January 11, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
THURSDAY, 11 JANUARY 1945
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Three B-24s on armed reconnaissance over Suribachi, bomb northwest of Taro Lake. Five B-25s hit Kotani Shima.
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In Burma, five B-25s damage a bridge at
Wan Mai-Lo; 12 fighter-bombers hit targets of opportunity NE of Wanling, 7
drop napalm on targets of opportunity NE of Muse, and 11 attack targets of
opportunity SE of Wanting, China and in the E end of the Wanting River valley.
Burma: In Br Fourteenth Army's 4 Corps area, after Gangaw is captured by E African 28th Brig and Lushai Brig, corps is able to advance quickly toward the Irrawaddy in Pakokku area for drive on Meiktila.
Formosa: Fifth Air Force begins small night attacks on the island with B-24's.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 47 B-29 bombers from the 58th BW from Calcutta (Mission 25) bomb two
dry-dock facilities in Singapore Harbor; and fifteen B-29's attack alternates on Penang, Mergui,
Burma, and various targets of opportunity; they claim 6-1-17 Japanese aircraft. Two B-29 bombers were lost: B-29 42-24704 pilot Major Donald Humphrey (POW/MIA) and B-29 42-65226 pilot Major Joseph H. Wilson, Jr. (MIA).
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 P-47s support ground forces
in the Si-U and Namhkam sectors. 3 others strafe trucks between Namhkam and
Selan; troop concentrations, vehicles, artillery pieces, supply areas, and
general enemy movement are pounded by 80+ fighter-bombers; 12 B-25s bomb storage
buildings in the Lashio area. 509 transport sorties are flown to forward areas.
The 6th Fighter Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, based at Asansol, sends a detachment to operate from Cox's Bazar, India with P-47s.
AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 23 B-24s from Saipan pound airfields on Iwo Jima; the bombing of Iwo Jima is continued during the night of 11/12 Jan, by 3
B-24s flying individual snooper strikes from the Mariana. The 6th Night Fighter
Squadron, VII Fighter Command (attached to 318th Fighter Group), moves from Kipapa Field to East Field (a detachment has been operating from
Saipan with P-47s and P-61s since Jun 44; a detachment operates from Kipapa Field until May 45).
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): The 3d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (Very
Heavy), 311th Photographic Wing (attached to XXI Bomber Command), moves from
Saipan to Guam with F-13s (the squadron flies photo, electronic and weather
reconnaissance missions in the W Pacific).
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Lost overnight is B-24L 44-49480 pilot 2nd Lt. Roger A. Ryder (MIA). Large numbers of
B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers concentrate on communications targets
throughout
northern Luzon and attack airfields, communications, and town areas in southern Luzon and Mindanao.
Over northern Luzon on armed photographic and strafing mission F-6D "Flying Undertaker - Snooks the 5th" 44-14841 pilot Captain William A. Shomo and F-6D 44-14873 pilot Lt. Paul Lipscomb engage a large formation of Japanese planes including eleven Ki-61 Tonys and a Ki-44 Tojo escorting a G4M Betty and intercepts. Although the odds were 13 against 2 the pair engage with Shomo claims 7 shot down and earns the Medal of Honor. Lipscomb claims 3 shot down.
B-25s and P-38s attack Kendari Airfield. Lost is B-25J 43-27979 pilot 2nd Lt. John W. Mangum (KIA). HQ 308th Bombardment Wing
moves from Leyte to Luzon. Lost is F-7B 44-40961 pilot 2nd Lt Francis N. Riley (MIA).
RAAF: Crashed is Boomerang A46-189 pilot F/L Walter R. Vernon (KIA). Crash is Liberator A72-8 pilot 2nd Lt. John W. Mangum (KIA) on a training flight.
USN: Lost is PV-1 Ventura 49559 pilot Rehberg (survived, KIA) crashed after take off from Sand Island Airfield in Midway Atoll.
Off Luzon, high speed transport Belknap (APD-34) is damaged by kamikaze, 16°20'N, 120°10'E; tank landing ships LST-270 and LST-918 are damaged by shore battery, 16°20'N, 120°10'E; and tank landing ship LST-700 is damaged by friendly fire, 16°43'N, 119°58'E.
U.S. destroyer gunfire sinks Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Wa.10, south of Vigan at Lat 17°20'N, Long 120°00'E. Auxiliary minesweeper No.56 Banshu Maru and auxiliary submarine submarine chaser Hakuyo Maru are scuttled as blockships at south entrance of Manila Bay, Luzon.
During hunter-killer operations near Yap, destroyer Evans (DD-552) and destroyer escort McCoy Reynolds (DE-440) bombard Japanese defenses; they repeat the operation the following day.
Destroyer escort Brackett (DE-41) extracts party of Marshallese scouts from Jaluit, where they had been landed on 9 January to determine the condition of the garrison there.
Japanese submarines commence Operation Kongo using kaitens suicide torpedoes. I-36 launches kaitens that damage ammunition ship USS Mazama (AE-9) and infantrylanding craft LCI-600 at Ulithi.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Kinsei Maru is sunk by marine casualty in Osaka Bay, Japan.
U.S. Army: GHQ orders 11th Airborne Division, U.S. Eighth Army, to be prepared to land in late January at Nasugbu and Tayabas Bay on Luzon. The plan to land XI Corps at Vigan is dropped.
In U.S. Sixth Army area, RCT 158, part of army reserve, begins drive up Route 251 toward Rabon and relieves elements of 172d Inf, 43d Div. XIV Corps is largely on Army Beachhead Line by end of day. 40th Div consolidates in Dulig-Labrador-Uyong area, finds Aguilar in the hands of Filipino guerrillas, and makes contact with 37th Div east of Aguilar, 37th Div organizes defensive positions along Army Beachhead Line; patrols actively and establishes outposts; maintains contact with I Corps. RCT 145, all of which is now ashore, establishes defense positions along Route 261. In I Corps area, 6th Div finds Filipino guerrillas in control of Santa Barbara; moves 3½ miles south to Balingueo. 103d Inf, 43d Div, takes Manoag without opposition; gains positions on slopes of hill mass that Hill 200 crowns; establishes contact with 6th Div. 169th tries in vain to take Hill 318: gains weak hold on Hill 560. 172d, under intense fire, makes little headway. Corps front is rapidly widening and extends nearly 30 miles from S to N. With elimination of small enemy force at Boac, Marinduque is now secure.
USMC: Marine Aircraft Groups, Dagupan, commanded by Colonel Clayton C. Jerome was organized at Dagupan on Luzon.
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