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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)
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Note:
Shaded boxes show updates and comments from members of our B-29 mailing list, many of whom were there. |
1 July 1944 (page 399)
INDIA:
The 444th BG and 676th, 677th, 678th and 679th BS's displace to Dudhkundi Airdrome from Charra Airdrome.
2 July 1944 (page 399)
No actions reported.
3 July 1944 (page 400)
No actions reported.
4 July 1944 (page 401)
No actions reported.
5 July 1944 (page 402)
No actions reported.
6 July 1944 (page 403)
INDIA:
BGen La Verne G. Saunders replaces BGen Kenneth B. Wolfe as commanding general of the XX Bomber Command.
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7 July 1944 (page 403)
JAPAN:
During the night of 7-8 July, fourteen B-29's dispatched from the 58th BW, operating out of Chengtu, China bomb Omura, Sasebo, and Tobata (most of the planes hit Sasebo); 3 others attack secondary and last resort targets at Laoyao and in the Hankow area of China.
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8 July 1944 (page 404) No actions reported.
9 July 1944 (page 404)
MARIANAS:
Saipan is declared secure. Construction work is already underway to transform Saipan's airdromes into bases from which USAAF B-29's will be able to attack targets in Japan.
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10 July 1944 (page 405)
No actions reported.
11 July 1944 (page 405)
No actions reported.
12 July 1944 (page 406)
No actions reported.
13 July 1944 (page 406)
No actions reported.
14 July 1944 (page 407)
ZONE OF THE INTERIOR:
Gen. Henry H. Arnold recommends that Iwo Jima's airfields be seized and improved to provide advance emergency bases for crippled and malfunctioning B-29's operating between the Marianas and Iwo Jima.
15 July 1944 (page 408)
No actions reported.
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16 July 1944 (page 408)
No actions reported.
17 July 1944 (page 409)
No actions reported.
18 July 1944 (page 409) No actions reported.
19 July 1944 (page 410) No actions reported.
20 July 1944 (page 410)
MARIANAS:
The pre-invasion aerial bombardment of Guam and Tinian by US Navy carrier aircraft reaches its peak. Tinian continues to be bombarded by naval gunfire and artillery fire from nearby Saipan.
21 July 1944 (page 410) No actions reported.
22 July 1944 (page 410) No actions reported.
23 July 1944 (page 411) No actions reported.
24 July 1944 (page 411)
MARIANAS:
USMC forces invade Tinian against light opposition.
25 July 1944 (page 412) No actions reported.
26 July 1944 (page 413) No actions reported. 42-6291 from the 40th Bomb Group, 395th Bomb Squadron crashed on take off from B-4, 10 KIA, Alvin Hills Crew.
27 July 1944 (page 413)
MARIANAS:
Engineers begin work to rehabilitate and expand Ushi Point Airdrome, Tinian.
28 July 1944 (page 414)
MARIANAS:
USMC ground forces capture Gurguan Point Airdrome, Tinian.
29 July 1944 (page 414)
CBI:
B-29's from the 444th BG begin hauling supplies over the Hump from India to China to help build up reserves needed at staging bases for B-29 missions against targets in Japan.
CHINA:
Sixty B-29's dispatched from the 58th BW at Chengtu attack the Showa Steel Works at Anshan; 15 B-29's from the 444th attack Taku Harbor facilities and seven B-29's attack targets of opportunity. Two B-29's are lost in combat, and two are lost in operational accidents.
(The first B-29 to be shot down on a combat mission falls to 5 fighters near Chengshien, which the B-29 bombs after engine trouble causes an abort from the primary mission).
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MARIANAS:
USMC ground forces capture Orote Airdrome, Guam.
30 July 1944 (page 415) No actions reported.
31 July 1944 (page 416)
MARIANAS:
By this time Seebees have extended Orote Airdrome, Guam by 2,500ft, and the airfield is declared operational.
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