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 B-24s from Guam 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). B-24s (13th Air Force) bomb Japanese shipping and shore installations at Makassar, sinking gunboat Kenzan Maru and cargo ship Hakko Maru, 05°08'S, 119°35'E.

In New Guinea, at 2:25pm nine P-38 Lightnings from Combat Replacement and Training Center (FEAF-CRTC) mistook Cape Wom for Wewak (Wewak Point) and bomb and strafe positions hitting the Australian Army 2/1 Field Regiment 25 pounder artillery positions and 19th Brigade Headquarters. The attack results in 11 killed and 21 wounded and destroy or damage several 25 pounders. The Australian dead include: 2/1 Field Regiment six killed, their only fatalities during the Wewak Campaign. Bombardier Norman A. Marks, Gunner Roy Seabrook, Gunner William H. Simpkins, Gunner Archibald Walker, Gunner William J. Dight and Sgt Daniel F. Rixon. 2/1 Guard Regiment: Pvt John McVeigh, Private Claude Summers, Private James G. Beresford, Private Leslie J. H. Giles and Private Geoffrey W. Bordoni. The dead were buried with crosses on Cape Wom and later permanently buried at Lae War Cemetery.

U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army's XI Corps area, 1st Bn of 145th Inf attacks SE from Mt Pacawagan for ridge extending to Wawa, meeting determined opposition. Rest of regt holds current positions and patrols. After aerial and arty preparation, 152d Inf renews attack for Woodpecker Ridge but for the next week is held to small gains. 43d Div continues toward Ipo, gaining about 8,000 yards.

In the southern Philippines, In U.S. Eighth Army's X Corps area on Mindanao, Co C of 21st Inf, 24th Div, moves N from Mintal toward Talomo R to intercept enemy; meets intense fire and withdraws. Aircraft and arty pound the enemy positions. While Japanese pocket in Guma area is being softened by aerial and arty bombardment, 3d Bn of 34th Inf patrols. In Sayre Highway sector, 1st Bn of 124th Inf, 31st Div, makes slow progress against enemy in Colgan Woods. 3d Bn advances to Maramag Airfield No. 1, SW of Maramag. On Negros, Co G of 164th Inf, assisted materially by air and arty bombardment, reduces the enemy strongpoint SE of Odlumon in Negros Oriental. Preparations for general southward advance continue. In Negros Occidental area, Para RCT 503 effects junction with 185th Inf, 40th Div. Patrols find evidence of enemy withdrawal from Patog Plain.

On Okinawa, U.S. Tenth Army takes direct command of operations on southern Okinawa. Gen Hodge orders seizure of line Asa-Dakeshi-Gaja by the 8th in preparation for co-ordinated army offensive southward. In III Amphib Corps area, 1st Mar Div, which reverts to corps control, continues to fight vigorously in its zone. 1st Marines, still under heavy fire from reverse slope of Nan Hill, makes another futile effort to take Hill 60. 5th Marines is held up for the next week by opposition S of Awacha. XXIV Corps, with 77th Div on right and 7th on left, presses slowly southward toward Shuri and Yonabaru. 305th Inf, 77th Div, relieves 307th Inf. Some elements of 17th Inf, 7th Div, finish clearing Tanabaru area of enemy infiltrators while others improve positions on Kochi Ridge; still others drive on Zebra Hill, just S of Kochi town, until stopped by enemy strongpoint. 184th Inf takes Gaja Ridge with ease.

U.S. Navy: Japanese minesweeper W.29 and cargo vessel Kashima Maru are sunk by mines (laid by USAAF B-29s) in Shimonoseki Strait, 34°02'N, 130°54'E. Merchant cargo ship Shofuku Maru is sunk by mine off Dairen, Manchuria. Merchant vessel Teiko Maru is sunk by mine off Futaoi Jima.

PBMs or PB2Ys on sweeps off west coast of Korea sink Japanese cargo ships Tatsuchiyo Maru, 34°00'N, 126°00'E; No.2 Kozan Maru, 35°16'N, 126°03'E; and Kaba Maru and Hoei Maru, 34°00'N, 130°00'E.

Japanese minesweeper Nuwajima, damaged by aircraft, is beached, Saeki Bay.

References
War Diary 19th Australian Infantry Brigade 7 May 1945
War Diary 2/1 Aust Field Regiment 1 May 45 to 31 May 45 pages 10-12
The Final Campaigns by Gavin Long Chapter 14 pages 345-346