[Fritz]

Week 3 Jan 44

Operations continued on Eniwetok with the 27th Infantry Division clearing the final Japanese defenders from their caves. Base force troops who were struggling on Rongelap 240 Miles to the SW have moved over to Eniwietok and have opened the port and airstrips. Operation Forward Feather, the transport of 24 Corsairs to Einwetok aboard the new USS Yorktown is underway. Eniwetok is within range of Betty Bombers based on Truk, so shipping into the region requires air cover.

Base building operations on the desolate Bikini Atoll, 180 SW of Einwetok, have resulted in a single airstrip being carved from the coral. The Bikini base was started to give airmen an emergency airstrip, and is not suited for operations. Plans are being drafted to evacuate the island garrison.

Heavy Bombers continue to pound Kwajalin island, further damaging the airfield and beach defense system.

In the South Pacific, preparation for amphibious operations against Buka continue. Air raids of up to 150 bombers a day strike at the base. With most airfield and port facilities in tatters, the strikes are now concentrating on known troop locations. Joining the preparatory bombardment are two surface forces based around several Battleship each. The Task Forces, basing out of nearby Buin, are able to get a strike in every other day each. Troops for Operation Topknot, the amphibious landing, should be hitting the beach by the end of the month.

A B24 Squadron with a P38 Squadron for Escorts was moved onto Green Island north of Buka to begin air strikes against the major base at Truk.

South West (NG) operations continue to focus of airpower, with devastating strikes being launched against Madang and Wewak on the New Guinea north coast, and against Rabaul on New Britain. A RCT based at Arawe on NB is about halfway through a hard march to Gasmata on the south coast. Another RCT of the same division is enroute to Talasea. When both of these locations are captured, all of New Britain except Rabaul will be under Allied control.

South West (DEI) operations continue to procede slowly. The Australian base at Babo has been reinforced with a squadron of Kittyhawk fighters, and as the week comes to a close, B25 medium bombers could be seen moving into the area. Patrols of the sea continue to turn up lightly escorted convoys.

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The War Department has released another division to the Pacific theater. The 38th Infantry reported to San Francisco and awaits transit to Hawaii to begin training for Mariana's operations.

Scanning the operational map, Navy planners in Washington have concluded that bases at Woleai and/or Satawal some 300 miles south of Guam might be of use in support of the Mariana's campaign. South Pacific has been tasked with developing invasion plans for islands. The major obstacle for invading these islands is the distance from controlled airfields (at least 600 miles) and the presence of Truk 240 miles southeast of Satawal.