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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

1st February 1944

On this day:




  •  Arakan Offensive

  •  Move

  •  Night patrols

  • Chindit force preparations  In early February 1944 preparations began for the 2nd Chindit Expedition. The Special Force or 3rd Indian Division as it was known consisted of the following units, which were split into Columns.

    3rd West African Brigade and 14th Brigade

    • 6th Btn. Nigeria Regiment. (Columns 66 & 39)
    • 2nd Btn. Black Watch (Columns 42 & 73)
    • 7th Btn Nigeria Regiment (Columns 29 & 35)
    • 1st Btn. Beds & Herts Regiment (Columns 16 & 61)
    • 12th Btn. Nigeria Regt (Columns 12 & 43)
    • 2nd Btn. York & Lancaster Regiment (Columns 84 & 65)
    • 7th Btn Leicestershire Regiment (Columns 47 & 74)
    • 54th Field Company, Royal Engineers

    77 Brigade and 111 Brigade

    • 3rd Btn. 6th Gurkha Rifles (Columns 36 & 63)
    • 1st Btn. Cameronians (Columns 26 & 90)
    • 1st Btn. Kings (Liverpool) Regiment (Columns 81 & 82)
    • 2nd Btn. Kings Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment (Columns 41 & 46)
    • 1st Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers (Columns 20 & 50)
    • 3rd Btn. 4th Gurkha Rifles (Column 30)
    • 1st Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment (Columns 38 & 80)
    • 3rd Btn. 9th Gurkha Rifles (Columns 57 & 93)

    23rd Indian Infantry Brigade

    • 1st Btn. Essex Regiment (Columns 44 & 56)
    • 2nd Btn. Duke of Wellington's Regiment (Columns 33 & 76)
    • 4th Btn. Border Regiment (Columns 34, 55)
    • 60th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, deployed as infantry, (Columns 60 & 68)
    • 12th Field Company, Royal Engineers

    16th Brigade Morris Force

    • 1st Btn. Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment (Columns 21 & 22)
    • 4th Btn. 9th Gurkha Rifles (Columns 49 & 94)
    • 2nd Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (Columns 17 & 71)
    • 3rd Btn. 4th Gurkha Rifles (Column 30)
    • 45th Recce Regiment (Columns 45 & 54)
    • 51st and 69th Field Regiments, Royal Artillery, deployed as infantry (Columns 51 & 69)
    • 2nd Field Company, Royal Engineers

    Dah Force

    • Kachin Levies

    Stronghold Defences

    • R S & U Troop 160th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (25 Pounders)
    • W X Y & Z Troops 69th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (Bofors)

    Divisional Troops

    • 219th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
    • Detachment 2nd Burma Rifles
    • 145th Brigade Company, R.A.S.C.
    • 61st Air Supply Company, R.A.S.C.
    • 2nd Indian Air Supply Company, R.I.A.S.C.


  •  Chindit force preparations

  •  Reliefs

  •  Ships Observed

  •  Competition

  •  Excerise

  •  New radar system

  •  Arrival

  •  Detachment to Cyprus

  •  Explosion destroys bomber

  •  Conference and meetings

  •  History

  •  Move back to Tangmere

  •  Course

  •  Crashed at sea

  •  Typhoons handed over

  •  Reorganisation

  •  Crash



If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.




Remembering those who died this day.

  • Burlefinger Francis Cecil Rudolph. Sgt. (d.1st February 1944)
  • Croney Charles David. Pte. (d.1st Feb 1944 )
  • Devine James Leo. Sgt. (d.1st February 1944)
  • Gardner George. Sgt. (d.1st Feb 1944)
  • Potter Dennis Hilton. Flt.Sgt. (d.1st Feb 1944)
  • Russell Sydney Douglas. Flt Sgt (d.1st February 1944)
  • Russell Sydney Douglas. Flt.Sgt. (d.1st February 1944)
  • Tennant Edward Drake Steele. F/Sgt. (d.1st Feb 1944)

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List



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Want to know more about the 1st of February 1944?


There are:20 items tagged 1st of February 1944 available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.




Stories from 1st February 1944





Flt Sgt Sydney Douglas Russell. Royal Air Force, 104 Squadron. (d.1st February 1944)

Sergeant Pilot Sydney Douglas Russell. After his stint with 15 OTU converting to the Wellington 1C at Hampstead Norris Sydney was posted to 104 Squadron in North Africa. Moving on to his final base at Foggia Main in Italy and the Wellington MkX. He, along with his crew were unfortunately killed on their 32nd mission. 1st February 1944 Wellington X LN345/M
  • Crew Flight Sergeant (Pilot) Sydney Russell
  • Sergeant (Gunner) Arthur Long
  • Flight Sergeant (Nav) William Fulton
  • Flight Sergeant (W.op/Gunner) Francis Horner
  • Flying Officer (Bomb aimer) Donald Duncan
They departed Foggia at 1751 on a mission to bomb the aircraft factory at Maribor in Yugoslavia. At 2040 they were attacked SE of Maribor by a night fighter piloted by Oblt Hans Krause of 6/NJG101 based at Ingoldtadt Manching and probably a Dornier 217. Other crews reported seeing an aircraft burning in the air, still firing tracer. It went down in flames and exploded on impact. The crew are buried in the Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Belgrade, Serbia.

David Russell



Flt.Sgt. Sydney Douglas "Syd" Russell. Royal Air Force, 104 Squadron. (d.1st February 1944)

Sydney Russell was the pilot of Wellington X LN345 of 104 Squadron RAF, 205 Group. On the evening of 1st February 1944 they departed Foggia Main in Italy at 1751 hours on a mission to bomb the aircraft factory at Maribor, Yugoslavia. At 2040 hours whilst over the target his aircraft was seen by other bomber crews to burst into flames and explode on the ground. All the time the aircraft was seen to be firing tracer. It was the only aircraft to be lost that night. Flight Sergeant Sydney Russell was on his 32nd mission. The Wellington was shot down by by a Luftwaffe night fighter piloted by Oblt Hans Krause of 6/NJG101 and is believed to be a Dornier 217. The crew were buried close to Maribor but later moved to the commonwealth cemetery in Belgrade. The crew were as follows :-
  • Sydney Douglas RUSSELL (1333470) Flight Sergeant, Pilot
  • Arthur Richard LONG (919881) Sergeant, Air Gunner
  • William Robert FULTON (1366021) Flight Sergeant, Navigator
  • Francis Reginald HORNER (1384906) Flight Sergeant, Wireless Op/Gunner
  • Donald James DUNCAN (133709) Flying Officer, Air Bomber

David Russell



Sgt. George Gardner. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 624 Sqd.. (d.1st Feb 1944)

Sgt. George Gardner was the son of George and Mary Gardner, of Norton, Stockton-on-Tees, Co. Durham.

He was 19 when he died and is buried in the TIRANA PARK MEMORIAL CEMETERY in Albania.

s flynn



Sgt. Francis Cecil Rudolph Burlefinger. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 624 Sqd.. (d.1st February 1944)

Sgt. Francis Cecil Rudolph Burlefinger was the son of Louis and Lucy Burlefinger, of Southampton; husband of Vera Petty Burlefinger, of Shirley, Southampton.

He was 26 when he died and is buried in the Tirana Park Memorial Cemetery in Albania.

s flynn



Sgt. James Leo Devine. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 624 Sqd.. (d.1st February 1944)

Flight Engineer James Leo Devine was the son of Thomas Anthony and Annie Devine, of Manchester.

He was 22 when he died. He is buried in the Tirana Park Memorial Cemetery in Albania.

s flynn



Flt.Sgt. Dennis Hilton Potter. Royal Australian Air Force, 624 Squadron. (d.1st Feb 1944)

Dennis Potter was the son of Thomas Harry and Ellen Potter, of Muntadgin, Western Australia. He was aged 21 when he died and is buried in the Tirana Park Memorial Cemetery in Albania. His grave has been lost and he is mentioned on the Special Memorial E.

s flynn



F/Sgt. Edward Drake Steele Tennant. Royal Australian Air Force, 624 Squadron . (d.1st Feb 1944)

Edward Tennant was the son of Robert and Williamina Tennant, of Coburg, Victoria, Australia. He was 31 when he died and is buried in the Tirana Park Memorial Cemetery, Albania. He is remembered on the Special Memorial E, his grave having since been lost.

s flynn



Pte. Charles David Croney. British Army, 1st Btn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment . (d.1st Feb 1944 )

Charles Croney was my uncle, I would like to find out more about his military service. Can anyone give me any details of where I can find more information about him? He died at Anzio

Steve Croney










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