MONDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 1945
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Six B-24s fly photo reconnaissance
over Shimushu and
bomb Kurabu Cape Airfield on Paramushiru; six Japanese fighters intercept; the
B-24s claim four damaged. Four B-25s weather-abort a mission to hit targets along
the Hayakegawa River.
Burma: In ALFSEA's 15 Corps area, Japanese begin determined operations against Ind 25th Div's bridgehead at Ru-ywa. In NCAC area, 30th Div of Ch New First Army takes Hsenwi.
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): Fourteen P-51s and P-40s blast rail and river traffic at Chiuchiang, Hsuchang, Lung Hai, and Tsinpu.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 37: 49 of 59 B-29s bomb the Central Railroad Repair Shops at Kuala Lumpur, some bombing from only 1,000' Four other B-29s hit alternate targets, the Alor Star Airfield, and the marshalling yard at Martaban, Burma; they claim 1-0-7 Japanese aircraft; no B-29s are lost.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 24 B-25s and 31 P-47s fly close support strikes in the Mongmit-Myitson area; 70+ fighter-bombers hit troop concentrations, supplies, and villages behind the battleline in C Burma. Heavy transport operations continue. The 165th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Shwebo, Burma to Asansol with UC-64s and L-5s.
AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 44 B-24s from Saipan are sent against Iwo Jima; 14 pound defense
positions and bivouac and storage areas little more than an hour before elements of the American landings. ; the other thirty B-24s abort because of cloud cover, mechanical trouble, or arrival over
target too late to make a bomb run. Twenty-six B-24s from Angaur Airfield bomb Likanan Airfield. During the night of 19/20 Feb, eight Saipan based B-24s fly individual heckler strikes over Chichi Jima.
USMC: At 9:00am the 4th Marine Divisions and 5th Marine Division make an amphibious landing on the black sand beach
of Iwo Jima.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 37: 150 B-29s are dispatched to hit the Musashino aircraft plant in Tokyo hoping to draw air reinforcements away from the Iwo Jima invasion;
thick clouds completely cover the primary target so 119 instead bomb the Tokyo area including the port and urban areas; 12 others hit targets of last resort and targets of opportunity; they claim 39-16-37 Japanese aircraft; Six B-29s are lost including B-29 "Super Wabbit" 42-65222.
RAAF: Damaged is Auster A11-8 while landing.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Major General Paul B. Wurtsmith becomes Commanding General Thirteenth AF. In Formosa, B-24s bomb Koshun Airfield, Heito Airfield and Takao Airfield and B-25s and fighters on sweeps attack a large number of targets of opportunity including trains, parked aircraft, buildings, and coastal vessels. In the central Philippines, US Marine Corps (USMC) F4Us under the tactical command of the Thirteenth AF fly napalm strikes against airfields and other targets. On Luzon, fighters, B-25s, and A-20s continue to support ground forces at San Augustin, Carranglen, Balete
Pass, and Bataan Peninsula and bomb Japanese-held sectors on Corregidor. B-24s bomb Miri Airfield. Five 494th BG B-24s bomb Licana Airfield, in a raid requested by guerilla forces in the area, that planned to attack immediately after the bombing.
Lost is C-47 43-16204 piloted by 2nd Lt. Jacob " E. Wondaal (KIA).
U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army's XIV Corps area, intensive bombardment of Intramuros continues. With capture of Object Hill by 160th Inf, 40th Div's current mission on right flank ends. RCT 1 rejoins 6th Div. In I Corps area, 33d Div begins limited attacks to clear Bench Mark and Question Mark Hills, NE of Sison. 1st Bn of 161st Inf, 25th Div, assisted by aircraft and arty and mortar fire, begins operations against enemy positions NW of Lumboy, clearing the first of a series of 4. In XI Corps area, East Force suspends drive across Bataan Peninsula while 149th Inf searches for enemy positions. Rock Force repels Japanese counterattack on Corregidor. Probing of Ternate area is begun.
In U.S. Eighth Army area, X Corps begins series of amphibious operations to clear shipping route through San Bernardino Strait to port of Manila. Prov Task Force of Americal Div lands elements at Allen, on northwest tip of Samar, and 1st Bn of 182d Inf on Capul I., at west entrance to San Bernardino Strait. The landing parties begin search for enemy.
Americal Div units are eliminating enemy pocket in Villaba area.
U.S. Navy: Preceded by intense naval and air bombardment, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions (Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith, USMC) land on Iwo Jima in Operation DETACHMENT. The operation is under the overall command of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Commander Fifth Fleet; Vice Admiral Richmond K. Turner is the Joint Expeditionary Force Commander. Naval gunfire and aircraft will support the troops ashore during this difficult campaign. Offshore, collisions account for damage of varying degrees to heavy cruiser Chester (CA-27) and amphibious force flagship Estes (AGC-12), 24°13'N, 141°25'E; heavy cruiser Indianapolis (CA-35) and ammunition ship Shasta (AE-6) (during replenishment operations); destroyer escort Finnegan (DE-307) and infantry landing craft LCI-627, 22°46'N, 141°19'E; and attack cargo ship Starr (AKA-67) and heavy cruiser Salt Lake City (CA-25), 24°46'N, 141°19'E. Destroyer John W. Weeks (DD-701) is damaged by shore battery, 25°32'N, 141°01'E; hospital ship Samaritan (AH-10) by friendly fire, 24°46'N, 141°19'E. Japanese mortar fire damages medium landing ships LSM-74, LSM-145, LSM-245 and LSM-323.
V Amphibious Corps (V AC): After intense preparatory bombardment by warships and carrier-based and land-based planes, V AC Landing Force (TG 56.1, commanded by Gen Schmidt, USMC) goes ashore on SE coast, beginning at 0900.
Two RCT's each of 4th and 5th Mar Divs land abreast against initial light resistance. As attack progresses inland, enemy fire becomes increasingly heavy, particularly on right, and marines incur heavy casualties and loss of equipment. On right flank of corps 4th Mar Div, with RCT 25 on right and RCT 23 on left, lands on Beaches Blue 1 and Yellow 2 and 1, from right to left; right flank elements turn right to secure Beach Blue 2, while rest of div attacks frontally across heights commanding beaches to E edge of Airfield 1. On corps left, 5th Mar Div, with RCT's 27 and 28, lands on Beaches Red 2 and 1 and Green 1, from right to left, and drives across island to heights overlooking W coast; left flank elements turn S toward Mt Suribachi, highest point of the island and located on S tip, while those to right start N. Tanks and arty, as soon as landed on fire-raked beaches, go into action.
Army troops covered by USMC aircraft are landed on the northwest coast of Samar and on Capul Island to insure control of San Bernardino Strait.
Japanese merchant ship Zuiho Maru is sunk by aircraft in Yangzte River near Kiukiang, China.
USMC: Forty-eight planes from Marine Aircraft Groups, Dagupan struck derelict ships in Manila Harbor to assist the 37th Army Division's penetration of the waterfront sector.
