|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The basic chronology and general information on these pages is a composite of entries excerpted from “Air War Pacific Chronology: America’s Air War Against Japan in East Asia and the Pacific 1941-1945” by Eric Hammel (Pacifica, CA: Pacifica Press, 1988 ISBN 0-933353-26-6)
|
|
Note:
Shaded boxes show updates and comments from members of our B-29 mailing list, many of whom were there. |
2 APRIL 1944(pages 339)
INDIA:
The headquarters of the XX Bomber Command's 58th BW arrives at Chakulia Airdrome from the United States to oversee combat operations of several B-29 groups. Also arriving at Chakulia from the United States via Africa is an advance flight echelon of the 58th BW's 40th BG (VH). (The first B-29 to land was piloted by Col. Leonard F. Harman.)
3 APRIL 1944 (pages 339)
No actions reported.
4 APRIL 1944 (pages 340)
ZONE OF THE INTERIOR:
Headquarters Twentieth Air Force is activated in Washington, D.C. The new air force will be equipped entirely with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses.
5 APRIL 1944 (pages 340)
No actions reported.
6 APRIL 1944 (pages 341)
ZONE OF THE INTERIOR:
General of the Army Henry H. "Hap" Arnold assumes command of the Twentieth Air Force at Washington, D.C. (HQ will remain in Washington until Jul '45) Chief of Staff is BGen Haywood S. Hansell, Jr. (currently Deputy Chief of Air Staff), with Colonel Cecil E. Combs as his deputy for operations.
7 APRIL 1944 (pages 342)
INDIA:
Headquarters for the 462nd BG arrives at Piardoba from the United States.
8 APRIL 1944 (pages 342)
No actions reported.
9 APRIL 1944 (pages 343)
No actions reported.
10 APRIL 1944 (pages 343)
ZONE OF THE INTERIOR:
With operational units already arriving in the CBI, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) informally approve Operation MATTERHORN, the plan for bombing Japan by B-29's based in the Calcutta, India area and staging through advanced airfields in the Chengtu, China area. The plan was approved in principle by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 10 Nov 1943. Operations will be carried out by aircraft assigned to 4 bombardment groups of the 58th BW, 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.
11 APRIL 1944 (pages 344)
INDIA:
Units arriving in India from the United States: HQ 444th BG and the 676th BS at Charra (first mission is 5 Jun) and the 25th BS and 40th BG at Chakulia (first mission is 5 Jun).
12 APRIL 1944 (pages 345)
No actions reported.
13 APRIL 1944 (pages 346)
INDIA:
Units arriving in India from the United States: HQ 468th BG, 792nd, 793rd, 794th, and 795th BS's at Kharagpur; 677th and 679th and 444th BG at Charra (first mission for all units is 5 Jun 1944).
14 APRIL 1944 (pages 345)
No actions reported.
15 APRIL 1944 (pages 345)
No actions reported.
16 April 1944 (pages 346)
INDIA:
Units arriving in India from the United States: 768th BS and 462nd BG arrive at Piardoba, India (first mission is 5 Jun 1944).
17 April 1944 (pages 347)
CBI:
LtGen. Stillwell assigns a new primary mission to the Fourteenth Air Force - the defense of B-29 bases in China.
18 April 1944 (pages 348)
No actions reported.
19 April 1944 (pages 348)
ZONE OF THE INTERIOR:
XX BC is assigned to the HQ Twentieth Air Force.
INDIA:
Units arriving in India from the United States: 769th and 770th BS, 462nd BG arrives at Piardoba, India (first mission is 5 Jun 1944).
20 April 1944 (pages 348)
No actions reported.
21 April 1944 (pages 349)
No actions reported.
22 April 1944 (pages 350)
No actions reported.
23 April 1944 (pages 350)
INDIA:
HQ 58th BW moves from Chakulia to Kharagpur.
24 April 1944 (pages 350)
CHINA:
Two XX BC B-29's, one piloted by BGen LaVern G. Saunders, Commanding General, 58th BW arrives at Kwangshan, China. Accompanying the B-29 is another carrying MGen Kenneth B. Wolfe, Commanding General XX BC. These are the first B-29's to fly over the Hump to China.
(The two B-29's, and many that will follow, are transporting supplies to be stockpiled at the advance bomber bases so Operation MATTERHORN, can be sustained. In addition to a fleet of ATC aircraft, twenty B-29's will be converted to fuel tankers.)
25 April 1944 (pages 352)
No actions reported.
26 April 1944 (pages 353)
CHINA:
Japanese fighters make their first interception of B-29's as they are flying over the Hump; in the brief confrontation six Ki-43's attack a B-29 from the 444th BG transporting supplies to China. The action results in no losses on either side although one B-29 crewman is wounded, the airplane damaged and one Ki-43 is probably downed.
|
27 April 1944 (pages 352)
No actions reported.
28 April 1944 (pages 353)
No actions reported.
29 April 1944 (pages 354)
No actions reported.
30 April 1944 (pages 356)
No actions reported.
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||