TUESDAY, 30 JANUARY 1945
The preliminary phase of Argonaut Conference (Malta-Yalta) begins at Malta with Anglo-American discussions. This portion of Argonaut is code named Cricket.
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 27 B-24s, escorted by 32 P-40s
and P-51s, bomb Hankow; 8 P-51s hit targets of opportunity in the areas around
Loyang, Yuncheng, and Sinantien; the detachment of the 16th Fighter Squadron,
51st Fighter Group, at Kwanghan with P-51s returns to base at Chengkung (another
detachment is at Laohokow).
Burma: In ALFSEA's 15 Corps area, Ind 25th Div, having withstood intense opposition against its Kangaw bridgehead, goes on the offensive and takes Kangaw village. W African 82d Div continues S toward Kangaw from Myohaung.
In NCAC area, main body of Ch 38th Div is at junction of Ledo and Burma Roads directed toward Lashio. With Ch 30th Div (-) established N of Hpa-pen village between 114th Regt of Ch 38th Div and U.S. 5332d Brig, preparations are made for combined attack by Ch 30th Div and Americans to clear heights near Hpa-pen and thus block enemy escape from Burma Road, but attack is postponed until 2 February at request of Chinese.
China: Gen Wedemeyer orders officers of China Theater not to negotiate with Chinese Communists.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 65 fighter-bombers support
ground forces in the Banwe, Yenya-u, Hsenwi, Molo, and Mongmit areas; 5 others
knock out a bridge E of Mong Long; 100+ fighter-bombers attack troops, supplies,
artillery, and communications targets at several locations including Kutkai,
Bawgyo, Hamn gai, Namhsan, Naleng, Pangsari, Hsenwi, and Wengnan. Transports
again fly 500+ sorties to forward areas. HQ 1st Combat Cargo Group moves from Tsuyung, China to Dohazari, India. The detachment of
the 317th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, operating
from Bikram, India with C-47s, returns to base at Kalaikunda, India. The detachment
of the 492d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), at Luliang ferrying gasoline to Suichwan, China in B-24s, returns to base
at Madhaiganij.
AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Seventeen B-24s from Saipan bomb an Iwo Jima airfield.
Three others B-24s bomb Woleai Airfield. Five B-24s
from Angaur Airfield strike Koror and Arakabesan. During the night of January 30-31, ten
B-24s from Saipan fly single-bomber snooper raids against airfields on Iwo Jima.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Bad weather cancels
most of the scheduled strikes over Luzon; however, B-24s bomb Cavite while
fighter-bombers flying support for ground forces hit artillery and troop concentrations
NE of Labayug and others attack ammunition dumps north of San Isidro. 405th
Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Morotai to Lingayen Airfield with B-25s.
RNZAF: Corsairs conduct a fighter sweeps over Rabaul. Lost is F4U Corsair NZ5415 (KIA).
U.S. Army: In the Philippines in U.S. Sixth Army area, General Walter Krueger issues detailed orders for continuation of attack. XIV Corps is to drive S on Manila with 37th Inf and 1st Cav Divs to line Malolos-Plaridel- Cabanatuan. I Corps, reinf by 32d Div, will drive on San Jose. XI Corps is to move along Route 7, across base of Bataan Peninsula, to Dinalupihan-Hermosa area in order to make contact with XIV Corps.
In XIV
Corps area, 129th Inf of 37th Div overruns Fort Stotsenburg and Sapangbato; begins attack on enemy's MLR on heights to W; right flank elements clear hills in Dolores area. Other elements of 37th Div patrol along Route 3 to within a mile of Calumpit. 160th Inf, 40th Div, battles enemy's MLR N of Bamban R, making slow and costly progress. 108th, in local advances, now holds Hill 5 and Thrall Hill, virtually completing reduction of pockets in that area. In I Corps area, 6th Div reconnoiters in force toward Talavera and Munoz. 1st Inf secures Talavera area without difficulty but 20th, in limited attack on Munoz, is pinned down about 1,000 yards short. 32d Div (-126th Inf, in reserve) passes to corps control and is committed on left flank of 25th Div. XI Corps, which is transferred from command of Adm Struble to that of Gen Hall and from Eighth to Sixth Army, gains all of its initial objectives. RCT 34 of 24th Div, leading assault, quickly takes town of Subic and drives to Kalaklan R, where Japanese force defending Route 7 bridge is driven off; crosses the river and seizes Olongapo. With unopposed capture of Grande I. in an amphibious operation by 2d Bn of 151st Inf, 38th Div, corps gains control of Subic Bay.
In U.S. Eighth Army area, XXIV Corps continues mopping up on Leyte while relief of X Corps by Americal Div is begun. 1st Bn of 182d Inf, Americal Div, is sent to Samar to relieve 3d Bn of 381st Inf, 96th Div, in Catbalogan area.
U.S. Navy: TG 78.3 (Rear Admiral Arthur D. Struble) lands army troops (38th Infantry) on Grande Island Subic Bay, in Operation MIKE SEVEN; they encounter no enemy opposition. Light cruiser Denver (CL-58) and destroyers Fletcher (DD-445) and Radford (DD-446) provide gunfire support. TG 77.4 (Rear Admiral William D. Sample), consisting of six escort carriers and their screen, provide direct air cover. Attack transport Cavalier (APA-37) is torpedoed by Japanese submarine RO 46 off Subic Bay, 14°48'N, 119°18'E.
Destroyer Burns (DD-588) sinks Japanese guardboat No.2 Hokoku Maru off Ojae, 08°42'N, 167°44'E.
Submarine Bergall (SS-320) damages Japanese storeship Arasaki, 08°26'S, 115°40'E.
Submarine Threadfin (SS-410) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship I ssei Maru off southern Honshu, 33°30'N, 135°34'E, but although damaged by depth charges fromescorts, 33°20'N, 135°30'E, remains on patrol.
Royal Navy: HMS Tantalus sinks Japanese fishing boat No.12 Taisei Maru in northern approaches to Bangka Strait, 01°26'S, 105°01'E.
