March 1944 (2)

Ki-61 Tony

1-2 March – 4 B-17 armed transports from the 54th Troop Carrier Wing/375th Squadron made supply runs to the US Army 1st Cavalry Div. on Los Negros.  They dropped weapons, ammo, barbed wire and blood plasma, then proceeded to strafe the enemy positions.  The next day, the same was done by 3 more B-17’s.  The B-17 “Cap’n & the Kids” piloted by Capt. A.J. Beck was intercepted by 4 enemy fighters, including a Ki-61 Tony.

4 March – the remaining Japanese forces launched a series of suicidal charges, but they did not succeed.  Lombrum, at Seiddler Harbor was made into a large naval base for future operations.  Mamote airfield on the eastern side of Los Negros started repairs and expansion .  It was in use by 16 March for the 13th Air Force, the US Navy and the RAAF.  A causeway was built to link the 2 islands of Manus and Los Negros.

Kwajalein Atoll location

11 March – of the 302nd Cavalry Recon Troop, 3 patrols were sent out to find locales hat could aid in the struggles for Kwajalein Atoll.  Fighting immediately broke out on Hau wei.  A PT boat and HMAS Arunta were sent to rescue the men, but 8 were KIA and 15 were wounded.

12 March – The attack on Manus began with the destroyers Gillespie, Hobby, Kalk and Reid using 5″ guns, 2 rocket *LCVPs, an **LCM for flak and the combat ***LVT raking the shoreline with rockets.  Artillery from Hauwei and Buto Luo were aimed at the positions and 18 B-25’s of the 499th & 500th Bombardment squadrons bombed and strafed the island.  Twenty-two B-25s hit the Rabaul area, concentrating on Simpson Harbor.

B-25’s hit Wewak/Boram Airfield area

The 1/8th Cavalry landed and quickly overran the Japanese until they approached an enemy bunker complex at Lorengau airstrip.  An air strike by 5th Air Force B-25s and artillery fire were called in and the troops established a beachhead.  The 2/8th Calvary meanwhile arrived to aid in attacking the airfield.  After 2 attempts, progress was made, but the main enemy force on Manus had not been located.  The Wewak area and Boram Airfield were bombed.

On the 20th of March, the 7th Cavalry found them and 6 more days of fighting ensued.  This left a number of smaller islands to clear.

22 March – 130 or more fighters and bombers of the 5th Air Force attacked the Wewak area on New Guinea.  They hit the AA gun positions and storage areas, as well as the offshore shipping at Kairiru Island.  Japanese HQ and troops were hit by 25 other aircraft in the Aitape-Tadji zone; P-47s hit the barges at Alexishafen, while P-39s hit a HQ and supply dump along the Bogadjim Road.

B-25 lost while attacking ships in Hansa Bay, New Guinea

31 March – aircraft from VAdm. Mitscher’s TF-58 damaged 16 Japanese vessels at Palau.  They sank assorted other ships, including 2 destroyers.30 March – the island of Pityilu was heavily bombarded before the 1/7th Cavalry sailed there.  Their initial landing was unopposed , but they encountered a strong Japanese defense position as they pushed inland.  With the support of artillery and tanks, 59 Japanese were KIA and the US lost 8 KIA, with 6 wounded.

* – LCVP = Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel

** – LCM = Landing Craft, Mechanized

*** – LVT = Landing Vehicle, Tracked

Click on images to enlarge.

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Political Cartoon Humor – March 1944

 

 

 

 

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Farewell Salutes – 

James Alexander – Olalla, WA; USMC, WWII & Korea, Captain

Daniel Bacon Sr. – Glenville, GA; US Navy, WWII, PTO, USS Bunker Hill

Bob Cowper – Broken Hill, AUS; RA Air Force, WWII, ETO, 456th Night Fighters, pilot

Trevor Dill – Kaipara Flats, NZ; RNZ Air Force # 42292, WWII, Flt. Lt., 75th NZ Squadron

Francis Majors – Grand Forks, ND; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 457th Artillery/11th Airborne Div.

John Pobst – Georgetown, OH; US Army, WWII, PTO, Medical Corps

Edgar Rickel – Prarie Village, KS; Merchant Marines, WWII

Arthur Stone – Jamaica, NY; US Army Air Corps, WWII, Major (Ret.)

Monroe Travis – Amite, LA; US Navy, WWII & Korea

John Umstatter – Seaford, NY; US Coast Guard, WWII

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