February 10, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, HQ 308th Bombardment Group moves from Kunming to Hsinching; the 35th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, based at Chanyi with F-5s, sends a flight to operate from Chengkung (another flight is at Chihkiang).

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 5 B-25s destroy the Laihka Bridge; 4 others hit the Namsang Bridge, with poor results; 9 P-47s knock out approaches to the Pa-mao Bridge while 8 others destroy half of the bridge at Inailong; 15 P-47s support ground forces in the Mongmit area, concentrating on Japanese positions S of Myitson; 76 fighter-bombers attack troops and supply areas at Panglong, Namsangsok, Namtu, Kutkai, Mong Yaw, Mongmit, Ho-mong, Man Pwe, Namsam, and Loiya. Again transports fly 500+ sorties to forward areas.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Ten B-24s from Guam bomb Okimura on Haha Jima. Lost is B-24L "Royal Flush" 44-41465 (MIA). Six P-38s escort a photo mission and fly fighter a sweep over Iwo Jima. Seventeen B-24s from Guam, with P-38 escort, pound Iwo Jima in the late afternoon, and nine B-24s make single bomber harassment strikes on the during the night of 10/11 Feb.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 29: 118 B-29s from the Mariana are dispatched to hit the Nakajima aircraft plant at Ota, Japan; 84 hit the primary target and 14 hit other targets; they claim 21-15-26 Japanese aircraft; 12 B-29s are lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Brigadier General Frederick H Smith Jr becomes Commanding General V Fighter Command. On Luzon, B-24s again blast Japanese gun positions while P-51s and P-38s, supporting ground forces hit communications targets in the Bayambang-Santa Fe area, while B-25s in the area blast villages where vehicles are hidden; B-24s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers completely saturate the S part of Bataan Peninsula with bombs during morning and afternoon attacks, thoroughly pummelling defenses and forces. P-47s on a fighter sweep over Formosa claim 10 aerial victories. HQ 312th Bombardment Group and the 386th and 387th Bombardment Squadrons move from Tanauan to Mangaldan with A-20s.