May 26, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 26 MAY 1945

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, twelve B-25s and six P-51s damage two bridges north of Hankow; Four B-25s hit railroad targets around Lohochai and between Kinkiang and Kioshan; 3 B-25s attack truck convoys in the Siangtan and Paoching areas and along the Paoching-Hengyang-Changsha highway; 80+ fighter-bombers over several areas in S and E China continue to harass Japanese movements, attacking troops and positions and hitting rail and road traffic.

China: Continuing redeployment for defense of Japan, the Japan Army withdraws from Yung-ning, severing the land route to Indochina. The Chinese Army retake Nanning.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Ten B-24s from Guam bomb Marcus Airfield.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Sixteen P-47s from Saipan strafe Moen Airfield, Dublon Seaplane Base, and targets of opportunity at Truk. Mission 184: During the night of 26/27 May, 29 B-29s mine waters in Shimonoseki Strait and off Fushiki, Fukuoka, and Karatsu.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA: B-25s and P-38s sweep the west part of Formosa causing extensive damage to a variety of communications and industrial targets. B-25s strike Byoritsu oil refinery on Formosa. Lost is B-25J "Jaunty Jo" 43-36192 pilot 2nd Lt. Robert J. Knauf (MIA / KIA). A-20s and fighter-bombers pound numerous Luzon Island targets, particularly in the Balete Pass area and B-24s bomb Tuguegarao and Echague. Fighter-bombers support ground forces on Cebu. In Borneo, B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers hit Tarakan, Beaufort, Weston, Tenom, Trusan Haji, Sandakan, and Jesselton.

U.S. Army: On Luzon, in U.S. Sixth Army's I Corps area, 27th Inf of 25th Div finally clears ravine north of Balete Pass and gets patrol into Santa Fe. In XI Corps area, 151st Inf of 38th Div, on left of 149th, has cleared Wawa Road and secured supply route. Reinf platoon from Co A closes in on Wawa but is forced to withdraw; in another attempt secures the barrio.

On Mindanao, in U.S. Eighth Army's X Corps area, Co I of 167th Inf, 31st Div, bypasses enemy positions on Talomo Trail to reach Pulangi R near Sanipon. 1st Bn moves forward to assist 3d Bn.

On Okinawa, In U.S. Tenth Army area, Japanese combat units begin withdrawing from Shuri and are targets for aircraft, artillery and naval gunfire. In XXIV Corps area, 184th Inf of 7th Div drives southward along east coast to next ridge line with ease, but 32d Inf incurs heavy casualties attempting to take Dick Hill in the Japanese defense line east of Chan.

U.S. Navy: Mines sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 172 at entrance to Fushiki harbor, Honshu, 36°48'N, 137°05'E, and merchant cargo ships Mogi Maru south of Hime Jima, 33°43'N, 131°38'E, Shiokubi Maru off Motoyamazakiand 9 Kaishin Maru at 34°00'N, 130°50'E, and No. 6 Miyakawa Maru 3.5 kilometers south of Hesaki, 33°55'N, 131°02'E, and damage Japanese gunboat Hirota Maru, 34°18'N, 133°32'E, transport Akeshima Maru near Moji, 34°47'N, 131°35'E, and transport Inari Maru off Motoyamamisaki, and army cargo ships Ginzan Maru off Takenoko signal station and Igasa Maru 2.2 kilometers south of Hesaki, and merchant cargo ships Kunugi Maru outside Kobe Harbor, 34°39'N, 135°11'E, Shozan Maru off Tokuyama, Shimonoseki Strait, 33°57'N, 131°46'E, and Mitsukisan Maru at 33°52'N, 131°02'E.

Off Okinawa, kamikazes damage high speed minesweeper Forrest (DMS-24), 26°00'N, 128°00'E, and submarine chaser PC-1603, 26°25'N, 127°53'E.

Submarine Billfish (SS-286) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship No.7 Kotobuki Maru off Nagasaki at 33°19'N, 129°31'E.

Japanese guardboat Kaishin Maru is damaged by stranding at north end of Paramushiro.

Australian Navy: HMAS Colac (J242/M05) was damaged by shore batteries on Choiseul.