August 17, 1945
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 17 AUGUST 1945

Japan: General Prince Higashikuni becomes Prime Minister of Japan and forms a new cabinet.

VSS: Soviet aircraft bomb Shumushu.

IJN: In retaliation to Soviet planes bombing Shumushu, the remaining B5N Kates reportedly took off on a mission to attack a Soviet Convoy off Lopatka Point, and claimed a minesweeper as sunk.

Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.46 is sunk by mine off Mokpo, Korea, 34°51'N, 126°02'E.

CHINA: Fourteenth Air Force: Unit moves in China: 91st Fighter Squadron, 81st Fighter Group, from Fungwanshan to Huhsien with P-47s; detachment of the 426th Night Fighter Squadron, Fourteenth AF (attached to 312th Fighter Wing), at Hsian returns to base at Shwangliu with P-61s.

In China, U.S. forces organize the "Duck Mission" when a B-24 Liberator flew over the camp and six Allied personnel parachuted to render aid including Major Stanley Staiger, Ensign Jimmy Moore, Lt. Jim Hannon, Raymond Hanchulak, Sgt Peter Orlich, Sgt Tad Nagaki and a Chinese interpreter Wang Chenghan nicknamed "Eddie". The group liberated the 1,400 Allied civilians at Weihsien Internment Camp (Weihsien Camp).

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Unit moves to Okinawa: 417th Bombardment Group, HQ, 672d Bombardment Squadron and 675th Bombardment Squadron from San Jose with A-20s; 7th Fighter Squadron and 8th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, from Lingayen Airfield with P-38s. Four B-32 Dominators on a photographic mission over Tokyo are intercepted by Japanese fighters including pilot Saburo Sakai that damage B-32 42-108539.

References
Winged Samurai (1985) pages 86 (Sakai victory claims - 8/17/45 Tokyo, Japan / B-32 x 1 damaged by 14 pilots), 134-136 (The Last Mission)