World War II in real time

Day 1964 of World War II, January 26th 1945

Eastern Front

The advance of the Soviet 2nd Belorussian Front reaches the Baltic north of Elbing completely cutting off the German forces of Army Group North in East Prussia.

Western Front (1945) - Battle of the Bulge

Map: HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map, January 26th 1945



Units of US 3rd Army in the Ardennes have now crossed the Clerf River in several areas and are attacking all along the front of US 3rd and 12th Corps.

Western Front (1945) - Liberation of France

Photo: Tank destroyers, serving as artillery, fire on enemy positions at night. They are using two types of ammunition, one which has very bright powder flash, and another which has a dull red glow that gives off very little light. Sparsbach area, France, January 26, 1945



Photo: Comet tank of 29th Armoured Brigade, 11th Armoured Division, on the firing range at Gravelines, 26 January 1945



Western Front (1945) - Liberation of the Netherlands

In Holland, the Canadian 4th Armoured Division launches Operation Elephant, to take Kapelsche Veer on a small island in the Maas River from German occupation.

Air War over Europe

(US Eighth Air Force): 31 of 32 P-51s based in Belgium, fly an uneventful fighter sweeps over the Heilbronn, Aschaffenburg, Giessen, and Trier, Germany areas.

(US Ninth Air Force): In Germany, 27 B-26s bomb the Euskirchen rail bridge to interdict rail traffic SW from Euskirchen, much of which comes from Cologne and Bonn. The 3 Tactical Air Commands fly armed reconnaissance, alert flights, and patrols; the XIX Tactical Air Command supports US Third Army elements from S of Saint-Vith, Belgium to W of Saarlautern, Germany.

8 RAF Mosquitos bombed the Castrop-Rauxel synthetic-oil refinery without loss.

Major Walther Dahl is appointed Inspekteur der Tagjäger (Inspector of Day fighters) while Obstlt. Josef Priller of JG 26 is appointed Inspekteur der Jägdflieger Ost. Obstlt. Priller is removed from combat operations and spends the rest of the war in this post. Priller's place as Kommodore is taken by Major Franz Götz.

Italian campaign

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 25/26 Jan, A-20s fly armed reconnaissance of the Po Valley, bombing Po River crossings, Ghedi Airfield, and general movement throughout the area; both the 57th Bombardment Wing and the XXII Tactical Air Command cancel all operations for the day because of bad weather.

United Kingdom

British Air Ministry head Charles Portal seeks and receives approval from SHAEF Chiefs of Staff and General Spatz for one big air attack on Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, or Chemnitz, where such an attack would hamper German troop movement and evacuation from the eastern front.

Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 15 P-51s and P-40s hit Chenghsien Airfield and locomotives, tracks, and motor transport at Nanking and Sinsiang.

(Twentieth Air Force): 2 missions are flown during the night of 25/26 Jan. Mission 30: In French Indochina, 25 of 26 B-29s mine Saigon, Camranh Bay and Phan Rang Bay without loss.
Mission 31: 41 of 50 B-29s mine the 6 approaches to Singapore harbor and Penang Harbor and the Pakchan River and Koh Si Chang Channel in Thailand.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 8 fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Namhkam area; 140+ fighter-bombers hit troops, supplies, guns, railroad targets, and targets of opportunity at Tangtong, Panghai, Man Pwe, Kyaunghkam, Mong Pa, Na-lang, Hsenwi, Molo, Mong Tat, Humon, Tonghkan, Pangnim, Konghsa, Namtu, Namhsan, and in the Nampok area. Transports fly 500+ sorties to advanced bases and frontline areas. The detachment of the 493d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), operating from Luliang, China, transporting gasoline to Suichwan, China with B-24s, returns to base at Pandaveswar, India.

BURMA

There are British landings on Chedube Island south of Ramree. A small force of Marines goes ashore on the first day. They are later reinforced by the 36th Indian Brigade. On the mainland to the north, the 81st African Division takes Myohaung. Inland, in the advance of 4th Corps to the Irrawaddy River, Pauk is taken by the 7th Indian Division.

Photo: Royal Marines of HMS Kenya dashing ashore as their wooden hulled assault craft touch down on the beach at Cheduba, South of Ramree, Burma. Royal Marines of the East Indies Fleet made a successful landing on Cheduba Island under protection of a bombardment by cruisers and destroyers and air cover provided by the Fleet Air Army, 26 January 1945



Photo: Royal Marines of HMS KENYA dashing ashore as their wooden hulled assault craft touch down on the beach at Cheduba, South of Ramree, Burma. Note the small ladder hanging over the front of the boat so the men can disembark. Royal Marines of the East Indies Fleet made a successful landing on Cheduba Island under protection of a bombardment by cruisers and destroyers and air cover provided by the Fleet Air Arm, 26 January 1945



GUAM

(Seventh Air Force): 17 Guam based B-24s bomb Iwo Jima airfields; during then night of 26/27 Jan, the airfields are hit by 9 B-24s on individual harassment missions.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

HQ 3d Air Commando Group, the 3d and 4th Fighter Squadrons (Commando) and the 318th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando) move from Leyte to Mangaldan with P-51s and C-47s. HQ 90th Bombardment Group and the 321st and 400th Bombardment Squadrons move from Biak to San Jose, Mindoro with B-24s. The 69th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Biak to Tanauan with C-47s. The 386th Bombardment Squadron, 312th Bombardment Group, moves from Tanauan to San Jose with A-20s.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Luzon, B-24s hit coastal guns on Corregidor and in Balete Pass; B-25s bomb the Cabcaben Airfield area and coastal guns on Carabao and A-20s attack Grande coastal defenses at the mouth of Subic Bay. On Mindanao, B-25s bomb Likanan and Sasa and P-38s strafe the same targets and also hit Padada. A-20s and fighter-bombers, along with a few B-24s, continue armed reconnaissance and miscellaneous attacks against airfields, communications, vehicles, coastal guns, town areas, and other targets throughout Luzon and in the C Philippine.

Photo: 37mm gun being placed on road to Megalang, Luzon, P.I, 1st Bn, 148th Infantry Regiment. January 26, 1945



AUSTRALIA

Photo: The U.S. Navy submarine tender USS Anthedon (AS-24) moored pierside at the U.S. Submarine Base, Fremantle, Australia, while tending submarines, 26 January 1945



PACIFIC

Tank landing craft LCT-1151 is lost in amphibious operations, 01°00'N, 138°36'E.

Submarine Tautog (SS-199) sinks Japanese merchant sail fishing boat No.11 Naga Maru, 30°00'N, 136°20'E.

Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Hakko Maru is sunk by aircraft off Corregidor;

Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.13 Kyo Maru is sunk by mine off Bengeri Point.

Japanese merchant cargo ship No.1 Tamon Maru is sunk by mine [laid by submarine Dace (SS-247) on 16 December 1944] off Gambir Island French Indochina, 13°36'N, 109°18'E.

Day 1966 of World War II, January 28th 1945

Eastern Front

The advance of the 1st Belorussian Front reaches German Pomerania. Sepolno and Leszno are taken on the flanks of the advance. To the south, 1st Ukrainian Front troops complete the capture of Katowice, in the Dombrova coal basin.

Western Front (1945) - Battle of the Bulge

Map: HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map, January 28th 1945



The US 1st Army launches attacks east of St. Vith in the Ardennes.

Western Front (1945) - Siegfried Line campaign

British forces report progress on the Roer River.

Air War over Europe

The 328th, 486th and 487th Fighter Squadrons, 352d Fighter Group, move from Bodney, England to Chievres, Belgium with P-51s (detachments have been operating from Asch, Belgium since 23 Dec 44).

(US Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown. Mission 809: With the prospect of improved weather over Germany, 1,006 bombers and 249 fighters are dispatched to hit marshalling yards, bridges and benzol plants at Dortmund; 10 bombers are lost: 1. 225 B-24s are sent to hit oil targets at Kaiserstuhl (115) and Gneisenau (58 ); targets of opportunity are Lippstadt (9), Neheim (5) and other (11); bombing is by Gee-H; 7 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 97 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 71 MIA. Escorting are 68 of 77 P-51s. 2. 421 B-17s are sent to hit the Gremberg marshalling yard at Cologne (273) and the Hohenzollern Bridge at Cologne (69); secondary targets are Gutersloh (31) and Bielefeld (7); 3 others hit a target of opportunity; Gee-H and H2X radar are used to bomb; 3 B-17s are lost and 172 damaged; 4 airmen are WIA and 35 MIA. The escort is 69 of 76 P-51s. 3. 360 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Hohenbudberg marshalling yard (169) and Rheinhausen Bridge at Duisburg (80); 10 hit the secondary, the highway bridge at Duisburg; targets of opportunity are Friemersheim (13) and other (2); some targets are hit visually while others are hit using Micro H; 2 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 195 damaged; 14 airmen are KIA and 20 WIA. 35 of 38 P-51s escort the B-17s. 4. 40 P-51s fly a sweep of the tactical area escorting Ninth AF B-26s. 5. 13 of 18 P-51s fly a scouting mission. Mission 810: 2 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany during the night.

(US Ninth Air Force): In Germany, 95 9th Bombardment Division B-26s hit a communications center at Mayen, rail bridges and an overpass at Eller, Sinzig, Remagen, and Kaiserslautern, targets of opportunity in W Germany, and fly cover for US First Army forces on the frontline in the Monschau-Butgenbach area.

153 RAF Lancasters of No 3 Group attacked the railway yards at Cologne/Gremberg in conditions of good visibility. Some of the bombing fell on the target but some overshot. 3 Lancasters were lost and 1 crashed in France.

602 RAF aircraft - 316 Halifaxes, 258 Lancasters, 28 Mosquitos - of Nos 1, 4, 6 and 8 Groups dispatched to 2 targets in the Stuttgart area. 11 aircraft - 6 Lancasters, 4 Halifaxes, 1 Mosquito - lost. This raid was split into 2 parts, with a 3-hour interval. The first force - 226 aircraft - was directed against the important railway yards at Kornwestheim, a town to the north of Stuttgart, and the second was against the north-western Stuttgart suburb of Zuffenhausen, where the target is believed to have been the Hirth aero-engine factory. The target area was mostly cloud-covered for both raids and the bombing, on skymarkers, was scattered. Bombs fell in many parts of Stuttgart's northern and western suburbs. The important Bosch works, in the suburb of Feuerbach, was hit. A large number of bombs fell outside Stuttgart, particularly in the east around a decoy fire site which was also firing dummy target-indicator rockets into the air. The village of Weilimdorf, situated not far away, complained bitterly about its damage and casualties! This was the last large RAF raid on Stuttgart. Stuttgart's experience was not as severe as other German cities. Its location, spread out in a series of deep valleys, had consistently frustrated the Pathfinders and the shelters dug into the sides of the surrounding hills had saved many lives.

67 RAF Mosquitos to Berlin and 8 to Mainz (a 'spoof' raid for the Stuttgart attacks), 51 RCM sorties, 36 Mosquito patrols, 6 Lancasters of No 1 Group minelaying in the Kattegat. 1 Mosquito of No 100 Group crashed in France.

Italian campaign

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather again hampers operations; B-25s have good results on railroad bridges at Lavis and San Michele all'Adige; XXII Tactical Air Command aircraft operate effectively against communications and transport targets throughout N Italy including at Milan, Pavia, Cremona, Nervesa della Battaglia, Treviso, Genoa, Padua, and the Lake Maggiore areas.

Germany

Photo: A damaged Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausführung J, on a flatbed car at Perl Zollbahnhof (Perl customs railyard), Germany, 28 January 1945



Photo: Destroyed railcars at Perl Zollbahnhof (Perl customs railyard), Germany, 28 January 1945. Perl Zollbahnhof was destroyed by air attacks and was not rebuilt after the war



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 23 P-40s and P-51s attack railway and river traffic at Wuhu, Sinyang, and Linfen, in the Sinsiang-Hantan area, between Loyang and Sinyang, and along the Pinghan (Hankow-Peking) railroad.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 40 fighter-bombers support ground forces SE of Banwe, E of Molo, S of Molo Ywama, and near Namhkam; 80 fighter-bombers hit troop concentrations, supply areas, and enemy movement and active areas at or near Namsangsok, Namlan, Pangmakmo, Wengnan, Kutkai, and Mu-lwat. Again 500+ sorties are flown to forward areas by transports. The first convoy from Ledo, India crosses the Chinese border heading for Kunming, China.

GUAM

(Seventh Air Force): 10 B-24s from Guam and 10 from Saipan bomb airfields on Iwo Jima ; 10 more follow during the night of 28/29 Jan with single-bomber harassment raids on the airfields. Two B-24s from Angaur Airfield bomb Arakabesan.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and fighter-bombers concentrate attacks on Luzon: the heaviest tonnage (from B-24s) falling on Corregidor in Manila Bay; Cavite and targets between Manila and Subic Bay, including Laoag Airfield, are also hit; A-20s concentrate on targets in the Aparri-Gattaran area while fighter-bombers and A-20s hit airfields in the Cagayan Valley and troops, trucks, and roads in the San Felipe and Talavera areas. HQ 91st Photographic Wing (Reconnaissance) moves from Leyte to Mindoro.

Photo: 129th Infantry Regiment, I Co., following tanks across Clark Field toward Ft. Stotsenburg. 28 January, 1945



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 244, JANUARY 28, 1945

A recapitulation of damage inflicted on enemy shipping in and around Formosa on January 20 (West Longitude Date) by aircraft of the United States Pacific Fleet is as follows: (Including damage reported in Communiqué No. 240. )

Sunk: Sixty thousand tons, including six oilers, two medium cargo vessels previously damaged, one medium cargo vessel, two small coastal cargo ships, four luggers, one medium cargo ship.

Damaged: Sixty‑five thousand tons, including one large transport, two large oilers, one large cargo ship, three luggers, one destroyer, two medium cargo ships, four small coastal cargo ships.

Aircraft destroyed or damaged: 47 shot down, 102 destroyed on the ground, 162 damaged on the ground.

In attacks in and around Okinawa Jima in the Nansei Shoto, aircraft of the Pacific Fleet inflicted the following damage on the enemy on January 21:

(Attack reported in communiqué No. 241.)

Sunk: 4 ships, 25 vessels.

Damaged: 5 ships, 36 small vessels.

Aircraft destroyed or damaged: 28 planes burned on the ground, 40 planes damaged on the ground.

The two‑day operations cost our forces 15 carrier aircraft lost in combat.

Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Four made rocket and machine gun attacks on radio and lighthouse installations on Shimushu in the Kuriles on January 25. On the same day Eleventh Army Air Force Mitchells bombed installations on Torishima in the same group. Eight enemy fighters were encountered by the Army bombers which probably destroyed two and damaged four others. All our aircraft returned safely.

Army Liberators of the Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas, bombed installations on Iwo Jima in the Volcanos through moderate antiaircraft fire on January 25.

Two enemy fighters were seen in the air.

On January 24 and 25 torpedo planes and fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed enemy installations on Yap in the Western Carolines.

On January 25, Marine aircraft destroyed a building and bridge on Urukthapel in the Palaus, sank a barge near Babelthuap, and bombed Sonsoral Island southeast of the Palaus.

Neutralizing raids were continued by planes of Fleet Air Wing Two on enemy‑held bases in the Marshalls on January 26.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA PRESS RELEASE NO. 1, JANUARY 28, 1945

Fleet Admiral C. W. Nimitz, U. S. Navy, Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas, today sent the following message to Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., USN, Commander, Third Fleet; Vice Admiral Charles A. Lock­wood, Jr., USN, Commander, Submarine Force, and Lieutenant General Millard F. Harmon, USA, Commanding General, Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas

"The Third Fleet in the last four months has hit the enemy hard in the Philippines, the Ryukyu Islands, Formosa, Indo‑China and South China. It has demolished and damaged aircraft, ships and land objectives to a degree which has materially reduced Japan's ability to make war.

It has paved the way for and covered the Philippine re‑occupation. It has written proud pages, in our nation's history.

"Submarines of the Pacific Fleet and the Army Air Forces in China and in the Pacific Ocean Areas have provided extremely effective cooperation and support and have continued to destroy the enemy wherever found.

"Well done to the officers and men of these gallant fighting forces."

PACIFIC

Submarine Spadefish (SS-411) attacks Japanese convoy in the southern Yellow Sea and sinks escort vessel Kume, 33°50'N, 122°55'E and transport (ex-seaplane carrier) Sanuki Maru, 34°02'N, 123°00'E.

Day 1968 of World War II, January 30th 1945

Western Front (1945) - Siegfried Line campaign

Map: HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map, January 30th 1945



Allied forces capture Gambsheim, a German bridgehead over the Rhine, north of Strasbourg.

Air War over Europe

(US Ninth Air Force): Weather cancels bomber operations. Fighters fly nightfighter and intruder reconnaissance missions; fighter cover for the US 5th Armored Division W of Gemund, Germany is recalled during the day.

HQ 365th Fighter Group and the 386th Fighter Squadron move from Metz, France to Juzaine Airfield, Florennes, Belgium with P-47s.

Italian campaign

(US Fifteenth Air Force): For the ninth successive day, weather prevents bombing operations; during the night of 29/30 Jan, 13 B-24s drop supplies in N Italy; during the day P-38s fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort and carry out supply missions and strafing attacks in Austria.

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, good weather in the Po Valley permits full-scale operations against communications lines; during the night of 29/30 Jan, A-20s intruders pound scattered movement (much of it near Milan), several Po River crossings including Borgoforte, Piacenza, and San Benedetto Po, the harbor at La Spezia, and fuel dumps and other targets at many locations; B-25s effectively strike the Brenner rail line during the day, especially the Lavis and Trento marshalling yards and bridges at Lavis and Calliano; XXII Tactical Air Command fighters and fighter-bombers strike railroads and bridges in NE Italy cutting many lines and damaging several bridges, and hit fuel dumps and factories around Parma.

Photo: Troops clamber over captured German tanks at an exhibition of enemy equipment in Forli, 30 January 1945. The sign advertising the exhibition features the 'Two Types' made famous by the '8th Army News'



Photo: Troops clamber over a captured German 'Hornisse' 88mm self-propelled gun at an exhibition of enemy equipment in Forli, 30 January 1945



Photo: Indian troops inspect a captured Italian Semovente self-propelled guns in German markings at an exhibition of enemy equipment in Forli, 30 January 1945



Battle of the Baltic Sea

In the worst disaster at sea in history, 7000 refugees drown when the Soviet submarine S-13 sinks the German liner Wilhelm Gustloff.

German submarine 'U-3520' sunk with all hands off Bulk.

Germany

Hitler broadcasts to the nation for the last time. He comments, "German workers, work! German soldiers, fight! German women, be as fanatical as ever! No nation can do more."

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Birmingham (CL-62) maneuvering alongside the escort carrier USS Block Island (CVE-106) on 30 January 1945. Birmingham is wearing Camouflage Measure 22, Block Island Camouflage Measure 33, Design 18A



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 27 B-24s, escorted by 32 P-40s and P-51s, bomb Hankow; 8 P-51s hit targets of opportunity in the areas around Loyang, Yuncheng, and Sinantien; the detachment of the 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, at Kwanghan with P-51s returns to base at Chengkung (another detachment is at Laohokow).

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 65 fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Banwe, Yenya-u, Hsenwi, Molo, and Mongmit areas; 5 others knock out a bridge E of Mong Long; 100+ fighter-bombers attack troops, supplies, artillery, and communications targets at several locations including Kutkai, Bawgyo, Hamn gai, Namhsan, Naleng, Pangsari, Hsenwi, and Wengnan. Transports again fly 500+ sorties to forward areas. HQ 1st Combat Cargo Group moves from Tsuyung, China to Dohazari, India. The detachment of the 317th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, operating from Bikram, India with C-47s, returns to base at Kalaikunda, India. The detachment of the 492d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), at Luliang, China ferrying gasoline to Suichwan, China in B-24s, returns to base at Madhaiganij, India.

SAIPAN

(Seventh Air Force): 17 B-24s from Saipan bomb an Iwo Jima airfield. 3 others bomb the airfield on Woleai. 5 B-24s from Angaur Airfield strike Koror and Arakabesan. During the night of 30/31 Jan, 10 B-24s from Saipan fly single-bomber snooper raids against Iwo Jima airfields.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

A US battalion is landed to take Gamble Island in Subic Bay. To the north, US 11th Corps begins to advance inland quickly and takes Olongapo on Luzon.

TG 78.3 (Rear Admiral Arthur D. Struble) lands army troops (38th Infantry) on Grande Island Subic Bay, in Operation Mike Seven; they encounter no enemy opposition. Light cruiser Denver (CL-58) and destroyers Fletcher (DD-445) and Radford (DD-446) provide gunfire support. TG 77.4 (Rear Admiral William D. Sample), consisting of six escort carriers and their screen, provide direct air cover. Attack transport Cavalier (APA-37) is torpedoed by Japanese submarine RO 46 off Subic Bay, 14°48'N, 119°18'E.

Bad weather cancels most of the scheduled strikes over Luzon; however, B-24s bomb Cavite while fighter-bombers flying support for ground forces hit artillery and troop concentrations NE of Labayug and others attack ammunition dumps N of San Isidro. The 405th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Morotai to Lingayen Airfield with B-25s.

ALASKA

Photo: USS Rockford (PF-48) Off Naval Operating Base Adak, Alaska, 30 January 1945. Her camouflage paint is Measure 32, Design 16d



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 246, JANUARY 30, 1945

More than 40 tons of bombs were dropped on Iwo Jima in the Volcanos by Army Liberators of the Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas, on Jan­uary 28 (West Longitude Date). An explosion was observed on an airstrip and several fires were started in storage areas.

Liberators of the same force bombed Marcus Island on the same date.

Night flying Marine Mitchells of the Strategic Air Force, struck at ship­ping around the Bonins and Volcanos on January 29. Hits scored with rockets caused large explosions on a large enemy cargo ship and a medium cargo ship in the Bonins.

On January 28 fighters and torpedo aircraft of the Fourth Marine Air­craft Wing attacked shore and harbor installations on Yap in the Western Carolines.

Facilities on Babelthuap in the Palaus were attacked by Marine Aircraft on January 29.

PACIFIC

Destroyer Burns (DD-588) sinks Japanese guardboat No.2 Hokoku Maru off Ojae, 08°42'N, 167°44'E.

Submarine Bergall (SS-320) damages Japanese storeship Arasaki, 08°26'S, 115°40'E.

Submarine Threadfin (SS-410) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship I ssei Maru off southern Honshu, 33°30'N, 135°34'E, but although damaged by depth charges fromescorts, 33°20'N, 135°30'E, remains on patrol.

British submarine HMS Tantalus sinks Japanese fishing boat No.12 Taisei Maru in northern approaches to Bangka Strait, 01°26'S, 105°01'E.

Photo: The U.S. Navy attack transport USS Audrain (APA-59) at anchor on 30 January 1945. Three days later she was off Wakde, Papua New Guinea

Day 1970 of World War II, February 1st 1945

Eastern Front

Torun falls to attacks from forces for of the 2nd Belorussian Front, after a six day siege. Troops of the 1st Belorussian Front, which have reached the Oder opposite Berlin, halt there to regroup while the many pockets of German resistance in their rear are being eliminated and while the units on their flanks broaden the advance by attacking into Pomerania in the north and crossing the Oder and moving toward the Neisse in the south.

Western Front (1945) - Siegfried Line campaign

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



US General Dwight Eisenhower issues a directive authorizing Operations Veritable and Grenade.

The US 6th Corps from 7th Army crosses the river Moder and advances to Oberhofen.

Air War over Europe

During Feb 45, HQ 438th Troop Carrier Group and the 87th, 88th, 89th and 90th Troop Carrier Squadrons move from Greenham Common, England to Prosnes, France with C-47s. HQ 361st Fighter Group and the 374th, 375th and 376th Fighter Squadrons move from Little Walden, England to Chievres, Belgium with P-51s (the squadrons have been operating from St-Dizier, France since 23 Dec 44). HQ 98th Combat Bombardment Wing (Medium) moves from Athies Airfield, Laon to Havrincourt and HQ 367th Fighter Group moves from Juvincourt to St-Dizier.

(US Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown. Mission 814: 699 B-17s and 328 P-51s are dispatched to hit rail targets and bridges in W Germany using Micro-H and H2X radar; no losses: 1. 463 B-17s are sent to hit the marshalling yards at Mannheim (74) and Ludwigshafen (70); 270 hit the secondary target, the highway and rail bridge at Mannheim; targets of opportunity are Pforzheim (11) and other (3); 2 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 24 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA. Escorting are 142 of 151 P-51s. 2. 236 B-17s are send to hit the rail bridge at Wesel (139); 36 hit the marshalling yard at Krefeld, the secondary target; and 13 hit Barth, a target of opportunity; 2 B-17s are damaged. 49 of 53 P-51s escort. 3. 20 of 22 P-51s fly a scouting mission. 4. 87 of 102 P-51s fly a freelance sweep in support of the bombers. Mission 815: 6 of 9 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.

(US Ninth Air Force): 146 B-26s, A-26s, and A-20s bomb rail bridges and defended areas on the Rhine and Mosel Rivers and in W Germany near the battlefront. The IX and XIX Tactical Air Commands escort the bombers, fly armed reconnaissance, and in Germany, attack the Euskirchen marshalling yard and the town of Arloff.

(US Fifteenth Air Force): In Austria, 300+ B-17s and B-24s attack the Moosbierbaum oil refinery and the marshalling yards at Graz, Furstenfeld, and Klagenfurt. 1 bomber bombs Pula, Yugoslavia. P-38s and P-51s fly 270+ sorties escorting the bombers; other P-38s carry out reconnaissance and reconnaissance escort missions.

160 RAF Lancasters of No 3 Group attacked the general town area of Mönchengladbach through 8-10/10ths cloud, using G-H. The results of the raid are not known. 1 Lancaster crashed in France.

Ludwigshafen: 382 RAF Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 6 and 8 Groups. 6 Lancasters lost. Most of the force aimed their loads at skymarkers and the local report shows that bombs fell in many parts of Ludwigshafen, with much property damage of a mixed nature. The 900 houses destroyed or seriously damaged were the main item in the report but it also states that the railway yards were seriously damaged and one of the Rhine road bridges was hit by 2 bombs and temporarily closed to traffic.

Mainz: 340 RAF aircraft - 293 Halifaxes, 40 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitos - of Nos 4, 6 and 8 Groups. No aircraft lost. A few early crews were able to bomb target indicators seen through a gap in the clouds, but the gap soon closed and most of the raid was on skymarkers. The local report states that a few buildings were destroyed, including the Christuskirche, which burnt out, and the town hospital was damaged, but most of the bombing fell outside Mainz.

Siegen: 271 RAF Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos of No 5 Group. 3 Lancasters and 1 Mosquito lost. This raid also experienced difficult marking and bombing conditions. Some damage was caused to the railway station but the local report says that the markers were either carried away from Siegen by a strong wind or that dummy markers and a decoy fire site attracted much of the bombing. Most of the raid fell in country areas outside Siegen.

122 RAF Mosquitos to Berlin, 8 to Bruckhausen benzol plant, 6 to Hannover, 4 to Nuremberg and 4 dropping dummy target indicators at both Mannheim and Stuttgart, 64 RCM sorties, 47 Mosquito patrols. No aircraft lost.

Italian campaign

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, bad weather curtails operations; A-20s and medium bombers are grounded and fighters and fighter- bombers fly only 14 sorties, 12 against communications targets N of the battle area and 2 weather reconnaissance sorties.

Photo: Men of 'D' Company, 1st Battalion, London Irish Rifles, prepare to fire a PIAT during a training exercise at Forli, 1 February 1945



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-24s attack shipping off the French Indochina coast, claiming 1 cargo vessel sunk and a patrol boat damaged. In China, 4 P-40s attack a division HQ SW of Yungning; the 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, based at Chengkung with P-51s, sends a detachment to operate from Poseh (another detachment is operating from Laohowkow). Lost is B-24D 41-24183.

(Twentieth Air Force): Mission 33: 113 B-29s are dispatched to hit the naval base at Singapore, Malayan States; 67 bomb the Admiralty IX Floating Drydock (and a vessel berthed in it) and 21 bomb the West Wall area of the naval base; 21 others hit alternate targets at Martaban, Burma and George Town, Malayan States; they claim 3-4-14 Japanese aircraft; 2 B-29s are lost.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 28 fighter-bombers support ground forces around Hosi and Molo; 12 B-25s knock out the Mong Pawn bridge; 8 P-47s damage the approach to the Pa-mao bridge; 8 others hit Hsumhsai Airfield; 90+ fighter-bombers hit troops, supplies, vehicles, a ferry crossing, and various targets of opportunity at several locations including Nauchye, Hsenwi, Man Pwe, Pongkalau, Nawng Mawn, Na-lang, Kunhkan, and Panghtu-Iin. 550 transport sorties are flown to forward areas. The 2d and 4th Combat Cargo Squadrons, 1st Combat Cargo Group, move from Tsuyung and Chengkung, China respectively to Dohazari, India with C-47s; the 459th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, moves from Chittagong to Rumkha, India with P-38s. During Feb 45, the 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, based at Guskhara sends elements to operate from Tulihal and Cox's Bazar, India with F-7s.

MARIANA ISLANDS

(Seventh Air Force): 21 Saipan , Mariana -based B-24s hit Iwo Jima in the afternoon, and 10 more, flying individual snooper raids, hit the during the night of 1/2 Feb. 20 B-24s from Angaur Airfield bomb Corregidor in Manila Bay, Luzon , Philippine . During Feb 45, the 6th Night Fighter Squadron, VII Fighter Command (attached to 318th Fighter Group) moves from East Field to Kaman Field, Saipan with P-61s (a detachment is operating from Kipapa, Hawaii); the detachment of the 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), operating from Bougainville , Solomon with F-5s, returns to base on Morotai , Moluccas .

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force)]: B-24s pound the Canacao Peninsula and Cavite areas; targets include a shipyard, seaplane base, communications, and supply. B-25s hit Puerto Princesa. On Formosa, B-24s bomb Okayama Airfield during the night of 31 Jan/1 Feb and hit Okayama and Heito Airfields and Toko seaplane base during the following day. The 71st and 823d Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 38th BG (Medium), move from Morotai to Lingayen Airfield with B-25s. During Feb 45, the 160th Liaison Squadron, 3d Air Commando Group, based at Calasio, Luzon with UC-64 and L-5s sends a detachment to operate from Mindoro , Philippines; the 529th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 380th BG (Heavy), moves from Darwin to San Jose, Mindoro with B-24s.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

The American advance on all fronts is slowed by fierce Japanese resistance. US 1st Corps is heavily engaged near Rosario and San Jose while US 11th Corps is struggling to make more ground across the neck of the Bataan Peninsula.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 571, FEBRUARY 1, 1945

Pacific Area.

1. The minesweepers USS Hovey and USS Palmer and the LST 759 have been lost in the Philippine Area as the result of enemy action.

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

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 572, FEBRUARY 1, 1945

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

2. Next of kin of officers and crew have been informed.

PACIFIC

Destroyers Jenkins (DD-447), O'Bannon (DD-450), and Bell (DD-587), and destroyer escort Ulvert M. Moore (DE-442) sink submarine RO 115, 125 miles southwest of Manila, 13°20'N, 119°20'E.

USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force), directed to the scene by Boarfish (SS-327), complete the destruction of grounded Japanese cargo ship Taietsu Maru (damaged by Boarfish and run aground the previous day), off the coast of French Indochina, 14°56'N, 109°00'E.

Motor torpedo boats PT-77 and PT-79 are damaged by friendly fire west of Mindoro, 13°55'N, 120°36'E.

USAAF P-51s sink Japanese landing ship T.115 in Luzon Straits, 20°00'N, 121°00'E, and damage escorting submarine chaser Ch 28.

Japanese netlayer No.16 Nissho Maru is sunk by mine west northwest of Mokpo, Korea, 35°00'N, 125°00'E.

USAAF B-29s (20th Bomber Command) bomb Japanese shipping and harbor facilities at Singapore, damaging oiler Shiretoko, 01°20'N, 103°50'E.

British submarine HMS Spark sinks Japanese towboat No.203 Katsura Maru and damages motor sailboats Nanyo Maru, Nampo Maru and No.80 Tachibana Maru off Jabara, 06°41'S, 110°32'E.

Japanese tanker No.26 Nanshin Maru is sunk by mine, 30°05'N, 135°15'E.

Day 1972 of World War II, February 3rd 1945

YouTube (Is the Red Army too fast for its own good?)



Eastern Front

In East Prussia, the Soviet attacks continue to confine and divide the German forces. Landsberg and Bertenstein are taken.

Western Front (1945) - Liberation of France

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



French and American units complete the capture of Colmar. All formations of French 1st Army are now making good progress in this sector. The other Allied armies keep up the pressure on the Germans all along the front.

Western Front (1945) - Liberation of the Netherlands

Photo: British airborne troops man a trench with a No. 76 wireless set at Heldon in Holland, 3 February 1945



Air War over Europe

In France, the 394th Fighter Squadron, 367th Fighter Group, moves from Juvincourt to St Dizier with P-38s.

36 RAF Lancasters of No 5 Group attacked U-boat pens at Ijmuiden (No 9 Squadron) and Poortershaven (No 617 Squadron) with Tallboy bombs. It was believed that these pens, in that part of Holland still occupied by the Germans, were sheltering midget submarines. The weather was clear and hits were claimed at both targets without loss.

(US Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown. Mission 817: 1,437 bombers and 948 fighters are dispatched in a major strike on Berlin by B-17s while B-24s hit the synthetic oil industry at Magdeburg; they claim 38-1-18 Luftwaffe aircraft; 25 bombers and 8 fighters are lost: : JG 7's Lt. Rademacher downs a B-17 from the formation attacking Magdeburg. 1. 1,003 B-17s are sent to hit the Tempelhof marshalling yard in Berlin (937); targets of opportunity are Bad Zwischenahn (1), Bromsche (1), Gatow (13), Luneburg (2), Sogel (1) and other (1); 23 B-17s are lost, 6 damaged beyond repair and 339 damaged; 18 airmen are KIA, 11 WIA and 189 MIA. Escort is provided by 575 of 613 P-51s; they claim 12-1-0 aircraft in the air and 17-0-11 on the ground; 7 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 2 damaged beyond repair. 2. 434 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Rothensee oil plant at Magdeburg (116); 246 hit a target of last resort, the marshalling yard at Magdeburg; targets of opportunity are Wesermunde (17), Mockern (12), Cuxhaven (9), Yechta Airfield (2) and other (3); 2 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 58 damaged; 19 airmen are MIA. Escorting are 210 of 232 P-51s without loss. 3. 41 of 44 P-47s fly a sweep over Friedersdorf Airfield; they claim 9-0-6 aircraft in the air; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot MIA). 4. 35 P-51s fly a scouting mission. 5. 24 P-51s escort 9 F-5s and 7 Spitfires on a photo reconnaissance mission over Germany. Mission 818: 1 B-17 and 10 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and W Germany during the night.

(US Ninth Air Force): In Germany, the 9th Bombardment Division attacks the Berg-Gladbach storage and repair depot, Dahlem communications center, rail bridges at Ahrweiler and Sinzig, and marshalling yard at Junkerath; fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division, fly patrols, and carry out armed reconnaissance over W Germany.

192 RAF Lancasters and 18 Mosquitos of Nos 1 and 8 Groups attacked the Prosper benzol plant at Bottrop successfully. 8 Lancasters lost.

149 RAF Lancasters of No 3 Group attacked the Hansa benzol plant at Dortmund but the bombing fell north and north-west of the target. 4 Lancasters lost.

42 RAF Mosquitos to Wiesbaden and 20 to Osnabrück, 42 RCM sorties, 28 Mosquito patrols, 19 Halifaxes of No 4 Group minelaying off German ports. No aircraft lost.

Italian campaign

(US Fifteenth Air Force): Weather again cancels bombing operations. P-38s fly photo and weather reconnaissance. P-51s escort the photo reconnaissance aircraft while other P-38s escort Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (MATAF) B-25s on a transport run to Yugoslavia.

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather restricts combat operations to an attack by 4 P-47s on the Sonico marshalling yard.

Battle of the Atlantic

Frigates "Bayntun", "Braithwaite", "Loch Dunvegan" and "Loch Eck" of the 10th Escort Group patrolling north of the Shetland Islands shared in the sinking of three U-boats in the next two weeks. The first was "U-1279" sunk with all hands off Bergen in approximate position 61.21N, 02.00E, by depth charges from the British frigates. 48 dead (all hands lost).

United Kingdom

Photo: The Royal Navy Colossus-class aircraft carrier HMS Pioneer (R76). She was completed as an aircraft maintenance ship, 3 February 1945



United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Ricketts (DE-254) underway on 3 February 1945. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D modified



Pacific War

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s attack troops and supplies at Loilem; 27 fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Molo, Hosi, and Myitson areas; 80+ fighter-bombers hit troop concentrations, supplies, town areas, tanks, and other targets at Kyaung-hen, Mongkyet, Hsipaw, Hsenwi, Na-sang, Konghsa, and Hkaihsi. Transports complete 531 sorties, landing men and supplies at advanced bases and dropping supplies to forward troops.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Luzon, B-24s again pound Corregidor and the Canacao peninsula; other B-24s hit Aparri and Tuguegarao an in the Batangas area, A-20s continue ground support missions. B-24s bomb Cebu City and surrounding targets. On Mindanao B-25s and P-38s hit Matina, Daliao Airfield and Padada Airfield. Lost is P-61

On Luzon in the Tagaytay Ridge area, the uncommitted regiment of the US 11th Airborne Division is dropped to help the advance of the other regiments. The fighting north of Manila also continues.

Photo: Paratroopers of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment prepare for their combat jump on Tagaytay Ridge, 3 February 1945



PACIFIC

Submarine Sea Robin (SS-407) damages Japanese transport Suiten Maru off Bawean Island N.E.I.
Japanese river gunboat Karatsu [ex-Luzon (PR-7)] is scuttled as blockship at Manila.

Minesweeper W.102 (ex-HMS Waglan) is damaged (cause unspecified) north of Haitan Island 25°40'N, 119°50'E.

Merchant tanker No.3 Nanryu Maru is sunk by aircraft off Takao, Formosa.

Day 1974 of World War II, February 5th 1945

Eastern Front

The Soviet attacks on the surrounded city of Poznan make some progress. Soviet pressure continues in many other areas as well.

Western Front (1945) - Liberation of France

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



The German pocket near Colmar is cut in two by a link between French units and part of the US 21st Corps.

Western Front (1945) - Siegfried Line campaign

The US 1st Army extends its attacks, led by US 5th Corps, toward the Roer aiming to take the Schwammenauel Dam.

Air War over Europe

(US Ninth Air Force): Weather cancels all operations except IX Tactical Air Command fighter patrols over the US First Army area around Butgenbach, Belgium.

(US Fifteenth Air Force): 730+ B-17s and B-24s bomb oil storage at Regensburg, Germany, the main station and 2 marshalling yards at Salzburg, Austria, the marshalling yards at Rosenheim, Germany and Villach, Austria, and Straubing, Germany railroad installations; 6 bombers bomb the Comeglians, Italy road bridge. P-38s and P-51s escort the bombers, fly reconnaissance and reconnaissance support missions, and accompany 25 B-24s on a supply mission to Yugoslavia.

63 RAF Mosquitos to Berlin, 7 to Magdeburg and 6 to Würzburg, 1 RCM sortie. 1 Mosquito lost from the Berlin raid.

Italian campaign

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25s score excellently against the San Ambrogio di Valpolicella landslide (the overhanging cliff collapses on the railroad by bombing) and bridges at San Michele all' Adige and Calliano; during the night of 4/5 Feb, XXII Tactical Air Command A-20 intruder missions hit lights, motor transport, and roads in the Po Valley and areas S of Bologna; fighters and fighter-bombers fly 270+ sorties against communications targets in N Italy; incendiary bombing of a truck park damages numerous vehicles.

Photo: British 61st Heavy Regt., 31 Btry., "A" Sub. 7.2 howitzer firing. Gabbiano area, Italy. 5 February, 1945



Motor torpedo boats PT-308 and PT-313, on a routine patrol from Leghorn, Italy, sight two south-bound KT ships and one escort and engage them a half mile northwest of the swept channel off Portovenere, claiming at least one KT ship sunk.

Soviet Union

The Yalta Conference continues. Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin and their senior military and political advisors meet to discuss the postwar order and the war with Japan. Yalta is a recently liberated Crimean resort.

Greece

In Liberated Greece... The Greek Communist Party accepts the Greek government terms for an amnesty. The communists have to surrender their arms. The amnesty comes into force on February 12th.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy stores ship USS Yukon (AF-9) underway in Hampton Roads on 5 February 1945



Photo: Aerial photograph of the U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Bowers (DE-637) underway off Alameda, California (USA), on 5 February 1945



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 14 P-51s and P-40s attack locomotives and trucks at the Pinghan railroad yards, Hsiangcheng, and Lohochai; at least 9 locomotives and an undetermined number of trucks are destroyed; the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF, based at Kunming with F-4s and F-5s, sends a flight to operate from Hsian (another flight is operating from Luliang).

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 35 P-47s support ground forces in the Myitson, Hosi, and Molo areas; 8 P-38s bomb Mong Long; 60 P-38s and P-47s hit troops and supplies at Kan-loi, Nam-yang, Man Peng, Pangmakheleng, Kwangteng, Mong Pa, and Mansam. Transports fly 554 sorties to forward areas.

SAIPAN

(Seventh Air Force): 21 B-24s from Saipan bomb AA positions, defense installations, and a bivouac on the N end of Iwo Jima; during the night of 5/6 Feb, Iwo Jima airfields are pounded by 10 Saipan based B-24s flying individual snooper strikes. HQ 15th FG departs Hawaii for Iwo Jima.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

The US forces close in tighter around Manila. The US 11th Corps has completed its attack across the Bataan Peninsula.

60 B-24s deliver the heaviest attack yet on Corregidor; support for ground forces continues in various Luzon battle zones. B-25s on a shipping sweep of the E coast claim 9 barges and luggers sunk and several more damaged. B-24s bomb Manggar and Sepinggang Airfields on Borneo. HQ 475th FG moves from Dulag to San Jose (the group's 3 squadrons, the 431st, 432d and 433d Fighter Squadrons, remain at Dulag with P-38s and send detachments to operate from San Jose).

ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): 5 B-24s bomb Kataoka on Shimushu through solid overcast; a shipping sweep by B-25s is cancelled due to weather.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 575, FEBRUARY 5, 1945

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

2. Next of kin of officers and crew have been informed.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 249, FEBRUARY 5, 1945

Navy search Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Four made machine gun and rocket attacks on buildings and radio installations at Kurabu Saki on Para­mushiru and at Shimushu in the Kuriles on February 3 (East Longitude Date). All our aircraft returned safely.

On February 2 Army Liberators of the Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas, bombed air installations and storage areas on Iwo Jima in the Vol­canos. On the following day Army Liberators, Lightning fighters and Navy search Liberators attacked the island through intense antiaircraft fire which destroyed one of our fighters over the target. Seven enemy fighters were in the air.

Harbor installations at Chichi Jima in the Bonins were bombed by Army Liberators of the Strategic Air Force on February 3.

Airplanes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing attacked installations on Yap in the Western Carolines and on Babelthuap in the Palaus on February 3.

Marine aircraft bombed installations on Rota in the Marianas on the same date.

PACIFIC

Destroyer Bearss (DD-654) suffers minor damage from ammunition hangfire while on exercises in the Aleutians.

Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.6 is damaged by marine casualty; and minesweeper W.29 is damaged by mine off Chichi Jima.

Photo: A U.S. Marine Corps Vought F4U-1D Corsair of Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-511 attached to Marine Carrier Air Group 1 (MCVG-1) is on the deck of the U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Block Island (CVE-106) preparing to launch. MCVG-1 was the first all-Marine carrier air group in the Second World War

Day 1976 of World War II, February 7th 1945

Eastern Front

Troops of the 1st Belorussian Front (Zhukov), on the Oder River, seize some small bridgeheads over the river in the Kustrin area and near Furstenberg. There are also attacks in Pomerania where Answalde and Deutsche Krone are among the main centers of German resistance.

Western Front (1945) - Siegfried Line campaign

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



In the US 5th Corps advance toward the Roer, Schmidt is taken. To the south, US 3rd Army units move into Germany east of the Our.

Photo: An M10 tank destroyer from the 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion firing on a German pillbox on the other side of the Sauer River near Echternach, Luxembourg, supporting an advance by the 5th Infantry Division's 11th Infantry Regiment, February 7, 1945



Soviet Union

The Yalta Conference continues. Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin and their senior military and political advisors meet to discuss the postwar order and the war with Japan. Yalta is a recently liberated Crimean resort.

Belgium

The Belgian government resigns.

Air War over Europe

The 39th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Ninth AF, moves from Valenciennes to Amand, France with F-5s (first mission is 16 Mar).

(US Eighth Air Force):: 2 missions are flown. Mission 822: 295 B-17s and 80 P-51s are recalled when they encounter a weather front rising to 30,000 feet (9,144 m) over the North Sea; 1 B-17 attacks Essen; no bombers are lost. Escort is provided by 41 of 80 P-51s without loss. 36 of 36 P-51s patrol the Siegen, Germany area without loss. Mission 823: 10 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and Germany during the night without loss.

(US Ninth Air Force): 16 B-26s strike the rail siding at Lipp, Germany; weather cancels other operations.

100 RAF Lancasters of No 3 Group to attack the oil plant at Wanne-Eickel. Only 75 aircraft were able to bomb in wintry conditions which scattered the force. The results of the raid are not known. 1 Lancaster lost.

Goch: 464 RAF aircraft - 292 Halifaxes, 156 Lancasters, 16 Mosquitos - of Nos 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 2 Halifaxes lost. This raid was preparing the way for the attack of the British XXX Corps across the German frontier near the Reichswald. The Germans had included the towns of Goch and Kleve in their strong defences here. The Master Bomber ordered the Main Force to come below the cloud, the estimated base of which was only 5,000ft, and the attack opened very accurately. The raid was stopped after 155 aircraft had bombed, because smoke was causing control of the raid to become impossible. Considerable damage was caused in Goch but most of the inhabitants had probably left the town.

Kleve: 295 RAF Lancasters and 10 Mosquitos of Nos 1 and 8 Groups. 1 Lancaster lost. 285 aircraft bombed at Kleve, which was battered even more than Goch. After the war, Kleve claimed to be the most completely destroyed town in Germany of its size. The British attack, led by the 15th (Scottish) Division, made a successful start a few hours later but quickly ground to a halt because of a thaw, which caused flooding on the few roads available for the advance, and also because of the ruins which blocked the way through Kleve. Lieutenant-General BG Horrocks, the Corps Commander in charge of the attack, later claimed that he had requested that Kleve should only be subjected to an incendiary raid but Bomber Command dropped 1,384 tons of high explosive on the town and no incendiaries.

177 RAF Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos of No 5 Group attacked the Dortmund-Ems Canal section near Ladbergen with delayed-action bombs. Later photographs showed that the banks had not been damaged; the bombs had fallen into nearby fields. 3 Lancasters were lost.

38 RAF Mosquitos to Magdeburg, 16 to Mainz and 41 in small numbers to 5 other targets, 63 RCM sorties, 45 Mosquito patrols, 30 Lancasters and 15 Halifaxes minelaying in Kiel Bay. 4 Mosquitos lost - 3 from No 100 Group and 1 from the raid on Mainz.

Italian campaign

(US Fifteenth Air Force): 680 B-17s and B-24s bomb oil refineries at Moosbierbaum, Schwechat, and the Lobau, Floridsdorf, Korneuburg and Kagran refineries in the Vienna, Austria area; oil storage at Pula, Yugoslavia; shipyard and harbor of Trieste, Italy; the town of Bratislava, Czechoslovakia; Zwolfaxing Airfield, Austria; and several scattered targets of opportunity; 274 P-38s and P-51s provide escort. 8 B-24s drop supplies in Yugoslavia. 18 P-51s strafe the Zeltweg Airfield in Austria and the surrounding area while in Yugoslavia, 10 P-38s sweep the Zagreb-Karlovac- Sisak area. Other P-38s fly reconnaissance and escort operations.

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 6/7 Feb, A-20s bomb lights and movement over extensive areas of N Italy; during the day B-25 blasts cut bridges at Bodrez and Lavis, a viaduct at Lavis, and block rail lines at San Michele all'Adige and Mantua; XXII Tactical Air Command P-47s destroy 4 railroad bridges and damage another severely in the NE and C Po Valley and Brenner Pass, and blast dumps and sugar refineries in the Mantua, Brescia, and Reggio Emilia areas.

Photo: A Grant ARV of the New Zealand Division lifts a Daimler scout car which had become bogged down in the mud near Faenza, 7 February 1945



Motor torpedo boats PT-303 and PT-304, and British MTB 422, patrolling from Golfe Juan, France, engage southbound enemy convoy off Savona, Italy, sinking at least two vessels.

Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 11 P-51s knock out a bridge at Hengshan; 34 P-40s hit river, road, and rail traffic from Kweiyi to Hengshan, from Chiuchiang to Wuhu, from Siaokan southward, in the area S of Tsinan, and N of Tehsien, and from Wan Mai-Lo, Burma to Luang Prabang, French Indochina. 2 fighter-bombers hit the warehouse area at Kweihsien, China.

(Twentieth Air Force): 2 missions are flown. Mission 34: 67 B-29s are dispatched to hit Saigon, French Indochina; 44 bomb the primary target (11 drop prematurely and 33 hit a residential section), 19 hit Pnom Penh, a target of opportunity, and 2 bomb the last resort target, the marshalling yard at Martaban, Burma; they claim 0-0-1 Japanese aircraft; 1 B-29 is lost. Mission 35: 64 B-29s are dispatched to hit the Rama VI bridge at Bangkok, 58 bomb and effect the collapse of most of middle span of the bridge (this is the 3d strike at this target) and destroy the NE approach; 1 B-29 bombs the Martaban, Burma marshalling yard; no B-29s are lost.

INDIA-BURMA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 11 B-25s attack tanks and troops at Man Namman; 50 P-47s support forces preparing to cross the Shweli River in the Myitson area; 40+ P-47s and P-40s attack troops and supply areas at Nawngkalio, Man Li, Hsunkwe, Nawnghkio, Loi Hkam, Panghsapye, Na-lang, Wingnang, and Pang Eng Hkye. 464 transport sorties are flown to advanced bases and frontline areas. In India, the 5th and 6th Fighter Squadrons (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, move from Fenny and Asansol respectfully to Hay with P-47s; the detachment of the 127th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, operating from Cox's Bazar with UC-64s and L-5s returns to base at Kalaikunda; and the 317th Troop Carrier Squadron(Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, moves from Kalaikunda to Palel with C-47s.

SAIPAN

(Seventh Air Force): 6 B-24s from Saipan bomb the town of Okimura on Haha Jima ; 8 B-24s hit AA positions and radio and radar installations on Iwo Jima, while 2 others bomb the airfield in Woleai. From Angaur Airfield 20 B-24s bomb Silay and Talisay Airfields on Negros and 1 bombs Opon Airfield. 9 B-24s on snooper raids from Saipan duringthe night of 7/8 Feb, bomb Iwo Jima airfields.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

[Far East Air Force]: On Formosa, B-24s, with P-38 support hit targets of opportunity at Heito Airfield and other points (after weather prevents the bombing of Takao) and B-25s, with P-51 cover, fly several sweeps, claiming a sub sunk, a tanker set afire, a large motor launch sunk, other shipping damaged, and several vehicles and an airplane destroyed. On Luzon , A-20s, supporting ground operations, attack the hills W of Clark Field. B-24s hit Bago and Mandaue on Negros. In Borneo, other B-24s bomb Tawau and-in another mission Miri Airfield, Tutong oil refinery pump station and power house. The 341st Fighter Squadron, 348th FG, moves from Tanauan to San Marcelino with P-47s.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

General Douglas MacArthur enters Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands.

ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): 6 B-24s off to Kataoka, Shimushu abort the mission when all aircraft accidentally drop bombs prior to the bombing run. 4 B-25s weather abort.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 251, FEBRUARY 7, 1945

Marine Mitchells of the Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas, attacked shipping in and around the Bonins and Volcanos on the night of February 6 (East Longitude Date). A large ship in a convoy north of the Volcanos was hit with rockets and a second ship in a convoy north of the Bonins was left smoking after an explosion aboard caused by rocket attacks.

Seventh Army Air Force Liberators of the Strategic Air Force bombed barracks and other installations at Chichi Jima and Ototo Jima in the Bonins on the same date. Three enemy fighters were seen airborne over the targets.

The enemy base at Kataoka on Shimushu in the Kuriles was bombed by Eleventh Army Air Force Liberators on February 6.

Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing destroyed a bridge, set trucks afire and struck defense positions on Babelthuap in the Palaus on February 6.

A pier and bridge on Yap in the Western Carolines were hit by Marine fighters and torpedo planes on the same date.

On February 6, Marine fighters bombed enemy installations on Rota in the Marianas,

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPOA PRESS RELEASE NO. 4, FEBRUARY 7, 1945

Fleet Admiral C. W. Nimitz, U. S. Navy, and the plans and operations elements of his staff have moved to Advance Headquarters of the U. S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas in the Forward Area.

The first communiqué to be released at Advance Headquarters by Admiral Nimitz was Number 244, issued on 28 January 1945. Transfer of the personnel and equipment to the advance headquarters was made without incident by surface units of the fleet and by naval aircraft.

Present with Fleet Admiral Nimitz at his advance headquarters are Vice Admiral C. H. McMorris, U. S. Navy, Chief of Staff, and Rear Admiral For­rest Sherman, U. S. Navy, Deputy Chief of Staff.

PACIFIC

Motor torpedo boats PT-373 and PT-356 enter Manila Bay for night reconnaissance; these are the first U.S. naval units to enter that body of water since the surrender of Corregidor in 1942.

Destroyer escort Thomason (DE-203) sinks Japanese submarine RO 55 off Iba, Luzon, 15°27'N, 119°25'E.

Submarine Bergall (SS-320), attacking Japanese convoy off east coast of French Indochina, sinks Coast Defense Vessel No.53 and damages merchant tanker Toho Maru near Cam Ranh Bay, 11°56'N, 109°18'E.

Submarine Guavina (SS-362), attacking a Japanese convoy, sinks merchant tanker Taigyo Maru 250 miles south of Saigon, French Indochina, 06°45'N, 106°00'E.

Submarine Parche (SS-384) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Okinoyama Maru, 29°09'N, 129°45'E.

Submarine Ronquil (SS-396) damages Japanese army cargo ship Kuretake Maru, 31°46'N, 140°17'E.

British submarine HMS Subtle sinks small Japanese cargo vessel Nanei Maru, 07°28'N, 94°56'E.