This Day In The War, In The Pacific

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1941
AUSTRALIA: A US Naval squadron comprising two cruisers and five destroyers pays a visit to Australia and New Zealand. It is commanded by Admiral Newton who, at a dinner given by the Commonwealth government to himself and his officers, declared that the US was behind Britain and her dominions in their great fight for freedom. American sailors and marines who marched through Sydney followed by detachments of militia and the Royal Australian Air Force, receive a tremendous welcome from the people of the city.

1942
AUSTRALIA: Japanese "Betty" medium bombers, attack the Broome Airfield, Western Australia, at high altitude. There are a number of craters off the end of the strip and in the tidal flats; one aboriginal is killed by a bomb splinter but no other casualties or damage was caused.

BURMA: Japanese troops, reinforced by the 18th and 56th Division which had arrived by sea at Rangoon a few days earlier, attack the Chinese 6th Army near Toungoo.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: Major General Jonathan Wainwright learns that he has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and that Washington has placed him in command of all U.S. Forces in the Philippines (USFIP).

1943
BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 7 B-25's again attack the Myitnge bridge, inflicting little additional damage to the structure.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) HQ 308th Bombardment Group and it's 373d, 374th, 375th and 425th Bombardment Squadrons with B-24's arrive in China from the U.S. The 308th and 425th are based at Kunming; the 373d at Yangkai; and the 374th and 375th at Chengkung. The four squadrons will fly their first combat mission on 4 May.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons during the night of 19/20 Mar, 42 Navy and Marine aircraft lay mines off the Bougainville coast in the Buin-Tonolai area while 18 B-17's and B-24's pound Kahili Airfield in a diversionary strike. This mission inaugurates mine-laying operations by aircraft in the South Pacific (SOPAC). Ditched is B-17E "'Busy Beavers / Goonie" 41-2523.

USN - 42 Navy and Marine Corps Avengers, on a night flight from Henderson Field, mined Kahili Harbor (Tonolei), while USAAF aircraft are hitting Kahili

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's bomb Langgoer and Kaimana. The landing strip at Finschhafen and the harbor area at Salamaua are bombed by single B-24's.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In the Arakan area of Burma, 12 RAF Vengeance's hit Japanese positions near Kaladan and Buthidaung while 6 P-38s severely damage a bridge at Lamu; 20+ B-25s and P-51s hit communication and transportation targets in the Katha area; 6 B-24s bomb the Moulmein-Martaban area; and 100+ fighter-bombers strike Mogaung Valley buildings and supply areas, and fuel dumps at Mogaung, Myitkyina, Sumprabum and Sahmaw. 81st Bombardment Group (Medium), 12th Bombardment Group (Medium), arrives at Tezgaon, India from Italy with B-25s; first mission is 16 Apr.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Photo reconnaissance sorties are flown orer C China and NE Burma.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): 12 B-25s from Tarawa Atoll bomb the radio station and pier on Emidj , Marshall . 1 other B-25 from Tarawa bombs Mille Atoll, rearms at Majuro, and again bombs Mille on the return trip. HQ 30th Bombardment Group moves from Abemama to Kwajalein.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 20+ fighter-bombers hit the Ratawul supply area; later 20+ fighters attack barges in the Rabaul area while 3 RNZAF Venturas blast several buildings at nearby Massava Bay; and 23 B-24s bomb the airfield at Vunakanau while 24 B-25s pound Lakunai. 10 P-40s and P-39s bomb Numa Numa and strafe coastal targets of opportunity. A reconnaissance patrol of snooper B-24s cover US Marines moving onto Emirau , Bismarck Archipelago; a fighter patrol is unnecessary due to unexpected lack of opposition and after the initial landing by the Marines other Allied ground forces move ashore; by the afternoon of 21 Mar the occupation of the is complete and construction of a base begins shortly. 868th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), Thirteenth Air Force, moves from Munda to Los Negros with B-24s; this squadron uses radar-equipped "snooper" B-24s for low-level attacks at night and for pathfinder operations.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 30+ B-24s bomb the airfield at Aitape; 20+ P-39s and A-20s hit Japanese HQ and other targets along the Bogadjim Road while B-25s and P-39s on armed reconnaissance hit targets at Milhanak, along the Gogol River, at Yeschan, Burui Airfield and at Erima; and at night B-24s bomb remnants of a supply convoy off Cape Terabu. On New Britain, P-40s on armed reconnaissance hit villages and barges along the Bangula Bay coast.

(USN) Two escort carriers provided cover and airspot for the battleship and destroyer bombardment of Kavieng and nearby airfields in a covering action for the occupation of Emirau.

1945
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 4 P-38s claim 11 trucks destroyed and 9 damaged between Son La and Hoa Binh.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): 20 P-47s sweep roads S of the bomb line in C Burma; 16 others hit supply dumps behind Japanese lines. Transports continue to supply forward areas.

AAFPOA Seventh Air Force: 12 Guam based B-24s bomb Susaki Airfield; during the night of 20/21 Mar, 4 other B-24s fly single strikes against the airfield. VII Fighter Command: The air echelon of the 549th Night Fighter Squadron, ceases operating from Saipan and moves to Iwo Jima with P-61s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon, B-24s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers fly numerous ground support missions and hit targets at Balete Pass, Bayombong, Tuguegarao, Antamok, San Fernando, Bontoc and along roads. B-24s pound the supply and personnel area E of Cebu City and N of Mambaling on Cebu, defensive positions NW of Talisay and AA guns to the N, and also bomb Talisay. Other B-24s bomb the town of Tainan. B-25s on a shipping sweep sink 3 small vessels near Qui Nhon, French Indochina. The 72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th BG (Heavy), moves from Morotai to Guiuan Airfield with B-24s; the detachments of the 75th and 390th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 42d BG (Medium), operating from Morotai return to base at Sansapor with B-25s.

USN: The US submarine Kete, commanded by Edward Ackerman, is listed as missing between Okinawa and Midway. The probable cause of loss is by Jap submarine. All hands are lost.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 305, MARCH 20, 1945

After a day of destructive attacks on the enemy air force in Kyushu the Fast Carrier Task Force commanded by Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, moved northeast and on March 19 (East Longitude Date) attacked the prin*cipal units of the Japanese Fleet in its home bases in the Inland Sea. During these attacks crippling damage wag inflicted on the Japanese Fleet and many Japanese aircraft were destroyed.
A preliminary report from Admiral R. A. Spruance, Commander Fifth Fleet, who was present in tactical command of the Fleet forces engaged shows that the following damage was inflicted on the enemy during the two days fighting
Aircraft:
200 shot out of the air
275 destroyed on the ground
More than 100 damaged in the first day's attacks, and a large number
damaged in the second day's attacks.

Ships sunk:
Six small freighters

Ships damaged
One or two battleships
Two or three aircraft carriers
Two light aircraft carriers or escort carriers
Two escort carriers
One heavy cruiser
One light cruiser
Four destroyers
One submarine
One destroyer escort
Seven freighters

Ground installations:
A large number of installations including hangars, shops, arsenals and oil storage facilities were destroyed.

Our aircraft losses in combat were extremely light.
The enemy made many air attacks on our forces. None of our ships was lost. One of our ships was seriously damaged and is returning to port under her own power. A few others received minor damage but are fully operational.
Mopping up operations were continued by the Marines in Iwo on March 20.
On March 19, Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed the air*field on Chichi Jima in the Bonins causing explosions and large fires.
Navy search Mariners of Fleet Air Wing One bombed the town of Yap in the western Carolines on March 20.
Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing fighters continued attacks on enemy‑held bases in the Marshalls.

 

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1942
AUSTRALIA: Late in the afternoon, General Douglas MacArthur's train reaches Kooringa, 80 miles north of Adelaide, South Australia. One of his staff officers, Colonel Dick Marshall, who had been sent on ahead, boards the train and tells the general that there are fewer than 32,000 Allied troops, American, British, and Australian, in the whole country, most of them service forces. There is not a single tank in the nation and the only combat-ready force is one brigade of the Australian 6th Division. If the Japanese land, the Australians intend to withdraw to the "Brisbane Line," holding the settled southern and eastern coasts, abandoning the northern ports to the Japanese.
Supply lines to the rest of the Allied world, committed to defeating Germany first, are long. "God have mercy on us," MacArthur whispers. It is, he writes, his greatest shock and surprise of the whole war. In Adelaide, MacArthur swaps his little train for a luxurious private car provided by Australia's commissioner of railways. The press is there to greet him and seek a statement. MacArthur scrawls on the back of an envelope, "The President of the United States ordered me to break through the Japanese lines ...for the purpose, as I understand it, of organizing the American offensive against Japan, a primary object of which is the relief of the Philippines. I came through and I shall return."
A single Mitsubishi Ki-15, Army Type 97 Command Reconnaissance Plane (later assigned the Allied Code Name "Babs") takes off from Koepang, Timor, to reconnoiter the defenses of Darwin, Northern Territory, in readiness for a larger strike force of Mitsubishi G4M, Navy "Betty" bombers. Coast watchers on Bathurst Island notify Darwin of the approaching reconnaissance aircraft at about 1200 hours and it is shot down by USAAF P-40 pilots of the 9th Pursuit Squadron. As anticipated, the Japanese bombers make a raid that same day but not on Darwin. They fly 200 miles further southeast and bomb Katherine, Northern Territory. They presumably were hoping to find Allied bombers at the Katherine Airfield but none were there and damage at the airfield is minimal.

BURMA: The Burma 1st Division, upon being relieved on the Toungoo front by the Chinese 200th Division, Chinese 5th Army, begins a movement to the Irrawaddy front, leaving a large area south of Toungoo undefended. Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell, Commanding General American Army Forces, China, Burma and India and Chief of Staff of the Chinese Army, now in Burma, issues orders for Chinese participation in the defense of the line Toungoo-Prome. The Chinese 5th Army is charged with the defense of Toungoo; its 200th Division is reinforced by attachment of the Temporary 55th Division (T-55th ) of the Chinese 6th Army, which is to move to Pyawbwe. In army reserve, the Chinese 22d Division is directed to Taungdwingyi, where it is to be prepared to assist the British in the Prome area while the Chinese 96th Division is to move to Mandalay.
Japanese bombers and fighters open as 24-hour operation against Magwe Airdrome. Pilots of the 3d Fighter Squadron, AVG shoot down two "Nate's" at 1430 hours. The Japanese attack the airfield and destroy nine RAF Blenheim Mk. IV bombers and three AVG P-40s on the ground and three RAF Hurricane Mk. IIs in the air.

INDIA: The Assam-Burma-China Ferry Command is activated. It consists of 25 Pan-American World Airways DC-3 transports, which are soon diverted from mission of taking supplies to China in order to supply forces withdrawing from Burma.

JAPAN: In THE JAPAN TIMES newspaper, Rear Admiral SOSA Tanetsuga warns the Japanese people of American bases in Alaska and the Aleutians that could threaten the Homeland.

NEW GUINEA: The first four Curtiss Kittyhawks Mk. IAs of RAAF No. 75 Squadron arrive at Seven Mile Airdrome at Port Moresby. As they fly over the airdrome, they are fired on by anti-aircraft which damages three of the four aircraft; one never flies again. The remainder of the squadron arrives two hours later.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright, as commander of U.S. Forces in the Philippines (USFIP), which supersedes U.S. Army Forces, Far East (USAFFE), establishes headquarters on Corregidor Island and appoints Major General Lewis Beebe his chief of staff. Major General Edward P. King, Jr., is named commander of Luzon Force.

U.S.: The United States agrees to provide US$500 million in aid to China. (With inflation, US$500 million in 1942 is equal to US$5.5 trillion in year 2002 dollars.)

1943
ALASKA: In the Aleutians, 13 B-24's, 9 B-25's, 50 P-38's, 16 P-4O's, and 2 F-5A's fly 8 bombing and strafing missions to Kiska Island. Some of the missions abort due to weather. The others hit the Main Camp area, while 2 P-40's ake no contact when trying to intercept reported enemy aircraft.

BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 15 B-24's pound the Gokteik Viaduct, causing considerable damage to the structure. Six other B-24's, unable to bomb the viaduct due to haze and clouds, attack the previously damaged bridge at Myitnge. P-40's again dive-bomb targets in the Mogaung area, using 1,000-pound bombs for the second time. Three of the fighters bomb the town area, causing heavy destruction over 2 blocks. Three others attack the bridge south of town, claiming damaging hits in the area. Others attack targets of opportunity in northern Indochina.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In French Indochina, P-40's strafe the Lao Kay phosphate mine area and targets of opportunity in the vicinity.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Bismarck Archipelago, a B-24 claims a direct hit on a cargo vessel ESE of Cape Gloucester. Other isolated attacks on shipping are unsuccessful. The 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group with P-38F's transfers from Mareeba to Port Moresby.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 25 B-25s and P-51s destroy 1 bridge and damage another near Meza, pound buildings and targets of opportunity in the Mawlu area and hit a locomotive and several trucks in the Banmauk-Indaw area; 6 P-38s bomb Monywa oil dumps, causing several large fires; and 80+ fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s hit the town of Manywet, storage area at Myitkyina, buildings at Kamaing and Myitkyina, and warehouses, bypass, and bridge at Hopin. HQ 12th Bombardment Group (Medium) arrives at Tezgaon, India and 83d and 434th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) arrive at Kurmitola, India from Italy with B-25s; first mission is 27 Apr.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Tarawa Atoll hit Mille and Maloelap Atolls and Ponape. Tarawa-based B-25s also pound Maloelap.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 30+ fighter-bombers and 24 B-25s pound the Lakunai Airfield area; 22 B-24s bomb Vunakanau Airfield; and fighters carry out barge sweeps in the Rabaul area. On Bougainville , 14 P-39s hit Numa Numa; small strikes are flown against Monoitu and a bridge at Meive, and fighter-bombers support ground forces and bomb a bivouac along Empress Augusta Bay.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 140+ B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, P-38s and P-40s attack numerous targets at Kairiru Island, Wewak-Tadji- Hansa Bay-Schouten areas; and P-39s and RAAF fighter-bombers blast Japanese positions in the Madang area. P-40s and A-20s on armed reconnaissance attack targets on New Britain and on Garove to the N.

1945
ZONE OF INTERIOR (Fourth Air Force): A P-63 from Walla Walla AAFld, Washington, intercepts a Japanese balloon near Redmond, Washington, and, after a chase that includes 2 refueling stops, shoots it down near Reno, Nevada.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 4 P-51s damage several locomotives and boxcars at Vinh Airfield, French Indochina and along the railroad to the N. 6 B-24s claim 1 vessel damaged in S China Sea.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 30 P-47s support Chinese ground forces in the Hsipaw area; 34 P-38s sweep roads S of the bomb line; 13 B-25s and 18 P-47s attack troop concentrations and vehicles at several points behind the Japanese lines; 526 air supply sorties are flown to the forward areas; in ground action in the area of the British Fourteenth Army's 33 Corps, organized resistance ceases in Mandalay and Allied forces completely take over that city.

Seventh Air Force: 13 B-24s, based on Guam hit Susaki Airfield, which is hit again during the night of 21/22 Mar by 5 more, flying separate strikes. VII Fighter Command: 16 P-51s from Iwo Jima strafe and bomb barracks and radio and radar installations on Chichi Jima.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s, A-20s, and fighters continue large-scale support missions, hitting a variety of targets including Japanese defenses at Lipa and Tarlac and the town of Naga and Camiling. In the C Philippines B-24s hit targets near Cebu City while A-20s pound other towns on Cebu. B-24s bomb Samah Airfield on Hainan. B-25s on a shipping sweep attack and set afire a freighter SE of Nanao, China. HQ 42d BG (Medium) and the 390th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) move from Morotai to Puerto Princesa with B-25s; the 67th Fighter Squadron, 347th FG, ceases operating from Morotai with P-38s and returns to base at Puerto Princesa.
N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 586, MARCH 21, 1945

The submarine USS Barbell is overdue from patrol and is presumed lost. Next of kin of officers and crew have been notified.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 306, MARCH 21, 1945

On March 20 (East Longitude Date) Army Liberators of the Strategic Air Force bombed the airfield on Chichi Jima in the Bonins. Army Mustang Fighters based on Iwo dive bombed barracks, a radio station and other in*stallations on Chichi on the following day.
Navy search Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Four made rocket and strafing attacks on buildings and small craft at Hayake Kawa on Paramushiru in the Kuriles on March 19. On the same day Mitchells and Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air Force bombed and strafed canneries, buildings, and radio installations in southern Paramushiru.
Fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing carried out rocket and bombing attacks on airfield installations, piers, and buildings on Yap in the western Carolines on March 21.
Navy search Privateers of Fleet Wing Two caused an explosion and fire after bombing attacks on Wake Island on March 20.

 

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1940
JAPAN: Foreign Minister ARITA Hachiro announces that the Japanese government will keep out of European affairs.

1942
NEW GUINEA: Shot down off Port Moresby is G4M1 Betty piloted by Kawai by P-40E Kittyhawks piloted by Wackett and Cox.

AUSTRALIA: A single Mitsubishi Ki-15, Army Type 97 Command Reconnaissance Plane "Babs" takes off from Koepang, Timor, to reconnoiter the defenses of Darwin, Northern Territory, in readiness for a larger strike force of IJN "Betty" medium bombers. Coast watchers on Bathurst Island notify Darwin of the approaching reconnaissance aircraft at about 1200 hours and it is shot down by USAAF P-40 pilots of the 9th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor).
As anticipated, the Japanese bombers make a raid that same day but not on Darwin. They fly 200 miles further southeast and bomb Katherine, Northern Territory. They presumably were hoping to find Allied bombers at the Katherine Airfield but none were there and damage at the airfield is minimal.

1943
ALASKA: In the Aleutians, 6 B-25's, 12 B-24's and 22 P-38's attempt 3 missions to Kiska Island. Only 8 of the P-40's get through but fly uneventful patrol. The 404th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 28th Composite Group with B-24's transfers from Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Alaska to Adak Island.

BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 17 B-25's, operating in 2 forces, bomb the Gokteik Viaduct. Several damaging hits are scored on the base and structure. Seven B-25's pound the Thazi rail junction. Considerable damage is caused to warehouses, yards, sidings, tracks, and rolling stock.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In French Indochina, P-40's again strafe the phosphate mine area at Lao Kay.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, P-38's strafe the Rekata Bay area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Heavy bombers pound the Gasmata Airfield. In single-plane strikes, heavy bombers attack Finschhafen, Lae and Madang. In single-plane strikes, heavy bombers attack the harbor at Lorengau on Manus Island. The 400th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 90th Bombardment Group with B-24's transfers from Iron Range, Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): Japanese troops move into India from Burma and penetrate to 30 miles (48 km) E of Imphal. In Burma, 100+ fighters and fighter-bombers over the Mogaung Valley attack troops, storage, and other targets and cause several fires throughout the area; 20+ P-51s and B-25s carry out ground support missions in the Mawlu area near Katha; near Rangoon 4 B-24s set fire to P-38 damages railroad bridges and several trucks at Pyinmana. 92d Fighter Squadron, 81st Fighter Group, arrives at Karachi, India from Italy; they will be equipped with P-47s and enter combat on 1 Jun.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 4 B-25s from Yangkai, China hit several targets in and around Phu Dien Chau, Ha Trung, Dong Giao and Nam Dinh; results include 3 locomotives destroyed and another damaged, 3 125-ft (38 m) steamers damaged, and a bridge roadbed weakened; 1 B-25 is lost.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Abemama and Tarawa Atoll bomb Mille and Jaluit Atolls. 38th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), ceases operating from Makin and returns to base on Kwajalein Atoll with B-24s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On Bougainville , 30+ fighter-bombers hit a supply area along the Laruma River; a total of 13 B-24s carry out small strikes against Buka, Monoitu, Kahili, and Kara. 23 B-25s pound Lakunai Airfield, 10 B-24s bomb Tobera, and a single B-24 hits Rabaul.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 130+ B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and P-40s attack the Wewak area, hitting enemy positions, AA guns, storage areas at Wewak, Boram, and Yeschan and hitting shipping offshore at Kairiru Island. Japanese HQ and troops are hit by 25 other aircraft in the Aitape-Tadji area; P-47s hit barges at Alexishafen while P-39s hit a HQ and supply dump along the Bogadjim Road: and A-20s hit barges near Pondo Plantation and hit Ewasse village. 49th FG P-40 bomb the Tadji area. Lost is P-40N piloted by Cash and B-24D "Weezie" 42-41081 on a courier flight. Also P-38J "Marge" 42-103993.

1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 24 fighter-bombers and a single B-25 attack railroad traffic and railroad yards in and around Shihkiachwang, at Chukiatsi, and from Sinsiang to Chenghsien.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 45: 76 of 78 B-29s, operating in 2 waves, blast storage dumps at Rangoon without loss.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 16 fighter-bombers support Chinese ground forces near Hsipaw; 12 B-25s and 41 fighter-bombers hit numerous targets along and immediately behind the enemy lines; troops, supplies, and communications are attacked and 2 bridges are knocked out; 547 air supply sorties are flown to forward areas; the 71st Liaison Squadron, Tenth Air Force [attached to 1st Liaison Group (Provisional)], moves from Katha to Myitkyina with L-1s, L-4s, L-5s and UC-64s.

AAFPOA Seventh Air Force: 13 B-24s from Guam bomb Susaki Airfield. 20 B-24s from Angaur Airfield bomb Cebu. During the night of 22/23 Mar, 4 B-24s from Guam make individual raids on Susaki Airfield. VII Fighter Command: 16 Iwo Jima based P-51s bomb and strafe a weather station fuel storage, and radar installations on Chichi Jima.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA: B-24s and A-20s (along with US Marine Corps aircraft) hit Cebu City, defenses at several locations on Cebu, and targets on Inampulugan nearby. On Luzon , B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighters continue to hit numerous objectives, chiefly Balete Pass, Tangadon, San Fernando, and the Batangas areas. On Formosa, other B-24s hit Tainan and Okayama Airfields, destroying several hangars, planes, and gun positions. The 64th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d BG (Heavy), moves from Tacloban, Leyte to Clark Field, Luzon with B-24s; the 69th and 100th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 42d BG (Medium), cease operating from Morotai with B-25s and move to base at Puerto Princesa, Palawan; the 75th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d BG (Medium), moves from Sansapor to Puerto Princesa with B-25s; and the 868th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), Thirteenth AF, moves from Noemfoor to Morotai with B-24s (the squadron uses airborne radar for low-level attacks at night and for pathfinder operations).

SOLOMONS: Bougainville, British Solomon Islands: CPL (later SGT) Reginald Roy Rattey wins the Victoria Cross.

 

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1942
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Army aviation engineers begin work on the secret Otter Point Airfield on the 675 square mile Umnak Island separated from Unalaska Island, site of NavalOperating Base Dutch Harbor and Fort Mears, by Unmak Pass. By the end of the month, a 100 by 5,000 foot runway has been completed using Marston matting.

ANDAMAN ISLANDS: The Japanese invade these islands in the eastern part of the Bay of Bengal without opposition.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: On Bataan, American and Filipino troops dig in for the next round. The I Corps fields 32,000 men and 50 guns on the west, while II Corps has 28,000 men and about 100 guns on the east, including 31 naval guns up to 3-inch. Troops have been trained in jungle warfare, trenches and dugouts built, mines laid, and a 12-foot palisade of bamboo erected across the front. The Japanese are having ration trouble, too, as the 14th Army has cut rations from 62 ounces to 23; about 13,000 Japanese troops are in the hospital. But General HOMMA Masaharu, commanding the Japanese 14th Army, enjoys an edge: two Army bomber regiments comprising 60 heavy bombers, plus naval air force units. Homma plans to seize the dominant Mount Samat, centerpiece of the American line, then drive southeast to Limay, ringing the mountains to turn west towards Mariveles, the peninsula's base. The attack will be led by the newly-arrived 4th Division and the 65th Brigade. Meanwhile, Japanese aircraft drop beer cans tied with ribbons, asking Wainwright to surrender. The appeal is ignored.

U.S.: In California, the first 1,000 Japanese-Americans arrive at the Manzanar Relocation Camp For Ethnic Japanese. The camp is located in the Owens Valley on the west side of U.S. Highway 395 about 50 miles south of Bishop and 12 miles north of Lone Pine. Today, this is a National Historic Site.

1943
ALASKA: In the Aleutians, weather grounds all missions except the weather reconnaissance flight and an unsuccessful intercept attempt of an enemy reconnaissance airplane by 2 P-40's.

BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's bomb barracks, warehouse, railroad tracks, and the airfield at Meiktila.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In French Indochina, P-40's strafe the operations building at Dong Cuong and hit troop trucks between Tuyen Quang and Ha Giang.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17's thoroughly pound the airfields in the Rabaul area and strafe a vessel off Cape Gazelle. Single B-24s attack Gasmata Airfield. A-20's bomb and strafe forces in the Mubo area and at the mouth of the Bitoi River. B-25's strafe targets of opportunity in the Salamaua, Labu Lagoon and Nadzab areas, and at the mouth of the Markham River. Single B-24's attack Lorengau harbor and the airfield at Salamaua.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Destroyed by Japanese bombing is B-17E "Zero Six Zero" 41-9060.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A detachment of the 11th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group, begins operating from Amchitka with P-40s and P-38s; the squadron is based on Adak .

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In the Chin Hills region of Burma, 12 B-24s and 10 P-38s bomb Kalewa, and 9 B-25s attack Kaing and Shwebo; in the Katha area 12 P-51s bomb Naba Station while 12 others join 9 B-25s in attacking ammunition and gas dumps at Indaw; 4 P-40s bomb stores at Kamaing while 30+ other fighters fly armed reconnaissance over the Mogaung Valley in general; and 12 B-24s pound Moulmein jetty and attack Moulmein-Bangkok railroad targets, destroying 2 bridges, damaging several others, and scoring effective hits on 2 trains.
Air Commando Combat Mission N0.36 3:15 Flight Time Hailakandi, Assam to Indaw, Burma. Bombed Japanese supply dumps. Bad weather forced us to land at Broadway. Had to roll 55 gallon gasoline drums through dense elephant grass and refuel using a hand pump. Spent the night on the plane.
Note: As our missions were low level we had not been carrying any oxygen (none of my crew even had oxygen masks) and could not get over the weather front between Burma and Assam. It was a bit spooky as us fly boys were down and parked some 150 miles behind enemy lines and the night (noises )?. I think the Chindit grunts got a big kick out of our concerns.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, B-25s on a railroad sweep N from Vinh destroy 2 engines and several boxcars at Van Trai Station yards and attack 3 bridges between Vinh and Thanh Hoa. HQ 312th Fighter Wing moves from Kunming to Chengtu, China.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Kwajalein bomb Wake; B-25s flying out of Eniwetok Atoll hit Ponape; and Tarawa Atoll-based B-25s strike Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls, commencing a series of B-25 shuttle-missions between Tarawa or Makin and the USN's new base at Majuro which is used as the rearming base for the return strike.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 14 P-38s bomb targets of opportunity at Komaleai Point on Bougainville while 24 B-25s hit the Buka area of Buka after weather prevented scheduled attacks on Rabaul.On New Britain , fighters fly sweeps over Rabaul and general New Ireland area, and 12 P-40s bomb fuel dump at Keravia Bay; 15 B-24s out of 24 dispatched plow through the bad weather and bomb the Ratawul supply area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, nearly 100 B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and P-47s hit numerous targets in the Aitape, Wewak, Alexishafen, and Hansa Bay areas; and B-24s bomb Babo and during the night attack shipping in the Bismarck Sea. On New Britain , 29 P-40s attack Talasea and nearby bivouacs, including Gogosi.

USA: Colgate University professor Harold Whitnail presents a propsal to the US military that recommends bombing Japan's numerous volcanoes, theorizing that explosives might trigger eruptions.

1945
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): An 8-bomber strike is called off due to weather.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 28 B-24s bomb the Tsinan railroad shops and Yellow River bridge; 5 B-25s bomb town areas, storage facilities, and targets of opportunity at Sinsiang and Wu-yang and chiefly in the Hsiangcheng area; 50+ fighter-bombers attack troops, horses, and river, road, and railroad targets in N French Indochina and S and E China.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 15 P-47s support Chinese ground forces, bomb troops, and positions at Nampongpang and Nakang; 16 P-47s hit targets of opportunity along roads from Mong Nawng to Wan Sing and to Kunlong, China; 11 P-47s hit quarters at Monglawng while 3 others attack supply dumps at Laihka; 9 B-25s bomb communications routes, creating 2 road blocks behind enemy lines. In large-scale air supply operations, 536 sorties
are flown.

AAFPOA Seventh Air Force: During the night of 23/24 Mar, 5 Guam based B-24s, flying single-bomber strikes, pound Susaki Airfield. VII Fighter Command: 15 P-51s from Iwo Jima bomb and strafe various targets on Chichi Jima, Haha Jima, and Ani Jima.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighters hit bomb Cebu City, hitting defenses on Cebu and other islands, and on Luzon, bomb the Antamok mines, Balete Pass, and the Tangadon areas, along with several other targets. B-24s also hit targets on Mindanao and fighter-bombers attack Takao, Formosa. The detachment of the 421st Night Fighter Squadron, 86th Fighter Wing, operating from Tacloban with P-61s, returns to base at San Marcelino.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 307, MARCH 23, 1945

Further reports by the Fifth Fleet of attacks by carrier aircraft on Japan during the period of March 18 to 21 (East Longitude Dates) reveal damage inflicted on the enemy air force in addition to that reported in communiqué No. 305 making the total:

281 aircraft shot out of the air.
275 aircraft destroyed on the ground.
175 aircraft probably destroyed or damaged on the ground.

Reconnaissance reports indicate that extensive damage was done by our carrier aircraft to air installations at Oita, Omura, Kanoya, Kagoshima, Miyazaki, Saeki and Nittagahara during the attacks on Kyushu.
Army Liberators of the Strategic Air Force bombed the airfield on Chichi Jima in the Bonins on March 21 and 22. Army Mustang fighters on March 22 and 23 attacked fuel dumps, a weather station and other installations on the same island.
Corsair and Hellcat fighters and Avenger torpedo planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed targets in the Palaus on March 22.
Marine aircraft struck dock and airfield installations at Yap in the West*ern Carolines on March 22 and 23.
Navy search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing Two continued neutralizing at*tacks on enemy‑held bases in the Marshalls on March 21

 

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1942
BURMA: In a surprise attack on Kyungon Airfield, north of Toungoo, the Japanese rout the defenders (troops of Chinese 200th Division and rear elements of the Burma 1st Division) and cut the rail line and road, thus partially surrounding Toungoo. The Chinese fall back on Toungoo, while the Burmese succeed in withdrawing to the Irrawaddy front.

CHINA: British General Harold Alexander, General Officer Commanding Burma Army, and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek meet to discuss plans for the cooperation of Chinese and British Forces.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: The Japanese begin an intense air and artillery bombardment of Bataan. Luzon-based Japanese Army and Navy aircraft begin a thorough bombardment of Corregidor, continuing through the end of March. During this period night air attacks are conducted for the first time. A Filipino patrol on Bataan kills a Japanese officer who brought his documents with him to the front. They include orders for a reconnaissance in force on Mount Samat, followed by an attack on 26 March so the Americans dig trenches on Mount Samat.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Guadalcanal, now menaced by the Japanese, Australian coastwatcher Don McFarland heads for the isolated west coast community of Lavor with Martin Clemens and Ken Hay to set up a new observation post.

THAILAND: Ten P-40s of the 1st Fighter Squadron, AVG, based at Kunming Airdrome, China, and staging through Loiwing and Namsang, Burma, strafe Chiengmai Airdrome between 0710 and 0725 hours. Fifteen Japanese Army bombers are destroyed on the ground but two AVG P-40s are shot down by ground fire; one pilot is killed and the second is taken prisoner after evading capture for 28 days.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): 23d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th BG, transfers from Hickam Field to Mokuleia, Territory of Hawaii with B-17's and continues flying patrols.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): Air echelon of 91st Bombardment Squadron, 27th BG, ceases operating from Brisbane, Australia and begins moving to Charters Towers with A-24s. Ground echelon is on Bataan.

U .S.: The Pacific Theater of Operations is established as an area of U.S. responsibility by the Combined Chiefs of Staff.

1943
ALASKA: In the Aleutians, 10 B-24's, 3 B-25's, and 12 P-38's fly 5 attack missions to Kiska Island. North Head runway and the Main Camp area are bombed.

BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 23 B-24'a and 2 B-17's (the B-17's attack from 50 feet) attack the bridge at Myitnge but fail to score damaging hits. Eight B-25's bomb the engine sheds at Maymyo.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-17's and Navy dive-bombers hit the Airfield at Kahili.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's hit Langgoer and Faan. B-25's and B-17's, operating individually, attack shipping in the Netherlands East Indies and airfields and targets of opportunity at Gasmata and Mubo.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly a photographic mission over Onnekotan .

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In the Mandalay, Burma area 12 B-24s and 10 P-38s bomb Pyingaing dump, 9 B-25s hit Shwebo railroad yards and a nearby factory, and 8 P-51s attack Gokteik Viaduct; 4 P-40s bomb Japanese positions near Shaduzup.
British General Orde Wingate is killed in a plane crash, he had been in charge of organizing guerrilla units throughout Bruma and China. He is replaced by General Lentaigne. Major General Orde Charles Wingate, 41, Officer Commanding the Long Range Penetration Groups or "Chindits," is killed in an airplane crash in the jungles of Burma. The aircraft involved was a B-25 from the First Air Commando on a return flight from the Chindit base "Broadway" Burma to India. The aircraft was caught in a severe thunderstorm. There were no survivors. Wingate and crew are buried in our National Cemetery at Arlington.

Air Commando Combat Mission N0. 37 1:40 Flight Time Broadway, Burma to Hailakandi, Assam. Took off at sunrise and flew directly to home base. Japanese aircraft attacked Broadway minutes after we had left the area.
Notes: Broadway, located in Northern Burma, was the code name for the place where the glider force landed during Operation Thursday. Personnel from the glider forces made the field serviceable for transport aircraft i.e. C-47s. *By Thursday of March 11 Ê7,023 men, 132 horses, 994 mules and 220 tons of supplies had been airlifted into this base without Japanese interference. *Military History Series 86-1 First Air Comando Group Any Place, Any Time, Any Where

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Tarawa Atoll bomb Jaluit while others, flying out of Eniwetok Atoll, hit Ponape and Ant, Caroline .

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 20+ B-25s hit the airstrip at Tobera; a few which lost contact with the formation bomb Vunakanau instead; and 30+ P-38s, P-39s, and P-40s hit Vunapope with incendiary clusters, causing numerous fires.

BOUGAINVILLE: The last major IJA offensive effort in the Solomon Islands ends on Bougainville in the Solomon Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): P-39s and P-40s hit Alexishafen with a dive bombing and strafing attack at midday; a single B-24 bombs nearby Sek; other B-24s on armed reconnaissance score a hit on a minesweeper. Organized Japanese resistance ends on Los Negros and Bougainville, although considerable time will be required for mopping-up operations. HQ 475th FG moves from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea. Lost on a ferry flight to Horn Island is B-17E "Tojo's Nightmare" 41-2497

1945
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 34 B-24s, with an escort of 9 fighters, pound the Chenghsien locomotive park and Yellow River bridge; 30+ B-25s and 100+ fighter-bombers, operating in forces of 1 to 8 aircraft, attack tanks, trucks, locomotives, troop concentrations, storage areas, airstrips, bridges, gun positions, and general targets of opportunity throughout S and E China.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): 31 fighter-bombers and 9 B-25s operating over the battlefront and behind enemy lines in C Burma pound troop concentrations, supply areas, a truck park, and general targets of opportunity; 9 other fighter-bombers attack targets of opportunity along roads S of the bomb line; 504 air supply sorties are flown, landing men and supplies at advanced bases and dropping supplies to frontline forces. Lost is B-24L 44-49607.

AAFPOA Seventh Air Force: 9 B-24s from Guam bomb the torpedo storage area on Marcus in the N Pacific. 24 Angaur Airfield based B-24s bomb defensive positions and the town of Naga on Luzon . During the night of 24/25 Mar, 5 Guam -based B-24s hit the airfield and town of Okimura on Haha Jima. VII Fighter Command: 16 Iwo Jima based P-51s hit air, naval, and radar installations and targets of opportunity on Chichi Jima.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 45: 223 of 248 B-29s, from the Marianas, attack the Mitsubishi aircraft engine plant at Nagoya, Japan during the night of 24/25 Mar; 3 other B-29s hit alternate targets; 5 B-29s are lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s and A-20s pound Cebu City and defenses and installations on Cebu. On Luzon, B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and P-38s attack Balete Pass, Legaspi, the Batangas area, and scattered targets throughout Luzon. On Formosa, B-24s hit the harbor at Takao and power plant and alcohol factory E of Okayama. HQ 91st Photographic Wing (Reconnaissance) moves from Mindoro to Clark Field.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 308, MARCH 24, 1945

Following the destructive attacks on objectives in the Inland Sea on March 19 (East Longitude Date), fighting between the carrier‑based aircraft of the Fifth Fleet operating in Japanese home waters and the enemy air force based on Kyushu, Shikoku and Honshu continued on March 20 and 21. Although complete details are not yet available reports show that large numbers of Japanese aircraft were shot down both by the fire of the Hellcat and Corsair fighters of the Fleet and by its antiaircraft guns. On the afternoon of March 21 approximately fifty enemy aircraft were shot down in one encounter with a loss of three of our fighters. During this fighting one of our destroyers was seriously damaged and one larger unit received minor damage.
On March 23 and 24, in bad weather, units of the U. S. Pacific Fleet struck objectives in the Ryukyus including aircraft, shipping, airdromes and installations in the Kerama‑Retto at Okinawa, at le Shima and at Minami Daito Shima. Carrier aircraft destroyed some enemy shipping and damaged numerous small craft. Fast battleships attacked coastal objectives with their heavy guns.
Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command based on Iwo attacked targets on Chichi Jima in the Bonins on March 24.
Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed and damaged the causeway between Koror and Babelthuap in the Palaus and set supply dumps afire elsewhere in these Islands on March 24.
During the week of March 11 through 17, garrison forces killed 51 of the enemy and took 16 prisoners on Saipan, Tinian and Guam in the Marianas and Peleliu in the Palaus.
On March 23, Navy Search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Wake Island.
Neutralizing attacks on enemy‑held bases in the Marshalls were continued by Fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing on March 23 and 24.

CINCPOA PRESS RELEASE NO. 45, MARCH 24, 1945

The Commander in Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet, regrets to announce the loss of the escort aircraft carrier, USS Bismarck Sea, due to enemy action. The commanding officer and most of the ship's company are survivors. Next of kin of those who lost their lives have been notified.
While supporting the assault on Iwo Island, the Bismarck Sea was dam*aged by enemy air attacks on the evening of 21 February (East Longitude Date) and fires were started aboard her. Subsequently the fires spread throughout the ship and, having made every effort to save her, the ship's com*pany was ordered to abandon her. She sank a short time later.
The Bismarck Sea, of the Casablanca Class, was built by the Kaiser Shipyards at Vancouver, Washington, and was commissioned in 1944. After a period of escort duty, she was assigned to the Seventh Fleet and supported the invasion of Lingayen, Luzon. She then joined the forces which participated in the Iwo operation.
Captain John Lockwood Pratt, USN, was commanding officer.


CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 745, MARCH 24, 1945

NEW COMMANDING GENERAL OF MARINE AIRCRAFT​

Major General James T. Moore, USMC, has been named Commanding General, Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. He succeeds Major General Francis P. Mulcahy, USMC, who will shortly receive a new assignment.
General Moore, who has served 24 years with Marine Corps aviation, is a veteran of 27 months of the Pacific air war. He recently returned from the combat areas where he was, at the same time, Commanding General of the Second Marine Air Wing during the Peleliu operation and Commander, Gar*rison Air Force, Western Carolines.
When war was declared General Moore was serving as Chief of the U. S. Air Mission to Peru and Commanding General of the Peruvian Air Force. In December, 1942, he was named Commanding General of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing which then had its headquarters in the Hawaiian Islands. In May 1943, he began a 17‑month tour of duty in the South Pacific as Chief of Staff of the First Marine Aircraft Wing.
After the occupation of Munda airfield on New Georgia in August 1943, General Moore became Commander, Aircraft, New Georgia, and took command of all Allied air activity in the fight for aerial supremacy over the Central and Northern Solomon Islands.
In the fall of 1943 he became Commanding General, First Marine Aircraft, Wing. He later served as Commander, Aircraft, Emirau Island, during the invasion and consolidation of that element of the St. Mathias group. While there, General Moore also was Island Commander.
He then was named Commander, Aircraft, Solomon Islands, and after a brief period at this post took command of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing.

 

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1942
AUSTRALIA: An advanced flight echelon of B-26s assigned to the 22d BG (Medium) arrives at Archerfield Airdrome, Brisbane via the Pacific ferry route.

General Douglas MacArthur finally consents to see Lt. General George Brett who commands all Allied air units in Australia. Brett later recalls, "MacArthur went into a dissertation on the air forces. It was evident that he had nothing but contempt and criticism for them. `They lack discipline, organization, purposeful intent,' he said." Brett's assessment is that the key to MacArthur's speech is that the Philippine campaign had been lost-but "through no fault of his."
Jean MacArthur goes shopping in Melbourne, Victoria, to buy clothes, and finds out that most Australians have no idea of what they've been through. The Myer Emporium salesgirl looks her over, shakes her head sadly, and says, "SSW. Well, I don't know whether we've got anything." What does SSW mean? "Small-sized woman. They're
hard to fit." Another shopper recognizes Mrs. MacArthur, and says, sympathetically, "Won't your clothes soon be arriving from Manila?"
An advance air echelon of the USAAF 22d BG (Medium) equipped with B-26 Marauders arrives at Archefield Airdrome near Brisbane, Queensland, via the South Pacific ferry route. These are the first B-26s to reach an active war zone. The ground echelon has been in Australia for a month.

NEW GUINEA: On 21 March, RAAF No. 75 Squadron arrived at Seven Mile Aerodrome at Port Moresby with 17 Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk. IA (= USAAF P-40E) fighters. Today, only seven of the original aircraft are operational.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): 16th and 17th Bombardment Squadrons , 27th Bombardment Group, cease operating from Brisbane with A-24s and begin moving to Charters Towers.

PACIFIC: Three Japanese merchant ships are sunk by U.S. submarines:
(1) USS Drum sinks a cargo ship about 120 miles south southwest of Tokyo, Japan;
(2) USS Pompano sinks a tanker about 70 miles NW of Naha, Okinawa; and
(3) USS Tautog sinks a transport about 460 miles SE of Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands.

SOCIETY ISLANDS: The U.S. 162d Infantry of the 41st Infantry Division, arrives at the 14 square mile Bora Bora Island in French Polynesia. Bora Bora Island is about 2,650 miles SSE of Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii.

BURMA: The Chinese 200th Division is virtually besieged in Toungoo. Elements of the Temporary 55th Division (T-55th) of the Chinese 6th Army, arrive north of the town but do not attack. The Burma I Corps is ordered to concentrate in the Prome-Allanmyo area.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Japanese submarine HIJMS I-9 launches a E14Y1, "Glen" , to reconnoiter Kiska and Amchitka Islands.

CANADA: British Columbia Security Commission initiates scheme of forcing men to road camps and women and children to "ghost town" detention camps.

MIDWAY ISLANDS: Light cruiser USS St. Louis arrives and disembarks Companies "C" and "D," 2d Marine Raider Battalion, and a 37 mm gun battery of the 3d Defense Battalion.

1943
ALASKA: In the Aleutians, a weather airplane take photos of Holtz Bay and Chichapof Harbor. Fourteen B-24's, 3 B-25's, 12 P-38's, and 2 P-40's fly four missions to Kiska Island. The targets include the beach, runway, hangar area, North Head, the Main Camp and submarine base.

CBI: In Burma, 8 B-25's bomb the engine sheds at Maymyo for the second consecutive day. Considerable damage is done although the main shed is not hit.

SW PACIFIC: B-24's pound Rabaul. Single B-17s hit Gasmata and Ubili. In the Moluccas, B-24s hit shipping, the wharf and town area at Amboina. In New Guinea, single B-17's hit Lae.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 2 Shemya based B-24s bomb Kurabu Cape and the N coast of Onnekotan.

CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): 29th and 31st Fighter Squadrons, XXVI Fighter Command, begin a movement from Casa Larga, Panama and Howard Field, Canal Zone respectively, to the US.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 B-24s hit Mogaung supply dumps, causing fires and much smoke; 12 P-40s bomb the Kamaing area; Japanese aircraft (5 medium bombers and 30 fighters) attack Allied airstrips at Chittagong and Cox's Bazaar, India and Anisakan, Burma; Tenth Air Force and RAF interceptors claim 7 aircraft shot down.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 6 B-24s from Chengkung bomb a motor pool and fuel dump at Mangshih, demolishing a sizeable portion of the target area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Advanced HQ Seventh Air Force in Tarawa Atoll is disbanded and the Seventh's operations in the C Pacific forward area are placed under the VII Bomber Command at Kwajalein Atoll. B-25s from Eniwetok Atoll pound Ponape and claim 4 fighters shot down. B-25s from Abemama bomb Maloelap Atoll. HQ VII Bomber Command moves from Tarawa Atoll to Kwajalein Atoll.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain , 23 B-25s pound the Ratawul supply area while 34 fighter-bombers hit Keravia Bay fuel stores. On Bougainville , 20+ fighter-bombers hit a Miwo River bridge and nearby bivouac area and bomb a truck park W of the Omoi River.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 100+ B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s continue pounding of the Wewak area, destroying supply dumps along the coast from Wewak Point to the airfield, a fuel dump W of Boram, and targets along the Sauri road and in the Cape Wom area; other A-20s attack the coastal area around Bunabun Harbor; and B-24s bomb the Babo-Urarom area. On New Britain , P-40s attack a Japanese HQ at Cape Hoskins. On Manus, the last major battle takes place; isolated enemy positions remain to be eliminated. Moves in New Guinea with P-38s: 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, from Cape Gloucester to Nadzab; 432d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group from Dobodura to Nadzab.

ADMIRALITIES: Japanese resistance nears the end on Manus and Los Negros.

1945
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 20+ B-25s and 150+ fighters, operating individually and in flights of up to 8 aircraft, continue attacks on numerous targets including river, road, and rail traffic, airfields, troop concentrations, storage areas, horses, and gun positions throughout S and E China; the detachment of the 22d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st BG (Medium), operating from Peishiyi with B-25s, returns to base at Yangkai.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 26 P-47s support forces of the Chinese 50th Division in the Hsipaw area; 44 fighter-bombers and 14 B-25s attack troops and supplies and hit targets of opportunity along roads behind the battleline in C Burma; 557 transport sorties are flown to forward areas.
Seventh Air Force: During the night of 25/26 Mar, 5 B-24s from Guam Island hit Susaki Airfield. 23 B-24s from Angaur Airfield bomb defenses on Cebu. The US Marines complete the reduction of the final resistance pocket on Iwo Jima. VII Fighter Command: 16 Iwo Jima based P-51s bomb and strafe Susaki Airfield, and naval and radar installations on Chichi Jima; 16 more follow with attacks on a radar station and personnel concentration on the island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Cebu City is thoroughly pounded by nearly 70 B-24s. B-24s hit Legaspi, and B-25s and fighter-bombers fly numerous ground support missions, especially between Montalban and Laguna de Bay. B-25s attack Pandanan Island, Philippine Islands. The 6th Combat Cargo Squadron, 2d Combat Cargo Group, moves from Biak to Dulag with C-46s; and the 339th Fighter Squadron, 347th FG, ceases operating from Morotai with P-38s and returns to base at Puerto Princesa.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 309, MARCH 25, 1945

Avenger torpedo planes and Helldiver bombers of the Fifth Fleet covered by Corsair and Hellcat fighters destroyed a convoy of three large cargo ships, two destroyers, and three other escort vessels west of the Amami Gunto in the Ryukyus on March 24 (East Longitude Date).
On the same date Navy search Liberators of Fleet Air Wing One attacked a medium sized cargo ship in the northern Ryukyus. Navy search Venturas strafed two small cargo ships north of the Bonins on March 25, leaving one ship dead in the water and the other damaged.
Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed the airfield on Chichi Jima in the Bonins on March 23. Naval installations and air facilities were bombed and strafed by Army Mustang fighters on March 23 and 24.
Storage areas on Marcus Island were bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators on March 24.
Attacking through intense antiaircraft fire, planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing destroyed a bridge and large building and started fires on Babelthuap in the Palaus on March 25.
On the same date installations on Yap in the Western Carolines were bombed by Marine Corsair fighters.

 

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1942
AUSTRALIA: At a meeting with the Australian Advisory War Council, General Douglas MacArthur gives his views on the situation in Southeast Asia and the southwest Pacific. He doubts that the Japanese are able to undertake an invasion of Australia, and believes that it would be a great blunder on their part if they attempted it. However, he believes that the Japanese "might try to overrun Australia in order to demonstrate their superiority over the white races." He suggests that the main danger is from isolated raids and attempts to secure air bases in the country and therefore, the first step is to make Australia secure.
General Douglas MacArthur receives the citation for his Medal of Honor at a formal dinner in Melbourne, Victoria. He tells the audience, "I have come as a soldier in a great crusade of personal liberty as opposed to perpetual slavery. My faith in our ultimate victory is invincible, and I bring you tonight the unbreakable spirit of the free man's military code in support of our joint cause." The Australians are delighted. MacArthur continues, that the medal is not "intended so much for me personally as it is a recognition of the indomitable courage of the gallant army which it was my honor to command."
Three USAAF 3 B-17s evacuate Philippine President Manual L Quezon and his family to Australia.

BURMA: Continuing pressure against the Chinese in Toungoo, the Japanese seize the town as far as the railroad line. The Chinese 22d Division, which has previously been ordered to the Pyinmana-Yedashe area, north of Toungoo, to counterattack in support of the Chinese 200th Division, arrives in position but fails to take the offensive.

EAST INDIES: A Japanese carrier force leaves the naval base at Kendari on Celebes Island, Netherlands East Indies, for the Indian Ocean.

U.S.: Admiral Ernest J. King relieves Admiral Harold R. Stark as Chief of Naval Operations and thus becomes Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations; Vice Admiral Frederick J. Horne (Vice Chief of Naval Operations) and Vice Admiral Russell Willson (COMINCH Chief of Staff) are his principal assistants.

The presidents of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) promise to do all they can to curb the rash of strikes that has slowed industrial production. They oppose strikes for the duration.

1943
ALASKA: In the Aleutians, a reconnaissance aircraft covers Attu, Agattu, Semichi and Alaid where a cabin is strafed. Upon report of Navy contacts with enemy surface force (Battle of Komandorskies), 13 B-24's, 11 B-25's and 8 P-38's are ordered to hit the enemy, reported 150 mi (240 km) west of Cape Wrangell (Attu). Because of mechanical failures and weather, airplanes cannot take off until 6 hours after the surface force is sighted. Thus, Japanese ships have fled when aircraft arrive at the interception point. Some of the returning B-25's bomb a radar site, hangar, and Main Camp area on Kiska.

BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 6 B-24's mine the Rangoon River during the night of 26/27 Mar. Six others fly a diversion raid on the city of Rangoon, scoring hits on Mingaladon Airfield, between the central railroad station and Pazundaung Creek, and in the Syriam area.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) In the Gilbert Islands, B-24's bomb Nauru Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's attack shipping, the harbor and town area at Wewak. A-20's pound forces and targets of opportunity in the Mubo, Lahang, and Salamaua area. Lost is A-20A "Minnie Ha Ha" 40-170. A single B-l7 bombs Finschhafen and unsuccessfully attacks a ship E of Talasea. Lost on an administrative flight B-17F 41-24384.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 3 B-24s and 3 B-25s bomb troops along the Imphal-Tiddim road near Chindwin; 70+ fighter-bombers and a lone B-25 attack targets in the Mogaung Valley area, including airfields at Manywet and Myitkyina, and bridges, roads, railroads and targets of opportunity at Mogaung, Kamaing and Myitkyina; in the Katha area 8 P-51s and 3 B-25s hit a Japanese bivouac NE of Bhamo and claim 6 warehouses destroyed at Nankan. 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Tenth Air Force [attached to 5320th Air Defense Wing (Provisional)] moves from Guskhara to Kisselbari, India with P-40s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 4 B-25s hit the Bakli Bay area on Hainan; 2 merchant vessels are claimed sunk, and damage is done to tracks and loading equipment. 4 P-40s on a sweep of the N coast of the Gulf of Tonkin sink an ore boat and damage 4 barges.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Eniwetok Atoll based B-25s strike Ponape ; B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Jaluit Atoll, rearm at Majuro, and hit Jaluit again on the return flight to Tarawa. Lost is B-25G 42-64832.
US Marines of the 1st Provisional Brigade land on Kili Island and Namorik Atoll, Marshall Islands.
The US submarine Tullibee, commanded by Charles F. Brindupke, is sunk by circular run of own torpedo off Peleliu Island. 79 men are lost, and 1 survivor taken prisoner.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 23 B-25s hit Vunakanau Airfield and 37 fighter-bombers attack supply areas along Talili Bay; B-25s continue to heckle the Rabaul area during the night. In the Bougainville area 3 B-24s and 20 fighter-bombers hit pillboxes and targets of opportunity on off the Tekessi River mouth and near Monoitu; fighter-bombers again support ground forces along Empress Augusta Bay, hitting a supply dump N of the Reini River and enemy positions near the mouths of the Tekessi and Maririei Rivers; the fighter-bombers claim destruction of a bridge over the Puriata River. 24 B-24s on a mission against Truk Atoll fail to reach the target and bomb Pulusuk, Caroline instead; several of the B-24s are forced to land on Green Island because of fuel shortages.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 220+ B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and fighters hit Wewak, Boram, Cape Wom, Aitape, the Hansa Bay coast, Mushu, and the general area along the N coast of NE New Guinea, blasting storage areas, barges, shipping, grounded aircraft, fuel dumps and enemy troops; other A-20s hit Bunabun Harbor while P-39s hit the Madang area. Lost is A-20G 43-9625. P-39s and P-40s attack Cape Hoskins and troops in the Talasea area. On Manus, A-20s hit buildings and Japanese positions on the S shore. Lost on local flight is B-25D 41-30259. 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, moves from Dobodura to Nadzab, New Guinea with P-38s.

1945
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile s, 2 missions, each by 4 B-25s, attempt to bomb canneries on the Masugawa and the Hayakegawa Rivers; fighters drive off the Masugawa mission and the other mision cannot find the target due to weather. 4 B-24s bomb the Kataoka naval base on Shimushu.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 15 B-25s and 80+ fighter-bombers, operating individually or in small flights, continue to disrupt mobility and supply lines throughout S and E China, hitting numerous targets of opportunity chiefly trucks, tanks, supply areas, horses, troops, artillery pieces; several of the fighter-bombers also considerably damage Puchou Airfield.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 28 P-47s and 10 B-25s operating over and behind the C Burma battlelines attack artillery positions, troop concentrations, road communications, and supply areas; 522 air supply sorties are being completed throughout the day.

Seventh Air Force: During the night of 26/27 Mar, 3 B-24s from Guam on individual snooper strikes hit Chichi Jima. 9 Guam-based B-24s pound Marcus in the N Pacific. The capture and occupation phase of the island ends at 0800 hours when Major General James E Chaney becomes Commander. VII Fighter Command: 21 P-51s from Iwo Jima bomb and strafe Susaki Airfield while 16 bomb and strafe weather and radar stations and the town of Kitamura. HQ 21st FG arrives at Central Field, Iwo Jima from Hawaii; the 72d and 531st Fighter Squadrons, 21st FG, move from Mokuleia Field to Iwo Jima with P-51s.

IWO JIMA: A final suicide attack by the Japanese on Iwo Jima is reported by the 5th MarDiv. 200 of the Japanese Garrison of 20,700 are left as prisoners.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers bomb Legaspi and targets in the area including a fuel dump at Camalig; fighter-bombers hit numerous targets in the N at Solvec Cove, Baguio, Mankayan, Sante Fe, and other areas; in the SW, A-20s and fighter-bombers support US ground forces, hitting Ternate, and towns in Tayabas and Batangas Provinces. B-24s and A-20s hit Cebu City and E coast targets on Cebu. B-24s hit Takao, Formosa. The 6th Combat Cargo Squadron, 2d Combat Cargo Group, moves from Biak to Dulag with C-46s.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 310, MARCH 26, 1945

Carrier aircraft of the U. S. Pacific Fleet attacked airfield and other installations on Okinawa in the Ryukyus on March 26, (East Longitude Date).
Shore installations on the island were brought under fire by fast battle*ships.
During these operations our forces were attacked by a small group of enemy aircraft of which six were destroyed. One of our light units suffered some damage.
On March 24 Seventh Army Air Force bombers attacked installations on the airfield on Chichi Jima in the Bonins. On the following day targets in the same group were bombed by Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command.
An enemy air attack was broken up and a number of enemy bombers were destroyed off Iwo Island by Army Black Widow night fighters during the night of March 25-26. No hostile planes reached the island.

 

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1933
JAPAN: Japan gives notice of its withdrawal from the League of Nations. Japan occupied Mukden and other places in Manchuria in September 1931 and in December, the League of Nations sent a commission headed by British diplomat Victor Lytton to investigate the Japanese/Chinese conflict. The commission accused Japan of being the aggressor and despite Japanese protests, the League adopted the Report in February 1933 recommending, in effect, economic sanctions against Japan. The lack of consequences demonstrated the weakness of the League against a determined aggressor.

1935
JAPAN: Japan ceases to be a Member of the League of Nations.

1941
U.S. The US Congress approves spending $7,000 million in Lend-Lease aid.
Amplifying the above:
That US$7 billion is equal to US$79.545 trillion in year 2000 dollars.
The secret Anglo-US staff talks (ABC1) which began in January ended today, in Washington, with broad agreement on plans for strategic co-operation in the event of US entry into the war against Germany or Japan or both.
In 14 meetings since 29 January the two sides have discussed the American plan, put forward by Captain Turner of the US Navy and Colonel McNarney of the US Army, carefully reviewed by the President.
The result is plan ABC1. Its main thrust is that Germany must be defeated first. the US would give strategic priority to the Atlantic and to Europe, although the US Navy would be used offensively in the Pacific as British staff officers have drawn attention to the vulnerability of Singapore. One US general said: "If we lose in the Atlantic we lose everywhere."

1942
AUSTRALIA: Elements of the Australian 6th Division arrive in Perth, Western Australia, from the Middle East. General Sir Thomas Blamey is named Commander-in-Chief of Australian Military Forces.
Philippine President Manuel Quezon and members of his cabinet, recently evacuated from Corregidor by the submarine USS Swordfish', arrive at Fremantle, Western Australia,. He subsequently goes to the U.S. and forms a government in exile but could do no more than try to boost the morale of the people he left behind. While in the U.S., Quezon serves as a member of the Pacific War Council. He dies of tuberculosis in Saranac Lake, New York, U.S.A., on 1 August 1944, 18 days short of his 64th birthday.
The air echelon of the USAAF 30th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) transfers from Melbourne, Victoria, to Cloncurry, Queensland, with B-17's; the ground echelon is on Bataan and Mindanao, Philippine Islands.

BURMA: The Chinese 200th Division continues to resist the Japanese onslaughts against Toungoo. On the Irrawaddy River front, the Japanese are massing forces south of Prome.

INDIA: RAF planes withdraw from Akyab Airfield as a result of heavy enemy bombing.

PACIFIC: Submarine USS Gudgeon sinks a Japanese merchant cargo ship in the East China Sea about 140 miles (225 kilometers) west northwest of Sasebo, Japan. A Japanese collier is sunk by Dutch aircraft off Koepang Timor, Netherlands East Indies.

1943
ALASKA: In the Aleutians, 7 B-24's from Adak and 6 Amchitka-based B-25's attempt unsuccessfully to attack naval targets. From Amchitka, 1 B-25 and 6 P-38's (of which 1 turns back with mechanical trouble) provide cover for US surface force until 1300 hours local. Six P-38's and 1 B-l7 depart Adak for a second cover mission, but do not find the surface force. A detachment of the 11th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group based on Adak with P-40's begins operating from Amchitka Island.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The 46th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group with P-39's transfers from Hilo Field, Territory of Hawaii to Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands.

BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 5 B-24's mine the Rangoon River for the second consecutive night.

KURILE ISLANDS: The Japanese force retiring from the Battle of the Komandorski Islands reaches Paramushiru. The heavy cruiser Nachi has been hit five times and the light cruiser Tama was hit twice. Japanese casualties are 15 dead and 27 wounded on HIJMS Nachi and one wounded on HIJMS Tama.

MOLUCCAS ISLANDS: Fifth Air Force B-24s hit the harbour and shipping on Tanimbar Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-39's join Navy aircraft in an attack on Vila Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's hit Lae and Salamaua. B-24s attack the harbor and shipping at Bogia.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 B-24s hit supply dumps at Kamaing, while about 50 fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s hit troops in in the Myitkinya area and support ground forces near Kamaing; in the Katha area 12 B-25s and 16 P-38s and P-51s hit a bridge and railroad facilities near Meza and a railroad near Kawlin.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-25s pound the Viet Tri, French Indochina area, damaging 2 factories, a bridge and several railroad cars. In China 60+ P-40s, P-38s, and P-51s attack troops and buildings at Sienning and Kwanyinchow, hit a bridge, warehouse, and general area at Anyi, damage bridges at Kienchang and Puchi and pound Nanchang Airfield and surrounding areas.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s and B-24s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap, Mille and Wotje Atolls; B-25s from Eniwetok Atoll bomb Jaluit Atoll and strafe and cannonade Ponape ; and a single B-24 from Tarawa Atoll bombs Jabor in Jaluit Atoll. 9th Troop Carrier Squadron, Seventh Air Force, moves from Hickam Field to Abemama with C-47s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 23 B-25s hit Vunapope with incendiaries; and 34 fighter-bombers follow in rapid succession with another incendiary strike, leaving the entire vicinity in flames. 9 P-40s hit fuel dump at the mouth of Tekessi River on Bougainville.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 200+ B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, P-47s, P-40s and P-39s attack storage areas, shipping, bridges, fuel dumps, enemy troop concentrations and other targets in areas around Wewak, Hansa Bay, Ulipan Harbor, and Madang. Other aircraft carry out sweeps and armed reconnaissance over New Britain and the Bismarck Sea. 341st Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, moves from Finschhafen to Saidor with P-47s.

1945
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 25 B-25s hit towns, rail, road, and river traffic, and targets of opportunity around Kweilin, Liuchow, Hengyang, Hochih, Kaifeng, Anlu, Ishan, Kiyang, and the Siang Chiang Valley, China and Nanyang, Burma. 44 fighter-bombers hit trucks, trains, sampans, power facilities, and other targets around Nanyo, China and Hongay, Son Tay, Na Cham, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Moc Chau, Muong Hang, and Bac Quang, French Indochina. In China, 28 fighter-bombers knock out a bridge NE of Liuchow, hit the town of Szeenhsien, and attack ammunition dumps and road and river traffic around Hochih, Ishan, Liuchow, Pingnam, Liangfeng, and Kweilin.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 80+ fighter-bombers over the battle areas and behind enemy lines in C Burma pound troops and supplies at several locations including the Mong Kung, Man Namkat, Nam-yang, Tonglau, Ho-na, Hkai-wun, Longwai, Monglawng, Laihka, and Namlan areas. Transports are exceptionally active, flying 635 sorties to forward areas.

Seventh Air Force: During the night of 27/28 Mar 5 B-24s, flying individual strikes from Guam , hit Susaki Airfield on Chichi Jima. VII Fighter Command: On Chichi Jima, 16 P-51s from Iwo Jima bomb ammunition stores and the town of Kitamura.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 2 missions are flown: Mission 46: 151 of 165 Marianas based B-29s flying the first of many raids in support of the impending Okinawa invasion, hit Tachiarai Army Airfield and Oita Naval Airfield and the Omura aircraft factory on Kyushu, Japan; 3 others hit alternate targets; they claim 1-2-4 Japanese aircraft. Mission 47: 92 of 102 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait between Honshu and Kyushu s during the night of 27/28 Mar; 2 others hit alternate targets; they claim 1-0-0 Japanese aircraft; 3 B-29s are lost; this is first of many mining operations by B-29s in Japanese waters.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers bomb Legaspi, the Balete area, the Ipo-Siniloan sector, the Batangas area, and several other locations throughout Luzon; fighters support the US amphibious landings on Caballo in Manila Bay. B-24s bomb Negros Airfields while B-25s and P-38s hit the Cebu City area. Other B-25s bomb Kinsui, Formosa, and B-24s lightly attack Sandakan.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 587, MARCH 27, 1945

The submarine USS Albacore is overdue from patrol and is presumed lost. The next of kin of officers and crew have been informed.


CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 311, MARCH 27, 1945

On March 27, (East Longitude Date) Carrier Aircraft of the U. S. Pacific Fleet continued to attack enemy forces and defense installations in the Ryukyus and surface units attacked coastal objectives with Naval gunfire.
Navy search planes of Fleet Air Wing One damaged three small cargo ships in the area around Hachijo Island, 150 miles south of Tokyo on March 26.
Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed the Suzaki airdrome on Chichi Jima in the Bonins on March 25. On the following day storage areas and buildings on Marcus Island were attacked by planes of the same force.
Corsair and Hellcat fighters, Helldiver bombers and Avenger torpedo planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing destroyed buildings and other installations and damaged warehouses, transport and pier facilities on enemy-held islands in the Palaus on March 26 and 27.
Marine fighters and torpedo planes strafed and bombed the airstrip on Yap in the Western Carolines on March 27.
Search planes of Fleet Air Wing One bombed and strafed small craft and installations at Truk in the Central Carolines on March 26.
Navy search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed runways, fuel and ammunition dumps and bivouac areas on Wake Island on March 26.
Helldiver bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed enemy-*held bases in Me Marshalls on March 26.

 

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1941
U.S.: Construction of Ford's Willow Run, Michigan, Plant begins. Before the war, Henry Ford had boasted nonchalantly that Ford could produce 1,000 airplanes per day provided there was no interference from stockholders or labor unions. So when Ford was asked to build subassemblies for the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, it was no surprise that Ford pushed for a deal that would allow Ford to construct the entire bomber. The contract included US$200 million toward the construction of a new production facility. (With inflation, US$200 million in 1941 is equal to US$2.5 trillion in 2003 dollars.) Production got off to a slow start but by the middle of 1944, Willow Run churned out a B-24 every 63 minutes and by the end of the war, Willow Run had produced more than 8,500 B-24s.
The Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown after five months operational experience with the CXAM radar, reported that aircraft had been tracked at a distance of 100 miles and recommended that friendly aircraft be equipped with electronic identification devices and carriers be equipped with separate and complete facilities for tracking and plotting all radar targets.

1942
AUSTRALIA: P-40 pilots of the USAAF 9th Pursuit Squadron based at Darwin, Northern Territory, shoot down three Japanese twin-engine bombers over Darwin at 1310 hours.
The air echelon of the USAAF 28th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) transfers from Melbourne, Victoria, to Cloncurry, Queensland, with B-17 Flying Fortresses; a detachment begins operating from Perth, Western Australia; the ground echelon is in the Philippine Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): HQ 43d BG and 63d and 65th Bombardment Squadrons arrive at Sydney, Australia from the US with B-17's; first mission is 14 Aug and 12 Nov respectively.
28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th BG (Heavy), transfers from Melbourne to Cloncurry with B-17's; a detachment begins operating from Perth; ground echelon is on Bataan on Mindanao.
80th Pursuit Squadron, 8th Pursuit Group, transfers from Brisbane to Lowood, Australia with P-39's; first mission is 22 Jul.

BURMA: General Harold Alexander, General Officer Commanding Burma Army, at the request of Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell, Commanding General American Army Forces, China, Burma and India and Chief of Staff of the Chinese Army, agrees to attack on the Irrawaddy River front. Reconnaissance elements of the Burma I Corps clash with the Japanese at Paungde, southeast of Prome.

HAWAII: U. S. Navy codebreakers at Pearl Harbor decipher a message that reveals the Japanese plan a major offensive north of Australia in early May.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: The Japanese, moving into position for all-out offensive against Bataan, feint against I Corps and push in the outpost line of Sector D on the II Corps front. Increasingly heavy air and arty bombardment of Bataan is lowering efficiency of defense force as well as destroying badly needed materiel. Efforts to run the blockade and supply the garrison with necessary items have virtually failed, and supply situation is growing steadily worse.

1943
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, the last remaining personnel of the battle-weary 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) with B-17's leave SOPAC to return to Hawaii. P-38's of the 70th FS, and eight F4U's of VMF-124. Due to engine trouble and weather, seven Corsairs and three P-38s were forced out of the mission. The remaining planes hit the seaplane bases at Poporang and Shortland, claiming 8 aircraft destroyed, and attack a destroyer east of Shortland, leaving it listing.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Medium and heavy bombers on individual missions attack Langgoer, Dobo, Gasmata, and barges and a small boat off Finschhafen and Kerema.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 18th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group, moves from Amchitka to Attu , Aleutian with P-38s.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In the Mogaung Valley of Burma, 8 B-24s bomb the Kamaing storage area, while 60+ fighter-bombers and 9 B-25s furnish ground support in the Sumprabum, Mogaung, and Kamaing areas, and bomb storage and town areas of Manywet, Mohnyin and Kamaing.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 4 B-25s bomb the barracks area at Vinh Yen, French Indochina, scoring direct hits on 4 buildings.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): HQ XX Bomber Command arrives at Kharagpur from the US.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Abemama and Tarawa Atoll pound Jaluit, Mille and Maloelap Atolls; a single B-24 from Kwajalein Atoll, en route to Eniwetok Atoll, bombs Rongelap Atoll, Marshall; and B-24s, flying a night mission from Kwajalein, bomb targets at Truk Atoll.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 24 B-25s bomb Tobera Airfield, causing considerable damage to the landing strip; fighter-bombers hit the Ratawul supply area and SW part of Rabaul. On Bougainville , a few P-40s attack the Numa Numa supply area, a single B-24 scores damaging hits on the Japanese-held mission at Monoitu, and other planes hit scattered targets of opportunity.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-24s hit Hollandia, New Guinea and Penfoei, Timor. Moves in New Guinea: 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, from Finschhafen to Nadzab with F-5s; and 418th Night Fighter Squadron, 308th Bombardment Wing, from Dobodura to Finschhafen with P-61s.

1945
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-24s bomb Haiphong and Hanoi docks in French Indochina and the Bakli Bay barracks on Hainan . In China, 9 B-25s and 8 P-40s hit rivercraft and other targets from Yanglowtung to Sienning; 9 other B-25s hit junks, storage, and targets of opportunity in the Lushan area and 7 bomb Chingmen; 14 B-25s, operating in groups of 1 to 4 aircraft, hit rivercraft and scattered targets of opportunity at several other points in S and E China; 120+ fighter-bombers over French Indochina and S and E China continue to pound numerous targets of opportunity, mainly river, road, and rail traffic and troop concentrations; rivercraft and airfields in areas around Kai Tek Airfield in Hong Kong and Canton, Hankow, and Wuchang, China are severely hit. In China, the 11th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), based at Yangkai sends a detachment to operate from Chihkiang with B-25s; the 19th Liaison Squadron, 69th Composite Wing, moves from Kunming to Chengkung with L-1s and L-5s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 3 mining missions are flown during the night of 28/29 Mar without loss:
Mission 46: 10 of 10 B-29s mine the mouth of the Hwangpoo River and the S channel of the Yangtze River at Shanghai, China.
Mission 47: 17 of 18 B-29s mine the waters at Saigon and Camranh Bay, French Indochina.
Mission 48: 32 of 33 B-29s mine the Singapore, Malayan States area.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): 30+ fighter-bombers operating over and behind the battlelines in C Burma attack troop concentrations, supply areas, elephant transport, and general targets of opportunity at or near Wan Hong, Ho-na, Kyu-sawk, Nawnghkio, and Na-ti; 642 air supply sorties are flown to advanced bases and over the frontlines, where supplies are dropped, throughout the day.

Seventh Air Force: 10 Guam based B-24s bomb Truk Atoll flying separate snooper strikes, 5 hit Susaki Airfield during the night of 28/29 Mar. VII Fighter Command: On Chichi Jima 15 P-51s from Iwo Jima hit airfields and defenses.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA: B-24s and fighter-bombers hit Balete Pass tracts and ridges, installations at Santa Fe, and ground support targets N of Laguna de Bay and in Cavite and Batangas Provinces and B-25s and A-20s attack troop concentrations at Baguio and Ilagan. Bombers hit the Cebu City area and pound airfields on Negros . B-24s bomb Likanan Airfield on Mindanao . Other B-24s hit Takao and Tainan, Formosa while B-25s hit shore targets along the French Indochina coast. The 39th Troop Carrier Squadron, 317th Troop Carrier Group, moves from Leyte to Clark Field, Luzon with C-47s.

BURMA: The Japanese effort to take Maiktila, Burma fails.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 312, MARCH 28, 1945

During the period of March 25 to March 27 inclusive (East Longitude Dates) carrier aircraft of the U. S. Pacific Fleet ranged over the Ryukyu Islands from the Niyako group to Tanega Island, attacking aircraft, shipping and installations. Preliminary reports of damage inflicted on the enemy, in addition to that previously reported, include

Ships:
Three destroyers or destroyer escorts damaged
One large cargo ship damaged
Two medium cargo ships damaged
Two small cargo ships damaged
Many small craft wrecked
Eight to ten luggers burned
One whaler beached and burned

Aircraft:
Twenty‑five aircraft shot out of the air
Thirteen aircraft burned on the ground

Ground installations:
Submarine pens at Unten Bay on the west coast of Okinawa heavily hit
Gun positions, landing craft, airfields, warehouses, barracks, trucks, and other targets heavily hit at Amami, Tokuno, Okinawa and Kikai Islands.

Some of our units suffered damage under enemy air attacks.
Hellcat and Corsair fighters, Avenger torpedo planes, and Helldiver bombers, continued their attacks on enemy positions in the Ryukyus and battleships continued to shell shore installations on March 28.
On March 27, Navy search Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Four made rocket and machine gun attacks on installations at Tomari Zaki in northeastern Paramushiru in the Kuriles. Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air Force bombed Kataoka on Shimushu on the same date.
Mustang fighters of the Seventh Fighter Command and Seventh Army Air Force Liberators attacked Suzaki airdrome on Chichi Jima in the Bonins and struck radar installations on the island on March 26. Fighters also car*ried attacks on Kitamura Town on Haha Jima on the same date. On March 27 and 28, Mustangs again attacked targets on Chichi Jima and Haha Jima setting fires in ammunition storage areas, buildings and other targets.
Neutralizing attacks were made on enemy‑held islands in the Marshalls on March 27 by aircraft of Fleet Air Wing Two.


EAST CHINA SEA: The US submarine Trigger (SS-237), commanded by David R. Connole, is lost. Probable cause of loss is attributed by ASW and a/c in East China Sea. All hands are lost.

 

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1942
AUSTRALIA: General Sir Thomas Blamey, Commander-in-Chief of Australian Military Forces, meets General Douglas MacArthur, Commanding General
U.S. Army Forces, Far East, for the first time in MacArthurâs rooms in the Menzies Hotel in Melbourne, Victoria.

SWPA, 5th Air Force: 19th Bombardment Squadron, 22d BG (Medium), transfers from Ipswich to Townsville with B-26's; first mission is 6 Apr. 93d Bombardment Squadron, 19th BG (Heavy), transfers from Melbourne to Cloncurry, Australia with B-17's; ground echelon is on Bataan and Mindanao; first mission is 23 Jul.

BURMA: Going on the offensive to relieve pressure on the Chinese at Toungoo and restore communications, a task force of the Burma I Corps attacks and clears Paungde, but its situation becomes precarious as the Japanese establish themselves a few miles north at Patigon and on the east back of the Irrawaddy River at Shwedaung.

NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS: The Marines 4th Defense Battalion (reinforced) and the forward echelon of Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF-212) arrive at Vila on Efate Island. The troops of VMF-212 are to construct an air strip from which the squadron initiates operations in the New Hebrides on 27 May.

U.K.: The text of the "Draft Declaration of Discussion, with Indian Leaders," taken to India by Sir Stafford Cripps is published simultaneously in India and Great Britain. The British Government had decided to lay down in clear terms the steps to be taken for the earliest possible realization of self-government in India. "The object is the creation of a new Indian union which shall constitute a Dominion, associated with the United Kingdom and the other Dominions by a common allegiance to the Crown but equal to them in every respect, in no way subordinate in any aspect of its domestic or external affairs"

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 7 heavy and medium bombers, with fighter escort, bomb and strafe the Kiska runway and nearby Main Camp area. Heavy AA fire damages 6 bombers and 2 P-38's

BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 4 B-24's bomb shipping and dock area at Tavoy. Nine B-25's bomb the Maymyo railroad yards, 7 P-40's blast possible Japanese HQ north of Maingkwan. Eight others pound positions WNW of Sumprabum.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In Burma, P-40's strafe trucks at Bhamo and fuel drums at Chefang, China.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-17's and B-24's pound Buin and Kahili. P-38's strafe a seaplane base at Faisi.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Bismarck Archipelago, a lone B-l7 bombs the Gasmata Airfield while another attacks the Mur-Weber Point area. Dick Bong gets his 9th kill when he shoots down a Doris (mis-identified medium bomber).

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20+ P-51s and B-25s over the Katha area hit the railroad and warehouse at Indaw in support of the ground forces nearby; 12 P-38s join numerous RAF aircraft in strikes on airfields, railroads, riverboats, and a variety of targets in the Mandalay area; 12 B-24s pound the Victoria Lake region near Rangoon; 80+ fighter-bombers and a few B-25s blast targets throughout the Mogaung Valley, including the Waingmaw area, Mogaung, Nanyaseik, guns NE of Kamaing, and numerous scattered fortifications, supply areas, troop concentrations and pillboxes; 80+ other fighters maintain patrol of the Sumprabum area. HQ 1st Air Commando Group is activated at Hailakandi, India; the group consists of a HQ plus the following sections: bomber with B-25s, fighter with P-51s, light-plane with L-1 and L-5s, transport with C-47s, glider with CG-4As and TG-5s and light-cargo with UC-64's.
IJA 31st Division cuts the road between Impal and Kohima at Maran.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 12 P-40s and 3 P-51s attack the railroad station area at Nanchang, causing much damage to buildings and yards; the fighter-bombers also strafe the airfield and attack a nearby bridge.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Kwajalein Atoll hit Jaluit and Rongelap Atolls; B-25s from Eniwetok Atoll strike Ponape while others from Tarawa Atoll bomb Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls. Lost on a mission against Truk is B-24J 42-73466.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): In the Rabaul area, 19 fighter-bombers hit targets of opportunity along the Miwo River and at Mawareka and Kimaku; 8 others abort because of bad weather; fighters sweeping the vicinity of Rabaul strafe shipping in Keravia Bay and knock out a gun position at Cape Tawui; 24 B-25s and 11 P-40s get through the bad weather and pound supply areas at Vunapope and Ratawul, respectively. On Bougainville, a few P-38s hit Numa Numa while other fighter-bombers again support ground forces at the mouth of the Tekessi River. B-24s of the 307th Bombardment Group carry out the first daylight raid on Truk Atoll, bombing the airfield on Eten; the mission is staged from Munda, through Torokina, Bougainville for arming and Nissan, Solomon for refueling before the strike; the unescorted B-24s claim 31 interceptors destroyed, along with almost 50 aircraft on the ground; 2 B-24s are lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): Brigadier General Paul H Prentiss is announced as Commanding General V Air Force Services Command and Brigadier General Warren R Carter as Commanding General 64th Troop Carrier Wing. B-24s bomb Hollandia; B-25s and A-20s pound the Wewak area, hitting targets at Cape Wom and Dagua and attacking shipping throughout the day; Lost is B-25D 41-30040. More A-20s pound the Bogia-Bunabun area and P-39s hit an AA position at Erima; and P-47s and P-40s on a fighter sweep and armed reconnaissance strafe coastal targets of opportunity in NE New Guinea and New Britain.

Moves in New Guinea: HQ 348th FG from Finschhafen to Saidor; 433d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, from Dobodura to Nadzab with P-38s.

1945
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 6 B-24s bomb Kataoka naval base on Shimushu; 8 B-25s weatherabort a mission to Tomari Cape and 1 B-24 flies a radar-ferret mission along the Paramushiru coast.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 11 B-24s attack shipping in the S China Sea, at Bakli and Samah Bays on Hainan , and at Haiphong, French Indochina, heavily damaging a destroyer and a merchant vessel. In China, 18 B-25s, escorted by 12 P-40s, bomb railroad yards at Yoyang; 4 B-25s claim 6 small steamers sunk and several vessels damaged in the Liuchow area while 2 others hit the town area and railroad targets in the Dong Giao area of French Indochina; single B-25s hit targets of opportunity at or near Loyang, Loning, Neihsiang, Yiyang, and Hsuchang; 90+ fighter-bombers over S and E China and French Indochina attack troops, supplies, transport, and communications targets at several places, concentrating strikes around Hengyang, Chuchou, Isuho, Nanking, and Namyung, and among many targets hit airfields at Amoy and Kai Tek in Hong Kong; the 22d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st BG (Medium), based at Yangkai with B-25s, sends a detachment to operate from Chihkiang.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 49: 24 of 29 B-29s fly the last mission under the XX Bomber Command, attacking oil storage facilities on Bukum in the Malayan States during the night of 29/30 Mar; 2 other B-29s bomb individual targets on the Malay Peninsula.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): Bad weather curtails operations in C Burma; 6 B-25s hit troop concentrations and 8 others attack unsuccessfully 2 bridges immediately behind the enemy lines. Transports complete 560 sorties to forward areas. The 166th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Asansol, India to Ondaw, Burma with UC-64s and L-5s.
Seventh Air Force: 9 B-24s from Guam bomb Dublon in Truk Atoll. VII Fighter Command: 31 Iwo-based P-51s bomb and strafe Haha Jima .

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): HQ 58th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) arrives at West Field, Tinian from India.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s and B-25s attack Toshien, Byoritsu, and Eiko, Formosa. On Luzon, B-24s bomb Camalaniugan, B-24s and P-51s hit Legaspi and the surrounding area, and A-20s and numerous fighters hit various targets in SW Luzon. Cebu is bombed by B-25s in support of ground forces while A-20s support troops landing on Negros . B-24s bomb Oelin Airfield in Borneo.

PHILIPINES: US landing on Negros in the Phillipine Islands.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 588, MARCH 29, 1945
Philippine Area.

1. The LCS (L) (3)‑7 and LST 577 have been lost in the Philippine Area as the result of enemy action.
2. The next of kin of casualties have been informed.


CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 313, MARCH 29, 1945

On March 26and 27 (East Longitude Dates) carrier aircraft of the British Pacific Fleet bombed and strafed installations in the Sakishima group. Twenty enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground, one small coastal vessel was destroyed and several damaged and the town of Ohama was left in flames.
The British Task Force engaged is commanded by Vice Admiral Sir Bernard Rawlings, Royal Navy, with Rear Admiral Sir Philip Vian, Royal Navy, in command of its carriers. It consists of some of the most powerful ships in the British Navy such as HMS King George V and HMS Illustrious. The British Task Force is now under the operational control of Admiral R. A. Spruance, U. S. Navy, Commander, Fifth Fleet.
The British Pacific Fleet, of which the task force mentioned is a part, is under the command of Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, Royal Navy.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 314, MARCH 29, 1945

During the night of March 27‑28 (East Longitude Dates), U. S. surface forces operating in the area of the Ryukyus shot down four enemy aircraft and destroyed a number of enemy torpedo boats.
The U. S. Pacific Fleet continued on March 29to attack shore installations in the Ryukyus with carrier aircraft and with surface gunfire.
On March 28search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One sank two small enemy ships north of the Bonins and damaged two others.
Warehouses and defense installations on Haha Jima in the Bonins were bombed and strafed on March 29by Army Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command.
Helldiver bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and Navy search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two made neutralizing attacks on enemy bases in the Marshalls on March 28.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 744, MARCH 29, 1945

VICE ADMIRAL NEWTON BECOMES INSPECTOR GENERAL​

Vice Admiral John H. Newton, USN, has assumed the duties of Inspector General, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas.
As Inspector General he inspects, investigates and reports on all matters affecting the efficiency and economy of the Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas.
Admiral Newton succeeds Rear Admiral John F. Shafroth, USN, who served as Inspector General from 20 March 1944 until recently. Admiral Shafroth has been assigned to other duty afloat.
Admiral Newton until assuming his new duty was Commander, South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force. Other assignments have been: Deputy Commander, South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force, Deputy Commander in Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas, Sub Chief of Naval Operations, and Commander Cruisers, Scouting Force.

 

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1940
CHINA: A breakaway group of Chinese Nationalists led by the expelled foreign minister, Wang Ching-wei, today established a rival Kuomintang in Japanese-occupied Nanking. The Reformed Kuomintang gained immediate recognition from Japan, Germany and Italy, but none from the Allies. The new government has agreed to Japanese troops remaining in China. Persuading a politician of Wang Ching-wei's stature to lead the new government is a propaganda coup for Japan, which has now dissolved its two much ridiculed puppet governments in China and placed them under his control.

USA: The US refuses to recognize the Japanese regime in Nanking.

1941
ALASKA: The air echelon of the USAAC's 73d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) flies into Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, with eight Douglas B-18 Bolos. These are the first bombers based in the Territory.

PACIFIC: Detachment "A" of the U.S. Marines 1st Defense Battalion with 5-inch artillery arrives at Palmyra Island in stores issuing ship USS Antares (AKS-3) to begin construction of defenses. Palmyra Island, one of the Line Islands, is 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometers) and located about 960 miles S of Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii.
Detachment "B" of the U.S. Marines 1st Defense Battalion with 5-inch artillery and a machine gun battery, arrives at Johnston Island in high speed minesweeper USS Boggs (DMS-3) to begin construction of defenses. Johnston Island is one of two small islets located 717 miles WSW of Honolulu; the island is 1,000 yards long and about 200 yards wide.

1942
BURMA: The Chinese 200th Division withdraws from Toungoo under pressure and fails to destroy the bridge over the Sittang River thus leaving the way to the Chinese border wide open for the Japanese. On the Irrawaddy River front, the Burma I Corps task force falls back to Prome from the Paungde area, leaving vehicles behind at Shwedaung. During the night 30th/31st, the Japanese attack the Indian 63d Brigade at Prome and soon breach their defenses, exposing the right flank of the Indian 17th Division.

CHRISTMAS ISLAND: Nine hundred Japanese troops land on the British controlled, 52 square mile Christmas Island located about 225 miles south of the western end of Java, Netherlands East Indies. The island is rich in phosphates.

NEW GUINEA: Reinforcements for the RAAF’s No. 75 Squadron operating from Seven Mile Aerodrome at Port Moresby arrive in the form of five Kittyhawk Mk. IAs (= USAAF P-40E).

PACIFIC: Submarine USS Sturgeon sinks a Japanese transport 33 miles southwest of Makassar City, Celebes, Netherland East Indies.

U.S.: Directives are drafted designating General Douglas MacArthur as Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA), and Admiral Chester Nimitz as Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Area (CINCPOA), for submission to the Allied governments concerned. SWPA is to include Australia, the Philippines, New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomons, and most of the Netherlands East Indies.
As Supreme Commander of SWPA, General MacArthur is to maintain positions in the Philippines and bases in Australia; guard approaches to SWPA; halt the Japanese advance on Australia; protect communications within the theater; support POA forces; and be prepared to take the offensive. POA comprises the North Pacific Area (north of 42N), Central Pacific Area (between 42N and the equator) and South Pacific Area (south of the equator between the eastern boundary of the SWPA and 110W), all under overall command of Admiral Nimitz, and the first two under his direct command. As CINCPOA, Admiral Nimitz, who also remains Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet, is to maintain communications between the U.S. and SWPA; support operations in the SWPA; and be prepared to take offensive action. In addition to SWPA and POA, Pacific Theater is to include the Southeast Pacific Area, i.e., the ocean stretches west of Central and South America.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt announces the creation of The Pacific War Council in Washington, D.C. The Council membership consists of the President, Rooseveltâs unofficial advisor on foreign affairs Harry Hopkins, and political representatives of the U.K., China, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Canada. Representatives of India and the Philippines are added later.
The Inter-American Defense Board holds its first meeting in Washington, D.C. The Board was created to study and recommend measures for the defense of the hemisphere.
The War Production Board bans the production of certain electric appliances, notably toasters, stoves and razors.

1943
ALASKA: In the Aleutians, 6 missions are dispatched against Kiska and Attu Islands. From Adak, 6 B-24's, 6 B-25's, and 4 P-38's are over Kiska at 1200 hours local but cannot bomb due to weather. Four B-24's, 4 P-38's, and 2 F-5A's then bomb the runway at Attu. Next, 5 B-24's and 4 P-38's bomb the Main Camp; intense AA fire downs 1 B-24. From Amchitka, 4 P-38's bomb Little Kiska. Next, 4 P-38's bomb Kiska through the overcast, followed by 6 B-25's bombing and strafing radar, radio installations, Main Camp, runway, and personnel.

BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 5 B-25's bomb the Maymyo railroad yards, scoring hits on machine shops, sheds, and tracks. Sixteen P-40's hit targets of opportunity at Npyentawng, Wuja, and Mohnyin.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, P-40's strafe 8 locomotives southwest of Lashio, exploding 3 of them.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Heavy bombers continue snooper strikes on Vila and Kahili Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) A-20's, B-25's, B-24's, and B-17's pound shipping, the harbor, and town area at Finschhafen. B-24's hit Gasmata. Single aircraft attack several targets, mostly shipping and coastal areas, in the Netherlands East Indies, northeastern New Guinea, and New Britain.

NEIAF - Force landing after a recon mission is B-25C N5-133

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 6 P-51s hit Anisakan Airfield, Burma.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 2 B-24s fly a sea sweep from Kunming, China around Hainan , and across the Gulf of Tonkin to Nam Dinh, French Indochina; en route, a freighter is strafed; 1 B-24s bombs spinning mills at Nam Sinh, causing considerable damage.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Kwajalein and Eniwetok Atolls hit Truk Atoll before dawn. B-25s from Kwajalein and Tarawa Atolls strike Wotje, Mille, Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls.

USN - Lost on a strike to Palau is TBF Avenger 25217.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 11 B-24s fly a long-range strike against Moen in Truk Atoll; the B-24s score damaging hits on the airfield and claim 11 fighters shot down; 1 B-24 is lost B-24D "Fuzzy Wuzzy" 42-40752; this raid follows a snooper strike by 2 B-24s the previous night. In the Rabaul area, 10 P-38s hit the SW part of the town with incendiaries while 24 B-25s pound nearby Vunapope. On Bougainville fighters and B-25s, operating mainly in pairs, hit a supply area on the Mupeka River and Japanese-occupied areas at the mouths of Puriata and Mamaregu Rivers; fighter-bombers continue to support ground forces along the Empress Augusta Bay perimeter hitting a bivouac and truck park at Numa Numa, fords across the Hongorai River, and a bridge across the Puriata River.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 60+ B-24s, with support from more than 90 P-38s and P-47s, hit Hollandia in the first big daylight raid; airfields and fuel dumps are bombed; a large number of enemy aircraft are destroyed or damaged on the ground; escorting fighters claim about 10 interceptors shot down; B-25s, A-20s, P-47s, P-40s, and P-39s continue to blast Japanese installations and forces in areas around Wewak, Tadji and Madang.

Moves in New Guinea: HQ 91st Photographic Wing (Reconnaissance) to Nadzab from the US; and 342d Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, from Finschhafen Airfield to Saidor Airfield with P-47s.

1945
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 8 B-25s cancel a shipping strike because of weather.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 5 B-24s bomb the Samah Bay area of Hainan . In China, 4 B-25s, supported by 24 P-40s, knock out a bridge at Chungmow; 10 B-25s bomb Hsuchang, 9 bomb Changanyi, and 9 pound the Yanglowtung railroad yards; 15 P-40s fly escort; 2 B-25s bomb Hankow Airfield, 2 bomb Neihsiang, and single B-25s attack targets around Fang-cheng, Nanyang, and Anlu; 100+ fighter-bombers over S and E China hit troops, railroad targets, trucks, tanks, supplies, and rivercraft especially around Hankow, Wuchang, Kanchou, and Hangchow; the airfield area at Kanchou and airfield and railroad yards at Hangchow are hit particularly hard; the 529th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group, based at Pungchacheng with P-51s, sends a detachment to operate from Hsian.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In the C Burma battle area 41 P-38s and P-47s hit enemy troops and supplies at Loiwing, Pawngleng, and Nawnghkio; 7 B-25s hit personnel, a supply area, and trucks behind the enemy lines in and near Laihka and at Kongleng; 7 other B-25s attack road bridges, knocking out a bridge at Loi Putau; transports complete 612 sorties to forward areas.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 10 Guam based B-24s bomb the airfield on Marcus in the N Pacific; during the night 5 others individually strike Chichi Jima airfield.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 2 missions are flown during the night of 30/31 Mar. Mission 48: 12 of 14 B-29s attack the Mitsubishi aircraft engine plant at Nagoya, Japan shortly past 0000 hours without loss. Mission 49: 85 of 94 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait between Honshu and Kyushuu s; 2 others drop their mines in other areas; 1 B-29 is lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA: On Luzon, B-24s bomb the Balete Pass and Solvec Cove areas; P-38s hit artillery positions in the Santa Fe area; B-24s and A-20s hit Legaspi Port and nearby Little Batsan; A-20s and fighter-bombers continue ground support missions in the Laguna de Bay area and W of Ft Stotsenburg. B-24s and A-20s support ground forces on Cebu. B-24s, B-25s, and P-38s hit Bongao, Philippine, and the Sanga Sanga, and Kuching, Borneo area.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 589, MARCH 30, 1945
Pacific Area.

1. United States submarines have reported the sinking of 11 enemy vessels, including a large aircraft carrier and two destroyers, as the result of operations in Far Eastern waters. Enemy ships sunk:

1 large carrier
2 destroyers
3 medium cargo vessels
2 escort vessels
1 large tanker
1 medium cargo transport
1 small cargo vessel

2. These actions have not been announced in any previous Navy Depart*ment communiqué.


CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 315, MARCH 30, 1945

Seventeen enemy aircraft were shot out of the air by carrier planes and guns of the U. S. Pacific Fleet operating in the waters off the Ryukyus on March 28 and 29 (East Longitude Dates). In addition, fifteen more enemy planes were destroyed on the ground.
Ships' gunfire destroyed four enemy motor torpedo boats on March 29.
Shore installations in the Ryukyus were again brought under fire of heavy units of the Pacific Fleet and carrier aircraft continued to attack military installations on March 30.
Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing destroyed a building and sank a power boat during attacks on targets in the Palaus on March 30. Marine fighters strafed targets on Sonsoral Island southeast of the Palaus on the same date.

 

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1942
BURMA: The Chinese 200th Division makes contact with the Chinese 22d Division north of Toungoo and withdraws north of Pyinmana as a reserve. With the loss of Toungoo, the road to Mawchi is left undefended and the Japanese, during the next few days, overrun the small Chinese garrison at Mawchi and then continue east, forcing elements of the Chinese Temporary 55th Division (T-55th ) of the Chinese 6th Army back to Bawlake.

CEYLON: The British Eastern Fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Sir James Somerville consisting of the aircraft carriers HMS Formidable, Hermes and Indomitable; five old battleships; six British and two Dutch cruisers; and 15 destroyers, sail from Colombo after being warned of the approach of a Japanese fleet. The Japanese force under Vice Admiral KONDO Nobutake consists of the battleships HIJMS Haruna, Hiei, Kirishima and Kongo; the aircraft carriers HIJMS Akagai, Hiryu, Shokaku, Soryu and Zuikaku; heavy cruisers HIJMS Chikuma and Tone; light cruiser HIJMS Abukuma; and nine destroyers.

EAST INDIES: Four RAAF Hudsons of Nos. 2 and 13 Squadrons operating from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, bomb Penfui Airfield on Dutch West Timor Island. The Australians destroy at least six aircraft on the ground and four flying boats in the harbor.

INDIA: The Congress Party demands immediate independence.

NEW GUINEA: The 8th Bombardment Squadron (Light) transfers from Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea, with six A-24 Dauntlesses; they fly their first mission tomorrow.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): 8th Bombardment Squadron, 3d BG, transfers from Charters Towers to Port Moresby with A-20's; first mission is 1 Apr.

NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand now has 61,368 servicemen overseas, 52,712 of them in the Army. Home Guard strength is 100,000.

1943
ALASKA: In the Aleutians, a reconnaissance airplane finds impenetrable weather and returns to base. Two P-38's make an uneventful sweep.

BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's bomb the marshalling yard at Pyinmana, blasting railroad tracks and warehouses.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) The 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group with P-40's transfers from Chenyi to Kweilin, China. The 75th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group with P-40's transfers from Yunnani to Lingling, China.
The US opens training centres for Chinese infantrymen.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-40's and P-38's hit the Suavanau Point area on Rekata Bay. The 23d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group based on Espiritu Santo begins operating it's B-17's from Guadalcanal.

NEW GUINEA: US infantrymen under Colonel Archibald MacKechnie land at the mouth of the Waria river.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) A-20's hit Salamaua, while B-24's bomb Babo. Individual B-24's attack Lae Airfield, Finschhafen, and Samoa Point and Timper River bridges. Japanese aircraft raid the Russell Islands.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 9 B-25s hit the Pinlebu area; 10 P-51s hit Japanese positions near the "Broadway" airstrip; 12 P-40s bomb the Warong area while others patrol around Sumprabum; near Katha 3 B-25s and 6 P-51s hit a warehouse, railroad cars and track at Zawchaung. HQ 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group arrives at Bally, India from the US. The 9th Photographic Reconnaissance, 20th Tactical Reconnaissance and 24th Combat Mapping Squadrons will be assigned on 25 Apr; the 40th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron will be assigned on 18 Jul.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Eniwetok Atoll bomb Truk Atoll in a predawn mission. B-25s from Eniwetok hit Ponape while others, flying out of Tarawa Atoll, pound Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls. 431st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Tarawa Atoll to Kwajalein Atoll with B-24s.
US Naval TF 58, the fast carriers of the 5th Fleet, attack Palau.
Admiral Mineichi Koga, Commander in Chief of the Imperial Japanese Combined Fleet is killed in an air crash. Due to political differences, his successor will not be named immediately.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 23 B-25s bomb a Ratawul supply point; 11 P-40s hit Vunapope, and 26 P-39s and P-38s bomb the NE part of Rabaul with incendiaries;

Father Benson writes in Prisoner's Base and Home Again:
"March 31st. Day of a thousand firesl incendiaries everywhere. The last sentance describes what seemed like a deliberat attempt to set the whole of the Gazelle Peninsula on fire. There had been no rain for a week and the blistering sun had turned the vegitation to tinder. The planes came early. Being on the coast we were hit by the first wave of bombers and when we came out of our shelters there were fires everywhere."

Fighter sweeps over Rabaul and New Ireland continue. 25 fighter-bombers pound the Numa Numa supply area on Bougainville .

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 60+ B-24s, with P-38 support, pound Hollandia for the second successive day; 3 airfields in the area are thoroughly blasted and a large number of enemy aircraft destroyed; US aircraft claim 14 interceptors shot down; supplies, enemy troops, and coastal targets in the Tadji, Wewak, and Hansa Bay areas are hit by 120+ A-20s and B-25s.

USN - American F6F Hellcat fighters finish sweeping the Japanese out of the sky over Palau. Mine laying aircraft are used for the first time to block Japanese shipping from escaping the Allied invasion.

1945
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 30 B-24s, with an escort of 9 P-51s, blast railroad yards at Shihkiachwang; 12 B-25s bomb railroad yards at Sinyang while 4 hit the Yanglowtung yards; 6 B-25s damage a bridge and hit gun position at Sienning while 6 more knock out a bridge near Ninh Binh, French Indochina and hit storage area at Samah on Hainan Bay; 26 P-51s attack Ningpo Airfield, destroying or damaging several airplanes; 6 of the P-51s are lost; about 125 other fighter-bombers and several B-25s (operating individually) attack numerous targets in French Indochina and S and E China including bridges, troops, supplies, and rail, road, and river traffic.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): 12 B-25s hit troop dispersal areas behind enemy lines in C Burma and hit 1 road bridge and 8 P-38s attack supply dump at Namsang Airfield. The 164th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Ondaw, Burma to Asansol, Burma with UC-64s and L-5s.

Seventh Air Force: During the night of 31 Mar/1 Apr, 5 B-24s from Guam, flying individual harassment strikes, hit Susaki Airfield. VII Fighter Command: 15 P-51s from Iwo Jima bomb and strafe vessels, air installations, and targets of opportunity on Chichi Jima; 16 more follow with attacks on vessels and harbor area.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 50: 137 of 152 B-29s strike the Tachiarai machine works, which is completely destroyed, and Omura Airfield on Kyushu , Japan; this is a diversionary strike preceding the invasion of Okinawa which begins at 0830 hours local on 1 Apr; the AAF claims 11-5-3 Japanese aircraft; 1 B-29s is lost and 15 damaged.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Formosa, A-20s attack an army camp at Saiatan, P-51s sweep from Babuyan Channel to the SW of the island and B-24s bomb harbors and shipping at Kiirun and Yulin, China. On Luzon , fighters attack targets in the Cagayan Valley and N of Laguna de Bay, blasting bridges and gun positions over wide stretches. B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers hit Cebu targets, several of the strikes being flown in support of ground forces. B-24s again bomb Bongao and hit Oelin, Borneo and fighters harass N Borneo airfields.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 316, MARCH 31, 1945

During the night of March 27‑28 (East Longitude Dates), barracks, ware*houses, radio station, ammunition dump, buildings, and the airdrome on Minami Daito Island were attacked by gunfire of heavy surface forces of the U. S. Pacific Fleet.
Fast carrier task forces of the U. S. Pacific Fleet inflicted the following damage on the enemy in and around Kyushu and the Ryukyu Islands on March 28 and 29:

Shipping.

Sunk:
Two destroyer escorts
One medium cargo ship
Ten small cargo ships
Four luggers
One motor torpedo boat

Probably sunk:
Nine medium cargo ships
Five small cargo ships

Damaged
One destroyer escort
Thirteen small cargo ships
One medium cargo ship

Aircraft:
29 shot out of the air
One glider shot out of the air
16 destroyed on the ground
42 damaged or destroyed on the ground

Ground installations
Installations on Tokuno and Yaku bombed heavily
Hangars and shops at Kanoya, Kagoshima, Kushira, Chiran, Tojim*bara, and Ibusuki bombed and burned.

Our forces lost twelve planes and six pilots in combat during these actions.
On March 30 battleships and light units of the U. S. Pacific Fleet shelled shore installations on Okinawa heavily at close range. Seawalls were breached by gunfire and defenses, gun positions, airfields, and bridges were heavily hit. U. S. carrier aircraft attacked numerous targets on Okinawa destroying four submarine pens and two torpedo boats in the submarine base at Unten Bay on the west coast of the island. Carrier aircraft and heavy units of the Fleet continued their attacks on Okinawa on March 31.
On the same date a carrier task force of the British Pacific Fleet struck targets in the Sakishima group.
Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed installations on Marcus Island on March 29.
Eleventh Army Air Force Liberators bombed the naval base at Kataoka on Shimushu in the Northern Kuriles on March 30.
Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed targets in the Marshalls on March 30.

 

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1939
JAPAN: The prototype Mitsubishi A6M1, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter (assigned the Allied Code Name "Zero" in 1942) makes its first flight at Kagamigahara. A total of 10,449 aircraft will be build during the war.

U.S.
Hawaii, USA: The US Navy holds the largest war games to date in the Hawaiian Islands.

1941
Fiji Islands: In the Pacific, the USN's heavy cruisers USS Chicago (Rear Admiral John H. Newton, Commander Cruisers Scouting Force) and USS Portland and destroyers USS Clark, USS Conyngham, USS Reid, USS Cassin and USS Downes arrive at Suva, Fiji Islands from Brisbane, Australia.

ITALY: Japanese Foreign Minister MATSUOKA Yosuke, on an official visit to Rome, has separate meetings with King Victor Emmanuel III and dictator Benito Mussolini. Matsuoka has arrived from Berlin where he had discussions with Chancellor Adolf Hitler and Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop.

1942
BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS: In the Solomon Islands, Japanese forces occupy Buka Island off the north coast of Bougainville Island.

USA: US goverment begins the relocation of Japanese-Americans to interment camps in the United States.

(SWPA, 5th Air Force): During Apr, HQ 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons , 27th BG, are established at Charters Towers, Australia; ground echelon remains on Bataan.

BURMA: General Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief India, visiting the front, agrees to the immediate withdrawal of Burma I Corps to the Allanmyo area, north of Prome. The Japanese continue to press in on Prome. Wavell sends a message to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill stating that the Japanese command of the air is setting the Allied command in Burma an extremely difficult task. Lieutenant General William J Slim, General Officer Commanding Burma Corps, and Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell, Commanding General American Army Forces, China, Burma and India and Chief of Staff of the Chinese Army, meet for the first time and are impressed with each other.

CHINA: After meeting with British General William J Slim in Burma, Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell flies to Chungking to meet with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek. The meeting is stormy. Stilwell tells Chiang he will resign because the Chinese generals won't obey his orders. "What a gag," Stilwell writes. "I have to tell Chiang Kai Shek with a straight face that his subordinates are not carrying out his orders, when in all probability they are doing just what he tells them. In justice to all of them, however, it is expecting a great deal to have them turn over a couple of armies in a vital area to a foreigner."

EAST INDIES: During the night of 31 March/1st, the Japanese land on Ceram Island, Netherlands East Indies. The 1st Detachment occupies the town of Fakfak and the small Dutch garrison surrenders without a fight. RAAF Hudsons of Nos. 2 and 13 Squadrons operating from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, bomb Penfui Airfield on Dutch West Timor Island. The Australians destroy six and damage six aircraft on the ground.

JAPAN: Japanese Combined Fleet Headquarters submits a draft of an operational plan for the Second Phase of operations, in which the Aleutian Operation (AL-GO) will be followed by a Midway Operation.

NEW GUINEA: Japanese troops from the Netherlands East Indies land at a number of points on the Dutch New Guinea coast, from Sorong on the northwestern tip to Hollandia, during the period 1-20 April; the landings are virtually unopposed.
Six USAAF A-24 Dauntlesses based at Port Moresby attack the Japanese at Lae.

PACIFIC: Submarine USS Seawolf torpedoes Japanese light cruiser HIJMS Naka 50 miles NW of Christmas Island south of Java. British submarine HMS Truant sinks two Japanese merchant cargo ships in Malacca Strait, 60 miles off the coast of Sumatra.

PHILIIPINE ISLANDS: The Japanese Army resumes major attacks against the US and Filipino forces on Bataan. The 24,000 men there are on ¼ rations.

U.S.: The Pacific War Council holds its first meeting at Washington, D.C. Presided over by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and attended by representatives of Australia, Canada, China, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines and the U.K., this is the first of more than 30 meetings held during the war.
The USAAF's Air Corps Proving Ground is redesignated Proving Ground Command, with its main base at Eglin Field, Valpariso, Florida. The command performs operational tests and studies of aircraft and aircraft equipment.
Transport Squadron Two (VR-2), the first Naval Air Transportation Service (NATS) squadron for Pacific operations, is established at NAS Alameda, California.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) A joint directive by Commander-in-Chief, Pacific and Commanding General Western Defense Command orders preparations for Operation LANDGRAB, the invasion of Attu Island. In the Aleutians, 16 B-24, 5 B-25, and 12 P-38 sorties are flown against Kiska Island from Adak and Amchitka Islands. Targets include a ship in Gertrude Cove, the North Head area, the Main Camp and the beach. AA fire damages 2 bombers. Reconnaissance covers Kiska, Attu, Buldir, and Semichis Islands. During April, the 73d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 28th Composite Group with B-25's transfers from Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Alaska to Umnak Island.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 16 B-25's bomb the Maymyo railroad sheds. Eight others hit the railroad yards at Ywatsung.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, a Japanese force of 9 fighters is intercepted in the Lingling area by P-40's. We claim 7 fighters shot down; we lose 1 P-40.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 42 fighters (P-38's and Navy and Marine aircraft) are sent over the Russell Islands to intercept Japanese enroute to Tulagi / Guadalcanal, and the incomplete airstrips in the Russells. A large IJN strike force from the 204th, 251st and 582st Kokutai attack. Including, Aichi D3A Type 99 (Val) carrier based dive-bombers, with Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 0 carrier fighter, Model 21s (Zeke) from the IJN Carrier Division Two (CARDIV 2), commanded by the IJN Rear Admiral Kakuta Kakuji, which included the carriers ZUIKAKU, SHOKAKU, and the ZUIHO. The IJN CARDIV 1 was composed of the carriers RYUJO, JUNYO, and HIYO. Aircraft from all of these carriers had been shore based since February to replace the relocation of the Fourth Kokutai transfer of its aerial assets of approximately 200 aircraft to Wewak. The air battle lasts for nearly 3 hours. Six US fighters are lost, against claims of 20 Japanese airplanes destroyed.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's attack a convoy off Kavieng, and airfields at Gasmata and Cape Gloucester. B-17's attack the town of Madang. Flights of from 1 to 3 medium or heavy bombers hit several other targets, mostly isolated shipping and coastline targets in the Netherlands East Indies and in the Solomon Sea.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 14 P-38s hit a freight train and damage a factory in the vicinity of Mandalay; near Rangoon, 16 B-24s hit a railroad station and bomb Akyab while 6 B-25s damage a railroad bridge near Nattalin.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): A flight of the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth Air Force, based at Kunming, China begins operating from Liangshan, China with F-4s and F-5s. Moves in China during Apr: HQ 69th Composite Wing from Tsuyung to Kunming; 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, based at Chengkung sends the detachment at Tsuyung to Szemao with P-40s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Abemama Island, Gilbert Islands, strike Ponape Island, Caroline Islands; B-24s from Makin and Kwajalein hit Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands; and B-25s from Tarawa bomb Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls, Marshall Islands. 78th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, moves from Stanley Field to Mokuleia Field, Territory of Hawaii with P-47s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 24 B-25s bomb supply areas at Vunapope and Ratawul; 28 P-39s and P-40s hit the Toboi wharf area at Simpson Harbor; 3 P-40s follow with a strike on oil and coal storage in same general area; fighters maintain sweeps over Rabaul and New Ireland throughout the day and B-25s harass Rabaul during the night of 1/2 Apr. On Bougainville, 12 P-38s bomb the mission at Monoitu and 12 P-40s hit Numa Numa supply dumps. The detachment of the 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), operating from Munda, with F-5s returns to base on Guadalcanal. Lost is SB-24D "Sergeant Stripes... Forever!" Serial Number 42-63805.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-25s and A-20s hit the Tadji and Hansa Bay area; B-24s bomb Boela; and B-25s attack Penfoei, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands. Moves in New Guinea during Apr: 33d Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group, from Garbutt Field, Townsville, Australia to Port Moresby with C-47s; 63d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), from Dobodura to Nadzab with B-24s.
NEI: B-24s bomb Boela on Ceram Island in Moluccas Islands, and B-25s attack Penfoei on Timor Island in the Lesser Sunda Islands.

PTO: Caroline Islands - Aircraft of Task Force 58 commence an all-out attack against Woleai Atoll and a minor raid on Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands. This concludes three days of attacks against targets in the western Carolines including the Palau Islands. During these three days, the USN estimates that the Japanese lost 150 aircraft in the air and on the ground; and two destroyers, four escort ships and
several auxiliary and merchant vessels. Aerial mines are also dropped in the main fleet anchorage in the Palau Islands which will block it for six weeks. US losses are 58 aircraft and 18 airmen. During the 3 days of attacks, 130,000 tons of shipping is sunk.

1945
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 4 B-25s attack railroad targets at Ninh Binh and Minh Koi, French Indochina. In China, 7 B-24s bomb the Ft Bayard storage area; 6 B-25s and 6 P-51s attack river shipping and warehouses in the Sienning-Puchi area; 5 B-25s hit warehouses and other buildings at Hsuchang while 3 damage a bridge at Changtuikuan; single B-25s bomb targets of opportunity around Sanshihlitun, Sichuan, Loning, and Suicheng; 23 P-51s pound airfields in the Shanghai area; 70+ other fighter-bombers attack river, road, and rail traffic, storage areas, troops, and general targets of opportunity throughout wide areas of occupied S and E China; the detachments of the 11th and 22d Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), operating from Chihkiang with B-25s, return to base at Yangkai; during Apr 45, the 426th Night Fighter Squadron, Fourteenth AF (attached to 312th Fighter Wing), based at Shwangliu with P-61s, sends detachments to operate from Liangshan and Ankang.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 10 B-25s attack roads and bridges behind enemy lines in C Burma; 478 transport flights are made throughout the day; British 36 Division forces begin to push down the railroad from Mandalay to Rangoon. Unit moves In India: 12th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3d Combat Cargo Group, from Moran to Tulihal with C-47s; detachments of the 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, operating from Tulihal and Cox's Bazar with F-7s, return to base at Guskhara.

OKINAWA: Operation Iceburg; the invasion of Okinawa begins. Admiral Turner with TF 51 consists of 1200 transport and landing ships, 450,000 Army and Marine soldiers. The III Amphibious and XXIV Corps of General Buckner's 10th Army land in the Hangushi area on the SW side of Okinawa They land against no resistance. They secure a beachhead of 3 miles by 9 miles by nightfall. Kadena and Yontan Airfields are captured. US TF 58; British TF 57; and TF 54 (Heavy ships) are also involved. The BB USS West Virginia and CV HMS Indomitable, receive damage from Kamikaze raids.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): The detachment of the 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, VI Air Service Area Command (attached to VII Fighter Command), operating from Peleliu with F-5s, joins the detachment operating from Saipan.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): During Apr 45, the 25th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy), 40th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), the 676th, 677th and 678th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy), 444th BG (Very Heavy), and the 768th, 769th and 770th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy), 462d BG move from Chakulia, Dudhkundi and Piardoba, India respectively to West Field, Tinian Island, Mariana Islands with B-29s.

PACIFIC: Off Formosa, the USN submarine USS Queenfish inadvertently sinks the Japanese relief ship SS Awa Maru in Formosa Straits. Awa Maru, a cartel ship, is carrying Red Cross supplies earmarked for distribution to Allied POWs in Singapore. Guaranteed safe conduct by the U.S. government, Awa Maru is properly marked and lighted, but Queenfish's commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Charles E. Loughlin, does not discern the markings in the foggy weather in which his boat encounters the enemy vessel. Loughlin is relieved of his command for the mistake, and is court-martialed.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s attack Giran Airfield on Formosa while B-25s and P-47s sweep wide areas. On Luzon Island, B-24s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers hit the Legaspi area (where a US amphibious landing is taking place), targets N of Balete Pass, the Batangas area, and support troops over parts of S and NW Luzon. In the C Philippine Islands, B-25s and A-20s support ground forces near Cebu City and on Negros Island. B-24s hit Oelin Airfield in Borneo. The 159th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group, based at Mangaldan with UC-64s and L-5s, sends detachments to operate from Negros and Cebu. Unit moves during Apr 45: HQ Fifth Air Force from Mindoro Island, Philippine Islands to Clark Field, Luzon; 4th Photographic Charting Squadron, 311th Photographic Wing (Mapping and Charting) [attached to 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance)], based at Hollandia, New Guinea with F-7s, sends a detachment to operate from Zamboanga, Mindanao Island, Philippine Islands, to map areas of the SW and W Pacific (another detachment is operating in Australia).

PHILLIPINES: In the Philippines, the U.S. Army's 158th Regiment Combat Team lands near Legaspi, southern Luzon, under cover of naval gunfire and USAAF aircraft. After the troops encounter only token opposition at the beaches, considerable opposition develops inland.
On Luzon Island, Far East Air Forces B-24s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers hit the Legaspi area in support of the landings above, targets north of Balete Pass, the Batangas area, and support troops over parts of southern and northwestern Luzon. In the central Philippine Islands, B-25s and A-20s support ground forces near Cebu City on Cebu Island and on Negros
Island.
CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 317, APRIL 1, 1945

The United States Tenth Army, whose principal ground elements include the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps and the Marine Third Amphibious Corps, invaded the west coast of the island of Okinawa in the Ryukyus in great force on the morning of April 1 (East Longitude Date). This landing is the largest amphibious operation of the war in the Pacific to date.
Admiral R. A. Spruance, USN, Commander Fifth Fleet, is in overall tactical command of the operation. The amphibious phase of the operation is under command of Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner, USN, Com*mander Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet. The Tenth Army is under com*mand of Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr., U.S.A.
The landings were made by ships and landing craft of the United States Fifth Fleet supported by the guns and aircraft of that fleet.
The attack on Okinawa has also been covered and supported by attacks of a strong British carrier task force under Vice Admiral Sir Bernard Rawlings against enemy positions in the Sakishima group.
Troops of the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps are commanded by Major General John R. Hodge, U.S.A., and the Marines of the Third Amphibious Corps are commanded by Major General Roy S. Geiger, USMC
The attack on Okinawa was preceded by the capture of the islands of the Kerama group west of the southern tip of Okinawa which commenced on March 26. The amphibious phases of this preliminary operation were com*manded by Rear Admiral I. N. Kiland, USN The troops consisted of the Seventy‑Seventh Army Division under command of Major General Andrew D. Bruce, U.S.A. The capture of these outposts was completed prior to the main landings on Okinawa and heavy artillery is now emplaced there and in sup*port of the Okinawa attack.
The amphibious support force is under command of Rear Admiral W. H. P. Blandy, USN, who was also present at the capture of the Kerama group of islands and in general charge of those operations. The battleships which form the principal gunfire support element are commanded by Rear Admiral M. L. Deyo, USN.
Fast Carrier Task Forces of the U. S. Pacific Fleet which are participating in the attack are under command of Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, USN The escort carriers which are supporting the attack are under command of Rear Admiral C. T. Durgin, USN.
More than 1,400 ships are involved in the operation. The landings were preceded by and are being covered by heavy gunfire from battleships, cruisers and light units of the U. S. Pacific Fleet. U. S. carrier aircraft are providing close support for the ground troops. Strategic support is being given by the shore‑based air forces of the Southwest Pacific Area, the Pacific Ocean Areas, and by the Twentieth Air Force.
The operation is proceeding according to plan. The troops who went ashore at (1830, Tokyo time, advanced inland rapidly and by 1100 had cap*tured the Yontan and Kadena airports with light losses.
The capture of Iwo Island gave us an air base only 660 miles from Tokyo and greatly intensified our air attacks on Japan. The capture of Okinawa will give us bases only 325 miles from Japan which will greatly intensify the attacks by our fleet and air forces against Japanese communications and against Japan Itself. As our sea and air blockade cuts the enemy off from the world and as our bombing increases in strength and proficiency our final decisive victory is assured.


CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 318, APRIL 1, 1945

United States forces on Okinawa advanced inland rapidly throughout the first day of the assault and by 1800 on April 1 (East Longitude Date) forward elements of the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps and Marine Third Amphibious Corps had expanded the beachhead to a three mile depth at several points. Enemy resistance continued to be light. Sporadic mortar and artillery fire fell on the beaches early in the day. The landing beaches were made secure against small arms fire as our forces deepened their positions behind the beaches. Heavy units of the Fleet continued to shell enemy installations on the island and carrier aircraft gave close support to the ground troops throughout the day. Four enemy planes attacking our surface forces were destroyed. Unloading of supplies on the beaches has begun.
Installations on Ishigaki and Miyako Islands in the Sakishima group were heavily hit by carrier aircraft of the British Pacific Fleet on March 31 and April 1. Of 20 Japanese aircraft which landed in the Sakishimas during these attacks, 14 were destroyed and 6 damaged by British aircraft.
Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command bombed Susaki airfield and harbor installations at Chichi Jima and other targets on Haha Jima in the Bonins on March 31.
Corsair and Hellcat fighters bombed supply areas in the Palaus on March 31. One of our fighters was destroyed but the pilot was rescued. On the same date, Marine fighters bombed the airstrip on Yap in the western Carolines.

 

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1940
China: Chinese Nationalist troops have recaptured the north- western city of Wuyuan for the second time after ambushing a column of 3,000 Japanese troops. The city which first fell under Japanese control in February, was recaptured by the Nationalists two weeks ago. However, the Japanese sent in reinforcements a week ago as a result of which they once more took the city. Its successful retaking by the Nationalists will give heart to beleaguered Chinese forces in the south of the country.

U.S. In the U.S. the U.S. Fleet departs the West Coast for maneuvers in Hawaiian waters. Fleet Problem XXI is the last of the large prewar fleet exercises that mark the culmination of the training year. Conducted in two phases, Parts II and VI of the annual fleet exercises, it takes place in the waters of the Pacific in the vicinity of Hawaii to the westward. Part II exercises two fleets (the augmented Battle Force vs. the augmented Scouting Force) of approximately equal strength, one side concentrated and the other widely dispersed, in scouting, screening, and conducting major fleet engagements. Part VI exercises two fleets of approximately equal strength (the same opponents as in Part II), each dispersed, in scouting, screening, protecting convoys, seizing and defending advanced bases, and conducting major fleet engagements. The worsening world situation will prompt the cancellation of Fleet Problem XXII.

1941
China: The battle of Shanggao, China ends.
Rumours are afoot in Shanghai, China that one of Germany's 26,000 ton battleships, either the Scharnhorst or the Gneisenau, is now in the Pacific. In the same dispatch it is announced that the 8,000-ton German merchantman Ramses, anchored in Shanghai since the start of the war has left and all US naval units in the Pacific have been instructed to watch this vessel closely.

1942
BURMA: The British Burma Corps retreats from Prome.
In the Andaman Islands off the south coast of Burma, the 10th Air Force flies its first combat mission; the mission is lead by Major General Lewis H Brereton, Commanding General 10th Air Force. Two B-17's and an LB-30 Liberator attack shipping during the night of 2/3 April and claim hits on a cruiser and a transport; 2 B-17's are damaged by AA and fighters, but all return to base.

CHINA: Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek gives Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell, Commanding General American Army Forces, China, Burma and India and Chief of Staff of the Chinese Army, a new executive officer, General Lo Cho-Ying, who is mature and experienced. Stilwell and Lo hurry back down to the disintegrating Burma front.

INDIA: In India, US 10th Air Force B-17s are dispatched to attack Rangoon, Burma. The mission is aborted when 1 B-17 crashes on takeoff, killing the entire crew, and the other returns to base with mechanical troubles.

INDIAN OCEAN: Vice Admiral Sir James Somerville, Commander of the British Eastern Fleet, changes course for Addu Atoll with the main part of his fleet. Two heavy cruisers are detached,
(1) HMS Dorsetshire is sent to Colombo, Ceylon, to resume an interrupted refit and
(2) HMS Cornwall is sent to escort convoy SU-4 bound for Aden. The aircraft carrier HMS Hermes with Australian destroyer HMAS Vampire is detached to return to Trincomalee, Ceylon.

U.S.: The USAAF changes the designation of Observation Aircraft ("O") being delivered to Liaison Aircraft ("L") resulting in the following changes:
Stinson O-49 Vigilant redesignated L-1;
Taylorcraft O-57 Grasshopper redesignated L-2;
Aeronca O-58 Grasshopper redesignated L-3;
Piper O-59 Cub redesignated L-4;
Stinson O-62 Sentinel redesignated L-5;
and Interstate O-63 redesignated L-6.

The aircraft carrier USS Hornet and escorting vessels, sail from San Francisco, California, with 16 USAAF B-25 Mitchells of the Doolittle attack group on her deck; Hornet's aircraft are in the hanger deck. That afternoon, Captain Marc Mitscher informs his men of their mission: a bombing raid on Japan.
The U.S. Army begins the mass evacuation of all people of Japanese ancestry from the Pacific Coast.

1943
AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 18 B-24's bomb Kiska targets including North Head. Six B-25's, 16 P-38's, and 24 P-40's in 6 missions from Amchitka to Kiska, bomb the Main Camp and submarine base areas. Four B-24's bomb the runway at Attu. All aircraft, including 2 B-25's colliding in the air, return safely.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 8 B-25's hit the Thazi railroad junction. A detachment of the 25th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group with P-40's which has been operating from Sadiya, India since Nov 42 transfers to Jorhat, India.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, P-38's and P-40's attack and set fire to a small cargo vessel in Kokolope Bay.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, A-20's hit the Kitchen Creek area and the Labiabi-Duali area. Single B-24's attack Salamaua, Finschhafen and the bridge at Rempi. Single B-24's hit the airfields at Gasmata and Cape Gloucester. __________________

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 P-40s bomb Kamaing while 6 P-51s over the Katha area hit trucks near Bhamo and a storage area at Indaw.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 2 B-24s on a sea sweep from Hong Kong to Formosa bomb a 215-ft (66 m) ship (reported sunk) and damage a large motor launch.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): First operational B-29, piloted by Colonel Leonard F Harman, lands at Chakulia, India. HQ 40th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) arrives at Chakulia, India from the US.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Eniwetok Atoll, hit Truk Atoll during the night of 1/2 Apr. During the day B-25s bomb Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls.
The USN's Task Unit 57.10.9, composed of destroyer escort USS Sanders (DE-40), tank landing ship USS LST-127 and infantry landing craft LCI-346 and LCI-449 occupies Mejit Island. The small Japanese force that opposes the occupation is wiped out by gunfire support provided by the LCIs.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 31 B-24s fly a strike against Dublon Island, Truk Atoll, causing considerable damage to the warehouse and dock areas; the bombers claim 30+ fighters downed; 4 B-24s are lost. 40+ fighter-bombers over Rabaul hit the SE part of town, the Toboi wharf area, and N section of town along the Malaguna road; and 7 B-25s hit Raluana Point while 23 pound Lakunai Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 120+ bombers and fighters continue to hit targets in areas around Wewak, Hansa Bay, Madang, Bogadjim, and other points along the NE coastline. B-25s hit Dili and Penfoei and Rambutyo Island, Bismarck Archipelago. 310th Fighter Squadron, 58th FG, moves from Dobodura to Saidor with P-47s. Lost on a supply drop is P-70 42-33143 near Bogia.

1945
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A B-24 on weather reconnaissance returns early due to mechanical trouble; another B-24 investigates radar jamming on Kresta Point in the Aleutian Islands.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 28 B-25s knock out a bridge SE of That Khe, bomb the town area of Vinh, damage the bridge approaches at Kep, hit shipping and other targets of opportunity along the coast of the Gulf of Tonkin, and blast the town area of Luc Nam. In China, 25 B-25s attack trucks, tanks, rivercraft, and targets of opportunity at Sichuan, Neihsiang, Sinyang, Mingkiang, Siangtan, Kweiping, Nanning, and Hengshan; 4 B-24s bomb the Kowloon Docks in Hong Kong and hit shipping at Bakli and Samah Bays on Hainan Island; 32 P-51s pound airfields in the Shanghai area; 140+ other fighter-bombers attack numerous targets scattered throughout S and E China, including troops, trucks, horses, river shipping, bridges, gun positions, airfields, rail traffic, and town areas.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, bad weather cancels all offensive missions; air supply missions continue with 469 sorties being flown to forward areas.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 12 Guam Island, Mariana Islands-based B-24s bomb Marcus Island in the N Pacific.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 3 missions are flown. Mission 51: 115 of 121 B-29s bomb the Nakajima aircraft factory at Tokyo; they claim 1-1-0 Japanese aircraft; 6 B-29s are lost. Mission 52: During the night of 1/2 Apr, 6 B-29s mine the harbor at Kure between 0000 and 0400 hours local without loss. Mission 53: During the night of 2/3 Apr, 9 of 10 B-29s mine the harbor at Hiroshima without loss.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb the harbor at Hong Kong. On Luzon Island, B-25s and fighter-bombers attack the Bamban bridges, Balete Pass-Baguio area and Penablanca. Troops at Cebu City and on Negros Island are bombed by B-25s and fighter bombers. B-24s bomb the Sarangani Bay area on Mindanao Island. Other B-24s hit Sandakan shipyards and Tawau Airfield, Borneo. Bongao Island, Philippine Islands, is hit by B-24s.

PHILLIPINES:The US 163rd Regiment lands at Tawitawi in the Phillipine Islands in the Sulu Archipeligo.
This was the 163d Regimental Combat Team (Reinforced) which landed on Sanga Sanga Island (5.04N,119.46E) in the Sulu Archipelago, Philippine Islands. Filipino guerrillas had cleared the island in March so the 163d did not encounter any opposition. Three USN destroyers supported the landing.
US Army troops capture La Carolta and Talisay Airfields on Negros Island.

OKINAWA: 4 US transports are damaged by Kamikaze forces. The four ships were the attack transports USS Henrico and USS Goodhue, and the attack cargo ships USS Achernar and USS Tyrrell. Two other ships damaged by kamikazes are the high-speed transport USS Dickerson and infantry landing craft (gunboat) USS LCI(G)-568. The attack transport USS Chilton is damaged by a near-miss of a kamikaze and attack cargo ship USS Lacerta is damaged by friendly fire.
Other ships damaged off Okinawa today include:
The destroyer USS Franks which collides with the battleship USS New Jersey.
The destroyer USS Borie which collides with the aircraft carrier USS Essex.
The destroyer escort USS Foreman which is struck by a bomb.
Off Okinawa, aircraft of Task Group 58.4 carriers sink three Japanese ships near Amami-Oshima.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 590, APRIL 2, 1945
Pacific Area.

1. The LCI (G) 974 has been lost in the Philippine Area as the result of enemy action.
2. Next of kin of casualties have been informed.


CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 319, APRIL 2, 1945

Elements of Twenty Fourth Army Corps moved across the island of Okinawa on April 2 (East Longitude Date) to a point on the east coast near the village of Tobara. Advances averaging several thousand yards were made along the entire Tenth Army line against scattered resistance. In the center of the island in rugged terrain increasing enemy activity was being encountered by some of our troops. In the northern sector advances were made throughout the day by the Marines of the Third Amphibious Corps. The ground troops were supported in their drive by carrier aircraft, by gunfire from heavy units of the U. S. Pacific Fleet, and by field artillery. Observa*tion planes began operation from Yontan and Kadena airfields. During the night of April 1 and 2, five enemy aircraft were shot down. The unloading of supplies is proceeding satisfactorily.
Corsair and Hellcat fighters and Avenger torpedo planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing attacked houses, a causeway, and a bridge and set a supply dump afire in the Palaus on April 2.
Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed runways on Susaki air*field on Chichi Jima in the Bonins on March 31.


CINCPOA PRESS RELEASE NO. 56, APRIL 2, 1945

Major General James E. Chaney, U. S. Army, has assumed duty as Island Commander of Iwo Island.
Brigadier General Ernest M. Moore, U. S. Army, commanding general of the VII Fighter Command of the Seventh Air Force has also been assigned duty in command of all aircraft of all services based at Iwo Island.

 

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1941
FIJI: In the Pacific, the USN's heavy cruisers USS Chicago and USS Portland and destroyers USS Clark, USS Conyngham, USS Reid, USS Cassin and USS Downes depart Suva, Fiji Islands, for Pearl Harbor.

1942
AUSTRALIA: The USAAF’s Air Transport Command activates two transport squadrons, one at Archerfield Aerodrome near Brisbane, Queensland, and the second at Essendon Aerodrome near Melbourne, Victoria. The squadrons are equipped with various transport aircraft.
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 21st and 22d Transport Squadrons, Air Transport Command, US Army Forces in Australia, are activated at Archerfield and Essendon Airdrome, Australia respectively with various transport aircraft. 39th Pursuit Squadron, 35th Pursuit Group, transfers from Mount Gambier to Williamstown, Australia with P-39's; first mission is 2 June.

BURMA: The Burma I Corps continues a northward withdrawal from the Allanmyo area although not under enemy pressure. In the Sittang Valley, Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell, Commanding General American Army Forces, China, Burma and India and Chief of Staff of the Chinese Army, begins deploying the Chinese for a stand at Pyinmana. The Chinese 22d Division is to fall back gradually on Pyinmana, where the Chinese 96th Division is to take over.
Japanese bombers attack Mandalay, killing 2000 and destroying much of the city.
Six 10th Air Force B-17's from Asansol Airdrome, India, bomb warehouses and docks at Rangoon starting three large fires; one B-17 fails to return.

EAST INDIES: RAAF Hudsons of Nos. 2 and 13 Squadrons operating from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, bomb Penfui Airfield on Dutch West Timor Island. The Australians destroy four and damage two aircraft on the ground.

HAWAII: Admiral Chester W Nimitz assumes command of Pacific Ocean Areas (POA). POA comprises North, Central, Southeast and South Pacific Areas, all under overall command of Admiral Nimitz as Commander-in-Chief POA.
The Southeast Pacific Area had been established on 8 December 1941 and is commanded by Rear Admiral John F Shafroth. The South Pacific Area is officially established on 20 April and North Pacific Area on 17 May.
Nimitz retains his position as Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC).

Light minelayers USS Pruitt, Preble, Sicard, and Tracy mine French Frigate Shoals, Hawaiian Group, to prevent Japanese submarines from using the area as a refueling point for flying boat raids on Oahu.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: The Japanese open an all-out offensive against the Bataan line, which is by now under strength, undernourished, poorly clothed and equipped, and battle weary.
After air and artillery bombardment, lasting from 1000 until 1500 hours, the Japanese move forward, making their main effort against Sector D, the west flank of the II Corps, where the 41st and 21st Divisions, Philippine Army (PA), are thinly spread and dazed as result of the preliminary bombardment. The 41st, on the west, gives way and is rendered virtually ineffective as a fighting force, although a regiment on extreme west succeeds in withdrawing in an orderly fashion.
A battalion on the flank of the 21st Division is forced to pull back. An effort to re-establish the line of the 41st Division after dark is partially successful. The only corps reserve unit, the 33d Infantry (PA), less the 1st Battalion, is released to Sector D as is the Provisional Tank Group (-) of the Luzon Force reserve. In the I Corps sector to the west, the Japanese succeed in reaching the main line of resistance on the eastern flank but are unable to pierce it.

1943
PACIFIC: In the Pacific, two USN submarines sink a fleet tanker and a submarine chaser. The latter vessel is sunk by USS Pickerel (SS-177), CO Augustus H. Alston, Jr, which is subsequently sunk off northern Honshu, Japan. All hands lost.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 17 B-25's, operating in 2 forces, bomb the Myitnge bridge, scoring hits on both approaches.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, A-20's hit Kitchen Creek while single B-24's bomb Korindindi. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17's pound shipping and the airfield at Kavieng while single B-24's bomb Kavieng.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 4 B-25s damage the Tangon bridge while 6 P-51s hit Anisakan airstrip in the Mandalay area; 20+ fighter-bombers and 6 B-25s hit targets of opportunity S of Mupaw Ga and W of Mogaung, troops near Bhamo, and knock out a bridge near Mogaung; during the night of 3/4 Apr 16 B-24s bomb oil and power facilities at Yenangyaung, Chauk, and Lanywa while 8 P-38s hit Meiktila Airfield.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 4 rocket-firing P-40s, with 8 other as top cover, damage 2 large river boats between Hengyang and Ichang. In French Indochina, 4 P-40s flying a Red River sweep from Vinh Yen to Dong Cuong sink 4 small boats, damage 3 more, and strafe 50-100 persons at a loading point on the river; and 3 B-24s lay mines in the Haiphong area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok Atoll during the night of 2/3 Apr, bomb Truk Atoll. B-25s from Abemama Island follow with a daytime attack on Ponape Island; other B-25s from Abemama and Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls. 98th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Tarawa Atoll to Eniwetok Atoll with B-24s.

PTO: In the Pacific, US submarine USS Pollack sinks an Japanese Army cargo ship south of Japan.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 23 B-25s pound the NE section of Rabaul; this strike follows larger than usual (6 B-25s) heckling raids during the night of 2/3 Apr; and 50+ fighter-bombers blast fuel stores at Keravia Bay. On Bougainville Island, AAF and US Navy (USN) fighters strafe the Numa Numa trail area and maintain patrols. 67th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, based in the Russells ceases operating from Bougainville Island with P-38s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 300+ B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and P-38s blast airfields at Hollandia; most of the remaining Japanese airplanes there are destroyed; of 60 intercepting Japanese fighters, 26 are claimed shot down; air opposition from Hollandia is very light hereafter; 50+ P-40s, P-47s, and P-39s hit villages, communications, AA positions, and other targets in areas around Wewak, Hansa Bay, Bogia and Madang; and B-24s hit Langgoer and B-25s bomb the Babo area and Penfoei on Timor Island. HQ 58th Fighter Group and 69th Fighter Squadron move from Dobodura to Saidor with P-47s.

1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 17 B-25s bomb Pinglo, China railroad yards and in French Indochina, the Ninh Binh railroad yards, knock out a bridge at Thinh Duc, and damage bridges at Gian Khau and Mon Cay. In China, 60+ fighter-bombers knock out bridges at Hsitu and between Chuting and Hengyang, destroy pontoon bridges in the Kanchou area, hit Yangtong airfield, pound the Hai Duong, French Indochina railroad yards, and hit river traffic and other targets of opportunity at several locations including Hongay, and Cao Bang, French Indochina, and Tayu, Hankow, Kanchou, Yoyang, and the Ishan- Hwaiyuanchen, areas of China.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, bad weather again causes cancellation of most scheduled strikes; a few fighter-bombers hit a Japanese held wooded area near Kenglong; transports complete 383 sorties to forward areas.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 4 missions are flown during the night and early morning hours of 3/4 Apr.
Mission 54: 9 B-29s mine the waters off Hiroshima without loss.
Mission 55: In the early morning, 48 of 49 B-29s hit the aircraft plant at Shizuoka, Japan without loss.
Mission 56: 43 of 78 B-29s attack the Koizumi aircraft factory and 18 hit the urban areas in Tokyo as a target of opportunity; they claim 1-0-0 Japanese aircraft.
Mission 57: 61 of 115 B-29s strike the aircraft plant at Tachikawa and 49 hit the urban area of Kawasaki as a target of opportunity; 1 B-29 is lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The Hong Kong docks are again bombed by B-24s. Other B-24s and B-25s hit the airfield, butanol plant, and railroad yards at Kagi, Formosa while A-20s sweep other rail targets. On Luzon Island fighter-bombers and A-20s hit the Balete Pass-Baguio-Naguilian area N of the Cagayan Valley supply targets, the Laguna deBay area, and Infanta, also, Miri Airfield, troops in the Cebu City area. Lost is B-25J 44-31504. Also, targets on Tarakan are bombed. B-25s attack N Hainan Island.

OKINAWA: Off Okinawa, the USN escort aircraft carrier USS Wake Island is attacked by two kamikazes. At 1744 hours, a Japanese single-engine plane plunged at the ship from a high angle and missed the port forward corner of the flight deck, exploding in the water abreast the forecastle. Thirty seconds later, a second similar plane whistled down on the starboard side at tremendous speed, narrowly missing the bridge structure and plunging into the water about 10 feet from the hull. The plane exploded after impact, ripping a hole in the ship’s side below the waterline, about 45 feet long and about 18 feet from top to bottom and making many shrapnel holes. Parts of the plane were thrown onto the forecastle and into the gun sponsons. Various compartments were flooded, and the shell plating cracked between the first and second decks. Other shell plating buckled, and the main condensers were flooded with salt water, contaminating some 30,000 US gallons of fresh water and 70,000 US gallons of fuel oil. At 1824 hours, salting made it necessary to secure the forward engine, and the ship proceeded on one propeller. Remarkably, there were no injuries; and, by 2140 hours, corrective measures had been taken, and the ship was again steaming on both engines. The next day, the ship steamed to Kerama Retto anchorage with destroyer escorts USS Dennis and USS Goss for inspection and temporary repairs. The ship sailed for Guam on 6 April.
Other ships damaged by kamikazes include the high speed minesweeper USS Hambleton and the tank landing ships USS LST-599.

PHILLIPINES: The US 108th Infantry Regiment of the 40th Infantry Division lands on Masbate Island, located west of Leyte, to assist the guerrillas fighting the Japanese.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 320, APRIL 3, 1945


The Marine Third Amphibious Corps and the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps made rapid gains in all sectors of the lines on Okinawa Island on April 3 (East Longitude Date). In the north, the Marines advanced generally from 4,000 to 6,000 yards reaching the East Coast near Katchin Peninsula and cutting it off. Units of the Seventh Infantry Division which had reached the eastern shore of Okinawa the previous day moved southward along the shore of Katsurin Bay on the east coast from a point near the town of Takaesu to Kuba Town. Our front lines in the southern sector at nightfall of April 3, approximated a line from Kuba Town in the east to Chiyunna in the west. Resistance throughout the day was negligible. The advancing troops were supported by gunfire from heavy units of the Fleet. Ships' guns and carrier aircraft shot down 11 enemy planes during the day. Unloading of supplies continues satisfactorily.
Fast carriers of the U. S. Pacific Fleet attacked targets in the Sakishima Group on April 3.
On March 30‑31, Corsair and Hellcat fighters, Helldiver bombers, and Avenger torpedo planes from carriers of the U. S. Pacific Fleet supporting the Okinawa operation inflicted the following damage on enemy forces in the Ryukyus:

Aircraft:

Seventeen shot out of the air.
Five destroyed on the ground.
Nineteen damaged in the air and on the ground.

Shipping:

Sunk:

Three motor torpedo boats.
Two small cargo ships.
Nine small craft.

Probably Sunk:

One small cargo ship.
Four small craft.

Damaged:

One motor torpedo boat.
Four small cargo ships.
One lugger.
Fourteen small craft.

Installations:

Six submarine pens at Unten Bay, Okinawa, destroyed and another heavily damaged.
Mills, barracks, bridges, radio stations, pillboxes, buildings, docks, gun positions and covered revetments destroyed or damaged on Okinawa.
Other installations on Tokuno, Amami, Kikai and Minami, Daito Islands, heavily hit.
Installations on Marcus Island were bombed on April 2 by Army Libera*tors of the Strategic Air Force.
Planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing attacked buildings, vehicles and barges in and around the Palau Islands on April 3.
During the week ending March 31, 69 Japanese were killed and 13 taken prisoner by U. S. patrols on Saipan, Tinian and Guam in the Marianas.
Navy Search Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing Two made neutralizing attacks on enemy‑held bases in the Marshalls on April 2.

 

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1941
Germany: Hitler meets Japanese Foreign Minister Matsuoka again, and promises to join Japan in fighting the US if it should declare war.

1942
AUSTRALIA: P-40E pilots of the 9th Pursuit Squadron based at Darwin, Northern Territory, shoot down seven "Nell's" and two "Zero's" over Darwin between 1330 and 1405 hours.

(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 36th Pursuit Squadron, 8th Pursuit Group, transfers from Lowood to Townsville, Australia with P-39's and P-400's; first mission is 30 Apr.

CEYLON: British heavy cruisers HMS Cornwall and Dorsetshire sail from Colombo at 2200 hours to rejoin the British Eastern Fleet.

JAPAN: After a heated debate, Admiral NAGANO Osami, Chief of the Navy General Staff, agrees to a simultaneous Aleutian-Midway operation.

MALDIVE ISLANDS: The crew of an RCAF Catalina Mk. I of No. 413 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Koggala, Ceylon, on a reconnaissance flight reports sighting a Japanese fleet in the Indian Ocean about 360 miles southeast of Ceylon. Vice Admiral Sir James Somerville, Commander of the British Eastern Fleet, sails from Addu Atoll in the Maldive Islands, located about 400 miles southwest of Ceylon, with the faster ships (Force "A") to attack and orders the heavy cruisers HMS Cornwall and Dorsetshire to join him southwest of Ceylon. The two cruisers are at Colombo, Ceylon.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: In the II Corps area on Bataan, the Japanese attack is again preceded by a demoralizing artillery bombardment in conjunction with air attacks. The main line of resistance of Sector D collapses as the 41st Division, Philippine Army (PA), withdraws again and the 21st Division, PA, is forced from their main line of resistance to the reserve line in front of Mt Samat. After nightfall, the Japanese regroup for an assault on Mt Samat. Sector C has to refuse its left flank because of enemy breakthrough. The Luzon Force sends two regiments of the Philippine Division, the U.S. 31st Infantry and the 45th Infantry, Philippine Scouts, to support the II Corps.

U.S.: The Allies concur in the establishment and divisions of the Southwest Pacific Area and the Pacific Ocean Area proposed on 30 March.

1943
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 8 B-25's hit the Maymyo engine sheds. Nine others bomb the Pyawbwe railroad yards. Seven B-24's heavily damage the Thilawa oil refinery.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher assumes the position of Commander Air Solomons (COMAIRSOL) which has operational control of all Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), USAAF, USMC and USN aircraft in the South Pacific. A detachment of the 18th Photographic Squadron (Heavy), 4th Photographic Group with B-25's begins operating from Espiritu Santo.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's and A-20's pound areas along the Huon Gulf, around Kitchen Creek and the Heaths and Lane Plantations. Single B-17's bomb Salamaua. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17's bomb the town area and airfield at Kavieng. Single B-17's bomb Cape Gloucester.

1944
ZONE OF INTERIOR: HQ Twentieth Air Force is activated in Washington, DC.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): The Japanese begin their move towards India by attacking Kohima, an offensive doomed to failure by supply problems and typhoon season. The Japanese would loose over 30,000 men to disease and starvation. In Burma, 120+ fighter-bombers and 4 B-25s hit rail lines, storage areas and Japanese held villages around Mogaung and Myitkyina and support ground forces near Kamaing and Myitkyina; during the night of 4/5 Apr, 14 B-24s bomb the Moulmein railroad yards and jetties and hit a Japanese HQ nearby at Nagorn Sawarn; and 25 P-51s and P-38s attack Aungban and Anisakan Airfields.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): P-38s on armed reconnaissance strafe and destroy 2 big fuel dumps, 12 fuel trucks, and 15-20 troops in the Wan Mong Kang, Burma area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, flying out of the Gilbert Islands, bomb Truk Atoll during the night. B-25s, from Abemama Island and Tarawa Atoll, followup during the day with raids on Ponape Island, and Jaluit and Maloelap Atolls

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On Bougainville Island, 12 P-40s hit a barge hideout in Gazelle Harbor; 10 B-25s (rained out of Rabaul, New Britain Island) bomb Buka Airfield on Buka Island, 23 P-39s hit the Aitara area, and 11 P-40s bomb the Mamaregu barge hideout; 24 P-38s pound Mamagata, Dio Dio, and the Miwo River area; and ground support missions along Empress Augusta Bay are carried out by a variety of fighters.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 50+ B-24s pound the Wewak area; and 12 P-39s hit villages, bridges and wooded areas along the coast from Cape Gourdon to Bogia.

1945
PACIFIC: The US Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) designates General of the Army Douglas MacArthur Commander-in- Chief, US Army Forces, Pacific (CINCUSAFPAC) and Fleet Admiral Chester W Nimitz Commander-in- Chief, Pacific

OKINAWA: The first real resistance is met by Hodges troops on Okinawa. They are halted on a line just south of Kuba.
The landing craft of TF 51 off Okinawa suffer damage from heavy weather.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 2 B-25s sink a junk in the Gulf of Tonkin and 6 P-38s strafe trucks around Dien Bien Phu, Moc Chau, and Son La.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): Combat operations are restricted to attacks on a troop concentration and rice and fuel supplies behind enemy lines in C Burma; transports operate on steady basis throughout the day.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 24 B-24s from Angaur Airfield Island hit a building at Bunawan, Mindanao.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): HQ 40th and 462d Bombardment Groups (Very Heavy) arrive at West Field, Tinian Island from India.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Formosa, B-24s bomb Toyohara Airfield, Mako harbor, and Tokichito Island and A-20s hit Shinchiku factories and rail yards. B-24s bomb the harbor at Hong Kong. P-38s and P-51s pound various targets in C Luzon Island while A-20s and P-38s hit the Calauag area. A-20s pound NW Negros Island and B-24s bomb targets on C Mindanao. The 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Lingayen Airfield with B-25s.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 321, APRIL 4, 1945

The East Coast of Okinawa Island from Yaka in the north to Kuba Town in the south was brought under the control of the Tenth Army on April 4 (East Longitude Date). Elements of the Marine Third Amphibious Corps pushing north and east simultaneously established their front line on the Isthmus of Okinawa about 3,000 to 4,000 yards north of Ishikawa and cap*tured all sections of the east coast in their zone of action. In the south, the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps advanced steadily and at nightfall were holding a line between Uchi Tomari on the West Coast, Kamiyama in the center of the island, and a point just north of Nakagusuku on the east coast. The enemy offered scattered resistance to the advances of our troops. Concentrations of troops and vehicles fn the southern part of the island were brought under fire by the guns of surface units of the fleet and by carrier aircraft supporting the attack. The unloading of supplies for the Expeditionary Forces ashore con*tinues satisfactorily.
The enemy made several small air attacks against our surface forces early in the morning of April 4. Four of his aircraft were shot down.
Aircraft from a carrier task group commanded by Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman, U. S. Navy, attacked aircraft, airfields, and other installations in the Amami Group on April 3. The following damage was inflicted on the enemy
Forty‑five aircraft shot out of the air. Two aircraft destroyed on the ground. Nine aircraft damaged on the ground.
Twenty‑five small craft damaged or destroyed. Two small cargo ships damaged. One motor torpedo boat damaged. Fuel dumps and buildings set afire.
Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed warehouse and supply areas in the Palaus on April 4. On the same date, Marine fighters struck piers at Yap in the western Carolines.
On April 3, Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing planes continued neutralizing attacks on enemy‑held bases in the Marshalls.

 

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1939
U.S.: Secretary of State Cordell Hull writes to Congressional Committees asking for an arms embargo law. He says, ". . . this Government should no longer be left in the position of being unable to join the other governments of the world in preventing the supply of arms and munitions for use in an international conflict when it is exercising its diplomacy and the whole weight of our national influence and prestige to prevent or put an end to that conflict."

1942
ADMIRALTY ISLANDS: Japanese forces occupy Lorengau on Manus Island without opposition. Several hundred Japanese troops of a Special Naval Landing Force are landed by a naval force consisting of the light cruiser HIJMS Tatsuta, destroyer HIJMS Mutsuki and a troop transport ship SS Mishima Maru. The island is defended by No. 4 Section, 'B' Platoon, First Independent Company, Australian Imperial Force. With little and limited resources the Australian Independent Company Section smartly withdraws to prepared positions in the jungle.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: In their combat debut, nine B-26's attack Lakunai and Vunakanau Aerodromes at Rabaul on New Britain island.

BURMA: Pilots of the American Volunteer Group's 1st and 3d Fighter Squadron shoot down 12 Japanese fighters near Loiwing Airdrome during the afternoon.

CANADA: The port of Port Rupert, British Columbia, is opened to the U.S. for shipment of supplies to the Territory of Alaska, thus avoiding a logistics jam at Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

INDIAN OCEAN: The Japanese fleet that sailed from Kendari, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies, has reached a point about 200 miles south of Colombo and commences Operation C. The Japanese force under Vice Admiral KONDO Nobutake consists of the battleships HIJMS Haruna, Hiei, Kirishima and Kongo; the aircraft carriers HIJMS Akagai, Hiryu, Shokaku, Soryu and Zuikaku; heavy cruisers HIJMS Chikuma and Tone; light cruiser HIJMS Abukuma; and nine destroyers. At dawn, the carriers launch 127 aircraft [53 "Kate"'s, 38 "Val"'s and 36 "Zero's] Of these, seven are lost (6 "Vals" and a "Zeke") and 15 damage (five "Kates", seven "Vals" and three "Zekes"). Two additional "Zekes" are damaged downing an RAF Catalina over the Japanese fleet.
In spite of the prior days warning of the approaching Japanese Task Force, the Royal Air Force fighter units are caught fairly unprepared. In the massive air battle that follows, the RAF and Fleet Air Arm (FAA) losses a total of 30 aircraft, six Swordfish, four Fulmars, 17 Hurricanes, a Catalina, an Albacore and a Walrus. The FAA's No. 788 Squadron, the Eastern Fleet Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Pool unit equipped with Swordfish Mks I and II and based at China Bay, Ceylon, is caught unaware in transit from the Trincomalee area and loses all six Swordfish and their pilots. FAA Nos. 803 and 806 Squadrons operating two sub-flights together while based at Ratmalana, Ceylon, each lose two of three Fulmar Mk. II fighters and four crewmen. RAF No. 258 Squadron operating from Colombo Racecourse had 9 Hurricanes Mk. IIBs forced down of the 14 that sortied with the loss of five pilots, while No. 30 Squadron based at Ratmalana, had 8 Hurricanes Mk. IIA and IIBs forced down although the actual number that sortied is unclear; four pilots were killed and one later died of his wounds. Meanwhile, a Catalina of the morning search found the Japanese fleet, but was shot down by the Japanese Combat Air Patrol (CAP) before getting off a report; all eight crewmen were killed. Also an FAA No. 700 Squadron Walrus operating from the light cruiser HMS Glasgow is dispatched on a search after the raid but on its return, it crashes while landing, killing the pilot. The Japanese also sink the destroyer HMS Tenedos and the armed merchant cruiser HMS Hector.
A Japanese scout plane from the heavy cruiser HIJMS Tone sights two British cruisers southwest of Ceylon and the Japanese aircraft carriers launch 53 "Vals." The two heavy cruisers, HMS Dorsetshire and Cornwall, had sailed from Colombo, Ceylon, at 2200 hours yesterday and during the night orders were received from the commander in chief Eastern Fleet to join him at 1600 hours today. Starting at 1100 hours, aircraft, some friendly, were sighted but none attacked. At about 1340 hours, both ships were attacked by the Vals and both were severely damaged. HMS Dorsetshire sank at 1351 hours and HMS Cornwall at 1355 hours. Between the two ships, 424 crewmen were lost and 1,122 are rescued tomorrow after spending 30 hours in the water. No Japanese aircraft were lost in this attack.
After the attack, the Japanese Second Expeditionary Fleet, Malay Force (Vice Admiral OZAWA Jisaburo) is divided into three groups to disrupt Allied shipping in the Bay of Bengal. The British also are active after the attack. RAF No. 11 Squadron, based at Colombo Race course, dispatches ten Blenheim Mk. IVs on a retaliatory strike but estimates of the Japanese position are off and, with no further reports being received, the target is not found. During the day, a pair of No. 827 Squadron Albacore Mk. Is from the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable, on a reconnaissance flight, run into the Japanese CAP and one is shot down with the loss of three crewmen. Later in the day another No. 827 Albacore is intercepted by the CAP, but escapes. Unfortunately, the lack of a proper sighting report from the later plane (its radio had been destroyed) left Admiral Somerville to assume no contact had been and thus he did not change course to close. By the time his scout returned two hours later, the Japanese Force had doubled back and further FAA search efforts failed to make the contact necessary for Somerville to execute his planned night aerial torpedo attack.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: After air and artillery preparation, the Japanese resume their offensive in the II Corps area on Bataan, concentrating on the 21st Division, Philippine Army, which yields Mt Samat and is left virtually ineffective as a fighting force. The Corps prepares to counterattack tomorrow with all available forces.
A Japanese invasion force of 4,852 troops sails from Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, toward Cebu Island, in the Visayan Islands, east central Philippines.

1943
AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, reconnaissance covers all islands W of Kiska with negative results. 16 B-24's and 6 B-25's bomb the Attu runway and Kiska's Main Camp and runway. 4 P-38's fly top cover. Later, 3 B-25's, 16 P-40's, and 16 P-38's bomb Kiska again.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 17 B-25's bomb railroad targets at Mandalay; 2 others hit Ngamya. Three B-24's bomb the Prome railroad yards; 5 hit the Mahlwagon yards and roundhouse. 12 P-40's and a B-25 support ground forces in N Burma.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In Burma, P-40's on armored reconnaissance strafe 15 horse-drawn wagons at Wanling.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, single B-17's attack occupied areas at several points along the Huon Gulf coast, hit Finschaffen on the Huon Peninsula, bomb Madang and other points on the N coast of New Guinea and hit Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago.

NEIAF - After an armed reconnaissance of the north coast of Timor, lost is B-25D N5-140.

BURMA: The Imperial Japanese Army forces on the Malaya Penninsula begin advancing NW toward India.

SOLOMONS: USN destroyer USS O'Bannon sinks Japanese submarine RO 34 near Russell Island.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 13 B-24s bomb the railroad from Moulmein to Kanchanaburi, destroying 3 bridges, damaging several others, and causing much damage to track and railroad cars.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): P-40s from Yungning, China pound a railroad siding at Na Cham, French Indochina, destroying 8 boxcars and a considerable amount of track.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap Atoll, bomb up again at Majuro, Marshall Islands, and hit Jaluit Atoll during the return trip. HQ 11th Bombardment Group moves from Tarawa Atoll to Kwajalein Atoll.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 12 B-25s bomb Kara (Bougainville). Bad weather cancels all missions against targets in the Bismarck Archipelago.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 270+ B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and P-38s hit Hollandia town and dock area and villages and stores around Humboldt Bay. Lost is A-20G 43-9469. P-47s and P-40s blast numerous targets in the Hansa Bay-Bogia and Wewak areas; and B-24s hit Kaimana and Efman Island. Units moving from Dobodura to Saidor: 82d Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 71st Reconnaissance Group, with P-39s; and 311th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group, with P-47s.

NEI: EAST INDIES: Fifth Air Force B-25s bomb Koepang on Timor Island.

1945
JAPAN: General Koiso and cabinet resign. Admiral Suzuki forms a new cabinet with Togo as Foriegn Minister and Hiranuma as President of the Privy Council. This cabinet shows a decrease in military influence and agree that no reasonable offer of Peace should be turned down.

PACIFIC: Molotov notifies Japan that the 1941 Non Aggression Treaty between the USSR and Japan will not be renewed.

OKINAWA: US BB Nevada is damaged off Okinawa during a Kamakaze attack.
According to the DANFS, the Nevada was damaged by a shore battery not a kamikaze.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 27 fighter-bombers on armed reconnaissance attack troops, horses, and river, road, and rail traffic at Son La, French Indochina and Shanhsien and Shihkiachwang, and in the Tehsien and Loyang-Pinglo area of China.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, bad weather cancels scheduled strikes; transports continue large-scale operations to forward areas. The 166th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Ondaw to Meiktila, Burma with UC-64s and L-5s.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 18 B-24s from Guam hit targets on Eten and Dublon at Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands. 22 B-24s from Angaur Airfield pound a bivouac area at Bunawan, Mindanao.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): HQ 315th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) arrives at Northwest Field from the US.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Kowloon Docks in Hong Kong and a nearby airfield, while other B-24s bomb Kiirun Harbor in Formosa. Damaged and later sunk is Kamoi. 180+ sorties in support of ground forces are flown on Luzon. A-20s and patrolling P-61s support troops on Cebu and Negros. P-38s hit Tarakan and Tawau, Borneo. HQ 58th FG moves from San Jose Airfield to Mangaldan.

1964
USA: General Douglas MacArthur, USA dies.

JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF​

The Joint Chiefs of Staff today made the following announcement regard*ing the command directive for the war against Japan:

1. The Joint Chiefs of Staff, with the approval of the President, have modified the command organization for the war against Japan with a view to giving full effect to the application of our forces against the Japanese including the large forces to be redeployed from Europe, taking into account the changed conditions resulting from our progress in both the Southwest Pacific and the Pacific Ocean Areas. The rapid advances made in both areas, which have brought us into close proximity with the Japanese homeland and the China Coast, and the corresponding change in the character of operations to be conducted are the considerations which dictated the new directive.
2. General MacArthur, Commander of the Southwest Pacific Area, under the terms of the new directive will be given command of all Army forces and resources in the Pacific Theater. Similarly, Admiral Nimitz, Commander of the Pacific Ocean Areas, will be given command of all Naval forces and resources in the Pacific Theater. General Arnold will continue in command of the 20th Air Force.
3. The Joint Chiefs of Staff will continue to exercise strategic direc*tion of the entire Pacific Theater and will charge either General MacArthur or Admiral Nimitz with the over‑all responsibility for conducting specific operations or campaigns. Normally General MacArthur will be charged with the conduct of land campaigns and Admiral Nimitz with the conduct of sea campaigns. Each Commander will furnish the forces and resources of his service for the joint forces which are required for the conduct of the operation or campaign which has been duly directed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
4. Essentially the new arrangement permits either Commander in Chief to conduct operations or campaigns in any part of the entire theater as directed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the choice as to which shall be charged with the responsibility in each case will be dependent on the nature of the operation or campaign which is to be undertaken.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 591, APRIL 5, 1945
Pacific Area.

1. The LCI (G) 474 was lost in the Iwo Jima area as the result of enemy action.
2. The next of kin of casualties have been informed.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 322, APRIL 5, 1945

Our troops in both the northern and southern sectors of Okinawa con*tinued to advance on April 5. By 1800 on that date, Marines of the Third Amphibious Corps had moved forward generally 8,000 to 9,000 yards on Ishikawa Isthmus, the southern end of their line being in the neighborhood of Kin Town. Japanese opposition in the north continued to be ineffective. Army troops in the south made advances up to about 3,000 yards. In this sector, elements of the Twenty Fourth Army Corps moved into areas organ*ized for defense by the enemy and at nightfall resistance to the advance was increasing. Our advancing troops were supported throughout the day by gunfire from units of the U. S. Pacific Fleet and by carrier aircraft. During the period of April 1 to 1800 on April 5, 65 enemy aircraft have been de*stroyed over our forces attacking Okinawa. During the Okinawa operation as of midnight April 4‑5, 175 soldiers and Marines had been killed in action. Figures as to Naval personnel are not available. Seven hundred and ninety eight soldiers and Marines had been wounded in action during the same period.
Organization for military government in the area of Okinawa under our control has been established and is functioning satisfactorily. About 9,000 civilians have surrendered to our forces. Considerable stocks of enemy food*stuffs have been captured and are available for civilian use.
On April 5, Hellcat and Corsair fighters and Avenger torpedo planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing attacked targets in the Palaus. A ware*house was destroyed and barges and vehicles were damaged.

 

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1940
U.S.: A USAAC B-17 Flying Fortress is flown from Mitchel Field, Hempstead, Long Island, New York to Langley Field, Hampton, Virginia, by a pilot in a hooded cockpit using instruments. A co-pilot, navigator and four other crewmen were also aboard but they are not under a hood.
The maiden flight of the first production Curtiss (Model 81-A) P-40, USAAC s/n 39-156, takes place at Buffalo, New York. Deliveries of the 524 P-40s to the USAAC begin in June.

1942
AUSTRALIA: Headquarters of the 41st Infantry Division, the 163d Infantry, the 167th Field Artillery Battalion and other units arrive in Melbourne, Victoria, and are assigned to Army Forces in Australia.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF B-25s bomb Gasmata on New Britain Island. A small Japanese naval force from Truk Atoll in the Caroline Islands lands on the eastern tip of Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, and captures the town of Lorengau.

(SWPA, 5th Air Force): 11th and 22d Bombardment Squadrons, 7th BG (Heavy), begin a transfer without personnel and equipment to the US. They will be established at Columbia, AAB, South Carolina on 26 Apr, be re-equipped with B-25's and transfer to India in Jul 42.

BURMA: The Japanese land reinforcements at Rangoon. Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, visiting Maymyo, urges that Taungdwingyi be held and agrees to provide a Chinese division to assist the Burma I Corps. The Chinese 200th and 96th Divisions are in position to defend Pyinmana.

INDIAN OCEAN: Japanese Operation C continues: The Second Expeditionary Fleet, Malay Force (Vice Admiral OZAWA Jisaburo) raids Allied shipping off the east coast of India. The Japanese Northern Group (Rear Admiral KURITA Takeo) attacks an Allied convoy about 36 miles SE of Puri, India; an unarmed U.S. freighter and four British merchantmen are sunk by gunfire of heavy cruisers HIJMS Kumano and Suzuya, and destroyer HIJMS Shirakumo. The Southern Group (Captain SAKIYAMA Shakao), consisting of heavy cruisers HIJMS Mogami and Mikuma and destroyer HIJMS Amagiri, sink three British merchantmen. The Central Group, formed around the aircraft carrier HIJMS Ryujo, heavy cruiser HIJMS Chokai, light cruiser HIJMS Yura, and destroyers HIJMS Yugiri and Asagiri, attacks shipping in a third area. After aircraft from the carrier HIJMS Ryujo attack an unarmed U.S. freighter, heavy cruiser HIJMS Chokai shells and sinks the American merchantman; Japanese gunfire renders all lifeboats useless and kills 19 of the 41-man crew. Five more crewmen die later of wounds suffered in the attack. Lost with the ship is its cargo of 500 monkeys (which are most likely earmarked for infantile paralysis research in the United States).
Floatplanes from the heavy cruiser HIJMS Chokai bomb an unarmed U.S. freighter 11 miles off the coast of India and a British freighter, sinking both. Light cruiser HIJMS Yura and destroyer HIJMS Yugiri, meanwhile, sink two Dutch motorships and a British steamer. Planes from HIJMS Ryujo bomb and sink a British steamer and a Dutch motorship and, at Vizagapatam, India, bomb and damage a British motorship. The Allies lose 83,000 tons of shipping in the well-executed attacks. Ironically, many of the ships sank were those dispersed from Colombo, Ceylon, earlier due to the threat of the Japanese Fleet's attack.
Japanese submarine HIJMS I-5 sinks an unarmed U.S. freighter, en route from Suez to Ceylon, about 216 miles north northwest of the Maldive Islands.

INDIA: Japanese bombers conduct their first bombing raids on India attacking Coconada and Madras. Ten Pan American World Airways Douglas DC-3s of the USAAF's Assam-Burma- China Ferry Command begin hauling 30,000 U.S. gallons of aviation fuel and 500 U.S. gallons of lubricants from Calcutta to the airstrip at Asansol, completing the mission tomorrow. This fuel, subsequently transferred via Dinjan to China, is for use by Lieutenant Colonel James H Doolittle's Tokyo raiders, already at sea aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: On Bataan, the II Corps counterattacks north toward the reserve line in Sector D but meets a Japanese attack head on and falls back. On the corps eastern flank, the U.S. 31st Infantry and 21st Division, Philippine Army (PA), directed to drive north in the region east of Mt Samat, are unable to reach the line of departure.
In the center, the 33d Infantry, PA, followed by the 42d and 43d, endeavors to drive north between Catmon and the western slopes of Mt Samat, but the 33d is surrounded and presumed lost and units to the rear are routed.
Headquarters of Sector D and the western flank troops are thus separated from rest of II Corps. On the west, the 41st Infantry, PA, followed by the 45th, makes limited progress, but the 45th is unable to overtake the 41st and the 41st becomes isolated. The U.S. 31st Infantry and a battalion of the 57th Infantry, Philippine Scouts, are assigned to Sector C, where the line is withdrawn to the San Vicente River. The Japanese receive effective air and artillery support throughout day.
River gunboats USS Mindanao and Oahu engage Japanese landing barges, claiming the destruction of at least four, in a night surface action in Manila Bay. USS Mindanao is damaged by return fire.

1943
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The 333d Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group with P-39's transfers from Canton Island to Hilo, Territory of Hawaii.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 6 B-24's attack Pazundaung bridge, damaging the S approach.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) The 70th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group based on Fiji but operating from Guadalcanal with P-39's, transfers to Guadalcanal.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Thirteenth Air Force F-5 Lightning photo reconnaissance aircraft note 114 Japanese bombers and fighters on Kahili Airdrome on Bougainville. There were 40 aircraft on the airfield yesterday.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER F OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's bomb the town area and AA positions at Salamaua. Single B-17's bomb Finschhafen. Single B-17's bomb Gasmata while another strafes Cape Gloucester.

1944
ZONE OF INTERIOR: General of the Army Henry H "Hap" Arnold assumes command of the Twentieth Air Force at Washington, DC where HQ will remain until Jul 45. Chief of Staff is Brigadier General Haywood S Hansell, Jr (currently Deputy Chief of Air Staff), with Colonel Cecil E Combs as his deputy for operations.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 6 B-25s damage railroad and rolling stock at Shwebo. 80+ fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s hit troops in the Namti area, support ground forces NE of Kamaing, damage a bridge near Myitkyina, and hit troops, oil dumps, and supplies at Mogaung and Manywet.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, P-40s from Suichwan pound a barrack SW of Nanchang, causing heavy damage; a B-25 strike during the night of 6/7 Apr on airfields near Canton is curtailed by bad weather; only 1 B-25 reaches the target, dropping fragmentation bombs on revetments.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Kwajalein bomb Wake. B-25s from Eniwetok Atoll hit Ponape twice. B-25s from Abemama Island bomb Jaluit Atoll, rearm at Majuro, and hit Maloelap Atoll during the return flight.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 34 B-24s pound Dublon Island, Truk Atoll. 22 B-25s bomb Lakunai Airfield and revetment area; 30+ fighter-bombers bomb the vicinity of Toboi wharf with incendiaries while 20+ others carry out incendiary strike on Vunapope, causing severe destruction to several buildings; and fighters maintain a sweep over Rabaul and New Ireland Island areas.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): P-39s, P-40s and P-47s continue to pound coastal targets in the Wewak, Aitape, and Madang areas and at numerous other points along the coast.
NEI: B-25s bomb Koepang, Timor Island.

1945
PACIFIC: PHILIPPINES: US Army Forces, Pacific (AFPAC) is established at Manila under General of the Army Douglas MacArthur.

OKINAWA: HIJMS Yamato sails from the Inland Sea on a Kamikaze mission to Okinawa. There is only enough fuel on board for a one way trip.
The Japanese kamikaze onslaught against the US Navy begins off Okinawa. Kamikazes sink two destroyers (DDs) (one is scuttled after being hit by four kamikazes) and one landing ship tank (LST); and damage one light aircraft carrier (CVL), nine destroyers (DD), three destroyer escorts, three high-speed minesweepers (DMSs), five minesweepers (AMs), two motor minesweepers (YMSs) and one landing ship tank (LST). (Jack McKillop)

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, 8 B-24s attack and photograph Kurabu on Paramushiru Island, especially the airfield, while 8 B-25s hit radar installations in an all-out attack on Hayakegawa, Kotani Island, and Minami Cape, dropping napalm-filled incendiaries for the first time; buildings and shipping in N part of Hayakegawa are hit especially hard; another B-25 flies weather reconnaissance.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 3 B-24s hit targets of opportunity in the Bakli Bay area on Hainan Island and 4 P-38s knock out a bridge in the Dien Bien Phu area of French Indochina. In China, 8 P-51s blast railroad targets of opportunity, troops, horses, and boat landings in the Chenghsien area and along the Lung Hai railroad and Yellow River.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): With improving weather conditions combat strikes in the C Burma battle area increase; 70+ fighter-bombers attack troop concentrations, artillery positions, tanks, trucks, fuel dumps, and general targets of opportunity along and immediately behind enemy lines; targets are located in several areas including Paklu, Nawnghkio, Loilem, Takaw, Mong Hko, Kongleng, Nawnghsan Pu, and Indaw; air supply sorties continue on a steady basis throughout the day.

JAPAN - Japan's Kamikaze offensive reaches it's peak. 355 suicide sorties and 341 dive and torpedo bombers are launched against the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 11 B-24s from Guam Island pound positions and airfield on Marcus Island; 23 from Angaur Airfield bomb barracks and a wharf at Bunawan, Mindanao. 400 Kamikaze planes make an all-out effort against Okinawa shipping and beachheads; 2 destroyers, 2 ammunition ships, a mine sweeper and an LST are sunk; other vessels are damaged; nearly 300 Japanese planes are expended. The 163d Liaison Squadron, AAFPOA (attached to Tenth Army) begins a movement from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii to Okinawa with L-5s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): HQ 468th BG (Very Heavy) arrives at West Field, Tinian Island from India.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s bomb the town of Hokko on Formosa. On Luzon Island, ground support sorties continue in areas around Balete Pass, W of Ft Stotsenburg, N, NE, and S of Laguna de Bay, and around Legaspi and fighters hit Carabao and Infanta. B-24s bomb a town N of Cebu City while fighters support ground units on Cebu. A-20s support ground forces on Negros Island. B-25s pound Bunawan on Mindanao. B-24s bomb Jolo defenses and ammunition and supply dumps. At Manila US Army Forces, Pacific (AFPAC) is established under General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. The 310th Fighter Squadron, 58th FG, moves from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Mangaldan with P-47s.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 323, APRIL 6, 1945

By late afternoon on April 6 (East Longitude Date), Hellcat and Corsair fighters from two fast carrier task groups of the U. S. Pacific Fleet com*manded by Rear Admirals Frederick C. Sherman and J. J. Clark, USN, had shot down about 150 enemy aircraft which were attempting to attack fleet surface units in the area of the Ryukyus. This tally of damage is preliminary and incomplete. Some ships of our forces received minor damage but all remain fully operational.
United States troops on Okinawa continued to attack in both the northern and southern sectors. At midday the Marine Third Amphibious Corps had advanced 3,000 to 5,000 yards against small scattered groups of the enemy on Ishikawa Isthmus. In the south, the Twenty Fourth Army Corps was encountering stiffened enemy resistance in areas organized by the enemy for defense and supported by enemy artillery. Our forces were being supported continuously by ships' gunfire and by carrier aircraft. During the night of April 5‑6, nine enemy planes were shot down near our forces around Okinawa.
In capturing the Kerama group of islands preliminary to the attack on Okinawa, U. S. forces killed 539 of the enemy and captured 166 prisoners of war.
Search aircraft of Fleet Wing One shot down two enemy aircraft in the Ryukyus area on April 6.

 

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1939
SPAIN: The Franco government joins Germany, Italy and Japan in the Anti-Comintern Pact.

1940
PANAMA CANAL ZONE: USN Destroyer J. Fred Talbott (DD-247) departs the Canal Zone to rendezvous at sea with Japanese steamship SS Arimasan Maru to provide medical assistance to a passenger on board the Japanese steamship.

1942
ALASKA: By proclamation, the 263 Japanese-Americans living in the territory are notified that they may be relocated to the continental U.S.

HQ 22d Bombardment Group (Medium) and 2nd Bombardment Squadron transfers from Ipswich to Townsville with B-26's; first mission is 8 Apr.
8th Photographic Squadron, Fifth Air Force (attached to Allied Air Forces) arrives at Melbourne, Australia from the US with F-4's; 2 flights remain at March Field, Riverside, California until 16 Jun. 18th Reconnaissance Squadron, 22d BG (Medium), transfers from Brisbane to Townsville, Australia with B-26's; first mission is 21 Apr. 33d Bombardment Squadron, 22d BG (Medium), transfers from Ipswich to Antil Plains with B-26's; first mission was 6 Apr.

BURMA: IJA 18th Division arrives in Rangoon, Burma from Singapore.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: On Bataan, the Japanese, attacking again in the II Corps area with air and artillery support, force the entire corps main line of resistance back to the Mamala River line; this line, too, becomes untenable, and Americans and Filipinos withdraw under cover of darkness, during the night of the 7th/8th, to the Alangan River. The 26th Cavalry, Philippine Scouts, released to the II Corps from the I Corps reserve, establishes a holding position while the line is formed along the Mamala River. Meanwhile, attempts by Philippine Division units to form a continuous line prove futile. Philippine Constabulary regiments defending the beaches are ordered into the battle line. The I Corps is directed to withdraw southward to the Binuangan River line.
The remaining USAAF P-40 fighters on Bataan are ordered flown to Mindanao Island. During the next three days, the P-40s will fly reconnaissance, cover heavy bombers sent to Mindanao from Australia operating against concentrations at Legaspi, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao, and carry out a strafing attack aircraft at Davao. After the heavy bombers return to Australia on 12 April, the fighters will continue to fly reconnaissance until Japanese forces envelop the troops on Mindanao on 1 May.

1943
GUADALCANAL: 11th IJNAF Air Fleet begins "I" operation with attacks against Guadalcanal and Tulagi. 180 a/c involved. The airgroups of 4 carriers have been moved to land for this operation. This leaves almost no trained carrier pilots left.
The Japanese aircraft attack shipping off the east coast of Guadalcanal, off Koli Point and off Tulagi.
The second phase of the Japanese Operation I GO, 67 "Vals" escorted by an estimated 117 "Zeros" are reported by coast watchers to be moving down the "Slot" to attack a convoy off the east coast of Guadalcanal, shipping at Koli point, and a Task Force at Tulagi.
All 75 operable fighters on Guadalcanal, 36 Wildcats, 9 Corsairs, 12 Lightnings, 6 P-40s and 12Airacobras, are scrambled, and the bombers are moved to the southwestern tip of the island for safety.
The air battle takes place off the Russells, near Tulagi, and over the convoy. Marine F4F pilots shoot down 12 "Val" dive bombers and 15 "Zero" fighters; 7 F4Fs and P-38s are shot down with the loss of a pilot.
The "Vals" attack Allied shipping and sink the corvette HMNZS Moa and the destroyer USS Aaron Ward is damaged by one bomb hit and four near misses. Submarine rescue vessel USS Ortolan and tug USS Vireo attempt to beach Aaron Ward, but the destroyer sinks as the result of bomb damage. Also damaged are the oilers USS Kanawha and USS Tappahannock and tank landing ship USS LST-449. Later, the tugs USS Rail and USS Menominee and the net tender USS Butternut, tow Kanawha into Tulagi harbor, where the damaged oiler is beached just before midnight.
Marine 1st Lt. James E. Swett, on his first combat mission, shot down seven Japanese VAL's over Guadacanal. He's the first American to achieve this score in a single mission.

This is the date we [182nd Regiment, Americal Division, USA] left Guadalcanal for Fiji, in 1943. I knew it was April, and that LIFE magazine had called it "the biggest air raid of the Pacific War so far", but they
thought it was only 100 Japanese planes. Yours says 180 planes. We were on the John Penn when the planes came over.
All our planes were caught on the ground. I sneaked under a 20mm gun mount, rather than be locked below decks, as the Navy did to keep us out of the way. I saw the greatest air raid in my history of 3-1/2 years out there in war. Planes went upwind, downwind, and crosswind clawing for height to attack the enemy. P-38's which were new went straight up like an elevator. Planes were falling with smoke trailing...no way to tell whose.
My late friend, Al Glendye, was Bos'n on a tanker loaded with air plane fuel. The ship was straddled by two 500 lb bombs. Had either landed and blown the ship, others would have gone down with it. J.F. Kennedy' s bio "PT-109" opens with a chapter on this raid. He was coming out as a replacement when their ship pulled into "Iron Bottom Bay".

ADMIRALTY ISLANDS: Fifth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators attack Lorengau on Manus Island.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: In the Aleutians, the Eleventh Air Force reconnaissance airplane aborts shortly after takeoff due to weather.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Individual Fifth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island and Kavieng on New Ireland Island.

BORNEO: USN submarine USS Trout ( SS-202 ) lays mines near Sarawak.

BURMA: 2 Tenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells temporarily knock out a bridge on the Ye-u railroad branch, crossing the Mu River between Ywataung and Monywa; 18 B-25s, in 2 forces, bomb the Ywataung Marshalling Yard; P-40s support ground forces north of Shingbwiyang and 6 B-24 Liberators bomb Japanese HQ at Toungoo.

NEW GUINEA: Fifth Air Force B-25s hit areas along the northeastern coast from Mur to Singor. B-24s bomb the landing ground at Babo and town area of Fak Fak while individual B-17s and B-24s attack shipping and coastal targets at Lae, Salamaua, Finschhafen and Wewak.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 8 B-24s dispatched to destroy a convoy, believed SE of Matsuwa Island, Kurile Islands, turn back due to engine, navigation and weather difficulties. A flight of F-7As of the 2d Photographic Charting Squadron, 1st Photographic Charting Group, 311th Photographic Wing (Mapping and Charting), arrives in the Aleutian Islands; its mission is mapping of the Kurile Islands. The squadron is based at Peterson Field, Colorado Springs, Colorado and sends detachments to various parts of the world to photo map.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20+ P-51s and B-25s hit gun positions at Mawlu; throughout the Mogaung Valley 100+ fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s hit numerous targets including fuel and ammunition stores near Manywet, supplies and a railroad station at Myitkyina, supplies and radio station at Sahmaw, the Kamaing area, bridges at Nsopzup and supply dumps W of Mogaung; 30+ of the fighter-bombers carry out ground support missions at Shaduzup.
- IJA encircle the 161st British Brigade inear Kohina, and Assam, India.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 7 P-40s strafe 3 barges and several junks at Saint John Island, China, leaving them burning. 2 B-24s on a sweep from Hong Kong to Formosa claim a large river boat and a small freighter sunk and 2 other freighters damaged; 1 B-24 is lost. 4 P-40s attack a large concentration of small vessels at Haiphong, French Indochina, sinking at
least 4.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (XX Bomber Command): HQ 462d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) arrives at Piardoba, India from the US.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro, and bomb Jaluit Atoll on the return flight.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 50+ fighter-bombers pound supply areas at Ratawul; 9 B-25s hit Talili Bay, 11 bomb Vunakanau Airfield and 13 blast Tobera Airfield; 6 B-25s maintain night heckling of the Rabaul area. On Bougainville Island, 4 P-40s bomb pillboxes near the Reini River while 2 B-24s bomb Monoitu Mission. HQ 5th Bombardment Group moves from Munda to Momote Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-25s, A-20s and P-39s hit villages, barges, a supply area, and coastal road in areas around Madang, Tadji, Bogia, and Uligan Harbor; and B-24s bomb Langgoer and Wakde. Other B-25s bomb barracks at Penfoei, Timor Island.

1945
PACIFIC: Japanese BB Yamato receives the attention of 380 US a/c attacking in 2 waves from TF 58. She absorbs 10 torpedoes and 5 bomb strikes before sinking.
The crew of a Martin PBM-3D Mariner of Patrol Bombing Squadron Twenty One, based at Kerama Retto anchorage in the Ryukyu Islands, spots the Japanese First Diversion Attack Force built around the battleship HIJMS Yamato and alerts the Fifth Fleet. Task Force 58 launches 386 aircraft and the battleship and the light cruiser HIJMS Yahagi are sunk west-southwest of Kagoshima, Japan at 30.40N, 128.03E. Also sunk are destroyers HIJMS Asashimo, HIJMS Hamakaze, HIJMS Isokaze and HIJMS Kasumi; the destroyers HIJMS Suzutsuki, HIJMS Hatsushimo, HIJMS Yukikaze and HIJMS Suzutsuki are damaged.

OKINAWA: USN Fleet units shoot down 54 kamikazes against the loss of 10 fighters.
High speed minesweeper USS Emmons, irreparably damaged by five kamikazes the previous day, is scuttled by high speed minesweeper USS Ellyson; tank landing ship USS LST-447 sinks as the result of damage inflicted by kamikaze the previous day. Motor gunboat PGM-18 is sunk by mine; while picking up PGM-18's survivors, motor minesweeper YMS-103 is damaged by mine. Also off Okinawa, kamikazes damage carrier USS Hancock (a suicide plane cartwheeled across her flight deck and crashed into a group of planes while its bomb hit the port catapult to cause a tremendous explosion); battleship USS Maryland [a suicide plane loaded with a 500-pound bomb crashed the top of turret No. 3 from starboard at dusk]; destroyers USS Longshaw, and USS Bennett; destroyer escort USS Wesson; and motor minesweeper YMS-81; a shore battery damages motor minesweeper YMS-427; tank landing ship USS LST-698 is damaged by grounding; tank landing ship USS LST-890 is damaged in collision with LST-788.

PACIFIC: Japanese ship loses include light cruiser HIJMS Isuzu by submarines USS Gabilan and USS Charr; an auxiliary submarine chaser by submarine USS Tirante; a fleet tanker by aircraft; and a merchant cargo ship by mines laid by B-29s;

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A B-24 flies a radar-ferret mission along the coasts of Paramushiru and Harumukotan Islands in the Kurile Islands.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 14 B-25s hit town areas and targets of opportunity at Sichuan, Hsihhsiassuchi, Neihsiang, Shaoyang, and Nanchang and 24 P-51s attack river, road and rail traffic in the Yellow River area, S of Anyi, at Yuncheng, and at Tengfeng. 4 B-24s bomb harbors and dock areas at Bakli and Samah Bays on Hainan Island and at Haiphong, French Indochina; and 8 P-38s hit targets of opportunity around Dien Bien Phu and along the Nam Hon area in French Indochina.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): 95 fighter-bombers operating over and behind Japanese lines in C Burma pound troop concentrations, trucks, and supply areas, and sweep roads S of bomb line. The 3d Combat Cargo Squadron, 1st Combat Cargo Group, moves from Tulihal to Hathazari, India with C-47s.

AAFPOA Seventh Air Force: 24 B-24s from Angaur Airfield bomb the barracks area at Bunawan on Mindanao. VII Fighter Command: Mission 1: 91 of 108 P-51s escort B-29s to Tokyo; they claim 21-5-7 Japanese aircraft; 2 P-51s are lost.
USN - US carrier aircraft sink Yamato during the Battle of the East China Sea.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 58: 101 of 107 B-29s bomb the Nakajima aircraft engine plant at Tokyo; 2 others hit targets of opportunity; they claim 80-23-50 Japanese aircraft; 3 B-29s are lost.
Mission 59: 153 of 194 B-29s hit the Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Nagoya; 29 others hit targets of opportunity; they claim 21-11-22 Japanese aircraft; 2 B-29s are lost.
HQ 444th BG (Very Heavy) arrives at West Field, Tinian Island from India.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Bad weather hampers strikes N of the Philippines. B-24s and P-38s over Formosa hit various targets of opportunity. Fighters fly 130+ sorties in support of ground forces at Solvec Cove, Villa Verde Trail, the Ipo and Marikina Rivers, and NE Laguna de Bay. B-24s again bomb Bunawan on Mindanao. Other B-24s and P-38s hit Jolo and B-24s bomb Bima Airfield on Sumbawa Island in the Lesser Sunda Islands. Unit moves: 311th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group, from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Mangaldan with P-47s; 550th Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command (attached to 85th Fighter Wing), from Morotai Island, Moluccas Islands to Tacloban, Leyte Island, Philippine Islands with P-38s, P-61s and P-70s.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 324, APRIL 7, 1945

On April 6 and 7 (East Longitude Dates) the enemy attempted strong counterattacks against our forces operating in the vicinity of Okinawa.
During the late afternoon and evening of April 6, a large force of enemy aircraft attacked our ships and shore installations in the vicinity of Okinawa. One hundred sixteen of these enemy aircraft were destroyed‑55 by our fighters and the remainder by our antiaircraft fire. The attacking enemy aircraft pressed their attacks in with desperation and succeeded in sinking three of our destroyers and damaging several destroyers and smaller craft. No larger fleet units were hit.
Early on April 7, Navy Search Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One sighted an enemy surface force which had left the Inland Sea and passing south of Kyushu had headed into the East China Sea. The force included the large battleship Yamato, the most powerful ship left in the Japanese Navy, an Agano class light cruiser, one other small light cruiser or large destroyer, and a number of destroyers. A fast carrier task force commanded by Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher steamed toward the enemy at high speed and dur*ing the middle of the day brought the Japanese Force under air attack.
Our carrier aircraft which had destroyed 245 enemy aircraft on April 6, met no opposition over the Japanese ships but did meet heavy antiaircraft fire. At a point about 50 miles southwest of Kyushu they sank the Yamato, the light Agano class cruiser, the small cruiser and three destroyers. Three other destroyers were left burning. About three destroyers escaped from this attack.
The Yamato was hit by at least eight torpedoes and eight heavy bombs. All the enemy ships were heavily strafed with rockets and machine guns.
Our carriers lost seven aircraft in this action. During minor contacts on April 7, they and their aircraft shot down 30 enemy aircraft. The task groups participating were commanded by Rear Admirals F. C. Sherman, U. S. Navy, A. W. Radford, U. S. Navy, G. F. Bogan, U. S. Navy, and J. J. Clark, U. S. Navy.
The Marine Third Amphibious Corps on Okinawa moved forward steadily in the northern sector throughout the afternoon of April 6. By 1800, it had made advances which placed its front lines across Ishikawa Isthmus from Chuda on the west coast to the mouth of the Kinbaru River on the east coast. In the south, strong enemy resistance developed during the day. From its' strong defensive positions the enemy employed machine gun, small arms, mortar and artillery fire against the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps throughout April 6, and the following night. Army troops along the East Coast in the southern sector advanced about 2,000 yards during the afternoon of April 6, and occupied the town of Tsuwa. The enemy in the south was brought under heavy fire by our artillery throughout the day.
Search Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One attacked airfields in Kyushu, de*stroying four fighters on the ground, probably destroying three others and damaging about 15 more by strafing.
Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed dock installations and buildings at Truk in the Carolines on April 5.
Neutralizing raids on enemy bases in the Marshalls were continued on April 5 by planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 325, APRIL 7, 1945

The Marine Third Amphibious Corps continued to drive northward against negligible enemy resistance on the Ishikawa Isthmus of Okinawa on April 7 (East Longitude Date). By noon of that date, the Marines had advanced about 3,000 yards to the vicinity of Nago Town on the west coast and Ora Bay on the east coast. The Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps in the south was moving through difficult terrain in which the enemy is fortified behind an extensive system of strong points, pillboxes, blockhouses and trenches. Carrier aircraft, ships' guns and heavy artillery continued to bombard enemy positions. A small group of aircraft attacked our forces early in the day. Twelve were shot down.
A carrier task force of the British Pacific Fleet attacked airfields and other installations on Ishigaki and Miyako in the Sakishima group on April 6 and 7. British fighters destroyed five enemy aircraft in the air and three others on the ground.
Further information on the action of fast carrier task forces of the U. S. Pacific Fleet on April 6 shows that our aircraft sank four small cargo ships and many small craft in the area of the Ryukyus and ‑destroyed two aircraft on the ground, this damage being in addition to that previously reported. On April 7, after attacking Japanese surface forces off Kyushu, one of our heavy fleet units suffered minor damage during an aircraft attack but is fully oper*ational.
Hellcat and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed and strafed warehouses and other installations in the Palaus on April 7.

CINCPOA PRESS RELEASE NO. 63, APRIL 7, 1945

Additional information on the three‑day strike of the British Pacific Fleet on the Sakishima Group 31 March to 2 April (East Longitude Dates) shows extensive damage inflicted on enemy ground installations in those islands, destruction of 22 enemy aircraft and damage to nine others. Some major units of the British Pacific Fleet sustained slight damage from enemy aircraft during the attacks but all major units remained fully operational.

 

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1942
BURMA: Pilots of the 1st and 3d Fighter Squadrons, AVG shoot down 12 Japanese fighters near Loiwing Airdrome in northern Burma during the afternoon.

EAST INDIES: Japanese forces landed and occupied, without a fight, the town of Djailolo on Halmahera Island.

HAWAII: At 1200 hours, the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, with the heavy cruisers USS Salt Lake Cit and Northampton, four destroyers, and the oiler USS Sabine, sortie from Pearl Harbor to rendezvous with the aircraft carrier USS Hornet which is carrying USAAF B-25s to attack Japan.

INDIA: A USAAF cargo plane makes the first flight over "The Hump," the 22,000-foot high Himalayan mountain range that separates India and China. During the next four years, more than 650,000 tons of supplies will be flown over the Hump to Kunming, China. More than 450 planes will crash during the airlift, giving the route over the mountains the nickname "The Aluminum Trail."

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: On Bataan, the II Corps disintegrates completely under sustained Japanese attacks from the ground and air. The Japanese soon discover gaps in the Alangan River line held by the U.S. 31st Infantry and 803d Engineer Battalion; the Philippine Scouts 57th Infantry, 26th Cavalry and 14th Engineer Battalion; and Philippine Constabulary troops, and stream southward at will. In a final effort to stem the enemy advance, the Provisional Coast Artillery Brigade (Antiaircraft), serving as infantrymen, forms a weak line just north of Cabcaben, but other units ordered to extend this line are unable to do so. Major General Edward King, Commanding General Luzon Force, decides to surrender his troops and orders equipment destroyed during the night of the 8th/9th. Of the 78,000 men of the Luzon Force, about 2,000 succeed in escaping to Corregidor Island in Manila Bay.
Submarine USS Seadragon delivers food to Corregidor, and evacuates the final increment of naval radio and communications intelligence people.
The air echelons of the 3d, 17th and 20th Pursuit Squadrons, 24th Pursuit Group, and the 21st and 34th Pursuit Squadrons, 35th Pursuit Group based on Bataan begin operating from Del Monte Field on Mindanao with whatever aircraft are left.

U.S.: The War Production Board accelerated the transformation of the nation's economy by ordering a halt to all production that was not deemed necessary to the war. The War Production Board's mandate quickly took hold; at the peak of the war, the military utilized nearly half of the nation's production and services. Far from causing fiscal woe, World War II proved to be a great boon to the economy: unemployment, which had climbed up to 14 percent in 1940, all but evaporated, while the gross national product doubled by the close of the war.

1943
AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, The weather airplane scouts Kiska and islands W of it with negative results.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's bomb Meiktila Airfield; 6 B-24's attack the airfield at Heho; and Ft Bayard Airfield is strafed by 9 P-40's. Enemy stores at Ningam are hit by 4 P-40's and a B-25.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) HQ 11th Bombardment Group and it's 4 squadrons, the 26th, 42d, 98th and 431st Bombardment Squadrons with B-17E's and F's, transfer from Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands to the Territory of Hawaii. Group HQ and the 431st go to Hickam Field; the 26th to Bellows Field, the 42d to Kualoa Point; and the 98th to Mokuleia.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's and B-24's carry out small harassing strikes, bombing Ulamoa, Finschhafen, and the airfield at Kavieng. Lost on a ferry flight is B-26 40-1417.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The oiler USS Kanawha (AO-1), damaged by Japanese dive bombers yesterday, and beached off Tulagi by tugs USS Rail (AT-139) and USS Menominee (AT-73), sinks before daybreak.

USA: In the US, President Roosevelt orders certain wage and price controls in his effort to combat inflation. His order also restricts the ability of some workers to change jobs.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, nearly 100 fighter-bombers and 2 B-25s again pound Mogaung Valley targets, including Manywet, storage areas and railroad at Mogaung, positions at Shaduzup and general targets of opportunity around Kamaing; 4 B-25s damage bridge and track at Sittang.

INDIA: Four C-47 Skytrain squadrons of the 64th Troop Carrier Group based in Italy arrive in India to support the emergency resupply of the British Army's besieged garrison at Imphal.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 11 B-24s bomb railroad yards at Hanoi, French Indochina. In China, 6 B-25s damage several small ships in Yulinkan Bay; 2 others strafe an airfield on Weichow Island; 8 P-40s pound oil dumps at Wanling, leaving the target area in flames. 9 B-24s bomb the airfield on Samah Bay, Hainan Island; 4 others lay mines in the bay.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s flying out of Kwajalein strike Truk Atoll; Abemama Island-based B-25s pound Ponape Island; B-25s from Tarawa Atoll hit Maloelap Atoll, rearm at Majuro and bomb Jaluit Atoll during the return flight.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): During the night of 7/8 Apr 6 B-25s heckle the Kavieng Airfield area on New Ireland Island. On New Britain Island, 50+ fighter-bombers hit the NE section of Rabaul and 24 B-25s bomb the center of Lakunai Airfield. 4 B-24s again pound Monoitu Mission on Bougainville Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, P-40s attack targets of opportunity in the Aitape-Wewak area; and A-20s hit targets in the Hansa Bay area, firing a fuel dump and destroying several warehouses and other buildings at 3 plantations and strafing and bombing roads and bridges along the coast. HQ 417th Bombardment Group moves from Dobodura to Saidor.

1945
OKINAWA: The destroyer USS Charles J. Badger is damaged by an assault demolition boat; the destroyer USS Gregory is damaged by kamikaze; motor minesweeper YMS-92 is damaged by a mine; tank landing ship USS LST-939 is damaged in collision with tank landing ship USS LST-268; tank landing ship USS LST-940 is damaged by grounding.
The aircraft carriers USS Enterprise and USS Randolph arrive off Okinawa from Utithi Atoll during the night of 7/8 April and Task Force 58 is reorganized with the following 15 aircraft carriers:
Task Group 58.1
USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) with Light Carrier Air Group 30
USS Bennington (CV-20) with Carrier Air Group 82
USS Hornet (CV-12) with CVG-17
Task Group 58.2
USS Enterprise (CV-6) with Night Carrier Air Group 90
USS Randolph (CV-15) with CVG-12
USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) with CVLG-45
USS Wasp (CV-18 ) with CVG-86
Task Group 58.3
USS Bataan (CVL-29) with CVLG
USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) with CVG-84
USS Cabot (CVL-28 ) with CVLG-29
USS Essex (CV-9) with CVG-83
Task Group 58.4
USS Independence (CVL-22) with CVLG-46
USS Intrepid (CV-11) with CVG-10
USS Langley (CVL-27) with CVLG-23
USS Yorktown (CV-10) with CVG-9

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 31 P-51s knock out a bridge S of Shaoyang, destroy a section of track at Sincheng, and hit numerous road and rail targets of opportunity in the Yellow River areas and points to the S, from Shanhsien to Loning, at Hungtung, and S of Hei-Shih Kuan; 4 B-24s attack shipping targets of opportunity in the S China Sea and in Bakli Bay on Hainan Island and Yulin Bay, China and bomb Kowloon Docks in Hong Kong.
The Japanese Army initiates a ground offensive against Paoching. The purpose is to drive 80 miles into Hunan Province and capture Chichiang Airfield. This turns out to be the last Japanese offensive in China.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): 50+ P-38s and P-47s operating in C Burma battle areas attack troops, supplies, gun positions, and trucks at several points along and behind enemy lines, and sweep roads S of bomb line; transports maintain operations throughout the day. The 156th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, based at Kalaikunda, India with UC-64s and L-5s, sends a detachment to operate from Myitche, Burma.
The British IV Corps and XXXIII Corps begin a rapid motorized advance down the Sittang and Irrawaddy valleys in Burma.

AAFPOA Seventh Air Force: 25 B-24s from Angaur Airfield bomb the Bunawan area on Mindanao. VII Fighter Command: During the night of 8/9 Apr, 6 P-61s from Iwo Jima, operating singly at 2-hour intervals, bomb Chichi Jima, Haha Jima, Ani Jima, and Ototo Jima.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 2 missions are flown against airfields on Kyushu Island, Japan from which Kamikaze attacks are originating. Mission 60: 29 of 32 B-29s strike 2 airfields at Kanoya. Mission 61: 48 B-29s attack the airfield at Kokubu; 1 B-29 is lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: For the second consecutive day bad weather prevents attacks on the primary targets N of the Philippine Islands. B-24s and B-25s hit secondary targets including Chomosui Airfield in the Pescadores Islands, and on Formosa, Tainan and railroad yards, the towns of Takao, Toko, and Kaiko, and other scattered objectives. A-20s and fighter-bombers over Luzon support ground forces particularly in the areas E of Manila. B-24s join A-20s and fighter-bombers in support of ground forces on Cebu and Negros. Other B-24s bomb the N Davao Bay area on Mindanao and Jolo Island. Unit moves to Luzon: 33d Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group, from Hollandia, New Guinea to Nielson Field with C-47s; 69th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Mangaldan with P-47s.

PHILLIPINES: n the Philippine Islands, the U.S. Army's 163d Regimental Combat Team lands on Jolo Island (6.00N, 121.10E) in the Sulu Archipelago. The invasion is supported by three USN destroyers and aircraft of Marine Aircraft Groups Twelve and Thirty Two based on Mindanao. The Japanese defenders withdraw into the hills in the center of the island.

1981
USA: General Omar Bradley, USA dies.

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 326, APRIL 8, 1945

On the afternoon of April 7 (East Longitude Date) the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps drove into heavily defended terrain in the southern sector of Okinawa and captured the villages of Uchitomari and Kaniku. The enemy resisted stubbornly from numerous pillboxes and blockhouses which are em*placed to take full advantage of the broken terrain. In the north, Marines of the Third Amphibious Corps continued to move northward rapidly against negligible opposition. Four enemy aircraft appeared in the Okinawa area on April 7 and all were shot down.
On the following day Twenty‑Fourth Corps troops made small gains against heavy opposition in the south. By 1800 of that date the front line on their right had moved forward about 200 yards and on the left about 400 yards. Heavy artillery was used by the enemy throughout the night and day. Our troops are being supported by ships' gunfire, carrier aircraft and field artillery. In the northern sector of the island on April 8, Marines of the Third Amphibious Corps had moved 3,000 to 4,800 yards westward along Motobu peninsula by nightfall.
Fighters of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing have begun to use the captured air fields on Okinawa. Major General F. P. Mulcahy, USMC, is present in command of the tactical air forces on shore at Okinawa. Nine enemy aircraft were destroyed on April 8 by various forces.
By the end of April 7, 30,000 civilians were under care of the U. S. Mili*tary Government on Okinawa. Native housing is being utilized fully.
Carrier aircraft attacked shipping and installations in the area of the Amami group on April 8. A small cargo ship was set afire and a lugger de*stroyed.