March 5, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 5 MARCH 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 30 B-25s knock out bridges at Phu Xuyen, Thinh Duc, Phu Ly, Ninh Binh, and Phu Lang Thuong and damage a bridge at Kep. In China, 2 B-25s, escorted by 8 P-47s, knock out a bridge at Changtuikuan while 4 bomb Chikhom. 40+ P-51s and P-40s on armed reconnaissance hit road, rail, and river traffic, town areas, and other targets of opportunity in French Indochina, the C Yangtze River area, and elsewhere in southern and eastern China.

Burma: In ALFSEA's 15 Corps area, 25th Ind Div, on Arakan coast, takes Tamandu, where forward supply base for DRACULA is organized before div moves to Akyab. In Br Fourteenth Army's 33 Corps area, Ind 19th Div, continuing steadily S toward Mandalay, crosses Chaungmagyi in Madaya area.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 50+ P-47s support forces of the British 36 Division in the Mogok sector and forces of the Chinese 50th Division in the Mansam area; 46 P-47s and 12 B-25s hit troop concentrations in the battle areas and attack supply areas, road traffic, and general targets of opportunity behind enemy lines. 664 air supply sorties are flown to forward areas.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Susaki Airfield is pounded by eleven B-24s from Guam; during the night of 5/6 Mar, 5 more hit Susaki Airfield in individual snooper strikes. 22 B-24s from Angaur Airfield bomb Matina Airfield on Mindanao.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s hit San Roque Airfield. On Luzon , B-24s with fighter support hit troops in the Antipolo area while fighter-bombers dive-bomb San Pablo, B-25s hit Fort Drum, attack troops west of Ft Stotsenburg, and support guerrilla forces NE of Lingayen Gulf. Targets on Formosa are hit by fighters on sweeps and B-24s on armed reconnaissance; the fighter sweeps are especially effective against railroad targets. B-25s hit Zettle Field. HQ 5th Bombardment Group moves from Morotai to Guiuan Airfield; the 25th Liaison Squadron, FEAF (attached to Thirteenth AF) moves from Biak to Dulag with UC-78s and L-5s. Lost is P-51D 44-63310 pilot 2nd Lt. Robert G. Milliken (survived). USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) attack Japanese convoy SAYU-02, sinking auxiliary submarine chasers Kasuga Maru and Ujina Maru and merchant cargo ship Shoto Maru off coast of French Indochina, 15°32'N, 108°37'E. USAAF B-24 (13th Air Force) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 110 in Sape Strait, southeast of the Celebes, 08°36'S, 119°19'E.

U.S. Army: U.S. Sixth Army field order transferring 37th Div from XIV Corps to direct control of army for garrison duty in Manila and releasing RCT 158 from army reserve to XIV Corps goes into effect. In XIV Corps area, 11th A/B Div, reinf by RCT 158, begins operations to open Balayan Bay and Batangas Bay. 158th Inf drives E along Route 17 on Balayan Bay until stopped by oppowsition near Langanan. In I Corps area, Philippine Guerrilla Forces, N Luzon, now control N coast of island W of Cagayan R mouth; control W coast, except for Vigan, S to San Fernando area. 33d Div continues northward toward Baguio and San Fernando, threatening to close pincers on Japanese between it and the guerrillas. Elements of 32d Div continue to battle Salacsac Pass defenses on Villa Verde Trail. 25th Div completes mop-up of Puncan area, opening Highway 5 from San Jose to Digdig and concluding first phase of drive on Cagayan Valley.

In the southern Philippines, U.S. Eighth Army assigns 19th Inf, 24th Div, mission of clearing Romblon Is. On Palawan, 2d Bn of 186th Inf reaches Hill 1445 (near Iratag), which enemy is prepared to defend.

USMC: VAC remains in place, improving current positions and reorganizing for concerted attack on 6th. 2d Mar Div is released as area reserve. RCT 3, 3d Mar Div, held in Expeditionary Troops Reserve, afloat, is released and leaves for base camp. The 3d Marines in Expeditionary Troops Reserve returned to Guam. Marine Aircraft Groups, Dagupan flew 186 separate missions in northern Luzon in support of guerrilla fighters.

USN: USS Tilefish (SS-307) fires torpedoes that damaging the stern of Minesweeper W-15 that beaches on a shoal off Suwasi Island and was abandoned as a total loss.

Tank landing ship LST-642 is damaged in collision off Iwo Jima, 24°46'N, 141°19'E.

Submarine Bashaw (SS-241) attacks same Japanese convoy (HI-98) vexed by Baya (SS-318) the day before, sinking oiler Ryoei Maru and army tanker Seishin Maru off Tourane, French Indochina, 16°47'N, 108°41'E.

Submarine Peto (SS-265) is damaged by aerial bombs in South China Sea off Hainan, 20°57'N, 111°56'E, but remains on patrol.

Submarine Sea Robin (SS-407), attacking Japanese convoy in the Java Sea, sinks gunboat Man-yo Maru, 05°50'S, 113°46'E, auxiliary netlayer Nagara Maru, 05°23'S, 114°00'E, and merchant cargo ship Shoyu Maru, 05°23'S, 114°60'E.

Submarine Tilefish (SS-307) damages Japanese minesweeper W.15 off Akuke Jima, Japan, 29°36'N, 129°45'E. Although run aground by No.51 Banshu Maru to facilitate her salvage, W.15 is later regarded as a total loss.

Task Force 58 (TF 58) planes sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 224 off Mako, Pescadores.

Support landing craft LCS-127 sinks after grounding off San Clemente Island off California.