WEDNESDAY, 31 JANUARY 1945
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, P-51s strafe targets of opportunity
along the Pinghan (Hankow-Peking) railroad.
Burma: In NCAC area, plans for Sino-American attack on heights in Hpa-pen area on 2d continue, although Ch 30th Div wants it postponed until 3d. Elements of Br 36th Div moving SE toward Mongmit, reach Shweli R in Myitson area and send patrol across it.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s hit troops and stores
at Namlan; 50+ P-47s attack troops and supplies at several locations including
Na-mawtawng, Tawkut, Mong Long, Hsipaw, Hsenwi, and Namhpakka. Transports complete
535 sorties to forward bases and frontline areas. The 13th, 14th and 16th Combat
Cargo Squadrons, 4th Combat Cargo Group, move from Agartala to Chittagong with C-46s. The 164th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves
from Kan to Asansol with UC-64s and L-5s.
AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 20 B-24s from Guam bomb airfields and AA defenses
on Iwo Jima; during the night of 31 Jan/1 Feb, 9 more B-24s, flying single-bomber
harassment strikes, hit the island. HQ 419th Troop Carrier Group is activated on Guam;
no tactical squadrons or aircraft are assigned; the group's HQ had detachments
on Saipan, Tinian and Angaur Airfield to operate transportation terminals that assisted
in moving troops, equipment, food and mail to, and in evacuating wounded personnel
from combat areas.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Brigadier General
Earl W Barnes again assumes command of the XIII Fighter Command. The 157th,
159th and 160th Liaison Squadrons (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group, move from
Leyte to Calasio, Mangaldan and Calasio, Luzon respectively with UC-64s and
L-5s (first mission is 17 Feb and 7 Feb espectively). Lost is P-38L 44-25427 (MIA).
U.S. Army: In the Philippines, U.S. Sixth Army, holding in reserve 32d Div's 126th Inf, 13th Armd Gp (less 44th Tank Bn), and 112th Cav RCT, begins final phase of drive on Manila. In XIV Corps area, 129th Inf of 37th Div attacks toward hill mass--called Top of the World--about 1,300 yards from W edge of Ft Stotsenburg and gets halfway up forward slopes. 138th Inf seizes crossing sites over the Pampanga at Calumpit late in day. 1st Cav Div starts toward Manila from Guimba, employing 5th and 8th Cav Regts, each with a motorized sq spearheading. Preceding the motorized forces, Prov Rcn Sq crosses the Pampanga and takes Santa Rosa, S of Cabanatuan, without opposition. On right flank of corps, 40th Div is clearing mountains west of Clark Field and Fort Stotsenburg. In I Corps area, 20th Inf of 6th Div continues limited attack on Munoz but is unable to take it. Patrols of 25th Div find Umingan, div's next objective, strongly held by enemy. XI Corps, leaving RCT 34 to hold at Olongapo and keeping RCT 151 of 38th Div in reserve, begins drive across base of Bataan Peninsula with 152d and 149th Regts of 38th Div. 152d, taking Route 7, reaches vicinity of enemy position, called Zigzag Pass, beginning about 3 miles NE of Olongapo. 149th moves along trail to N without opposition.
In U.S. Eighth Army area, 188th Gli Inf of 11th A/B Div lands on the west coast of Luzon in Nasugbu area after naval gunfire bombardment; takes Nasugbu, Wawa, and Lian and drives inland toward Tagaytay Ridge without opposition. So successful is this operation that 187th Gli Inf is landed at once and Gen Eichelberger asks Fifth Air Force to drop 511th Para Inf on 2 February instead of on 3d.
7th Div TF finishes clearing Poro I. and prepares to return to Leyte.
21st Inf (-) moves from NE Mindoro, where about 135 Japanese have been killed in Pinamalayan Calapan region, to San Jose area. Leaving platoon on Marinduque, Co D, 21st Inf, returns to Mindoro.
