May 2, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 2 MAY 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): Five B-24s mine areas of the Yangtze River; 20+ B-25s and about 130 fighter-bombers attack communications targets and supply lines and hit a large variety of targets of opportunity throughout S and E China as the air campaign accelerates with the aim of disrupting the imminent withdrawal of the Japanese and the abandonment of their Greater E Asia Corridor.

AAFPOA Seventh Air Force: Twelve B-24s from Guam pound Param Airfield while Twenty-one B-24s flying in two forces, hit Marcus Airfield and gun positions. During the night of 2/3 May, nine B-24s make individual harassment bombings on Param, Moen and Tol. VII Fighter Command: 12 Iwo Jima based P-51s strike a radio station on Chichi Jima.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s and P-51s pound troops near Ipo Dam while B-25s, A-20s, and fighters hit Cagayan Valley targets; FEAF strikes in support of ground forces continue on Luzon and Cebu. B-25s continue support for Australian troops on Tarakan and in conjunction with U. S. Navy aircraft bomb Kudat Airfield.

USN: U. S. Navy aircraft bomb Kudat Airfield in conjunction with USAAF B-25 Mitchells.

British Army: The British Army 26 Division (Indian) liberates Rangoon Prison (Rangoon Central Prison).