March 17, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 17 MARCH 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Two B-24s fly bombing and photo missions over Matsuwa, concentrating on Matsuwa Airfield, and on returning photograph Shasukotan, Harumukotan and Onnekotan.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 1 B-25 and 12 P-51s damage 21 locomotives and a river launch in the Peking area, around Tsinan, and between Taiyuan and Tatung.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 44: In Burma, 70 of 77 B-29s hit a storage dump at Rangoon; 2 others bomb targets of opportunity, the Sagyi Airfield and warehouses at Bassein without loss.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 16 P-47s support the British 36 Division around Mogok; 12 B-25s bomb troops and supplies near Namlan; 33 P-47s hit road targets behind enemy lines, concentrating on the Hay-ti and Mong Yai sectors; 40+ other fighter-bombers attack troops, supplies, tanks, and trucks behind the battleline including the Ta-mun, Namsaw, Pansupe, Tal-ti, and Kankang areas. Transports continue to fly troops and supplies to frontline areas.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Eleven B-24s from Guam hit Susaki Airfield; during the night of 17/18 March, five B-24s again hit Susaki Airfield. HQ 30th Bombardment Group and the 27th, 30th and 819th Bombardment Squadrons move from Saipan to Wheeler Field with B-24s (the group will train and fly patrol missions until VJ-Day).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Formosa airfields are pounded by B-24s operating in force. On Luzon, nearly 500 sorties are flown in support of ground forces by B-25s, A-20s, and fighters. B-24s hit Panay beaches preparatory to allied landings on 18 Mar and bomb troops in the combat areas on Mindanao. Bacolod Airfield on Negros is also bombed. HQ 317th Troop Carrier Group moves from Leyte to Clark Field; the 31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Morotai to Guiuan Airfield with B-24s.