SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

23 May 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.

8 of 9 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

CBI

In NCAC area, Marauders at Charpate, Burma, withstand strong enemy attack. On Salween front, Japanese drive Chinese from hill positions on S flank.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
New Guinea

RCT 158 relieves elements of 163d Inf at Tor R mouth and begins westward drive toward Sarmi.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Allies start a new breakout from Anzio.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
Battle of Anzio

At 05:45 on 23 May 1944, 1,500 Allied artillery pieces commenced bombardment.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
Excerpt from the London Gazette, Issue 36527, page 2361, published 1944-05-23: "y any public body within forty days ofthe date of this notice at the Privy Council Office,Whitehall.

Source The London Gazette (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 33 Allied sorties (8 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1944-05-23, flown by 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 824 Allied sorties (44 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1944-05-23, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force, USAAF 15th Air Force. Targets included ITALY.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

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

THOR mission records show at least 50 Allied sorties (8 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1944-05-23, flown by USAAF 8th Air Force, RAF. Targets included UNKNOWN OR NOT INDICATED.

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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23 May in other years 1940 1941 1942 1943 1945

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23 May 1944

Entries

In NCAC area, Marauders at Charpate, Burma, withstand strong enemy attack. On Salween front, Japanese drive Chinese from hill positions on S flank.

RCT 158 relieves elements of 163d Inf at Tor R mouth and begins westward drive toward Sarmi.

Allies start a new breakout from Anzio.

At 05:45 on 23 May 1944, 1,500 Allied artillery pieces commenced bombardment.

Excerpt from the London Gazette, Issue 36527, page 2361, published 1944-05-23: "y any public body within forty days ofthe date of this notice at the Privy Council Office,Whitehall.

THOR mission records show at least 33 Allied sorties (8 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1944-05-23, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 824 Allied sorties (44 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1944-05-23, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force, USAAF 15th Air Force. Targets included ITALY.

THOR mission records show at least 50 Allied sorties (8 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1944-05-23, flown by USAAF 8th Air Force, RAF. Targets included UNKNOWN OR NOT INDICATED.

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