Eighth Air Force. Almost 1,100 United States Army Air Force
(USAAF) heavy bombers attack primary targets; 3 benzol plants
at Bochum and Gelsenkirchen, oil refinery at Dortmund, tank
plant near Siegen, marshalling yards at Siegen, Rheine, Munster,
and Osnabruck, and Wesel rail bridge, plus Haselunne and Haltern.
8 fighters groups fly escort and strafe rail traffic. 4 other
fighters groups effectively strafe rail and road transportation
in Hannover, Brunswick, and Magdeburg areas.
Ninth Air Force. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) 9th
Bomber Division B-26 Marauder medium bombers, A-26 Invader light bombers, and
A-20 Havoc light bombers, strike Mechernich prime mover depot,
rail bridges at Pracht, Niederscheld, and Neuwied, Irlich,
Wiesbaden ordnance depot, and 4 targets. Fighters escort 9th
Bomber Division, attack railroads and bridges, fly armed reconnaissance
and alerts, and co-operate with VIII, XII, and XX Corps East
of Our River, between Westwall and Prum River, and in the
Saar-Mosel triangle.
Twelfth Air Force. General Morris takes command of XII Air
Force Services Command designated the III Air Service Area
Command). Bad weather grounds medium bombers. Fighter-bombers,
some bombing by radar control because of heavy clouds, attack
command and dumps in West Po Valley and Northeast Italy, and
claim several rail line cuts in Brenner area.
Fifteenth Air Force. During
18-19
February 1945, 11 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-24
Liberator heavy bombers drop supplies in North Italy. During
the day almost 500 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers and B-17 Flying
Fortress heavy bombers, escorted by about 220 P-51 Mustang
fighter-bombers and P-38 Lightning fighters, bomb 2 marshalling
yards and South station area in Vienna, marshalling yards
at Klagenfurt, Graz, Bruck an der Mur, and Maribor, shipyards
in Fiume, and Pula harbour and military installations. 51
P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers strafe rail and river traffic
and airfields between Linz and Vienna and in Graz area. Other
P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers and P-38 Lightning fighters fly
escort and reconnaissance missions.
Tenth Air Force. 24 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-25
Mitchell medium bombers and 31 P-47 Thunderbolt fighters fly
close support strikes in Mongmit-Myitson area. 70 fighter-bombers
hit troop concentrations, supplies, and villages behind the
battle line in Central Burma. Heavy transport operations continue.
Fourteenth Air Force. 14 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers and P-40 fighters blast rail
and river traffic at Chiuchiang, Hsuchang, Lung Hai, and Tsinpu.
Far East Air Force (FEAF). United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers bomb Koshun, Heito, and Takao
airfields. Medium bombers and fighters on sweeps over the
island attack a large number of targets including trains parked
aeroplanes, buildings, and coastal vessels. In Central Phil,
United States Marine Corps (USMC) Corsairs under tactical
command of Thirteenth Air Force fly napalm strikes against
airfields and other targets. Fighters, B-25 Mitchell medium
bombers, and A-20 Havoc light bombers continue to support
ground forces at San Augustin, Carranglen, Balete Pass, and
Bataan Peninsula and bomb Japanese held sectors on Corregidor.
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers bomb Miri airfield.
Thirteenth Air Force. General Wurtsmith becomes Commanding
General Thirteenth Air Force.
Twentieth Air Force. Approximately 50 United States Army Air
Force (USAAF) B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber's bomb Central
Railroad Repair Shops at Kuala Lumpur, some bombing from only
1,000 ft. 4 other very heavy bombers hit alternates of Alor
Star airfield, and marshalling yard at Martaban. 150 B-29
Superfortress heavy bomber's are airborne against Musashino
aircraft plant hoping to draw air reinforcements away from
Iwo Jima which United States Marines invade. Thick clouds
completely cover the primary so 119 B-29 Superfortress heavy
bomber's bomb port and urban area of Tokyo. 12 others hit
last resort targets and targets. 6 B-29 Superfortress heavy
bomber's are lost. United States gunners claim 39 fighters
downed.
Seventh Air Force. 44 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers from Saipan are sent against
Iwo Jima. 14 pound defensive positions and bivouac and storage
areas little more than an hr before elements of United States
4th and 5th Marine Divisions make amphibious landing on Southeast
coast at 0900. The other 30 heavy bombers abort because of
cloud cover, mechanical trouble, or arrival over target too
late to make a bomb run. 26 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers from
Angaur bomb Likanan airfield. During 19-
20
February 1945, 8 Saipan based B-24 Liberator heavy bombers
fly individual heckler strikes over Chichi Jima.
Eleventh Air Force. 6 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers fly photo reconnaissance over
Shimushu and bomb Kurabu Cape airfield. 6 fighters intercept;
the B-24 Liberator heavy bombers claim 4 damaged. 4 B-25 Mitchell
medium bombers weather-abort a mission to hit targets along
the Hayakegawa River.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Ilford.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit East Anglian Coast.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Abbess Roding.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Epping Forest.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Wanstead / Woodford.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Crayford.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Woolwich.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Greenwich.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit near Clacton.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Walthamstow.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Stoke.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Laindon.
Go To: 20th
February
Articles:
The Second Great War.
Edited by Sir John Hamilton
The War Illustrated.
Edited by Sir John Hamilton
2194 Days Of War.
ISBN-10: 086136614X
For a complete list of
sources
