July 21, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 21 JULY 1945

Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 11 B-25s and 2 P-51s attack truck convoys in the Siang Chiang Valley, bomb a HQ near Wuchang, and hit a bridge, trains, warehouses, and AA positions in the Sienning area. 40+ P-51s, P-38s, and P-61s again attack numerous targets and disrupt enemy movement in French Indochina and S and E China, hitting communications targets, supplies, transport, and other targets of opportunity.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s and A-26s bomb shipping at Naze-Ko, Ryukyu Islands. P-38s hit the Kiangan area. Bad weather restricts activity in the Netherlands East Indies, Philippines, Japan, and other target areas mainly to light raids and snooper missions. Unit moves to/on Okinawa: Headquarters (HQ) 319th Bombardment Group and 437th Bombardment Squadron, 438th Bombardment Squadron, 439th Bombardment Squadron and 440th Bombardment Squadron move from Kadena to Machinato with A-26s; ground echelon of 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, from Dulag (air echelon at Clark Field with F-5s); 373rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 308th Bombardment Group (Heavy) from Luliang to Yontan with B-24s; 405th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), from Lingayen Airfield with B-25s.

U.S. Navy: Submarine Sea Robin (SS-407) sinks Japanese cargo vessels Chio Maru and Yoshi Maru 30 kilometers east of Shinishi Island 33°45'N, 126°25'E.

Mines sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Nichiyo Maru in Tomita harbor, and damage army cargo ship Kazuura Maru off Pusan.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Meiyu Maru is damaged by aircraft, 5.4 kilometers off Makinoshima light.

USMC: Twenty-four F4U Corsairs including twelve from VMF-212 and twelve from VMF-223 strike Iriomote Jima targeting Sonai and Funauki. Twelve Corsairs from VMF-212 led by Commanding Officer (C. O.) Major John P. McMahon strike Sonai targeting a small chemical plant and administrative center and fire 59 rockets and strafe. Lost is F4U 81095 pilot 2nd Lt. John F. McGrath (MIA). Two other planes returned with anti-aircraft fragments embedded in their fuselage. Meanwhile, the other twelve Corsairs srike Funauki.