| ���������� | ����April began with 10 B-25s making attacks on bridges and roads behind enemy lines as the 10th made 478 transport flights in support of the advance of the British 36th Division from Mandaly towards Rangoon on the 1st. Bad weather on the 2nd cancelled all offensive missions, but the air supply missions in support of the advance on Rangoon continued with 469 flights being made. On the 3rd the weather continued to wreak havoc on offensive operations allowing only a few fighter-bombers to hit Japanese troops in a wooded area near Kenglong, and 383 supply sorties. The weather on the 4th allowed only a small number of attacks on troop concentrations, food, and fuel supplies behind enemy lines in central Burma, with transports operating on a steady basis throughout the day: in the U.S. the Joint Chiefs Of Staff designated General Of The Army Douglas MacArthur Commander-in-Chief, US Army Forces, Pacific (CINCUSAFPAC), and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CINCPOA). Bad weather cancelled scheduled strikes on the 5th, but allowed the transports to continue large scale operations to forward areas. With improving weather conditions on the 6th combat strikes in the central Burma battle area increased; 70+ fighter-bombers attacked troop concentrations, artillery positions, tanks, trucks, fuel dumps, and general targets of opportunity along and immediately behind enemy lines; targets were located in several areas including Paklu, Nawnghkio, Loilem, Takaw, Mong Hko, Kongleng, Nawnghsan Pu, and Indaw; air supply sorties continued on a steady basis throughout the day. 95 fighter-bombers operating over and behind Japanese lines in central Burma pounded troop concentrations, trucks, and supply areas, and swept roads south of the bomb line on the 7th. The 8th saw 50+ P-38s and P-47s operating in central Burma battle areas attack troops, supplies, gun positions, and trucks at several points along and behind enemy lines, and sweep roads south of bomb line; transports maintain operations throughout the day. On the 9th 70+ P-38s and P-47s attacked troops, supplies, gun positions, and general targets of opportunity along and behind the central Burma battleline around Mong Pawn, Wan Htum, Pang po, Kyawkku, Mong Hko, Hanhwe-Mu, Laihka, and other points; transports completed 415 sorties to forward areas. About 30 fighter-bombers attacked troop concentrations at Tonglau, at points along the Zawgyi River, and at other locations in the central Burma battle area; 455 transport sorties were flown to forward areas on the 10th. On the 11th 54 fighter-bombers hit troop and supply concentrations near Mong Kung and Mong Nim, attacked trucks and targets of opportunity in other areas behind the battleline, and swept several roads S of bomb line; transports flew 424 sorties carrying men and supplies to forward areas. The 12th witnessed 75 fighter-bombers pounding targets in the central Burma battle area; troop concentrations, gun positions, supplies, vehicles, and general targets of opportunity were attacked along the battlefront, behind enemy lines, and along roads south of the bomb line; 369 air supply sorties were flown throughout the day. 30+ P-47s and P-38s attacked troops and supplies in the Hamn gai, Loi-hseng, and Wan Yin areas and swept roads south of the bomb line in central Burma; air transport operations to the front areas total 450 sorties on the 13th. On the 14th, 41 P-47s and P-38s attacked troops, supplies, and fuel dumps at Tawnghkam Nawng-hkam, Mong Kung, Loi- makhkawn, and Nawngkaw; 8 P-38s damage bridges at Kong Pau and Kyawngteng; 446 transport flights were flown to forward areas. 62 P-38s and P-47s attacked troop concentrations and supply areas at Loi-Mwe, Lawksawk, Thongdan, and near Laihka; Transports flew 312 to forward areas on the 15th. On the 16th, 22 fighter-bombers pounded troop concentrations in the Ke-hsi Mansam vicinity; 19 others attacked road bridges behind enemy lines, claiming 1 bridge destroyed; air transport operations to forward areas continued on steady basis. 18 fighter-bombers hit troops and supplies near Mong Kung and Wan Hpun; 12 others attack vehicles and other targets of opportunity along roads S of the bomb line; 489 transport sorties are completed to forward areas throughout the day on the 17th. 21 P-38s attacked troop concentration, tanks, artillery positions, and a bivouac area near Man Li and Kongsam; 5 P-61s hit a supply area west of Laihka; transports landed or dropped 806 tons of supplies at forward bases and frontline areas on the 18th. The 19th saw 14 P-38s hit supplies near Paklu, a fuel dump at Hainang, and bridges near Kunna; 1 bridge was knocked out; 6 other P-38s attacked targets of opportunity along roads behind enemy lines; air supply operations continued as 800 tons of supplies were landed or dropped in forward areas. 32 P-38s knocked out 3 bridges and damaged 5 others in central Burma behind the enemy lines; 12 P-47s hit a troop concentration and ration dump at Tonglau, 18 attacked a troop concentration around a monastery at Kengkawmanhaung, and 12 attacked troops along a stream near Wan Nahpeit; 497 transport sorties landed or dropped 784 tons of supplies in forward areas on the 20th. Bad weather over central Burma forces the 10th to cancel or abort all combat missions however, transports completed 464 sorties, landing or dropping 682 tons of supplies to forward areas on the 21st. Bad weather again cancelled scheduled air strikes on the 22nd, but 464 transport sorties flew 664 tons of supplies to forward areas. The weather cleared on the 23rd, allowing 7 P-61s to attack with napalm, rockets, and cannon several targets during sweeps from Laihka to Loilem to Hopong to Wan Yin; Laihka Airfields, a bridge south of Wan Yin, trucks, and other targets were successfully pounded; 40+ fighter-bombers attacked troop concentrations along and behind the lines at several points including Loilem, Nawng Leng, Mong Pawn, and Naungtaw; a bridge at Namhkok was temporarily out due to bomb damage to approaches; 570 transport sorties were flown to forward areas throughout the day. About 40 P-47s and P-38s attacked troop concentrations, storage areas, vehicles, and targets of opportunity in the Mong Nawng vicinity, west of Mong Kung-Laihka road, south of Loilem, and at Wan Hsan; transports landed or dropped 747 tons of supplies at advance bases and in frontline areas on the 24th. 16 P-38s attacked truck parks, fuel dumps, and supply areas at Hopong and Hotang; 20 other P-38s hit troops at Wan Kinglong and at other points in the central Burma battle area; transports completed 445 sorties to forward areas, landing or dropping 624 tons of supplies on the 25th. On the 26th 30 P-38s and P-47s attacked troop concentrations east of Wan Sing, at Naungtaw, and in the vicinity of Loilem; transports landed or dropped 553 tons of supplies at forward bases and frontline areas. The 27th saw 37 P-38s and P-47s hit troop concentrations in the Wan Pong and Nawng Leng areas; 12 other fighter bombers swept roads south of the bomb line; transports completed 408 sorties throughout the day, landing or dropping 618 tons of supplies at forward bases and frontline areas. 8 P-38s attacked a cavalry regiment and supplies in the Namhok area; 6 others hit a bivouac area near Pawngleng; 22 P-47s were detailed to strike at troops, artillery positions, trucks, elephants, and carts along and behind the enemy lines in C Burma; despite bad weather most of the fighter-bombers completed their missions; transports made 441 flights to forward areas, landing or dropping 610 tons of supplies on the 28th. 5 P-47s attacked Laihka Airfield; 6 others straffed troops and horses at Tadamo; transports flew 427 sorties to forward areas, landing or dropping 537 tons of supplies on the 29th. Bad weather on the 30th forced cancellation of all scheduled combat strikes, but air supply operations to forward areas continued on a steady basis.
The following movements and changes took place during April:
The 12th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3d Combat Cargo Group, moved from Moran to Tulihal with C-47s; detachments of the 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, operating from Tulihal and Cox's Bazar with F-7s, returned to base at Guskharaon on the 1st.
The 166th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moved from Ondaw to Meiktila, Burma with UC-64s and L-5s on the 5th.
The 3d Combat Cargo Squadron, 1st Combat Cargo Group, moved from Tulihal to Hathazari, India with C-47s. on the 7th.
The 156th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, based at Kalaikunda, India with UC-64s and L-5s, sent a detachment to operate from Myitche, Burma on the 8th.
The 82d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th Bombardment Group (Medium), based at Fenny, India with B-25s, began operating from Meiktila, Burma on the 10th.
The 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, based at Myitkyina, Burma with F-6s and P-40s, sent a flight to operate from Akyab, Burma on the 12th.
The 317th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, moves from Palel to Kalaikunda, India with C-47s on the 13th.
1st Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop Carrier Group, moved from Sookerating, India to Warazup, Burma with C-47s.
The 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, moved from Myitkyina, Burma to Nagaghuli, India with F-6s and P-40s (a flight was operating from Akyab, Burma)
The 164th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moved from Asansol, India to Sinthe, Burma with UC-64s and L-5s all on the 20th.
The 81st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th Bombardment Group (Medium), based at Fenny, India with B-25s, sent a detachment to operate from Meiktila, Burma on the 21st.
The 71st and 115th Liaison Squadrons, Tenth AF [attached to 1st Liaison Group (Provisional)], moved from Myityina, Burma to Dinjan, India (air echelons remained at Myitkyina with UC-64s, L-1s, L-4s and L-5s until May) on the 24th.
The 165th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moved from Sinthe, Burma to Asansol, India with UC-64s and L-5s on the 25th.
The 166th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moved from Meiktila to Toungoo with UC-64s and L-5s on the 29th.
The 82d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th Bombardment Group (Medium), ceased operating from Meiktila, Burma and returned to base at Fenny, India with B-25s on the 28th
The 81st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th Bombardment Group (Medium), ceased operating from Meiktila, Burma with B-25s and returned to base at Fenny, India, and the 317th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, based at Kalaikunda, India with C-47s, sent a detachment to operate from Akyab, Burma on the 29th
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