August 3, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 3 AUGUST 1945

Twentieth Air Force: P-51D Mustangs from Iwo Jima fly nearly 100 sorties throughout the Tokyo area, hitting airfields, rail installations, and trains. Lost is P-51D pilot Coneff (MIA), P-51D 44-73369 pilot 1st Lt. Paul I. Ewalt (MIA), P-51D "Mrs. Beak" 44-72561 pilot 1st Lt. Edward "Ed" H. Mikes, Jr. rescued by USS Aspro SS-309 and P-51D 44-63974 pilot 2nd Lt. Ralph N. Heintz (POW).

Fourteenth Air Force: 16 B-25s pound various railroad targets in E China; 50+ fighter-bombers attack bridges, railroad yards, storage areas, enemy troops, river and rail traffic, and various other targets as the campaign to disrupt the Japanese retreat from south and east China continues in spite of considerable bad weather.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: P-38s and B-25s support ground forces in northern Luzon, hitting buildings in the Apunan area and Japanese positions at various locations including ridges southwest of Kiangan and west of Banaue. B-24s bomb Tanamon Airfield and Sidate Airfield on Celebes and bomb the seaplane base on Kangean Island in the Java Sea.

IJN: J7W1 Shinden Prototype No. 1 piloted by designer Captain Masaoki Tsuruno made a short successful test flight at Mushiroda Airfield.

U.S. Navy: USS Aspro SS-309 rescues Captain Edward "Ed" H. Mikes, Jr. from Sagami Bay covered by PB4Y Privateers that shoot down intercepting planes.

PBY Catalina from Peleliu Airfield spots survivors of USS Indianapolis (CA-35) sunk July 30, 1945.

Mines laid by B-29s sink Japanese merchant cargo ships No.3 Kamikage Maru outside Najin harbor and Tairetsu Maru in Kobe harbor, 34°39'N, 135°12'E; and transport Aga Maru off Takatakao Light; and damage army ship Osho Maru off Tsuruga, 35°40'N, 136°04'E; and merchant cargo ships Kokuyo Maru east of Hesaki and Shotai Maru in Fushiki harbor.

Cargo ship Taii Maru is damaged, agent unspecified, 5.6 kilometers off Karasu Jima.

Navy Petroleum Reserve 4 Expedition, formed around cargo ship Spica (AK-16) and U.S. freighters Jonathan Harrington and Enos A. Mills, anchors off Icy Cape, Alaska. There it will remain until ice conditions improve at Point Barrow.

USMC: The commander of the FEAF directs Headquarters, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW) and Marine Aircraft Group 61 (MAG-61) to move to the Philippines.

Royal Navy: HMS Trump and HMS Tiptoe attack Japanese Batavia-to-Singapore convoy escorted by Patrol Boat No. 109, sinking army cargo vessel Tencho Maru, 05°07'S, 106°05'E.