March 20, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 20 MARCH 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, four P-38s claim 11 trucks destroyed and 9 damaged between Son La and Hoa Binh.

Burma: In Br Fourteenth Army's 33 Corps area, Ind 19th Div, at Mandalay, breaks into Fort Dufferin and finds that enemy has withdrawn. In NCAC area, Br 36th Div reaches Mogok and turns SE toward Kyaukme.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): Twenty P-47s sweep roads south of the bomb line in central Burma; 16 others hit supply dumps behind Japanese lines. Transports continue to supply forward areas.

AAFPOA Seventh Air Force: Twelve B-24s from Guam bomb Susaki Airfield; during the night of 20/21 March, four other B-24s fly single strikes against the airfield. VII Fighter Command: The air echelon of the 549th Night Fighter Squadron, ceases operating from Saipan and moves to Motoyama No. 1 with P-61s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Luzon, B-24s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers fly numerous ground support missions and hit targets at Balete Pass, Bayombong, Tuguegarao, Antamok, San Fernando, Bontoc and along roads. B-24s pound the supply and personnel area east of Cebu City and north of Mambaling on Cebu, defensive positions northwest of Talisay and AA guns to the north, and also bomb Talisay. Other B-24s bomb the town of Tainan. B-25s on a shipping sweep sink three small vessels near Qui Nhon, French Indochina. The 72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Morotai (Pitu) to Guiuan with B-24s; the detachments of the 75th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) and 390th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium), operating from Morotai return to base at Sansapor with B-25s.

U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army I Corps area, 33d Div TF moves north toward San Fernando from the Bauang sector in attempt to link up with guerrilla forces in north Luzon. Japanese withdraw from San Fernando under cover of darkness. On Highway 5, Co C of 161st Inf, 25th Div, takes fork of ridge W of Norton's Knob while rest of 1st Bn continues fruitless attack on Norton's Knob. 3d Bn relieves Co C. In XI Corps area, 6th Div gains several hundred yards, reaching heights commanding Bosoboso River, and pauses to mop up and reconnoiter. Japanese make determined counterattack against 172d Inf of 43d Div on Mt Caymayuman, night 20-21. 3d Bn of 103d Inf suspends attack on Mt Tanauan while that area is being neutralized with fire. In XIV Corps area, 3d and 1st Bns of 158th Inf continue attack toward Cuenca and Mt Macolod. Patrol reports Cuenca undefended.

In the southern Philippines, in U.S. Eighth Army area, X Corps is designated as VICTOR V TF to seize Malabang-Parang-Cotabato area of Mindanao and clear region east of Zamboanga Peninsula. 24th and 31st Divs are placed under control of X Corps. 41st Div and Para RCT 505 are to be held in army reserve. On Mindanao, Co F (-) of 162d Inf returns to Zamboanga from Basilan I. Cos K and L, 121st Guerrilla Regt, and platoon of Co F, 162d Inf, remain on Basilan to provide security. On Panay, elements of 185th Inf drive quickly through Molo to Iloilo, which is secured with ease. Organized resistance on Panay has collapsed. Japanese groups withdrawing toward the mountains from Jaro are intercepted by 40th Rcn Tr and 3d Bn and harassed by aircraft. Search of the island continues.

147th Infantry Regiment from New Caledonia arrives Iwo Jima to take over the defense of the island and was attached to the 3d Marine Division for operational control.

U. S. Navy: Task Force 92 (TF 92) under Captain John M. Worthington including six destroyers sortie from Attu to proceed to Paramushiro to bombard Japanese installations in the Suribachi Wan area. Heavy ice, however, will cause a cancellation of the operation.

Off Japan, carrier Enterprise (CV-6) is damaged by friendly fire, 30°01'N, 134°30'E, and destroyer Halsey Powell (DD-686) is crashed by kamikaze at 30°27'N, 134°28'E. TF 38 planes sink Japanese guardboat No.1 Kochi Maru east of Honshu.

USS Blenny (SS-324) attacks Japanese convoy HI-88I off coast of French Indochina, sinking merchant tankers No.21 Nanshin Maru and Hosen Maru, and fishing boat Yamakuni Maru about 40 miles south of Cam Ranh Bay, 11°18'N, 108°57'E.

USS Devilfish (SS-292) is damaged by suicide plane off Volcano Islands, 25°36'N, 137°30'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.

USS Perch (SS-313) lands men on east coast of Borneo. Japanese army ship No.1 Genzan Maru is sunk by aircraft off coast of French Indochina. USAAF B-25s attack Japanese convoy, sinking store ships Heishin Maru and Fukusei Maru, and damaging torpedo boat Hatsukari off Tungshan, China, 23°42'N, 137°15'E. Japanese Gyoraitei No.219 is damaged by aircraft, Toba, 30°06'N, 122°22'E.

USMC: RCT 26, 5th Mar Div, pushes slowly NW toward the sea along draw that crosses front of RCT 28. RCT 28 continues to support attack with fire and begins gradual withdrawal of elements from line as attack progresses across its front. Transports with garrison force RCT 147 arrive off Iwo Jima.