3/1/45
Eighth AF
1,153 B-17's and B-24's bomb 8 M/Ys in SW Germany, plus 2 T/Os. 9
P-51 gps provide close escort, 7 gps afterward strafe transportation
facilities and A/Fs.
3/1/45
Ninth AF
340-plus MBs and LBs attack ordnance depot at Giessen, comm centers
at Pulheim, Rheinbach, Rommerskirchen, and Stommeln, rail bridge at
Pracht, a road bridge, and 8 T/Os. Ftrs escort MBs and LBs, fly
alerts, scheduled patrols, and armed rcn, hit assigned ground tats
and spt US 3d Armd Div at Erft R bridgehead near Paffendorf, 9th Armd
Div between Neffelbach and Rotbach (creeks), XVI and XIII Corps in
Venlo area and along Niers R, XIX Corps in Monchen-Gladbach area,
VIII Corps astride the Prum R, XII Corps between Prum and Nims Rivers
and along the Kyll R, and XX Corps in Trier area.
3/1/45
Twelfth AF
A-20's fly intruder missions during 28 Feb/1 Mar against tgts at
Lecco and in Parma area, starting large fires and causing several
explosions during strike on Casarsa della Delizia temporary railroad
bridge, and hit bridges at Nervesa della Battaglia and Sacile.
Weather cancels all daytime operations except for rcn and supply
runs.
3/1/45
Fifteenth AF
630-plus B-24's and B-17's bomb Moosbierbaum oil refinery and
alternate tgts and T/Os including M/Ys at Sankt Polten, Amstetten,
Villach, Klagenfurt, Knittelfeld, Feldbach, Jesenice, and Maribor,
plus several scattered T/Os. Over 220 ftrs provide escort. 22 P-38's
bomb Moosbierbaum refinery and Tulln M/Y (afterward 12 of them strafe
Wiener-Neustadt-Gloggnitz rail lines). 47 other P-38's strafe rail
traffic around Graz and W of Vienna.
3/1/45
USAFIME
USAFIME takes over NW Africa from MTOUSA and is redesignated AMET
(Africa-Middle East Theater).
3/1/45
Tenth AF
27 P-47's spt ground forces in Mogok area. 16 fly close spt strikes
near Lashio. 14 P-47's damage approaches of bypass bridge at Na-lang,
but leave the bridge serviceable. About 100 FBs attack troops, supply
areas, comm tgts, a ferry landing, and general T/Os along
battlefronts and immediately behind German lines. Large-scale
transport operations continue.
3/1/45
Fourteenth AF
6 B-25's and 5 P-51's pound S side of Ishan while 17 other P-51's hit
E and W sections of the city. 9 P-51's attack T/Os of Chinchengchiang
while 4 others hit troops and road traffic between Chinchengehiang
and Hwalyang.
3/1/45
FEAF
B-24's over Formosa and the Ryukyu Is bomb Takao aluminum plant,
Tainan A/F and nearby satellite field. Ftrs hit buildings at Keishu
and storage tanks, railroad yards, and T/Os throughout the Ryukyus.
Troops on Corregidor and W of Ft Stotsenburg are hit with napalm.
Other B-24's bomb Tarakan, Labuan, and Manggar A/Fs. B-25's hit
Zettle Field.
3/1/45
Thirteenth AF
Thirteenth AF moves from Morotai to Leyte. XIII FC moves from Leyte
to Palawan.
3/1/45
Seventh AF
VII FC is removed from control of Seventh AF and transferred to
AAFPOA. 7 B-24's from Guam bomb Susaki A/F. 1 other hits Haha Jima.
During 1/2 Mar, 5 HBs make separate harassment strikes on Susaki A/F
and town of Omura.
3/2/45
Eighth AF
1,159 HBs bomb synthetic oil plants at Bohlen, Ruhland, and
Magdeburg, 2 oil refineries at Rositz and Schonebeck, M/Ys at
Chemnitz, Dresden, and Magdeburg, and T/Os in Germany and
Czechoslovakia. 15 ftr gps fly 675 effective supporting sorties. Also
part of 3 of these gps strafe A/Fs.
3/2/45
Ninth AF
9th Bomb Div hits 5 bridges, 2 comm centers, 3 ordnance and motor
transport depots, several city areas, and 6 T/Os. Objectives are to
hinder movement of enemy troops trying to help German army caught in
front of US Third Army, to obstruct movement in general, and to
damage enemy repair and refitting capabilities. Over 1,700 ftrs
escort 9th Bomb Div, hit special tgts, fly armed rcn and patrols, and
spt US 3d Armd Div at expanding bridgehead on the Erft R, XVI and XIX
Corps in Sevelen, Monchen-Gladbach, and Neuss area, and VIII, XII,
and XX Corps E of Prum R, astride the Kyll R, and in Trier-Saarburg
area.
3/2/45
Twelfth AF
Weather again grounds MBs, FBs and ftrs hit comm, ammo and stores
dumps, 2 sugar refineries, guns, vehicles, and buildings S of Bologna
and in Po Valley, and A/F at Aviano and Lonate Pozzolo.
3/2/45
Fifteenth AF
470 B-24's and B-17's, with ftrs flying escort, bomb M/Ys at Linz,
Sankt Polten, Amstetten, Graz, Knittelfeld, and Brescia. 31 P-51's on
strafing mission attack rail and river comm from Linz to Regensburg,
while 18 others fly top cover. P-38's fly rcn missions. B-24's drop
supplies during 1/2 Mar in N Italy and C Yugoslavia.
3/2/45
Tenth AF
20-plus P-47's fly close spt strikes in Mogok area. 2 B-25's damage
ferry slips at Li-lu while 10 others hit bridges at Tonglau, Na-lang,
Mong Pawn, and Namsang. 90-plus FBs attack gun positions, troops,
supply areas, and highway T/Os in general battle areas and behind
enemy lines. Transports complete 564 sorties to forward areas.
3/2/45
Fourteenth AF
3 B-24's on sweeps over Gulf of Tonkin and S China Sea claim 2
vessels sunk and 3 damaged.
3/2/45
FEAF
B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and FBs hit Matsuyama, Toyohara, Kagi, and
Kato A/Fs. Other B-24's pound Sepinggang and Manggar A/Fs and
waterfront area of Sandakan.
3/2/45
Twentieth AF
Around 50 B-29's bomb shop and warehouse area at naval base in
Singapore. 5 others hit alternates on Bukum I, at Arang Hill, and at
Khao Huakhang.
3/2/45
Seventh AF
7 Guam-based B-24's make daylight raid on Chichi Jima A/F and 5 more
bomb same A/F and town of Omura during 2/3 Mar.
3/3/45
Eighth AF
1,048 HBs operating in 6 forces bomb 10 primary tgts (6 oil
refineries, an oil plant equipment works, motor transport factory,
tank plant, and a rail bridge) in NC and E Germany along with several
secondaries, last resort tgts, and T/Os including M/Ys, casting
plant, tank plant, and industrial and city areas. 657 effective ftr
sorties are flown in spt. Ftrs also strafe ground tgts.
3/3/45
Ninth AF
9th Bomb Div hits Wiesbaden, Giessen, Bergisch Born, and
Nahbollenbach ordnance and storage depots, rail bridges at Remagen
and Simmern, comm center at Heimersheim, motor transport
concentration at Schwelm, Rheinbach ammo dump, Kirn M/Y and town, and
several T/Os. Ftrs fly bmr escort, hit special tgts, fly patrols and
armed rcn, and spt US 9th Inf Div, 3d Armd Div, and VII Corps astride
Erft R W of Euskirchen and area near Roggendorf W of the Rhine R,
XIII, XVI, and XIX Corps E of Sevelen, NE of Krefeld, and W of the
Rhine in Dusseldorf area, and VIII, XII, and XX Corps in the area
between the Prum and Kyll R and along the Mosel in Trier area.
3/3/45
Twelfth AF
Overcast skies and turbulent winds hamper MB missions against comm in
Brenner area, allowing only limited success against tgts. Crema and
Fidenza bridges in Po Valley are damaged. XXII TAC FBs, destroy a
sugar refinery at Verona and achieve good results against comm and
dumps in C Po Valley and Brenner area. Other ftrs and FBs spt US
Fifth Army S of Bologna. A-20's during 2/3 Mar hit roads, ammo
supplies, and vehicles at several points in Po Valley, particularly
in Bologna-Modena regions, and bomb Legnano M/Y.
3/3/45
Fifteenth AF
Rapidly deteriorating weather cancels bombing operations. P-51's
strafe rail traffic between Leibuitz and SW of Spittal an der Drau
and attack A/F S of Graz. P-38's fly rcn and rcn escort. 1 B-24, of 6
dispatched, drops supplies in N Yugoslavia.
3/3/45
Tenth AF
24 P-38's and P-47's spt forces of Chinese 50th Div near Mansam. 16
spt British 36th Div in Mogok area. 10 P-47's knock out Nalang bridge
while 2 B-25's drop delay-action bombs in good pattern around
Loi-leng bridge. 10 B-25's join 80-plus FBs in attack on troops,
supplies, tanks, trucks, gun positions, and transport elephants
behind enemy lines. 29 of the FBs concentrate on Kankang area. 643
air supply sorties are completed.
3/3/45
Fourteenth AF
4 B-24's over Gulf of Tonkin and S China Sea attack shipping T/Os,
claiming 1 vessel sunk and 3 damaged. 3 B-25's hit Kep, damaging
several locomotives and boxcars and hit a bridge. 12 P-51's over
Indochina hit T/Os between Vinh and Nam Dinh (2 direct hits are
scored on bridge at Minh Koi) while 2 others blast HQ building in
Hanoi.
3/3/45
FEAF
B-24's pound Tainan area and Kiirun while ftrs sweeping over Formosa
hit numerous T/Os. FBs bomb Koshun A F. B-25's bomb San Roque A/F.
B-24's and B-25's attack Zettle Field. Echague, Ternate, and Caballo
I areas are bombed by A-20's. B-25's, aborting strike against
Formosa, bomb airstrip at Basco.
3/3/45
Seventh AF
10 B-24's from Guam pound Susaki A/F in afternoon strike, and 4 more,
flying individual strikes, hit same tat during 3/4 Mar.
3/4/45
Eighth AF
Over 1,000 HBs are dispatched to bomb tgts in SW Germany. Bad weather
causes over 300 aborts. 656 HBs bomb M/Ys at Ulm, Ingolstadt,
Oflfenburg, military vehicle plants and ordnance depot at Ulm, jet
aircraft plant at Schwabmunchen, and 6 city areas. 13 ftr gps fly 467
uneventful supporting sorties.
3/4/45
Ninth AF
About 180 B-26's, A-20's, and A-26's strike M/Ys and rail junction at
Recklinghausen, Lenkerbeck, and Herne, comm centers at Bruhl,
Sechtem, and Rheinbach, and several other tgts including rail bridge
and towns. Weather limits ftr operations. A few ftrs fly armed rcn E
of the Rhine and others fly cover for XX Corps.
3/4/45
Twelfth AF
Good flying weather permits full-scale effort by Twelfth AF. MBs hit
7 railroad bridges on Brenner line and in NE Italy. Salorno railroad
fill receives a particularly good concentration of bombs. XXII TAC
P-47's concentrate on comm tgts in Po Valley, knocking out a span of
the Cittadella railway bridge. Brazilian P-47's blast ammo dump at
Villafranca di Verona. A-20's during 3/4 Mar bomb bridge and bridge
approaches at Casarsa della Delizia, Ostiglia, and Nervesa della
Battaglia, radar station at Vignola, and lights, motor transport,
roads, and other T/Os at over 30 places in the C Po Valley.
3/4/45
Fifteenth AF
630-plus B-24's and B-17's, with ftr escort, bomb M/Ys at Sopron (2),
Szombathely, Knittelfeld, Zelfweg, Graz, Sankt Veit an der Glan,
Wiener-Neustadt, Zagreb (2) and Ljubljana, and several scattered
T/Os. Other B-24's, with P-51 escort, drop supplies in Yugoslavia.
P-38's and P-51's fly rcn and rcn escort operations.
3/4/45
Tenth AF
100 FBs attack troop concentrations, villages, roads, tanks, trucks,
animal transport, and supplies along and immediately behind the
battlelines running from SW to NE across C Burma. Meiktila is largely
occupied by forces of Indian 17th Div.
3/4/45
Fourteenth AF
4 B-24's on sea sweep damage a destroyer escort in S China Sea.
3/4/45
FEAF
B-24's bomb Sasa and Likanan A/Fs and town of Zamboanga and pound gun
positions, ammo storage, and T/OS at Antipolo and Wawa, supply dumps
and town area at Bamban, T/Os in Cagayan Valley, fortifications on
Caballo I, and A/Fs at Aparri and Tuguegarao.
3/4/45
Twentieth AF
Gen Giles becomes Dep Cmdr of Twentieth AF and CG Of AAFPOA. A B-29
makes an emergency landing on Iwo Jima. This begins a series of over
2,400 such emergency landings on the island during World War II. 192
Marinanas-based B-29's are airborne against Musashino (Musashi) but
heavy clouds prevent bombing the primary. 159 of the VHBs bomb
secondary tat, the urban areas of Tokyo, and almost 20 others hit
alternate tgts. This aborted try at Musashino marks end of XXI BC's
effort to knock out Japanese aircraft industry by high-altitude,
daylight precision bombing. (The indirect effect of causing Japanese
industrialists to lose confidence in their supposed immunity from air
attacks exceeds the effect of actual bomb damage to the aircraft
industry). During 4/5 Mar, 11 B-29's, staging from Luliang, mine the
confluence of the Hwangpoo and Yangtze Rivers and the Tai-hsing
Narrows. 1 VHB drops mines at Tungting Lake.
3/4/45
Seventh AF
10 B-24's from Guam bomb Susaki A/F. During 4/5 Mar, 3 HBs make
separate harassment raids on the A/F.
3/5/45
Eighth AF
Almost 400 HBs attack M/Y at Chemnitz, oil refinery at Hamburg
Harburg, and T/Os including 2 railway storage sidings and 3 town
areas. 587 supporting sorties are flown by ftrs. A gp of P-51 FBs
bomb M/Ys, a tunnel, a rail line, and a road. 2 other gps escort MBs
of Ninth AF.
3/5/45
Ninth AF
565 MBs and LBs attack 6 M/Ys, comm center, ordnance depot, a city
area and T/Os with aim of obstructing reinforcements and supplies to
German forces being pushed back across the Rhine R. Ftrs escort 9th
Bomb Div, drop leaflets in Cologne-Bonn area, and fly armed rcn over
Ruhr and Hamm-Duisburg area.
3/5/45
Twelfth AF
A-20's hit lines of comm in N Po Valley during 4/5 Mar. Results are
generally good. Bad daytime weather grounds MBs. XXII TAC FBs and
ftrs operate on greatly reduced scale, mostly in C Po Valley, hitting
bridges at Casarsa della Delizia, Nervesa della Battaglia, Ostiglia,
ancl Ostellato, and attacking town of Vignola.
3/5/45
Fifteenth AF
Bad weather limits operations to supply, escort, and rcn
missions.
3/5/45
Tenth AF
50-plus P-47's spt forces of British 36th Div in Mogok sector and
forces of Chinese 50th Div in Mansam area. 46 P-47's and 12 B-25's
hit troop concentrations in battle areas and attack supply areas,
road traffic, and general T/Os behind enemy lines. 664 air supply
sorties are flown to forward areas.
3/5/45
Fourteenth AF
30 B-25's knock out bridges at Phu Xuyen, Thinh Duc, Phu Ly, Ninh
Binh, and Phu Lang Thuong and damage bridge at Kep. 2 B-25's,
escorted by 8 P-47's, knock out bridge at Changtuikuan while 4 bomb
Chikhom. 40-plus P-51's and P-40's on armed rcn hit road, rail, and
river traffic, town areas, and other T/Os in Indochina, C Yangtze R
area, and elsewhere in S and E China.
3/5/45
FEAF
B-25's hit San Roque A F. B-24's with ftr spt hit troops in Antipolo
area while FBs dive-bomb San Pablo, hit Ft Drum, attack troops W of
Ft Stotsenburg, and spt guerrilla forces NE of Lingayen Gulf. Tgts on
Formosa and in the Ryukyus are hit by ftrs on sweeps and B-24's on
armed rcn. The ftr sweeps are especially effective against railroad
tgts. B-25's hit Zettle Field.
3/5/45
Seventh AF
Susaki A/F is pounded by 11 B-24's from Guam. During 5/6 Mar, 5 more
hit the A/F in individual snooper strikes. 22 B-24's from Angaur bomb
Matina A/F.
3/6/45
Ninth AF
260-plus A-26's, and B-26's hit Recklinghausen, Siegburg, and Opladen
M/Ys, Siegburg storage depot, and town of Bochum as a T/O. Weather
grounds IX and XIX TAC. XXIX TAC flies alerts and covers US XVI Corps
as it completes drive to the Rhine in Rheinburg area.
3/6/45
Twelfth AF
MBs pound comm in Brenner Pass and hit bridges at Pordenone,
Ossenigo, Enego, Ora, Pizzighetone, and San Ambrogio di Valpolicella.
Ftrs and FBs concentrate on close spt of US Fifth Army S and SW of
Bologna. During 5/6 Mar a few A-20's bomb T/Os in Po Valley.
3/6/45
Fifteenth AF
Bad weather restricts all operations except rcn and a supply mission,
with escort, to Yugoslavia.
3/6/45
Tenth AF
31 P-47's spt British 36th Div forces in Mogok area. 12 B-25's join
60-plus FBs in striking troop concentrations, road traffic, supply
and fuel dumps, and other tgts in vicinity of the battlefront and in
areas close behind enemy lines. Transport operations continue on a
large scale with 663 sorties completed to forward areas throughout
the day.
3/6/45
Fourteenth AF
4 B-25's bomb Chikhom. About 50 FBs hit storage, troops, railroad
tgts, and river and road traffic around Hankow, along Pinghan
railroad, Kaifeng, Suchow, Hsuchang, Changsha, Yoyang, Liuyang, and
Hengyang, and on railroads from Liuliho to Chengtung and from Tungpu
to Tatung.
3/6/45
FEAF
HBs pound San Roque and Zamboanga areas. Other HBs, MBs, and FBs hit
Antipolo area, bomb Balete Pass, and spt guerrillas near San
Fernando, Ft Drum, and Caballo I. B-25's and P-38's attack Hainan I
and considerably damage Samah A/F. Ftrs sweeping over Formosa hit
Koshun area.
3/6/45
Seventh AF
11 Guam-based B-24's again pound Susaki A/F. 5 more hit the A/F
during 6/7 Mar in separate strikes. 28 P-51's and 12 P-61's land on
Iwo Jima.
3/6/45
Eleventh AF
Mission to the Kurils is canceled due to inclement weather.
3/7/45
Eighth AF
873 HBs attack benzol plant and oil refinery at Dortmund, benzol
plants at Datteln and Castrop/Rauxel, rail viaduct at Bielefeld, and
M/Ys at Soest, Paderborn, Siegen, Giessen, and city of Fulda. 7 ftr
gps provide close area spt.
3/7/45
Ninth AF
Weather cancels combat operations except for XXIX TACs spt of US XVI
Corps along the Rhine in Wesel area.
3/7/45
Twelfth AF
B-25's continue interdiction of enemy comm, damaging railroad bridge
at Longarone and railroad fills at Peri and Ossenigo. XXII TAC
concentrates on comm in NE Po Valley and fuel and ammo dumps in C
part of the Valley with generally good results. During 6/7 Mar LBs
hit Ostiglia crossing and bridges at Nervesa della Battaglia and
Casarsa della Delizia, and bomb T/Os in Brenner area.
3/7/45
Fifteenth AF
Continued bad weather limits operations to a supply drop in
Yugoslavia and routine rcn and escort missions. All bombing
operations are canceled and 42 P-51's sent on strafing mission
against railroad comm in Austria are recalled.
3/7/45
Tenth AF
30 P-47's spt troops of British 36th Div in Mogok area. 18 others spt
elements of Chinese 50th Div near Mansam. Elements of Chinese 38th
Div occupy Lashio. 12 B-25's and 35 FBs attack road tgts, troops,
vehicles, and a variety of T/Os immediately behind enemy lines.
Transports fly 630 sorties supplying forward areas with men and
equipment.
3/7/45
Fourteenth AF
4 B-25's and 9 P-40's blast railroad tgts N of Kiaotow. Single B-25's
hit truck convoys in Hsiang R Valley, waterfront at Changsha, and
bridge and other T/Os on Pinghan railroad. 130-plus FBs attack
numerous tgts throughout S and E China, concentrating on railroad,
road, and river tgts in the areas around Nanking, Yoyang, Sintsiang,
and Changsha.
3/7/45
FEAF
B-24's hit Balete Pass area while A-20's and FBs hit troop
concentrations and gun positions near Antipolo and near San Fernando,
NW of Ft Stotsenburg, and in Bayombong-Solano area and T/Os in Lake
Taal area, towns of Santa Fe, Lal-lo and Vigan, and on Caballo I.
Numerous ground spt missions are flown throughout Luzon.
3/7/45
Seventh AF
11 Guam-based B-24's hit Susaki A/F and town of Okimura and Haha
Jima. 5 more hit Susaki during 7/8 Mar in individual harassment
strikes.
3/7/45
Eleventh AF
8 B-25's, dispatched to strike a reported convoy, abort due to
weather. So do 8 B-24's after departing on a shipping sweep and a
strike on Kataoka.
3/8/45
Eighth AF
1,201 HBs bomb 6 benzol plants, 7 M/Ys, aircraft plant, rail center,
synthetic oil plant, and a city area in WC Germany. 287 sorties by 6
P-51 gps provide spt.
3/8/45
Ninth AF
Operational HQ of XXIX TAC moves from Maastricht to Monchen-Gladbach.
328 MBs and LBs hit 7 comm centers, 2 Mi/Ys, road overpass, and
military transport depot in furtherance of interdiction program.
Weather prevents ftr operations except for small alert mission by
XXIX TAC.
3/8/45
Twelfth AF
MBs are hampered by heavy clouds but hit Novara M/Y, Longarone and
Mori rail fills, and Rovereto bridge. Ftrs and FBs pound comm and
supplies, destroy road bridge SW of Bologna, severely damage ammo
plant and surrounding complex NW of Milan, and hit several other
tgts, including bridge near Montebello which Brazilian P-47's
operating with XXII TAC cut in half. A-20's, operating during 778
Mar, attack river crossings at Borgoforte, Cremona, Ostiglia, San
Benetto Po, Viadana, and Ora, and numerous vehicles, lights, and
general movement in C Po Valley and along Brenner line.
3/8/45
Fifteenth AF
Over 550 HBs hit Hegyeshalom, Komarom, and Verona M/iYs, Maribor
locomotive depot, and Kapfenberg steel works. P-51's and P-38's fly
escort and rcn missions.
3/8/45
Tenth AF
20 P-47's spt British 36th Div. 40 FBs hit troop concentrations and
supply areas along battlefront and behind enemy lines. 39 others
sweep roads S of the bomb line, attacking gun positions and other
T/Os. Transports fly 554 sorties to advanced bases and over frontline
areas.
3/8/45
Fourteenth AF
34 B-24's, supported by 21 P-51's, pound Shihkiachwang. 3 B-24's
claim transport sunk in S China Sea. 16 B-25's and 6 P-40's attack
railroad tracks, boxcars, gun positions, sampans, and locomotives,
knock out 2 bridges and damage another, and destroy and damage
several locomotives at or near Hengshan, Yehhsien, Lohochai, and
Chungmow. 140-plus FBs fly armed rcn over wide areas of S and E
China, attacking numerous T/Os, mainly river, road, and railroad
tgts, storage areas, gun positions, and troops, concentrating around
Changsha, Changanyi, and bridge at Puchi.
3/8/45
FEAF
B-24's pound Zamboanga area. B-24's hit road tgts at Balete Pass
while A-20's spt guerrilla forces in San Fernando area. FBs hit fuel
dumps, gun positions, and other tgts near Angat and Ipo dam and
numerous T/Os in Antipolo area, personnel and storage areas near
Baguio, and several tgts in Cagayan Valley (including town of Caggay,
Dummun R area, and barges at Naguilian).
3/8/45
Seventh AF
14 B-24's from Guam bomb Susaki A/F through heavy cloud layers. 5
more HBs hit Susaki again during 5 individual harassment strikes
during 8/9 Mar.
3/9/45
Eighth AF
1,007 B-17's and B-24's bomb 6 M/Ys, a large tank factory, and a
castings plant at Frankfurt/Main, Kassel, Munster, Osnabruck, and
Rheine. 5 ftr gps fly close escort and 3 fly area patrol.
3/9/45
Ninth AF
600-plus MBs and LBs hit 6 M/Ys, storage and vehicle depots,
ammo-filling plants, and 12 T/Os as part of interdiction campaign in
Germany. Ftrs fly armed rcn, hit special tgts, cover Remagen
bridgehead and spt US 9th Inf and 9th Armd Divs committed there, spt
4th Armd Div at Mosel bridge at Treis, XX Corps along Mosel and Saar
Rivers, and XVI Corps along the Rhine R near Wesel.
3/9/45
Twelfth AF
B-25's hit bridges at San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, San Michele
all'Adige, Bozzolo, Santa Margherita d'Adige, Ora, and Montebello,
M/Y at Ora, and bridge approach at Ala. Ftrs and FBs attack bridges,
railroads, vehicles, trains, supply dumps, parked airplanes,
buildings, and other tgts over wide areas of N Italy, including
Milan, Cittadella, Ala, Santa Margherita d'Adige, La Spezia, Ghedi,
Lecco, and battle area in N Apennines. A-20's, on intruder missions
during 8/9 Mar bomb river crossings in Po Valley at several
locations, among them Ostiglia, San Benedetto Po, and Borgoforte.
3/9/45
Fifteenth AF
372 B-17's and B-24's, with ftr escorts, bomb M/Ys at Graz (2),
Klagenfurt, Sankt Stefan, Sankt Paul, and Ljubljana. River bridges at
Sankt Paul are also bombed. 27 P-38's bomb Knittelfeld M/Y and 13
others strafe Graz-Maribor railroad lines. Routine supply, rcn, and
escort missions continue.
3/9/45
Tenth AF
16 P-47's spt elements of Chinese 50th Div near Mansam. 80-plus FBs
operating over and behind enemy lines attack trucks, horses and
carts, troops, and arty pieces. 568 air supply sorties are flown to
forward areas.
3/9/45
Fourteenth AF
32 B-24's, escorted by 5 P-51's, bomb railroad yards at Sinsiang. 15
B-25's and 2 P-40's knock out 2 bridges at Hwaiyuanchen and E of
Jungtse, and hit railroad tgts and other T/Os at Yehhsien, at
Chowkiakow, at Hsuchang, and E of Junan. 50-plus FBs on armed rcn
attack railroad tgts, river and road traffic, bridges, gun positions,
and troops at several locations, particularly around Kweiyi,
Hengyang, Nanking, and Sinyang.
3/9/45
FEAF
B-24's bomb Zamboanga. B-25's, in cooperation with PT boats, attack
tgts on Basilan I. B-24's hit Ipo area, B-25's and FBs spt ground
forces E of Manila Bay, hit Japanese occupied areas at Mahiga, Lipa
Bay, and Ternate, and bomb and strafe T/Os on Caballo I. B-25's,
A-20's, and FBs hit bridges at Bayombong, town of Makati, Cabugao,
and Cauayan, San Fernando and Solvec Cove areas on NW coast, town of
Cauayan, and Aparri A/F. B-24's pound dock area at Takao.
3/9/45
Seventh AF
13 Guam-based B-24's fly daylight strike on Susaki A/F while 5 more,
on single-bmr raids, hit the A/F during 9/10 Mar. 24 Angaur-based
B-24's pound town of Zamboanga.
3/9/45
Eleventh AF
3 B-24's fly a negative shipping search.
3/10/45
Eighth AF
1,321 HBs strike 6 M/Ys, 2 rail viaducts, 4 railway centers, and a
town area all in W Germany. 10 ftr gps fly 484 supporting sorties. 2
other gps spt Ninth AF Mbs.
3/10/45
Ninth AF
383 LBs and MBs strike 5 M/Ys, comm center, 2 city areas,
miscellaneous tgts in Koblenz-Braubach area, and a T/O. Ftrs escort
MBs and LBs, attack ground tgts, fly patrols, armed rcn, and provide
cover and ground spt over Remagen bridge area where US 9th Inf Div
expands bridgehead against fierce opposition, spt 4th Armd Div in
Koblenz area and XX Corps in Saarburg area, and cooperate with XVI
Corps near Wesel.
3/10/45
Twelfth AF
LBs bomb bridges and other comm tgts in E Po Valley during 9/10 Mar.
B-25's bomb bridges at Ora, Bozzolo, and San Michele all'Adige, and
railroad fill at Ceraino railroad station. Ftrs and FBs hit comm and
T/Os at various locations in E Po Valley, including several bridges,
and numerous ammo dumps and vehicles.
3/10/45
Fifteenth AF
191 HBs hit VeronaParona di Valpolicella railroad bridge. 1 other
bombs Voghera M/Y. Supply missions to Yugoslavia and rcn operations
continue.
3/10/45
Tenth AF
13 P-47's spt forces of British 36th Div in Mogok area. 46 P-47's and
P-38's sweep roads S of bomb line. 49 others hit supply areas behind
enemy lines, attack a bivouac near Nam-yang, and bomb a truck park N
of Mong Yai. 537 air supply sorties are flown to forward areas.
3/10/45
Fourteenth AF
32 B-24's blast railroad yards at Tsanghsien and Tehsien. 10 B-24's
and 4 P-40's attack Siangtan and nearby T/Os. 60-plus FBs hit river,
road, and railroad tgts, gun positions, warehouses, airstrips, and
troops around Sinyang, Yiyang, Changsha, Kiyang, Yoyang Hengyang,
Hankow, and Wuchang.
3/10/45
FEAF
B-24's and B-25's over Zamboanga Peninsula area bomb town of
Zamboanga, Calarian A/F, Pangasahan, Port Holland, Kulibato Point,
and Sibago I. B-24's bomb Ipo area and Aparri A/F. B-25's and A-20's
spt guerrillas near San Fernando and bomb Cabugao. FBs hit Caballo I,
bomb town of Minanga, hit enemy concentrations at Burgos, near Ft
Stotsenburg, in Batangas province, and at other locations on Luzon,
and attack Teresa. B-24's bomb Kudat and Jesselton A/Fs.
3/10/45
Twentieth AF
24 B-29's bomb M/Y at Kuala Lumpur. (1 of the VHBs drops over half of
its bombs at Alor Star A/F). 3 others attack Khao Huakhang, and
freighter in channel leading to Port Swettenham. During the predawn
hours 279 B-29's, of 325 airborne, blast Tokyo urban area with
incendiaries, destroying more than 267,000 buildings about one-fourth
in the city and killing more than 83,000 people. This death total is
the highest of any single day's action during the war, (exceeding the
deaths caused by the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima). 20 other B-29's
bomb alternates and T/Os. 14 VHBs are lost. The participating B-29's
are from the XXI BC's Bomb Wgs, the 73d, 313th, and 314th, based on
Guam, Tinian, and Saipan. The raids are flown at levels ranging from
4,900 to 9,200 ft.
3/10/45
Seventh AF
10 B-24's from Guam hit Susaki A/F which 9 HBs again hit during 10/11
Mar on separate snooper strikes. 23 B-24's from Angaur bomb Calarian
A/F.
3/10/45
Eleventh AF
5 B-24's radar-bomb tgts on Kataoka, Suribachi, and Kakumabetsu with
unobserved results. l ftr is sighted but no attack is made. 2 other
B-24's on this mission abort due to weather and mechanical trouble.
B-25 missions to Hayakegawa and Paramushiru are also canceled due to
weather.
3/11/45
Eighth AF
U-boat yards at Kiel and Bremen and shipyard and refinery area at
Hamburg are bombed by 1,212 HBs. Close escort is provided by 14 P-51
gps while 1 P-47 gp flies area spt in Kiel area.
3/11/45
Ninth AF
696 A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's, hit 4 A/Fs, 3 comm centers, 2 ammo
filling plants, and several city areas and other casual tgts. Attacks
are to obstruct air operations and supply and troop movements in
general. Ftrs fly patrols and armed rcn, escort 9th Bomb Div, spt US
9th Inf Div push at Remagen bridgehead and fly cover over the area,
and spt XX Corps E of Trier and Saarburg.
3/11/45
Twelfth AF
B-25's of 57th Bomb Wg score damaging hits on bridge and fills at San
Michele all'Adige, Volargne, and Ossenigo, and, attacking tgt in
Austria for first time, bomb bridge at Drauburg. Ftrs and FBs of XXII
TAC hit rail lines and dumps in C Po Valley and in Brenner area.
During 10/11 Mar LBs hit several Po R crossings, Ghedi and Pavia
A/Fs, road junctions, and other tgts in Po Valley.
3/11/45
Fifteenth AF
Bad weather limits operations to rcn and supply missions.
3/11/45
Tenth AF
14 B-25's pound stores, troops, vehicles, and ammo dumps at Konghsa,
Kwai-Kong, Man Kat, and Mong Yai. 4 P-38's knock out bridge at Mong
Tong. 8 P-47's hit troop concentration at Kyaukme. 30-plus P-47's hit
T/Os during road sweeps behind enemy lines. Transports fly 547
sorties to forward areas.
3/11/45
Fourteenth AF
4 B-25's knock out 1 bridge and hit numerous boxcars at Kep and near
Don Met. 5 B-24's over S China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin claim 1
freighter sunk and another damaged. 10 P-40's and P-51's blast
locomotives on Tsinpu railroad and demolish 3 villages E of
Lohochai.
3/11/45
FEAF
B-24's bomb Zamboanga area, Mercedes village, and San Roque A/F.
B-25's hit Mercedes, spt ground forces near Zamboanga, and in
conjunction with PT boats, hit Isabela, Barlak, Taluksangay, and HQ N
of Zamboanga. B-24's hit Aparri area and spt ground forces at Wawa.
A-20's and FBs fly ground spt missions and attack supply dumps and
numerous T/Os throughout Luzon. FBs hit Takao and B-24's bomb
Mako.
3/11/45
Twentieth AF
Attacking at altitudes ranging from 5,100 to 8,500 ft, 285 B-29's
bomb Nagoya urban area with incendiaries during 11/12 Mar.
3/11/45
Seventh AF
11 B-24's from Guam again hit Susaki A/F, while 8 more during 11/12
Mar, pound the A/F individually. Iwo Jima-based P-51's also bomb
Susaki and strafe Okimura and Kitamura.
3/12/45
Eighth AF
1,309 HBs strike Swinemunde area and 7 M/Ys at Friedberg, Wetzlar,
Marburg/Lahn, Siegen, Frankfurt/Main, Betzdorf, and Dillenburg. 523
P-51 sorties are flown in spt of Hbs.
3/12/45
Ninth AF
9th Bomb Div MBs and LBs attack 8 M/Ys, ammo-filling plant, city
areas and T/Os. Attacks on M/Ys are aimed at blocking troop movements
by rail into Ruhr and Remagen areas. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, bomb
special tgts, fly armed rcn, cover Remagen area, and spt US 9th Inf
Div in Kalenborn and Hargarten areas and XX Corps in Saarburg
bridgehead area.
3/12/45
Twelfth AF
B-25's hit 7 railroad bridges, cutting two, and fills severely
damaging one and a train in Brenner area and in NE Italy as far E as
Yugoslav border area. FBs blast comm in N Italy, making 36 rail cuts,
19 of them on the Brenner line. P-47's also bomb and severely damage
a munitions factory NW of Zagreb. During 11/12 Mar LBs on intruder
missions hit Po crossings, sugar refinery, vehicles, and trains.
3/12/45
Fifteenth AF
790 B-24's and B-17's bomb Vienna/Floridsdorf oil refinery and
alternate tgts of Graz, Zeltweg, and Wiener-Neustadt M/Ys. 98 P-38's
bomb Knittelfeld railroad bridge (2 others hit nearby T/Os) and
strafe comm in Wiener-NeustadtGraz-Klagenfurt areas. 12 P-38's sweep
Zagreb area. Bad weather forces 60 P-51's sent against Austrian comm
to abort. Supply mission to Yugoslavia and rcn operations are
successful.
3/12/45
Tenth AF
13 B-25's and 35 P-47's hit troop concentrations, supplies, vehicles,
and AA guns along battlefront and behind enemy lines. 66 P-47's hit
transportation tgts and a bridge during several road sweeps in C
Burma. 12 others damage bypass bridge at Hay-ti. Transports complete
677 sorties delivering men and supplies to advanced bases and
dropping supplies to frontline forces.
3/12/45
Fourteenth AF
4 B-25's knock out Song Rang bridge. 6 P-51's hit road comm at
Hwayuan and bomb a building at Ha Coi.
3/12/45
FEAF
B-24's hit Mercedes and Malabang. Other B-24's bomb Japanese troops
near Ipo. B-25's hit supply area at Bangued and troops at Pattao.
A-20's and FBs fly ground forces spt missions throughout Luzon. FBs
also bomb Calallo I. On Formosa B-24's, with P-38 spt bomb Takao
Tainan. P-51's also hit Tainan and bomb Jitsugetsu power plants.
3/12/45
Twentieth AF
44 B-29's hit oil storage facilities on Bukum I, Samboe, and Sebarok
Is. 1 other VHB bombs Arang Hill. Results are poor.
3/12/45
Seventh AF
16 P-51's bomb and strafe Okimura. 13 B-24's fly daylight strike
against Susaki A/F. During 12/13 Mar, 8 HBs hit Susaki and Okimura.
24 B-24's from Angaur hit Sarangani Bay storage area.
3/12/45
Eleventh AF
5 B-24's bomb Kurabu A/F area. 8 B-25's weather-abort a mission to
Hayakegawa.
3/13/45
Eighth AF
16 continent-based P-51's fly uneventful aircraft sweep in
Remagen-Koblenz area.
3/13/45
Ninth AF
450-plus A-26's, A-20's, and B-26's, bomb 3 M/Ys, 2 A/Fs, rail
sidings, and several T/Os in continuing interdiction campaign in
Germany. Ftrs fly escort, patrols, and armed rcn, attack assigned
tgts, cover US First Army area in general along the Rhine R from
Dusseldorf to Linz/Rhine, spt US 9th Inf Div around Hargarten, cover
Remagen bridgehead, and spt XX Corps as it opens offensive SE from
Saarburg bridgehead.
3/13/45
Twelfth AF
B-25's bomb railroad bridges and fills at Perca, Vo Sinistrof,
Pizzighetone, Salorno, and Sacile. Ftrs and FBs attack bridges, flak
positions, ammo and supply dump, rail lines, various other tgts, and
fly close spt to US Fifth Army force as XXII TAC operates over wide
areas of N Italy from the N Apennines through the Po Valley, and into
NE Italy. On 12/13 Mar LBs hit railroads, Po R crossings, dumps, and
movement, mainly in Po Valley.
3/13/45
Fifteenth AF
569 B-24's and B-17's bomb Regensburg M/Y. 3 other HBs bomb T andshut
M/Y and T/Os. Over 280 P-38's and P-51's provide escort and several
strafe rail traffic in Germany and Austria during return flight. 41
P-51's on strafing mission attack rail traffic in
MunichLandshut-Regensburg and Ingolstadt areas and between Vienna and
Wiener-Neustadt. Photo rcn is particularly extensive, with 18 P-38's
covering areas of Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia,
Hungary, and N Italy. 41 ftrs escort photo missions.
3/13/45
Tenth AF
16 P-47's spt forces of Chinese 50th Div, hitting Japanese positions
along Namtu R in Namhsan area. 26 P-38's hit road tgts S of bomb line
in C Burma. 12 B-25's attack troop concentrations, supplies, and gun
positions behind enemy lines. 4 P-47's hit wooded area in British
36th Div battle sector. Other FBs make ineffective bridge strikes.
Transports complete more than 500 sorties to forward areas.
3/13/45
Fourteenth AF
7 B-24's over Gulf of Tonkin and S China Sea claim a cargo vessel and
a large junk destroyed. 13 P-40's, P-38's, and P-51's destroy a
storehouse and damage a compound at Chingchengchiang and knock out a
bridge and hit machinegun positions and other T/Os at Lang Son.
3/13/45
FEAF
B-24's hit tgts in Sarangani Bay area and effectively hit town of
Lagao. MBs spt ground operations in Zamboanga area. B-25's, A-20's,
and ftrs spt ground forces hitting forces and positions in Cagayan
Valley. B-25's hit sampans off Hainan I while P-51's sweep Samah A/F.
B-24's hit installations in WC Formosa. B-24's bomb Mako.
3/13/45
Twentieth AF
In the third of the Twentieth AF's great fire raids, 274 B-29's begin
bombing Osaka shortly after midnight, 13/14 Mar. The heart of the
city, an area of 8.1 sq mi, is wiped out during 3 hrs of bombing from
altitudes of 5,000 to 9,600 ft.
3/13/45
Seventh AF
6 B-24's from Guam hit Woleai while 10 bomb Susaki A/F. During 13/14
Mar 8 more, flying individual strikes, pound Susaki. 24 B-24's from
Angaur bomb storage area on Sarangani Bay.
3/14/45
Eighth AF
1,188 HBs hit 3 tank and armored vehicle plants, 2 oil refineries, 2
M/Ys (all in the Hannover area), M/Ys at Gutersloh, Holzwickede,
Giessen, Osnabruck, and Hameln, 2 rail bridges and a M/Y near
Herford, road bridge near Minden, and jet castings plant at
Hildesheim. 13 ftr gps fly 610 effective supporting sorties. 3 other
gps spt Ninth AF Mbs.
3/14/45
Ninth AF
350-plus MBs and LBs hit 3 A/Fs, 4 rail bridges, a junction, 5 towns,
and 3 T/Os as interdiction operations continue. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb
Div, attack railroads and other special tgts, fly patrols, sweeps,
and armed rcn, cover Remagen area, and spt US XII Corps as it begins
drive from the Mosel R to the Rhine R, and XX Corps operations W of
Trier and Saarburg.
3/14/45
Twelfth AF
B-25's damage bridges at Casarsa della Delizia, Cittadella, Vipiteno,
and Campo. Ftrs and FBs attack comm, ammo and supply dumps, motor
transport, trains, buildings, and other tgts, escort MBs, and spt
ground forces, operating over much of N Italy from the Apennine
battle area N and NE. LBs hit river crossings and T/Os in Po Valley
during 13/14 Mar.
3/14/45
Fifteenth AF
634 HBs, with ftr escorts, hit Szony and Almasfuzito oil refineries
and M/Ys at Komarom, Nove Zamky, Zagreb, WienerNeustadt, Graz, and
Knittelfeld. 90 P-38's dive-bomb bridges at Ptuj, 42 of them
afterwards strafing rail traffic in Yugoslavia and Austria. 21 P-51's
also strafe rail traffic in Austria. B-17's and B-24's drop supplies
in N Italy and in Yugoslavia. P-38's continue rcn missions, including
larger than usual number of photo rcn flights (most of them heavily
escorted) over Italy, Germany, Austria, and Yugoslavia.
3/14/45
Tenth AF
20 P-37's fly close spt for elements of Chinese 50th Div in Mansam
area. 3 B-25's knock out bridge at Laihka while 11 others bomb troop
and vehicle concentration nearby. 39 P-47's hit troop concentrations,
supplies and vehicles at Laihka and Namlan while 29 others sweep
roads S of bomb line. 614 air supply sorties are flown to forward
areas.
3/14/45
Fourteenth AF
3 B-24's claim 1 cargo vessel sunk in S China Sea. 1 B-25 and 4 FBs
damage 12 track sections near Tungyangchen. 4 P-51's hit railroad
T/Os near Chihsien. 19 P-51's and P-38's blast barracks area at Vinh
Yen.
3/14/45
FEAF
B-24's bomb Konel area while B-25's and B-24's hit village and AA
positions near Zamboanga and dock area at Isabela. A-20's and
numerous FBs (including some Marine aircraft) hit installations and
defensive positions throughout Luzon. A-20's over Palawan hit
Pandanan I. B-24's bomb Mako naval base. B-25's on armed rcn and
shipping sweep along China coast bomb secondary tgts when no ships
are sighted.
3/14/45
Seventh AF
11 B-24's from Guam bomb Susaki A/F while 23 from Angaur hit
Sarangani Bay supply area. 5 Iwo-based P-51's strafe and fire-bomb
positions on N tip of Mindanao. 16 more strafe and dive-bomb Susaki
A/F, town of Omura, and several gun positions on Chichi Jima. During
14/15 Mar, 5 more B-24's flying individually hit Susaki.
3/14/45
Eleventh AF
Of 12 B-25's taking off to cover naval TF on its way to Matsuwa, 6
abort due to weather and failure to locate the TF. The others fly
coverage sorties throughout the day.
3/15/45
Eighth AF
1,282 HBs bomb primary tgts of Army HQ at Zossen and M/Y at
Oranienburg, along with T/Os including M/Ys at Stendal and
Birkenwerder, rail sidings at Gardelegen, rail center at Wittenberge,
road bridge at Gusen, and town of Havelberg. 14 ftr gps in close
escort and 1 in area patrol fly 732 effective spt sorties.
3/15/45
Ninth AF
9th Bomb Div A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's attack comm centers at
Neunkirchen and Pirmasens, M/Ys at Turkismuhle and Erbach, 3 flak
positions, and several other tgts, as well as dropping leaflets on
Koblenz. Ftrs hit Overberge M/Y and other tgts, escort 9th Bomb Div,
fly sweeps and armed rcn, and spt US XII Corps crossing Mosel in
offensive toward the Rhine, and XX Corps E of Trier and
Saarbrucken.
3/15/45
Twelfth AF
B-25's attack railroad bridges and fills at Salzano, Canale d'Isonzo,
Rovereto, Palazzolo sull'Oglio, Romano di Lombardia, and Mori. Ftrs
and FBs of XXII TAC concentrate on comm lines in NE Italy,
particularly the Brenner rail line, and also blast several supply and
ammo dumps. I,Bs continue intruder missions during 14/15 Mar hitting
Po R crossings and fills in San Ambrogio di Valpolicella area.
3/15/45
Fifteenth AF
109 B-17's bomb Ruhland oil refinery (marking the Fifteenth's deepest
penetration into Germany). 103 others bomb alternate tgt of Kolin
refinery. 470-plus other HBs attack tgts in Austria, including
Moosbierbaum, Schwechat, and Vienna/Floridedorf oil refineries, M/Ys
at Wiener-Neustadt, Sankt Polten, Graz, Bruck an der Mur, Klagenfurt,
and Murzzuschlag, and bridge at Klagenfurt. Supply missions to N
Italy and Yugoslavia continue, along with extensive photo and weather
rcn. Ftrs fly over 300 sorties in escort of HBs and supply and rcn
flights.
3/15/45
Tenth AF
30 P-47's spt elements of Chinese 50th Div in Namhsan area. 32 P-38's
sweep roads S of bomb line. Transports fly 625 sorties to forward
areas.
3/15/45
Fourteenth AF
4 B-24's claim 1 vessel sunk in S China Sea. 4 B-25's hit area E of
Pingsiang. 4 P-51's hit locomotives between Sinsiang and
Shihkiachwang and 4 attack motor transport in Paotou area.
3/15/45
FEAF
In spt of US ground forces on Luzon B-24's, A-20's, and P-38's hit HQ
area at Baguio. P-47's hit Minuli bridge and enemy concentrations in
Balete Pass and W of Ft Stotsenburg. A-20's and P-47's hit gun
positions and occupied areas around Batangas. B-24's and B-25's hit
personnel N of Sarangani Bay and troops and gun positions in
Zamboanga area. B-24's bomb Lahug. P-47's dive-bomb Takao power
installations.
3/15/45
Seventh AF
8 Guam-based B-24's bomb Susaki A/F. 3 more, on snooper strikes, hit
Susaki during 15/16 Mar.
3/15/45
Eleventh AF
1 B-24 flies air coverage for naval TF. 7 others weather-abort.
3/16/45
Ninth AF
280-plus MBs and LBs hit Landau barracks area and comm center,
Niederscheld town area and rail bridge, 6 other town areas, a M/Y,
rail junction, crossroads, and also drop leaflets. Ftrs escort 9th
Bomb Div, fly patrols, sweeps, armed rcn, and cover VIII, XII, and XX
Corps in assault across the Mosel from W of Koblenz and N of Boppard,
at one point, as far E as Bad Kreuznach, and as far S as Merzig.
3/16/45
Twelfth AF
B-25's of 57th Bomb Wg, flying their farthest N penetration to date,
bomb Brixlegg railroad bridge. The MBs also hit Spilimbergo power
plant, with excellent results, and lightly damage 3 bridges on
Brenner line, 1 in C Po Valley, and 1 in NE Italy. XXII TAC FBs
continue to attack comm in Po Valley and NE Italy, while LBs bomb
bridges and T/Os on night intruder missions along Po R and in N Po
Valley.
3/16/45
Fifteenth AF
720-plus B-24's and B-17's bomb Korneuburg, Vienna/Floridsdorf,
Schwechat, and Moosbierbaum oil refineries and M/Ys at Sankt Veit an
der Glan, Amstetten, Graz, Varazdin and Pragersko. 52 P-51's strafe
rail lines in Vienna, Linz, Passau, and Regensburg areas and A/F at
Mettenheim. B-17's and B-24's continue supply drops to N Italy and
Yugoslavia while P-38's fly extensive weather and photo rcn missions.
Ftrs fly more than 300 sorties in escort of HBs, supply runs, and rcn
operations.
3/16/45
Tenth AF
23 P-47's spt forces of Chinese 50th Div in Hsipaw area. 4 P-38's,
supporting British 36th Div, bomb arty positions NE of Mogok. 12
B-25's blast fuel dump and troop concentration at Panghai. 40 P-38's
sweep roads S of bomb line. Transport operations continue on steady
basis.
3/16/45
Fourteenth AF
32 B-24's, escorted by 10 P-51's, pound N railroad yards at
Shihkiachwang. 1 B-25 and 2 P-51's attack railroad between Sinsiang
and Shihkiachwang.
3/16/45
FEAF
A-20's and B-24's continue pounding Japanese installations at Baguio.
P-51's strike Patapat, hitting vehicles and supplies. Ftrs on patrol
hit Caballo I. Batangas area is again pounded by FBs and A-20's.
B-24's hit Talisay and Carolina A/Fs and bomb tgts pinpointed by
guerrillas on Cebu. B-25's bomb San Roque A/F and attack Tarakan and
Jesselton A/Fs. B-24's also hit town of Taihoku, A/Fs at Heito, and
Okayama naval airbase.
3/16/45
Twentieth AF
307 XXI BC B-29's, of 331 airborne, fire-raid Kobe in the heaviest
attack to date, bombing from 5,000 to 9,500 ft during the predawn
hours of 16/17 Mar. About one-fifth of the city's area is burned.
3/16/45
Seventh AF
13 Guam-based B-24's bomb Susaki A/F. 16 Iwo-based P-51's dive-bomb
and strafe radio and radar installations, gun positions, and storage
area on Chichi Jima. During 16/17 Mar Susaki is hit again, by 5
B-24's flying individual harassment strikes. Iwo Jima is declared
secure although fierce resistance continues on some parts of the
island.
3/16/45
Eleventh AF
Because of a navigational error, 2 B-24's on a photo mission to
Matsuwa reach 130 mi S of the island, the deepest penetration of the
Japanese Home Islands to date. The B-24's turn N, photograph Matsuwa
and bomb Shimushiru with unobserved results.
3/17/45
Eighth AF
1,260 HBs hit 2 synthetic oil plants, 2 power stations, an
instruments works, an industrial complex around a tank factory, 2
M/Ys, and 5 city areas in W and NC Germany. 13 P-51 gps, plus an
extra P-51 section, provide spt.
3/17/45
Ninth AF
650-plus A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's bomb 5 M/Ys, 2 comm centers, an
ordnance depot, 3 city areas, and several T/Os. Attacks are to impede
enemy movement of troops, equipment, and supplies in face of
advancing Allied forces. Ftrs fly escort, patrols, and armed rcn,
cover Remagen bridgehead, spt US III Corps NE of Remagen, cooperate
with XII Corps which has penetrated several mi E of Bad Kreuznach at
one point, and operate with XX Corps which at one point reaches as
far E as Birkenfeld.
3/17/45
Twelfth AF
A-20's and B-26's during 16/17 Mar bomb Po R crossings, other
bridges, lights, and movements in Po Valley. B-25's bomb railroad
bridges and fills at Cittadella, San Michele all' Adige, Aldeno,
Bozzolo, Canneto sull' Oglio, Pontetidone, Pizzighettone, and
Pontevico. Ftrs and FBs are greatly restricted by bad weather but
score effectively against dumps, bridges, railroads, M/Ys, trains,
and buildings mainly in Po Valley.
3/17/45
Fifteenth AF
Bad weather grounds HBs. 98 P-38's dive-bomb Ptuj and Zagreb railroad
bridges, Klinca Sela M/Y, and Sisak M/Y and bridge. B-24's, with ftr
escort, drop supplies in Yugoslavia and P-38's and P-51's fly rcn and
rcn escort. During 17/18 Mar B-24's drop supplies in N Italy.
3/17/45
Tenth AF
16 P-47's spt British 36th Div around Mogok. 12 B-25's bomb troops
and supplies near Namlan. 33 P-47's hit road tgts behind enemy lines,
concentrating on Hayti and Mong Yai sectors. 40-plus other FBs attack
troops, supplies, tanks, and trucks behind the battleline including
Ta-mun, Namsaw, Pansupe, Tal-ti, and Kankang areas. Transports
continue to fly troops and supplies to frontline areas.
3/17/45
Fourteenth AF
1 B-25 and 12 P-51's damage 21 locomotives and a river launch in
Peking area, around Tsinan, and between Taiyuan and Tatung.
3/17/45
FEAF
Formosa A/Fs are pounded by B-24's operating in force. On Luzon
nearly 500 sorties are flown in spt of ground forces by B-25's,
A-20's, and ftrs. B-24's hit Panay beaches preparatory to allied
landings on 18th and bomb troops in combat areas on Mindanao. Bacolod
A/F is also bombed.
3/17/45
Twentieth AF
70 B-29's hit storage dump at Rangoon. 2 others bomb T/Os Sagyi A/F
and warehouses at Bassein.
3/17/45
Seventh AF
11 Guam-based B-24's hit Chichi Jima. During 17/18 Mar, 5 more hit
Susaki A/F.
3/17/45
Eleventh AF
2 B-24's fly bombing and photo missions over Matsuwa, concentrating
on the A/F, and on returning photograph Shasukotan, Harumukotan, and
Onnekotan.
3/18/45
Eighth AF
1,251 HBs attack 2 rail centers and 2 tank and armament plants in
Berlin area, along with several T/Os including 2 M/Ys, 3 town areas,
and an industrial area near Berlin (secondary tgt). 14 P-51 gps fly
645 effective supporting sorties.
3/18/45
Ninth AF
660-plus MBs and LBs hit M/Ys at Wetalar, Worms, Kreuztal, and Bad
Durkheim, comm center at Bad Durkheim, and 4 town areas with aim of
hampering enemy movement. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, attack assigned
tgts, fly patrols, and armed rcn, and cooperate with US III Corps of
Remagen, with XII Corps as it begins assault toward Mainz-Worms
sector of the Rhine, and with XX Corps as it moves rapidly eastward
through Sankt Wendel area toward Kaiserslautern.
3/18/45
Twelfth AF
During 17/18 Mar A-20's and A-26's continue intruder missions in Po
Valley, concentrating on Po R crossings. B-25's bomb railroad bridges
at Bozzolo, and Palazzuolo sull' Oglio, railroad fill at Salorno, and
causeway at Mantua. Ftrs and FBs hit dumps and spt ground forces S of
Bologna, and attack comm tgts over wide areas of Po Valley. The most
devastating raid of the day is flown against Novara M/Y where 14
locomotives are destroyed.
3/18/45
Fifteenth AF
Bad weather limits operations to rcn and supply missions, a FB attack
by P-38's on Varazdin railroad bridge, after which many of the P-38's
strafe railroad comm in Zagreb, Varazdin, Maribor, and Villach areas,
and a strafing mission against rail comm and A/Fs in Graz,
Wiener-Neustadt, Maribor, and Szombathely areas.
3/18/45
Tenth AF
12 P-47's spt Chinese ground forces near Hsipaw. 8 others spt British
36th Div troops by dropping napalm NE of Mogok. 11 B-25's and 20 FBs
hit troop concentrations and supplies immediately behind the
battlefront. Roads S of bomb line are swept by 16 P-38's. Transports
continue steady operations.
3/18/45
Fourteenth AF
6 B-24's sweep Gulf of Tonkin and S China Sea, claiming 1 freighter
damaged. 2 P-51's over N Indochina strafe trucks, troops, and
horsecarts.
3/18/45
FEAF
In S Luzon HBs, A-20's, and ftrs spt ground forces by hitting Ipo
area and various tgts in Batangas Province. B-24's again bomb
Bacolod, hit several tgts on Cebu, and bomb Sepinggang and Jesselton
A/Fs. A/F at Tainan, seaplane base at Takao, and emergency field at
Koshun are also hit.
3/18/45
Twentieth AF
During 18/19 Mar, 290 XXI BC B-29's continue fire raids on Japanese
cities, bombing Nagoya from 4,500 to 9,000 ft with incendiaries for
the second time this month. This mission ends the Mar fire raids.
3/18/45
Seventh AF
16 P-51's from Iwo Jima dive-bomb radar and radio installations and
barges at Chichi Jima. 14 B-24's from Guam pound Susaki A/F. 1 other
hits Haha Jima. During 18/19 Mar 5 more HBs individually strike
Susaki.
3/18/45
Eleventh AF
A weather sortie is flown.
3/19/45
Eighth AF
1,223 HBs attack M/Ys at Fulda and Plauen, industrial areas around
military vehicle and optical works at Jena and Zwickau, A/Fs and jet
aircraft plants at Neuburg an der Donau, Baumenheim, and Leipheim,
and industrial and city areas at Plauen and Saalfeld. P-51's fly 606
effective sorties in spt of HBs. Over 100 ftrs, including 36 jets in
formation (largest number yet seen as a unit) are encountered. US
ftrs claim 42 ftrs destroyed (including 3 jets).
3/19/45
Ninth AF
9th Bomb Div strikes 2 M/Ys, 5 rail bridges, comm center and several
casual tgts as part of interdiction program to impede enemy movement.
Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols and armed rcn, spt US III Corps
W of Remagen, cooperates with XII Corps' 4th Armd Div E of
Kaiserslautern as it drives toward the Rhine. FBs of XIX TAC, on
special mission, bomb HQ of CinC West (FM von Rundstedt) at
Ziegenberg.
3/19/45
Twelfth AF
XXII TAC LBs strike heavily against general movement in Po Valley
during 18/19 Mar, and are followed during day by ftr and FB attacks
on comm in C Po Valley and NE Italy where numerous rail cuts are
made, 3 bridges damaged, and several supply dumps hit. MBs damage
bridge at Muhldorf, bridges and fills at Perca, and at 7 other
locations on the N Italian approaches to Brenner Pass.
3/19/45
Fifteenth AF
800-plus HBs, with ftr escorts, hit M/Ys at Landshut, Passau, Sankt
Veit an der Glan, Lambach, Muhldorf, Plattling, Garching an der Alz,
Klagenfurt, and Altenmarkt an der Alz. 54 P-51's strafe railroads in
the HB tgt areas. 36 P-38's bomb Varazdin M/Y. B-24's drop supplies
in Yugoslavia while P-38's and P-51's fly rcn and escort.
3/19/45
Tenth AF
24 P-38's spt forces of Chinese 50th Div near Hsipaw. 12 P-38's sweep
roads S of bomb line while 27 P-47's operating over and behind enemy
lines hit troop concentrations and supplies at Namlan, Namio, and
Nam-maw-long and Japanese-held monastery at Nammaw-long. Transports
fly 502 sorties to forward areas.
3/19/45
Fourteenth AF
5 B-24's on sweep over S China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin claim a large
freighter sunk. 4 P-38's strafe trucks from Son La to Hoa Binh.
3/19/45
FEAF
B-24's and FBs again hit installations in N Luzon. B-24's hit variety
of tgts on Cebu including town of Minglanilla.
3/19/45
Seventh AF
16 P-51's from Iwo Jima bomb and strafe Susaki A/F, radio
installation, and storage area on Chichi Jima. 12 Guam-based B-24's
follow up with another attack on the A/F and radio installations
later in the day. During 19/20 Mar Susaki is hit again by 5 B-24's
flying separate snooper strikes.
3/19/45
Eleventh AF
5 B-24's bomb and photograph Kashiwabara naval base. 8 B-25's bomb
canneries along the Masugawa and Asahigawa Rivers.
3/20/45
Eighth AF
407 B-17's and B-24's bomb shipyard and dock area at Hamburg and oil
refinery at Hemmingstedt. Ftrs of 8 gps complete 298 effective
sorties in spt.
3/20/45
Ninth AF
360-plus A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's bomb Geisecke M/Y, Sythen
ammo-filling plant, town of Gronau (including a rail bridge), and
several casual tgts in or near 9 other towns. Ftrs escort MBs and
LBs, fly patrols and armed rcn, spt US III and VII Corps just E of
the Rhine R between Bad Honningen and the Sieg R, and XII and XX
Corps as they push to the Rhine R at Worms and at a point N of
Mannheim.
3/20/45
Twelfth AF
XXII TAC LBs during 19/20 Mar continue intruder missions into Po
Valley while ftrs and FBs pound comm tgts in the Valley during the
day and severely damage fuel dumps near Mantua. MBs hit 4 bridges on
Brenner line and 2 others in NE Italy and hit other bridge approaches
nearby.
3/20/45
Fifteenth AF
760-plus HBs, with ftr escort, hit Korneuburg and Kagran oil
refineries, M/Ys at Wels, Sankt Polten, Amstetten, Wiener-Neustadt,
and Klagenfurt, and tank works at Steyr. Routine supply, rcn, and
escort missions continue.
3/20/45
Tenth AF
20 P-47's sweep roads S of bomb line in C Burma. 16 others hit supply
dumps behind Japanese lines. Transports continue to supply forward
areas.
3/20/45
Fourteenth AF
4 P-38's claim 11 trucks destroyed and 9 damaged between Son La and
Hoa Binh.
3/20/45
FEAF
B-24's, A-20's, and FBs fly numerous ground spt missions and hit tgts
at Balete Pass, Bayombong, Tuguegarao, Antamok, San Fernando, Bontoc
and along roads. B-24's pound supply and personnel area E of Cebu
City and N of Mambaling, defensive positions NW of Talisay and AA
guns to the N, and also bomb Talisay. Other B-24's bomb town of
Tainan. B-25's on shipping sweep sink 3 small vessels near Qui
Nhon.
3/20/45
Seventh AF
12 Guam-based B-24's bomb Susaki A/F. During 20/21 Mar, 4 other HBs
fly single strikes against the A/F.
3/21/45
Eighth AF
Preparatory air operations for forthcoming (23 Mar) crossing of lower
Rhine R by allied ground forces begin. 1,254 HBs (in conjunction with
aircraft of RAF and Ninth AF attacking other tgts) bomb 10 A/Fs in NW
Germany, tank factory at Plauen and M/Y at Reichenbach during morning
raid. During afternoon 90 B-24's bomb Mulheim an der Ruhr A/F. Ftrs
fly nearly 750 effective sorties in spt of the 2 operations.
3/21/45
Ninth AF
580-plus A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's strike 6 comm centers and a M/Y E
of the Rhine R (along with several casual tgts) in interdiction
campaign to obstruct enemy movement. Ftrs fly patrols and armed rcn,
attack railroads and bridges, spt US VII Corps as its units reach
Sieg R near Siegburg, cooperate with XII Corps as more of its
elements reach the Rhine at various points between Boppard and Worms,
and spt XX Corps as additional units reach the Rhine between Worms
and Mannheim.
3/21/45
Twelfth AF
LBs continue to attack comm in Po Valley especially Po R crossings
during 20/21 Mar. During the day FBs concentrate on railroad tgts
(lines, trains, bridges, and viaducts) and dumps in Po Valley and
areas N of battleline in N Apennines. MBs bomb railroad fill at
Salorno, bridges at Casarsa della Delizia and Pizzighettone, M/Ys at
Vipiteno and Brennero, and bridge approaches at Campo.
3/21/45
Fifteenth AF
660-plus B-24's and B-17's, with ftr escorts, bomb Neuburg an der
Donau A/F, M/Ys at Villach (2), Klagenfurt, Graz, Bruck and der Mur,
and Pragersko, 3 oil refineries and a goods depot at Vienna, and 4
scattered T/Os. Supply and rcn missions with escort are flown.
3/21/45
Tenth AF
30 P-47's spt Chinese ground forces in Hsipaw area. 34 P-38's sweep
roads S of bomb line. 13 B-25's and 18 P-47's attack troop
concentrations and vehicles at several points behind Japanese lines.
526 air supply sorties are flown to forward areas. In ground action
in the area of the British Fourteenth Army's 33 Corps, organized
resistance ceases in Mandalay. Allied forces completely take over
that city.
3/21/45
Fourteenth AF
4 P-51's damage several locomotives and boxcars at Vinh A/F and along
railroad to the N. 6 B-24's claim 1 vessel damaged in S China
Sea.
3/21/45
FEAF
On Luzon B-25's, A-20's, and ftrs continue large-scale spt missions,
hitting a variety of tgts including Japanese defenses at Lipa and
Tarlac and town of Naga and Camiling. In C Phils B-24's hit tgts near
Cebu City while A-20's pound other towns on Cebu. B-24's bomb Samah
A/F. B-25's on shipping sweep attack and set afire a freighter SE of
Nanao I.
3/21/45
Seventh AF
16 P-51's from Iwo Jima strafe and bomb barracks and radio and radar
installations on Chichi Jima. 13 B-24's, based on Guam, hit Susaki
A/F, which is hit again during 21/22 Mar by 5 more, flying separate
strikes.
3/21/45
ZI
A P-63 from Walla Walla A/F intercepts Japanese balloon near Redmond,
and, after chase that includes 2 refueling stops, shoots it down near
Reno.
3/22/45
Eighth AF
Air attacks in preparation for lower Rhine R crossing by Allied
ground forces continue. 1,284 HBs hit 4 A/Fs and 3 M/Ys E of
Frankfurt/'Main, 10 military encampments in the Ruhr, and 2 city
areas nearby. 9 P-51 gps fly spt and strafe aircraft at several
A/Fs.
3/22/45
Ninth AF
Nearly 800 A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's bomb 9 comm centers and a M/Y E
of the Rhine R (plus 7 towns, flak positions, and a T/O) as part of
interdiction program to impede movement of supplies and troops. Ftrs
escort 9th Bomb Div, attack railroads and other assigned tgts, fly
patrols and armed rcn, spt US 1st and 9th Inf Divs SE of Honnef and
along the Wied R, cooperate with XII Corp as it begins crossing Rhine
in Mainz-Oppenheim areas and with XX Corps which begins attack on
Ludwigshafen.
3/22/45
Twelfth AF
A-20's and A-26's during 21/22 Mar, continue intruder raids
concentrating on Po R crossings in the E Po Valley. During the day
P-47's blast rail lines, trains and other comm tgts, especially in E
Po Valley and areas to the N. B-25's destroy bridge at Brixlegg,
severely damage Steinach bridge, and hit bridge approaches at
Muhlberg and town of Matreiam Brenner. Weather prevents successful
attacks on 2 tgts in N Italy.
3/22/45
Fifteenth AF
680-plus HBs (with ftr escort) hit Ruhland and Kralupy and Vltava oil
refineries (some HBs on Ruhland raid bomb Lauta aluminum works to the
N), a railroad comm and ordnance depot, a M/Y, and 2 oil refineries
at Vienna, M/Ys at Graz, Wels, Zeltweg, Klagenfurt, and Neratovice,
and scattered T/Os. Rcn and rcn escort missions are also flown.
3/22/45
Tenth AF
16 FBs spt Chinese ground forces near Hsipaw. 12 B-25's and 41 FBs
hit numerous tgts along and immediately behind enemy lines. Troops,
supplies, and comm are attacked and 2 bridges are knocked out. 547
air supply sorties are flown to forward areas.
3/22/45
Fourteenth AF
24 FBs and a single B-25 attack railroad traffic and railroad yards
in and around Shihkiachwang, at Chukiatsi, and from Sinsiang to
Chenghsien.
3/22/45
FEAF
B-24's and A-20's (along with Marine aircraft) hit Cebu City,
defenses at several locations on Cebu I, and tgts on Inampulugan I
nearby. On Luzon B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and ftrs continue to hit
numerous objectives, chiefly Balete Pass, Tangadon, San Fernando, and
Batangas areas. Other B-24's hit Tainan and Okayama A/Fs, destroying
several hangars, planes, and gun positions.
3/22/45
Twentieth AF
76 B-29's, operating in 2 waves, blast storage dumps at Rangoon.
3/22/45
Seventh AF
16 Iwo-based P-51's bomb and strafe weather station, fuel storage,
and radar installations on Chichi Jima. Later in the day 13 B-24's
from Guam bomb Susaki A/F. 20 B-24's from Angaur bomb Cebu I. During
22/23 Mar, 4 B-24's from Guam make individual raids on Susaki
A/F.
3/23/45
Eighth AF
Allied ground assault across lower Rhine begins. 1,240 HBs attack 10
assigned M/Ys E of the Rhine (primary tgts) and 4 other M/Ys as
secondary tgts and T/Os, along with a power station, aluminum works,
and benzol plant. 14 P-51 gps give close and area spt, flying 355
effective sorties.
3/23/45
Ninth AF
Around 800 MBs and LBs strike 7 comm centers, a factory, and T/Os
(including several flak positions). Attacks on comm centers are aimed
at obstructing movement of reinforcements to the front. Ftrs escort
9th Bomb Div, fly patrols and armed rcn, attack assigned ground tgts,
spt US III and VII Corps SE of Honnef and E of Wied R and XII and XX
Corps astride and on W bank of the Rhine R between Mainz and
Worms.
3/23/45
Twelfth AF
LBs attack loading points and crossings along Po R during 22/23 Mar.
P-47's concentrate on comm and general movement in lower Brenner area
during the day. The FBs also blast several dumps in C Po Valley.
B-25's hit bridges, railroad fills, and bridge approaches in Brenner
area at Matrei am Brenner, Pordenone, Salorno, San Michele all'
Adige, Vo Sinistro, Longarone, and Perca.
3/23/45
Fifteenth AF
658 HBs (with ftr escort) hit oil refineries at Ruhland, and at
Vienna, M/Ys at Budejovice, Gmund, Sankt Polten and Sankt Valentin,
and tank works at Sankt Valentin, plus scattered T/Os. Over 40 P-38's
and P-51's fly rcn.
3/23/45
Tenth AF
15 P-47's spt Chinese ground forces, bomb troop, positions at
Nampongpang and Nakang. 16 P-47's hit T/Os along roads from Mong
Nawng to Wan Sing to Kunlong. 11 P-47's hit quarters at Monglawng
while 3 others attack supply dumps at Laihka. 9 B-25's bomb comm
routes, creating 2 road blocks behind enemy lines. In large-scale air
supply operations, 536 sorties are flown.
3/23/45
Fourteenth AF
28 B-24's bomb Tsinan railroad shops and Yellow R bridge. 5 B-25's
bomb town areas, storage facilities, and T/Os at Sinsiang and Wuyang
and chiefly in the Hsiangcheng area. 50-plus FBs attack troops,
horses, and river, road, and railroad tgts in N Indochina and S and E
China.
3/23/45
FEAF
B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and ftrs hit the Visayan Is, bombing Cebu
City, hitting defenses on Cebu and other islands, and bomb Antamok
mines, Balete Pass, and Tangadon areas, along with several other
tgts. B-24's also hit tgts on Mindanao. FBs attack Takao.
3/23/45
Seventh AF
15 P-51's from Iwo Jima bomb and strafe various tgts on Chichi Jima,
Haha Jima, and Ani Jima. During 23/24 Mar 5 Guam-based B-24's, flying
single-bmr strikes, pound Susaki A/F.
3/23/45
Eleventh AF
An 8-bmr strike is called off due to weather.
3/24/45
Eighth AF
In conjunction with allied ground forces assault across the lower
Rhine R the Eighth flies bombing, supply, and armed rcn missions.
During morning 1,033 HBs strike 14 A/Fs in W Germany. 85 ftr sorties
are flown in spt. At midday 235 B-24's drop supplies to allied forces
in assault area E of the Rhine. During the afternoon 443 HBs,
supported by 113 effective ftr sorties, bomb 5 A/Fs, a M/Y, and a
railroad in NW Germany. The ftrs claim 27 kills in aerial combat. All
during the day, ftrs fly 1,065 effective sorties in armed rcn patrols
attacking numerous ground tgts and claiming 30 ftrs downed.
3/24/45
Ninth AF
Almost 700 A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's blast comm centers, rail
bridges, flak positions, and numerous other tgts in cooperation with
combined land-airborne assault across the Rhine R (PLUNDERVARSITY) by
the British Second and US Ninth Armies and the US XVIII Corps of the
First Allied Airborne Army. Over 2,000 transports and gliders of IX
TCC drop and land British 6th Airborne and US 17th Airborne Divs
(plus arty, vehicles, ammo, and other supplies) E of the Rhine N and
NW of Wesel as British Second and US Ninth Armies cross river to the
NW and SE. Ftrs attack with bmrs before the drop and carpet the
landing zones with fragmentation bombs, immobilizing numerous flak
batteries. Ftrs escort bmrs and transports, cover assaulting 30th and
79th Inf Divs, attack troop concentrations, flak positions, supply
and ammo dumps, A/Fs, defended villages, and road and rail traffic,
and patrol the perimeter of the battle sector. Ftrs also spt US First
Army elements across the Rhine E of Remagen between Koblenz and the
Sieg R as they prepare for breakout assault, and US Third Army's XII
Corps as it strengthens its Rhine bridgehead E of Oppenheim and
commits its armor to push through toward the Main R.
3/24/45
Twelfth AF
Gen Cannon takes cmd of AAFMTO, and shortly afterwards also takes
over MAAF. A-20's and A-26's during 23/24 Mar pound M/Ys, river
crossings and other bridges, and a variety of other tgts in Po Valley
and NE Italy where ftrs and FBs during the day destroy or damage
numerous rail lines and train cars. B-25's bomb bridges or bridge
approaches at Piacenza, Chiari, Perca, Casarsa della Delizia,
Palazzolo sull'Oglio, Muhlberg, and Steinach.
3/24/45
Fifteenth AF
660 B-24's and B-17's bomb tank works at Berlin and A/Fs at Munich
and Neuburg an der Donau, plus Budejovice M/Y, and alternate tgts and
T/Os including A/Fs at Plattling, Erding, and Udine. P-38's and
P-51's escort the missions against German tgts and fly rcn.
3/24/45
Tenth AF
31 FBs and 9 B-25's operating over battlefront and behind enemy lines
in C Burma pound troop concentrations, supply areas, truck park, and
general T/Os. 9 other FBs attack T/Os along roads S of bomb line. 504
air supply sorties are flown, landing men and supplies at advanced
bases and dropping supplies to frontline forces.
3/24/45
Fourteenth AF
34 B-24's, with escort of 9 ftrs, pound Chenghsien locomotive park
and Yellow R bridge. 30-plus B-25's and over 100 FBs, operating in
forces of 1-8 airplanes, attack tanks, trucks, locomotives, troop
concentrations, storage areas, airstrips, bridges, gun positions, and
general T/Os throughout S and E China.
3/24/45
FEAF
B-24's and A-20's pound Cebu City and defenses and installations on
Cebu I. B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and P-38's attack Balete Pass,
Legaspi, Batangas area, and scattered tgts throughout Luzon. B-24's
hit harbor at Takao and power plant and alcohol factory E of Okayama.
Twentieth AF
3/24/45
Seventh AF
9 B-24's from Guam bomb torpedo storage area on Marcus. 24
Angaur-based B-24's bomb defensive positions and town of Naga. 16
Iwo-based P-51's hit air, naval, and radar installations and T/Os on
Chichi Jima. During 24/25 Mar, 5 Guam-based B-24's hit A/F and town
of Omura.
3/25/45
Eighth AF
Nearly 250 B-24's bomb oil storage depots near Brunswick, Hamburg,
and Lauenburg. 5 ftr gps provide escort. Over 700 B-17's are recalled
because of bad weather. 1 gp of P-51's bomb ammo dump.
3/25/45
Ninth AF
9th Bomb Div hits 4 comm centers, 3 M/Ys, and T/Os, including flak
positions. Ftrs fly escort, armed rcn, and missions against several
ground tgts. Ftrs spt US 79th Inf Div as it pushes 2 mi to the E of
the Rhine (SE of Wesel), III and VII Corps as they begin breakout
assault toward Altenkirchen and in Epgert and Willroth areas, and XII
Corps as it establishes bridgeheads on the Main in Hanau and
Aschaffenburg areas.
3/25/45
Twelfth AF
During 24/25 Mar A-20's and A-26's continue intruder missions,
attacking Po R crossings and railroad and motor transport tgts.
P-47's, during the day, raid railroad bridges and lines, hitting tgts
at Lavis, Casarsa della Delizia, San Michele all'Adige, Pavia, Santa
Margherita d'Adige, and other points in Po Valley and NE Italy, and
bomb fuel dumps N of battle area. 6 MB missions against bridges and
fills in Italy and Austria are ineffective because of bad
weather.
3/25/45
Fifteenth AF
Over 650 HBs strike 2 A/Fs and a tank works at Prague (patterns of
bombs also hit 2 other nearby A/Fs) and an A/F at Cheb. Alternate
tgts bombed include Wels and Udine A/F. P-38's and P-47's escort HBs,
and sweep and strafe Nurnberg-Eibelstadt-Wurzburg-Regensburg areas,
and fly rcn operations.
3/25/45
Tenth AF
26 P-47's spt forces of Chinese 50th Div in Hsipaw area. 44 FBs and
14 B-25's attack troops and supplies and hit T/Os along roads behind
battleline in C Burma. 557 transport sorties are flown to forward
areas.
3/25/45
Fourteenth AF
20-plus B-25's and 150-plus ftrs, operating individually and in
flights of up to 8 aircraft, continue attacks on numerous tgts
including river, road, and rail traffic, A/Fs, troop concentrations,
storage areas, horses, and gun positions throughout S and E
China.
3/25/45
FEAF
Cebu City is thoroughly pounded by nearly 70 B-24's. Other B-24's hit
Legaspi, and B-25's and FBs fly numerous ground spt missions
throughout Luzon, especially between Montalban and Laguna de Bay.
B-25's attack Pandanan I.
3/25/45
Seventh AF
16 Iwo-based P-51's bomb and strafe Susaki A/F, and naval and radar
installations on Chichi Jima. 16 more follow with attacks on radar
station and personnel concentration on the island. 23 B-24's from
Angaur bomb defenses on Cebu I. During 25/26 Mar, 5 B-24's from Guam
hit Susaki A/F. Marines complete reduction of final resistance pocket
on Iwo Jima.
3/26/45
Eighth AF
Over 300 B-17's bomb Zeitz synthetic oil plant, Plauen tank factory,
and cities of Meiningen, Wurzburg, Oelsnitz, and Markt Erlbach. 12
P-51 gps fly close and area spt.
3/26/45
Ninth AF
Around 300 MBs and LBs hit M Ys at Wurzburg, Gemunden, and Flieden,
town of Ruckers, and 2 T/Os. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly armed rcn,
hit special tgts and spt various ground forces along the front. Ftr
spt is accorded US 2d, 3d, 7th, and 9th Armd Divs in Hachenburg,
Montabaur, and Limburg areas, XII Corps along the Main R from
Frankfurt/Main to Aschaffenburg, and Ninth Army elements in
bridgehead area around Gahlen.
3/26/45
Twelfth AF
Weather grounds MBs and hampers operations in general. During 26/27
Mar 3 LBs hit bridges at Cittadella and Verona. FBs, operating on
reduced scale, hit comm tgts in W Po Valley, cutting a road bridge
and several railroads, and attacking several T/Os.
3/26/45
Fifteenth AF
Over 500 B-17's and B-24's, escorted by P-51's and P-38's attack M/Ys
at Wiener-Neustadt, Strasshof, Bruck an der Leitha, Neunkirchen,
Bratislava and Szombathely. 46 P-38's dive-bomb bridge at Ybbs while
26 P-51's, covered by 13 others, strafe rail traffic in
WienerNeustadt-Vienna-Budejovice areas. Other P-38's and P-51's fly
rcn operations.
3/26/45
Tenth AF
28 P-47's and 10 B-25's operating over and behind C Burma battlelines
attack arty positions, troop concentrations, road comm, and supply
areas. 522 air supply sorties are being completed throughout the
day.
3/26/45
Fourteenth AF
15 B-25's and 80-plus FBs, operating individually or in small
flights, continue to disrupt mobility and supply lines throughout S
and E China, hitting numerous T/Os chiefly trucks; tanks; supply
areas, horses, troops, arty pieces. Several of the FBs also damage
considerably Puchou A/F.
3/26/45
FEAF
B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and FBs bomb Legaspi and tgts in the area
including fuel dump at Camalig. FBs hit numerous tgts in N Luzon at
Solvec Cove, Baguio, Mankayan, Sante Fe, and other areas. In SW Luzon
A-20's and FBs spt US ground forces, hitting Ternate, and towns in
Tayabas and Batangas Provinces. B-24's and A-20's in C Phil hit Cebu
City and E coast tgts. B-24's hit Takao.
3/26/45
Seventh AF
21 P-51's from Iwo Jima bomb and strafe Susaki A/F while 16 bomb and
strafe weather and radar stations on Chichi Jima and town of
Kitamura. 9 Guam-based B-24's pound Marcus. During 26/27 Mar 3 HBs
from Guam on individual snooper strikes hit Chichi Jima. Enemy makes
final attack on Iwo Jima in early morning attempt to infiltrate
bivouac area. Capture and occupation phase of Iwo ends at 0800 when
Gen Chaney becomes Island Cmdr.
3/26/45
Eleventh AF
2 missions, each by 4 B-25's, attempt to bomb canneries on the
Masugawa and the Hayakegawa rivers. Ftrs drive off Masugawa mission.
Other mision cannot find tgt due to weather. 4 B-24's bomb Kataoka
naval base.
3/27/45
Eighth AF
3 ftr gps escort RAF bmrs attacking Paderborn.
3/27/45
Ninth AF
Weather cancels 9th Bomb Div operations. IX TAC ftrs patrol US First
Army front. XIX TAC hits M/Ys, patrols Third Army front, flies area
cover from Koblenz to Aschaffenburg to Worms, and supports VIII and
XII Corps along Rhine R in Wiesbaden area and Main R in
Frankfurt/Main-A schaffenburg area.
3/27/45
Twelfth AF
Weather cancels all combat operations.
3/27/45
Fifteenth AF
Bad weather limits operations to 3 P-38 rcn flights.
3/27/45
Tenth AF
80-plus FBs over battle areas and behind enemy lines in C Burma pound
troops and supplies at several locations including Mong Kung, Man
Namkat, Nam-yang, Tonglau, Ho-na, Hkai-wun, Longwai, Monglawng,
Laihka, and Namlan areas. Transports are exceptionally active, flying
635 sorties to forward areas.
3/27/45
Fourteenth AF
25 B-25's hit towns, rail, road, and river traffic, and T/Os around
Kweilin, Liuchow, Hengyang, Hochih, Nanyang, Kaifeng, Anlu, Ishan,
Kiyang, and Siang Chiang Valley. 44 FBs hit trucks, trains, sampans,
power facilities, and other tgts around Hongay, Nanyo, Son Tay, Na
Cham, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Moc Chau, Muong Hang, and Bac Quang. 28 FBs
knock out bridge NE of Liuchow, hit town of Szeenhsien, and attack
ammo dumps and road and river traffic around Hochih, Ishan, Liuchow,
Pingnam, Liangfeng, and Kweilin.
3/27/45
FEAF
B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and FBs bomb Legaspi, Balete area,
IpoSiniloan sector, Batangas area, and several other locations
throughout Luzon. Ftrs spt US amphibious landings on Caballo I. In C
Phil area B-24's bomb Negros A/Fs while B-25's and P-38's hit Cebu
City area. Other B-25's bomb Kinsui, and B-24's lightly attack
Sandakan.
3/27/45
Twentieth AF
150-plus Marianas based B-29's flying the first of many raids in spt
of impending Okinawa invasion, hit Tachiarai and Oita A/Fs and Omura
aircraft factory. 97 B-29's mine Shimonoseki Strait during 27/28 Mar.
This is first of many mining operations by B-29's in Japanese
waters.
3/27/45
Seventh AF
16 P-51's from Iwo Jima bomb ammo stores and town of Kitamura. During
27/28 Mar 5 B-24's, flying individual strikes from Guam, hit Susaki
A/F.
3/28/45
Eighth AF
Nearly 900 HBs attack tank factory and armament plant in Berlin, tank
plant, M/Y, and city area at Hannover, and numerous other tgts
including Stendal and Minden. 8 P-51's gps fly spt.
3/28/45
Ninth AF
215 MBs and LBs hit Neuenheerse and Erbach oil storage depots and 11
T/Os. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly armed rcn and area cover over
wide expanse of German territory, and spt US XII Corps in breakout
attacks across the Main R in Dornigheim area and 2d and 8th Armd Divs
in Dorsten area.
3/28/45
Twelfth AF
Bad weather grounds MBs and LBs. Ftrs and FBs are limited to weather
rcn and some armed rcn in Milan area where they harass comm.
3/28/45
Fifteenth AF
Unfavorable weather restricts operations to rcn flights by 5
P-38's.
3/28/45
Tenth AF
30-plus FBs operating over and behind battlelines in C Burma attack
troop concentrations, supply areas, elephant transport, and general
T/Os at or near Wan Hong, Ho-na, Kyu-sawk, Nawnghkio, and Na-ti. 642
air supply sorties are flown to advanced bases and over frontlines,
where supplies are dropped, throughout the day.
3/28/45
Fourteenth AF
6 B-24's bomb Haiphong and Hanoi docks and Bakli Bay barracks. 9
B-25's and 8 P-40's hit rivercraft and other tgts from Yanglowtung to
Sienning. 9 other B-25's hit junks, storage, and T/Os in Lushan area
and 7 bomb Chingmen. 14 B-25's, operating in gps of 1 to 4 aircraft,
hit rivercraft and scattered T/Os at several other points in S and E
China. 120-plus FBs over Indochina and S and E China continue to
pound numerous T/Os, mainly river, road, and rail traffic and troop
concentrations. River craft and A/Fs in areas around Kai Tek, Canton,
Hankow, and Wuchang are severely hit.
3/28/45
FEAF
B-24's and FBs hit Balete Pass tracts and ridges, installations at
Santa Fe, and ground spt tgts N of Laguna de Bay and in Cavite and
Batangas Provinces. B-25's and A-20's attack troop concentrations at
Baguio and Ilagan. FEAF bmrs hit Cebu City area and pound A/Fs on
Negros. B-24's bomb Likanan A/F. Other B-24's hit Takao and Tainan
while B-25's hit shore tgts along Indochina coast.
3/28/45
Twentieth AF
During 28/29 Mar, 10 B-29's mine mouth of the Hwangpoo R and S
channel of the Yangtze R at Shanghai. About 50 other VHBs fly
missions mining waters at Saigon, Camranh Bay, and in Singapore
area.
3/28/45
Seventh AF
15 P-51's from Iwo Jima hit Chichi Jima A/Fs and defenses. 10
Guam-based B-24's bomb Truk and, flying separate snooper strikes, 5
hit Susaki A/F during 28/29 Mar.
3/29/45
Ninth AF
All combat operations canceled because of weather except for 2 ftrs
of IX TAC which patrol US Third Army front.
3/29/45
Twelfth AF
Clear weather during 28/29 Mar permits LBs to hit rail loading
points, trains, vehicles, roads, and bridges at many places in Po
Valley as well as river crossings at Borgoforte, Lodi, San Benedetto
Po, Ostiglia, and Casalmaggiore, factory at Brescia, and motor
transport movement in Milan-Piacenza area. Bad morning weather
cancels MB operations except for a pamphlet mission over Bologna.
When weather clears about noon, XXII TAC FBs hit dumps at La Spezia
and other points near battle area, Lavis viaduct, railroad bridges or
approaches at Ora, Santa Margherita d' Adige, Nervesa della
Battaglia, Rovereto, Ala, and other locations, and many vehicles and
train cars and other T/Os throughout Po Valley and NE Italy.
3/29/45
Fifteenth AF
Continued bad weather limits operations to rcn and rcn escort
missions by 23 P-38's.
3/29/45
Tenth AF
Bad weather curtails operations in C Burma. 6 B-25's hit troop
concentrations and 8 others attack unsuccessfully 2 bridges
immediately behind enemy lines. Transports complete 560 sorties to
forward areas.
3/29/45
Fourteenth AF
18 B-25's, escorted by 12 P-40's, bomb railroad yards at Yoyang. 11
B-24's attack shipping in S China Sea, at Bakli Bay, at Samah Bay,
and at Haiphong, heavily damaging a destroyer and a merchant vessel.
4 B-25's claim 6 small steamers sunk and several vessels damaged in
Liuchow area while 2 others hit town area and railroad tgts in Dong
Giao area. Single B-25's hit T/Os at or near Loyang, Loning,
Neihsiang, Yiyang, and Hsuchang. 90-plus FBs over S and E China and
over Indochina attack troops, supplies, transport, and comm tgts at
several places, concentrating strikes around Hengyang, Chuchou,
Isuho, Nanking, and Namyung, and among many tgts hit A/Fs at Amoy and
Kai Tek.
3/29/45
FEAF
B-24's and B-25's attack Toshien, Byoritsu, and Eiko. B-24's bomb
Camalaniugan, B-24's and P-51's hit Legaspi and surrounding area, and
A-20's and numerous ftrs hit various tgts in SW Luzon. Cebu is bombed
by B-25's in spt of ground forces while A-20's spt troops landing on
Negros. B-24's bomb Oelin A/F.
3/29/45
Twentieth AF
24 B-29's fly last mission under XX BC, attacking oil storage
facilities on Bukum I during 29/30 Mar. 2 other VHBs bomb individual
tgts on Malay Peninsula.
3/29/45
Seventh AF
31 Iwo-based P-41's bomb and strafe Haha Jima. 9 B-24's from Guam
bomb Dublon.
3/29/45
Eleventh AF
6 B-24's bomb Kataoka naval base. 8 B-25's weather-abort a mission to
Tomari Cape. 1 B-24 flies radar-ferret mission along Paramushiru
coast.
3/30/45
Eighth AF
1,250-plus HBs attack U-boat yards and port areas at Hamburg, Bremen,
and Wilhelm shaven, and oil storage and city area at Hamburg and
Bremen. 16 ftr gps provide close and area spt.
3/30/45
Ninth AF
337 MBs and LBs attack Bad Oeynhausen tank factory, Munden ordnance
depot, Ebenhausen oil depot, 2 town areas and 6 T/Os, and drop
leaflets. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols and armed rcn, and
spt ground forces Ftr spt is provided for US 3d and 7th Armd Divs
near Paderborn and at Edersee dam on Eder R, XII Corps N of
Frankfurt/Main, XX Corps in Hersfeld and Hanau areas, and XVI Corps
in Marl-Polsum area.
3/30/45
Twelfth AF
During 29/30 Mar LBs continue to pound Po R crossings, loading
points, and other comm in Po Valley. During the day XXII TAC ftrs and
FBs fly some 400 sorties against fuel and ammo dumps, stores,
bridges, rail lines, M/Ys, buildings, motor vehicles, trains, and a
variety of tgts over wide areas of N Italy. Weather forces MBs to
attack mainly alternate tgts. The B-25's bomb railroad bridges (or
bridge approaches) at San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Rovereto, Chiari,
Palazzolo sull'Oglio, Legnago, Ora, and Romano di Lombardia.
3/30/45
Fifteenth AF
60-plus B-17's and B-24's bomb Vienna N stations and goods depot,
Graz and Klagenfurt/Kapfenberg tank works, and several minor T/Os. 28
P-38's and P-51's sweep Zagreb-Graz area. Others fly rcn.
3/30/45
Tenth AF
In C Burma battle area 41 P-38's and P-47's hit enemy troops and
supplies at Loiwing, Pawngleng, and Nawnghkio. 7 B-25's hit
personnel, supply area, and trucks behind enemy lines in and near
Laihka and at Kongleng. 7 other B-25's attack road bridges, knocking
out bridge at Loi Putau. Transports complete 612 sorties to forward
areas.
3/30/45
Fourteenth AF
4 B-25's, supported by 24 P-40's, knock out bridge at Chungmow. 10
B-25's bomb Hsuchang, 9 bomb Changanyi, and 9 pound Yanglowtung
railroad yards. 15 P-40's fly escort. 5 B-24's bomb Samah Bay area. 2
B-25's bomb Hankow A/F, 2 bomb Neihsiang, and single B-25's attack
tgts around Fangcheng, Nanyang, and Anlu. 100-plus FBs over S and E
China hit troops, railroad tgts, trucks, tanks, supplies, and
rivercraft especially around Hankow, Wuchang, Kanchou, and Hangchow.
A/F area at Kanchou and A/F and railroad yards at Hangchow are hit
particularly hard.
3/30/45
FEAF
B-24's bomb Balete Pass and Solvec Cove areas. P-38's hit arty
positions in Santa Fe area. B-24's and A-20's hit Legaspi Port and
nearby Little Batsan. A-20's and FBs continue ground spt missions in
Laguna de Bay area and W of Ft Stotsenburg. B-24's and A-20's spt
ground forces on Cebu. B-24's, B-25's, and P-38's hit Bongao I, Sanga
Sanga, and Kuching area.
3/30/45
Twentieth AF
12 B-29's attack Mitsubishi aircraft engine plant at Nagoya shortly
past midnight during 30/31 Mar while 80-plus B-29's mine Shimonoseki
Strait.
3/30/45
Seventh AF
10 Guam-based B-24's bomb A/F on Marcus. During the night 5 others
individually strike Chichi Jima A/F.
3/30/45
Eleventh AF
8 B-25's cancel shipping strike because of weather.
3/31/45
Eighth AF
Nearly 1,300 HBs bomb Zeitz synthetic oil refinery, Halle M/Y, oil
depot near Erfurt, cities of Gotha and Brandenburg, and 11 T/Os. 15
ftr gps provide spt.
3/31/45
Ninth AF
650-plus MBs and LBs hit storage depots at Ebrach, Wurzburg, and
Marienburg, M/Y at Wurzburg, town area of Rothenburg ob der Tauber,
and a T/O. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, hit special tgts, fly armed rcn,
and spt US 3d and 9th Armd Divs near Paderborn, XII Corps as it
charges toward Eisenach, XX Corps along Fulda and Eder Rivers, and
XVI and XIX Corps S of Haltern and NW of Lippstadt.
3/31/45
Twelfth AF
MBs bomb several tgts (mostly alternates) in Po Valley and Brenner
area despite bad weather. B-25's hit bridges or bridge approaches at
San Michele all'Adige, Steinach, Crema, Canneto sull'Oglio, Legnago,
and Manerbio, and rail embankment at Salorno. XXII TAC A-20's and
other aircraft hit Po R crossings during 30/31 Mar at Casalmaggiore,
Ostiglia, Borgoforte, and San Benedetto Po, rail facilities at
Piacenza and Cittadella, plus nearby ammo dumps and other tgts. FBs
continue to pound comm and dumps at Lavis, Casarsa della Delizia, San
Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Legnago, and several other points in Po
Valley and NE Italy.
3/31/45
Fifteenth AF
540 B-24's and B-17's bomb Linz main railroad station and sidings,
M/Ys at Villach and Treviso, and 3 minor T/Os. P-51's and P-38's
provide escort. 37 other ftrs on sweeps and strafings attack railroad
tgts in Munich-Linz-Regensburg area and 43 hit similar tgts in Prague
area. Still other P-38's and P-51's fly extensively rcn and rcn
escort.
3/31/45
Tenth AF
12 B-25's hit troop dispersal areas behind enemy lines in C Burma and
hit 1 road bridge. 8 P-38's attack supply dump at Namsang A/F.
3/31/45
Fourteenth AF
30 B-24's, with escort of 9 P-51's, blast railroad yards at
Shihkiachwang. 12 B-25's bomb railroad yards at Sinyang while 4 hit
Yanglowtung yards. 6 B-25's damage bridge and hit gun position at
Sienning while 6 more knock out bridge near Ninh Binh and hit storage
area at Samah Bay. 26 P-51's attack Ningpo A/F, destroying or
damaging several airplanes. 6 of the P-51's are lost. About 125 other
FBs and several B-25's (operating individually) attack numerous tgts
in Indochina and S and E China including bridges, troops, supplies,
and rail, road, and river traffic.
3/31/45
FEAF
A-20's attack army camp at Saiatan while P-51's sweep from Babuyan
Channel to SW Formosa. Ftrs attack tgts in Cagayan Valley and N of
Laguna de Bay, blasting bridges and gun positions over wide stretches
of Luzon. B-25's, A-20's; and FBs hit Cebu tgts, several of the
strikes being flown in spt of ground forces. B-24's again bomb Bongao
I and hit Oelin. Ftrs harass N Borneo A/Fs. B-24's bomb harbors and
shipping at Kiirun, Formosa and Yulin.
3/31/45
Twentieth AF
137 B-29's strike Tachiarai machine works and Omura A/F. This is
diversionary strike preceding invasion of Okinawa which begins at
0830 on 1 Apr.
3/31/45
Seventh AF
15 P-51's from Iwo Jima bomb and strafe vessels, air installations,
and T/Os on Chichi Jima. 16 more follow with attacks on vessels and
harbor area. During the night 5 B-24's from Guam, flying individual
harassment strikes, hit Susaki A/F.
|
|
|
|
|
|