MONDAY, 26 FEBRUARY 1945
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 20 B-25s, some with fighter
escort, bomb Ishan, Luchai, Siangtan, and hit bridges at Chuchou and Loshan.
In French Indochina, nine B-25s attack bridges, railroad tracks, and heavy port
equipment at Ha Trung, along the Chu R, and at Hongay and Haiphong. 70+ fighter-bombers
on armed reconnaissance over S and E China and N French Indochina attack numerous
targets of opportunity including airfields, town areas, and river, rail, and
road traffic.
Burma: In Br Fourteenth Army's 33 Corps area, Ind 19th Div begins strong southward push toward Mandalay. In 4 Corps area, Ind 17th Div, continuing toward Meiktila, seizes airstrip at Thabutkon.
(Twentieth Air Force): HQ 462d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
begins moving from Piardoba to West Field. Some B-29 bombers
were assigned an unescorted photo reconnaissance mission to Singapore. A fighter
shot down the B-29 bomber piloted by Capt. James Lyons. Shells from the Japanese
plane set the nose section afire, seriously wounded the bombardier, and knocked
out the number two engine. Bailing out over the sea when their left burning
wing exploded, their approximate location was reported by another B-29 that
was following them, air-sea rescue forces were notified, and 20 to 30 hours
after the crew bailed out, 5 crews were rescued by a Catalina flying boat while
with a good fortune another 4 were rescue by a British submarine HMS Seadog despite
the danger of attack by Japanese surface ships. Another 3 crews were lost which
included the wounded bombardier. Japanese report: Nine B-29s were badly damaged
by our superior defense forces. (Only one B-29 bomber piloted by Capt. James
Lyons was shot down, 9 were rescued and another 3 Missing In Action.)
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 P-47s support troops
of the British 36 Division in the Mongmit area; 8 support the MARS Task Force,
a composite Chinese-American force, in the Lashio sector while 16 others
fly close support for Chinese 50th Division troops near Namhsam; 8 B-25s
on low-level strikes knock out bypass bridges at Mong Pawn and Loi-leng;
80+ fighter-bombers and 4 B-25s continue to attack troops, supplies, road
traffic, and other targets immediately behind lines. Again 600+ transport
sorties are flown.
AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Lost is C-87A Liberator Express 41-24174 (MIA) after take off from Kwajalein on a special flight transporting senior officers including passengers Lt. General Millard F, Harmon, Commanding
General AAFPOA and Brig General James R. Andersen Deputy Commander of the Twentieth AF, last reported position 11°15'N, 174°15'E and went missing. On March 2, 1945 Major General Willis H Hale, AAFPOA deputy commander for operations,
assumes Harmon's positions. Nine B-24s sent from Guam against
positions on Iwo Jima are
recalled due to cloud cover; During the night of
26/27 February, eight B-24s hit Chichi Jima, flying individual harassment strikes.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s over Formosa
hit Takao Airfield while fighters on a sweep strafe railroad targets. B-24s bomb troop concentrations in the Ipo Dam area and support ground
forces NE of Manila; A-20s and fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Echague Airfield area, Ternate, Trinidad, Antipolo and hit troops west
of Fort Stotsenburg. A-20s, P-38s, and P-47s hit Puerto Princesa and
B-25s bomb Zettle Airfield, lost is B-25G "Nancy Jean" 42-64907 (MIA). B-24s hit Manggar Airfield and Sepinggang Airfield. The 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th
Fighter Group, moves from San
Jose to Lingayen Airfield with P-38s and the 70th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, moves
from Lingayen Airfield to San
Jose with P-38s. Lost on a ferry flight is B-24D "Beautiful Betsy" 42-40387 (MIA).
U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army area, XIV Corps begins assault on last 3 strongpoints in Manila. Elements of 63d Inf, 6th Div, reach crest of Mt Pacawagan but are forced back after nightfall by heavy fire. Japanese defeat efforts of 1st Inf to take Mt Mataba. 20th Inf troops advance up southernmost slopes of the mountain. In I Corps area, 2d Bn of 35th Inf, 25th Div, reaches Carranglan, but Japanese cut regimental supply line. In XI Corps area, 40th Div completes its immediate mission in Zambales Mtns sector when 108th Inf captures Hill 12. Rock Force concludes operations on Corregidor, except for mopping up, by 1600.
In the southern Philippnes, U.S. Eighth Army is directed to plan for operations against Panay and N Negros. As VICTOR III Attack Group (TG 78.2 under Adm Fechteler) and Close Covering Group (TG 74.2 under Rear Adm R. S. Riggs) sail from Mindoro for Palawan covered by Fifth and Thirteenth Air Forces, intensive aerial bombardment of Puerto Princesa area of Palawan begins. Americal Div completes encirclement of enemy forces in NW coastal sector of Leyte. Div's Prov TF finishes clearing S part of San Bernardino Strait from northwest Samar through Balicuatro I. and west to Capul and Naranjo Is.
USMC: Although still closely supported by air, naval, and arty bombardment, V AC progress toward O-2 line is measured in hundreds of yards as enemy resistance continues strong. RCT 9, 3d Mar Div, again making main effort in center of corps, is supported by massed arty fire on heights commanding Airfield 2 as it inches forward. On right flank of corps, 4th Mar Div withdraws RCT 24 to reserve and continues attack with RCT 25 on right and RCT 23 on left; latter gains up to 300 yards, reaching SW slopes of Hill 382, where enemy is firmly entrenched. RCT 26, 5th Mar Div, pushes N on left flank of corps, center elements ahead of those on flanks, which are echeloned on left rear to commanding ground overlooking W coast and on right rear to conform with advance of 3d Mar Div. Observation planes land on Airfield 1 and start spotting for arty. AAA begins neutralization of Kangoku and Kama Rocks, off W coast.
Pharmacist's Mate Second Class George E. Wahlen attached to a rifle company in the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines on Iwo Jima retrieves a wounded leatherneck from in front of his company's lines and carries him to safety. Wahlen, wounded in the left eye before he accomplishes this heroic act, will continue to discharge his duties with similar courage over succeeding days (see 28 February and 2 March). Two planes from Marine Observation Squadron 4, the first U.S. aircraft to land on the island, flew in from the U.S. escort carrier Wake Island.
U.S. Navy: U.S. Navy: TF 58 begins second day of strikes on targets in the Tokyo area.
Off Iwo Jima, storm damages USS San Francisco (CA-38), destroyers Colahan (DD-658), Halsey Powell (DD-686), Benham (DD-796), John W. Weeks (DD-701), Stephen Potter (DD-538), and Preston (DD-795); attack cargo ship Muliphen (AKA-61) is damaged in collision with heavy cruiser Salt Lake City (CA-25), 24°46'N, 141°19'E. Tank landing ships LST-760 and LST-884 are damaged by shore battery fire, 24°46'N, 141°19'E.
Light cruiser Pasadena (CL-65), 31°20'N, 141°15'E, and destroyer Porterfield (DD-682), 33°10'N, 143°30'E, are damaged by gunfire from Japanese guardboat that penetrates task group formation south of Honshu.
Minesweeper Saunter (AM-295) is damaged by mine off El Fraile Island off Luzon, 14°17'N, 120°38'E.
Carrier planes from VC-82 from escort carrier USS Anzio (CVE-57) sink Japanese submarines I-368, 35 miles west of Iwo Jima, 24°43'N, 140°37'E, and RO-43, 50 miles west-northwest of Iwo, 25°07'N, 140°19'E.
Destroyer escort Finnegan (DE-307) sinks Japanese submarine I-370 roughly 120 miles south of Iwo Jima, 22°45'N, 141°27'E.
USAAF planes sink Japanese tanker No.9 Takasago Maru at 20°01'N, 111°44'E.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Zuisho Maru is damaged by gunfire, near Hong Kong.
