Air Operations, CBI

• 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• As Japanese Army ground forces are withdrawn to defend Japan, a city in Kwangsi Province is simply abandoned, and other cites will also be abandoned in coming days and weeks.

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.

Philippines

On Mindanao the 31st Div, 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

Pipers of the 51st Highland Division play during the ceremony to mark the handover of Bremerhaven in Germany to American forces, 20 May 1945

Pipers Playing in Bremerhaven

Bennington was taking part in air strikes against Okinawa, and routinely was retreating back to sea, when Japanese Navy forces appeared in the area. The Task Force was making good time, when all of a sudden Bennington started slowing down, unable to keep up with the other ships, even though they were 'full speed ahead'. It soon became apparent that the bow of the Bennington had rammed and IMPALED a whale on the bow, causing the great drag. The ship came to a complete stop and they backed down the engines, trying to dislodge the whale. Meanwhile Japanese Navy Ships remained in the area. Faced with no other choice, the ship came to a complete stop and divers went over the side of the ship to use small explosives to finally dislodge the whale carcass.

Bennington Hits a Whale

Sailors from the USS Rutland enjoy barbecue grilling steaks on Ulithi, 20 May 1945

Grilling Steaks on Ulithi

US Navy submarines at Midway Atoll, in May 1945

US Submarines at Midway