May 7, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 7 MAY 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, three B-25s and four P-47s knock out a bridge N of Singtai; 3 B-24s attack Yellow River targets of opportunity, damaging at least 1 bridge; 131 fighter-bombers again hit various targets of opportunity throughout S and E China, concentrating on railroad targets; the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF, based at Kunming with F-5s, sends a flight to operate from Laifeng (other flights are at Hanchung, Lulinag and Hsian).

AAFPOA Seventh Air Force: Eleven Guam based B-24s pound Marcus Airfield. VII Fighter Command: Sixteen Saipan based P-47s strafe a radio station, airfield installations, and gun positions on Moen and Falas in Truk.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Missions 151 to 154: 41 B-29s bomb airfields at Usa, Oita Airfield, Ibusuki, and Kanoya on Kyushu; 34 Japanese aircraft are claimed destroyed by B-29s during the Usa and Oita missions; 3 B-29s are lost: B-29 "Maryanna" 42-65253, B-29 44-69887 and B-29 "Empire Express" 42-63549 (rammed by Ki-45 Nick piloted by MSgt Tsutomu Murata from the 4th Kokutai). The 792d, 793d and 794th Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy), 468th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), arrive at West Field, Tinian Island, Mariana Islands from India with B-29s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers hit targets in the Cagayan Valley and support ground action in the Cervantes area, Balete Pass and N of Laguna de Bay. In Borneo, P-38s hit Bintula, Kudat, and Ranau while B-25s, and P-38s hit gun positions and HQ on Tarakan. B-24s bomb Bingkalapa Airfield, Celebes and Soerabaja Harbor. In French Indochina, B-25s hit railroad targets between Cap Batangan and Cap Varella. The 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), moves from Morotai to Puerto Princesa with F-5s (a detachment is operating from Dulag).