FRIDAY, 20 APRIL 1945
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, seven B-25s hit the town of Neihsiang
and attack railroad targets of opportunity from Saiping to Lohochai and from
Linying, Burma to Hsuchang; 9 B-25s bomb Loyang and Luchou; 100+ P-51s, P-40s,
and P-47s concentrate attacks against town areas throughout S and E China, also
hitting troops, gun positions, river traffic, and other targets of opportunity.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): 32 P-38s knock out 3 bridges and damage
5 others in C Burma behind the enemy lines; 12 P-47s hit a troop concentration
and ration dump at Tonglau, 18 attack a troop concentration around a monastery
at Kengkawmanhaung, and 12 attack troops along a stream near Wan Nahpeit; 497
transport sorties land or drop 784 tons of supplies in forward areas. Unit moves:
1st Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop Carrier Group, from Sookerating to Warazup, Burma with C-47s; 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Photographic
Reconnaissance Group, from Myitkyina to Nagaghuli with F-6s and
P-40s (a flight is operating from Akyab Airfield); 164th Liaison Squadron (Commando),
1st Air Commando Group, from Asansol to Sinthe, Burma with UC-64s and
L-5s.
B-29 bombing has damaged the Musashi aircraft factory and stops production
of the Nakajima Type 4 Fighter / Ki-84 Hayate (Frank).
AAFPOA (VII Fighter Command): Eleven P-51s from Iwo Jima bomb Haha Jima.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s
bomb Tainan Airfield while P-51s attack Koshun Airfield. Large-scale FEAF support
of ground forces on Luzon, Cebu, and Negros continues. B-24s
bomb Sepinggang Airfield and Labuan Airfield and P-38s and B-25s hit Tarakan. Lost is B-24D "Patches" 42-73490 (MIA). Headquarters Squadron (HQ), 475th Fighter Group moves from Clark
Field to Lingayen Airfield;
386th Bombardment Squadron, 388th Bombardment Squadron and 389th Bombardment Squadron, 312th Bombardment Group from Mangaldan to Floridablanca with A-20s.
