March 28th, 1944 (TUESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Westminster: The government is defeated by a single vote when the House of Commons carries an amendment to introduce equal pay for women teachers.
ITALY: Twelfth Air Force A-20s, A-36s, B-25s and P-40s attack railroad bridges and marshalling yards, a tank factory and support the Anzio beachhead. Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack marshalling yards, bridges and industrial targets.
U.S.S.R.: Ukraine: As the Germans retreat in haste from the waters of the southern Bug River, Nikolayev falls to the Red Army. The 3rd Ukrainian Front is now developing an assault toward the port of Odessa.
BURMA: Over 130 Tenth Air Force A-31s, B-24s, B-25s and fighters attack supply dumps and support ground troops.
Air Commando Combat Mission N0.39 3:00 Flight Time Hailakandi, Assam to Mahnyin, Burma. Bombed Japanese troop position.
I was very sick prior to and during the mission. Had chills, fever and a terrific backache.
Notes: From March 29 to April 9 I was in the hospital at Hailikandi. I had malaria, evidently caused from our overnight stay at Broadway. We had no blankets or mosquito nets. Got the nine-day quinine cure and a short pass to Calcutta. I don't think Calcutta has ever impressed anyone. The lack of sanitation, the smells, and just plain dirty has been long remembered by me. While I was in the hospital, a GI in a bed next to me with malaria and dropped mumps died. I did not even get to know his name. (Chuck Baisden)
INDIA: Headquarters of the Twentieth Air Force's XX Bomber Command is established at Kharagpur. The XX Bomber Command will control all B-29s in the India.
NEW GUINEA: Fifth Air Force B-24s bomb Hollandia.
MARSHALL ISLANDS: Seventh Air Force B-25s bomb Jaluit, Mille and Maloelap Atolls.
NEW BRITAIN ISLAND: Thirteenth Air Force B-24s, B-25s and P-40s bomb an airfield and a supply area.
PALAU ISLANDS: Task Force 58 closes on the Palau Islands preparatory to a three-day air strike. The aircraft carriers assigned to Task Force 58 for this operation are:
Task Group 58.1
USS Enterprise (CV-6) with Carrier Air Group Ten (CVG-10)
USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) with Light Carrier Air Group Twenty Four (CVLG-24)
USS Cowpens (CVL-25) with CVLG-25
Task Group 58.2
USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) with CVG-8
USS Hornet (CV-12) with CVG-2
USS Cabot (CVL-28) with CVLG-31
USS Monterey (CVL-26) with CVLG-30
Task Group 58.3
USS Lexington (CV-16) with CVG-16
USS Yorktown (CV-10) with CVG-5
USS Princeton (CVL-23) with CVLG-23
USS Langley (CVL-27) with CVLG-32
TIMOR ISLAND: Fifth Air Force B-24s attack Penfoei.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: S
class submarine HMS Syrtis and all 48 of her crew are lost in the Norwegian Sea
exact position unknown. There is no clear explanation for her loss, although the
Germans claimed to have sunk a submarine by shore battery fire off Bodö around
this time, but there is no supporting evidence. (Alex Gordon)(108)