Attack On Wewak Concludes

SUN 19 MAR 1944
Pacific
TG 74.5 concludes its bombardment of Japanese positions in Wewak area. Destroyer Daly (DD-519) sinks auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 10 off Mushu, Wewak, 03°33'S, 143°38'E.

USAAF B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and P-38s (5th Air Force) destroy four-ship Japanese convoy 50 miles northwest of Wewak, sinking cargo ships Yakumo Maru and Taiei Maru and their escorts, auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 47 and Cha 49, 02°55'S, 143°40'E.

USAAF planes sink Japanese ship Kaen Maru off Wuhu, China.

U.S. freighter Oriental is damaged by mine east of Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 15°31'36"S, 167°17'49"E, but makes port under own power; there are no casualties among the ship's complement, which includes a 28-man Armed Guard.

Indian Ocean
U.S. freighter John A. Poor is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-510 at 13°58'N, 70°30'E; 25 of the 43-man merchant complement perish with the ship, as do 9 of the 30-man Armed Guard (see 20 March).

Atlantic
TBF and FM-2 aircraft (VC 6) from escort carrier Block Island sink German submarine U-1059, Atlantic area, 13°10'N, 33°44'W.

Mediterranean
Submarine chaser PC-545 on patrol west of Anzio, sinks a German E-boat.