June 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 1 JUNE 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A four plane shipping strike is called off due to weather.

ZONE OF INTERIOR (ZI) HQ AAF: During Jun, the detachment of the 4th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 311th Photographic Wing (Mapping and Charting) (attached to 6th Reconnaissance Group), operating from Zamboanga with F-7s, moves to Clark Field (squadron is based at Hollandia, New Guinea and is mapping areas of the SW and W Pacific).

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 6 B-25s bomb the Sinsiang railroad yards while 4 B-25s and 4 P-47s damage a bridge N of Linmingkuan; 18 P-51s hit river shipping, warehouses and other targets in the Yoyang area; 20 other fighter-bombers knock out a bridge near Szeshui, pound river shipping near Yoyang, and attack various targets in the Huluehchen area; during Jun, the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF (attached to 23d Fighter Group), moves from Chengkung to Laohwangping with P-40s and P-51s.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): Unit moves in India: HQ 1st Combat Cargo Group from Hathazari to Myitkyina; 1st and 2d Troop Carrier Squadrons, 443d Troop Carrier Group, from Warazup and Shingbwiyang, Burma respectively to Dinjan with C-47s; 2d and 3d Combat Cargo Squadrons, 1st Combat Cargo Group, from Hathazari to Bhamo and Myitkyina respectively with C-47s; 9th, 436th and 492d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), from Pandaveswar to Tezpur with B-24s; 317th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, from Kalaikunda to Ledo with C-47s.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): During early Jun, HQ 465th Bombardment Group and 780th, 781st, 782d and 783d Bombardment Squadrons begin a movement from Pantanella Airfield, Italy to Waller Field, Trinidad, BWI with B-24s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 187: 458 B-29s attack Osaka, Japan and 16 others hit targets of opportunity; 148 P-51s of the VII Fighter Command, enroute to the escort rendezvous with the B-29s, encounter a severe weather front; flying behind in excessive turbulence, many of the fighters collide and 27 are lost; 27 others manage to find the B-29s and escort them over the target; the B-29s claim 16 Japanese fighters and the P-51s claim 1-0-0; 10 B-29s are lost. In the Ryukyu Islands twelve P-47s from Ie Shima fly strafing and rocket attacks against Kikaiga, Tokuno, and Amami Gunto.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Formosa, B-24s pound Takao while fighter aircraft sweep the coastline. B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers continue to hit targets in the Cagayan Valley, at Pingkian, Kayapa, Gattaran, Cumao, Bone, and in the Ipo area; many of the missions are ground support strikes. In Borneo, B-24s and P-38s hit Tarakan troop concentrations while B-24s, B-25s, and P-38s hit Kota Belud, Victoria, Jesselton, Langkon, and Labuan. The 67th and 69th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 433d Troop Carrier Group, move from Tanauan, Leyte Island to Clark Field, Luzon with C-47s. Unit moves during Jun 45: HQ 54th Troop Carrier Wing and 85th Fighter Wing from Leyte Island to Clark Field and Ft William McKinley, Luzon respectively.

SATURDAY, 2 JUNE 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 2 B-25s blast fuel and ammunition dumps NE of Nanyang, Burma. In China, twenty fighter-bombers attack the airfield at Tsinan, railroad yards and targets of opportunity at Anyang and the warehouse area at Paoching, knock out a bridge south of Singtai, and hit trucks, tanks, and armored vehicles in the Liuchow area.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Eleven Guam based B-24s attack Moen Airfield. Lost is P-51D 44-63458 (MIA).

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): P-47s fly heckler strikes against Kyushu during the night of 2/3 Jun.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon Island, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers continue to hit the Cagayan Valley in force, support ground forces in the Balete Pass and Ipo sectors, and attack areas E of Manila and N of Baguio. Fighter-bombers hit areas near Mount Mandalagan on Negros Island and dug-in positions NW of Bogo on Cebu. In Borneo, B-24s hit Pontianak Airfield and Tarakan and Labuan while B-25s and fighters attack Kudat, Sandakan, and Miri. On Formosa, B-24s bomb Hozan and hit warehouses and dock facilities at Kiirun.

SUNDAY, 3 JUNE 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): One B-24 flying a radar ferret mission to Kataoka is followed by eight others, radar bombing and photographing scattered targets in the Kataoka naval base area; seven B-25s take off for an attack but four are turned back by weather and the others low level bomb a Masugawa River Cannery.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Eleven

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): FIve B-25s and twenty-five P-51s blast the warehouse area and river traffic at Liuchow; 2 B-25s bomb the Sinyang- Lohochai railroad; a single B-24, escorted by 2 P-51s, damages a bridge N of Shihkiachwang; 4 P-51s damage a bridge E of Kiehsiu and strafe a train and lumber carts N of Linfen; bad weather curtails other scheduled fighter-bomber missions.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): HQ 3d Combat Cargo Group moves from Dinjan to Myitkyina while it's 9th and 10th Combat Cargo Squadron move from Warazup, Burma and Dinjan to Myitkyina with C-47s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): P-47s on a heckler patrol strafe targets of opportunity on Amami-O-Shima.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (Fifth Air Force): In Borneo, B-24s and fighters hit resistance areas on Negros. B-24s attack Kota Waringin and Muara Island while B-24s bomb Batavia, Java. P-51s hit coastal cargo vessels over the SE China coast. Destroyed on the ground is A-20G "King High Flush" 43-21935.

MONDAY, 4 JUNE 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Eight B-25s abort a shipping strike at Kurabu Cape on Paramushiru due to weather. Eleven B-24s get through and radar-bomb Kataoka naval base on Shimushu.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 12 B-25s heavily damage railroad yards and warehouses at Sinsiang; 10 B-25s and 4 P-51s in repeat attack on the yards cause numerous fires; 2 B-25s and 3 P-51s hit road and railroad targets of opportunity from Sinyang to Hsuchang; Seventeen fighters bomb or strafe bridges, railroad traffic, and other targets of opportunity around Chihsien, Linfen, Shihkiachwang, and Liuchow.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Thirteen Guam based B-24s hit Marcus Airfield and boat basin on Marcus.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Eight P-51s from Iwo Jima bomb the radio station on Chichi Jima and strafe the town of Okimura during their return flight. P-47s fly heckler strikes against Kyushu during the night of 4/5 Jun.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon, fighter-bombers attack targets of opportunity in the Cagayan Valley and A-20s and fighter-bombers supporting ground forces strike defensive positions in Balete Pass, Aritao, Mount Imugan, Carulay, and Bambang. B-24s bomb Taihoku, Formosa. B-24s bomb Balikpapan and Manggar and support ground forces on Tarakan and B-25s hit Manggar, Djembajan, and Kudat.

RAAF - Lost is Beaufort A9-228

TUESDAY, 5 JUNE 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 32 B-25s and 8 P-51s bomb the city of Nanyang, Burma, hit railroad yards at Anyang, and damage a bridge approach at Chuanhsien, China, and bomb ferries at Ninh Binh and Dap Cau, French

Indochina. 40+ fighters bomb and strafe rail, river, and road traffic and general targets of opportunity throughout S and E China.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): The 12th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3d Combat Cargo Group, moves from Ledo to Myitkyina with C-47s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 188: 473 B-29s pound Kobe with incendiaries; 8 others hit targets of opportunity; they claim 86 Japanese fighters; 11 B-29s are lost; the attack burns off over 4 square miles (10.4 square km) and damages over half of the city. Lost are B-29 "Indian Maid" Serial Number 42-24809 P-47s from Ie Shima patrol over Amami Gunto and strafe a lighthouse.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon Island, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers hit Cagayan Valley targets while other fighter-bombers support ground actions in Cervantes, Balete Pass, and Ipo battle zones and hit forces E of Manila. In Borneo, B-24s bomb Melak, Asa, and Kuching Airfield and Tarakan and Labuan, while B-25s and fighters concentrate on Tuaran, Mensalung, and Kudat. B-24s pound Taito, crash landed returning from the mission was B-24J 44-41126 (8 KIA, 3 rescued)

WEDNESDAY, 6 JUNE 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 11 B-25s and 9 P-51s bomb railroad yards N of Siaokan and damage bridges, strafe gun positions, and attack general targets of opportunity around Saiping and Hwayuan; 30+ fighters bomb or strafe bridges near Chihsien and Fengstun and hit troops, railroad targets, and targets of opportunity around Linfen, Laohokow, Changsha, Peking, and Kweilin, and Dap Cau and Thanh Hoa, French Indochina.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 12 Guam Island-based B-24s hit oil storage buildings on Eten.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 36 Ie Shima based P-47s, sweeping the southern part of Kyushu hit numerous targets of opportunity with rockets and machinegun fire, and claim 9 aircraft downed; in the Ryukyu Islands, Ie Shima based P-47s patrol over Amami Gunto, strafing a lighthouse and buildings. Lost on an administrative flight is B-25J 44-29584.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA: A-20s and fighter-bombers blast bridges in Cagayan Valley and other fighter-bombers pound the Balete Pass area. On Borneo, B-24s, B-25s and fighter-bombers hit Labuan supply areas, support troops on Tarakan, and bomb Kota Waringin Airfield (Waringin) and Pontianak Airfield, areas along the Belait River, around Brunei, and strike Miri, Jesselton, Kudat, and Beaufort. Bad weather cancels all missions against Formosan targets. Lost is B-24L 44-41482 (MIA).

THURSDAY, 7 JUNE 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 7 B-25s and 4 P-47s damage a bridge near Anyang, bomb buildings N of Changsha and the airstrip at Paoching, and hit targets of opportunity during a road and river sweep from Siangtan to Yoyang; 45 fighters bomb or strafe numerous targets including troops, river traffic, town areas, and supplies in S and E China and knock out bridges at Singtai and Chihsien.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): Unit moves in India: HQ 7th Bombardment Group from Pandaveswar to Tezpur; and 81st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th Bombardment Group (Medium), from Fenny to Madhaiganj with B-25s.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 24 B-24s from Angaur Airfield, bomb the boat repair basin on Aurapushekaru Island. HQ 41st Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 396th and 820th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from Wheeler Field to Okinawa with B-25s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 2 missions are flown. Mission 189: 409 B-29s, escorted by 138 VII Fighter Command P-51s, drop incendiary and high explosive bombs on Osaka, hitting the east-central section of the city which contains industrial and transportation targets and the Osaka Army Arsenal (largest in Japan); despite being forced to bomb by radar because of heavy undercast, the B-29s burn out over 2 square miles (5.2 square km) of the city, destroying 55,000+ buildings; 9 other B-29s hit alternate targets; the P-51s claim 2-0-1 Japanese aircraft; 2 B-29s and 1 P-51 are lost. Mission 190: During the night of 7/8 Jun, 26 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters around Fukuoka and Karatsu, Japan. 20 P-47s from Ie Shima hit targets of opportunity (radio station, warehouses, freighter, and motor launches) on Kyushu and claim 5 aircraft downed.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon, A-20s and fighter-bombers hit personnel and defensive positions near Infanta, at Mount Mapatad, in the Marikina area, and in other areas in the Ipo sector; in the N fighter-bombers pound numerous Cagayan Valley targets and support ground forces N of Baguio and E of Manila. In Borneo, B-24s pound Brooketon and Muara Island; B-25s and fighter-bombers hit Kudat, Ft Brook, Belait, Jesselton, and Keningau.

FRIDAY, 8 JUNE 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 15 P-51s and P-40s attack bridges near Hankow, N of Sinsiang, and SE of Tayung, knocking out the latter; 17 other fighters bomb and strafe river-craft, warehouses, trucks, airfield, town areas, and general targets of opportunity around Hwangkang, Ichang, Hengyang, Laohokow, and Tehsien.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): HQ 12th Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from Fenny to Pandaveswar and Madhaiganj respectively with B-25s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Very Long Range Mission 17: 104 Iwo Jima based fighters dispatched against Kagamigahara Airfield and Meiji in the Nagoya area, abort due to bad weather. The 548th Night Fighter Squadron, VII Fighter Command (attached to AAFPOA), moves from Iwo Jima to Ie Shima with P-61s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Bad weather cancels Formosa strikes and limits operations on Luzon to fighter-bomber strikes against Cagayan Valley targets. Labuan Airfield is bombed by B-24s, while other B-24s and B-25s and P-38s attack gun positions at Balikpapan.

SATURDAY, 9 JUNE 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In coordination with US Navy surface and air forces attacking in the Kurile Islands, six B-24s and eight B-25s fly extensive armed weather reconnaissance and anti-shipping sweeps over Kurabu Cape and Otomari Cape, Ichinowatashi, and Asahigawa on Paramushiru; the B-24s score no results, half of them jettisoning their bombs; the B-25s then fly a diversionary bombing mission over Araido where they are attacked by eight Japanese fighters; to evade them, the B-25s fly over Kamchatka where Soviet AA fire shoots down one, killing its crew; another is damaged and crash-lands in Petropavlovsk. This is the first time Soviet AA fire hits a US aircraft. Lost is B-25J 43-36160 (crew interned, returned postwar).

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 3 B-25s and 60+ P-47s, P-51s, and P-40s damage 4 bridges, hit river shipping, pound town areas and villages, and attack various targets of opportunity around Nanyang, Burma and Hwayuan, Changte, Suchow, Sinyang, Hankow, Laohokow, Tatung, Tashihkiao, Pinyang, Luchai, Kiehsiu, Linfen, Tsinan, and Shihkiachwang, China.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): The 83d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Fenny to Pandaveswar with B-25s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Five missions are flown. Mission 191: 44 B-29s attack the Kawanishi Aircraft Company's plant at Narao; 1 other hits a target of opportunity. Mission 192: 24 B-29s hit the Kawasaki plant at Akashi; there is 9/10 cloud cover and bombing is by radar; the village of Akashi rather than the factory is hit; 2 others bomb targets of opportunity. Mission 193: 42 B-29s hit Aichi's Atsuta factory; only 4 bombs hit the target area but 1 causes a devastating fire; 1 other hits a target of opportunity. Mission 194: During the night of 8/9 Jun, 26 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait; 1 other mines an alternate target. 20 P-47s from Ie Shirna strafe various targets of opportunity on Kyushu. 57 P-51s from Iwo Jima pound Kagamigahara Airfield and the surrounding area in the Nagoya area; 20+ parked airplanes are claimed destroyed or damaged; 3 P-51s are lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Labuan is bombed by B-24s and other B-24s drop napalm on Brooketon. On Luzon Island, fighter-bombers hit Cagayan Valley targets and support ground forces in the Cervantes areas. Ground forces penetrate the last defensive position on Mindanao Island. Bad weather cancels operations N of the Philippine Islands. The 550th Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command, based at Tacloban with P-38s, P-61s and P-70s, sends a detachment to operate from Puerto Princesa (other detachments are at Zamboanga and Sanga Sanga).

RNZAF: Lost is on a mission dropping propaganda leaflettes is PV-1 Ventura NZ4613.

SUNDAY, 10 JUNE 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Two B-24s fly with the US Navy's Fleet Air Wing Four bombers on a shipping attack and sink Nichiei Maru No. 5 off the southwest coast of Paramushiru.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): Fourteen P-51s damage a bridge near Singtai and attack barracks, river-craft, fuel dumps, trucks and other targets of opportunity around Taohsien, Lingling, Liuchow, and Kaifeng.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): HQ 4th Combat Cargo Group and the 13th, 14th and 15th Combat Cargo Squadrons move from Chittagong to Namponmao, Burma with C-46s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 6 missions are flown. Mission 195: 23 B-29s attack the seaplane base at Kasumigaura; 2 others hit alternate targets. Mission 196: 32 B-29s bomb an the Japan Aircraft Company plant at Tomioka; 1 other hits an alternate target. Mission 197: 118 B-29s are dispatched to hit the Nakajima Aircraft plant at Musashi; clouds cover the target and they hit the Hitachi engineering works at Kaigan; 2 others hit alternate targets. Mission 198: 26 B-29s attack the Hitachi plant at Chiba. Mission 199: 52 B-29s hit the Nakajima plants at Ogikubu and Omiya; 4 others hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 200: 29 B-29s attack the Tachikawa Army Air Arsenal and 3 others hit alternate targets. The VII Fighter Commands sends 107 P-51s to escort the B-29s; 27-7-10 Japanese aircraft are claimed without loss. 39 Ie Shima based P-47s sweeping Kyushu strafe numerous ground targets of opportunity, and claim 17 aircraft shot down.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon, fighter-bombers again pound the Cagayan Valley area and support ground forces east of Manila. Lost is P-51D piloted by Leinweber (MIA). In Borneo, B-24s bomb Labuan and Brooketon in coordination with landings of the Australian 9 Division on the shore of Brunei Bay and on Labuan and Muara Islands. Destroyed on the ground is A-20G "Old S" 43-9468.

RNZAF: Shot down is PV-1 Ventura NZ4609.

MONDAY, 11 JUNE 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Eight B-24s on a shipping sweep over the Kurile Islands do not find targets because of overcast and instead radar-bomb installations on Kurabu Cape on Paramushiru and in the Kataoka areas of Shimushu.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): Four B-25s, with fighter escort, bomb railroad yards at Kuanshuishih; 29 fighters attack bridges, rail and road traffic, river-craft, and targets of opportunity in general around Fenglochen, Liuchow, Samshui, Luchai, Lipu, Leiyang, and Kweilin.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): The 16th Combat Cargo Squadron, 4th Combat Cargo Group, moves from Chittagong to Namponmao, Burma with C-46s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 201: During the night of 11/12 Jun, 26 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and Tsuruga Bay. Iwo Jima based fighters hit Tokorozawa Airfield; pilots attacking the airfield claim 18 parked airplanes destroyed and 30+ damaged. Combat crews of the 509th Composite Group begin to arrive at North Field with their B-29s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon Island, B-25s, A-20s and fighter-bombers hit Cagayan Valley targets and pound forces east of Manila in the Ipo-Infanta areas and various targets N of Baguio; ground support strikes are flown in the Marikina River sector. B-24s support ground forces on Tarakan and bomb Kota Baru, Laoet Island, and Tawau; P-38s hit Beaufort while B-25s support ground forces in the Brunei Bay sector.

TUESDAY, 12 JUNE 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Four B-25s strafe shipping off Paramushiru near Arahata Cape, damaging 4 freighters and 2 barges; one B-25 is shot down.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25s knock out a bridge S of Yutze while 4 escorting P-47s hit nearby AA positions and afterwards pound railroad targets at Linfen; 9 P-51s and 2 P-61s damage a bridge N of Hengyang, hit a storage area at Yunganshih, and attack railroad targets, troops, horses, AA positions, and road traffic in Neikiuhsien and Hengyang.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Twelve Guam based B-24s pound Marcus Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA: B-24s inflict heavy destruction on the navy yard and dock area at Hong Kong and railroad yards at Saigon. Two B-32s bomb Batan Airfield (Basco). Numerous fighter-bombers and B-25s hit Cagayan Valley targets while other fighter-bombers support ground forces N of Baguio and Balete Pass and E of Manila, all on Luzon Island and in Borneo, others concentrate on Tarakan the Brunei Bay area, and coastal routes in north Borneo.

Lost on a search mission is OA-10 Catalina 44-34023.

WEDNESDAY, 13 JUNE 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 11 B-25s and 7 P-51s considerably damage the Kaifeng railroad yards and strafe a communications center S of Puchou; 8 P-51s damage 2 bridges at Fenglochen and Shihkiachwang and hit railroad targets of opportunity around Fenglochen and Suchow.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Thirteen B-24s from Guam bomb Moen Airfield.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 202: During the night of 13/14 May, 29 B-29s drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait and in the waters at Niigata. 40+ P-47s from Ie Shima strafe and fire rockets at vessels, buildings, a radio station, barracks, and airfields at Amakusa Jima and Amami-O-Shima and Tokuno, Japan.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Formosa, bad weather hinders B-24s; a few hit Toshien, the primary target and others hit alternates including Toko, Koshun, Kontei, Garan-bi Point, Taito, the Mako naval base and other targets. Two B-32s bomb Koshun Airfield. On Luzon, A-20s and fighter-bombers attack the Cervantes and Marikina areas, targets in the Cagayan Valley, and islands north of Luzon. In Borneo, B-24s bomb the Balikpapan-Sepinggang area; B-25s and fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Brunei Bay area and sweeping northern Borneo from Kudat to Miri, hit numerous targets of opportunity.

RNZAF: Crashed after take off is F4U Corsair NZ5394 (KIA).

THURSDAY, 14 JUNE 1945

ZONE OF INTERIOR (ZI): The Joint Chiefs of Staff direct Generals of the Army Henry H "Hap" Arnold and Douglas MacArthur and Fleet Admiral Chester W Nimitz to prepare for immediate occupation of Japan in the event the enemy suddenly collapses or surrenders.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 42 P-51s attack bridges, shipping, AA positions, railroad targets, trucks, and communications around Hengyang, Hankow, Yoyang, Lingling, Anyang, Szeshui, Hohsien, Shihkiachwang, Neikiuhsien and Puchou.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon Island, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers pound areas around the Cagayan Valley, Cervantes and N of Baguio and E of Manila. On Celebes Island, B-24s bomb warehouses at Parepare and a personnel area at Sidate. B-24s bomb AA positions at Balikpapan. The air echelon of the 25th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, begins operating from Clark Field, Luzon with F-5s (squadron is based at San Jose, Mindoro Island).

FRIDAY, 15 JUNE 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 3 B-25s and 47 P-51s and P-47s knock out a bridge W of Shihkiachwang, damage and attack others, and hit trucks, barracks, river-craft, storage facilities, gun positions, railroad targets, and targets of opportunity; targets are the Pinghan railroad, Kukong, Lingling, Chenhsien, Kuotaichiao, Pakonghow, Kweilin, Anyang, Shihkiachwang, Loyang, Liuchow, and Paoching areas.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 2 missions are flown. Mission 203: 444 B-29s fly an incendiary mission against the Osaka- Amagasaki urban area, ending a month of concentrated fire raids against large Japanese cities; an additional 1.9 square miles (4.9 square km) of Osaka and 0.59 square miles (1.5 square km) of Amagasaki are burned out; 25 other B-29s hit alternate targets; 2 B-29s are lost. 123 P-51s are dispatched as escort but 380 miles (612 km) from Iwo Jima the fighters are warned by a weather plane of a towering front over Japan and they abort the mission; 1 P-51 is lost. Mission 204: During the night of 15/16 May, 30 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters around Fukuoka, Karatsu, and Fushiki. The 680th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy), attached to HQ 504th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), arrives at North Field from the US with B-29s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Formosa, B-24s bomb Taichu Airfield and B-25s hit the town of Rokko and the airfield at Okaseki. On Luzon Island, numerous B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers pound various objectives, concentrating on the Cagayan Valley, the Cervantes area, and the Antipolo-Ipo sector. In Borneo, B-24s blast gun positions at Balikpapan and B-25s and P-38s hit areas between Brunei and Kudat. The 68th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Tanauan, Leyte Island to Clark Field, Luzon with C-46s.

SATURDAY, 16 JUNE 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Four B-24s bomb and strafe shipping off Suribachi Bay and a radar site on Minami Cape, Shimushu Island; one of the B-24s crashes into the water; four B-25s on a shipping strike score near misses on a freighter in Asahi Bay and bomb targets along the Torishima Chain; mechanical failures force 2 of the B-25s to fly to Petropavlovsk, USSR.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25s hit supply movements on the Paoching-Hengyang road; 41 P-51s attack bridges, shipping, road transport, power facilities, and railroad traffic, knocking out bridges near Siangtan, Changsha, and Suchow; rail, road and river traffic is attacked near Yoyang, Hengyang, Kuanyang, Shou-yang, Peking, and Linfen. A power plant at Uong Bi, French Indochina is heavily damaged.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): P-61s arrive on Ie Shima and take over night heckler missions against Kyushu from the P-47s; other P-61s fly night intruder missions over Amami Gunto bombing various targets of opportunity; 38 P-47s from Ie Shima dive-bomb boats, AA positions, runways, and buildings on Kikai.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers hit personnel and supply targets in the Cagayan Valley and E of Manila, and support ground forces in the Cervantes sector. In Borneo, B-24s bomb Balikpapan gun emplacements, Tawau, and Samarinda, while B-25s hit the Brunei Bay area and fighter-bombers attack Miri Airfield, Jesselton Airfield, and Keningau Airfield and N Borneo targets of opportunity. On Formosa, 90+ B-24s pound Kiirun Harbor and Takao and three B-32s bomb Taito. HQ 308th Bombardment Wing moves from Luzon to Okinawa.

SUNDAY, 17 JUNE 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Four B-25s bomb shipping near Kataoka on Shimushu; one ship (Kongo Maru) is observed exploding, another burns after a strafing run; Four other B-25s fly a shipping sweep from Shimushu to Kurabu Cape on Paramushiru; a number of vessels are sighted but cannot be attacked because of land-based AA.

ZONE OF INTERIOR (ZI): General of the Army Henry H "Hap" Arnold, Commanding General US Army Air Forces, requests of Lieutenant General Albert C Wedemeyer, Commanding General US Forces in China, that Lieutenant General George E Stratemeyer replace Major General Clare L Chennault as head of AFs in China.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25s bomb road and rail supply movements in the Paoching and Hengyang areas; Two B-25s and 4 P-47s severely damage a bridge at Linmingkuan; 54 P-51s, P-47s, and P-61s hit road transport, railroad, river traffic, gun positions, bridges, and targets of opportunity around Kukong, Hankow, Lingkuantien, Changsha, Yoyang, Loyunghsien, Luchai, Hwangshapu, Kiyang, Kweilin, Kaifeng, and Shihkiachwang; and 4 P-47s blast a communications center at Puchou.

HQ AAF (XX Bomber Command): HQ XX Bomber Command begins a movement from Kharagpur to Okinawa.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 1 mining and 4 incendiary missions are flown during the night of 17/18 Jun. Mission 205: 25 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters around Kobe; 2 others mine alternate targets.
Mission 206: 117 B-29s attack the Kagoshima urban area and 1 hits an alternate target; 2.15 square miles (5.56 square km) are destroyed; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 207: 116 B-29s hit the Omuta urban area and 3 hit alternate targets; the was the heaviest attack of the 5 but only 0.217 square miles (0.56 square km) were destroyed, only 4.1% of the city's area.
Mission 208: 130 B-29s hit the Hamamatsu urban area; 2.44 square miles (6.32 square km) are destroyed.
Mission 209: 89 B-29s attack the Yokkaichi urban area; 1.23 square miles (3.19 square km) are destroyed. 33 P-47s from Ie Shima bomb and strafe shipping, the airfield, villages, a bridge and radar and radio facilities on Amami Gunto and Tokuno, Japan. During the night of 17/18 Jun, Two P-61s from Ie Shima fly an unsuccessful (due to weather) intruder strike over Amami Gunto and Kyushu; this begins a campaign of night and day intruder missions over Kyushu and the Ryukyu by the night fighters (12 more are flown during Jun).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers pound Cagayan Valley targets and numerous other objectives throughout N Luzon; many of the strikes support US Sixth Army forces. In Borneo, B-24s pound Balikpapan area oil targets and gun positions; B-25s and P-38s hit Limbang town and sweep from Beaufort to Jesselton, hitting Beaufort buildings, several communications targets at various points, and personnel areas on Labuan. On Formosa, B-24s bomb industrial and railroad targets at Kiirun and P-38s pound a railroad bridge and trucks at Soton. The detachment of the 550th Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command, operating from Zamboanga with P-38s, P-61s and P-70s, returns to base at Tacloban detachment are at Sanga Sanga and Puerto Princessa).

MONDAY, 18 JUNE 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Six B-24s join US Navy aircraft in attacking Kataoka on Shimushu and Tomari Cape, Paramushiru but cloud cover prevents observation of effects; One B-24 flies a radar-ferret mission over the Kurile Islands.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 70+ P-51s, P-61s, and P-47s continue to disrupt the Japanese withdrawal from S and E China, attacking bridges, villages and town areas, barracks, troop concentrations, motor transport, shipping and rail traffic, and targets of opportunity throughout wide areas.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA: Supporting US Sixth Army forces on Luzon Island, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers continue to attack targets in the Cagayan Valley, Balete Pass, and Cervantes areas, and other locations. In Borneo, B-24s blast troop concentrations in Balikpapan and S of Miri, Manggar Airfield and Sepinggang defenses and B-25s support ground forces on Labuan. In Formosa, B-24s destroy a block of buildings and several warehouses and small vessels in the Kiirun Harbor area, P-51s hit Taien and Toyohara Airfields and targets of opportunity while P-38s start numerous fires in the town of Kari. Lost is C-47B 43-49762 (MIA).

TUESDAY, 19 JUNE 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In a coordinated shipping search, a B-24 flies the theater's longest mission, a 2,700 mile round trip lasting 15.5 hours and flying as far as Uruppu; turning north the B-24 bombs a small convoy 25 miles southwest of Shimushu Bay, Shimushu, sinks a vessel, heavily damages another, and sets 2 more afire; another B-24 bombs and photographs Matsuwa; Four B-25s break off a shipping sweep due to the presence of Japanese fighters.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, Five B-25s and 4 P-47s knock out a bridge on the Pinghan railroad spanning from Hankow to Peking while 4 P-51s knock out another NE of Kihsien on the Tungpu railroad; 70+ other P-51s damage several bridges, hit rail, road and river traffic, supplies, troops, and general targets of opportunity throughout S and E China.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Twenty-two Guam based B-24s bomb Marcus Airfield.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 4 missions, 1 mining and 3 incindiary missions against secondary cities, are flown during the night of 19/20 Jun. Mission 210: 136 B-29s hit the Toyohashi urban area destroying 1.7 square miles (4.4 square km). Mission 211: 221 B-29s attack the Fukuoka urban area destroying 1.37 square miles; 2 other B-29s attack alternate targets. Mission 212: 123 B-29s attack the Shizuoka urban area destroying 2.25 square miles (5.83 square km); 1 other hits an alternate target; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 213: 28 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and the waters at Niigata, Miyazu, and Maizuru. 47 Ie Shima based P-47s bomb the airfield on Tokuno Island while 16 others patrol uneventfully over Amami-O-Shima. 117 fighters dispatched from Iwo Jima against Kagamigahara Airfield and Meiji abort because of bad weather.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: A-20s and fighter- bombers continue to pound Luzon Island, chiefly around Cagayan Valley, SE of Aparri, and around Cervantes while heavy strikes in the C Cagayan area are in support of guerilla offensive. In Borneo, B-24s bomb fortifications and AA guns at Balikpapan while B-25s hit N Borneo targets including Keningau Airfield and targets N and NW of Kudat. In Formosa, B-24s bomb docks, warehouses, and railroad yards at Kiirun and B-25s pound the Shoka railroad yards and P-51s attack AA positions between Rokko and Toyohara; two bridges in the Shoka area are destroyed or badly damaged. The detachment of the 550th Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command, operating from Puerto Princesa with P-38s, P-61s and P-70s, returns to base at Tacloban (a detachment is operating from Sanga Sanga).

WEDNESDAY, 20 JUNE 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 8 B-25s and 6 P-51s knock out 2 bridges near Quang Tri and My Chanh and blast surrounding AA positions while 8 fighter-bombers sink at least 3 river steamers in a canal at Haiphong. In China, 37 P-51s hit rail, road, and river traffic, bridges, and general targets of opportunity around Liuchow, Kweilin, Juchai, Hankow, Siangtan, Changsha, Hengshan, Sintsiang, Kweiyi, Kueiyangshih, and Ft Bayard; a bridge at Hankow is destroyed and several others damaged. The 11th Combat Cargo Squadron, Fourteenth AF, move from Yunnani to Luliang with C-47s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 14 P-47s from Ie Shima bomb and strafe vessels, buildings, a lighthouse, and a village on Amami Gunto and the airfield on Tokuno; 38 others bomb the airfield at Omura and hit Tokuno on the return trip.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: A-20s and fighter-bombers blast resistance on Luzon Island and directly support a guerilla offensive in the C Cayagan Valley. B-24s again pound AA positions in the Balikpapan area. B-24s bomb Shinchiku Airfield. The 419th Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command, based at Puerto Princesa with P-61s, sends a detachment to operate from Sanga Sanga (another detachment is at Zamboanga).

RAAF: Sunk during refueling and rearming is Catalina A24-206.

THURSDAY, 21 JUNE 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 16 B-25s bomb an enemy fort at Bac Ninh, hit railroad yards and trains at Thanh Hoa, Phu Dien, Yen Li Station, Ha Trung, and Ninh Binh, damage a tunnel at La Son, bomb a barge concentration at Ha Dong, and attack a train near the Duc Tho bridge. 40+ P-51s and P-38s hit road, rail, and river transport, coastal shipping, troops, supply lines, and targets of opportunity in French Indochina and S and E China.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 24 B-24s from Guam bomb fuel oil storage and power plant buildings on Eten. The detachment of the 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Seventh AF, operating from Ie Shima with F-5Es, returns to base on Okinawa.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 214: 25 B-29s mine the sea approaches around Fushiki, Senzaki, Nanao, and Yuya Bay, Japan during the night of 21/22 Jun; 2 others mine alternate areas.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Fighter-bombers attack positions and supply areas in the the Cagayan Valley, other locations in north Luzon and in the Marikina and Infanta areas in C Luzon. In Borneo, B-24s pound the Balikpapan town area, Manggar Airfield, Sepinggang defenses, and Oelin Airfield and B-25s bomb the town of Keningau while P-38s blast the nearby airfield; the fighter-bombers attack Kudat and caves near Jesselton. On Formosa, P-38s hit targets at Mato and Kagi and targets of opportunity along the western coast. Lost on a search mission is OA-10 Catalina 44-34050.

RNZAF: Fighters attack Rabaul area. Lost is F4U Corsair NZ5402.

FRIDAY, 22 JUNE 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Major General John B Brooks relieves Brigadier General Isaiah Davies as Commanding General, Eleventh AF.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 23 B-25s and 4 P-47s pound trucks, trains, and gun positions in the Hanoi area and in China, bomb railroad yards and barracks area at Sinsiang, hit rail and road targets, buildings, and radar station in the Showyang area, knock out a bridge S of Saiping, and damage a bridge N of Hsuchang; 40+ fighters hit rail, road, and river traffic, artillery emplacements, line positions, and other targets in French Indochina and S and E China.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): The 5th and 6th Fighter Squadrons (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Kalaikunda to Asansol with P-47s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 446 B-29s are dispatched in 6 missions to targets on S Honshu Island, Japan during the day. Mission 215: 162 B-29s attack the Kure Naval Arsenal and 12 others hit alternate targets; 72% of the roof area of the arsenal is damaged; 2 B-29s are lost. Mission 216: 108 B-29s hit the Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Tamashima destroying 135 of 231 machine tools and almost half the roof area; 10 others hit alternate targets; 2 B-29s are lost. Mission 217: 52 B-29s attack the Kawanishi aircraft plant at Himeji causing great destruction among the buildings and total destruction of machine tools; 4 others hit alternate targets. Missions 218 and 219: 34 B-29s hit the Mitsubishi and Kawasaki aircraft plants at Kagamigahara and 10 others hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 220: 25 B-29s hit the Kawasaki aircraft factory at Akashi and 1 hits an alternate target. 40+ P-47s from Ie Shima fly combat patrols over Amami Gunto claiming 11 Japanese aircraft downed.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Fighter-bombers supporting ground action continue to hit concentrations and positions in the Cagayan Valley on Luzon Island. In Borneo, B-24s pound Balikpapan area gun and defensive positions while B-25s hit nearby warehouses and numerous other buildings and P-38s dive-bomb and score direct hits on pillboxes. On Formosa, B-24s hit Toshien oil facilities and P-38s attack Mato while 2 B-32s blast gun positions and barracks at Heito. The 25th Liaison Squadron, 13th AF, moves from Malabang to Del Monte, Mindanao Island with UC-78s and L-5s. Lost on a flight from Biak to Merauke is C-47 43-16230.

SATURDAY, 23 JUNE 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Two B-24s on a shipping sweep between Matsuwa and Paramushiru sink 1 freighter, damage two more, and hit a whale boat; 1 Japanese fighter is claimed destroyed. Six other B-24s bomb Kataoka on Shimushu.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 4 B-25s knock out the E approach to the Phu Lang Thuong bridge and 4 P-38s bomb locomotives and a barracks area at Les Pins and Lang Son. Twelve P-51s strafe airfields in the Canton area. 17 other fighters strafe railroad targets and river traffic around Wuchou, Siaokan, and Peking, China, and Hanoi, and Vinh, French Indochina.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Major General Thomas D White becomes Commanding General, Seventh AF.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 221: During the night of 23/24 Jun, 26 B-29s mine the harbors of Fukuoka, Karatsu, Sakai, and Niigata; 1 B-29 is lost; 38 P-47s from Ie Shima bomb airfields at Hakata and Itazuke and, during the return flight, attack two boats off Amami Gunto; 40 other P-47s bomb Saitozaki Airfield; 100 P-51s are dispatched from Iwo Jima to airfields at Kagamigahara and Hyakuri; they claim 19-3-16 aircraft in the air and 13-40 on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: 150+ B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers continue heavy strikes against the Balikpapan area concentrating on gun emplacements and defensive positions. On Luzon, A-20s and fighter-bombers pound troop concentrations and occupied areas in the Cagayan Valley and fighter-bombers attack pockets of resistance in the Infanta and Antipolo areas. B-24s bomb a butanol plant at Kobi.

SUNDAY, 24 JUNE 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Two B-24s on a shipping sweep instead radar bomb Kurabu Cape on Paramushiru, because of overcast and turbulence; another planned shipping strike by six B-25s is also cancelled due to weather.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 13 B-25s and 12 fighter- bombers knock out bridges at Lohochai and S of Chenghsien and hit surrounding AA positions, attack animal-drawn transport at Hsiangcheng, attack railroad targets of opportunity in the Shihkiachwang area, and hit railroad yards at Siaokan; 40+ fighter-bombers continue harassing enemy withdrawals in S and E China where numerous communications targets, gun positions, bridges, and rail, road, and river traffic are attacked.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): At dawn, one B-24 from Guam bombs buildings on Marcus; during the afternoon 18 more bomb the airfield. HQ 494th Bombardment Group and 864th, 865th, 866th and 867th Bombardment Squadrons move from Angaur Airfield to Yontan with B-24s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 36 P-47s from Ie Shima attack boats and a village in the Sakishima Archipelago, a wharf on Kuro Island, Ishigaki Island, and buildings, villages, targets of opportunity, and several points in the Ryukyu Islands. HQ 507th Fighter Group and 463d, 464th and 465th Fighter Squadrons arrive on Ie Shima from the US with P-47s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Luzon, Fifth AF A-20s and fighter-bombers support the US Sixth Army and Filipino troops in the Kiangan sector and N and NE of Tuguegarao, blast numerous targets throughout the Cagayan Valley, Cervantes area concentrations, and the Infanta-Antipolo resistance pockets. In Borneo, B-24s bomb Balikpapan town and coastal guns and fighter-bombers pound coastal guns while B-25s bomb warehouses and the nearby Manggar Airfield. The detachment of the 159th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group [attached to 5th Air Liaison Group (Provisional)], ceases operating from Negros Island with UC-64s and L-5s, and returns to base at Mangaldan.

MONDAY, 25 JUNE 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 18 B-25s and 14 P-51s and P-47s knock out bridges N of Shihkiachwang and N of Saiping, bomb a power plant, barracks, and warehouse at Sinsiang, bomb the Nanyo-Hengyang road, and hit the railroad yard at Siaokan; 80+ fighter-bombers attack bridges, gun positions, river, road, and rail traffic, and generally harass Japanese movements throughout S and E China, particularly around Hengyang, Yoyang, Liuchow, Changsha, Lipu, and Luchai; the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF, based at Shwangliu sends a flight to operate from Ankang with F-5s.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): At dawn, three B-24s from Guam attack heavy AA positions on the west coast of Marcus.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 222: During the night of 25/26 Jun, 26 B-29s plant mines in Shimonoseki Strait and at Maizuru and off Obama Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Borneo, oil facilities, shore defenses and the nearby Manggar Airfield in the Balikpapan area are bombed by B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers. B-24s bomb Mandai Airfield. Force landing from damage is B-24M 44-42240. On Luzon Island, B-25s and fighter-bombers hit targets (mostly troop concentrations and resistance pockets) in the Cagayan Valley, in the Cervantes area, and in the Infanta sector. Lost is B-24M 44-42431. Unit moves: HQ 403d Troop Carrier Group from Biak to Leyte; 157th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group [attached to 5th Air Liaison Group (Provisional)], from Mabalacat, Luzon to Okinawa with UC-64s and L-5s; and the detachment of the 159th Liaison Squadron, 3d Air Commando Group [attached to 5th Air Liaison Group (Provisional)], ceases operating from Cebu with UC-64s and L-5s and returns to base at Mangaldan.

TUESDAY, 26 JUNE 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 21 P-51s bomb or strafe road, river, and rail traffic, motor pools, gun positions, and buildings around Yoyang, Hengyang, Chenghsien, Linfen, and Tsinan, and knock out a bridge SW of Yutze.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): One Guam based B-24 attacks heavy AA positions on the west side of Marcus at dawn.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 510 B-29s and 148 P-51s fly 9 missions against aircraft factories, light-metals industries and arsenals in S Honshu and Shikoku; 6 B-29s and 1 P-51 are lost. Mission 223: 64 B-29s hit the light metal industry at Osaka and 4 others hit alternate targets. Mission 224: 109 B-29s attack the Osaka Arsenal; 3 others hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 225: 31 B-29s hit the Kawasaki aircraft plant at Akashi and 5 others hit targets of opportunity; the 4,000-pound (1,814 kg) bombs are well- placed but the target has been almost destroyed in previous raids. Missions 226 and 227: 58 B-29s attack the Nagoya Arsenal; 6 others hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost. Missions 228 and 231: 85 B-29s hit the Kawasaki aircraft plant at Kagamigahara; 23 others hit alternate targets; 2 B-29s are lost; every important building is knocked out. Mission 229: 50 B-29s attack the Aichi aircraft plant at Eitoku and 14 others attack alternate targets; 2 B-29s are lost; the raid causes light damage. Mission 230: 29 B-29s hit the light metal industry at Nagoya and 2 others hit targets of opportunity. The B-29s claim 20 Japanese fighters destroyed. The Nagoya and Osaka missions are escorted by 148 P-51s; they claim 2-0-5 Japanese aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost. Mission 232: During the night of 26/27 Jun, 33 B-29s attack the Utsube Oil Refinery at Yokkaichi, the top-priority petroleum target; 1 other B-29 hits an alternate target.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Fighter-bombers hit targets in the Infanta area and troop concentrations in the Cagayan Valley and Kiangan area; ground support strikes are flown in the Cervantes area and E of Manila. Strikes against the Balikpapan area continue by B-24s and B-25s hitting oil targets and Manggar Airfield and B-24s bomb the Trombol Airfield. Other B-24s bomb Limboeng Airfield. On Formosa during the night of 26/26 Jun, P-61s set fires at the Ensuiko sugar refinery while B-24s hit the sugar refinery at Tanshi during the day. Lost is P-38 piloted by Hootman.

WEDNESDAY, 27 JUNE 1945

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): HQ 308th Bombardment Group and 374th, 375th and 425th Bombardment Squadrons move from Hsinching and Kwanghan to Rupsi with B-24s.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): In an early morning raid from Guam Island, three B-24s bomb the underground storage area and fortifications on Marcus. At midday 18 B-24s pound Moen Airfield.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 233: During the night of 27/28 Jun, 29 B-29s mine the harbors of Hagi, Kobe, and Niigata. Very long range fighter mission 25: 148 P-51s are dispatched from Iwo Jima, against Kasumigaura Airfield, Imba Airfield, and Tsukuba Airfield in the Tokyo area but abort because of weather. Twenty P-47s from Ie Shima hit shipping and a village on Kikai; AA from vessels downs 2 P-47s; 1 vessel is left aflame; 12 other P-47s hit shipping off Kakeroma Island, while 20 more attack vessels and targets of opportunity throughout the Sakishima Archipelago. During the night of 27/28 Jun, five P-61s fly intruder attacks, hitting vessels off Amami Gunto and Wan Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: During the night of 26/27 Jun, B-24s over the Soerabaja Strait area bomb Tandjoeng-perak Airfield, Java. In Borneo, for the 15th consecutive day, B-24s pound Balikpapan destroying oil facilities and shore defenses, B-25s hit warehouses, other buildings, and the general waterfront area. Other B-24s bomb Mandai Airfield and Limboeng Airfield. On Luzon Island, fighter-bombers hit the Kiangan area, a troop concentration NW of Bolog, the Pagong area, and the Bontoc-Sabangan area, provide ground support near Montalban, and hit targets in the Infanta sector.

THURSDAY, 28 JUNE 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 7 B-25s and 4 P-51s bomb the town of Changsha, a troop concentration and supply area, and blast truck convoys and ammunition trains in the Yoyang area; 28 P-51s hit a communications center S of Puchou, knock out bridges near Kiehsiu and Neikiuhsien, bomb gun emplacements and defensive positions SE of Hsihsiakou, and attack railroad traffic and damage a road bridge in the Suchow and Yoyang areas.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): The detachment of the 427th Night Fighter Squadron, Tenth AF, operating from Kunming with P-61s, returns to base at Dinjan.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Three B-24s from Guam bomb fuel storage on Marcus.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 487 B-29s fly 4 incendiary missions against secondary cities during the night of 28/29 Jun; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 234: 138 B-29s attack Okayama destroying 2.13 square miles (5.52 square km) 63% of the city area; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 235: 141 B-29s hit Sasebo destroying 0.97 square miles (2.51 square km), 48% of the city area; 2 other B-29s hit alternate targets. Mission 236: 91 B-29s attack Moji destroying 0.302 square miles (0.782 square km), 26.9% of the city area; 3 B-29s hit alternate targets. Mission 237: 117 B-29s hit Nobeoka destroying 0.52 square miles (1.35 square km), 36% of the city area. 39 P-47s from Ie Shima attack shipping at Koniya, Japan with rocket and bombing and hit Tokuno Island with rockets and machinegun fire; 26 more hit targets of opportunity in the Sakishima Archipelago including vessels, docks, an airfield, floatplane, and village.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Borneo, B-24s pound installations in the Manggar area while B-24s, B-25s, and P-38s hit defenses near Balikpapan; the P-38s also skip bomb oil storage and other B-24s hit runways at Tabanio and Oelin. B-24s bomb Limboeng Airfield and Langoan Airfield. On Luzon Island, fighter-bombers hit troop concentrations in the Kiangan area while supporting ground forces and attack Japanese concentrations and positions between Ipo and Infanta. B-24s strike a butanol plant at Keishu, Formosa. Unit moves: HQ 35th Fighter Group from Clark Field to Okinawa; 70th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, from Tanauan to Clark Field with C-46s and C-47s.

RAAF: Crash landed is P-40N Kittyhawk A29-1019.

FRIDAY, 29 JUNE 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 15 B-25s and 4 P-47s knock out a bridge at Chungmow and damage another; 18 P-51s attack troop concentrations, gun emplacements, villages, bridges, and targets of opportunity around Hsihsiakou, Yutze, Anyang, Puchou, and Szeshuiand and knock out a bridge at Szeshui.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): The 427th Night Fighter Squadron, Tenth AF, based at Dinjan with P-61s, sends a detachment to operate from Chengkung.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 2 missions are flown during the night of 29/30 Jun. Mission 238: 32 B-29s drop 209 tons of bombs on the Nippon Oil Company refinery at Kudamatsu, Japan without loss. Mission 239: 25 B-29s mine the W Shimonoseki Strait and waters around Maizuru and Sakata without loss. 34 P-47s from Ie Shima hit airfields at Kanoya and Kushira with rockets and machinegun fire, and attack shipping while returning, claiming 7 small vessels sunk.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Borneo, continuing the offensive against Balikpapan, B-24s, B-25s, and fighter- bombers bomb defensive positions and oil installations; other B-24s bomb Ft Brook Airfield and Oelin Airfield. On Luzon, fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Kiangan area and in the Cervantes sector. Other B-24s bomb the oil refinery at Shinchiku.

SATURDAY, 30 JUNE 1945

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater): HQ AAF, China Theater is established by a General Order from HQ, US Forces, China Theater. Lieutenant General George E Stratemeyer is appointed Commanding General; subordinate elements are the Tenth and Fourteenth Air Forces, China Air Service Command, and the 8th Reconnaissance Group.

Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 2 B-25s attack a bridge at Lohochai, causing little damage; 4 fighter-bombers pound hill positions and hit an artillery emplacement SW of Hsihsiakou; 3 others bomb and strafe an enemy- held temple and a troop area at Likuanchiao.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Two Guam based B-24s attack the boat basin on Marcus.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): The 509th Composite Group, scheduled to deliver the first atomic bomb attack on Japan, begins combat flight training from Tinian; for most crews, this involves 5 or 6 practice missions such as a navigation training flight to Iwo Jima bombing Rota during the return flight, two or more short bombing missions against Rota or Guguan. One B-29 flys a long bombing mission against Truk, and one B-29 against Marcus, all run in flights of from two to nine B-29s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA: On Luzon Island, fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Cervantes sector, N of Baguio and pound gun positions and other targets in the Kiangan area as the Luzon campaign officially ends at 2400 hours local. In Borneo, B-24s again pound Balikpapan and B-25s pound targets in NE Borneo and cause considerable damage at Tawau and Tandjoengredeb. The 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, moves from Clark Field, Luzon to Okinawa with P-51s.