World War II in real time

Day 1935 of World War II, December 28th 1944

Eastern Front

In Hungary, Soviet forces report the capture of additional outlying areas near Budapest.

Western Front (1944) - Battle of the Bulge

Map: HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map, December 28th 1944



AEF Commander in Chief General Eisenhower meets with British 21st Army Group command Field Marshal Montgomery to coordinate the counteroffensive in the Ardennes.

Photo: A soldier from the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade, 7th Armoured Division, emerges from his foxhole armed with a PIAT, 28 December 1944



Photo: A captured German 88mm gun being used against its original owners by gunners of 172nd Battery, 58th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, 28 December 1944



Air War over Europe

(US Eighth Air Force): 3 missions are flown. Mission 766: 1,275 bombers and 606 fighter are dispatched to hit rail and road bridges and several cities in the W German tactical area; 2 bombers are lost: 1. 361 B-24s are sent to hit marshalling yards at Kaiserslautern (123), Homburg (28 ) and Neunkirchen (18 ), the Kaiserslautern rail bridge (31) and the bridge at Bullay (20); secondary targets hit are Bierbach (32) and Zweibrucken (20); 12 other hit a target of opportunity; 2 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 121 damaged; 10 airmen are KIA, 2 WIA and 22 MIA. Escorting are 147 of 161 P-51s without loss. 2. 535 B-17s are dispatched to hit the rail bridge at Irlich (109); 399 hit the secondary, the Mosel marshalling yard at Koblenz; 2 other hit a target of opportunity; 4 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA. Escort is provided by 236 of 247 P-51s without loss. 3. 379 B-17s are sent to hit marshalling yards at Koblenz/Lutzel (131), Bruhl (75), Sieburg (36), and Troisdorf (11), and the Remagen Bridge (71); 1 B-17s hit the secondary, Sinzig; and 5 hit a target of opportunity; 2 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 2 WIA. Escorts are 158 of 168 P-51s without loss. 4. 27 of 30 P-51s fly a scouting mission. Mission 767: During the night, 7 of 16 B-24s hit de la Colibre, France without loss. Mission 768: During the night, 2 B-24s drop leaflets in Belgium without loss.

(US Fifteenth Air Force):480+ B-17s and B-24s attack Regensburg oil storage and freight yard in Germany; marshalling yards at Zwettl, Amstetten, Kallwang, Hieflau, and Salzburg, Austria; oil refineries at Kralupy nad Vltava, Kolin, and Pardubice and oil storage and sidings at Roudnice nad Labem and the Nymburk railroad bridge at Kammern, Czechoslovakia; the Brenner rail line; and Bressanone and Venzone railroad bridges in Italy; P-38s and P-51s fly 350+ sorties in support of the bombers.

167 RAF Lancasters of No 3 Group attacked the marshalling yards at Cologne/Gremberg with accurate bombing. No aircraft lost.

Mönchengladbach: 186 RAF aircraft - 129 Lancasters, 46 Halifaxes, 11 Mosquitos - of Nos 1, 4 and 8 Groups. No aircraft lost. The railway yards were the aiming point but little damage was caused there.

Bonn: 162 RAF Lancasters and 16 Mosquitos of Nos 1 and 8 Groups. 1 Lancaster lost. The intention again was to bomb the railway installations. Bomber Command's report states that the main weight of the attack fell on the railway yards, causing 'considerable damage'.

67 RAF Lancasters and 1 Mosquito of No 5 Group attacked a 'large naval unit' and some merchant ships in Oslo Fjord but no direct hits were claimed. No aircraft lost.

87 RAF Mosquitos to Frankfurt - 79 to the city generally and 8 to the railway yards - 35 RCM sorties, 45 Mosquito patrols, 16 Halifaxes of No 6 Group minelaying in the Skagerrak and 11 Lancasters of No 5 Group off Oslo, 12 aircraft on Resistance operations. 1 minelaying Halifax was lost and 1 Mosquito from the Frankfurt raid crashed in France.

Italian campaign

The US 5th Army, fighting in the Serchio valley, has pulled back from the town of Barga in response to German counterattacks.

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack troop concentration at Aulla, a dump at Mirabello Monferrato, 3 rail lines from Austria and Yugoslavia into NE Italy by hitting bridges at Chiusaforte and Bodrez, Yugoslavia, and the viaduct at Borovnica; XXII Tactical Air Command planes support the US Fifth Army in the Serchio Valley, where counterattacks are repulsed, hit roads and bridges, and destroy a number of vehicles, many at a motor transport depot near Aulla which the fighters bomb and strafe; during the night of 27/28 Dec, A-20s bomb lights and motor transport at almost 50 places throughout the Po Valley and Brenner area.

Greece

Photo: Prime Minister Winston Churchill leaving HMS Ajax to attend a conference ashore. Athens can be seen in the background, 28 December 1944



Arctic naval operations

German submarine 'U-735' sunk by bombs in Oslo Fjord near Horten, Norway in position 59.24N, 10.28E, during a British air raid (RAF A/C). 39 dead and 1 survivor.

Greece

In Athens British Prime Minister Churchill agrees to recommend the establishment of a regency to the King of Greece.

Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25s and 16 fighter-bombers hit town areas, railroad targets, and gun positionsin the Hengyang-Leiyang area. 20 P-51s and P-38s attack Gia Lam Airfield, French Indochina, pounding the barracks area, hangars, shops, and railroad facilities. 40+ other P-51s, P-40s, and P-38s on armed reconnaissance over S China and over French Indochina hit targets of opportunity at several locations including areas around Anking, Kinkiang Yungning, Siangtan, and Yuncheng, China; Wanling, Mongyu, Man Pong, and Namtao, Burma; and Hanoi and Lang Son, French Indochina.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 23 P-47s knock out a bridge at Nampawng and damage others at Man Pwe and Hsenwi; 8 B-25s destroy bridges at Kin and Kyaukhlebein, hit an already unserviceable bridge at Padon, damage a bypass road at Lashio and bomb troop concentrations, supplies, and artillery at Mong Hseng, Mong Tat, and Kathe. 297 transport sorties are flown to forward areas. 4 B-25s continue offensive reconnaissance over communications lines during the night of 28/29 Dec. In India, the 5th Fighter Squadron (Commando) moves from Asansol to Fenny with P-47s. The 165th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Asansol, India to Kawlin, Burma with UC-64s and L-5s.

SAIPAN

(Seventh Air Force): 13 B-24s, flying out of Saipan, bomb an airfield on Iwo Jima which is hit again during the night of 28/29 Dec when B-24s from Guam and Saipan fly 2 single-plane strikes.

TINIAN

(Twentieth Air Force): Units arriving at North Field from the US with B-29s: HQ 6th BG (Very Heavy) and the 24th and 39th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy) (first mission 27 Jan 45); HQ 9th BG (Very Heavy) and the 1st, 5th and 99th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy) (first mission 25 Jan 45).

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

In Northeast New Guinea, the Australian Piper Force Piper Force (two battalions of the 2/11th Battalion, 19th Brigade, 6th Division) occupies the Musimbe area and the 2/8th Battalion, 19th Brigade, 6th Division, concentrates at Luain, 1 mile east of Suain.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

The 38th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 13 AF [attached to 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance)], moves from Hollandia, New Guinea to Morotai Island with F-5s (first mission is 21 Feb 45).

JAPANESE OCCUPIED NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

USAAF Far East Air Forces B-25s attack Laha and Kairatoe Airfields on Ambon Island and Haroekoe Airfield on Haroekoe Island while fighter-bombers hit Namlea Airfield on Boeroe (Buroe) Island. In the Soembawa-Flores Island area in the Lesser Sunda Islands, B-24s attack Japanese shipping. FEAF fighters and bombers on numerous small raids hit targets on Borneo, Celebes, Halmahera, Timor and Tanimbar Islands.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1944)

On Leyte in the U.S. Eighth Army's X Corps area, the 5th and 12th Cavalry Regiments (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division reach the west coast at Tibur, a barrio north of Abijao. The 1st and 2d Battalions, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, take San Isidro against light resistance. In the XXIV Corps area, the 2d Battalion, 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division, moves by Landing Craft, Mechanized (LCM) from Ormoc to Palompon; the 3d Battalion continues an overland drive, gaining about 1,000 yards.

On Mindoro, Elmore Field is now fully operational.

USAAF Far East Air fighters and bombers on numerous small raids hit targets on Palawan and Mindanao and ,the Lingayen Gulf, and west of Mindoro Island.

ADMIRAILTY ISLANDS

Photo: The U.S. Navy battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) in floating dry dock ABSD-2 at Manus, Admirality Islands, on 28 December 1944, high and dry on the keel blocks. The Camouflage Measure 32, Design 1B camouflage can still be seen on this side



SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Bougainville, Australian Brigadier Raymond Monaghan, General Officer Commanding 29th Brigade, 3rd Division, orders a deep advance along the coast. The 15th Battalion is to seize the south bank of the Tavera Rivera and the log crossing of the Mendai Track north of the river.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 564, DECEMBER 28, 1944

1. The submarine USS Seawolf is overdue from patrol and presumed lost.

2. Next of kin of casualties have been informed.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 216, DECEMBER 28, 1944

Enemy aircraft attacked United States air installations on Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas on December 26 (West Longitude Date) in two sep­arate raids of five and two planes respectively and inflicted minor damage. Our fighters shot down two enemy aircraft.

Liberators and Lightning Fighters of the Strategic Air Force made bomb­ing and strafing attacks on air installations on Iwo Jima in the Volcanos on December 26. An enemy fighter was destroyed in the air. Two other enemy aircraft were destroyed and two were damaged on the ground. Moderate antiaircraft fire was encountered.

A Navy search plane shot down an enemy bomber near the Bonins on the same date.

Liberators of the Strategic Air Force bombed air installations and ship­ping on and around Chichi Jima in the Bonins on December 26. A direct hit was scored on a coastal cargo ship.

Fighters of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing bombed enemy installations on Babelthuap in the Palaus on December 26.

Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing Fighters continued neutralizing attacks on enemy‑held bases in the Marshalls on December 27.

PACIFIC

Japanese air attacks commence against Mindoro-bound TG 77.11 (Captain George F. Mentz); kamikazes crash tank landing ship LST-750 and U.S. freighters William Sharon and John Burke. John Burke, carrying ammunition, explodes, the cataclysmic blast damaging auxiliary Porcupine (IX-126) and motor torpedo boat PT-332. There are no survivors from among John Burke's 40-man merchant complement and 28-man Armed Guard. Fragments from John Burke also hit freighter Francisco Morozan 100 yards away, wounding three of that ship's merchant complement. William Sharon, set afire by the kamikaze and gutted by fires that are ultimately controlled, is abandoned, the survivors transferring to destroyer Wilson (DD-408), whose assistance proves invaluable in extinguishing the blaze that has consumed the freighter. Salvage vessel Grapple (ARS-7) later tows the merchantman to San Pedro Bay for repairs. LST-750, hit subsequently by aerial torpedo, is consequently scuttled by destroyer Edwards (DD-619), 09°01'N, 122°30'E. Enemy air attacks continue the following day.

Submarine Dace (SS-247) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking supply ship Nozaki off Cape Varella, French Indochina, 12°36'N, 109°38'E, and damaging Chefoo Maru.

USAAF B-24 sinks Japanese motor sailboat No.38 Tachibana Maru off Flores Island.

Day 1937 of World War II, December 30th 1944

YouTube (Budapest Under Siege)



Eastern Front

In Hungary, Soviet forces of 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts are engaged in fighting in and around Budapest.

Western Front (1944) - Battle of the Bulge

Map: HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map, December 30th 1944



German forces begin attacks on the Neufchâteau-Bastogne corridor. The US 8th Corps (part of US 3rd Army) launches attacks northward, against the German 5.Panzerarmee, from a line between Bastogne and St. Hubert with Houffalize as the objective. Meanwhile, elements of German 5.Panzerarmee launch another unsuccessful attempt at cutting the American corridor into Bastogne and capture the town.

Photo: Pvt. Roy McDaniels, Hartford City, Ind., keeps a look out for enemy activity from a 30th Division observation post in Stavelot, Belgium, 30 December, 1944



Photo: Tankmen of the U.S. First Army gather around a fire on the snow-covered ground near Eupen, Belgium, opening their Christmas packages -5th Armd. Regt, 30 December, 1944



Photo: German-held positions over the L'Amblene river, in Stavelot, Belgium, as seen from the front lines, December 30, 1944



Western Front (1944) - Liberation of the Netherlands

Photo: A Cromwell tank of 22nd Armoured Brigade, 7th Armoured Division, dug in near Sittard in Holland, 30 December 1944



Air War over Europe

(US Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown. Mission 770: 1,315 bombers and 572 fighters are sent to attack rail and communications targets in W Germany; 4 bombers and 2 fighters are lost: 1. 526 B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards at Kassel (314) and Mannheim (181); 9 other hit a targets of opportunity; 3 B-17s are lost and 37 damaged; 24 airmen are MIA. Escorting are 301 of 325 P-51s; 2 are lost (pilots MIA). 2. 414 B-17s are sent to hit rail bridges at Bullay (72) and Kaiserslautern (72) and the marshalling yard at Bischoffsheim (35); secondary targets are the marshalling yards at Kaiserslautern (144) and Mainz (45); and 25 hit the city of Kassel; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 24 damaged; 12 airmen are KIA and 6 MIA. Escort is provided by 144 of 154 P-51s without loss. 3. 369 B-24s are sent to hit rail bridges at Altenahr (61), Auskirchen (91), and Irlich (58 ), the Irlich rail bridge (58 ), the Remagen Bridge (57) and the marshalling yard at Mechernich (87); 1 B-24 is damaged. The escort is 63 of 72 P-47s without loss. 4. 6 of 6 B-17s fly a screening mission. 5. 20 of 21 P-51s fly a scouting mission. Mission 771: 8 B-24s and 3 B-17s drop leaflet in the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany during the night.

(US Ninth Air Force): Weather forces the recall and cancellation of the 9th Bombardment Division and IX Tactical Air Command missions; the XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) flies armed reconnaissance over the battle area and around Wallersheim, Germany and the XIX Tactical Air Command covers large areas of France, Belgium, and Germany hitting numerous ground targets and supports the US III, VIII, and XII Corps in the Saint-Hubert and Bastogne, Belgium and the Diekirch, Luxembourg areas.

13 RAF Lancasters of No 617 Squadron set out to bomb the U-boat pens at Ijmuiden but the raid was abandoned because of bad weather.

Cologne: 470 RAF aircraft - 356 Halifaxes, 93 Lancasters, 21 Mosquitos - of Nos 4, 6 and 8 Groups to attack the area in which the Kalk-Nord railway yards were situated. 1 Halifax and 1 Lancaster lost. The presence of cloud caused difficulties for the Pathfinders and the outcome of the raid could not be observed. But the local report shows that the Kalk-Nord yards, as well as the 2 passenger stations near by, were severely damaged. At least 2 ammunition trains blew up. Nearby Autobahns were also badly damaged, all adding to the effect upon the German transportation system.

154 RAF Lancasters and 12 Mosquitos of No 5 Group attacked a German supply bottleneck in a narrow valley at Houffalize. The results of the raid are not known. 1 Lancaster crashed in France.

68 RAF Mosquitos to Hannover, 9 to Bochum and 8 to Duisburg, 32 RCM sorties, 36 Mosquito patrols, 11 Lancasters minelaying off Heligoland, 21 aircraft on Resistance operations. No aircraft lost.

Italian campaign

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers concentrate a major effort on rail line running N to the Brenner Pass, hitting a fill at Dolce and bridges at Calliano, Ala, and Santa Margherita d'Adige, and ammunition dump at Bologna; fighter-bombers blast road bridges, support the US Fifth Army SE of La Spezia, and hit bridges in the Mantua and Modena areas; during the night of 29/30 Dec, A-20s hit targets of opportunity at numerous N Italian locations, including Ghedi Airfield, and a train S of Mantua.

Photo: A Churchill Crocodile flamethrower in action during a demonstration near Faenza, 30 December 1944



Battle of the Atlantic

German submarine 'U-772' sunk in the North Atlantic south of Cork, in position 51.16N, 08.05W, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS 'Nyasaland'. 48 dead (all hands lost).

United States

General Groves, head of the Manhattan Project, reports that the first two atomic bombs should be ready by August 1, 1945.

Photo: The U.S. Navy attack cargo ship USS Tyrell (AKA-80) at Norfolk, Virginia (USA), on 30 December 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 6AO



Photo: The U.S. Navy seaplane tender USS Albemarle (AV-5) underway in the Atlantic Ocean, with a Consolidated PBY Catalina on her seaplane deck, 30 December 1943



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): 4 B-24s damage a bridge W of Kengtung, China while 2 others NE of Thanh Moi, French Indochina, damage a bridge, railroad tracks, and 40+ boxcars. 40+ P-51s and P-40s on armed reconnaissance attack targets of opportunity at several points including areas around Mong Nawng, Man Pong, and Mong Long, Burma; and Ka-chun, Shanhsien, Ichang, and Shayang, China.

BURMA

In the British Fourteenth Army area, the XXXIII Corps takes Kaduma.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 P-47s knock out and damage bridges at Man Pwe, Ho-hko (2 bridges), and Inailong; 17 B-25s blast a troop and supply area at Kyatpyin; 28 P-47s and P-38s hit troops, supplies, and areas of enemy activity at Myethin, Manna, Nanponpon, Lawa, Sabenago, Hmattawmu, and Hosi. Transports complete 338 sorties to forward areas. 4 B-25s continue a single-plane offensive reconnaissance over communications lines during the night of 30/31 Dec.

SAIPAN

(Seventh Air Force): 14 Saipan Island-based B-24s bomb Iwo Jima Island which is hit again over an almost 7-hour period during the night of 30/31 Dec by 9 B-24s singly operating from Guam Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: HQ 322d Troop Carrier Wing is activated at Hollandia, New Guinea. Units moving from Leyte Island to San Jose: HQ 3d BG and the 8th, 13th, 89th and 90th Bombardment Squadrons from Dulag with A-20s; HQ 49th FG and the 7th and 9th Fighter Squadrons from Tacloban with P-38s; and HQ 58th FG from San Roque.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

USAAF Far East Air Forces fighter-bombers attack airfields on northern Borneo and northern and southwestern Celebes Island while B-25s hit a barge anchorage and supplies at Haroekoe Island. Smaller strikes by B-25s, B-24s, and fighter-bombers are flown against shipping, oil targets, airfields, and targets of opportunity throughout the Netherlands East Indies.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1944)

In the U.S. Eighth Army's X Corps area on Leyte Island, the 1st Cavalry Division makes contact with the 32d Infantry Division northeast of Villaba. In the XXIV Corps area, the 77th Infantry Division begins two-pronged attacks to open the Palompon road. While the 3d Battalion, 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division, continues west to a point some 1,000 yards SW of Tipolo, the Provisional Mountain Force attacks east until stopped about 4 miles E of Palompon. The Japanese withdraw their main forces, during the night of 30/31 December. Company C, 305th Infantry Regiment, moves by water to Abiao, north of Palompon, and burns the town; continuing north, they gain radio contact with 1st Cavalry Division in the Villaba area.

Japanese air attacks continue on Mindoro-bound convoy; kamikazes damage destroyers Pringle (DD-477), 12°18'N, 121°01'E, and Gansevoort (DD-608), 12°21'N, 121°02'E; motor torpedo boat tender Orestes (AGP-10), 12°19'N, 121°04'E; and auxiliary Porcupine (IX-126), 12°21'N, 121°02'E. Porcupine is ultimately scuttled by Gansevoort. Freighter Hobart Baker is sunk by bombs off Mindoro, 12°17'55"N, 121°04'47"E; two of the 26-man Armed Guard are wounded and of the ship's 38-man merchant complement, there are one dead and one wounded. Also off Mindoro, freighter Francisco Morozan is damaged when kamikaze is shot down by U.S. fighter and explodes over the ship; there are, however, no casualties to the 38-man merchant complement and the 29-man Armed Guard.

In the principal action of the day, USAAF Far East Air Forces fighter-bombers attack airfields in the central Philippines. Smaller strikes by B-25s, B-24s, and fighter-bombers are flown against shipping, and targets of opportunity throughout the Philippine Islands.

SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Bougainville, Australians of the 25th Battalion, 7th Brigade, 3rd Division, occupy Pearl Ridge. The capture of the heavily defended Japanese position on the Pearl Ridge give the Australians possession of this important vantage point that provided views over both sides of the island.

Photo: Men from the 25th Battalion move along a spur on Artillery Hill during the attack on Pearl Ridge, Bougainville, December 30, 1944



Photo: Machine gunners from the Australian Army's 25th Battalion firing on Japanese snipers in the Piaterapaia Sector of Bougainville Island during the Bougainville Campaign, December 30, 1944



Photo: Australian infantrymen from the 25th Infantry Battalion prior to their attack on Pearl Ridge, Bougainville, 30 December 1944



PACIFIC

Submarine Razorback (SS-394) attacks Japanese Manila-to-Takao convoy about 60 miles southeast of Formosa, sinking destroyer Kuretake in Bashii Channel, 21°00'N, 121°24'E, and damaging cargo ships Brazil Maru and _i Maru.

USAAF B-25s, A-20s and P-40s (5th Air Force) attack Japanese shipping in approaches to Lingayen Gulf, off coast of Luzon, sinking Coast Defense Vessel No.20, 6°30'N, 120°18'E; submarine chaser Ch 18 off Santiago Island, and army cargo ships Aobasan Maru, Muroran Maru, and Teikai Maru north of San Fernando, 17°18'N, 119°25'E.

Day 1939 of World War II, January 1st 1945

Eastern Front

In Budapest, Soviet forces capture a railway station in the eastern part of the city in what is described as bitter hand-to-hand fighting.

Western Front (1945) - Battle of the Bulge

Map: HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map, January 1st 1945



The land battle in the Ardennes continues with the Allied counterattacks gathering force. The most notable gains are by the US 8th Corps.

Western Front (1945) - Operation Northwind

Farther south in Alsace the forces of German Army Group G begins an offensive in the Sarreguemines area (Operation Nordwind) towards Strasbourg. The US 7th Army retires before this attack on orders from Eisenhower.

Air War over Europe

Operation Bodenplatte: The German Luftwaffe makes a series of heavy attacks on Allied airfields in Belgium, Holland and northern France. They have assembled around 800 planes of all types for this effort by deploying every available machine and pilot. Many of the pilots have had so little training that they must fly special formations with an experienced pilot in the lead providing the navigation for the whole force. The Allies are surprised and lose many aircraft on the ground. Among the German aircraft losses for the day are a considerable number of planes shot down by German anti-aircraft fire. Allied losses amount to 300 planes opposed to about 200 German aircraft shot down.

(US Ninth Air Force): 190 A-20s, A-26s, and B-26s hit rail bridges, communications centers, a road junction, a command post, and HQ, all in Belgium and Germany; fighters escort 9th Bombardment Division and Eighth AF bombers, fly patrols, sweeps, and armed reconnaissance (claiming 39 air victories and numerous ground targets destroyed) and support the US III, VII, and XII Corps between Saint-Hubert, Belgium and the Mosel River, Germany. In France, the detachment of the 72d Liaison Squadron, Ninth AF (attached to Sixth Army Group), ceases operating from Steinbourg with L-5s and returns to base at Buhl. During Jan 45, HQ XIX Tactical Air Command moves from France to Luxembourg.

152 RAF Lancasters and 5 Mosquitos of No 5 Group carried out an accurate attack on the Gravenhorst section of the Mittelland Canal. Half a mile of banks were pitted with bomb craters and some parts were breached. No aircraft lost.

146 RAF aircraft of No 3 Group successfully attacked the railway yards at Vohwinkel. 1 Lancaster lost.

105 Halifaxes of No 4 Group and 18 Lancasters and 16 Mosquitos of No 8 Group attempted to bomb a benzol plant at Dortmund but the attack was scattered and the plant was not hit. No aircraft lost.

28 RAF Mosquitos to Hanau and 27 to Hannover (both 'spoof' raids), 42 RCM sorties, 59 Mosquito patrols. No aircraft lost. The No 100 Group Mosquitos claimed 6 German night fighters destroyed.

(US Eighth Air Force):: 2 missions are flown. Mission 774: 845 bombers and 725 fighters are dispatched to hit oil installations and rail bridges and junctions in W Germany visually and by PFF; they claim 23-1-3 Luftwaffe aircraft including a jet fighter; 8 bombers and 2 fighters are lost: 1. 451 B-17s are sent to hit an oil refinery at Magdeburg (11); secondary targets are the Henschel marshalling yard at Kassel (292) and the Gottingen marshalling yard (26); targets of opportunity are Hadamar (12), Wetzlar (12), Dillenburg (15), Koblenz (11), Wetter (12), Limburg (8 ), Kirchbunden (7) and other (22); 2 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 71 damaged; 10 airmen are KIA, 8 WIA and 18 MIA. Escorting are 327 of 374 P-51s; they claim 17-1-1 aircraft; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair. 2. 109 B-17s are dispatched to hit oil industry targets at Dollbergen (54) and Ehmen (24); targets of opportunity are the Koblenz marshalling yard (12), Limburg (4) and other (5); 3 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 43 damaged; 10 airmen are KIA. Escort is provided by 199 P-47s and P-51s without loss. 3. 273 B-24s hit the Lutzel (56) and Guls (30) rail bridges at Koblens, the Irlich rail bridge (57) and the Remagen rail bridge (6); targets of opportunity are Andernach (26), Engers rail bridge (9), Trier (1) and others (6); 1 B-24 is lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 63 damaged; 20 airmen are KIA, 8 WIA and 10 MIA. The escort is 66 of 70 P-51s without loss. 4. 12 of 12 B-17s fly a screening force mission; they are 8 minutes late for their escort and are attacked by Fw 190s when 50 miles (80 km) ahead of the bombers; they claim 6-0-2 aircraft; 5 B-17s are lost and 1 damaged beyond repair; 45 airmen are MIA. Escort is supposed to be 23 of 26 P-51s. 5. 2 of 5 B-17s fly an APHRODITE mission against Oldenburg without loss. 6. 11 of 11 P-51s escort 9 F-5s and 1 Spitfire on a photo reconnaissance mission over Germany without loss. 7. 25 P-47s and P-51s escort 3 of 4 Mosquitoes on a special operations mission without loss. Mission 775: 5 B-24s and 3 B-17s drop leaflet on Belgium and Germany during the night without loss. The 1st, 2d and 3d Bombardment Divisions are redesignated 1st, 2d and 3d Air Divisions.

Italian campaign

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers attack bridges at Palazzuolo sull'Oglio, Parma, and Calcinato (the latter 2 targets are missed) and an ammunition dump at Parma; fighter-bombers support ground forces S of Bologna, hit communications and numerous targets of opportunity to the N and completely destroy a fuel dump at Parma; A-20s on intruder missions during the night of 31 Dec/1 Jan, achieve excellent results on a motor park near Molinella and hit a marshalling yard near Milan.

HQ 319th Bombardment Group (Medium) departs Corsica for the US where it converts to A-26 aircraft in preparation for assignment to the Pacific.

France

The French government officially joins in full partnership in the United Nations, three years after the French Committee on National Liberation agreed to participate in the international organization.

Pacific War

CHINA

In China, 3 B-24s bomb Ft Bayard; 40 P-51s and P-40s pound railroad targets, warehouses, industrial works, and gun positions from Yoyang to Puchi; 8 P-51s hit Suchow Airfield, claiming 25 aircraft destroyed; 47 other P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance hit troops, horses, town areas, and rail and road traffic at several locations especially at Liuchenghsien and between Siaokan and Hsuchang; a detachment of the 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, begins operating from Laohokow with P-51s (squadron is based at Chengkung; another detachment is at Kwanghan); during Jan 45, the detachment of the 25th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group operating from Poashan with P-51s moves to Leangshan; the 26th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group sends detachments to operate from Poseh, Liangshan and Laohokow with P-51s; and the detachments of the 528th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group, operating from Hanchung and Liangshan with P-51s, return to base at Shwangliu.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 71 P-47s and P-38s attack villages, general supply areas, fuel dumps, tanks and other vehicles, and troop concentrations at several locations including Man Hio, Bahe, Mongmit, Hatka, Namhpakka, Loi-hseng, Mong Yaw and in the Hsenwi area, 4 others hit targets of opportunity along the Irrawaddy River from Tanaung to Kyungyi; 4 B-25s harass communications lines during the night of 1/2 Jan. Large-scale air transport operations continue. The 14th and 15th Combat Cargo Squadrons, 4th Combat Cargo Group, move from Sylhet to Argartala, India with C-46s. During Jan, the detachment of the 436th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th BG (Heavy), based at Luliang, China with B-24s ferrying gasoline to Suichwan, China, returns to base at Madhaiganj, India.

SAIPAN

(Seventh Air Force): 19 B-24s from Saipan bomb Iwo Jima; 9 more, during snooper missions on the night of 1/2 Jan, hit the at varying intervals.

CAROLINE ISLANDS

Elements of the 321st Infantry Regiment, U.S. 81st Infantry Division, land on Fais Island., southeast of Ulithi Atoll, and begin a search of the island.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

On Halmahera Island, USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24s along with B-25 hit the Djailolo, Wasile Bay bivouac areas, and Miti ammunition dump. B-25s also bomb airfields on Ceram Island. Airfields, shipyards, and other targets in the Borneo, Celebes and Lesser Sunda Islands also sustain light raids, by fighters and bombers, which also fly armed reconnaissance. Twelve RAAF (P-40) Kittyhawks bomb Galela No. 2 Airstrip on the west side of the Wasile Bay.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

Operations to deceive the Japanese about Allied intentions against Luzon begin with limited action on Mindoro to clear the northeastern part of the island. Subsequent deceptive measures conducted on southern Luzon are on a much smaller scale than anticipated and have little effect on the main operation.

On Mindoro Island, control of the Western Visayan Task Force passes from the U.S. Sixth to the U.S. Eighth Army. Company I, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, moving by water from San Jose, lands on the east coast at Bongabong without incident and marches northward toward Pinamalayan.
On Leyte Island, the U.S. Eighth Army mops up, a tedious business that lasts until 8 May 1945. The 77th Infantry Division of the XXIV Corps is ordered to relieve the 1st Cavalry and 32d and 24th Infantry Divisions of X Corps.

USAAF Far East Air Forces B-25s and fighter-bombers make low level attacks on Negros Island airfields; B-24s, with P-38 cover, bomb Clark Field on Luzon and others bomb the Sasa area on Mindanao Island. B-25s bomb barracks at Laoag on Luzon. Fighter-bombers are active against targets in the Manila area on Luzon and also hit Silay on Negros.

JAPAN

Photo: Gozen_Kaigi (Imperial Conference) with Showa Emperor Hirohito (center), Navy officers are seated left while Army officers are seated right, 1 January 1945



ALASKA

5 B-24s fly coverage for a naval force upon aborting a bomb mission to Kuriles. A Japanese Fu Go paper, including envelope, rigging, apparatus and two sand bags, is recovered 15 miles north of Marshall, Territory of Alaska. It is believed that the balloon landed on 23 December 1944. Marshall is located about 210 miles southeast of Nome.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 708, JANUARY 1, 1945

Fleet Admiral C. W. Nimitz, USN, Commander in Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas, has within the last few days visited Eniwetok, Guam and Saipan, accompanied by Rear Admiral F. P. Sherman, USN, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Lieutenant Commander H. A. Lamar, USNR, aide to Fleet Admiral Nimitz.

Fleet Admiral Nimitz spent Christmas Day with the Fleet, dining with Admiral William F. Halsey, USN, Commander Third Fleet. The occasion was the first time the five‑star flag of a fleet admiral ever was broken aboard a battleship.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 219, JANUARY 1, 1945

Airstrip installations on Iwo Jima in the Volcanos were bombed by Libera­tors of the Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas on December 30 (West Longitude Date).

Marine Mitchell bombers scored rocket hits on a small coastal cargo ship which was left dead in the water near the Bonins on the same date.

Ammunition dumps and supply areas on Babelthuap in the Palaus were strafed and bombed by Fighters of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing on December 30. On the same date Marine Fighters sank four launches at Woleai in the Western Carolines and Marine torpedo planes bombed Yap in the same group.

Corsairs of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing on December 30 strafed targets on Rota in the Marianas.

Neutralizing attacks on enemy held bases in the Marshalls were continued on December 30 by airplanes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing.

PACIFIC

Destroyer escort Seid (DE-256), tank landing ship LST-225 and three infantry landing craft (LCI) (TU 94.5.10) land one company of Army troops (321st Infantry) on Fais Island to investigate whether or not it was being used as a midget submarine base and a communication center by the Japanese .

Submarine Stingray (SS-186) lands supplies at Tawi Tawi, P.I.

U.S. freighter John M. Clayton is damaged by bomb dropped by Japanese plane, and catches fire off Blue Beach, Mindoro; four of the 29-man Armed Guard sailors die of the resultant burns.

USAAF planes sink Japanese ships No.7 Taiko Maru and No.3 Taiwan Maru off Masinloc, P.I.

Japanese cargo vessel Kyokko Maru is sunk by mine (laid by British submarine HMS Tradewind on 30 October 1944), off Mergui, 12°26'N, 98°39'E.

Map: Map of the front against Japan as of 1 Jan 1945

Day 1941 of World War II, January 3rd 1945

Eastern Front

Soviet forces are engaged by German counterattacks southeast of Komarno aimed at the relief of the encircled garrison in Budapest. Several places on the southern bank of the Danube River have been occupied by the German forces.

Western Front (1945) - Battle of the Bulge

Map: HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map, January 3rd 1945



In the Ardennes there are German attacks on the narrow corridor leading to Bastogne which succeed in disrupting the timetable of the planned American attacks but fail to achieve any advance. Forces of the US 3rd Army and US 1st Army are attacking toward Houffalize from the south and the north, respectively. In Alsace, the German attacks and the American retreat continue. The US 6th Corps (part of US 7th Army) is being pressed particularly hard in the area around Bitche. Farther south, there is also fighting near Strasbourg.

Photo: Tanks of the U.S. 3rd Armored Division fire at German positions in Belgium, 3 January 1945. Visible are two M7 Priest self-propelled guns, two M4 Sherman tanks and a M3 halftrack. The 3rd AD was operating west of the line between the Belgian cities of Houffalize and St. Vith at that time



Air War over Europe

(US Eighth Air Force): Mission 778: 1,168 bombers and 589 fighters are dispatched to attack rail and communications targets in W Germany; all are PFF attacks using H2X, Gee-H and Micro H; they claim 4-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 fighters are lost: 1. 417 B-17s are sent to hit marshalling yards at Fulda (141) and Aschaffenburg (124) and communications centers at Gemund (38 ) and Schleiden (36); the Mosel marshalling yard at Koblenz, a secondary target, is hit by 36 bombers; targets of opportunity are the Pforzheim marshalling yard (25) and other (3); 1 B-17 is damaged; 2 airmen are WIA. Escort is provided by 219 of 227 P-51s; they claim 4-0-0 aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 4 damaged beyond repair. 2. 325 B-24s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards at Altstadt (31), Homburg (41), Zweibrucken (55), Neunkirchen (84), Landau (59) and the Pirmasens railhead (41); 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged. Escorting are 143 of 148 P-51s. 3. 421 B-17s are sent to hit the Hermulheim W (72) and E (36) marshalling yards, a communications center at St Vith, Belgium (98 ), and rail junctions at Mondrath (36) and Horrem (1); 100 B-24s hit the secondary target, Cologne; targets of opportunity are Rheydt (10) and other (3); 11 B-17s are damaged. The escort is 145 of 150 P-51s; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA). 4. 32 of 32 P-51s fly a scouting mission. 5. 32 of 32 P-51s escort 5 F-5s on a photo reconnaissance over Germany.

99 RAF Lancasters of No 3 Group made G-H attacks through cloud on the Benzol plants at Dortmund and Castrop-Rauxel. Bombing appeared to be accurate at both targets. 1 Lancaster lost from the Dortmund raid.

Italian campaign

15th Army Group: In Br Eighth Army's Cdn 1 Corps area, 5th Armd Div reaches Canale di Bonifica Destra del Reno as it continues northward. 1st Div begins attack to clear enemy pocket between it and Br 5 Corps in Cotignola area, crossing Naviglio Canal and taking Granarolo in conjunction with attack by 5 Corps from S. In 5 Corps area, elements of 56th Div and of 7th Armd Brig as well as sq of Kangaroos (armored infantry carriers) push northward from Felisio area, clearing the Senio bank as far N as S. Severo.

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, medium bombers score direct hits on 2 railroad bridges at Lavis and fly good coverage of the Chiusaforte, Canale d'Isonzo, and Padua railroad bridges; fighter-bombers hit a large number of communications targets (mainly railroad targets) in the Po Valley which is also subjected to intruder missions during the night of 2/3 Jan, when pontoon bridges, vehicles, and Ghedi Airfield are hit.

Battle of the Atlantic

U.S. freighter Henry Miller, in Hampton Roads-bound convoy GUS 63, is torpedoed and damaged by German submarine U-870 22 miles southwest of Cape Spartel, 35°51'N, 06°24'W; Coast Guard-manned frigate Brunswick (PF-68) takes off most of the crew and armed guard (there are no casualties in either group). The ship, with a reduced crew, reaches Gibraltar under her own power the following day; she is, however, later declared a constructive total loss.

Canada

The first of the conscripted soldiers leave Halifax, Nova Scotia, for overseas duty.

United States

General of the Army Douglas MacArthur is designated Commander in Chief US Army Forces in the Pacific and Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz is designated Commander in Chief US Naval Forces in the Pacific.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Burrows (DE-105) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 3 January 1945, enroute from the Naval Ammunition Depot at Leonardo, New Jersey (USA), to Casco Bay, Portland, Maine (USA), for routine refresher training. She had been undergoing routine repairs and overhaul at the New York Naval Shipyard from 23 to 31 December 1944. The photo was taken from a blimp of Airship Patrol Squadron 11 (ZP-11)



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Ebert (DE-768) underway in the North Atlantic, east of Nantucket Island, on 3 January 1945. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D. The photo was taken from a blimp of squadron ZP-11



Pacific War

CHINA

On the Saiween front, the Chinese 9th Division, 2d Army, breaks into Wanting, at the Sino-Burmese border, but is driven out in night counterattack.

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 10 P-51s hit the airfield at Tsinan, claiming 13 aircraft destroyed; 6 P-51s claim several river steamers sunk in the Hankow-Chiuchiang area while 6 others damage bridges at Chinchengchiang. 20+ other P-40s, P-51s, and P-47s on armed reconnaissance attack various targets of opportunity in the Wuchang-Hankow and Shwangliu, China areas, and at Namtao, S and SW of Man Pong, and W of Wanling, Burma.

BURMA

In the Allied Land Forces South East Asia (ALFSEA) area, the Indian XV Corps invades Akyab (Operation Talon), omitting preparatory bombardment since no opposition is expected. From landing craft in the Naaf River, the British 3d Commando Brigade lands and is followed by a brigade of the Indian 25th Division from Foul Point. Inland, troops of the British 2d Division, XXX Corps, Fourteenth Army, occupy Ye-u.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 10 B-25s, supported by 12 P-47s, attack the airfield at Aungban; troop concentrations and supply and ammunition dumps are pounded at several locations, including Man Kun, Loi Hkam, Ngawnga, Chakau, Mulaw, and Man Pwe. 575 transport flights are completed to forward areas; the 115th Liaison Squadron, Tenth AF [attached to 1st Liaison Group (Provisional)], based at Ledo, India, sends a detachment to operate from Myitkyina with L-1s and L-5s; the 165th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, based at Kawlin, sends a detachment to operate from Inbaung with UC-64s and L-5s.

SAIPAN

(Seventh Air Force): 22 B-24s from Saipan bomb Iwo Jima. 3 from Guam on armed reconnaissance, hit Marcus in the North Pacific. During a 6-hour period on the night of 3/4 Jan, 10 B-24s from Guam hit Iwo Jima.

MARIANA ISLANDS

(Twentieth Air Force): Mission 17: 97 Mariana based B-29s are sent to bomb docks and urban areas of Nagoya, Japan; 57 hit the primary target and 21 others bomb alternates and targets of opportunity; Japanese fighters fly 300+ attacks on the B-29s; B-29 gunners claim 14-14-20 Japanese aircraft. Lost are 5 including: B-29 42-24748, B-29 "Leading Lady" 42-24766, B-29 "Jumbo, King Of The Show" 42-63418, B-29 "Joker's Wild" 42-24626, B-29 42-24550. Additionally, B-29"American Maid" 42-24593, suffered a blister blowout at 29,000 feet over Nagoya. Gunner James B. Krantz was sucked outside but survived: held for 15 minutes by his home-made harness until pulled back in with frostbite and broken bones. (incident also described in Stephen Birdsall's "Saga of the Superfortress", page 136.)

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: The 25th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, moves from Dulag to San Jose with F-5s.

CAROLINE ISLANDS

Occupation of Fais Island by elements of the 321st Infantry Regiment, U.S. 81st Infantry Division continues. They destroy a Japanese radio station found there. Interrogation of natives and Japanese prisoners reveals that Fais, located southeast of Ulithi Atoll, had never been used to base ships.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-24s attack the Djailolo supply area on Halmahera Island, while B-25sbomb Namlea Airfield on Boeroe (Buroe) Island, Moluccas Islands. Numerous other FEAF aircraft on armed reconnaissance, harassing raids, and light strikes attack a vast variety of targets throughout the Netherlands East Indies.

FORMOSA

TF 38 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) begins operations against Japanese airfields and shipping in the Formosa area. Principally along the west coast of Formosa, TF 38 planes sink landing ship Shinshu Maru (previously damaged by Aspro on 2 January), cargo ships Kinrei Maru, 2 Ume Maru, 22 Kawauchi Maru, Sanni Maru, another unidentified Maru, and damage army cargo ship Kibitsu Maru, Hyuga Maru and 2 Nichiyu Maru and 36 Taiwa Maru, and Kakuju Maru.

JAPAN

USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-25s from the Aluetian Islands fly coverage for a naval force over the Kurile Islands.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

In Northeast New Guinea, a strong Japanese position at Permembil is attacked by a company of the Australian 2/5th Battalion, 17th Brigade, 6th Division, and the Japanese are driven out.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Mindoro Island, a guerrilla force of about 70 unsuccessfully attacks the Japanese at Pinamalayan. From Mindoro, Company K, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, moves to Marinduque Island to help guerrillas destroy Japanese remnants concentrated at Boac in the northeastern part of island.

USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-24s bomb Clark Field and the Mabalacat areas on Luzon. B-25s attack five airfields in the central Philippine Islands while B-24s bomb two on Mindanao. Numerous other FEAF aircraft on armed reconnaissance, harassing raids, and light strikes attack a vast variety of targets throughout the Philippine Islands.

Photo: The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Columbia (CL-56) steaming with Task Force 77.4 in Surigao Strait, Philippine Islands, on 3 January 1945 while en route to the Lingayen Gulf landings. Columbia is painted in Camouflage Measure 33, Design 1d



Photo: The U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) operating with Task Force 77.4 in the Mindanao Sea, Philippines, 3 January 1945. Lunga Point is painted in Camouflage Measure 33, Design 18A



Photo: The U.S. Navy PT boat USS PT-192 is being hoisted onto the forecastle of the motor torpedo boat tender USS Cyrene (AGP-13) for major hull repair, 3 January 1945. Cyrene hat arrived off Leyte, Philippines, on 1 January 1945



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 221, JANUARY 3, 1945

Carrier‑aircraft of the United States Pacific Fleet struck at enemy instal­lations on Formosa and Okinawa Jima on January 2 (West Longitude Date). Details of the strike are not yet available.

Army Liberators of the Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas, bombed airstrip installations on Iwo Jima in the Volcanoes on January 1. Moderate antiaircraft fire was encountered.

Army bombers of the Strategic Air Force also struck at Okimura Town on Haha Jima in the Bonins on the same date.

Fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing strafed Rota in the Marianas on January 1. On the same date our fighters shot down an enemy recon­naissance plane near Saipan.

Planes of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing struck at installations on Babelthuap in the Palaus and on Yap in the Western Carolines on the same date.

Neutralizing raids on enemy held bases in the Marshalls were continued by planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing on January 1.

ALASKA

B-25s fly coverage for a naval force over the Kuriles.

PACIFIC

Leading groups of U.S. fleet units bound for Lingayen Gulf make daylight passage of Surigao Strait, where they come under attack from Japanese planes. Oiler Cowanesque (AO-79) is damaged by kamikaze, 08°56'N, 122°49'E, motor minesweeper YMS-53 by near-miss of bomb.

USAAF B-25s (13th Air Force) on a shipping sweep off Davao, sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 10, 07°04'N, 125°37'E.

British submarine HMS Shakespeare and Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Wa.1damage each other in surface gun action east of Nancowry Strait.

Escort carrier Sargent Bay (CVE-83) and destroyer escort Robert F. Keller (DE-419) are damaged in collision during mail delivery exercise, Philippine Islands area.

Motor minesweeper YMS-53 is damaged by near-miss of bomb off Luzon.

Submarine Kingfish (SS-234), attacking Japanese convoy in the Bonins, sinks Japanese army cargo ship Shoto Maru and merchant cargo ships Yaei Maru and Shibazono Maru 200 miles north of Chichi Jima, 30°29'N, 142°03'E.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Robert F. Keller (DE-419) underway in the Pacific Ocean on 3 January 1945, seen from the escort carrier USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83). A few minutes later the two ships collided. Robert F. Keller is painted in Camouflage Mesasure 32, Design 22D



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Robert F. Keller (DE-419) colliding with the escort carrier USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83) on 3 January 1945. General Motors TBM Avenger and FM Wildcat aircraft of Composite Squadron 79 (VC-79) are pakred on the flight deck of Sargent Bay

Day 1943 of World War II, January 5th 1945

Western Front (1945) - Battle of the Bulge

Map: HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map, January 5th 1945



In the Ardennes, the US 3rd Army reports reduced activity on its line while US 1st Army continues its attacks. There are German attacks just north of Strasbourg. Eisenhower's decision to divide command responsibility for the Allied defenses around the bulge between Montgomery in the north and Bradley in the south is made public.

Air War over Europe

(US Ninth Air Force): The 9th Bombardment Division attacks rail bridges at Ahrweiler, Simmern, and Bullay, Germany and communications centers at Gouvy, Houffalize, and near Durler, Belgium, and Massen, Luxembourg. Fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division and VIII Bomber Command, fly armed reconnaissance, attack airfields, communications centers, traffic concentrations, and other targets, and support the US III and VIII Corps W and E of Bastogne and the 2d and 3d Armored Divisions near Manhay, Belgium.

HQ 368th Fighter Group and the 395th, 396th and 397th Fighter Squadrons move from Juvincourt to Metz, France with P-47s.

(US Eighth Air Force):: 2 missions are flown. Mission 781: 1,032 bombers and 584 fighters are dispathed to hit rail targets and airfields in C Germany; they claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 4-0-0 on the ground; 1 B-17 and 1 P-51 are lost. 1. 259 B-24s are sent to hit marshalling yards at Neustadt (32), Sobernheim (42), Kirm (18 ) and St Ingbert (3), the marshalling yard and rail bridge at Cochem (31) and the Pirmasens railroad (39); 51 hit the Neunkirchen marshalling yard, a secondary target; targets of opportunities hit are communications centers at Rheinkirchen (8 ), Neubrucke (7), Prum (1) and Burg (1); bombing is visual and with Gee-H; 3 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 51 damaged; 6 airmen are KIA and 1 WIA. Escorting are 164 of 177 P-51s. 2. 370 B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards at Hanau (57) and Frankfurt (81) and communications centers at Waxweiler (32), Wetteldorf (27) and Pronsfeld (33); 29 hit the secondary target at Kaiserslautern; targets of opportunity are Heilbronn (29) and other (11); bombing is visual and PFF; 1 B-17 is lost, 6 damaged beyond repair and 89 damaged; 13 airmen are KIA, 9 WIA and 1 MIA. Escort is provided by 194 of 213 P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft in the air and 4-0-0 on the ground. 3. 379 B-17s are sent to hit airfields at Niederbreisig (70) and Niedermendig (54), communications centers at Dumpelfeld (37), Kall (35) and Mechernich (1), and the the railroad at Heimbach (37); 96 hit the secondary target, the Koblenz marshalling yard; targets of opportunity are communications centers at Pronsfeld (2) and Waxweiler (1) and other (4); bombing is by Gee-H and H2X; 1 B-17s is damaged beyond repair and 20 damaged. Escort is 109 of 117 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair. 4. 24 of 24 B-17s fly a screening mission. 5. 26 of 33 P-51s fly a scouting mission. Mission 782: 4 B-24s and 1 B-17 drop leaflets during the night over SE Belgium.

160 RAF Lancasters of No 3 Group attacked the railway-yards at Ludwigshafen. 2 Lancasters lost.
Hannover: 664 aircraft - 340 Halifaxes, 310 Lancasters, 14 Mosquitos - of Nos 1, 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 23 Halifaxes and 8 Lancasters lost, 4.7 per cent of the force. This was the first large raid on Hannover since October 1943.

131 RAF Lancasters and 9 Mosquitos of No 5 Group attacked Houffalize, a bottleneck in the German supply system in the Ardennes. The target was bombed with great accuracy. 2 Lancasters lost.

69 RAF Mosquitos to Berlin, 8 to Neuss and 6 to Castrop-Rauxel, 58 RCM sorties, 55 Mosquito patrols. 4 Mosquitos lost, 2 from the Berlin raid and 2 from No 100 Group.

Photo: Night reconnaissance photograph by a U.S. Army Air Forces Douglas A-20 Havoc of the marshalling yards at Ehrang (today Trier-Ehrang), Germany, on 5 January 1945



Italian campaign

(US Twelfth Air Force): During the night of 4/5 Jan, A-20s on a S Po Valley intruder mission bomb the Modena, Italy area. Bad weather cancels all other operations.

Greece

In Liberated Greece the fighting between the British and the Greek Communist forces comes to an end in the Athens area. Field Marshal Alexander and British political representatives arrive in Athens for talks with the Communist leaders and the Greek government.

Soviet Union

The Soviet government gives formal recognition to the Polish Lublin Committee as the Provisional Government of Poland. The USA and Britain declare their continued recognition of the Polish government in exile, based in London.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer tender USS Alcor (AD-34) off the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia (USA), on 5 January 1945, photographed from a plane from Naval Air Station Norfolk



Cuba

Photo: A U.S. Navy Martin PBM-3 Mariner of patrol bomber squadron VPB-210 is being prepared for hoisting aboard the seaplane tender USS Albemarle (AV-5) at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 5 January 1945



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): 4 B-25s pound 13 storage buildings at Kengtung, China. 5 B-25s knock out a bridge at Dara, Thailand. 3 B-25s bomb Wan Pa-Hsa and Hawng Luk, Burma while 1 B-24 bombs the Cap-Saint-Jacques, French Indochina area. 29 P-40s and P-51s hit airfields at Hankow and Wuchang, China, claiming 50 aircraft destroyed in the air and on the ground. 23 P-51s and P-38s hit the airfield and other targets in Samah Bay area on Hainan, claiming 11 aircraft destroyed. 30 P-40s and P-38s attack various targets of opportunity, Sinsiang, and Kengtung, China, and Wan Pa-Hsa and in the Wanling area of Burma. 4 P-40s pound fortified hill positions in the Salween, Burma area.

BURMA

Four weeks after crossing the Chindwin River the Indian 19th Division is poised to enter Shwebo. British Lieutenant General William Slim, General Officer Commanding Fourteenth Army, had hoped to bring the main Japanese army in central Burma to battle on the Shwebo Plain, with its back to the Irrawaddy River. Instead the Japanese are withdrawing east across the river. Now he is moving IV Corps 200 miles south in Operation Extended Capital, to take Japan's base at Meiktila and cut Japan's Fifteenth Army off from the rear.

In the Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC) area, elements of the 90th Regiment, Chinese 30th Division, begin crossing the Shweli River.

Sixteen USAAF Tenth Air Force B-25s flying an airfield sweep inflict considerable damage on the Laihka, Aungban, Kunlon, and Mong Long airfields; in the Namhkam sector, two P-47s join ground forces in attacking artillery positions at Wingkang; nine P-47s damage bypass bridges at Mongmit; over 70 fighter-bombers attack storage areas, tanks and trucks, and troop concentrations at Mong Yaw, Hsenwi, Hpa-Pen, Man Ton, Tunghka, Man Peng, and Longhsu.

USAAF transports fly 550+ sorties to forward bases and frontline areas. Operation GRUBWORM, one of the major transport achievements of the war, is completed on this date one month from its start. The Chinese 14th and 22d Divisions, Chinese Sixth Army Headquarters, a heavy mortar company, a signal company, and two portable surgical hospitals have been airlifted. The move required 1,328 transport sorties; Air Transport Command provided 597 sorties; the air commando squadrons, 488; and Tenth Air Force, 243; the airlift included over 25,000 Chinese soldiers, 396 U.S. soldiers, 1,596 animals, 42 jeeps, 48 howitzers, 48 heavy mortars, and 48 antitank guns; the troops and supplies have been landed at Chanyi, Kunming, Luliang, and Yunnani, China. Only three aircraft were lost during the operation.
Three USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25s bomb Wan Pa-Hsa and Hawng Luk and fighters attack various targets of opportunity at Wan Pa-Hsa and in the Wanling area. Four P-40s attack fortified hill positions in the Salween area.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 16 B-25s flying an airfield sweep inflict considerable damage on the Laihka, Aungban, Kunlon, and Mong Long airfields; in the Namhkam sector, 2 P-47s join ground forces in blasting artillery positions at Kunlong, China and Wingkang; 9 P-47s damage bypass bridges at Mongmit; 70+ fighter-bombers attack storage areas, tanks and trucks, and troop concentrations at Mong Yaw, Hsenwi, Hpa-Pen, Man Ton, Tunghka, Man Peng, and Longhsu. Transports fly 550+ sorties to forward bases and frontline areas. Operation GRUBWORM, one of the major transport achievements of the war, is completed on this date one month from its start.

The Chinese 14th and 22d Divisions, Chinese Sixth Army HQ, a heavy mortar Company, a signal Company, and 2 portable surgical hospitals have been airlifted; the move required 1,328 transport sorties; Air Transport Command provided 597 sorties; the air commando squadrons, 488; and Tenth AF, 243; the airlift included 25,000+ Chinese soldiers, 396 US soldiers, 1,596 animals, 42 jeeps, 48 howitzers, 48 heavy mortars, and 48 antitank guns; the troops and supplies have been landed at Chanyi, Kunming, Luliang, and Yunnani, China. Only 3 aircraft were lost during the operation. HQ 4th Combat Cargo Group moves from Agartala to Chittagong.

BONIN ISLANDS

Task Group 94.9 (Rear Admiral Allan E. Smith), consisting of the heavy cruisers USS Chester, Pensacola and Salt Lake City and destroyers USS Cummings, David W. Taylor, Dunlop, Ellet, Fanning and Roe, together with USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24s (escorted by P-38s) jointly bombard Japanese shipping and installations on Chichi Jima and Haha Jima. Approaching Chichi Jima, USS Dunlap, Fanning and Cummings damage a landing ship and USS Fanning sinks her. Off Chichi Jima, USS David W. Taylor is damaged by a mine and USS Fanning by gunfire. Off Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, USS Dunlap, Cummings, Ellet and Roe sink a landing ship.

SAIPAN

(Seventh Air Force): 22 B-24s from Saipan in morning and afternoon raids, pound Iwo Jima; 7 P-38s, with 3 B-24s as navigational escort, fly a strafing mission against Iwo Jima. Other B-24s act as airborne spotters for the naval bombardment of Chichi Jima and Haha Jima. In addition, USN PB4Y-1s mount photographic reconnaissance missions against Iwo Jima.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: The 4th Fighter Squadron (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group, arrives on Leyte from the US with P-51s. The detachment of the 68th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, operating from Nadzab, New Guinea with C-47s, returns to base on Biak . The 69th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group moves from Nadzab, New Guinea to Biak with C-47s. The 547th Night Fighter Squadron, 86th Fighter Wing [attached to 310th Bombardment Wing (Medium)], moves from Owi to San Jose, Mindoro with P-38s and P-61s. Destroyed on the ground is

JAPANESE OCCUPIED NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

In major strikes of the day in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-25s and P-38s and RAAF Beaufighters bomb Menado on Celebes Island while FEAF B-24s attack Miri Airfield in Sarawak, British Borneo. Numerous smaller strikes are flown throughout the NEI. Fighter-bombers and B-24s hit the Pombelaa and Tondano area, and targets of opportunity on northeastern Celebes Island. Other FEAF aircraft fly scattered strikes at various targets in Borneo, Lesser Sunda Islands, and Tanimbar Island in the Moluccas Islands.

JAPAN

USN Task Force 92 (Rear Admiral John L. McCrea), consisting of the light cruisers USS Concord, Richmond and Trenton and eight destroyers, bombards Japanese installations (airfield and fish canneries) at Suribachi Wan, Paramushiro, Kurile Islands.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1944)

On Mindoro, Palauan falls to a composite force of guerrillas and 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment troops. Another platoon of Company F, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, arrives at Bulalacao and joins in the march northeast toward Paclasan and Dutagan Point.

On Leyte, U.S. Lieutenant General Richard Sutherland, Chief of Staff South West Pacific Area, tells Australian Lieutenant General Sir Frank Berryman, Chief of Staff Advanced Headquarter Allied Land Forces South West Pacific Area, that after Luzon is secured, eight divisions, including the Australian Imperial Force, will be used to conquer Borneo and the Netherlands East Indies.

In major strikes of the day, USAAF Far East Air Forces B-25s hit shore installations along Lingayan Gulf, Luzon, while numerous smaller strikes are flown throughout the Philippine Islands. A-20s and fighter-bombers attack airfields on Luzon, the central Philippine Islands area and Mindanao Island.

ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile , 4 B-24s fly an air coverage mission for a naval task force on its approach to Suribachi on Paramushiru .

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 566, JANUARY 5, 1945

1. The destroyer USS Reid was recently lost as a result of enemy action in the Philippine Islands area. The next of kin of casualties have been in­formed.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 223, JANUARY 5, 1945

Army Liberators and Lightnings of the Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas, attacked airstrip installations on Iwo Jima in the Volcanos on January 2 (West Longitude Date). On the following day Liberators of the same force bombed the same targets, encountering moderate antiaircraft fire and one enemy fighter.

On January 2 Army Liberators of the Strategic Air Force bombed enemy installations on Marcus Island.

Fighters and Torpedo planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing strafed and bombed an enemy power plant, supply dumps and other installations on Babelthuap in the Palaus on January 2 and 3. Marine Fighters also strafed targets on Sonsoral and Merir Islands southwest of the Palaus on the same date.

Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing Two and the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing continued neutralizing attacks on enemy held bases in the Marshalls on Jan­uary 3.

PACIFIC

Japanese air attacks continue against Lingayen Gulf- bound forces in the teeth of heavy antiaircraft fire and combat air patrol. Of the minesweeping group, infantry landing craft (gunboat) LCI(G)-70 is damaged by kamikaze, small seaplane tender Orca (AVP-49) and fleet tug Apache (ATF-67) are damaged by near-misses of suiciders, 15°36'N, 119°20'E and 15°53'N, 120°00'E, respectively. Kamikazes attacking the bombardment and escort carrier groups succeed in damaging heavy cruiser Louisville (CA-28) and destroyer Helm (DD-388), 15°00'N, 119°00'E, escort carriers Manila Bay (CVE-61), 14°50'N, 119°10'E, and Savo Island (CVE-78), 14°50'N, 119°00'E, and destroyer escort Stafford (DE-411), 14°00'N, 120°00'E. Suiciders also damage Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Australia and destroyer HMAS Arunta. Japanese escort destroyers approach minesweeping group but turn away at approach of destroyer Bennion (DD-662) and Australian frigate HMAS Gascoyne and sloop HMAS Warrego; subsequently, planes from TG 77.4 (escort carrier group) sink Momi 20 miles southwest of entrance to Manila Bay, 14°00'N, 120°20'E, and damage Hinoki and Sugi west of Manila Bay. TG 94.9 (Rear Admiral Allan E. Smith), three heavy cruisers and six destroyers, together with USAAF B-24s (escorted by P-38s) jointly pound Japanese shipping and installations on Chichi Jima, Haha Jima, and Iwo Jima, Bonins. Approaching Chichi Jima, Dunlap (DD-384), Fanning (DD-386) and Cummings (DD-365) damage landing ship T.107; Fanning sinks her, 26°27'N, 141°11'E. Off Chichi Jima, David W. Taylor (DD-551) is damaged by mine, 27°04'N, 142°06'E, destroyer Fanning by gunfire. Off Iwo Jima, Dunlap, Cummings, Ellet (DD-398) and Roe (DD-418) sink landing ship T.154, 24°27'N, 141°20'E.

Photo: The U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Wake Island (CVE-65) underway with task group 77.4, en route to the Lingayen Gulf landings, 5 January 1945. Note the high frequency direction finder (HFDF) antenna atop her small foremast. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 33, Design 10A. Photographed from USS Makin Island (CVE-93)



TF 92 (Rear Admiral John L. McCrea), three light cruisers and nine destroyers, bombards Japanese installations (airfield and fish canneries) at Suribachi Wan, Paramushiro, Kurils.

Destroyer escort Edwin A. Howard (DE-346) is damaged in collision with destroyer escort Leland E. Thomas (DE-420) off Mindanao, 09°48'N, 127°15'E.

Minelayer Monadnock (CM-9) is damaged by grounding off Ilin Island Luzon, 12°22'N, 121°01'E.

Submarine Cavalla (SS-244) sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayers Kanko Maru and Shunsen Maru in Java Sea, 05°00'S, 112°16'E.

Destroyer escort Brackett (DE-41) shells Japanese installations on Taroa, Marshalls.

PB4Y-1s (VPB 111) sink Japanese midget submarine Ha.71 two miles southwest of Chichi Jima.

Day 1945 of World War II, January 7th 1945

Eastern Front

In Hungary, German forces capture Esztergom, some 25 miles northwest of Budapest in their attempt to relieve the German led garrison in the capital.

Western Front (1945) - Battle of the Bulge

Map: HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map, January 7th 1945



The attacks of the US 8th Corps of US 1st Army, along the line of the Ourthe west of Houffalize, record progress around Laroche. German attacks in Alsace also continue with some success south of Strasbourg in the area around Erstein.

Air War over Europe

(US Eighth Air Force):: 2 missions are flown. Mission 785: 1,073 bombers and 700 fighters attack communications centers, rail targets, bridges and an oil storage depot in W Germany using PFF methods; 3 bombers and 1 fighter are lost. 1. 265 B-17s are dispatched but hit secondary targets, the marshalling yard at Hamm (109), Paderborn (74) and Bielefeld (74); 2 hit a target of opportunity; all attacks made using H2X radar; 5 B-17s are damaged. Escorting are 197 of 204 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA). 2. 351 B-17s are dispatched to hit communications centers at Blankenheim (39), Kall (39), Bitburg (110) and Euskirchen (75); 35 hit the Lutzel Bridge at Cologne; all attacks made using Gee-H and H2X; 3 B-17s are damaged; 2 airmen are WIA. Escort is provided by 159 of 160 P-51s. 3. 147 B-17s are dispatched to hit the bridge at Hohenzollern (14) and the highway bridge at Rodenkirchen (22); 80 hit the secondary target, the Kalk marshalling yard at Cologne; targets of opportunity are Limburg (11), Koblenz (11) and other (1); all attacks are made using Micro H and H2X; 2 B-17s are lost and 10 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 19 MIA. The escort is 91 of 95 P-51s. 4. 304 B-24s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yards at Landau (54), Zweibrucken (64) and Rastatt (99), the rail and communications center at Achern (31) and the railway at Kaiserslautern (26); all attacks made using Gee-H; targets of opportunity hit visually are Durrmenz (8 ) and Karlsuhe (1); 1 B-24 is lost and 10 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 9 MIA. Escorting are 94 of 102 P-51s. 5. 6 of 6 B-17s fly a screening mission. 6. 88 P-47s and P-51s fly a fighter sweep without loss. 7. 12 of 12 P-51s escort 2 F-5s and 2 Mosquitoes on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany. 8. 33 of 33 P-51s fly a scouting mission. Mission 786: 2 B-17s and 5 B-24s drop leaflets during the night in SE Belgium and France.

(US Ninth Air Force): XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) fighters escort VIII Bomber Command bombers. All other commands and the 9th Bombardment Division cancel operations as the weather is bad.
645 Lancasters and 9 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8 Groups to Munich. 11 Lancasters lost and 4 more crashed in France. Bomber Command claimed a successful area raid, with the central and some industrial areas being severely damaged. This was the last major raid on Munich.

54 RAF Mosquitos to Hannover, 18 to Nuremberg and 12 to Hanau, 39 RCM sorties, 45 Mosquito patrols. 2 Mosquitos lost - 1 from the Hannover raid and a No 100 Group aircraft.

The last Bomber Command Wellington operation was flown on this night by Flying Officer BH Stevens and his crew of No 192 Squadron. The Wellington was on an RCM flight over the North Sea 'to investigate enemy beam signals connected with the launching of flying bombs and believed to emanate from marker buoys'. Bad weather over the North Sea caused the flight to be curtailed but the Wellington landed safely, the last of more than 47,000 sorties carried out by this type of aircraft in Bomber Command.

Italian campaign

In Italy there are some limited operations by British 8th Army to complete the Allied hold on the south bank of the Senio River. San Alberto is captured by British and Canadian troops. The wet weather and a lack of reinforcements and extra supplies prevents the Allied armies from launching any large scale offensives at this time.

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather grounds the medium bombers and A-20s; XXII Tactical Air Command fighters and fighter- bombers make 6 cuts on the Brenner rail line, damage the W end of the rail bridge at Cittadella, and hit the marshalling yard S of Trento; most of the XXII Tactical Air Command's effort is concentrated against land and water communications in the La Spezia-Genoa area, including attacks on shipping at Savona and San Remo harbors.

Soviet Union

Stalin, in response to Churchill, indicates that the Soviet timetable for a new offensive will be no later than the second half of January.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy amphibious force command ship USS Teton (AGC-14) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California (USA), on 7 January 1945



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): 5 B-24s bomb Ft Bayard, China and attack shipping in Samah Bay on Hainan , claiming 1 vessel sunk.

BURMA

In the British Fourteenth Army's Indian XXIII Corps area, the Indian 19th and British 2d Divisions are converging on Shwebo, the Indian 19th Division pushing into the eastern outskirts.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): Bad weather cancels all combat missions. Transports complete 383 sorties to forward areas.

SAIPAN

(Seventh Air Force): 11 B-24s, flying out of Saipan bomb an airfield on Iwo Jima. During the night of 7/8 Jan, 10 more B-24s again pound airfields, striking in single-bomber snooper missions over a 7-hour period.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: The 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Tacloban to San Jose with B-25s.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces B-25s and fighter-bombers hit Lembeh Strait and the Langoan areas on Celebes Island while RAAF aircraft fly 661 sorties against Halmahara and Morotai Islands.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

Underwater demolition teams begin a search for underwater obstacles in Lingayen Gulf as preinvasion aerial and naval bombardment of Luzon continues.

On Mindoro, Japanese planes for the first time are conspicuously absent from the San Jose area.
In major strikes of the day against targets on Luzon Island, large numbers of USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-25s and A-20s, supported by P-38s, hit the network of airstrips from Clark Field to Angeles Airfield, B-24s bomb Nielson and Grace Park Airfields and Nichols Field and B-25s and fighter-bombers pound bridges in the Plaridel and Calumpit areas. B-24s raid Padada and Daliao Airfields on Mindanao Island. Other FEAF aircraft on small-scale armed reconnaissance missions strike targets of opportunity throughout the Philippine Islands.

In Lingayen Gulf, Japanese air attacks in the area continue and two USN high speed minesweepers are sunk: USS Hovey is sunk by an aerial torpedo and USS Palmer by bombs.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 226, JANUARY 7, 1945

Carrier‑based aircraft of the United States Pacific Fleet attacked aircraft, shipping and installations in and around Luzon in the Philippines on January 5 (West Longitude Date). Preliminary and incomplete reports show that eight enemy aircraft were shot down, 19 were destroyed on the ground, and 14 were damaged on the ground. Details of damage to shipping and ground targets are not yet available.

Surface units of the Pacific Fleet bombarded installations at Suribachi on Paramushiru in the Kuriles on January 5 starting a number of fires. The enemy returned our fire but our forces suffered no damage.

Army Liberators of the Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas, bombed installations on Iwo Jima in the Volcanoes on January 5.

A supply dump and other material were destroyed on Babelthuap in the Palaus by strafing fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing on the same date.

PACIFIC

Bombardment and fire support group, TG 77.2 (Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf) and planes from escort carrier group, TG 77.4 (Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin), begin pounding Japanese defenses of Lingayen Gulf. Enemy air attacks in the area, however, continue: high speed minesweeper Hovey (DMS-11) is sunk by aerial torpedo; high speed minesweeper Palmer (DMS-5) by bombs, 16°20'N, 120°10'E. Kamikazes damage attack transport Callaway (APA-35), 17°00'N, 120°00'E, and tank landing ship LST-912, 16°20'N, 120°10'E.

Destroyers Charles Ausburne (DD-570), Braine (DD-630), Russell (DD-414), and Shaw (DD-373) sink Japanese destroyer Hinoki, 50 miles west-southwest of Manila Bay, 14°30'N, 119°30'E.

Submarine Picuda (SS-382) damages Japanese army tanker Munakata Maru 28 miles northwest of Fukikaku, Formosa, 25°42'N, 121°08'E. Munakata Maru puts in to Keelung for repairs (see 21 January).

Submarine Spot (SS-413) sinks Japanese guardboat No.2 Nichiei Maru in the Inland Sea, 31°20'N, 123°40'E.

USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force), attacking Japanese convoy in the South China Sea, sink stores ship Shinsei Maru in Formosa Strait, 22°40'N, 118°45'E.