April 15, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 15 APRIL 1945

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A B-24 flies a weather reconnaissance mission.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 3 B-25s knock out the Pa-Ching pontoon bridge, 7 pound a storage depot at Fang-cheng, 4 bomb Tunganhsien, and three hit Paoching; one B-24 bombs the Canton docks; almost 200 fighter-bombers ranging over all of south China and up into the north China plain hit numerous targets including bridges, river shipping, town areas, trucks, railroad traffic, gun positions, storage areas, and general targets of opportunity; the Paoching, Hengyang, Yungfengshih, and Hsihhsiassuchi areas are especially hard hit.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 62 P-38s and P-47s attack troop concentrations and supply areas at Loi-Mwe, Lawksawk, Thongdan, and near Laihka; 312 transport sorties are flown to forward areas.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Two missions are flown during the night of 15/16 Apr. Mission 68: 194 B-29s bomb the Kawasaki urban area in the early hours of April 16, 1945. Lost are B-29A 42-93893 (MIA, one POW, died) and B-29 44-69871 (6 KIA, 5 POW); Eight others hit targets of opportunity; twevle B-29s are lost including B-29A 42-93893 pilot 1st Lt. Raymond F. Malo (MIA, one POW, died). Mission 69: 109 B-29s hit the urban area of Tokyo;

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Formosa B-24s bomb Toyohara, Shinchiku, and Shinshoshi Airfields and B-25s hit the Shoka rail yards. B-24s and fighter-bombers bomb island fortifications in Manila Bay, fighter-bombers hit bivouacs and other targets in north Luzon and support ground forces east of Manila and Carabao. Fighter bombers and B-24s fly support missions for ground forces on Negros and Cebu. On Mindanao, B-24s bomb the Davao area and B-25s join US Marine Corps (USMC) aircraft in hitting highways and vehicles. The 4th Fighter Squadron (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group, moves from Mangaldan to Laoag with P-51s.

U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army area, main body of RCT 158 continues almost futile attacks on Cituinan Hill mass from N and S. I and R Platoon drives N on Route 27. 2d Bn, RCT 158, makes two-pronged assault on San Francisco and takes the town. In I Corps area, troops of 148th Inf, 37th Div, after air strike on Hairpin Hill, clear it; push forward on Highway 9 beyond Quioeng. Elements of 130th Inf, 33d Div, attack unsuccessfully toward ridge W of Asin Tunnels. Ground assault on the tunnel positions is suspended for the next few days while enemy positions are being softened by bombardment. 1st Bn of 27th Inf, 25th Div, attacks across ravine from the Wart toward hill 300 yards ahead. 2d Bn, 35th Inf, takes hill in its sector. In XI Corps area, protracted fighting by 38th Div in Mt Pinatubo area is virtually concluded as 152d Inf column, which has moved E from W coast, makes contact with elements of 149th Inf on Mt Pinatubo. In XIV Corps area, 511th Inf of 11th A/B Div opens eastward drive on Mt Malepunyo hill mass.

in the southern Philippines, In U.S. Eighth Army area, Americal Div troops on Cebu continue battle to destroy enemy on heights commanding Cebu City. On Bohol, 3d Bn of 164th Inf, Americal Div, makes contact with Japanese force N of Ginopolan. On Negros, 40th Div remains in place while air and arty are softening enemy positions in Negritos-Patog area. 108 aircraft drop 170 tons of bombs. Gen Sibert alters plan of amphibious operations against Mindanao since guerrilla forces there are reported to have taken Malabang. 24th Div, except for bn of 21st Inf, is to land in Parang area. The excepted bn will go ashore as planned at Malabang.

On Okinawa, In U.S. Tenth Army's III Amphib Corps area, fighting on Motobu Peninsula, Okinawa, is bitter and costly as 6th Mar Div continues to press in on Yae-Take hill mass under heavy and effective fire from dominating terrain. XXIV Corps front remains static. 27th Div enters corps line. Off Okinawa, Arty lands on Minna I. to support invasion of Ie Shima. Air and naval bombardment of Ie Shima continues.

U.S. Navy: Carrier planes from the fast carrier task force Task Force 58 (TF 58) under Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher attack airfields on southern Kyushu, Japan.

Off Okinawa, kamikazes damage destroyers Wilson (DD-408), 26°03'N, 127°20'E, and Laffey (DD-724), 27°16'N, 127°50'E; Japanese assault demolition boat damages motor minesweeper YMS-331, 26°15'N, 127°36'E; attack transport Berrien (APA-62) is damaged by friendly fire.

Submarine Charr (SS-328) lays mines off the Malay Peninsula.

Japanese guardboat No.2 Hinode Maru is sunk by U.S. aircraft off Chezhudo, 33°19'N, 127°21'E.

Mine laid by B-29 sinks Japanese cargo ship No.3 Yamanami Maru southeast of Hesaki Light, 33°53'N, 131°02'E.

Japanese army tanker Shincho Maru sunk by TF 38 planes on January 21 is scuttled across entrance of Takao Harbor on Formosa,.

USMC: The 4th and 29th Marines launched a coordinated attack on the Motobu Peninsula inland in an easterly direction and west and southwest from the center of the peninsula, respectively.

SBDs from Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24) flew the last mission on Luzon in support of the 37th Army Division.

RNZAF: Lost is Corsair NZ5317 pilot P/O Eric Shorthouse (MIA) suffered and engine failure and dove into a ridge on Cape Gazelle.