April 2, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 2 APRIL 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A B-24 on weather reconnaissance returns early due to mechanical trouble; another B-24 investigates radar jamming on Kresta Point in the Aleutian Islands.

SEAC: Adm Mountbatten, meeting with military leaders in Kandy to plan for capture of Rangoon, decides to mount an amphibious assault from Akyab and Kyaukpyu by one div, supported by armor and a composite bn of airborne troops, before the monsoon, not later than 5 May.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In French Indochina, 28 B-25s knock out a bridge SE of That Khe, bomb the town area of Vinh, damage the bridge approaches at Kep, hit shipping and other targets of opportunity along the coast of the Gulf of Tonkin, and blast the town area of Luc Nam. In China, 25 B-25s attack trucks, tanks, rivercraft, and targets of opportunity at Sichuan, Neihsiang, Sinyang, Mingkiang, Siangtan, Kweiping, Nanning, and Hengshan; four B-24s bomb the Kowloon Docks in Hong Kong and hit shipping at Bakli Bay and Samah Bay; 32 P-51s pound airfields in the Shanghai area; 140+ other fighter-bombers attack numerous targets scattered throughout S and E China, including troops, trucks, horses, river shipping, bridges, gun positions, airfields, rail traffic, and town areas. Lost is B-24J "Tough Titti" 44-40296 (crew survived).

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, bad weather cancels all offensive missions; air supply missions continue with 469 sorties being flown to forward areas.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Twelve B-24s from Guam bomb Marcus.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): During the night of April 1-2, three missions are flown. Mision 51: 115 of 121 B-29s bomb the Nakajima aircraft factory at Tokyo; they claim 1-1-0 Japanese aircraft; 6 B-29s are lost including B-29 44-69666 pilot 1st Lt. Edward G. Law (crew KIA/POW/MIA). Mission 52: During the night of 1/2 April, six B-29s mine Kure Harbor between 0000 and 0400 hours local without loss. Mission 53: During the night of 2/3 Apr, 9 of 10 B-29s mine Hiroshima Harbor without loss. Ten USAAF B-29s mine the waters off Kure and Hiroshima, Japan.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Hong Kong Harbor. On Luzon, B-25s and fighter-bombers attack Bamban bridges, Balete Pass-Baguio area and Penablanca. Troops at Cebu City and on Negros Island are bombed by B-25s and fighter bombers. B-24s bomb the Sarangani Bay area on Mindanao Island. Other B-24s hit Sandakan shipyards and Tawau Airfield, Borneo. B-24s hit Bongao. Crashed on take off is B-24J "Burma" 44-40601.

U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army area, RCT 158 develops defense position in Legaspi area of Bicol Peninsula, which enemy has organized to insure control of Route 1 running northward from San Bernardino Strait. 1st Bn is halted by fire from Bantog. 2d withdraws through Daraga after relieving elements isolated near there. In I Corps' 33d Div sector, 3d Bn of 129th Inf joins 2d in drive up Highway 9 toward Baguio and 1st Bn goes into reserve. 3d Bn of 35th Inf, 25th Div, begins clearing ridge dubbed "Fishhook" in Kapintalan region of Highway 5. In XI Corps area, 1st Inf of 6th Div renews northward attack with 2d Bn but gains little ground. 20th Inf begins co-ordinated attack with 1st and 3d Bns after arty preparation. 63d and 20th Regts are ordered to exchange places. In XIV Corps area, 5th Cav of 1st Cav Div reaches San Pablo. 7th Cav is pushing toward Mt Malepunyo.

In the southern Philippines, in U.S. Eighth Army area, 185th Inf pushes into Talisay on Negros and clears the town and Talisay Airfield; continues toward Silay, halting at Guinhalaron R, where bridge is down. Elements of Co B, 160th Inf, probe toward Concepcion and meet heavy fire. On Cebu, 2d Bn of 182d Inf gains positions on lower slopes of Bolo Ridge; is relieved by 1st Bn, 132d Inf. 3d Bn, 132d, encounters enemy position S of Talamban and withdraws while naval gunfire bombards it. In Sulu Archipelago, 2d Bn, reinf, 163d Inf, 41st Div, lands unopposed on Sanga Sanga I., in Tawi Tawi group, after naval and aerial bombardment of nearby Bongao I. After securing airfield and making contact with Filipino guerrillas, who already hold most of island, elements of 2d Bn move to Bongao I. and establish beachhead.

In the Kerama Islands, the Convoy, with 77th Div embarked, is attacked by suicide planes and suffers some damage.

On Okinawa, U.S. Tenth Army rapidly continues inland against light resistance. Kadena Airfield and Yontan Airfield are ready for emergency use and arty spotting planes are flown ashore. In III Amphib Corps area, 6th Mar Div clears peninsula NW of Hagushi and pushes into foothills of Yontan-Zan. Enemy is disposed for strong defense of ridges and hills of this mountainous region. 1st Mar Div commits 2 bns of 1st Marines on fight as zone of attack widens; drives to line Ishimmi-Kutoku-Chatan. In XXIV Corps area, 7th Div employs 184th Inf troops to plug gap existing on left flank. 17th Inf reaches heights commanding Nakagusuku Bay and patrols to E coast, cutting the island in two. 32d Inf reduces strongpoint S of Koza. Enemy strongpoint near Mombaru delays center elements of 96th Div, but flanks are extended past Shimabuku on left and to vicinity of Futema on right.

U.S. Navy: Off Okinawa, destroyer Franks (DD-554) is damaged in collision with battleship New Jersey (BB-62), 25°49'N, 130°01'E; destroyer Prichett (DD-561), by bomb, 27°17'N, 127°51'E; destroyer Borie (DD-704), by collision with carrier USS Essex (CV-9), 23°36'N, 131°40'E; and destroyer escort Foreman (DE-633), by bomb, 26°10'N, 127°11'E. Kamikazes damage attack transports Henrico (APA-45), 25°59'N, 127°17'E, and Goodhue (APA-107) and Telfair (APA-210), 25°56'N, 127°17'E; attack cargo ships Achernar (AKA- 53), 26°07'N, 127°45'E, and Tyrrell (AKA-80), 26°21'N, 127°45'E; and high speed transport Dickerson (APD-21). Attack transport Chilton (APA-38) is damaged by near-miss of kamikaze, 25°59'N, 127°17'E; attack cargo ship Lacerta (AKA-29) is damaged by friendly fire, 26°21'N, 127°43'E.

TG 58.4 planes sink Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.186, fast transport T.17, and landing ship T.145, and damage submarine chaser Ch 49 and landing ship T.146, near Amami-Oshima, 28°07'N, 129°09'E.

Destroyer Shaw (DD-373) is damaged by grounding, Leyte, P.I., 09°36'N, 123°53'E.

Submarine Hardhead (SS-365) lays mines off Cape Camau, French Indochina.

Submarine Sea Devil (SS-400) attacks Japanese convoy TAMO-51 in the central Yellow Sea, sinking auxiliary vessel Edogawa Maru, army cargo ship Nisshin Maru, and merchant cargo ship Daijo Maru, 34°18'N, 124°04'E, and damaging merchant cargo ship Yamaji Maru, 34°02'N, 124°00'E.

USAAF P-51s damage Japanese river gunboat Katata at Shanghai. USAAF aircraft sink small Japanese cargo vessel No.1 Taisei Maru off Cape St. Jacques, French Indochina, 10°10'N, 106°35'E.

USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese shipping at Hong Kong, sinking merchant cargo ship Yokai Maru.

USMC: The 2d Marine Division effectively immobilized the main body of Japanese forces by a diversionary feint against the Minatoga beaches on the eastern side of Okinawa. Forward elements of the 7th Infantry Division, USA, reached the eastern coast, severing the island. The first American aircraft on Okinawa, a plane from Marine Observation Squadron 2, lands at Yontan Airfield. Marine aircraft covered landings by elements of the 41st Army Division at Sanga Sanga and Bongao Islands, Sulu Archipelago.

Preceded by USMC air strikes (First Marine Aircraft Wing), Army 163rd RCT (Reinforced) of the 41st Division, supported by three destroyers, land on Sanga Sanga, Sulu Archipelago, P.I., without encountering any resistance. Filipino guerrillas had cleared the island the month before.

Royal Navy: British submarine HMS Stygian sinks Japanese coaster south of Kangean Island 07°02'S, 115°32'E.

RAAF: Beaufort A9-493 (MIA) and Beaufort A9-667 (MIA) collided mid-air after takeoff. No. 338 Radar Station (338 RS) moves to Madang.