March 15th, 1944 (WEDNESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: The first production Supermarine Spitfire F. 21 (LA 187) makes its first flight today. Unlike earlier marks, the F. 21 has lost the characteristic elliptical wing, the change in plan-form accompanying major structural alterations including higher tensile spar booms. The wing area is slightly increased and the tail unit re-designed. The undercarriage is strengthened and the range extended by fitting 18-gallon fuel tanks in the wings. (22)
GERMANY: Tonight Stuttgart is raided by 863 RAF bombers.
U-1104 commissioned.
ITALY: Another Allied attack on Cassino. Preliminary bombardment used 1400 tons of bombs and 190,000 shells. The New Zealand Division moves in with the 4th Indian Division ready to follow up. They meet a regiment of the German 1st Paratroop Division. Some slight gains are made. 140 civilians and 96 Allied soldiers are killed.In four hours, 775 Allied bombers have flattened this pleasant valley town. The attack represented more than two aircraft for every one of the German defenders - five tons of bombs for each soldier - such is the Allied determination to break the deadlock.
The Allies reckoned that no one could have survived the bombing - let alone the 195,969 shells that followed. Yet the New Zealand 6th Infantry Brigade came under intense defensive fire when it clambered over the debris into the town.
A new assault is also being made on the Cassino monastery. Gurkhas have climbed to Point 435 on the army maps, known as "Hangman's Hill", 440 yards from the monastery.
EUROPE: German forces mass on the Hungarian border.
BURMA: Air Commando Combat Mission N0. 29 2:35 Flight time Hailakandi, Assam to Kawlin, Burma. Bombed supply dumps. No results noted. (Chuck Baisden)
ADMIRALTY ISLANDS: Manus Island: US troops of the 7th and 8th Cavalry Regiments of 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, have landed at Lorengau on Manus Island, off the north coast of New Guinea. The force under Gen. MacArthur's South-West Pacific Area Command landed after a heavy preliminary air and sea barrage. The first wave of attackers has so far managed to destroy landmines, machine-gun nests and booby traps before advancing on Lorengau airfield, where the Japanese defenders are holding out.
Securing the Admiralties will safeguard the Allied rearguard, vital to MacArthur's plan to advance along New Guinea's north coast to the Vogelkop peninsula, the likely springboard for an eventual attack on the Philippines.
CANADA:
Tug HMCS Glenwood laid down Weymouth , Nova Scotia.
Frigate HMCS Cheboque departed Esquimalt BC for Halifax , Nova Scotia.
Tug HMCS Roseville assigned to Liverpool , Nova Scotia.
Escort carrier HMS Puncher arrived Lapointe Pier Vancouver for RN modifications.
U.S.A.:
Frigate USS Racine launched.
Destroyer escorts USS Fowler and Spangenberg commissioned.
Submarine USS Piper laid down.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-653 (type VIIC) is sunk in position 53.46N, 24.35W, by depth charges from a Swordfish aircraft of the British escort carrier HMS Vindex, and by depth charges from the British sloops HMS Starling and Wild Goose. 51 dead (all hands lost). (Alex Gordon)