MONDAY, 14 MAY 1945
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-24s mine the Yangtze River;
15 B-25s and 6 fighter-bombers hit river shipping near Hengshan and pound bridges
and other railroad targets around Chushihtien, Sinyang, Kioshan, Kuanshuishih, Hengyang, Chuchou, Changsha, Yoyang, Sintien, Hsuchang, Saiping, and Hengshan;
120+ fighter-bombers over S and E China hit numerous targets of opportunity
at several locations concentrating on the Liping and Tungkow areas; Fourteenth
AF unit moves in China: 11th Combat Cargo Squadron from Dinjan to Yunnani with C-47s; 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron from Kunming to Shwangliu
with F-5s (flights operating from Hanchung, Hsian and Laifeng); 35th Photographic
Reconnaissance Squadron based at Chanyi with F-5s sends a detachment to operate
from Kunming.
China: Air movement of Mars moving the U.S. 5332d Brig (Prov) that started on March 14, 1945 from Burma to China is completed.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): Unit moves in India: 2d Fighter Squadron
(Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, from Cox's Bazar to Kalaikunda with P-51s;
166th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, from Toungoo to Asansol with UC-64s and L-5s.
AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): A detachment of the 28th Photographic Reconnaissance
Squadron, Seventh AF, based on Okinawa with F-5Es begins operating from Ie
Shima.
HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 174: 472 B-29s blast the urban area of
northern Nagoya; 8 others hit targets of opportunity; they claim about 20 Japanese
fighters; eleven B-29s are lost. Lost are B-29 44-70017 pilot 1st Lt Kenneth W. Clewett (7 KIA, 4 POW), B-29 "Deacon's Disciples" 42-24492 pilot 1st Lt William P. Donelan (MIA), B-29 44-69966 pilot 1st Lt. Dean H. Sherman (MIA/POW), B-29 44-69926 (2 MIA, 10 rescued), B-29 "Country Gentelman" 42-24793. This is the XXI Bomber Command's first raid by four Bomb Wings
as B-29s of the 58th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) join bombers from the 73nd Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy),
313th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) and 314th Bombardment Wings (Very Heavy) for the mission.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Hozan,
the largest military and air supply center on Formosa. A-20s and fighter- bombers
support ground forces on Luzon and Negros Islands. In Borneo, B-24s attack Jesselton and Sepinggang Airfields and B-25s hit Jesselton, Kudat, and Bintula Airfields
and support ground forces on Tarakan. On Celebes Island, B-24s lightly
raid Makassar Harbor, Sidate Airfield, and Parepare warehouses and bomb Bima
Airfield on Soembawa (Sumbawa).
U.S. Army: In U.S. Sixth Army's I Corps area, 27th Inf of 25th Div attacks northward from Balete Ridge. In XI Corps area, forward elements of 43d Div reach Ipo Dam. General assault on the dam is ordered for May 17, 1945.
In U.S. Eighth Army's X Corps area, on Mindanao, RCT 108 temporarily suspends drive down Sayre Highway to await supplies. 155th Inf, 31st Div, continues N along the highway; on Talomo Trail, 167th Inf troops are slowed by scattered delaying opposition and difficult terrain as they push toward barrio of Sanipon. From Bancal, 3d Bn of 34th Inf, 24th Div, attacks northward astride road leading to Mintal in conjunction with 21st Inf clearing Talomo R Valley but is soon halted; flanking attack on Hill 550 by elements of 19th Inf makes little headway; rest of 3d Bn, 19th Inf, is ordered to Samal, where enemy guns are still a threat to Davao from the north.
On Okinawa, in the U.S. Tenth Army's III Amphib Corps area, 22d Marines of 6th Mar Div charges Sugar Loaf and gains feeble hold. 1st Marines, 1st Mar Div, after unsuccessful attempt to take Wana Ridge and make contact with 7th Marines, is relieved by 5th Marines. In XXIV Corps area, 306th Inf of 77th Div, greatly depleted in strength, continues vain efforts to take Chocolate Drop and Flattop. 382d Inf, 96th Div, improves positions on Dick hill mass; 383d extends control over Charlie and reaches crest of King Hill to south.
U.S. Navy: Carrier planes from fast carrier task force under Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher second day of strikes on airfields on Kyushu.
USS Enterprise (CV-6) is damaged by kamikaze off Honshu, 30°23'N, 132°36'E that destroys the forward elevator, kils 14 and wounds 34 and forces the carrier to withdraw.
Off Okinawa, operational casualties account for damage to tank landing ship LST-137 and medium landing ship LSM-137.
Submarine Cobia (SS-245) is damaged by depth charges, Gulf of Siam, 09°35'N, 101°44'E, but remains on patrol.
Submarine Sand Lance (SS-381) sinks Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Yoshino Maru off Erimosaki, Hokkaido, 32°00'N, 146°36'E.
Navy aircraft (TU 50.5.5) on sweeps over the South China Sea, sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Kurokamisan Maru west of Kuche Island 34°27'N, 127°30'E, and Samukaze Maru, 33°00'N, 129°20'E.
Mine laid by USAAF B-29 damages Japanese merchant ship Miyajima Maru at Awaji, Japan, 34°28'N, 134°30'E (see 15 May). Mines sink Japanese transport Anko Maru off Shimonoseki and merchant tug No.13 Uwajima Maru off Hiraiso light buoy, 34°30'N, 134°30'E; sink/damage merchant cargo ship Tatsukei Maru, 34°28'N, 134°45'E, and damage merchant cargo ship No.6 Kaiyo Maru off Hesaki light.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Keishin Maru is sunk by aircraft off Inchon, Korea.
Japanese merchant vessel Kanpu Maru is sunk by aircraft, 33°02'N, 129°27'E.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Kainan Maru is damaged by aircraft three miles off Ioshima light.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Chofuku Maru is damaged by aircraft near Hakata Bay.
