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. Tthe squadron is performing mapping and photographic reconnaissance in the SWPA.

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.

China: Gen Wedemeyer proposes to Gen Stratemeyer that he (Stratemeyer) command a smaller air force than that originally contemplated. Gen Stratemeyer does not favor the suggestion.

Burma: Ind 26th Div of 15 Corps completes reconquest of Burma with occupation of Rangoon, but large-scale mopping up must still be conducted to destroy Burma Area Army.

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): 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.

U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army's I Corps area, 25th Div continues reduction of enemy defenses of Balete Pass. 3d Bn, 27th Inf, finishes clearing Wolfhound Ridge. In XI Corps area, 2d Bn of 145th Inf gains positions at base of Sugar Loaf Hill on regimental right; in center, 3d Bn reaches base of Mt Binicayan. 152d Inf suspends attack on Woodpecker Ridge while reorganizing. Combat elements of 43d Div complete assembling for attack toward Ipo, scheduled to begin night 6-7.

In the southern Philippines, In U.S. Army's X Corps area, 1st Bn of 34th Inf, 24th Div, attacks heights N of Bancal, making slow progress against entrenched enemy. 3d Bn joins Co K in Guma area to strengthen efforts against bypassed pocket there. 31st Div patrol moving N along Sayre Highway finds enemy force disposed to hold woods N of Lake Pinalay, later dubbed Colgan Woods for Capt A. T. Colgan. On Negros, 1st Bn of 164th Inf reopens supply line in Negros Oriental. While main body of 2d Bn moves to Badiang area to assist 1st Bn, Co G begins attack on strongpoint that patrols have discovered SE of Odlumon.

On Okinawa, In U.S. Tenth Army's XXIV Corps area, Japanese renew unsuccessful efforts to break through early in morning, concentrating against U.S. line near junction of 77th and 7th Divs; some 450 penetrate between Route 5 and Kochi to regain Tanabaru town and Tanabaru Ridge, cutting supply road of 7th Div. While 306th Inf, 77th Div, is containing enemy onslaughts, 307th gains reverse slope of Maeda Escarpment and holds against determined counterattacks during night 5-6. In 7th Div zone, elements of 17th Inf battle enemy infiltrators in Tanabaru area.

RAAF: Lost is C-49H 44-83228 pilot Flying Officer William E. Clarke (KIA) crashed into a hilltop near Higgins Field (Bamaga).