BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 14 P-38s hit a freight train and damage a factory in the vicinity of Mandalay; near Rangoon, 16 B-24s hit a railroad station and bomb Akyab while 6 B-25s damage a railroad bridge near Nattalin.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  A flight of the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth Air Force, based at Kunming, China begins operating from Liangshan, China with F-4s and F-5s.

Moves in China during Apr:  HQ 69th Composite Wing from Tsuyung to Kunming; 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, based at Chengkung sends the detachment at Tsuyung to Szemao with P-40s.

SUNDAY, 2 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 12 P-40s bomb Kamaing while 6 P-51s over the Katha area hit trucks near Bhamo and a storage area at Indaw.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  2 B-24s on a sea sweep from Hong Kong to Formosa bomb a 215-ft (66 m) ship (reported sunk) and damage a large motor launch.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command):  First operational B-29, piloted by Colonel Leonard F Harman, lands at Chakulia, India.

HQ 40th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) arrives at Chakulia, India from the US.

MONDAY, 3 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 4 B-25s damage the Tangon bridge while 6 P-51s hit Anisakan airstrip in the Mandalay area; 20+ fighter-bombers and 6 B-25s hit targets of opportunity S of Mupaw Ga and W of Mogaung, troops near Bhamo, and knock out a bridge near Mogaung; during the night of 3/4 Apr 16 B-24s bomb oil and power facilities at Yenangyaung, Chauk, and Lanywa while 8 P-38s hit Meiktila Airfield.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  In China, 4 rocket-firing P-40s, with 8 other as top cover, damage 2 large river boats between Hengyang and Ichang. In French Indochina, 4 P-40s flying a Red River sweep from Vinh Yen to Dong Cuong sink 4 small boats, damage 3 more, and strafe 50-100 persons at a loading point on the river; and 3 B-24s lay mines in the Haiphong area.

TUESDAY, 4 APRIL 1944

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

ZONE OF INTERIOR: HQ Twentieth Air Force is activated in Washington, DC.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 120+ fighter-bombers and 4 B-25s hit rail lines, storage areas and Japanese held villages around Mogaung and Myitkyina and support ground forces near Kamaing and Myitkyina; during the night of 4/5 Apr, 14 B-24s bomb the Moulmein railroad yards and jetties and hit a Japanese HQ nearby at Nagorn Sawarn; and 25 P-51s and P-38s attack Aungban and Anisakan Airfields.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  P-38s on armed reconnaissance strafe and destroy 2 big fuel dumps, 12 fuel trucks, and 15-20 troops in the Wan Mong Kang, Burma area.

WEDNESDAY, 5 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 13 B-24s bomb the railroad from Moulmein to Kanchanaburi, destroying 3 bridges, damaging several others, and causing much damage to track and railroad cars.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  P-40s from Yungning, China pound a railroad siding at Na Cham, French Indochina, destroying 8 boxcars and a considerable amount of track.

THURSDAY, 6 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 6 B-25s damage railroad and rolling stock at Shwebo. 80+ fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s hit troops in the Namti area, support ground forces NE of Kamaing, damage a bridge near Myitkyina, and hit troops, oil dumps, and supplies at Mogaung and Manywet.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  In China, P-40s from Suichwan pound a barrack SW of Nanchang, causing heavy damage; a B-25 strike during the night of 6/7 Apr on airfields near Canton is curtailed by bad weather; only 1 B-25 reaches the target, dropping fragmentation bombs on revetments.

FRIDAY, 7 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 20+ P-51s and B-25s hit gun positions at Mawlu; throughout the Mogaung Valley 100+ fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s hit numerous targets including fuel and ammunition stores near Manywet, supplies and a railroad station at Myitkyina, supplies and radio station at Sahmaw, the Kamaing area, bridges at Nsopzup and supply dumps W of Mogaung; 30+ of the fighter-bombers carry out ground support missions at Shaduzup.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  7 P-40s strafe 3 barges and several junks at Saint John Island, China, leaving them burning. 2 B-24s on a sweep from Hong Kong to Formosa claim a large river boat and a small freighter sunk and 2 other freighters damaged; 1 B-24 is lost. 4 P-40s attack a large concentration of small vessels at Haiphong, French Indochina, sinking at least 4.

SATURDAY, 8 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, nearly 100 fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s again pound Mogaung Valley targets, including Manywet, storage areas and railroad at Mogaung, positions at Shaduzup and general targets of opportunity around Kamaing; 4 B-25s damage bridge and track at Sittang.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  11 B-24s bomb railroad yards at Hanoi, French Indochina. In China, 6 B-25s damage several small ships in Yulinkan Bay; 2 others strafe an airfield on Weichow Island; 8 P-40s pound oil dumps at Wanling, leaving the target area in flames. 9 B-24s bomb the airfield on Samah Bay, Hainan Island; 4 others lay mines in the bay.

SUNDAY, 9 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, the Mogaung Valley is pounded by 100+ fighter-bombers and a few B-25s; the aircraft hit town areas, bridges, storage areas, support ground forces, and hit targets of opportunity in general in or near Mogaung, Kamaing, Laban, Hopin, Myitkyina, and Nsopzup; 25 B-25s and P-51s hit fuel dumps at Indaw, bomb a road near Manhton and support ground forces at Lasai; 6 B-24s bomb Mandalay railroad yards, another bombs nearby Maymyo, and 13 others mine areas near Mandalay and Magwe; also in the Mandalay area, 11 P-38s damage several locomotives, numerous railroad cars and set a steamer afire near Ywataung.

The detachment of the 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, Tenth Air Force, operating from Hsinching, China transfers to Jorhat, India with F-7s; the squadron is based at Guskhara, India.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  In China, 2 B-25s claim a 200-ft (61 m) tanker sunk off Cape Bastion and 3 fighters shot down over Yulinkan Bay.

MONDAY, 10 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, about 100 fighter-bombers and a few B-25s pound numerous targets, including an encampment SW of Mogaung, positions near Kazu, a railroad and truck park at Myitkyina, a supply area S of Myitkyina, and a bivouac area and supplies at Kamaing; some of the fighter- bombers carry out support of ground forces NE of Kamaing; 40+ fighter-bombers and B-25s over the Katha area hit a bridge at Thityabin, troops and supplies at Shwegu, gun positions and troops S of Mawlu, and targets of opportunity including a fuel dump; and 9 B-24s bomb the railroad station and jetty area at Moulmein while 4 others mine the mouth of the Tavoy River.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  3 B-25s damage 2 bridges at Phu Dien Chau, French Indochina, and destroy several buildings and some railroad track. 10 P-40s pound roads N and S of Wanling, Burma.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command):  The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) informally approve Operation MATTERHORN, the plan for the bombing of Japan by B-29s based in the Calcutta, India area and staging through advanced fields in the Chengtu, China area, which had been approved in principle by President Franklin D Roosevelt on 10 Nov 43. The operational vehicle is to be the 58th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) (4 bombardment groups) of the XX Bomber Command, soon to be assigned to the newly activated Twentieth Air Force, operating under General of the Army Henry H "Hap" Arnold as executive agent for the JCS.

TUESDAY, 11 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 17 P-51s and B-25s fly ground support missions and bomb a road near Maungkan; Mogaung Valley targets are pounded by 50+ fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s; targets include HQ and stores at Sahmaw, HQ and ammunition dump SW of Mogaung, troops at Myitkyina, and targets of opportunity to the S, a gun position S of Kamaing, and HQ at Waingmaw.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  In French Indochina, 3 B-25s hit railroad targets of opportunity N of Vinh and seriously damage a bridge S of Thanh Hoa.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command):  Units arriving in India from the US: HQ 444th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and 676th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) at Charra with B-29s (first mission is 5 Jun); and 25th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy), 40th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), at Chakulia with B-29s (first mission is 5 Jun).

WEDNESDAY, 12 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 90+ P-40s, A-36s, P-51s, and B-25s over the Mogaung Valley support ground forces, bomb supply areas, and hit numerous targets of opportunity in areas around Mogaung, Myitkyina, Kamaing, Taungni, and Shaduzup; 5 B-25s knock out a bridge at Natmauk while 2 others damage the Pyu bridge near Rangoon; 5 B-24s bomb Nagorn Sawarn while 7 hit the Moulmein railroad station and jetties and bomb the SE part of Prome.

THURSDAY, 13 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 90+ P-40s, P-51s and A-36s and a few B-25s carry out ground support missions near Kamaing and hit assorted targets throughout the Mogaung Valley; 12 B-25s and 11 P-51s support ground forces at Mawlu.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  28 fighters attempt to intercept but fail to make contact with 13 Japanese airplanes which bomb Namyung, China.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command):  Units arriving in India with B-29s from the US: HQ 468th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and 792d, 793d, 794th and 795th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy) at Kharagpur; 677th and 679th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy), 444th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), at Charra; first mission for all units is 5 Jun 44.

FRIDAY, 14 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 20 P-40s over the Mogaung Valley attack a camp at Manywet; 20 P-51s and 3 B-25s support ground forces in the Mawlu area.

SATURDAY, 15 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  12 B-24s over the Andaman Islands attack shipping and other targets at Port Blair. 12 P-38s hit Heho Airfield, Burma, destroying several parked airplanes.

19th Liaison Squadron, US Army Forces, CBI, arrives at Kanchrapara, India with L-5s (first mission is in Jun 44).

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  3 B-25s knock out a bridge at Viet Tri, French Indochina, and damage another.

SUNDAY, 16 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 12 B-25s hit a bridge over the Mogaung River while 9 others, along with 12 P-51s, hit a warehouse and railroad station at Mohnyin; 9 P-38s destroy 3 medium bombers at Zayatkwin near Rangoon while 2 P-51s in the Mandalay area hit Anisakan Airfield, destroying 2 airplanes.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command):  768th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy), 462d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), arrives at Piardoba, India with B-29s; first mission is 5 Jun.

MONDAY, 17 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 6 P-51s support ground forces near Meza; 9 P-38s destroy several airplanes at Heho Airfield while 5 B-24s bomb Ywataung; 26 B-25s and 36 P-51s support ground forces at Mawlu and bomb a fuel dump at Kin; 13 other P-51s are diverted to intercept a Japanese force over the Imphal, India area and claim 3 airplanes shot down.

TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 7 B-24s bomb an oil plant at Yenangyaung while 5, along with 7 P-38s, hit Ywataung; 6 B-25s score numerous hits on the Mandalay-Shwebo railroad; and 15 B-25s and 4 P-51s bomb Kamaing and hit the Myitkyina-Bhamo road.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  HQ 33d Fighter Group moves from Karachi, India to Shwangliu, China.

WEDNESDAY, 19 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 6 B-25s and 8 P-51s attack troops and stores NW of Banmauk; 10 P-38s hit the airfield near Meiktila; and 5 P-51s attack troop positions near Mawlu and a bridge at Shweli.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  3 B-25s damage a bridge at Thanh Moi, French Indochina and score hits on railroad and buildings S of the bridge. 4 P-40s attack the village of Takaw, Burma, causing several fires and sink a ferry- boat in the area.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force):  XX Bomber Command is assigned to HQ Twentieth Air Force.

769th and 770th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy), 462d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), arrive at Piardoba, India from the US with B-29s; first mission is 5 Jun.

THURSDAY, 20 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  11 B-25s hit a bivouac and supply area NW of Manywet, Burma.

5th Liaison Squadron, AAF, India-Burma Sector, arrives at Ledo, India from the US with L-5s; first mission is 1 May.

FRIDAY, 21 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 12 B-25s and 14 P-51s pound Indaw and Mawlu, causing several fires in supply dumps and in the general target areas; 12 B-25s bomb the camp and supply area at Kamaing. 8 B-24s bomb storage and fuel dumps at Lashio and bomb Namtu; 13 B-24s bomb Maymyo while 5 B-25s knock out 3 bridges in the Tangon area; and 4 P-51s knock out a bridge at Shweli.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  12 P-40s fly armed reconnaissance over roads in Burma, strafing bridges, buildings, steamrollers, trucks, and troops in areas around Takaw, Bhamo, Loiwing, Kutkai, Hsenwi, and Lashio; at least 3 steamrollers and 7 trucks are destroyed.

SATURDAY, 22 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 12 B-25s hit Kamaing while 5 B-25s and 6 P-51s attack ammunition and other supplies at Hopin; 3 B-25s and 4 P-51s hit a village NE of Bhamo while 7 P-51s attack Gokteik Viaduct. Detachment of 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, Tenth Air Force, operating from Jorhat, India with F-7s returns to base at Guskhara.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  In French Indochina, 6 B-24s claim 4 freighters and a gunboat sunk near Cap-Saint-Jacques and 1 other knocks out a bridge SW of Vinh. P-40s on armed reconnaissance over N Burma destroy 10 boxcars and a truck N of Lashio.

SUNDAY, 23 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 24 P-51s, 8 B-25s and 51 RAF Vengeances attack Thetkegyin, Manipur bridge, Tiddim road and Japanese positions at Indaw. 12 P-38s hit Kangaung Airfield near Meiktila; and 21 B-24s bomb railroads and jetties at Moulmein and Martaban.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  In China, 14 P-40s pound an artillery post at Sienning and cavalry forces at Kuan-Fou-Chiao; 2 P-40s strafe barracks S of Tengchung and 2 P-38s hit a truck convoy and barracks S of Chiengmai. 4 P-40s blast a motor pool at Lashio, Burma.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force):  HQ 58th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) moves from Chakulia to Kharagpur, India.

MONDAY, 24 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 8 P-38s pound positions near Buthidaung and in the Myohaung are; 100+ P-40s, P-51s, A-36s, and B-25s bomb storage areas at Kamaing, Mogaung and Hopin, and railroads and other targets at Myitkyina, Manywet and Chaungwa; 25 B-25s and P-51s hit Indaw and several other B-25s bomb Pyingaing.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  In Thailand, B-25s damage bridges near Dara and Kengluang and strafe a factory at Dhasan. P-40s on a diversionary strike strafe numerous targets of opportunity at Kengtung, Burma. B-25s on a sea sweep hit 2 small steamers off Cape Bastion, China with cannon fire, claiming 1 vessel sunk and the other left burning.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force):  A B-29 piloted by Brigadier General LaVern G Saunders, Commanding General 58th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy), arrives at Kwanghan, China. Accompanying the B-29 is another carrying Major General Kenneth B Wolfe, Commanding General XX Bomber Command. These are the first B-29s to fly over the Hump to China.

TUESDAY, 25 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 8 B-25s attack Tiddim road; 80+ fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s hit a variety of targets at Kamaing, Nsopzup and Mogaung; 12 P-51s hit Japanese HQ at Katha and supply huts at Hopin; near Mandalay 12 B-24s bomb Monywa-Alon while 21 P-38s hit airfields at Heho, destroying several aircraft in the air and on the ground.

WEDNESDAY, 26 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 3 B-24s bomb Akyab; 6 P-38s hit the Tiddim road near Chindwin; 70 fighter-bombers and 3 B-25s pound numerous targets at Mogaung, Kamaing and several points in the N part of the Mogaung Valley; in Mandalay and the surrounding area, 9 B-24s bomb railroad yards and engine sheds, and 9 P-38s hit stores and hangars.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  In Burma, P-40s on armed reconnaissance from Lashio to Man Kat cause considerable damage; 2 trucks, a warehouse, a water tank, and 2 locomotives are destroyed, gun positions and a bridge are strafed and a Japanese-occupied building is left in flames.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force):  Japanese fighters make their first interception of B-29s as they are flying over the Hump; the brief confrontation results in no losses on either aide.

THURSDAY, 27 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 12 B-25s hit the Kalemyo storage area; 12 B-25s hit the railroad at 4 points around Shwebo; nearly 150 P-40s, P-51s, A-36s and B-25s blast troops, fuel dumps, gun positions and railroad yard at several locations in the Mogaung Valley, including Myitkyina, Mogaung, Namti, Kamaing, Mohnyin, Hopin, Nanyaseik, Chaungwa and Myothit. 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, based at Guskhara, India, sends a detachment to Hsinching, China with F-7s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  Rocket-firing P-40s attack 20 junks S of Shasi, China.

FRIDAY, 28 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 12 P-38s blast the Tiddim road, causing a roadblock; in the Mogaung Valley 80+ A-36s, P-40s, P-51s, and a single B-25 pound the same general targets hit on the 27 Apr; in the Mandalay area 7 B-25s knock out a railroad bridge S of Myingatha and a canal bridge between Ye-u and Kinu.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  In China, 26 B-24s, escorted by 10 P-51s, damage 2 bridges over the Yellow River N of Chengchow (the capture of which by Japanese troops is acknowledged by the Chinese who evacuate Hulaokuan), and pound a nearby storage area; 2 P-40s on armed reconnaissance strafe a troop column NE of Tengchung; 3 B-25s on reconnaissance damage a small steamer off the E coast of Hainan Island; 16 P-40s and 6 B-25s pound Yangsin while 18 P-40s, P-38s, and P-51s strafe Nanchang barracks.

SATURDAY, 29 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 21 P-38s hit airfields in the Heho area and claim 8 aircraft downed in combat; 25 P-51s and B-25s bomb several buildings at Meza; 19 B-24s over Prome blast supply dumps in the area. 19th Liaison Squadron, US Army Forces, CBI, moves from Kanchrapara to Ondal, India with L-1s and L-5s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force):  In China, B-25s bomb a warehouse and barracks at Shayang and attack 3 motor launches at Chiuchiang, leaving them burning. 22d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), based at Yankai, China with B-25s, sends a detachment to operate from Yunnani.

SUNDAY, 30 APRIL 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force):  In Burma, 31 B-25s blast a tank concentration, bridges, supply dumps and general vicinity at Kalewa; 4 B-25s damage 2 bridges N of Yamethin.

5th Liaison Squadron, AAF, India-Burma Sector, moves from Ledo, India to Shaduzup, Burma with L-1s and L-5s; first mission is 1 May.

The detachment of the 74th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, operating from Liuchow returns to base at Kweilin, China with P-40s.