1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 16–22 APRIL 1944 ]
CBI—Hq, Supreme Allied Commander South
East Asia, is transferred from New Delhi, India, to
Kandy, Ceylon. Gen Chennault warns Generalissimo
Chiang Kai-shek to expect an enemy air offensive
in China. The Generalissimo urges Gen
Stilwell to advance cautiously in Mogaung Valley.
Airlift of Ch 50th Div to Maingkwan is almost completed.
Ch 14th Div is to follow soon.
MEDITERRANEAN—Gen Wilson (SACMED)
learns that Gen Jean de Lattre de Tassigny will command
French forces in ANVIL.
ITALY—AAI: Br Eighth Army is regrouping for
spring offensive. Br 10 Corps relieves Pol 2 Corps in
N sector.
POLAND—Tarnopol falls to Soviet forces of First
Ukrainian Front.
ETO—AEAF issues over-all air plan for Operation
NEPTUNE. Major plans are about completed by
this time, although planning continues until late in
May.
16 April
SWPA—TF RECKLESS begins voyage to Hollandia
via Admiralty Is.
USSR—Soviet Independent Maritime Army
captures Yalta, in the Crimea.
17 April
ADMIRALTY Is.—2d Sq, 7th Cav, having completed
mop up of its assigned portion of Manus I.,
begins movement to Hauwei I.
CBI—Gen Stilwell orders Gen Chennault to
defend B–29 bases at Cheng-tu as a primary mission.
Japanese open their last major offensive against
China, crossing a div over Yellow R in Honan Province
at night to assembly areas along the river.
In NCAC area of Burma, Chinese make progress
down Mogaung Valley where Japanese have
abandoned Warazup.
11 Army Group: In Br Fourteenth Army area, 4
Corps is going over to the offensive in Imphal area.
ETO—Directive by Gen Eisenhower to strategic
air forces gives German Air Force top priority on
target list. Attacks on oil plants will have twofold
purpose of getting German Air Force into the air
and diminishing oil supply.
18 April
CAROLINE Is.—B–24’s of 5th Bombardment Gp,
Thirteenth Air Force, begin series of attacks on
Woleai from Momote airfield, Los Negros, in
preparation for landings on Hollandia.
NEW GUINEA—TF PERSECUTION begins voyage
to Aitape from Finschhafen and joins TF RECKLESS
vessels moving toward the Admiralties.
[ 187 ]
USSR—Red Army continues to gain ground in
the Crimea, where Balaklava is overrun.
19 April
CHINA—Two Japanese divs start S along Peiping–Hankow
RR in Honan Province.
MEDITERRANEAN—Gen Wilson receives directive
from CCS to launch an offensive in Italy in support
of OVERLORD.
20 April
SWPA—Hollandia assault forces rendezvous
near the Admiralties and begin last leg of journey to
target.
ADMIRALTY Is.—Thirteenth Air Force bombardment
sq equipped for night attacks completes fly-in
to Momote airfield.
CBI—Adm Mountbatten returns 10 of 20 aircraft
borrowed from the Hump route; the rest are
returned after repairs are made.
In NCAC area, Ch 38th Div, pressing S in
Mogaung Valley toward Kamaing, overruns Hill
1725, S of Tingring, which enemy has defended
tenaciously in order to cover withdrawal of main
forces to line Wala–Malakawng.
11 Army Group: In 33 Corps sector of Br Fourteenth
Army area, Br 2d Div, advancing along Dimapur–Kohima
road, reaches besieged Kohima garrison,
but enemy retains Kohima and is still
blocking road from there to Imphal.
ITALY—AAI: Fr 1st Motorized Div begins landing
at Naples and is followed by other Fr forces in
early May.
21 April
ADMIRALTY Is.—Seabees and aviation engineers
complete airstrip at Mokerang Plantation, Manus I.
NEW GUINEA—As assault convoys approach
Hollandia, carrier planes of TF 58 join land-based
planes in smashing attacks on airfields in this region.
Air attacks are supplemented by naval gunfire.
BURMA—In NCAC area, TF called END RUN is
organized for drive on Myitkyina, combining Ch
troops with Americans of depleted GALAHAD Force.
Three combat teams are formed: K (89th Regt, Ch
30th Div, and 3d Bn of GALAHAD); H (150th Regt,
Ch 50th Div; 1st Bn of GALAHAD; 3d Co; Animal
Transport Regt; battery of Ch 22d Div arty); M
(2d Bn of GALAHAD plus 300 Kachins). Surgical
units are to accompany the force.
ETO—U.S. Eighth Air Force offensive against
German oil targets, scheduled to begin on this date,
is canceled because of weather conditions.
22 April
NEW GUINEA—TF’s RECKLESS and PERSECU-
TION, assisted by aircraft of TF 58 and gunfire of