World War II in real time

[lordroel]

Day 2069 of World War II, May 10th 1945

Allied occupied Germany

Map: Allied army positions on 10 May 1945



German President Karl Dönitz ordered all promotions and awards to cease.

German General Heinz Guderian surrendered to U.S. troops.

Photo Landing Craft Tank (LCT) 363 approaching the Hards in the port of Hamburg to embark British units for Norway, 10 May 1945



Photo: British troops watching lorries being loaded aboard an American Landing Ship Tank (LST) at the Hards in the port of Hamburg ready for embarkation to Norway, 10 May 1945 



Soviet occupied Austria

The forces of the Soviet 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Ukrainian Fronts join up as they reach Klagenfurt and Linz in Austria. They establish contact with American forces.

Denmark

Photo: The king arrives at the opening of Rigsdagen (the Danish parliament), 9 May 1945



Photo: King Christian X and Alexandrine leaves Christiansborg after the opening of Rigsdagen (the Danish parliament), 9 May 1945



Norway

Vidkun Quisling and other members of the collaborationist Quisling regime in Norway surrendered to the Resistance (Milorg) and police at Møllergata 19 in Oslo.

France

The German garrison at Lorient surrendered, accounting for 24,850 prisoners.

United States

Manhattan Project Target Committee met at Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States to compile a list of potential atomic weapon targets in Japan.

United Kingdom

Photo: U 1009, the first U-boat to surrender, arrives at Loch Eriboll, Scotland after a voyage from Bergen. With her black surrender flag flying, U 1009 approaches escort ships of the Royal Navy. In the background is the Captain class frigate HMS BYRON of the 21st Escort Group, 10 May 1945



Photo: A British armed guard going on board the German submarine U-1305 for inspection at Loch Eriboll, Scotland (UK), 10 May 1945



Photo: The German submarine U-516, with a black surrender flag flying, awaiting instructions from the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Cavendish (R15), 10 May 1945



British Channel Islands

Embarkation of vehicles, equipment and men were being completed, and small coasters carrying coal and fuel joined the assembling fleet. Ten Landing Ship, Tank (LSTs) were in the first lift, one British and three American for Jersey, with one British and five American for Guernsey. Troops boarded Landing Ship, infantry (LSI); each LSI carried six Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) to take the troops ashore.

On Jersey, Robinson with a guard of honour of British troops went for a march around the town, gathering a crowd as they progressed until arriving in Royal Square. They met the Bailiff and the Union Flag was symbolically raised, with a Boys' Brigade band playing "God Save the King". That afternoon a ceremony was held on the SS Vega where the Red Cross officials, captain and crew were thanked and presented with gifts.In the evening a variety show was put on at the Opera House.

Minesweepers were busy sweeping clear channels across the English Channel and into Bailiwick waters; no mines were found.

The size of the German garrisons was clarified: they totalled 26,909, with Jersey having 11,671, Guernsey 11,755, Alderney 3,202 and Sark 281.

Allied prisoners of war held in the islands had already been released by the Germans and joined in the partying; they were gathered together for processing for return to England. Anglican and Roman Catholic services were held to mark the liberation.

There were several assaults against girls accused of being too friendly with Germans, with some men as well as police and British soldiers standing up to the mobs to protect the girls. Others wisely stayed out of sight. One Jersey woman and her son were locked up for their own protection, and were still in jail in March 1946.

The liberation of Sark, Operation Marble, took place on this date. It occurred earlier than planned due to reports of unrest amongst the Germans when a large fire was sighted and nobody was answering the telephone. At 16.00 hrs the German ship FK04 was taken and sailed across to the island with a small number of British troops. Landing safely, they were met by Sibyl Hathaway, the Dame of Sark, who explained the bonfire was a celebration. Meeting the German commander at his headquarters, surrender documents were signed at Rosebud Cottage, after which the Germans were told to surrender weapons and start removing mines. The ship returned to Guernsey at 21.00 hrs leaving the Dame of Sark in charge of the 275 German soldiers until 17 May when most were removed.

Photo: Crowds of people gathered ouside the General Assurance Corporation building in St Peter Port, Guernsey to welcome the British Task Force sent to liberate the island from German occupation, 10 May 1945



Netherlands

Photo: Germans leave Hilversum after the capitulation. Riding on or walking next to their bicycles, they hand in their weapons and equipment, 10 May 1945



Photo: A Beute-Sherman! Pte A.W. Thornton and Capt D. French examining 'Sherman' tank reconditioned by the Wehrmacht, Amersfoort, Netherlands, 10 May 1945



Photo: Luftwaffe soldiers probably from the 6 Fallschirmjäger Division still marching armed with armored fists and rifles on their way to the weapons depot in Soest, where the Germans have to hand in their weapons, 10 May 1945



Photo: Surrender of weapons by the Germans. The weapons depot in Soest, where the Germans have to hand in their weapons, 10 May 1945



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 19 B-25s and 4 P-47s attack bridges at Fengstun and Pinyang, on the Song Chu River, and N of Singtai (a Pinyang, China target is destroyed), hit Yungfengshih and Chingshuping, and bomb the airfield at Paoching; 100-120 fighter-bombers pounding targets of opportunity over S and E China, disrupt enemy movement and supply lines.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): Unit moves in India: 1st Fighter Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, from Cox's Bazar to Kalaikunda with P-51s; 164th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, from Sinthe, Burma to Asansol with UC-64s and L-5s; the 315th Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop Carrier Group, from Ledo to Dinjan with C-47s.

GUAM

(Seventh Air Force): 11 Guam based B-24s bomb the airfield on Marcus in the morning. During the afternoon, 19 B-24s flying in 2 forces, hit airfields on Param and Moen.

TINIAN

(Twentieth Air Force): 8 missions are flown; the B-29s claim 10 Japanese aircraft; 1 B-29 is lost.

Missions 159 to 162: 42 B-29s hit airfields at Matsuyama, Usa, Miyazaki, and Kanoya on Kyushu and Shikoku Islands; 14 others hit targets of opportunity. Mission 163: 54 B-29s bomb the Tokuyama naval fuel station; 2 others hit targets of opportunity. Mission 164: 56 B-29s hit the Tokuyama coal yards; 1 other hits a target of opportunity. Mission 165: 112 B-29s hit the Otake oil refinery; 14 others hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 166: 80 B-29s bomb the Amami-O-Shima naval oil storage facilities; 4 others hit targets of opportunity.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: B-24s bomb an airfield in the Canton, China area. B-25s, with fighter escort, hit Kari and communications targets of opportunity on Formosa.

BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

B-24s bomb Makassar ship basins and Limboeng Airfield on Celebes Island and shore targets at Balikpapan on Borneo.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Luzon, the advance of US 43rd Division, part of US 11th Corps, loses momentum. On Mindanao, part of the US 40th Division lands on the coast of Macalajar Bay, in the north of the island. The naval support group is commanded by Rear-Admiral Struble. The landing is successful. Filipino guerrillas provide additional support and the beachhead is rapidly consolidated and extended. Some elements advance some 5 miles to the southeast and link up with units of the US 31st Division. There is heavy fighting between the American and Japanese forces already present on the island. Units of the US 19th Division begin to eliminate a number of Japanese pockets of resistance around Davao.

A-20s and fighter-bombers hit Cagayan Valley targets and support ground action in the battle zones throughout Luzon Island. On Mindanao, B-24s hit Impasugong, Kalasungay, and Malaybalay and B-25s in support of ground forces attack Kibawe and Tagolaan. The 500th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th BG (Medium), moves from San Marcelino to Clark Field with B-25s.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa, at 0300 elements of the US 6th Marine Division begin an attack against the estuary of the Asa river. A bridgehead about 1 mile wide and 400 yards deep is established. During the night a Bailey bridge is built to allow tanks and artillery to cross the river. The US 1st Marine Division makes slight progress towards Shuri, facing heavy Japanese opposition. At sea, Japanese Kamikaze strikes hit 1 American destroyer and 1 mine layer.

Off Okinawa, kamikazes damage destroyer Brown (DD-546), 26°26'N, 127°20'E, and light minelayer Harry F. Bauer (DM-26), 26°25'N, 128°31'E.

Photo: A U.S. Marine Corps Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat of VMF(N)-511 is launched from the deck of the escort carrier USS Block Island (CVE-106) off Okinawa on 10 May 1945. Mechanics dubbed this aircraft the "Hangar Queen" because it had been "down" several times in one week for minor repairs. Here, "Hangar Queen" is about to head for Sakashima in support of the Okinawa campaign. The catapult officer in the foreground resembles a baseball umpire calling a strike on the Japanese by launching this plane



ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): The Eleventh AF and the USN's Fleet Air Wing Four execute the heaviest and most successful joint mission to date in the Kurile Islands; 12 B-24s bomb shipping targets in the Kataoka naval base on Shimushu Island, and fly photo reconnaissance over E and W Paramushiru Island on the return trip; next, 16 Attu based B-25s take off; 1 aborts while the others hit shipping between Kashiwabara on Paramushiru Island and Kataoka; heavy AA fire claims 1 B-25; a B-24 and a B-25 forceland in the USSR. Lost is B-25J 43-36149.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 596, MAY 10, 1945

Philippine Area.

1. The LCS(L)‑26 and the YMS‑71 have been lost in the Philippine area as the result of enemy action.

2. The next of kin of casualties have been notified.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 358, MAY 10, 1945

Enemy installations in Southern Okinawa were bombarded by ships of the U. S. Pacific Fleet and carrier and Marine aircraft on May 9 (East Longitude Date). Ships' gunfire broke up a number of troop concentrations in the enemy's rear areas and destroyed pillboxes, emplacements and a motor transport. During the evening of May 9, several groups of enemy aircraft attacked our shipping off the Okinawa coast damaging two auxilia­ries and bombing Yontan Airfield without success. Early the following morning another attack was made on our ships and ground installations but we suffered no damage. Six enemy aircraft were shot down during these actions. A Second Marine Aircraft Wing fighter with guns inoperative destroyed a Japanese bomber by cutting off its tail assembly with his propeller in three attacks.

Elements of the Sixth Marine Division bridged and crossed the estuary of the Asa River in Southern Okinawa on May 10. Construction of the bridge was delayed temporarily by the enemy's use of two human bombs which caused some damage during the early morning hours. Limited gains were made on the remainder of the Southern front where hand to hand fighting was in progress in some sectors. The enemy on Okinawa lost 38,857 killed through May 9.

The area of Okinawa from the Central sector of the Island near the Hagushi beaches, northward to the extremity of the Island was passed to the control of the Island Commander, Major General F. G. Wallace, U. S. Army on May 4. About 135,000 civilians were under the jurisdiction of the U. S. Military Government on May 8.

Search Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One damaged two medium freighters and two small cargo ships south of Korea on May 9 by bombing and strafing attacks.

Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed airfields on Truk and Marcus Islands heavily on May 10. On the same date, Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command struck at radio installations on Chichi Jima in the Bonins.

Helldiver bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing continued neutralizing raids on the Marshalls on May 9 and struck targets in the Palaus and on Yap on the following day.

During the week of April 29 to May 5, inclusive, 69 Japanese were killed and 57 captured on Iwo Island. Total Japanese casualties on Iwo to May 5 were 23,244 killed and 1,03,8 prisoners of war. In the Marianas during the week of April 29 through May 5, 23 of the enemy were killed and 98 were captured.

On May 6, surface forces under Commander, Marshalls‑Gilberts Area, evacuated 494 Marshallese from Islands of Jaluit Atoll. Japanese garrison troops resisted the operation with light weapons on all islands. Our forces lost one killed and one wounded. The evacuated natives have been placed on Islands in the Marshalls Group under U. S. control.

PACIFIC

Mines sink Japanese transport Tatsuwa Maru off Imabari, Kurahashi Jima, 34°04'N, 132°26'E; merchant cargo ship Otowa Maru, 34°38'N, 135°12'E; and damage merchant tugboat No.7 Naniwazu Maru off Wadanomisaki.

USN land-based planes sink Japanese merchant tanker No.1 Toyu Maru and cargo ship No.2 Yumihari Maru off west coast of Korea.

[lordroel]

Day 2070 of World War II, May 11th 1945

YouTube (Germany Surrenders)



Soviet occupied Germany

Military medical doctor Lieutenant Colonel Faust Shkaravsky of Soviet 1st Byelorussian Front concluded that one of the two bodies Soviet SMERSH agents retrieved near the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany was that of Adolf Hitler's.

Allied occupied Germany

Photo: Liberated POWs walk out to Lancaster bombers at Lubeck aerodrome, waiting to fly them home to Britain. Comment : The aircraft appears to be F2-Z of No. 635 Squadron RAF. The Lancaster at right is fitted with the Automatic Gun-Laying Turret "Village Inn" tail turret. A Gloster Meteor is just visible below the undercarriage doors of Lancaster F2-Z, 11 May 1945



Photo: Lancaster bombers taxying at Lubeck aerodrome, as they prepare to fly former British POWs back home to Britain, 11 May 1945



Allied occupied Austria

Photo: Hermann Göring in American custody in Augsburg-Bärenkeller on 11 May 1945, giving an interview to the Allied press



Soviet occupied Austria

In Austria, Soviet pressure forces some German units to surrender as well.

Soviet occupied Czechoslovakia

Units of the Soviet 1st and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts eliminate most of the German resistance in Czechoslovakia and make contact with American forces at Pilsen. German Army Group Center (Schorner), confined to a pocket east of Prague, surrenders to the Soviets.

Map: Map of Prague offensive



Netherlands

Photo: Canadian soldiers in vehicle are welcomed in Amsterdam, 11 May 1945



Norway

Photo: The surrender of Akershus Fortress in Oslo, Norway. The German garnison's commander Major Josef Nichterlein and his aide Captain Hamel handing the fortress over to the Norwegian resistance movement's Terje Rollem, 11 May 1945



Photo: British airborne troops just disembarked from Stirling aircraft at Gardermoen airfield near Oslo, 11 May 1945



Photo: Squadron Leader J Macadam meets three Norwegian resistance fighters in Oslo following the arrival of British forces in Norway, 11 May 1945




Denmark

Photo: Minesweeper of the Danish Flotilla in Copenhagen after its return to the country following exile in Sweden, 11 May 1945



Photo: The Danish Flotilla moored in Holmen after returning from Sweden, 11 May 1945



Photo: HDMS Havkatten returns moored in Copenhagen, 11 May 1945 after being in exile in Sweden since 29 August 1943



Yugoslavia

In Croatia and the northwest, German Army Group Ostmark (Lohr), formerly Army Group E, continues to resist against Yugoslavian forces.

Greece

German island garrisons begin to surrender.

United Kingdom

Photo: German Delegates Arrive From Norway. 11 May 1945, Royal Naval Air Station, Drem, East Lothian. the Arrival by Air From Oslo, of Members of the German Delegation, Who As Representatives of Admiral, Norway, Handed Over Details of German Minefields and Defences Along the Norwegian Coast



British Channel Islands

On the islands, work was under way to clear certain beaches and slipways of obstacles, mines and barriers to make them ready for the landing craft expected next day.

The public were warned to take great care not to pillage, loot, enter minefields, or pick up strange objects or weapons, and to stay away from the proposed landing areas so that the vehicles coming ashore could safely land with men and supplies.

In Jersey, the Bailiff, Jurats and States officials met in the Royal Court with the senior British officers. The proceedings were conducted in French as normal, and the Orders of His Majesty in Council giving emergency powers were presented and approved and lodged au Greffe, making them law. Simultaneous services of thanksgiving were held in nine Methodist churches, preparations for which had begun a year earlier.

Reports regarding the situation in the islands were quickly composed, covering fuel, food, health, hospital supplies, needs for evacuation to England, and postal services, to determine if any changes were necessary to the Nestegg plan. Members of the German Geheime Feldpolizei were rounded up.

A boat was sent to Sark to collect the Dame of Sark and she was entertained to lunch on HMS Beagle.

The Guernsey first lift group, codename Agent, comprising 13 ships, assembled and sailed at 15.45 hrs from Plymouth under the escort of six ships and a Liberator aircraft.

The Jersey group codenamed Booty followed 15 minutes later, escorted by a further six ships, mainly Canadian destroyers. All ships were ordered to keep a distance of 27,000 yards (25 km; 13 nmi) from Alderney as it was not known if they had surrendered.

Atlantic Ocean

Photo: The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Malcolm (I19) receiving the surrender of the German submarine U-541 in the Atlantic Ocean, west of Cape St. Vincent, Spain. The photo was taken from a U.S. Navy Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina of Patrol Bombing Squadron 63 (VPB-63), piloted by Lieutenant W.D. Ray, from Naval Air Station Port Lyautey, Morocco. Note the retrobomb anti-submarine rockets under the plane's wing, mounted to fire backwards, 11 May 1945



Photo: U 236 coming alongside U 826 with the White Ensign flying, for inspection by British naval officers at Loch Eriboll, Scotland. Before surrendering U 826 had been on operational duties for more than five weeks, 11 May 1945



Pacific War

CHINA

Chinese armies hold up the Japanese offensive against Chihchiang, threatening the flanks of the advancing columns and firmly defending in the area of Paima Shan.

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 6 B-25s and 4 P-47s knock out the Chungmow bridge and damage a bridge at Sincheng; 2 B-25s bomb truck convoys in the Paoching, Hengyang, and Changsha areas; 60+ fighter-bombers hit troops, artillery positions, communications targets, and general targets of opportunity in S and E China, concentrating on the Yangchi and Fantung areas.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): Unit moves in India: HQ 443d Troop Carrier Group from Ledo to Dinjan and 459th Fighter Squadron, 80th FG from Rumkha to Dudhkundi with P-38s.

GUAM

Seventh Air Force: 10 Guam based B-24s hit the airfield on Param, while 13 pound the runways on Marcus in the N Pacific. VII Fighter Command: 14 P-51s from Iwo Jima strafe and bomb the radio station at Chichi Jima.

Photo: The U.S. Navy attack transport USS Mellette (APA-156) at anchor on 11 May 1945, probably at Guam. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4T



TINIAN

(Twentieth Air Force): 6 missions are flown. Missions 167 to 171: 50 B-29s attack airfields at Oita, Saeki, Nittagahara, Miyazaki, and Miyakonojo on Kyushu Island; 8 others hit targets of opportunity. Missions against Japanese airfields terminate the air campaign, begun on 17 Apr, during which the Twentieth AF has devoted a major effort toward hitting sources of Kamikaze raids against USN and US Marine Corps (USMC) forces in the Battle of Okinawa. Mission 172: 92 B-29s bomb the Kawanishi aircraft plant at Kobe; 1 other hits a target of opportunity; they claim 9 Japanese fighters; 1 B-29 is lost.

Map: Points of impacts of 500-pound bombs on Konan factory, Kawanishi Aircraft Company



SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: On Formosa, B-24s bomb Toshien Airfield and the towns of Koshun, Kato, Takao, Toko, and Shajo and B-25s pound Kagi.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

After a bitter fight, elements of the Australian 6th Division occupy Wewak, the last Japanese-held port on the mainland.

BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Borneo, B-24s bomb Keningau Airfield and B-25s bomb the Brunei Bay area. On Celebes Island, B-24s hit Mandai Airfield and Boeloedowang Airfields.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Luzon, elements of US 1st Corps make contact on Kapintalan Ridge. The US 25th Division advances on Santa Fe. On Mindanao, elements of US 40th Division advance to hills overlooking Del Monte airfield. Units of Filipino guerrillas liberate Cagayan. The US 24th Division mops up the area northeast of the Talomo river, near Mintal. On Samar, a small American contingent is landed to spot Japanese artillery sites firing on Davao on Mindanao. Fighting continues in the western mountains on Negros.

B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers continue to support the ground action near Paranum and in the Ipo Dam sector.

12th Fighter Squadron, 18th FG, ceases operating from Palawan with P-38s and returns to base at Zamboanga, Mindanao Island; 498th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th BG (Medium), from San Marcelino to Clark Field, Luzon with B-25s.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa, American forces conduct a coordinated attack on the Japanese held Shuri Line. The forces deployed include the US 3rd Amphibious Corps on the right of the line and the US 24th Corps on the left. Only minor gains are achieved. At sea, Kamikaze strikes damage the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill and 2 destroyers.

Photo: US Marine and Army tank attacking a Japanese position on Okinawa, Japan, 11 May 1945



Off Okinawa, Japanese aircraft attack U.S. ships; two kamikazes crash carrier Bunker Hill (CV-17), 25°44'N, 129°28'E; kamikazes also crash destroyer Evans (DD-552), 26°58'N, 127°32'E, and large support landing craft LCS-88; destroyer Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774) is damaged by Baka, 26°59'N, 127°32'E.

Photo: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) afire after being hit by two "Kamikaze" suicide planes off Okinawa, 11 May 1945. Photographed from USS Bataan (CVL-29)



Photo: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) on fire after being hit by two Kamikazes on 11 May 1945. The Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer USS Charles S. Sperry (DD-697) is alongside fighting fires, barely visible are the superstructure and funnels of the Cleveland-class light cruiser USS Wilkes-Barre (CL-103) behind Bunker Hill



Photo: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) burning after being hit by a "Kamikaze" attack while operating off Okinawa on 11 May 1945. Photographed from USS Wilkes Barre (CL-103), which appears to have received fire damage herself helping to fight the blaze from alongside the carrier. A destroyer is off Bunker Hill's port side



Photo: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) burning after being hit by Kamikazes on 11 May 1945, seen from the island of USS Randolph (CV-15). Two Grumman F6F-5 Hellcats of Fighting Squadron 12 (VF-12) are visible positioned on the flight deck of Randpolph



ALASKA

Photo: B-29 at Shemya AAF. Although designed for B-29 operations, none were ever assigned to the base. This B-29 was being tested for cold weather at Ladd AAF and made a landing at Shemya before returning back, 11 May 1945



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 359, MAY 11, 1945

During the evening of May 10 and the morning of May 11 (East Longi­tude Dates) several groups of enemy aircraft attacked our ships and shore installations in the Okinawa area damaging three light Naval units. More than 40 enemy planes were shot down by our combat air patrols and anti­aircraft fire.

During the night of May 10‑11, the Japanese on Okinawa made numer­ous night attacks and attempts at night infiltration into the lines of the Tenth Army. Practically all the attacking Japanese were killed. At 0700 local time on May 11 after large scale preparation by heavy artillery Naval gunfire and aerial bombing the Tenth Army launched a strong attack. The initial assault carried elements of the Marine Third Amphibious Corps on the west and of the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps on the east to the high ground overlooking the enemy stronghold of Shuri. Enemy resistance was heavy along the front. On the west the Sixth Marine Division made a general advance southward to a line about 800 yards south of the Asa estuary and the First Marine Division, employing tanks, advanced and occupied the village of Dakeshi. In the center of the island, the Seventy-Seventh Infantry Division engaged in hand to hand fighting as it moved forward in rugged terrain. On the east the Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division was gaining ground slowly against strong resistance.

At the end of May 10, the enemy on Okinawa had lost 39,469 killed in action.

As of May 9, according to most recent reports available, 1,283 officers and men of the U. S. Pacific Fleet had been killed and 2,072 were reported missing in action from the beginning of the Okinawa operation and associated operations against Japan. A total of 3,498 were wounded.

Search planes of Fleet Air Wing One shot down a four‑engine flying boat west of Kyushu and set a small cargo ship afire west of Korea on May 10.

Fleet Air Wing Eighteen planes damaged several fishing craft and set two small cargo ships afire south of Honshu on May 10. In the same area on the following day planes of this wing shot down an enemy plane, exploded a coastal cargo ship, damaged another coastal vessel and caused it to beach, set a small cargo ship afire and damaged a number of landing craft. Search planes of Fleet Air Wing Eighteen destroyed two small cargo ships in Truk Harbor on May 11.

Further information about the action of British carrier aircraft against airfields in the Sakishima group on May 9 shows that two enemy planes were destroyed on the ground and six more were destroyed in the air. One British plane was lost in combat.

Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air Force bombed shipping and instal­lations at Kataoka Naval Base on Shimushu and Kashiwabara on Para­mushiru in the Kuriles on May 10. Meager antiaircraft fire was encountered.

Aircraft of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and Fleet Air Wing Two continued neutralizing raids on the Marshalls on May 10. Marine Corsair and Hellcat fighters destroyed installations in the Palaus on May 11.

PACIFIC

Japanese guardboat No.8 Sagami Maru is sunk by U.S. aircraft off Hong Kong, 21°52'N, 113°08'E.

USAAF B-24s (11th Air Force) sink Japanese army cargo ship Aitoku Maru and damage escort destroyer Hachijo in Kataoka harbor, Kurils, 50°42'N, 156°13'E.

PB4Y-2s (VPB 118) operating against Japanese shipping off coast of Korea, sink merchant cargo ships Seiri Maru, 34°17'N, 126°50'E, and Shinzan Maru, 34°15'N, 127°10'E.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Kamiyama Maru is sunk by aircraft off Mokpo, Korea.

Mines sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Kitsurin Maru off Wadanomisaki, 34°39'N, 135°11'E; and damage auxiliary minelayer Koei Maru seven miles off Umezaki and damage two tugboats off Wadanomisaki.

[lordroel]

Day 2071 of World War II, May 12th 1945

Allied occupied Germany

US Major General Lowell W. Rooks and his British deputy, Brigadier E. J. Foord, arrive in Flensburg and established their quarters in the passenger ship Patria, docked in Flensburg harbour, displacing the administrative offices of the Flensburg government that had been housed there. Their mission is to liaise with the Dönitz "acting government" (as it is referred to by the SHAEF) and to impose the will of the victorious Allied Powers on the OKW.

Elements of US 7th Army capture the Japanese ambassador to Germany, General Oshima, and 130 members of his staff.

Photo: Type XXIII prefabricated U-boats in the floating dock at the German Naval Port at the southern end of Kiel Bay, 12 May 1945



Denmark

Photo: British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery is saluted by the Danish people as he is driven through the streets of Copenhagen one week after his troops had liberated Denmark from German occupation, 12 May 1945



YouTube (Field Marshal Montgomery arrives in Copenhagen, 1945)



Czechoslovakia

American forces transfer General Vlasov, former commander of the Russian Army of Liberation and chairman of the Committee for the Liberation of the Peoples of Russia, to Soviet custody.

Greece

The German garrison on Crete surrenders.

United Kingdom

The last Artic convoys JW-67 (eastbound) and RA-67 (westbound) assemble.

British Channel Islands

The ships comprising Booty anchored off St Helier at 07.00 hrs, Agent off St Peter Port at 07.15 hrs. German troops were confined to barracks.[2]: 193 

Guernsey's Operation Prophet envisaged landings at L’Ancresse bay and in St Peter Port. At 08.30 the first LCA, docked on Baker Red the Castle Cornet breakwater, their objective to secure Castle Cornet, a fortified German strongpoint, commanding the harbour approaches. Thereafter a stream of LCAs came ashore to Baker Green, the White Rock pier and Baker Red; their jobs were to secure the German defences in the harbour area. There were not many civilians to be seen, but within a short time, people began flocking into town, shouting and cheering. British military police kept them clear of the harbour piers.

People were astonished to see LST-516 enter the harbour at 09.00 hrs and nose between the Old Harbour entrance, to await the fall of the tide. Troops moved through the town securing buildings that had been German HQs, including the Crown Hotel, the Grange Lodge and telephone exchanges.

Phase III started at 09.20 hrs landing a further 257 men, followed at 09.40 hrs with another load of men, including MI5 officers, the press, signals and engineers. The soldiers landing were ignoring the civilians and concentrating on the set military objectives, moving further away from the town, securing Fort George, the waterworks at Kings Mills and L’Ancresse common, bicycles helping troops to move quickly.

Yet another official surrender took place at 11.00 hrs when Brigadier Snow accepted the formal surrender of the German garrison at the Crown Hotel. Meanwhile, at L’Ancresse bay access to the beach was achieved. In town the audience was amazed to see DUKW amphibious vehicles swim ashore and drive onto the land, then at 13.40 the doors of LST-516 swung open and pre-loaded lorries drove out over steel slats laid over the mud and up the slipway to the enthusiastic crowd.

Brigadier Snow, accompanied by various dignitaries and with the band of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI) paraded through town, collecting a civilian following went to Elizabeth College at 14.00 where some 2,500 people witnessed the raising of the Union Flag and an official address including a message from King George VI, the Duke, was read out.

The majority of LSTs sailed for L’Ancresse bay, LST-516 withdrew when the tide had risen to be replaced in the old harbour by LST-295. Unloading would continue at night to suit the tide.

In Jersey, Operation Moselm followed a similar theme, securing Elizabeth Castle then creating a bridgehead in St Helier, securing casemates containing 10.5cm cannons and Pak 38(t) anti tank guns. Mines designed to destroy the harbour piers were made safe, aircraft kept watch overhead, phase II had newly landed troops moving to secure the town of St Helier and German headquarters. Phase III started at 10.15 hrs bringing troops ashore to move inland and secure electricity and water facilities.

DUKWs began to swim ashore and land, bringing supplies, LCIs started docking. St Aubin's bay was cleared for LSTs, numerous beach obstacles were destroyed and a gap created in the anti-tank beach wall. Jersey Scouts made themselves useful acting as messengers. A nine-year-old girl was killed when she stepped into the road and was hit by a motorcycle.

Brigadier Snow had left Guernsey and sailed to Jersey where at 18.00 hrs he participated in an historic proclamation reading in the Royal Square, where in 1781 a battle had taken place, resulting in the defeat of a French invasion force. Speeches and the message from the King were read out. Snow had been accompanied by the DCLI band who played the National Anthem and marches, resulted in much audience singing.

proclamation of the military governor



United States

The United States government orders a suspension of Lend-Lease shipments to the USSR.

Photo: The U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Cowpens (CVL-25) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 12 May 1945, following an overhaul. An SP-radar was installed on her mast and she was repainted in Camouflage Measure 22



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Fogg (DE-57) off Boston, Massachusetts (USA), on 12 May 1945. The ship had been badly damaged by a torpedo from the GErman submarine U-870 and arrived at the Boston Naval Shipyard on 9 March 1945. The hull from Frame 115 aft was replaced. The torpedoes were replaced by 40mm guns and the 7.6cm guns were replaced by 12.7cm gun in turrets (5in/38)



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858) off Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Pedro, California (USA), on the day of her commissioning, 12 May 1945. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 21



The United Nations War Crimes Commission indicted Hermann Göring, Joseph Goebbels and Fritz Sauckel on eight counts.

The Security Committee at the United Nations Conference on International Organization agreed on an eleven-member security council, with non-permanent members chosen by the General Assembly.

Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 17 B-25s and 8 P-51s bomb the barracks and storage area at Loyang and hit railroad targets around Sinsiang and Sinyang, from Hankow to Sinyang, from Chenghsien to Szeshui, from Kioshan to Lohochai, and between Hengshan and Yoyang and knock out a bridge N of Hengyang; 150+ fighter-bombers again hit scattered targets in S and E China, concentrating on road, rail, and river traffic and supply lines.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): Unit moves in India: 12th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3d Combat Cargo Group, from Tulihal to Ledo with C-47s; 71st Liaison Squadron, Tenth AF, from Dinjan to Piardoba with UC-64s, L-1s, L-4s and L-5s.

GUAM

Seventh Air Force: 9 Guam Island-based B-24s bomb the airfield on Marcus while 12 more hit the airfield on Param. VII Fighter Command: The 6th Night Fighter Squadron, 7th Fighter Wing, arrives at Kipapa, Hawaii from Saipan Island with P-61s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): HQ 331st Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and 355th, 356th and 357th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy) and HQ 502d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and 402d, 411th and 430th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy) arrive at Northwest Field, Guam Island from the US with B-29s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force): In French Indochina, B-24s pound several railroad and road bridges at Binh Dinh, Phu My, Bong Son, Lai Ha, Tuy Hoa, and Phu Hiep and attack the railroad yard at An Trach and other railroad targets.

BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

In Borneo, B-24s, B-25s, and P-38s hit targets in the Brunei Bay area including Labuan Island, Brooketon, and Jesselton Airfields and troops on Tarakan. On Celebes Island, B-24s bomb Makassar shipyards and Limboeng Airfield.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Luzon, elements of the US 43rd Division, part of US 11th Corps, converge on Ipo, capturing several hill occupied by the Japanese. On Mindanao, Del Monte airfield is reached by elements of the US 40th Division. Other elements advance southwest of Tankulan. The US 123th Infantry Regiment eliminates the Japanese strongpoint in the Colgan woods after a lengthy air and artillery bombardment. American aircraft and artillery strike at suspected Japanese gun emplacements on Samar Island.

A-20s and fighter- bombers support ground forces on Luzon and Negros Islands.

HQ 345th BG (Medium) and 499th and 501st Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from San Marcelinto to Clark Field, Luzon with B-25s.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa, Japanese forces repulse an attack by elements of US 3rd Amphibious Corps at Sugar Loaf Hill, southeast of Amike. The position is an important point in the Japanese held Shuri Line. The US 1st Marine Division suffers heavy losses but captures most of Dakeshi Ridge. The US 77th Division advances slowly toward Shuri. The Japanese held Conical Hill position is fought over by US 96th Division. At sea, a Kamikaze plane strikes the USS New Mexico, causing considerable damage.

Photo: Two M7 self-propelled howitzers of the 1st Marine Division in action on Okinawa, 12 May 1945



Off Okinawa, a kamikaze damages battleship New Mexico (BB-40), 26°22'N, 127°43'E; heavy cruiser Wichita (CA-45) is damaged by friendly fire, 26°22'N, 127°43'E.

Photo: A.A. fire from New Mexico (BB-40) as the first kamikaze, a “George II” begins its dive on 12 May 1945. A five-inch shell burst underneath of it during descent and caused it to narrowly miss



Photo: The U.S. Navy battleship USS New Mexico (BB-40) is hit by a kamikaze off Okinawa, Japan, 12 May 1945. She was set on fire and 54 members of New Mexico's crew were killed, while a further 119 were wounded



Photo: The U.S. Navy hospital ship USS Bountiful (AH-9) taking casualties on board from the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) on 12 May 1945, one day after the carrier was devastated by a kamikaze attack. The destroyer USS The Sullivans (DD-537) is in the foreground



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 360, MAY 12, 1945

Cruisers and destroyers of the U. S. Pacific Fleet covered by aircraft from fast carriers, bombarded shore installations on Minami Daito Island, east of the Ryukyus on May 10 (East Longitude Date). On the following day, air groups and ships' guns of the fast carrier task forces destroyed 72 enemy aircraft over the Ryukyus including 40 over Okinawa. Carrier planes made low level attacks on May 11 on airfields and shipping in the Amami group destroying four planes on the ground and damaging warehouse Installations and a number of luggers. One of our major Fleet Units suffered damage during an air attack on that date.

A total of 93 enemy planes were destroyed over our forces around Okinawa on May 11 including 19 planes shot down by one of our destroyers. Several surface ships were damaged during these attacks.

On May 12, the Tenth Army continued the general attack of the preced­ing day supported by heavy gunfire from ships and sustained bombing by carrier planes and by aircraft of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing. Apprecia­ble gains were made on each flank of the Army line.

Elements of the Sixth Marine Division entered the suburbs of Naha on the west coast of Okinawa. Progress of the center of the line against the positions of the enemy in the hilly central portions of the Island was slow. The Seventy‑Seventh and Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Divisions captured important enemy strong points and made local advances against stiff resistance in their respective zones of action.

Tori Island, approximately 55 miles west of Okinawa, was occupied by Tenth Army Troops without opposition on May 12.

In waters south of Korea on May 11, search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One including Privateers, Coronados and Mariners, inflicted the following damage on the enemy:

One coastal cargo ship sunk
Two coastal cargo ships set afire.
One large coastal cargo ship set afire and listing

Mitchells and Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air Force sank a small largo ship and damaged two others in Kataoka Harbor on Shimushu in the Northern Kuriles on May 11. A Mitchell was shot down during the attack. On the same date, Eleventh Air Force Mitchells attacked targets at Kashiwabara on Paramushiru and planes of Fleet Air Wing Four made rocket attacks on radar installations on Minami Cape on Shimushu.

Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed Truk in the Carolines and Marcus Island oh May 12.

Planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing struck targets in the Palaus and at Yap on the same date.

Search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed workshops and air installations on Wake Island on May 11.

PACIFIC

Submarine Raton (SS-270) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Rekizan Maru in the Yellow Sea off the Shantung Peninsula, 37°25'N, 123°42'E.

Mines sink Japanese army cargo ship Brazil Maru off Kobe, Japan; mine laid by USAAF B-29s on 3 May 1945 sink merchant cargo ship Manbo Maru off Osaka, 34°30'N, 135°10'E; cargo ship No.1 Nissho Maru is sunk by USAAF mine (laid by 20th Air Force B-29s) off Futaoi Light, Shimonoseki, 34°06'N, 130°47'E; and No.1 Nisshin Maru in Shimonoseki channel; and damage merchant cargo ship Hokusei Maru (northwest of Mutsure Jima).

Japanese merchant tanker No.13 Takasago Maru is damaged by aircraft, Kogunsan-Kundo.

Navy patrol bombers (TU 50.5.5) damage Japanese merchant ship Chile Maru, which is run aground to permit salvage on the north coast of Iki Jima, 34°16'N, 129°40'E. Chile Maru is written off, however, as a total loss.

[lordroel]

Day 2072 of World War II, May 13th 1945

Allied occupied Germany

The British authorities arrested Keitel for war crimes. Dönitz appoints Jodl as his replacement.

The USAAF 306th Bomb Group flying from RAF Thurleigh sent 30 aircraft to Barth airfield in Germany to pick up and evacuate 603 American POWs to Lessay, France.

Photo: U-boats in the lock at Wilhemshaven before entering the harbour to surrender, 13 May 1945



Czechoslovakia

German forces continue to attempt to evade capture by Soviet forces and seek to surrender to American forces instead. Active resistance ends.

Italy

Elements of the Yugoslavian partisan army occupy Trieste.

Yugoslavia

Most of German Army Group E (Lohr) surrender. Some German forces continue to resist in Upper Slovenia, west of Maribor, near the Austrian frontier.

Norway

Photo: The Norwegian destroyer HNoMS Arendal arives in Oslo for the first time, 13 May 1945



Photo: Troops of 1st Airborne Division are welcomed into Oslo by Norwegian civilians, 13 May 1945



United Kingdom

The British Royal Family and Allied military leaders attended a thanks-giving service at St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England, United Kingdom.

Winston Churchill gave a radio address telling the British people that "there is still a lot to do" and that "above all we must labor that the world organization which the United Nations are creating at San Francisco, does not become an idle name ... We must never forget that beyond all lurks Japan, harassed and failing but still a people of a hundred millions, for whose warriors death has few terrors. I cannot tell you tonight how much time or what exertions will be required to compel them to make amends for their odious treachery and cruelty. We have received-like China so long undaunted-we have received horrible injuries from them ourselves, and we are bound by the ties of honor and fraternal loyalty to the United States to fight this great war at the other end of the world at their side without flagging or failing."

Photo: The German Schnellboot ("E-boat") S 204 flying a white flag of surrender at the coastal forces base HMS Beehive, Felixstowe, Suffolk (UK), on 13 May 1945. The two German E-Boats S 204 and S 205 from the 4th Schnellboot-Flotilla were escorted in by ten British MTBs. On board of S 205 was Rear Admiral Erich Breuning, who had been in charge of E-Boat operations and who signed the instrument of surrender. Note the black panther painted on the side of S 204 which had on board KKpt Kurt Fimmen (CO 4th Schnellboot-Flotilla) and KptLt Bernd Rebensburg (Ia Op/Operations-Officer of the Staff of Führer der Schnellboote/FdS)



British Channel Islands

Unloading continued in each island, by the end of the day, 3,427 men and 299 vehicles had been unloaded in Guernsey. St Sampson's harbour was brought into operation. German soldiers, now prisoners of war, were helping with the heavy work of unloading and moving supplies. 98% of weapons had been surrendered, the remaining ones were kept by Germans who were on guard duty.

In Jersey, St Aubin's bay was opened for LSTs to discharge their cargoes; vehicles included ambulances, cranes, bulldozers, a steam roller and wireless trucks. Lorries brought £477,000 of money to the island banks in 128 boxes. Many locals came to watch the unloading, they had never seen ships like these.[18]: 72 

Empty LSTs were loaded with prisoners, around 800 per ship, who were eager to go as they had been promised food on board, almost resulting in a fight. German soldiers were half starved, the same as the islanders were.

Chile

Riots took place outside a Catholic church in Santiago, Chile holding a mass in memory of Benito Mussolini. Several people were injured and four arrests were made.

Canada

Photo: German submarine U-889 surrendering to the Royal Canadian Navy, 13 May 1945



Photo: German U-boat 889 after surrendering to the Canadian Navy (Fairmile Motor Launch Q117) 12 miles off the coast on Nova Scotia, 13 May 1945



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 5 B-24s lay mines in the Yangtze River; 10 B-25s and 5 fighters knock out bridges at Hankow and Hengyang but fail to hit a bridge N of Siaokan; 130+ fighter-bombers over areas of S and E China attack troops, bridges, rail traffic, town areas, and other targets of opportunity and generally disrupt Japanese movement and communications; the flight of the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF, operating from Luliang with F-5s, returns to base at Kunming.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): The 5th Fighter Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Hay to Asansol, India with P-47s.

BURMA

In the Arakan area, the British 82nd West African Division occupies Gwa unopposed.

Photo: Off-duty soldiers enjoying the sights of Rangoon's pagodas, 13 May 1945



Photo: Soldiers remove their shoes while they visit a pagoda in Rangoon, 13 May 1945



JAPAN

Aircraft from fast carrier task force (Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) begin two-day attack on Kyushu airfields.

Photo: A U.S. Navy Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat of Fighting Squadron 12 (VF-12) attacks Japanese ships anchored off Kyushu, Japan, 13-14 May 1945. VF-12 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 12 (CVG-12) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Randolph (CV-15)



Photo: Aircraft of the U.S. Navy Carrier Air Group 12 (CVG-12) from the aircraft carrier USS Randolph (CV-15) attack the Japanese airfield at Kikuchi, Kyushu, Japan, 13-14 May 1945



Phase III of Operation STARVATION, a blockade of northwest Honshu and Kyushu, commences as 12 USAAF B-29s mine Shimonoseki Straits and the waters off Niigata, Japan.

Photo: A B-29 of the 9th BG/313th BW drops two parachute-retarded Mark 26 aerial mines during Operation Starvation. The Mark 26 was a 1,000lb magnetic mine with 500lbs of either TNT or Torpex explosive. The Mark 36 was an improvement of the 26, with the same weight but acoustic with a larger charge. The 2,000lb Mark 25 mine was also acoustic. The 313th BW, based at North Field, Tinian, became solely responsible for mining missions during Starvation



Off Honshu, small carrier Bataan (CVL-29) is damaged by friendly fire, 30°30'N, 132°30'E.

GUAM

(Seventh Air Force): 10 B-24s from Guam Island bomb a underground hangar on Moen Island in Truk Atoll. 9 other B-24s strike the airfield on Marcus Island in the N Pacific.

Photo:  USS ABSD-6 submerged, USS ABSD-6 repaired USS South Dakota (BB-57) in Guam. Repairs are done in ABSD-6 dry dock after an accidental explosion on 6 May 1945, while rearming from USS Wrangell (AE-12), 13 May 1945



Photo: USS ABSD-6 repairing USS South Dakota (BB-57) in Guam. Repairs are done in ABSD-6 dry dock after an accidental explosion on 6 May 1945, while rearming from USS Wrangell (AE-12), 13 May 1945



TINIAN

(Twentieth Air Force): Mission 173: During the night of 13/14 May, 12 B-29s drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait, Japan.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: B-24s again pound bridges along the French Indochina coast.

BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

In Borneo, other B-24s bomb Oelin and Tabanio Airfields while B-25s and P-38s bomb Sandakan and support ground forces on Tarakan.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

After more heavy fighting on Mindanao, the Del Monte airfield is captured by units of the US 40th Division. The US 24th Division advances northwards along the Talomo track in the river valley. On Luzon, the force of the US 1st Corps complete the occupation of the Balete Pass, clearing the way into the Cagayan valley. The US 43rd Division, part of US 11th Corps, comes within sight of the Ipoh dam.

Photo: A patrol of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 132nd Infantry Regiment, Americal Division, advances through a street of the town of Tabogon in northern Cebu, Philippines. The entrance was unopposed because the Japanese had pulled out during the night of 13 May 1945



Bombers and fighters pound Cagayan Valley targets and continue support of ground forces on Luzon Island. B-24s hit troop concentrations and caves in the Bugnay area.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa, fierce fighting continues along the Shuri Line. The US 6th Marine Division suffers heavy losses but completes the capture of Dakeshi Ridge. On the east coast, elements of the US 96th Division penetrate the strip east of the Shuri line and take part of Conical Hill.

Photo: 22d Marines in Firefight, Naha, Okinawa, 13 May 1945



Off Okinawa, kamikazes damage destroyer Bache (DD-470), 26°01'N, 126°53'E, and destroyer escort Bright (DE-747), 26°21'N, 127°17'E.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 361, MAY 13, 1945

Heavy fighting continued on Okinawa on May 13 (East Longitude Date) as troops of the Tenth Army continued to attack the approaches to the enemy stronghold of Shuri. Few changes were noted in the western sector A the lines where the Sixth Marine Division was meeting stiff resistance. An attempted enemy landing behind our lines in the area of Machinato air­field was broken up and a number of enemy boats were destroyed by ship and shore gunfire. The First Marine Division was moving at noon south of Dakeshi into the high ground protecting Shuri after beating off an enemy counterattack and killing approximately 100 Japanese. Throughout the morning, these troops were under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire and progress teas difficult. The attack of the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps carried its lines 300 yards forward on the Corps' right flank and about 800 yards forward on the Corps' left flank. The Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division, meeting very strong resistance, advanced into high ground northeast of Shuri and the 383rd Infantry Regiment of the Ninety‑Sixth Division was approaching the summit of Conical Hill, a key position which forms a pro­tective barrier for both Shuri and Yonabaru. The ground troops were sup­ported throughout the day by heavy air strikes from carriers and from the Second Marine Aircraft Wing. The guns of heavy units of the U. S. Pacific Fleet continued to bombard enemy areas.

A few enemy planes approached our forces in the Okinawa Area early on the morning of May 13 but caused no damage.

Search seaplanes of Fleet Air Wing One sank a lugger, set a small cargo ship afire and heavily damaged a small oiler in waters around Korea on May 12.

Runways at Marcus Island and Truk were heavily bombed by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force on May 13.

Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed enemy installations in the Palaus on May 13.

PACIFIC

Submarine Baya (SS-318) attacks Palembang-bound Japanese convoy, sinking tanker Yosei Maru, 06°31'S, 111°19'E; guardboat No.17 Shonan Maru carries out unsuccessful counterattack. Although Baya claims a second ship sunk, her quarry, tanker Enoshima Maru, emerges unscathed.

Submarine Cero (SS-225) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Shinnan Maru off Todozaki, Honshu, 39°06'N, 141°57'E.

Submarine Plaice (SS-390) attacks Japanese guardboat Nisshin Maru southwest of Uruppu Island 45°30'N, 147°04'E.

British submarine HMS Trump sinks Japanese guardboat No.15 Shosei Maru at Sapudi Strait, 07°05'S, 114°13'E.

Japanese guardboat No.8 Choyo Maru is sunk by U.S. aircraft, Kumun Island 34°28'N, 127°45'E.

Japanese merchant cargo ship No.2 Funakawa Maru is sunk by aircraft, 34°00'N, 128°00'E.

Mine laid by USAAF B-29 (20th Air Force) sinks Japanese tanker No.2 Takasago Maru off Wadanomisaki, 34°39'N, 135°11'E. Mines sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Kinoto Maru and Mishima Maru (off Kobe, Japan), merchant cargo ship Magane Maru (location unspecified), and damage auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 170 (off Shodo Jima), (laid by USAAF B-24) merchant cargo ship Gyoryu Maru off Kobe, 34°40'N, 135°10'E; and merchant vessel Miyajima Maru 129 miles off Ezaki light, 34°36'N, 134°59'E.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Hakuju Maru is damaged by aircraft between Kurosaki and Shirohana.

[lordroel]

Day 2073 of World War II, May 14th 1945

Allied occupied Germany

US Army announced the discovery of millions of dollars worth of art looted by the Nazis from all over Europe well as 100 tons of gold bars and currency hidden in a salt mine located on the Losa Plateau in Austria. Meanwhile, the concentration camp at Ebensee is liberated and described as "more horrible than Buchenwald."

Heligoland Island, Germany was occupied by British troops.

Soviet occupied Latvia

The estimated 150,000-strong German forces of Army Group Kurland, cut off in East Prussia and Latvia, surrender to the forces of the Soviet 3rd Army, 2nd Belorussian Front.

Yugoslavia

Elements of German Army Group E continue to resist, in spite of the general surrender.

Austria

The provisional government of Austria nullified the 1938 Anschluss, declared the country to be once more independent and abolished the Nazi Party and all Nazi-era laws.

Norway

The Norwegian resistance group Milorg was formally dissolved.

Soviet Union

The Soviet government claims to have taken 180,000 German prisoners in northern Latvia.

North Africa 

Photo: U.S. Navy Lockheed PV-1 Ventura patrol planes taxi to the staring position on the runway at Naval Air Station Port Lyautey, French Morocco, guided by the plane director's red flag and yellow jeep, 14 May 1945



Egypt

Photo: British service personnel attending a thanksgiving service at the El Alamein Club in Cairo to commemorate the end of the war in Europe, 14 May 1945



United Kingdom

British Admiral Sir Max Horton (Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches) formally accepted the surrender of a token force of eight U-boats at Londonderry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. The U-boats which had been escorted from Loch Alsh, Scotland, United Kingdom by destroyer HMS Hesperus, Canadian Frigate Thetford Mines, and USS Paine had their torpedoes and two-thirds of their crew removed before their journey up the Foyle. The German crews were mostly very young men. Some were sullen and many were arrogant but the morale among the officers was unbroken. They were convinced that Hitler had died in action and their first question was "When do we start fighting the Russians?" One or two were so convinced that war with Russia was imminent that they had retained their confidential books and secret equipment to be ready when the war faced east.

(YouTube) U-Boats surrender in Ireland (1945)



British Channel Islands

Unloading continued at St Aubin's bay. Road traffic reverted to driving on the left. Postal services opened for business with free postcards made available for people to send messages to relatives overseas. Clocks changed to British time.

Germans were working well with the British forces. Locals watched German soldiers being taken off the island in silence. It was estimated that around 10,000 PoWs would be taken off by the returning vessels from the first lift.

The British Home Secretary, Herbert Morrison arrived in Jersey on the destroyer HMS Impulsive in the early evening, accompanied by other government ministers and a Guernseyman, Wallace Le Patourel VC.

United States

US sailors aboard the surrendered kriegsmarine U-858 submarine (type IX-C / 40), North Atlantic near Cape May. In the bow of the submarine, German submariners are screened , 14 May 1945



Photo: U.S. Colors fly proudly at her flagstaff as U-858, first German submarine to surrender to the U.S. in American waters, is brought to anchor behind the breakwater at Cape Henlopen, Delaware, May 14, 1945. Shown: Standing high on the conning tower with megaphone is Commander Williard D. Michael, USN, head of the charge party which brought the U-boat from a U.S. Navy patrol craft stands in the background as Sikorski HNS-1 helicopter hovers overhead, 14 May 1945



Photo: The surrendered German Type IXC/40 submarine U-805 is escorted to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, New Hampshire (USA), 14 May 1945



Photo: The surrendered German submarine U-805 off Portsmouth, New Hampshire (USA), on 14 May 1945. The ships present are (l-r): USS Guinivere (IX-67), USS Migrant (IX-66), U-805, and a U.S. destroyer escort. U-805 was escorted by USS Otter (DE-210) and USS Varian (DE-798). As Varian escorted U-805 on the port side, the ship visible is probalby Varian and not Otter



Pacific War

CHINA

Chinese guerrilla fighters (who had been trained by the staff of Sino-American Special Technical Cooperative Organization (SACO) Camp Four) under the tactical command of US Navy officer Donald Wilcox attacked a Japanese armored force 130 miles south of Xamba, Suiyuan Province, China. The attackers made use of a unusual weapon, a horse-mounted bazooka. They killed 60 Japanese soldiers and destroyed 2 tanks, while suffering 2 killed.

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-24s mine the Yangtze River; 15 B-25s and 6 fighter-bombers hit river shipping near Hengshan and pound bridges and other railroad targets around Chushihtien, Sinyang, Kioshan, Kuanshuishih, Hengyang, Chuchou, Changsha, Yoyang, Sintien, Hsuchang, Saiping, and Hengshan; 120+ fighter-bombers over S and E China hit numerous targets of opportunity at several locations concentrating on the Liping and Tungkow areas; Fourteenth AF unit moves in China: 11th Combat Cargo Squadron from Dinjan, India to Yunnani with C-47s; 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron from Kunming to Shwangliu with F-5s (flights operating from Hanchung, Hsian and Laifeng); 35th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron based at Chanyi with F-5s sends a detachment to operate from Kunming.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): Unit moves in India: 2d Fighter Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, from Cox's Bazar to Kalaikunda with P-51s; 166th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, from Toungoo Airfield to Asansol with UC-64s and L-5s.

JAPAN

The Japanese Supreme Council for the Direction of the War, agrees to enlist the USSR to assist with obtaining peace. The SCDW is known as the Big 6 of the Japanese Cabinet. PM, FM, War Minister, Navy Minister, Army CofS, Navy CofS.

(Twentieth Air Force): Mission 174: 472 B-29s blast the urban area of northern Nagoya; 8 others hit targets of opportunity; they claim about 20 Japanese fighters; 11 B-29s are lost. Lost are B-29 44-70017, B-29 42-24492, B-29 44-69966, B-29 44-69926, B-29 "Country Gentelman" 42-24793. This is the XXI Bomber Command's first 4-wing raid as B-29s of the 58th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) join bombers from the 73d, 313th, and 314th Bombardment Wings (Very Heavy) in a single mission.

ULITHI ATOLL

Photo: The U.S. Navy repair ship USS Jason (ARH-1) at anchor in Ulithi Atoll on 14 May 1945. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4Ax. The photo was taken from the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10)



SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: B-24s bomb Hozan, the largest military and air supply center on Formosa.

BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

In Borneo, B-24s attack Jesselton and Sepinggang Airfields and B-25s hit Jesselton, Kudat, and Bintula Airfields and support ground forces on Tarakan. On Celebes Island, B-24s lightly raid Makassar harbor, Sidate Airfield, and Parepare warehouses and bomb Bima Airfield on Soembawa Island, Lesser Sunda Islands.

Photo: D Company of the Australian 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion on John's Track, Tarakan, 14 May 1945



PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Luzon, units of the US 25th Division, part of US 1st Corps, advance north of the Balete Pass. Elements of the the US 43rd Division, part of US 11th Corps, reach the Ipoh dam, which has been fortified by the Japanese.

Photo: Advance guard of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 132nd Infantry Regiment, Americal Division, passes one of several tank traps constructed by Japanese forces on the road north of Tabogon, Northern Cebu, Philippines. The trap is approximately 30 feet deep and 15 feet wide. A Japanese millimeter gun was found in a cave across a ravine covering a road block. The town was not defended by Japanese troops. They had pulled out the night before, 14 May 1945



Photo: U.S. troops of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 132nd Infantry, Americal Division return to the rear after securing the city of Tabogon, Northern Cebu, Philippine Islands, from Japanese resistance, 14 May 1945



A-20s and fighter- bombers support ground forces on Luzon and Negros Islands.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa, 20 American Marines reach the summit of Sugar Loaf Hill. The airfield at Yonabaru is captured.

Off Okinawa, a kamikaze damages the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6). The suicide plane destroys the ship's forward elevator, killing 14 and wounding 34 men, forcing Enterprise to retire to the U.S. for repairs.

Photo: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) being hit by a Japanese bomb-laden kamikaze on 14 May 1945. The ship's forward elevator was blown approximately 400 feet into the air from the force of the explosion six decks below



Photo: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) in flames after the ship was hit by a kamikaze off Kyushu. The forward elevator is blown up by the blast. The photo was taken from USS Essex (CV-9). Vought F4U-1 Corsairs of Fighting Boming Squadron 83 (VBF-83) are visible in the foreground



Photo: A U.S. Navy Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer rescues sailors standing on a section of an aircraft elevator blown off the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) after the ship was hit by a kamikaze off Kyushu, Japan, 14 May 1945



Photo: Firefighting and the remains of a Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat on 14 May 1945 aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) after a kamikaze suicide plane hit the forward elevator



Photo: USS Enterprise (CV-6) after being hit by a Mitsubishi A6M Zero Kamikaze, 14 May 1945




Off Okinawa, operational casualties account for damage to tank landing ship LST-137 and medium landing ship LSM-137.

(Seventh Air Force): A detachment of the 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Seventh AF, based on Okinawa with F-5Es, begins operating from Ie Shima.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 362, MAY 14, 1945

About 35 enemy aircraft in three groups attacked our ships off the coast of Okinawa on the evening of May 13 (East Longitude Date) causing some damage to two light units. Twenty‑five of the planes were shot down, one of our destroyers accounting for eight aircraft. Early in the morning of May 14, a few planes dropped bombs ashore on Okinawa but failed to damage any installations.

On the afternoon of May 13, two rifle companies of the Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division reached the summit of Conical Hill, 2,500 yards east of Shuri, holding the position despite a Japanese counterattack. The 383rd Infantry Regiment of the Ninety‑Sixth Division completed capture of the hill on May 14. Domination of this high ground permitted our left flank to advance 2,400 yards southward along the East Coast bringing Yonabaru airstrip into our possession. In other sectors of the line, advances were limited generally to 100 to 200 yards as troops of the Tenth Army met stiff opposition. The ground forces were supported by heavy gunfire from ships of the Pacific Fleet and by bombing and strafing attacks on enemy positions by carrier aircraft and planes of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing.

Since April 1, our forces on Okinawa have captured or destroyed 388 enemy guns of 70 millimeter caliber or larger.

Several groups of enemy aircraft made a series of attacks on the Fast Carrier Task Forces of the U. S. Pacific Fleet during the morning of May 14, causing some damage to one major unit. Preliminary reports show that 21 enemy planes were shot down by combat air patrols and ships' gunfire.

Carrier aircraft of the British Pacific Fleet bombed the airfields on Miyako in the Sakishima Group on May 12 and 13, and struck buildings, dumps and barges at Hirara Town where a large oil fire and a number of smaller fires were started. Two aircraft were destroyed on the ground dur­ing these attacks.

Search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing One sank a small oiler, a medium freighter, and a small freighter transport in the waters around Korea on May 13. A medium freighter transport was damaged and left burning. From the beginning of operations in the Okinawa Area to May 13, inclusive, search planes of this Wing have sunk 71,900 tons of enemy shipping, damaged 70,160 tons and destroyed six aircraft. The unit has suffered combat losses of three aircraft from which all personnel were rescued.

Fleet Air Wing Eighteen aircraft damaged five small cargo ships, a lugger and a fishing craft south of Honshu on May 13. In low level attacks along the coast of Southwestern Honshu our search planes halted two trains with strafing and rocket attacks and damaged a number of buildings.

Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing planes bombed targets in the Marshalls on May 13 and attacked military installations in the Palaus and on Yap on the following day. Search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two continued neutralizing attacks in the Marshalls and bombed Ponape in the Carolines on May 13.

PACIFIC

Submarine Cobia (SS-245) is damaged by depth charges, Gulf of Siam, 09°35'N, 101°44'E, but remains on patrol.

Submarine Sand Lance (SS-381) sinks Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Yoshino Maru off Erimosaki, Hokkaido, 32°00'N, 146°36'E.

Navy aircraft (TU 50.5.5) on sweeps over the South China Sea, sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Kurokamisan Maru west of Kuche Island 34°27'N, 127°30'E, and Samukaze Maru, 33°00'N, 129°20'E.

Mine laid by USAAF B-29 (20th Air Force) damages Japanese merchant ship Miyajima Maru at Awaji, Japan, 34°28'N, 134°30'E (see 15 May). Mines sink Japanese transport Anko Maru off Shimonoseki and merchant tug No.13 Uwajima Maru off Hiraiso light buoy, 34°30'N, 134°30'E; sink/damage merchant cargo ship Tatsukei Maru, 34°28'N, 134°45'E, and damage merchant cargo ship No.6 Kaiyo Maru off Hesaki light.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Keishin Maru is sunk by aircraft off Inchon, Korea.

Japanese merchant vessel Kanpu Maru is sunk by aircraft, 33°02'N, 129°27'E.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Kainan Maru is damaged by aircraft three miles off Ioshima light.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Chofuku Maru is damaged by aircraft near Hakata Bay.

[lordroel]

Day 2074 of World War II, May 15th 1945

Allied occupied Germany

Commander U.S. Ports and Bases Germany (Rear Admiral Arthur G. Robinson) establishes headquarters at Bremen, Germany.

Map: The European fronts: approximate areas of present occupation, 15 May 1945



Photo: Self-propelled anti-tank guns of the 2nd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (R.C.A.), taking part in a parade marking the handing-in of the guns of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division near Oldenburg, Germany, 15 May 1945



Soviet occupied Czechoslovakia

German military resistance comes to an end with the disintegration of German Army Group Center, consisting of about 1.2 million troops. Those that could, have surrendered to American forces, the remainder have capitulated to Soviet forces.

Yugoslavia

The last pocket of German resistance, at Slovenski Gradek, surrenders. Some 150,000 soldiers surrender to Yugoslav and Soviet forces. Out of a population of 15 million, 1.4 million civilians (including 55,000 Jews) and 305,000 soldiers have died during the war.

United Kingdom

Photo: The German submarine U-255 photographed after the German surrender from an RAF Coastal Command aircraft operating from RAF Castle Archdale, Northern Ireland, 15 May 1945. U-255 left St. Nazaire, France, on 8 May and surrendered at Loch Eroboll, Scotland (UK), on 17 May 1945. It was finally sunk during "Operation Deadlight" on 13 Decembr 1945



British Channel Islands

A formal States of Jersey sitting to honour the visitors took place, Morrison congratulating the island for maintaining their British connections and explaining that the islands were never far from the thoughts of the British government during the five years of occupation. He attempted to explain that the British cabinet could not have helped the islanders in 1940, as any fighting would have resulted in high casualties, similarly to have attempted to take the islands back by force would have resulted in many deaths.

Orders were issued for the restoration of Sterling whereby Reichsmarks would be exchanged at the rate of 9.36 ℛℳ to £1, the same rate the Germans had used since 1942, until 23 May only. Sterling cash drawings from banks would be limited to £5 a week. The banks closed for two days so that accounts opened by evacuated islanders could be merged with local accounts.

Embarking of German PoWs continued, with engineers, naval and Luftwaffe being retained to continue work with the British. German troops were equally amazed by the strange landing ships.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS William C. Miller (DE-259) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 15 May 1945. She was in overhaul at the yard from 12 April until 28 May 1945



Photo: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3) running full power trials in Puget Sound, Washington (USA), following battle damage repairs, 15 May 1945



Photo: The U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat USCGC Argo (WPC-100) escorts the surrendered German Type IXC/40 submarine U-805 to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, New Hampshire (USA), 15 May 1945



Pacific War

Map of the Pacific as of 15 May 1945



BURMA

Aung San, the Burmese nationalist leader, joins the Allied drive against the Japanese. The British 26th Indian Division advances from Rangoon toward Prome and links up with the British 20th Indian Division advancing southward.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, a single B-24, supported by 2 P-51s, seriously damages 3 bridges near Singtai and Linmingkuan; 20 B-25s, some with fighter escort, bomb bridges, barracks, troops, horses, road and railroad targets, and general targets of opportunity around Sinyang, Yoyang, Changsha, Hsuchang, Chenghsien, Sichuan, Pinyang, Tsinkong, Luchou, Kweiping, Tanchuk, Laohokow, Siangyang, Nanying, Paoching, and Hengyang; 150 fighter- bombers over S and E China attack a variety of targets chiefly road, rail, and river traffic, troops, and bridges, at many scattered locations; the Liping and Tungkow areas are again well covered.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): Unit moves in India: HQ Tenth AF from Myitkyina, Burma to Piardoba; HQ 1st Combat Cargo Group and 4th Combat Cargo Squadron from Dohazari to Hathazari with C-47s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: B-24s bomb Shinchiku. Unit moves: HQ 2d Combat Cargo Group and 5th Combat Cargo Squadron from Biak to Dulag with C-46s; HQ 348th FG and 340th, 342d, 343d and 460th Fighter Squadrons from San Marcelino to Floridablanca with P-47s.

JAPAN

Japan abrogated all treaties with Germany, Italy and the other Axis countries.

BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

In Borneo, B-24s and B-25s hit Miri and Kudat Airfield and support ground forces on Tarakan.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Luzon, the US 11th Corps prepares for a resumption of attacks against the Ipoh dam, north of Manila. Forces of the US 8th Army launch new attacks on Mindanao and Negros. Units of the US 24th Division advance from Davao to the northeast and make contact with Filipino guerrillas. Mopping up operations continue in the Talomo river valley.

P-38s pound troop concentrations and gun positions on Mount Mandalagan on Negros.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa, slow American advances and costly Japanese counterattacks continue.

Map: Map of the Battle of Okinawa as of 15 May 1945



Heavy fighting is reported around the Sugar Loaf Hill and Conical Hill positions. Marines on Sugar Loaf Hill, elements of US 3rd Amphibious Corps, withdraw because of Japanese fire. The US 1st Marine Division advances along the Wana river valley, west of Shuri, against heavy Japanese resistance. The US 305th and 77th Divisions, of US 24th Corps, achieve limited progress and have been reduced to 25 percent effectiveness in the fighting.

Photo: Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, U.S. Navy, Commander, Task Force 58, is highlined from a destroyer to the aircraft carrier USS Randolph (CV-15) via boatswain's chair, 15 May 1945. This was the third time he had transferred his flag in four days, as his two previous flagships, USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) and USS Enterprise (CV-6) had both been badly damaged by Kamikaze hits off Okinawa



Photo: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) transferring casualties to the hospital ship USS Bountiful (AH-9), a day after the carrier had been hit by a kamikaze in the vicinity of the forward elevator, 15 May 1945



ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): 13 B-24s bomb the Kashiwabara, Paramushiru Island-Kataoka, Shimushu Island area, claiming one ship destroyed, and a direct hit on another, and investigate radar activities. Low fog limits observation of other results; AA fire damages 2 B-24s, 1 of which forcelands in the USSR.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 598, MAY 15, 1945

Pacific.

1. United States submarines have reported sinking nine enemy vessels as a result of operations in Far Eastern waters. Five combatant vessels were included those sunk. The vessels sunk were:

1 destroyer
2 small escort vessels
1 large tanker
2 patrol vessels
1 medium cargo vessel
2 small cargo vessels

2. These actions have not been announced in any previous Navy Depart­ment communiqué.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 363, MAY 15, 1945

Airfield installations at Kokubu, Kanoya, Chiran and Kagoshima on Kyushu were bombed by Avenger torpedo planes of the Fast Carrier Task Forces of the U. S. Pacific Fleet on the night of May 12‑13 (East Longitude Dates.)

Twelve enemy planes were shot down during this period. On May 13 and 14, heavy strikes of torpedo aircraft, Helldiver bombers and Corsair and Hell­cat fighters were launched against airfields throughout Kyushu and in parts of Shikoku in the Japanese Empire. During these two days our aircraft de­stroyed 71 enemy planes and a barrage balloon in the air and 93 planes on the ground and destroyed or damaged 108 more on the ground. An additional 73 aircraft were brought under machine gun and rocket attack with unob­served results. Railroad installations in Kyushu were heavily hit with an oil train, four locomotives, a railroad station, a chemical plant and a number of large buildings destroyed or seriously damaged. Our planes also struck buildings, barracks and aviation installations at airdromes in Saeki, Oita, Miyakonojo, Kikuchi, Ashiya, Gannosu, Kofuji, Usa, Izumi, Tachiarai, Chiran, Omura and Hitoyoshi on Kyushu and at airfields in Kochi and Matsuyama on Shikoku.

Two motor boats and two luggers were sunk and a repair ship, seven torpedo boats, four luggers, a small cargo ship, four small craft and a tug were dam­aged on May 13 and 14. Preliminary reports indicate that our forces lost about 10 aircraft in these attacks.

Search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One heavily damaged a small freighter transport and two small cargo ships on May 14 in the waters around Korea.

On May 14, escort carrier aircraft attacked airfield installations in the Sakishima group and struck enemy positions on Kume Island west of Okinawa. On the same date night fighters of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing struck targets in the Amami group. No material changes were made in the Tenth Army lines on Okinawa on May 15. The day was marked by heavy fighting along the western and central sectors of the front where the enemy mounted a counterattack in the Sixth Marine Division sector. The Twenty‑Second Regiment of Marines standing at the suburbs of Naha met the assault of the enemy during the morning and beat it off in hand to hand fighting, finally driving the attackers into the interior of Takamotoji Town with heavy losses. An attempt to land small craft behind the Marine's lines in the Machinato airfield sector was broken up by Naval gunfire. The First Marine Division continued to attack the high ground in the vicinity of Wana Town and the Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division after a difficult five day battle, captured "Chocolate Drop Hill", east of Ishimmi, inflicting major losses on the enemy. In the eastern sector, the Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division strengthened its positions and beat off an enemy counterattack in the vicinity of Conical Hill. Throughout the day, Army and Marine troops were supported by field artil­lery, heavy Naval gunfire and carrier and land‑based aircraft.

Fighters of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing struck installations on Kikai Island in the Amami Group on May 16.

Fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed and strafed enemy facilities in the Palaus an May 14.

Search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing Two sank a small cargo ship at Truk on May 15.

PACIFIC

Submarine Hammerhead (SS-364) sinks Singapore-bound Japanese transport Tottori Maru in Gulf of Siam, 09°12'N, 101°20'E. Escorting minelayer Hatsutaka conducts unsuccessful counterattack (see 16 May).

Submarine Sea Poacher (SS-406) sinks Japanese army luggers No.56 Ume Maru and Fukumo Maru, 45°29'N, 149°01'E.

Submarine Shad (SS-235) damages Japanese merchant cargo ship Mako Maru, 33°42'N, 126°37'E.

USN land-based planes, in wide-ranging sweeps against Japanese shipping, sink merchant cargo ship No.1 Kyodo Maru, 34°15'N, 126°56'E; merchant cargo ship Keiun Maru off Karatsu, western Kyushu, 33°57'N, 129°51'E, and merchant cargo ship No.3 Hakutetsu Maru off east coast of Korea.

Japanese merchant vessel Miyajima Maru, while under tow after being damaged the previous day by a mine, strikes a second mine and sinks, 34°28'N, 134°50'E. Mishima Maru is sunk by USAAF mine laid off Kobe on 3 May 1945, 34°30'N, 135°10'E.

[lordroel]

Day 2075 of World War II, May 16th 1945

Allied occupied Germany

Map: HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map, May 16th 1945



Czechoslovakia

Exiled Czechoslovakian President Eduard Beneš returned to Prague, Czechoslovakia to a rapturous welcome.

United Kingdom

Convoy escorts accept the surrender of 14 German U-boats and escort the submarines to Loch Eriboll in Scotland.

British forces liberate Alderney.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Canfield (DE-262) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 16 May 1945. She was in overhaul at the yard from 12 April until 22 May 1945



Photo: The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, San Francisco, California (USA), on 16 May 1945, following her last wartime overhaul



Photo: The U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat USCGC Argo (WPC-100) and a tug escort the surrendered German Type IXD2 submarine U-873 to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, New Hampshire (USA), 16 May 1945



Photo: German Prisoners from U-873 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in New Hampshire. This item consists of a photo showing German officers and their crew from the surrendered U-Boat 873 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in New Hampshire. German officers, with their backs to the camera and crew, stand on the deck of the tug which brought in their surrendered sub U-873 - the Marine guards stand ready to take the prisoners ashore at Portsmouth. The man in the white cap with his hands behind his back is Captain Steinhoff, 16 May 1945



British Channel Islands

German troops in Alderney surrendered on this date to Force 135, the Channel Island Relief Force.(The German prisoners of war were not removed until 20 May and the population was not allowed to return until December when the island had been cleared up.)

The Surrender - the scene in the German Officers' Mess on Alderney May 1945, when the Commandant of the island surrendered to the Colonel in charge of the British landing party. image: Five German officers in uniform sit around a table within the interior of an Officers' Mess. One of the German officers signs a document on the table in front of him, watched by a British naval officer who is sitting on the same side of the table



On the islands, special police took over the tasks of guards on supply dumps, loudspeakers were erected through St Helier creating a public address system. Distributions of tea, chocolate, soap powder, lard, sugar, biscuits, cereals and rice etc. were made to civilians as the weekly rations were reorganised, increasing the daily calorie intake from the previous low of around 1,000. Red Cross parcels continued to be issued.

Houses used by Germans and Organisation Todt (OT) workers were inspected and many were found to be in a terrible state with holes knocked through walls, wood ripped up for fuel and all needing disinfecting. German and OT hospitals were cleared and the buildings disinfected.

Police courts opened for business, with a few civilians charged with theft, even of German equipment. Newspapers which had been desperate for newsprint, continued printing as supplies would shortly arrive.

Mines were being lifted and made safe; this process would go on until August, with 65,982 removed. This dangerous work would result in a number of German deaths and injuries. Over 5,689 beach obstacles and one hundred thousand metres (330,000 feet) of barbed wire were also removed. Weapons and shells needed to be collected and disposed of safely.

Operation Merit started when an armed trawler sailed for Alderney,carrying Brigadier Snow, officers and the press, accompanied by two LCI with support troops the coaster Beale, with supplies. Landing at Braye Harbour and met by the island commandant, the parties moved to a house later called Peacehaven to discuss the surrender details. Civil Affairs officers began interrogating OT workers, guards, prison officials and the few civilians present about the four camps on Alderney about which stories of brutality abounded, with the object of holding an enquiry.

Pacific War

CHINA

In China, B-24s continue to lay mines in the Yangtze River; 33 B-25s and 16 P-47s and P-51s attack railroad targets, barracks, HQ, bridges, town areas, river shipping, and targets of opportunity at or near Kaifeng, Sinyang, Chungsiang, Chienyangi, Ichang, Chingmen, Yanglowtung, Kiyang, Loyang, Szeshui, Hsihhsiassuchi, Shanhsien, Neihsiang, Liuchow, Kweiping, Nanyo, Shihlipu, Hojung, Mingkiang, and Kioshan; 100+ fighter-bombers attack river, road, and rail traffic, troops, gun positions, and generally harass Japanese movement and supply lines in S and E China hitting especially targets of opportunity in Yangchi.

INDIA-BURMA

Tenth Air Force): The 2d Combat Cargo Squadron, 1st Combat Cargo Group, moves from Dohazari to Hathazari, India with C-47s.

GUAM

13 Guam based B-24s bomb the airfield on Marcus in the N Pacific; 11 others sent against Marcus abort because of bad weather.

TINIAN

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 175: During the night of 16/17 May, 25 B-29s mine Shimonsoeki Strait and 2 others hit targets of opportunity. Lost is B-29 "Country Gentleman" 42-24801

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

On Formosa, B-24s bomb Taichu and B-25s hit alcohol plants and railroad yards.

BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

B-24s hit Balikpapan and Manggar, and Tondano on Celebes Island while B-25s and P-38s hit Miri, Brookton, Bintula, Ft Brook, and a flak ship near Labuan Island Borneo; and P-38s also support ground forces on Tarakan.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Luzon, the US 152nd Division, part of US 11th Corps, attacks Woodpecker Ridge with heavy artillery support and entrenches on the summit. The capture of the Bicol peninsula by forces of the US 14th Corps is declared to be completed. On Mindanao, Japanese forces hold the American advance along the Talomo River.

Nearly 100 P-38s pound targets in the Ipo Dam area with napalm.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa, the US 6th Marine Division (part of US 3rd Amphibious Corps) reports heavy casualties in continuing attacks on Sugar Loaf Hill. Japanese antitank guns knock out a number of American tanks supporting an advance, by US 1st Marine Division, along the valley of the Wana River. Attacks by the US 77th Division to the north of Shuri continue to be unsuccessful. The US 96th Division reaches the edge of the village of Yonabaru. Love Hill, to the west of Conical Hill, continues to be held by Japanese forces.

Photo: On a ridge north of Naha, Marines get ready to take the town, Okinawa, Japan, 16 May 1945



Off Okinawa, Escort carrier Shipley Bay (CVE-85) is damaged in collision with oiler Cache (AO-67), 25°00'N, 130°00'E.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 364, MAY 16, 1945

During the early evening of May 15 (East Longitude Date) about 12 enemy aircraft approached our ships off Okinawa but were intercepted by escort carrier and Second Marine Aircraft Wing planes which shot down nine and forced the others to retire without causing damage. A single enemy plane was shot down early in the morning on May 16 when a few enemy aircraft attacked Yontan and Kadena airfields causing minor damage.

Marine and Army Infantrymen supported by tanks, aircraft, field artillery and Naval gunfire continued to carry the attack to the enemy on Okinawa on May 16 but the lines remained substantially unchanged. Shuri Town was sub­jected to heavy bombardment by artillery and Naval guns. Local gains were made on the West Coast by The Sixth Marine Division. The Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division was engaged in an uphill drive against stubbornly defended tombs and caves. On the east the Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division attacked westward through the rugged country around Conical Hill.

At the end of May 15, the enemy had lost 46,505 killed in action at Okinawa. Our forces on that date had captured 1,038 prisoners.

Reports through May 14 show that 2,771 soldiers and 1,010 Marines have been killed in action in the Okinawa operations. In the same period 11,675 soldiers and 5,329 Marines have been wounded and 129 soldiers and 36 Marines are missing.

In operations against Ishigaki and Miyako in the Sakishima group on May 14‑15, escort carrier aircraft of the U. S. Pacific Fleet shot down three enemy planes and destroyed two on the ground.

Search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing One sank two medium freighters and heavily damaged a medium freighter transport south of the Korean Coast on May 15. On the following day planes of the same wing damaged a small cargo ship in the same area.

Search Venturas and Liberators of Fleet Air Wing Eighteen attacked shipping and installations along the southern coast of Honshu on May 16 sinking a small oiler, a small cargo ship and five fishing craft and damaging a fuel barge. Search planes of this wing damaged the entrances to three rail­road tunnels along the coast with rocket and bomb hits.

Helldiver bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing struck storage areas on Yap in the Carolines and fighter aircraft attacked targets in the Palaus on May 15.

Fleet Air Wing Two search planes made neutralizing attacks on Wake Island and on enemy installations in the Marshalls on May 15.

Search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing Four made rocket and machine gun attacks on trawlers and fishing craft off Kokutan Cape on Shimushu in the northern Kuriles on May 15.

PACIFIC

Avengers from British escort carrier HMS Emperor sight and attack Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro heading into Malacca Strait; subsequently, British destroyers HMS Saumarez, HMS Venus, HMS Verulam, HMS Vigilant, and HMS Virago sink Haguro 55 nautical miles west-southwest of Penang, Malaya, 04°49'N, 99°42'E, as the enemy ship, in company with destroyer Kamikaze (which is damaged in the engagement) is evacuating troops from Port Blair to Singapore.

YouTube (Last Stand of Japanese Heavy Cruiser - Battle of the Malacca Strait)



Submarine Hawkbill (SS-366) sinks Japanese minelayer Hatsutaka off east coast of Malaya, 04°49'N, 103°31'E.

Submarine Raton (SS-270) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Eiju Maru in Yellow Sea off west coast of Korea, 37°34'N, 124°13'E.

Japanese merchant cargo ship No.5 Yamanami Maru is sunk by mine laid by USAAF B-29s (20th Bomber Command) off Wadanomisaki, 34°36'N, 135°08'E.

[lordroel]

Day 2076 of World War II, May 17th 1945

Denmark

The German garrison on the island of Bornholm surrenders.

Denmark broke diplomatic relations with Japan.

United kingdom

A British white paper outlined postwar independence for Burma.

Photo: The German submarine U-532 entering Gladstone Dock, Liverpool (UK), on 17 May 1945. U-532 left Batavia, Netherlands East Indies, on 13 January 1945 and surrendered to a British warship on 10 May 1945



United States

Photo: The German Type IXC/40 submarine U-1228 surrenders at Portsmouth, New Hampshire (USA) on 17 May 1945



Photo: Four surrendered submarines at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, New Hampshire (USA). The photo was taken from one of the Type IXC/40 submarines U-805 or U-1228. The minelaying Type XB submarine U-234 is visible to the left. Tied up in front is one of the IXC/40 submarines and U-873 (Type IXD), 17 May 1945



Syria

French troops landed in Beirut to reassert colonial control.

Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): 16 B-25s and about 100 fighters continue to disrupt communications and supply lines and hinder enemy withdrawal from numerous locations of S and E China, pounding town areas, troop concentrations, storage areas, river, road, and rail traffic and general targets of opportunity.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): The 319th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, ceases operating from various forward bases in Burma and returns to base at Asansol, India with C-47s.

IWO JIMA

(VII Fighter Command): Fighters from Iwo Jima fly 41 effective strike sorties against Atsugi; pilots claim 10 parked aircraft destroyed. During the night of 17/18 May, 2 P-47s of the 318th Fighter Group, presently arriving on Ie Shima (between 13 and 19 May), fly heckling mission over Kyushu Island, Japan-the first such VII Fighter Command mission against Japan.

TINIAN

(Twentieth Air Force): Mission 176: Between 0300 and 0600 hours local, 457 of 522 B-29s attack the Nagoya urban area in the last great attack on this city; the S part of Nagoya, the site of the Mitsubishi Aircraft Works, Aichi Aircraft Company's Atsuta palnt and the Atsuta branch of the Nagoya Arsenal, the Nippon Vehicle Company and other targets are attacked; the attack is made from low levels; 11 other B-29s hit targets of opportunity; 3 B-29s are lost.

JAPAN

USAAF 21st Bomber Command begins operations against airfields on Kyushu and Shikoku from which Japanese kamikaze attacks are launched; the raids will continue through 11 May 1945.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: During sweeps over Formosa, B-25s and P-51s cause widespread damage hitting railroad yards, bridges, and alcohol plants and B-24s bomb airfields at Nanseiho and Matsuyama. The 20th Combat Mapping Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, moves from Dulag to Clark Field, Luzon with F-7s.

Photo: A photo depicts the bombardment of Chikunan rail station, 17 May 1945



BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

In the Greater Sunda Islands, Dutch troops land on Tarakan Island, reinforcing the Australian forces which have encountered heavy Japanese resistance.

B-24s bomb Sepinggang and Manggar and Sidate airfield.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Luzon, the US 152nd Division, part of US 11th Corps, entrenches in favorable positions on Woodpecker Ridge as the Japanese retire. The US 43rd Division captures the Ipoh dam, the main source of water for Manila, intact after an intensive bombing and artillery preparation.

Fighters fly 130+ sorties against the Ipo Dam area.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa, the US 6th Marine Division, part of US 3rd Amphibious Corps, continues assaulting Sugar Loaf hill have Japanese positions are heavily bombarded by aircraft, artillery and ships. Elements of US 1st Marine Division capture the western part of the Wana valley but fail to take the ridge. 

Map: Map of the Battle for Sugar Loaf Hill. 16-17 May 1945



Units of the US 77th Division, part of US 24th Corps, make a surprise attack on Ishimmi Ridge, west of the village, and end up in positions exposed to Japanese fire.

Photo: Men of US Marine Corps 6th Division entering Naha, Okinawa, 17 May 1945



Off Okinawa, destroyer Douglas H. Fox (DD-779) is damaged by kamikaze, 25°59'N, 126°54'E.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 365, MAY 17, 1945

On the evening of May 16 (East Longitude Date) a small group of enemy aircraft attempted to attack our forces on and around Okinawa but failed to cause any damage. One enemy plane was destroyed.

Elements of the Sixth Marine Division crossed the Asato River and gained a small bridgehead in Naha, capital of Okinawa on May 17. During the late afternoon the Marines, after heavy fighting, also captured "Sugar Loaf Hill" several hundred yards northeast of Takimotoji. On the Third Amphibious Corps left flank, troops of the First Marine Division reached Wana Town during the day. Without advance artillery preparation, infantrymen of the Seventy‑Seventh Army Division made a surprise night attack against enemy positions on the high ground in the vicinity of Ishimmi Town and reached the outskirts of the town by noon of May 17. In the Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division zone of action, enemy resistance was heavy in the hill masses east of Ishimmi and in the ridges running south of Conical Hill. Some progress was being made in destruction of enemy strong points.

The attacking infantry was supported by artillery, Naval gunfire and heavy strikes of planes of the escort carriers and the Second Marine Aircraft Wing. Through May 15, guns of the U. S. Pacific Fleet had delivered 25,000 tons ammunition of five inch caliber or larger in support of the troops on Okinawa.

Carrier aircraft of the British Pacific Fleet heavily bombed towns and airfields in the Sakishima group on May 16 and 17, damaging three planes on the ground and strafing four others with unobserved results. In these attacks two small craft were destroyed, a small coastal cargo ship and a lugger were left in sinking condition and two small cargo ships, two luggers and six barges were damaged. A large explosion was observed during an attack on Ohama Town and an oil dump set afire. Motor vehicles loaded with troops were severely strafed.

Army Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command swept Atsugi airfield in the vicinity of Tokyo with low level attacks on May 17 destroying seven enemy aircraft on the ground, probably destroying two more and damaging 33 others. One of our aircraft was shot down by intense antiaircraft fire over the target.

On May 16, Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air Force sank a small cargo ship or escort vessel in the waters between Paramushiru and Shimushu in the northern Kuriles and damaged two enemy fighters which attacked.

Aircraft of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing struck targets in the Marshalls on May 16 and in the Palaus on the following day.

PACIFIC

In the Marshall Islands, aircraft from the USS Ticonderoga attack targets on the Japanese held island of Taroa and the Maleolap atoll, encountering limited resistance.

Off Wadanomisaki, Japan, USAAF mines sink Japanese transport Tairyu Maru, 34°27'N, 135°11'E, and army cargo ship Koan Maru, 34°38'N, 135°11'E; mines also sink merchant cargo ship Mikazuki Maru in Yangtze below below Woosung, China, 32°05'N, 119°56'E, and damage Coast Defense Vessel No.200 inside Miyazu harbor.

Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Wa.101 is damaged by aircraft from carriers Saratoga (CV-3) and HMS I llustrious, at Surabaya, Java.

Japanese auxiliary submarine chasers No.2 Hakusan Maru, Wakatake Maru and Yobai Maru are damaged by aircraft off Ishigaki Island.

[lordroel]

Day 2077 of World War II, May 18th 1945

YouTube (Kamikazes versus Admirals)



Allied occupied Germany

In Flensburg, Admiral Donitz, nominally the Fuhrer of the Third Reich, issues an order of the day to the Wehrmacht in which he expresses horror at revelations about the Nazi concentration camps and distances the military from the atrocities.

Allied occupied Austria

German Field Marshal Ferdinand Schörner was captured by Americans in Austria.

Ferdinand Schörner surrendered to the Americans in Austria.

Photo: A Polish family registering at No.17 Displaced Persons Assembly Centre in Hamburg Zoological Gardens, 18 May 1945



Ireland

In Dublin, the Irish Prime Minister, De Velera, announces a $12 million food and clothing aid program for Europe.

Yugoslavia

Marshal Tito, in negotiations with British and US representatives over disputed territory, claimed to have the right to add Trieste to Yugoslav territory, and refused to leave the area.

Denmark

Photo: German sailors under RN supervision unload ammunition from the German Cruiser Prinz Eugen in Copenhagen, Denmark, May 18 1945



United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Cabana (DE-260) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 18 May 1945



Photo: The U.S. Navy attack transport USS Barnstable (APA-93) anchored in San Francisco Bay, California (USA), on 18 May 1945. The troop transports USS General William Mitchell (AP-114)‎ and USS General C. H. Muir (AP-142) are visible in the background. Note the paint worn away near Barnstable's stern, showing remnant of Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D



Photo: The U.S. Navy attack transport USS Latimer (APA-152) off San Francisco, California (USA), 18 May 1945



United Kingdom

Photo: Admiral Horton inspects the surrendered U-532 in Liverpool, 18 May 1945



Pacific War

CHINA

Chinese forces reoccupy Foochow, in Fukien province. Reinforcements from Burma (3 divisions) are about to return.

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 9 B-25s blast the Siangtan supply areas; 8 B-25s, supported by 7 P-51s, hit railroad targets and other targets of opportunity around Sinyang, Kiaotow, Sintsiang, and Chenghsien; about 75 fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft continue the harassment of enemy movement and supply lines throughout S and E China, escort of C-47 transports, and surveillance of enemy forces.

IWO JIMA

(VII Fighter Command): In the Ryukus Islands, 8 P-47s from Ie Shima make bombing, strafing, and rocket attacks on radar and ground installations on Kume Jima; other P-47s fly heckler strikes against Kyushu, Japan during the night of 18/19 May.

TINIAN

(Twentieth Air Force): Mission 177: During the night of 18/19 May, 30 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and Tsuruga Harbor in Japan. The advance air echelon of the 509th Composite Group arrives at North Field; the 509th is scheduled to deliver atomic bomb attacks on Japan; its Commanding Officer is Colonel Paul W Tibbets Jr, a pilot with a distinguished record in the 97th Bombardment Group in Europe and N Africa.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: On Formosa, B-24s bomb Taichu Airfield and Tainan Airfield; B-25s and fighter-bombers fly sweeps hitting numerous targets.

BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

In Borneo, B-24s and B-25s hit Ft Brook and Sarawak while B-24s and P-38s attack defenses on Tarakan

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Luzon, American units make some progress toward Woodpecker Ridge.

B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers support ground forces on N Luzon Island and pound concentrations in S Luzon. Fighter-bombers also support ground forces on Negros Island.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa, the US 6th Marine Division, part of US 3rd Amphibious Corps, captures most of the Sugar Loaf Hill, as well as parts of the Half Moon and the Horseshoe positions that overlook it, after several days of bitter fighting. The US 1st Marine Division continues to battle for the Wana river valley and Wana Ridge but fails to eliminate Japanese resistance, even with flame-throwers and tanks in support. Meanwhile, the US 77th and 96th Divisions, parts of US 24th Corps, attack Japanese positions on Flat Peak without success.

Off Okinawa, Destroyer Longshaw (DD-559) is damaged by shore battery off Naha,, 26°11'N, 127°37'E, explodes; wreck is demolished by destroyers Heywood L. Edwards (DD-663) and Picking (DD-685). Also off Okinawa, high speed transport Sims (APD-50) is damaged by kamikaze, 26°00'N, 127°00'E, and tank landing ship LST-808 by aerial torpedo, 26°42'N, 127°47'E. U.S. freighter Cornelius Vanderbilt (carrying gasoline and explosives, as well as general cargo) is bombed by Japanese plane and set afire off Ie Shima, but the 38-man merchant crew, 27-man Armed Guard and the 108 stevedores on board working cargo assemble firefighting parties and put out the blaze in short order.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Longshaw burning on 18 May 1945. On the morning of 18 May 1945, following a four-day period of fire support, Longshaw, en route to her patrol area, ran aground on a coral reef just south of Naha airfield, Okinawa, at 0719 hrs. At circa 1100 hrs Japanese shore batteries hit Longshaw´s forward magazine, which exploded. About an hour later, the landing craft LCI(L)-356 came alongside to remove the crew. 86 crewmen were killed, 95 were wounded. Later in the afternoon, Longshaw, battered beyond salvaging, was destroyed by gunfire and torpedoes from U.S. ships



Photo: The U.S. Navy gasoline tanker USS Wabash (AOG-4) crosses astern of the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD-7) after delivering diesel fuel to her, 18 May 1945. Both ships operated off Okinawa at that time. Wabash is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 2AO. Note her large hull number



ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): 8 B-24s bomb naval, harbor, and airfield targets at Kataoka on Shimushu Island; another B-24 searches for enemy radar along the Kurile Islands.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 366, MAY 18, 1945

During the period May 16‑17 (East Longitude Dates) troops of the Tenth Army penetrated sectors of the enemy's line on Okinawa which are being defended with the greatest tenacity of the entire operation. On the evening of May 16, "G" Company of the 383rd Regiment, Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division, at the crest of Conical Hill engaged in a one‑hour grenade battle with a force of counter‑attacking Japanese before driving the enemy oft the peak. On the same day in the Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division zone of action, the 307th Regiment captured a small hill twice, were forced to retire on both occasions, recaptured the Hill on the morning of May 17 and again were forced to retire due to heavy artillery and mortar fire later in the day.

The First Marine Division captured a Japanese command post on top of a small hill between Dakeshi and Wana on the afternoon of May 17 after over­coming intense opposition from caves. The Sixth Marine Division which cap­tured "Sugar Loaf Hill" on the same day retained possession of it only after losing it twice to heavy counterattack. During this Division's advance from the Asa to the Asato River, it is estimated that two battalions of Japanese troops were destroyed.

Ground troops were supported on May 17 and 18 by heavy gunfire from ships of the U. S. Pacific Fleet and by aircraft from escort carriers of the fleet and from the Second Marine Aircraft Wing and 318th Army Fighter Group. A few enemy planes were over the Okinawa Area late in the day on May 17 and during the early morning hours of May 18.

Search Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One sank a small freighter south of Korea and damaged two freighter transports and an oiler in the same area on May 18.

PACIFIC

Thirty-four USAAF B-29s mine Shimonoseki Straits and the waters off Tsuruya, Japan.

Submarine Shad (SS-235) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Chosan Maru in the Yellow Sea off Gunzan, Korea, 35°41'N, 126°17'E.

Navy land-based aircraft sink Japanese cargo vessel Enkyo Maru off western Korea, 33°14'N, 120°50'E.

Japanese submarine chaser Ch 57 is damaged by mine [laid by British submarine HMS Porpoise on 9 January 1945], south channel into Penang, Malaya, 05°20'N, 100°08'E.

Japanese landing ship T.137 is damaged by aircraft, 12 miles off Daiosaki.

Japanese transport No.18 Nissho Maru is damaged by mine, 34°33'N, 134°47'E.

Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.3 Takunan Maru is damaged by aircraft, 32°05'N, 124°40'E.

Japanese merchant cargo ship No.5 Nissen Maru is damaged by aircraft, 34°43'N, 137°50'E.

[lordroel]

Day 2078 of World War II, May 19th 1945

Allied occupied Germany

At Flensburg, Alfred Rosenberg, the unofficial philosopher of the NSDAP and the person responsible for formulating the racial policies of the party, is arrested.

Photo: The German cruiser Admiral Hipper which was in dry dock at Kiel, Germany, when the harbour was captured by the Allies. Both the German attempts to camouflage her and the damage caused by Allied bombers can be seen, 19 May 1945



Photo: The Commander of the 8th Army Corps, Lieutenant General E H Barker; the Flag Officer in Charge, Kiel Harbour, Rear Admiral H T Baillie-Grohman; and the Commander of the 2nd Army, Lieutenant General Sir Miles Dempsey on the Admiral's barge during a tour of Kiel Harbour, 19 May 1945



Soviet occupied Czechoslovakia

The Czechoslovak Extraordinary People's Court distributes over twenty thousand sentences - seven percent of them being for life or the death sentence - to "traitors, collaborators and fascist elements."

Norway

Photo: Captured German U-boats outside their pen at Trondheim in Norway, 19 May 1945, a Type VII and a Type IX submarine alongside each other outside the submarine pens at Trondheim after the war



Photo: Three U-boats in a submarine pen at Trondheim, 19 May 1945



Syria/Lebanon

French troops landed in Syria and Lebanon. Arab nationalists launched protest demonstrations against the landing.

Soviet Union

Stalin denied that his troops had been arresting Polish leaders for political reasons.

Belgium

Photo: Churchills, Shermans and at least one Cromwell inside No. 3 tank repair bay at 22nd Advanced Base Workshops REME, near Brussels, 19 May 1945



United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Dionne (DE-261) at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 19 May 1945. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 16 April until 28 May 1945



Photo: Overhead view of the U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Boston (CA-69), 19 May 1945



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 4 B-25s blast the Kaifeng warehouse area, destroying at least 5 warehouses, while another hits nearby railroad tracks; another B-25 bombs the town of Shanhsien; about 90 fighter- bombers attack river, road, and rail shipping, troops, supplies and general targets of opportunity, continuing the disruption of troop movement and withdrawal in S and E China.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): The detachments of the 127th and 155th Liaison Squadrons (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, operating from Akyab Airfield with UC-64s and L-5s, return to base at Kalaikunda, India.

JAPAN

Some 272 American B-29 Superfortress bombers strike Hamamatsu, 120 miles (192 km) from Tokyo. Bombs are dropped through the clouds from medium altitude.

IWO JIMA

(VII Fighter Command): 100 P-51s are dispatched to escort B-29s to Tachikawa, Japan but abort due to weather. HQ 413th Fighter Group and 1st, 21st and 34th Fighter Squadrons arrive on Ie Shima from the US with P-47s.

TINIAN

(Twentieth Air Force): Mission 178: 272 B-29s make an abortive raid on the Tachikawa Aircraft Company and bomb the city of Hamamatsu; 14 others hit targets of opportunity; 4 B-29s are lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: In Formosa, B-24s pound Kiirun harbor, B-25s sweep the W coast, hitting several targets including Toyohara, Nisui, and along the Ts'eng-Wen River, hitting a railroad yard, storage facilities, and damaging an alcohol plant on the Ts'eng Wen and fighters sweep the Giran, Tainan, and Heito areas.

BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

In Borneo, B-24s bomb Oelin Airfield and, along with P-38s, attack targets on Tarakan.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Luzon, in the Ipoh dam area north of Manila, where the US 43rd Division of US 11th Corps is operating, Japanese resistance ends. The US 152nd Division is holding its positions near Woodpecker Ridge. The US 25th Division, part of US 1st Corps, begins mopping up in the area north and west of Santa Fe.

B-25s, A-20s, and fighter- bombers support ground forces throughout Luzon, concentrating in the Ipo Dam area. P-38s support ground action on Cebu.

The air echelon of the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, based at Dulag with F-5s, begins operating from Clark Field.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa, the US 77th Division suffers heavy casualties while fighting for the Ishimmi ridge and withdraws.

Off Okinawa, Destroyer escort Vammen (DE-644) is damaged in collision with oiler Cimarron (AO-22), 26°24'N, 127°53'E. Cimarron is also damaged by grounding, 26°25'N, 127°53'E.

ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): 8 B-25s try to bomb Minami Cape radar installation and cannery on the Naka River on Shimushu; only one gets near the targets and bombs and strafes the area, while intense AA fire and enemy fighters drive off the rest and down 1 B-25; MIA is B-25J 43-36140 and a third reaches Petropavlovsk, USSR.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 367, MAY 19, 1943

Troops of the Tenth Army maintained heavy pressure on the enemy along the whole southern front of Okinawa on May 18 (East Longitude Date), meet­ing strong resistance at all points on the front lines. The Sixth Marine Divi­sion withdrew from "Sugar Loaf Hill" in the western sector after nightfall on May 17 but occupied the summit for the fifth time after heavy fighting on the morning of May 18. The enemy has sacrificed large numbers of troops in the defense of this key position before Naha. The First Marine Division gained several hundred yards and was operating east of Wana Town to destroy enemy strong points in that area. The Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division continued to assault strongly held enemy positions with local support from aircraft and from flame‑throwing tanks. This division gained some ground on its right flank near Ishimmi Town. In the hilly sector on the eastern end of the lines south and east of Conical Hill, the Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division progressed slowly in hand to hand fighting. The enemy employed substantial artillery fire all along the line in attempts to contain the attacks of our forces. Our troops were supported throughout the day by ships' gunfire and aircraft bombing. A few enemy aircraft appeared over the Okinawa area during the evening of May 17. Two enemy planes were shot down.

Minor changes were made in the positions of our troops attacking the Shuri position on May 19. Enemy resistance throughout the hilly area around the fortress town remained extremely strong. The Sixth Marine Division re­pulsed a counterattack east of Takamotoji during the early morning. The First Marine Division and Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division continued to attack abreast against heavily fortified ridges and hills around Wana Town. The Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division continued to develop its positions around Conical Hill and to the west of that point in violent hand to hand fighting. On the evening of May, 18, a small group of enemy aircraft attacked our forces in the area of Okinawa. Fourteen were shot down by combat air patrols and by ships' gunfire.

Our attacking troops were supported by aircraft from carriers and from the Second Marine Aircraft Wing and by Naval gunfire.

The enemy on Okinawa at the end of May 17 had lost 48,103 killed in action. U. S. Military Government authorities on that date, had 139,858 civilians under their jurisdiction.

The following is a report of casualties to United States Forces in the Okinawa operation and associated operations against Japan since March 18:

Army troops to May 18, killed and missing 3,093, wounded 12,078.

Fleet Marine Forces to May 18, killed and missing 1,239, wounded 8,180.

U. S. Pacific Fleet to May 16, killed and missing 3,978, wounded 3,958.

Sweeping the northern Ryukyus on May 17‑18, aircraft from fast car­riers of the U. S. Pacific Fleet sank a number of luggers and small craft and damaged numerous others, destroyed five planes on the ground and probably destroyed eight more. Fuel dumps, buildings and installations at Yaku, Tokara, Tokuno, Kikai, Gaja and Amami were destroyed or damaged.

Search Liberators and Privateers of Fleet Air Wing Eighteen struck ship­ping and installations along the south coast of Honshu May 18, sinking a trawler, damaging six small cargo ships, a trawler, a sailing vessel, and numerous fishing craft. In low level attacks, planes of this wing wrecked a train. On the following day, the planes of the same wing sank a small cargo ship and damaged three others near the Honshu coast.

Search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing One heavily damaged a medium oiler south of Korea on May 19.

On May 18, Army Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command attacked military installations on Chichi Jima in the Bonins. On the same date, Corsairs and Hellcats of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing struck targets in the Palaus, on Yap and in the Marshalls. Marine aircraft again bombed Installa­tions in the Palaus on May 19. One plane was shot down by enemy antiair­craft fire but pilot was rescued.

PACIFIC

Destroyers bombard Japanese installations on Paramushiro, Kurils.

Motor gunboat PGM-1 is damaged by explosion off Luzon,14°41'N, 121°46'E.

Japanese army cargo ship Kaiko Maru is sunk by aircraft in Keelung harbor.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Daishin Maru is sunk, and light cruiser Kashima damaged, when the two ships collide in Tsushima Strait, 34°40'N, 128°38'E.

Japanese cargo vessel Ogishima Maru is damaged by aircraft, 34°39'N, 137°32'E.

Japanese merchant tanker Soei Maru is damaged by mine six kilometers east of Mushima.

[lordroel]

Day 2079 of World War II, May 20th 1945

Allied occupied Germany

Photo: Pipers of the 51st Highland Division play during the ceremony to mark the handover of Bremerhaven in Germany to American forces, 20 May 1945



Photo: Lieutenant General B G Horrocks (Commanding 30th Corps), Major General Gordon Holmes Alexander MacMillan (Commanding 51st Highland Division) and Major General C H Gerhardt (Commanding US 29th Infantry Division) on the saluting base during the ceremony to mark the handover of Bremerhaven by British to American forces, 20 May 1945



Soviet occupied Germany

In Berlin, Soviet authorities appoint Dr. Arthur Werner as the Oberbergermeister (mayor) of the city.

Netherlands

The Georgian uprising on Texel ended when Canadian forces arrived to enforce the German surrender and disarmed the remaining German troops.

Belgium

Photo: Sherman tanks inside a building at 1st Canadian Advanced Base Workshops, Belgium, 20 May 1945



Soviet Union

Allied convoy JW-67 arrived at the Kola Inlet near Murmansk, Russia.

United Kingdom

Claude Auchinleck had lunch with Winston Churchill, during which Auchinleck noted to Churchill that William Slim was among the best generals in the British Army and recommended the appointment of Slim to succeed him as Commander-in-Chief, India.

Pacific War

CHINA

Japanese troops evacuate Hochih, in Kwangsi province. The Japanese Imperial General Staff has decided to redistribute available forces closer to the home islands.

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 55 P-51s and P-40s pound truck concentrations, fuel dumps, gun positions, supply areas, troops, bridges, rail, road, and river traffic, and various targets of opportunity around Liping, Yangchi, Siangtan, Yoyang, Yungfengshih, Paoching, Taohwaping, Hengyang, Tungkow, and Changsha.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): In India, the detachment of the 317th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, operating from Comilla with C-47s, returns to base at Kalaikunda.

GUAM

(Seventh Air Force): 10 Guam Island-based B-24s hit air operations buildings on Marcus Island in the N Pacific. The 396th and 820th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), begin a movement from Wheeler Field to Okinawa with B-25s. VII Fighter Command: 16 Saipan based P-47s strafe on Moen Airfield and Eten Airfield and seaplane base and barges off Dublon Island, all in Truk Atoll. In Japan, 9 P-47s from Ie Shima hit a hangar and 2 boats at Fukue-Shima and 32 others hit airfields, railroads, buildings, and radar facilities on Kyushu.

TINIAN

(Twentieth Air Force): Mission 179: During the night of 20/21 May, 30 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait, Maizuru harbor, and He-Saki anchorage; 1 B-29 is lost.

JAPAN

Thirty USAAF B-29s mine Shimonoseki Straits and the waters off Maizuru and Miyazu, Japan.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: Despite bad weather B-25s over Formosa bomb various communications targets and an alcohol plant at Meiji. HQ 375th Troop Carrier Group moves from San Jose to Porac.

SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

Photo: A Matilda tank from the 2/4th Armoured Regiment, Australian Army, crossing the Hongorai River on Bougainville, 20 May 1945



BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

In Borneo, P-38s hit Sandakan, Keningau, and Tarakan while B-25s hit shipping at Balikpapan harbor and a nearby barracks area and sawmill.

Photo: A Matilda II tank of the Australian 2/9th Armoured Regiment firing its three inch howitzer at Japanese positions during the Battle of Tarakan, 20 May 1945



PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Mindanao, the US 31st Division, part of US 10th Corps, advances northward and occupies positions near the town of Malaybalay and encounter Japanese artillery fire. Other units advance north of Davao and resist nighttime counterattacks.

B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers pound the Cagayan Valley targets on Luzon Island. On Mindanao Island, B-24s bomb Piso Point, and fighter- bombers support ground action in the Bukidnon area.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa, American troops secure Chocolate Drop Hill after fighting in the interconnecting tunnels. Elements of the 1st Marine Division, part of US 3rd Amphibious Corps, capture Wana Ridge. Elements of the US 6th Marine Division, part of the same corps, begin mopping up operations in the Japanese held caves of the Horseshoe and Half Moon positions. They use flame-throwers and hollow-charge weapons and seal off some Japanese troops. Japanese forces counterattack on the Horseshoe position suffering an estimated 200 killed. To the east, the US 7th and 96th Divisions, of US 24th Corps, continue to be engaged in the capture of Yonabaru.

Off Okinawa, kamikazes damage destroyer Thatcher (DD-514), 26°33'N, 127°29'E; destroyer escort John C. Butler (DE-339), 26°47'N, 127°52'E; high speed transports Chase (APD-54), 26°18'N, 127°14'E and Register (APD-92), 26°25'N, 127°21'E; and tank landing ship LST-808, 26°42'N, 127°47'E; high speed transport Tattnall (APD-19) is damaged by horizontal bomber, 26°00'N, 128°00'E.

TBF/TBMs from TG 58.3 provide close air support for efforts to take Japanese position holding up the advance of U.S. ground forces northeast of Shuri castle, Okinawa.

Photo: The U.S. navy aircraft carrier USS Essex (CV-9) underway at sea during the Okinawa Campaign, 20 May 1945. Note that her Carrier Air Group 83 (CVG-83) contains both Vought F4U-1 Corsair and Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat fighters of VBF-83 and VF-83



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 368, MAY 20, 1945

The Tenth Army in Southern Okinawa gained ground slowly against the heaviest kind of resistance in the central and western sectors as it enveloped the enemy citadel of Shuri on May 20 (East Longitude Date). The First Marine Division established its forward elements at a point about 800 yards south of Dakeshi Town and the Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division, after re­pulsing three enemy counterattacks, captured a strong point 900 yards north­east of Shuri. In the Sixth Marine Division zone on the west coast, local progress was made east of Takamotoji. Moving against intense fire the Ninety-Sixth Infantry Division reached an elevation about 1,600 yards east of Ishimmi Town. Throughout the day our troops in all sectors met strong re­sistance from caves, pillboxes and intense small arms fire. Ships' gunfire and aircraft continued to support the troops.

A few enemy planes were over the area of Okinawa early on May 20, but no activity was reported during daylight hours when adverse weather prevailed.

On the night of May 18‑19, Thunderbolts of the 318th Army Fighters Group struck targets among the Amami Islands. Thunderbolts of the same force strafed air installations in the Northern Ryukyus and joined a Navy search Privateer to sink a picket craft west of Kyushu on May 20.

Search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing One sank a medium freighter, prob­ably sank two small freighters and damaged a number of landing craft in the waters around Korea on May 20.

Thunderbolt fighters of the Seventh Army Air Force strafed sir installa­tions and barges at Truk on May 20. On the same date, Seventh Air Force Liberators bombed Marcus Island.

Mopping up operations continued on Iwo Island, the Islands of the Marianas and the Palau Islands during the week May 6 through 12. In this period, 141 of the enemy were killed and 167 were captured.

Search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing Four struck installations at Kokutan on Shimushu in the Northern Kuriles with bombs and rockets on May 18. On the same date, Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air Force bombed Kataoka naval base on the same island.

PACIFIC

Submarine Cero (SS-225) sinks Japanese merchant whaler No.5 Seki Maru east-southeast of Kinkazan, 38°06'N, 142°24'E.

Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 244 is sunk by aircraft, 22°35'N, 128°51'E.

Japanese army cargo vessel No.1 Konan Maru is sunk by aircraft off Hong Kong.

USAAF B-24s (Fifth Air Force) sink Japanese army cargo vessel Torai Maru off Keelung, Formosa, 26°00'N, 122°00'E.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Nikkan Maru is sunk by aircraft off Pusan, Korea; merchant refrigerated stores ship Kanagawa Maru is sunk by aircraft off south coast of Korea.

Japanese merchant tanker No.11 Horai Maru is damaged by aircraft, location unspecified.

[lordroel]

Day 2080 of World War II, May 21st 1945

Allied occupied Germany

At Belsen, British authorities order the last remaining hut of the concentration camp to be burnt to the ground. Hermann Goring, former Reichsmarshal of the Luftwaffe, is transferred from the prisoner of war camp at Augsburg to the Palace Hotel at Mondorf where he joins other senior Nazi officials awaiting Allied interrogation.

Photo: Having evacuated the surviving inmates and buried the dead, British forces destroy the camp with flamethrowers to halt the spread of disease, 21 May 1945



Photo: Crowds watch the destruction of the last hut at Belsen two days after the camp was finally evacuated. The hut was set on fire by a British flamethrower, 21 May 1945



Heinrich Himmler was arrested by British troops near Bremen, Germany as he attempted to disguise himself as refugee "Heinrich Hitzinger" and flee with the masses.

Soviet occupied Poland

The Attack on the NKVD Camp in Rembertów took place on the outskirts of Warsaw. A unit of the pro-independence Home Army freed all Polish political prisoners from the Soviet NKVD camp.

United Kingdom

At Blackpool, the British Labour Party votes to withdraw its support from the British coalition government and therefore reject the proposal, made by Winston Churchill, to continue the alliance with the Conservative Party until the end of the war with Japan.

Belgium

Photo: Sergeant Pat Wood and Lieutenant L.F. Labow of the 2nd Drilling Company, Royal Canadian Engineers (R.C.E.), preparing the demolition of former German E-Boat pens, Ostend, Belgium, 21 May 1945



Syria/Lebanon

Syrian and Lebanese representatives break off negotiations with French representatives. Arab nationalists are seeking to assert their claim to independence, something that was promised when the Free French liberated Syria and Lebanon in 1941, while France presently refuses to recognise anything more than limited self-government.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Dionne (DE-261) underway off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 21 May 1945



Photo: View of Mark 52 gun director with the attached Mark 26 fire control radar aboard the U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Deede (DE-263) at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 21 May 1945



Photo: The U.S. Navy attack cargo ship USS Washburn (AKA-108) at anchor, 21 May 1945. The photo was taken by an aircraft from Floyd Bennett Field, New Yyork City (USA), from an altitude of 90 m (300 ft)



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 8 B-25s bomb a bridge approach N of Hankow, 1 damages the railroad track between Changsha and Kweiyi, and 2 score near misses on a bridge at Kuanshuishih; 3 B-25s and 6 P-51s damage a bridge at Chihsien and hit railroad targets of opportunity in the Anyang area; 50+ fighter-bombers on armed reconnaissance continue attacks against river, road, and rail traffic, positions, troops, bridges, and numerous other targets in S and E China.

IWO JIMA

(VII Fighter Command): P-47s fly heckler strikes against Kyushu Island, Japan during the night of 21/22 May.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: P-38s strafe railroad rolling stock in the Saigon, French Indochina area.

BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

In Borneo, B-24s hit Brunei, Samarinda Airfields shipyards, and troop concentrations on Tarakan.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

The Japanese supply base at Malaybalay on Mindanao is captured by elements of the US 31st Division.

On Luzon Island, B-25s blast numerous targets in the Cagayan Valley while A-20s and P-51s support ground forces in NW sectors; P-38s napalm-bomb the Ipo Dam and Marikina River sectors and hit positions throughout Negro Island.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa, US 3rd Amphibious Corps reports advances near the Horseshoe, Half Moon and Wana positions, on the western flank. On the east-side, US 7th and 96th Divisions (parts of US 24th Corps) attack near Yonabaru. Japanese forces begin to pull out of the Shuri Line.

Photo: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) being hit by a Japanese bomb-laden kamikaze on 21 May 1945. The ship's forward elevator was blown approximately 400 feet into the air from the force of the explosion six decks below



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 369, MAY 21, 1945

On the night of May 20‑21 (East Longitude Dates) the Sixth Marine Division in western Okinawa repulsed a substantial counterattack by Japanese troops, some of whom were found to be wearing Marine uniforms and carry­ing U. S. weapons. An attempt by three groups of the enemy to destroy our tanks in the First Marine Division sector by use of suicide demolitions was repulsed.

During the darkness of early morning of May 21, infantrymen of the Seventy‑Seventh Army Division struck out in a surprise attack against the enemy lines north of Shuri and captured the town of Taira Machi under In­tense small arms fire. Fighting heavily all day, troops of the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps and the Marine Third Amphibious Corps made advances on both flanks and in the center of the lines. The Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division pressed southward making gains toward Yonabaru Town on the east coast and was under intense interlocking machine gun fire throughout the day. In the center of the lines, the Seventy‑Seventh Division was moving slowly south of Taira Mach! after repulsing a strong enemy effort to recapture the town in daylight. The First Marine Division was engaged in heavy fighting during the afternoon in the ridges in the Wana area. On the west coast, the Sixth Marine Division was attacking on a line south of Sugar Loaf Hill which is now reported secured after its peak had changed hands eleven times !n heavy fighting.

The troops were supported by heavy field artillery and Naval gunfire.

During the evening of May 20, about 35 enemy planes made low level attacks on our ships off the coast of Okinawa damaging five light units. Twenty‑six of the attacking aircraft were destroyed by our forces.

A search Privateer of Fleet Air Wing One bombed warehouse installa­tions on Yaku Island in the northern Ryukyus on May 20 starting large fires. From the inauguration of searches from Okinawa area bases until May 21, planes of this wing sank 86,880 tons of enemy shipping, damaged 81,500 tons, destroyed 21 enemy aircraft and damaged 15 aircraft.

Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed defense positions in the Palaus and on Yap on May 20. Planes of Fleet Air Wing Two and the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing struck enemy positions in the Marshalls on May 19‑20.

A Mitchell bomber of the Eleventh Army Air Force was lost to antiaircraft fire during an attack on Minami Cape on Shimushu in the northern Kuriles on May 20. Search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four swept targets !n the area of Paramushiru on the same date.

PACIFIC

Submarine Chub (SS-329) sinks Japanese minesweeper W.34 in Java Sea off Kepualuan, 06°15'S, 116°01'E.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Santen Maru is sunk by USAAF mine laid by B-29 (20th Air Force) off Niihama, 33°57'N, 133°16'E.

Photo: USS ANZIO (CVE-57) (ex-CORAL SEA) with an Avenger (TBM-3E) and three Wildcats on deck, 21 May 1945

[lordroel]

Day 2081 of World War II, May 22nd 1945

Allied occupied Germany

Field Marshall Montgomery was designated as commander of British occupation troops, as well as a British member of the Allied Control Commission in Germany.

Heinrich Himmler, the Reichsfuhrer SS, is captured by a British patrol at Bremervorde, near Hamburg. He initially claimed to be a rural policeman named Heinrich Hitzinger but under interrogation he removed the black eye patch he was wearing and put on his familiar glasses before admitting his true identity.

The Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) acceded to Soviet proposals that the Flensburg Government be dissolved and its members arrested as POWs.

Soviet occupied Latvia

Soviet SMERSH captured German SS Lieutenant General Bruno Streckenbach in Latvia. He would remain imprisoned in Russia until Oct 1955.

Soviet Union

Viktor Abakumov complained to Lavrentiy Beria of NKVD official Ivan Serov's interference with the SMERSH investigation of Adolf Hitler's final days. Lavrentiy Beria received a report from Soviet NKVD official Ivan Serov regarding Adolf Hitler's final days.

United Kingdom

A group of 25 German POWs is put to work in the suburbs of London to assist in rebuilding. They are visited by the British minister of works, Duncan Sandys, who later commented: "We hope to get a lot of good work out of these chaps."

The British Government announced further reductions in rations. Bacon was reduced to three ounces per person per week, cooking fat to one ounce and meat to 106-lb per person per year, and the soap ration was also reduced for all but babies and young children.

YouTube (U-Boat surrenders in the Thames (1945)



United States

President Truman reports to Congress on the Lend-Lease program. He announces that up to March 1945, Britain had received supplies worth $12,775,000,000 and the Soviets $8,409,000,000. Reverse Lend-Lease, mostly from Britain has been worth almost $5,000,000,000 in the same period.

Following the deaths of six people in Oregon including five children, the United States Department of Censorship lifted the blackout of press coverage about the Japanese balloon bombs. In its place, a safety warning was widely publicized describing the balloons and cautioning people, especially children, to avoid contact with any strange objects found in open country. News editors were still encouraged to keep any reporting of specific balloon activities out of their reports in order to deny the Japanese that intelligence.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Gurke (DD-783) in Puget Sound, Washington (USA), on 22 May 1945



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 15 B-25s and 7 fighter- bombers knock out a rail bridge at Hei-Shih Kuan, damage a bridge approach at Hwayuan, and hit a variety of targets S of Kuo-lueh-chen; 10 P-51s drop napalm on trucks, barracks, storage, trains, and town areas at Sinyang, and Shanyangchen; 45 other fighter-bombers and photo reconnaissance aircraft attack railroad targets, bridges, troops, and other targets at several S and E China points and survey enemy movements.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): The flight of the 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, operating from Akyab Airfield with F-6s, returns to base at Nagaghuli.

TINIAN

(Twentieth Air Force): Mission 180: During the night of 22/23 May, 30 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and approaches; 1 B-29 is lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

On Formosa, B-24s bomb Toshien and Okayama while B-25s hit an oil plant west of Kagi and several targets of opportunity.

BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

In Borneo, B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers attack Jesselton, Kudat, Bintula, and Tarakan.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

Elements of the US 24th Division reach Tambongan on Mindanao.

B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers attack the Santa Fe, Fula, and Casambalangan areas in the N part of Luzon Island and support ground forces in the Ipo Dam and Marikina areas in the S.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa, American forces enter Yonabaru and capture Conical Hill. Heavy rains begin that hamper offensive operations for the coming weeks.

Photo: The caption on this photograph reads "Watching Their Troops-As the Marines drive toward the capital city of Naha, leaders watch the action from an observation post on a rocky ledge. They are, (left to right): Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr., commanding the Tenth Army; Major General Lemuel C. Shepherd, commanding general of the Sixth Marine Division, and his assistant commander, Marine Brigadier General William T. Clement," 22 May 1945



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 370, MAY 22, 1945

At dusk on May 21 (East Longitude Date) about 12 to 15 enemy aircraft attacked U. S. ships in the Okinawa area. Eight of these planes were de­stroyed by our forces and the remainder retired from the area without caus­ing damage.

Heavy rains and resulting mud limited the movement of armored vehicles and restricted operations in the central and western sectors of the front in Southern Okinawa on May 22. On the eastern end of the lines the advances made in the previous week by the Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division permitted the Seventh Infantry Division to launch a night attack which carried their forward elements into Yonabaru on the left flank and around the city into the high ground overlooking Rioj Town and Itarashiku Town to the south. Reports at this time indicate that the enemy has chosen not to defend Yona­baru which has been thoroughly reduced by our gunfire and bombing. Mean­while the Ninety Sixth Infantry Division continued to attack enemy defenses southwest of Conical Hill. During early morning darkness of May 22, the Marine Division in the west repulsed a Japanese counterattack killing about 80 of the enemy. The Sixth Marine Division continued to consolidate its posi­tion along the Asato River and the Seventy Seventh Infantry Division con­ducted mopping up operations.

Carrier based aircraft of the British Pacific Fleet bombed airfields, bar­racks, port installations, and buildings in the Sakishima group on May 20 and 21. One enemy plane was shot down.

Search Mariners of Fleet Air Wing One damaged two small cargo ships in the East China Sea on May 22. One the same date a search Privateer of this wing strafed a small cargo ship and left it burning south of Korea.

A small group of enemy bombers made a low level attack on installations on Iwo Island during the night of May 21, causing a few casualties. Two enemy planes were shot down.

Liberators and Privateers of Fleet Air Wing Eighteen shot down a glider, probably destroyed an enemy plane and sank two small cargo ships south of Honshu on May 21. On the following day aircraft of this wing destroyed three fishing craft and damaged a small cargo ship in the same area.

Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed enemy installations !n the Palaus and on Yap on May 21 and 22. On May 21 and during the night of May 21‑22, Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Com­mand bombed and strafed a radio station on Chichi Jima !n the Bonins. Marine bombers continued neutralizing raids on the Marshalls on May 21. In mopping up operations on Iwo Island and the Island of the Marianas from May 13 through May 19, U. S. forces killed 94 of the enemy and captured 134.

PACIFIC

Thirty-two USAAF B-29s mine Shimonoseki Straits.

Planes from carriers Bennington (CV-20) and Hornet (CV-12) sink Japanese submarine chasers Ch 37 and Ch 58, and landing ship T.173 southwest of Kyushu between Sasebo and Oshima, 29°45'N, 129°10'E.

Mines sink Japanese merchant cargo ships No.25 Uwajima Maru off Moji, 34°20'N, 134°20'E, and Sagami Maru off Wakamatsu, and damage auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 157 eight miles off Niigata harbor.

Japanese auxiliary patrol vessel Pa 25 is damaged by aircraft one kilometer off Omaesaki.

[lordroel]

Day 2082 of World War II, May 23rd 1945

Allied occupied Germany

At Flensburg, the successor government of the Third Reich, including Karl Donitz, the nominal Fuhrer, as well as the German military leadership, are all arrested on the orders of General Eisenhower. At Luneburg, Heinrich Himmler commits suicide while being examined by a doctor at the headquarters of the British 2nd Army. He had been stripped and searched but bit down on a hidden phial of cyanide when the doctor attempted to stick a finger in his mouth. At St. Johann, US troops uncover $4 million in mixed currencies believed to belong to Himmler. In Bavaria, the former leading Nazi anti-Semitic propagandist, Julius Streicher, is arrested by Americans.

Photo: Three members of the Flensburg Government, General Alfred Jodl, Dr Albert Speer, and Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz, after their arrest by the British, 23 May 1945



Photo: British soldiers enter the sports school in Flensburg-Mürwik and arrest members of the Flensburg Government, 23 May 1945



Photo: General Jodl under guard by men of 'A' Company, 1st Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment who raided a house in Muivik, a few miles from Flensburg, where members of the German Government were located. In total, twelve 'Grade 1' prisoners were taken including General Jodl, 23 May 1945



Photo: Nazi officers and officials arrive at British Military Headquarters, Flensburg, following the operation undertaken by men of 'A' Company, 1st Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment, 335 Security Section and a squadron of Belgian SAS to arrest members of the German Government. In a house in Muivik, a few miles from Flensburg, a total of twelve 'Grade 1' prisoners were taken including General Jodl, 23 May 1945



YouTube (The Flensburg Fiasco (1945)



Former Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, captured on 21 May, dies by cyanide capsule while in a British interrogation center.

United Kingdom

The Labor Party withdraws from the wartime coalition government and Prime Minister Churchill (leading the Conservative Party) resigns in order to prepare for the election. He forms a new caretaker government to hold office until the election. The date of the election -- the first in ten years -- is set on July 5, 1945.

Netherlands

Photo: M3A3 Stuart V light tanks of Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) taking part in an inspection and marchpast of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division, Eelde, Netherlands, 23 May 1945



Photo: Tank crews of The British Columbia Dragoons lined up in front of their Sherman tanks during a review by General H.D.G. Crerar followed by a mounted marchpast, Eelde, Netherlands, 23 May 1945



Photo: The Irish Regiment of Canada passes the saluting base during Gen. H.D.G. Crerar's review at Eelde airport, 23 May 1945



Photo: General H.D.G. Crerar taking the salute during a mounted marchpast of The British Columbia Dragoons, Eelde, Netherlands, 23 May 1945



United States

President Truman performed a cabinet reshuffle. Tom C. Clark replaced Francis Biddle as Attorney General, Lewis B. Schwellenbach succeeded Frances Perkins as Labor Secretary and Clinton Presba Anderson replaced Claude R. Wickard as Agriculture Secretary.

The United Nations Conference in San Francisco approved veto rights for the Big Five powers (China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States) on the Security Council.

Photo: The U.S. Navy attack transport USS Clearfield (APA-142) off San Francisco, California (USA), on 23 May 1945



Photo: The U.S. Navy attack transport USS Heywood (APA-6) off San Francisco, California (USA), on 23 May 1945. Among the ships in the distance are the attack cargo ship USS Arneb (AKA-56), at left, and USS Clearfield (APA-142), at right



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 14 B-25s and 6 P-51s attack a bridge and gun positions N and S of Hwayuan, knock out a bridge and hit boxcars at Chungmow, damage a bridge N of Lohochai, damage a bridge and nearby gun positions at Kuanshuishih, and pound truck convoys around Paoching, Hengyang, and Changsha; 30+ fighter-bombers hit various targets of opportunity around Liping, Yoyang, Changsha, Hengyang, Luntangpu, Chingmen, Shasi, and Ichang.

INDIA-BURMA

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

GUAM

Seventh Air Force: The 27th and 392d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 30th BG (Heavy), move from Kahuku and Kipapa respectively to Wheeler Field with B-24s. VII Fighter Command: 32 P-47s from Saipan Island strafe Moen Island airfields and boats off Tol Island, buildings on Tarik Island, and the seaplane base, buildings, and small boats at Dublon Island, all in Truk Atoll.

TINIAN

(Twentieth Air Force): Mission 181: During the night of 23/24 May, 520 out of 562 B-29s sent against Tokyo bomb an urban-industrial area S of the Imperial Palace along the W side of the harbor; 5 others hit targets of opportunity; 17 B-29s are lost; this is the largest number of B-29s participating in a single mission during WWII

BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Borneo, Tawau, Bintula, Samarinda, and Miri are hit by B-24s, Ft Brook and Weston by B-25s, and Tarakan is hit by fighter-bombers.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Luzon, A-20s and B-25s hit Cagayan Valley and Balete Pass targets, P-51s support ground forces in the Baguio area and P-38s hit the Ipo-Antipolo areas.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa, after occupying Naha, the US 6th Marine Division (part of US 3rd Amphibious Corps) encounters heavy Japanese resistance to attempts to advance further south.

ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): 7 B-24s radar-bomb the Kataoka naval base area on Shimushu while another flies a radar-ferret mission in the same area.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 371, MAY 23, 1945

Two small groups of enemy aircraft attacked our forces on and around Okinawa during the evening of May 22 (East Longitude Date). One enemy plane was shot down and the remainder driven off without causing damage.

Continuing rains and heavy mud limited the movement of ground troops and armored vehicles !n southern Okinawa on May 23. In these adverse condi­tions the Seventh Infantry Division on our left flank expanded Its positions south of Yonabaru capturing a hill south of Taira Town and another eleva­tion west of Yonabaru after sharp fighting in which the Thirty Second and One Hundred Eighty Fourth Regiments led the attack. The Sixth Marine Division on the right flank sent elements of the Fourth Regiment of Marines across the Asato River about 1,000 yards from its mouth during the day under cover of field artillery and heavy Naval gunfire. In the area west of Conical Hill the Ninety Sixth Infantry Division was meeting stiff resistance beating of one counterattack in which the Three Hundred Eighty Second Regiment killed about 160 of the enemy. The Seventy Seventh Infantry Divi­sion was engaged throughout the day in attacking a range of hills south of Ishimmi and before the city of Shuri. In the First Marine Division sector a counterattack by the enemy was repulsed.

Escort carrier aircraft of the U. S. Pacific Fleet bombed airfields and installations on Ishigaki and Miyako in the Sakishima group on May 22 and 23 setting one aircraft afire and strafing five others on the ground.

A search seaplane of Fleet Air Wing One heavily damaged a small cargo ship in the East China Sea on May 23.

Search Privateers and Liberators of Fleet Air Wing Eighteen sank three small craft south of Tokyo and strafed radar and camp installations on Shikoku on May 22. On the following day Venturas of this wing strafed bar­racks and shipping on and around Honshu and a search plane shot down one enemy fighter and sank a net tender and a small cargo ship oft the Honshu coast.

Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed targets in the Palaus on May 22 and Helldiver bombers of the same wing struck Yap on the same date. Planes of Fleet Air Wing Two strafed targets in the Marshalls on May 21 and 22. On May 23 Thunderbolts of the Seventh Army Air Force destroyed one aircraft on the ground and probably destroyed another in attacks on Truk.

PACIFIC

Mines laid by USAAF B-29s (20th Air Force) sink Japanese cargo vessels Sagami Maru at 34°00'N, 131°00'E and 2 Shinri Maru off Hesaki, 33°58'N, 131°02'E, and Kimigayo Maru west of Hime Jima, 33°06'N, 129°43'E. Mine damages merchant cargo ship Iwai Maru three kilometers southeast of Mushima.

[lordroel]

Day 2083 of World War II, May 24th 1945

Allied occupied Germany

The Allies began exchanging the prisoners of war they had freed in Germany.

Photo: The German light cruiser Nürnberg sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Wilhelmshaven, Germany, under the terms of surrender, escorted by two Consolidated Liberators of No. 547 Squadron RAF, 24 May 1945



Allied occupied Austria

At Salzburg, Austria, Field Marshal Robert Ritter von Greim, head of the Luftwaffe, committed suicide in American captivity. Having learnt that he was to be a part of a Soviet-American prisoner exchange and, fearing torture and execution at the hands of the Russians, he took cyanide. His final words were: "I am the head of the Luftwaffe, but have no Luftwaffe."

France

De Gaulle awards Montgomery the Grande Croix of the Legion d'Honneur.

United Kingdom

Photo: German U-boats Surrender at Lisahally, Near Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 24 May 1945



Photo: View of the first eight surrendered U-boats at Lisahally on 24th May 1945. The photo also shows to good effect the buildings around the former US Naval Base including the storage sheds, workshops and fuel storage tanks. Maydown airfield is also visible beyond. The eight U-boats were; U-293, U-802, U-826, U-1009, U-1058, U-1105, U-1109 and U-1305



United States

Photo: An aerial photograph of the San Francisco Naval Shipyard at Hunters' Point, San Francisco, California (USA), taken by a plane from the U.S. Navy photographic squadron VJ-1 from an altitude of 2.300 m on 24 May 1945. The aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CV-11) is visible in the center, with the Crane Ship No. 1 (ex-USS Kearsarge (BB-5)) on her port side. The light aircraft carrier USS Cabot (CVL-28) is visible in the drydock in the lower half of the picture. The battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) is visible at the pier in the upper part of the picture. USS Drum (SS-228), one of two submarines, is visible bottom right



Photo: The U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Kula Gulf (CVE-108) underway in Puget Sound, Washington (USA), on 24 May 1945. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 22



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Elden (DE-264) at the Hunter's Point Naval drydocks, San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California (USA), 24 May 1945. Circles mark recent alterations



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): 5 B-25s knock out a railroad bridge N of Anyang; 30+ fighter-bombers attack railroad targets, truck convoys, bridges, and other targets of opportunity around Nanyang, Burma and Anyang, Sichuan, Kuo-lueh-chen, Kuantaokou, Luntangpu, Houpo, Laohokow, Sinsiang, Kiehsiu, Linfen, Taiyuan, Puchou, and Yutze, China.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): HQ 80th Fighter Group moves from Myitkyina, Burma to Dudhkundi, India. The 434th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th Bombardment Group (Medium), ceases operating from Magwe, Burma with B-25s, and returns to base at Fenny, India.

GUAM

Seventh Air Force: 26 Guam Island-based B-24s pound the airfield and surrounding area on Marcus Island. VII Fighter Command: 120 Iwo Jima based P-51s dispatched against Matsudo and Tokorozawa abort because of weather; P-47s fly heckler strikes against Kyushu Island, Japan during the night of 24/25 May.

TINIAN

(Twentieth Air Force): Mission 182: During the night of 24/25 May, 25 B-29s lay mines in Shimonoseki Strait and at Niigata, Nanao, and Fushiki.

JAPAN

On Kyushu, aircraft from US Task Force 58 raid several airfields used by the Kamikaze forces attacking American naval forces around Okinawa. Meanwhile about 520 US bombers strike Tokyo, dropping some 3646 tons of bombs.

Thirty USAAF B-29s mine Shimonoseki Straits and the waters off Niigata, Nanao, and Fushiki, Japan. Mine laid by USAAF B-29 (20th Air Force) sinks Japanese cargo vessel No.14 Kaishin Maru west of the mouth of Kammon Channel, 34°31'N, 130°54'E. Mines sink Japanese merchant cargo ships Fukuei Maru off Shodo Jima, Kinryuzan Maru off Moji, Tatsufuku Maru off Hesaki, Inaba Maru west of Oshima, Kagawa prefecture, and (USAAF B-29-laid mine) merchant tanker No.7 Nanko Maru off Motoyamamisaki, 33°55'N, 131°20'E; and damage transport (ex-seaplane carrier) Kiyokawa Maru off Motoyamamisaki, and merchant cargo ships Nitcho Maru 44 kilometers southwest of Onna Jima, Yamazumi Maru at 34°05'N, 130°51'E, and No.2 Tomoe Maru at 32°52'N, 129°15'E.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

Australian troops surround Wewak.

BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1945)

In Borneo, B-24s, B-25s, and P-38s attack Ft Brook, Bintula, Tawau, Beaufort, Jesselton, along the Lawas River, and Malinau.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Luzon Island, B-24s pound Cagayan Valley targets including Aparri; B-25s, A-20s, and P-51s hit numerous targets throughout the Valley and in NW and S Luzon, including the Vira, Callang, Santa Cruz, Baguio, Balete Pass, Ipo, and Antipolo areas. Fighter-bombers also support ground forces on Negros Island.

VOLCANO AND RYUKYU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Okinawa during the night of 25/25 May, five Japanese transport aircraft carrying at least 69 Army commandoes, crash land on Yontan Airfield. The commandoes destroy nine aircraft (three F4Us, two PB4Y-2 Privateers and four transports) and damage another 29 (22 F4Us, three F6Fs, two B-24s and two transports), ignite 70,000 US gallons of aviation fuel, kill the Marine control tower duty officer, and wound another 18 Marines before the last Japanese is killed at 1255 hours on 25 May. Meanwhile, Japanese troops conduct vigorous counterattacks in the direction of Yonabaru and make a small penetration into the lines of the US 32nd Division.

Japanese aircraft attack U.S. positions and ships at Okinawa; strikes continue on 25 May. Kamikazes damage destroyer escort William C. Cole (DE-641), 26°45'N, 127°52'E; high speed transport Sims (APD-50), 26°00'N, 127°00'E; and large support landing craft LCS(L)-121; friendly fire damages destroyer Heywood L. Edwards (DD-663), 26°20'N, 127°43'E. Escort carrier Suwannee (CVE-27) is damaged when plane landing on her flight deck explodes upon landing, 24°00'N, 124°00'E.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 372, MAY 24, 1945

Several small air raids were made by the enemy on our forces in the Okinawa Area on May 23 (East Longitude Date), causing minor damage to a light unit.

Heavy mud continued to hamper movement of the Tenth Army in South­ern Okinawa on May 24. On our right flank in the west, the Sixth Marine Division constructed two bridges across the Asato River under fire of enemy artillery and sent Infantry elements to the bridgehead on the South Bank In force. Patrols afoot were engaged throughout the day, reducing strong points South of the River. On our Left flank in the East, the Seventh Infantry Divi­sion made important advances after sharp fighting. Action along the remainder of the front was limited largely to mopping up operations. Use of our armor was prevented by adverse conditions of the terrain at the front.

Numerous small groups of enemy aircraft attacked our forces afloat and ashore at le Shims during the evening of May 24, causing some damage to installations on the Island. By 2330, Local Time, fifteen enemy planes had been destroyed and the attack was continuing.

U. S. Military Government authorities on Okinawa are engaged in de­velopment of facilities for the caring of more than 139,000 civilians on the island. Of the civilians thus far taken under our jurisdiction, 82 per cent are children under seventeen years of age or women. The majority of adult males on the Island were drafted for labor service with the enemy prior to U. S. landings. During the month of April, 86 per cent of the civilians in areas under U. S. control subsisted wholly on native resources. Security patrolling of areas under the Island Commander is being carried out by troops of the Twenty‑Seventh Infantry Division.

Aircraft from Escort Carriers of the U. S. Pacific Fleet continued to neutralize enemy airfields in the Sakishima Group on May 24. Five planes were strafed on the ground at Miyako Island.

Search Coronados of Fleet Air Wing One shot down an enemy fighter off the coast of Southern Korea on May 24.

Fighters and bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing struck instal­lations in the Palaus and on Yap on May 23 and 24.

Light Naval units of the U. S. Pacific Fleet bombarded Suribachi Port and installations on the East Coast of Paramushiru on May 20, causing fires and explosions. An attack by two enemy aircraft upon our forces during their retirement was beaten off without casualties to our ships.

PACIFIC

PBMs sink Japanese Special Coast Defense Ship No.21 off China coast, 20°58'N, 110°30'E.