WEDNESDAY, 9 MAY 1945
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Radar discloses considerable
shipping between Paramushiru and Shimushu; thus, twelve B-24s take off
and radar-bomb through overcast; another B-24 flies a radar-ferreting sortie
over Paramushiru and Shimushu.
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 14 B-24s, 14 B-25s, and 26 P-51s
blast Paoching and various nearby targets of opportunity; some of the fighter-bombers
also attack targets of opportunity west of Hengyang. Four P-51s pound boxcars, locomotives,
and other railroad targets from Tourane to Hue.
Burma: In ALFSEA area, W African 82d Div, now under direct command of ALFSEA and moving S along Arakan coast from Taungup, enters Sandoway.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): Unit moves in India: 6th Fighter Squadron
(Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, from Hay to Asansol with P-47s; 115th Liaison
Squadron, Tenth AF, from Dinjan to Nagaghuli with L-1s and L-5s.
AAFPOA Seventh Air Force: Twenty-nine B-24s from Guam, operating in 3 forces over
a six hour period, bomb airfields, barracks, and targets of opportunity on Param and Moen. VII Fighter Command: 14 P-47s from Saipan
sweep Truk.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb two airfields
on Canton. On Luzon, A-20s and fighters fly offensive
sweeps over the Cagayan Valley and support ground forces in the Cervantes, Baguio,
and Balete
Pass area and the Ipo-New Bosoboso-Infanta area. On Mindanao,
B-24s bomb the area around Dalirig and Maluko preparatory to allied landings
in the Macajalar Bay area on 10 May. P-38s over Borneo hit Brooketon, Sarawak and Tarakan.
U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army's I Corps area, battle for Balete Pass nears the end as 27th and 161st Regts, 25th Div, establish contact in this region. In XI Corps area, 3d Bn of 145th Inf seizes Mt Binicayan; 2d Bn improves positions near Sugar Loaf Hill; 1st Bn patrols in Wawa sector. In XIV Corps area, patrol of 158th Inf eliminates enemy party in the Bicols, the only Japanese met in this area.
In the southern Philippines, In U.S. Eighth Army area, RCT 108 convoys leave Cebu and Leyte for Macajalar Bay operation, Mindanao. In X Corps area on Mindanao, 1st Bn of 21st Inf, 24th Div, holds its Talomo R bridgehead against strong opposition. Efforts to bridge the river fail. Continuing attack on Guma pocket after air strike, Co K of 34th Inf finds that Japanese have withdrawn. 124th Inf, 31st Div, suspends ground attacks in Colgan Woods for next few days while enemy positions are being softened by aircraft and mortar fire.
On Okinawa, In U.S. Tenth Army area, Lt General Simon B. Buckner, Jr. orders general attack by Army to begin on May 11, 1945. While holding action is conducted in center, troops on flanks will attempt double envelopment of enemy's Shuri positions. In III Amphib Corps area, 6th Mar Div prepares to attack across Asa R on W flank of corps. Engineers construct footbridge during night. 1st Marines, 1st Mar Div, finishes clearing Nan Hill, then attacks and takes Hill 60. 5th Marines is endeavoring to pocket enemy in region S of Awacha where stubborn opposition continues. In XXIV Corps area, 77th Div's frontal assaults toward Shuri make little headway. Since enemy has organized a series of strongpoints on heights N of Shuri that must be methodically reduced, div tactics are to attack in small area with one regt after all available supporting weapons have softened it, while another regt supports the attack with fire and mops up. On left flank of corps, 382d Inf of 96th Div relieves 17th Inf of 7th Div. Most of the Japanese have been cleared from their Kochi positions.
U.S. Navy: Off Okinawa, kamikazes damage destroyer escorts USS Oberrender (DE-344), 26°32'N, 127°30'E, and USS England (DE-635), 26°18'N, 127°13'E.
Japanese escort vessel Uku is damaged by mine off Futaoi Light.
Japanese merchant tanker No.13 Horai Maru is damaged by aircraft, 36°10'N, 126°02'E.
Royal Navy:
Off Okinawa, kamikazes damage carriers HMS Formidable and HMS Victorious.
