TUESDAY, 15 MAY 1945
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Thirteen B-24s bomb the Kashiwabara, and Kataoka on Shimushu, claiming one ship destroyed,
and a direct hit on another, and investigate radar activities. Low fog limits
observation of other results; AA fire damages two B-24s, one of which forcelands
in the USSR.
CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, a single B-24, supported by
2 P-51s, seriously damages 3 bridges near Singtai and Linmingkuan; 20 B-25s,
some with fighter escort, bomb bridges, barracks, troops, horses, road and railroad
targets, and general targets of opportunity around Sinyang, Yoyang, Changsha,
Hsuchang, Chenghsien, Sichuan, Pinyang, Tsinkong, Luchou, Kweiping, Tanchuk,
Laohokow, Siangyang, Nanying, Paoching, and Hengyang; 150 fighter- bombers over
S and E China attack a variety of targets chiefly road, rail, and river traffic,
troops, and bridges, at many scattered locations; the Liping and Tungkow areas
are again well covered.
INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): Unit moves in India: HQ Tenth AF from Myitkyina to Piardoba; HQ 1st Combat Cargo Group and 4th Combat Cargo
Squadron from Dohazari to Hathazari with C-47s.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Shinchiku. In Borneo, B-24s and B-25s hit Miri and Kudat Airfield and support
ground forces on Tarakan. P-38s pound troop concentrations and gun positions
on Mount Mandalagan on Negros. Unit moves: HQ 2d Combat Cargo Group and
5th Combat Cargo Squadron from Biak to Dulag
with C-46s; Headquarters, 348th Fighter Group and 340th Fighter Squadron, 341st Fighter Squadron, 342d Fighter Squadron, and 460th Fighter Squadron from San Marcelino to Floridablanca with P-47s.
Submarine Hammerhead (SS-364) sinks Singapore bound Japanese transport Tottori Maru in Gulf of Siam, 09°12'N, 101°20'E. Escorting minelayer Hatsutaka conducts unsuccessful counterattack (see 16 May).
Submarine Sea Poacher (SS-406) sinks Japanese army luggers No.56 Ume Maru and Fukumo Maru, 45°29'N, 149°01'E.
Submarine Shad (SS-235) damages Japanese merchant cargo ship Mako Maru, 33°42'N, 126°37'E.
USN land-based planes, in wide-ranging sweeps against Japanese shipping, sink merchant cargo ship No.1 Kyodo Maru, 34°15'N, 126°56'E; merchant cargo ship Keiun Maru off Karatsu, western Kyushu, 33°57'N, 129°51'E, and merchant cargo ship No.3 Hakutetsu Maru off east coast of Korea.
Japanese merchant vessel Miyajima Maru, while under tow after being damaged the previous day by a mine, strikes a second mine and sinks, 34°28'N, 134°50'E. Mishima Maru is sunk by USAAF mine laid off Kobe on May 3, 1945, 34°30'N, 135°10'E.
USMC: Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) ends combat operations at Samar in preparation for deployment to Okinawa.
Royal Navy: Avengers from from No. 851 Squadron aboard escort carrier HMS Emperor (D98) sight and attack heavy cruiser Haguro heading into Malacca Strait.
Australian Army:
Private Edward Kenna earns the Victoria Cross at Mission Hill inland from Wewak.
