8/1/45
Tenth AF
Gen Hegenberger becomes CG Tenth AF. Tenth AF moves from Piardoba to
Kunming. (HQ at Kunming was officially opened on 23 Jul). The
scheduled role of the Tenth AF in China is almost identical with its
completed Burma mission to act as the tac AF giving direct spt and
providing air supply to Chinese ground forces operating S of 27th
parallel N.
8/1/45
Fourteenth AF
Bad weather severely curtails operations. P-61's effectively sweep
rivers in Wuchou, Canton, and Tsingyun areas, sinking several large
junks and sampans.
8/1/45
FEAF
B-24's bomb shipyards at Pontianak. Other HBs hit barracks and AA
guns along Makassar Strait. P-38's strafe locomotives in Soerabaja
area. Other P-38's spt ground forces ENE and SE of Mankayan and,
along with USMC aircraft, pound enemy positions and concentrations in
Upian area. B-24's bomb Tourane M/Y while escorting P-51's strafe
boxcars at Quang Nam. Other B-24's strike Takao military stores.
About 50 B-24's bomb tgts in Nagasaki dock and harbor area. B-25's
and FBs in Nagasaki area hit docks, railroad yards, and shipping.
Other B-24's bomb Koniya A/F and hit Kakeroma I. 80-plus P-47's hit
railroad bridges and other railroad tgts at Sendai. Also P-47's fly
their first combat mission from Iwo Jima, joining VII FC P-51's in
sweep over S Honshu. Rolling stock and A/Fs are attacked in Okazaki,
Itami, and Nagoya areas.
8/1/45
Twentieth AF
627 B-29's, on night of 1/2 Aug, carry out fire-bomb raids on
Japanese cities of Hachioji, Toyama, Nagaoka, and Mito; 120 others
bomb Kawasaki petroleum facilities; and 37 drop mines in Shimonoseki
Strait, in Nakaumi Lagoon, at Hamada, Sakai, Yonago, Najin, and
Seishin. The total of 784 B-29's (of 836 dispatched) bombing tgts is
the largest Twentieth AF single-day effort of World War II.
8/1/45
VII FC
30-plus Iwo Jima-based P-51's hit A/Fs and other tgts in Osaka-Nagoya
area. Bad weather prevents numerous other ftrs from reaching
tgts.
8/2/45
Fourteenth AF
10 B-25's, escorted by 2 P-47's, knock out bridge at Sinyang and
severely damage bridge at Lohochai. 7 B-25's bomb town of Sinning,
and hit several truck convoys between Siangtan and Changsha and in
Siang-Chiang Valley. 31 P-51's also bomb town of Sinning. 40-plus
P-47's and P-51's knock out at least 3 bridges and damage others and
attack shipping, fuel dumps, gun positions, trucks, railroad yards
and general T/Os around Sichuang, Shangkao, Yoyang, Hankow,
Mingkiang, Sincheng, Yutze, Houmachen, Yuncheng, Anyang, and
Kaoyi.
8/2/45
FEAF
Bad weather cancels all FEAF missions from Okinawa. Thirteenth AF
P-38's spt ground forces on N Luzon, hitting pockets of resistance W
of Kiangan and blasting enemy occupied caves on ridge NW of
Bontoc.
8/2/45
Twentieth AF
Gen Twining be comes CG Twentieth AF. Gen LeMay is assigned to
USASTAF as CoS.
8/2/45
Eleventh AF
6 B-24's radar-bomb Kokutan Cape and visually bomb Kataoka.
8/3/45
Fifteenth AF
Gen Lee takes cmd of Fifteenth AF.
8/3/45
Fourteenth AF
16 B-25's pound various railroad tgts in E China. 50-plus FBs attack
bridges, railroad yards, storage areas, enemy troops, river and rail
traffic, and various other tgts as the campaign to disrupt Japanese
retreat from S and E China continues in spite of considerable bad
weather.
8/3/45
FEAF
P-38's and B-25's spt ground forces on N Luzon, hitting buildings in
Apunan area and Japanese positions at various locations including
ridges SW of Kiangan and W of Banaue. B-24's bomb airstrips at
Tanamon and Sidate and bomb seaplane base at Kangean I.
8/3/45
VII FC
Ftrs from Iwo Jima fly nearly 100 effective sorties throughout Tokyo
area, hitting A/Fs, rail installations, and trains.
8/4/45
Ninth AF
Gen Kepner takes cmd of Ninth AF.
8/4/05
Fourteenth AF
Bad weather hampers operations. However, 4 B-25's damage Sincheng
railroad bridge, 4 B-25's and 2 P-51's bomb Pailochi A/F and hit
trucks in the area, and 7 P-51's damage 12 locomotives between
Taiyuan and Tsinan, destroy or damage several trucks near
Shihkiachwang, and bomb bridge near Chihsien.
8/4/05
FEAF
B-25's over Kyushu hit industrial area near Takanabe, bombing
warehouses, factories, railroad bridge, and M/Y. B-25's and P-38's
spt ground forces on Luzon, hitting Japanese forces near Santa Ines,
in Butitio area, and near Mount Obudan. B-24's spt ground action S of
Fabrica. B-24's bomb Miti A/F. P-38's on sweep over Singapore claim 2
Japanese planes downed.
8/5/05
Fourteenth AF
20 P-51's knock out bridge NW of Anyang and damage another NE of
Kiehsiu, attack railroad tgts during sweeps from Taiynan to Suchow
and Tehsien to Pengpu, and strafe rivercraft between Ichang and
Lokehang.
8/5/05
FEAF
330-plus B-24's, B-25's, A-26's, P-47's, and P-51's pound Tarumizu
town, industrial area on Kyushu and many T/Os on Kyushu and in the
Ryukyus. P-38's spt ground forces on Luzon, hitting Japanese
concentrations ENE of Naguilian, near Mount Data, and at other
points. B-24's pound Japanese positions S of Fabrica. Other B-24's
bomb supply and personnel areas and AA positions in Makassar area.
B-24's also bomb Miti.
8/5/05
Twentieth AF
During 5/6 Aug, 470-plus B-29's fly incendiary raids against cities
of Saga, Mae Bashi, Imabari, and Nishinomiya-Mikage, 106 bomb coal
liquefaction company at Ube, and 27 mine waters of Sakai, Yonago,
Nakaumi Lagoon, Miyazu,
Maizuru, Tsuruga, Obama, Najin and Geijitsu area.
8/5/05
VII FC
VII FC is officially assigned to Twentieth AF. 100-plus P-51's strike
A/Fs and military installations in large area around Tokyo, scoring
especially effective hits at Katori A/F.
8/6/45
Fourteenth AF
10 P-51's and P-47's damage 10 locomotives between Tehsien and Suchow
and 5 around Anyang, Kaifeng, and Loyang, and lightly damage bridges
N of Chihsien and S of Houmachen.
8/6/45
FEAF
Okinawa-based aircraft pound tgt.s on Kyushu. 150-plus P-47's and
A-26's fight bad weather to hit the primary, Miyakonojo. 170-plus
B-24's, B-25's, and P-47's hit Kagoshima as secondary tat. 60-plus
B-25's and P-51's attack shipping and ground T/Os in Tsushima Strait
area and in N Ryukyus. P-51's operating in area between Kyushu and
Korea bomb A/F and strafe numerous T/Os on Saishu I. P-47's bomb Anjo
on Tanega I. Other aircraft, operating individually or in pairs, hit
various T/Os on S Korea coast, in Inland Sea, S Honshu, W Shikoku I,
throughout the N Ryukyus, and in Shanghai area. B-24's pound
resistance pockets on Negros I.
8/6/45
Twentieth AF
The world's first atomic attack takes place. At 0245 Col Paul W
Tibbets pilots the B-29 Enola Gay off the runway at North Field,
Tinian. At 2-min intervals, 2 observation B-29's follow Maj Charles W
Sweeney's Great Artiste and Capt George W Marquardt's No 91. At 0915
(0816 Japan time) the atomic bomb is released over Hiroshima from
31,600 ft. It explodes 50 secs later. More than 80 per cent of the
city's buildings are destroyed and over 71,000 people (Japanese
figures; US figures say from 70,000 to 80,000) are killed. The Enola
Gay lands on Tinian at 1458, followed within the hr by the 2
observation planes.
8/6/45
VII FC
Almost 100 ftrs from Iwo Jima attack A/Fs and military installations
at 6 locations throughout general area around Tokyo.
8/7/45
Fourteenth AF
Fourteenth AF moves from Kunluing to Paishiyi.
8/7/45
FEAF
P-47's cover Twentieth AF B-29 strike against Kyushu tgts. B-24's and
A-26's over Kyushu pound Tsuiki A F. Other B-24's start fires at
Omura. B-25's hit bridges and other tgts at Matsubase and Kawaj iri
and bomb convoy off Pusan. Other B-25's hit Chiran and Izumi A/Fs.
FBs attack and considerably damage comm and transportation facilities
throughout Kyushu. B-24's bomb Takno A/F. B-25's and P-38's spt
ground forces near Ambuclao, Kiangan, Batangan, Aparri, Malikayan,
Bontoc, and Tabayoc and Palugloko Mountains. In NEI B-24's bomb area
E of Bandjermasin, and P-51's hit harbor at Soerabaja.
8/7/45
Twentieth AF
124 B-29's, escorted by VII FC ftrs, bomb naval arsenal at Toyokawa.
During 7/8 Aug, 29 others drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait, at
Miyazu, Maizuru, Tsuruga, Obama and at Najin. FEAF P-47's provide
cover.
8/7/45
VII FC
After escorting B-29's on bombing mission, P-51's attack railroad
tgts and shipping in and near Magarimatsu, Chofu, Atsugi, and
Sagami.
8/7/45
Eleventh AF
5 B-24's bomb Kataoka A F. AA fire damages 2 B-24's.
8/8/45
International
USSR declares war on Japan.
8/8/45
Fourteenth AF
10 P-51's hit buildings, trucks, rivercraft, and other T/Os in
Poaching, Hengyang, and Chuanhsien areas.
8/8/45
FEAF
Okinawa-based B-24's, B-25's, A-26's, P-51's and P-47's carry out
numerous strikes against tgts on Kyusha. Tgts include Usa and TsuiKki
A/Fs, comm and transport tgts all over Kyushu, shipping between
Kyusha and Korea, and T/Os in the Ryukyus, on China coast, and on
Formosa. P-47's escorting B-29's claim 10 Japanese planes downed.
B-24's bomb Shinchiku A/F. B-24's on shipping search hit Lolobata
A/F. B-24's spt ground forces in Lenatin R Valley and SSE of
Mankayan, in Kiangan area, and NW of Bagabag.
8/8/45
Twentieth AF
Shortly before noon, 221 B-29's drop incendiaries on Yawata. Late in
the afternoon about 60 VHBs bomb aircraft plant and arsenal complex
at Tokyo, while during 8/9 Aug 91 others hit Fukuyama with
incendiaries.
8/8/45
VII FC
100-plus ftrs from Iwo Jima hit A/F, factory building, barracks, and
rail installation in Osaka area.
8/9/45
International
Soviet troops pour into Manchuria.
8/9/45
Tenth AF
Tenth AF moves from Kunming to Liuchow. When the war ends, the
deployment of Tenth AF units to China is still in progress. So, for
the Tenth, war ends amidst a major reorganization.
8/9/45
Fourteenth AF
5 B-25's, with P-51 escort, damage Puchi railroad bridge, and hit
rail traffic N or Sinsiang. The P-51's strafe AA positions and T/Os
near the bridge. 4 other B-25s operating individually, attack truck
convoys and T/Os S of Changsha, S and N of Yoyang, and in
Siang-Chiang Valley, and hits S end of town of Siangtan.
8/9/45
FEAF
B-25's over Kyshu bomb A/Fs at Kanoya, town of Noma, shipping in
Beppu Bay, bridges, factories, and oil storage at Tsuruaski, and
shipping, coastal villages, and comm tgts in Tsushima Strait area.
A-26's and A-20's hit Kanoya A/F and industrial areas of Kushikino,
Minato, and Shimahira. B-24s over W Honshu bomb A/F at Iwankuni. Over
200 P-47's and P-51's hit numerous tgts on Shikoku, Kyushu, and in
the Ryukyus including A/F's, barracks, harbor installations, bridges,
shipping, vehicles, and various factories and storage facilities.
B-24's bomb military stores at Matsuyama. B-25's and P-38's spt
ground forces in areas in N of Baguio, SSE of Mankayan, S of Kabayan,
SE of Cervantes, near Kiangan, and NW of Infanta. B-24s over
Amboina-Ceram bomb Laha barracks.
8/9/45
Twentieth AF
Second and last atomic bomb of World War II is dropped on Japan. Maj
Charles W Sweeney pilots a B-29, Bock's Car, off runway at North
Field, Tinian, at 0230. He is followed by 2 observation B-29's-the
Great Artiste piloted by Capt Frederick C Bock (who has exchanged
planes with Sweeney for the mission) and another VHB piloted by Maj
James I Hopkins (who loses contact with the other 2 B-29's). The
primary tgt, Kokura, is obscured by bad weather. The attack is made
against the secondary tgt, Nagasaki. The bomb, dropped from 28,900 ft
at 1158 (1058 Nagasaki time), explodes about a min after release.
Japanese reports claim nearly 24,000 killed. US figures estimate
about 35,000. The attacking B-29's refuel on Okinawa, and return to
Tinian by 2339. During 9/10 Aug, 95 B-29's bomb Nippon Oil Refinery
at Amagasaki.
8/10/45
Fourteenth AF
Gen Stone assumes cmd of Fourteenth AF, replacing Gen Chennault. 5
B-25's and 4 P-51's bomb bivouac S of Siangyin, hit convoys S of
Siangtan and in Siang-Chiang Valley, pound storage area and AA
positions at Nanchang, and hit truck concentration N of Hengshan.
More than 50 P-47's and P-51's attack rivercraft, railroad tgts,
troops, trucks, and bridges at several points in S and E China.
8/10/45
FEAF
80 B-24's, 118 MBs, and 220-plus P-47's and P-38's pound Kumamoto
area. 20-plus B-24's bomb Oita area. 39 P-51's provide cover over
both tgts. Nearly 40 B-25's attack destroyers, cargo ships, and small
vessels during shipping sweep between Kyushu and Korea. P-47's bomb
Sasebo Harbor. P-51's hit various T/Os on Honshu and Kyushu and
B-25's bomb T/Os in the N Ryukyus. B-24's bomb Shinchiku. P-38's hit
troop concentrations near Mount Pulog and ENE of Dupax.
8/10/45
Twentieth AF
70 B-29's bomb arsenal complex at Tokyo. VII FC provides escort.
During 10/11 Aug, 31 VHBs mine Shimonoseki Strait, Nakaumi Lagoon,
and waters at Sakai, Yonago and Wonsan.
8/11/45
Fourteenth AF
9 P-51's attack troops, trains, and rivercraft around Chenhsien,
Tehsien, and Hengyang.
8/11/45
FEAF
Okinawa-based B-24's, B-25's, A-26's, A-20's, and ftrs flying about
530 sorties cause extensive destruction of shipping and shore
installations in the Inland Sea, in Tsushima area, and of comm,
transportation, and other tgts throughout Kyushu. Phil Is-based
B-24's bomb Heito A/ F and Laha barracks. P-38's hit buildings near
Dibuluan and fieldguns near Kiangan.
8/12/45
International
Soviet troops move into Korea.
8/12/45
Ninth AF
Col Reginald F Vance becomes cmdr of 9th Air Div.
8/12/45
FEAF
B-24's from Okinawa bomb Matsuyama A/F. B-25's and A-26's hit Chiran
and Kanoya A/Fs while other A-26's and A-20's and P-47's hit towns of
Kushikino, Akune, and Miyazaki. More B-25's and FBs hit shipping and
comm tgts in Kyushu, N Ryukyus, and between Japan and Korea. The
aircraft claim several small merchant ships sunk ancl damaged, and
numerous bridges, railroads, factories, and other T/Os hit. B-24's
from the Phil Is pound Kagi A/F and Takao M/Y. P-38's spt ground
forces in or near Kabayan, Kiangan, and Uldugan.
8/12/45
Eleventh AF
4 B-24's make a combined visual and radar bomb run over Kataoka. 3
more bomb Suribachi A/F, hitting runways and buildings. 1 B-24 flies
a radar-ferret mission.
8/13/45
FEAF
B-24's and B-25's from Okinawa pound shipping in waters off Korea and
Kyushu and in Inland Sea claiming several vessels sunk and damaged.
P-47's over Keijo encounter 20 aircraft and claim at least 16 shot
down. B-25's attack Japanese forces near Palaciaan. P-38's hit
shipping in Singapore area.
8/13/45
Eleventh AF
Eleventh AF dispatches its last combat mission when 6 B-24's
radar-bomb Kashiwabara staging area, leaving huge columns of
smoke.
8/14/45
FEAF
B-25's, P-47's and P-51's attack shipping in Korea and Kyushu waters,
claiming several vessels destroyed and damaged. P-47's over
Osaka-Nagoya area claim several Japanese aircraft shot down.
8/14/45
Twentieth AF
302 B-29's bomb naval arsenal at Hikari and Osaka Army Arsenal while
108 bomb railroad yards at Marifu. VII FC planes escort VHBs over
Osaka area. During 14/15 Aug, 160-plus B-29's attack Kumagaya and
Isezaki with incendiaries while 132 (in the longest nonstop unstaged
B-29 bombing mission from the Marianas-3,650 mi) bomb Nippon Oil
Company at Tsuchizakiminato. 39 others mine waters at Nanao,
Shimonoseki, Miyazu, and Hamada. These are the final B-29 combat
missions against Japan. Before the last B-29's return, President
Truman announces the unconditional surrender of Japan. Immediately
thereafter, 11th Airborne Div leaves Phil Is by air for Okinawa,
where it goes on standby as the initial occupation force for
Japan.
8/14/45
VII FC
After escorting B-29 strike over Osaka area, 160-plus ftrs (from VII
FC on Iwo Jima) fly last fighter strike against Japan Home Islands,
hitting A/Fs and other military installations in Nagoya general
area.
8/15/45
International
Gen MacArthur is notified that he is Supreme Cmdr for Allied powers.
All offensive action against Japan ends.
8/15/45
Twelfth AF
All units are transferred or redeployed with exception of 6719th WAC
HQ Pltn (an assigned unit) and Det, 1054th MP Co, Avn.
8/21/45
Eleventh AF
2 B-24's are prevented by cloud cover from taking photos of Soviet
occupation of Kurils. 4 others abort a photo mission to Paramushiru
and Shimushu due to weather.
8/23/45
Eleventh AF
4 B-24's fly photo mission over Paramushiru and Shimushu.
8/24/45
Eleventh AF
B-24's try to photo Soviet occupation of Kurils but are impeded by
clouds.
8/27/45
Thirteenth AF
XIII BC moves from Morotai to Clark Field.
8/27/45
Twentieth AF
B-29's begin supplying prisoners-of-war and internee camps in Japan,
China, and Korea with medical supplies, food, and clothing. The first
supply drop (to Weihsien Camp near Peking) is followed by a
concentrated effort of 900 sorties in a period of less than a month.
4,470 tons of supplies are dropped to about 63,500 prisoners in 154
camps.
8/28/45
Twelfth AF
With discontinuance of 6719th WAC HQ Pltn, the Det, 1054th MP Co,
Avn, remains the only unit still attached to Twelfth AF.
8/28/45
Japan
Occupation of Japan officially begins as adv party arrives in Home
Islands. The 11th Airborne Division landed at Atsugi airfield while
Marines land at Yokosuka naval base.
8/30/45
Japan
Occupation in force begins when 11th Airborne Div is flown to Atsugi
A/F and Marines land at Yokosuka naval base.
8/31/45
Twelfth AF
Twelfth AF is inactivated in Italy.
8/31/45
Fifteenth AF
Col Elmer J Rogers Jr assumes cmd of Fifteenth AF until its
inactivation on 15 Sep 45.
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