http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1944/apr44/24apr44.htm#
“Meteors” over Munich
Monday, April 24, 1944 www.onwar.com
Over Germany... The US 8th Air Force raids factories and airfields in Friedrichshafen, near Munich. A total of 55 planes are lost, including 14 which land or crash in Switzerland. During the night, 250 RAF Lancaster bombers scatter “Flying Meteor” methane-petrol incendiary bombs over Munich causing devastation in the area between Central Station and the Isar River.
In Liberated Italy... The Italian “Co-Belligerent Air Force” now operates over the Adriatic Sea.
In New Guinea... American forces reach Lake Sentani near Hollandia. To the east, Australian forces advancing from the Huon Peninsula capture Madang.
In Egypt... British troops end their blockade of the mutinous Greek brigade encampment.
http://www.etherit.co.uk/month/thismonth/24.htm
April 24th, 1944
UNITED KINGDOM: The actor and composer Ivor Novello is sentenced to two months imprisonment for offences concerned with petrol rationing.
Submarine HMS Selene launched.
Frigate HMS Cawsand Bay laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
ENGLISH CHANNEL: Rescue tug HMS Zoder Zee torpedoed and sunk by a German MTB off Dungeness. (Dave Shirlaw)
GERMANY: A Mosquito VI, piloted by Wg./Cdr. G. L. “Leonard” Cheshire VC, of No. 617 Squadron is used to carry out the first low-level target-marking during a raid on Augsburg. (22)
U-793, U-1018 commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
EGYPT: Alexandria: The remaining striking warships and the First Brigade of the Greek Army surrender, ending a three-week mutiny in the exiled Greek forces under the Allied High Command.
BURMA: Air Commando Combat Mission N0. 49 3:15 Flight Time.
Hailakandi, Assam to Indaw, Burma. Bombed Japanese supply dumps and railroad. Notes: We circled over the lake where we had been the day before. I looked at what was left of the Burmese village. There were dozens of spots of gray. The town was just not there. I wondered what their casualties were? My pilot and friend was on his way to the States and I now flew Barbie III with many different pilots, some good and some not so good; hoping I would also be rotated back to the ZI in the near future. (Chuck Baisden)
NEW GUINEA: Australian troops capture Madang.
CANADA: Corvette HMCS Orangeville commissioned.
Minesweeper HMCS Mulgrave arrived Devonport and assigned 32nd Minesweeping flotilla, then 31st Minesweeping Flotilla.
Corvettes HMCS Alberni and Port Arthur departed Halifax for UK.
Tug HMCS Shawville assigned to Gaspe, Province of Quebec.
(Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: Washington: US military strategists agree that to defeat Japan it will be necessary to invade Japan itself.
Charles Lindbergh, the famous aviator, leaves San Diego bound for the Pacific theatre as a consultant for the Chance-Vought corporation, to observe various problems being encountered by Corsair pilots. (Marc James Small)
Destroyer USS Drexler laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-672 was attacked twice on this day by Allied aircraft, suffering slight damage. (Dave Shirlaw)