Pegun Island, New Guinea
in preparation for allied amphibious landings early the following morning.
B-24s strike Langoan Airfield on Celebes Island. In the Philippine
Islands, B-24s, with P-38 and P-47 cover, bomb Bacolod Airfield on Negros
Island while fighter-bombers hit trucks and buildings in the Valencia,
Mindanao Island area and near Linao on Leyte Island and hit shipping South
of Ormoc on Leyte Island; on Cebu Island, B-25s and fighter-bombers pound
Lahug and Opon Airfield; the 310th Bombardment Wing (Medium) moves from
Morotai Island to Leyte Island; the ground echelon of the 418th Night
Fighter Squadron, Thirteenth AF, moves from Morotai Island to Dulag, Leyte
Island (the air echelon remains on Morotai with P-61s). The 370th
Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves form
Wakde Island to Morotai Island with B-24s.
Wednesday 15 November 1944 B-25s and fighter-bombers support
allied amphibious landings in Mapia Islands off the Northwest coast of New
Guinea. In Northeast Celebes B-24s bomb Tanamon, Celebes Island while
other B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers hit scattered targets of
opportunity on Celebes and Halmahera Islands. In the Philippine Islands,
B-24s, with P-38 support, bomb La Carlota Airfield on Negros Island while
B-25s hit Lahug on Cebu Island; B-25s and fighter-bombers attack targets
of opportunity on Cebu Island and shipping off the West coast of Leyte
Island; on Mindanao Island B-24s hit 3 airfields while P-38s hit shipping
and other targets of opportunity; HQ 22d and 43d Bombardment Groups
(Heavy) move from Owi, Schouten Islands to Leyte Island; the 8th
Bombardment Squadron (Light), 3d Bombardment Group (Light), moves from
Hollandia, New Guinea to Dulag, Leyte Island; the 20th Combat Mapping
Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, moves from Biak Island to
Dulag, Letye Island (air echelon continues operating from Biak Island with
F-7s; the 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, moves from Morotai
Island to Dulag, Leyte Island but continues to operate from Morotai with
P-38s. In New Guinea, the 68th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier
Group, moves from Nadzab to Biak Island (detachment remains at Biak) with
C-47s.
Thursday 16 November 1944 Colonel Willard R. Wolfinbarger
becomes Commanding Officer of the XIII Fighter Command In the C Philippine
Islands and in the Mindanao Island area B-25s, B-24s, and fighter-bombers
hit airfields, harbors, shipping, and targets of opportunity. In the
Kendari area and on the Northeast peninsula of Celebes Island, and on
Halmahera Island, B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers pound airfields,
villages and shipping. B-25s also support ground forces in the Mapia
Island and bomb Namlea Airfield on Buru Island. Units moving to Leyte
Island, Philippine Islands: HQ 3d Bombardment Group (Light) and 90th
Bombardment Squadron (Light) from Hollandia, New Guinea with A-20s; HQ
348th Fighter Group from Noemfoor Island.
Friday 17 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-24s bomb
Legaspi Airfield on Luzon Island; on Mindanao Island, B-24s bomb Sasa and
Likanan Airfields; other B-24s and B-25s fly heckling missions over the C
Philippine Islands, Mindanao Island, and Northeast Celebes Island B-25s
continue to support ground forces on Mapia Island. HQ 317th Troop Carrier
Group moves from Hollandia, New Guinea to Leyte Island.
Saturday 18 November 1944 In the Mindanao-Northeast Celebes
Islands areas B-24s, B-25s and A-20s again hit airfields and targets of
opportunity. Fighter-bombers, A-20s, and B-25s over several locations in
the Philippine Islands pound shipping, supply and personnel areas,
harbors, barges, airstrips, and communications targets. In Borneo, B-24s,
with P-38s and P-47s supporting, launch a major strike against oil
installations at Tarakan; other B-24s and B-25s hit shipping off Tarakan
and in Brunei Bay. On Celebes Island in the Makassar and Kendari area
B-24s bomb Polewali shipyards; B-24s pound airfields in the Ceram
Island-Ambon Island area while P-38s strafe shipping. B-25s continue to
support ground forces on Mapia Island off the NW coast of New Guinea. In
the Philippine Islands, HQ 58th Fighter Group and the 310th and 311th
Fighter Squadrons move from Noemfoor Island to San Roque, Leyte Island
with P-47s. In New Guinea, the 66th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop
Carrier Group, moves from Nadzab to Biak Island with C-47s.
Sunday 19 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-24s bomb
Alicante on Negros Island and Palompon on Leyte Island while P-47s hit the
Valencia, Mindanao Island and Ormoc, Leyte Island areas. On Mindanao
Island B-24s hit Libby Airfield; others bomb airfields at Sasa on Mindanao
Island, and Sidate, Mapanget, and Borebore on Celebes Island. B-25s and
A-20s hit airfields and shipping in the Ceram Island-Ambon Island-Boeroe
Island area. B-25s and A-20s hit targets on Asia Island, New Guinea. Units
moving to Leyte Island: HQ 312th Bombardment Group (Light) and the 386th,
387th, 388th and 389th Bombardment Squadrons (Light) from Hollandia, New
Guinea with A-20s; 2d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d Bombardment Group
(Heavy), from Owi, Schouten Islands with B-24s; 39th Troop Carrier
Squadron, 317th Troop Carrier Group, from Hollandia; 403d Bombardment
Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy) from Owi, Schouten Islands
with B-24s.
Monday 20 November 1944 B-25s bomb Haroekoe Airfield on
Haroekoe Island and Laha Airfield on Amon Island. On Celebes Island, P-38s
hit targets of opportunity over Sidate and in the Makassar areas. Units
moving to Leyte Island: HQ Fifth AF moves from Owi, Schouten Islands; 13th
Bombardment Squadron (Light), 3d Bombardment Group (Light), from
Hollandia, New Guinea to Dulag with A-20s. The 371st Bombardment Squadron
(Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), ceases operating form Noemfoor
Island with B-24s and moves forward to Morotai Island.
Tuesday 21 November, 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-24s
bomb Matina and Lumbia Airfields on Mindanao Island; on Leyte Island,
fighter-bombers hit troop barges and supply dumps in Ormoc Bay and
numerous targets of opportunity throughout the C Philippine Islands. On
Celebes Island, B-25s hit Langoan and Mapanget Airfields while B-24s in
the Kendari area bomb Ambesia Airfield.
Wednesday 22 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands,
B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers pound Bacolod Airfield and Ipil on
Negros Island, and Ormoc, Leyte Island area bridges, barges, and targets
of opportunity; B-24s bomb Sasa Airfield on Mindanao Island. On Celebes
Island, fighter-bombers hit targets of opportunity in the Makassar area,
B-24s bomb the nickel mine and targets of opportunity in the Kendari area
and hit airfields in Northeast Celebes. Other B-24s hit small shipping
during sweep over Brunei Bay, Borneo.
Thursday 23 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-24s
bomb Matina Airfield on Mindanao Island; the 63d and 64th Bombardment
Squadrons (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), move from Owi, Schouten
Islands to Tacloban, Leyte Island with B-24s.
Friday 24 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-24s bomb
AA positions and targets of opportunity at Camp Downes and Panalisan Point
and US fighters attack and destroy several aircraft over Carigara Bay and
the Leyte Island area; B-24s hit AA positions and other targets at Matina
Airfield on Mindanao Island; units arriving on Leyte Island: 25th
Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance
Group, at Dulag from Biak Island with F-5s; 65th Bombardment Squadron
(Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), at Tacloban from Owi, Schouten
Islands with B-24s.
Saturday 25 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands,
fighter-bombers range over wide areas of Masbate, Cebu, and Leyte Islands,
and surrounding waters, attacking shipping, airfields, bivouacs, and a
variety of targets. B-25s and fighter-bombers hit airfields on Ceram and
Boeroe Islands and B-24s on armed reconnaissance over North Borneo hit
shipping and other targets of opportunity. During the night of 25/26 Nov,
B-25s hit airfields in Northeast Celebes and Halmahera Islands.
Sunday 26 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, more
than 40 B-24s, some with fighter support, bomb La Carlota and Talisay
Airfields on Negros and Cebu Islands respectively; fighter-bombers hit an
airfield and various targets of opportunity throughout the area. B-25s
pound airfields in the Ambon-Ceram Islands area and B-24s bomb an airfield
near Davao, Mindanano Island. Other bombers and fighters fly light strikes
and armed reconnaissance missions against a variety of targets on North
Celebes, North Borneo, S Luzon, Mindanao, and Halmahera Islands. HQ 22d
Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the 33d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) move
from Leyte Island, Philippine Islands to Angaur Island, Palau Islands with
B-24s.
Monday 27 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-24s bomb
Malogo and Bacolod Airfields on Negros Island and Daliao Airfield on
Mindanao Island. B-25s blast Namlea Airfield on Buru Island; Liang and
Laha Airfields on Ambon Island. A variety of FEAF aircraft attack
airfields, shipping, and targets of opportunity on Celebes Island, North
Borneo, and in the Halmahera and the Ceram Islands areas. The detachment
of the 419th Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command, operating from
Noemfoor Island moves to Morotai Island with P-61s (squadron is based on
Middleburg Island).
Tuesday 28 November 1944 On Mindanao Island, B-24s bomb
Daliao and Matina Airfields. Small attacks by B-24s, B-25s, and
fighter-bombers are launched against airfields, shipping, and targets of
opportunity over wide areas of the SWPA, including C Philippine Islands
and the Halmahera and Timor Islands area. The 2d Bombardment Squadron
(Heavy), 22d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Leyte Island to Angaur
Island with B-24s; the 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, that has
been operating from Morotai Island, joins the ground echelon at Dulag,
Leyte Island with P-38s.
Wednesday 29 November 1944 In the Philippine Islands, B-24s
bomb Matina Airfield on Mindanao Island while A-20s and P-47s hit the
airfield at Pangsagan; B-24s, with fighter cover, pound Puerto Princesa
Airfield on Palawan Island and Kendari Airfield on Celebes Island. B-24s,
B-25s, and fighter-bombers fly several light raids against Halmahera
Island airfields and against shipping and other targets of opportunity in
the Philippine Islands, the Ceram Island area, North Celebes Island, and
North Borneo.
Thursday 30 November 1944 B-24s in major strikes of the day
hit Malimpoeng and Parepare Airfields on Celebes Island, Legaspi Airfield
on Luzon Island, Matina Airfield on Mindanao Island, and 4 airfields on
Halmahera Island. B-25s strike Dumaguete Airfield on Negros Island.
Fighter-bombers, B-24s, and B-25s fly armed reconnaissance, harassing
strikes, and light raids over various areas of the Netherlands East Indies
and Philippine Islands. The air echelons of the 36th and 80th Fighter
Squadrons, 8th Fighter Group, operating from Morotai Island with P-38s,
return to base at Dulag, Leyte Island; the 340th Fighter Squadron, 348th
Fighter Group, moves from Noemfoor Island to Tacloban, Leyte Island with
P-47s; the ground echelon of the 418th Night Fighter Squadron begins a
movement from Dulag, Leyte Island to San Jose, Mindoro Island (air echelon
is on Morotai Island with P-61s).
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