Marshall Islands -- Wotje 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

Wotje Atoll

1943

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, and 1 other, failing to reach the primary, drops bombs on Mille Atoll . This date marks the beginning of Operation FLINTLOCK (operations against Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls in the Marshall Islands).
MONDAY, 13 DECEMBER 1943: 10 B-24's, staging through Baker Island from Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands, bomb Wotje 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. 10, staging from Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands through Baker Island, bomb Wotje Atoll in the Marshall Islands. 1 B-24 is lost on Maloelap Atoll raid; 2 enemy fighters are claimed 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. 10 A-24's, escorted by 20 P-39's, attack Mille Atoll , hitting shore installations and a cargo vessel (wrecked by the previous day's raid) in the lagoon.
FRIDAY, 24 DECEMBER 1943: 18 B-24's, staging through the Gilbert Islands from the Ellice Islands, bomb Wotje Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
SUNDAY, 26 DECEMBER 1943: 16 B-24's, staging through Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, bomb Wotje Atoll in the Marshall Islands. P-39's fly reconnaissance and strafing missions over Mille Atoll .

1944

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
THURSDAY, 13 JANUARY 1944: In the Marshall Islands, 9 B-25's from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands attack harbor shipping at Wotje Atoll; 21 A-24's from Makin Island, Gilbert Islands dive-bomb dock, barracks, and storage area on Mille Atoll; some of the 16 escorting P-39's strafe ground targets, and 10 other P-39's carry out strafing mission over Mille Atoll.
FRIDAY, 14 JANUARY 1944: In the Marshall Islands, 12 B-24's, staging through Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, bomb 3 islands in Kwajalein Atoll; 3 B-25's from Makin Island, Gilbert Islands fly a mission against shipping at Wotje Atoll; 2 of the B-25's attack 2 small vessels, sinking 1 and damaging the other; the other B-25 bombs a runway and building on the S part of Wotje.
THURSDAY, 20 JANUARY 1944: In the Marshall Islands, 13 B-24's, staging through Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, hit Wotje Atoll during the night of 19/20 Jan; 8 B-25's from Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands, bomb Rakaaru Island; other B-25's sent from Tarawa Atoll against shipping at Ailinglapalap Atoll, abort because of bad weather; 4 other P-40's bomb Mille Atoll.
SATURDAY, 22 JANUARY 1944: In the Marshall Islands, 18 B-24's, flying from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, hit targets on Kwajalein, Jaluit and Mille Atoll; 10 B-25's from Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands hit Maloelap Atoll; 9 others, flying out of Tarawa, bomb shipping and shore installations at Wotje Atoll; 3 B-25's are lost during the day's missions; 10 Japanese aircraft are claimed shot down.
SUNDAY, 23 JANUARY 1944: In the Marshall Islands, 21 B-25's from Tarawa Atoll and Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands, hit Taroa Island, Maloelap Atoll; the B-25's claim 3 fighters shot down; 23 B-24's, flying out of Makin and Abemama Islands, Gilbert Islands, bomb Wotje Atoll at dusk; 1 B-24 bombs Mille Atoll during return flight after developing engine trouble.
MONDAY, 24 JANUARY 1944: In the Marshall Islands, 24 A-24's from Makin Island, Gilbert Islands, supported by 12 P-39's and 7 P-40's, hit gun positions, storage areas, and barracks on Mille Atoll. In the late afternoon, 8 B-25's, staging through Makin Island, bomb the airfield on Wotje Atoll. 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. 1 other B-24 bombs Mille Atoll.
THURSDAY, 27 JANUARY 1944: In the Gilbert Islands, 6 B-25's from Tarawa Atoll hit Nauru Island, and 9 staging through Makin Island hit Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands; 23 A-24's, supported by 10 P-39's, pound Mille Atoll, Marshall Islands; and 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, Wotje, and Mille Atolls, Marshall Islands. 9 B-25's from Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, also carry out a strike against shipping and shore installations at Wotje. 12 P-39's, operating in flights of 4 aircraft, patrol and strafe Mille all day to deny the use of the airfield to the enemy.
MONDAY, 31 JANUARY 1944: In the Marshall Islands as US Army and USMC troops land on Kwajalein Atoll, under overall command of Admiral Raymond A Spruance, the USAAF hits other atolls. 19 A-24's bomb Mille Atoll airfield, over which P-39's and P-40's maintain all-day cover and harassment; during the night of 31 Jan/1 Feb, 8 B-24's, attacking at intervals, bomb Wotje Atoll.

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; P-40s based on Makin Island bomb and strafe Mille Atoll.
SUNDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 1944: B-24s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap and Wotje Atolls; A-24s and P-40s from Makin Island attack Mille Atoll;
MONDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 1944: B-25s from Tarawa Atoll and Abemama Island hit Wotje and Maloelap Atolls
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 Wotje Atoll and Taroa Island in Maloelap Atoll.
THURSDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 1944: B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Wotje and Maloelap Atolls; 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 Wotje and Maloelap Atolls; A-24s and P-39s from Makin Island bomb and strafe Mille Atoll.
SUNDAY, 13 FEBRUARY 1944: During the night of 13/14 Feb, B-24s from Tarawa Atoll operating individually at intervals, bomb Wotje and Mille Atolls and Taroa Island in Maloelap Atoll.
WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 1944: B-24s from Tarawa Atoll bomb Wotje Atoll and Taroa Island in Maloelap Atoll; A-24s bomb Mille Atoll.
SATURDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 1944: B-24s from Tarawa Atoll and Makin Island pound Ponape and Kusaie Islands; B-25s from Tarawa hit Wotje Atoll while Makin-based P-40s bomb and strafe Mille Atoll. US forces land on Enewetak Island in Eniwetok Atoll.
SUNDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 1944: 9 B-25s from Tarawa Atoll bomb the airfield at Wotje Atoll; P-40s from Makin Island strafe and bomb runways and small vessels at Mille Atoll.
THURSDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 1944: P-40s from Makin Island strafe and bomb the runway and radio installation on Mille Atoll; B-25s from Tarawa Atoll pound the airfield on Wotje Atoll.
FRIDAY, 25 FEBRUARY 1944: B-25's from Tarawa Atoll and Abemama Island hit Mille and Wotje Atolls; B-24s from Abemama and Tarawa pound Ponape Island.
SATURDAY, 26 FEBRUARY 1944: B-25s from Tarawa Atoll and Abemama Island attack Wotje and Jaluit Atolls; P-40s from Makin Island bomb and strafe targets on Mille Atoll. 27th and 38th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based on Nanumea Island, Ellice Islands begin operating from Abemama and Makin Islands, respectively, with B-24s.
SUNDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 1944: A-24s and P-40s from Makin Island pound Jaluit and Mille Atolls, while B-25s from Abemama Island hit Wotje and Mille Atolls; B-24s from Makin Island and Tarawa Atoll bomb Ponape Island.
MONDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 1944: P-40s from Makin Island strafe and bomb the runway and radio installation on Mille Atoll; B-25s from Tarawa Atoll pound the airfield on Wotje Atoll.
TUESDAY, 29 FEBRUARY 1944: B-24s bomb Maloelap, Mille and Wotje Atolls; B-25s hit Mille Atoll; P-40s attack Mille Atoll.

SATURDAY, 4 MARCH 1944: P-40s from Makin Island bomb and strafe runways at Mille Atoll. B-25s from Tarawa Atoll bomb airfield installations and runways in Wotje Atoll.
MONDAY, 6 MARCH 1944: A-24s and P-40s from Makin Island bomb and strafe runways at Mille Atoll. B-25s from Tarawa Atoll pound the airfield at Wotje Atoll.
WEDNESDAY, 8 MARCH 1944: A-24s and P-40s, from Makin Island, bomb and strafe runways and AA positions at Mille Atoll. Tarawa Atoll-based B-25s pound Wotje Atoll.
FRIDAY, 10 MARCH 1944: A-24s and P-40s from Makin Island and B-25s from Tarawa Atoll attack airfields, AA positions and radio installations at Mille and Wotje Atolls. B-25s, operating out of Engebi Island in Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands (secured by invading forces on 22 Feb) for the first time, bomb Kusaie Island.
SUNDAY, 12 MARCH 1944: B-24s from Tarawa Atoll bomb Mille, Wotje and Maloelap Atolls and Nauru Island, Gilbert Islands.
TUESDAY, 14 MARCH 1944: B-25s from Engebi Island, Enewetak Atoll bomb Kusaie Island. B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Wotje Atoll.
THURSDAY, 16 MARCH 1944: B-25s from Tarawa Atoll and Abemama Island pound Wotje and Mille Atolls and Ormed Island, Wotje Atoll.
MONDAY, 27 MARCH 1944: B-25s and B-24s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap, Mille and Wotje Atolls
THURSDAY, 30 MARCH 1944: B-24s from Kwajalein and Enewetak Atolls hit Truk Atoll before dawn. B-25s from Kwajalein and Tarawa Atolls strike Wotje, Mille, Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls.

SUNDAY, 9 APRIL 1944: B-24s on a photo reconnaissance mission over Maloelap, Wotje, 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.
FRIDAY, 21 APRIL 1944: B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll hit Wotje Atoll. 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: During the night of 21/22 Apr, B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll bomb Wotje Atoll; other B-24s from Kwajalein follow with another raid on Wotje during the day. B-25s from Tarawa Atoll, using Majuro Atoll as a shuttle base for rearming, bomb Jaluit, Maloelap and Mille Atolls.
SUNDAY, 23 APRIL 1944: B-24s based at Kwajalein Atoll hit Truk and Wotje Atolls. Makin Island-based B-25s hit Ponape Island and Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls.
MONDAY, 24 APRIL 1944: B-25s based on Makin Island hit Wotje Atoll.
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 Wotje and Maloelap Atolls. This is the first AAF mission against Guam. B-25s from Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll bomb Ponape Island, and Makin Island-based B-25s hit Wotje Atoll.
WEDNESDAY, 26 APRIL 1944: B-24s, having landed at Los Negros Island after bombing Guam Island on 25 Apr, hit Ponape Island and return to Kwajalein Atoll. B-25s based on Makin Island hit Wotje Atoll.
THURSDAY, 27 APRIL 1944: B-24s, staging through Enewetak Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll during the night of 26/27 Apr. B-25s from Eniwetok follow up during the day with 3 raids on Ponape Island; Makin Island-based B-25s hit Jaluit, Wotje and Mille Atolls.

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 Jaluit and Wotje Atolls, 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 bomb Wotje Atoll while others, based at Makin Island, 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.
SATURDAY, 6 MAY 1944: B-25s from Makin Island and Kwajalein Atoll hit Wotje Atoll.
SUNDAY, 7 MAY 1944: B-24s, staging through Enewetak Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll during the night of 6/7 May. B-25s from Engebi Island hit Ponape Island during the following day. Makin Island-based B-25s bomb Wotje Atoll.
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. B-24s that landed at Los Negros Island after the strike on Guam Island on 6 MAY return to the Marshall Islands, bombing Ponape Island en route.
TUESDAY, 9 MAY 1944: Makin Island-based B-25s hit Wotje and Jaluit Atolls, using Majuro Atoll as a rearming point between attacks.
WEDNESDAY, 10 MAY 1944: Makin Island-based B-25s raid Wotje Atoll.
SUNDAY, 21 MAY 1944: 53 B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll bomb various targets in Wotje Atoll; 41 B-25s, based on Makin Island, follow up with bombing, cannonading and strafing attack on the atoll. 8 B-24s stage through Enewetak Atoll, strike Rota Island, Marianas Islands, and rearm at Los Negros Island.
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.
MONDAY, 29 MAY 1944: Operations are restricted to photo missions over Wotje, Mille, and Jaluit Atolls.

SUNDAY, 25 JUNE 1944: B-24s based on Kwajelein Atoll hit Wotje Atoll.
TUESDAY, 18 JULY 1944: In the Marshall Islands, 5 B-24s, flying out of Kwajalein Atoll, hit Wotje Atoll. .
SUNDAY, 23 JULY 1944: B-24s staging through Enewetak Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll while others, flying out of Kwajalein Atoll, hit Wotje Atoll.
SUNDAY, 6 AUGUST 1944: B-25s flying out of the Marshall Islands hit Ponape Island; and B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll bomb Wotje Atoll.
THURSDAY, 10 AUGUST 1944: B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll hit Wotje Atoll.
MONDAY, 14 AUGUST 1944: From the Marshall Islands, B-25s hit Ponape Island and B-24s bomb Wotje Atoll. HQ VII Bomber Command moves from Kwajalein Atoll to Saipan Island.
MONDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER 1944: B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll strike Wotje Atoll.
FRIDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 1944: B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll bomb Wotje Atoll.

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.

[Wotje 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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