MONDAY, 23 APRIL 1945
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 5 B-25s blast the Hsuchang
railroad yards, completely demolishing a locomotive repair shop; two B-24s attack
targets of opportunity in the South China Sea; 39 P-47s and P-51s attack troops,
horses, trains, and rivercraft at or near Nanyang, Burma and Taiku, Shanhsien,
Hsihhsiassuchi, Loning, Sinyang, Chenghsien, Sichuan, Lushan, and along the
Pinghan railroad, and render a railroad tunnel near Sinyang unusable.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 7 P-61s attack with napalm,
rockets, and cannon several targets during sweeps from Laihka to Loilem to Hopong
to Wan Yin; Laihka Airfields, a bridge S of Wan Yin, trucks, and other targets
are successfully pounded; 40+ fighter-bombers attack troop concentrations along
and behind the lines at several points including Loilem, Nawng Leng, Mong Pawn,
and Naungtaw; a bridge at Namhkok is temporarily out due to bomb damage to approaches;
570 transport sorties are flown to forward areas throughout the day.
AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Thirteen B-24s from Guam pound positions on Marcus. The 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Seventh AF at Kualoa Airfield with F-5Es, sends a detachment to operate from Okinawa,
the first Seventh AF unit to arrive (another detachment is operating from Saipan
Island).
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Formosa, B-25s
hit the Shinei railroad yards, P-51s hit Karenko Airfield and P-38s attack various
targets of opportunity. Fighter bombers continue to support ground forces in
the N and S parts of Luzon Island pounding numerous artillery positions, supply
areas, and general targets of opportunity. B-24s bomb a military depot
at Shanghai and shipping in Yulin Harbor off Hainan. B-24s bomb the naval
base at Saigon. In Borneo, other B-24s bomb airfields at Sepinggang and Jesselton and P-38s drop napalm on Tarakan. Other B-24s fly
a shipping sweep over the Makassar Srait and damage several small vessels.
U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army's I Corps area, after aerial bombardment of Mt Mirador area, SW of Baguio, 2d Bn of 129th Inf, 37th Div, drives toward it, reaching cemetery, where it comes under heavy fire from ravine between there and the mountain. Some elements of 130th Inf, 33d Div, clear heights over second Asin tunnel while others motor to Irisan and march toward Asin. 123d Inf, moving laboriously along the Pugo-Tuba Trail, sends 1st Bn to assist 130th against Mt Mirador. 161st Inf, 25th Div, concludes lengthy battle for Crump Hill. 35th Inf closes gap between it and 161st and attacks northward from the Fishhook. In XI Corps area, 6th Div continues assault on Mt Pacawagan with RCT 145, methodically reducing mutually supporting positions. XIV Corps maintains pressure on Mt Mataasna Bundoc.
In the southern Philippines, in U.S. Eighth Army's X Corps area, town of Kabacan on Mindanao falls to 3d Bn of 34th Inf, 24th Div. 19th Inf reaches Fort Pikit and relieves 34th Inf units there. 24th Div is to drive W along Highway 1 to Davao Gulf while 31st Div drives N along Sayre Highway. On Cebu, 2d Bn of 132d Inf moves by water to SE coast near Tooc and patrols to locate enemy. 2d and 3d Bns enter Danao and overcome organized resistance in this region. Coastal sector is subsequently combed for scattered enemy groups. On W coast, 3d Bn of 182d Inf, assisted by guerrillas, seizes positions in vicinity of Tabuclan; later probes eastward while guerrillas push N. Except for mopping up, offensive operations are completed by this time. On Bohol, 3d Bn of 164th Inf, Americal Div, again attacks Japanese N of Nanod after arty preparation and forces them to withdraw.
On Okinawa, In U.S. Tenth Army's XXIV Corps area on Okinawa, 27th Div completes capture of Urasoe-Mura Escarpment within its sector and wipes out counterattacking force. Resistance to 96th Div slackens and div gains most of high ground within its zone in Nishibaru-Tanabaru area. 1st Bn (less Co B) of 17th Inf, 7th Div, occupies Rocky Crags with ease while 32d Inf patrols and seals caves on Skyline Ridge.
U.S. Navy: Lost is F4U Corsair 57897 pilot Lt(jg) Charles W. S. Hulland (MIA).
USS Besugo (SS-321) fires a torpedo that sinks U-183 in the Java Sea at Lat 04°57'S, Long 112°52'E.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Tamae Maru is sunk by accidental ammunition explosion in Sakai Harbor.
VBP-109: PB4Y-2 Privateers from Patrol Bombing Squadron 109 (VPB-109) piloted by Lt.Cdr. Hicks and Lt. Kennedy release two ASM-N-2 Bat glided
bombs against Japanese shipping in Balikpapan Harbor in the first
combat employment of the only automatic homing bomb to be used in World War
II.
References: Patrol Bombing Squadron 109 (VPB-109) War Diary, April 1945 page 3
"23 April: Lt.Cdr. Hicks and Lt. Kennedy on a special strike at shipping in Balikpapan Harbor, Borneo dropped to defective BAT (SWOD Mark 9) with negative results. Two unaggressive Hamps made one pass at Lt.Cdr. Hicks. Lt. Kennedy damaged a radar station on the coast of northeast Borneo by strafing."
