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• » 21 Feb 1944

• Submarine Sea Cat was launched, sponsored by Mrs. E. L. Cochrane. ww2dbase [Sea Cat | CPC]
• USS Iowa was assigned to escort the Fast Carrier Task Force during a raid in the Mariana Islands. ww2dbase [Iowa | CPC]
• USS Cero damaged a Japanese transport north of Dutch New Guinea, hitting her with 2 of 9 torpedoes fired. ww2dbase [Cero | CPC]

• The 2nd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) arrived at Ningbyen, Burma. Joseph Stilwell, in a dirty field jacket without rank insignia, talked with some soldiers. Several soldiers did not realize who Stilwell was and made jokes about his older age. The visit repaired the damage done by Stilwell when he neglected to take the time to meet his men at Shingbiyang two days prior. Also on this date, the first supply drop by C-47 aircraft for the long range penetration mission was conducted. ww2dbase [Battle of Myitkyina | Joseph Stilwell | Ningbyen | CPC]

• Patrol Boat No. 102 arrived at Balikpapan, Dutch East Indies. ww2dbase [Stewart | Balikpapan, Borneo | CPC]

• While escort carrier USS Card was moored at Casablanca, French Morocco during moderate winds, fleet oiler USS Chicopee fouled Card’s anchor chain when shifting berths. Chicopee then backed into Card’s number two sponson causing minor damage to Card but rendering Chicopee’s 5-inch gun inoperative. Card’s stern mooring lines and fresh water connection were also carried away. With assistance from harbor tugs, Card regained her moorings to the jetty. ww2dbase [Card | Casablanca | DS]

• The USAAF 306th Bomb Group flying from RAF Thurleigh launched a bombing raid against Lippstadt, Germany. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | RAF Thurleigh | Lippstadt | DS]

• Submarine USS Saury completed her ninth war patrol at Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i and was ordered to the Mare Island Navy Yard for an overhaul. ww2dbase [Saury | Pearl Harbor, Oahu | DS]

• Three Italian motor torpedo boats attacked the Allied beachhead at Anzio, Italy, damaging USS PC-545 and USS Pioneer before dawn. ww2dbase [Battle of Anzio | Anzio, Lazio | CPC]

• USS New Mexico shelled Japanese positions on Wotje, Marshall Islands. ww2dbase [Marshall Islands Campaign | New Mexico | Wotje | CPC]

• While at sea, USS Alabama's secondary gun mount No. 9 accidentally fired into secondary gun mount No. 5, killing 5 and wounding 11. ww2dbase [Alabama | CPC]
• At 1440 hours, 15 B-25 aircraft modified for strafing attacked a Japanese convoy carrying military evacuees from Rabaul, New Britain. Submarine chaser CH-48, transport Kokai Maru, and converted gunboat Kowa Maru were sunk; submarine chaser CH-38 was damaged. ww2dbase [New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 3 | CPC]

• Submarine USS Growler arrived at Midway Atoll for refueling before departing on her eighth war patrol. ww2dbase [Growler | Midway | DS]

21 Feb 1944 Interactive Map