TUESDAY, 8 MAY 1945
European Theater of Operations:
Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) Nazi Germany officially surrendered to the Allies. Prinz Eugen and Nürnberg, the only major German warships to survive in serviceable condition are surrendered to the Royal Navy at
Copenhagen. Prinz Eugen surrenders to the Royal Navy at Copenhagen.
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 13 B-25s knock out a bridge at Do Cam
and damage others at Do Len, over the Song Chu River in French Indochina, and
N of Kaifeng, China. In China, a single B-24 damages bridges at Huto; 20 P-51s
pound rail and road traffic along the French Indochina coast while 12 P-51s
and P-38s hit targets of opportunity in several cities; about 100 fighter-bombers
over wide areas of S and E China continue to hit numerous targets of opportunity,
concentrating on shipping and the dock area at Taku.
AAFPOA Seventh Air Force: Twelve B-24s from Guam bomb Marcus
Airfield. 12 others from Guam pound Param Airfield. The 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Seventh
AF, arrives on Okinawa from Kualoa Airfield with F-5Es. VII Fighter
Command: 94 of 104 P-51s from Iwo Jima abort a strike to Nagoya due to
weather and attack Kisarazu Airfield. Ditched is B-24J "Temptation" 44-40617 pilot 1st Lt. John K. Lowe (9 MIA, 2 rescued).
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Missions 155 to 158: 40 B-29s hit airfields at
Kanoya, Miyakonojo, Oita Airfield, and Matsuyama on Kyushu and Shikoku;
1 other hits a target of opportunity.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Borneo, P-38s hit Jesselton, Sengkawang, and Kudat Airfield while B-25s bomb the Kuching Airfield and Labuan Airfield areas. B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers continue to
pound Cagayan Valley on Luzon Island. On Mindanao, B-24s hit Davao while
P-38s hit the Labugan Airfield area. Other B-24s bomb Mandai Airfield. B-25s bomb railway installations between Phan Rang and Binh Dinh, French Indochina.
U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army's XI Corps area, 145th Inf renews a 3 battalion attack, 1st Bn taking ridge extending to Wawa and blocking trail in Mariquina River gorge about 600 yards S of Wawa, 3d trying in vain to advance up slopes of Mt Binicayan, and 2d taking Sugar Loaf Hill. 3d Bn of 149th Inf relieves 1st Bn of 145th of all responsibility for Mt Pacawagan.
In the southern Philippines, In U.S. Eighth Army's X Corps area on Mindanao, 1st Bn of 21st Inf, 24th Div, establishes bridgehead across Talomo R north of Mintal, evoking strong enemy reaction. Co E, 19th Inf, relieves Co F on forward tip of Hill 550. In Sayre Highway sector, 124th Inf of 31st Div continues efforts to clear Colgan Woods, replacing 1st Bn with 2d. 3d Bn patrols in Maramag Airfield No. 1 area. On Samal, Co K, 19th Inf, lands after arty preparation and patrols to locate enemy. On Negros, 164th Inf, with 2 bns abreast, attacks southward in Negros Oriental, slowly but steadily wresting ground from stubborn enemy defenders as fighting continues for the rest of the month.
On Okinawa, Rain hampers ground, air, and naval operations. In U.S. Tenth Army's III Amphib Corps area, 22d Marines, 6th Mar Div, relieves 7th Marines, 1st Mar Div, on W coast N of the Asa. 1st Marines, 1st Mar Div, concentrates on blasting enemy from caves on reverse slope of Nan Hill in preparation for renewing assault on Hill 60. In XXIV Corps area, limited attack by 305th Inf of 77th Div brings sharp enemy reaction. 184th Inf, 7th Div, slightly improves positions in E coastal sector.
U.S. Navy: The Secretary of the Navy's recommendation for USS Coral Sea be renamed USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) in honor of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt who died in office four weeks earlier is approved by U.S. President Harry S. Truman.
Submarine Bowfin (SS-287) sinks Japanese fishing boat No.3 Daito Maru east-southeast of Todogasaki, 39°38'N, 142°08'E.
Submarine Bream (SS-243) lays mines off Puolo Obi, French Indochina, in the last U.S. Navy submarine mine plant of World War II.
Mines sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Shuncho Maru south of Futaoi Jima, and damage minesweeper W.39, 4.85 kilometers southeast of Futaoi Light. Transport Kotobuki Maru (ex-Italian liner Conte Verde) is damaged by mine laid by USAAF B-29 (20th Bomber Command) off southern Korea, 34°30'N, 126°19'E.
Japanese merchant vessel No.6 Kosho Maru is sunk by aircraft, 21°51'N, 113°09'E.
Lost is F6F Hellcat 72024 pilot Lt(jg) William C. Henwood (rescued).
