FRIDAY, 1 JUNE 1945
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 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 Airfield 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 Kasumigaura Seaplane Base; 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, sixteen 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, four B-25s knock out
the east 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.