November 5, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Four B-25s abort an offensive sweep off Suribachi due to intense shore fire; four more B-25s fly armed reconnaissance over Shimushu and at low level bomb Torishima targets; of four fighters intercepting the B-25s, one is downed; four B-24s bomb Onnekotan and Matsuwa. Three more B-24s bomb Katalka Naval Base on Shimushu, starting fires; seven fighters intercept and the B-24s down one.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 49 P-40s, P-38s, and P-51s attack storage facilities and other targets of opportunity around Wanling, Burma and Mangshih, Chefang, and Kweihsien; the 22d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), based at Yangkai, sends a detachment to operate from Yunnani with B-25s; the 426th Night Fighter Squadron, Fourteenth AF, moves from Madhaiganj to Chengtu with P-61s (detachment begin operating from Kunming during the month).

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): Roughly seventy P-47s attack Lashio Airfield, hit gun positions on Kyundaw Island, bomb the Kanbalu marshalling yard, hit targets of opportunity along the Naba-Wuntho railroad and on the Burma Road and bomb the town of Namhpakka and the Lasai area; 28 P-47s maintain patrols south of Myitkyina; transports fly 300+ sorties carrying men, equipment and supplies to various forward areas.

(Twentieth Air Force): 53 of 76 B-29 bombers dispatched from the Calcutta area attacked Singapore naval base putting the King George VI Dock (one of the world's best dry docks) out of operation for 3 months. Two B-29 bombers were lost and among the missing aircrew was Col. Ted S. Faulkner, Commanding Officer (C. O.) of the 468th BG aboard B-29 "Lethal Lady" 42-6370 went down at sea, but the search parties only managed to find some empty rafts without the survivors. Seven B-29 bombers from the 58th BW attack the Pangkalanbrandan refinery on Sumatra when they were unable to reach their primary target at Singapore.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Guam hit shipping in the Bonins and during an armed reconnaissance mission bomb Marcus.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 24 B-29s from the Marianas bomb two airfields on Iwo Jima commencing tactical operations against the island in preparation for the US invasion in February 1945.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s and P-40s attack airfields and barges in the C Philippine Islands. B-24s also hit the town of Bima and Waingapoe Bay shipping on Soembawa Island in the Lesser Sunda Islands. B-25s and fighter-bombers strike airfields, troop concentrations, and communications targets throughout the Halmahera area and NE peninsula of Celebes Island. Fighter-bombers and A-20s hit Amahai and targets of opportunity on the S coast of Ceram Island. Almost 50 A-20s, supporting ground forces, blast installations in Sarmi area. HQ 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group arrives at Leyte from Biak. The ground echelons of the 35th Fighter Squadron and 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group move from Morotai to Dulag (air echelon continues to operate P-38s from Morotai).

USN: In the early morning, a Japanese bomb sinks PT-320 "Sea Bitch" anchored in Leyte Gulf. Carrier aircraft from USS Essex (CV-9) and USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) strike Japanese shipping in Manila Bay. After landing with damage, TBM Avenger 45782 was pushed overboard.