THURSDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 1945
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, Fifteen fighter-bombers attack railroad targets at Saiping, in the Hankow area, N of Sinantien, between Hsuchang and Loyang, and along the Yangtze River from Wuhu to Hankow; the 27th Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Yunnani to Chengkung with C-47s; the 528th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group, based at Shwangliu with P-51s, sends a detachment to operate from Hsian.
Burma: In Br Fourteenth Army's 33 Corps area, Ind 20th Div is beginning to meet strong opposition as it is expanding and consolidating its Irrawaddy bridgehead. In 4 Corps area, Ind 7th Div expands Irrawaddy bridgehead to Pagan and elements still W of the river take Pakokku.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, twelve B-25s hit buildings, troops, and other targets of opportunity during a sweep from Lashio to Loilem and along the road E and W from Loilem; 20 P-47s fly close support strikes in the Mongmit-Myitson area; a bridge at Hay-ti is knocked out by
6 P-47s; 56 P-47s attack troops, town areas, and supplies at Paukmyaing, Nam-hpuktok, Namtoi, and Namhu-tau and 8 P-47s hit the Li-lu ferry area. Large-scale transport operations continue; 511 sorties are flown to forward areas.
VI Air Service Area Command: The 311th Troop Carrier Squadron, VI Air Service Area Command, moves from Kahuku to Bellows Field with
C-47s.
Seventh Air Force: Twenty-four B-24s from Saipan in two separate strikes, bomb Iwo Jima airfields
and AA defenses while twelve others hit Susaki Airfield; Four B-24s from Guam escorting photo aircraft bomb Param Airfield and Moen Airfield; Five B-24s fly night harassment raids against Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima.
USN - The first carrier plane strikes take place on Tokyo. The pre-invasion
offensive begins on Iwo Jima. Lost on a training flight is SBD-5 36338 (MIA). Destroyers from U.S. Navy Task Group 78.3 (TG 78.3) destroyers enter Mariveles Harbor and conduct the amphibious landing of the U.S. Army
"South Force" at Mariveles.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 34: 117 B-29s from the Marianas hit the Mitsubishi aircraft engine works at Nagoya; 33 hit the primary; 68 hit targets of last resort and targets of opportunity, 54 of them bombing Hamamatsu; they claim 7-8-23 Japanese aircraft; 1 B-29 is lost.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s attack bridges in the southern part of Formosa. B-24s again blast Corregidor with A-20s and fighter-bombers bombing and strafing its few remaining gun positions; fighter-bombers hit Caballo and fighter-bombers, B-25s, and A-20s hit Bataan Peninsula all day; also hit are troops and gun positions in the Fort William McKinley area and airfields at Tuguegarao and Echague. The 68th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group moves from Biak to Tanauan with C-46s.
U.S. Army:
In U.S. Sixth Army's XIV Corps area, bitter fighting continues within Manila. 40th Div, to right rear, continues to clear enemy from hills in its zone. 185th Inf gains its final objective--Hill 1500. 108th is attempting to regain Hill 7 and 160th to clear objectives in div center. I Corps assumes responsibility for portion of XIV Corps zone lying generally N of E-W line through Tarlac. RCT 158 assembles in vicinity of Tarlac, passing to army reserve. 126th Inf, 32d Div, occupies San Manuel-Asingan-San Nicolas triangle, releasing entire 127th Inf for drive up Villa Verde Trail. In XI Corps area, 38th Div completes mop-up of enemy's Zigzag position. After preparatory bombardment, South Force lands on Mariveles coast at 1000. Gen Chase takes command ashore, relieving Adm Struble, CTG 78.3. No opposition is met, but Japanese counterattack, night 15-16-- the last organized enemy effort on E coast--is repulsed.
38th Infantry Division, 151st Regimental Combat Team (151st RCT) "South Force" made an amphibious landing at Mariveles. They encounter only light opposition andquickly secure the town and Mariveles Airfield.
U.S. Navy: TG 78.3 (Rear Admiral Arthur D. Struble) lands army forces (151st Infantry RCT and 3d Battalion, 34th RCT) at Mariveles
Medium landing ship LSM-169 is damaged by mine off Mariveles; motor minesweeper YMS-46 is damaged by shore battery, 14°23'N, 120°36'E.
TF 58 planes sink Japanese guardboats No.3 Choyo Maru and No.2 Santoku Maru off southern Japan, 30°00''N, 141°00'E, and 30°00'N, 143°00'E, respectively.
Aircraft damage Japanese fast transport T.16 off Iwo Jima.
Japanese auxiliary minesweeper No.3 Taihei Maru is damaged by aircraft off Yonaguni Island.
