August 11, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 11 AUGUST 1945

U.S. President Harry S. Truman informs the Japanese government that the Supreme Commander General Douglas MacArthur would accept its surrender and that the Emperor and High Command would have to issue a cease fire to all Japanese armed forces before the Allies could accept Japan's surrender.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): The 11th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group moves from Adak to Shemya with P-38s.

Fourteenth Air Force: Nine P-51s attack troops, trains, and rivercraft around Chenhsien, Tehsien, and Hengyang; and the 115th Liaison Squadron, Fourteenth AF, based at Hsingchiang with L-1, L-4s and L-5s, begins operating primarily from Peishiyi.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Japan, Okinawa-based B-24s, B-25s, A-26s, A-20s, and fighters flying about 530 sorties cause extensive destruction to shipping and shore installations in the Inland Sea, in the Tsushima area, and of communications, transportation, and other targets throughout Kyushu. Philippines based B-24s bomb Heito Airfield and Laha barracks Ambon. P-38s hit buildings near Dibuluan and field guns near Kiangan. The 400th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from San Jose to Ie Shima with B-24s.

U.S. Navy: Task Group 95.4 (TG 95.4) under Captain Henry J. Armstrong, Jr. comprising four light minelayers (DM), 40 minesweepers (AM) and 10 motor minesweepers (YMS), and various supporting vessels, departs Buckner Bay bound for the East China Sea to conduct minesweeping operations.

Carrier planes from Task Force 38 (TF 38) damage Japanese destroyer Kaba and submarines I-36, I-159, and I-402 in Kure Harbor.

Destroyer McDermut (DD-677) is damaged by small-caliber naval gunfire in the Kurils, 49°30'N, 155°01'E.

Submarine Chub (SS-329) sinks Japanese army auxiliary sailing vessel No.32 Sakura Maru, 06°40'S, 115°44'E.

Submarine Hawkbill (SS-366) puts landing party and Australian commandoes ashore at Terampah Harbor, Matak Island Anambas Islands, that destroys a gasoline dump, captures intelligence documents, and rescues an Indian POW.

Submarine Jallao (SS-368) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Teihoku Maru, 38°03'N, 133°12'E.

Mines laid by B-29s sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Nisshin Maru No. 2 eight kilometers off Wakamatsu light, 33°45'N, 131°30'E, and damage landing ship T.153 two miles east-northeast of Kanawaiwa, Japan.

Japanese merchant vessel Wajun Go is damaged by marine casualty near Funagawa.

IJN: The Japanese Navy attempted a second test flight of J9Y Kikka Prototype 1 with rocket assisted take off (RATO) units under each wing. The RATO unit's alignment were miscalculated and the test pilot believed that they had not fired and shut off the main engines. Powered by the rockets, the Kikka ran off the runway, tearing off the landing gear and crashed into Tokyo Bay. The damaged aircraft could not be repaired before the end of the Pacific War.