20 Mar 1944
  • USS Franklin set sail for Gulf of Paria, Trinidad for her shakedown cruise. ww2dbase [Franklin | CPC]
  • A Japanese aircraft attacked USS Tunny with eight light bombs near Toagel Mlungui Pass in the Palau Islands, causing no damage. ww2dbase [Tunny | CPC]
  • Mason was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Mason | CPC]
  • USS Pollack sank Japanese freighter Hakuyo Maru in the Nanpo Islands area, Japan with one of two torpedoes fired. ww2dbase [Pollack | CPC]
  • USS Cabrilla attacked a Japanese transport off British Malaya; all six torpedoes missed. ww2dbase [Cabrilla | CPC]
  • Japanese troops captured Ukhrul, India, defeating the Indian Parachute Regiment and a brigade from the British 23rd Division. ww2dbase [Battle of Imphal-Kohima | CPC]
  • Minoru Ota was made the commanding officer of Sasebo Guard Force. ww2dbase [Minoru Ota | CPC]
Australian New Guinea Burma
  • Orde Wingate visited the Aberdeen site in Meza valley, Burma. ww2dbase [Operation Thursday | CPC]
  • 1st Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) suffered 1 dead and 2 wounded after encountering a Japanese machine gun nest north of Shaduzup, Burma. Also on this date, Frank Merrill met with his officers at the village of Japan and gave orders. Orange Combat Team of 3rd Battalion was to remain in Janpan. 2nd Battalion and Khaki Combat Team of 3rd Battalion were to cut off Kamaing Road south of Shaduzup somewhere between Warazup and Malakwang, under Colonel Charles Hunter's tactical command; they would depart within hours with Blue Combat Team of 2nd Battalion at the vanguard. The forward elements reached Nhgum Ga by the end of the day. ww2dbase [Charles Hunter | Battle of Myitkyina | Shaduzup | CPC]
Hawaii Hungary
  • Romanian troops arrived in Hungary to assist in the German occupation. ww2dbase [CPC]
Italy
  • British 78th Infantry Division joined in the attack of Cassino, Italy. ww2dbase [Battle of Monte Cassino | Cassino, Lazio | CPC]
  • The "Valanga" Guastatori naval infantry battalion was made a part of Xa MAS of Italian Navy. ww2dbase [CPC]
Ukraine
  • Soviet troops captured Vinnitsa, Ukraine and Adolf Hitler's "Werwolf" field headquarters. ww2dbase [Vinnitsa | TH]
United Kingdom
  • The USAAF 306th Bomb Group flying from RAF Thurleigh launched a bombing raid against dock facilities at Frankfurt, Germany but turned back because of weather. ww2dbase [RAF Thurleigh | Thurleigh, England | DS]
United States
  • USS Preston was commissioned into service with Commander Goldsborough S. Patrick in command. ww2dbase [Preston (Fletcher-class) | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 20 Mar 1944
African-American US Army WAC Pfc Johnnie Mae Welton conducting a lab experiment in the serology lab at Fort Jackson Station Hospital, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, United States, 20 Mar 1944B-17 bomber of US 447th Bomb Group in flight toward Frankfurt, Germany, 20 Mar 1944TBF-1C aircraft exploding in water near USS Coral Sea, 20 Mar 1944Three African-American sailors of USS Mason, Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts, United States, 20 Mar 1944
See all photos dated 20 Mar 1944

20 Mar 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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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


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