4/1/45
Twelfth AF
A-20's and A-26's on intruder missions during 31 Mar/1 Apr over Po
Valley continue to attack road and railroad bridges, motor transport,
loading points, and other tgts. Principal strikes are made at Po R
bridges. Ftrs and FBs during the day strike rail bridges, dumps, rail
lines, M/Ys, trains, vehicles, gun positions, several buildings
(including ammo plant and truck factory), and a variety of T/Os in Po
Valley and NE Italy. MBs hit railroad bridges at Calcinato, Crema,
Mantua, Monselice, Colle Isarco, San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, and
Perca.
4/1/45
Fifteenth AF
Almost 400 B-24's and B-17's bomb Maribor railroad bridge, M/Ys at
Sankt Polten, Selzthal, Zeltueg, Graz, and Villach, railroad bridge
at Krieglach, and gun positions on Adriatic coast near Venice. 82
P-38's bomb Ybbs railroad bridge while 52 P-51's strafe rail traffic
in Prague-Plzen area. Other P-38's and P-51's fly rcn and rcn
escort.
4/1/45
Tenth AF
10 B-25's attack roads and bridges behind enemy lines in C Burma. 478
transport flights are made throughout the day. British 36th Div
forces begin to push down railroad from Mandalay to Rangoon.
4/1/45
Fourteenth AF
7 B-24's bomb Ft Bayard storage area. 6 B-25's and 6 P-51's attack
river shipping and warehouses in Sienning-Puchi area. 4 B-25's attack
railroad tgts at Ninh Binh and Minh Koi. 5 B-25's hit warehouses and
other buildings at Hsuchang while 3 damage bridge at Changtuikuan.
Single B-25's bomb T/Os around Sanshihlitun, Sichuan, Loning, and
Suicheng. 23 P-51's pound A/Fs in Shanghai area. 70-plus other FBs
attack river, road, and rail traffic, storage areas, troops, and
general T/Os throughout wide areas of occupied S and E China.
4/1/45
FEAF
B-24's attack Giran A/F while B-25's and P-47's sweep wide areas. On
Luzon B-24's, A-20's, and FBs hit Legaspi area (where US amphibious
landing is taking place), tgts N of Balete Pass, Batangas area, and
spt troops over parts of S and NW Luzon. In C Phil B-25's and A-20's
spt ground forces near Cebu City and on Negros. B-24's hit Oelin
A/F.
4/2/45
Eighth AF
Over 700 HBs dispatched against 6 A/Fs in Denmark, along with 12 ftr
gps, abandon mission because of bad weather in tgt area.
4/2/45
Ninth AF
Weather prevents operations by 9th Bomb Div and XXIX TAC. IX and XIX
TACs fly patrols and armed rcn over wide expanses of Germany claiming
17 airplanes downed and IX TAC supports US 9th Armd Div at Diemel R
bridgehead near Warburg.
4/2/45
Twelfth AF
Gen Chidlaw takes cmd of Twelfth AF (in Italy) and will shortly take
over MATAF also. A-20's and A-26's continue intruder missions during
1/2 Apr concentrating on Po R crossings and other Po Valley comm
tgts. B-25's bomb railroad bridges at Fornovo di Taro, Drauburg, San
Michele all' Adige, Matrei am Brenner, Steinach, and Colle Isarco,
and railroad fill at Vo Sinistro. Ftrs and FBs again hit comm in Po
Valley but divert sizable escort to attacks on methane plants in C Po
area. The P-47's are attacked by about 40 ftrs during the day, 13 are
claimed destroyed.
4/2/45
Fifteenth AF
Almost 600 B-24's and B-17's, with ftr escorts, bomb comm tgts in
Austria including M/Ys at Graz, Sankt Polten, and Krems, and railroad
bridge on Sulm R. 38 P-38's dive-bomb railroad bridge at Wildon. 71
P-38's and 55 P-51's strafe Vienna-Munich and Wiener-Neustadt-Maribor
rail traffic. Others carry out photo and weather rcn and rcn escort
flights.
4/2/45
Tenth AF
Bad weather cancels all offensive missions. Air supply missions
continue with 469 sorties being flown to forward areas.
4/2/45
Fourteenth AF
28 B-25's knock out bridge SE of That Khe, bomb town area of Vinh,
damage bridge approaches at Kep, hit shipping and other T/Os along
coast of Gulf of Tonkin, and blast town area of Luc Nam. 25 B-25's
attack trucks, tanks, rivercraft, and T/Os at Sichuan, Neihsiang,
Sinyang, Mingkiang, Siangtan, Kweiping, Nanning, and Hengshan. 4
B-24's bomb Kowloon Docks and hit shipping at Bakli Bay and Samah
Bay. 32 P-51's pound A/Fs in Shanghai area. 140-plus other FBs attack
numerous tgts scattered throughout S and E China, including troops,
trucks, horses, river shipping, bridges, gun positions, A/Fs, rail
traffic, and town areas.
4/2/45
FEAF
B-24's bomb harbor at Hong Kong. B-25's and FBs attack Bamban
bridges, Balete PassBaguio area and Penablanca. Troops at Cebu City
and on Negros are bombed by B-25's and FBs. B-24's bomb Sarangani Bay
area. Other B-24's hit Sandakan shipyards and Tawau A/F. Bongao I is
hit by HBs.
4/2/45
Twentieth AF
During the first 4 hrs after midnight (1/2 Apr), 6 B-29's mine harbor
at Kure while more than 100 bomb Nakajima aircraft factory at Tokyo.
9 B-29's mine waters off Hiroshima during 2/3 Apr.
4/2/45
Seventh AF
12 Guam-based B-24's bomb Marcus.
4/2/45
Eleventh AF
A B-24 on weather rcn returns early due to mechanical trouble.
Another B-24 investigates radar jamming on Kresta Point.
4/3/45
Eighth AF
Over 700 HBs attack U-boat yards at Kiel (2 HBs bomb Flensburg A/F as
a T/O). 12 ftr gps fly close and area spt.
4/3/45
Ninth AF
Operational HQ of XXIX TAC moves to Haltern. About 230 MBs and LBs
attack Holzminden and Hameln M/Ys, town of Gottingen, 2 T/Os, and fly
leaflet mission. Ftrs fly escort, fly patrols and armed rcn, spt US
9th Armd Div in Warburg area, XX Corps E of Werra R toward Muhlhausen
and in Kassel area, XII Corps in Gotha and Suhl areas, and 2d and 8th
Armd Divs in Teutoburger Forest and Neuhaus.
4/3/45
Twelfth AF
During 2/3 Apr LBs bomb M/Y at Mantua, several Po R crossings and
other comm tgts in Po Valley. Weather hampers operations during the
day. MBs cancel most missions, but manage to bomb Po Valley bridges
at Camposanto, Usigliano, and Modena. XXII TAC (including Brazilian
and SAAF units) blast comm, fuel dumps, methane plants, trains motor
transport at numerous points in N Italy (mainly Po Valley), including
Parma, Modena, Fidenza, Lodi, Bergamo, Reggio Emilia, and
Piacenza.
4/3/45
Fifteenth AF
95 P-38's divebomb Tainach-Stein railroad bridge. Other P-38's and
P-51's fly rcn and escort missions. Bad weather prevents HB
operations.
4/3/45
Tenth AF
Bad weather again causes cancellation of most scheduled strikes. A
few FBs hit Japanese-held wooded area near Kenglong. Transports
complete 383 sorties to forward areas.
4/3/45
Fourteenth AF
17 B-25's bomb Pinglo, Ninh Binh railroad yards, knock out bridge at
Thinh Duc, and damage bridges at Gian Khau and Mon Cay. 60-plus FBs
knock out bridges at Hsitu and between Chuting and Hengyang, destroy
pontoon bridges in Kanchou area, hit Yangtong A/F, pound Hai Duong
railroad yards, and hit river traffic and other T/Os at several
locations including Hongay, Cao Bang, Tayu, Hankow, Kanchou, Yoyang,
and Ishan-Hwaiyuanchen areas.
4/3/45
FEAF
Hong Kong docks are again bombed by B-24's. Other B-24's and B-25's
hit A/F, butanol plant, and railroad yards at Kagi while A-20's sweep
other rail tgts. On Luzon FBs and A-20's hit Balete
Pass-Baguio-Naguilian area N Cagayan Valley supply tgts, Laguna de
Bay area, and Infanta, also, Miri A/F, troops in Cebu City area, and
tgts on Tarakan I are bombed. MBs attack N Hainan I.
4/3/45
Twentieth AF
During 3/4 Apr, 9 B-29's mine waters off Hiroshima. Twice during
early morning, 48 B-29's hit aircraft plant at Shizuoka, 68 attack
Koizumi aircraft factory and urban areas in Tokyo, and 100-plus
strike aircraft plant at Tachikawa and urban area of Kawasaki.
4/4/45
JCS
JCS designates Gen MacArthur CINCUSAFPAC and Adm Nimitz CINTCPOA.
4/4/45
Eighth AF
939 HBs, supported by 826 effective ftr sorties, bomb 5 A/Fs and 2
landing grounds in N Germany, submarine yards at Hamburg and Kiel,
and munitions plant near Ulzen.
4/4/45
Ninth AF
XXIX TAC returns to operational control of Ninth AF (from Second Tac
AF) as US Ninth Army reverts to control of 12th Army Gp (from 21st
Army Gp). The British ground and air HQ have operationally controlled
XXIX TAC and Ninth Army since shortly after the Ardennes breakthrough
and the Battle of the Bulge. 330-plus MBs and LBs hit Ebrach oil
depot, Crailsheim M/Y and barracks area, Grossaspach supply depot,
town of Ellswangen, Backnang rail and road junction, and 2 T/Os. Ftrs
escort 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols, sweeps, and armed rcn, attack
special tgts, and spt US 104th Inf Div at Scherfede and Hardehausen,
9th Armd Div in Warburg area, XX Corps in Muhlhausen-Kassel areas, 2d
and 5th Armd Divs in Hameln and Minden areas on the Weser R, and 8th
Armd Div as it assaults Ruhr pocket in Lippstadt area.
4/4/45
Twelfth AF
B-25's continue to blast comm along Brenner rail line, ranging from
railroad bridge at Drauburg to Camposanto railroad bridge. The MBs
also inflict considerable damage on Merano methanol plant. P-47's
concentrate on enemy movement, rail lines, and ammo and fuel dumps
throughout Po Valley.
4/4/45
Fifteenth AF
Again bad weather prevents HB operations and limits effort to rcn and
escort missions and to strafing attacks by 94 P-51's on rail traffic
in Munich, Regensburg, Plzen, Linz, and Gmunden areas.
4/4/45
Tenth AF
Combat operations are restricted to attacks on a troop concentration
and rice and fuel supplies behind enemy lines in C Burma. Transports
operate on steady basis throughout the day.
4/4/45
Fourteenth AF
2 B-25's sink a junk in Gulf of Tonkin. 6 P-38's strafe trucks around
Dien Bien Phu, Moc Chau, and Son La.
4/4/45
FEAF
B-24's bomb Toyohara A/F, Mako harbor, and Tokichito I. A-20's hit
Shinchiku factories and rail yards. B-24's bomb harbor at Hong Kong.
P-38's and P-51's pound various tgts in C Luzon while A-20's and
P-38's hit Calauag area. A-20's pound NW Negros and B-24's bomb tgts
in C Mindanao.
4/4/45
Seventh AF
24 B-24's from Angaur hit building at Bunawan.
4/5/45
International
USSR notifies Japan that it wishes to abrogate 5-year Russo-Japanese
neutrality pact signed in 1941.
4/5/45
Eighth AF
Over 1,000 HBs attack 5 M/Ys, 4 ordnance depots, an armament works,
an A/F, an aircraft parts factory, and 2 town areas in SC Germany. 12
ftr gps spt the HBs.
4/5/45
Ninth AF
Weather prevents operations by 9th Bomb Div. Ftrs fly patrols,
sweeps, and armed rcn, and spt US 7th Armd Div's attack on Ruhr
pocket SW of Brilon, XX Corps' drive E in Muhlhausen area, XII Corps'
adv in Meiningen area, 2d Armd Div bridgehead astride the Weser R S
of Hameln, 8th Armd Div (preparing for assault on Soest), and 5th
Armd Div near Minden.
4/5/45
Twelfth AF
B-25's bomb 5 bridges in N Italy and Austria, at Steinach, Matrei am
Brenner, Modena, Salorno, and San Michele all'Adige, and blast gun
positions at La Spezia. These attacks follow night raids by A-20's
and A-26's on bridges at Lavis, Ala, San Michele all'Adige, San
Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Piazzola sul Brenta, Cittadella, and
Montebello, and other tgts. Ftrs and FBs devote their largest effort
to close spt of ground forces, blasting occupied areas and gun
positions in Massa Lombarda area, and also attack comm and dumps in
Po Valley.
4/5/45
Fifteenth AF
457 B-24's and B-17's attack railroad bridge at Dravograd, M/Ys and
locomotive depots at Brescia, Alessandria, and Turin, and A/F at
Udine. 96 P-38's dive-bomb Radovljica railroad bridge, 27 P-51's with
13 flying top cover, strafe rail comm in Munich, Regensburg, Passau,
and Linz areas. 20-plus P-38's fly rcn missions. Around 300 ftr
sorties are flown to escort transport, rcn, and HB missions
(including RAF raid on Monfalcone shipyards).
4/5/45
Tenth AF
Bad weather cancels scheduled strikes. Transports continue
large-scale operations to forward areas.
4/5/45
Fourteenth AF
27 FBs on armed rcn attack troops, horses, and river, road, and rail
traffic at Shanhsien, Shihkiachwang, and Son La, and in Tehsien and
Loyang-Pinglo area.
4/5/45
FEAF
B-24's bomb Kowloon Docks and nearby A/F, while other B-24's bomb
Kiirun harbor. 180-plus sorties in spt of ground forces are flown in
Luzon. A-20's and patrolling P-61's spt troops on Cebu and Negros.
P-38's hit Tarakan I and Tawau.
4/5/45
Seventh AF
18 B-24's from Guam hit tgts on Eten anl Dublon Is. 22 from Angaur
pound bivouac area at Bunawan.
4/6/45
Eighth AF
641 HBs bomb M/Y at Halle, rail traffic center at Leipzig, M/Y and
industrial complex at Gera, and city area of Eisleben. 15 ftr gps fly
around 600 effective sorties in spt of the HBs.
4/6/45
Ninth AF
99 MBs and LBs hit M/Ys at Gottingen and Northeim and city area of
Herzberg, and drop leaflets over 3 city areas. Ftrs fly escort,
alerts, sweeps, and armed rcn, and spt US VIII Corps in Eisenach
area, and XX Corps E of the Werra near Muhlhausen.
4/6/45
Twelfth AF
Gen Darcy takes cmd of XXII TAC. A-20's and A-26's on night intruder
missions, 5/6 Apr, bomb several bridges in Po R Valley, scoring good
results on 8 of the tgts, also hitting assembly area along the Po R.
XXII TAC ftrs and FBs hit lines of comm, mainly in Po Valley, and spt
US Fifth Army forces attacking toward Massa Lombarda. B-25's cancel
missions against tgts on Brenner line due to weather, but hit 6
bridges in C Po Valley and gun positions at La Spezia.
4/6/45
Fifteenth AF
387 HBs, with ftr escort, bomb M/Y flak positions and ordnance depot
at Verona and M/Y and small arms plant at Brescia. 179 other HBs sent
against tgts in N Italy are recalled. 81 P-38's dispatched to bomb
bridge in Austria abort due to weather. 14 manage to attack bridges
near Austro-Italian border. 6 P-51's (of 54 airborne) strafe railroad
tgts in Straubing/Plattling area. Others fly rcn missions.
4/6/45
Tenth AF
With improving weather conditions combat strikes in C Burma battle
area increase. 70-plus FBs attack troop concentrations, arty
positions, tanks, trucks, fuel dumps, and general T/Os along and
immediately behind enemy lines. Tgts are located in several areas
including Paklu, Nawnghkio, Loilem, Takaw, Mong Hko, Kongleng,
NawngHsan Pu, and Indaw. Air supply sorties continue on steady basis
throughout the day.
4/6/45
Fourteenth AF
3 B-24's hit T/Os in Bakli Bay area. 4 P-38's knock out bridge in
Dien Bien Phu area. 8 P-51's blast railroad T/Os, troops, horses, and
boat landings in Chengheien area and along Lung Hai railroad and
Yellow R.
4/6/45
FEAF
B-25's bomb town of Hokko. Ground spt sorties continue in areas
around Balete Pass, W of Ft Stotsenburg, N, NE, and S of Laguna de
Bay, and around Legaspi. Ftrs also hit Carabao I and Infanta. B-24's
bomb town N of Cebu City while ftrs spt ground units on Cebu. A-20's
spt ground forces on Negros. B-25's pound Bunawan. B-24's bomb Jolo I
defenses and ammo and supply dumps. At Manila AFPAC is established
under Gen MacArthur. 400 Kamikaze planes make all-out effort against
Okinawa shipping and beachheads. 2 destroyers, 2 ammo ships, a mine
sweeper and an LST is sunk. Other vessels are damaged. Nearly 300
Japanese planes are expended.
4/6/45
Seventh AF
11 B-24's from Guam pound positions and A/F on Marcus. 23 from Angaur
bomb barracks and wharf at Bunawan.
4/6/45
Eleventh AF
8 B-24's attack and photograph Kurabu, especially the A/F, while 8
B-25's hit radar installations in an all-out attack on Hayakegawa,
Kotani Shima, and Minami Cape, dropping napalm-filled incendiaries
for the first time. Buildings and shipping in N part of Hayakegawa
are hit especially hard. Another B-25 flies weather rcn.
4/7/45
Eighth AF
Over 1,200 HBs hit 6 A/Fs, 5 M/Ys, 2 explosives plants, 2 oil storage
depots, and an ordnance depot in C and N Germany. 15 ftr gps,
providing spt, meet well over 100 conventional ftrs and 50-plus jets.
The German ftrs attack fiercely and in the ensuing air battle down 15
HBs. US ftrs claim over 60 ftrs destroyed including a few jets
against negligible losses. HBs claim 40 of the ftrs destroyed.
4/7/45
Ninth AF
268 MBs and LBs strike M/Ys at Northeim and Gottingen, plus 2 town
areas. Ftrs fly escort, patrols, and armed rcn, and spt US 7th Armd
Div at Schmallenberg, 3d and 9th Armd Divs along the Weser R E of
Warburg, VIII, XII, and XX Corps in Muhlhausen, Eisenach, and
Meiningen areas (including strong air spt against counterattack on
XII and XX Corps at Struth), 2d Armd Div along Sarstedt/Hildesheim
road, and XVI Corps between Lippe and Ruhr Rivers in Essen area.
4/7/45
Twelfth AF
During 6/7 Apr A-20's and A-26's bomb bridges at Lavis, Ala,
Rovereto, and San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, and several Po R
crossings. During the day weather grounds MBs. XXII TAC ftrs and FBs,
operating on limited scale, hit Montechino oilfield, ammo dumps and
comm tgts N of battle area, and gun positions in Monte
Belvedere/Strettoia area in which US Fifth Army forces push N.
4/7/45
Fifteenth AF
128 B-17's and B-24's attack Mezzocorona railroad bridge and nearby
road bridge, Verona-Parona di Valpolicella railroad bridge, and M/Ys
at Innsbruck, Sankt Veit an der Glan, and Klagenfurt. Over 500 HBs
return to base without bombing because of multilayer clouds. 82
P-38's bomb TainachStein railroad bridge. 74 others sent against
bridge in S Austria abort due to weather.
4/7/45
Tenth AF
95 FBs operating over and behind Japanese lines in C Burma pound
troop concentrations, trucks, and supply areas, and sweep roads S of
bomb line.
4/7/45
Fourteenth AF
14 B-25's hit town areas and T/Os at Sichuan, Hsihhsiassuchi,
Neihsiang, Shaoyang, and Nanchang. 4 B-24's bomb harbors and dock
areas at Bakli and Samah Bays and at Haiphong. 8 P-38's hit T/Os
around Dien Bien Phu and along Nam Hon area. 24 P-51's attack river,
road and rail traffic in Yellow R area, S of Anyi, at Yuncheng, and
at Tengfeng.
4/7/45
FEAF
Bad weather hampers strikes N of the Phils. B-24's and P-38's over
Formosa hit various T/Os. Ftrs fly 130-plus sorties in spt of ground
forces at Solvec Cove, Villa Verde Trail, Ipo and Marikina Rivers,
and NE Laguna de Bay. B-24's again bomb Bunawan. Other B-24's and
P-38's hit Jolo I. B-24's bomb Bima A/F.
4/7/45
Twentieth AF
101 B-29's bomb Nakajima aircraft engine plant at Tokyo while
150-plus hit Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Nagoya. Nearly 30 others
hit last resort tgts. 91 P-51's of VII FC escort the VHBs to Japan
for the first time and claim 21 kills.
4/7/45
Seventh AF
24 B-24's from Angaur bomb barracks area at Bunawan.
4/7/45
Eleventh AF
A B-24 flies a radar ferret mission along the coasts of Paramushiru
and Harumukotan.
4/8/45
Eighth AF
More than 1,150 HBs strike 3 A/Fs, 4 M/Ys, an oil storage depot, 2
ordnance depots, a railroad yard workshop, and an aircraft parts and
repair factory, in areas N and NW of Leipzig, SE of and near
Nurnberg, and SW of Chemnitz. 14 ftr gps fly escort.
4/8/45
Ninth AF
HQ IX TAC moves from Brnhl to Marburg/Lahn. Around 620 A-20's,
A-26's, and B-26's bomb Munchenbernsdorf oil storage depot,
Sonderhausen comm center, Nienhagen oil refinery, Celle M/Y, and 8
city areas. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, attack A/F, fly patrols and
armed rcn, and operate in conjunction with US VIII, XII, and XX Corps
in Thuringer Forest and Erfurt areas.
4/8/45
Twelfth AF
During 7/8 Apr LBs hit cmd posts and dumps. MBs, despite bad weather
bomb railroad bridges at Salorno, San Michele all' Adige, Vo
Sinistro, and Bondeno, railroad fill and canal at Salorno, and gun
positions at La Spezia. XXII TAC FBs concentrate escorts on Brenner
area comm (cutting lines in 31 places and damaging 4 bridges), oil
fields in C Po Valley, and points further N.
4/8/45
Fifteenth AF
More than 500 B-24's and B-17's, with ftr escorts, attack comm in N
Italy, concentrating on transportation system feeding into Brenner
Pass. Bridges, viaducts, and M/Ys are hit at or near Bressanone,
Campodazzo, Vipiteno, Fortezza, Campo di Trens, Mezzocorona, Avisio,
Brescia, Gorizia, Pordenone, and Ponte Gardena. (power dam at Ponte
Gardena is also hit). 168 P-38's bomb Rattenberg and
Garmisch railroad bridges and strafe rail traffic in
Munich-Salzburg-Linz areas.
4/8/45
Tenth AF
50-plus P-38's and P-47's operating in C Burma battle areas attack
troops, supplies, gun positions, and trucks at several points along
and behind enemy lines, and sweep roads S of bomb line. Transports
maintain operations throughout the day.
4/8/45
Fourteenth AF
31 P-51's knock out bridge S of Shaoyang, destroy section of track at
Sincheng, and hit numerous road and rail T/Os in Yellow R areas and
points to the S, from Shanhsien to Loning, at Hungtung, and S of
Hei-Shih Kuan. 4 B-24's attack shipping T/Os in S China Sea and in
Bakli and Yulin Bays and bomb Kowloon Docks.
4/8/45
FEAF
For second consecutive day bad weather prevents attacks on primary
tgts N of the Phil Is. MBs and HBs hit secondary tgts including
Chomosui A/F and Tainan town and railroad yards, towns of Takao,
Toko, and Kaiko, and other scattered objectives. A-20's and FBs over
Luzon spt ground forces particularly in areas E of Manila. B-24's
join A-20's and FBs in spt of ground forces on Cebu and Negros. Other
HBs bomb N Davao Bay area and Jolo I.
4/8/45
Twentieth AF
48 B-29's strike 2 A/Fs at Kanoya and 1 at Kokubu.
4/8/45
Seventh AF
25 B-24's from Angaur bomb Bunawan area. During 8/9 Apr, 6 night ftrs
from Iwo Jima, operating singly at 2-fur intervals, bomb Chichi Jima,
Haha Jima, Ani Jima, and Ototo Jima.
4/9/45
Eighth AF
10 jet A/Fs, a M/Y and rail center, an ammunition plant, and an oil
storage facility in SC Germany are bombed by around 1,200 HBs. 15 ftr
gps give close and area spt.
4/9/45
Ninth AF
Over 700 MBs and LBs strike M/Ys at Jena and Saalfeld, oil tgts at
Bad Berka and Dedenhausen, ordnance depots at Naumburg and
Amberg-Kummersbruck, and several T/Os. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div,
attack several A/Fs and a fuel storage facility, fly area patrols and
armed rcn, and spt III Corps along Lenne R, 3d Armd Div E of the
Weser R toward Nordhausen, VIII Corps in Arnstadt area and XII and XX
Corps in Thuringer Forest and around Erfurt.
4/9/45
Twelfth AF
A-20's and A-26's on intruder missions during 8/9 Apr bomb bridges,
vehicles, and T/Os in Po R Valley and NE Italy. During the day B-25's
and XXII TAC FBs (in conjunction with DAF FBs and MASAF HBs) blast
gun positions, troop concentrations, enemy HQ, and strongpoints in
Lugo-Imola area in spt of British Eighth Army offensive. Other XXII
TAC FBs hit comm in N Italy (including Brenner line) and methane
plant and ammo and fuel dumps in WC Po Valley.
4/9/45
Fifteenth AF
825 B-24's and B-17's in close coordination with the British Eighth
Army, pound gun positions and other forward military tgts SE of
Bologna, in the area immediately W and SW of Lugo. 88 P-51's provide
tgt cover. 150-plus P-38's bomb and strafe railroad bridges at
Rattenberg, Seefeld, Telfs, Rosenheim, and to the S near Austro
German border, and also hit rail lines in Munich-Rosenheim area. Over
90 P-51's escort supply (to N Italy) and transport missions and spt
MATAF aircraft attacking positions in Imola area. Other airplanes
continue rcn operations.
4/9/45
Tenth AF
More than 70 P-38's and P-47's attack troops, supplies, gun
positions, and general T/Os along and behind C Burma battleline
around Mong Pawn, Wan Htum, Pang po, Kyawkku, Mong Hko, HanhvieMu,
Laihka, and other points. Transports complete 415 sorties to forward
areas.
4/9/45
Fourteenth AF
9 B-24's bomb docks at Canton and Kowloon and attack T/Os at Bakli
Bay. 8 B-25's bomb Sinyang railroad yards and nearby T/Os. 13 other
B-25's knock out bridge N of Hsuchang and hit various tgts around
Laohokow, Sichuan, Sinyang, Likuanchiao, Lichen, and along the Han R.
19 P-51's hit T/Os in or near Neihsiang, Laohokow, and Sichuan. 2
P-38's blast trucks in Dien Bien Phu area.
4/9/45
FEAF
A-20's and FBs spt ground forces on Luzon in Balete Pass, Baguio, and
Solvec Cove areas and at several points in SW Luzon, and attack
Japanese forces in Legaspi area. B-24's and FBs spt ground forces in
C Cebu and on Negros. Several B-24's on armed rcn missions hit China
and Indochina coastal tgts.
4/9/45
Twentieth AF
16 B-29's mine Shimonoseki Strait.
4/9/45
Seventh AF
16 P-51's from Iwo Jima bomb and strafe military installations at
Chichi Jima during the early morning. 17 Guam-based B-24's pound
Marcus A/F and def installations. 22 from Angaur hit troop
concentration at Kabacan.
4/10/45
Eighth AF
1,224 HBs hit 8 A/Fs 2 M/Ys, a factory A/F and repair hangars, an
ordnance depot, and HQ buildings all in N Germany. 15 ftr gps provide
close and area spt and strafe numerous A/Fs, claiming 335 parked
airplanes destroyed. About 60 jets and a few conventional ftrs are
encountered. US ftrs claim over 20 aerial victories. Enemy ftrs and
AA account for 16 HBs.
4/10/45
Ninth AF
423 A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's strike oil storage and ordnance
depots, rail bridge and viaduct (all primary tgts) and several other
tgts including a M/Y and an industrial area. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb
Div, fly patrols, rail cutting operations, and armed rcn, and spt US
13th Armd Div crossing the Sieg R near Siegburg, 3d Armd Div
approaching Nordhausen, 9th Armd Div in Hain area, XII Corps near
Coburg, XX Corps W of Weimar and the Saale R, 2d and 5th Armd Divs
crossing Oker R in Ahnsen and Schladen areas, and XVI Corps along the
Ruhr R in Essen area.
4/10/45
Twelfth AF
During 9/10 Apr LBs hit guns and other close spt tgts along British
Eighth Army front (which stretches from W of Imola to Comacchio
Lagoon and the coast) and also hit several Po R crossings and attack
Brenner line bridges at Lavis, Rovereto, and San Michele all'Adige.
During the day B-25's and XXII TAC FBs continue pounding spt tgts
along the battlefront. FBs also attack bridges on the Brenner line
and comm and other tgts in Po Valley.
4/10/45
Fifteenth AF
648 B-24's and B-17's, in spt of British Eighth Army forces, blast
arty positions, machine-gun nests, and inf defenses along the
Santerno R. This effort represents the largest number of Fifteenth AF
HBs attacking tgts in a single day as of this date. 88 P-51's fly tgt
cover. 152 P-38's dive-bomb bridges, a tunnel and a M/Y at Seefeld
and Worgl.
4/10/45
Tenth AF
About 30 FBs attack troop concentrations at Tonglau, at points along
Zawgyi, and at other locations in C Burma battle area. 455 transport
sorties are flown to forward areas.
4/10/45
Fourteenth AF
23 B-24's pound Yungcheng storage areas. 50-plus B-25's and 180-plus
FBs (operating in small flights) attack numerous tgts throughout S
and E China. Tgts hit are mainly troops, horses, town areas, storage
areas, and river, road, and rail traffic.
4/10/45
FEAF
HBs bomb town of Koshun. A-20's and FBs again spt ground forces in SW
Luzon and in Balete Pass, Baguio, and Solvec Cove areas, and pound
Legaspi area. B-24's and FBs spt ground forces in C Cebu. B-24's bomb
Liang and Bingkalapa A/Fs.
4/10/45
Seventh AF
During 10/11 Apr, 6 Iwo Jima-based night ftrs, flying individual
strikes bomb and strafe Chichi, Muko, Ani, and Haha Jima.
4/10/45
Eleventh AF
In coordinated operations with Navy aircraft, 7 B-24's napalm-bomb
Kataoka naval base. 4 B-25's attempt to hit radar installations on
Minami Cape, the primary air warning station in the Kurils, but fail
to release bombs due to approach error. 3 other B-25's decklevel bomb
Masugawa R cannery. A B-24 investigates ice floes along Kurils.
4/11/45
Eighth AF
Over 1,250 HBs attack 6 M/Ys, 2 A/Fs, 2 ordnance depots, 2 oil
storage depots, and an ammunition factory in S Germany. 15 ftr gps
provide close and area spt.
4/11/45
Ninth AF
689 MBs and LBs strike M/Ys at Bernburg, Oschersleben, Zwickau, and
Kothen, Naumburg ordnance depot, Bamberg motor transport plant, and
several other tgts. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols, sweeps,
leaflet mission, and armed rcn (claiming 43 aircraft shot down), and
spt US 3d and 9th Armd Divs in Nordhausen and
Ringleben-Sachsenburg-Rothenberga areas, 2d Armd Div as it reaches
Elbe R S of Magdeburg in a record drive of 57 mi, XVI Corps along the
Ruhr R at Witten, XX Corps as it crosses the Saale R at Weimar and
overruns Buchenwald concentration camp and Allied prisoner camp
nearby, XII Corps in Coburg-Rottenbach area, and VIII Corps as it
approaches the Saale R S of Weimar.
4/11/45
Twelfth AF
During 10/11 Apr LBs bomb bridges at Lavis, Ala, Rovereto, San
Michele all'Adige, and San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, and hit
vehicles, Po R crossings and T/Os in Po Valley. MBs continue to spt
British Eighth Army forces between Imola and Comacchio Lagoon, bomb
guns SE of La Spezia in front of US Fifth Army adv, and bomb 4
bridges on the Brenner line. XXII TAC FBs also fly spt on Eighth Army
front, and hit comm (including Brenner line) and fuel and ammo dumps
in N Italy.
4/11/45
Fifteenth AF
544 B-24's and B-17's hit comm in N Italy, concentrating on
transportation system feeding into Brenner area, in effort to hamper
enemy's supply and escape routes. The HBs bomb bridges at Padua,
Vipiteno, Campodazzo, Ponte Gardena, and Campo di Trens, M/Ys at
Bronzolo and Ora, vehicle repair shop at Osoppo, and fuel depot at
Goito. 40 P-38's dive-bomb Rosenheim railroad bridge. 40 other P-38's
and 29 P-51's strafe rail traffic in Munich, Regensburg, Plzen, Linz,
and Salzburg areas. Over 250 ftrs escort HB missions, rcn and supply
missions, and operations against N Italian tgts by MATAF
aircraft.
4/11/45
Tenth AF
54 FBs hit troop and supply concentrations near Mong Kung and Mong
Nim, attack trucks and T/Os in other areas behind battleline, and
sweep several roads S of bomb line. Transports fly 424 sorties
carrying men and supplies to forward areas.
4/11/45
Fourteenth AF
7 B-25's bomb Hsihhsiassuchi, 5 pound Pinglo barracks and storage
area, and a few others hit Yanglowtung railroad yards and T/Os E of
Paoching. 150-plus FBs attack troops, river, road and rail traffic,
and a variety of T/Os scattered throughout S and E China and N
Indochina.
4/11/45
FEAF
B-24's bomb Cotabato. Japanese defenses NW of Guadalupe are pounded
by HBs. A-20's hit bivouac E of Negritos. On Luzon B-24's, B-25's,
A-20's, and FBs bomb numerous tgts including Fuga I, Cagayan Valley
areas, Santa Fe, bridges and other comm in Iligan, Naguilian, Manga,
and Tuguegarao, and troops and supply concentration N of Imugan.
Troop spt strikes are flown in Solvec Cove area and E of Manila.
Baguio and troop concentration in Batangas area and on Bicol
peninsula are bombed. At Iriga, defenses are hit with napalm. B-24's
bomb Okayama while B-25's hit several tgts including Ts'eng Wen sugar
refinery, Seiko, Sunbon-sha, and Shasekiryo. P-38's attack gun
positions at Tarakan.
4/11/45
Seventh AF
24 B-24's from Angaur hit Cotabato supply and personnel areas. 18
Guam-based B-24's pound positions on Eten I.
4/11/45
Eleventh AF
P-38's together with Navy aircraft pick up bombfilled paper balloons
over Attu and E of Adak. One balloon over Attu is shot down.
4/12/45
US
President Roosevelt dies.
4/12/45
Eighth AF
2 ftr gps escort MBs of Ninth AF in attack on ordnance depot.
4/12/45
Ninth AF
167 MBs and LBs attack Hof rail bridge, Kempten ordnance depot, and
Goppingen M/Y, plus a town area and a casual T/O. Over 275 planes
abort because of weather. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, attack town of
Kothen, fly armed rcn and sweeps over wide areas of Germany and spt
ground forces. Ftrs also spt US III, XVI, and XVIII Corps as they
continue to reduce the Ruhr pocket, 9th Armd Div on Saale R near
Werben and Bad Lauchstadt, XX Corps from Saale R N and S of Jena E
across the Weisse Elster R, VIII Corps along the Saale further S of
Jena, XII Corp SE of Coburg on Hasslach R, 2d Armd Div across the
Elbe R near Randau S of Magdeburg, 5th Armd Div on W bank of the Elbe
R at Wittenberge, and XVI Corps as it continues fighting in Duisburg
and Dortmund areas.
4/12/45
Twelfth AF
LBs, during 11/12 Apr, hit Po R crossings, MBs, restricted by low
clouds, bomb approaches to Maribor bridge, hit tgts along Brenner
rail line, and spt British Eighth Army in Argenta area. FBs attack NE
Italian railroad lines, including fuel dumps and comm tgts in Po
Valley.
4/12/45
Fifteenth AF
400-plus HBs hit comm in N Italy and S Austria, attacking railroad
bridges at Padua, Ponte di Piave, Nervesa della Bataglia, and Sankt
Veit an der Glan, ammo dump at Malcontenta, and supply dump at
Peschiera del Garda. 124 P-51's provide escort. 123 P-38's bomb
railroad bridges at Unzmarkt and Arnoldstein. 128 B-24's, with P-51
escort, sent against N Italian comm abort due to bad weather. 38
P-51's escort MATAF B-25's on raids in N Yugoslavia.
4/12/45
Tenth AF
75 FBs continue to pound tgts in C Burma battle area. Troop
concentrations, gun positions, supplies, vehicles, and general T/Os
are attacked along battlefront, behind enemy lines, and along roads S
of bomb line. 369 air supply sorties are flown throughout the
day.
4/12/45
Fourteenth AF
12 B-24's supported by 14 P-51's, bomb Wuchang railroad yards and
A/F. 7 B-25's bomb Hsuchang railroad yards, 3 hit Loning, 2 attack
Likuanchiao, 2 bomb Tenghsien, and single B-25's attack storage areas
at Pingyao and Huaiching. 100-plus FBs attack troops, horses,
bridges, river shipping, trucks, and railroad tgts at several
locations in Indochina and at points scattered over S and E
China.
4/12/45
FEAF
P-38's and A-20's spt ground troops on Cebu and Negros. B-24's bomb
Sapakan, Kabacan, and Davao Bay areas. P-38's hit Cotabato and also
Kabacan. Other B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and FBs pound tgts throughout
Cagayan Valley, blast defenses at Balete Pass and in Baguio area, and
hit troops, comm tgts, and defenses at numerous points in SW and SE
Luzon. B-24's attack Tainan and bomb Okayama A/F.
4/12/45
Twentieth AF
94 B-29's strike Nakajima aircraft factory at Tokyo while 11 hit
secondary tgt of Shizuoka engine plant. VHB gunners claim 16 ftrs
downed. 130-plus other B-29's bomb 2 chemical p]ants at Koriyama. 32
more VHBs hit various T/Os. During 12/13 Apr, 5 B-29's mine
Shimonoseki Strait. Ftrs from VII FC escorting the daylight
operations over Tokyo area claim 15 aircraft downed.
4/12/45
Seventh AF
24 B-24's, based on Angaur hit personnel area at Kabacan. During
12/13 Apr, 6 Iwo-based ftrs, operating singly at intervals, bomb and
strafe tgts at Kita, Chichi, Haha, and Ani Jima.
4/12/45
Eleventh AF
P-38's shoot down paper bomb-balloons over Attu.
4/13/45
Eighth AF
Over 200 B-17's bomb Neumunster M/Y. 8 ftr gps spt HBs and strafe
numerous A/Fs, claiming 284 parked airplanes destroyed.
4/13/45
Ninth AF
A special mission is flown by IX TAC FBs against HQ of FM Model's
Army Gp B at Haus Waldesruh in the Ruhr pocket. The air attack is
followed by an arty barrage. As a result the HQ is moved to Haan. IX
TAC pilots sight Soviet ftrs in the air for the first time. Weather
grounds 9th Bomb Div. Ftrs fly patrols and armed rcn, and spt US
XVIII Corps in Huckeswagen and Hagen areas, III Corps between Ruhr
and Honne Rivers, 3d Armd Div on Saale R in Alsleben, Nelben and
Friedeburg area, XX Corps astride and between the Weisse Elster and
Zwickauer Mulde Rivers N of Gera, XVI Corps NW of Hagen, 2d Armd Div
in Elbenau-Grunwalde area, and 5th Armd Div along the Elbe in
Tangermunde area.
4/13/45
Twelfth AF
B-25's are restricted by weather to 1 mission, an attack on road
bridge at Mollinella. FBs continue to hit comm and dumps in Po Valley
and guns in La Spezia area. LBs during 12/13 Apr attack Po R
crossings at San Benedetto Po, Ostiglia, Piacenza, and Casalmaggiore,
bridges at San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, and motor transport and T/Os
in Milan area.
4/13/45
Fifteenth AF
Bad weather limits operations to rcn and escort missions.
4/13/45
Tenth AF
30-plus P-47's and P-38's attack troops and supplies in Hamngai,
Loi-hseng, and Wan Yin areas and sweep roads S of bomb line in C
Burma. Air transport operations to front areas total 450 sorties.
4/13/45
Fourteenth AF
11 B-25's bomb railroad yards and warehouse area at Kaifeng, 6 knock
out bridge at Ningwing, and 6 hit fort at Bac Ninh. 7 B-25's hit
shipping in S China Sea and Bakli Bay and town areas of Tenghsien and
Liuchow. 4 others, along with 5 P-51's, knock out bridge and hit town
area and shipping at Puchi. 24 P-38's and P-51's knock out 3 bridges,
damage another, and hit several T/Os in N Indochina. About 140 FBs
fly armed rcn and strikes throughout S and E China, hitting rail,
road, and river traffic, town areas, troops, and general T/Os.
4/13/45
FEAF
B-24's hit Hong Kong waterfront (Taikoo Docks) and storage areas in
Canton. Other B-24's hit A/Fs at Tainan and Okayama while B-25's
attack railroads. Numerous sweeps are flown over Cagayan Valley and
ground spt missions are continued on Luzon, Cebu, and Negros. B-24's
bomb Davao area. B-25's hit various tgts on Mindanao and in Sulu
Archipelago.
4/13/45
Twentieth AF
During 13/14 Apr almost 330 B-29's bomb Tokyo arsenal area.
4/13/45
Seventh AF
18 Guam-based B-24's pound enemy positions on Marcus. 23 from Angaur
bomb personnel and storage areas at Kabacan. 2 Saipan-based P-61
night ftrs bomb and strafe Pagan I.
4/13/45
Eleventh AF
At Attu 27 P-38's and P-40's scramble following radar reports of
unidentified plots. Later, they shoot down 9 of 11 Japanese paper
bomb-balloons sighted over the W Aleutians.
4/14/45
Eighth AF
1,161 HBs hit 22 defensive installations, consisting of AA and arty
positions and strongpoints covering the Gironde estuary. Other Allied
AFs and French naval units attack similar tgts. The air attacks
precede a ground assault by French det of 6th Army Gp on the defense
pockets which deny Allies use of port facilities in Bordeaux
area.
4/14/45
Ninth AF
Operational HQ of XXIX TAC moves to Gutersloh. 18 B-26's fly leaflet
mission in Ruhr area. Ftrs fly patrols, sweeps, and armed rcn, and
spt US 3d Armd Div SW of Elbe/Mulde R junction near Dessau, 9th Armd
Div in Borna and Lobstadt area, XX Corps elements which continue to
arrive at Zwickauer Mulde R, VIII Corps along the Weisse Elster R S
of Gera, XII Corps elements in Bayreuth area, 2d and 5th Armd Divs
along the Elbe in Barby-Magdeburg and Tangermunde areas.
4/14/45
Twelfth AF
During 13/14 Apr LBs continue to hit comm in Po Valley. Bad weather
over N part of Brenner line prevents MB attacks but the B-25's hit
alternates on S part of line at Salorno, San Ambrogio di
Valpolicella, and Chiusaforte, bomb guns SE of La Spezia in spt of US
Fifth Army, and hit 5 defensive positions along British Eighth Army
front in Argenta area. FBs concentrate on supporting Fifth Army
forces SW of Bologna.
4/14/45
Fifteenth AF
318 HBs hit ammo factories at Avigliana, Spilimbergo, Malcontenta,
and Palmanova, motor transport depot at Osoppo and Klagenfurt M/Y as
a T/O. 158 ftrs provide escort. 29 P-38's bomb and strafe railroad
tgts in Munich-Linz-Regensburg areas. 54 P-51's fly escort for MATAF
B-25's bombing tgts in N Italy.
4/14/45
Tenth AF
41 P-47's and P-38's attack troops, supplies, and fuel dumps at
Tawnghkam Nawng-hkam, Mong Kung, Loi-makhkawn, and Nawngkaw. 8 P-38's
damage bridges at Kong pau and Kyawngpeng. 446 transport flights are
flown to forward areas.
4/14/45
Fourteenth AF
24 B-24's, supported by 12 P-51's, bomb Loyang and knock out bridge
over Yellow R. 30-plus B-25's and more than 130 FBs attack bridges
(knocking out at least 6), river, road, and rail traffic, troops,
storage areas, town areas, and general T/Os over vast expanse of S
and E China.
4/14/45
FEAF
B-25's sweep Canton-Hong Kong waterways, hitting shipping and other
tgts. B-24's bomb four A/Fs on Formosa. In the Phil Is B-24's,
B-25's, A-20's, and FBs fly numerous strikes in spt of ground forces
and against A/Fs, gun positions, defenses, and troop concentrations
throughout Luzon, Cebu, Negros, and Mindanao.
4/14/45
Seventh AF
24 Angaur-based B-24's pound supply and personnel areas at
Tigatto.
4/15/45
Eighth AF
The sole operational employment of napalm bomb by Eighth AF is
carried out against German ground installations (pillboxes, gunpits,
tank trenches, and heavy gun emplacements) in defensive pocket at
Royan by nearly 850 HBs. Results are negligible and HQ recommends its
discontinuance against this type of tgt. A total of 16 defensive
installations on Gironde estuary are bombed by 1,280 HBs supporting
assault by French ground troops under 6th Army Gp. 2 ftr gps escort
Ninth AF MBs attacking Ulm M/Y.
4/15/45
Ninth AF
268 B-26's and A-26's bomb M/Ys at Gunzburg and Ulrn (primary tgts)
and several other tgts including 3 M/Ys. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div,
fly patrols and armed rcn, and spt US 3d Armd Div near Dessau and
across Mulde R near Torten, 9th Armd Div along Mulde R NW of Borna,
VIII Corps along Weisse Elster R between Gera and Plauen, XX Corps
astride the Mulde R NE of Chemnitz (where 6th Armd Div awaits Red
Army forces), and 2d Armd Div on Elbe R near Magdeburg.
4/15/45
Twelfth AF
During 14/15 Apr LBs concentrate on comm tgts in Po Valley,
particularly the Po crossings. During the day MBs and FBs concentrate
on direct spt of US Fifth and British Eighth Army drives, hitting
troop concentrations, guns, strongpoints, and a variety of tgts in
areas S of Bologna, around Medicina and Sasso Marconi, and at other
points in battle areas.
4/15/45
Fifteenth AF
830 B-17's and B-24's, in spt of US Fifth Army, blast gun positions,
supply dumps, troop concentrations, maintenance installations, and
German HQ along highways leading from Bologna. 145 P-38's furnish
escort. Another force of 312 B-17's and B-24's bomb rail diversion
bridges at Nervesa della Battaglia, Ponte di Piave, and Casarsa della
Delizia, and ammo factory and stores at Ghedi. 191 P-51's provide
escort. 36 P-38's and 36 P-51's strafe rail comm in area bounded by
Munich, Salzburg, Linz, Plzen, and Regensburg. 12 of the P-38's
skipbomb rail tgts in Salzburg-Linz area, including Vocklabruck M/Y.
8 P-38's furnish top cover for the strafing missions. 128 P-51's
provide uneventful escort for MATAF bmrs on 3 missions to N Italy.
Other P-38's and P-51's carry out rcn and rcn escort operations.
Today's effort is the largest of World War II by Fifteenth AF (most
ftrs and terms dispatched and attacking, and largest bomb tonnage
dropped) during a 24-hr period. 1,142 HBs bomb tgts.
4/15/45
Tenth AF
62 P-38's and P-47's attack troop concentrations and supply areas at
Loi-Mwe, Lawksawk Thongdan, and near Laihka. 312 transport sorties
are flown to forward areas.
4/15/45
Fourteenth AF
3 B-25's knock out Pa Ching pontoon bridge, 7 pound storage depot at
Fang-cheng, 4 bomb Tunganhsien, and 3 hit Paoching. 1 B-24 bombs
Canton docks. Almost 200 FBs ranging over all of S China and up into
the N China plain hit numerous tgts including bridges, river
shipping, town areas, trucks, railroad traffic, gun positions,
storage areas, and general T/Os. Paoching, Hengyang, Yungfengshih,
and Hsihhsiassuchi areas are especially hard hit.
4/15/45
FEAF
On Formosa B-24's bomb Toyohara, Shinchiku, and Shinshoshi A/Fs.
B-25's hit Shoka rail yards. B-24's and FBs bomb island
fortifications in Manila Bay, FBs hit bivouacs and other tgts in N
Luzon and spt ground forces E of Manila and on Carabao I. FBs and
B-24's fly spt missions for ground forces on Negros and Cebu. B-24's
bomb Davao area and B-25's join Marine aircraft in hitting highways
and vehicles.
4/15/45
Twentieth AF
During 15/16 Apr, 194 B-29's strike Kawasaki urban area while 109 hit
urban area of Tokyo.
4/15/45
Eleventh AF
A B-24 flies weather rcn.
4/16/45
Eighth AF
During morning 486 B-17's bomb tank ditch def line at Pointe de Grave
on S side of Gironde estuary in spt of ground assault in that area.
In the afternoon 715 HBs bomb M/Ys at Plattling, Regensburg, and
Landshut, and rail bridges and siding at Regensburg and Straubing. 15
ftr gps provide uneventful close and area spt and then strafe over 40
landing grounds and installations in Czechoslovakia and Germany,
claiming a record 747 parked ftrs destroyed. 34 ftrs are downed
mostly by automatic AA weapons.
4/16/45
Ninth AF
About 450 MBs and LBs bomb Zerbst comm center, Gunzenhausen M/Y,
Kempten ordnance depot, and Wittenberg M/Y and gun positions. IX
TAC's ftrs claim 25 air victories during the day as they escort 9th
Bomb Div, fly patrols, area cover, and armed rcn, attack A/Fs and
other tgts, and spt US 3rd Armd Div SW of Dessau, 9th Armd Div in
Rennewitz-Colditz area along the Mulde R, XX Corps which remains at
Zuickauer Mulde R bridgehead NE of Chemnitz, VIII Corps crossing
Weisse Elster R between Gera and Plauen, 2d Armd Div on the Elbe R
near Magdeburg, XIX Corps E of Barby, and V Corps near Leipzig. The
354th Ftr Gp (the pioneer P-51 gp of the Ninth AF) claims its 900th
air victory.
4/16/45
Twelfth AF
During 15/16 Apr LBs hit Po R crossings, towns of Vignola, Zocca, and
Sassuolo, and several T/Os in Po V alley. During the day MBs bomb
bridges on Reno R near Bologna, blast troop reserve areas SE of
Portomaggiore on British Eighth Army front, and attack troop
concentrations S of Portomaggiore. Ftrs and FBs concentrate most of
their effort on close spt tgts in US Fifth Army battle area S and SW
of Bologna.
4/16/45
Fifteenth AF
98 B-24's bomb positions SW of Bologna. 102 P-51's fly escort. Almost
700 B-24's and B-17's abort due to bad weather. 36 P-51's sweep areas
S of Munich, Plzen, and Linz. 4 strafe A/F E of Munich. Other P-51's
and P-38's fly escort and rcn missions.
4/16/45
Tenth AF
22 FBs pound troop concentrations in Ke-hsi Mansam vicinity. 19
others attack road bridges behind enemy lines, claiming 1 bridge
destroyed. Air transport operations to forward areas continue on
steady basis.
4/16/45
Fourteenth AF
18 B-24's pound storage area at Linfen. 3 bomb T/Os in Bakli Bay and
Canton areas. 10 B-25's bomb Yungfengshih, Kweilin, and Shanhsien,
knocking out 1 bridge and hitting buildings, river shipping, and rail
traffic. About 120 FBs over S and E China hit river, road, and rail
traffic, town areas, troops, and general T/Os at many scattered
locations.
4/16/45
FEAF
B-25's hit Taien A/F, while B-24's and P-51's bomb Giran and
Matsuyama A/Fs and nearby areas. FBs hit N Luzon bivouacs and other
tgts and spt strikes and sweeps are flown over Cebu, Negros, and
Mindanao with B-25's hitting highways on Mindanao, B-24's hit
defenses at Carabao I. P-38's pound Lingkas Tank Farm and other tgts
at Tarakan. During 15/16 Apr B-24's bomb Taihoku.
4/16/45
Seventh AF
18 Guam-based B-24's pound Marcus. 2 P-61's from Saipan bomb and
strafe Pagan.
4/16/45
VII FC
In first VLR ftr operations from Iwo Jima, VII FC P-51's with B-29
navigational escort from Twentieth AF, strafe and bomb tgts at
Kanoya. B-25's continue to furnish navigational escort in all
subsequent VII FC strikes (through 14 Aug) on Japan from Iwo
Jima.
4/16/45
Eleventh AF
B-25's abort mission to bomb Hayakegawa because of weather front. 6
B-24's radarbomb Kataoka naval base. Another B-24 flies a
radar-ferret sortie.
4/17/45
Eighth AF
More than 950 HBs attack 8 railway centers, junctions, stations and
M/Ys and 1 oil depot in E Germany and W Czechoslovakia 15 ftr gps fly
spt, encountering about 50 ftrs, mostly jets, and claiming 13
destroyed (including 4 jets) in aerial combat. The ftrs strafe
numerous A/Fs and claim over 250 parked aircraft destroyed.
4/17/45
Ninth AF
9th Bomb Div attacks defended city of Magdeburg (including numerous
gun positions in the area), M/Y and ordnance depot at Aalen, M/Y and
ordnance depot at Tubingen, and ordnance depot at Ravensburg. Ftrs
fly escort to 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols, area cover, and armed rcn,
hit A/Fs at Marianske Lazne and Michalovy Hory, and spt US 3d Armd
Div mopping up S of the Elbe R and W of the Mulde R near Dessau, 9th
Armd Div along the Mulde R E of Leipzig, VIII Corps in Greiz-Zwickau
area, XX Corps SW of Chemnitz, 5th Armd Div at Knesebeck Forest, S of
Wittingen, and 2d armd Div opening assault on Mapdeburg.
4/17/45
Twelfth AF
LBs during 16/17 Apr hit Po R crossings and several towns W and SW of
Bologna. During the day B-25's of 57th Bomb Wg successfully attack 4
Reno R bridges near Bologna and close spt tgts on British Eighth Army
front to the SW, and extensively damage 4 bridges in N Italy and
Austria on Brenner rail line. XXII TAC ftrs and FBs concentrate on
close spt of US Fifth Army S and W of Bologna.
4/17/45
Fifteenth AF
751 B-24's and B-17's, in spt of US Fifth Army, hit troop
concentrations, supply dumps, gun positions, and HQ immediately S and
SW of Bologna. 143 P-51's provide escort. 147 P-38's divebomb
railroad bridges at Seefeld and Mariahof. 14 P-51's, with 10 flying
top cover, strafe T/Os in Munich, Plzen, and Linz areas. 61 P-51's
escort MATAF supply missions to N Italy and bombing raids on bridges
in W Austria. Other P-38's and P-51's fly rcn and rcn escort.
4/17/45
Tenth AF
18 FBs hit troops and supplies near Mong Kung and Wan Hpun. 12 others
attack vehicles and other T/Os along roads S of bomb line. 489
transport sorties are completed to forward areas throughout the
day.
4/17/45
Fourteenth AF
4 B-25's and 4 P-51's blast river shipping S of Yiyang. 6 B-25's bomb
area around Kwangsi University at Liang-feng. 2 B-24's bomb Bakli Bay
dock area. 70-plus P-51's and P-40's hit troops, town areas, road
traffic, river shipping, and general T/Os at several locations in S
and E China including Changsha, Sinning, Sinhwa, Yiyang, Tungting
Lake, Paoching, Yungfengshih, Shanhsien, Lingling, Pingsiang,
Tsinkong, and Hochih.
4/17/45
FEAF
B-24's bomb Taichu, Shinshoshi, Toyohara, and Okayama A/Fs. B-25's
hit A/F at Taito. Numerous sweeps and sorties are flown in spt of
ground forces over Luzon, Cebu, Negros, Mindanao ,and Sulu
Archipelago. B-24's over Mindanao bomb Cotabato and Kabacan.
4/17/45
Twentieth AF
Almost 120 B-29's bomb A/Fs at Tachiarai, Kokubu, Izumi, Nittagahara,
and Kanoya (2). Beginning on this date and continuing through 11 May,
XXI BC devotes about 75 per cent of its combat effort to spt of
Okinawa campaign. During this period the B-29's fly more than 2,100
sorties against 17 A/Fs on Kyushu and Shikoku Is which are
dispatching air attacks (including Kamikaze raids) against US Navy
and Marine forces.
4/17/45
Seventh AF
18 P-51's flying two strikes from Iwo Jima, attack vessels in
Futamiko.
4/18/45
Eighth AF
More than 750 HBs attack 7 M/Ys, a rail bridge and junction, and 2
transformer stations in W Czechoslovakia and SE Bavaria. 13 ftr gps
fly escort. 2 other gps escort Ninth AF MBs over Germany.
4/18/45
Ninth AF
About 590 B-26's, A-26's, and A-20's attack oil storage at Neuburg an
der Donau, M/Ys, at Juterbog and Nordlingen, and raid junctions at
Falkenburg and Juterbog. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols,
sweeps, and armed rcn, attack; assigned tgts, and spt ground forces
including US V Corps assaulting Leipzig, VII Corps in Dessau-Halle
areas, 5th Armd Div near Steimke, and 2d Armd Div at Magdeburg and
other XIX Corps elements astride the Elbe R S of Barby. Organized
German resistance in the Ruhr pocket ceases.
4/18/45
Twelfth AF
During 17/18 Apr LBs pound comm in S Po Valley and towns of Vignola,
Bazzano, and Sassuolo in US Fifth Army battle area. MBs hit 2
railroad fills and a bridge on the S Brenner line and troop
concentrations on Fifth and British Eighth Army fronts, SW of Bologna
and in Dugnano Paderno area. FBs of XXII TAC also concentrate on spt
tgts in Fifth Army battle area.
4/18/45
Fifteenth AF
473 B-24's and B-17's, with escort of 89 P-51's, spt Fifth Army
offensive in Bologna area, blasting defensive positions and comm in
areas around the city. 78 P-38's dive-bomb railroad bridge at
Malborghetta Valbruna, while 87 others dive-bomb 2 railroad bridges
at and SE of Kolbnitz. P-51's sweep Augsburg, Plzen, and Linz areas,
escort rcn missions flown by P-38's, and escort MATAF B-25's and
C-47's on bombing and supply operations.
4/18/45
Tenth AF
21 P-38's attack troop concentration, tanks, arty positions, and
bivouac area near Man Li and Kongsam. 5 P-61's hit supply area W of
Laihka. Transports land or drop 806 tons of supplies at forward bases
and front-line areas.
4/18/45
Fourteenth AF
3 B-25's hit trucks and other T/Os E of Siangtan. 52 P-51's and
P-40's attack river shipping, town areas, rail and road traffic,
tanks, and bridges at several S and E China locations including
Sinhwa, Hengyang, Changsha, Luchai, Paoching, Kweiyang, Yenkou,
Sinning, and Siangtan.
4/18/45
FEAF
On Formosa B-26's bomb Karenko A/F, B-24's hit Tainan, Giran,
Toyohara, Hobi, and Soton A/Fs, and P-38's on sweeps hit rail and
road transportation. FBs and A-20's hit Balete Pass area and spt
ground forces on Luzon, Negros, and Cebu. B-24's bomb Piso Point.
B-25's and P-38's hit Tarakan and Sandakan.
4/18/45
Twentieth AF
B-29's hit Japanese A/Fs, as 100-plus VHBs strike A/Fs at Tachiarai,
Izumi, Kokubu, Nittagahara, and Kanoya (2), the same tgts attacked on
the 17th.
4/18/45
Seventh AF
During 18/19 Apr 3 Iwo Jima-based P-61's flying individual strikes,
bomb and strafe Futamiko and radio station on Chichi Jima.
4/19/45
Eighth AF
Over 550 HBs hit 3 M/Ys, rail bridge, rail junction and other
railroad facilities in SE Germany and NW Czechoslovakia. 11 ftr gps
give close and area spt, encountering over 30 ftrs and claiming 12
destroyed, including several jets.
4/19/45
Ninth AF
9th Bomb Div hits M/Ys at Ulm, Neu Ulm, and Gunzburg (primary tgts),
city of Donauworth and T/O at Schelklingen. Weather prevents over 70
of the 450-plus dispatched aircraft from bombing tgts. Ftrs fly
escort to 9th Bomb Div, carry out patrols and armed rcn, bomb radio
station, and cooperate with US VII Corps in Halle-Dessau area, XII
Corps attacking SE from S of Bayreuth, XX Corps in Bamberg-Nurnberg
area, preparing to drive toward Austria, and XIX Corps along the Elbe
R in Magdeburg area.
4/19/45
Twelfth AF
During 18/19 Apr LBs bomb roads, vehicles, and lights in Bologna,
Turin, Milan, and Mantua areas, and continuing to pound Po R
crossings, hit 8 bridges. MBs bomb bridges in Brenner Pass and spt
ground forces at .several points including Budrio, Vignola, and San
Martino in Soverzano areas. FBs hit dumps, comm, and close spt tgts
in US Fifth Army battle areas S and W of Bologna.
4/19/45
Fifteenth AF
619 HBs attack rail comm in S Germany, Austria, and N Italy, bombing
Rattenberg railroad bridge and M/Ys at Lienz, Klagenfurt,
Bischofshofen, Linz and Rosenheim, Avisio viaduct, Vipiteno railroad
bridge, AA batteries near Grisolera and Santo Stino di Livenza, and
several minor T/Os. 78 P-38's divebomb M/Y at Weilheim. Other P-38's
and P-51's fly rcn and rcn escort, and escort MATAF B-25's and
C-47's.
4/19/45
Tenth AF
14 P-38's hit supplies near Paklu, fuel dump at Hainang, and bridges
near Kunna. 1 bridge is knocked out. 6 other P-38's attack T/Os along
roads behind enemy lines. Air supply operations continue as 800 tons
of supplies are landed or dropped in forward areas.
4/19/45
Fourteenth AF
12 B-24's bomb railway repair shops at Taiynan. 3 others attack Bakli
Bay T/Os, 8 B-25's attack bridges and rail and road traffic N and NE
of Anyang and NE of Taiku, damaging or destroying several locomotives
and numerous boxcars. 100-plus P-40's, P-51's, and P-47's attack town
areas, troops, river, road, and rail traffic, and general T/Os all
over S and E China and hit a few T/Os in N Indochina.
4/19/45
FEAF
B-24's over Formosa bomb Tainan A/F and Shinchiku town. Numerous
missions are flown in spt of ground forces on Luzon, CEbu, and
Negros. Other B-24's bomb personnel areas at Kabacan, Cagayan, and
along Davao R. Tarakan on Borneo is hit by light B-25 strike while
B-24's returning from Indochina coastal sweep bomb Sandakan. B-25's,
with P-51 cover, hit Haimi.
4/19/45
Seventh AF
8 P-51's from Iwo Jima bomb and strafe Futamiko. 25 B-24's, based in
the Palaus bomb nearby Arakabesan and Koror. 17 B-24's from Guam hit
Dublon, Fefan, and Eten. During 19/20 Apr, 6 P-61's from Iwo Jima,
operating singly and at intervals, bomb and strafe Chichi, Haha, and
Muko Jima.
4/19/45
VII FC
Ftrs from Iwo Jima carry out 106 effective strike sorties against
Atsugi-Yokosuka area. 24 airplanes are claimed destroyed in the air
and 14 on the ground.
4/19/45
Eleventh AF
8 B-25's off to bomb Kuril tgts abort due to weather.
4/20/45
Eighth AF
Around 800 HBs attack 8 M/Ys, 3 rail junctions, a rail bridge, other
rail facilities, and an A/F, located in 7 cities in an arc from NNW
to SSW of Berlin, 3 towns in E and SE Bavaria, and a town in
Czechoslovakia. 15 ftr gps give close and area spt, and claim 7 ftrs
downed.
4/20/45
Ninth AF
564 MBs and HBs strike oil storage at Deggendorf and Annaburg, M/Ys
at Memmingen and Wittenberg, ordnance depots at Nordlingen and
Straubing, and other tgts including flak positions. Ftrs escort 9th
Bomb Div, fly patrols, sweeps, and armed rcn, attack special tgts,
and cooperate with US ground forces including VII Corps W of Dessau,
VIII Corps between Plauen and Chemnitz, XII Corps in Grafenwohr area,
XX Corps attacking toward the Danube and Regensburg, and XIX Corps in
Magdeburg-Barby area.
4/20/45
Twelfth AF
LBs on night intruder missions during 19/20 Apr continue to pound Po
R crossings and vehicle movement throughout the Valley. MBs
considerably damage 4 of 6 railroad bridges and fills attached on
Brenner line, and also hit HQ in battle area and 2 Reno R bridges N
of Bologna. FBs again spt US Fifth Army elements S and W of Bologna
as they begin to emerge from the Apennines onto the Po plain.
4/20/45
Fifteenth AF
HBs again pound railway systems and road bridges in effort to hinder
supply or withdrawal of enemy forces in N Italy. Over 700 B-24's and
B-17's hit railroad bridges at Campodazzo, Ponte Gardena, and Campo
di Trens, viaduct at Avisio, M/Ys at Vipiteno Fortezza, and Brennero,
and road bridges at Lusia, la Carrare, and Boara Pisani, and Mariahof
viaduct and Innsbruck M/Y. 115 P-38's dive-bomb railroad line
Innsbruck-Rattenberg-Rosenheim, hitting M/Ys at Hall, Schwaz,
Jenbach, Kundl, Worgl and Kiefersfelden, 4 rail bridges, and several
box cars, and cut rail lines at 42 places between Innsbruck and
Rosenheim. Other P-38's and P-51's escort HBs, MATAF supply runs to N
Italy, Hungary, and Yugoslavia, and MATAF B-25 raids in N Italy, and
fly rcn.
4/20/45
Tenth AF
32 P-38's knock out 3 bridges and damage 5 others in C Burma behind
enemy lines. 12 P-47's hit troop concentration and ration dump at
Tonglau, 18 attack troop concentration around monastery at
Kengkawmanhaung, and 12 attack troops along stream near Wan Nahpeit.
497 transport sorties land or drop 784 tons of supplies in forward
areas.
4/20/45
Fourteenth AF
7 B-25's hit town of Neihsiang and attack railroad T/Os from Saiping
to Lohochai and from Linying to Hsuchang. 9 B-25's bomb Loyang and
Luchou. 100-plus P-51's, P-40's, and P-47's concentrate attacks
against town areas throughout S and E China, also hitting troops, gun
positions, river traffic, and other T/Os.
4/20/45
FEAF
B-24's bomb Tainan A/F while P-51's attack Koshun A/F. Large-scale
FEAF spt of ground forces on Luzon, Cebu, and Negros continues.
B-24's bomb Sepinggang and Labuan A/Fs and P-38's and B-25's hit
Tarakan I.
4/20/45
Seventh AF
11 P-51's from Iwo Jima bomb Haha Jima.
4/21/45
Eighth AF
300-plus HBs attack Munich M/Y, town of Ingolstadt, and Landsberg
A/F. Around 200 other HBs abort because of bad weather. 7 ftr gps fly
close spt while 1 gp sweeps Munich area.
4/21/45
Ninth AF
Gen Stearley takes over as CG, IX FC, and also takes cmd of IX TAC.
121 bmrs of 9th Bomb Div hit Attnang-Puchheim M/Y. Ftrs fly escort,
patrols, armed rcn and cooperate with US VIII Corps as elements of
6th Cav Gp cross Czechoslovakian border to reach Hranice and,
Trojmezi, XII Corps in GrafenwohrWeiden area, and XX Corps E of
Nurnberg.
4/21/45
Twelfth AF
During 20/21 Apr LBs bomb Po R crossings, with good results. Weather
curtails daytime operations but MBs score hits on Matrei am Brenner
bridge on Brenner rail line and in late afternoon hit Po R crossings.
XXII TAC ftrs and FBs, grounded most of the day, fly close spt to US
Fifth Army which drives into Bologna (a long-standing objective) and
begins to push rapidly across the plain toward the Po R.
4/21/45
Fifteenth AF
240 B-17's and B-24's, with P-51 escort, bomb M/Ys at Rosenheim,
Attnang-Puchheim, Spittal an der Drau, and Vocklabruck. Over 400
B-24's and their ftr escorts, sent to attack comm in N Italy, abort
due to bad weather. 138 P-38's bomb railroad lines and facilities in
Munich-Rosenheim-Rattenberg areas. Other P-38's fly rcn while P-51's
escort rcn flights, MATAF MB operations to Austria, and US and RAF
supply and transport missions to Yugoslavia.
4/21/45
Tenth AF
Bad weather over C Burma causes canceling or aborting of all combat
missions. However, transports complete 464 sorties, landing or
dropping 682 tons of supplies to forward areas.
4/21/45
Fourteenth AF
5 B-25's bomb Loyang. A single B-24 hits Bakli Bay T/Os. 30 P-51's
and P-47's attack railroad and road tgts, barracks area, buildings,
and bridges at or near Paoching, Chihsien, Taiku, Hsihhsiassuchi,
Shaho, Linfen, Luan, Yutze, and Shanhsien.
4/21/45
FEAF
FEAF continues large-scale spt of ground forces on Luzon, Cebu,
Negros and on Jolo Is. B-24's bomb Miri, Kudat, Manggar, and
Sepinggang A/Fs and P-38's hit Tarakan and Sandakan, Miri A/F, oil
storage near Lutong, and, with B-24's, attack T/Os along SW Celebes
coast.
4/21/45
Twentieth AF
XXI BC continues to hit A/Fs in Japan. 217 B-29's blast A/Fs at Oita,
Kanoya (2), Usa, Kokubu, Kushira, Tachiarai, Izumi, and Nittagahara.
Other B-29's hit T/Os including city of Kagoshima.
4/21/45
Seventh AF
18 Guam-based B-24's bomb Marcus.
4/22/45
Ninth AF
XXIX TAC moves operational HQ to Brunswick. Weather prevents combat
operations by 9th Bomb Div and IX TAC. XIX TAC flies armed rcn over E
Germany and W Czechoslovakia, flies area cover over Wurzburg-Bayreuth
areas, patrols Third Army front (BayreuthNurnberg areas), and XII
Corps in German-Czech border area near Weiden.
4/22/45
Twelfth AF
Entire night and day effort is concentrated against German forces
retreating N across the Po R in face of allied forces which send adv
elements racing to S bank. MBs fly 16 missions against ferries and
pontoon bridge sites on the Po between Casalmaggiore and Polesella.
XXII TAC LBs, FBs, and ftrs maintain night and day attacks on Po
crossings and enemy movement. The cmd claims over 900 motor and
horse-drawn vehicles destroyed.
4/22/45
Fifteenth AF
Bad weather cancels all HB operations. 258 P-51's and P-38's fly
armed rcn over NE Italy, bombing M/Ys, bridges, railroads, highways,
and several buildings and strafing an A/F, rail and road traffic, and
numerous other T/Os. Other P-38's fly rcn while P-51's escort rcn and
supply missions.
4/22/45
Tenth AF
Bad weather again cancels scheduled air strikes. 464 transport
sorties fly 664 tons of supplies to forward areas.
4/22/45
Fourteenth AF
2 B-24's bomb T/Os at Bakli Bay and Canton. 5 B-25's bomb Hsuchang
and hit area to the NW. 19 P-51's and P-47's attack trains, trucks,
troops, horses, and town areas at or near Linfen, Luan, Sincheng,
Fentingfukou, Taiku, Chenghsien, Sinsiang, and Kaifeng.
4/22/45
FEAF
Numerous missions in spt of ground forces on Luzon, Cebu, and Negros
continue. B-24's bomb Manggar and Jesselton A/Fs, B-29's hit Tarakan,
and P-38's hit Kuching. B-24's hit shipping and harbor installations
at Saigon.
4/22/45
Twentieth AF
Strikes against A/Fs continue. 80-plus B-29's bomb A/Fs at Izumi,
Kushira, Miyazaki, Tomitaka, and Kanoya.
4/22/45
VII FC
99 effective sorties are flown during ftr attack from Iwo Jima
against Akenogahara and Suzuko A/Fs. The ftrs claim 10 aircraft
downed and 15 destroyed on the ground.
4/23/45
Ninth AF
Weather cancels combat operations by 9th Bomb Div. Ftrs patrol
Magdeburg area and US Third Army front (E of Bayreuth-Nurnberg area),
fly armed rcn over E Germany and W Czechoslovakia, and operate in
conjunction with XII Corps as it presses forward N of Regensburg
between Danube R and Czech Border. Soviet Army forces enter
Berlin.
4/23/45
Twelfth AF
During 22/23 Apr LBs and night ftrs hit Po crossings, M/Y, A/Fs,
vehicles, trains, and T/Os in general in N and W Po Valley. During
the day MBs pound Po crossings, road bridges over Brenta R, and hit
Brenner rail line at 4 points. The ftrs and FBs on armed rcn in N and
W Po Valley attack motor transport, road bridges, and numerous tgts
in spt of US Fifth Army, elements of which cross the Po R.
4/23/45
Fifteenth AF
719 B-24's and B-17's attack bridges over Brenta and Adige Rivers (at
Bonavigo, Zevio, Albaredo d'Adige, Legnano (2), Badia, Padua (3), and
Cavarzere) and hit supply dump at Peschiera del Garda. 165 P-38's and
P-51's on armed rcn of NE Italy bomb and strafe rail and road
bridges, highways, trains and vehicles, and other T/Os. Other P-38's
fly rcn. Other P-51's escort rcn flights and MATAF B-25 missions
against tgts in N Italy.
4/23/45
Tenth AF
7 P-61's attack with napalm, rockets, and cannon several tgts during
sweeps from Laihka to Loilem to Hopong to Wan Yin. Laihka A/Fs,
bridge S of Wan Yin, trucks, and other tgts are successfully pounded.
40-plus FBs attack troop concentrations along and behind lines at
several points including Loilem, Nawng Leng, Mong Pawn, and Naungtaw.
Bridge at Namhkok is temporarily out due to bomb damage to
approaches. 57() transport sorties are flown to forward areas
throughout the day.
4/23/45
Fourteenth AF
5 B-25's blast Hsuchang railroad yards, completely demolishing a
locomotive repair shop. 2 B-24's attack T/Os in S China Sea. 39
P-47's and P-51's attack troops, horses, trains, and rivercraft at or
near Taiku, Shanhsien, Nanyang, Hsihhsiassuchi, Loning, Sinyang,
Chenghsien, Sichuan, Lushan, and along Pinghan railroad, and render a
railroad tunnel near Sinyang unusable.
4/23/45
FEAF
B-25's hit Shinei railroad yards. P-51's hit Karenko A/F and P-38's
attack various T/Os. FBs continue to spt ground forces in N and S
parts of Luzon pounding numerous arty positions, supply areas, and
general T/Os. B-24's bomb military depot at Shanghai and shipping in
Yulin harbor on Hainan I. B-29's also hit Hainan and Woody Is. B-24's
bomb naval base at Saigon. Other B-24's bomb A/Fs at Sepinggang and
Jesselton. P-38's drop napalm on Tarakan I tgts. Other B-24's fly
shipping sweep over Makassar Strait and damage several small
vessels.
4/23/45
Seventh AF
First element of Seventh AF, a det of 28th Photo Rcn Sq, arrives on
Okinawa. 13 B-24's from Guam pound positions at Marcus.
4/24/45
Ninth AF
9th Bomb Div hits A /F at Landau an der Isar and oil depot at
Schrobenhausen. Ftrs fly A/F cover, escort 9th Bomb Div, fly armed
rcn, and operate in conjunction with XII Corps as it continues SE
between the Danube and the Czech border, and with XX Corps as it
reaches the Danube SW and E of Regensburg.
4/24/45
Twelfth AF
During 23/24 Apr LBs bomb A/Fs at Yillafranca di Verona, Ghedi, and
Bergamo, M/Ys at Trento Piacenza and Fidenza, and vehicles and other
T/Os throughout Po Valley and elsewhere in N Italy. MBs hit 6 Po R
crossings and (as ground forces reach and cross the Po at several
points, relieving necessity for many attacks along the river) then
carry out 6 attacks between Verona and Trento on Brenner rail line.
Ftrs and FBs blast vehicles on Po Valley roads N of the river and up
to Brenner rail line, and also hit roads and vehicles between La
Spezia and Parma.
4/24/45
Fifteenth AF
About 700 B-24's and B-17's attack railroad bridges at Malborghetto
Valbruna, Kolbritz, Drauburg, Fermata di Brondolo, Casarsa della
Delizia, Arnoldstein, and Latisana, road bridges at Spilimbergo,
Bassano del Grappa, and Friola, motor transport depot at Osoppo, M/Ys
at San Ambrogio di Valpolicella and Rovereto, and supply dump at
Peschiera del Garda. 79 P-38's and 90 P-51's fly armed rcn over wide
areas of N Italy, many strafing tac tgts N of the advancing US Fifth
and British Eighth Armies. The P-38's carry out several dive-bombing
missions, claiming 1 bridge destroyed and 5 damaged. Other P-51's and
P-38's fly 186 sorties in escort of HBs, rcn missions, and MATAF
operations. 22 P-38's complete rcn flights.
4/24/45
Tenth AF
About 40 P-47's and P-38's attack troop concentrations, storage
areas, vehicles, and T/Os in Mong Nawng vicinity, W of Mong
Kung-Laihka road, S of Loilem, and at Wan Hsan. Transports land or
drop 747 tons of supplies at adv bases and in front-line areas.
4/24/45
Fourteenth AF
2 B-24's bomb Hongay railroad yards and attack T/Os in S (China Sea.
2 others damage a vessel at Bakli Bay. 4 B-25's hit railroad T/Os
from Siaokan to Sinyang while 2 damage bridge at Kuanshuishih.
50-plus P-51's, P-61's, and P-40's attack rivercraft, railroad tgts,
trucks, bridges, troops, horses, and other T/Os at numerous S and E
China locations as pressure by allied air and ground forces mounts
against enemy movement and supply routes.
4/24/45
FEAF
A-20's and FBs continue to strike in spt of ground forces on Luzon.
A-20's hit sugar refineries at Mizukami and Shinei while B-24's bomb
Tainan and Hokko. Other B-24's bomb Tabanio and Miri.
4/24/45
Twentieth AF
101 B-29's strike Hitahi aircraft plant at Tachikawa. 21 others hit
alternates and T/Os, 5 VHBs are lost. The B-29's claim 16 ftrs
destroyed.
4/25/45
International
Delegates from 50 nations begin Conference on International
Organization in San Francisco for purpose of organizing the United
Nations.
4/25/45
Eighth AF
Around 275 B-17's escorted by 4 P-51 gps bomb PlzenSkoda armament
works and A/F in Czechoslovakia. This is the Eighth's final HB
mission against an industrial tat. A comparable number of B-24's
bombs transformer station near Traunstein, M/Ys at Hallein and Bad
Reichenhall, and M/Y at Salzburg. 4 ftr gps fly spt.
4/25/45
Ninth AF
296 MBs and LBs strike Erding A/F and Freilassing ordnance depot.
Ftrs fly A/F cover and escort missions, and operate in conjunction
with US XII Corps as it pushes along N bank of Danube SE of Passau
and spt XX Corps on the Danube at Regrensburg and surrounding areas.
US and Soviet forces establish contact near Torgau.
4/25/45
Twelfth AF
All combat operations are aimed at plugging retreat routes and
disrupting transport in N Po Valley and points to the N. MBs hit
Adige R crossing at Cavarzere and M/Y at Gorizia, and attack 5
bridges and fills on Brenner line in Austria and N Italy, damaging 2
of the tgts. Ftrs and FBs harass retreating forces in N Po Valley.
During 24/25 Apr LBs and night ftrs attack crossings of Adige and Po
Rivers and the Canale Bianco, and strike A/Fs at Villafranca di
Verona, Udine, and Bergamo, and M/Ys at Brescia and Verona.
4/25/45
Fifteenth AF
467 B-17's and B-24's bomb main M/Y station, and sidings, N and S
main M/Ys and freight yard at Linz, the major Austrian traffic center
along rail-line running N to Prague, plus Wels M/Y (an alternate) and
several T/Os. 119 P-38's and P-51's fly armed rcn over N Italy, a few
strafing road traffic. The P-38's dive-bomb road and rail bridges and
rail-lines. P-38's and P-51's fly almost 300 sorties in escort of
HBs, P-38 rcn flights, and MATAF B-26 raids.
4/25/45
Tenth AF
16 P-38's attack truck parks, fuel dumps, and supply areas at Hopong
and Hotang. 20 other P-38's hit troops at Wan Kinglong and at other
points in C Burma battle area. Transports complete 445 sorties to
forward areas, landing or dropping 624 tons of supplies.
4/25/45
Fourteenth AF
2 B-24's bomb railroad yards at Hongay. 4 B-25's and 4 P-47's damage
bridge and knock out AA position N of Anyang. More than 50 P-47's and
P-51's hit river, road, and rail tgts, troops, horses, and buildings
in areas around Loning, Hsihhsiassuchi, Linfen, Kuanshuishih,
Saiping, Yungcheng, Sichchuan, and Tsingsinghsien.
4/25/45
FEAF
B-24's bomb harbor at Saigon, Balete Pass bridges, and Boeloedowang
and Basco AFs. B-25's, A-20's, and ftrs concentrate on Cagayan Valley
bridges and spt ground forces around Balete Pass,
Baguio, and Solvec Cove. Other FEAF spt missions continue in S Luzon
from Ipo Dam to New Bosoboso, E of Santa Maria, NE of Siniloan,
Anuling, Monte Banahao, near Legaspi, and S of Camalig, and in Monte
Mandalagan-Monte Silay area.
4/25/45
Twentieth AF
Gen Joseph Smith assumes cmd of XX BC.
4/26/45
Ninth AF
HQ IX TAC moves from Marburg/Lahn to Weimar. 125 9th Bomb Div bmrs
hit Plattling A/F. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly A/F cover, carry out
armed rcn in Germany and Czechoslovakia, drop leaflets, and cooperate
with US XII Corps as its forces cross into Austria SE of Passau, and
XX Corps as it begins full-scale assault across the Danube at
Regensburg. Ftrs claim 19 combat victories.
4/26/45
Twelfth AF
During 25/26 Apr XXII TAC aircraft hit M/Ys, A/Fs, motor transport,
and other comm tgts, mainly in N Po Valley. MBs complete 1 of 4
missions dispatched (cloud obscures 3 tgts), hitting Chioggia bridge
and knocking out a span. XXII TAC ftrs and FBs attack enemy movement
throughout afternoon, destroying over 150 motor transport.
4/26/45
Fifteenth AF
107 B-24's bomb motor transport depot at Tarvisio, and M/Ys at
Sachsenburg, Lienz, Spittal an der Drau, and Klagenfurt (all T/Os).
117 B-17's and 196 B-24's, also dispatched against tgts in N Italy,
abort due to bad weather. 155 ftrs provide escort. 75 P-38's and 102
P-51's fly armed rcn over N Italy. Of these, 12 P-38's and 48 P-51's
strafe T/Os. All of the P-38's dive-bomb rail-lines and road bridges.
16 other P-38's dive-bomb NW part of Alesso. Rcn and rcn escort and
supply escort missions by P-38's and P-51's continue as usual.
4/26/45
Tenth AF
30 P-38's and P-47's attack troop concentrations E of Vian Sing, at
Naungtaw, and in Loilem vicinity. Transports land or drop 553 tons of
supplies at forward bases and front-line areas.
4/26/45
Fourteenth AF
2 B-24's bomb docks at Hongay. 10 B-25's and 4 P-47's knock out
bridges near Wuchang and N of Taiku and damage bridge near Kaifeng.
80-plus FBs blast troops, horses, road and rail transport, tanks, gun
positions, and T/Os at numerous places in S and E China as the
campaign against the occupying Japanese intensifies.
4/26/45
FEAF
B-24's bomb Shanghai. B-25's hit Heito sugar refinery and nearby
T/Os. P-38's on sweep also hit several TOs. B-25's, A-20's, and FBs
continue to fly numerous sorties in spt of ground forces in N and S
Luzon. B-24's join USMC aircraft in pounding Cebu tgts. Other B-24's
hit Miri A/F. B-25's and ftrs hit tgts on Tarakan I.
4/26/45
Twentieth AF
195 B-29's (some escorted by ftrs of VII FC) bomb A/Fs at Usa, Oita,
Saeki, Tomitaka, Imabari, Nittagahara, Miyazaki, Kanoya, Kokubu, and
Miyakonojo. Other VHBs hit T/Os.
4/26/45
Seventh AF
13 B-24's from Guam bomb Eten I.
4/27/45
Eighth AF
By this date the flow of P-51, B-17, and B-24 replacement aircraft
has stopped and authorization of 68 planes per bomb gp and 96 per ftr
gp is reduced to original 48 and 75, respectively.
4/27/45
Ninth AF
Weather grounds 9th Bomb Div. Ftrs fly sweeps, A/F cover, and armed
rcn, and attack A/Fs. Other ftrs fly air cover for US XII Corps as
11th Armd Div reaches Czech border N of Bischofsreuth and other
elements move further into Austria toward Linz, and spt XX Corps as
it receives surrender of Regensburg and expands its Danube
bridgehead.
4/27/45
Twelfth AF
Bad weather throughout N Italy holds operations to a minimum. XXII
TAC ftrs and FBs operate during latter part of afternoon, closely
supporting ground forces in battle area N of Po R, hitting guns,
vehicles, railroads, train cars, and Bergamo A/F as US 1st Armd Div
spearheads the drive to the NW.
4/27/45
Fifteenth AF
Bad weather cancels HB operations and hampers ftr missions. 8 P-51's
and 2 P-38's complete weather rcn missions. Other ftrs sent on rcn
escort and armed rcn flights abort.
4/27/45
Tenth AF
37 P-38's and P-47's hit troop concentrations in Wan Pong and Nawng
Leng areas. 12 other FBs sweep roads S of the bomb line. Transports
complete 408 sorties throughout the day, landing or dropping 618 tons
of supplies at forward bases and front-line areas.
4/27/45
Fourteenth AF
5 B-25's and 70-plus FBs attack bridges, positions, villages and town
areas, gun emplacements, and river, road, and rail traffic at many
points in S and E China chiefly around Fantung.
4/27/45
FEAF
B-25's attack Japanese installations at Cabatuan, La-lo, and Garit
Norte. A-20's hit towns throughout the area. In S Luzon FBs and
A-20's hit tgts E of Manila, in Legaspi area, and at other scattered
points. B-24's hit Jesselton A/F and B-25's bomb Tarakan I. During
26/27 Apr B-29's bomb Tansui seaplane base. B-24's bomb Mandai A/F.
HBs hit Soerabaja.
4/27/45
Twentieth AF
More than 100 B-29's strike A/Fs at Izumi, Miyazaki, Kokubu,
Miyakonojo, Kanoya, and Kushira.
4/27/45
Seventh AF
11 Guam-based B-24's bomb Woleai.
4/27/45
Eleventh AF
6 B-24's drop fragmentation bombs on Kataoka naval base. 1 B-24 hits
Minami Cape, and another flies a radar-ferret mission.
4/28/45
Ninth AF
Weather prevents all Ninth AF combat operations.
4/28/45
Twelfth AF
Weather severely curtails operations. XXII TAC ftrs and FBs, flying
just over 100 sorties, hit enemy movement in battle area at several
points from S of Piacenza to NW of Milan. MBs are grounded. Partisans
apprehend Mussolini who dies before a firing squad on Lake Como.
4/28/45
Fifteenth AF
Continued bad weather cancels HB operations and limits ftrs to escort
and weather rcn missions.
4/28/45
Tenth AF
8 P-38's attack cav rgt and supplies in Nawhok area. 6 others hit
bivouac area near Pawngleng. 22 P-47's are detailed to strike at
troops, arty positions, trucks, elephants, and carts along and behind
enemy lines in C Burma. Despite bad weather most of the FBs complete
missions. Transports make 441 flights to forward areas, landing or
dropping 610 tons of supplies.
4/28/45
Fourteenth AF
10 B-25's bomb Paoching A/F and Shaho railroad yards, knock out
bridge near Kaifeng, and damage bridge W of Showyang. About 80 FBs
attack troops, A/Fs, storage facilities, railroad tgts, rivercraft,
trucks, and enemy positions in S and E China, again concentrating on
Fantung area. A B-24 claims a freighter sunk in S China Sea.
4/28/45
FEAF
B-25's hit tgts in Itogon area of N Luzon. A-20's attack Itogon mines
and start fires among huts at Fabrica. FBs attack Balete Pass,
Cagayan Valley, Tuguegarao, Trinidad, and Cervantes. In S Luzon
A-20's and FBs spt ground forces at various points including Batangas
sector and hit tgts around Norzagaray, Ipo Dam, Montalban, New
Bosoboso, and along San Andres trail. B-24's bomb Toshien and several
secondary tgts. Other B-24's hit Kuching while B-25's and P-38's hit
Tarakan I and T/Os along Sarawak coast. B-24's over Celebes bomb
Masamba, Malimpoeng, and Mandai A/Fs. B-26's sink about 20,000 tons
of merchant shipping in Saigon harbor.
4/28/45
Twentieth AF
Around 120 B-29's hit A/Fs at Kushira, Kanoya, Miyakonojo, Kokubu,
Miyazaki, and Izumi. The VHBs claim a total of 14 downed ftrs.
4/28/45
Seventh AF
12 B-24's from Guam hit Param I during early morning hours. 12 more
attack Param during the afternoon. 20 P-47's from Saipan sweep Truk,
strafing small vessels and A/Fs at Param and Moen.
4/29/45
Ninth AF
Weather cancels operations by 9th Bomb Div. Ftrs fly patrols and A/F
cover, hit special tgts, fly armed rcn over E Germany and W
Czechoslovakia, and cooperate with XII Corps moving SE between the
Danube and the Czech border N of Linz, and with XX Corps as some of
its units establish bridgeheads and begin crossing the Isar R in
Plattling-Landau an der Isar-Landshut-Passau areas.
4/29/45
Twelfth AF
Weather again restricts operations. MBs are grounded. Ftrs and FBs
attack retreating forces and comm throughout NE Italy including
Thiene A/F and claim over 350 motor transport destroyed. Enemy forces
in Italy, cmd by Gen von Vietinghoff surrender unconditionally at
Caserta, effective 2 May.
4/29/45
Fifteenth AF
Bad weather again prevents HB operations. 8 P-51's and P-38's
complete weather and photo rcn missions. 39 P-51's fly armed rcn over
NE Italy. 5 of the ftrs bomb and 4 strafe various T/Os, claiming 4
motor transports destroyed and a rcn car and 2 parked aircraft
damaged.
4/29/45
Tenth AF
5 P-47's attack Laihka A/F. 6 others strafe troops and horses at
Tadamo. Transports fly 427 sorties to forward areas, landing or
dropping 537 tons of supplies.
4/29/45
Fourteenth AF
3 B-25's and 4 P-47's blast tgts at Talyuan railroad yards. About 50
FBs, operating in forces of 1-4 aircraft, blast numerous T/Os in S
and E China, hitting especially the Fantung area.
4/29/45
FEAF
In spt of ground forces FBs hit troop concentrations, supply areas,
pillboxes, gun positions, vehicles, and other tgts mainly in the
Balete Pass, Baguio, and Echague areas. A-20's hit New Bosoboso area,
where ftrs a]so spt ground forces concentrating in Ipo Dam area.
B-24's pound Kuching A/F while B-25's bomb Tarakan I. Other B-24's
hit Langoan, Mandai, and Mapanget A/Fs. P-38's sweep Indochina and
strafe Thu Dau Mot A/F.
4/29/45
Twentieth AF
111 B-29's strike Miyazaki, Miyakonojo, Kokubu, Kanoya (2), and
Kushira A/Fs. The B-29's claim nearly 30 aircraft shot down.
4/29/45
Seventh AF
20 Saipan-based P-47's sweep Truk, strafing A/Fs, defenses, and gun
positions on Moen and Param and hit Param and Falas with rockets. 24
Guam-based B-24's subsequently attack the same A/Fs. 20 B-24's,
operating in 2 forces, pound air installations on Marcus.
4/29/45
Eleventh AF
12 B-25's attempting to bomb tgts in the Kurils abort due to weather
front. 6 B-24's radar-bomb Kataoka naval base.
4/30/45
International
Hitler commits suicide in the bunker of his chancellery.
4/30/45
Ninth AF
Weather cancels 9th Bomb Div and XXIX TAC operations. IX TAC flies
A/F cover, sweeps, and armed rcn. XIX TAC flies patrols and armed
rcn, and cooperates with XII Corps moving SE between the Danube and
the Czech border N of Linz and with XX Corps crossing the Isar R at
several points in Landau an de r Isar-Land shut area.
4/30/45
Twelfth AF
During 29/30 Apr A-20's and A-26's hit motor transport near Lake Como
and roads in Trento, San Michele all'Adige, and Bolzano areas. Bad
weather grounds MBs. FBs fly armed rcn over N Italy, blasting guns.
vehicles, and other T/Os.
4/30/45
Fifteenth AF
For fourth consecutive day bad weather cancels HB operations. P-38's
fly rcn, escorted by P-51's. Other P-51's and P-38's escort
supply-dropping missions to N Italy and Yugoslavia.
4/30/45
Tenth AF
Bad weather cancels scheduled combat strikes. Air supply operations
to forward areas continue on a steady basis.
4/30/45
Fourteenth AF
6 B-25's and 9 P-47's hit railroad yards at Taiyuan. 50-plus P-47's,
P-51's, and P-40's attack troops, defensive positions, bridges, rail
tgts, and scattered T/Os in S and E China, concentrating around
Laohokow, Hsihhsiassuchi, and Loning.
4/30/45
FEAF
B-24's hit Toshien fuel storage and bomb Tainan, Takao, and Okayama
A/Fs while B-25's hit Taito. Escorting P-38's attack numerous T/Os.
P-51's bomb Okayama A/F. Numerous missions are flown over Luzon and
Negros by B-25's, A-20's, and FBs in spt of ground forces. B-24's
attack Davao area. P-38's hit Tarakan and B-24's bomb Manggar A/F.
Other B-24's bomb Malimpoeng A/F.
4/30/45
Twentieth AF
120-plus B-29's hit A/Fs at Tachikawa, Kanoya (2), Kokubu, Oita,
Tomitaka, and Saeki, and city of Hamamatsu. 20-plus other B-29's hit
alternates and T/Os. The VHBs claim 10 aircraft downed. Ftrs sent
from VII FC to provide VLR escort fail to rendezvous.
4/30/45
Seventh AF
In a thorough strafing and rocket strike on several islands of Truk
Atoll, 20 P-47's from Saipan attack seaplane base, several small
vessels, A/F, barracks, radio station, and numerous other tgts. 24
B-24's from Guam pound the A/Fs on Moen and Param. 22 B-24's,
operating in 2 waves about 3 hrs apart, bomb air installations on
Marcus.
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