Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces
in operations against and from the Marshall Islands

Majuro Atoll

 

1943


 
TUESDAY, 7 DECEMBER 1943
6 B-24's from Nukufetau Island in the Ellice Islands bomb Maloelap Atoll, This date marks the beginning of Operation FLINTLOCK (operations against Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls in the Marshall Islands).
 
TUESDAY, 28 DECEMBER 1943
15 B-24's from Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice Islands and Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands, staging through Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands and Baker Island, hit Maloelap and Majuro Atolls

 

1944


 
SUNDAY, 30 JANUARY 1944
B-24's maintain all-night strikes against Kwajalein Atoll in preparation for the invasion the following morning; the invasion of Majuro Atoll begins during the night of 30/31 Jan.
 
WEDNESDAY, 15 MARCH 1944
B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll fly the first Seventh Air Force mission against Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands, hitting Dublon and Eten Islands before dawn; alternate targets of Oroluk Anchorage and Ponape Town are also hit. B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap Atoll. By this date the A-24s, P-39s, and P-40s used against Mille and Jaluit Atolls during Operations FLINTLOCK (operations against Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls) and CATCHPOLE (operations against Enewetak and Ujelang Atolls) have returned to Oahu, Territory of Hawaii for rest and re-equipment. 27th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Nanumea Island to Kwajalein Atoll with B-24s; they have been operating from Abemama Island since 26 Feb.
 
SATURDAY, 18 MARCH 1944
2 B-25s from Engebi Island, Enewetak Atoll bomb and strafe Ponape Island. while 5 from Tarawa Atoll hit the Atoll with bombs and cannon fire. 1 B-24 from Tarawa Atoll bombs Mille Atoll and photographs Mille and Majuro Atoll.
 
SUNDAY, 19 MARCH 1944
1 B-24 from Tarawa bombs Mille and photographs Mille and Majuro Atolls.
 
MONDAY, 20 MARCH 1944
12 B-25s from Tarawa Atoll bomb the radio station and pier on Emidj Island, Marshall Islands. 1 other B-25 from Tarawa bombs Mille Atoll, rearms at Majuro Atoll, and again bombs Mille on the return trip. HQ 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Abemama Island to Kwajalein Atoll.
 
THURSDAY, 23 MARCH 1944
Tarawa Atoll-based B-25s strike Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls, commencing a series of B-25 shuttle-missions between Tarawa or Makin Island and the USN's new base at Majuro Atoll which is used as the rearming base for the return strike.
 
SUNDAY, 26 MARCH 1944
Enewetak Atoll-based B-25s strike Ponape Island; B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Jaluit Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll, and hit Jaluit again on the return flight to Tarawa.

 
WEDNESDAY, 5 APRIL 1944
B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap Atoll, bomb up again at Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands, and hit Jaluit Atoll during the return trip. .
 
THURSDAY, 6 APRIL 1944
B-25s from Abemama Island bomb Jaluit Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll, and hit Maloelap Atoll during the return flight.
 
FRIDAY, 7 APRIL 1944
B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll, and bomb Jaluit Atoll on the return flight.
 
SATURDAY, 8 APRIL 1944
B-24s flying out of Kwajalein Atoll, strike Truk Atoll; B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll and bomb Jaluit Atoll during the return flight.
 
SUNDAY, 9 APRIL 1944
B-25s, in a shuttle mission from Abemama Island, bomb Jaluit Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll, and then hit Maloelap Atoll.
 
MONDAY, 10 APRIL 1944
B-25s, flying a shuttle mission between Tarawa and Majuro Atolls, pound Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls.
 
TUESDAY, 11 APRIL 1944
B-25s from the Gilbert Islands hit Ponape Island, rearm at Majuro Atoll, and carry out a shuttle mission against Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls.
 
WEDNESDAY, 12 APRIL 1944
B-25s, flying out of Abemama Island, bomb Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll, and hit Jaluit Atoll on the return trip.
 
THURSDAY, 13 APRIL 1944
B-24s out of Enewetak Atoll strike Truk Atoll; B-25s from Tarawa Atoll bomb Jaluit Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll and hit Maloelap Atoll.
 
FRIDAY, 14 APRIL 1944
B-25s from Abemama Island strike Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as an arming station between strikes;.
 
SATURDAY, 15 APRIL 1944
B-25s, based on Tarawa Atoll, bomb Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll and hit Jaluit and Mille Atolls on the return trip.
 
SUNDAY, 16 APRIL 1944
B-25s, staging through Enewetak Atoll, strike Truk Atoll; B-25s from Abemama Island hit Maloelap and Mille Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a rearming base between the strikes.
 
MONDAY, 17 APRIL 1944
B-25s, based on Tarawa Atoll, strike Maloelap and Mille Atolls, rearming at Majuro Atoll between the raids.
 
TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 1944
B-25s from Abemama Island bomb Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base between strikes.
 
THURSDAY, 20 APRIL 1944
Tarawa Atoll based B-25s, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base between strikes, bomb Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls.
 
FRIDAY, 21 APRIL 1944
Abemama Island-based B-25s, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base, bomb Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls.
 
SATURDAY, 22 APRIL 1944
B-25s from Tarawa Atoll, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base for rearming, bomb Jaluit, Maloelap and Mille Atolls.
 
FRIDAY, 28 APRIL 1944
B-25s, based on Makin Island, strike Jaluit and Mille Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base between strikes.

 
TUESDAY, 2 MAY 1944
B-24s, staging through Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands from Kwajalein Atoll bomb Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands, during the night. During the day B-25s based on Makin Island hit Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands, using Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands as a shuttle base to rearm between strikes. B-25s from Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll pound Ponape Island, Caroline Islands.
 
WEDNESDAY, 3 MAY 1944
B-25s from Kwajalein Atoll strike both Jaluit and Wotje Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a rearming base between raids.
 
THURSDAY, 4 MAY 1944
12 B-25s, based at Makin Island, pound Jaluit and Wotje Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base for rearming between the strikes. 39 B-24s from Kwajalein and Enewetak Atolls hit Ponape Island.
 
FRIDAY, 5 MAY 1944
10 B-25s from Makin Island hit Jaluit and Wotje Atolls, Marshall Islands, using Majuro Atoll as a rearming base between the attacks.
 
MONDAY, 8 MAY 1944
B-25s from Engebi Island strike Ponape Island while Makin Island-based B-25s pound Jaluit and Wotje Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base between strikes.
 
TUESDAY, 9 MAY 1944
Makin Island-based B-25s hit Wotje and Jaluit Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a rearming point between attacks.
 
THURSDAY, 18 MAY 1944
B-25s based on Makin Island bomb Taroa Island, Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro Atoll and attack the same target during the return flight to base.
 
WEDNESDAY, 24 MAY 1944
B-25s from Makin Island pound Wotje and Jaluit Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base for rearming between the strikes. B-25s based at Engebi Island hit Ponape Island.
Sources: AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF, 1961,
COMBAT SQUADRONS OF THE AIR FORCE, WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF 1982
THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by the Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF, 1973.


[Majuro Atoll]


CONTACT:
Dirk H.R. Spennemann, Institute of Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, P.O.Box 789, Albury NSW 2640, Australia.
e-mail: dspennemann@csu.edu.au

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