WEDNESDAY, 24 JANUARY 1945
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kuriles, 4 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 spot a balloon
which they shoot down with tracers.
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 12 P-51s on armed reconnaissance
attack railroad targets N 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 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-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, Mindoro with
C-46s and C-47s.
U. S. Army: Soldiers reach Calapan on northern Mindoro.
