| | The 10th began the month with an attack on the Mu River bridge between Ywataung and Monywa on the 1st; during the attack the lead pilot was forced to pull up during his bomb run to avoid a tree, releasing his bombs as he nosed up, the bombs scored a direct hit on the bridge, sending two spans into the water; subsequent testing showed this to be a good bridge bombing maneuver; the tactic was later refined by the 490th Bomb Squadron (M), earning them the nick name °Burma Bridge Busters°. Also on the 1st, A-36s and P-51s attacked the airfield at Myitkyina. Oil facilities were the target on the second with attacks made on the fuel plant, work shops, refinery and power station at Yenganyaung, and the Loilaw bridge. The warehouses and dump at Sahmaw, and pumping station at Yenganyaung were hit on the 3rd. On the 4th the Mu River bridge was again bombed with damage being done to temporary bridge repair facilities, railway cars, a barge, and buildings. The 10th carried out ground support missions at Sumprabum, Taipha, Kamaing, Pahok and Sahmaw Junction on the 6th. On the 7th oil plants and storage tanks in the Lanywa area, and bomb supply and troop positions at Nanyaseik were bombed. P-51s and A36s knocked out a bridge, destroyed a warehouse and railroad tracks in the Hopin are, and destroyed a locomotive at Tingyaingza on the 8th. On the 9th P51s and A-36s attacked the Loilaw area, damaging a bridge, scoring hits on a large barracks, and hitting an ammunition storage building. The 10th was a busy day with attacks being made on a bivouac at Nanyaseik, a bridge at Namti, the marshaling yard and airfield at Bangkok, the main jetty at Akyab, and mine laying operations in the Menam river estuary near Bangkok, the Rangoon River, and the Sittang River ferry crossing at Mokpalin. On the 11th A-36s and P-51s hit a troop encampment, causing considerable damage. The marshaling yards at Letpadan were bombed on the 12th, causing considerable damage to warehouses, engine sheds, Myohang was also hit on the this date. On the 13th troop concentrations at Lawawng Ga, a communications center and dumps along the Kamaing-Mogaung road, the airfield at Myitkyina, and targets in Maran Ga, and Shaduzup were bombed and strafed. Bad weather on the 14th limited 10th Air Force activities to fighter patrols in the area of Sumprabum. On the 15th P-40s and a B-25 hit a train at Pinwe. Ground forces in the Shaduzup-Ngamaw and Taro areas were the targets of A-36s and P-51s on the 17th, along with supply dumps, warehouses, and rolling stock at Sahmaw and the airfield at Myitkyina. The 18th saw P-38s attacking the airfield and satellite field at Meiktila, B-24s and B-25s bombing and encampment area at Kyaukchaw, P-51s hitting troops, dumps and workshops at Sawnghka, and P-40s hitting troops and stores at Shaduzup; 3 transports were lost to Japanese fighters during a supply drop southeast of Sumprabum. B-24s bombed the marshaling
yard and the Don Maung railroad station at Bangkok, P-40s hit Wakshang, and A-36s and P-51s hit targets along roads from Ngamaw Ga Maingkwan to Mashi Daru on the 19th. On the 20th A-36s and P-51s hit storage dumps along the railway in the Mogaung area and billets and warehouses at Mohnyin, also on this date, P-38s and B-25s destroyed a railroad bridge, pipeline and railroad tracks in the Nattalin area. P40s attacked the Loilaw bridge and strafed Budagon, A-36s and P-51s supported ground troops near Sumprabum, while others bombed forces southwest of Kamaing on the 21st. The 22nd saw B-24s bombing an encampment at Prome, A-36s, P-51s and a single B-25 hitting communications and supply dumps between Kumnyen and Ngamaw Ga, A-36s and P-51s supporting ground troops in the Sumprabum area, and P-40s damaging the Namkwin railroad bridge. A ship and two small boats were sunk on the river at Mergui, a bridge at Myittha knocked out, a second bridge at Samon damaged, along with several trucks and railroad cars, supply dumps at Kamaing and Mogaung bombed and strafed, the airfield at Myitkyina, railroad cars at Pidaung, and the railroad bridge at Loilaw attacked on the 23rd. Maungdaw, a camp at Razabil, and targets of opportunity between Maungdaw and Buthidaung were bombed on the 26th. On the 29th B-24s, supported by P-38s bombed gasoline plants at Yenganyaung, a single B-24 hit Akyab, and the bridges at Meza and Pyintha were hit by B-25s. The 10th closed out the month by attacking bridges at Meza, Zawchaung, and Kyungon and vehicles between Taipha and Tsumhpawng Ga.
The following unit movements and changes were made during January 1944:
The 315th Troop Carrier Squadron was activated at Dinjan on the 1st.
The 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, AAF India-Burma Sector, arrived at Gushkara, India from the US with P-40's and F-7's respectively on the 5th.
The 315th Troop Carrier Squadron, Tenth Air Force, transferred from Dinjan to Sylhet, India with C-47's on the 10th.
The 27th Troop Carrier Squadron, Tenth Air Force (attached to the Troop Carrier Command, Eastern Air Command), arrived at Sylhet, India from the US with C-47's on the 15th.
HQ 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy) transferred from Pandaveswar to Kurmitola, India on the 17th.
The 492d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transferred from Panagarh to Madhaiganj, India with B-24's.
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