January 24, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 24 JANUARY 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kuriles, four B-25s on a low level attack on Torishima abort due to mechanical trouble; four more B-25s bomb buildings on Torishima; AA fire damages two B-25s. In the Aleutians, six fighters take off after radar reports an unidentified target southeast of Attu; they intercept a Japanese balloon bomb which they shoot down with gunfire.

Burma-China: Ch New First Army commander promises Brig Gen Robert M. Cannon, NCAC chief of staff, to open Burma Road by 27th. Salween campaign comes to an end as Gen Wei's Chinese Expeditionary Force halts to await relief by CAI. Negotiations between Chinese Nationalists and Chinese Communists, broken off since 16 December, are resumed.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 12 P-51s on armed reconnaissance attack railroad targets north of Siangsiang, between Loyang and Kaifeng, and near Tungchen; 21 locomotives are claimed destroyed.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s bomb Hsumhsai Airfield; 17 P-47s support ground forces at Padin near Namhkam, and along the Irrawaddy River in the Bahe area; 6 P-47s knock out the Inailong bypass bridge; troop concentrations and supply areas are attacked at Nawng-ang, Pangsan, Mansak, Konsan, Yaunggwin, Mangkung, Nawngngun, Mong Long, Mogok, Namhsan, and in the Mongmit area. Transports again fly 500+ sorties to forward areas.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 33 B-24s, from Guam and Saipan escorted by P-38s pound Iwo Jima during 4 raids; 6 others act as airborne spotters for a naval bombardment of Iwo Jima; during 5 hours on the night of 24/25 Jan, 10 B-24s maintain harassment strikes against the island's airfields. The 78th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, departs Bellows Field for Iwo Jima with P-51s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 23: 20 of 28 B-29s dispatched hit two airfields on Iwo Jima without loss.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s from 38th BG including six from 405th BS and five from 71st BS strike against against a supply area and jetty at Siasi village on Siasi Island in the Sulu Archipelago (Sulu Islands). Inbound, one B-25 aborts due to mechanical issues. Lost is B-25J 44-29354 pilot Captain Glen F. Vick (MIA). B-24s pound Corregidor, Cavite, the Canacao Seaplane Base, and Grande at the mouth of Subic Bay. FEAF fighters and bombers on sweeps, armed reconnaissance, and light raids attack a variety of targets all over Luzon including small shipping, airfields, defensive positions, storage and town areas, roads, and vehicles. During the night of 24/25 Jan, B-24s on a snooper mission again hit Takao Airfield. The 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group based on Biak begins operating from Hill Field on Mindoro with C-46s and C-47s.

U.S. Army: On Luzon in the U.S. Sixth Army's XIV Corps area, 160th Inf of 40th Div comes up against enemy's OPLR on hills generally west of Bamban; takes one hill. 145th Inf of 37th Div gains line from Concepcion SW to Bamban River. In I Corps area, 161st Inf of 25th Div begins assault on San Manuel and against firm opposition gains toehold within the barrio. T/4 Laverne Parrish braved hostile fire to give aid to the wounded and was mortally wounded by mortar fire and died shortly afterwards. For his actions that day and January 18, 1945 he would later earn the Medal of Honor, posthumously. 43d Div regroups for coordinated effort on 25th to clear heights dominating roads in Pozorrubio-Sison-Rosario-Camp One area. Stark Force consists of 103d and 169th Regts and 3d Bn of 63d. Yon Force is formed of 63d, less 3d Bn. RCT 158 and 172d Inf are designated MacNider Force. 2d Bn, 169th Inf, reaches crest of Hill 355. Elements of 158th Inf begin assault on ridge NW of Cataguintingan; enemy is firmly entrenched on the ridge.

On Mindoro, 2d Bn, 21st Inf, moves into Calapan.

U.S. Navy: Preceded in their approach a patrol of PB4Ys, Task Group 94.9 (TG 94.9) under Rear Admiral Oscar C. Badger, consisting of battleship Indiana (BB-58), three heavy cruisers, seven destroyers and a light minelayer, bombard Iwo Jima, together with USAAF B-29's of XXI Bomber Command, on training mission, and B-24's from 7th Air Force escorted by P-38s concentrate on airfields and shipping. Northeast of Iwo Jima, destroyers USS Dunlap (DD-384) and USS Fanning (DD-385) sink transport I-Go Yoneyama Maru and auxiliary minesweepers Keinan Maru and No.7 Showa Maru, 24°50'N, 141°22'E, a small Japanese three-ship convoy that had just arrived that morning.

Navy land-based planes from the Philippines bomb Japanese shipping at Keelung on Formosa, and sink merchant cargo ship Beiju Maru and damaging cargo ship Taizatsu Maru, 25°09'N, 121°45'E.

Dock landing ship Shadwell (LSD-15) is damaged by aerial torpedo, P.I., 09°01'N, 123°45'E. Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Shunyo Maru is sunk by aircraft off Corregidor.

Submarine Atule (SS-403) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship No.1 Taiman Maru in the central Yellow Sea, 36°47'N, 123°59'E.

Submarine Blackfin (SS-322) sinks Japanese destroyer Shigure 160 miles east of Khota Baru, Malaya, 06°00'N, 103°48'E, and teams with Besugo (SS-321) to damage merchant tanker Sarawak Maru off east coast of Malay Peninsula, 06°00'N, 103°45'E.

Submarine Guardfish (SS-217) mistakenly sinks salvage vessel Extractor (ARS-15) in Philippine Sea, 15°44'N, 133°29'E.

References
Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area (2011) pages 427 (Dec 17, 1944)