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5 April 1944

What happened on this day in the Second World War, from 1939 to 1945, with a source for every entry.

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Each day we list events from the Second World War that happened on that date, from 1939 to 1945. Every entry names its source and links to it, so you can read further. Entries are sourced and machine-screened before they go up, a subset is human-reviewed, and we add more over time.

6 of 7 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

Rumania

U.S. Fifteenth Air Force drops 588 tons of bombs on Ploesti rail targets. Although not admitted as such, this is actually the beginning of an oil offensive in which U.S. Eighth Air Force joins, starting on 12 May.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
CBI

In NCAC area of Burma, further efforts by 3d Bn, U.S. 5307th Unit, to break through to Nhpum Ga are vain; beleaguered 2d Bn checks Japanese efforts to reduce perimeter.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
US Air Force bombs Ploiești oil fields in Romania, with heavy losses.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 78 Allied sorties (27 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1944-04-05, flown by RAF, USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Mediterranean Theater

THOR mission records show at least 175 Allied sorties (6 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1944-04-05, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force, USAAF 9th Air Force.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
European Theater

THOR mission records show at least 41 Allied sorties (6 recorded unit missions) in the European Theater on 1944-04-05, flown by RAF. Targets included FRANCE.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.

The full list for this date is being cleaned and will return soon.

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5 April in other years 1940 1941 1942 1943 1945

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5 April 1944

Entries

U.S. Fifteenth Air Force drops 588 tons of bombs on Ploesti rail targets. Although not admitted as such, this is actually the beginning of an oil offensive in which U.S. Eighth Air Force joins, starting on 12 May.

In NCAC area of Burma, further efforts by 3d Bn, U.S. 5307th Unit, to break through to Nhpum Ga are vain; beleaguered 2d Bn checks Japanese efforts to reduce perimeter.

US Air Force bombs Ploiești oil fields in Romania, with heavy losses.

THOR mission records show at least 78 Allied sorties (27 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1944-04-05, flown by RAF, USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 175 Allied sorties (6 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1944-04-05, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force, USAAF 9th Air Force.

THOR mission records show at least 41 Allied sorties (6 recorded unit missions) in the European Theater on 1944-04-05, flown by RAF. Targets included FRANCE.

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