Burning Japanese aircraft at Truk in April 1944

U.S. Navy strike photograph from the attack on the Japanese airstrip at Truk Atoll, on 29 April 1944.The attacks in February 1944 had for the most part ended Truk as a major threat to Allied operations in the central Pacific. The Japanese later relocated about 100 of their remaining aircraft from Rabaul to Truk. These aircraft were attacked by U.S. carrier forces in another attack on 29 April 1944 which destroyed most of them. The U.S. aircraft dropped 92 bombs over a 29 minute period to destroy the Japanese planes. The April 1944 strikes found no shipping in Truk lagoon and were the last major attacks on Truk during the war.

The photo was taken from a Grumman TBF Avenger of Torpedo Squadron 32 (VT-32), Carrier Air Group 32 (CVG-32), from the light aircraft carrier USS Langley (CVL-27).