April 24, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 24 APRIL 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): Two B-24s bomb Hongay, French Indochina railroad yards and attack targets of opportunity in South China Sea. In China, two B-24s damage a vessel at Bakli Bay; 4 B-25s hit railroad targets of opportunity from Siaokan to Sinyang while two damage a bridge at Kuanshuishih; 50+ P-51s, P-61s, and P-40s attack rivercraft, railroad targets, trucks, bridges, troops, horses, and other targets of opportunity at numerous south and east China locations as pressure by allied air and ground forces mounts against enemy movement and supply routes.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, about 40 P-47s and P-38s attack troop concentrations, storage areas, vehicles, and targets of opportunity in the Mong Nawng vicinity, W of Mong Kung-Laihka road, S of Loilem, and at Wan Hsan; transports land or drop 747 tons of supplies at advance bases and in frontline areas. The 71st and 115th Liaison Squadrons, Tenth AF [attached to 1st Liaison Group (Provisional)], move from Myityina to Dinjan (air echelons remain at Myitkyina with UC-64s, L-1s, L-4s and L-5s until May).

Burma: Japanese Gen Kimura moves his headquarters to Moulmein. One of the 3 airfields at Toungoo becomes operational.

AAFPOA (VII Fighter Command): 506th Fighter Group Headquarters, 457th, 458th and 462d Fighter Squadron arrive at North Field from the US with P-51s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 96: 101 B-29s strike the Hitahi aircraft plant at Tachikawa; 21 others hit alternates and targets of opportunity; they claim 16 Japanese aircraft; 5 B-29s are lost including B-29 42-94026 pilot 1st Lt. Marion C. Floyd (KIA/MIA).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: A-20s and fighter bombers continue to strike in support of ground forces on Luzon. On Formosa, A-20s hit sugar refineries at Mizukami and Shinei while B-24s bomb Tainan and Hokko. Other B-24s bomb Tabanio and Miri. Crashed is P-51D 44-64045 pilot 2nd Lt. Robert A. Kammeyer (survived) and P-51D 44-63357 pilot 2nd Lt. Werner K. Neitzke (survived).

U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army's I Corps area, 3d Bn of 130th Inf, 33d Div, drives east to within about 2,000 yards of Baguio while 2d Bn of 129th Inf, 37th Div, clears the cemetery on approaches to Mt Mirador. 1st Bn, 129th, moves about 300 yards along Highway 9, coming under heavy fire. Rest of 2d Bn of 27th Inf, 25th Div, joins Co G at base of Lone Tree Hill; 3d Bn passes through 1st to continue attack along Mt Myoko.

In the southern Philippines, In U.S. Eighth Army area, 24th Div launches drive on Mindanao toward Digos bordering Davao Gulf. 34th Inf, leading, reaches Saguing, 30 miles E of Digos. 31st Div is directed to drive N on Sayre Highway to its junction with Kibawe-Talomo trail, a mission assigned to 124th Inf, which will shuttle to Kabacan area to begin the drive. On Bohol, 3d Bn of 164th Inf is systematically searching the island to destroy disorganized enemy remnants.

On Ie Shima, systematic mopping up continues. American casualties through this date total 172 killed, 902 wounded, and 46 missing.

On Okinawa, the Japanese withdrew to the second ring of the Shuri defensive zone. In U.S. Tenth Army area, XXIV Corps pushes through first line of enemy's Shuri defenses on Okinawa with ease, except on W flank, Japanese having withdrawn southward, night 23-24. TF Bradford closes the gap between 27th and 96th Divs without opposition, but Japanese continue to resist in Item Pocket. 96th Div easily takes all of Nishibaru Ridge, Tanabaru Escarpment, ridge to S, and Hill 143. 7th Div eliminates final opposition in Hill 178 area.

U.S. Navy: USAAF B-24s sink Japanese motor sailship Shinyo Maru off coast of French Indochina.

Japanese tanker San Diego Maru is damaged by mine in swept channel of Hiroshima Bay, 34°06'N, 132°25'E.