February 9, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 8 fighters hit rail bridges in the Kiyang and Lukou areas, damaging 1 bridge; several trucks are strafed and destroyed; 3 fighters on a railroad sweep destroy several locomotives between Peking and Sinsiang; several other fighters bomb railroad yards at Kaifeng and the airfield at Sinsiang; Chinese-American Composite Wing (CACW) fighters make a surprise strike at Tsingtao Airfield, and claim about 100 aircraft destroyed and damaged, and also destroy several nearby locomotives.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, ten B-25s damage a bridge at Tonglau and destroy one bridge and damage another at Ke-hsi Mansam; two others pound trucks, gun positions, and buildings during a road sweep from Hsipaw to Loilem to Lashio; 9 P-47s knock out a bridge at Bawgyo and damage another at Inailong; 22 P-47s support ground forces in the Myitson area; troops, supplies, and communications are attacked at Tangtong, Man Mau, Se-u, Mansam, Panghai, Na-lang, and Man hpat by 40+ fighter-bombers. 479 transport sorties are flown to forward areas.

AAFPOA Seventh Air Force: 22 B-24s from Guam and Saipan bomb airfields, defense and radar-radio installations and AA positions on Iwo Jima; during the night of 9/10 Feb, 11 more B-24s from Saipan make separate strikes against airfields and AA defenses. HQ 21st Fighter Group departs Hawaii for Iwo Jima. VI Air Service Area Command: The 311th Troop Carrier Squadron arrives at Kahuku, Hawaii from the U.S. with C-47s (the squadron will perform aerial transportation in the C and W Pacific, Feb-2 Sep 45).

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 28: 29 XXI Bomber Command B-29s hit Moen for the second consecutive day, bombing Moen Airfield Number 2.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s fly morning and afternoon raids against Corregidor gun positions; A-20s also hit Corregidor; Mariveles and the southern part of Bataan Peninsula are pounded by B-24s and A-20s throughout the morning and afternoon; B-25s and P-51s hit shipping near Legaspi and in San Miguel Bay and destroy buildings at San Fernando on Negros . In support of ground forces, A-24s and P-40s over Balete Pass area attack bridges and roads. The 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Thirteenth AF, based at Morotai with B-25s and F-5s, sends a detachment to operate from Dulag. The 421st Night Fighter Squadron, 86th Fighter Wing, based at San Marcelino, with P-38s and P-61s, sends a detachment to operate from Tacloban. Lost on a combat training mission is A-20G "Shag On" 43-9134 (MIA).