Kill Board for the Jolly Rogers, Bougainville 1944

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This photograph was taken in February 1944 on Bougainville, the largest of the Solomon Islands. The stress of combat shows on this squad member, even as the kill board demonstrates the unit's success.

U.S. Navy Fighting Squadron 17 (VF-17), called the "Jolly Rogers", flew the Vought F4U-1 Corsair, a gull-winged fighter built around a powerful Pratt-Witney 18 cylinder radial engine. They were selected to cover the invasion of Bougainville starting 1 November 1943 from a base on New Georgia to the south.

In January 1944 the Jolly Rogers were moved to Piva on Bougainville, supporting attacks aimed at destroying the Japanese stronghold on Rabaul. The raids continued during the time period of this photo. On 10 April 1944, the unit was dissolved.

Today in WW II: 8 Feb 1940 Germans establish the first large Jewish ghetto in Poland in the city of Lodz. More ↓

8 Feb 1941 US House of Representatives passes the Lend-Lease Act [265 to 165].
8 Feb 1942 Battle of Sarimbun Beach begins, the first stage of the Japanese assault on Singapore.
8 Feb 1942 Japanese Offensive in Burma begins [8 Feb-2 May].
8 Feb 1945 Battle of the Reichswald: British and Canadian forces under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery begin Operation Veritable [8 Feb-11 Mar].
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