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January 20, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 20 JANUARY 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Four B-24s bomb the Kataoka area on Shimushu.

Buma-China: While official Allied convoy from Ledo is waiting at Myitkyina, small truck convoy led by Lt Hugh A. Pock of Oklahoma reaches Kunming, China, via Teng-chung cutoff-- hastily repaired but still very rough--completing 16-day trip from Myitkyina. This secondary route is of little practical value. Ch 9th Div on Salween front finds Wanting clear of enemy. Forward elements of Ch 38th Div (CAI) make patrol contact with Chinese of Y-force near Muse. U.S. 5332d Brig improves positions near Burma Road.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): Four B-25s hit a bridge and railroad cars near Hanoi. In China, 3 B-25s attack targets of opportunity W of Hengshan, 2 hit a troop compound and other targets at Chaling and Anjen, and 1 damages a small freighter in the East China Sea; 32 P-51s pound airfields in the Shanghai area, claiming 22 aircraft destroyed; 200+ P-40s, P-51s, and P-38s on armed reconnaissance over vast S China and N French Indochina areas attack bridges, town areas, rail, road and river traffic, and other targets of opportunity at numerous points. The detachment of the 22d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), operating from Yunnani with B-25s, returns to base at Yangkai.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Brigadier General Roger M. Ramey officially becomes Commanding General XX Bomber Command.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 16 fighter-bombers support ground forces along the Irrawaddy River near Mabein, Shadaw, and Myitson; 8 others hit an ammunition dump at Namhkai and a supply dump at Kutkai; also hit are troop concentrations, supply areas and targets of opportunity at Kyaunghkam, Panghung, Kawnglom, Namhsan, Loi-kang, and in the Hsenwi area. 482 transport sorties are flown to advanced bases and battle sectors. HQ 80th Fighter Group moves from Tingkawk Sakan to Myitkyina. In India, the 127th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, based at Kalaikunda with UC-64s and L-5s, sends a detachment to operate from Cox's Bazar (first mission is today)

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Twelve Guam based B-24s bomb airfields on Iwo Jima; During the night of 20/21, five B-24s from Saipan hit the town of Okimura. Ten B-24s from Guam fly separate snooper strikes against Iwo Jima airfields. The 163d Liaison Squadron, AAFPOA (attached to Tenth Army) arrives at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii from the US with L-5s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Major General Curtis Emerson LeMay takes command of the XXI Bomber Command.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA: B-24s pound Fabrica Airfield on Negros and bomb underground storage area at Bamban. On Luzon, A-20s and B-25s hit railroads and trains near the Bicol River and between Calauag and Legaspi; other A-20s and fighter-bombers hit Aparri, Laoag and Tubang Airfields, hit artillery positions W of Bong Bong and destroy railroad bridge at Aloneros. Headquarters (HQ), 35th Fighter Group moves from Morotai to Mangaldan. The 2d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Angaur Airfield to Guiuan Airfield with B-24s. The 82d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group arrive at Lingayen Airfield from Morotai and Dulag respectively with F-6s and P-40s (82d) and P-40s (110th). Lost are A-20G 43-21622 pilot 2nd Lt. Alfred J. Hamwey (MIA) and P-38L 44-25455 pilot F/O Gerald R. Shannon (MIA).

RAAF: While landing at at Tadji Airfield crashed is Beaufort A9-557 (survived).

U.S. Army: Gen Eichelberger recommends to General Douglas MacArthur that the 11th Airborne Division make a single landing on Luzon, at Nasugbu Bay, instead of the two (Nasugbu Bay and Tayabas or Balayan Bays) as originally contemplated. This would solve problems of air and naval support.

In U.S. Sixth Army area, Gen Krueger asks Allied Air Forces not to bomb bridges south of the Agno River since they are needed to speed drive towards Manila. In XIV Corps area, 160th Inf of 40th Div gets forward elements to within four miles of Tarlac; 8th begins to follow 160th southward. Forward elements of 37th Div reach Victoria, which is undefended, and patrol beyond there. In I Corps area, 25th Div, with 27th Inf on right and 161st on left, opens drives on Asingan and San Manuel. 169th Inf (less 2d Bn) of 43d Div attacks Mt Alava and gets elements to crest. 103d gains positions on S part of Hill 600.

In the Camotes Islands, 7th Div Task Force reconnoiters Pacijan without incident.

On Mindoro, the bulk of 2d Bn, 19th Inf, moves to Bulalacao to destroy enemy in that region in patrol actions.

U. S. Navy: Submarine Nautilus (SS-168) lands supplies on south coast of Mindanao, P.I.

Submarine Spot (SS-413) sinks Japanese merchant fishing boat Tokiwa Maru, 34°45'N, 124°10'E.

Submarine Tautog (SS-199) sinks Japanese torpedo recovery vessel Shuri Maru at southern end of Tsushima Strait, 33°37'N, 128°40'E.

Operation Kongo concludes with Japanese submarine I-48 carrying out an unsuccessful Kaiten attack on U.S. shipping at Ulithi (see January 23, 1945).



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