Wednesday, May 22, 2024

80 Years Ago Today, Sunday 21 May 1944

 

 

USN

Pacific

In a reprise of the type of raid conducted on Jaluit on 13-14 May, Navy F4Us and PV-1s and USAAF B-24s and B-25s bomb Japanese positions on Wotje atoll. Navy PB2Ys had harassed the atoll the previous night.

Accidental explosion occurs in tank landing ship LST-353 as she is being loaded with mortar ammunition at West Loch, Pearl Harbor. The cataclysmic blasts result in the loss of LST-39, LST-43, LST-69, LST-179, LST-353, and LST-480; tank landing craft LCT-961, LCT-963, and LCT-983; 17 tracked landing vehicles (LVT); and eight 155-millimeter guns. LST-205 and LST-225 are damaged. During firefighting efforts, big harbor tugs Osceola (YTB-129) and Hoga (YTB-146); medium harbor tug Geronimo (YTM-119); little harbor tugs YTL-233, YTL-306, YTL-307, YTL-308, YTL-309, and YTL-339; net tender (tug class) Tamaha (YTM-12); and Navy-chartered tug Mikioi suffer varying degrees of damage.

Oiler Neches (AO-47) is damaged by mine about 630 miles west of Los Angeles.

Submarine Billfish (SS-286) damages Japanese cargo ship Bokuy_ Maru west-southwest of the Marianas, 13°42'N,140°41'E; Coast Defense Vessel No.12 counterattacks unsuccessfully.

Submarine Cero (SS-225) attacks, unsuccessfully, Japanese convoy, and survives enemy antisubmarine efforts conducted by Anshu Maru, No.5 Takunan Maru, and No.17 Shonan Maru, 05°15'N, 128°55'E.

Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) attacks, unsuccessfully, 12- ship Japanese convoy en route from Cebu to Wasile,08°15'N, 127°15'E.

AAF

Eighth AF

99 B-24’s bomb V-weapon site at Siracourt while 25 B-17’s strike similar installation at Marquise/Mimoyecques.

Ninth AF

50 B-26’s bomb A/F at Abbeville/Drucat. Over 600 P-47’s and P-51’s attack railroad rolling stock in France.

Twelfth AF

In NC Italy, MBs are restricted by bad weather but bomb a few bridges and roads, while LBs hit a bivouac area. FBs continue spt of ground forces, hitting troops, vehicles, roads, and railroads in or near battle areas, particularly around Sezze, Ceccano, San Giovanni Valdarno, and Pontecorvo.

Tenth AF

A few A-31’s continue attacks against gun positions in Arakan area. 120-plus P-40’s, P-51’s, A-36’s, and B-25’s hit Mogaung, Myitkyina, Talawgyi-Hokat area, and Kamaing. Gun positions around Myitkyina and Mogaung are also hit. 21 A-31’s hit troop concentrations at Homalin and score hits on Manipur bridge. A single B-24 bombs NW part of Mandalay.

Fifth AF

B-24’s, A-20’s, and P-38’s attack A/Fs, town areas, barges, personnel and supply areas, and fuel dumps at Manokwari, Urarom, along Moemi R, and on Noemfoor and Biak Is. FBs, A-20’s, and B-25’s continue almost constant pounding of supply dumps, camps, AA positions and a variety of tgts along coast from Wewak to Hansa Bay. Thirteenth Air TF B-24’s bomb Truk.

Thirteenth AF 3 B-24’s, 30-plus P-39’s and P-40’s, and over 40 Navy dive bmrs hit Vunakanau A/F and nearby plantation. 8 P-38’s, followed shortly by Navy aircraft, bomb Lakunai A/F. More than 40 P-39’s, P-38’s, and P-40’s fly sweeps over Bougainville. Bridges at Rigu Mission and Shishigatero are reported demolished.

Seventh AF

53 B-24’s from Kwajalein bomb various tgts in Wotje Atoll. 41 B-25’s, based on Makin, follow up with bombing, cannonading, and strafing attack on the atoll. 8 B-24’s stage through Eniwetok, strike Rota, and rearm at Los Negros.

USA

MARCUS I.—Fifth Fleet carrier planes conclude damaging attacks on the island.

NEW GUINEA—Wakde airstrip becomes operational. RCT 158, ALAMO Force reserve, arrives at Toem.

BURMA—In NCAC area, 3d Marauder Bn, moving S from Charpate, is halted near Radhapur and repels enemy attacks down Mogaung road.

ITALY—AAI: In II Corps sector of U.S. Fifth Army area, 85th Div, whose next objective is Terracina, lands 1st Bn, 338th Inf, at Sperlonga without opposition. 337th Inf drives overland toward Terracina, reaching positions near the town and overrunning M. S. Biagio. 88th Div takes M. Calvo and Cima del Monte. 351st Inf relieves 349th Inf forces on M. Passignano. FEC undergoes determined enemy attacks at various points. On left, one Mtn Corps gp attacks across Itri–Pico road toward Lenola. 1st Motorized Div reaches positions between M. Leucio and M. Morrone. 3d Algerian Div gains foothold in Pico but withdraws after nightfall to avoid encirclement.

FRANCE-GERMANY—AEAF fighters begin operations, called CHATTANOOGA CHOO-CHOO, against enemy train movements.

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