18 Feb 1944
  • Escort carrier USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) was commissioned with Captain Joseph L. "Paddy" Kane in command. ww2dbase [Main Article | AC]
  • Destroyer Yuzuki departed Rabaul and arrived at Qavuvu in the New Britain, Bismarck Islands. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
  • Soviet units captured Staraya Russa, Russia. ww2dbase [TH]
  • German Armeegruppe Nord withdrew to the line Narva-Pleskau-Oposhka in northeastern Europe. ww2dbase [TH]
  • Mosquito bombers of the RAF's No. 464 and No. 487 Squadrons attacked the German prison at Amiens, France in an attempt to allow the escape of French resistance fighters who were being held there under sentence of death. The leader of the raid, Group Captain P. C. Pickard, was shot down and killed in combat with Focke-Wulf fighters. ww2dbase [AC]
  • The Abwehr, German military intelligence, was officially dissolved. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • George Patton noted in his diary that "I wish [Dwight Eisenhower] was more of a soldier and less of a politician." ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
Australian New Guinea
  • 11 G4M bombers withdrew from Rabaul, New Britain to the Mariana Islands, while a number of B5N torpedo bombers withdrew to Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
British Western Pacific Territories
  • USS Columbia departed Nissan, Green Islands. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
Caroline Islands
  • USS Yorktown (Essex-class) departed the Caroline Islands set a course for the Mariana Islands. ww2dbase [Main Article | DS]
  • US carrier aircraft destroyed 270 Japanese aircraft at Truk in the Caroline Islands after a two-day raid. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
Italy
  • The Germans made progress at Anzio, Italy, but were finally beaten back by artillery and naval gunfire. ww2dbase [Main Article | TH]
  • German tanks eliminated the 28th (Maori) Battalion bridgehead on the Rapido River in Italy. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
United Kingdom
  • The German Luftwaffe's "Little Blitz" continued as London, England, United Kingdom was bombed again. ww2dbase [Main Article | TH]
Photo(s) dated 18 Feb 1944
OS2U Kingfisher recovered by Baltimore after the aircraft rescued downed pilot Lt. George Blair, off Truk, 18 Feb 1944Mosquito bombers of No. 487 Squadron RNZAF attacking the prison (large building at center left) at Amiens during Operation Jericho, France, 18 Feb 1944The prison at Amiens, France under RAF, RNZAF, RAAF attack with Mosquito bombers during Operation Jericho, 18 Feb 1944USS Petrof Bay plankowner’s certificate, 18 Feb 1944
See all photos dated 18 Feb 1944

18 Feb 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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Random Photograph

USS Yorktown seen from a TBD-1 aircraft, Pacific Ocean, Apr 1942; note F4F-3 Wildcat fighter preparing for takeoff, and fleet oiler USS Guadaloupe, a destroyer, and a cruiser just beyond




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Famous WW2 Quote
"Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue."

Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, 16 Mar 1945