February 4, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 10 P-40s bomb the airfield and Japanese HQ at Yungning and railroad yards at Sinyang; 2 of the P-40s over Sinyang are lost to ground fire. The detachments of the 25th and 26th Fighter Squadrons, 51st Fighter Group, operating from Leangshan and Laohokow, China respectfully with P-51s, return to base at Yunnani and Kunming respectfully; the 25th Fighter Squadron sends a detachment to operate from Poseh with P-51s.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 54 P-38s and P-47s destroy or damage bridges at Inailong, Bawgyo, Ho-hko, Hay-ti, Mong Long, and Pa-mao; 26 P-47s support ground forces in the Myitson and Hosi areas. Troops, supplies, and vehicles are attacked at Nam Yem, Na-makhkaw, Mansam, Kong kang, Nawngsong, Mong Yai, Na-lang, and Pangmit. Again transports complete 500+ sorties to advanced bases and over forward areas, where supplies are dropped to troops. The 166th Liaison Squadron, 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Asansol to Sinthe, Burma with UC-64s and L-5s.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Nine B-24s from Guam bomb AA defenses on Iwo Jima while ten B-24s hit the town of Okimura. Two B-24s from Saipan on an armed reconnaissance flight, bomb Marcus. 23 B-24s from Angaur Airfield bomb Caballo. During the night of 4/5 Feb, 8 Guam based B-24s, operating singly, bomb airfields on Iwo Jima.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 26: For the first time the XXI Bomber Command sends B-29s from 2 wings [the 73d and 313th Bombardment Wings (Very Heavy)] against Japanese Home . 110 B-29s are dispatched; 69 bomb the urban area of Kobe; 30 others, including 15 hitting Natsusaka, bomb last resort targets and targets of opportunity; about 200 attacking fighters down 1 B-29 and damage 35 others; 1 other crashes upon landing at Saipan; B-29s claim 4-20-39 Japanese aircraft.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s continue to hit Corregidor and Cavite; in support of ground forces B-25s bomb and strafe coast targets from San Felipe to Maloma, hit targets around lba, and drop napalm on San Jose del Monte and A-20s bomb Lipa and Calingatan Airfields. HQ 348th Fighter Group and the 340th Fighter Squadron move from Tanauan to San Marcelino with P-47s. Crashed is P-51D 44-63290 (survived).