MONDAY, 29 JANUARY 1945
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, Pailochi Airfield, river and
road shipping, troops, gun positions, buildings, and other targets of opportunity
are attacked at Kweiyi, Hankow, Sinyang and Chihkiang, between Hengshan and
Siangtan, between Wuhu and Anking, north of Hengyang, and east and south of Yutze.
Burma: In NCAC area, 114th Regt of Ch 38th Div, the closest unit to enemy withdrawing from Burma Road, suffers heavily from enemy attacks; a single Ch co blocking the road about 80 miles from Lashio is almost annihilated. This ends efforts to block the road. U.S. 5332d Brig is under heavy fire as it attempts to improve positions along W side of the road.
China: Gen Ho, commander of ALPHA forces, presents plan in line with Gen Wedemeyer's views for 36-division offensive force to be divided among six area commands about Kunming. This plan is later adopted and with slight modification goes into effect in February. The 36-division force is swelled to 39 divisions with return of New First Army in June. Japanese occupy U.S. Fourteenth Air Force base of Suichwan.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 13 B-25s knock out road bridges
at Loi-leng and Tonglau and hit several nearby targets of opportunity; 26 P-47s
hit troop positions in the Namhkai area; 11 P-38s and 16 P-47s attack Aungban Airfield and Heho Airfield; 8 P-47s support ground forces near Banwe; 70 P-47s and
P-38s pound troop concentrations and supplies at Panglong, Tangyan, Wengnan,
Homang, Mong Long, Namtu, Mongyin, Mong Yang, and Namhsam. Largescale transport
operations continue. The 1st Combat Cargo Squadron, 1st Combat Cargo Group,
moves from Tsuyung to Hsinching with C-47s.
AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 19 Guam based B-24s bomb Iwo Jima airfields. Two B-24s
from Saipan, on an armed reconnaissance flight, bomb Marcus.
One B-24 from Angaur Airfield bombs Arakabesan. During the night of 29/30
Jan, five B-24s from Saipan continue harassment raids on Iwo Jima airfields.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 25: 28 of 33 Mariana based B-29s strike
at 2 airfields on Iwo Jima without loss.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Heavy B-24 daylight
raids concentrate on Heito Airfield and Corregidor while B-25s bomb nearby Cabcaben. On Luzon, fighter-bombers and
A-20s hit targets of opportunity from Aparri to Echague; further S, two P-38s and two B-25s hit gun positions in the Batangas and
Verde areas; A-20s support ground forces inland from Lingayen by
hitting the Carranglen road network; others hit Talavera and Carabao. HQ 38th
Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 822d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) moves
from Morotai to Lingayen Airfield with B-25s. The 319th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 90th Bombardment
Group (Heavy), moves from Biak to San
Jose with B-24s. Fifth Air Force HQ moves to Mindoro. Lost is B-25J "30,000 North American Airplane" 44-29544 pilot 1st Lt. James E. Slaughter (survived).
U.S Army: Western Visayan TF is dissolved. X Corps assumes responsibility for security of the islands. CG 24th Div arrives at San
Jose on southwest Mindoro to take control of all Army troops attached to corps.
USN: Four PT-Boats lead by PT-222 under the command of Lt.
Robert J. Wehrli, USNR escorted by two P-38s and two B-25s enter Batangas Bay and preformed a 67 minute raid against small
craft and shore installations at Batangas. For 37 minutes they were under intense
fire from shore. Before withdrawing, they claim as destroyed two luggers, three barges and twenty-four sailing vessels, and
unknown number of suicide boats hidden along the shore in huts. With
help from the aircraft, the PT Boats target several guns and knock them out and start eight fires including one fire in a fuel dump area.
TG 78.3 under Rear Admiral Arthur D. Struble lands troops (38th Infantry and 34th RCT of 24th Infantry) near San Antonio, northwest of Subic Bay. They encounter no enemy opposition, move rapidly inland and seize all initial onjectives.
Landing craft repair ship Amycus (ARL-2) and medium landing ship LSM-135 are damaged when accidentally bombed by SBD, Lingayen Gulf, 16°20'N, 120°10'E.
USS
Serpens (AK-97) is sunk by explosion of undetermined origin off Guadalcanal; the blast damages submarine chasers PC-588, SC-1039, and SC-1266; motor minesweeper YMS-281; and district patrol craft YP-514.
Destroyer Lardner (DD-487) is damaged when she runs aground off Ngesebus Island Palau.
Submarine Picuda (SS-382) attacks Japanese convoy in Formosa Strait, sinking army cargo ship Clyde Maru about 50 miles northwest of Keelung, 25°20'N, 121°06'E.
USAAF B-25s sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.10 Takunan Maru off Chichi Jima, 27°45'N, 142°00'E.
Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.47 is damaged by aircraft, 20°45'N, 142°00'E.
