June 1, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 1 JUNE 1945

SEAC: Adm Mountbatten informs Chiefs of Staff that he has decided to postpone Operation Zipper from late August 1945 to September 9, 1945.

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A four plane shipping strike is called off due to weather.

ZONE OF INTERIOR (ZI) HQ AAF: During Jun, the detachment of the 4th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 311th Photographic Wing (Mapping and Charting) (attached to 6th Reconnaissance Group), operating from Zamboanga with F-7s, moves to Clark Field (squadron is based at Hollandia, New Guinea and is mapping areas of the SW and W Pacific).

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 6 B-25s bomb the Sinsiang railroad yards while 4 B-25s and 4 P-47s damage a bridge N of Linmingkuan; 18 P-51s hit river shipping, warehouses and other targets in the Yoyang area; 20 other fighter-bombers knock out a bridge near Szeshui, pound river shipping near Yoyang, and attack various targets in the Huluehchen area; during Jun, the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF (attached to 23d Fighter Group), moves from Chengkung to Laohwangping with P-40s and P-51s.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): Unit moves in India: HQ 1st Combat Cargo Group from Hathazari to Myitkyina; 1st and 2d Troop Carrier Squadrons, 443d Troop Carrier Group, from Warazup and Shingbwiyang, Burma respectively to Dinjan with C-47s; 2d and 3d Combat Cargo Squadrons, 1st Combat Cargo Group, from Hathazari to Bhamo and Myitkyina respectively with C-47s; 9th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 436th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and 492d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), from Pandaveswar to Tezpur with B-24s; 317th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, from Kalaikunda to Ledo with C-47s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 187: 458 B-29s attack Osaka and 16 others hit targets of opportunity in Japan. The B-29s damage army cargo ships Yamazono Maru, Shinwao Maru, and army tankers Shunsho Maru and Eijun Maru, and merchant cargo ships No.2 Kimagayo Maru, Daito Maru, Hokuju Maru, Denshin Maru, Biyo Maru, Tonegawa Maru, and merchant tankers Ohyama Maru and Encho Maru. 148 P-51s of the VII Fighter Command, enroute to the escort rendezvous with the B-29s, encounter a severe weather front; flying behind in excessive turbulence, many of the fighters collide and 27 are lost including P-51D "Madam Wham-Dam" 44-72607 pilot Lt. Col Harvey J. Scandrett (MIA); Only 27 others manage to find the B-29s and escort them over the target; the B-29s claim 16 Japanese fighters and the P-51s claim 1-0-0; 10 B-29s are lost including B-29A 42-93995 pilot Captain Arthur Behrens (KIA). In the Ryukyu Islands, twelve P-47s from Ie Shima fly strafing and rocket attacks against Kikaiga, Tokuno and Amami Gunto.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s pound Takao while fighter aircraft sweep the coastline of Formosa. B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers continue to hit targets in the Cagayan Valley, at Pingkian, Kayapa, Gattaran, Cumao, Bone, and in the Ipo area; many of the missions are ground support strikes. In Borneo, B-24s and P-38s hit Tarakan troop concentrations while B-24s, B-25s, and P-38s hit Kota Belud, Victoria, Jesselton, Langkon, and Labuan. The 67th Troop Carrier Squadron and 69th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group move from Tanauan to Clark Field with C-47s. Unit moves during Jun 45: HQ 54th Troop Carrier Wing and 85th Fighter Wing from Leyte to Clark Field and Fort William McKinley.

U.S. Army: On Luzon, In U.S. Sixth Army's I Corps area, 129th Inf of 37th Div continues rapidly northward against scattered resistance.

On Mindano, In U.S. Eighth Army's X Corps area, 19th Inf of 24th Div continues westward during next few days, getting into position for assault on Mandog.

On Okinawa, since enemy has escaped from Shuri, U.S. Tenth Army begins southward pursuit, abandoning envelopment maneuvers aimed at splitting Japanese forces on Okinawa. In III Amphib Corps area, after clearing Hill 46, 6th Mar Div seizes Shichina and northern branch of the Kokuba. To E, 5th Marines, 1st Mar Div, are patrolling across the Kokuba. At night, 6th Mar Div Rcn Co crosses Kokuba estuary to reconnoiter in preparation for amphibious operations against Oroku Peninsula. XXIV Corps, upon regrouping, pursues enemy southward. 96th Div, on right flank, relieves 32d Inf of 7th Div and begins to clear opposition near Chan. 77th Div covers rear of 96th Div and mops up in Shuri area. 7th Div, shifting E, pushes southward on E flank of corps with 17th Inf on right and 184th on left, clearing 2 hills of rear-guard opposition.

USN: PB4Y-1 Liberator 38917 and PB4Y-2 Privateer 59563 undertake a photographic reconnaissance over Singapore Harbor on Singapore. Over the target, intercepted by Japanese fighters and lost is PB4Y-2 Privateer 59563 pilot Commander Howard F. Mears (MIA).

Naval Air Facility, Peleliu Island is established on Peleliu.

Naval Air Base, Tarawa, is disestablished on Tarawa.

Mines laid by B-29s sink Japanese army cargo ship Seishu Maru off Shodo Jima, and merchant cargo ships Abukamagawa Maru 34°34'N, 134°14'E, and No.7 Kenkon Maru and Meitei Maru off Shimonoseki, 34°58'N, 130°56'E, merchant tanker Yoko Maru, 34°30'N, 135°15'E, merchant cargo ship Myosei Maru in Shimonoseki Strait, 33°58'N, 131°03'E; and damage merchant cargo ship Kishun Maru north by east of Mojizaki light, Goko Maru northwest of Wakamatsu, 33°58'N, 130°41'E, Unten Maru west of Seto, Inland Sea, and Shinano Maru outside Fushiki harbor, and cargo vessel Shinju Maru 35°42'N, 136°04'E, and No.1 ToyoMaru at entrance of Shimonoseki Strait, 33°57'N, 130°40'E.

Submarine chaser PC-1599 is damaged by grounding off Okinawa, 26°25'N, 127°43'E.

USMC: On Okinawa, the XXIV Corps, USA, changed the direction of its main attack against the Japanese final defenses in the southern sector of the island. The 7th and 97th Divisions, USA, were instructed to attack south while the 77th Division, USA, assumed responsibility for the 97th Division's former zone. The III Amphibious Corps launched a coordinated drive by the 1st and 6th Marine Divisions and secured the high ground overlooking the main east-west road of the Kokuba Gawa Valley in the Japanese new defensive position.

USS Gilbert Islands joins Task Unit 52.1.3.

The Supply Service of the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, was redesignated as Service Command.

Royal Navy: British submarine HMS Tiptoe sinks Japanese cargo ship Tobi Maru off Matasiri Island 04°40'S, 115°32'E.