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4/1/45

Twelfth AF

A-20's and A-26's on intruder missions during 31 Mar/1 Apr over Po Valley continue to attack road and railroad bridges, motor transport, loading points, and other tgts. Principal strikes are made at Po R bridges. Ftrs and FBs during the day strike rail bridges, dumps, rail lines, M/Ys, trains, vehicles, gun positions, several buildings (including ammo plant and truck factory), and a variety of T/Os in Po Valley and NE Italy. MBs hit railroad bridges at Calcinato, Crema, Mantua, Monselice, Colle Isarco, San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, and Perca.


4/1/45

Fifteenth AF

Almost 400 B-24's and B-17's bomb Maribor railroad bridge, M/Ys at Sankt Polten, Selzthal, Zeltueg, Graz, and Villach, railroad bridge at Krieglach, and gun positions on Adriatic coast near Venice. 82 P-38's bomb Ybbs railroad bridge while 52 P-51's strafe rail traffic in Prague-Plzen area. Other P-38's and P-51's fly rcn and rcn escort.


4/1/45

Tenth AF

10 B-25's attack roads and bridges behind enemy lines in C Burma. 478 transport flights are made throughout the day. British 36th Div forces begin to push down railroad from Mandalay to Rangoon.


4/1/45

Fourteenth AF

7 B-24's bomb Ft Bayard storage area. 6 B-25's and 6 P-51's attack river shipping and warehouses in Sienning-Puchi area. 4 B-25's attack railroad tgts at Ninh Binh and Minh Koi. 5 B-25's hit warehouses and other buildings at Hsuchang while 3 damage bridge at Changtuikuan. Single B-25's bomb T/Os around Sanshihlitun, Sichuan, Loning, and Suicheng. 23 P-51's pound A/Fs in Shanghai area. 70-plus other FBs attack river, road, and rail traffic, storage areas, troops, and general T/Os throughout wide areas of occupied S and E China.


4/1/45

FEAF

B-24's attack Giran A/F while B-25's and P-47's sweep wide areas. On Luzon B-24's, A-20's, and FBs hit Legaspi area (where US amphibious landing is taking place), tgts N of Balete Pass, Batangas area, and spt troops over parts of S and NW Luzon. In C Phil B-25's and A-20's spt ground forces near Cebu City and on Negros. B-24's hit Oelin A/F.


4/2/45

Eighth AF

Over 700 HBs dispatched against 6 A/Fs in Denmark, along with 12 ftr gps, abandon mission because of bad weather in tgt area.


4/2/45

Ninth AF

Weather prevents operations by 9th Bomb Div and XXIX TAC. IX and XIX TACs fly patrols and armed rcn over wide expanses of Germany claiming 17 airplanes downed and IX TAC supports US 9th Armd Div at Diemel R bridgehead near Warburg.


4/2/45

Twelfth AF

Gen Chidlaw takes cmd of Twelfth AF (in Italy) and will shortly take over MATAF also. A-20's and A-26's continue intruder missions during 1/2 Apr concentrating on Po R crossings and other Po Valley comm tgts. B-25's bomb railroad bridges at Fornovo di Taro, Drauburg, San Michele all' Adige, Matrei am Brenner, Steinach, and Colle Isarco, and railroad fill at Vo Sinistro. Ftrs and FBs again hit comm in Po Valley but divert sizable escort to attacks on methane plants in C Po area. The P-47's are attacked by about 40 ftrs during the day, 13 are claimed destroyed.


4/2/45

Fifteenth AF

Almost 600 B-24's and B-17's, with ftr escorts, bomb comm tgts in Austria including M/Ys at Graz, Sankt Polten, and Krems, and railroad bridge on Sulm R. 38 P-38's dive-bomb railroad bridge at Wildon. 71 P-38's and 55 P-51's strafe Vienna-Munich and Wiener-Neustadt-Maribor rail traffic. Others carry out photo and weather rcn and rcn escort flights.


4/2/45

Tenth AF

Bad weather cancels all offensive missions. Air supply missions continue with 469 sorties being flown to forward areas.


4/2/45

Fourteenth AF

28 B-25's knock out bridge SE of That Khe, bomb town area of Vinh, damage bridge approaches at Kep, hit shipping and other T/Os along coast of Gulf of Tonkin, and blast town area of Luc Nam. 25 B-25's attack trucks, tanks, rivercraft, and T/Os at Sichuan, Neihsiang, Sinyang, Mingkiang, Siangtan, Kweiping, Nanning, and Hengshan. 4 B-24's bomb Kowloon Docks and hit shipping at Bakli Bay and Samah Bay. 32 P-51's pound A/Fs in Shanghai area. 140-plus other FBs attack numerous tgts scattered throughout S and E China, including troops, trucks, horses, river shipping, bridges, gun positions, A/Fs, rail traffic, and town areas.


4/2/45

FEAF

B-24's bomb harbor at Hong Kong. B-25's and FBs attack Bamban bridges, Balete PassBaguio area and Penablanca. Troops at Cebu City and on Negros are bombed by B-25's and FBs. B-24's bomb Sarangani Bay area. Other B-24's hit Sandakan shipyards and Tawau A/F. Bongao I is hit by HBs.


4/2/45

Twentieth AF

During the first 4 hrs after midnight (1/2 Apr), 6 B-29's mine harbor at Kure while more than 100 bomb Nakajima aircraft factory at Tokyo. 9 B-29's mine waters off Hiroshima during 2/3 Apr.


4/2/45

Seventh AF

12 Guam-based B-24's bomb Marcus.


4/2/45

Eleventh AF

A B-24 on weather rcn returns early due to mechanical trouble. Another B-24 investigates radar jamming on Kresta Point.


4/3/45

Eighth AF

Over 700 HBs attack U-boat yards at Kiel (2 HBs bomb Flensburg A/F as a T/O). 12 ftr gps fly close and area spt.


4/3/45

Ninth AF

Operational HQ of XXIX TAC moves to Haltern. About 230 MBs and LBs attack Holzminden and Hameln M/Ys, town of Gottingen, 2 T/Os, and fly leaflet mission. Ftrs fly escort, fly patrols and armed rcn, spt US 9th Armd Div in Warburg area, XX Corps E of Werra R toward Muhlhausen and in Kassel area, XII Corps in Gotha and Suhl areas, and 2d and 8th Armd Divs in Teutoburger Forest and Neuhaus.


4/3/45

Twelfth AF

During 2/3 Apr LBs bomb M/Y at Mantua, several Po R crossings and other comm tgts in Po Valley. Weather hampers operations during the day. MBs cancel most missions, but manage to bomb Po Valley bridges at Camposanto, Usigliano, and Modena. XXII TAC (including Brazilian and SAAF units) blast comm, fuel dumps, methane plants, trains motor transport at numerous points in N Italy (mainly Po Valley), including Parma, Modena, Fidenza, Lodi, Bergamo, Reggio Emilia, and Piacenza.


4/3/45

Fifteenth AF

95 P-38's divebomb Tainach-Stein railroad bridge. Other P-38's and P-51's fly rcn and escort missions. Bad weather prevents HB operations.


4/3/45

Tenth AF

Bad weather again causes cancellation of most scheduled strikes. A few FBs hit Japanese-held wooded area near Kenglong. Transports complete 383 sorties to forward areas.


4/3/45

Fourteenth AF

17 B-25's bomb Pinglo, Ninh Binh railroad yards, knock out bridge at Thinh Duc, and damage bridges at Gian Khau and Mon Cay. 60-plus FBs knock out bridges at Hsitu and between Chuting and Hengyang, destroy pontoon bridges in Kanchou area, hit Yangtong A/F, pound Hai Duong railroad yards, and hit river traffic and other T/Os at several locations including Hongay, Cao Bang, Tayu, Hankow, Kanchou, Yoyang, and Ishan-Hwaiyuanchen areas.


4/3/45

FEAF

Hong Kong docks are again bombed by B-24's. Other B-24's and B-25's hit A/F, butanol plant, and railroad yards at Kagi while A-20's sweep other rail tgts. On Luzon FBs and A-20's hit Balete Pass-Baguio-Naguilian area N Cagayan Valley supply tgts, Laguna de Bay area, and Infanta, also, Miri A/F, troops in Cebu City area, and tgts on Tarakan I are bombed. MBs attack N Hainan I.


4/3/45

Twentieth AF

During 3/4 Apr, 9 B-29's mine waters off Hiroshima. Twice during early morning, 48 B-29's hit aircraft plant at Shizuoka, 68 attack Koizumi aircraft factory and urban areas in Tokyo, and 100-plus strike aircraft plant at Tachikawa and urban area of Kawasaki.


4/4/45

JCS

JCS designates Gen MacArthur CINCUSAFPAC and Adm Nimitz CINTCPOA.


4/4/45

Eighth AF

939 HBs, supported by 826 effective ftr sorties, bomb 5 A/Fs and 2 landing grounds in N Germany, submarine yards at Hamburg and Kiel, and munitions plant near Ulzen.


4/4/45

Ninth AF

XXIX TAC returns to operational control of Ninth AF (from Second Tac AF) as US Ninth Army reverts to control of 12th Army Gp (from 21st Army Gp). The British ground and air HQ have operationally controlled XXIX TAC and Ninth Army since shortly after the Ardennes breakthrough and the Battle of the Bulge. 330-plus MBs and LBs hit Ebrach oil depot, Crailsheim M/Y and barracks area, Grossaspach supply depot, town of Ellswangen, Backnang rail and road junction, and 2 T/Os. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols, sweeps, and armed rcn, attack special tgts, and spt US 104th Inf Div at Scherfede and Hardehausen, 9th Armd Div in Warburg area, XX Corps in Muhlhausen-Kassel areas, 2d and 5th Armd Divs in Hameln and Minden areas on the Weser R, and 8th Armd Div as it assaults Ruhr pocket in Lippstadt area.


4/4/45

Twelfth AF

B-25's continue to blast comm along Brenner rail line, ranging from railroad bridge at Drauburg to Camposanto railroad bridge. The MBs also inflict considerable damage on Merano methanol plant. P-47's concentrate on enemy movement, rail lines, and ammo and fuel dumps throughout Po Valley.


4/4/45

Fifteenth AF

Again bad weather prevents HB operations and limits effort to rcn and escort missions and to strafing attacks by 94 P-51's on rail traffic in Munich, Regensburg, Plzen, Linz, and Gmunden areas.


4/4/45

Tenth AF

Combat operations are restricted to attacks on a troop concentration and rice and fuel supplies behind enemy lines in C Burma. Transports operate on steady basis throughout the day.


4/4/45

Fourteenth AF

2 B-25's sink a junk in Gulf of Tonkin. 6 P-38's strafe trucks around Dien Bien Phu, Moc Chau, and Son La.


4/4/45

FEAF

B-24's bomb Toyohara A/F, Mako harbor, and Tokichito I. A-20's hit Shinchiku factories and rail yards. B-24's bomb harbor at Hong Kong. P-38's and P-51's pound various tgts in C Luzon while A-20's and P-38's hit Calauag area. A-20's pound NW Negros and B-24's bomb tgts in C Mindanao.


4/4/45

Seventh AF

24 B-24's from Angaur hit building at Bunawan.


4/5/45

International

USSR notifies Japan that it wishes to abrogate 5-year Russo-Japanese neutrality pact signed in 1941.


4/5/45

Eighth AF

Over 1,000 HBs attack 5 M/Ys, 4 ordnance depots, an armament works, an A/F, an aircraft parts factory, and 2 town areas in SC Germany. 12 ftr gps spt the HBs.


4/5/45

Ninth AF

Weather prevents operations by 9th Bomb Div. Ftrs fly patrols, sweeps, and armed rcn, and spt US 7th Armd Div's attack on Ruhr pocket SW of Brilon, XX Corps' drive E in Muhlhausen area, XII Corps' adv in Meiningen area, 2d Armd Div bridgehead astride the Weser R S of Hameln, 8th Armd Div (preparing for assault on Soest), and 5th Armd Div near Minden.


4/5/45

Twelfth AF

B-25's bomb 5 bridges in N Italy and Austria, at Steinach, Matrei am Brenner, Modena, Salorno, and San Michele all'Adige, and blast gun positions at La Spezia. These attacks follow night raids by A-20's and A-26's on bridges at Lavis, Ala, San Michele all'Adige, San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Piazzola sul Brenta, Cittadella, and Montebello, and other tgts. Ftrs and FBs devote their largest effort to close spt of ground forces, blasting occupied areas and gun positions in Massa Lombarda area, and also attack comm and dumps in Po Valley.


4/5/45

Fifteenth AF

457 B-24's and B-17's attack railroad bridge at Dravograd, M/Ys and locomotive depots at Brescia, Alessandria, and Turin, and A/F at Udine. 96 P-38's dive-bomb Radovljica railroad bridge, 27 P-51's with 13 flying top cover, strafe rail comm in Munich, Regensburg, Passau, and Linz areas. 20-plus P-38's fly rcn missions. Around 300 ftr sorties are flown to escort transport, rcn, and HB missions (including RAF raid on Monfalcone shipyards).


4/5/45

Tenth AF

Bad weather cancels scheduled strikes. Transports continue large-scale operations to forward areas.


4/5/45

Fourteenth AF

27 FBs on armed rcn attack troops, horses, and river, road, and rail traffic at Shanhsien, Shihkiachwang, and Son La, and in Tehsien and Loyang-Pinglo area.


4/5/45

FEAF

B-24's bomb Kowloon Docks and nearby A/F, while other B-24's bomb Kiirun harbor. 180-plus sorties in spt of ground forces are flown in Luzon. A-20's and patrolling P-61's spt troops on Cebu and Negros. P-38's hit Tarakan I and Tawau.


4/5/45

Seventh AF

18 B-24's from Guam hit tgts on Eten anl Dublon Is. 22 from Angaur pound bivouac area at Bunawan.


4/6/45

Eighth AF

641 HBs bomb M/Y at Halle, rail traffic center at Leipzig, M/Y and industrial complex at Gera, and city area of Eisleben. 15 ftr gps fly around 600 effective sorties in spt of the HBs.


4/6/45

Ninth AF

99 MBs and LBs hit M/Ys at Gottingen and Northeim and city area of Herzberg, and drop leaflets over 3 city areas. Ftrs fly escort, alerts, sweeps, and armed rcn, and spt US VIII Corps in Eisenach area, and XX Corps E of the Werra near Muhlhausen.


4/6/45

Twelfth AF

Gen Darcy takes cmd of XXII TAC. A-20's and A-26's on night intruder missions, 5/6 Apr, bomb several bridges in Po R Valley, scoring good results on 8 of the tgts, also hitting assembly area along the Po R. XXII TAC ftrs and FBs hit lines of comm, mainly in Po Valley, and spt US Fifth Army forces attacking toward Massa Lombarda. B-25's cancel missions against tgts on Brenner line due to weather, but hit 6 bridges in C Po Valley and gun positions at La Spezia.


4/6/45

Fifteenth AF

387 HBs, with ftr escort, bomb M/Y flak positions and ordnance depot at Verona and M/Y and small arms plant at Brescia. 179 other HBs sent against tgts in N Italy are recalled. 81 P-38's dispatched to bomb bridge in Austria abort due to weather. 14 manage to attack bridges near Austro-Italian border. 6 P-51's (of 54 airborne) strafe railroad tgts in Straubing/Plattling area. Others fly rcn missions.


4/6/45

Tenth AF

With improving weather conditions combat strikes in C Burma battle area increase. 70-plus FBs attack troop concentrations, arty positions, tanks, trucks, fuel dumps, and general T/Os along and immediately behind enemy lines. Tgts are located in several areas including Paklu, Nawnghkio, Loilem, Takaw, Mong Hko, Kongleng, NawngHsan Pu, and Indaw. Air supply sorties continue on steady basis throughout the day.


4/6/45

Fourteenth AF

3 B-24's hit T/Os in Bakli Bay area. 4 P-38's knock out bridge in Dien Bien Phu area. 8 P-51's blast railroad T/Os, troops, horses, and boat landings in Chengheien area and along Lung Hai railroad and Yellow R.


4/6/45

FEAF

B-25's bomb town of Hokko. Ground spt sorties continue in areas around Balete Pass, W of Ft Stotsenburg, N, NE, and S of Laguna de Bay, and around Legaspi. Ftrs also hit Carabao I and Infanta. B-24's bomb town N of Cebu City while ftrs spt ground units on Cebu. A-20's spt ground forces on Negros. B-25's pound Bunawan. B-24's bomb Jolo I defenses and ammo and supply dumps. At Manila AFPAC is established under Gen MacArthur. 400 Kamikaze planes make all-out effort against Okinawa shipping and beachheads. 2 destroyers, 2 ammo ships, a mine sweeper and an LST is sunk. Other vessels are damaged. Nearly 300 Japanese planes are expended.


4/6/45

Seventh AF

11 B-24's from Guam pound positions and A/F on Marcus. 23 from Angaur bomb barracks and wharf at Bunawan.


4/6/45

Eleventh AF

8 B-24's attack and photograph Kurabu, especially the A/F, while 8 B-25's hit radar installations in an all-out attack on Hayakegawa, Kotani Shima, and Minami Cape, dropping napalm-filled incendiaries for the first time. Buildings and shipping in N part of Hayakegawa are hit especially hard. Another B-25 flies weather rcn.


4/7/45

Eighth AF

Over 1,200 HBs hit 6 A/Fs, 5 M/Ys, 2 explosives plants, 2 oil storage depots, and an ordnance depot in C and N Germany. 15 ftr gps, providing spt, meet well over 100 conventional ftrs and 50-plus jets. The German ftrs attack fiercely and in the ensuing air battle down 15 HBs. US ftrs claim over 60 ftrs destroyed including a few jets against negligible losses. HBs claim 40 of the ftrs destroyed.


4/7/45

Ninth AF

268 MBs and LBs strike M/Ys at Northeim and Gottingen, plus 2 town areas. Ftrs fly escort, patrols, and armed rcn, and spt US 7th Armd Div at Schmallenberg, 3d and 9th Armd Divs along the Weser R E of Warburg, VIII, XII, and XX Corps in Muhlhausen, Eisenach, and Meiningen areas (including strong air spt against counterattack on XII and XX Corps at Struth), 2d Armd Div along Sarstedt/Hildesheim road, and XVI Corps between Lippe and Ruhr Rivers in Essen area.


4/7/45

Twelfth AF

During 6/7 Apr A-20's and A-26's bomb bridges at Lavis, Ala, Rovereto, and San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, and several Po R crossings. During the day weather grounds MBs. XXII TAC ftrs and FBs, operating on limited scale, hit Montechino oilfield, ammo dumps and comm tgts N of battle area, and gun positions in Monte Belvedere/Strettoia area in which US Fifth Army forces push N.


4/7/45

Fifteenth AF

128 B-17's and B-24's attack Mezzocorona railroad bridge and nearby road bridge, Verona-Parona di Valpolicella railroad bridge, and M/Ys at Innsbruck, Sankt Veit an der Glan, and Klagenfurt. Over 500 HBs return to base without bombing because of multilayer clouds. 82 P-38's bomb TainachStein railroad bridge. 74 others sent against bridge in S Austria abort due to weather.


4/7/45

Tenth AF

95 FBs operating over and behind Japanese lines in C Burma pound troop concentrations, trucks, and supply areas, and sweep roads S of bomb line.


4/7/45

Fourteenth AF

14 B-25's hit town areas and T/Os at Sichuan, Hsihhsiassuchi, Neihsiang, Shaoyang, and Nanchang. 4 B-24's bomb harbors and dock areas at Bakli and Samah Bays and at Haiphong. 8 P-38's hit T/Os around Dien Bien Phu and along Nam Hon area. 24 P-51's attack river, road and rail traffic in Yellow R area, S of Anyi, at Yuncheng, and at Tengfeng.


4/7/45

FEAF

Bad weather hampers strikes N of the Phils. B-24's and P-38's over Formosa hit various T/Os. Ftrs fly 130-plus sorties in spt of ground forces at Solvec Cove, Villa Verde Trail, Ipo and Marikina Rivers, and NE Laguna de Bay. B-24's again bomb Bunawan. Other B-24's and P-38's hit Jolo I. B-24's bomb Bima A/F.


4/7/45

Twentieth AF

101 B-29's bomb Nakajima aircraft engine plant at Tokyo while 150-plus hit Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Nagoya. Nearly 30 others hit last resort tgts. 91 P-51's of VII FC escort the VHBs to Japan for the first time and claim 21 kills.


4/7/45

Seventh AF

24 B-24's from Angaur bomb barracks area at Bunawan.


4/7/45

Eleventh AF

A B-24 flies a radar ferret mission along the coasts of Paramushiru and Harumukotan.


4/8/45

Eighth AF

More than 1,150 HBs strike 3 A/Fs, 4 M/Ys, an oil storage depot, 2 ordnance depots, a railroad yard workshop, and an aircraft parts and repair factory, in areas N and NW of Leipzig, SE of and near Nurnberg, and SW of Chemnitz. 14 ftr gps fly escort.


4/8/45

Ninth AF

HQ IX TAC moves from Brnhl to Marburg/Lahn. Around 620 A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's bomb Munchenbernsdorf oil storage depot, Sonderhausen comm center, Nienhagen oil refinery, Celle M/Y, and 8 city areas. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, attack A/F, fly patrols and armed rcn, and operate in conjunction with US VIII, XII, and XX Corps in Thuringer Forest and Erfurt areas.


4/8/45

Twelfth AF

During 7/8 Apr LBs hit cmd posts and dumps. MBs, despite bad weather bomb railroad bridges at Salorno, San Michele all' Adige, Vo Sinistro, and Bondeno, railroad fill and canal at Salorno, and gun positions at La Spezia. XXII TAC FBs concentrate escorts on Brenner area comm (cutting lines in 31 places and damaging 4 bridges), oil fields in C Po Valley, and points further N.


4/8/45

Fifteenth AF

More than 500 B-24's and B-17's, with ftr escorts, attack comm in N Italy, concentrating on transportation system feeding into Brenner Pass. Bridges, viaducts, and M/Ys are hit at or near Bressanone, Campodazzo, Vipiteno, Fortezza, Campo di Trens, Mezzocorona, Avisio, Brescia, Gorizia, Pordenone, and Ponte Gardena. (power dam at Ponte Gardena is also hit). 168 P-38's bomb Rattenberg and
Garmisch railroad bridges and strafe rail traffic in Munich-Salzburg-Linz areas.


4/8/45

Tenth AF

50-plus P-38's and P-47's operating in C Burma battle areas attack troops, supplies, gun positions, and trucks at several points along and behind enemy lines, and sweep roads S of bomb line. Transports maintain operations throughout the day.


4/8/45

Fourteenth AF

31 P-51's knock out bridge S of Shaoyang, destroy section of track at Sincheng, and hit numerous road and rail T/Os in Yellow R areas and points to the S, from Shanhsien to Loning, at Hungtung, and S of Hei-Shih Kuan. 4 B-24's attack shipping T/Os in S China Sea and in Bakli and Yulin Bays and bomb Kowloon Docks.


4/8/45

FEAF

For second consecutive day bad weather prevents attacks on primary tgts N of the Phil Is. MBs and HBs hit secondary tgts including Chomosui A/F and Tainan town and railroad yards, towns of Takao, Toko, and Kaiko, and other scattered objectives. A-20's and FBs over Luzon spt ground forces particularly in areas E of Manila. B-24's join A-20's and FBs in spt of ground forces on Cebu and Negros. Other HBs bomb N Davao Bay area and Jolo I.


4/8/45

Twentieth AF

48 B-29's strike 2 A/Fs at Kanoya and 1 at Kokubu.


4/8/45

Seventh AF

25 B-24's from Angaur bomb Bunawan area. During 8/9 Apr, 6 night ftrs from Iwo Jima, operating singly at 2-fur intervals, bomb Chichi Jima, Haha Jima, Ani Jima, and Ototo Jima.


4/9/45

Eighth AF

10 jet A/Fs, a M/Y and rail center, an ammunition plant, and an oil storage facility in SC Germany are bombed by around 1,200 HBs. 15 ftr gps give close and area spt.


4/9/45

Ninth AF

Over 700 MBs and LBs strike M/Ys at Jena and Saalfeld, oil tgts at Bad Berka and Dedenhausen, ordnance depots at Naumburg and Amberg-Kummersbruck, and several T/Os. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, attack several A/Fs and a fuel storage facility, fly area patrols and armed rcn, and spt III Corps along Lenne R, 3d Armd Div E of the Weser R toward Nordhausen, VIII Corps in Arnstadt area and XII and XX Corps in Thuringer Forest and around Erfurt.


4/9/45

Twelfth AF

A-20's and A-26's on intruder missions during 8/9 Apr bomb bridges, vehicles, and T/Os in Po R Valley and NE Italy. During the day B-25's and XXII TAC FBs (in conjunction with DAF FBs and MASAF HBs) blast gun positions, troop concentrations, enemy HQ, and strongpoints in Lugo-Imola area in spt of British Eighth Army offensive. Other XXII TAC FBs hit comm in N Italy (including Brenner line) and methane plant and ammo and fuel dumps in WC Po Valley.


4/9/45

Fifteenth AF

825 B-24's and B-17's in close coordination with the British Eighth Army, pound gun positions and other forward military tgts SE of Bologna, in the area immediately W and SW of Lugo. 88 P-51's provide tgt cover. 150-plus P-38's bomb and strafe railroad bridges at Rattenberg, Seefeld, Telfs, Rosenheim, and to the S near Austro German border, and also hit rail lines in Munich-Rosenheim area. Over 90 P-51's escort supply (to N Italy) and transport missions and spt MATAF aircraft attacking positions in Imola area. Other airplanes continue rcn operations.


4/9/45

Tenth AF

More than 70 P-38's and P-47's attack troops, supplies, gun positions, and general T/Os along and behind C Burma battleline around Mong Pawn, Wan Htum, Pang po, Kyawkku, Mong Hko, HanhvieMu, Laihka, and other points. Transports complete 415 sorties to forward areas.


4/9/45

Fourteenth AF

9 B-24's bomb docks at Canton and Kowloon and attack T/Os at Bakli Bay. 8 B-25's bomb Sinyang railroad yards and nearby T/Os. 13 other B-25's knock out bridge N of Hsuchang and hit various tgts around Laohokow, Sichuan, Sinyang, Likuanchiao, Lichen, and along the Han R. 19 P-51's hit T/Os in or near Neihsiang, Laohokow, and Sichuan. 2 P-38's blast trucks in Dien Bien Phu area.


4/9/45

FEAF

A-20's and FBs spt ground forces on Luzon in Balete Pass, Baguio, and Solvec Cove areas and at several points in SW Luzon, and attack Japanese forces in Legaspi area. B-24's and FBs spt ground forces in C Cebu and on Negros. Several B-24's on armed rcn missions hit China and Indochina coastal tgts.


4/9/45

Twentieth AF

16 B-29's mine Shimonoseki Strait.


4/9/45

Seventh AF

16 P-51's from Iwo Jima bomb and strafe military installations at Chichi Jima during the early morning. 17 Guam-based B-24's pound Marcus A/F and def installations. 22 from Angaur hit troop concentration at Kabacan.


4/10/45

Eighth AF

1,224 HBs hit 8 A/Fs 2 M/Ys, a factory A/F and repair hangars, an ordnance depot, and HQ buildings all in N Germany. 15 ftr gps provide close and area spt and strafe numerous A/Fs, claiming 335 parked airplanes destroyed. About 60 jets and a few conventional ftrs are encountered. US ftrs claim over 20 aerial victories. Enemy ftrs and AA account for 16 HBs.


4/10/45

Ninth AF

423 A-20's, A-26's, and B-26's strike oil storage and ordnance depots, rail bridge and viaduct (all primary tgts) and several other tgts including a M/Y and an industrial area. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols, rail cutting operations, and armed rcn, and spt US 13th Armd Div crossing the Sieg R near Siegburg, 3d Armd Div approaching Nordhausen, 9th Armd Div in Hain area, XII Corps near Coburg, XX Corps W of Weimar and the Saale R, 2d and 5th Armd Divs crossing Oker R in Ahnsen and Schladen areas, and XVI Corps along the Ruhr R in Essen area.


4/10/45

Twelfth AF

During 9/10 Apr LBs hit guns and other close spt tgts along British Eighth Army front (which stretches from W of Imola to Comacchio Lagoon and the coast) and also hit several Po R crossings and attack Brenner line bridges at Lavis, Rovereto, and San Michele all'Adige. During the day B-25's and XXII TAC FBs continue pounding spt tgts along the battlefront. FBs also attack bridges on the Brenner line and comm and other tgts in Po Valley.


4/10/45

Fifteenth AF

648 B-24's and B-17's, in spt of British Eighth Army forces, blast arty positions, machine-gun nests, and inf defenses along the Santerno R. This effort represents the largest number of Fifteenth AF HBs attacking tgts in a single day as of this date. 88 P-51's fly tgt cover. 152 P-38's dive-bomb bridges, a tunnel and a M/Y at Seefeld and Worgl.


4/10/45

Tenth AF

About 30 FBs attack troop concentrations at Tonglau, at points along Zawgyi, and at other locations in C Burma battle area. 455 transport sorties are flown to forward areas.


4/10/45

Fourteenth AF

23 B-24's pound Yungcheng storage areas. 50-plus B-25's and 180-plus FBs (operating in small flights) attack numerous tgts throughout S and E China. Tgts hit are mainly troops, horses, town areas, storage areas, and river, road, and rail traffic.


4/10/45

FEAF

HBs bomb town of Koshun. A-20's and FBs again spt ground forces in SW Luzon and in Balete Pass, Baguio, and Solvec Cove areas, and pound Legaspi area. B-24's and FBs spt ground forces in C Cebu. B-24's bomb Liang and Bingkalapa A/Fs.


4/10/45

Seventh AF

During 10/11 Apr, 6 Iwo Jima-based night ftrs, flying individual strikes bomb and strafe Chichi, Muko, Ani, and Haha Jima.


4/10/45

Eleventh AF

In coordinated operations with Navy aircraft, 7 B-24's napalm-bomb Kataoka naval base. 4 B-25's attempt to hit radar installations on Minami Cape, the primary air warning station in the Kurils, but fail to release bombs due to approach error. 3 other B-25's decklevel bomb Masugawa R cannery. A B-24 investigates ice floes along Kurils.


4/11/45

Eighth AF

Over 1,250 HBs attack 6 M/Ys, 2 A/Fs, 2 ordnance depots, 2 oil storage depots, and an ammunition factory in S Germany. 15 ftr gps provide close and area spt.


4/11/45

Ninth AF

689 MBs and LBs strike M/Ys at Bernburg, Oschersleben, Zwickau, and Kothen, Naumburg ordnance depot, Bamberg motor transport plant, and several other tgts. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols, sweeps, leaflet mission, and armed rcn (claiming 43 aircraft shot down), and spt US 3d and 9th Armd Divs in Nordhausen and Ringleben-Sachsenburg-Rothenberga areas, 2d Armd Div as it reaches Elbe R S of Magdeburg in a record drive of 57 mi, XVI Corps along the Ruhr R at Witten, XX Corps as it crosses the Saale R at Weimar and overruns Buchenwald concentration camp and Allied prisoner camp nearby, XII Corps in Coburg-Rottenbach area, and VIII Corps as it approaches the Saale R S of Weimar.


4/11/45

Twelfth AF

During 10/11 Apr LBs bomb bridges at Lavis, Ala, Rovereto, San Michele all'Adige, and San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, and hit vehicles, Po R crossings and T/Os in Po Valley. MBs continue to spt British Eighth Army forces between Imola and Comacchio Lagoon, bomb guns SE of La Spezia in front of US Fifth Army adv, and bomb 4 bridges on the Brenner line. XXII TAC FBs also fly spt on Eighth Army front, and hit comm (including Brenner line) and fuel and ammo dumps in N Italy.


4/11/45

Fifteenth AF

544 B-24's and B-17's hit comm in N Italy, concentrating on transportation system feeding into Brenner area, in effort to hamper enemy's supply and escape routes. The HBs bomb bridges at Padua, Vipiteno, Campodazzo, Ponte Gardena, and Campo di Trens, M/Ys at Bronzolo and Ora, vehicle repair shop at Osoppo, and fuel depot at Goito. 40 P-38's dive-bomb Rosenheim railroad bridge. 40 other P-38's and 29 P-51's strafe rail traffic in Munich, Regensburg, Plzen, Linz, and Salzburg areas. Over 250 ftrs escort HB missions, rcn and supply missions, and operations against N Italian tgts by MATAF aircraft.


4/11/45

Tenth AF

54 FBs hit troop and supply concentrations near Mong Kung and Mong Nim, attack trucks and T/Os in other areas behind battleline, and sweep several roads S of bomb line. Transports fly 424 sorties carrying men and supplies to forward areas.


4/11/45

Fourteenth AF

7 B-25's bomb Hsihhsiassuchi, 5 pound Pinglo barracks and storage area, and a few others hit Yanglowtung railroad yards and T/Os E of Paoching. 150-plus FBs attack troops, river, road and rail traffic, and a variety of T/Os scattered throughout S and E China and N Indochina.


4/11/45

FEAF

B-24's bomb Cotabato. Japanese defenses NW of Guadalupe are pounded by HBs. A-20's hit bivouac E of Negritos. On Luzon B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and FBs bomb numerous tgts including Fuga I, Cagayan Valley areas, Santa Fe, bridges and other comm in Iligan, Naguilian, Manga, and Tuguegarao, and troops and supply concentration N of Imugan. Troop spt strikes are flown in Solvec Cove area and E of Manila. Baguio and troop concentration in Batangas area and on Bicol peninsula are bombed. At Iriga, defenses are hit with napalm. B-24's bomb Okayama while B-25's hit several tgts including Ts'eng Wen sugar refinery, Seiko, Sunbon-sha, and Shasekiryo. P-38's attack gun positions at Tarakan.


4/11/45

Seventh AF

24 B-24's from Angaur hit Cotabato supply and personnel areas. 18 Guam-based B-24's pound positions on Eten I.


4/11/45

Eleventh AF

P-38's together with Navy aircraft pick up bombfilled paper balloons over Attu and E of Adak. One balloon over Attu is shot down.


4/12/45

US

President Roosevelt dies.


4/12/45

Eighth AF

2 ftr gps escort MBs of Ninth AF in attack on ordnance depot.


4/12/45

Ninth AF

167 MBs and LBs attack Hof rail bridge, Kempten ordnance depot, and Goppingen M/Y, plus a town area and a casual T/O. Over 275 planes abort because of weather. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, attack town of Kothen, fly armed rcn and sweeps over wide areas of Germany and spt ground forces. Ftrs also spt US III, XVI, and XVIII Corps as they continue to reduce the Ruhr pocket, 9th Armd Div on Saale R near Werben and Bad Lauchstadt, XX Corps from Saale R N and S of Jena E across the Weisse Elster R, VIII Corps along the Saale further S of Jena, XII Corp SE of Coburg on Hasslach R, 2d Armd Div across the Elbe R near Randau S of Magdeburg, 5th Armd Div on W bank of the Elbe R at Wittenberge, and XVI Corps as it continues fighting in Duisburg and Dortmund areas.


4/12/45

Twelfth AF

LBs, during 11/12 Apr, hit Po R crossings, MBs, restricted by low clouds, bomb approaches to Maribor bridge, hit tgts along Brenner rail line, and spt British Eighth Army in Argenta area. FBs attack NE Italian railroad lines, including fuel dumps and comm tgts in Po Valley.


4/12/45

Fifteenth AF

400-plus HBs hit comm in N Italy and S Austria, attacking railroad bridges at Padua, Ponte di Piave, Nervesa della Bataglia, and Sankt Veit an der Glan, ammo dump at Malcontenta, and supply dump at Peschiera del Garda. 124 P-51's provide escort. 123 P-38's bomb railroad bridges at Unzmarkt and Arnoldstein. 128 B-24's, with P-51 escort, sent against N Italian comm abort due to bad weather. 38 P-51's escort MATAF B-25's on raids in N Yugoslavia.


4/12/45

Tenth AF

75 FBs continue to pound tgts in C Burma battle area. Troop concentrations, gun positions, supplies, vehicles, and general T/Os are attacked along battlefront, behind enemy lines, and along roads S of bomb line. 369 air supply sorties are flown throughout the day.


4/12/45

Fourteenth AF

12 B-24's supported by 14 P-51's, bomb Wuchang railroad yards and A/F. 7 B-25's bomb Hsuchang railroad yards, 3 hit Loning, 2 attack Likuanchiao, 2 bomb Tenghsien, and single B-25's attack storage areas at Pingyao and Huaiching. 100-plus FBs attack troops, horses, bridges, river shipping, trucks, and railroad tgts at several locations in Indochina and at points scattered over S and E China.


4/12/45

FEAF

P-38's and A-20's spt ground troops on Cebu and Negros. B-24's bomb Sapakan, Kabacan, and Davao Bay areas. P-38's hit Cotabato and also Kabacan. Other B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and FBs pound tgts throughout Cagayan Valley, blast defenses at Balete Pass and in Baguio area, and hit troops, comm tgts, and defenses at numerous points in SW and SE Luzon. B-24's attack Tainan and bomb Okayama A/F.


4/12/45

Twentieth AF

94 B-29's strike Nakajima aircraft factory at Tokyo while 11 hit secondary tgt of Shizuoka engine plant. VHB gunners claim 16 ftrs downed. 130-plus other B-29's bomb 2 chemical p]ants at Koriyama. 32 more VHBs hit various T/Os. During 12/13 Apr, 5 B-29's mine Shimonoseki Strait. Ftrs from VII FC escorting the daylight operations over Tokyo area claim 15 aircraft downed.


4/12/45

Seventh AF

24 B-24's, based on Angaur hit personnel area at Kabacan. During 12/13 Apr, 6 Iwo-based ftrs, operating singly at intervals, bomb and strafe tgts at Kita, Chichi, Haha, and Ani Jima.


4/12/45

Eleventh AF

P-38's shoot down paper bomb-balloons over Attu.


4/13/45

Eighth AF

Over 200 B-17's bomb Neumunster M/Y. 8 ftr gps spt HBs and strafe numerous A/Fs, claiming 284 parked airplanes destroyed.


4/13/45

Ninth AF

A special mission is flown by IX TAC FBs against HQ of FM Model's Army Gp B at Haus Waldesruh in the Ruhr pocket. The air attack is followed by an arty barrage. As a result the HQ is moved to Haan. IX TAC pilots sight Soviet ftrs in the air for the first time. Weather grounds 9th Bomb Div. Ftrs fly patrols and armed rcn, and spt US XVIII Corps in Huckeswagen and Hagen areas, III Corps between Ruhr and Honne Rivers, 3d Armd Div on Saale R in Alsleben, Nelben and Friedeburg area, XX Corps astride and between the Weisse Elster and Zwickauer Mulde Rivers N of Gera, XVI Corps NW of Hagen, 2d Armd Div in Elbenau-Grunwalde area, and 5th Armd Div along the Elbe in Tangermunde area.


4/13/45

Twelfth AF

B-25's are restricted by weather to 1 mission, an attack on road bridge at Mollinella. FBs continue to hit comm and dumps in Po Valley and guns in La Spezia area. LBs during 12/13 Apr attack Po R crossings at San Benedetto Po, Ostiglia, Piacenza, and Casalmaggiore, bridges at San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, and motor transport and T/Os in Milan area.


4/13/45

Fifteenth AF

Bad weather limits operations to rcn and escort missions.


4/13/45

Tenth AF

30-plus P-47's and P-38's attack troops and supplies in Hamngai, Loi-hseng, and Wan Yin areas and sweep roads S of bomb line in C Burma. Air transport operations to front areas total 450 sorties.


4/13/45

Fourteenth AF

11 B-25's bomb railroad yards and warehouse area at Kaifeng, 6 knock out bridge at Ningwing, and 6 hit fort at Bac Ninh. 7 B-25's hit shipping in S China Sea and Bakli Bay and town areas of Tenghsien and Liuchow. 4 others, along with 5 P-51's, knock out bridge and hit town area and shipping at Puchi. 24 P-38's and P-51's knock out 3 bridges, damage another, and hit several T/Os in N Indochina. About 140 FBs fly armed rcn and strikes throughout S and E China, hitting rail, road, and river traffic, town areas, troops, and general T/Os.


4/13/45

FEAF

B-24's hit Hong Kong waterfront (Taikoo Docks) and storage areas in Canton. Other B-24's hit A/Fs at Tainan and Okayama while B-25's attack railroads. Numerous sweeps are flown over Cagayan Valley and ground spt missions are continued on Luzon, Cebu, and Negros. B-24's bomb Davao area. B-25's hit various tgts on Mindanao and in Sulu Archipelago.


4/13/45

Twentieth AF

During 13/14 Apr almost 330 B-29's bomb Tokyo arsenal area.


4/13/45

Seventh AF

18 Guam-based B-24's pound enemy positions on Marcus. 23 from Angaur bomb personnel and storage areas at Kabacan. 2 Saipan-based P-61 night ftrs bomb and strafe Pagan I.


4/13/45

Eleventh AF

At Attu 27 P-38's and P-40's scramble following radar reports of unidentified plots. Later, they shoot down 9 of 11 Japanese paper bomb-balloons sighted over the W Aleutians.


4/14/45

Eighth AF

1,161 HBs hit 22 defensive installations, consisting of AA and arty positions and strongpoints covering the Gironde estuary. Other Allied AFs and French naval units attack similar tgts. The air attacks precede a ground assault by French det of 6th Army Gp on the defense pockets which deny Allies use of port facilities in Bordeaux area.


4/14/45

Ninth AF

Operational HQ of XXIX TAC moves to Gutersloh. 18 B-26's fly leaflet mission in Ruhr area. Ftrs fly patrols, sweeps, and armed rcn, and spt US 3d Armd Div SW of Elbe/Mulde R junction near Dessau, 9th Armd Div in Borna and Lobstadt area, XX Corps elements which continue to arrive at Zwickauer Mulde R, VIII Corps along the Weisse Elster R S of Gera, XII Corps elements in Bayreuth area, 2d and 5th Armd Divs along the Elbe in Barby-Magdeburg and Tangermunde areas.


4/14/45

Twelfth AF

During 13/14 Apr LBs continue to hit comm in Po Valley. Bad weather over N part of Brenner line prevents MB attacks but the B-25's hit alternates on S part of line at Salorno, San Ambrogio di Valpolicella, and Chiusaforte, bomb guns SE of La Spezia in spt of US Fifth Army, and hit 5 defensive positions along British Eighth Army front in Argenta area. FBs concentrate on supporting Fifth Army forces SW of Bologna.


4/14/45

Fifteenth AF

318 HBs hit ammo factories at Avigliana, Spilimbergo, Malcontenta, and Palmanova, motor transport depot at Osoppo and Klagenfurt M/Y as a T/O. 158 ftrs provide escort. 29 P-38's bomb and strafe railroad tgts in Munich-Linz-Regensburg areas. 54 P-51's fly escort for MATAF B-25's bombing tgts in N Italy.


4/14/45

Tenth AF

41 P-47's and P-38's attack troops, supplies, and fuel dumps at Tawnghkam Nawng-hkam, Mong Kung, Loi-makhkawn, and Nawngkaw. 8 P-38's damage bridges at Kong pau and Kyawngpeng. 446 transport flights are flown to forward areas.


4/14/45

Fourteenth AF

24 B-24's, supported by 12 P-51's, bomb Loyang and knock out bridge over Yellow R. 30-plus B-25's and more than 130 FBs attack bridges (knocking out at least 6), river, road, and rail traffic, troops, storage areas, town areas, and general T/Os over vast expanse of S and E China.


4/14/45

FEAF

B-25's sweep Canton-Hong Kong waterways, hitting shipping and other tgts. B-24's bomb four A/Fs on Formosa. In the Phil Is B-24's, B-25's, A-20's, and FBs fly numerous strikes in spt of ground forces and against A/Fs, gun positions, defenses, and troop concentrations throughout Luzon, Cebu, Negros, and Mindanao.


4/14/45

Seventh AF

24 Angaur-based B-24's pound supply and personnel areas at Tigatto.


4/15/45

Eighth AF

The sole operational employment of napalm bomb by Eighth AF is carried out against German ground installations (pillboxes, gunpits, tank trenches, and heavy gun emplacements) in defensive pocket at Royan by nearly 850 HBs. Results are negligible and HQ recommends its discontinuance against this type of tgt. A total of 16 defensive installations on Gironde estuary are bombed by 1,280 HBs supporting assault by French ground troops under 6th Army Gp. 2 ftr gps escort Ninth AF MBs attacking Ulm M/Y.


4/15/45

Ninth AF

268 B-26's and A-26's bomb M/Ys at Gunzburg and Ulrn (primary tgts) and several other tgts including 3 M/Ys. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols and armed rcn, and spt US 3d Armd Div near Dessau and across Mulde R near Torten, 9th Armd Div along Mulde R NW of Borna, VIII Corps along Weisse Elster R between Gera and Plauen, XX Corps astride the Mulde R NE of Chemnitz (where 6th Armd Div awaits Red Army forces), and 2d Armd Div on Elbe R near Magdeburg.


4/15/45

Twelfth AF

During 14/15 Apr LBs concentrate on comm tgts in Po Valley, particularly the Po crossings. During the day MBs and FBs concentrate on direct spt of US Fifth and British Eighth Army drives, hitting troop concentrations, guns, strongpoints, and a variety of tgts in areas S of Bologna, around Medicina and Sasso Marconi, and at other points in battle areas.


4/15/45

Fifteenth AF

830 B-17's and B-24's, in spt of US Fifth Army, blast gun positions, supply dumps, troop concentrations, maintenance installations, and German HQ along highways leading from Bologna. 145 P-38's furnish escort. Another force of 312 B-17's and B-24's bomb rail diversion bridges at Nervesa della Battaglia, Ponte di Piave, and Casarsa della Delizia, and ammo factory and stores at Ghedi. 191 P-51's provide escort. 36 P-38's and 36 P-51's strafe rail comm in area bounded by Munich, Salzburg, Linz, Plzen, and Regensburg. 12 of the P-38's skipbomb rail tgts in Salzburg-Linz area, including Vocklabruck M/Y. 8 P-38's furnish top cover for the strafing missions. 128 P-51's provide uneventful escort for MATAF bmrs on 3 missions to N Italy. Other P-38's and P-51's carry out rcn and rcn escort operations. Today's effort is the largest of World War II by Fifteenth AF (most ftrs and terms dispatched and attacking, and largest bomb tonnage dropped) during a 24-hr period. 1,142 HBs bomb tgts.


4/15/45

Tenth AF

62 P-38's and P-47's attack troop concentrations and supply areas at Loi-Mwe, Lawksawk Thongdan, and near Laihka. 312 transport sorties are flown to forward areas.


4/15/45

Fourteenth AF

3 B-25's knock out Pa Ching pontoon bridge, 7 pound storage depot at Fang-cheng, 4 bomb Tunganhsien, and 3 hit Paoching. 1 B-24 bombs Canton docks. Almost 200 FBs ranging over all of S China and up into the N China plain hit numerous tgts including bridges, river shipping, town areas, trucks, railroad traffic, gun positions, storage areas, and general T/Os. Paoching, Hengyang, Yungfengshih, and Hsihhsiassuchi areas are especially hard hit.


4/15/45

FEAF

On Formosa B-24's bomb Toyohara, Shinchiku, and Shinshoshi A/Fs. B-25's hit Shoka rail yards. B-24's and FBs bomb island fortifications in Manila Bay, FBs hit bivouacs and other tgts in N Luzon and spt ground forces E of Manila and on Carabao I. FBs and B-24's fly spt missions for ground forces on Negros and Cebu. B-24's bomb Davao area and B-25's join Marine aircraft in hitting highways and vehicles.


4/15/45

Twentieth AF

During 15/16 Apr, 194 B-29's strike Kawasaki urban area while 109 hit urban area of Tokyo.


4/15/45

Eleventh AF

A B-24 flies weather rcn.


4/16/45

Eighth AF

During morning 486 B-17's bomb tank ditch def line at Pointe de Grave on S side of Gironde estuary in spt of ground assault in that area. In the afternoon 715 HBs bomb M/Ys at Plattling, Regensburg, and Landshut, and rail bridges and siding at Regensburg and Straubing. 15 ftr gps provide uneventful close and area spt and then strafe over 40 landing grounds and installations in Czechoslovakia and Germany, claiming a record 747 parked ftrs destroyed. 34 ftrs are downed mostly by automatic AA weapons.


4/16/45

Ninth AF

About 450 MBs and LBs bomb Zerbst comm center, Gunzenhausen M/Y, Kempten ordnance depot, and Wittenberg M/Y and gun positions. IX TAC's ftrs claim 25 air victories during the day as they escort 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols, area cover, and armed rcn, attack A/Fs and other tgts, and spt US 3rd Armd Div SW of Dessau, 9th Armd Div in Rennewitz-Colditz area along the Mulde R, XX Corps which remains at Zuickauer Mulde R bridgehead NE of Chemnitz, VIII Corps crossing Weisse Elster R between Gera and Plauen, 2d Armd Div on the Elbe R near Magdeburg, XIX Corps E of Barby, and V Corps near Leipzig. The 354th Ftr Gp (the pioneer P-51 gp of the Ninth AF) claims its 900th air victory.


4/16/45

Twelfth AF

During 15/16 Apr LBs hit Po R crossings, towns of Vignola, Zocca, and Sassuolo, and several T/Os in Po V alley. During the day MBs bomb bridges on Reno R near Bologna, blast troop reserve areas SE of Portomaggiore on British Eighth Army front, and attack troop concentrations S of Portomaggiore. Ftrs and FBs concentrate most of their effort on close spt tgts in US Fifth Army battle area S and SW of Bologna.


4/16/45

Fifteenth AF

98 B-24's bomb positions SW of Bologna. 102 P-51's fly escort. Almost 700 B-24's and B-17's abort due to bad weather. 36 P-51's sweep areas S of Munich, Plzen, and Linz. 4 strafe A/F E of Munich. Other P-51's and P-38's fly escort and rcn missions.


4/16/45

Tenth AF

22 FBs pound troop concentrations in Ke-hsi Mansam vicinity. 19 others attack road bridges behind enemy lines, claiming 1 bridge destroyed. Air transport operations to forward areas continue on steady basis.


4/16/45

Fourteenth AF

18 B-24's pound storage area at Linfen. 3 bomb T/Os in Bakli Bay and Canton areas. 10 B-25's bomb Yungfengshih, Kweilin, and Shanhsien, knocking out 1 bridge and hitting buildings, river shipping, and rail traffic. About 120 FBs over S and E China hit river, road, and rail traffic, town areas, troops, and general T/Os at many scattered locations.


4/16/45

FEAF

B-25's hit Taien A/F, while B-24's and P-51's bomb Giran and Matsuyama A/Fs and nearby areas. FBs hit N Luzon bivouacs and other tgts and spt strikes and sweeps are flown over Cebu, Negros, and Mindanao with B-25's hitting highways on Mindanao, B-24's hit defenses at Carabao I. P-38's pound Lingkas Tank Farm and other tgts at Tarakan. During 15/16 Apr B-24's bomb Taihoku.


4/16/45

Seventh AF

18 Guam-based B-24's pound Marcus. 2 P-61's from Saipan bomb and strafe Pagan.


4/16/45

VII FC

In first VLR ftr operations from Iwo Jima, VII FC P-51's with B-29 navigational escort from Twentieth AF, strafe and bomb tgts at Kanoya. B-25's continue to furnish navigational escort in all subsequent VII FC strikes (through 14 Aug) on Japan from Iwo Jima.


4/16/45

Eleventh AF

B-25's abort mission to bomb Hayakegawa because of weather front. 6 B-24's radarbomb Kataoka naval base. Another B-24 flies a radar-ferret sortie.


4/17/45

Eighth AF

More than 950 HBs attack 8 railway centers, junctions, stations and M/Ys and 1 oil depot in E Germany and W Czechoslovakia 15 ftr gps fly spt, encountering about 50 ftrs, mostly jets, and claiming 13 destroyed (including 4 jets) in aerial combat. The ftrs strafe numerous A/Fs and claim over 250 parked aircraft destroyed.


4/17/45

Ninth AF

9th Bomb Div attacks defended city of Magdeburg (including numerous gun positions in the area), M/Y and ordnance depot at Aalen, M/Y and ordnance depot at Tubingen, and ordnance depot at Ravensburg. Ftrs fly escort to 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols, area cover, and armed rcn, hit A/Fs at Marianske Lazne and Michalovy Hory, and spt US 3d Armd Div mopping up S of the Elbe R and W of the Mulde R near Dessau, 9th Armd Div along the Mulde R E of Leipzig, VIII Corps in Greiz-Zwickau area, XX Corps SW of Chemnitz, 5th Armd Div at Knesebeck Forest, S of Wittingen, and 2d armd Div opening assault on Mapdeburg.


4/17/45

Twelfth AF

LBs during 16/17 Apr hit Po R crossings and several towns W and SW of Bologna. During the day B-25's of 57th Bomb Wg successfully attack 4 Reno R bridges near Bologna and close spt tgts on British Eighth Army front to the SW, and extensively damage 4 bridges in N Italy and Austria on Brenner rail line. XXII TAC ftrs and FBs concentrate on close spt of US Fifth Army S and W of Bologna.


4/17/45

Fifteenth AF

751 B-24's and B-17's, in spt of US Fifth Army, hit troop concentrations, supply dumps, gun positions, and HQ immediately S and SW of Bologna. 143 P-51's provide escort. 147 P-38's divebomb railroad bridges at Seefeld and Mariahof. 14 P-51's, with 10 flying top cover, strafe T/Os in Munich, Plzen, and Linz areas. 61 P-51's escort MATAF supply missions to N Italy and bombing raids on bridges in W Austria. Other P-38's and P-51's fly rcn and rcn escort.


4/17/45

Tenth AF

18 FBs hit troops and supplies near Mong Kung and Wan Hpun. 12 others attack vehicles and other T/Os along roads S of bomb line. 489 transport sorties are completed to forward areas throughout the day.


4/17/45

Fourteenth AF

4 B-25's and 4 P-51's blast river shipping S of Yiyang. 6 B-25's bomb area around Kwangsi University at Liang-feng. 2 B-24's bomb Bakli Bay dock area. 70-plus P-51's and P-40's hit troops, town areas, road traffic, river shipping, and general T/Os at several locations in S and E China including Changsha, Sinning, Sinhwa, Yiyang, Tungting Lake, Paoching, Yungfengshih, Shanhsien, Lingling, Pingsiang, Tsinkong, and Hochih.


4/17/45

FEAF

B-24's bomb Taichu, Shinshoshi, Toyohara, and Okayama A/Fs. B-25's hit A/F at Taito. Numerous sweeps and sorties are flown in spt of ground forces over Luzon, Cebu, Negros, Mindanao ,and Sulu Archipelago. B-24's over Mindanao bomb Cotabato and Kabacan.


4/17/45

Twentieth AF

Almost 120 B-29's bomb A/Fs at Tachiarai, Kokubu, Izumi, Nittagahara, and Kanoya (2). Beginning on this date and continuing through 11 May, XXI BC devotes about 75 per cent of its combat effort to spt of Okinawa campaign. During this period the B-29's fly more than 2,100 sorties against 17 A/Fs on Kyushu and Shikoku Is which are dispatching air attacks (including Kamikaze raids) against US Navy and Marine forces.


4/17/45

Seventh AF

18 P-51's flying two strikes from Iwo Jima, attack vessels in Futamiko.


4/18/45

Eighth AF

More than 750 HBs attack 7 M/Ys, a rail bridge and junction, and 2 transformer stations in W Czechoslovakia and SE Bavaria. 13 ftr gps fly escort. 2 other gps escort Ninth AF MBs over Germany.


4/18/45

Ninth AF

About 590 B-26's, A-26's, and A-20's attack oil storage at Neuburg an der Donau, M/Ys, at Juterbog and Nordlingen, and raid junctions at Falkenburg and Juterbog. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols, sweeps, and armed rcn, attack; assigned tgts, and spt ground forces including US V Corps assaulting Leipzig, VII Corps in Dessau-Halle areas, 5th Armd Div near Steimke, and 2d Armd Div at Magdeburg and other XIX Corps elements astride the Elbe R S of Barby. Organized German resistance in the Ruhr pocket ceases.


4/18/45

Twelfth AF

During 17/18 Apr LBs pound comm in S Po Valley and towns of Vignola, Bazzano, and Sassuolo in US Fifth Army battle area. MBs hit 2 railroad fills and a bridge on the S Brenner line and troop concentrations on Fifth and British Eighth Army fronts, SW of Bologna and in Dugnano Paderno area. FBs of XXII TAC also concentrate on spt tgts in Fifth Army battle area.


4/18/45

Fifteenth AF

473 B-24's and B-17's, with escort of 89 P-51's, spt Fifth Army offensive in Bologna area, blasting defensive positions and comm in areas around the city. 78 P-38's dive-bomb railroad bridge at Malborghetta Valbruna, while 87 others dive-bomb 2 railroad bridges at and SE of Kolbnitz. P-51's sweep Augsburg, Plzen, and Linz areas, escort rcn missions flown by P-38's, and escort MATAF B-25's and C-47's on bombing and supply operations.


4/18/45

Tenth AF

21 P-38's attack troop concentration, tanks, arty positions, and bivouac area near Man Li and Kongsam. 5 P-61's hit supply area W of Laihka. Transports land or drop 806 tons of supplies at forward bases and front-line areas.


4/18/45

Fourteenth AF

3 B-25's hit trucks and other T/Os E of Siangtan. 52 P-51's and P-40's attack river shipping, town areas, rail and road traffic, tanks, and bridges at several S and E China locations including Sinhwa, Hengyang, Changsha, Luchai, Paoching, Kweiyang, Yenkou, Sinning, and Siangtan.


4/18/45

FEAF

On Formosa B-26's bomb Karenko A/F, B-24's hit Tainan, Giran, Toyohara, Hobi, and Soton A/Fs, and P-38's on sweeps hit rail and road transportation. FBs and A-20's hit Balete Pass area and spt ground forces on Luzon, Negros, and Cebu. B-24's bomb Piso Point. B-25's and P-38's hit Tarakan and Sandakan.


4/18/45

Twentieth AF

B-29's hit Japanese A/Fs, as 100-plus VHBs strike A/Fs at Tachiarai, Izumi, Kokubu, Nittagahara, and Kanoya (2), the same tgts attacked on the 17th.


4/18/45

Seventh AF

During 18/19 Apr 3 Iwo Jima-based P-61's flying individual strikes, bomb and strafe Futamiko and radio station on Chichi Jima.


4/19/45

Eighth AF

Over 550 HBs hit 3 M/Ys, rail bridge, rail junction and other railroad facilities in SE Germany and NW Czechoslovakia. 11 ftr gps give close and area spt, encountering over 30 ftrs and claiming 12 destroyed, including several jets.


4/19/45

Ninth AF

9th Bomb Div hits M/Ys at Ulm, Neu Ulm, and Gunzburg (primary tgts), city of Donauworth and T/O at Schelklingen. Weather prevents over 70 of the 450-plus dispatched aircraft from bombing tgts. Ftrs fly escort to 9th Bomb Div, carry out patrols and armed rcn, bomb radio station, and cooperate with US VII Corps in Halle-Dessau area, XII Corps attacking SE from S of Bayreuth, XX Corps in Bamberg-Nurnberg area, preparing to drive toward Austria, and XIX Corps along the Elbe R in Magdeburg area.


4/19/45

Twelfth AF

During 18/19 Apr LBs bomb roads, vehicles, and lights in Bologna, Turin, Milan, and Mantua areas, and continuing to pound Po R crossings, hit 8 bridges. MBs bomb bridges in Brenner Pass and spt ground forces at .several points including Budrio, Vignola, and San Martino in Soverzano areas. FBs hit dumps, comm, and close spt tgts in US Fifth Army battle areas S and W of Bologna.


4/19/45

Fifteenth AF

619 HBs attack rail comm in S Germany, Austria, and N Italy, bombing Rattenberg railroad bridge and M/Ys at Lienz, Klagenfurt, Bischofshofen, Linz and Rosenheim, Avisio viaduct, Vipiteno railroad bridge, AA batteries near Grisolera and Santo Stino di Livenza, and several minor T/Os. 78 P-38's divebomb M/Y at Weilheim. Other P-38's and P-51's fly rcn and rcn escort, and escort MATAF B-25's and C-47's.


4/19/45

Tenth AF

14 P-38's hit supplies near Paklu, fuel dump at Hainang, and bridges near Kunna. 1 bridge is knocked out. 6 other P-38's attack T/Os along roads behind enemy lines. Air supply operations continue as 800 tons of supplies are landed or dropped in forward areas.


4/19/45

Fourteenth AF

12 B-24's bomb railway repair shops at Taiynan. 3 others attack Bakli Bay T/Os, 8 B-25's attack bridges and rail and road traffic N and NE of Anyang and NE of Taiku, damaging or destroying several locomotives and numerous boxcars. 100-plus P-40's, P-51's, and P-47's attack town areas, troops, river, road, and rail traffic, and general T/Os all over S and E China and hit a few T/Os in N Indochina.


4/19/45

FEAF

B-24's over Formosa bomb Tainan A/F and Shinchiku town. Numerous missions are flown in spt of ground forces on Luzon, CEbu, and Negros. Other B-24's bomb personnel areas at Kabacan, Cagayan, and along Davao R. Tarakan on Borneo is hit by light B-25 strike while B-24's returning from Indochina coastal sweep bomb Sandakan. B-25's, with P-51 cover, hit Haimi.


4/19/45

Seventh AF

8 P-51's from Iwo Jima bomb and strafe Futamiko. 25 B-24's, based in the Palaus bomb nearby Arakabesan and Koror. 17 B-24's from Guam hit Dublon, Fefan, and Eten. During 19/20 Apr, 6 P-61's from Iwo Jima, operating singly and at intervals, bomb and strafe Chichi, Haha, and Muko Jima.


4/19/45

VII FC

Ftrs from Iwo Jima carry out 106 effective strike sorties against Atsugi-Yokosuka area. 24 airplanes are claimed destroyed in the air and 14 on the ground.


4/19/45

Eleventh AF

8 B-25's off to bomb Kuril tgts abort due to weather.


4/20/45

Eighth AF

Around 800 HBs attack 8 M/Ys, 3 rail junctions, a rail bridge, other rail facilities, and an A/F, located in 7 cities in an arc from NNW to SSW of Berlin, 3 towns in E and SE Bavaria, and a town in Czechoslovakia. 15 ftr gps give close and area spt, and claim 7 ftrs downed.


4/20/45

Ninth AF

564 MBs and HBs strike oil storage at Deggendorf and Annaburg, M/Ys at Memmingen and Wittenberg, ordnance depots at Nordlingen and Straubing, and other tgts including flak positions. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly patrols, sweeps, and armed rcn, attack special tgts, and cooperate with US ground forces including VII Corps W of Dessau, VIII Corps between Plauen and Chemnitz, XII Corps in Grafenwohr area, XX Corps attacking toward the Danube and Regensburg, and XIX Corps in Magdeburg-Barby area.


4/20/45

Twelfth AF

LBs on night intruder missions during 19/20 Apr continue to pound Po R crossings and vehicle movement throughout the Valley. MBs considerably damage 4 of 6 railroad bridges and fills attached on Brenner line, and also hit HQ in battle area and 2 Reno R bridges N of Bologna. FBs again spt US Fifth Army elements S and W of Bologna as they begin to emerge from the Apennines onto the Po plain.


4/20/45

Fifteenth AF

HBs again pound railway systems and road bridges in effort to hinder supply or withdrawal of enemy forces in N Italy. Over 700 B-24's and B-17's hit railroad bridges at Campodazzo, Ponte Gardena, and Campo di Trens, viaduct at Avisio, M/Ys at Vipiteno Fortezza, and Brennero, and road bridges at Lusia, la Carrare, and Boara Pisani, and Mariahof viaduct and Innsbruck M/Y. 115 P-38's dive-bomb railroad line Innsbruck-Rattenberg-Rosenheim, hitting M/Ys at Hall, Schwaz, Jenbach, Kundl, Worgl and Kiefersfelden, 4 rail bridges, and several box cars, and cut rail lines at 42 places between Innsbruck and Rosenheim. Other P-38's and P-51's escort HBs, MATAF supply runs to N Italy, Hungary, and Yugoslavia, and MATAF B-25 raids in N Italy, and fly rcn.


4/20/45

Tenth AF

32 P-38's knock out 3 bridges and damage 5 others in C Burma behind enemy lines. 12 P-47's hit troop concentration and ration dump at Tonglau, 18 attack troop concentration around monastery at Kengkawmanhaung, and 12 attack troops along stream near Wan Nahpeit. 497 transport sorties land or drop 784 tons of supplies in forward areas.


4/20/45

Fourteenth AF

7 B-25's hit town of Neihsiang and attack railroad T/Os from Saiping to Lohochai and from Linying to Hsuchang. 9 B-25's bomb Loyang and Luchou. 100-plus P-51's, P-40's, and P-47's concentrate attacks against town areas throughout S and E China, also hitting troops, gun positions, river traffic, and other T/Os.


4/20/45

FEAF

B-24's bomb Tainan A/F while P-51's attack Koshun A/F. Large-scale FEAF spt of ground forces on Luzon, Cebu, and Negros continues. B-24's bomb Sepinggang and Labuan A/Fs and P-38's and B-25's hit Tarakan I.


4/20/45

Seventh AF

11 P-51's from Iwo Jima bomb Haha Jima.


4/21/45

Eighth AF

300-plus HBs attack Munich M/Y, town of Ingolstadt, and Landsberg A/F. Around 200 other HBs abort because of bad weather. 7 ftr gps fly close spt while 1 gp sweeps Munich area.


4/21/45

Ninth AF

Gen Stearley takes over as CG, IX FC, and also takes cmd of IX TAC. 121 bmrs of 9th Bomb Div hit Attnang-Puchheim M/Y. Ftrs fly escort, patrols, armed rcn and cooperate with US VIII Corps as elements of 6th Cav Gp cross Czechoslovakian border to reach Hranice and, Trojmezi, XII Corps in GrafenwohrWeiden area, and XX Corps E of Nurnberg.


4/21/45

Twelfth AF

During 20/21 Apr LBs bomb Po R crossings, with good results. Weather curtails daytime operations but MBs score hits on Matrei am Brenner bridge on Brenner rail line and in late afternoon hit Po R crossings. XXII TAC ftrs and FBs, grounded most of the day, fly close spt to US Fifth Army which drives into Bologna (a long-standing objective) and begins to push rapidly across the plain toward the Po R.


4/21/45

Fifteenth AF

240 B-17's and B-24's, with P-51 escort, bomb M/Ys at Rosenheim, Attnang-Puchheim, Spittal an der Drau, and Vocklabruck. Over 400 B-24's and their ftr escorts, sent to attack comm in N Italy, abort due to bad weather. 138 P-38's bomb railroad lines and facilities in Munich-Rosenheim-Rattenberg areas. Other P-38's fly rcn while P-51's escort rcn flights, MATAF MB operations to Austria, and US and RAF supply and transport missions to Yugoslavia.


4/21/45

Tenth AF

Bad weather over C Burma causes canceling or aborting of all combat missions. However, transports complete 464 sorties, landing or dropping 682 tons of supplies to forward areas.


4/21/45

Fourteenth AF

5 B-25's bomb Loyang. A single B-24 hits Bakli Bay T/Os. 30 P-51's and P-47's attack railroad and road tgts, barracks area, buildings, and bridges at or near Paoching, Chihsien, Taiku, Hsihhsiassuchi, Shaho, Linfen, Luan, Yutze, and Shanhsien.


4/21/45

FEAF

FEAF continues large-scale spt of ground forces on Luzon, Cebu, Negros and on Jolo Is. B-24's bomb Miri, Kudat, Manggar, and Sepinggang A/Fs and P-38's hit Tarakan and Sandakan, Miri A/F, oil storage near Lutong, and, with B-24's, attack T/Os along SW Celebes coast.


4/21/45

Twentieth AF

XXI BC continues to hit A/Fs in Japan. 217 B-29's blast A/Fs at Oita, Kanoya (2), Usa, Kokubu, Kushira, Tachiarai, Izumi, and Nittagahara. Other B-29's hit T/Os including city of Kagoshima.


4/21/45

Seventh AF

18 Guam-based B-24's bomb Marcus.


4/22/45

Ninth AF

XXIX TAC moves operational HQ to Brunswick. Weather prevents combat operations by 9th Bomb Div and IX TAC. XIX TAC flies armed rcn over E Germany and W Czechoslovakia, flies area cover over Wurzburg-Bayreuth areas, patrols Third Army front (BayreuthNurnberg areas), and XII Corps in German-Czech border area near Weiden.


4/22/45

Twelfth AF

Entire night and day effort is concentrated against German forces retreating N across the Po R in face of allied forces which send adv elements racing to S bank. MBs fly 16 missions against ferries and pontoon bridge sites on the Po between Casalmaggiore and Polesella. XXII TAC LBs, FBs, and ftrs maintain night and day attacks on Po crossings and enemy movement. The cmd claims over 900 motor and horse-drawn vehicles destroyed.


4/22/45

Fifteenth AF

Bad weather cancels all HB operations. 258 P-51's and P-38's fly armed rcn over NE Italy, bombing M/Ys, bridges, railroads, highways, and several buildings and strafing an A/F, rail and road traffic, and numerous other T/Os. Other P-38's fly rcn while P-51's escort rcn and supply missions.


4/22/45

Tenth AF

Bad weather again cancels scheduled air strikes. 464 transport sorties fly 664 tons of supplies to forward areas.


4/22/45

Fourteenth AF

2 B-24's bomb T/Os at Bakli Bay and Canton. 5 B-25's bomb Hsuchang and hit area to the NW. 19 P-51's and P-47's attack trains, trucks, troops, horses, and town areas at or near Linfen, Luan, Sincheng, Fentingfukou, Taiku, Chenghsien, Sinsiang, and Kaifeng.


4/22/45

FEAF

Numerous missions in spt of ground forces on Luzon, Cebu, and Negros continue. B-24's bomb Manggar and Jesselton A/Fs, B-29's hit Tarakan, and P-38's hit Kuching. B-24's hit shipping and harbor installations at Saigon.


4/22/45

Twentieth AF

Strikes against A/Fs continue. 80-plus B-29's bomb A/Fs at Izumi, Kushira, Miyazaki, Tomitaka, and Kanoya.


4/22/45

VII FC

99 effective sorties are flown during ftr attack from Iwo Jima against Akenogahara and Suzuko A/Fs. The ftrs claim 10 aircraft downed and 15 destroyed on the ground.


4/23/45

Ninth AF

Weather cancels combat operations by 9th Bomb Div. Ftrs patrol Magdeburg area and US Third Army front (E of Bayreuth-Nurnberg area), fly armed rcn over E Germany and W Czechoslovakia, and operate in conjunction with XII Corps as it presses forward N of Regensburg between Danube R and Czech Border. Soviet Army forces enter Berlin.


4/23/45

Twelfth AF

During 22/23 Apr LBs and night ftrs hit Po crossings, M/Y, A/Fs, vehicles, trains, and T/Os in general in N and W Po Valley. During the day MBs pound Po crossings, road bridges over Brenta R, and hit Brenner rail line at 4 points. The ftrs and FBs on armed rcn in N and W Po Valley attack motor transport, road bridges, and numerous tgts in spt of US Fifth Army, elements of which cross the Po R.


4/23/45

Fifteenth AF

719 B-24's and B-17's attack bridges over Brenta and Adige Rivers (at Bonavigo, Zevio, Albaredo d'Adige, Legnano (2), Badia, Padua (3), and Cavarzere) and hit supply dump at Peschiera del Garda. 165 P-38's and P-51's on armed rcn of NE Italy bomb and strafe rail and road bridges, highways, trains and vehicles, and other T/Os. Other P-38's fly rcn. Other P-51's escort rcn flights and MATAF B-25 missions against tgts in N Italy.


4/23/45

Tenth AF

7 P-61's attack with napalm, rockets, and cannon several tgts during sweeps from Laihka to Loilem to Hopong to Wan Yin. Laihka A/Fs, bridge S of Wan Yin, trucks, and other tgts are successfully pounded. 40-plus FBs attack troop concentrations along and behind lines at several points including Loilem, Nawng Leng, Mong Pawn, and Naungtaw. Bridge at Namhkok is temporarily out due to bomb damage to approaches. 57() transport sorties are flown to forward areas throughout the day.


4/23/45

Fourteenth AF

5 B-25's blast Hsuchang railroad yards, completely demolishing a locomotive repair shop. 2 B-24's attack T/Os in S China Sea. 39 P-47's and P-51's attack troops, horses, trains, and rivercraft at or near Taiku, Shanhsien, Nanyang, Hsihhsiassuchi, Loning, Sinyang, Chenghsien, Sichuan, Lushan, and along Pinghan railroad, and render a railroad tunnel near Sinyang unusable.


4/23/45

FEAF

B-25's hit Shinei railroad yards. P-51's hit Karenko A/F and P-38's attack various T/Os. FBs continue to spt ground forces in N and S parts of Luzon pounding numerous arty positions, supply areas, and general T/Os. B-24's bomb military depot at Shanghai and shipping in Yulin harbor on Hainan I. B-29's also hit Hainan and Woody Is. B-24's bomb naval base at Saigon. Other B-24's bomb A/Fs at Sepinggang and Jesselton. P-38's drop napalm on Tarakan I tgts. Other B-24's fly shipping sweep over Makassar Strait and damage several small vessels.


4/23/45

Seventh AF

First element of Seventh AF, a det of 28th Photo Rcn Sq, arrives on Okinawa. 13 B-24's from Guam pound positions at Marcus.


4/24/45

Ninth AF

9th Bomb Div hits A /F at Landau an der Isar and oil depot at Schrobenhausen. Ftrs fly A/F cover, escort 9th Bomb Div, fly armed rcn, and operate in conjunction with XII Corps as it continues SE between the Danube and the Czech border, and with XX Corps as it reaches the Danube SW and E of Regensburg.


4/24/45

Twelfth AF

During 23/24 Apr LBs bomb A/Fs at Yillafranca di Verona, Ghedi, and Bergamo, M/Ys at Trento Piacenza and Fidenza, and vehicles and other T/Os throughout Po Valley and elsewhere in N Italy. MBs hit 6 Po R crossings and (as ground forces reach and cross the Po at several points, relieving necessity for many attacks along the river) then carry out 6 attacks between Verona and Trento on Brenner rail line. Ftrs and FBs blast vehicles on Po Valley roads N of the river and up to Brenner rail line, and also hit roads and vehicles between La Spezia and Parma.


4/24/45

Fifteenth AF

About 700 B-24's and B-17's attack railroad bridges at Malborghetto Valbruna, Kolbritz, Drauburg, Fermata di Brondolo, Casarsa della Delizia, Arnoldstein, and Latisana, road bridges at Spilimbergo, Bassano del Grappa, and Friola, motor transport depot at Osoppo, M/Ys at San Ambrogio di Valpolicella and Rovereto, and supply dump at Peschiera del Garda. 79 P-38's and 90 P-51's fly armed rcn over wide areas of N Italy, many strafing tac tgts N of the advancing US Fifth and British Eighth Armies. The P-38's carry out several dive-bombing missions, claiming 1 bridge destroyed and 5 damaged. Other P-51's and P-38's fly 186 sorties in escort of HBs, rcn missions, and MATAF operations. 22 P-38's complete rcn flights.


4/24/45

Tenth AF

About 40 P-47's and P-38's attack troop concentrations, storage areas, vehicles, and T/Os in Mong Nawng vicinity, W of Mong Kung-Laihka road, S of Loilem, and at Wan Hsan. Transports land or drop 747 tons of supplies at adv bases and in front-line areas.


4/24/45

Fourteenth AF

2 B-24's bomb Hongay railroad yards and attack T/Os in S (China Sea. 2 others damage a vessel at Bakli Bay. 4 B-25's hit railroad T/Os from Siaokan to Sinyang while 2 damage bridge at Kuanshuishih. 50-plus P-51's, P-61's, and P-40's attack rivercraft, railroad tgts, trucks, bridges, troops, horses, and other T/Os at numerous S and E China locations as pressure by allied air and ground forces mounts against enemy movement and supply routes.


4/24/45

FEAF

A-20's and FBs continue to strike in spt of ground forces on Luzon. A-20's hit sugar refineries at Mizukami and Shinei while B-24's bomb Tainan and Hokko. Other B-24's bomb Tabanio and Miri.


4/24/45

Twentieth AF

101 B-29's strike Hitahi aircraft plant at Tachikawa. 21 others hit alternates and T/Os, 5 VHBs are lost. The B-29's claim 16 ftrs destroyed.


4/25/45

International

Delegates from 50 nations begin Conference on International Organization in San Francisco for purpose of organizing the United Nations.


4/25/45

Eighth AF

Around 275 B-17's escorted by 4 P-51 gps bomb PlzenSkoda armament works and A/F in Czechoslovakia. This is the Eighth's final HB mission against an industrial tat. A comparable number of B-24's bombs transformer station near Traunstein, M/Ys at Hallein and Bad Reichenhall, and M/Y at Salzburg. 4 ftr gps fly spt.


4/25/45

Ninth AF

296 MBs and LBs strike Erding A/F and Freilassing ordnance depot. Ftrs fly A/F cover and escort missions, and operate in conjunction with US XII Corps as it pushes along N bank of Danube SE of Passau and spt XX Corps on the Danube at Regrensburg and surrounding areas. US and Soviet forces establish contact near Torgau.


4/25/45

Twelfth AF

All combat operations are aimed at plugging retreat routes and disrupting transport in N Po Valley and points to the N. MBs hit Adige R crossing at Cavarzere and M/Y at Gorizia, and attack 5 bridges and fills on Brenner line in Austria and N Italy, damaging 2 of the tgts. Ftrs and FBs harass retreating forces in N Po Valley. During 24/25 Apr LBs and night ftrs attack crossings of Adige and Po Rivers and the Canale Bianco, and strike A/Fs at Villafranca di Verona, Udine, and Bergamo, and M/Ys at Brescia and Verona.


4/25/45

Fifteenth AF

467 B-17's and B-24's bomb main M/Y station, and sidings, N and S main M/Ys and freight yard at Linz, the major Austrian traffic center along rail-line running N to Prague, plus Wels M/Y (an alternate) and several T/Os. 119 P-38's and P-51's fly armed rcn over N Italy, a few strafing road traffic. The P-38's dive-bomb road and rail bridges and rail-lines. P-38's and P-51's fly almost 300 sorties in escort of HBs, P-38 rcn flights, and MATAF B-26 raids.


4/25/45

Tenth AF

16 P-38's attack truck parks, fuel dumps, and supply areas at Hopong and Hotang. 20 other P-38's hit troops at Wan Kinglong and at other points in C Burma battle area. Transports complete 445 sorties to forward areas, landing or dropping 624 tons of supplies.


4/25/45

Fourteenth AF

2 B-24's bomb railroad yards at Hongay. 4 B-25's and 4 P-47's damage bridge and knock out AA position N of Anyang. More than 50 P-47's and P-51's hit river, road, and rail tgts, troops, horses, and buildings in areas around Loning, Hsihhsiassuchi, Linfen, Kuanshuishih, Saiping, Yungcheng, Sichchuan, and Tsingsinghsien.


4/25/45

FEAF

B-24's bomb harbor at Saigon, Balete Pass bridges, and Boeloedowang and Basco AFs. B-25's, A-20's, and ftrs concentrate on Cagayan Valley bridges and spt ground forces around Balete Pass,
Baguio, and Solvec Cove. Other FEAF spt missions continue in S Luzon from Ipo Dam to New Bosoboso, E of Santa Maria, NE of Siniloan, Anuling, Monte Banahao, near Legaspi, and S of Camalig, and in Monte Mandalagan-Monte Silay area.


4/25/45

Twentieth AF

Gen Joseph Smith assumes cmd of XX BC.


4/26/45

Ninth AF

HQ IX TAC moves from Marburg/Lahn to Weimar. 125 9th Bomb Div bmrs hit Plattling A/F. Ftrs escort 9th Bomb Div, fly A/F cover, carry out armed rcn in Germany and Czechoslovakia, drop leaflets, and cooperate with US XII Corps as its forces cross into Austria SE of Passau, and XX Corps as it begins full-scale assault across the Danube at Regensburg. Ftrs claim 19 combat victories.


4/26/45

Twelfth AF

During 25/26 Apr XXII TAC aircraft hit M/Ys, A/Fs, motor transport, and other comm tgts, mainly in N Po Valley. MBs complete 1 of 4 missions dispatched (cloud obscures 3 tgts), hitting Chioggia bridge and knocking out a span. XXII TAC ftrs and FBs attack enemy movement throughout afternoon, destroying over 150 motor transport.


4/26/45

Fifteenth AF

107 B-24's bomb motor transport depot at Tarvisio, and M/Ys at Sachsenburg, Lienz, Spittal an der Drau, and Klagenfurt (all T/Os). 117 B-17's and 196 B-24's, also dispatched against tgts in N Italy, abort due to bad weather. 155 ftrs provide escort. 75 P-38's and 102 P-51's fly armed rcn over N Italy. Of these, 12 P-38's and 48 P-51's strafe T/Os. All of the P-38's dive-bomb rail-lines and road bridges. 16 other P-38's dive-bomb NW part of Alesso. Rcn and rcn escort and supply escort missions by P-38's and P-51's continue as usual.


4/26/45

Tenth AF

30 P-38's and P-47's attack troop concentrations E of Vian Sing, at Naungtaw, and in Loilem vicinity. Transports land or drop 553 tons of supplies at forward bases and front-line areas.


4/26/45

Fourteenth AF

2 B-24's bomb docks at Hongay. 10 B-25's and 4 P-47's knock out bridges near Wuchang and N of Taiku and damage bridge near Kaifeng. 80-plus FBs blast troops, horses, road and rail transport, tanks, gun positions, and T/Os at numerous places in S and E China as the campaign against the occupying Japanese intensifies.


4/26/45

FEAF

B-24's bomb Shanghai. B-25's hit Heito sugar refinery and nearby T/Os. P-38's on sweep also hit several TOs. B-25's, A-20's, and FBs continue to fly numerous sorties in spt of ground forces in N and S Luzon. B-24's join USMC aircraft in pounding Cebu tgts. Other B-24's hit Miri A/F. B-25's and ftrs hit tgts on Tarakan I.


4/26/45

Twentieth AF

195 B-29's (some escorted by ftrs of VII FC) bomb A/Fs at Usa, Oita, Saeki, Tomitaka, Imabari, Nittagahara, Miyazaki, Kanoya, Kokubu, and Miyakonojo. Other VHBs hit T/Os.


4/26/45

Seventh AF

13 B-24's from Guam bomb Eten I.


4/27/45

Eighth AF

By this date the flow of P-51, B-17, and B-24 replacement aircraft has stopped and authorization of 68 planes per bomb gp and 96 per ftr gp is reduced to original 48 and 75, respectively.


4/27/45

Ninth AF

Weather grounds 9th Bomb Div. Ftrs fly sweeps, A/F cover, and armed rcn, and attack A/Fs. Other ftrs fly air cover for US XII Corps as 11th Armd Div reaches Czech border N of Bischofsreuth and other elements move further into Austria toward Linz, and spt XX Corps as it receives surrender of Regensburg and expands its Danube bridgehead.


4/27/45

Twelfth AF

Bad weather throughout N Italy holds operations to a minimum. XXII TAC ftrs and FBs operate during latter part of afternoon, closely supporting ground forces in battle area N of Po R, hitting guns, vehicles, railroads, train cars, and Bergamo A/F as US 1st Armd Div spearheads the drive to the NW.


4/27/45

Fifteenth AF

Bad weather cancels HB operations and hampers ftr missions. 8 P-51's and 2 P-38's complete weather rcn missions. Other ftrs sent on rcn escort and armed rcn flights abort.


4/27/45

Tenth AF

37 P-38's and P-47's hit troop concentrations in Wan Pong and Nawng Leng areas. 12 other FBs sweep roads S of the bomb line. Transports complete 408 sorties throughout the day, landing or dropping 618 tons of supplies at forward bases and front-line areas.


4/27/45

Fourteenth AF

5 B-25's and 70-plus FBs attack bridges, positions, villages and town areas, gun emplacements, and river, road, and rail traffic at many points in S and E China chiefly around Fantung.


4/27/45

FEAF

B-25's attack Japanese installations at Cabatuan, La-lo, and Garit Norte. A-20's hit towns throughout the area. In S Luzon FBs and A-20's hit tgts E of Manila, in Legaspi area, and at other scattered points. B-24's hit Jesselton A/F and B-25's bomb Tarakan I. During 26/27 Apr B-29's bomb Tansui seaplane base. B-24's bomb Mandai A/F. HBs hit Soerabaja.


4/27/45

Twentieth AF

More than 100 B-29's strike A/Fs at Izumi, Miyazaki, Kokubu, Miyakonojo, Kanoya, and Kushira.


4/27/45

Seventh AF

11 Guam-based B-24's bomb Woleai.


4/27/45

Eleventh AF

6 B-24's drop fragmentation bombs on Kataoka naval base. 1 B-24 hits Minami Cape, and another flies a radar-ferret mission.


4/28/45

Ninth AF

Weather prevents all Ninth AF combat operations.


4/28/45

Twelfth AF

Weather severely curtails operations. XXII TAC ftrs and FBs, flying just over 100 sorties, hit enemy movement in battle area at several points from S of Piacenza to NW of Milan. MBs are grounded. Partisans apprehend Mussolini who dies before a firing squad on Lake Como.


4/28/45

Fifteenth AF

Continued bad weather cancels HB operations and limits ftrs to escort and weather rcn missions.


4/28/45

Tenth AF

8 P-38's attack cav rgt and supplies in Nawhok area. 6 others hit bivouac area near Pawngleng. 22 P-47's are detailed to strike at troops, arty positions, trucks, elephants, and carts along and behind enemy lines in C Burma. Despite bad weather most of the FBs complete missions. Transports make 441 flights to forward areas, landing or dropping 610 tons of supplies.


4/28/45

Fourteenth AF

10 B-25's bomb Paoching A/F and Shaho railroad yards, knock out bridge near Kaifeng, and damage bridge W of Showyang. About 80 FBs attack troops, A/Fs, storage facilities, railroad tgts, rivercraft, trucks, and enemy positions in S and E China, again concentrating on Fantung area. A B-24 claims a freighter sunk in S China Sea.


4/28/45

FEAF

B-25's hit tgts in Itogon area of N Luzon. A-20's attack Itogon mines and start fires among huts at Fabrica. FBs attack Balete Pass, Cagayan Valley, Tuguegarao, Trinidad, and Cervantes. In S Luzon A-20's and FBs spt ground forces at various points including Batangas sector and hit tgts around Norzagaray, Ipo Dam, Montalban, New Bosoboso, and along San Andres trail. B-24's bomb Toshien and several secondary tgts. Other B-24's hit Kuching while B-25's and P-38's hit Tarakan I and T/Os along Sarawak coast. B-24's over Celebes bomb Masamba, Malimpoeng, and Mandai A/Fs. B-26's sink about 20,000 tons of merchant shipping in Saigon harbor.


4/28/45

Twentieth AF

Around 120 B-29's hit A/Fs at Kushira, Kanoya, Miyakonojo, Kokubu, Miyazaki, and Izumi. The VHBs claim a total of 14 downed ftrs.


4/28/45

Seventh AF

12 B-24's from Guam hit Param I during early morning hours. 12 more attack Param during the afternoon. 20 P-47's from Saipan sweep Truk, strafing small vessels and A/Fs at Param and Moen.


4/29/45

Ninth AF

Weather cancels operations by 9th Bomb Div. Ftrs fly patrols and A/F cover, hit special tgts, fly armed rcn over E Germany and W Czechoslovakia, and cooperate with XII Corps moving SE between the Danube and the Czech border N of Linz, and with XX Corps as some of its units establish bridgeheads and begin crossing the Isar R in Plattling-Landau an der Isar-Landshut-Passau areas.


4/29/45

Twelfth AF

Weather again restricts operations. MBs are grounded. Ftrs and FBs attack retreating forces and comm throughout NE Italy including Thiene A/F and claim over 350 motor transport destroyed. Enemy forces in Italy, cmd by Gen von Vietinghoff surrender unconditionally at Caserta, effective 2 May.


4/29/45

Fifteenth AF

Bad weather again prevents HB operations. 8 P-51's and P-38's complete weather and photo rcn missions. 39 P-51's fly armed rcn over NE Italy. 5 of the ftrs bomb and 4 strafe various T/Os, claiming 4 motor transports destroyed and a rcn car and 2 parked aircraft damaged.


4/29/45

Tenth AF

5 P-47's attack Laihka A/F. 6 others strafe troops and horses at Tadamo. Transports fly 427 sorties to forward areas, landing or dropping 537 tons of supplies.


4/29/45

Fourteenth AF

3 B-25's and 4 P-47's blast tgts at Talyuan railroad yards. About 50 FBs, operating in forces of 1-4 aircraft, blast numerous T/Os in S and E China, hitting especially the Fantung area.


4/29/45

FEAF

In spt of ground forces FBs hit troop concentrations, supply areas, pillboxes, gun positions, vehicles, and other tgts mainly in the Balete Pass, Baguio, and Echague areas. A-20's hit New Bosoboso area, where ftrs a]so spt ground forces concentrating in Ipo Dam area. B-24's pound Kuching A/F while B-25's bomb Tarakan I. Other B-24's hit Langoan, Mandai, and Mapanget A/Fs. P-38's sweep Indochina and strafe Thu Dau Mot A/F.


4/29/45

Twentieth AF

111 B-29's strike Miyazaki, Miyakonojo, Kokubu, Kanoya (2), and Kushira A/Fs. The B-29's claim nearly 30 aircraft shot down.


4/29/45

Seventh AF

20 Saipan-based P-47's sweep Truk, strafing A/Fs, defenses, and gun positions on Moen and Param and hit Param and Falas with rockets. 24 Guam-based B-24's subsequently attack the same A/Fs. 20 B-24's, operating in 2 forces, pound air installations on Marcus.


4/29/45

Eleventh AF

12 B-25's attempting to bomb tgts in the Kurils abort due to weather front. 6 B-24's radar-bomb Kataoka naval base.


4/30/45

International

Hitler commits suicide in the bunker of his chancellery.


4/30/45

Ninth AF

Weather cancels 9th Bomb Div and XXIX TAC operations. IX TAC flies A/F cover, sweeps, and armed rcn. XIX TAC flies patrols and armed rcn, and cooperates with XII Corps moving SE between the Danube and the Czech border N of Linz and with XX Corps crossing the Isar R at several points in Landau an de r Isar-Land shut area.


4/30/45

Twelfth AF

During 29/30 Apr A-20's and A-26's hit motor transport near Lake Como and roads in Trento, San Michele all'Adige, and Bolzano areas. Bad weather grounds MBs. FBs fly armed rcn over N Italy, blasting guns. vehicles, and other T/Os.


4/30/45

Fifteenth AF

For fourth consecutive day bad weather cancels HB operations. P-38's fly rcn, escorted by P-51's. Other P-51's and P-38's escort supply-dropping missions to N Italy and Yugoslavia.


4/30/45

Tenth AF

Bad weather cancels scheduled combat strikes. Air supply operations to forward areas continue on a steady basis.


4/30/45

Fourteenth AF

6 B-25's and 9 P-47's hit railroad yards at Taiyuan. 50-plus P-47's, P-51's, and P-40's attack troops, defensive positions, bridges, rail tgts, and scattered T/Os in S and E China, concentrating around Laohokow, Hsihhsiassuchi, and Loning.


4/30/45

FEAF

B-24's hit Toshien fuel storage and bomb Tainan, Takao, and Okayama A/Fs while B-25's hit Taito. Escorting P-38's attack numerous T/Os. P-51's bomb Okayama A/F. Numerous missions are flown over Luzon and Negros by B-25's, A-20's, and FBs in spt of ground forces. B-24's attack Davao area. P-38's hit Tarakan and B-24's bomb Manggar A/F. Other B-24's bomb Malimpoeng A/F.


4/30/45

Twentieth AF

120-plus B-29's hit A/Fs at Tachikawa, Kanoya (2), Kokubu, Oita, Tomitaka, and Saeki, and city of Hamamatsu. 20-plus other B-29's hit alternates and T/Os. The VHBs claim 10 aircraft downed. Ftrs sent from VII FC to provide VLR escort fail to rendezvous.


4/30/45

Seventh AF

In a thorough strafing and rocket strike on several islands of Truk Atoll, 20 P-47's from Saipan attack seaplane base, several small vessels, A/F, barracks, radio station, and numerous other tgts. 24 B-24's from Guam pound the A/Fs on Moen and Param. 22 B-24's, operating in 2 waves about 3 hrs apart, bomb air installations on Marcus.


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