April 8, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 8 APRIL 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 31 P-51s knock out a bridge S of Shaoyang, destroy a section of track at Sincheng, and hit numerous road and rail targets of opportunity in the Yellow River areas and points to the south, from Shanhsien to Loning, at Hungtung, and S of Hei-Shih Kuan; Four B-24s attack shipping targets of opportunity in the South China Sea and in Bakli Bay and Yulin Bay and bomb Kowloon Docks in Hong Kong.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): 50+ P-38s and P-47s operating in C Burma battle areas attack troops, supplies, gun positions, and trucks at several points along and behind enemy lines, and sweep roads S of bomb line; transports maintain operations throughout the day. The 156th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, based at Kalaikunda, India with UC-64s and L-5s, sends a detachment to operate from Myitche, Burma.

AAFPOA Seventh Air Force: 25 B-24s from Angaur Airfield bomb the Bunawan area on Mindanao. VII Fighter Command: During the night of 8/9 Apr, 6 P-61s from Iwo Jima, operating singly at 2-hour intervals, bomb Chichi Jima, Haha Jima, Ani Jima, and Ototo Jima.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 2 missions are flown against airfields on Kyushu from which kamikaze attacks are originating. Mission 60: 29 of 32 B-29s strike two runways at Kanoya Airfield. Mission 61: 48 B-29s attack the airfield at Kokubu; 1 B-29 is lost.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: For the second consecutive day bad weather prevents attacks on the primary targets north of the Philippines. B-24s and B-25s hit secondary targets including Chomosui Airfield in the Pescadores Islands, and on Formosa, Tainan and railroad yards, the towns of Takao, Toko, and Kaiko, and other scattered objectives. A-20s and fighter-bombers over Luzon support ground forces particularly in the areas E of Manila. B-24s join A-20s and fighter-bombers in support of ground forces on Cebu and Negros. Other B-24s bomb the north of Davao Bay on Mindanao and Jolo Island. Unit moves to Luzon: 33d Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group from Hollandia to Nielson Field with C-47s; 69th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Mangaldan with P-47s.

RAAF: P-40N A29-446 force landed at Bohle River Airfield and was written off.