March 16, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 16 MARCH 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Because of a navigational error, two B-24s on a photo mission to Matsuwa reach 130 miles south of the island, the deepest penetration of the Japanese Home Islands to date. Afterwards, the B-24s turn north to photograph Matsuwa and bomb Shimushiru with unobserved results.

Burma: In NCAC area, CAI troops reach Hsipaw, NE of Kyaukme. Joint Chiefs of Staff suggest that U.S. TF MARS and Ch 38th, 50th, and 30th Divs be flown to China in transports of NCAC as well as those of China Theater and ATC.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 32 B-24s, escorted by 10 P-51s, pound the N railroad yards at Shihkiachwang; 1 B-25 and 2 P-51s attack the railroad between Sinsiang and Shihkiachwang; the detachment of the 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, operating from Laohokow with P-51s, returns to base at Chengkung (another detachment is operating from Poseh).

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 23 P-47s support forces of the Chinese 50th Division in the Hsipaw area; 4 P-38s, supporting the British 36 Division, bomb artillery positions NE of Mogok; 12 B-25s blast a fuel dump and troop concentration at Panghai; and 40 P-38s sweep roads S of the bomb line. Transport operations continue on a steady basis.

Seventh Air Force: Thirteen Guam based B-24s bomb Susaki Airfield. During the night of March 16/17, Susaki Airfield is hit again, by five B-24s flying individual harassment strikes. VII Fighter Command: 16 Iwo Jima based P-51s dive-bomb and strafe radio and radar installations, gun positions, and a storage area on Chichi Jima. In Mar 45 HQ VII Fighter Command will be established on Iwo Jima from where some of its units escort B-29 missions.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 43: 307 XXI Bomber Command B-29s, of 331 airborne, fire-raid Kobe in the heaviest attack to date, bombing from 5,000 to 9,500 feet (1,524 to 2,896 m) during the predawn hours of 16/17 Mar; the attack lasts for 2 hours and 8 minutes; about 2.9 square miles (7.5 square km), i.e., 20%, of the city's area is burned destroying about 500 industrial buildings and damaging 162; 65,951 homes are lost leaving 242,468 people homeless. Casualties are 2,669 dead or missing and 11,289 injured. The B-29 crews see 314 enemy aircraft which make a total of 93 individual attacks; the AAF claims 1-0-? Japanese aircraft; 3 B-29s are lost, none to the fighters.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon, A-20s and B-24s continue pounding Japanese installations at Baguio; P-51s strike Patapat, hitting vehicles and supplies; fighters hit Caballo; the Batangas area is again pounded by fighter-bombers and A-20s. B-24s hit Talisay and Carolina Airfields on Negros and bomb targets pinpointed by guerrillas on Cebu. B-25s bomb San Roque Airfield on Mindanao and attack Tarakan and Jesselton Airfields. On Formosa, B-24s also hit the town of Taihoku, Heito Airfield and Okayama Airfield. HQ 43d Bombardment Group and the 65th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) move from Tacloban to Clark Field with B-24s; the 419th Night Fighter Squadron detachment on Morotai moves to Puerto Princesa with P-61s.

U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army's I Corps area, 35th Inf of 25th Div, leaving 3d Bn to maintain roadblock on Old Spanish Trail in Salazar area, starts forward to relieve 1st Bn, 27th Inf. In XI Corps area, 6th Div prepares to renew eastward drive against Shimbu line. 172d Inf, 43d Div, is still unable to progress in Sugar Loaf Hill area; 103d seizes Bench Mark 20, 1½ miles N of Teresa, and drives to crest of Bench Mark 7, last enemy strongpoint W of Morong R Valley. In XIV Corps area, 3d Bn of 158th Inf reaches Mabini. This completes capture of Calumpan Peninsula.

In the southern Philippines, in U.S. Eighth Army area, in preparation for assault landing by 40th Div on Panay, arty cub planes are flown in to guerrilla-built airstrip in the northern part of Panay. On Mindanao, Co F of 162d Inf, 41st Div, reinf, moves by water from Zamboanga to Basilan I. and lands without opposition after 30-minute naval gunfire bombardment by a destroyer.

U.S. Navy: Lost is F4U Corsair 49898 pilot Lt. R. C. Tabler (survived) on a training flight.

Pharmacist's Mate Second Class Francis J. Pierce, who distinguished himself the previous day, volunteers to accompany a patrol forward. Shot through the left arm, Pierce directs the treatment of a wounded marine and refusing having his own wounds dressed, fires his pistol to draw enemy fire. He remains in that exposed position in the line of fire until the casualty is safely borne away. For his actions this day and March 15, 1945, he earns the Medal of Honor.

A medium landing craft (LCM) and one submarine chaser (SC), and supported by gunfire from three destroyers, two LCI(R), three LCS(L) and two LCI(M), land an Army reinforced company on Basilan Island.

Tank landing ship LST-928 is damaged, by grounding, off Iwo Jima, 24°46'N, 141°19'E.

Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.69 sinks while in tow, eight miles off Hong Kong, 22°00'N, 113°40'E, as the result of damage inflicted by B-24s from 14th Air Force on March 8, 1945.

Japanese guardboat No.19 Gokoku Maru is sunk by U.S. aircraft, Kikaiga Jima, Japan.

Japanese merchant tanker No.1 Nanryu Maru is sunk by aircraft, 29°09'N, 122°01'E.

KPM: SS Sibigo is sunk during a cyclone.

USMC: Iwo Jima is declared secure at 1800 though enemy continues to hold out on northern tip. RCT 25 eliminates pocket on 4th Mar Div right flank; RCT 23 is relieved by RCT 24 and re- embarks. 3d Mar Div, whose left boundary is changed, relieves left flank elements of 5th Mar Div with RCT 21, which, after arty preparation, drives N to coast at Kitano Pt against scattered resistance; RCT 9 overcomes organized resistance on div right flank. 5th Mar Div's RCT 26 inches forward 200 yards while RCT 28 continues clearing along gorge across its front and supports RCT 26 with fire; RCT 27, upon relief by 3d Mar Div, assembles as reserve. Center Airfield is operational.

RAAF: Lost is Beaufort A9-625 pilot S/L Philip A. Dey (MIA) exploded midair near But Airfield.