WEDNESDAY, 25 APRIL 1945
USA: The San Francisco Conference begins meeting to issue a charter for the United Nations (U.N.) until June 26, 1945.
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): Two B-24s bomb the railroad yards at Hongay,
French Indochina. In China, 4 B-25s and 4 P-47s damage a bridge and knock out
an AA position N of Anyang; 50+ P-47s and P-51s hit river, road, and rail targets,
troops, horses, and buildings in areas around Loning, Hsihhsiassuchi, Linfen,
Kuanshuishih, Saiping, Yungcheng, Sichuan, and Tsingsinghsien.
China: Gen Wedemeyer receives radio from Gen Marshall giving tonnage figures to be delivered to China by ATC during May, June, July, and August. These, because of European redeployment needs, are less than the estimated requirements for BETA. On flank of main Japanese drive on Chihchiang, Ch 58th Div is forced to fall back, leaving small garrison at Wukang.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 16 P-38s attack truck parks,
fuel dumps, and supply areas at Hopong and Hotang; 20 other P-38s hit troops
at Wan Kinglong and at other points in the C Burma battle area. Transports complete 445 sorties to forward areas, landing or dropping 624 tons
of supplies. The 165th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group,
moves from Sinthe, Burma to Asansol with UC-64s and L-5s.
Burma: Preparations for DRACULA, amphibious assault on Rangoon, are completed. In Br Fourteenth Army's 4 Corps area, 5th Ind Div captures Pyu and is passed through by 17th Ind Div, which is to continue overland drive on Rangoon.
China: Gen Wedemeyer receives radio from Gen Marshall giving tonnage figures to be delivered to China by ATC during May, June, July, and August. These, because of European redeployment needs, are less than the estimated requirements for BETA. On flank of main Japanese drive on Chihchiang, Ch 58th Div is forced to fall back, leaving small garrison at Wukang.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Brigadier General Joseph Smith assumes command
of HQ XX Bomber Command.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb the harbor
at Saigon, Balete
Pass bridges, and the
airfields
at Boeloedowang on Celebes Island and Basco. On Luzon, B-25s,
A-20s, and fighters concentrate on Cagayan Valley bridges and support ground
forces around Balete
Pass, Baguio,
and Solvee Cove; other FEAF support missions continue on S Luzon from Ipo
Dam to New Bosoboso, E of Santa Maria, NE of Siniloan, Anuling, Monte Banahao,
near Legaspi, and S of
Camalig, and in the Monte Mandalagan-Monte Silay area.
U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army's I Corps area, 2d Bn of 129th Inf, 37th Div, begins assault on Mt Mirador while 1st Bn, less Co C, organizes defensive position on Quezon Hill, which overlooks Baguio. Reinf co with tanks probes into Baguio. 1st Bn of 130th Inf, 33d Div, attacks through 3d, taking southernmost peak of Mt Mirador and beginning assault on Dominican Hill, which overlooks Baguio from S, in conjunction with 1st Bn, 123d Inf. 123d Inf arrives at Tuba, 2½ miles southwest of Baguio. Under cover of darkness, 25-26, 2d Bn of 161st Inf, 25th Div, attacks toward Kembu Plateau, about 2,000 yards NW of Kapintalan. In surprise attack, 2d Bn of 27th Inf takes Lone Tree Hill. In XI Corps area, 152d Inf of 38th Div relieves 1st Inf, 6th Div, near Woodpecker Ridge and begins patrolling this region. In 6th Div sector, RCT 145 continues reduction of Mt Pacawagan positions. XIV Corps continues action against Cituinan Hills and Mt Mataasna Bundoc. Japanese order withdrawal of forces to Mt Banahao, about 18 miles from Malepunyo hill mass, beginning on 27th.
In the southern Philippines, In U.S. Eighth Army area, 34th Inf of 24th Div, continuing toward Digos on Mindanao, reaches positions 15 miles from Davao Gulf. On Cebu, 164th Inf (less 3d Bn) of Americal Div loads and departs for Negros Oriental.
On Okinawa, In U.S. Tenth Army area, XXIV Corps is largely occupied with preparations for coordinated attack on Okinawa against enemy's next line of defense, improving positions, and patrolling extensively. Enemy positions are brought under air, naval, and arty bombardment. On W flank of corps, 27th Div, during next few days, makes limited efforts to improve positions and continues operations against Item Pocket. 96th Div remains in place. Elements of 17th Inf advance right flank of 7th Div to slope of Horseshoe Ridge, N part of Kochi Ridge, between villages of Onaga and Kochi.
U.S. Navy: USS Horace A. Bass (APD-144) detects an enemy submarine and fires a single accurate depth charge salvo that sinks RO-109 near Okino-Daito Jima roughly 280 miles south-southeast of Okinawa, 21°58'N, 129°35'E.
Carrier-based aircraft bomb enemy installations on Okino Daito Jima, Ryukyus.
Off Okinawa, escort carrier Steamer Bay (CVE-87) and destroyer Hale (DD-642) are damaged in collision, 24°48'N, 131°58'E.
Submarine Cod (SS-224) sinks Japanese minesweeper W.41 north of Keelung, Formosa, 26°10'N, 121°30'E.
USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese shipping at Saigon, French Indochina, sinking transport Kaiko Maru.
USAAF B-24s on anti-shipping sweep of Makassar Strait sink Japanese Shuttle Boat No.302 off Salinguigan Island 02°19'S, 117°14'E.
Japanese cargo vessel Sano Maru is damaged by mine in Yangtze River near Nanking.
