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

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

Maloelap Atoll

1943

SATURDAY, 6 NOVEMBER 1943: Advanced HQ, Seventh Air Force, is set up on Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice Islands to provide a HQ closer to targets in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. VII Air Force Service Command and VII Bomber Command also establish forward echelons at Funafuti. Landing fields are being built on Baker Island; and Nukufetau and Nanumea Islands in the Ellice Islands, to be used, along with existing fields at Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands and Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice Islands as operational bases for attacks on Tarawa Atoll and Makin Island in the Gilbert Islands; Mille Atoll , Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls in the Marshall Islands and Nauru Island. These operations will mark the assumption of the offensive by the Seventh Air Force and will play a conspicuous role in the invasion and occupation of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands.
TUESDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 1943: B-24's from Nanumea and Nukufetau Islands in the Ellice Islands bomb Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls in the Marshall Islands. Single aircraft hit Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands and Little Makin Island and Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands.
WEDNESDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 1943: 20+ B-24's from Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice Islands and Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands bomb Maloelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands, and Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands.
THURSDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 1943: 20 B-24's out of Nanumea Island in the Ellice Islands bomb Maloelap Atoll, scoring hits on the landing ground and a cargo vessel.
TUESDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 1943: 10 B-24's from Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands strike Maloelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands; 20 others, sent against the same target from Nanumea Island in the Ellice Islands, run into bad weather; 2 attack a cargo ship (and other vessels near Maloelap Atoll, the remaining 18 return to base without attacking.

TUESDAY, 7 DECEMBER 1943: During the night of 6/7 Dec, 14 B-24's, staging through Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, hit targets on Maloelap and Wotje Atolls in the Marshall Islands. 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, 14 DECEMBER 1943: 16 B-24's, flying out of bases in the Ellice Islands, bomb Maloelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
WEDNESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 1943: 20 B-24's from Nanumea Island in the Ellice Islands, hit Maloelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands. 1 B-24 is lost on Maloelap Atoll raid; 2 enemy fighters are claimed destroyed.
FRIDAY, 17 DECEMBER 1943: 10 B-24's are dispatched from Nanumea Island in the Ellice Islands to bomb Maloelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands; 9 are recalled because of weather; 1.
SUNDAY, 19 DECEMBER 1943: 29 B-24's from Nanumea Island in the Ellice Islands and Baker Island bomb barracks, hangars, and wharf areas on Maloelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands; they claim 7 fighters shot down
MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER 1943: 16 B-24's flying out of Nanumea Island in the Ellice Islands and Baker Island bomb Maloelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands; 3 B-24's are shot down; they claim 8 fighters destroyed.
THURSDAY, 23 DECEMBER 1943: 19 B-24's, staging through Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands from Nanumea Island in the Ellice Islands, bomb Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands; 9 others, staging through Baker Island from Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands, hit Wotje and Maloelap 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, 2 JANUARY 1944: In the Marshall Islands, B-24's, staging through Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, bomb Maloelap Atoll;
SATURDAY, 8 JANUARY 1944: 15 B-24's, staging through Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, bomb shipping and shore installations at several locations on Wotje, Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls, Marshall Islands
MONDAY, 10 JANUARY 1944: I16 B-24's, staging through Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands from the Ellice Islands, bomb Maloelap Atoll.
TUESDAY, 11 JANUARY 1944: In the Marshall Islands, 9 B-25's from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands hit 5 vessels and land installations at Maloelap Atoll;
SATURDAY, 15 JANUARY 1944: 9 B-25's from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands flying at deck-level bomb and strafe shipping and shore installations at Maloelap Atoll, Marshall Islands; 2 vessels are hit and the oil dump, hangars, other buildings, and runways are damaged; 1 B-25 crashes at sea after being hit by AA fire.
SATURDAY, 22 JANUARY 1944: 10 B-25's from Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands hit Maloelap Atoll; 3 B-25's are lost during the day's missions; 10 Japanese aircraft are claimed shot down.
MONDAY, 24 JANUARY 1944: In the late afternoon, During the night of 24/25 Jan, 9 B-25's from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, and 12 B-24's from the Ellice Islands, bomb several targets in Maloelap Atoll.
TUESDAY, 25 JANUARY 1944: 8 B-25's from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, bomb a vessel and shore targets at Taroa Island, Maloelap Atoll; later, in a dusk attack, 18 B-24's flying out of the Gilbert Islands bomb Kwajalein Atoll, hitting runways and AA positions.
WEDNESDAY, 26 JANUARY 1944: In the Marshall Islands, 9 B-25's from Makin Island, Gilbert Islands, hit several targets in Maloelap Atoll; about 20 fighters attack the formation; 12 P-40's, meeting the returning B-25's over Aur Atoll, join the battle against the fighters, claiming 10+ destroyed; the B-25's claim 5 shot down; several more are destroyed on the ground or while taking off during the bombing raid.
THURSDAY, 27 JANUARY 1944: 7 B-24's, staging through Makin Island, bomb Taroa Island in Maloelap Atoll in a dusk attack.
FRIDAY, 28 JANUARY 1944: AAF aircraft from the Gilbert Islands bomb the Marshall Islands, i.e., 9 B-25's, staging through Makin Island bomb Taroa Island in Maloelap Atoll; B-24's, staging through Tarawa Atoll and Makin Island and taking off at varying intervals, carry out several hours of strikes against Wotje, Kwajalein, Maloelap, and Jaluit Atolls.
SATURDAY, 29 JANUARY 1944: As a US invasion force approaches the Marshall Islands, B-24's, attacking from bases in the Gilbert Islands, maintain day and night attacks (both multiple-plane missions and single-plane attacks at intervals) against Maloelap, Jaluit, Aur, and Wotje, Atolls, Marshall Islands.

FRIDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 1944: B-24s, flying from Tarawa Atoll and Makin Island, bomb Wotje, Maloelap and Mille Atolls, Marshall Islands; B-25s from Tarawa and Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands also hit Wotje and Maloelap Atolls.
SUNDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 1944: B-24s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap and Wotje Atolls.
MONDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 1944: B-25s from Tarawa Atoll and Abemama Island hit Wotje and Maloelap Atolls
TUESDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 1944: B-24s from Makin and Abemama Islands hit Maloelap .
WEDNESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 1944: During a dusk-to-dawn operation on 9/10 Feb B-24s operating at intervals from Tarawa Atoll maintain strikes against Taroa Island in Maloelap Atoll.
THURSDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 1944: B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap Atoll; 9 B-24s from Abemama Island, sent to bomb a weather and radio station on Rongelap Island, abort due to a fuel leak in the lead B-24;
SATURDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 1944: B-25s from Tarawa Atoll and Abemama Island hit Maloelap Atoll.
SUNDAY, 13 FEBRUARY 1944: During the night of 13/14 Feb, B-24s from Tarawa Atoll operating individually at intervals, bomb Taroa Island in Maloelap Atoll.
WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 1944: B-24s from Tarawa Atoll bomb Taroa Island in Maloelap Atoll.
MONDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 1944: B-25s from Abemama bomb Maloelap Atoll.
WEDNESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 1944: B-25s from Abemama Island hit Taroa Island in Maloelap Atoll.
TUESDAY, 29 FEBRUARY 1944: B-24s bomb Maloelap.

WEDNESDAY, 1 MARCH 1944: B-25s pound Maloelap Atoll
THURSDAY, 2 MARCH 1944: B-25s bomb Maloelap Atoll.
FRIDAY, 3 MARCH 1944: B-25s from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, hit Maloelap Atoll.
SUNDAY, 5 MARCH 1944: B-25s hit Maloelap .
TUESDAY, 7 MARCH 1944: B-25s pound runways, AA positions, storage areas, and barracks on Taroa Island, Maloelap Atoll.
THURSDAY, 9 MARCH 1944: B-25s based on Abemama Island attack Taroa Island, Maloelap Atoll. B-24s from Tarawa Atoll hit Ponape and Kusaie Islands.
SATURDAY, 11 MARCH 1944: P-40s and B-25s, operating from bases in the Gilbert Islands, pound Mille and Maloelap Atolls.
SUNDAY, 12 MARCH 1944: B-24s from Tarawa Atoll Maloelap .
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.
SUNDAY, 19 MARCH 1944: B-25s from Abemama Island and Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap. 1 B-24 from Tarawa bombs Mille and photographs Mille and Majuro Atolls.
TUESDAY, 21 MARCH 1944: B-24s from Tarawa Atoll hit Mille and Maloelap Atolls and Ponape Island. Tarawa-based B-25s also pound Maloelap 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.
SATURDAY, 25 MARCH 1944: Advanced HQ Seventh Air Force in Tarawa Atoll is disbanded and the Seventh's operations in the C Pacific forward area are placed under the VII Bomber Command at Kwajalein Atoll. B-25s from Enewetak Atoll pound Ponape Island and claim 4 fighters shot down. B-25s from Abemama Island bomb Maloelap Atoll. HQ VII Bomber Command moves from Tarawa Atoll to Kwajalein Atoll.
MONDAY, 27 MARCH 1944: B-25s and B-24s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap, and Mille Atolls
TUESDAY, 28 MARCH 1944: B-25s from Abemama Island and Tarawa Atoll pound Jaluit, Mille and Maloelap Atolls; a single B-24 from Kwajalein Atoll, en route to Enewetak Atoll, bombs Rongelap Atoll, Marshall Islands; and B-24s, flying a night mission from Kwajalein, bomb targets at Truk Atoll.
WEDNESDAY, 29 MARCH 1944: B-25s from Enewetak Atoll strike Ponape Island while others from Tarawa Atoll bomb Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls.
THURSDAY, 30 MARCH 1944: B-25s from Kwajalein and Tarawa Atolls strike Mille and Maloelap Atolls.
FRIDAY, 31 MARCH 1944: B-24s from Enewetak Atoll bomb Truk Atoll in a predawn mission. B-25s from Eniwetok hit Ponape Island while others, flying out of Tarawa Atoll, pound Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls.

SUNDAY, 2 APRIL 1944: During the day B-25s bomb Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls.
MONDAY, 3 APRIL 1944: B-24s, staging through Enewetak Atoll during the night of 2/3 Apr, bomb Truk Atoll. B-25s from Abemama and Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls. 98th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Tarawa Atoll to Eniwetok Atoll with B-24s.
TUESDAY, 4 APRIL 1944: B-25s bomb s and Maloelap Atolls.
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-24s on a photo reconnaissance mission over Maloelap, and Mille Atolls, Marshall Islands, and a single Tarawa Atoll-based B-25 bombs Taroa Island, Maloelap Atoll; 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-24s, staging through Enewetak Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll (1 hits Ponape Island) while B-25s, based on Abemama Island, strike Ponape. 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: PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): A single B-24, enroute from Kwajalein Atoll to Tarawa Atoll, bombs Jaluit Atoll; B-25s from Enewetak Atoll bomb Ponape Island while B-25s from Abemama Island strike Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as an arming station between strikes; Japanese bombers carry out an ineffective raid on Eniwetok Atoll. 26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Tarawa Atoll to Kwajalein Atoll with B-24s.
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: First Seventh Air Force attack on the Marianas Islands takes place as B-24s escorting USN aircraft on a photographic reconnaissance mission from Enewetak Atoll bomb Saipan Island. Other B-24s staging through Eniwetok Atoll hit Truk Atoll. 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: B-24s from Enewetak Atoll, staging through Kwajalein, bomb Truk Atoll. B-25s from Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll, bomb Ponape Island. 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.
SUNDAY, 23 APRIL 1944: Makin Island-based B-25s hit Ponape Island and Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls.
TUESDAY, 25 APRIL 1944: Kwajalein Atoll-based B-24s, during the night of 24/25 Apr, staging through Enewetak Atoll, strike Guam Island, Marianas Islands and Truk Atoll, and during the day hit Maloelap Atoll. This is the first AAF mission against Guam.

SATURDAY, 13 MAY 1944: B-24s, staging through Enewetak Atoll from Kwajalein Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll during the early morning hours. Other B-24s from Kwajalein bomb Maloelap and Atoll.
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.

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.

[Maloelap 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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