February 5, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Five B-24s bomb Kataoka on Shimushu through solid overcast; a shipping sweep by B-25s is cancelled due to weather.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 14 P-51s and P-40s attack locomotives and trucks at the Pinghan railroad yards, Hsiangcheng, and Lohochai; at least 9 locomotives and an undetermined number of trucks are destroyed; the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF, based at Kunming with F-4s and F-5s, sends a flight to operate from Hsian (another flight is operating from Luliang).

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 35 P-47s support ground forces in the Myitson, Hosi, and Molo areas; 8 P-38s bomb Mong Long; 60 P-38s and P-47s hit troops and supplies at Kan-loi, Nam-yang, Man Peng, Pangmakheleng, Kwangteng, Mong Pa, and Mansam. Transports fly 554 sorties to forward areas.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 21 B-24s from Saipan bomb AA positions, defense installations, and a bivouac on the N end of Iwo Jima; during the night of 5/6 Feb, Iwo Jima airfields are pounded by 10 Saipan based B-24s flying individual snooper strikes. HQ 15th Fighter Group departs Hawaii for Iwo Jima.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: 60 B-24s deliver the heaviest attack yet on Corregidor; support for ground forces continues in various Luzon battle zones. B-25s on a shipping sweep of the E coast claim 9 barges and luggers sunk and several more damaged. B-24s bomb Manggar and Sepinggang Airfields on Borneo. Headquarters Squadron (HQ), 475th Fighter Group moves from Dulag to San Jose (the group's three squadrons remain at Dulag with P-38s and send detachments to operate from San Jose). Lost is UC-64 43-51765 pilot 2nd Lt. Jimmie L. Riche (MIA).

U.S. Army: SWPA HQ approves the plan to reopen Manila Bay, a mission that is assigned to XI Corps. Air action against Corregidor is intensified.

In U.S. Sixth Army area, General Douglas MacArthur orders Japanese in northern Luzon contained while main effort is directed against Manila. In XIV Corps area, additional elements of 37th Div and 1st Cav Div move into Manila, where responsibility for clearing the northern part of the city is divided between the two Divisions. Both push south toward the Pasig River line, where Japanese demolitions cause huge fires. In I Corps area, 20th Inf of 6th Div makes very little headway at Munoz. While attacking Japanese positions and pillboxes, 2nd Lt Donald E. Rudolph earns the Medal of Honor. 1st Inf takes Rizal. Lupao remains under attack by 35th Inf of 25th Div. 32d Div begins drive up Villa Verde Trail with 2d Bn, 127th Inf, which has been patrolling from Santa Maria, where the trail enters the mountains, since 31 January. In XI Corps area, 38th Div continues costly fighting for Zigzag Pass; attached RCT 34 withdraws a little. Fresh 151st Inf is ordered to relieve RCT 34 and join in assault on this position. 149th Inf, upon reaching Dinalupihan and making contact with patrol of XIV Corps, is placed under corps control and directed to advance W along Route 7 toward the Zigzag in conjunction with eastward attacks.

In U.S. Eighth Army area, 511th Inf of 11th A/B Div progresses slowly northward toward Manila, crossing damaged Paranaque bridge and driving along Route 1.

USN: Destroyer Bearss (DD-654) suffers minor damage from ammunition hangfire while on exercises in the Aleutians.

Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.6 is damaged by marine casualty; and minesweeper W.29 is damaged by mine off Chichi Jima.

Lost is PB4Y-1 65294 pilot Lt. Howard E. Sires (MIA) on a patrol mission.