Air Operations, CBICHINA
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, East Indies
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, EuropeUS 9th AIR FORCEETO:
ITALY:
![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Japan
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Philippines
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Ryukyus
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ArcticU-711 is lying alongside the depot ship Black Watch at Harstad, Norway when she is sunk by Royal Navy aircraft from escort carriers Queen, Seacher and Trumpeter.
![]() ![]() ![]() Baltic SeaU-236, U-393 and U-2338 are caught on the surface by a Beaufighter Strike Wing of aircraft from Nos 235 and 245 Squadrons. All three U-boats are subjected to repeated cannon and rocket attacks. They are all sunk so close to land that the majority of their crews survived.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() BurmaAdm Mountbatten gets the headquarters of the British Pacific Fleet to promise him, in addition to the ships already allocated to him, the support of 3 aircraft carriers for Operation ZIPPER, the recapture of Malaya. The advance of the British XV Corps north of Rangoon, and that of the IV and XXXIII Corps coming down from the north, threatens to cut off the Japanese 28th Army under Gen Shoso Sakurai, from the rest of the Japanese forces in Burma under Gen Hyotaro Kimura. The great Irrawaddy River is between the 2 armies. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Eastern FrontGerman headquarters admit the end of the struggle for Berlin. Fighting continues, mostly rearguard actions against the Russians, while the bulk of the German units try to reach the British-American lines, in the north between Wismar and Schwerin, in Czechoslovakia, southeast of Moravska-Ostrava and in Austria in the St Pölten sector. In Dalmatia, Tito's forces enter Fiume and threaten Pola. CENTRAL SECTORSchwerin falls to the 70th Army as the rearguards of the 3rd Panzer Army are destroyed. The revolt in Prague breaks out in force. The Germans are attacked by Czech partisans and civilians. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() GuamThe US Navy establishes a major air operating base on Guam known as Fleet Air Wing 18. The aircraft stationed there will be capable of major air operations over the central and western Pacific. North SeaAt least 5,000 former concentration camp inmates, of many nationalities, drown when RAF fighter-bombers sink the liner Cap Arkona and the SS Thielbek off Lübeck. [![]() ![]() OkinawaThe kamikaze attacks continue in support of the Japanese land offensive. The airfield at Yontan is heavily bombed, while suicide aircraft and piloted flying bombs sink 14 small ships and damage the escort carrier Sangamon (CVE-26), the destroyer Cowell and other ships fairly seriously. Other US ships damaged in the day's action include the destroyer Hudson (DD-475) in a collision, the light minelayer Gwin (DM-33) by suicide plane, the high-speed minesweeper Hopkins (DMS-13) by suicide plane, the minesweeper Gayety by piloted bomb, the motor minesweeper YMS-311 by friendly naval gunfire, the motor minesweeper YMS-327 by suicide plane and friendly fire, the motor minesweeper YMS-331 by suicide plane and the motor gunboat PGM-17 by grounding. 131 Japanese aircraft are brought down. On land, the Japanese 32nd Army counterattacks with great vigor all day. The artillery, formerly concealed, is brought out into the open to support the infantry better, but this makes the guns easy targets for the American counter-battery fire. The Japanese concentrate their thrust on the front of the 7th and 77th Divs, but are unable to break through, and suffer heavy losses. Although not directly involved in the counteroffensive, the 1st Marine Div has very high casualties when it attacks the Machinato airfield, in the west. Despite the Japanese counterattacks, the Americans manage to improve their positions on the Maeda Escarpment. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Pacific
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() PhilippinesOn Luzon in the US I Corps sector, units of the 25th Division take Mount Haruna, a few hundred yards west of the Balete Pass. Northwest of Manila, in the XI Corps sector, the 145th Infantry attack toward Guagua but are driven back by the Japanese. On Mindanao the US 24th Division begins mopping up in the Davao area, while a regiment of the 31st Division carries out patrol activities north of Zibawe. One regiment of the 41st Division reaches Parang, north of Cotabato, from Samboanga, and other forces land north of Digos, near Santa Cruz, on the east coast. On Negros the Americal Div tries again to reopen its supply lines, cut by the Japanese, in the eastern part of the island. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Western FrontAt 6:20p.m. German representatives sign the document of unconditional surrender by the armed forces of the Reich in Holland, northwest Germany and Denmark, to the Commander of the 21st Army Group, Field-Marshal Montgomery at Lüneburg Heath. About one million German troops surrender in the Netherlands, Denmark, and northwest Germany. The terms will become effective at 8:00a.m. the next day. Units of the V Corps, US 1st Army, prepare to advance into Czechoslovakia, toward Karsbad (Karlovy Vary) and Pilsen (Plzen). In the US 3rd Army sector the XX Corps completes the crossing of the Inn River. Salzburg surrenders to the XV Corps of the US 7th Army, whose units push on toward Berchtesgaden. The VI Corps accepts the surrender of Innsbruck. Officers of the German 19th Army arrive at the headquarters of the 44th Div, VI Corps, US 7th Army, to discuss arrangements for surrender. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Images from May 4, 1945
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[May 3rd - May 5th] |