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

TUESDAY, 17 APRIL 1945

USA-USSR: United States and USSR sign Fourth Protocol for aid to Soviet Union granting 2,700,000 tons via the Pacific and 3,000,000 via the Atlantic.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, four B-25s and 4 P-51s blast river shipping S of Yiyang; 6 B-25s bomb the area around Kwangsi University at Liang-feng; two B-24s bomb the Bakli Bay dock area; 70+ P-51s and P-40s hit troops, town areas, road traffic, river shipping, and general targets of opportunity at several locations in S and E China including Changsha, Sinning, Sinhwa, Yiyang, Tungting Lake, Paoching, Yungfengshih, Shanhsien, Lingling, Pingsiang, Tsinkong, and Hochih.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, eighteen fighter-bombers hit troops and supplies near Mong Kung and Wan Hpun; 12 others attack vehicles and other targets of opportunity along roads south of the bomb line; 489 transport sorties are completed to forward areas throughout the day.

Burma: Adm Mountbatten issues directive for modified Dracula, calling for amphibious and airborne operations to capture Rangoon.

AAFPOA (VII Fighter Command): 18 P-51s flying two strikes from Iwo Jima attack vessels in Futamiko in the Bonin Islands.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Missions 70 to 75: 118 B-29s bomb airfields at Tachiarai, Kokubu, Izumi, Nittagahara, and 2 at Kanoya; 5 others attack targets of opportunity; beginning on this date and continuing through 11 May, XXI Bomber Command devotes about 75 per cent of its combat effort to support of the Okinawa campaign; during this period the B-29s fly more than 2,100 sorties against 17 airfields on Kyushu and Shikoku which are dispatching air attacks (including Kamikaze raids) against USN and USMC forces.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Formosa, B-24s bomb Taichu Airfield, Shinshoshi Airfield, Toyohara Airfield and Okayama Airfield and B-25s hit Taito Airfield. Numerous sweeps and sorties are flown in support of ground forces over Luzon, Cebu, Negros, and Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. B-24s over Mindanao bomb Cotabato and Kabacan. The 69th Fighter Squadron and 311th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group move from Mangaldan to Porac with P-47s. Lost is A-20G 42-86748 pilot 1st Lt Jack L. Russell (MIA) and P-51K 44-12025 FO Joseph H. Horwath (survived).

U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army's I Corps area, 148th Inf of 37th Div comes up against enemy's final defensive line before Baguio as elements reach Irisan R, where bridge is out. Further progress along the road to Baguio is delayed for the next few days by enemy's stubborn defense of ridges near the bridge site. 130th Inf, 33d Div, is still held up in Asin Tunnels region. 32d Div continues clearing heights in Salacsac Pass region of Villa Verde Trail. Japanese are still defending Kapintalan sector of Highway 5 against attacks of 25th Div. In XI Corps area, 63d Inf of 6th Div clears N tip of Mt Mataba, eliminating final resistance in this area. After further vain efforts to clear Woodpecker Ridge, near junction of Bosoboso and Mariquina Rivers, 1st Inf suspends attack and patrols actively. In XIV Corps area, attack of 2d Cav Brig, 1st Cav Div, on W slopes of Mt Mataasna Bundoc makes slow progress. 511th Inf, 11th A/B Div, turns N toward this hill mass, the last enemy stronghold in S Luzon.

In the southern Philippines, In U.S. Eighth Army area, after preparatory naval gunfire and aerial bombardment, Victor V Attack Group (TG 78.2) under Adm Noble lands assault units of 24th Div, X Corps, on Mindanao without opposition. Main body goes ashore in Parang area and 3d Bn of 21st Inf lands just N of Malabang. Despite congestion on beach, main assault force moves rapidly inland and seizes Parang and heights commanding Polloc Harbor. 3d Bn of 21st Inf, finding guerrillas in possession of Malabang as reported, patrols southward toward Parang and N toward Polloc Harbor. 24th Div CG takes command ashore. On Cebu, Americal Div finds that enemy has withdrawn from Babay Ridge and occupies Hills 22 and 25. On Bohol, Cos K and L of 164th Inf open attack on Japanese N of Ginopolan. On Negros, 40th Div renews co-ordinated attack. 503d Para Inf reaches outer defenses of enemy on lower slopes of Banana Ridge. 185th Inf is halted at tank trap after gaining 1,600 yards. 160th Inf advances about 1,000 yards. In Sulu Archipelago, Jolo I. is now clear except for Mt Daho. Aircraft, arty, and mortars pound this last enemy strongpoint for next few days.

On Ie Shima, 306th Inf of 77th Div holds current positions while awaiting 305th Inf, which has fallen behind. 305th drives E toward Iegusugu Mt, which dominates entire island and is dubbed "the Pinnacle," and Ie town, elements reaching edge of the town. 2d and 3d Bns, 307th Inf, land on S coast and attack NE through elements of 305th Inf, meeting tenacious resistance from strong Japanese defenses organized in depth on ridge called "Bloody Ridge" and a rise on it known as "Government House Hill." On Okinawa, III Amphib Corps' 6th Mar Div breaks enemy organized resistance on Motobu Peninsula with capture of summit of Yae-Take hill mass; inflicts heavy casualties on Japanese.

U.S. Navy: Army forces are landed near Malabang, Parang, and Cotabato on Mindanao, by naval attack group (Rear Admiral Albert G. Noble); landings are supported by cruiser and destroyer gunfire and aircraft. The defenders do not make a determined stand.

Off Okinawa, destroyer Benham (DD-796) is damaged by kamikaze and by friendly fire, 24°01'N, 132°32'E.

Mines sink Japanese guardboat No.92 Banshu Maru off Goto Rette.

PB4Y (VPB 111) sinks Japanese cargo ship Gyoyo Maru off coast of Malaya, 03°27'N, 103°37'E.

Mine laid by USAAF B-29 sinks Japanese cargo ship Sonjo Maru off Shanghai, 31°13'N, 121°52'E.

Mine laid by USAAF B-29 sinks Japanese cargo ship Tairyu Maru off Wada Misaki light, 34°27'N, 135°11'E.

Japanese ship Yamadono Maru is damaged by aircraft, Kobe Harbor.

USMC: Ground echelons of Marine Aircraft Group 24 participated in the U.S. Eighth Army's landing on Mindanao.

Ditched is F4U Corsair 49668 pilot 2nd Lt. William H. Holden (survived).