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• The US Navy announced that USS Corvina was missing and presumed lost with 82 aboard. ww2dbase [Corvina | CPC]
• Repair ship Akashi dispatched divers to inspect damage below the water line for patrol vessel PB-102 at Palau Islands. ww2dbase [Akashi | CPC]
• United States Marine Corps Squadron VMB-413 equipped with PBJ-1 bombers (B-25 Mitchell bombers which had been purchased by the US Navy but subsequently transferred to the Marine Corps) commenced combat operations from Stirling Island, New Hebrides. Ultimately the USMC would form sixteen B-25 Squadrons, nine of which would see action in World War II. ww2dbase [B-25 Mitchell | AC]
• US Joint Chiefs of Staff ordered Emirau Island to be taken, bypassing New Ireland in the South Pacific. ww2dbase [New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 3 | CPC]

• HMS Avon (K 97) picked up survivors of Norwegian motor vessel Tarifa, which was sunk by German submarine U-510 on 7 Mar 1944, in the Arabian Sea. The survivors would be landed at Socotra island in the Arabian Sea, where the British RAF had presence. ww2dbase [Socotra | HM]

• After advancing a further 14 miles, forward units of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) ran into Japanese troops north of Shaduzup, Burma, thus losing the element of surprise. The Japanese attacked in strength and caused casualties, but ultimately they failed to push the Americans back. In order to meet Joseph Stilwell's demand to reach Shaduzup by 24 Mar 1944, 1st Battalion decided to hack a new trail across uncharted jungle rather than following the established trails that was most likely defended by the Japanese. ww2dbase [Battle of Myitkyina | Shaduzup | CPC]

• While at Palau, Caroline Islands, divers from repair ship Akashi inspected Patrol Boat No. 102 for possible damage when a torpedo that failed to detonate struck the patrol boat five days prior. ww2dbase [Stewart | Palau | CPC]

• The escape tunnel "Harry" dug by the prisoners of Stalag Luft III near Sagan, Germany (now Zagan, Poland) was completed. The audacious plan created by fighter pilot Roger Bushell to escape some 200 prisoners of war was scheduled for ten days later and had involved every man of the 600 prisoners in the camp having a specific role to play. In the event the tunnel was found to end short of a protective screen of trees and only 76 men got out before the Germans discovered the tunnel's exit. ww2dbase [Sagan, Niederschlesien | AC]

• William Slim requested Louis Mountbatten to divert aircraft originally assigned to fly the Hump to instead bring men and supplies to Imphal, India. Mountbatten agreed, diverting 30 transport planes to bring the Indian 5th Division to Imphal and Dimapur, India. ww2dbase [Battle of Imphal-Kohima | CPC]

• One Italian motor torpedo boat attacked the Allied beachhead at Anzio, Italy before dawn, causing no damage and suffering no losses. ww2dbase [Battle of Anzio | Anzio, Lazio | CPC]
• "Barbarigo" naval infantry battalion of Italian Navy Xa MAS arrived at Anzio, Italy and was placed under the command of German 715th Division. ww2dbase [Anzio, Lazio | CPC]

• I-14, previously known as Submarine No. 5091, was launched at Kobe, Japan. ww2dbase [I-14 | Kobe, Hyogo | CPC]
• Kamikaze departed Ominato, Aomori Prefecture, Japan for the Kurile Islands. ww2dbase [Kamikaze | Ominato, Aomori | CPC]

• USS Whale departed Midway Atoll for her seventh war patrol. ww2dbase [Midway Bases | Whale | Midway | CPC]

• Hannah Szenes was parachuted into Yugoslavia as a Special Operations Executive (SOE) operative. ww2dbase [Special Operations Executive | Hannah Szenes | CPC]

14 Mar 1944 Interactive Map