This Day In The War, In The Pacific

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1940
BURMA: The British close the Burma Road because of their present weakness and mounting Japanese pressure. This stops the flow of supplies to the Nationalist Chinese. Due to beginning of the Monsoon season, this means little. The Burma Road will be reopened in October.

USA: In the U.S., the Democratic Party's national convention in Chicago, Illinois, nominates President Franklin D. Roosevelt for their candidate for president. If he wins, it will be an unprecedented third term in office.

1941
CHINA: Over 35,000 pro-Japanese soldiers attack the Chinese New Fourth Army's stronghold in Kiagnsu, China.

JAPAN: Prime Minister Prince Konoye Fumimaro forms a new government with Vice Admiral Tyyoda Teifiro as Foreign Minister.

1942
SOLOMONS: In the Solomon Islands, a Fifth Air Force B-17 with two USMC observers aboard flies a reconnaissance and photographic mission over Gavutu, Guadalcanal and Tulagi Islands in preparation for the U.S. invasion next month.

ALASKA (11th AF): A B-17 flying weather and photo reconnaissance over Kiska crashes on Umnak, Aleutians.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF): CHINA AIR TASK FORCE (CATF): In China, 3 B-25's from Kweilin bomb Tien Ho Airfield.

USN - Amphibious Force, South Pacific Area, is established under command of RAdm Turner

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 2 B-24's and 6 B-25's bomb Gertrude Cove and Main Camp on Kiska Island. 6 B-24's bomb shipping targets between Paramushiru Island and Shimushu Island in the Kurile Islands and completed runway at Murakami Bay on Paramushiru Island, which is also photographed. They observe fires among buildings S and E of this runway. Some of the observed aircraft take to the air and vainly pursue the attackers.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) 6 B-24's, flying out of Funafuti Island in the Ellice Islands, bomb Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. Japanese bombers raiding Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands are forced to jettison their bombs at sea because of intense AA and fighter defense.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 7 B-24's bomb shipping at Haiphong and Hongay, French Indochina.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 21 B-24's, 20+ P-40's and P-38's, and 140+ US Navy and Marine Corps dive bombers and fighters thoroughly blast the Kahili area; 15 B-24's concentrate on the airfield; many AA positions are attacked, as are revetments and runways. Hits are claimed on 2 destroyers, and a light craft is sunk. The Allied airplanes claim 21 fighters shot down; 9 US US Navy aircraft are lost. A B-25 off New Georgia Island strafes a motor launch.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) During the night of 18/19 Jul, B-24's bomb the harbor area at Makassar on Celebes Island. In New Guinea, several B-25's, a B-24, and an A-20 bomb and strafe Lokanu, Boisi, Tambu Peninsula, Dot Island, Salamaua, and Komiatum as US forces secure the S headland of Tambu Bay for a supply base. Other B-25's attack barges and shipping off New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago sinking a small cargo vessel off Cape Kwoi.

USMC - F4U piloted by Winnia is lost in a dogfight over Kahilli.

1944
JAPAN: General Tojo resigns as Prime Minister and Army Chief of Staff in the Japanese Cabinet. Events in the Marianias have brought down his cabinet. General Koiso and Admiral Yonai are chosen to form a new cabinet. General Umezu will become the New Army Chief of Staff. This is the first change in cabinet by the Japanese since 1941.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 25 P-40s hit the Myitkyina area; 8 P-47s attack Theinin, and 16 P-51s support ground forces at Pyindaw; 9 B-25s bomb Myitkyina and Naungtalaw.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In the Hengyang-Tungting Lake region of China, 30+ P-40s strafe shipping between Chaling and Hengyang, bomb the town of Hengyang, and hit the airfield and several AA positions in the area; 16 P-51s and P-40s hit river shipping from Lienchiangkou to Samshui to Sainam; 13 P-40s hit a fuel dump on the railroad near Kangtsun-i.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s pound Tinian and Pagan. 5 B-24s, flying out of Kwajalein, hit Wotje Atoll. 25 B-24s, staging through Eniwetok Atoll, attack Truk Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s strike Yap, bombing the town and Blelatsch peninsula; several of the B-24s bomb Sorol Atoll. In New Guinea, bad weather prevents strikes on the Vogelkop Peninsula; fighter-bombers continue to hit barges, supply routes, and troop concentrations in the coastal area from Aitape to Wewak.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 478, JULY 18, 1944
Guam Island was shelled at close range by battleships, cruisers, and destroyers of the Pacific Fleet on July 16 (West Longitude Date). Spotting aircraft directing the fire of our heavy units encountered some antiaircraft fire, and these antiaircraft positions were in turn neutralized by our light units.
On Saipan Island a few remaining snipers are being hunted down. As of July 16 our forces had captured 1,620 enemy troops who have been made prisoners of war, and have interned 13,800 civilian residents of Saipan, the majority being Japanese. Neutralization of enemy defenses on Tinian Island by Saipan based aircraft and field artillery continues. Our destroyers shelled selected targets on Tinian during July 16 and during the night of July 15 16.
Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Air¬craft Wing and Ventura search planes of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two, attacked enemy positions in the Marshalls on July 16.

1945
JAPAN: carrier-based aircraft of the RN's Task Group 37.2 and the USN's Task Force 38 attack Yokosuka Naval Base and airfields in the Tokyo area; eight ships are sunk and several damaged including the battleship Nagato.
USN Task Group 35.4 composed of four light cruisers and escorting destroyers, bombard Japanese radar sites on Honshu.

WAKE ISLAND: Carrier-based aircraft of Carrier Air Group Eighty Six in USS Wasp attack Japanese installations on Wake Island.

NEI: B-24s bomb Boetoeng and Watampone on Celebes Island; on Borneo, B-25s hit Jesselton and P-38s attack Langkon.

PHILLIPINES: P-38s hit Japanese concentration along the Kibawe trail on Mindanao.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 2 routine search and weather sorties are flown.

CENTRAL PACIFIC [US Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF)] Headquarters US Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF) is established at Guam in the Mariana Islands under General Carl Spaatz. This new command places the USAAF on an equal footing with the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy in the Pacific.

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: 4 B-25s blast the railroad yards at Dong Anh, French Indochina. 36 P-51s and P-38s hit river traffic, rail targets, coastal shipping, enemy positions, trucks, and other targets around Viet Tri, French Indochina and other areas of French Indochina and near Yoyang, Suichwan, Lingling, Chikhom, Kukong, and Dosing, China.

FEAF: In China, about 150 B-24s, B-25s, and A-26s, covered by 54 P-47s, hit the Shanghai area, airfields at Chiang Wan, Wusung, and Lunghua, Shanghai docks, shipping on the Whangpoo River, and airstrips on Chusan Island.

FEAF: JAPAN: Other P-47s attack various targets of opportunity on Kyushu Island, Japan and P-51s attack communications lines, bridges, shipping, towns, and other targets throughout Kyushu and the Ryukyu Islands.

FEAF: FORMOSA: P-38s hit communications and transportation targets throughout the N part of Formosa while B-24s pound the airfield at Matsuyama.

 

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1940
US President Roosevelt signs the "Two Ocean Navy Expansion Act" which will provide an additional 1,325,000 tons of warships and 15,000 naval aircraft. The US fleet will then number 35 BB, 20 CV and 88 CA.

1942
ALASKA (11th AF): Search missions are flown over Attu and Agattu . EASTERN DEFENSE COMMAND (1st AF): 39th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 13th BG (Medium), moves from Westover Field, Massachusetts to Dover AAB, Delaware with B-25s to continue flying ASW patrols.

The USN's Task Force 8 sorties from Kodiak, Alaska, to bombard Kiska Island in the Aleutians.

USN - The seaplane tender Casco established an advanced base in Nazan Bay, Atka, to support seaplane operations against Kiska, which included antishipping search, bombing of enemy positions, and cover for surface force bombardments.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF):CHINA AIR TASK FORCE (CATF): In response to a Chinese request, 2 B-25s strike in support of Chinese ground forces at Linchwan, a Japanese held city undersiege for some time. The Chinese commanding officer later reports that the raid broke the stalemate and the city was entered the next day.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th AF): 26th Bombardment Squadron, 11th BG (Heavy), departs Wheeler Field, Hawaii for the S Pacific with B-17s.

TF44, under Admiral Victor A.C. Crutchley, RN, arrives in Wellington. TF 44, nicknamed "MacArthur's Navy", is assigned to assist with Operation Watchtower, the US invasion of the southern Solomon Islands.
Amplifying the Above:
TF44 was actually the Australian Cruiser Squadron, just given an American name. I believe its first engagement in the Pacific was at the Battle of the Coral Sea, where it fought off attacks by Japanese carrier aircraft and by some US B17s! The squadron's composition changed somewhat during the war, but usually consisted of two Australian heavy cruisers and one or more US cruisers (heavy or light). As I recall, USS Houston and USS Chicago served with it at different times. The squadron was commanded by a Rear-Admiral of the Royal Navy, usually Australian-born. For example, Rear-Adm Jack Crace (who commanded the squadron at the Coral Sea) was born in Australia but joined the Royal Navy. The Australian naval college only started taking students in 1913, consequently it was difficult to find flag officers of the Royal Australian Navy with the requisite experience. Victor Crutchley was one of the few officers to hold this command who was not born in Australia.
As an aside, by the end of the war, the two senior posts of Chief of the Australian Naval Staff and commander Australian Cruiser Squadron were held by Flag Officers of the RAN.

ATLANTIC: The aircraft carrier USS Ranger, part of Task Force 22, launches 72 USAAF P-40s off the coast of Africa. The aircraft, destined for the Tenth Air Force in India, land at Accra, Gold Coast.

SOLOMONS: A B-17 Flying Fortress sights a Japanese convoy leaving Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, and heading for northern New Guinea.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) The 633d, 634th and 635th Bombardment Squadrons (Dive), 407th Bombardment Group (Dive), based at Drew Field, Tampa, Florida begin operating from Amchitka with A-24s. The squadron will fly combat missions 4-13 Aug.

ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE (AAF Antisubmarine Command) The 14th Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy), 25th Antisubmarine Wing, based at Camp Edward Army Air Field, Falmouth, Massachusetts, begins operating from Langley Field, Hampton, Virginia with B-24's.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) B-25's damage the approaches to the Shweli, Burma road bridge.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 4 B-24's attack cement works at Haiphong, French Indochina.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-17's bomb Kahili Airfield. B-17's and B-25's hit the airfield on Ballale. B-25's in support of ground forces hit positions in the Bairoko battle area where enemy resistance is fierce.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, a B-25 bombs a bridge over the mouth of the Francisco River; a B-17 hits Finschhafen Airfield; and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Bostons attack a gun position at Komiatum and a military camp at Erskine Creek.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 30+ P-40s and P-51s hit the Myitkyina area and support ground forces near Kamaing; Myitkyina is also bombed by 9 B-25s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 80+ P-40s hit shipping in the Tungting Lake area, attack targets of opportunity, supply areas, and troop concentrations around Hengyang, bomb a radio station, storage facilities, and shipping at Changsha, hit the airfield at Siangtan, and sink about 15 sampans between Changsha and Siangtan; 31 P-40s and P-51s bomb and strafe the Samshui town and dock area and hit several troop compounds in the Lienchiangkou vicinity. In NE French Indochina, 4 P-40s claim 25 junks sunk at the coast.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s continue to bomb and strafe Tinian Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s, striking in 2 waves, attack the airfield on Yap; several of the B-24s become separated from the formations and bomb Ngulu and Sorol Atolls in the Caroline Islands. In New Guinea, weather again cancels strikes on the Vogelkop Peninsula area; fighter-bomber's hit stores, gun positions, and targets of opportunity along the Dandriwad River and support Allied ground forces in the Sarmi-Sawar sector.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 479, JULY 19, 1944
More than 320 tons of bombs were dropped on Guam Island by carrier aircraft of the fast carrier task force on July 17 (West Longitude Date). Pillboxes, gun emplacements, and other defense installations were knocked out. More than 650 sorties were flown over the target area. On the same day our battleships, cruisers, and destroyers laid down an intense barrage against defensive positions on the island.
On July 18 bombardment of Guam by surface ships continued, and carrier aircraft dropped 148 tons of bombs on antiaircraft guns, search lights, supply areas, and defense works. Several enemy positions were strafed.
Rota Island was attacked with rocket fire and bombing from carrier aircraft on July 17. Nearly 80 tons of bombs were dropped, resulting in large fires among buildings and fuel storage facilities. Aerial reconnaissance indicates that Rota Town is virtually destroyed. In this operation we lost one scout bomber.
Army, Navy, and Marine aircraft continued neutralization raids against enemy positions in the Marshall and Caroline Islands on July 17.

1945
USA: The US Congress ratifies the Bretton Woods monetary agreement.

JAPAN: In Japan, carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Force 38 damage two IJN aircraft carriers and a battleship.
The USN's Task Group 35.4 again shells Japanese radar installations on Honshu.

CENTRAL PACIFIC [US Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF)] Twentieth Air Force: During the night of 19/20 Jul, 1 mining, 4 incendiary and 1 bombing missions are flown by B-29s against Japan and Korea; 3 B-29s are lost.
Mission 276: 27 B-29s lay mines in the Oyama, Niigata, Miyazu, Maizuru, Tsuruga, Nezugaseki, Obama Island, and Kobe-Osaka areas of Japan and at Wonsan, Korea; 1 B-29s mines an alternate target.
Mission 277: 127 B-29s attack the Fukui urban area destroying 1.6 sq mi, 84.8% of the city; 1 other B-29s hits an alternate target.
Mission 278: 126 B-29s hit the Hitachi urban area destroying 0.88 sq mi, 64.5% of the city; 1 other B-29 hits an alternate target; 2 B-29s are lost.
Mission 279: 91 B-29s attack the Choshi urban area destroying 0.379 sq mi, 33.8 % of the city.
Mission 280: 126 B-29s hit the Okazaki urban area destroying 0.65 sq mi, 68% of the city; 1 B-29 hits an alternate target.
Mission 281: 83 B-29s bomb the Nippon oil plant at Amagasaki; 1 other B-29 hits an alternate target.
Iwo Jima based P-51s strike airfields, factories, railroads, power lines and other tactical targets at Kagamigahara, Nagoya, Meiji, Izumi, Nishinomiya, and Tambaichi during the day.

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 20 B-25s, 16 P-51s, and 4 P-47s blast railroad yards at Shihkiachwang; 7 other B-25s and 2 P-51s hit bridges S of Yoyang and bomb truck convoys in the Siang Chiang Valley, particularly around the Siangtan area. 37 fighter-bombers disrupt enemy movement over wide areas of French Indochina and S and E China, attacking numerous targets of opportunity.

FEAF: JAPAN: In Japan, 90+ P-51s pound numerous targets on sweeps over the Nagoya area and hit airfields, factories, power facilities, and gun positions at locations including Kagamigahara, Nishinomiya, and Osaka.

FEAF: CHINA: B-25s hit Itu Aba Island, China.

FEAF: NEI: In Borneo, P-38s hit a suicide boat hideout at Sandakan while B-25s bomb Jesselton Airfield.

FEAF: PHILLIPINES: P-38s support ground forces, hitting positions along the Kibawe trail on Mindanao.

 

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1942
PTO: The US 1st Marine Division issues its plan for Operation Watchtower. The Marines are just about finished the massive task of singlehandedly unloading and reloading their ships for the invasion of the southern Solomon Islands. They have had no help from the New Zealand weather or the Dock Unions.

USA: In the U.S., Admiral William D. Leahy, USN (Retired), is named Chief of Staff to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Interesting note: William "Wild Bill" Donovan, soon to head the OSS, was FDR's first choice for Chief of Staff.
The first members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACS) began training at Fort Des Moines, 5 miles south of Des Moines, Iowa.

ALASKA: In the Aleutians, the IJN flies its last offensive air strike when 3 "Mavis" flying boats attack the seaplane tender (destroyer) USS Gillis at Adak. A dud bomb lands 10 feet from the ship and the rest of the bombs dropped miss their target.

ALASKA (11th AF): Brigadier General William O Butler moves advance HQ to Umnak . 3 B-17s bomb Kiska (especially the barracks) with incendiaries and demolition charges. 4 P-38s try to intercept 4 fighters reported by US Navy (USN) aircraft but no contact is made.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF): CHINA AIR TASK FORCE (CATF): 3 B-25s bomb docks and warehouses at Chinkiang, China on the Yangtze River; 4 escorting P-40s strafe junks on the river. This is the last CATF bombing raid of Jul. In China, detachments of 11th Bombardment Squadron, 7th BG (Heavy), operating from Kweilin, Hengyang and Nanning with B-25s return to base at Kunming.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): Unit moves in Australia: 33d Bombardment Squadron, 22d BG (Medium), from Antil Plains to Woodstock with B-26s; 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, from Petric to Port Moresby, New Guinea with P-39s and P-400s (first mission is 22 Jul).

1943
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) B-24's attack Mandalay, Burma. The 491st Bombardment Squadron, 341st BG, based at Chakulia, India sends a detachment of ground personnel to Gaya, India.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, 4 P-40's bomb a warehouse area at Tengchung; 6 others strafe river traffic and railroad targets of opportunity at Sinti, Changanyi, Tingszekiao, Kaiyu, and near Puchi.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 18 B-24's bomb airfields at Kahili and on Ballale. Fighters strafe barges in Pakoi Bay, New Georgia Island.
In the Solomons during the night of 19/20 July, USN PBY Catalinas and eight USMC TBF Avengers attack an IJN surface force between Vella Lavella and Choiseul Islands sinking a destroyer and damaging a heavy cruiser and a destroyer. During the day, USAAF B-25 Mitchells sink another destroyer.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea US ground forces begin the struggle for the heights commanding Tambu Bay and Dot Inlet; A-20's and B-25's pound Madang Airfield and area, the Komiatum, Logui, areas along the Gum River and S of the Gogol River, the Gori River bridge area, and Bogadjim. On Timor Island, B-25's bomb Lautem, Dili, and Cape Chater Airfield. A single B-24 bombs Arawe on New Britain Island. Lost is B-24D "Virgin III" 42-40327.

1944
GUAM: On Guam in the Mariana Islands, USN underwater demolition teams (UDTs) have removed all beach obstacles on the beaches that U.S. forces will land on tomorrow. A total of 640 obstacles were removed on Asan and 300+ on Agat beaches.

USA: The U.S. Army establishes a Pearl Harbor Board consisting of Lieutenant General George Grunert and Major Generals Henry D. Russell and Walter A. Frank, to "ascertain and report the facts relating to the attack" on Hawaii on 7 December 1941. Their report will be completed on 20 October 1944.

USA: The US Democratic Convention began in Chicago yesterday and will end tomorrow. Franklin D. Roosevelt is nominated 1086 to Senator Byrd with 89 and James Farley with 1. Harry Truman receives 1031 votes for the nomination as Vice President to Henry Wallace with 105 votes.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, a few P-40s attack targets in the Myitkyina area. In India, the 82d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Pandaveswar to Fenny with B-25s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In the Tungting Lake area of China, 11 B-24s bomb the E half of Changsha, causing heavy destruction; 140+ P-40s and P-51s attack river shipping and road traffic at several locations throughout the region, pound supply villages S of Changsha and Sinshih, bomb a motor pool at Tsungyang, hit the warehouse area at Siangtan, and attack troop compounds and gun positions N of Hengyang and at Leiyang and Chaling.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s pound Tinian Island. B-25s from Engebi bomb Ponape.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s hit the airfield and AA guns at Manokwari and AA at Moemi; B-25s hit shipping off Sorong, in Kaiboes Bay, and off Misool Island, and bomb Kasim Island; A-20s support Allied ground forces in the Sarmi sector; A-20s and a B-25 bomb supply dumps at Cape Moem, Wom, and Sauri while fighter-bombers hit targets of opportunity along the Yakamul coastal road and troops on Kairiru Island; and the 63d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group moves from Nadzab to Owi, with B-24s. B-24s bomb the W part of Yap town and in the Moluccas Islands, Namlea Airfield on Buru Island and shipping in Kayeli Bay. B-25s hit shipping at Dili.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 480, JULY 20, 1944
More complete reports of the carrier aircraft attack on Guam Island on July 18 (West Longitude Date) raise the tonnage of bombs dropped to 401 from the previous total of 148 announced in Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas Press Release No. 479. Widespread and heavy damage has been done to military objectives on Guam as a result of coordinated aerial bombing and shelling by surface ships.
Pagan Island in the Northern Marianas was bombed twice on July 17.
Chichi Jima and Haha Jima in the Bonin Islands were attacked by Liberator search planes of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two, on July 18. The attacks were made from low level. Eleven seaplanes were damaged and four coastal vessels were set afire by strafing. At Haha Jima a small cargo ship was sunk. Several fires were started among buildings on the seaplane base. Antiaircraft fire was moderate. All of our aircraft returned.
On Saipan Island shore‑based artillery and aircraft are being used to neutralize enemy defenses on Tinian Island. Selected targets are being shelled from the sea by our light surface units. As of July 17 our forces have buried 19,793 enemy dead.
The Naval base at Dublon Island in Truk Atoll was bombed on July 18 by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators. Two of eight airborne enemy fighters were damaged by our planes. Seven of our planes received some damage, but all returned. Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force, Catalina search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, and Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing continued neutralization raids against enemy positions in the Marshalls on July 18.
Amphibious operations for the assault and capture of Saipan Island were directed by Vice Admiral Richmond K. Turner, U. S. Navy Commander Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet. All assault troops engaged in the seizure of Saipan were under command of Lieutenant General Holland McT. Smith, USMC, Commanding General Fleet Marine Forces, Pacific. Major General Sanderford Jarman, U.S.A., has resumed command of Saipan as Island Commander.

1945
ATOMIC BOMB RELATED: Twentieth Air Force:The 393d Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy), 509th Composite Group, begins a series of 12 precision attacks over Japan for the purpose of familiarizing the crews with the target area and tactics contemplated for the scheduled atomic bomb missions; the strikes (on 20, 24, 26, and 29 Jul) are mostly against (or near) cities previously bombed, in the general area of cities chosen for possible atomic attack, and involve from 2 to 6 aircraft in order to accustom the Japanese to sight of small formations of B-29s flying at high altitudes.

NEI: P-38s attack the town of Langkon, Borneo. On Celebes Island, B-24s pound Togian Island and P-38s hit targets of opportunity on the SW.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, A-20s and fighter-bombers support the ground action in the Kiangan area and in the lower Cagayan Valley while B-25s and fighter-bombers hit Japanese positions in the Marikina and Infanta areas. B-24s bomb an area S of Fabrica on Negros Island.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 8 B-24s fly the heaviest and most successful mission of the month, bombing hangars and revetments at Matsuwa Airfield on Matsuwa Island. The detachment of the 11th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group, operating from Amchitka with P-38s and P-40s since March 44, returns to base on Adak.

CENTRAL PACIFIC [US Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF)] 94 P-51s based on Iwo Jima are dispatched against targets, mainly airfields, at Kamezaki, Meiji, Okazaki, Nagoya, Kagamigahara, Hamamatsu, and Komaki; they claim 1-11 Japanese aircraft on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost.

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: 10 B-25s and 6 P-51s hit truck convoys around Hengyang and Wuchang, and storage on an island near Changsha, China, locomotive shops at Phu Thuong, and power plant and railroad targets in the Vinh, French Indochina area. 50+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s disrupt enemy movement and general withdrawal in Indochina and S and E China, attacking river, road, and rail traffic, coastal shipping, supplies, and other targets. The 115th Liaison Squadron, Fourteenth AF, moves from Nagaghuli to Chengkung, China with L-1s, L-4s and L-5s.
FEAF: B-25s hit Itu Aba Island, China and W of Palawan Island, Philippine Islands for the second consecutive day.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Unit moves: The detachment of the 419th Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command, operating from Zamboanga, Mindanao with P-61s, returns to base at Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island; 498th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th BG (Medium), from Clark Field, Luzon to Ie Shima with B-25s.

 

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1941
FRANCE:France accepts Japan's demand for military control of French Indochina.

USA: US President Roosevelt asks Congress to extend the Selective Service (the Draft) period from 1 year to 30 months.

1942
ALASKA (11th AF): 4 B-24s fly search and bomb missions over Kiska but make no contact because of weather.

ZONE OF INTERIOR: President Franklin D Roosevelt calls Admiral William D Leahy, Ambassador to France and former Chief of Naval Operations, to serve as Chief of Staff to the Commanders-in-Chief of the US Army and Navy.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): Air echelon of 98th Bombardment Squadron, 11th BG (Heavy), begins operating from Plaines des Gaiacs and Espiritu Santo with B-17s (first mission is 31 Jul); the ground echelon is enroute from Hawaii.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-26s attack a convoy off Salamaua as an invasion force heads for Buna, where it begins landings during the night of 21/22 Jul. This move by the enemy forestalls Allied operations which were to have secured the same general area.

NEW GUINEA - Units from General Horii's 18th Japanese Army land at Gona on New Guinea.Japanese troops land at Buna and Gona. This is the "RI" Operation. The IJN lands 2,000 troops at Gona, New Guinea; these troops are tasked with crossing the Owen Stanley Mountains and capturing Port Moresby.

Admiral Mikawa, CO of the IJN 8th Fleet at Rabaul, requests additional destroyers from Tokyo. He will again make this request on the 23rd adding a prediction that the Americans will land on Gaudalcanal before the airfield becomes operational

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 9 B-24's bomb Kiska Island targets, including the runway, North Head, and Main Camp area where fires are observed. Poor weather cancels other scheduled missions.
In the Aleutians, two USN destroyers bombard Japanese positions in the Gertrude Cove area of Kiska Island.
The IJN agains dispatches a force consisting of 3 light cruisers, 10 destroyers, a escort vessel and a tanker to evacuate the Japanese forces on Kiska. Due to fuel shortages, this must be the last attempt.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) A series of sorties in support of ground forces, 22 B-25's, 50+ USAAF and US Navy fighters, and 170+ US Navy dive bombers blast positions in the Bairoko area; 135 tons of bombs are dropped.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) 50+ B-25's again thoroughly pound the Madang area; other B-25's hit the junction of the Gori and Ioworo Rivers and the village of Bogadjim; and B-26's bomb barges and jetties W of Voco Point. Single B-24's bomb Finschhafen Airfield, and Rabaul. Lost is P-38H 42-66517. The 66th Troop Carrier Squadron, Fifth Air Force, arrives at Port Moresby, New Guinea from the US with C-47's. The squadron will begin aerial transportation in the theater on 27 Jul.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 6 B-25s bomb the railroad at Mohnyin and 1 hits the town of Naba. In India, the 434th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th BG (Medium), moves from Madhaiganj Airfield to Comilla with B-25s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 41 P-40s hit the town area, airfield, trucks, river shipping, and troops at Changsha, trucks, horses, and junks at Sinshih, and troop concentrations, artillery sites, and pillboxes at Hengyang.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s attack enemy forces on Tinian Island. 28 B-24s, staging through Eniwetok Atoll, pound Truk Atoll. US Marines and Army troops land on Guam Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s again pound Yap, concentrating on the airfield; fighters, many dropping phosphorus bombs on the bomber formation, attack fiercely but ineffectively; the B-24s claim 7 fighters shot down. B-24s bomb AA positions and the airfield at Manokwari; A-20s hit barracks at Nabire; P-39s hit caves and barge hideouts on the N coast of Biak Island and support ground forces along the Verkam River; B-25s hit shipping at several points around the long coastline of the Vogelkop Peninsula; B-25s and A-20s pound But, and P-39s bomb a bridge nearby; P-47s follow with an attack on But and also hit Wewak jetties and Kairiru Island. In Australia, the 531st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), (Heavy), moves from Long Strip to Darwin with B-24s.

MARIANA'S: General Geiger's III Amhibious Corps land on Guam. Admiral Connolly commands the naval forces which include TF 53 directly and 3 groups of TF 58 in support. The 3rd Marine Division lands at Asan and the 1st Mrine Division lands near Agat. The defending Japanese are the 29th Division under General Takashima. General Obata CO of the 31st Army is on the island.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE:
Operation STEVEDORE commences in the morning when USMC units came ashore on both sides of Orote Peninsula. The 3d Marine Division landed on the north beach near the town of Agana, while the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade assaulted the south beach near Agat. Opposition was surprisingly heavy after weeks of preparatory fire, and 22 amtracs were sunk. By nightfall, the Marines had pushed 1 mile (1.6 km) inland at both points. In the afternoon, the Army's 77th Infantry Division landed but even befroe they hit the beach, they had to contend with a problem that the Marines did not face. Because the 77th was in corps reseve, the division had no amtracs allotted; when landing craft reached the reef line, troops had to debark and wade several hundred yards to the beach. Tanks and trucks had to be towed by bulldozers, and some were lost in the surf. Most of the 305th Infantry Regiment were ashore by 2130 hours, in time to help turn back the expected enemy counterattack which cost the Japanese 268 killed.

USA: In the U.S., the delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, nominate Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri to be their vice president candidate. Truman replaces Henry Wallace, the current vice president. In Room 708 of the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, President Roosevelt told Truman at the convention that he wanted him on the ticket.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 82, JULY 21, 1944
United States Marines and Army assault troops established beachheads on Guam Island on July 20 (West Longitude Date) with the support of carrier aircraft and surface combat units of the Fifth Fleet. Enemy defenses are being heavily bombed and shelled at close range.
Amphibious operations against Guam Island are being directed by Rear Admiral Richard L. Conolly, U. S. Navy.
Expeditionary troops are commanded by Major General Roy S. Geiger, USMC, Commanding General, Third Amphibious Corps.
The landings on Guam are continuing against moderate ground opposition.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 83, JULY 21, 1944
1. Good beachheads have been secured on Guam Island by Marines and Army troops. Additional troops are being landed against light initial enemy resistance. The troops advancing inland are meeting increasing resistance in some sectors.
On July 19 (West Longitude Date) six hundred and twenty seven tons of bombs and 147 rockets were expended in attacks on Guam by carrier aircraft. Naval gunfire and aerial bombing were employed in support of the assault troops up to the moment of landing, and remaining enemy artillery batteries are being neutralized by shelling and bombing. Preliminary estimates indicate that our casualties are moderate.
2. Liberator search planes of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two, bombed Haha Jima and Chichi Jima in the Bonin Islands and Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands on July 19 (West Longitude Date). At Iwo Jima the airfield and adjacent installations were hit. At Chichi Jima an enemy destroyer was bombed. Anti‑aircraft fire ranged from moderate to intense. One of our planes was damaged but all returned.

1945
JAPAN (FEAF): B-25s and A-26s bomb shipping at Naze-Ko, Ryukyu Islands.
NEI: Bad weather restricts activity in the Netherlands East Indies, Philippine Islands and other target areas mainly to light raids and snooper missions.

PHILLIPINES: P-38s hit the Kiangan area on Luzon. Bad weather restricts activity in the Netherlands East Indies, Philippine Islands and other target areas mainly to light raids and snooper missions.

CHINA: Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 11 B-25s and 2 P-51s attack truck convoys in the Siang Chiang Valley, bomb a HQ near Wuchang, and hit a bridge, trains, warehouses, and AA positions in the Sienning area. 40+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s again attack numerous targets and disrupt enemy movement in French Indochina and S and E China, hitting communications targets, supplies, transport, and other targets of opportunity.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Unit moves to/on Okinawa: HQ 319th BG and 437th, 438th, 439th and 440th Bombardment Squadrons from Kadena to Machinato with A-26s; ground echelon of 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, from Dulag (air echelon at Clark Field with F-5s); 373d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 494th BG (Heavy), from Luliang, China to Yontan with B-24s; 405th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th BG (Medium), from Lingayen Airfield with B-25s.

 

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1940
JAPAN: Prince Konoye Fumimaro is appointed prime minister of Japan.

1942
ALASKA (11th AF): Of 8 B-24s and 2 B-17s dispatched to Kiska , only 8 reach the target and due to fog drop only 7 bombs with unobserved results; 1 B-24 is missing on the return flight.

NG: Maj-Gen Horii's South Seas Detachment begin the trek along the Kokoda Trail from Buna, New Guinea. This trail leads over the Owen Stanley Mountains (11,000 feet) towards Port Moresby. Due to the loss in the Naval Battle of the Coral Sea, the Japanese have arrived at this overland route to capture Port Moresby.
B-17's mount 3 attacks and B-25's, B-26's, P-39 and P-400 Airacobras and RAAF P-40s mount 5 attacks against IJN shipping and landing barges off Buna. The aircraft damage a destroyer and sink an army transport.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): (5th AF) 16 P-39 from the 80th FS, 39th FS, 40thFS, 41st FS were sent to shoot up the Japanese unloading barges 8 P-39's stayed up top in case some Zeros showed from Lae and 8 went down to shoot up the barges. 39th FS pilot Bob Faurot put his P-39 down so low that his would nearly hit the water. 80th FS pilot Pinky Hunter made his pass and his aircraft was hit by AA fire he opened the door on his P-39 and bailed out, his door blew off his aircraft and almost hit Danny Roberts 'P-39 Hunter' body was never found but his rings were found on a dead Japanese soldier on the Kakoda Trail months later. Japanese forces continue to land in NE New Guinea with the ultimate aim of pushing across the Owen Stanley Range to the Allied base at Port Moresby. HQ 35th Fighter Group moves from Sydney, Australia to Port Moresby. Sunk is Ayutosen Maru.

NZ: Ships bearing the 1st Marine Division sail from Wellington, NZ for the Koro island rehearsal, prior to the landings in the southern Solomon Islands now set for August 7.

RAAF - Lost on a mission over Buna is Hudson A16-201.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 26 B-25's, 17 B-24's, 13 P-40's, and 20 P-38's hit North Head, Main Camp, and the submarine base at Kiska Island, as well as coastal defenses and AA guns at both Kiska and Little Kiska Islands, starting numerous fires. Intense and heavy AA fire downs one B-25 (crew saved) and damages 18 aircraft of which another B-25 crashes at base. 1 B-25 photographs the S and W Kiska Island shores. 1 B-24 flies radar reconnaissance over Kiska Island. The 77th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 28th Composite Group, based on Adak Island begins operating from Attu Airfield with B-25's.
Two battleships and fours cruisers are the heavy ships in the US bombardment of Kiska in the Aleutians.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE:
In the Aleutians, the USN's Task Groups 16.1 and 16.2, under Rear Admiral Robert C. Griffin, bombard Kiska Island. TG 16.1, composed of the heavy cruisers USS Louisville, USS San Francisco and USS Wichita, the light cruiser USS Santa Fe and fivedestroyers, fires 1,719 rounds for 21 minutes at the Main Camp and Little Kiska Island. TG 16.2, composed of the battleships USS Mississippi and USS New Mexico, the heavy cruiser USS Portland and four destroyers, fires 1,084 rounds for 18 minutes on North and South Head, Sunrise Hill and the Submarine Base. The Japanese return fire but it is ineffective. IJN submarines are reported but they turn out to be two porpoises and three whales.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 20+ B-17's and B-24's, 40+ US Navy dive bombers, and 100+ Allied fighter aircraft attack shipping in the area off Buin. Sunk is Nisshin, a seaplane carrier, and damaging hits are claimed on several other vessels.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, 50+ B-24's, B-25's, and B-26's blast troops, AA guns, defensive positions, and targets of opportunity in the battle zones at Komiatum, on Komiatum Ridge, at Kela Mountain, at Salamaua, and along trails near Komiatum and Salamaua. B-24's bomb an oil refinery, docks, and railroad yards at Soerabaja, Java. B-25's hit targets of opportunity on Selaroe Island in the Moloccas Islands.

1944
MARIANA'S: Both Marine divisions advance about 1 mile from their beachhead positions taken yesterday in the invasion of Guam.
Napalm is used for the first time in the Pacific against targets on Tinian. The mission was flown by USAAF P-47s to burn out heavy brush overlooking the landing beach. The early mixture with gasoline was less than satisfactory.

NEW GUINEA: Following an air and artillery bombardment, U.S. Army personnel clear the last organized Japanese pocket on Biak Island off New Guinea.

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, 2 B-25s flying a negative shipping search encounter a bomber which evades contact.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 14 P-40s attack forces in the Myitkyina area; 7 B-25s bomb the railroad at Mohnyin while 2 hit storage sheds at Maingna.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 120+ P-40s and P-51s attack the town area, airfield, railroad yards, and shipping at Hengyang, bomb the towns of Chaling, Yuhsien, and Chuchou, hit river shipping, troops, trucks, and targets of opportunity in the areas around Changsha, Kiaotow, Siangtan, and Sinshih, and hit troop compounds and shipping at Yuhsien; 25 B-24s bomb Changsha, causing heavy damage; and 31 P-40s and P-51s blast Tsingyun and strafe about 40 junks to the S of town. 4 P-40s sink several large junks off the NE French Indochina coast.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s from Saipan, using napalm-bombs for the first time, hit Tinian and Pagan. Makin based B-25s pound Ponape Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s attack the airfield on Yap. B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and an assortment of fighter-bombers direct their main attacks against several shipping terminals on the Vogelkop Peninsula area, sink a submarine chaser off Morotai, bomb Saumlakki on Tanimbar Island, and hit But Airfield and personnel areas, barge hideouts, supply and ammunition dumps, bridges and roads at, and to the W of, Wewak; HQ 35th Fighter Group moves from Gusap to Owi; and 19th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Nadzab to Owi with B-24s.

USA: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sails for Hawaii in the heavy cruiser USS Baltimore to confer with Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and General Douglas MacArthur.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 532, JULY 22, 1944
1. The submarines USS Trout and USS Tullibee are overdue from patrol and must be presumed to be lost.
2. The next of kin of casualties of the Trout and Tullibee have been so notified.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 84, JULY 22, 1944
Our troops are making satisfactory progress in both sectors on Guam. We have captured Mount Alifan in the southern area. In the north the roads from Agana to Piti Town are in our hands.
Our northern beach extending from Asan Point to Adelup Point, was under mortar fire during the night of July 20‑21 (West Longitude Date). Before day*light on July 21 the enemy launched a counter attack on the eastern side of our lines in the northern sector which was thrown back after daylight by our troops supported by air, naval, and artillery bombardment. Cabras Island is under our control and about half of it has been occupied.
At the southern beachhead, extending from Agat Town south to Bangi Point, the enemy attempted a counter attack in the early morning of July 21, which was thrown back. In retreating the enemy left behind five tanks and approximately 270 dead.
Initial beachheads on Guam Island were established immediately above and immediately below Orote Peninsula. Troops of the Third Marine Division landed on the northern beach. The First Provisional Marine Brigade landed in the south. Following the Initial assault landings, elements of the Seventy Seventh Infantry Division, U. S. Army, were landed in support of the Marines.

1945
JAPAN: The USN's Task Force 93 under Rear Admiral John H. Brown, consisting of the light cruisers USS Concord and USS Richmond and five destroyers, bombards Japanese installations on Paramushiru Island, Kurile Islands. The bombardment is unopposed.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, B-25s, P-51s, and P-38s, hampered by bad weather, fly 30+ ground support sorties in the Gubano, Cervantes, and Mankayan areas.

JAPAN: Twentieth Air Force: A bombing and a mining mission are flown during the night of 23/24 Jul; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 282: 23 B-29s, staging through Iwo Jima, mine Shimonoseki Strait and the Korea coast at Najin which in the longest B-29 combat mission of the war-and in the Pusan-Masan, Korea area; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 283: 72 B-29s bomb the coal liquefaction company at the Imperial Fuel Industry Company at Ube. 100+ Iwo Jima based P-51s hit airfields, rail installations, and other tactical targets at Itami, Hanshin, Sano, Tokushima, Takamatsu, and Minato, Japan.

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 16 B-25s and 8 fighter-bombers blast truck convoys moving supplies through the Siang Chiang Valley, bomb railroad yards at Siaokan, and knock out 2 bridges S of Sincheng and Lohochai. 50+ P-51s, P-47s, and P-38s continue the campaign to disrupt enemy movement and withdrawal in French Indochina and S and E China, pounding numerous rail, road, and river targets, supply dumps, and coastal shipping.
FEAF: In China, 22 B-24s from Okinawa hit Chiang Wan and 1 hits Tinghai Airfield, 37 B-25s bomb an oil plant at Shanghai and a destroyer in the Whangpoo River, P-47s from Ie Shima join the B-25 attack on the Shanghai area, hitting a destroyer, gunboat, and freighter in the Whangpoo River, and factories and railroad shops, 34 P-51s from Okinawa also hit Whangpoo shipping and 37 A-26s hit the airfield at Tachang. B-24s on a night shipping search and weather mission bomb airfields at Tinghai and on Chusan Island, China, Pusan, Korea; and Yonago, Japan.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Unit moves: HQ 322d Troop Carrier Wing from Hollandia to Manila; air echelon of 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, from Lingayen Airfield to Clark Field, Luzon with F-5s (ground echelon at Lingayen Airfield); 311th Troop Carrier Squadron, Seventh AF, begins a movement from Bellows Field to Okinawa with C-47s; 403d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d BG (Heavy), from Clark Field, Luzon to Ie Shima with B-24s.

 

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1942
NG: Advance elements of Maj-Gen Horii's South Seas Detachment advancing up the Kokoda Track towards Port Morsby make contact with elements of the Australian rear guard.

USA: US Secretary of State Cordell Hull urges the formation of an international peace-keeping organization by the United Nations (Allies) after the war.

SOLOMONS: USMC photographers of Marine Observation Squadron VMO-251 using USN cameras and flying in USAAF B-17Es based in the New Hebrides, fly their first preinvasion photographic reconnaissance mission over Gavutu, Guadalcanal and Tulagi. The B-17s are intercepted by "Rufe" floatplanes but there are no losses on either side.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF): 22d Bombardment Squadron, 7th BG (Heavy), arrives at Karachi, India from the US with B-25s; first mission is 14 Dec.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th AF): 3 B-17s, staging through Canton carry out photo reconnaissance of Makin.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): 11th BG B-17's on New Caledonia begin photo reconnaissance of the Guadalcanal-Tulagi-Gavutu area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-17s, 22nd BG B-26s, A-24s and fighters pound shipping, landing barges, storage dumps, AA positions, and troop concentrations at Buna and Gona as the enemy pushes inland along the Kokoda trail; fighters also hit the harbor at Salamaua. Lost is P-39D "Papuan Panic" 41-38353. 93d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Longreach to Mareeba with B-17s, B-24s and LB-30s.

1943
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-25's and P-40's, and USN SBDs, pound the Rekata Bay area. The 67th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, transfers with P-39's to Woodlark. Lost is SBD Daunttless 10348 ditching into Rendova Harbor, both crew rescued.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's, B-26's, B-24's, and B-17's again pound targets in coastal NE New Guinea, hitting Malolo, Asini, Busama, Voco Point, and Salamaua, blasting barges from Hanisch Harbor to Wald Bay and Cape Busching, and thoroughly bomb Bogadjim.

PACIFIC: In the U.S., the Joint Chiefs of Staff direct Admiral Chester W. Nimitz to seize Nauru Island in the central Pacific.

1944
MARIANA'S: US Marines on Guam have captured the major airfield. Additional: Tiyan Field, now Brewer Field.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 100+ fighter-bombers hit enemy positions in the Myitkyina area, support ground forces at Szigahtawng, bomb the Kamaing and Mogaung areas, blast troops and supplies at Kalang, Kyungon, and Tinzai, and hit targets of opportunity at Peau, Namma, Sahmaw, Taungni, and Hopin; 9 B-25s hit the Myitkyina and Naungtalaw areas while 8 bomb Namting.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 62 P-40s attack warehouses, trucks, and troops in the Changsha-Sinshih-Fulinpu area, bomb the airfield and river craft at Siangtan, hit enemy-held areas of Hengyang, and strafe and bomb troop compounds and villages N of it; 6 B-25s and 21 P-40s hit warehouses and railroad yards in the Yellow River area; 10 P-40s hit Japanese positions on the Salween front in support of Chinese forces; and the 449th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, based at Chengkung with P-38s, sends a detachment to operate from Yunnani until Mar 45.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): On Saipan Island, P-47s hit Tinian Island and the 48th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), based on Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands, begins operating from Saipan with B-25s. B-25s from Makin attack Nauru Island. B-24s staging through Eniwetok Atoll, bomb Truk Atoll while others, flying out of Kwajalein, hit Wotje Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Yap, hitting the town area and airfield. In New Guinea, airfields and shipping terminals over widespread areas of the Vogelkop Peninsula and nearby islands are pounded by B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers; But Airfield is again the main target in NE New Guinea; communications, supplies, barges, and troop concentrations from Wewak to Yakamul are also bombed and strafed throughout the day; HQ 345th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 500th and 501st Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from Nadzab to Biak with B-25s; the 25th and 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadrons, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, move from Nadzab to Biak and Hollandia respectively with F-5s; and the 460th Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command, moves from Gusap to Nadzab with A-20s.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 85, JULY 23, 1944
Substantial gains were made by our forces on Guam during the night of July 21 and during the day of July 22 (West Longitude Dates). In the north*ern area all of Cabras Island and Piti Town were captured. Attempts made by the enemy during the night of July 21‑22 to infiltrate our lines were re*pulsed. In the southern area Orote Peninsula has been nearly cut off by our forces. Aircraft and Naval gunfire are closely supporting our troops. Our estimated casualties through July 22 are as follows: Killed in action 348; wounded in action 1500; missing in action 110.
Intense artillery and Naval gunfire was directed against Tinian Island on July 21. Enemy gun positions and troop concentrations were principal targets. On the same day Thunderbolt fighters of the Seventh Army Air Force attacked Tinian and Pagan Islands. At Tinian gun emplacements and pillboxes were bombed. At Pagan the airstrip was bombed and strafed. Intense antiaircraft fire over Pagan damaged two of our aircraft.
Seventy‑five tons of bombs were dropped on airfields and dock areas at Truk Atoll on July 21 by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators. Fires and explosions were observed. Two airborne enemy fighters did not attempt to intercept our force. Antiaircraft fire was meager.

1945
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 2 B-24s radar-bomb Kurabu Cape Airfield on Paramushiru Island.

Fourteenth Air Force: 8 B-25s and 4 P-51s bomb the railroad yards at Sinyang and hit a warehouse at Ichang, China. 100+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-40s attack numerous targets, including rail, road, and river traffic, airfields, coastal shipping, bridges, storage facilities, and railroad yards, at many locations over S and E China, especially in the Paoching area and, to a smaller degree, over French Indochina. The 115th Liaison Squadron, Fourteenth AF, moves from Chengkung to Hsingchiang, China with L-1s, L-4s and L-5s.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s pound Jesselton while B-24s over other areas of the Netherlands East Indies bomb Amboina and the Tolonoeoe Islands. Fighter aircraft support ground forces in the Kiangan, Luzon area. B-25s bomb Itu Aba Island, China. B-24s hit Miho and Saeki, Japan. Single B-24s on armed reconnaissance hit several targets including Tinghai Airfield, China, Kure Harbor, and Tanega Island, Ryukyu Islands.

PACIFIC: Pacific Ocean Area: LT. W.C. Phelan, USNR Assistant G-2, Island Command, Peleliu, produces a document titled "Japanese Military Caves on Peleliu: KNOW YOUR ENEMY", CinCPac-CinCPOA BULLETIN 173-45. It consists of 45 pages and is an extensive study and analysis of the cave system found on Peleliu.

 

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1939
Thomas C Hart promoted to full Admiral and assumes command of the US Asiatic Fleet in Shanghai.

1941
The Japanese government presented an ultimatum to the Vichy government, on the 19th, demanding bases in southern Indochina. Vichy has conceded today. The Japanese will begin to occupy these bases on the 28th. The ultimatum was decided in the Japanese Imperial Conference on July 2.
The U.S. government denounces the Japanese actions in Indochina.

1942
PTO: US troops arrive in Fiji.

NG: Australian troops fight a delaying action in the New Guinea jungles, falling back towards Kokoda, destroying a bridge.

USA: Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) issue a statement that heavy and medium bomber groups will he shifted from Operation BOLERO assignments to Africa for Operations TORCH. BOLERO resources are further depleted by a decision to send 15 combat groups to the Pacific theater.
Alabama Gov. Frank Dixon refuses to accept a US prison work defense supply contract because it bars discrimination. Dixon fulminates against Federal agencies trying to "break down the principle of race segregation. " Gov. Eugene Talmadge of Georgia, another fire-eater, writes that he will enforce Jim Crow laws and warns any blacks opposing segregation to "stay out of Georgia."

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF): 9th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Tenth AF, arrives at Karachi, India from the US with F-4s; first mission is 1 Dec 42.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th AF): 394th Bombardment Squadron, 5th BG (Heavy), moves from Bellows Field to Hickam Field, Hawaii with B-17s and continues flying patrols over the Pacific.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): 431st Bombardment Squadron, 11th BG (Heavy), arrives at Viti Levu, Fiji with B-17s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-26s, A-24s, and fighters continue to pound AA positions and enemy troops at Gona as the Japanese continue to push inland toward Kokoda. HQ 19th Bombardment Group and 28th and 30th Bombardment Squadrons move from Longreach to Mareeba with B-17s.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 62 P-40's fly 9 missions to Kiska Island [2 of them with Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots] bombing the runway and scoring many hits. An AA battery takes a direct hit and explodes. AA guns are strafed on North Head and Little Kiska Island. Intense AA fire downs 1 P-40.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) 8 B-24's from Midway attack Wake, bombing oil storage, barracks, and a gun emplacement. 20-30 Zekes attack the formation; 9 fighters are claimed destroyed; 1 B-24 is lost in a collision with a falling Japanese fighter.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 48 fighters join US Navy and Marine dive bombers in support of ground forces in the Bairoko area. Later in the day gun positions at Bibolo Hill near Munda are hit, along with other targets.

RNZAF - Lost on a patrol from New Georgia to Bougainville is Hudson NZ2021.

CENTRAL SOLOMONS: Admiral Ainsworth leads a US naval taskforce into the Kula Gulf to bombard a Japanese airfield site on Kolombangara north of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Cruisers Honolulu, St. Louis, Nashville,
Helena and destroyers Nicholas, DeHaven, Radford and O'Bannon are involved.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE
Later in the day, aircraft of Carrier Air Group Six in the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, Douglas SBD's of Bombing Squadron Six, Grumman F4F's of Fighting Squadron Six and Grumman TBF Avengers of Torpedo Squadron Six, bomb the same objectives.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's bomb Lautem, Fuiloro, Koepang, and Tenau on Timor Island, the airfield and surrounding areas at Lae, New Guinea, and attack barges in the Wapelik and Cape Busching area of New Britain Island and villages on the Itni River on New Britain.

(RAAF) 31 Squadron Beaufighters attack Taberfane Seaplane Base. Lost is Beaufighter A19-118.

1944
TINIAN: In the Marianas, the 4th Marine Division lands on Tinian.

USA: In the U.S., the U.S. Navy Court of Inquiry into the Pearl Harbor attack is enjoined to "give its opinion as to whether any offenses have been committed or serious blame incurred on the part of any person or persons in the naval service." The board consists of three retired admirals.

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, 2 B-25s fly a negative shipping search.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 14 P-51s hit the Kamaing and Mogaung areas while 28 P-40s hit Myitkyina; 8 B-25s bomb Mohnyin and Naungtalaw.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 13 B-25s and 20 P-40s bomb railroad facilities at Sienning; 22 P-40s pound Pailochi Airfield, destroying about 30 aircraft and causing heavy destruction in general; 9 B-25s and 20 P-40s hit the town of Puchi, causing several fires; 46 P-40s hit river and road traffic, enemy concentrations, and targets of opportunity at Changsha, Sinshih, Fulinpu, Hengshan, Liling, Leivang, and Hengyang; and in the Canton area 7 P-51s dive-bomb White Cloud Airfield and the town of Tsingvun. In French Indochina, 3 P-40s on armed reconnaissance bomb Ben Thuy railroad yards and strafe junks and barges in coastal areas.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s hit Tinian, on which US Marines land, and Rota Island. B-25s from Engebi bomb Ponape.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Operations in the Caroline Islands are restricted to B-24 snooper strikes; other B-24s bomb AA positions at Saumlakki, Tanimbar Island. In New Guinea, bad weather cancels scheduled strikes in the Vogelkop Peninsula area; 18 A-20s and a B-25 bomb But Airfield, P-47s hit supply areas at Sauri, and P-39s bomb and strafe bridges and supply dumps in the Suain area; HQ 85th Fighter Wing moves from Gusap to Hollandia; and the 499th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th BG (Medium), moves from Nadzab to Biak Island. In the Solomon Islands, the 390th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d BG (Medium), based in the Renard Field ceases operating from Stirling Island with B-25s.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 86, JULY 24, 1944
Assault troops of the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions established beachheads on Tinian Island on July 23 (West Longitude Date) supported by carrier and land based aircraft and by artillery and Naval gunfire.
Amphibious operations against Tinian Island are being directed by Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill, U. S. Navy, Commander Group Two Amphibious Forces Pacific Fleet.
Expeditionary troops are commanded by Major General Harry Schmidt, USMC, Commanding General Fifth Amphibious Corps.
The landings are being continued against light ground opposition.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 87, JULY 24, 1944
Enemy forces on Orote Peninsula, on Guam Island, have been completely cut of by troops of the First Provisional Marine Brigade, and the Seventy-Seventh Infantry Division which advanced during July 23 (West Longitude Date) across the base of the peninsula. In the northern sector, the Third Marine Division has made additional gains against strong enemy opposition which continues despite heavy casualties inflicted by our ground troops and intense air and Naval bombardment.
In the North our lines as of 6:00 P.M., July 23, extend northeast from the mouth of the Sasa River to Adelup Point and extend inland approximately 2900 yards at the point of deepest penetration. In the south our lines extend from the inner reaches of Apra Harbor to a point opposite Anae Island. The greatest depth of advance is approximately 5000 yards.
Rota Island was attacked by carrier aircraft on July 23. Runways and adjacent installations were principal targets. Ponape in the Caroline Islands was bombed on July 22, by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchells. Gun positions were bombed and harbor installations strafed.
Shimushu Island in the northern Kuriles was attacked on July 22, by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four. A large fire was started near the airfield. Moderate antiaircraft fire was encountered. Eight enemy fighters intercepted our force and caused some damage to a Ventura.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 88, JULY 24, 1944
A firm beachhead had been secured on the northwest shore of Tinian Island by troops of the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions. Our forces control approximately two and one half miles of coastline, extending from a point twenty five hundred yards south of Ushi Point to a point twelve hundred yards north of Faibus San Hilo Point. During July 23 (West Longitude Date) enemy resistance was confined largely to machine gun and rifle fire. Our casualties through July 23 were light. The situation is considered well in band.

1945
GERMANY: The Potsdam Declaration is agreed to by Churchill, Truman and Stalin; after Stalin is informed of the existance of the Atomic Bomb. Truman decides that it will be used, if the Japanese do not come to terms. The Potsdam agreement will be released on the 26th.

JAPAN: Twentieth Air Force: 7 missions (625 B-29s) are flown against targets in the Nagoya and Osaka areas; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 284: 82 B-29s attack the Sumitomo Light Metals Industries propeller factory at Osaka; most of the machine tools had been removed but the facility is completely wrecked; 4 others hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 285: 81 B-29s hit the Kawanishi Aircraft Plant at Takarazuka destroying 77% of the plant; 3 others hit alternate targets.
Mission 286: 153 B-29s hit the Osaka Arsenal and Kuwana; the arsenal sustains additional damage amounting to 10% of the original roof area; 9 others hit alternate targets;
Mission 287: 66 B-29s attack the Aichi aircraft plant at Eitoku; the plant sustains its heaviest damage of the war; 5 others hit alternate targets.
Missions 288 and 289: 113 B-29s hit the urban are of the city of Tsu; 2 others hit alternate targets.
Mission 290: 77 B-29s attack the Nakajima plant at Handa destroying the principal assembly buildings; 1 B-29 hit an alternate target. 91 P-51s, operating out of Iwo Jima, hit airfields and other tactical targets at Hamamatsu, Suruga Bay, and other points in the Nagoya area.
Tonight the BBs will bombard Kushimoto and Shionomisaki.
In Japan, carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Force 38 attack the Kure Naval Base and airfields in on Honshu. The aircraft sink the battleship-carrier HIJMS Hyuga, the heavy cruiser HIMJS Tone, which is pushed aground to permit salvaging, and three other ships; they also damage 15 other ships including battleships, cruisers and destroyers. The raids are unopposed.

MARIANAS: USMC - Marine aircraft from USS Vella Gulf attacked Japanese positions on Pagan.

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 8 B-25s and 6 P-51s pound truck convoys in the Hengyang area, hit river shipping near Pakonghow, and damage a bridge and storage area and knock out AA positions at Puchi and 15 P-51s blast the Changsha area, destroying an estimated 28 warehouses and 8 fuel storage buildings. 80+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-47s over French Indochina and S and E China continue to disrupt the Japanese withdrawal, pounding dozens of targets of opportunity at numerous locations.
In China, 100+ Fifth AF B-24s fly their first strike from Okinawa, bombing the Chiang Wan Airfield N of Shanghai; Seventh AF B-25s from Okinawa hit Wusung and Lunghua Airfields in the Shanghai area while A-26s and B-25s attack the Tachang and Tinghai Airfields; and fighter-bombers hit shipping and targets of opportunity throughout the general area attacked by the bombers. Other B-25s hit Itu Aba Island, China.

NEI: In Borneo, Thirteenth AF B-25s pound Jesselton Airfield and B-24s hit Oelin and Tabanio Airfields.

PHILLIPINES: Fifth AF fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Infanta and Leyban areas of Luzon.

INDIAN OCEAN: Whilst engaged in preparatory clearing operations for the forthcoming landings in Malaya (Operation Zipper) minesweeper HMS Squirrel is mined and has to be scuttled by gunfire. There are 7 casualties. Location: off Phuket Island in the Gulf of Thailand.

FEAF: Unit moves: 65th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d BG (Heavy), from Clark Field, Luzon to Ie Shima with B-24s; detachment of the 419th Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command, operating from Sanga Sanga, to base at Puerto Princesa with P-61s; 421st Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command, from Clark Field to Ie Shima with P-61s; 822d and 823d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy)

 

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1940
The US prohibits the export of oil and metal products to countries outside the Americas and Britain. This is primarily aimed at Japan.

1941
US President Roosevelt freezes Japanese assets and those of banks situated in Japanese occupied China. This action specifically effects oil and scrap iron. Refined aviation fuel is not effected by todays order.
In response to the Japanese occupation of northern French Indochina on 24 July, the U.S. freezes all Chinese and Japanese assets in the U.S. and cuts off the export of oil to Japan; the U.K. and Dutch East Indies follow suit. As a result, Japan lost access to three-fourths of its overseas trade and 88 percent of its imported oil.

1942
NG: In New Guinea, USAAF B-25 Mitchells and P-39 Airacobras attack barges and concentrations at Gona and troops on the Gona and Kokoda trails; Japanese forces push to Oivi, within 6 miles of Kokoda.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF): CHINA AIR TASK FORCE (CATF): 76th Fighter Squadron, 23d FG, moves from Kunming to Kweilin, China with P-40s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): Daily search missions over the S Solomons are begun from New Caledonia . 26th Bombardment Squadron, 11th BG (Heavy), arrives at Efate , New Hebrides from Hawaii with B-17's; first mission is 30 Jul. USMC photographers using USN cameras often fly on these missions.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 40 P-40's fly 7 attack missions [2 by Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots] against Kiska Island, bombing and strafing North Head AA batteries, the runway, Main Camp, and Little Kiska Island. HQ 343d Fighter Group transfers from Adak Island to Amchitka Island. The 406th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), based at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Territory of Alaska begins operating from Adak Island with B-25's.
In the Aleutians, the USN's Task Group 16.21, consisting of battleships and cruisers, fights the "Battle of the Pips" off Kiska Island. Radar on the ships detected seven pips and believing them to be a Japanese force resupplying Kiska, all ships, except the light cruiser USS Santa Fe open fire. (USS Santa Fe had the most modern radar and saw nothing and she did not fire on the "targets.") A total of 518 14-inch rounds and 487 8-inch rounds are fired at the
"Japanese ships." Nobody has ever determined what caused the seven pips on the ships's radar.
The Japanese task group sent to evacuate the garrison from Kiska is actually 500 miles (805 km) southwest of Kiska refueling before dashing in to rescue the garrison. Because of the expenditure of fuel and ammunition fighting the "pips," the USN's TG 16.21 retires to refuel and rearm leaving the door open to the Japanese.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The 72d Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, transfers from Wheeler Field, Oahu to Hilo Field, Hawaii, Territory of Hawaii with P-39's.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 9 B-25's, escorted by 17 P-40's and P-38's, bomb Hankow Airfield, China.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Lieutenant General Nathan F Twining, USAAF, becomes Commander Air Solomons (COMAIRSOLS). Fighter Command and Bomber Command, Solomons, are taken over by Brigadier General Dean C Strother USAAF, and Colonel William A Matheny, USAAF, respectively; Strother retains his position as Commanding General XIII Fighter Command.

The Japanese try to hit US forces on Rendova Island but Allied fighters shoot down several Zekes (8 claimed) and force the enemy bombers to drop their bombs indiscriminately. The final push on the Japanese base at Munda opens with a bombardment by 7 destroyers and the heaviest air attack in the South Pacific (SOPAC) Theater to date; 170+ B-24's, B-25's, B-17's, TBF's, and SBD's, covered by 70+ fighters, pound the target thoroughly, dropping more than 145 tons of bombs in little more than a half hour; later in the afternoon 10 more B-24's, with fighter cover, bomb Bibolo Hill, and SBD's and TBF's dive-bomb gun positions; and later in the day, gun positions NE of Kindu Village are hit.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Single B-24's attack a large transport vessel WNW of Buka Passage in the Solomon Islands and bomb Lingat and Adaoet Islands in the Moluccas Islands, and the area near Finschhafen.

NEW GEORGIA: Units of the 25th Division are added to the 43th and 37th Divisions on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands. The 43d and 37th Infantry Divisions open the ground assault against the firmly entrenched enemy.

1944
INDIAN OCEAN: The British Eastern Fleet, Admiral Somerville, attacks Sabang in the Indian Ocean. Carriers HMS Victorious and Illustrious are involved.

GUAM: The US forces on Guam are still battling to join their beachheads.
TINIAN: The 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions advance on Tinian after stopping Japanese counterattacks.

CENTRAL PACIFIC: Three carrier groups from TF 58 attack Japanese positions on the Caroline Islands.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE:
Carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Groups 58.2 and 58.3 attack Japanese installations in the Palau Islands while aircraft of TG 58.1 attack targets on Ulithi and Yap Atolls.
The USAAF joins the attacks with Seventh Air Force B-24s, based at Kwajalein Atoll, bombing Truk Atoll and Far East Air Force

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 24 P-40s and P-51s hit targets around Myitkyina, Kamaing, and Mogaung.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 24 B-24s bomb Yoyang, blasting the storage area and railroad yards; 51 P-40s and P-51s attack road and river traffic, troop compounds and cavalry units at Chaling, Siangsiang, Changsha, Siangyin, and Sinshih and NW of Hengyang; 27 P-40s escorting the B-24s over Yoyang claim 6 Japanese interceptors shot down; and 11 fighter-bombers support Chinese ground forces in the Salween area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s continue to hit Tinian and Pagan. B-24s, based at Kwajalein, bomb Truk Atoll. The 819th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives on Saipan from Wheeler Field with B-24s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb the airfield and other targets in Woleai. In New Guinea, bad weather again cancels strikes in the Vogelkop Peninsula, but C-47s complete 48 missions to Biak Island despite the weather; communications and troop concentration along the coast in the general area of Wewak are attacked throughout the day; and the detachment of the 419th Night Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, operating from Nadzab with P-61s, returns to base on Guadalcanal.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 89, JULY 25, 1944
1. On July 24 (West Longitude Date) contact was established between patrols from the northern and southern assault forces on Guam Island, along the eastern shore of Apra Harbor. In the northern sector good progress has been made and pockets of resistance near Adelup Point have been wiped out. In the north our lines now extend from Adelup Point in a general southwesterly direction to the mouth of the Aguada River. In the southern sector our lines extend across the base of the Orote peninsula to a point opposite Anae Island. Carrier aircraft and naval surface units continue to bomb and shell selected targets and are interfering with troop movements in the rear of the enemy lines. Our casualties through July 24 were 443 killed in action, 2366 wounded in action, and 209 missing in action. Our forces have counted 2400 enemy dead.
2. The Tinian beachhead was broadened and deepened during July 24. An enemy counter attack before dawn on July 24 was broken up by our troops, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and destroying five tanks. At mid¬morning our forces began an attack, preceded by heavy artillery and Naval fire support, which advanced our lines half way across the northern end of the island and widened the coastal area under our control to a distance of 3 1/2 miles. Our casualties through July 24 were 15 killed in action and 225 wounded. Our troops have counted 1324 enemy dead.
3. Paramushiru in the Kurile Islands was attacked by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four on July 23. An airfield was bombed and fires started. Several fishing vessels offshore were strafed. Enemy fighters inter¬cepted our force and damaged one of our planes. One enemy fighter was probably shot down and another damaged.
4. Sixty seven tons of bombs were dropped on Truk Atoll by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators on July 23. Waterfront installations, warehouses,
anti aircraft batteries and airfields were bombed. Several enemy fighters Intercepted our force. One fighter was probably shot down and three damaged. Anti aircraft fire was meager.

1945

USA - ATOMIC WEAPONS: The War Dept. issued orders to General Spaatz, Commanding General of the US Army Strategic Air Forces, readying the 509th for action.

JAPAN: In Japan, carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Force 38 and RN's Task Group 37.2 continues attacks in the Inland Sea area; six ships are sunk and a number damaged.
Task Group 35.3 consisting of four light cruisers and six destroyers, bombards an IJN seaplane base on Honshu.
B-24s bomb Kikaiga-shima, Amami Islands, N Ryukyu Islands and the town of Tsuiki.
Twentieth Air Force: During the night of 25/26 Jul, 106 B-29s fly 1 bombing and 1 mining mission; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 291: 75 B-29s attack the Mitsubishi Oil Company and Hayama Petroleum Company at Kawasaki destroying 33% of the storage tanks units and other facilities; 1 B-29 hits an alternate target. Lost is B-29 "Maniuwa" 42-63678. Mission 292: 29 B-29s mine the waters at Nanao, Fushiki, Obama Island, Tsuruga, and Seishin, Japan, and Pusan, Korea; 1 other mines an alternate target.

CHINA: Fourteenth Air Force: 10 B-25s and 3 P-38s knock out bridges at Tho Linh and Quang Tri, French Indochina and damage a barge and a river steamer in the Wuchou, China area. 30 P-51s and P-38s attack river, road, and rail traffic, railroad yards, and other targets in the areas of Duc Tho, Bac Ninh, Vinh, and Hanoi, French Indochina, and Kukong, Samshui, Wuchou, and the West River, China. The 71st Liaison Squadron, Fourteen AF [attached to XIV AF Tactical Air Command (Provisional)], arrives at Kunming, China from Piardoba, India with UC-64s, L-1s, L-4s and L-5s.
B-25s bomb Itu Aba Island, China.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Unit moves from Luzon: HQ 38th BG (Medium) and 71st Bombardment Squadron (Medium) from Lingayen Airfield to Okinawa with B-25s; HQ 345th BG (Medium) from Clark Field, to Ie Shima.

NEI: B-24s bomb Pontianak and Kuching Airfields while B-25s and fighters attack a dispersal area in the Jesselton Airfield area.

PHILLIPINES: B-24s pound enemy troops on Negros Island.

 

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1940
JAPAN: The Japanese government formally adopts a policy regarding the China problem. Their top priority is to block supplies reaching the Nationalist Chinese via Indochina. They will also take a more aggressive stance to secure their own raw materials from the Dutch East Indies.

1941
PHILLIPINES: Douglas MacArthur recalled to duty as a Major General and appointed Commander of a new command, United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), also created that day, though he did not learn of this until 8am on the morning of July 27 (6pm July 26, Washington time). The Philippine National Army, already called into Federal service by an earlier message, was placed under USAFFE, its units being activated between July and December, 1941.
MacArthur continues as military advisor to the Philippine President. MacArthur upon learning of the mobilization of the Philippine National Army but before learning of his own recall to active duty and of the creation of USAFFE, requests payment of the stipend of $50 per soldier serving in the Philippine National Army . This was provided for in his contract with the Commonwealth Government and had been approved by both Secretary of War Dern and President Roosevelt in 1936. The money was paid to MacArthur on Corregidor during the siege. A few other US Army officers had similar arrangements with the Commonwealth but one of them, Dwight Eisenhower, declined to accept his payment.

UK: The United Kingdom and Dutch governments take actions similar to those taken by President Roosevelt yesterday in forbidding the export of oil to the Japanese.

1942
PTO: Admiral Fletcher hosts Admirals McCain Kincaid, Turner, Crutchley and General Vandegrift aboard the USS Saratoga anchored off Koro Island in the Fiji Islands. This will be the only pre-landing conference of the major commanders prior the Operation Watchtower, the invasion of the southern Solomon Islands. Admiral Ghormley is represented by Admiral Callaghan, Chief of Staff.
After much discussion of logistics, Admiral Fletcher asks Turner how much time unloading will take. When Turner replies "About five days." Admiral Fletcher declares that he will withdraw the carriers after two days to avoid air counterattacks. Admiral Callaghan notes Fletcher's skittishness, but he does not invoke his authority as Chief of Staff for Admiral Ghormley.
During the next 4 days, the 1st Marine Division and attached units will rehearse their landing plans. The rehearsal is a disaster and Vandegrift and Turner are reminded that "a bad rehearsal foreshadows a good performance. "

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): A B-25 strike against Gasmata is repulsed by fighter interception over Buna area. Two B-25 were shot down: B-25C 41-12470 and B-25C "Arora" 41-12792.

NG: B-26's attack a destroyer off Gona but fail to score hits; Australian troops flown into Kokoda fail to halt the Japanese advance and Kokoda is evacuated. 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, moves from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Townsville, Australia with P-39s.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 3 bombers and 5 fighters fly 5 armored reconnaissance missions to Kiska Island. 32 B-24's, 38 P-4O's, and 24 P-38's fly 13 attack raids, bombing and scoring hits on numerous Kiska Island and Little Kiska Island targets, including North Head, Main Camp, the runway, Gertrude Cove, AA batteries, and on a suspected submarine in Kiska Island harbor. A submarine is sighted near Rat Island. AA fire claims 1 P-40 (pilot rescued), and damages 3 others. 1 B-25 and 15 P-38's fly 2 air cover missions to Kiska Island for the US Navy. Over 104 tons of bombs are dropped on Kiska Island this day, highest one-day bomb load so far dropped by the Eleventh Air Force.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The last mission against Wake from Midway is flown. 8 B-24's bomb targets including oil storage area. 20+ fighters (including an aircraft identified as a possible Fw 190) intercept the formation. The B-24's claim 11 of the fighters shot down.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 5 B-25's, escorted by 12 fighters, bomb Hankow Airfield, China. An estimated 30-50 fighters intercept the force; the B-25's and fighters claim 14 airplanes shot down and 17 probably destroyed; 1 P-40 is lost.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-24's, P-38's, P-40's, and Navy aircraft hit a bivouac area and the runway at Kahili. B-25's, P-40's, and US Navy fighters over S Kolombangara Island hit the E shore of Webster Cove and bivouac area and buildings on Simbo Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea 40+ B-24's and B-17's bomb Salamaua, Malolo Mission, Komiatum, Komiatum Ridge, and Lae Airfield. The 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, Fifth Air Force, arrives at Port Moresby, New Guinea from the US with C-47's. The squadron flies it's first mission upon arrival.

1944
NEW GUINEA: Japanese resistance continues in New Guinea in the areas of Aitape, Biak and Numfoor.

USA: US President Roosevelt meets with Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur in Honolulu. They discuss plans by MacArthur to capture the Philipines vs plans by Nimitz to bypass the Philipines and strike Formosa.

CENTRAL PACIFIC: In the Caroline Islands, carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Groups 58.2 and 58.3 again attack Japanese installations in the Palau Islands while aircraft of TG 58.1 attack and photograph islands in Ulithi and Yap Atolls. They are joined by Far East Air Forces B-24s which again bomb supply areas, communication, and other targets on Woleai Atoll.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 42 P-40s pound the Myitkyina area while 16 P-51s hit the Mogaung and Kamaing sectors; about 20 other fighter- bombers hit targets of opportunity at Hopin, Bhamo, Myothit, Wuntho, and the N part of Mandalay; 9 B-25s bomb storage sheds at Mohnvin.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 27 B-25s and 3 P-40s blast the town of Tengchung, breaching the SE wall in several places; 32 P-40s and P-38s attack targets of opportunity throughout the Tengchung, Lungling, and Mangshih areas; 97 P-40s attack troops, horses, trucks, fortified points river shipping, and other targets of opportunity at numerous locations in or near Siangtan, Changsha, Hengshan, Fulinpu, Leiyang, Pingkiang, Hengyang, Chaling, and Nanyo; the airfield at Hengyang is also bombed.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s and B-25s from Saipan Island pound Tinian. B-25s from Engebi attack Ponape.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s again hit supply areas, communication, and other targets on Woleai. B-24s bomb airfields at Babo and Ransiki; A-20s and B-25s, along with RAAF fighter-bombers, hit troop concentrations, small shipping, mortar positions, shore guns, and other targets of opportunity along the Hollandia- Aitape-Wewak coastline; B-25s bomb Langgoer; the 408th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Nadzab to Owi, Schouten Islands with B-24s; and the 419th Night Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, based on Guadalcanal, sends a detachment to operate from Noemfoor with P-61s.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 90, JULY 26, 1944
An attack launched by our forces on Tinian Island in the early morning of July 25 (West Longitude Date) resulted in rapid advances and the entire northern quarter of the island is now in our hands. Our line is anchored below Faibus San Hilo Point on the west coast and extends to Asiga Point on the east coast. During the day one of our battleships located and knocked out several camouflaged blockhouses. Selected targets continue to be bombed and strafed by our aircraft. Our troops have counted 1,958 enemy dead.
Saipan based Thunderbolt fighters of the Seventh Army Air Force, sup¬porting ground operations, dropped fire bombs and strafed troop areas, a rail¬road junction, coastal guns and barracks on Tinian Island on July 24. Other Thunderbolts attacked Pagan Island, in the Northern Marianas, scoring bomb hits on the airfield and taxiways.
Carrier aircraft continued support bombing of Guam, attacking Japanese ground installations on July 25, and also bombed enemy positions on Rota Island.
Seventh Army Air Force Mitchells attacked Jokaj Island in the Ponape group on July 23. On July 24 a single Liberator bombed Truk, starting fires visible for 30 miles. On the same day, fighter bombers and light bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and medium bombers of Fleet Air Wing Two raided bivouac areas, antiaircraft and coastal gun positions on the Japanese held islands in the Marshalls. A Navy Ventura bombed Nauru Island on July 24.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 91, JULY 26, 1944
Enemy forces cut off on Orate Peninsula on Guam Island made desperate attempts to escape during the night of July 24 25 (West Longitude Date) but did not succeed in penetrating our lines. On the morning of July 25, our forces counterattacked, supported by intense artillery and Naval gunfire and bombing, and drove about 3,000 yards up the peninsula. We now control the southern half of the peninsula, with the remainder of the defenders trapped on the northern portion.
Our northern and southern forces have joined their lines and now dominate the area on the west coast between Adelup Point on the north and to a point opposite Anae Island on the south.
Our counterattack on Orate Peninsula destroyed at least 12 enemy tanks. The Japanese lost 400 dead in their attempt to break out of their trap on the peninsula.

1945

MARIANAS - ATOMIC WEAPONS: 7/26/45 - The USS Indianapolis dropped anchor off Tinian and unloaded a 15 foot wood crate which contained the firing mechanism for the "Little Boy" bomb. A bucket which contained the first slug of uranium 235 was also on board. Each was brought to the bomb assembly hut. (The second piece of uranium was carried from Oak Ridge to Tinian by Lt. Del Genio aboard a B-29) (2 other B-29's carried two more pieces for the "Fat Man" plutonium bomb.

UK: The results of the British Election are announced. The Conservative Party of Winston Churchill loses to the Labour Party. Clement Attlee becomes Prime Minister.

GERMANY: The Potsdam ultimatum is issued, i.e., Japan is told to surrender unconditionally or face "utter destruction."

INDIAN OCEAN: British minesweeper HMS Vestal (J 215) suffers severe damage after being struck by a Japanese Kamikaze aircraft off Puket, Thailand, and has to be sunk by destroyer HMS Racehorse (H 11). There are 20 casualties. Vestal is the only RN warship to be sunk after being damaged by a Kamikaze aircraft.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 7 B-24s successfully hit the Kataoka Naval Base on Shimushu with incendiaries, leaving smoke columns 5,000 ft (1,524 m) high; there is no airborne opposition and AA fire is moderate and inaccurate. Another B-24 flies a radar-ferret mission over the N Kurile Islands.

JAPAN: B-25s on a shipping search attack a convoy at Tsutsu Bay, Japan sinking 3 small cargo vessels, a freighter, and a few small craft. B-24s on snooper strikes attack several targets, including various targets in the Ryukyu Islands, airfields at Tinghai, China and at Nakazu, Japan, and docks at Pusan, Korea.
Twentieth Air Force: During the night of 26/27 Jul, 350 B-29s fly 3 incendiary missions against secondary cities; 1 B-29 is lost:
Mission 293: 127 B-29s attack the Matsuyama urban area destroying 1.22 sq mi, 73% of the total city area.
Mission 294: 97 B-29s hit the Tokuyama urban area destroying 0.47 sq mi, 37% of the city area; 1 other hit’s an alternate target.
Mission 295: 124 B-29s attack the Omuta urban area destroying 2.05 sq mi, 38% of the city area; 1 other hit’s an alternate target; 1 B-29 is lost.

CHINA: Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 8 B-25s and 4 P-51s bomb the railroad yards at Lohochai and hit a storage area and animal transport in the Pinking area. 100+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s pound enemy movement and withdrawal in French Indochina and S and E China, hitting supplies, troops, river, road, and rail traffic, coastal shipping, railroad yards, bridges, town areas and other targets at numerous locations. The 427th Night Fighter Squadron, Tenth AF, based at Dinjan, India with P-61s, sends a detachment to operate from Nanning, China.
B-25s bomb Itu Aba Island, China.

MARIANAS: USMC - Marine pilot operating from the escort carrier Vella Gulf attack Rota

FEAF: Unit moves from Luzon: HQ 43d BG and 64th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) from Clark Field to Ie Shima with B-24s; ground echelon of 36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, begins a movement from Clark Field to Okinawa (air echelon at Clark Field until Sep 45).

NEI: In Borneo, B-24s hit Tabanio, Trombol, Sengkawang, and Oelin Airfields.

PHILLIPINES: Fighter-bombers and B-25s over Luzon (where the 13 AF now provides ground support) aid ground forces in the Mankayan area and near Tuguegarao. B-24s plaster Japanese positions on ground support strikes over Negros Island.

 

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1941
FRENCH INDOCHINA: Japan will station troops within striking distance of Thailand when she lands at least 24,000 men in southern Indo-China near Saigon. 8,000 troops will be garrisoned at Pnom-Penh, 4,000 will be garrisoned at the naval base of Cam Ranh Bay, northeast of Saigon.

JAPAN: Masatsune Ogura, Japan's Finance Minister, declares that the urgent thing for Japan to do is to "forge ahead towards establishment of the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity sphere."

USA: Japanese diplomats deliver a protest to the U.S. State Department regarding the shipment of U.S. supplies to Vladivostok, USSR, through Japanese waters.

PHILLIPINES: Douglas MacArthur is promoted to Lieutenant General today after having been recalled to active duty yesterday as a Major General. MacArthur had never previously held this rank, though his father had been one of the few Lieutenant Generals in the US Army from the Civil War until World War II. MacArthur would hold this rank until he was promoted to full General following the Japanese assault on the US and its possessions in December, 1941. MacArthur was subsequently promoted, over his protest, to temporary General of the Army and then to permanent General of the Army, the rank he held at his death in 1964.

1942
ALASKA: In the Aleutian Islands, the bombardment of Kiska Island by the 2 heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers and destroyers of the USN's Task Force 8, is postponed due to limited surface visibility and the ships retire to Kodiak. While covering TF 8, four USN PBY Catalinas bomb Kiska.

PACIFIC: The light cruiser USS Boise departs Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, via Midway Islands towards Japan. The Boise is tasked with emitting enough radio traffic to create the impression of an approaching American task force.

NG: In New Guinea, B-26's and A-24 Dauntlesses support Australian troops by bombing Gona and targets along the Buna trail.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): Major General Millard F Harmon arrives at Noumea, New Caledonia , to assume command of US Army Forces in South Pacific Area (USAFISPA) with responsibility for training all army (air and ground) personnel. Air units in the theater are under operational control of Commander Aircraft South Pacific Forces (COMAIRSOPAC).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-26's and A-24's hit Gona and targets along the Buna trail, suffer no losses, but cause no damage. 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, moves from Woodstock to Townsville with P-39s and P-400s. Written off after sustaining damage on the ground is B-17E "Tojo's Physic" 41-2640.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 12 bombers and 20 fighters take off on 5 attack missions to Kiska Island. Several of the fighters jettison bombs. The other aircraft hit Main Camp, North Head and Little Kiska Island. The 21st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group transfers from Umnak Island to Shemya. The air echelon is operating from Amchitka.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 10 B-24's attack shipping in the Samah Bay area of Hainan Island, claiming severe damage to 2 vessels; 25-30 fighters intercept the B-24's. 13 fighters are claimed shot down; no B-24's are lost. 6 B-25's, supported by 14 fighters, attack targets of opportunity on Stonecutter's Island, in the Hong Kong area after failing to locate a reported freighter in the area.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Brigadier General Ray L Owens becomes Commanding General, Thirteenth Air Force. B-17's bomb airfields at Kahili and Ballale. 8 P-38's and 70+ US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft again attack the Munda area, hitting positions on Bibolo Hill and targets at Gurasai, Munda Point, and Munda Airfield. The 371st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group based on Espitu Santo in the Hebrides Islands begins operating with B-24's from Funafuti Island in the Ellice Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) 35 B-25's and 18 B-24's pound the Salamaua area in one of the largest single-strike attacks of Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA). Airfield and supply storage at Salamaua, the town of Kela and nearby hilltop positions, and defensive positions between the road and beach at Logui are hit; 5 other B-25's hit barges between Pommern Bay and Finschhafen, and the concentration and supply area at Voco Point; a lone B-24 on armored reconnaissance bombs targets of opportunity on Mundua and Unea. Lost is L-4 Grasshopper 43-1137 near Berry Drome (12-MIle). Lost on a practice bombing mission is B-25D 41-30496.

1944
GUAM: The US 77th Division is preparing an attack on Mount Tenjo on Guam.
TINIAN: US construction begins on the newly captured airfield at Ushi Point on Tinian.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 40+ fighter-bombers hit Taungni, Myitkyina, the Kamaing-Mogaung area, and a bridge at Sahmaw.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 17 P-40s hit river and lake shipping S of Yogang and in the Siangtan area, strafe truck columns S of Changsha, and bomb and strafe troops, horses, and compounds in the Nanyo area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s and B-25s from Saipan Island hit Tinian Island. B-24s from the Marshall Islands bomb Truk Atoll. B-25s based at Makin hit Jaluit Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s hit the airfield on Woleai and supply areas on Mariaon and Tagaulap Islands in the Caroline Islands. In the Moluccas Islands, B-24s bomb the airfield at Lolobata and Miti while B-25s hit Galela Airfield. B-24s bomb Laha, Amboina Island; Namlea, Buru Island; and Cape Chater and Dili. B-24s and B-25s bomb shipping and air facilities at Ransiki, Moemi, and Babo, hit a freighter in Kaiboes Bay, and bomb AA positions at Kokas, captured in a dramatic series of four photos, A-20G "Bavo" 43-9432 is shot down and crashes into the sea. It later appears in TIME Magazine captioned "Death of an A-20". Other A-20s blast fuel dumps at Nabire; P-39s strafe concentrations and small vessels along the W coast of Geelvink Bay; A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers hit troop concentrations, supply dumps, gun positions, barges, and a variety of other targets along the coast from Aitape to Wewak to Cape Moem.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 92, JULY 27, 1944
United States Marines continued their advance on Tinian Island on July 26 (West Longitude Date), and now control the northern one third of the island, including Mount Lasso, the island's commanding height. Our lines extend diagonally southeast across the island from a point south of Faibus San Hilo Point on the west coast to a point several thousand yards north of Masalog Point on the east coast. Light surface units and Seventh Army Air Force Thunderbolt fighters from Isely Field on Saipan are supporting our ground forces. On July 24 the fighters flew 124 bombing and strafing sorties, scoring hits on enemy troop areas, ammunition dumps, gun positions and motorized equipment.
Our casualties on Tinian as of July 25 were 159 killed in action, 441 wounded in action, and 32 missing in action. We have counted 2089 enemy dead and have captured 62 Japanese troops who have been made prisoners of war. Eighty civilians have been interned.
Seabees and Army aviation engineers are enlarging and clearing the Uhushi Point Airfield which was taken July 25.
On July 25 Seventh Army Air Force Liberators dropped more than 70 tons of bombs on the Japanese Naval base at Truk. Large explosions were observed. One of at least eight intercepting enemy planes was damaged. Five of our bombers were damaged.
Aircraft of a fast carrier task group on July 24 and 25 attacked enemy installations on Arakabesan, Peleliu, Angaur, Malakal and Koror, in the Palau group, and Yap and Ulithi, all in the western Caroline Islands. Five enemy airborne aircraft were shot down, 21 were destroyed on the ground and others damaged the first day. No airborne enemy fighters were seen the second day. Our planes sank an enemy destroyer, an oiler, a destroyer escort or minelayer, seven small cargo ships and many smaller craft. We lost five planes in combat but recovered four pilots.
Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing Corsairs and Dauntless dive bombers and Catalinas of Fleet Air Wing Two continued on July 25 to harass enemy positions in the Marshall Islands. Nauru was attacked the same day by a Navy Ventura bomber.

1945
JAPAN: Twentieth Air Force: Mission 296: During the night of 27/28 Jul, 24 B-29s drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait, at Fukuoka, Niigata, Maizuru, Senzaki, and in Fukawa Bay; 1 other mines an alternate target; 3 B-29s are lost to heavy flak, 2 ditching with 13 men rescued and 1 crash landing on Iwo Jima and subsequently scrapped.
USN: TF 38 carrier aircraft attack Kure, heavily damaging Amagi.
FEAF: 60+ Fifth and Seventh AF B-24s pound a marshalling yard at Kagoshima, Kyushu and 50 escorting P-51s attack numerous nearby targets of opportunity; 150+ P-47s over Kyushu hit communications and industrial targets, including a tunnel S of Kurino, bridges at Okasa, Hitosuse-gawa, and Matsubase, and factories and a power plant at Yatsushiro.

CHINA: Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 13 B-25s, some with P-51 support, hit a supply movement in the Siang Chiang Valley, bomb railroad yards at Siaokan and Sinyang, and hit coastal shipping in the Do Son, French Indochina area. 50+ P-51s and P-38s concentrate on attacking river shipping at numerous points of French Indochina and S and E China also hitting road and rail traffic, coastal vessels, storage areas, and bridges.

NEI: B-24s of the Thirteenth AF hit airstrip N of Pontianak, Borneo.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The 500th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th BG (Medium), moves from Clark Field, Luzon to Ie Shima with B-25s.

 

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1941
FRENCH INDOCHINA: The crisis in the Far East worsened today when 30,000 Japanese troops entered French Indochina. The build-up includes elements of the Japanese navy, which have sailed into Cam Ranh Bay, and aircraft which are flying into Saigon. Japanese troops have also begun disembarking in Cambodia where 8,000 men will be within striking range of Siam.
Malaya is now seriously threatened from Indochina, which is providing the Japanese with a naval base within 750-miles of Singapore and airfields within 300 miles of northern Malaya. The Japanese move has isolated the Philippines and menaces the oil-rich Dutch East Indies.
The Vichy regime has given the Japanese a free hand in Indochina on the pretext that it was threatened by British and Gaullist plots.

1942
AUSTRALIA: Major General George C Kenney, commander-designate of Allied Air Forces, Southwest Pacific Area, arrives in Australia from the U.S.

PACIFIC: In the Fiji Islands, the U.S. 1st Marine Division begins rehearsals for the landings in the Solomon Islands.

JAPAN: In Japan, Imperial General Headquarters orders the IJA and IJN to mount an all-out offensive to conquer the remaining Allied bases in New Guinea.

ALASKA (11th AF): An air coverage survey for Army ground operations to Adak and Tanaga is flown. Weather cancels a bombing mission to Kiska .

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): 1 B-26 bombs installations at Gona, New Guinea.

1943
ALASKA: The Japanese finish evacuating their remaining troops from Kiska in the Aleutians.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The 333d Fighter Squadron, 318th FG, transfers from Hilo, Hawaii to Bellows Field, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii with P-39's.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 6 B-25's, with escort of 9 P-40's, bomb Taikoo Docks at Hong Kong.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomon Islands, B-25's and US Navy aircraft hit gun positions and other targets at Webster Cove on New Georgia Island.
US attacks on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands continue. They are principally toward Horseshoe Hill.

NEW GUINIEA: There is an Australian division operating in central New Guinea against Lae and Salamaua. This division includes US infantry and artillery.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) On New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's attack barges and fuel dump between Cape Raoult and Rein Bay and hit the airfield at Cape Gloucester and 2 destroyers offshore; single B-24's bomb Unea and unsuccessfully attack shipping in Saint George Channel. B-24's bomb Manokwari and Larat and Boela. On Timor Island, B-25's hit the town of Lautem and the airfield at Cape Chater.

1944
CENTRAL PACIFIC: In the Caroline Islands, carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Groups 58.2 and 58.3 again attack Japanese installations in the Palau Islands while aircraft of TG 58.1 attack targets Utlihi and Yap Atolls. Four B-24 squadrons of the USAAF's Far East Air Force attacks targets in Woleai Atoll; the airfield and supply area are well covered.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 100+ fighter-bombers hit the Myitkyina, Kamaing, Mogaung, and Taungni areas; 16 others attack targets of opportunity at Bhamo, Indaw, Mohnyin, and hit a bridge at Sihet; and 8 B-25s pound a troop area at Sihet.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 18 B-25s, with fighter support, pound the Yoyang railroad yards; other B-25s in groups of 1 to 3 hit a Yellow River bridge and White Cloud, Tien Ho, and Hankow Airfields; 18 P-40s hit Pailochi Airfield, destroying several aircraft; and 30+ P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance hit troop concentrations, river and road traffic and other targets of opportunity at Leiyang, Chaling, Chinlanshih, and in the Tungting Lake area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s and P-47s based on Saipan Island bomb and strafe Tinian Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Targets at Woleai are bombed by 4 squadrons of B-24s; the airfield and supply area are well covered; Laha, Amboina Island and Cape Chater, Timor Island are hit by B-24s while B-25s bomb supply dumps at Maumere, Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands. B-24s and A-20s pound airfields at Manokwari and Babo, bivouac areas at Kasoeri, and shipping in Kaimana Bay; P-39s hit Windissi and other Geelvink Bay villages; A-20s and fighter-bombers blast stores, troop concentrations, communications targets, barges, and targets of opportunity in the Wewak, Cape Moem, and But; HQ 309th Bombardment Wing moves from Saidor to Noemfoor; and the 403d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d BG (Heavy), moves from Nadzab to Owi, Schouten Islands with B-24s.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 93, JULY 28, 1944
There were no material changes on our lines on Guam Island during July 26 (West Longitude Date). On the Orate Peninsula our forces are continuing their attack against more than 2,000 enemy troops entrenched in dugouts and pillboxes. The defenders are employing artillery, automatic weapons, and mortars in considerable quantities. In the southern sector our lines are unchanged. Delayed reports indicate that severe fighting took place before dawn on July 25 in the northern beach area. In places enemy infiltration tactics succeeded, but by early morning the attack was repulsed with an estimated loss of 2,000 enemy troops.
During July 26 carrier aircraft bombed the airfields near Agana Town on Guam and at Rota Island. Gunboats are being used in close support of our troops on Guam.
On the night of July 26 a single Liberator search plane of Fleet Air Wing Two made a low level attack over Truk Lagoon, obtaining two direct hits on a cargo ship and bombing a group of small craft.
Ponape and Nauru Islands in the Carolines and remaining enemy positions in the Marshalls were attacked by aircraft of the Central Pacific shore based air force on July 26.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 94, JULY 28, 1944
Our forces on Guam Island made substantial gains in all sectors on July 27 (West Longitude Date).
Northern forces extended their beachhead east to a point near the out skirts of Agana Town and advanced several hundred yards along the entire northern front.
In the central sector Marines drove inland more than two miles from Apra Harbor and occupied Mounts Tenjo, Alutam, and Chachao. In the south our troops advanced more than a mile in an easterly direction. The southern terminus of our beachhead remains at a point on the west coast opposite Anne Island.
Marines driving northwest on Orote Peninsula against stubborn enemy resistance secured an estimated 500 additional yards.
Conservative estimates indicate that our forces have killed 4,700 enemy troops on Guam.
On Tinian Island Marines, pivoting on our eastern anchor above Masalog Point, advanced more than three and one half miles along the west coast, capturing the airfield above Gurguan Point. Coastal batteries on Tinian were shelled by battleships on July 27.
On Saipan Island our troops have now buried 21,036 enemy dead. Of our own troops previously listed as casualties, 5,434 have now returned to duty.
CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 487, JULY 28, 1944
The American flag was formally raised on Guam Island on the morning of July 26 (West Longitude Date) at the headquarters of Major General Roy S. Geiger, USMC, Commanding General, Third Amphibious Corps.

1945
JAPAN: Japanese Premier Suzuki notes on the Japanese government's reaction to the Potsdam Declaration that they will "take no notice." There is concern among the members of the Japanese government that the diplomatic note was not delivered through a neutral government. There are also several other possible translations of the words used by the Premier.
In Japan, carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Force 38 attack the Inland Sea area between Nagoya and northern Kyushu, especially the Kure Naval Base. The aircraft sink a battleship HIJMS Haruna, a battleship-carrier HIJMS Hyuga, a heavy cruisers HIJMS Amagi and Katsuragi, a light carrier HIJMS Ryuho,17 other vessels and uncompleted carriers Kasagi, Aso, and Ibuki. American and British pilots shot down or burned up 306 enemy planes and damaged 392. Heavy and accurate AA fire brings down 133 USN aircraft and 102 airmen. Carrier-based aircraft of the RN's Task Force 37 sink 3 ships off Yura.
Historians vary on the accounts of these strikes. Hammel for instance has strikes only occurring today. Reynolds shows these strikes occurring on both the 24th and today. Admiral Halsey with Bryan adds strikes on the 25th to those listed by Reynolds. In all three cases the US losses are listed with the same numbers.

OKINAWA: During the night of 27/28 July, the destroyer USS Callaghan is sunk by a kamikaze while on radar picket duty about 50 miles SW of Okinawa. The Japanese biplane struck the ship on the starboard side, exploded and one of the plane's bombs penetrated the after engine room. The destroyer flooded, and the fires which ignited antiaircraft ammunition prevented nearby ships from rendering aid. She sank at 0235, 28 July 1945, with the loss of 47 members of her valiant crew. This is the last USN ship sunk by a kamikaze.

JAPAN: Twentieth Air Force: During the night of 28/29 Jul, 554 B-29s fly 6 incendiary raids on secondary cities and 1 bombing raid without loss.
Mission 297: 76 B-29s attack the Tsu urban area destroying 0.84 sq mi, 57% of the city area.
Mission 298: 61 B-29s hit the Aomori urban area destroying 1.06 sq mi, 64% of the city area; 3 others hit alternate targets.
Mission 299: 122 B-29s attack the Ichinomiya urban area destroying 0.99 sq mi, 75% of the city area; 2 others attack alternate areas.
Mission 300: 93 B-29s hit the Uji-Yamada urban area destroying 0.36 sq mi, 39% of the city area; 1 other hits an alternate target.
Mission 301: 90 B-29s attack the Ogaki urban area destroying 0.48 sq mi, 40% of the city area. Mission 302: 29 B-29s hit the Uwajima urban area destroying 0.53 sq mi, 52% of the city area.
Mission 303: 76 B-29s bomb the Shimotsu Oil Refinery; 75% of the tank capacity, 90% gasometer capacity and 69% of the roof area destroyed or damaged; 1 other B-29s hits an alternate target. 140+ P-51s, based on Iwo Jima, hit 9 objectives (airfields and military targets) in a wide area around Tokyo and attack a destroyer escort along the Chiba Peninsula, leaving it burning.

FEAF: In Japan, 137 Ie Shima-based P-47s rocket and strafe airfields, oil stores, railroad yards, warehouses, industry, gun positions, and other targets on Kyushu at or near Kanoya, Metatsubara, Tachiarai, Kurume, Saga, and Junicho; 21 more P-47s attack shipping at Yatsushiro and A-26s and B-25s pound airfields at Kanoya; P-51s and B-25s, sweeping over the Inland Sea, destroy 2 small cargo vessels and a patrol boat and 70+ B-24s bomb shipping at Kure, claiming direct hits on a battleship and an aircraft carrier.

CHINA: Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 7 B-25s and 4 P-51s attack a supply movement through the Siang Chiang Valley, hit a freighter and 2 smaller vessels off Shuitang, and pound troops near Kian. About 90 P-51s, P-47s, and P-61s disrupt the Japanese movement throughout S and E China and in French Indochina; the fighter-bombers concentrate on river transport.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, B-25s and P-38s in support of ground forces hit enemy positions in the Mankayan-Kiangan area and in the Marikina area. Other P-38s hit troop concentrations on Jolo and B-24s support ground forces on Negros.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Units moving from Luzon to Ie Shima: 82d and 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons, 71st Reconnaissance Group, from Lingayen Airfield with F-6s; 499th and 501st Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 345th BG (Medium), from Clark Field with B-25s.

 

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1941
FRENCH INDOCHINA: The Japanese occupy southern French Indochina with the permission of the French.

USA: The US Secretary of the Navy approves the installation of a Radar Plot aboard aircraft carriers as "the brain of the organization" protecting the fleet from air attack. The first installation is planned for the island structure of USS Wasp (CV-7).

1942
USA: A combined British and US Production & Resources Board is established in London. The goal is to control allocations of material and industrial priorities. Averill Harriman for the US and Oliver Lyttelton for the UK are to be the senior members.

SOLOMONS: PBY-5 Catalinas of the USN's Patrol Squadron VP-23 based at Naval Operating Base Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, bomb Japanese installations on Tulagi and Gavutu Islands.

ALASKA (11th AF): 4 B-24's and 5 B-17's bomb vessels and installations in the Kiska Harbor area with unobserved results due to clouds.

NG 5TH AF: Eight 3rd BG A-24's that took off from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby. Escorted by 35th FG 41st FS P-39 flying top cover, and 8th FG, 80th FS flying close escort. One A-24 aborted the mission, and seven proceeded to bomb Japanese transports 20 miles north of Gona, 1 1/4 miles form shore. The convoy was being protected by A6M2 Zeros of the Tainan Kokutai which attack the A-24 as they start their dives. The A-24s dive-bomb in two waves. The first wave: A-24 41-15797 (shot down), A-24 piloted by Hill (damaged and gunner badly wounded) and A-24 piloted by Raymond Wilkins (the only aircraft to return to 7-Mile). The second wave: A-24 41-15819, A-24 41-15766, A-24 piloted by Cassels and A-24 piloted by Parker all four were shot down. The Kotoku Maru, was hit once at the No. 5 hatch by the second wave, forcing its troops to unload and leave its cargo undelivered. The Japanese ships all return to Lae.

AUSTRALIA: HQ 8th Fighter Group moves from Brisbane to Townsville, Australia.

NG: - The village of Kokoda is captured by the Japanese, fighting overland from Buna to Port Moresby on the Kokoda Track.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 1 B-17 scouts Kiska Island and bombs the Main Camp area.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 2 flights of B-25's blast the previously bombed Mu River bridge between Ywataung and Monywa. The bridge is hit heavily with 1 span left submerged in the river.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 18 B-24's, with fighter escort, bomb shipping and dockyard installations at Hong Kong. Kowloon and Taikoo Docks and the old Royal Navy yards are hit. 4 P-40's attack a Japanese force of 23 bombers and 30 fighters attacking Hengyang, China; 1 Japanese fighter is downed.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-17's, B-24's, and B-25's bomb Kela Point and village, and Salamaua town and peninsula area. On New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's, B-26's, and a B-24 attack Army HQ, barges, and villages in the Natamo vicinity, shipping off Cape Gloucester, Borgen Bay, along the coast from Ring Ring Plantation to Roebuck Point and barges off Cape Dampier, New Guinea. P-40's strafe targets of opportunity.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly bombing and reconnaissance runs over Shimushu Island and Paramushiru Island sites including Kurabu Cape installations.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, about 100 fighter-bombers bomb the Myitkyina, Kamaing, and Mogaung areas and strafe Indaw; 20+ others attack targets at Myothit, Chyahkan, Mainghka, Nawna and Nansawlaw, and hit a bridge at Panghkam; a troop area at Naungtalaw is bombed by 9 B-25s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 26 B-24s bomb a storage area in Samah Bay, Hainan Island; 27 B-25s hit Yulin harbor, Hankow Airfield, Kaifeng railroad yards, and the town of Tengchung; 80+ P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance hit bridges, troops, supplies, and river, road, and rail traffic throughout a vast area including the towns of Liling, Sinsiang, Hengshan, Changsha, Siangtan, Chaling, Liuyang, and Chuchou.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): In China, 70+ B-29s out of Chengtu bomb the Showa Steel Works at Anshan and harbor at Taku; the first B-29 to be shot down on a combat mission falls to 5 fighters near Chenghsien (which the B-29 bombs after engine trouble causes an abort from the primary
mission); another B-29 bombs Chinwangtao before making a forced landing at afriendly field near Ankang.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s continue to hit Tinian Island. B-24s hit Truk Atoll and B-25s attack Ponape Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb supply areas in Woleai; the nearby islands of Mariaon and Tagaulap are also hit. Other B-24s bomb airfields at Boela, Namlea on Buru Island and Cape Chater on Timor Island.
B-24s pound Moemi, Sagan, Otawiri, and Urarom; B-25s hit oil targets at Karaka, shipping off Sorong and Cape Fatagar, and a supply village W of Babo; P-39s bomb Windissi and strafe troop concentrations along the W shore of Geelvink Bay for the third consecutive day; in NE New Guinea bombers and fighters continue pounding the N coast, hitting troops, bridges and stores at Wewak and along Harech Creek, and targets of opportunity in the Yakamul area; and the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Finschhafen to Biak with B-25s.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 95, JULY 29, 1944
Marine forces, continuing their advance throughout July 28 (West Longi¬tude Date), are compressing the enemy into the southern area of Tinian Island. In the west coast of the island our troops are nearing Tinian Town. In the center we have made additional gains of nearly two miles. On the east coast progress has been slowed due to the difficulty of operations in the high ground near Masalog Point, but our eastern line was advanced about a half mile.
On July 27 Saipan based Thunderbolt fighters flew 130 sorties over Tinian, strafing and bombing enemy troop concentrations, gun positions, and supply areas. Fires and explosions were observed. One of our fighters was lost.
Carrier aircraft continued attacking enemy defenses, troop concentrations and gun positions on July 28 in close support of our ground operations on Guam.
Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force attacked Truk Atoll with more than 60 tons of bombs on July 27. An estimated eight Japanese interceptors attacked our bombers, and one bomber was shot down. Two crewmen bailed out and were strafed by enemy fighters. Our other bombers shot down two enemy fighters, probably shot down one, and damaged two.
Japanese positions and installations on Jaluit, Wotje, and Mille in the Marshall Islands were attacked on July 27 by Corsairs and Dauntless dive bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, and Mitchell medium bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force. A single Ventura search plane of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Nauru Island on the same day.
CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 96, JULY 29, 1944
Orote Peninsula on Guam Island has been captured by the First Provi¬sional Marine Brigade. Organized resistance ceased late in the afternoon of July 28 (West Longitude Date). Apra Harbor is being patrolled by light fleet units to prevent the few remaining Japanese from swimming to the mainland. No material change took place in our 10 mile front extending from near Adelup Point to a point on the west coast opposite Anae Island, but our patrols ranged out ahead of our lines nearly a mile in some places. A large quantity of enemy equipment and munitions has been captured or destroyed, including 30 enemy tanks, 72 field pieces and coast defense guns of various calibers up to eight inch and many motor vehicles.

1945
ATOMIC BOMB RELATED: General Spaatz arrived on Guam and brought an order from General Groves authorizing the dropping of the first SPECIAL BOMB on one of four targets, Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata, or Nagasaki sometime after August 3rd.

JAPAN - FEAF: P-47s from Ie Shima and B-24s, B-25s, and A-26s from Okinawa pound targets in the Japanese Home Islands; 70+ B-24s pound shipping at Kure, 41 B-24s hit a factory and storage area NW of Aburatsu, shipping and engine works in Nagasaki and vicinity, and the towns of Nobeoka, Kyushu and Oita; B-25s hit Kagoshima, Kyushu, Kibana, a bridge, barracks and other buildings at Miyazaki, warehouses, a lighthouse, and navigation light at Tozaki-hana, and bomb Tokuno Shima; A-26s pound the naval base and engine works at Nagasaki; numerous P-47s hit the harbor at Kure, shipping and seaplane station at Ibusuki, railroad station, docks, and town area of Makurazaki, Chiran Airfield and Izumi Airfields, and shipping at Kagoshima Bay. P-51s hit numerous targets of opportunity on the S coast of Korea and on the S part of Kyushu, where shipping, railroads, and Omura, Kyushu and Sashiki factories are also attacked.

JAPAN: American and British carrier-based aircraft attack airfields and naval targets in the Inland Sea sinking a destroyer and 12 merchant vessels. USN Task Group 34.8.1 consisting of 3 battleships, 4 heavy cruisers and 10 destroyers bombards facilities on Honshu. The British battleship HMS King George V and 3 destroyers join in the bombardment.

NEI: B-24s hit Sidate Airfield and warehouses at Watampone on Celebes Island. Other B-24s bomb resistance pocket S of Fabrica.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, B-25s and P-38s hit Japanese positions near San Mariano and W of Kiangan, troop concentrations in the Marikina watershed, and ridge emplacements in the Bantayan area; several buildings are destroyed at Pasco Point.

Twentieth Air Force: Mission 304: During the night of 29/30 Jul, 24 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and the waters at Fukuoka, Karatsu, and Najin; 2 others mine alternate targets.

Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 4 B-25s and 2 P-51s hit shipping off Luichow Peninsula near Cape Kami, barracks at Chingmen, and cannon-strafe trucks at Kuanshuishih and oil storage at Yingtak. About 100 P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s attack a variety of targets over a vast area from Haiphong to Peking continuing the steady campaign against enemy movement and withdrawal.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)] Unit moves: 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Reconnaissance Group, from Lingayen Airfield to Ie Shima with B-25s (detachment remains at Lingayen Airfield until Sep 45); 868th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), Thirteenth AF from Leyte to Okinawa with B-24s (the 868th uses airborne radar for low-level attacks at night and for pathfinder operations).

 

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1940
PHILLIPINES: The US Philippine Department Commander, MG George Grunert, complains to the War Department that his ammunition reserves were only sufficient for "three or four days" of combat. Relayed to Marshall by Brigadier General George V. Strong, Chief of War Plans Division.

1941
CHINA: The US gunboat Tutiula is damaged by an attack by Japanese bombers in Chungking. The Japanese apology does nothing to ease strained relations between the US and Japan.

USA: US President Roosevelt today slapped an embargo on the export of aviation fuel from the United States. This action follows action 5 days earlier that effectively froze exports of scrap iron and oil.

UK: Robert Murphy (former Governor-General and High Commissioner) proposes creation of a "National Defense Commission for the Far East" to meet in Singapore and to coordinate regional defense with Dutch and UK representatives. The proposal was ignored. (Marc Small)

USA: US Army Chief of Staff George Marshall informs the War Department Staff that it was now US policy to defend the Philippines but that European concerns took priority.

1942
NEI: The Japanese occupy small islands between Timor and New Guinea in an effort to support their campaign against Port Moresby, New Guinea.

ALASKA: The US 11th Air Force dispatches 1 LB-30 and 3 B-24's and 9 B-17's to fly photo reconnaissance and bombing missions to Tanaga and Kiska Islands; the missions are unsuccessful due to weather.

The US submarine Grunion (SS-216), commanded by Mannert L. Abele, is lost to unknown causes, off Kiska. All hands are lost.

SOLOMONS: In the Solomon Islands, B-17s of the 11th BG (Heavy) begin arriving at Espiritu Santo Island from Hawaii where they are to constitute a reconnaissance and strike force over the Guadalcanal- Tulagi-Gavutu area in preparation for the amphibious assault by US Marines on 7 August.

US: The US Navy establishes the Women's Naval Reserve or Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES).

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF): CHINA AIR TASK FORCE (CATF): The Japanese send about 120 aircraft against the base at Hengyang from which CATF is harassing the Yangtze Valley; the attacks last about 36 hours; fierce opposition by US P-40s prevents major damage to the base; 17 Japanese aircraft are shot down, 4 of them at night; 3 P-40s are lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-17s attack shipping in the Solomon Sea E of the Huon Gulf and S of New Britain.

1943
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 15 P-40's over the Hengyang, China area make contact with 39 Japanese fighters and 24 bombers. In the ensuing battle, 3 bombers and 2 fighters are downed; 2 P-40's are lost.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 9 B-24's, with an escort of 16 P-38's and P-40's and 40+ US Navy F4U's, pound the airfield on Ballale.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-24's bomb Salamaua and Kela; B-25's hit barges off Huon Peninsula and villages in the Finschhafen area; and A-20's destroy several barges at Hanisch Harbor and Langemak Bay. Single B-24's bomb Cape Gloucester and Unea.

ALASKA: In the Aleutian Islands, the US destroyers USS Farragut and USS Hull bombard the Gertrude Cove and main camp areas of Kiska Island. The action is futile; all of the Japanese troops have been evacuated.

1944
TINIAN: Tinian Town falls to the US forces on Tinian. The southern half of Guam has been mostly cleared.

NEW GUINEA: During Operation GLOBETROTTER, elements of the US Army's 6th Infantry Division are landed at Cape Opmari on the northwest coast of New Guinea and on Amsterdam and Middleburg Islands. Supporting the operation is the Navy's Task Force 77, with Admiral Berkey's TF 78 supporting, General Sibert's 6th Divison lands, unopposed, on the islands of Amsterdam and Middleburg off Cape Sansapor, New Guinea.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 30+ fighter-bombers attack Myitkyina and the Kamaing-Mogaung area and hit a bridge at Sihet; the Japanese commander at Myitkyina orders withdrawal and commits suicide.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 11 B-24s pound the town of Wuchang; 70+ P-40s and P-51s attack a bridge and the town area at Liling, railroad yards at Hsuchang, and troop concentrations, storage, and road, river and rail traffic in areas around Yungfengshih, Puchou, Hengyang, Chuchou, Chaling, Tungting Lake, and Liuyang. In French Indochina, 20+ P-40s and P-38s hit shipping and road traffic around Hanoi, Lang Son, Dong Dang, Mon Cay, and Campha Port.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s and P-47s from Saipan Island again hit Tinian Island. B-25s from Makin bomb Jaluit Atoll.
USN - STAG-1 tests TDR Drones against the shipwreck of the Yamazuki Maru on Guadalcanal, one of the first tests of this guided missile.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The supply area on Woleai is again bombed by B-24s; other B-24s and P-38s attack the airfield and oil installations at Boela while more P-38s attack shipping off E Ceram off Amboina, and near Talaga, Sanana Island, Moluccas Islands; B-25s hit airfields at Penfoei and Koepang on Timor Island. B-24s hit Morotai Island, Celebes Islands. In New Guinea, P-39s support Allied ground forces on Biak Island and continue to patrol W Geelvink Bay, hitting barges in Bentoni Bay and troops at Idorra; Allied forces (Task Force TYPHOON) land on the N coast of Vogelkop Peninsula near Mar; the landings, made without preparatory bombardment to achieve surprise, meet no opposition; bombers and fighters continue to pound troop concentrations, barges, ships, fuel dumps, communications and other targets between Wewak and Aitape.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 97, JULY 30, 1944
Tinian Town on Tinian Island was captured by U. S. Marines during the afternoon of July 29 (West Longitude Date). Substantial gains were made along the entire front during the day, and the enemy is now contained in an area of approximately five square miles at the southern tip of the island. Enemy resistance increased progressively throughout July 29 as the Marines advanced.
Activity on Guam on July 29 (West Longitude Date) was limited to clearing local pockets of resistance and to patrolling. Some of our patrols crossed the island to Ylig and Togcha Bay without meeting resistance. Our troops to date have counted 4,543 enemy dead and have captured 44 prisoners of war. At least 28 Japanese tanks have been destroyed.
Our own casualties on Guam as of July 29 including both soldiers and Marines total 958 killed in action, 4,739 wounded in action and 290 missing in action.
Our ships now are using Apra Harbor on the west coast of Guam, site of the former American Naval base. Several of our aircraft have landed and taken off from the Orote Peninsula airfield.
Two Liberators of Fleet Air Wing Two on July 28 strafed Japanese small craft in the Truk Atoll Lagoon. Five enemy fighters attempted to intercept our force and two fighters were damaged. The bombers proceeded to Ponape where Japanese gun positions and buildings were bombed. One of our planes was damaged by antiaircraft fire but both returned to base.
Attacks on remaining Japanese positions in the Marshall Islands were continued on July 28. Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing Corsairs and Dauntless dive bombers and Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two, Venturas and Catalinas bombed coastal and antiaircraft gun emplacements. A Navy Ventura search plane bombed Nauru. Antiaircraft fire ranged from moderate to meager. Two of our aircraft were damaged but all returned

1945
JAPAN: The Japanese reject the Potsdam ultimatum. Nevertheless General of the Army George C Marshall, Chief of Staff, US Army, directs General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Commanding General US Army Forces in the Pacific, Lieutenant General Albert C Wedemeyer, Commanding General, US Forces in the China Theater, and Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief Pacific, to proceed with plans for a surrender.

NEI: LOA KULU MASSACRE: After surrendering to overwhelming numbers of Japanese troops, around one hundred members of the Netherlands East Indies Army were disarmed and for a while permitted restricted freedom in the town of Samarinda , in Borneo, where most of the soldiers lived with their families. Early on the morning of July 30, all prisoners, including their families, were rounded up and taken before a Japanese officer who summarily sentenced them all to death. No reason was given as they were bundled into lorries and taken to Loa Kulu just outside the town. There they had their hands tied behind their backs and as the men and children watched, the women were systematically cut to pieces with swords and bayonets until they all died. The screaming children were then seized and hurled alive down a 600 foot deep mine shaft. The men captives, forced to kneel and witness the butchery of their wives and children, and suffering the most indescribable mental torture, were then lined up for execution by beheading. When the grisly ritual was over, the bloodied corpses and severed heads of the 144 men were then thrown down the mine shaft on top of their murdered wives and children. The horror of Loa Kulu was discovered by Australian troops who had earlier started a search for the missing Dutch soldiers.

CENRTAL PACIFIC: During the night the USS Indianapolis will be torpedoed by I-58. The loss will not be discovered until she is 3 days late. Many of the 316 survivors that are rescued will not be found for several more days.
The US heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis by Japanese submarine HIJMS I-58 northeast of Leyte at 12.02N, 134.48E. After delivering parts of the atomic bomb to Tinian, USS Indianapolis was dispatched to Guam where she disembarked men and reported for onward routine to Leyte. From there she was to report to Vice Admiral Jesse B Oldendorf for further duty off Okinawa. Departing Guam 28 July, USS Indianapolis proceeded by a direct route unescorted. Early in the morning, 0015 hours, 2 heavy explosions occurred against her starboard side forward, and she capsized and sank in 12 minutes. The ship had been hit by two torpedoes. The seas had been moderate; the visibility, good, USS Indianapolis had been steaming at 17 knots.
When the ship did not reach Leyte on the 31 July, as scheduled, no report was made that she was overdue. This omission was due to a misunderstanding of the Movement Report System.
Thus it was not until 1025 hours on 2 August that the survivors were sighted, mostly held afloat by life jackets, although there were a few rafts which had been cut loose before the ship went down. They were sighted by a plane on routine patrol; the pilot immediately dropped a life raft and a radio transmitter. All air and surface units capable of rescue operations were dispatched to the scene at once, and the surrounding waters were thoroughly searched for survivors.

JAPAN – FEAF: 60+ B-25s and A-26s bomb Omura Airfield and 4 of the planes hit airfield at Izumi; P-47s support the strike and also hit numerous nearby targets of opportunity; B-25s, failing to find targets on a shipping sweep over Korean waters, bomb shipping, a railroad, and a warehouse in the Sendai area and covering P-51s also hit nearby targets of opportunity; 80+ P-47s bomb Sendai, leaving much of the town in flames; P-51s on photo reconnaissance of S Kyushu destroy trains and small craft; and nearly 80 P-47s attack the Miyazaki, Karasehara, and Tomitaka areas, firing warehouses and damaging barracks, hangars, towers, and other buildings, and blast buildings and construction on and near Shibushi Airfield.
JAPAN: US Navy Task Unit 34.8.1 consisting of 3 battleships, 4 heavy cruisers and 10 destroyers complete the bombardment of targets at Hamamatsu on Honshu. The Royal Navy battleship HMS King George V and 3 destroyers also participate in this operation.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 8 B-24s on way to the Kurile islands are soon recalled because of weather disturbances.

Twentieth Air Force: Iwo Jima based P-51s attack airfields, railroads, and other tactical targets throughout the Kobe-Osaka area.

Fourteenth Air Force: 2 B-25s bomb supply convoys moving through the Siang Chiang Valley of China. 40+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s hit various targets in S and E China, and in French Indochina, chiefly river transport, but also troop concentrations, railroad traffic, and many targets of opportunity; target areas include Nanyang, Suchow, Hankow, Sinyang, Anking, Anyang, Lohochai, Kukong, Takhing, Koyiu, Samshui, Pingsiang, Kian, Yungcheng, Yingtak, and Wuchou, China.

NEI: B-24s bomb Kota Waringin Airfield in Borneo.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, B-25s and P-38s support ground forces E of Ilagan, near Kiangan, and E of Manila in the Infanta sector.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: HQ 91st Reconnaissance Wing moves from Clark Field, Luzon to Okinawa.

 

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1940
GERMANY: German raider 'Komet' sails for the Pacific through the North-East passage across the top of Siberia with the aid of Russian icebreakers. She operate in the Pacific and Indian Ocean until her return to Germany in November 1941. She is the last of the first wave of raiders.

1941
USA: US President Roosevelt explains the introduction of price controls to Congress, on the basis of controlling inflation and reducing the rise in domestic consumption.

USA: US Army Chief of Staff George Marshall issues public statement that it was now US policy to defend the Philippines and that Philippine defense was to take the "highest priority".

USA: The U.S. Army establishes the Military Police Corps

PHILIPPINES: The US Asiatic Fleet and US Army Harbor Defense Command close Manila harbor by mining. Henceforth, civilian shipping requires escort through the minefields by Asiatic Fleet vessels or by US Army Mine Planters assigned to the Harbor Defense Command.

CHINA: The Japanese government assures the U.S. government that the bombing of the river gunboat USS Tutuila (PR-4) at Chungking, China, yesterday was "an accident 'pure and simple.' "

1942
SOLOMONS: US bombers attack targets on Tulagi and Guadalcanal. TF 61 leaves the Koro in the Figi Islands for landing in the southern Solomon Islands in 7 days.
Colonel LaVerne G Saunders leads 9 B-17s of his 11th BG from Efate on a strike against Guadalcanal , bombing the landing strip and area about Lunga Point. From this date until 7 Aug, the 11th BG flies 56 strike and 22 search sorties in support of the invasion of Guadalcanal.

The USN's Patrol Squadron Twenty Three (VP-23) based at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, dispatches PBY-5 Catalinas to bomb Tulagi and Gavutu but they abort the mission due to weather.

PTO: A 7th Air Force B-17 from Midway Island, flies photo reconnaissance over Wake Island. The B-17 is Intercepted by 6 fighters; in the ensuing fight US gunners claim 4 fighters destroyed.

PACIFIC: General MacArthur wires General George Marshall his opposition to the awarding of the Medal of Honor to General Johnathan Wainwright. MacArthur was angry over Wainwright's surrender of Manila and blamed him for the loss of the Philippines.

ALASKA (11th AF): 1 B-24 and 1 LB-30 fly weather and photo reconnaissance; weather cancels a combat mission to Kiska.

USN - Lost off Kiska is USS Grunion SS-216.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-17s hit Gona and a nearby transport which had been previously damaged, and bomb Kukum Beach and Lunga landing strip on the N coast of Guadalcanal as the US invasion forces leave the Fiji for the Solomon Islands.

1943
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The 78th Fighter Squadron, 15th FG, transfers from Barking Sands, Oahu to Haleiwa Field, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii with P-40's.

PACIFIC: In the Pacific, USN submarines sink a Japanese army cargo ship and an aircraft transport. They also land supplies and equipment on Panay Island, Philippine Islands, and a survey party on the west coast of Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands.
In the South Pacific, the RN's aircraft carrier HMS Victorious is detached from the U.S. Third Fleet and ordered back to duty with the RN.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) 9 B-24's mine the Rangoon River in Burma during the night of 31 Jul/1 Aug.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) HQ 402d Bombardment Group (Medium) is disbanded at Kunming, China. This group, which had been activated in China on 19 May 43, never had any squadrons assigned nor was it fully manned.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) On New Georgia Island in the Solomon Islands, 17 Thirteenth Air Force P-40s and P-39 Airacobras join 90+ USMC and USN aircraft in pounding guns and defensive positions on Bibolo Hill as Allied ground forces close in on airfield at Munda. In a separate mission, B-17s, B-25 Mitchells, P-40s, and USN aircraft attack the Vila Airfield on Kolombangara Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's hit the Finschhafen area and barges at Hanisch Harbor and Mange. B-25's and A-20's blast several barges in the Cape Gloucester area. B-24's bomb Waingapoe on Sumba Island in the Sunda Islands. HQ 375th Troop Carrier Group transfers from Brisbane to Port Moresby.

1944
UK: Admiral Fraser assumes command of the British Eastern Fleet from Admiral Sommerville.

TINIAN: The last organized Japanese defenses on Tinian are attacked by US Marines.

NEW GUINEA: In New Guinea as part of Operation GLOBETROTTER, the USN lands USA troops at Cape Sansapor.

PACIFIC: In the Pacific, USN submarines sink a transport, two merchant tankers, a merchant freighter and a small cargo vessel and damage six other ships.
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz approves a realignment of the number of aircraft assigned to a USN carrier air group (CVG). Currently, the standard is 36 F6F Hellcats, 36 SB2C Helldivers and 18 TBM Avengers. The new standard is 24 SB2C Helldivers, 18 TBM Avengers and as many F6F Hellcats as can be accommodated; in some aircraft carriers, this is 54 F6Fs. In addition, F6F pilots are to receive additional training in the fighter-bomber role especially in the use of air-to-ground rockets.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20 fighter-bombers hit Myitkyina, 11 attack the Kamaing-Mogaung area, 12 bomb a bridge at Mohnyin, 14 support ground forces near Myitkyina, and 11 others hit targets of opportunity at Sahmaw, Bilumyo, and Pinhe; 9 B-25s pound the Hopin troop area; the Japanese are in retreat down the Tiddim road.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 12 B-24s bomb the Wuchang railroad yards; B-25s, operating individually or in pairs, bomb Hengshan, Siangtan, and Hankow and attack Tien Ho, White Cloud, Hengyang, and Wuchang Airfields; 60+ P-40s and P-51s attack troop compounds, town areas and road and river traffic at several locations in or near Changsha, Hengyang, Kaishowkiao, Liling, Luchi, and Liuchow.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s and P-47s based on Saipan Island bomb and strafe Tinian Island. B-25s from Makin pound Nauru Island. B-24s from the Marshall Islands bomb Truk Atoll.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s again strike Woleai; airfields at Lolobata and Galela is also hit by B-24s. In New Guinea, P-39s continue to hit villages on the W coast of Geelvink Bay; in NE New Guinea fighter-bombers continue pounding Japanese concentrations and targets of opportunity on the N coast, particularly between Wewak and Yakamul; A-20s support Australian ground forces in the Hansa Bay area, hitting troop positions W of the Sepik River and troop concentrations at Singarin and Kopa.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 98, JULY 31, 1944
Marine and Army troops on Guam swept completely across the island during July 30 (West Longitude Date) and established a line from Agana Bay on the west coast to Pago Point on the east coast. Patrols sent out to reconnoiter the southern half of the island have encountered only sporadic resistance. Through July 30 our troops have counted 6205 enemy dead and have interned 775 civilians. Close support is being given our advance troops by surface ships which are now firing from both sides of the island.
Troops of the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions continued their advance on Tinian Island during July 30 (West Longitude Date) and have forced the enemy into a small pocket near Lalo Point at the southern tip of the island. Difficult terrain in this area impeded progress during the day. Our attack on the last enemy defenses began in the early morning, and was preceded by more than two hours of bombing and Naval gunfire.
July 29 Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force dropped nearly 75 tons of bombs on Japanese installations and an airfield at Truk. Several enemy fighters attempted to intercept our bombers. One enemy fighter was destroyed, another probably destroyed and two more damaged. Four of our planes were damaged but all returned.

1945
JAPAN: In Japan, 80+ B-24s pound the Kagoshima railroad yards and several other targets in the general area including the Sasebo naval base, Yaki-shima, and Nagasaki; A-26s and B-25s bomb Kanoya and Miyazaki Airfields and nearby targets, the Sasebo naval base, Marushima, warehouses at Nagasaki, and a factory and power plant on Koyagi Island; P-51s attack flak positions at Moji, blast shipping at Iki Island and off the NW and W coast of Kyushu, hit an island WSW of Sasebo, bomb railroad targets and warehouses in the Izumi area, and in general attack the railroad and road net and other communications targets throughout Kyushu and P-61s continue harassing missions during the night. P-51s over the Ryukyu Islands bomb airstrips on Miyako Island, and bomb a town in the Koniya area.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, B-25s and P-38s support ground action, hitting forces in the Cagayan Valley and Cervantes and Infanta sectors. B-24s pound the area S of Fabrica on Negros Island.

CENTRAL PACIFIC [US Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF)] Twentieth Air Force: HQ 301st Fighter Wing arrives on Ie Shima from the US.

PACIFIC: In Japan, the USN's Task Force 38 and RN's Task Group 37.2 cease flying operations and retire from an oncoming typhoon.

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: 3 B-25s continue to bomb supply convoys moving through the Siang Chiang Valley. 52 P-51s and P-61s over S and E China attack rivercraft, trucks, railroad traffic, coastal shipping, ammunition dumps, and other targets at several locations including areas around Yanglowtung, Changsha, Siangyin, Hengyang, Hankow, Paoching, Nanyang, Nanking, Kulo, Hoihow, and Yoyang. The flight of the 35th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF, operating from Kunming, China with F-5s, moves to Nanning (squadron is based at Chanyi).

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Unit moves: HQ Fifth AF from Clark Field to Okinawa; HQ 6th Reconnaissance Group from Clark Field to Okinawa.

 

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1939
USA: Honolulu, Hawaii: The Federal Bureau of Investigation' s Honolulu office reopens to work with US Army and Navy on possible spying incidents.

1941
USA: US President Roosevelt forbids the export of oil and aviation fuel from the US to any country except in the Western Hemisphere, Britain and the British Commonwealth.

USA: In Boston, Massachusetts, a Microwave (AI-10) radar developed by the Radiation Laboratory and featuring a Plan Position Indicator (PPI) scope is given its initial airborne test in the Lockheed XJO-3 at Boston Airport. During the test flights, which continue until 16 October, scientists operate the radar and devise modifications while USN personnel pilot the aircraft. During the tests, surface vessels are detected at ranges up to 40 miles; radar-guided approaches against simulated enemy aircraft are achieved at ranges up to 3.5 miles.

1942
JAPAN: A USN submarine sinks a Japanese merchant freighter and oiler off Japan.

USA, Territory of Hawaii: Ingram M. Stainback appointed governor.

ALASKA (11th Air Force): Weather and photo reconnaissance is flown by 1 B-24 and 1 LB-30 over Korovin Bay and North Cape, Aleutian.

WESTERN DEFENSE COMMAND (WDC, 4th Air Force): During Aug, 47th and 396th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), stop flying ASW patrols from Hammer Field, California and MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina respectively.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): During Aug, forward echelon of 26th and 431st Bombardment Squadrons, 11th BG (Heavy), begin operating from Espiritu Santo , New Hebrides with B-17s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-17s attack installations at Gona and shipping 75 miles E of Salamaua in Huon Gulf. HQ 43d Bombardment Group moves from Sydney to Torrens Creek, Australia.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, 7 B-24's bomb the Main Camp area on Kiska Island through the overcast.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 8 B-25's hit the E approach of the road bridge at Shweli, Burma, damaging cable anchorages and pylons but leaving the bridge usable.
Tokyo announces that Burma is now and independent nation. Ba Maw signs a secret treaty with Japan and declares war on the US.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): P-40's and US Navy aircraft again hit Munda bombing AA positions, ammunition dumps, and other targets. 21 B-24's, 16 P-38's, and P-40's, and 30+ US Navy airplanes pound Kahili Airfield; other P-40's and 80+ Navy aircraft hit shipping in nearby waters. The 64th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group, arrives at Tontouta, New Caledonia Island from the US with C-47's and begins flying missions on 7 Aug 43.
On Bougainville, 21 Thirteenth Air Force B-24s, 16 P-38 Lightnings, and P-40s, and 30+ USN aircraft attack Kahili Airfield while other P-40s and 80+ USN aircraft hit shipping in nearby waters.
The 371st Bombardment Squadron, 307th BG (Heavy) ceases operating from Funafuti Island in the Ellice Islands with B-24's and returns to it's base on Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands for R&R.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): A lone B-24 bombs the airfield at Lae, New Guinea.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: In the Solomons, a Japanese destroyer rams and sinks Motor Torpedo Boat 109 (PT-109). Two crewmen are killed but 11 survive including the captain, Lieutenant John F. Kennedy, USNR. The 11 men are finally rescued by a PT boat on the evening of 7 August.

USA: In the U.S., ground is broken for the construction of the first uranium enriching plant at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The facility is built at a cost of US$280 million (US$2.745 billion in year 2000 dollars) and is completed in the summer of 1944.
In New York City, race-related rioting erupts in Harlem, resulting in several deaths.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 B-25s bomb several points along the railway from Naba to Hopin; fighter-bombers attack Shwegu, hit bridges in the Mohnyin area, and support ground forces in the Myitkyina and Taungni sectors. During Aug, the 89th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, based at Nagaghuli with P-47s, sends a detachment to operate from Dergaon.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 8 B-25s bomb Wuchang Airfield; 2 others hit the town of Siangyin; 90+ P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance hit trucks, troops, supplies, and river shipping in and around Hengyang, Leiyang, Sinshih, Hengshan, Liling, Changsha, and Siangyin; the airfield and railroad yards at Hengyang are also bombed. During Aug, the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth Air Force, based at Kunming with F-4s and F-5s, sends a detachment to operate from Kanchow, China.
HAWAII: AAFPOA is activated at Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii with Lieutenant General Millard Harmon as Commanding General. Harmon is to be responsible to Lieutenant General Robert C Richardson, Jr, Commanding General US Army Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas (USAFPOA), for logistics and administration, and to Admiral Chester W Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPOA), for operations of AAF air units except those of the Twentieth Air Force. Harmon also is Deputy Commander of the Twentieth Air Force and is responsible directly to General Henry H "Hap" Arnold in all matters affecting the Twentieth in the POA.
Seventh Air Force: The Seventh AF comes under control of AAFPOA. B-25s based on Makin hit Ponape Island, Caroline Islands. In the Mariansas Islands, organized resistance ends on Tinian Island; P-47s and P-61s on Saipan Island will continue steady daylight and night combat patrols and strikes almost around the clock to the fall of Guam Island on 10 Aug; most of the P-47 flying is devoted to neutralizing Pagan Airfield and Rota Islands and to direct support of Marine and Army forces fighting on Saipan, Guam, and Tinian Islands.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24's bomb Utagal Island, Caroline Islands and Namlea Airfield on Buru Island, Moluccas Islands. In New Guinea, weather cancels scheduled strikes against the Vogelkop Peninsula area, but a few B-25s hit shipping in the islands to the W, sinking luggers off Kaboe and Salawat Islands and strafing troops on the shores of MacCluer Gulf; the weather also restricts operations against the Wewak area; and a few P-39s strafe coastal trails. During Aug, HQ 42d Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from Sterling to Hollandia; and in the Solomon Islands, the 12th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, that has been operating from the Treasury Islands returns to base on Guadalcanal Island.
MARIANAS: The last organized Japanese resistance on Tinian ends. 6,000 KIA and 250 POW; the US has 390 KIA and 1800 WIA.
CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 99, AUGUST 1, 1944
During July 31 (West Longitude Date) troops of the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions moved ahead against moderate enemy resistance and through difficult terrain and occupied the cliffs overlooking the beaches at the extreme southern tip of Tinian Island. During the night of July 30‑31 the Japanese attempted several small scale counterattacks which were beaten back at a cost to the enemy of 300 dead. Our attack was launched in the morning of July 31 and carried to the southern beaches by late afternoon. The enemy on Tinian now has little means of resistance and no means of escape.
During the night of July 29‑30 Seventh Army Air Force Liberators bombed Truk Atoll, and neutralization raids against enemy positions in the Marshall and Caroline Islands were carried out by aircraft of the Central Pacific shore‑based air force before dawn and during the day on July 30.
CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 100, AUGUST 1, 1944
U. S. forces continued to advance rapidly in Guam Island during July 31 (West Longitude Date), driving northward from two and one half to three miles in the center and on the right flank, and advancing about a half mile on the left flank. In the advance the towns of Utana, Pado, Pulan, and Matte were occupied. On the west coast our line is anchored about a mile and a half south of Saupon Point, and on the east coast we are less than a mile from Fadian Point. On Orote Peninsula mopping up operations have been completed and in the southern half of Guam these operations are continuing. Carrier aircraft of a fast carrier task group directed bombs and rocket fire against enemy troop concentrations in northern Guam during July 31.
CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 101, AUGUST 1, 1944
Organized Japanese resistance on Tinian Island ceased during the night of July 31 (West Longitude Date). The Second and Fourth Marine Divisions are continuing mopping up operations.

1945
JAPAN: Twentieth Air Force: During the night of 1/2 Aug, 801 of 836 B-29s dispatched carry out 1 mining, 5 firebomb and 1 bombing raids on Japan; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 305: 37 B-29s drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait, in Nakaumi Lagoon, at Hamada, Sakai, Yonago, Najin, and Seishin; 5 others mine alternate targets.
Mission 306: 169 B-29s attack the Hachioji urban area destroying 1.12 sq mi, 80% of the city; 3 others hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 307: 173 B-29s hit the Toyama urban area, a center of aluminum, ballbearing and special steel production, destroying 1.87 sq mi, 99.5% of the city; 1 other hits an alternate target.
Mission 308: 125 B-29s attack the Nagaoka urban area destroying 1.33 sq mi, 65.5% of the city; 5 others hit alternate targets.
Mission 309: 160 B-29s hit the Mito urban area destroying 1.7 sq mi, 65% of the city; 1 other hits a target of opportunity.
Mission 310: 120 B-29s bomb the Mitsubishi Oil Company at Kawasaki but could only add slightly to the damage previously inflicted; 2 other hit targets of opportunity. 30+ Iwo Jima based P-51s hit airfields and other targets in the Osaka-Nagoya area; bad weather prevents numerous other fighters from reaching targets.

JAPAN – FEAF: In Japan, about 50 B-24s bomb targets in the Nagasaki dock and harbor area; B-25s and fighter-bombers in the Nagasaki area hit docks, railroad yards, and shipping; other B-24s bomb Koniya Airfield and hit Kakeroma Island; 80+ P-47s hit railroad bridges and other railroad targets at Sendai and P-47s fly their first combat mission from Iwo Jima, joining VII Fighter Command P-51s in a sweep over S Honshu Island; and rolling stock and airfields are attacked in the Okazaki, Itami, and Nagoya areas.

NEI: B-24s bomb shipyards at Pontianak, Borneo and other B-24s hit barracks and AA guns along Makassar Strait, Celebes Island. P-38s strafe locomotives in the Soerabaja, Java area.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon Island, P-38s support ground forces ENE and SE of Mankayan and, along with US Marine Corps (USMC) aircraft, pound enemy positions and concentrations in the Upian area.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: In French Indochina, B-24s bomb the Tourane marshalling yard while escorting P-51s strafe boxcars at Quang Nam

FORMOSA: Other B-24s strike military stores at Takao, Formosa.

PHILLIPINES: In Manila, General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz meet and agree on a line of demarcation to separate aerial operations undertaken by their forces. Except for B-29s and their escorts, the Far East Air Forces will operate west of 135W longitude and all Pacific-fleet controlled units will operate east of 135W longitude. Longitude 135W is slightly west of Kobe and Osaka on Honshu Island.

PACIFIC: On Wake Island, the USN's Task Group 12.3 consisting of the light aircraft carrier USS Cabot with Light Carrier Air Group Thirty Two, the battleship USS Pennsylvania and a destroyer screen, bombs and bombards the island. This is the 7th attack on the island by the USN.
Tenth Air Force: Major General Albert F Hegenberger becomes Commanding General Tenth AF and HQ Tenth AF moves from Piardoba, India to Kunming, China (HQ at Kunming was officially opened on 23 Jul). The scheduled role of the Tenth AF in China is almost identical with its completed Burma mission: to act as the tactical AF giving direct support and providing air supply to Chinese ground forces operating S of the 27th parallel N.

Fourteenth Air Force: In China, bad weather severely curtails operations; P-61s effectively sweep rivers in the Wuchou, Canton, and Tsingyun areas, sinking several large junks and sampans. Unit moves in China: the 26th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, from Kunming to Nanning with P-51s;
322d Troop Carrier Squadron, Fourteenth AF, from Loping to Liangshan with C-47s. Unit moves in China during Aug 45: HQ 23d Fighter Group and 74th and 75th Fighter Squadrons from Luliang to Liuchow with P-51s (the detachment of the 74th operating from Tushan also moves to Liuchow); 528th, 529th and 530th Fighter Squadrons, 311th Fighter Group from Shwangliu and Pungchacheng respectively to Hsian with P-51s.

Far East Air Force (FEAF):. Unit moves during Aug 45: HQ V Bomber Command and HQ V Fighter Command from Clark Field, Luzon to Okinawa; HQ 71st Reconnaissance Group from Binmaley, Luzon to Ie Shima; 22d Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group, from Finschhafen to Nielson Field, Luzon with C-47s; the detachment of the 550th Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command, operating from Sanga Sanga with P-61s, returns to base at Tacloban, Leyte. HQ AAF: During Aug 45, the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron (Long Range, Photographic), 311th Reconnaissance Wing (attached to 6th Reconnaissance Group), based at Tacloban, Leyte Island with F-7s, sends the detachment operating from Clark Field, Luzon to operate from Okinawa (squadron is mapping areas of the SW and W Pacific).

 

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1939
Albert Einstein writes a letter to US President Roosevelt, warning him of the possibility that Nazi Germany might be attempting to build an atom bomb. "This new phenomena [atomic energy] would also lead to the construction of bombs. A single bomb of this type, carried by boat and exploded in a port, might very well destroy the whole port, together with some of the surrounding territory. However, such bombs might very well prove to be too heavy for transportation by air."

1942
CBI: In China, a detachment of 11th Bombardment Squadron, 7th BG (Heavy), based at Kunming with B-25s, begins operating from Nanning.

SWPA (5th AF): A of a flight of B-17s searching for a convoy near Buna is attacked by 10 Zeros. Lost is B-17E 41-2435. 41st FS Airacobras escort B-26s on a mission against Cape Ward Hunt. They shoot down J1N1-C piloted by Tokunaga. 1 B-17 flies an unsuccessful strike against a cargo vessel 5 miles S of Salamaua while another bombs Gona. 64th Bombardment Squadron, 43d BG (Heavy), moves from Daly Waters to Fenton Field, Australia with B-17s; first mission is 13 Aug. Lost are P-400 AP 290 and P-400 BX 232.

1943
ALASKA: US naval forces again bombard Kiska in the Aleutians, unaware that the Japanese have evacuated.
In the Aleutians, the USN's Task Groups 16.6 and 16.17 commence a preinvasion bombardment of Kiska Island. TG 16.6 under Rear Admiral Wilder D. Baker consists of the heavy cruisers USS Indianapolis and USS Salt Lake City; the light cruisers USS Detroit, USS Raleigh, USS Richmond and 5 destroyers. TG 16.17 under Rear Admiral Howard F. Kingman consists of the battleships USS Idaho and USS Tennessee and 4 destroyers. TG 16.6 bombards Gertrude Cove, the Main Camp, western Little Kiska Island and south Head with 1,261 rounds of 8-inch, 6-inch and 5-inch shells. TG 16.17 bombards North Head and the submarine base with 1,051 rounds of ammunition including 120 rounds of 14-inch shells. Unknown to the Americans, the Japanese have already evacuated the island.
In the air, the USAAF's Eleventh Air Force dispatches 8 B-24 Liberators, 9 B-25 Mitchells, and 8 P-38 Lightnings to attack Kiska in 2 waves, bombing and strafing North Head, and coast guns on Little Kiska Island, scoring several hits.

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, 8 B-24's, 9 B-25's, and 8 P-38's hit Kiska in 2 waves, bombing and strafing North Head, and coast guns on Little Kiska Island, scoring several hits. 1 or 2 enemy aircraft over Attu cannot be intercepted due to weather.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): B-25's, B-17's, P-40's, and US Navy fighters pound the shores of Bairoko Harbor; and B-24's, B-25's, P-40's and Navy F4U's hit a supply area on the W side of Webster Cove.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-17's bomb supply dumps on the shores of Hansa Bay and targets of opportunity along the Francisco River; A-20's hit Buiambun and B-25's pound barges from Lae to Bogadjim, from Lae to Kepler Point lost is B-25D 41-30221, and from the Bubui River to Lepsius Point; and B-24's bomb Lae harbor, Salamaua, and the W shore of Voco Point.

NEW GEORGIA: US forces on New Georgia have advanced to the airfield. The Japanese have decided not to reinforce. There concentration is now on Kolombangara Island.
In the Solomon Islands at approximately 0215 hours local, Motor Torpedo Boats 109, 162 and 169 are due east of Gizo Island heading south at low speed. The IJN destroyer HIJMS Amagiri is sighted travelling northward at high speed on a collision course; the ship is approximately 700 yards (0.4 miles/ 640 meters) away. PT-162 attempts to fire its torpedoes but they do not fire and the PT boat turns southwest to avoid a collision after getting within 100 yards (91.4 meters) of the destroyer. The destroyer then rams PT-109 followed by an explosion and a large flame which died down a little, but continued to burn for 10 or 15 minutes; two crewman are killed but 11 survive including the captain, Lieutenant (jg) John F. Kennedy, USNR. PT-169 stopped just before the warship hit PT-109, turned toward it and fired two torpedoes when abeam at 150 yards (137 meters) range. The destroyer straddled PT-169 with shell fire, just after it collided with PT-109, and then circled left toward Gizo Island at increased speed and disappeared. The 11 survivors of PT-109 are finally rescued by a PT boat on the night of 6/7 August.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, P-51s, P-47s and A-36s support ground forces in the Taungni area; P-51s and P-47s on patrols and armed reconnaissance hit various targets of opportunity around Katha, Mainghka, Meza, Helon, Mohnyin, Bilumyo, and Namma; and P-40s attack gun positions and strongpoints at Myitkyina. In India, HQ 3d Combat Cargo Group moves from Sylhet to Dinjan; and the 315th Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Sookerating to Ledo, India with C-47s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 11 B-25s and 32 P-40s and P-38s bomb and strafe the town of Tengchung; 9 P-40s and P-38s damage a bridge at Tingka; and Yangtze River shipping and supplies are attacked at Shihlipu by 8 P-40s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb the airfield at Yap; B-24s and B-25s carry out wide sweeps over the Moluccas and Lesser Sunda Islands, hitting airfields at Maumere, Amahai, and Liang, and shipping off Ceram and Amboina Islands; on Timor Island, B-24s hit Cape Chater and Lautem while B-25s bomb a camp near Poeloeti; and fighter-bombers hit coastal vessels and shore targets at Talaud, Sunda Islands. In New Guinea, A-20s bomb Nabire Airfield while in the Wewak area bombers and fighters hit a bridge and airfield at Boram and bridges, communications lines, troop concentrations, and other targets along the coastline, especially between But and Cape Karawop; and fighter-bombers hit Mapia Island.

MARIANA’S: US forces advance on the west side of Guam but are pushed back on the east side.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 102, AUGUST 2, 1944
Marine and Army troops on Guam, fighting through dense underbrush and against mounting enemy resistance, advanced more than a mile to the north during August 1 (West Longitude Date). The towns of Saucio, Toto, and Timoneng and the airfield at Tyan were occupied in the advance. On the west coast our line is anchored on the southern shore of Tumon Bay, and on the east coast it is anchored approximately three miles south of Sassayan Point. Our casualties through August 1 were 1022 killed in action, 4,946 wounded in action and 305 missing in action. Our troops have counted 7,419 enemy dead.
Carrier aircraft from a fast carrier task group attacked enemy Installations on Guam on August 1 with bombs and rockets. Additional bombs and strafing attacks were delivered against troop concentrations.
Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith, USMC, Commanding General, Fleet Marine Forces, Pacific, has sent the following despatch to Major General A. D. Bruce, U.S.A., Commanding General, Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division
"The Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division has shown commendable ability of high order in operation against the enemy on Guam. Its complete cooperation with other fighting elements has been noted with much pleasure. It has shown marked tactical ability in moving its forces into position over unfavorable terrain and in the face of great difficulties."
Late reports indicate that during the ground action on July 27, Mount Tenjo was occupied by the Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division.
On Tinian Island mopping up operations are in progress. Ravines and caves at the southern tip of the island were partially cleaned out during
August 1. Our troops have buried 2,075 enemy dead, and have interned many civilians. Large numbers of the enemy have yet to be buried. Our casualties as of August 1 were 208 killed in action, 1,121 wounded in action and 32 missing in action.
On July 30 and 31 Seventh Army Air Force Liberators dropped 60 tons of bombs on an airfield and installations at Truk. Six to eight Japanese fighters attempted to intercept. Three of the fighters were shot down and three more damaged. Five of our Liberators were damaged but all returned to base.
Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force attacked Nauru Island on July 30 with more than 12 tons of bombs, scoring hits on the airfield and on gun positions.
On July 30 and 31 aircraft of the Central Pacific shore‑based air force harassed enemy positions in the Marshall Islands.

1945
GERMANY: U.S. President Harry S. Truman, Soviet leader Josef Stalin and British Prime Minister Clement Attlee conclude the Potsdam conference.

PACIFIC: While on routine patrol, the crew of a PV-1 Ventura of the USN's Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB-152 based on Peleliu Island in the Palau Islands, sights an oil slick with 30 men in the water. Further observation reveals another group of 150 men. These are the survivors of the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis that was sunk by Japanese submarine HIJMS I-58 on 30 July. The crew drops their life raft and six life jackets to the men in the water and radios for assistance. PBY Catalinas and surface ships commence search missions until 8 August; they pick up 316 survivors.

PACIFIC: Two USN destroyers, USS Charrette and USS Conner, make radar contact with a ship which they track through the night, finding in the morning that it was the Japanese hospital ship Tachibana Maru. A search party from USS Charrette boards the ship and finds able-bodied troops and arms and ammunition in boxes marked with red crosses; the troops are made prisoners of war. A prize crew of 80 marines and sailors is placed aboard the Japanese ship and it is taken to Naval Advance Base Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies arriving on 6 August.

MALAYA: Off the Malay Peninsula, the USN submarine USS Bugara (SS-331), on her third war patrol, encounters a Japanese schooner manned by a Chinese crew being attacked by Malay pirates; the pirates fire at the submarine and then attempt to escape. The sub crew takes off the Chinese crew, sinks the schooner with gunfire and then pursues the pirates and disposes of them.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): On Shimushu, 5 B-24s visually bomb Kataoka Naval Base and 1 radar-bombs Kokutan Zaki and returns to base (600 miles or 966 km) on 3 engines.

MARIANA: Twentieth Air Force: Lieutenant General Nathan F Twining relieves Lieutenant General Curtis Emerson LeMay as Commanding General Twentieth AF; LeMay is assigned to USASTAF as Chief of Staff.
Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 10 B-25s, escorted by 2 P-47s, knock out a bridge at Sinyang and severely damage a bridge at Lohochai; 7 B-25s bomb the town of Sinning, and hit several truck convoys between Siangtan and Changsha and in the Siang Chiang Valley; 31 P-51s also bomb the town of Sinning; 40+ P-47s and P-51s knock out at least 3 bridges and damage others and attack shipping, fuel dumps, gun positions, trucks, railroad yards and general targets of opportunity around Sichuang, Shangkao, Yoyang, Hankow, Mingkiang, Sincheng, Yutze, Houmachen, Yuncheng, Anyang, and Kaoyi.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Bad weather cancels all FEAF missions from Okinawa. Thirteenth AF P-38s support ground forces on N Luzon, hitting pockets of resistance W of Kiangan and blasting enemy occupied caves on a ridge NW of Bontoe.

 

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1941
JAPAN: Japan protests at the US embargo on aviation fuel exports.

1942
ALASKA (11th AF): In the Aleutian , 3 B-17s, 2 B-24s and 1 LB-30 fly a bombing and photo reconnaissance mission to Tanaga and Kanaga and also bomb Kiska ; 4 of the aircraft have mechanical trouble but all return.

SWPA (5th AF): P-400's strafe Oivi and Kokoda, New Guinea. 63d Bombardment Squadron, 43d BG (Heavy), moves from Charleveill to Torrens Creek, Australia with B-17s; first mission is 14 Aug.

PTO: A U.S. submarine sinks a Japanese transport west-southwest of Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, 6 attack missions, 2 of which abort, are flown to Kiska Island by B-24's, B-25's, P-38's, and P-40's; numerous targets hit and strafed include installations at North Head and South Head.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25's, B-17's, and B-24's bomb barges, small craft, villages, grounded planes, trails, and military camps at numerous points, including areas in or around Bogadjim, Salamaua, Manokwari, and Larat and along the Bubui, Masaweng, Mindjim, and Kofebi Rivers and Bogadjim Road. Lost is B-17E "Red Moose Express" 41-2634. The W coast of Borgen Bay and an island in Marien Harbor are also hit. Force landed at Bulldog Airfield is P-400 Airacobra AP-335.

RAAF - Vengence A27-235 crashes on a training mission near Cooktown.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, B-25s bomb Wanling, knock out a bridge at Panghkam, and attack bridges along the railroad from Naba to Myitkyina; P-51s and P-47s support ground forces N of Taungni and near Sahmaw, hit the towns of Shwegu and Mosit, attack the factory area at Mohnyin, and pound boats, troop concentrations, and gun positions at Myitkyina and Maingna.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 23 B-24s bomb the town of Yoyang; 6 B-25s hit Mangshih; nearly 150 P-40s, P-51s, and P-38s on armed reconnaissance attack targets of opportunity, including airfields, troops, town areas, supply areas, and rail, road, and river traffic at numerous locations, including the areas of Tengchung, Tingka, Mangshih, Loyang, Changsha, Hengyang, Tangyang, Chingmen, Chaling, Siangyin, Nanchang, Siangtan, Hengshan, Chuchou, Ikiawan, and Leiyang.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): HQ VII Air Service Area Command is activated. B-24s from the Marshall Islands pound Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Yap and islands in the Woleai group; an ammunition dump and oil derrick at Boela, Ceram Island, Moluccas Islands, are also destroyed. In New Guinea, bad weather cancels scheduled strikes over the Vogelkop Peninsula area; however, B-25s hit troop concentrations at Bira and other points on MacCluer Gulf, bomb Urarom, and support Allied ground forces on Biak Island by hitting troops in the Korim Bay area; supply dumps, communications targets, and bridges are hit as fighter-bombers and A-20s continue to blast areas around But, Dagua, and Wewak.
Most of the Japanese garrison slips away from pursuing Chinese and US troops as Myitkyina falls in the Burma Theater.

ALASKA: In the Aleutians, the heavy cruiser USS Baltimore carrying U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, arrives at Naval Operating Base Adak on Adak Island, from Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii.

NEI: A U.S. submarine sinks a Japanese auxiliary netlayer in the Molucca Sea.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 103, AUGUST 3, 1944
Additional gains averaging nearly two miles were made by Marine and Army forces driving northward on Guam during August 2 (West Longitude Date). On the West Coast our line was advanced further along the shore of Tumon Bay and on the East Coast we are about one and a half miles from Sassayan Point. As a result of the day's advances an important road junc*tion near the town of Finegayan was brought under our control. Stiffened enemy resistance is being encountered. As of August 2, our troops had counted 7,893 enemy dead. A large number of civilians have sought protection behind our lines and currently 7,000 are being cared for.
Carrier aircraft, attacking from an altitude of 100 feet, directed bombs and rocket fire against enemy fortifications and storage areas in Northern Guam during August 2.
The American flag was formally raised over Tinian Island on August 2. Scattered remnants of the enemy, hiding in caves and dugouts, are being dealt with by Marines. Approximately 4,000 civilians have been interned. The number of enemy troops killed is now estimated at more than 5,000.
Ponape Island was attacked by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchell bombers on August 1, and on the same day further neutralization raids against enemy positions in the Marshall Islands were carried out by Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing.

1945
ATOMIC BOMB RELATED - General Groves sent "Special Bombing Mission #13" designating Hiroshima as the target. The secondary target is Kokura. (The 12 previous missions were "pumpkin" missions)

PHILLIPINES: P-38s and B-25s support ground forces in N Luzon, hitting buildings in the Apunan area and Japanese positions at various locations including ridges SW of Kiangan and W of Banaue.

NEI: B-24s bomb airstrips at Tanamon and Sidate on Celebes Island and bomb the seaplane base on Kangean Island in the Java Sea

Twentieth Air Force: Fighters from Iwo Jima fly nearly 100 effective sorties throughout the Tokyo area, hitting airfields, rail installations, and trains.
Fourteenth Air Force: 16 B-25s pound various railroad targets in E China; 50+ fighter-bombers attack bridges, railroad yards, storage areas, enemy troops, river and rail traffic, and various other targets as the campaign to disrupt the Japanese retreat from S and E China continues in spite of considerable bad weather

 

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1940
UK: Britain today responded to the recent arrests of seven British subjects in Tokyo by detaining leading Japanese businessmen in London, Rangoon, Hong Kong and Singapore. Japan has protested at the arrests and the British ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie, has been summoned by Mr. Matsuoka, the Japanese Foreign Minister, who described the arrests as "unwarrantable" . Among the detainees is the manager of the London branch of Mitsubishi Trading. Seven officials of the Salvation Army in Japan have been arrested on espionage charges.

1942
ALASKA (11th AF): 1 LB-30 flies a photo mission and 2 B-17s and 3 B-24s covered by 8 P-38's escort US Navy (USN) tenders to Nazan Bay, Atka , Aleutian ; two 4-engine seaplane bombers ("Mavis" flying boats) and a possible third are downed near Atka by 2 of the P-38's, in their first aerial combat in any theater; weather cancels bombing mission to Kiska .

CBI (CATF): P-40's sweep Japanese HQ at Linchwan and bomb HQ buildings and barracks and strafe transports.

(5th AF) Lost due to mechanical is P-39D 41-7165

UK: In the U.K., the British government charged that Mohandas Gandhi and his All-Indian Congress Party favored "appeasement" with Japan.

JAPAN: A U.S. submarine sinks a Japanese freighter off northern Honshu Island.

SWPA: In Australia, Major General George C. Kenney assumes command of the Allied Air Forces, Southwest Pacific Area at Brisbane. His command consists of 62 heavy bombers, 70 medium bombers, 53 light bombers, 235 fighters and 36 transports.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, between 0855 and 1846 hours, 153 tons of bombs are dropped on Kiska Island, a new one-day record; 6 armored weather, photo and reconnaissance missions, flown by 3 B-24's, 2 P-40's, and 2 F-5A's bomb through clouds, take photos and observe fires in Main Camp and on Little Kiska Island; later 48 B-25's, 22 B-24's, 16 A-24s, 8 P-40's, and 40 P-38's fly 17 bombing and strafing attacks to Kiska Island; targets hit include buildings near the radio station, and the gun battery area on North Head. Little Kiska Island and Segula Island are also strafed.The 36th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 28th Composite Group, which has been operating from Adak Island with B-24's since Jun 43, returns to it's base on Amchitka Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): On New Georgia Island in the Solomons Island, B-25's, and US Navy dive bombers, bomb the Gurasai-Kindu Village area; some of the B-25's also strafe areas emitting intense small arms fire, silencing it. P-38's and P-40's claim 11 fighters downed in a series of running battles over the C Solomons.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25's bomb and strafe the Itni River area on New Britain Island and hit several villages on Selaroe Island in the Tanimbar Islands. Single B-24's bomb a dump area on the Francisco River, New Guinea and Cape Gloucester Airfield on New Britain Island.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 4 P-38s accompanied by 1 B-25 fly top cover for a naval force near Massacre Bay, Attu Island, Aleutian Islands; 4 B-25s fly an uneventful shipping sweep.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, B-25s bomb the town of Sahmaw in support of advancing Allied ground forces; P-51s also support ground forces in the Sahmaw-Taungni area; fighter-bombers hit various targets, including town areas, gun positions, troops, and communications lines in or near Shwegu Pinbaw, Kazu, Bhamo, Myitkyina, Bilumyo, Mawhe, Mainghka, and Onsansaing.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 20 B-25s bomb the town of Mangshih and airfields at Lashio and Hsenwi; 32 P-40s hit the town area and targets of opportunity at Tengehung; 70 P-40s attack troops, supplies, river shipping, and trucks at several points in the Tungting Lake-Yangtze River region; and 4 P-38s knock out 2 bridges at Mongyu.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): In the Marianas Islands, Saipan Island Island-based B-25s fly 2 strikes against Guam Island. B-25s staging from the Marshall Island, hit Ponape Island. HQ 30th BG (Heavy) and 27th, 38th and 392d Bombardment Squadrons move from Kwajalein to Saipan Island with B-24s; and the 9th Troop Carrier Squadron, Seventh Air Force, moves from Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands to Saipan Island with C-47s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb the supply area on Utagal Island, the airfield at Yap and oil installations at Boela, Ceram Island. In New Guinea, B-24s attack Fann; B-25s and A-20s hit oilfields at Klamono and at Kasim Island and bomb Nabire Airfield; P-39s strafe Pegun Island; A-20s and fighter-bombers in support of Allied forces pound enemy concentrations, supplies, and barges E of the Driniumor River, at Abau, S of Torricelli Range, at Boram, and just W of Wewak; and HQ 86th Fighter Wing moves from Finschhafen to Toem.
The British 2nd Division liberates Tamu in the Burma Theater.

PTO: Carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Group 58.3 bomb airfields on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands. During the day, a destroyer, a collier , four transports and a landing ship are sunk by USN units in the vicinity of Iwo Jima.

ALASKA: In the Aleutians, the heavy cruiser USS Baltimore with President Franklin D. Roosevelt aboard, departs NOB Adak for NOB Kodiak.

PTO: USN submarines sink an IJA cargo ship in the Celebes Sea and two IJN guardboats in the Bonin Islands.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 104, AUGUST 4, 1944
Our forces on Guam made slight gains on the right flank and in the center during August 3 (West Longitude Date). On the east coast our line is anchored about one mile south of Sassayan Point. There was no ap*preciable advance along the west coast and our anchor there remains on the shore of Tumon Bay. All road junctions in the vicinity of Finegayan were brought under our control.
Enemy resistance on Mount Barrigada has been eliminated and we now control the 674‑foot height.
In close support of ground troops, aircraft from a fast carrier task group on August 3 dropped bombs, fire rockets and strafed Japanese‑held posi*tions, roads, storehouses and troop areas on Guam.
Mopping up operations on Tinian Island continued during August 3, and additional numbers of civilians were interned. Scattered Japanese troops are still being hunted down on Saipan Island, and an average of 50 a day are being eliminated or taken prisoner.
Ventura search planes of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two, attacked Nauru Island on August 2. Antiaircraft fire was moderate. Catalina patrol bombers of the same air wing bombed Japanese positions in the Marshall Islands on the night of August 1‑2.

1945

ATOMIC BOMB RELATED: 8/4/45; 2:00 PM - General Curtis LeMay officially confirms that the mission will take place on August 6. After seeing numerous B-29 crashes during take-off, Navy Capt. Parsons, head of the Los Alamos Scientific Team, suggests arming the bomb in flight, inserting the explosive charge during the early stage of the mission while flying at low level.

8/4/45; 3:00 PM - Shortly after evening mess, the seven crews that would participate in the mission were gathered for a pre-flight briefing, which included discussions on routes, altitudes, radio frequencies and weather reports. Radio call was changed from VICTOR to DIMPLES. The first leg would be flown at 5,000 feet in order for Parsons to arm the bomb in flight.

JAPAN: B-25s over Kyushu, Japan hit an industrial area near Takanabe, bombing warehouses, factories, a railroad bridge, and marshalling yard.

PHILLIPINES: B-25s and P-38s support ground forces on Luzon, hitting Japanese forces near Santa Ines, in the Butitio area, and near Mount Obudan. B-24s support the ground action S of Fabrica on Negros Island. B-24s bomb Miti Airfield.

MALAYA: P-38s on a sweep over Singapore, Malaysia claim 2 Japanese planes downed.

Tenth Air Force: The 127th, 155th and 156th Liaison Squadrons (Commando), US Army Forces, Pacific, begin a movement from Kalaikunda, India to Okinawa.

Fourteenth Air Force: In China, bad weather hampers operations however, 4 B-25s damage the Sincheng railroad bridge, 4 B-25s and 2 P-51s bomb Pailochi Airfield and hit trucks in the area, and 7 P-51s damage 12 locomotives between Taiyuan and Tsinan, destroy or damage several trucks near Shihkiachwang, and bomb a bridge near Chihsien. The detachment of the 490th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st BG (Medium), operating from Hsian, China with B-25s, returns to base at Hanchung.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The 20th Reconnaissance Squadron (Long Range, Photographic-RCM), 6th Reconnaissance Group, moves from Clark Field, Luzon to Okinawa with F-7s; the ground echelon of the 36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, arrives on Okinawa from Clark Field (air echelon at Clark Field until Sep 45).

 

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1942
CBI (CATF): Japanese aircraft again attack US airfield at Kweilin; notified well in advance by the Chinese warning net (previously set up under Brigadier General Claire L Chennault while he was head of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), P-40s meet the Japanese over the target, shooting down 2, and another is downed by ground fire.

SOLOMONS - USN attack beached Japanese transports and supply dumps on Guadalcanal; destroyed a concentration of seaplanes at Rekata Bay.

RAAF: Lost in near the peak of Mount Disappointment is Beaufighter A19-12.

1943
NEW GEORGIA: In the Solomon Islands, U.S. Army ground forces capture Munda Airfield on New Georgia Island.

CENTRAL PACIFIC: A USN submarine sinks a Japanese transport west of Marcus Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): B-24's bomb the shore of Rekata Bay W of the Borokeiello Point area. B-25's and US Navy fighters strafe barges on the NE coast of Gizo. The principal objective of C Solomons campaign: Munda Airfield is taken by XIV Corps forces after 12 continuous days of fierce fighting in the jungle area. The 372d Bombardment Squadron, 307th BG (Heavy), based on Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands, begins operating from Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands with B-24's. The squadron will fly it's first mission on Saturday.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 30+ B-25's pound barges near Madang and at Alexishafen. Lost is B-25D 41-30118 Also they hit the Nuru River bridge and towns of Bogadjim and Saidor; a single B-24 bombs Finschhafen while another hits Vitu Island in the Bismarck Archipelago. Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm A Moore takes command of the newly formed Second Air Task Force based at the recently constructed advance airfield at Tsili Tsili, New Guinea; strikes from here will facilitate operations against Lae, New Guinea.

RAAF - Crashed on a training flight is P-40E A29-1.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A weather mission is followed by a shipping sweep flown by 2 B-25s which is aborted early due to weather.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 14 B-25s bomb the town area of Taungni and stores area at Bilumyo; 50 P-51s also pound the Taungni area; 21 P-47s attack targets of opportunity throughout the widespread area around Bhamo. In India, the 10th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3d Combat Cargo Group, moves from Sylhet to Dergaon with C-47s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 15 B-25s bomb the town of Wanling; 3 hit Lashio Airfield, Burma; 36 P-40s again pound Tengchung; in the Tungting Lake area 50+ P-40s attack communications targets, troops, and numerous trucks.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Saipan Island fly 2 strikes against Guam Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb personnel and supply areas on Yap; other B-24s bomb oil facilities at Boela a few bomb Sasa Airfield, Philippine Islands while B-25s hit villages and small boats near Seleman Bay, Celebes Islands and afterwards bomb Besar Island, Sunda Islands. B-24s attack a seaplane anchorage at Kokas while P-39s strafe barges in the W Geelvink Bay area; despite bad weather, P-39s manage to hit Luain gun positions and ammunition dump; and HQ 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group and 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron move from Nadzab and Hollandia respectively to Biak Island with F-5s.

PTO: Yesterday and today air strikes from 2 task groups of TF 38 are made on Iwo and Chichi Jima.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE:
Carrier-based aircraft from the USN's Task Group 58.1 (Rear Admiral Joseph J. Clark) and TG 58.3 (Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery) and cruisers and destroyers (Rear Admiral Laurance T. DuBose) repeat strikes on Japanese installations on Chichi Jima and Haha Jima in the Bonin Islands. Aircraft from the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill inflict further damage upon fast Japanese transport T.4 and damage T.2 off Chichi Jima.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 105, AUGUST 5, 1944
Troops of the Army's Seventy‑Seventh Division advanced approximately three miles northward along the eastern shore of Guam to Lumuna Point on August 4 (West Longitude Date). On the western coast Marines pushed more than one and one‑half miles northward to Amantes Point.
During the night of August 3‑4 a small enemy force identified as Navy troops were repulsed in an attempt to counterattack. Eleven of the enemy were killed, bringing the total counted Japanese dead to 8,129.
As of August 4 approximately 22,000 civilians on Guam had found refuge within our lines.
More than 25 tons of bombs were dropped on Wotje in the Marshall Islands on August 3 by Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing.
More than 60 tons of bombs were dropped on Truk Atoll by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force at dusk on August 3. One ship near Dublon Island was left burning. Other hits were observed at the Dublon Naval Base, and on gun emplacements and barracks. There was no interception and only moderate antiaircraft fire. All of our planes returned.

1945
Operation Centerboard...
The SEVEN B-29's of the Hiroshima Mission:
• The "Enola Gay", piloted by Col. Tibbets carries the "Little Boy" uranium bomb.
• "The Great Artiste", piloted by Maj. Charles Sweeney, is assigned to drop the three instruments used to measure the blast effects of the bomb.
• "#91" (unnamed at the time - later "Necessary Evil"), flown by Capt. George Marquardt, carries the scientific observers.
• "Top Secret", flown by Capt. Chuck Knight, acts as a standby aircraft and flew to Iwo Jima in the event of mechanical problems with the Enola Gay.
• "Straight Flush" will act as a weather plane and fly ahead to primary target of Hiroshima.
• "Jabbitt III" will act as a weather plane and fly ahead to the secondary target of Kokura.
• "Full House" will act as a weather plane and fly ahead to the alternate target of Nagasaki.

ATOMIC BOMB RELATED: 8/5/45; 12:00 Noon [LOCAL] - Little Boy, which is a uranium type bomb, is 12 feet long, is 28 inches in diameter, weighs 9,000 pounds, and was painted a dull gun metal gray is taken by trailer from the ordnance hut and placed in the loading pit.
8/5/45; 3:00 PM - Little Boy is loaded into the Enola Gay. Parsons soon arrives and began practicing arming the bomb using the Double Plug system. He emerged two hours later confidant he could arm the bomb in flight.
8/5/45; 11:00 PM; The briefing for the three crews that would actually fly the 13 hour trip to the target began. Although the film of the Alamagordo (Trinity) test was not available, Parsons, who had seen the test, told the group about the bomb. The word "atom" or "atomic" was never mentioned. The Enola Gay would drop the bomb and immediately bank 155 degrees to the right. Sweeney, in The Great Artiste, would drop the 3 instruments at the same moment and immediately bank 155 degrees to the left. Marquardt, in the photo and observation plane, would fly slightly behind the others and thus would be out of immediate danger.
11:55 PM - The final pre-flight briefing was held.

OKINAWA: Eighth Air Force: HQ 333d BG (Very Heavy) and 435th, 460th and 507th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy) arrive at Kadena, Okinawa from the US with B-29s.

JAPAN: Twentieth Air Force: During the night of 5/6 Aug, 612 B-29s fly 1 mining, 1 bombing and 4 incendiary raids against Japan; 2 B-29s are lost. Mission 311: 27 B-29s mine the waters of the Sakai, Yonago, Nakaumi Lagoon, Miyazu, Maizuru, Tsuruga, Obama, Najin and Geijitsu areas; 1 other B-29 mines an alternate target.
Mission 312: 63 B-29s attack the Saga urban area destroying 0.02 sq,1.5% of the city; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 313: 92 B-29s hit the Maebashi urban area destroying 1 sq mi, 42.5% of the city; 4 others hit alternate targets.
Mission 314: 250 B-29s attack the Nishinomiya-Mikage urban area destroying 2.8 sq mi,29.6% of the city; 3 others hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 315: 106 B-29s bomb the Ube Coal Liquefaction Co. facility at Ube destroying 100% of the refining units and destroying or damaging 80% of other structures; 2 others hit alternate targets.
Mission 316: 64 B-29s attack the Imabari urban area destroying 0.73 sq mi, 76% of the city area. HQ
VII Fighter Command is officially assigned to HQ Twentieth AF. 100+ P-51s strike airfields and military installations in large area around Tokyo, scoring especially effective hits at Katori Airfield.

JAPAN - FEAF: In Japan, 330+ B-24s, B-25s, A-26s, P-47s, and P-51s pound Tarumizu town, the industrial area on Kyushu and many targets of opportunity on Kyushu and in the Ryukyu Islands.

Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 20 P-51s knock out a bridge NW of Anyang and damage another NE of Kiehsiu, attack railroad targets during sweeps from Taiyuan to Suchow and Tehsien to Pengpu, and strafe rivercraft between Ichang and Lokehang.

PHILLIPINES: P-38s support ground forces on Luzon, hitting Japanese concentrations ENE of Naguilian, near Mount Data, and at other points. B-24s pound Japanese positions S of Fabrica.

NEI: B-24s bomb supply and personnel areas and AA positions in the Makassar area. B-24s bomb Miti.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th FG, moves from San Jose, Mindoro to Ie Shima with P-38s.

 

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1939
UK: No. 39 squadron (RAF) sets out from Risalpur (North-West Frontier of India) with 9 Blenheims I's on the first leg of its intended transfer to Kallang, Singapore. Due to the British government's concern over the defence of the naval base at Singapore, some units are transferred from the North-West Frontier of India.

1940
PHILLIPINES: Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel Quezon asks the War Department for a subsidy of $100 per soldier. This was rejected on the advice of High Commissioner Francis Sayre, who thought it was a money-making scheme for the Commonwealth.

1941
JAPAN: Japan presents proposals for concessions in China and Indochina and asking for the end to the freeze on assets by the US. These proposals are rejected. They respond with a request for Konoye to meet with President Roosevelt. The question of this meeting is not resolved until after Roosevelt and Churchill meet at Placentia Bay.

HAWAII: In the Territory of Hawaii, an executive order transfers the U.S. Coast Guard's Honolulu District from the Treasury Department to the U.S. Navy in the first step toward shifting the USCG to USN control.



1942
ALASKA (11th AF): 3 B-24s, 2 B-17s and 10 P-38s provide air coverage for USN tenders to Nazan Bay, Atka ; photo reconnaissance is flown over Attu.

CBI (CATF): B-25s bomb Tien Ho Airfield, Canton, China, causing heavy damage to the runways and destroying several parked aircraft. Detachment of 11th Bombardment Squadron, 7th BG (Heavy), operating from Nanning, China with B-25s returns to base at Kunming.

SWPA (5th AF): B-25s and 22nd BG B-26s pound airfields at Lae and Salamaua.

1943
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 20 P-39's and P-40's hit the Tanagaba Harbor area; and 24 B-17's and B-24's, 24 B-25's, and 50+ US Navy and USMC fighters and dive bombers pound the Rekata Bay area, hitting bivouac and supply areas.
A F5A photo recon lightning, escorted bvy eight F4Us from VMF-221 on Banika preform an armed reconnassiance flying 50-100 feet off the water against the seaplane base at Shortland Harbor. They suprise enemy Rufe and Jake seaplanes taking off, but are attacked by about a dozen A6M Zeros in the air, probably from Ballale patroling overhead. They shoot down five enemy planes. Two F4Us are damaged, one piloted by Bill Blakeslee goes MIA.
The 63d Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group, arrives on Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands from the US with C-47's. The squadron begins flying missions upon arrival.

SOLOMONS: Japanese installations on Santa Isabel Island are attacked: 20 USAAF P-39 Airacobras and P-40s hit the Tanagaba Harbor area; and 24 USAAF B-17s and B-24 Liberators and 24 B-25s, join 50+ USN and USMC F4U Corsairs and SBD Dauntlesses which the Rekata Bay area, hitting bivouac and supply areas.
Shortly before 2400 hours local, the Battle of Vella Gulf is joined as six destroyers of the USN's Task Group 36.2 (Commander Frederick Moosbrugger) attack four Japanese destroyers attempting to bring troops and supplies to Kolombangara Island in Vella Gulf; USN destroyers USS Dunlap, USS Craven, and USS Maury sink IJN destroyers HIJMS Kawakaze, HIJMS Hagikaze, and HIJMS Arashi, at position 07.50S, 156.47E. U.S. forces suffers no damage.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): During the night of 6/7 Aug, B-24's bomb Laha Airfield on Amboina Island.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 6 B-25s bomb the town area of Mohnyin while 2 others destroy a bridge at Hsenwi; 21 P-51s hit 4 railroad bridges in the Naba-Pinbaw area, destroying 2 of them; P-51s and P-47s hit numerous targets of opportunity at Mohnyin, Hopin, Bhamo, Myothit, Katha, Indaw, and other points in N Burma; a few P-40s strafe targets of opportunity in the Myitkyina area.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 28 P-40s again pound Tengchung; 47 P-40s and P-51s hit trucks, troop compounds, and gun positions in the Hengyang area; 19 P-40s attack sampans and trucks around Changsha; 20 others hit supplies, trucks, barracks, and targets of opportunity at Chefang and Mangshih, between Changsha and Hengyang, and between Siangyin and Siangtan.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Saipan Island strike Guam Island twice; B-25s flying out of the Marshall Islands hit Ponape Island, and others from the Gilbert Islands hit Nauru Island, Gilbert Islands; and B-24s from Kwajalein bomb Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Yap supply area is bombed by B-24s; heavy frontal weather activities over the Vogelkop Peninsula and the Moluccas Islands cancels strikes in that area. In New Guinea, B-25s and fighters, though restricted by the weather, support ground operations near Sarmi, hit gun positions at Dagua, and strafe fuel dumps and targets of opportunity at Cape Djeruen; the 100th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), Thirteenth Air Force [attached to 42d Bombardment Group (Medium)] based on Stirling with B-25s, begins operating from Hollandia.

GUAM: 1 Regiment of the US 77th Division takes heavy casualties repelling a Japanese counterattack on Guam.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 106, AUGUST 6, 1944
Air and surface units of a fast carrier task force on August 3 and 4 (West Longitude Dates) virtually wiped out a Japanese convoy and raided airfields, towns, and ground installations in the Bonin and Volcano Islands groups. On August 3 our planes sank four cargo ships of approximately 4,000 tons each, three escorting destroyers or destroyer escorts, and four barges. One cargo vessel and the balance of the escorting warships were damaged. On the same day our surface vessels sank one large destroyer, one cargo ship, one small oiler and several barges. One damaged escort vessel escaped. On August 4 our forces continued the sweep. Carrier based planes sank one escort vessel and two other small craft. Damage was inflicted on five barges, two of which were carry troops, one landing craft and three smaller vessels. One light cruiser and five smaller vessels were possibly sunk. All six of these ships were left burning. Also damaged were one destroyer escort and 10 small craft. Two landing ships were grounded and a large cargo vessel damaged in the preceding attack was hit again. In the attack on ground installations our surface craft shelled shipping and shore facilities at Chichi lima. Omura Town on Chichi Jima was destroyed. Ground installations on Muko Jima, Ant Jima, Haha Jima and Iwo Jima were hit. At Iwo Jima six airborne enemy planes were shot down and six others were destroyed and five damaged on the ground. One plane was destroyed on the ground at Chichi Jima. We lost from enemy antiaircraft fire 16 planes and 19 flight personnel.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 107, AUGUST 6, 1944
Further gains were made during August 5 (West Longitude Date) by U. S. troops driving northward on Guam Island. On the left flank our troops moved ahead more than two miles almost to Haputo Point. There was no substantial change in our line on the right flank and our positions there re¬main near Lumuna Point. In the day's gains the towns of Ukudu and Liguan were occupied. Strong defensive positions along roads paralleling the western shore were wiped out by our advancing ground forces, and nine field guns and two tanks were destroyed. Artillery destroyed several trucks laden with enemy troops.
Fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing are now operating from the airfield on Orote Peninsula.
Corsair fighters and Dauntless dive bombers of the Fourth Marine Air¬craft Wing and Catalina search planes of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two, bombed remaining enemy positions in the Marshall Islands on August 4. Mitchells of the Seventh Army Air Force hit Ponape and a Navy Liberator attacked Wake Island on the same day. In these attacks moderate antiair¬craft fire was encountered but all of our aircraft returned.

1945
Operation Centerboard...
The SEVEN B-29's of the Hiroshima Mission:
• The "Enola Gay", piloted by Col. Tibbets carries the "Little Boy" uranium bomb.
• "The Great Artiste", piloted by Maj. Charles Sweeney, is assigned to drop the three instruments used to measure the blast effects of the bomb.
• "#91" (unnamed at the time - later "Necessary Evil"), flown by Capt. George Marquardt, carries the scientific observers.
• "Top Secret", flown by Capt. Chuck Knight, acts as a standby aircraft and flew to Iwo Jima in the event of mechanical problems with the Enola Gay.
• "Straight Flush" will act as a weather plane and fly ahead to primary target of Hiroshima.
• "Jabbitt III" will act as a weather plane and fly ahead to the secondary target of Kokura.
• "Full House" will act as a weather plane and fly ahead to the alternate target of Nagasaki.

12:01 AM [local] - The final pre-flight briefing is held.
1:37 AM - The 3 weather planes, Straight Flush, Full House and Jabbitt III, take off from Tinian.
2:45 AM - The Enola Gay, 15,000 pounds over-weight at 65 tons, with a crew of 12, 7,000 gallons of fuel, and the 9,000 pound bomb lifts off from Tinian.
2:47 AM - The Great Artiste takes off.
2:49 AM - #91 takes off.
2:51 AM - Top Secret takes off.
2:53 AM - Navy Capt. Parsons and Morris Jeppson descend into the bomb bay of the Enola Gay and begin the arming procedure; with Jeppson holding a flashlight and Parsons inserting the components.
2:55 AM - The Enola Gay crossed the northern tip of Saipan. Communications between Parsons and Tibbets was made possible with an intercom. Parsons began by confirming that the "green" plugs blocking the firing signal and preventing accidental detonation were in place. Parsons then removed a rear plate, and an armor plate beneath, exposing the cannon breech and unscrewed the breech plug. He then inserted the four pieces of cordite into the breech, then replaced the breech plug. He then connected the firing line and reinstalled the two metal plates. Little Boy was not armed until the cordite charges had been loaded. Coded messages were then sent back to General Farrell, indicating Parsons' progress.
3:18 AM - Parsons completes the procedure; Parsons and Jeppson would continue to monitor the bomb electronically throughout the mission. The 3 planes remained in radio contact.
5:34 AM - Tibbets ascended from 4,600 feet to 5,500 feet. 20 minutes later, they reached an initial cruising altitude of 9,300 feet.
5:52 AM - Enola Gay arrives over Iwo Jima and rendezvous with other planes. Top Secret, the back up, has landed on Iwo Jima.
6:07 AM - The Enola Gay, The Great Artiste, and #91, now head for Japan, a little more than 3 hours away. They are still unsure of their target.
7:30 AM - Jeppson enters the bomb bay on the Enola Gay and exchanges the "green" plugs with "red" ones, thus activating the bombs internal batteries. He then declares to Parsons that the bomb is ready.
7:45 AM - The 3 planes slowly climbed to an altitude of 30,700 feet.
8:30 AM - Straight Flush, the weather plane, radioed that Hiroshima had little cloud coverage (< 3/10 at all altitudes). Sweeney and Marquardt also received this message and there was no reason to break radio silence.
8:32 AM - The Enola Gay and its two companions turn toward Hiroshima.
9:12:17 AM - Tibbets instructs crew members to ready their goggles. The 3 minute bombing run began.
9:13:47 AM - Tibbets turned control of the Enola Gay over to the bombardier, Thomas Ferebee for the remainder of the run.
9:14:17 AM - Ferebee flicked the switch that activated a high pitched tone which would ring for one minute before the bomb was released. This tone was heard on each of the three planes, as well as the 3 weather planes already more than 200 miles away.
9:15:17 AM - The bomb was released from the Enola Gay and the 3 instruments were dropped by parachute by The Great Artiste. After releasing the bomb, both the Enola Gay and The Great Artiste each turned into a 155 degree turn, losing 1,700 feet in altitude at the process. All crew members put on their dark glasses and prepared for the blast.
9:16:00 - Little Boy exploded at an altitude of 1,890 feet above the target. Yield was equivalent to 12,500 tons of TNT. The first shock wave took about 1 minute to reach the planes which were now 9 miles away. Crew member Caron could see the first shock wave coming toward the plane at 1,100 ft./sec. Soon after, a second shock wave (echo effect) hit the planes with less intensity. The instruments which were dropped radioed blast information back to The Great Artiste. A coded message was sent to General Farrell on Tinian advising him of the successful detonation. The atomic mushroom cloud remained visible for 90 minutes until the planes were more than 400 miles away.
2:58 PM - The Enola Gay touches down on the runway at Tinian Island, followed a short time later by The Great Artiste and #91. Silver stars were awarded to each man involved with the mission. Tibbets received the Distinguished Service Cross. Mission debriefings were immediately conducted by Hazen Payett, an intelligence officer.

Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 10 P-51s and P-47s damage 10 locomotives between Tehsien and Suchow and 5 around Anyang, Kaifeng, and Loyang, and lightly damage bridges N of Chihsien and S of Houmachen.
MALAYA - P-38 fighter attacked Singapore, 2 were shot down by their defense.

USA: VIII Fighter Command: Unit movements from England to the US: HQ 13th and HQ 20th Bombardment Wings from Horham and Snetterton Heath; HQ 385th BG and 548th, 549th, 550th and 551st Bombardment Squadrons from Great Ashfield with B-17s; HQ 388th BG (Heavy) and 560th, 561st, 562d and 563d Bombardment Squadrons from Knettishall with B-17s; HQ 452d BG from Deopham Green; HQ 493d BG and 860th, 861st, 862d and 863d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) from Debach with B-17s; 334th, 335th, 336th and 412th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 95th BG (Heavy), from Horham with B-17s; 406th and 857th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy), 492d BG (Very Heavy), from Harrington and Alconbury respectively; the 568th, 569th, 570th and 571st Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 390th BG (Heavy), from Framlingham with B-17s.

JAPAN: Okinawa-based aircraft pound targets on Kyushu, Japan; 150+ P-47s and A-26s fight bad weather to hit the primary, Miyakonojo; 170+ B-24s, B-25s, and P-47s hit Kagoshima as a secondary target; and 60+ B-25s and P-51s attack shipping and ground targets of opportunity in the Tsushima Strait area and in the N Ryukyu Islands. P-51s operating in the area between Kyushu and Korea bomb an airfield and strafe numerous targets of opportunity on Saishu Island and P-47s bomb Anjo on Tanega Island. Other aircraft, operating individually or in pairs, hit various targets of opportunity on the S Korea coast, in the Inland Sea, S Honshu, W Shikoku Island, throughout the N Ryukyu Islandss, and in the Shanghai, China area.

PHILLIPINES: B-24s pound resistance pockets on Negros Island in the Philippine Islands.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Unit moves: HQ 3d BG and 89th and 90th Bombardment Squadrons from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Okinawa with A-26s; HQ 8th FG and 36th Fighter Squadron from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Ie Shima with P-38s; ground echelon of 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, from Lingayen Airfield to Okinawa (air echelon remains at Clark Field, Luzon with F-5s).