May 5, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 5 MAY 1945

USA: A Japanese balloon bomb explodes near Bly in Oregon. Six were killed including Elsie Mitchell age 26, Dick Patzke age 14, Jay Gifford age 13, Edward Engen age 13, Joan Patzke age 13 and Sherman Shoemaker age 11. This was the only place on the American continent United States (CONUS) with fatalities from enemy action during World War II.

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 1 B-24 flies weather mission over the Kuriles.

HQ AAF (Second Air Force): The 2d Photographic Charting Squadron, 311th Photographic Wing (attached to FEAF), moves from Morotai, to Puerto Princesa with F-7s (the squadron is performing mapping and photographic reconnaissance in the SW Pacific).

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 3 B-25s knock out a bridge at Singtai and hit railroad traffic in the Sinsiang area; 5 B-25s hit railroad cars and other targets of opportunity at Kaifeng, Hsihhsiassuchi, and in the Tungkuan and Luan areas; 76 fighter-bombers, operating in flights of 2 to 4 aircraft, attack a variety of targets of opportunity throughout S and E China. The 530th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group, moves from Kwanghan to Pungchacheng with P-51s.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): Unit moves from Burma to India: HQ 33d Fighter Group from Sahmaw to Piardoba; 90th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, from Myitkyina to Moran with P-47s.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Twelve Angaur Airfield based B-24s bomb Koror.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 7 missions are flown. Missions 144, 145 and 147 to 149: 55 B-29s bomb airfields at Oita Airfield, Tachiarai, Kanoya, and Chiran; 2 others attack targets of opportunity; 3 B-29s are lost including B-29A 42-93953. Mission 146: 148 B-29s [including the 58th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) flying their first attack of Japan from Tinian] hit a navy aircraft factory and arsenal at Kure, Japan; 4 others hit targets of opportunity; they claim 11 Japanese fighters; 2 B-29s are lost. Mission 150: During the night of 5/6 May, 86 B-29s drop mines in Tokyo Bay, Ise Bay, and at points in the Inland Sea; 4 others mine targets of opportunity.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In the first FEAF strike on the Amoy area, B-24s bomb an airfield and oil storage plant. On Formosa, B-24s bomb Shinchiku Airfield while B-25s and fighter-bombers hit the Taito sugar refinery, Shoka railroad yards, and Giran Airfield and Matsuyama Airfield. A-20s and fighter-bombers continue to hit Cagayan Valley targets and support ground forces at various locations. In Borneo, B-25s and P-38s support Australian forces on Tarakan, P-38s hit the Miri waterfront on the west coast and Keningau Airfield in the north and B-24s bomb the Kuching waterfront on the W coast. Lost on a local flight is P-47D 42-22949 and C-54 44-9043.

RAAF: Crashed is DC-3 44-83228 (crew killed).