This day in the war in the Pacific 65 years ago.

[syscom3]

July 2nd 1945

NEI: In Borneo, B-24s bomb defenses in the Balikpapan area, P-38s support Australian forces as they complete the capture of Balikpapan and its oil installations and B-25s hit the Bintula personnel area.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon Island, fighter-bombers hit resistance pockets near Kiangan and supply areas in the Cervantes sector.

AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): 3 B-24s from Guam Island attack a radar installation on Marcus Island. Unit moves to Okinawa: HQ 11th BG and 26th, 98th and 431st Bombardment Squadrons from Guam with B-24s; HQ 319th BG and 437th, 439th and 440th Bombardment Squadrons to Kadena from the US with A-26s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 245: During the night of 2/3 Jul, 39 B-29s bomb an oil refinery at Minoshima; 1 other hits alternate targets.

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 28 P-51s hit rail, river, and road traffic, bridge, and buildings around Hengyang, Hankow, and Yoyang, attack a bivouac area and HQ E of Changsha, and bomb a troop concentration and buildings at Yangan. The fighter-bombers pound HQ, buildings, a fortified compound, barracks, general targets of opportunity around Tartin, and a troop concentration near Sichuan.



FORMOSA: B-24s pound Toyohara Airfield on Formosa.

UK: London: Admiral Mountbatten is ordered to launch Operation Zipper, the liberation of Malaya in August.

[syscom3]

July 3rd 1945 43,864

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, fighter-bombers hit resistance areas in the Mankayan and Kiangan sectors.

NEI: Sepinggan airfield on Borneo falls to the 7th Australian Division. On Celebes Island, B-24s bomb runways at Mandai Airifled and Limboeng airfields. In Borneo, B-24s pound Batu Kawa airstrip SE of Kuching and defensive positions near Balikpapan in support of the Australian drive inland.

AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): 2 B-24s from Guam Island attack water storage buildings
on Marcus. 36 B-25s from Okinawa, attacking in two flights, hit Chiran Airfield. The 438th Bombardment Squadron, 319th BG, arrives at Kadena, Okinawa from the US with A-26s.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 509 B-29s participate in 1 mining and 4 incendiary missions during the night of 3/4 Jul; 3 B-29s are lost:
Mission 246: 26 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and waters at Funakawa and Maizuru during the predawn hours of the 4th; 2 other B-29s mine alternate targets.
Mission 247: 116 B-29s attack the Takamatsu urban area destroying 1.4 sq mi, 78% of the city; 3 other hit alternate targets; 2 B-29s are lost.
Mission 248: 125 B-29s hit the Kochi urban area destroying 0.92 sq mi, 48% of the city; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 249: 106 B-29s attack Himeji urban area destroying 1.216 sq mi, 63.3% of the city.
Mission 250: 129 B-29s hit the Tokushima urban area destroying 1.7 sq mi, 74% of the city; 2 B-29s attack alternate targets.

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Fourteenth Air Force: 3 B-25s knock out a bridge near Suicheng while 2 P-47 escorts hit nearby AA positions; 70+ P-51s and P-47s continue to disrupt the Japanese withdrawal, attacking transport, supply, and communications targets, troops, bridges and Japanese-held points; the targets are near Hengyang, Paoching, Kueiyangshih, Changsha, Kweilin, Lingling, Kukong, Hankow, Siangtan, Isuho, Chiuchiang, Fahsien, Tanchuk, Lohochai, and the Luichow Peninsula. The fighter bombers also hit shipping, a cement plant, an airfield, and barracks area near Haiphong, French Indochina.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): The air echelon of the XX Bomber Command, including Brigadier General Joseph Smith, Commanding General, sets sails from India for Okinawa; the rest of the command sails in 2 lots, on 12 Jul and 4 Aug, leaving only a few small detachments in the India-Burma area. [The 58th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) earlier sailed to the Marianas on 27 Feb].

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Fifth AF fighters fly their first mission over Japan, P-51s destroying floatplanes in the Fukuoka harbor area on Kyushu. The 868th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), Thirteenth AF, moves from Morotai Island to Leyte Island with B-24s (the squadron specializes in low-level night attacks and pathfinder missions).

[syscom3]

July 4th 1945

NEI: On Borneo, B-24s again pound defenses near Balikpapan and B-25s bomb Sibuti. On Celebes Island, B-24s pound the Donggala seaplane base and runways at Boeloedowang and Limboeng Airfields.

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Cagayan Valley and others attack Batan Island.

JAPAN: [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: P-51s fly a massive sweep along the W coast of Kyushu Island, Japan.
General Spaatz will command the US Strategic Air Force against Japan. General Carl A. Spaatz is selected to command the US Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF) when it is activated in mid-July.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (Eleventh Air Force): To celebrate the 4th of July, 8 B-24s radar-bomb the Kataoka naval base on Shimushu with napalm.

AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): 3 B-24s from Guam Island attack AA installations on the SW corner of Marcus.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 159 Iwo Jima based P-51s attack the Yokosuka naval base, and airfields in the Tokyo area (Imba, Tsukuba, and Kasumigaura); they claim 9-25 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost.

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) A group of officers arrives at Chungking Airfield to organize HQ, AAF China Theater.

Fourteenth Air Force: 30 P-51s and P-38s over French Indochina and S and E China attack docks and shipping at Haiphong, Red River shipping between Hanoi and Hung Yen, French Indochina, small craft between Mon Cay, French Indochina and Pakhoi, China, between Hongay and Pai-lung Wei Cape, and between Pai-lung Wei Cape and Umpo, China; the fighter-bombers also hit road traffic on the Luichow Peninsula and sampans E of Tanchuk, China.

[syscom3]

July 5th 1945

PACIFIC: General Douglas MacArthur declares that the Philippine Islands have been completely liberated.

UK: Today is election day in Britain. The results of this first postwar election will not be available until July 26 so that the votes of soldiers overseas may be counted.

PHILLIPINES: Fighter-bombers fly nearly 100 sorties in support of ground forces in the Kiangan area on Luzon.

NEI: In Borneo, B-24s bomb Manggar and Riko and Australian troops cross Balikpapan Bay and land on the W shore.

AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): 46 B-24s and 24 B-25s all from Okinawa bomb Omura Airfield and 2 towns in the Omura-Nagasaki area, Japan.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 100 P-51s, based on Iwo Jima, strike airfields in the Tokyo area (Ibaraki, Yatabe, Yawatasaki Cape, and Maruta); they claim 5-11 aircraft on the ground.

Fourteenth Air Force: 8 B-25s sink several sampans and junks at Haiphong, French Indochina and damage several larger vessels. 2 B-25s and 2 P-47s knock out a bridge S of Chumatien, China. 37 P-51s over French Indochina and S and E China blast shipping in the Hongay and Haiphong, French Indochina area, and in China, pound docks and small vessels at Chikhom, knock out a bridge at Chumatien, blast a barracks area at Anyang, and hit river and rail traffic around Tanchuk and Chenghsien.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Formosa, B-24s bomb Toshien, Takao, Toyohara and the nearby Kamioka supply area, and Taihoku Airfield. P-51s sweeping Kyushu Island, Japan strafe targets of opportunity and down several aircraft.

[syscom3]

July 6th 1945

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, fighter-bombers continue to support ground forces N of Kiangan and bomb the town of Mankayan.

NEI: B-24s over Borneo bomb Bandjermasin warehouses, Tandjoengredeb buildings, Samarinda shipyards, and the Balikpapan and Manggar areas.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Taking off during the late evening hours of 6 Jul, 517 B-29s make four incendiary and 1 HE attacks between 0700 and 0800 hours local on 7 Jul; 1 B-29 is lost: Mission 251: 124 B-29s attack the Chiba urban area destroying 0.86 sq miles, 43.4% of the city; 1 other B-29 hits an alternate target.
Mission 252: 123 B-29s hit the Akashi urban area destroying 0.81 sq miles, 57.0% of the city; 1 other B-29 hits an alternate target.
Mission 253: 133 B-29s attack the Shimizu urban area destroying 0.71 sq miles, 50% of the city; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 254: 131 B-29s hit the Kofu urban area destroying 1.3 sq miles, 65% of the city; 1 other B-29 hits an alternate target.
Mission 255: 59 B-29s drop 500-pound bombs on the Maruzen Oil Refinery at Wakayama; 1 other hits an alternate target. 110 Iwo Jima-based P-51s attack airfields in the Tokyo area (Kumagaya, Yamagata, and Chiba); they claim 1-0-0 aircraft in the air and 6-25 on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost.

CHINA THEATER (AAF, China Theater) Lieutenant General George E Stratemeyer officially assumes command as Commanding General AAF China Theater; he will arrive in China several days later.

Fourteenth Air Force: 98 P-51s and P-38s over French Indochina and S and E China continue to disrupt the Japanese retreat and hit transport and supply targets; rail, road, and river traffic, coastal shipping, bridges, troops, Japanese-held areas, and general targets of opportunity are blasted at many locations chiefly around Kweilin, Kukong, and Yangso, China, and Haiphong, and Hanoi, French Indochina.
On this date Major General Claire L Chennault, Commanding General Fourteenth AF, requests permission to retire, which is soon granted.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In Formosa, B-24s bomb Heito, Ryutan, and Taien Airfields and A-26s pound the Taito railroad yards. Okinawa-based P-51s hit transportation targets in the Kagoshima Bay area of Japan.

[syscom3]

July 7th 1945

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon Island, B-25s and fighter-bombers strike at remnants of the Japanese army in the Laguna de Bay and Marikina areas and fighter-bombers also hit areas of resistance near Kiangan, Penablanca, and Mankayan.

NEI: B-24s, B-25s, and P-38s support Australian ground forces in the area near Balikpapan, Borneo.

USA: U.S. President Harry S. Truman, Secretary of State James F. Byrnes and Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy depart the U.S. in the heavy cruiser USS Augusta for Antwerp, Belgium. This is the first leg of their journey to the Potsdam Conference with British and Russian leaders.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 100+ P-51s dispatched from Iwo Jima to hit airfields in the Tokyo area abort due to bad weather. HQ XX Bomber Command arrives at Sakugawa, Okinawa from India; HQ 414th Fighter Group and 413th, 437th, and 456th Fighter Squadrons arrive at North Field, from the US with P-47s (first mission is 13 Jul).

Fourteenth Air Force: 80+ P-51s and P-38s over French Indochina and S and E China continue to disrupt the Japanese withdrawal, pounding numerous communications and transport targets and general targets of opportunity particularly in the Yangso, Kweilin, and Fenstun areas.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Formosa, B-24s bomb Matsuyama and Taihoku Airfields in force.

[syscom3]

July 8th 1945

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, P-38s and P-51s supporting ground operations hit supply and personnel areas near Kiangan and Penablanca.

NEI: On Borneo, B-24s and B-25s, supporting Australian forces, hit the Balikpapan area defensive positions, Samarinda shipyards, various targets along the Samarinda road, and warehouses at Tandjung. B-24s [including some of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)] bomb warehouses at Donggala on Celebes Island.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 2 fighter groups (100+) P-51s from Iwo Jima pound airfields and other targets at Hyakuri, Chofu, Tokorozawa, and Yachimata, Japan; 5 aircraft are claimed downed and at least 25 destroyed on the ground; 8 P-51s are lost.

Fourteenth Air Force: 6 B-25s and 4 P-47s severely damage a bridge N of Sinsiang and hit nearby trains. 60+ P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s pound river shipping, rail traffic, supplies, and troops at Haiphong, Do Son, and Tourane, French Indochina and at numerous locations in S and E China.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: On Formosa, B-24s bomb Shinchiku Airfield, B-25s start fires at the Getsubi alcohol plant and on Koto Island, and P-38s attack oil production area at Gyuni Kuki. The 69th and 311th Fighter Squadrons, 58th FG, move from Porac to Okinawa with P-47s.

[syscom3]

July 9th 1945

PHILLIPINES: On Luzon, P-38s and P-51s fly ground support in the Iguig area of the Cagayan River Valley and hit Sabangan.

NEI: On Borneo, B-24s and P-38s supporting Australian forces, hit Japanese forces in areas near Balikpapan, Manggar, and Sepinggang; (Australian and Dutch forces complete the encirclement of Balikpapan Bay); other B-24s hit the Samarinda shipyards; and B-25s in support of operations in the Brunei Bay area bomb a Japanese-occupied area E of Beaufort.

AAF PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): 43 B-24s from Okinawa bomb Omura Airfield, Kyushu, Japan (1 other bombs the airfield on Kikaiga-shima, Amami Islands, Ryukyu Islands) and 50+ Okinawa-based B-25s hit Tokuno Airfield on Tokuno Shima, Amami.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): During the night of 9/10 Jul, 1 mining, 1 bombing and 4 incendiary missions are flown against Japan; 3 B-29s are lost:
Mission 256: 29 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and the waters at Niigata and Nanao; 1 other mines other targets; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 257: 123 B-29s attack the Senai urban area destroying 1.22 sq mi, 27% of the city area; 1 other B-29 hits an alternate target; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 258: 115 B-29s attack the Sakai urban area destroying 1.02 sq mi, 44% of the city area; 3 other B-29s hit alternate targets.
Mission 259: 108 B-29s hit the Wakayama urban area destroying 2.1 sq mi, 52.5% of the city area.
Mission 260: 129 B-29s attack Gifu urban area destroying 1.93 sq mi, 74% of the city area; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 261: 61 B-29s attack the Utsube Oil Refinery at Yokkaichi with poor results; 1 hits an alternate target.
102 Iwo Jima based P-51s hit airfields at Itami, Hamamatsu, Aichi, and Washinomiya, claiming 1-0-0 aircraft in the air and 15-5 on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost.

Tenth Air Force: The 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Reconnaissance Group, moves from Nagaghuli to Dergaon, India with F-6s.

Fourteenth Air Force: 5 B-25s knock out 2 bridges in the Sinantien area; 14 P-51s and P-38s knock out bridges near Hengyang and Sinshih, damage a bridge near Chihsien, and attack shipping and railroad targets of opportunity around Hankow, Lukou, and Sinshih, China, and Dong Hoi, French Indochina. The detachment of the 1st Combat Cargo Squadron, Fourteenth AF, operating from Liangshan returns to base at Hsinching with C-47s.

WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Nearly 50 P-51s are weathered out of a Kyushu, Japan sweep from Okinawa. On Formosa, B-24s bomb Okaseki, Toyohara, and Takao Airfields and A-26s attack Karenko. Unit moves: HQ 348th FG and 340th Fighter Squadron from Floridablanca to Ie Shima with P-51s; ground echelon of 25th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Okinawa (air echelon is at Clark Field, Luzon with F-5s); 310th Fighter Squadron, 58th FG, from Porac to Okinawa with P-47s; 418th Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command [attached to 308th Bombardment Wing (Heavy)] from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Okinawa with P-61s.

[Bernhart]

didn't realize dutch had land forces fighting late in the war. will have to do some research on that, or can any of our dutch friends fill me in?

[Wildcat]

didn't realize dutch had land forces fighting late in the war. will have to do some research on that, or can any of our dutch friends fill me in?

AFAIK a single Dutch rifle company took part in the Balikpapan invasion, and don't forget that Dutch airmen had been flying mission's out of Australia and later New Guineafrom 1942 right to the end.

[syscom3]

Between the fall of Okinawa and the end of the war, the following locations still had brutal battles on the land.

1) ANZAC forces still fighting in the Solomons and New Guinea
2) Allied (Mostly British and Indian) forces fighting in Burma and China
3) Aussie forces fighting on Borneo
4) US forces in the PI still mopping up.

[Bernhart]

i knew about the airmen, Ibelieve on european front there was a fighter sqadron and a bomber one. Where the dutch east indian soldiers ones who made it to Australia, or liberated from Holland? 2 of my uncles fought in the idependence war after, and I have seen records that show them in a Dutch army regiment that was attached to the Canadian army in march 45, Makes me wonder if they might have been part of the east indian one too? Can't ask them as they are both gone now and they really didn't discuss thier army exploits alot.

[syscom3]

Wildcat, I suspect that most of the Dutch infantryman that had been stationed in the NEI prior to the war, were either dead or captured. Not many would have been around in the summer of 1945.

[Wildcat]

G'day Sys, I just came across this link which should answer some questions - 400 years Netherlands-Australia: Allies: Operations: The Royal Netherlands Indies Army. I was aware of the Dutch participation at Balikpapan, but had totally forgotten about the guys attached to the Merauke forces.

[Wildcat]

Here's another link that may be of interest to you guys -
Australian War Memorial - Allies in adversity, Australia and the Dutch in the Pacific War