SUNDAY, 1 JULY 1945
AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): 2 B-24s from Guam Island, Mariana
Islands, bomb the building concentration on Marcus Island in the N Pacific.
33 B-25s, operating in two flights from Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, bomb Chiran
Airfield on Kyushu Island, Japan. 2 others hit Yaku-shima Island in the Osumi
Islands. During Jul, HQ VII Bomber Command moves from Saipan Island, Mariana
Island to Okinawa. The 9th Troop Carrier Squadron, Seventh AF, moves from Saipan
Island to Guam Island with C-47s.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): During the night of 1/2 Jul, 1 mining and 4 incendiary
missions are flown: Mission 240: 152 B-29s attack the Kure urban area destroying 1.3 square miles
(3.4 square km), 40% of the city; 2 other B-29s hit alternate targets. Mission
241: 154 B-29s hit the Kumamato urban area destroying 1.0 square mile (2.6 square
km), 20% of the city; 1 other B-29 hits an alternate target; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 242: 100 B-29s bomb the Ube urban area destroying 0.42 square miles
(1.1 square km), 23% of the city. Mission 243: 126 B-29s attack the Shimonoseki
urban area destroying 0.51 square miles (1.32 square km), 36% of the city; 5
other B-29s hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 244: 24 B-29s mine
Shimonoseki Strait and the waters at Nanao and Fushiki. 148 Iwo Jima based P-51s
are dispatched to hit airfields in the Nagoya area (Kasumigaura, Itami, Hamamatsu,
and Nagano); they claim 2-0-0 aircraft in the air and 3-7 on the ground; 2 P-51s
are lost.
Fourteenth Air Force: In China, a few B-25s bomb a bridge and ferry terminal
at Chungmow and near Kaifeng and 4 escorting P-47s strafe Kaifeng Airfield and
locomotives in the area; 4 other P-47s bomb the railroad yards at Yuhsiang and
4 P-51s knock out a bridge E of Kiehsiu; on this date Chinese forces capture
Liuchow.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Borneo, B-24s pound defenses
at Balikpapan as Australian forces make amphibious landings; and B-24s, B-25s,
and P-38s hit airfields at Oelin, Tabanio, and Trombol, and bomb the Tawau area.
B-24s hit Limboeng Airfield and Mandai Airfield. Fighter-bombers hit
troops and gun positions in the Kayan-Tadian area on Luzon, Philippine Islands.
MONDAY, 2 JULY 1945
AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): 3 B-24s from Guam Island attack
a radar installation on Marcus Island. Unit moves to Okinawa: HQ 11th Bombardment
Group and 26th, 98th and 431st Bombardment Squadrons from Guam
Island with B-24s; HQ 319th Bombardment Group and 437th, 439th and 440th
Bombardment Squadrons to Kadena from the US with A-26s.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 245: During the night of 2/3 Jul, 39 B-29s
bomb an oil refinery at Minoshima; 1 other hits alternate targets.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 28 P-51s
hit rail, river, and road traffic, bridge, and buildings around Hengyang, Hankow,
and Yoyang, attack a bivouac area and HQ E of Changsha, and bomb a troop concentration
and buildings at Yangan. The fighter-bombers pound HQ, buildings, a fortified
compound, barracks, general targets of opportunity around Tartin, and a troop
concentration near Sichuan.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Borneo, B-24s bomb defenses
in the Balikpapan area, P-38s support Australian forces as they complete the
capture of Balikpapan and its oil installations and B-25s hit the Bintula personnel
area. On Luzon Island, fighter-bombers hit resistance pockets near Kiangan and
supply areas in the Cervantes sector. B-24s pound Toyohara Airfield on Formosa.
RAF/RAAF: Lost is C-47 Dakota KN 344.
TUESDAY, 3 JULY 1945
AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): 2 B-24s from Guam Island attack
water storage buildings on Marcus Island. 36 B-25s from Okinawa, attacking in
two flights, hit Chiran Airfield, Japan. The 438th Bombardment Squadron,
319th Bombardment Group, arrives at Kadena, Okinawa from the US with
A-26s.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 509 B-29s participate in 1 mining and 4 incendiary
missions during the night of 3/4 Jul; 3 B-29s are lost: Mission 246: 26 B-29s
mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters at Funakawa and Maizuru during the predawn
hours of the 4th; 2 other B-29s mine alternate targets. Mission 247: 116 B-29s
attack the Takamatsu urban area destroying 1.4 sq mi (4.6 sq km), 78% of the
city; 3 other hit alternate targets; 2 B-29s are lost. Mission 248: 125 B-29s
hit the Kochi urban area destroying 0.92 sq mi (3.0 sq km), 48% of the city;
1 B-29 is lost. Mission 249: 106 B-29s attack Himeji urban area destroying 1.216
sq mi (3.99 sq km), 63.3% of the city. Mission 250: 129 B-29s hit the Tokushima
urban area destroying 1.7 sq mi (5.6 sq km), 74% of the city; 2 B-29s attack
alternate targets.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: 3 B-25s knock out a
bridge near Suicheng while 2 P-47 escorts hit nearby AA positions; 70+ P-51s
and P-47s continue to disrupt the Japanese withdrawal, attacking transport,
supply, and communications targets, troops, bridges and Japanese-held points;
the targets are near Hengyang, Paoching, Kueiyangshih, Changsha, Kweilin, Lingling,
Kukong, Hankow, Siangtan, Isuho, Chiuchiang, Fahsien, Tanchuk, Lohochai, and
the Luichow Peninsula. The fighter bombers also hit shipping, a cement plant,
an airfield, and barracks area near Haiphong, French Indochina.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): The air echelon of the XX Bomber Command, including
Brigadier General Joseph Smith, Commanding General, sets sails from India for
Okinawa; the rest of the command sails in 2 lots, on 12 Jul and 4 Aug, leaving
only a few small detachments in the India-Burma area. [The 58th Bombardment
Wing (Very Heavy) earlier sailed to the Marianas on 27 Feb].
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Fifth AF fighters fly their first
mission over Japan, P-51s destroying floatplanes in the Fukuoka harbor area
on Kyushu. On Luzon, fighter-bombers hit resistance areas in the Mankayan and
Kiangan sectors. On Celebes Island, B-24s bomb runways at Mandai Airifled and Limboeng
airfields. In Borneo, B-24s pound Batu Kawa airstrip SE of Kuching and defensive
positions near Balikpapan in support of the Australian drive inland. The 868th
Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), Thirteenth AF, moves from Morotai Island to Leyte
Island with B-24s (the squadron specializes in low-level night attacks and pathfinder
missions).
WEDNESDAY, 4 JULY 1945
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): To celebrate the 4th of July, 8 B-24s
radar-bomb the Kataoka naval base on Shimushu with
napalm.
AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): 3 B-24s from Guam Island attack
AA installations on the SW corner of Marcus.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 159 Iwo Jima based P-51s attack the Yokosuka naval
base, and airfields in the Tokyo area (Imba, Tsukuba, and Kasumigaura); they
claim 9-25 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) A group of officers arrives at Chungking,
China to organize HQ, AAF China Theater.
Fourteenth Air Force: 30 P-51s and P-38s over French Indochina and S and E China
attack docks and shipping at Haiphong, Red River shipping between Hanoi and
Hung Yen, French Indochina, small craft between Mon Cay, French Indochina and
Pakhoi, China, between Hongay and Pai-lung Wei Cape, and between Pai-lung Wei
Cape and Umpo, China; the fighter-bombers also hit road traffic on the Luichow
Peninsula and sampans E of Tanchuk, China.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: P-51s fly a massive sweep along
the W coast of Kyushu Island, Japan. On Luzon, fighter-bombers support ground
forces in the Cagayan Valley and others attack Batan Island. On Borneo, B-24s
again pound defenses near Balikpapan and B-25s bomb Sibuti. On Celebes Island,
B-24s pound the Donggala seaplane base and runways at Boeloedowang and Limboeng
Airfields.
THURSDAY, 5 JULY 1945
AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): 46 B-24s and 24 B-25s all from Okinawa
bomb Omura Airfield and 2 towns in the Omura-Nagasaki area, Japan.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 100 P-51s, based on Iwo Jima, strike airfields
in the Tokyo area (Ibaraki, Yatabe, Yawatasaki Cape, and Maruta); they claim
5-11 aircraft on the ground.
Fourteenth Air Force: 8 B-25s sink several sampans and junks at Haiphong, French
Indochina and damage several larger vessels. 2 B-25s and 2 P-47s knock out a
bridge S of Chumatien, China. 37 P-51s over French Indochina and S and E China
blast shipping in the Hongay and Haiphong, French Indochina area, and in China,
pound docks and small vessels at Chikhom, knock out a bridge at Chumatien, blast
a barracks area at Anyang, and hit river and rail traffic around Tanchuk and
Chenghsien.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Formosa, B-24s bomb Toshien,
Takao, Toyohara and the nearby Kamioka supply area, and Taihoku Airfield. Fighter-bombers
fly nearly 100 sorties in support of ground forces in the Kiangan area on Luzon.
In Borneo, B-24s bomb Manggar and Riko and Australian troops cross Balikpapan
Bay and land on the W shore. P-51s sweeping Kyushu Island, Japan strafe targets
of opportunity and down several aircraft.
FRIDAY, 6 JULY 1945
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Taking off during the late evening hours of 6
Jul, 517 B-29s make four incendiary and 1 HE attacks between 0700 and 0800 hours
local on 7 Jul; 1 B-29 is lost: Mission 251: 124 B-29s attack the Chiba urban
area destroying 0.86 sq miles (2.23 sq km), 43.4% of the city; 1 other B-29
hits an alternate target. Mission 252: 123 B-29s hit the Akashi urban area destroying
0.81 sq miles (1.7 sq km), 57.0% of the city; 1 other B-29 hits an alternate
target. Mission 253: 133 B-29s attack the Shimizu urban area destroying 0.71
sq miles (1.49 sq km), 50% of the city; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 254: 131 B-29s
hit the Kofu urban area destroying 1.3 sq miles (2.7 sq km), 65% of the city;
1 other B-29 hits an alternate target. Mission 255: 59 B-29s drop 500-pound
(227 kg) bombs on the Maruzen Oil Refinery at Wakayama; 1 other hits an alternate
target. 110 Iwo Jima-based P-51s attack airfields in the Tokyo area (Kumagaya, Yamagata, and Chiba); they claim 1-0-0 aircraft in the air and 6-25 on the ground;
1 P-51 is lost.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Lieutenant General George E Stratemeyer officially
assumes command as Commanding General AAF China Theater; he will arrive in China
several days later.
Fourteenth Air Force: 98 P-51s and P-38s over French Indochina and S and E China
continue to disrupt the Japanese retreat and hit transport and supply targets;
rail, road, and river traffic, coastal shipping, bridges, troops, Japanese-held
areas, and general targets of opportunity are blasted at many locations chiefly
around Kweilin, Kukong, and Yangso, China, and Haiphong, and Hanoi, French Indochina.
On this date Major General Claire L Chennault, Commanding General Fourteenth
AF, requests permission to retire, which is soon granted.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon, fighter-bombers continue
to support ground forces N of Kiangan and bomb the town of Mankayan. In Formosa,
B-24s bomb Heito, Ryutan, and Taien Airfields and A-26s pound the Taito railroad
yards. B-24s over Borneo bomb Bandjermasin warehouses, Tandjoengredeb buildings,
Samarinda shipyards, and the Balikpapan and Manggar areas. Okinawa-based P-51s
hit transportation targets in the Kagoshima Bay area of Japan.
SATURDAY, 7 JULY 1945
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 100+ P-51s dispatched from Iwo Jima to hit airfields
in the Tokyo area abort due to bad weather. HQ XX Bomber Command arrives at
Sakugawa, Okinawa from India; HQ 414th Fighter Group and 413th, 437th, and 456th
Fighter Squadrons arrive at North Field, Iwo Jima from the US with P-47s (first
mission is 13 Jul).
Fourteenth Air Force: 80+ P-51s and P-38s over French Indochina and S and E
China continue to disrupt the Japanese withdrawal, pounding numerous communications
and transport targets and general targets of opportunity particularly in the
Yangso, Kweilin, and Fenstun areas.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon Island, B-25s and fighter-bombers
strike at remnants of the Japanese army in the Laguna de Bay and Marikina areas
and fighter-bombers also hit areas of resistance near Kiangan, Penablanca, and
Mankayan. B-24s, B-25s, and P-38s support Australian ground forces in the area
near Balikpapan, Borneo. On Formosa, B-24s bomb Matsuyama and Taihoku Airfields
in force.
SUNDAY, 8 JULY 1945
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 2 fighter groups (100+) P-51s from Iwo Jima pound
airfields and other targets at Hyakuri, Chofu, Tokorozawa, and Yachimata, Japan;
5 aircraft are claimed downed and at least 25 destroyed on the ground; 8 P-51s
are lost.
Fourteenth Air Force: 6 B-25s and 4 P-47s severely damage a bridge N of Sinsiang
and hit nearby trains. 60+ P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s pound river shipping, rail
traffic, supplies, and troops at Haiphong, Do Son, and Tourane, French Indochina
and at numerous locations in S and E China.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon, P-38s and P-51s supporting
ground operations hit supply and personnel areas near Kiangan and Penablanca.
On Formosa, B-24s bomb Shinchiku Airfield, B-25s start fires at the Getsubi
alcohol plant and on Koto Island, and P-38s attack oil production area at Gyuni
Kuki. On Borneo, B-24s and B-25s, supporting Australian forces, hit the Balikpapan area defensive positions, Samarinda shipyards, various targets along the Samarinda
road, and warehouses at Tandjung. B-24s [including some of the Royal Australian
Air Force (RAAF)] bomb warehouses at Donggala on Celebes Island. The 69th and
311th Fighter Squadrons, 58th Fighter Group, move from Porac to Okinawa
with P-47s.
MONDAY, 9 JULY 1945
AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): 43 B-24s from Okinawa bomb Omura
Airfield, Kyushu, Japan (1 other bombs the airfield on Kikaiga-shima, Amami
Islands, Ryukyu Islands) and 50+ Okinawa-based B-25s hit Tokuno Airfield on
Tokuno Shima, Amami. Lost is B-24D 42-42184.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): During the night of 9/10 Jul, 1 mining, 1 bombing
and 4 incendiary missions are flown against Japan; 3 B-29s are lost: Mission
256: 29 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and the waters at Niigata and Nanao; 1
other mines other targets; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 257: 123 B-29s attack the
Senai urban area destroying 1.22 sq mi (3.16 sq km), 27% of the city area; 1
other B-29 hits an alternate target; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 258: 115 B-29s attack the Sakai urban area destroying
1.02 sq mi (2.64 sq km), 44% of the city area; 3 other B-29s hit alternate targets.
Mission 259: 108 B-29s hit the Wakayama urban area destroying 2.1 sq mi (5.44
sq km), 52.5% of the city area.
Mission 260: 129 B-29s attack the Gifu urban
area destroying 1.93 sq mi (5.0 sq km), 74% of the city area; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 261: 61 B-29s attack the Utsube Oil Refinery at Yokkaichi with poor
results; 1 hits an alternate target. 102 Iwo Jima based P-51s hit airfields
at Itami, Hamamatsu, Aichi, and Washinomiya, claiming 1-0-0 aircraft in the
air and 15-5 on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost.
Tenth Air Force: The 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Reconnaissance
Group, moves from Nagaghuli to Dergaon, India with F-6s.
Fourteenth Air Force: 5 B-25s knock out 2 bridges in the Sinantien area; 14
P-51s and P-38s knock out bridges near Hengyang and Sinshih, damage a bridge
near Chihsien, and attack shipping and railroad targets of opportunity around
Hankow, Lukou, and Sinshih, China, and Dong Hoi, French Indochina. The detachment
of the 1st Combat Cargo Squadron, Fourteenth AF, operating from Liangshan returns
to base at Hsinching with C-47s.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon, P-38s and P-51s fly ground
support in the Iguig area of the Cagayan River Valley and hit Sabangan. Nearly
50 P-51s are weathered out of a Kyushu, Japan sweep from Okinawa. On Formosa,
B-24s bomb Okaseki, Toyohara, and Takao Airfields and A-26s attack Karenko.
On Borneo, B-24s and P-38s supporting Australian forces, hit Japanese forces
in areas near Balikpapan, Manggar, and Sepinggang; (Australian and Dutch forces
complete the encirclement of Balikpapan Bay); other B-24s hit the Samarinda
shipyards; and B-25s in support of operations in the Brunei Bay area bomb a
Japanese-occupied area E of Beaufort. Unit moves: HQ 348th Fighter Group and
340th Fighter Squadron from Floridablanca to Ie Shima with P-51s; ground echelon of 25th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th
Reconnaissance Group, from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Okinawa (air echelon
is at Clark Field, Luzon with F-5s); 310th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group,
from Porac to Okinawa with P-47s; 418th Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter
Command [attached to 308th Bombardment Wing (Heavy)] from San Jose, Mindoro
Island to Okinawa with P-61s.
TUESDAY, 10 JULY 1945
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 4 B-24s fly a search down the W coasts
of Paramushiru and Shimushu and
then radar-bomb Minami Zaki on Shimushu. 1 B-24 flies a radar-ferret
mission over the N Kurile Islands.
AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): During the night of 10/11 Jul, 1
B-24 from Okinawa bombs Karasehara Airfield, Japan; 43 other Okinawa-based B-24s
bomb Wan and Sateku Airfields on Kikaiga-shima, Amami Islands; 50+ B-25s bomb
Wan Airfield and Saha-Saki on Nakano Shima, Ryukyu Islands, and Kurume, Kyushu,
Japan.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 102 P-51s, based on Iwo Jima attack Hashin, Nishinomiya,
Sano, and Tokushima, Japan mostly hitting airfields; 3 P-51s are lost.
Fourteenth Air Force: 14 B-25s bomb the town of Dong Anh and the railroad shops
at Phu Lang Thuong, French Indochina, and truck convoys moving through the Siang
Chiang Valley, China. In China, 22 P-51s and P-38s bomb warehouses at Wuchang,
hit railroad targets of opportunity near Yoyang, strafe 3 railroad stations
N of Chuanhsien, bomb buildings N of Kanchou, knock out a bridge approach S
of Chuting, damage a bridge near Hengyang, and hit targets of opportunity at
Weichow Island, Laohokow, China, and Tourane, French Indochina. The 71st Liaison
Squadron, Fourteenth AF, begins a movement from Piardoba, India to Kunming,
China with UC-64s, L-1s, L-4s and L-5s.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon, P-38s and P-51s support
ground action in the N Cagayan Valley and hit enemy pockets E of Manila. On
Formosa, B-24s bomb Tainan Airfield, destroying several planes, and bomb warehouses
at Takao. Bad weather again prevents fighter sweep from Okinawa over Kyushu,
Japan. B-24s hit the town of Muarakaman and airfield at Tabanio, Borneo while
P-38s strafe numerous targets of opportunity in SE Borneo. B-24s bomb the warehouse
area at Donggala on Celebes Island. HQ 58th Fighter Group moves from Porac to Okinawa.
USN - 10 July-15 August--Carrier Operations Against Japan--Task
Force 38 (Vice Admiral J. S. McCain), initially composed of 14 carriers and
augmented by one other later in the period, operated against the Japanese homeland
in a series of air strikes on airfields, war and merchant shipping, naval bases
and military installations from Kyushu in the south to Hokkaido in the north.
The force was a part of Third Fleet under Admiral W. F. Halsey, who was in
overall command. Operations were supported by a replenishment group and an
antisubmarine group, both with escort carriers in their complement, and were
supplemented (after 16 July) by operations of British Carrier Task Force 37
(Vice Admiral H. B. Rawlings, RN) of four carriers and screen. The attack began
with heavy air strikes on airfields in the Tokyo plains area (10 July) shifted
to airfields and shipping in the northern Honshu-Hokkaido area (14-15 July),
and returned to Tokyo targets (17 July) and naval shipping at Yokosuka (18
July), swept up the Sea to the Osaka area and to Nagoya
(25 July), and then repeated the sweep (25, 28 and 30 July). After moving southward
(1 Aug.) to evade a typhoon, the force moved northward to clear the Hiroshima area for the atomic bomb drop and hit the Honshu-Hokkaido area (9-10 Aug),
and Tokyo (13 Aug). On 15 August at 0635, when Admiral Halsey sent a message
to his forces announcing the end of hostilities and ordering the cessation
of offensive air operations, the first carrier strike of the day had already
hit Tokyo and the second was approaching the coastline as it was recalled.
In this final carrier action of World War II, carrier aircraft
destroyed 1,223 enemy aircraft of which over 1,000 were on the ground, and
sank 23 war and 48 merchant ships totaling 285,000 tons.
WEDNESDAY, 11 JULY 1945
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 5 B-24s radar-bomb Kataoka on Shimushu and 4 B-25s fly a shipping sweep and bomb a Otomae Wan fishery, scoring
hits among the buildings.
AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): During the night of 11/12 Jul,
2 B-24s from Okinawa attack Byu and Miyazaki Airfields, Kyushu, Japan.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 262: During the night of 11/12 Jul,
25 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters at Miyazu, Maizuru, Obama Island
and,
in the first B-29 operation to Korea, 2 mine Pusan and Najin.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 25 P-51s
and P-40s attack bridges, troops, gun positions, rail traffic, rivercraft, coastal
shipping, and various scattered targets at or near Nanchang, Kweiyi, Puchi,
Tanchuk, and the Luichow Peninsula.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: P-51s sweep Kyushu, Japan. B-24s
bomb Shinchiku Airfield. B-25s and fighter-bombers pound troop concentrations
and defenses in the Cagayan Valley on Luzon Island and B-24s pound troop concentrations
on Negros Island. B-25s and P-38s pound highway targets in the Balikpapan area.
ZONE OF INTERIOR (Second Air Force): The 4th Reconnaissance Squadron (Long Range,
Photographic), 311th Photographic Wing (attached to 6th Reconnaissance Group),
moves from Hollandia, New Guinea to Tacloban, Leyte with F-7s (the squadron
is mapping areas of the SW and W Pacific).
THURSDAY, 12 JULY 1945
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 4 B-25s on a shipping sweep bomb and
strafe a freighter; 1 B-25 is lost killing the crew.
AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): HQ Seventh AF on Okinawa is declared
open by a General Order on this date. 47 B-24s from Okinawa, failing to bomb
the primary target, Tsuiki, Japan because of clouds, attack the airfield on
Kikaiga-shima, Amami Islands. 2 Okinawa-based B-24s bomb Byu and Miyazaki Airfields,
Kyushu during the night. 50+ B-25s bomb Kanoya airfield and the town of Aburatsu
on Kyushu and Tokuno airfield on Tokuno Shima, Amami Islands. On Kyushu, Chiran
Airfield is pounded by 70 B-25s and A-26s (this is the first strike against
Japan by Seventh AF A-26s); 2 more A-26s hit the Ibusuki seaplane station.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): During the night of 12/13 Jul, 1 bombing and 4
incendiary missions are flown; 3 B-29s are lost. Mission 263: 115 B-29s attack
the Utsunomiya urban area destroying 0.94 sq mi (2.4 sq km), 34.2% of the city;
5 others hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 264: 123 B-29s hit the
Ichinomiya urban area destroying 0.01 sq mi (0.03 sq km), 0.8% of the city area;
2 others hit alternate targets. Mission 265: 92 B-29s attack the Tsuruga urban
area destroying 0.77 sq mi (2 sq km), 68% of the city; 2 others hit alternate
targets. Mission 266: 123 B-29s hit the Uwajima urban area destroying 0.14 sq
mi (0.36 sq km), 14% of the city; 1 other hits an alternate target. Mission
267: 53 B-29s attack the Kawasaki Petroleum Center destroying about 25% of the
target; 2 B-29s are lost, 1 between Guam and Tinian.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 3 B-25s blast
supply convoys moving through the Siang Chiang Valley; 43 P-51s and P-38s attack
bridges, rivercraft, barracks road traffic, and coastal shipping around Changsha,
Hsinching, the Luichow Peninsula and Nanchang and in French Indochina, Hamrong,
the Tonkin area, and Cao Bang. 2 bridges are knocked out and others damaged,
airfields are strafed at Vinh, French Indochina and Kiungshan, China.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: P-51s sweep Kyushu, Japan. B-24s
bomb Canton, China. On Formosa, B-24s bomb Toshien while A-26s hit numerous
targets at Tamazato and P-51s hit targets along the W coast. On Luzon, fighter-bombers
hit pillboxes E of Iguig, attack concentrations in the Bontoc-Kiangan area,
and support ground forces E of Manila (the town of Kiangan falls to the 6th
Infantry Division, but resistance in the area continues). B-24s over Negros
Island in support of ground forces bomb a concentration NE of Mount Mandalagan.
B-24s destroy a barrack area at Tandjung, Borneo and others hit warehouses at
Donggala, Celebes Island. The 341st, 342d and 460th Fighter Squadrons, 348th
Fighter Group, move from Floridablanca to Ie Shima with P-51s.
FRIDAY, 13 JULY 1945
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 268: During the night of 13/14 Jul, 30
B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters at Fukuoka, and ports at Seishin, Masan,
and Reisui.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: 14 B-25s and 12 P-51s
attack bridges, railroad yards, AA guns, and targets of opportunity at Anyang
and Puchi, China, and Do Cam, French Indochina. 33 P-51s and P-38s attack river
shipping, buildings, road traffic, rail targets, and general targets of opportunity
around Trung Khanh Phu, Tonkin, the Delta area, Cao Bang and Thanh Hoa, French
Indochina and Wangypan, the Luichow Peninsula, Pinglo, Changsha, and Wuchou,
China. The 449th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, moves from Chengkung
to Mengtsz, China with P-38s.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb storage areas at Canton,
China. On Formosa, B-24s bomb boatyards and buildings at Suo while A-26s hit
the Karenko railroad yards. B-24s bomb concentrations NE of Mount Mandalagan
on Negros Island. On Luzon, B-25s and fighter-bombers hit the Kiangan area,
attack Japanese pockets E of Iguig and N of Tuguegarao, pound pillboxes, ammunition
dumps, and vehicles in the Cervantes sector, and blast hostile areas near Siniloan,
NE of Laguna de Bay. P-38s attack gun entrenchments in the Miri area of Borneo.
P-38s on a sweep over SW Celebes Island hit vehicles and communications targets. Lost on an orientation flight is P-38L 44-24485 and P-38L 44-26538.
SATURDAY, 14 JULY 1945
AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): HQ Seventh AF moves from Saipan
Island to Okinawa and is reassigned from AAF Pacific Ocean Area and overall
operational control by the US Navy to FEAF. Seventh AF units in the Ryukyu Islands,
operating under Tactical AF, Ryukyus (Tenth Army Tactical AF) since Apr 45 when
the first element of the Seventh AF arrived, are now under operational control
of HQ Seventh AF. The move from Saipan takes place between 18 Jun and 28 Jul.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): P-51s from Iwo Jima sent on a strike against Meiji
and Kagamigahara in the Nagoya, Japan area abort because of weather.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: 25 P-51s and P-38s
bomb or strafe ammunition and supply dumps, river, road, and rail traffic, and
coastal shipping around Laohokow, Tinpak, Koyiu and Yutze, China and Hung Yen,
Bac Ninh, Hongay, Mon Cay and Vinh, French Indochina.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On this date HQ Seventh AF officially
joins the Fifth and Thirteenth AFs as part of FEAF. On Formosa, A-26s hit the
Taiharo refinery and warehouse area and P-51s over the W coast blast railroad
targets. P-47s sweep the N China coast and attack coastal cargo vessels NW of
Tinghai. On Luzon, fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Mankayan and
Kiangan areas and hit enemy positions in the Ipo-Infanta sector. B-24s support
ground forces on Negros Island, bombing the area NE of Mount Mandalagan. On
Celebes Island, B-24s bomb airstrips at Boeloedowang, Limboeng, Mapanget, and
Tanamon and Japanese HQ at Sindjai. The air echelon of the 25th Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, moves from Clark
Field, Luzon
to Okinawa with F-5s (ground echelon arrived on Okinawa on 9 Jul).
SUNDAY, 15 JULY 1945
CENTRAL PACIFIC (Twentieth Air Force): During the night of 15/16 Jul, 1 mining
and 1 bombing mission are flown without loss. Mission 269: 26 B-29s mine waters
at Naoetsu and Niigata, Japan and Najin, Pusan, and Wonsan, Korea; 1 other mines
an alternate target. Mission 270: 59 B-29s bomb the Nippon Oil Company at Kudamatsu
and the facility is almost completely destroyed; 3 others hit alternate targets.
104 Iwo Jima based P-51s attack airfields and other tactical targets at Meiji,
Kagamigahara, Kowa, Akenogahara, Nagoya, and Suzuko, Japan claiming 13-4-20
aircraft in the air and on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: 3 B-25s blast truck
convoys moving through the Siang Chiang Valley of China. 39 P-51s and P-47s
attack rivercraft, troops, coastal shipping, bridges, railroad yards, gun positions,
trains, and other targets around the Luichow Peninsula, Anyang, Yutze, Sinsiang,
Fentingtukou, Paoching, Tanchuk and Kweiyi, China, and Pac Muong and Haiphong,
French Indochina.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb an arms plant at Canton,
China. On Formosa, P-51s sweep the W coast, blasting a warehouse and other buildings
S of Takao and targets of opportunity on Hoko Island. On Luzon, P-38s and P-51s
support ground forces in the N Cayagan Valley, in the Kiangan sector, and in
the Cervantes area and B-25s and P-51s bomb defensive positions in the Infanta
sector. On Kyushu Island, Japan, 58 B-24s hit airfields at Tomitaka and Usa.
25 B-24s pound Kikaiga-shima, Amami Islands, Miranoura on Yaku-shima, Osumi
Islands, and an airfield on Tamega Island. The 65th Troop Carrier Squadron,
403d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Morotai to Dulag with C-46s
and C-47s.
MONDAY, 16 JULY 1945
USA - At 5:30 am, the first atomic bomb is tested at the White Sands bombing
Range near Alamorgodo, New Mexico.
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 2 B-24s fly a negative shipping search
mission to Shimushiru Island. 4 B-25s on an enemy shipping sweep deck-level
bomb and strafe an enemy freighter; 3 of the bombers then bomb and strafe Torishima
Retto, the secondary target.
CENTRAL PACIFIC (Twentieth Air Force): HQ Twentieth AF is officially moved from
Washington, DC to Harmon Field, Guam Island; HQ XX Bomber Command is inactivated,
effective 18 Jul, and HQ and HQ Squadron XXI Bomber Command is redesignated
HQ Squadron, Twentieth AF; thus the Bomber Commands are brought to an end as
actual establishments and their wings pass to direct control of HQ Twentieth
AF of which Major General Curtis Emerson LeMay takes command on this date. During
the night of 16/17 Jul, 469 B-29s fly 4 incendiary raids against Japanese cities
without loss. Mission 271: 119 B-29s attack the Namazu urban area destroying
1.4 sq mi (3.6 sq km), 89.5% of the city. Mission 272: 124 B-29s hit the Oita
urban area destroying 0.555 sq mi (1.437 sq km), 25.2% of the city. Mission
273: 94 B-29s attack the Kuwana urban area destroying 0.63 sq mi (1.63 sq km),
77% of the city; 2 other B-29s hit alternate targets. Mission 274: 129 B-29s
hit the Hiratsuka urban area destroying 1.04 sq mi (2.69 sq km), 44.2% of the
city; 1 other hits an alternate target. During the day, 5 P-47s hit Yanagawa
and 96 Iwo Jima based P-51s hit targets (mainly airfields) at Kameyama, Kiyosu,
Komaki, Okazaki, Suzuko, and Akenogahara; 22 air victories are claimed; 1 P-51
is lost. HQ 21st Fighter Group moves from Central Field to South Field on Iwo
Jima.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 5 B-25s pound
enemy truck convoys moving supplies through the Siang-Chiang Valley and S of
Kweilin; 60+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-47s continue to hit river, road, and rail traffic,
bridges, troops, supplies, and other targets at many points in French Indochina
and S and E China.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (AAF, India-Burma Theater) Major General Thomas J Hanley,
Jr assumes command of AAF, India-Burma Theater.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb warehouses at Watampone
on Celebes Island. On Luzon, P-51s and B-25s support ground forces in the Kiangan-Baguio sector and an area E of Manila. On Formosa, P-51s on a sweep attack communications
targets, hitting a railroad station and a locomotive shed at Byoritsu and scoring
a direct hit on bridge SW of Koryu. On Kyushu Island, Japan, B-24s, A-26s, B-25s,
P-51s and P-47s from Okinawa and Ie Shima pound targets; P-51s hit several E
coast targets, concentrating in the Kagoshima Bay area; 27 A-26s, 1 B-24, and
39 P-47s hit the airfield and bridge at Miyazaki; 33 B-24s bomb bridges at Nobeoka;
36 B-25s, a B-24 and an A-26 pound Sadohara bridge; 6 B-24s bomb harbor and
town of Aburatsu; and 5 P-47s hit Yanagawa. The 64th Troop Carrier Squadron,
403d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Biak to Dulag with C-47s.
ZONE OF INTERIOR (ZI): The first atomic bomb is successfully exploded at Los
Alamos, New Mexico. Second Air Force: The air echelon of the 19th Reconnaissance
Squadron (Long Range, Photographic), 311th Reconnaissance Wing (attached to
Ninth AF), moves from Watton to Thurleigh, England with F-9s (the squadron is
photo-mapping Europe).
TUESDAY, 17 JULY 1945
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): The 77th Bombardment Squadron (Medium),
28th Bombardment Group (Composite), flies it's last mission of the war when
4 B-25s make an unsuccessful shipping sweep between Kurabu Zaki and Tomari Zaki;
2 of the B-25s land in the USSR and 11 of the 12 airmen become the last American aircrew interned in the USSR during the war
(one airman is KIA). An unsuccessful shipping sweep is flown by 2 B-24s over
Shimushiru Island.
Twentieth Air Force: Mission 275: During the night of 17/18 Jul, 27 B-29s mine
Shimonoseki Strait and waters in the Nanao-Fushiki area, at Henashi Cape, Iwase
and at Seishin; 1 other B-29 mines an alternate target.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: In China, a single
B-25 attacks 3 truck convoys in the Siang Chiang Valley and bombs the area along
the river at Hengyang; 70+ P-51s and P-47s continue to disrupt enemy movement
in French Indochina and S and E China, attacking bridges, railroad yards, rail,
road, and river traffic, airfields, gun positions, and many other targets at
various locations, especially around Suichwan, Linfen, and Sinsiang, China.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In China, nearly 150 B-24s, B-25s,
and A-26s pound Chiang Wan Airfield, P-47s attack shipping and warehouses in
the Taishan Island area while others hit Tinghai Airfield and B-25s hit Itu
Aba Island. P-51s over Kyushu and the N Ryukyu Islands attack shipping, severely
damaging a 10,000-ton cargo vessel in the harbor on Amami- O-Shima Island and
P-47s dive-bomb railroad tunnels NW and SW of Kagoshima, Kyushu. B-24s bomb
Limboeng, Celebes Island barracks and strafe a schooner off SW Celebes. B-25s
attack Jesselton Airfield. The 13th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop
Carrier Group, moves from Espiritu Santo to Dulag with C-47s.
WEDNESDAY, 18 JULY 1945
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 2 routine search and weather sorties
are flown.
CENTRAL PACIFIC [US Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF)] HQ USASTAF
is established at Guam Island under General Carl Spaatz.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: 4 B-25s blast the railroad
yards at Dong Anh, French Indochina. 36 P-51s and P-38s hit river traffic, rail
targets, coastal shipping, enemy positions, trucks, and other targets around
Viet Tri, French Indochina and other areas of French Indochina and near Yoyang,
Suichwan, Lingling, Chikhom, Kukong, and Dosing, China.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In China, about 150 B-24s, B-25s,
and A-26s, covered by 54 P-47s, hit the Shanghai area, airfields at Chiang Wan,
Wusung, and Lunghua, Shanghai docks, shipping on the Whangpoo River, and airstrips
on Chusan Island. Other P-47s attack various targets of opportunity on Kyushu
Island, Japan and P-51s attack communications lines, bridges, shipping, towns,
and other targets throughout Kyushu and the Ryukyu Islands. P-38s hit communications
and transportation targets throughout the N part of Formosa while B-24s pound
the airfield at Matsuyama. B-24s bomb Boetoeng and Watampone on Celebes Island;
on Borneo, B-25s hit Jesselton and P-38s attack Langkon. P-38s hit Japanese
concentration along the Kibawe trail on Mindanao.
THURSDAY, 19 JULY 1945
CENTRAL PACIFIC [US Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF)] Twentieth
Air Force: During the night of 19/20 Jul, 1 mining, 4 incendiary and 1 bombing
missions are flown by B-29s against Japan and Korea; 3 B-29s are lost. Mission
276: 27 B-29s lay mines in the Oyama, Niigata, Miyazu, Maizuru, Tsuruga, Nezugaseki,
Obama Island, and Kobe-Osaka areas of Japan and at Wonsan, Korea; 1 B-29s mines
an alternate target. Mission 277: 127 B-29s attack the Fukui urban area destroying
1.6 sq mi
(4.2 sq km), 84.8% of the city; 1 other B-29s hits an alternate target. Mission
278: 126 B-29s hit the Hitachi urban area destroying 0.88 sq mi (2.28 sq km),
64.5% of the city; 1 other B-29 hits an alternate target; 2
B-29s are lost. Mission 279: 91 B-29s attack the Choshi urban area destroying
0.379 sq mi (0.982 sq km), 33.8 % of the city. Mission 280: 126 B-29s hit the
Okazaki urban area destroying 0.65 sq mi (1.68 sq km), 68% of the city; 1 B-29
hits an alternate target. Mission 281: 83 B-29s bomb the Nippon oil plant at
Amagasaki; 1 other B-29 hits an alternate target. Iwo Jima based P-51s strike
airfields, factories, railroads, power lines and other tactical targets at Kagamigahara,
Nagoya, Meiji, Izumi, Nishinomiya, and Tambaichi during the day.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 20 B-25s,
16 P-51s, and 4 P-47s blast railroad yards at Shihkiachwang; 7 other B-25s and
2 P-51s hit bridges S of Yoyang and bomb truck convoys in the Siang Chiang Valley,
particularly around the Siangtan area. 37 fighter-bombers disrupt enemy movement
over wide areas of French Indochina and S and E China, attacking numerous targets
of opportunity.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Borneo, P-38s hit a suicide
boat hideout at Sandakan while B-25s bomb Jesselton Airfield. P-38s support
ground forces, hitting positions along the Kibawe trail on Mindanao. B-25s hit Itu Aba Island, China. In Japan, 90+ P-51s pound
numerous targets on sweeps over the Nagoya area and hit airfields, factories,
power facilities, and gun positions at locations including Kagamigahara, Nishinomiya,
and Osaka.
FRIDAY, 20 JULY 1945
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 8 B-24s fly the heaviest and most successful
mission of the month, bombing hangars and revetments at Matsuwa Airfield on
Matsuwa Island. The detachment of the 11th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group,
operating from Amchitka Island with P-38s and P-40s since Mar
44, returns to base on Adak Island.
CENTRAL PACIFIC [US Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF)] Twentieth
Air Force: The 393d Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy), 509th Composite Group,
begins a series of 12 precision attacks over Japan for the purpose of familiarizing
the crews with the target area and tactics contemplated for the scheduled atomic
bomb missions; the strikes (on 20, 24, 26, and 29 Jul) are mostly against (or
near) cities previously bombed, in the general area of cities chosen for possible
atomic attack, and involve from 2 to 6 aircraft in order to accustom the Japanese
to sight of small formations of B-29s flying at high altitudes. 94 P-51s based
on Iwo Jima are dispatched against targets, mainly airfields, at Kamezaki, Meiji,
Okazaki, Nagoya, Kagamigahara, Hamamatsu, and Komaki, Japan; they claim 1-11
Japanese aircraft on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: 10 B-25s and 6 P-51s
hit truck convoys around Hengyang and Wuchang, and storage on an island near
Changsha, China, locomotive shops at Phu Thuong, and power plant and railroad
targets in the Vinh, French Indochina area. 50+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s disrupt
enemy movement and general withdrawal in Indochina and S and E China, attacking
river, road, and rail traffic, coastal shipping, supplies, and other targets.
The 115th Liaison Squadron, Fourteenth AF, moves from Nagaghuli to Chengkung,
China with L-1s, L-4s and L-5s.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: P-38s attack the town of Langkon,
Borneo. On Celebes Island, B-24s pound Togian Island and P-38s hit targets of
opportunity on the SW. B-25s hit Itu Aba Island, China and W of Palawan Island,
Philippine Islands for the second consecutive day. On Luzon, A-20s and fighter-bombers
support the ground action in the Kiangan area and in the lower Cagayan Valley
while B-25s and fighter-bombers hit Japanese positions in the Marikina and Infanta
areas. B-24s bomb an area S of Fabrica on Negros Island. Unit moves: The detachment
of the 419th Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command, operating from Zamboanga, Mindanao with P-61s, returns to base at Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island; 498th
Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium), from Clark
Field, Luzon to Ie Shima with B-25s.
SATURDAY, 21 JULY 1945
Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 11 B-25s and 2 P-51s attack truck convoys in
the Siang Chiang Valley, bomb a HQ near Wuchang, and hit a bridge, trains, warehouses,
and AA positions in the Sienning area. 40+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s again attack
numerous targets and disrupt enemy movement in French Indochina and S and E
China, hitting communications targets, supplies, transport, and other targets
of opportunity.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s and A-26s bomb shipping at
Naze-Ko, Ryukyu Islands. P-38s hit the Kiangan area on Luzon. Bad weather restricts
activity in the Netherlands East Indies, Philippine Islands, Japan, and other
target areas mainly to light raids and snooper missions. Unit moves to/on Okinawa:
HQ 319th Bombardment Group and 437th, 438th, 439th and 440th Bombardment
Squadrons from Kadena to Machinato with A-26s; ground echelon of 8th
Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, from Dulag (air echelon at Clark
Field with F-5s); 373d Bombardment Squadron
(Heavy), 494th Bombardment Group (Heavy), from Luliang, China to Yontan with
B-24s; 405th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium),
from Lingayen Airfield with B-25s.
SUNDAY, 22 JULY 1945
Twentieth Air Force: A bombing and a mining mission are flown during the night
of 23/24 Jul; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 282: 23 B-29s, staging through Iwo Jima, mine Shimonoseki Strait and
the Korea coast at Najin-which in the longest B-29 combat mission of the war-and
in the Pusan-Masan, Korea area; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 283: 72 B-29s bomb the
coal liquefaction company at the Imperial Fuel Industry Company at Ube. 100+ Iwo Jima based P-51s hit airfields, rail installations, and other tactical
targets at Itami, Hanshin, Sano, Tokushima, Takamatsu, and Minato, Japan.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 16 B-25s
and 8 fighter-bombers blast truck convoys moving supplies through the Siang
Chiang Valley, bomb railroad yards at Siaokan, and knock out 2 bridges S of
Sincheng and Lohochai. 50+ P-51s, P-47s, and P-38s continue the campaign to
disrupt enemy movement and withdrawal in French Indochina and S and E China,
pounding numerous rail, road, and river targets, supply dumps, and coastal shipping.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In China, 22 B-24s from Okinawa
hit Chiang Wan and 1 hits Tinghai Airfield, 37 B-25s bomb an oil plant at Shanghai
and a destroyer in the Whangpoo River, P-47s from Ie Shima join the B-25 attack
on the Shanghai area, hitting a destroyer, gunboat, and freighter in the Whangpoo
River, and factories and railroad shops, 34 P-51s from Okinawa also hit Whangpoo
shipping and 37 A-26s hit the airfield at Tachang. B-24s on a night shipping
search and weather mission bomb airfields at
Tinghai and on Chusan Island, China; Pusan, Korea; and Yonago, Japan. On Luzon,
B-25s, P-51s, and P-38s, hampered by bad weather, fly 30+ ground support sorties
in the Gubano, Cervantes, and Mankayan areas. Unit moves: HQ 322d Troop Carrier
Wing from Hollandia, New Guinea to Manila, Luzon; air echelon of 26th Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, from Lingayen Airfield to Clark
Field,
Luzon with F-5s (ground echelon at Lingayen Airfield); 311th Troop Carrier Squadron,
Seventh AF, begins a movement from Bellows Field to Okinawa with C-47s;
403d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), from Clark
Field, Luzon to Ie Shima with B-24s.
MONDAY, 23 JULY 1945
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 2 B-24s radar-bomb Kurabu Cape Airfield
on Paramushiru Island.
Fourteenth Air Force: 8 B-25s and 4 P-51s bomb the railroad yards at Sinyang
and hit a warehouse at Ichang, China. 100+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-40s attack numerous
targets, including rail, road, and river traffic, airfields, coastal shipping,
bridges, storage facilities, and railroad yards, at many locations over S and
E China, especially in the Paoching area and, to a smaller degree, over French
Indochina. The 115th Liaison Squadron, Fourteenth AF, moves from Chengkung to
Hsingchiang, China with L-1s, L-4s and L-5s.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s pound Jesselton while B-24s over other areas of the Netherlands East Indies bomb Amboina and the Tolonoeoe Islands. Fighter aircraft support ground forces
in the Kiangan, Luzon area. B-25s bomb Itu Aba Island, China. B-24s hit Miho
and Saeki, Japan. Single B-24s on armed reconnaissance hit several targets including
Tinghai Airfield, China, Kure Harbor, and Tanega Island, Ryukyu Islands.
RNZAF - Crashed on take off is F4U NZ5262.
TUESDAY, 24 JULY 1945
Twentieth Air Force: 7 missions (625 B-29s) are flown against targets in the
Nagoya and Osaka areas; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 284: 82 B-29s attack the Sumitomo
Light Metals Industries propeller factory at Osaka; most of the machine tools
had been removed but the facility is completely wrecked; 4 others hit alternate
targets; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 285: 81 B-29s hit the Kawanishi Aircraft Plant
at Takarazuka destroying 77% of the plant; 3 others hit alternate targets. Mission
286: 153 B-29s hit the Osaka Arsenal and Kuwana; the arsenal sustains additional
damage amounting to 10% of the original roof area; 9 others hit alternate targets; Mission 287: 66 B-29s attack the Aichi aircraft plant at Eitoku; the plant sustains
its heaviest damage of the war; 5 others hit alternate targets. Missions 288
and 289: 113 B-29s hit the urban are of the city of Tsu; 2 others hit alternate targets. Mission 290: 77 B-29s attack the Nakajima plant
at Handa destroying the principal assembly buildings; 1 B-29 hit an alternate
target. 91 P-51s, operating out of Iwo Jima, hit airfields and other tactical
targets at Hamamatsu, Suruga Bay, and other points in the Nagoya area.
USN - Task
Force 38 (Vice Admiral J. S. McCain) aircraft attack hit Inland Sea shipping in the Kure area and airfields on
northern Kyushu.
USMC - Marine aircraft from USS Vella
Gulf attacked Japanese positions on Pagan.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 8 B-25s and
6 P-51s pound truck convoys in the Hengyang area, hit river shipping near Pakonghow,
and damage a bridge and storage area and knock out AA positions at Puchi and
15 P-51s blast the Changsha area, destroying an estimated 28 warehouses and
8 fuel storage buildings. 80+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-47s over French Indochina
and S and E China continue to disrupt the Japanese withdrawal, pounding dozens
of targets of opportunity at numerous locations.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In China, 100+ Fifth AF B-24s fly
their first strike from Okinawa, bombing the Chiang Wan Airfield N of Shanghai;
Seventh AF B-25s from Okinawa hit Wusung and Lunghua Airfields in the Shanghai
area while A-26s and B-25s attack the Tachang and Tinghai Airfields; and fighter-bombers
hit shipping and targets of opportunity throughout the general area attacked
by the bombers. In Borneo, Thirteenth AF B-25s pound Jesselton Airfield and B-24s hit Oelin and Tabanio Airfields. Other B-25s hit Itu Aba Island, China.
Fifth AF fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Infanta and Leyban areas
of Luzon. Unit moves: 65th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group
(Heavy), from Clark Field, Luzon to Ie Shima with B-24s; detachment of the 419th
Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command, operating from Sanga Sanga, to base at Puerto Princesa with P-61s; 421st Night Fighter
Squadron, V Fighter Command, from Clark Field to Ie Shima with P-61s;
822d and 823d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 38th Bombardment Group (Heavy),
from Lingayen Airfield to Okinawa with B-24s.
WEDNESDAY, 25 JULY 1945
Twentieth Air Force: During the night of 25/26 Jul, 106 B-29s fly 1 bombing
and 1 mining mission; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 291: 75 B-29s attack the Mitsubishi
Oil Company and Hayama Petroleum Company at Kawasaki destroying 33% of the storage
tanks units and other facilities; 1 B-29 hits an alternate target and 1 suffers
a direct flak hit over the target and goes down. Mission 292: 29 B-29s mine
the waters at Nanao, Fushiki, Obama Island, Tsuruga, and Seishin, Japan, and
Pusan, Korea; 1 other mines an alternate target.
Fourteenth Air Force: 10 B-25s and 3 P-38s knock out bridges at Tho Linh and
Quang Tri, French Indochina and damage a barge and a river steamer in the Wuchou,
China area. 30 P-51s and P-38s attack river, road, and rail traffic, railroad
yards, and other targets in the areas of Duc Tho, Bac Ninh, Vinh, and Hanoi,
French Indochina, and Kukong, Samshui, Wuchou, and the West River, China. The
71st Liaison Squadron, Fourteen AF [attached to XIV AF Tactical Air Command
(Provisional)], arrives at Kunming, China from Piardoba, India with UC-64s,
L-1s, L-4s and L-5s.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Pontianak
and Kuching Airfields while B-25s and fighters attack a dispersal area in the Jesselton Airfield area. B-24s pound enemy troops on Negros Island and B-25s
bomb Itu Aba Island, China. B-24s bomb Kikaiga-shima, Amami Islands, N Ryukyu
Islands and the town of Tsuiki. Unit moves from Luzon: HQ 38th Bombardment Group
(Medium) and 71st Bombardment Squadron (Medium) from Lingayen Airfield to Okinawa with
B-25s; HQ 345th Bombardment Group (Medium) from Clark
Field, to Ie Shima.
THURSDAY, 26 JULY 1945
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 7 B-24s successfully hit the Kataoka
Naval Base on Shimushu with
incendiaries, leaving smoke columns 5,000 ft (1,524 m) high;
there is no airborne opposition and AA fire is moderate and inaccurate. Another
B-24 flies a radar-ferret mission over the N Kurile Islands.
Twentieth Air Force: During the night of 26/27 Jul, 350 B-29s fly 3 incendiary
missions against secondary cities; 1 B-29 is lost: Mission 293: 127 B-29s attack
the Matsuyama urban area destroying 1.22 sq mi (3.16 sq km), 73% of the total
city area. Mission 294: 97 B-29s hit the Tokuyama urban area destroying 0.47
sq mi (1.22 sq km), 37% of the city area; 1 other hits an alternate target.
Mission 295: 124 B-29s attack the Omuta urban area destroying 2.05 sq mi (5.31
sq km), 38% of the city area; 1 other hits an alternate target; 1 B-29 is lost.
Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 8 B-25s and 4 P-51s bomb the railroad yards
at Lohochai and hit a storage area and animal transport in the Pinking area.
100+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s pound enemy movement and withdrawal in French Indochina
and S and E China, hitting supplies, troops, river, road, and rail traffic,
coastal shipping, railroad yards, bridges, town areas and other targets at numerous
locations. The 427th Night Fighter Squadron, Tenth AF, based at Dinjan, India
with P-61s, sends a detachment to operate from Nanning, China.
USMC - Marine pilot operating from the escort carrier Vella
Gulf attack Rota
Potsdam Conference: The Potsdam ultimatum is issued, i.e., Japan is told to
surrender unconditionally or face "utter destruction."
WESTERN PACIFIC: In Borneo, B-24s hit Tabanio, Trombol,
Sengkawang, and Oelin Airfields. Fighter-bombers and B-25s over Luzon (where
the 13 AF now provides ground support) aid ground forces in the Mankayan
area and near Tuguegarao. B-24s plaster Japanese positions on ground support
strikes over Negros Island. B-25s bomb Itu Aba Island, China. Other B-25s on
a shipping search attack a convoy at Tsutsu Bay, Japan sinking 3 small cargo
vessels, a freighter, and a few small craft. B-24s on snooper strikes attack
several targets, including various targets in the Ryukyu Islands, airfields
at Tinghai, China and at Nakazu, Japan, and docks at Pusan, Korea. Unit moves
from Luzon: HQ 43d Bombardment Group and 64th Bombardment Squadron
(Heavy)
from Clark Field to Ie Shima with B-24s; ground echelon of 36th Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, begins a movement from Clark
Field to Okinawa (air echelon at Clark
Field until Sep 45).
FRIDAY, 27 JULY 1945
Twentieth Air Force: Mission 296: During the night of 27/28 Jul, 24 B-29s drop
mines in Shimonoseki Strait, at Fukuoka, Niigata, Maizuru, Senzaki, and in Fukawa
Bay; 1 other mines an alternate target; 3 B-29s are lost to heavy flak, 2 ditching
with 13 men rescued and 1 crash landing on Iwo Jima and subsequently scrapped.
Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 13 B-25s, some with P-51 support, hit a supply
movement in the Siang Chiang Valley, bomb railroad yards at Siaokan and Sinyang,
and hit coastal shipping in the Do Son, French Indochina area. 50+ P-51s and
P-38s concentrate on attacking river shipping at numerous points of French Indochina
and S and E China also hitting road and rail traffic, coastal vessels, storage
areas, and bridges.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: 60+ Fifth and Seventh AF B-24s
pound a marshalling yard at Kagoshima, Kyushu and 50 escorting P-51s attack
numerous nearby targets of opportunity; 150+ P-47s over Kyushu hit communications
and industrial targets, including a tunnel S of Kurino, bridges at Okasa, Hitosuse-gawa,
and Matsubase, and factories and a power plant at Yatsushiro. B-24s of the Thirteenth
AF hit airstrip N of Pontianak, Borneo. The 500th Bombardment Squadron (Medium),
345th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Clark
Field, Luzon to Ie Shima
with B-25s.
RAAF - Lost on a recon mission over the Celebes is B-24 Liberator A72-92.
SATURDAY, 28 JULY 1945
Twentieth Air Force: During the night of 28/29 Jul, 554 B-29s fly 6 incendiary
raids on secondary cities and 1 bombing raid without loss. Mission 297: 76 B-29s
attack the Tsu urban area destroying 0.84 sq mi (2.18 sq km), 57% of the city
area. Mission 298: 61 B-29s hit the Aomori urban area destroying 1.06 sq mi
(2.75 sq km), 64% of the city area; 3 others hit alternate targets. Mission
299: 122 B-29s attack the Ichinomiya urban area destroying 0.99 sq mi (2.56
sq km), 75% of the city area; 2 others attack alternate areas. Mission 300:
93 B-29s hit the Uji-Yamada urban area destroying 0.36 sq mi (0.93 sq km), 39%
of the city area; 1 other hits an alternate target.Mission 301: 90 B-29s attack
the Ogaki urban area destroying 0.48 sq mi (1.24 sq km), 40% of the city area. Mission 302: 29 B-29s hit the Uwajima urban
area destroying 0.53 sq mi (1.37 sq km), 52% of the city area. Mission 303: 76 B-29s bomb the Shimotsu
Oil Refinery; 75% of the tank capacity, 90% gasometer capacity and 69% of the roof area destroyed or damaged;
1 other B-29s hits an alternate target. 140+ P-51s, based on Iwo Jima, hit 9
objectives (airfields and military targets) in a wide area around Tokyo and
attack a destroyer escort along the Chiba Peninsula, leaving it burning.
Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 7 B-25s and 4 P-51s attack a supply movement
through the Siang Chiang Valley, hit a freighter and 2 smaller vessels off Shuitang,
and pound troops near Kian. About 90 P-51s, P-47s, and P-61s disrupt the Japanese
movement throughout S and E China and in French Indochina; the fighter-bombers
concentrate on river transport.
Seventh Air Force: Lost is B-24J "Lonesome Lady" 44-40680.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Japan, 137 Ie Shima-based P-47s
rocket and strafe airfields, oil stores, railroad yards, warehouses, industry,
gun positions, and other targets on Kyushu at or near Kanoya, Metatsubara, Tachiarai,
Kurume, Saga, and Junicho; 21 more P-47s attack shipping at Yatsushiro and A-26s
and B-25s pound airfields at Kanoya; P-51s and B-25s, sweeping over the Inland
Sea, destroy 2 small cargo vessels and a patrol boat and 70+ B-24s bomb shipping
at Kure, claiming direct hits on a battleship and an aircraft carrier. On Luzon,
B-25s and P-38s in support of ground forces hit enemy positions in the Mankayan-Kiangan
area and in the Marikina area. Other P-38s hit troop concentrations
on Jolo and B-24s support ground forces on Negros. Units moving
from Luzon to Ie Shima: 82d and 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons, 71st
Reconnaissance Group, from Lingayen Airfield with F-6s; 499th and 501st Bombardment Squadrons
(Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium), from Clark
Field with B-25s.
SUNDAY, 29 JULY 1945
Twentieth Air Force: Mission 304: During the night of 29/30 Jul, 24 B-29s mine
Shimonoseki Strait and the waters at Fukuoka, Karatsu, and Najin; 2 others mine
alternate targets.
Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 4 B-25s and 2 P-51s hit shipping off Luichow
Peninsula near Cape Kami, barracks at Chingmen, and cannon-strafe trucks at
Kuanshuishih and oil storage at Yingtak. About 100 P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s attack
a variety of targets over a vast area from Haiphong to Peking continuing the steady campaign against enemy movement and withdrawal.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: P-47s from Ie Shima and B-24s,
B-25s, and A-26s from Okinawa pound targets in the Japanese Home Islands; 70+
B-24s pound shipping at Kure, 41 B-24s hit a factory and storage area NW of
Aburatsu, shipping and engine works in Nagasaki and vicinity, and the towns
of Nobeoka, Kyushu and Oita; B-25s hit Kagoshima, Kyushu, Kibana, a bridge,
barracks and other buildings at Miyazaki, warehouses, a lighthouse, and navigation
light at Tozaki-hana, and bomb Tokuno Shima; A-26s pound the naval base and
engine works at Nagasaki; numerous P-47s hit the harbor at Kure, shipping and
seaplane station at Ibusuki, railroad station, docks, and town area of Makurazaki,
Chiran and Izumi Airfields, and shipping at Kagoshima Bay. P-51s hit numerous
targets of opportunity on the S coast of Korea and on the S part of Kyushu,
where shipping, railroads, and Omura, Kyushu and Sashiki factories are also
attacked. B-24s hit Sidate Airfield and warehouses at Watampone on Celebes Island.
Other B-24s bomb resistance pocket S of Fabrica. On Luzon,
B-25s and P-38s hit Japanese positions near San Mariano and W of Kiangan, troop
concentrations in the Marikina watershed, and ridge emplacements in the Bantayan
area; several buildings are destroyed at Pasco Point. Unit moves: 17th Reconnaissance
Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Reconnaissance Group, from Lingayen Airfield to Ie
Shima with B-25s (detachment remains at Lingayen Airfield until Sep 45); 868th Bombardment
Squadron (Heavy), Thirteenth AF from Leyte to Okinawa with B-24s (the 868th
uses airborne radar for low-level attacks at night and for pathfinder operations).
MONDAY, 30 JULY 1945
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): 8 B-24s on way to the Kurile islands
are soon recalled because of weather disturbances.
Twentieth Air Force: Iwo Jima based P-51s attack airfields, railroads, and other
tactical targets throughout the Kobe-Osaka area.
Seventh Air Force: Crashed near Oahu is B-24J 42-63765.
Fourteenth Air Force: 2 B-25s bomb supply convoys moving through the Siang Chiang
Valley of China. 40+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s hit various targets in S and E
China, and in French Indochina, chiefly river transport, but also troop concentrations,
railroad traffic, and many targets of opportunity; target areas include Nanyang,
Suchow, Hankow, Sinyang, Anking, Anyang, Lohochai, Kukong, Takhing, Koyiu, Samshui,
Pingsiang, Kian, Yungcheng, Yingtak, and Wuchou, China.
JAPAN: The Japanese reject the Potsdam ultimatum. Nevertheless General of the
Army George C Marshall, Chief of Staff, US Army, directs General of the Army
Douglas MacArthur, Commanding General US Army Forces in the Pacific, Lieutenant
General Albert C Wedemeyer, Commanding General, US Forces in the China Theater,
and Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief Pacific, to proceed with
plans for a surrender.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Japan, 60+ B-25s and A-26s bomb
Omura Airfield and 4 of the planes hit airfield at Izumi; P-47s support the
strike and also hit numerous nearby targets of opportunity; B-25s, failing to
find targets on a shipping sweep over Korean waters, bomb shipping, a railroad,
and a warehouse in the Sendai area and covering P-51s also hit nearby targets
of opportunity; 80+ P-47s bomb Sendai, leaving much of the town in flames; P-51s
on photo reconnaissance of S Kyushu destroy trains and small craft; and nearly
80 P-47s attack the Miyazaki, Karasehara, and Tomitaka areas, firing warehouses
and damaging barracks, hangars, towers, and other buildings, and blast buildings
and construction on and near Shibushi Airfield. B-24s bomb Kota Waringin Airfield
in Borneo. On Luzon, B-25s and P-38s support ground forces E of Ilagan, near
Kiangan, and E of Manila in the Infanta sector. HQ 91st Reconnaissance Wing
moves from Clark Field, Luzon to Okinawa.
TUESDAY, 31 JULY 1945
CENTRAL PACIFIC [US Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF)] Twentieth
Air Force: HQ 301st Fighter Wing arrives on Ie Shima from the US.
CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: 3 B-25s continue to
bomb supply convoys moving through the Siang Chiang Valley. 52 P-51s and P-61s
over S and E China attack rivercraft, trucks, railroad traffic, coastal shipping,
ammunition dumps, and other targets at several locations including areas around
Yanglowtung, Changsha, Siangyin, Hengyang, Hankow, Paoching, Nanyang, Nanking,
Kulo, Hoihow, and Yoyang. The flight of the 35th Photographic Reconnaissance
Squadron, Fourteenth AF, operating from Kunming, China with F-5s, moves to Nanning
(squadron is based at Chanyi).
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Japan, 80+ B-24s pound the Kagoshima
railroad yards and several other targets in the general area including the Sasebo
naval base, Yaki-shima, and Nagasaki; A-26s and B-25s bomb Kanoya and Miyazaki
Airfields and nearby targets, the Sasebo naval base, Marushima, warehouses at Nagasaki, and a factory and power plant on Koyagi Island; P-51s attack flak
positions at Moji, blast shipping at Iki Island and off the NW and W coast of
Kyushu, hit an island WSW of Sasebo, bomb railroad targets and warehouses in
the Izumi area, and in general attack the railroad and road net and other communications
targets throughout Kyushu and P-61s continue harassing missions during the night.
P-51s over the Ryukyu Islands bomb airstrips on Miyako Island, and bomb a town
in the Koniya area. On Luzon, B-25s and P-38s support ground action, hitting
forces in the Cagayan Valley and Cervantes and Infanta sectors. B-24s pound
the area S of Fabrica on Negros Island. Unit moves: HQ Fifth AF from Clark
Field to Okinawa; HQ 6th Reconnaissance Group from Clark
Field to Okinawa.
