FRIDAY, 9 MARCH 1945
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Three B-24s fly a negative shipping search.
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 32 B-24s, escorted by 5
P-51s, bomb railroad yards at Sinsiang; 15 B-25s and 2 P-40s knock out
2 bridges at Hwaiyuanchen and E of Jungtse, and hit railroad targets and
other targets of opportunity at Yehhsien, Chowkiakow, Hsuchang, and E of
Junan; 50+ fighter-bombers on armed reconnaissance attack railroad targets,
river and road traffic, bridges, gun positions, and troops at several locations,
particularly around Kweiyi, Hengyang, Nanking, and Sinyang.
Burma: In Br Fourteenth Army's 33 Corps area, Ind 19th Div breaks into Mandalay, where lively fighting ensues.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 16 P-47s support elements
of the Chinese 50th Division near Mansam; 80+ fighter-bombers operating over
and behind enemy lines attack trucks, horses and carts, troops, and artillery
pieces. 568 air supply sorties are flown to forward areas.
AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Thirteen B-24s from Guam fly a daylight strike on Susaki Airfield while five more on single bomber raids, hit
the airfield during the night of 9/10 Mar. 24 Angaur Airfield based B-24s pound Zamboanga Town.
20th AF: XXI BC begins powerful fire raids on Japanese cities, night 9-10. This marks a radical change in previous tactics of precision bombardment attacks against industrial targets. From this time until end of the war, XXI BC--and from time to time carrier planes of fast carrier force-- concentrates on wearing down Japanese will to resist in preparation for invasion of Japan.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Zamboanga.
B-25s, in cooperation with PT boats, attack targets on Basilan. B-24s hit the Ipo area, B-25s and fighter-bombers support ground
forces east of Manila Bay, hit Japanese-occupied areas at Mabiga, Lipa Bay,
and Ternate, and bomb and strafe targets of opportunity on Caballo; B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers hit bridges at Bayombong, the town
of Makati, Cabugao, and Cauayan, San
Fernando and the Solvec Cove areas on the NW coast, the town of Cauayan,
and Aparri Airfield.
B-24s pound the dock area at Takao.
U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army's XIV Corps area, 6th Div and 1st Cav Div continue eastward attacks. 12th Cav of latter reaches slopes of Hill Bench Mark 9. Elements of 187th Inf, 11th A/B Div, begin assault on Hill 660 but are unable to take it. In I Corps area, 136th Inf of 33d Div is ordered to maintain pressure against enemy with patrols on Kennon Road; 123d is to patrol N and E of Pugo; 1st Bn of 130th is to patrol N and E of Mt Magabang. 3d Bn of 127th Inf, 32d Div, completes march to Villa Verde Trail to eliminate opposition blocking progress there. 161st Inf column, 25th Div, drives through Anabat to positions within 1,000 yards of Putlan, on Highway 5. 1st Bn, 35th Inf, remains at Putlan bridge site under heavy fire.
In the southern Philippines, in Eighth Army area, naval bombardment of Zamboanga area, Mindanao, is begun in preparation for offensive. Final elements of Americal Div leave Samar, where 1st Filipino Inf is to
complete search for enemy. On Lubang, Co E of 19th Inf relieves 1st Bn of 21st. By end of month the island is turned over to guerrilla forces. For American losses of 8 killed, Japanese suffer 250 killed by mid-March.
U.S. Navy: PB4Y carries out unsuccessful attack on submarine chaser Ch 21, 22°23'N, 115°03'E.
USMC: VAC continues efforts to clear rest of Iwo Jima. 3d Mar Div breaks through to coast in corps center, splitting enemy forces remaining on the island; continues reduction of bypassed pockets in div rear. On right flank of corps, 4th Mar Div gains ground along boundary of RCT's 23 and 24 but is unable to advance its flanks. 5th Mar Div, on corps left flank, is still checked on right and in center but pushes slowly forward along W coast. Adm Turner (CTF, Joint Expeditionary Force) departs for Guam after turning over command to Adm Hill, who is redesignated Senior Officer Present Afloat Iwo Jima. Lost is SBD-5 Dauntless 54210 pilot 2nd Lt. Thomas M. Pepe (KIA) crashed near Pantay. Patrols of the 3d Marine Division reached the northeast coast of Iwo Jima.
RAAF: Beaufort A9-636 (2 KIA, 4 survived) crashed near Goroka Airfield.
RAN: Strafed is
Fairmile Motor Launch ML825.
IJN: A6M2 Zero (field modified two seater) piloted by Seaman 3rd Class Masajiro Kawato strafes Fairmile Motor Launch ML825 and is damaged by anti-aircraft fire and ditches, pilot swam ashore and later becomes a Prisoner Of War (POW).
