March 1, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 1 MARCH 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, six B-25s and 5 P-51s pound the S side of Ishan while 17 other P-51s hit the E and W sections of the city; 9 P-51s attack targets of opportunity of Chinchengchiang while 4 others hit troops and road traffic between Chinchengchiang and Hwaiyang. During Mar 45, the detachment of the 11th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), operating from Laowhangpin with B-25s returns to base at Yangkai; the 26th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, based at Kunming with P-51s sends a detachment to operate from Liangshan during the month; the 74th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, based at Luliang with P-51s sends a detachment to operate from Tushan until Aug 45; the 426th Night Fighter Squadron, Fourteenth AF (attached to 312th Fighter Wing), moves from Chengtu to Shwantliu with P-61s (a detachment is operating from Hsian); and the 449th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, based at Chengkung with P-38s, sends a detachment to operate from Mentsz while the detachment at Yunnani returns to base.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): HQ 444th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) begins a movement from Dudhkundi to the Marianas.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 27 P-47s support ground forces in the Mogok area; Sixteen fly close support strikes near Lashio; 14 P-47s damage the approaches of the bypass bridge at Na-lang, but leave the bridge serviceable; about 100 fighter-bombers attack troops, supply areas, communications targets, a ferry landing, and general targets of opportunity along the battlefronts and immediately behind Japanese lines. Large-scale transport operations continue.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): HQ VII Fighter Command is removed from control of Seventh AF and transferred to AAFPOA and moves from Ft Kamehameha, Oahu, Hawaii to Iwo Jima during Mar 45. 7 B-24s from Guam bomb Susaki Airfield; During the night of 1/2 March, one B-24 hits Haha Jima, Five B-24s make separate harassment strikes on Susaki Airfield and the town of Okimura

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Formosa, B-24s bomb the Takao aluminum plant, Tainan Airfield and nearby satellite field and fighters hit buildings at Keishu and storage tanks, railroad yards, and targets of opportunity. Troops on Corregidor and W of Ft Stotsenburg are hit with napalm. B-24s bomb Tarakan Airfield, Labuan Airfield, and Manggar Airfield. B-25s hit Zettle Field. HQ Thirteenth AF moves from Morotai , Moluccas s to Leyte , Philippine s and HQ XIII Fighter Command moves from Leyte to Puerto Princesa. HQ 18th Fighter Group moves from Lingayen Airfield to San Jose; the 531st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 380th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Darwin, Australia to San Jose, Mindoro with B-24s. During Mar 45, HQ V Bomber Command and HQ V Fighter Command moves from Mindoro to Clark Field.