Air Operations, CBI
CHINA- 55 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack numerous targets across southern and eastern China.
- As Japanese Army ground forces are withdrawn to defend Japan, a city in Kwangsi Province is simply abandoned, and other cites will also be abandoned in coming days and weeks.
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]Air Operations, East Indies
- 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack shipping and other targets around Balikpapan.
- XIII Fighter Command P-38s attack Keningau, Sandakan, and Tarakan Island.
| ]Air Operations, Formosa
Despite bad weather, V Bomber Command B-25s are able to attack an alcohol plant at Meiji and several communications targets.
[ | ]Air Operations, Japan
- 32 318th Fighter Group P-47s attack rail targets, airfields, radar sites, and buildings on Kyushu.
- During the night 30 9th Very Heavy Bomb Group B-29s sow mines in the Shimonoseki Strait, the anchorage at He-Saki, and the harbor at Maizuru.
- 3 B-29s are lost.
| ]Air Operations, Philippines
- V Bomber Command B-25s and A-20s, and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack several targets on Luzon.
- XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack Piso Point.
- XIII Fighter Command P-38s support US 8th Army ground forces on Mindanao.
| ]Air Operations, Ryukyus
- US Navy, Marine Corps, and Royal Navy aircraft support US 10th Army ground forces on Okinawa and attack airfields in the Sakishima Islands.
- Among many other strike missions, 12 Task Force 58 TBM light bombers mount a pinpoint bombing attack against the formidable Japanese defensive positions at Okinawa’s Shuri Castle. The bombs are dropped with complete accuracy only 50 yards from US 10th Army ground troops, and the defenders are dislodged from the position.
- A VBF-83 F4U downs a C6N 'Myrt' reconnaissance plane 50 miles from Task Force 58 at 1445 hours.
- VMF-311 F4Us down 5 Ki-61 'Tony' fighters, a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter, and a Ki-44 'Tojo' fighter off Okinawa between 1850 and 1900.
- 2 VMF(N)-542 F6Fs down 2 E13A 'Jake' reconnaissance planes off Okinawa at 1940 and 2030 hours.
- Several transports and cargo ships in the Kerama Retto anchorage are damaged by kamikazes.
| ]China
The Japanese leave Hochih, in Kwangsi province. The threat hanging over Japan induces the Japanese Imperial General Staff to redistribute the available forces within a defensive perimeter nearer to the homeland.
[ | ]Middle East
Negotiations break down between French officials and the Syrians and Lebanese.
[ | ]Okinawa
In the US III Amphibious Corps sector, the 4th Regt of the 6th Marine Div begins mopping up the Japanese cave positions on part of the Horseshoe and the Half Moon. They use flame-throwers and hollow-charge explosives and some of the enemy positions are walled up. The 1st Regt of the 1st Marine Div takes Wana Ridge after a costly assault. Further east, in the US XXIV Corps sector, the 7th and 96th Divs continue the struggle for the capture of Yonabaru. The plan is to surround the Shuri line, defended doggedly by the Japanese.
Japanese suicide aircraft damage a number of US ships including the destroyer Thatcher (DD-514), the destroyer escort John C. Butler, the high-speed transports Chase (APD-54) and Register (APD-92) and the landing craft LST-808. The high-speed transport Tattnall (APD-19) is hit by a high-level bomber.
[ | ]Pacific
The US submarine Cero (SS-225) sinks the Japanese merchant whaler No.5 Seki Maru east-southeast of Kinkasan, Japan.
[ | ]Philippines
On Mindanao the 31st Division, US X Corps, advances north in the central eastern part of the island and occupies some positions near the town of Malaybalay. Here they run into powerful resistance by Japanese artillery. Other units advance along the east coast north of Davao, repelling some night counterattacks.
[ | ]Images from May 20, 1945
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