21 Apr 1944
  • USS Croaker was commissioned into service with Commander John E. Lee in command. ww2dbase [Croaker | CPC]
  • Operation Chattanooga: Allied aircraft destroyed German rail and other transportation targets. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | CPC]
  • Allied bombers conducted a raid on Belgrade, Yugoslavia. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • Colonel General Erhard Raus replaced Hans-Valentin Hube as the commander of the German 1.Panzerarmee. Hube was killed in a plane crash on the previous day. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • USS Gar ended her eleventh war patrol. ww2dbase [Gar | CPC]
Burma
  • Joseph Stilwell gave orders to launch a desperate plan in an attempt to capture Myitkyina, Burma, having Chinese and American troops march over the difficult Kumon Mountains starting on the following day. ww2dbase [Joseph Stilwell | Battle of Myitkyina | CPC]
Dutch East Indies Hawaii India Japan
  • Yamato departed Kure, Japan for Okinoshima and loaded troops. ww2dbase [Yamato | Kure, Hiroshima | CPC]
Pacific Ocean
  • As part of US Navy Carrier Task Force 58, USS Portland screened carriers launching the initial strikes in support of the landings at Hollandia on New Guinea. ww2dbase [New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 3 | Portland | DS]
Philippines
  • Patrol Boat No. 102 departed Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippines at 1200 hours and arrived at Jolo, Jolo island, Philippines at 1755 hours. ww2dbase [Stewart | Zamboanga, Mindanao | CPC]
United Kingdom
  • No. 486 Squadron RNZAF, flying Tempest V fighters, arrived at RAF Newchurch in southern England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [RAF Newchurch | Newchurch, England | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 21 Apr 1944
RAF Mustang Mk IIIs of No 19 Squadron based at Ford, Sussex painted with white nose and wing stripes to prevent mis-identification as Me 109s, Apr 21, 1944PB2Y aircraft at San Juan Naval Air Station, Puerto Rico, 21 Apr 1944Actress Vivian Leigh speaks to the 381st Bomb Group at Ridgewell, Hallstead, UK during the christening ceremonies for B-17G “Stage Door Canteen,” 21 Apr 1944. Also present were actors Alfred Lunt and Laurence Olivier.Mary Churchill, daughter of the Prime Minister, holding up a bottle of Coca-Cola just before she cracked it over the machine gun barrels of the B-17G “Stage Door Canteen” as a christening, 21 Apr 1944 at Ridgewell.
See all photos dated 21 Apr 1944

21 Apr 1944 Interactive Map

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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