Monday, February 21, 1944. Eniwetok secured, Japanese staff changes.

Today in World War II History—February 21, 1944: 80 Years Ago—Feb. 21, 1944: US secures Eniwetok Island in Eniwetok Atoll, and lands on and takes 7 other islands in the atoll.

Sarah Sundin's blog.

The islands had been fiercely defended by the Japanese. 

On the same day, Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo became the Chief of Staff of the Imperial Japanese Army in addition to his political role..  Admiral Shimada replaced Admiral Nagano as Chief of Staff of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Japanese resistance on the Green Islands ends.

It was Day Two of the Big Week.

US crewed German anti tank gun, Cisterna, Italy.  February 21, 1944.

Churchill informed Stalin that the Polish government in exile would accept the Curzon Line and that they would cooperate in the future with the USSR, but Stalin remained recalcitrant.

On the same day, the Red Army took Soltsy and Kholm.

Lt. Col. Henry G. Leanard Jr. explaining assault tactics to visiting Russian naval officers at the U.S. Assault Training Center. February 21, 1944.

Saturday, January 29, 1944. The USS Missouri launched.

The USS Missouri was launched.  The long serving ship is now a Museum Ship in Pearl Harbor.

USS Missouri, Pearl Harbor Hawaii

 USS Missouri viewed from the USS Arizona Memorial.

 Small trailed mortar, probably of a Japanese pattern.

 Dual Bofars 40mm Anti Aircraft guns formally on the USS Missouri.

 The "tears" of the USS Arizona.  Oil slick from oil leaking from the bunkers of the Arizona.

 The spot on which World War Two came to an end on the decks of the Missouri.

 The instrument of surrender.

 Oil from the USS Arizona alongside the USS Missouri.

 Tomahawk Missile platform.

 The location on the USS Missouri where she was hit by a Kamikaze aircraft.  The result was this dent in the side.  The Japanese pilot was buried in a formal burial at sea the following day.

 While not labeled on the ship, these are powder bags for 16 in guns.

USS Missouri viewed from the hangers at Ford Island.

While occasionally taken out of service, she's serve all the way through 1998 in various recalls.  

The massive battleship was far larger than the pre-war US battleships.

The Battle of the Green Islands began when American and New Zealand reconnaissance forces landed on the islands, which are located between Bougainville and New Ireland.  They'd only remain for 24 hours and then withdraw, with larger operations to begin on February 5.

In the Marshalls, US Task Force 58 bombed and shells Japanese targets on Roi, Namur, Maloelap and Wotje.  Land-based aircraft bomb Jaluit and Mille.

The Red Army captured Chudovo.

Soviet Partisans killed 38 civilians in German occupied Koniuchy, Lithuania.

The HMS Spartan was sunk off of Anzio by a Hs 293.

The U-364 was sunk in the Ba of Biscay by an RAF Halifax.