April 26, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 26 APRIL 1945

CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force): The 29th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), VI Bomber Command, moves from Rio Hato, Panama to the Galapagos Islands with B-24s.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): Two B-24s bomb docks at Hongay, French Indochina. In China, ten B-25s and four P-47s knock out bridges near Wuchang and N of Taiku and damage a bridge near Kaifeng; 80+ fighter-bombers blast troops, horses, road and rail transport, tanks, gun positions, and targets of opportunity at numerous places in S and E China as the campaign against the occupying Japanese intensifies.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 30 P-38s and P-47s attack troop concentrations E of Wan Sing, at Naungtaw, and in the vicinity of Loilem; transports land or drop 553 tons of supplies at forward bases and frontline areas.

Burma: In Br Fourteenth Army's 4 Corps area, Ind 17th Div, continuing overland toward Rangoon, reaches Daiku.

AAFPOA Seventh Air Force: 13 B-24s from Guam bomb Eten. VII Fighter Command: Mission 6: An unknown number of P-51s escort B-29s to Japan.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Missions 97 to 107: 195 B-29s (some escorted by fighters of the VII Fighter Command) bomb airfields at Usa, Oita, Saeki, Tomitaka, Imabari, Nittagahara, Miyazaki, Kanoya, Kokubu, and Miyakonojo, Japan; 41 other B-29s hit targets of opportunity.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Shanghai. On Formosa, B-25s hit the Heito sugar refinery and nearby targets of opportunitys and P-38s on a sweep also hit several targets of opportunity. B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers continue to fly numerous sorties in support of ground forces on N and S Luzon. B-24s join USMC aircraft in pounding Cebu targets. B-24s hit Miri Airfield and B-25s and fighters hit targets on Tarakan. Unit moves: 12th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, based at San Jose with P-38s, begins operating from Puerto Princesa; 421st Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command from San Marcelino to Clark Field with P-38s and P-61s.

U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army's I Corps area, Mt Mirador falls to 129th Inf, 37th Div. In 33d Div sector, 1st Bn of 130th Inf and 1st Bn of 123d Inf find Dominican hill virtually deserted by enemy. 2d Bn of 161st Inf, 25th Div, secures approach to Kembu Plateau and for the next few days mops up and patrols.

In the southern Philippines, in U.S. Eighth Army area, 34th Inf of 24th Div continues toward Digos on Mindanao, hampered by demolitions and delaying obstacles left behind by Japanese. 124th Inf, 31st Div, gets into position for drive up Sayre Highway. 2d Bn, which is to lead, arrives at Pikit by water. On Negros, RCT 164 (less 3d Bn) of Americal Div makes unopposed landing on SE coast of Negros Oriental in vicinity of Looc, N of Dumaguete. 1st Bn lands first and takes Dumaguete airfield and city without incident. 2d Bn follows 1st Bn ashore and moves inland to San Antonio, thence S to Ocoy R, where small enemy group is encountered. Contact is made during day with 40th Div Rcn Tr, which has driven down from the N, and with Filipino guerrillas. In Negros Occidental, fighting continues on slopes of Hill 3155, where enemy continues to hold out against 40th Div forces. 185th Inf finishes clearing Lantawan Plateau and releases 2d Bn to 160th Inf in order to strengthen assault on Hill 3155.

On Ie Shima, 77th Div, having completed mop up of island, turns over command to ISCOM Ie Shima.

U.S. Tenth Army learns that projected invasion of Miyako, in Sakishima Group, is postponed indefinitely. III Amphib Corps, tentatively earmarked to undertake the Miyako operation instead of V Amphib Corps as planned originally, is thus free for commitment in S Okinawa.

On Okinawa, XXIV Corps begins assault on next Shuri defense line after extensive preparatory fire. 165th Inf, 27th Div, continues reduction of Item Pocket while 105th Inf pushes forward to Nakama and organizes defensive positions. 96th Div, with 381st Inf on right and 383d on left, attack Maeda Escarpment (Big Escarpment), the eastern part of Urasoe-Mura Escarpment. At its E tip a lofty rock formation designated Needle Rock. Elements of div reach crest of the escarpment, where they meet furious opposition from enemy on reverse slopes. Supporting armor, however, pushes into village of Maeda, on reverse slope. 17th Inf, 7th Div, tries in vain to advance around W and E sides of Kochi Ridge though it gains weak hold on E side with platoon of Co G.

Destroyer Hutchins (DD-476) is damaged by depth charge, off Okinawa, 26°14'N, 127°49'E.

Submarine Perch (SS-313) is damaged by depth charges off North Borneo, 05°32'N, 116°07'E, but remains on patrol.

Mines sink Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Mejima Maru off Futaoi light, 34°04'N, 130°47'E; and merchant cargo ships Sanko Maru in Chochiku channel.

Japanese guardboat No.6 Chozan Maru is sunk by aircraft east of Kammon Strait, off Shimonoseki, Japan.

Japanese merchant cargo vessel Heiyu Maru is damaged by aircraft, 34°41'N, 128°54'E.

Royal Navy: HMS Solent and HMS Sleuth sink Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Wa.3 in Java Sea west of Kalambau Island 04°50'S, 115°40'E.