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).

AAFPOA (VII Fighter Command): HQ 506th Fighter Group and the 457th, 458th and 462d Fighter Squadrons 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.

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 (survived) and P-51D 44-63357 (survived).