Air Operations, CBI
CHINA- 11 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 9 14th Air Force P-51s attack rail lines and bridges at several locations.
- More than 50 fighter-bombers attack numerous targets across southern and eastern China.
- V Fighter Command P-38s attack rail lines and yards in Saigon.
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]Air Operations, East Indies
XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack Brunei, the Melak airfield, shipyards at Samarinda, and Japanese Army troops on Tarakan Island.
[ | ]Air Operations, Philippines
- V Bomber Command B-25s and A-20s, and V Fighter Command P-51s attack numerous targets on Luzon.
- V Fighter Command P-38s support US 6th Army ground forces on Luzon with napalm attacks.
- XIII Fighter Command P-38s attack Japanese Army defenses on Negros.
| ]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.
[ | ]Britain, Politics
The British coalition ends as the Labor party rejects Churchill's proposal to continue the alliance with the Conservatives. Churchill is forced to call for general elections, Britain's first in 10 years.
[ | ]Germany
Himmler is arrested by British troops at Bremervörde, disguised as a commercial traveller.
[ | ]Japan, Home Front
2 million students are mobilized in the 'Student Defense Corps'.
[ | ]Okinawa
On the American right the 6th Marine Div goes ahead with operations for the total elimination of Japanese from the Horseshoe and for the capture of the Sugar Loaf. The 1st Marine Div attacks in the direction fo Shuri Ridge after taking Wana village and driving off Japanese counterattacks. Beyond Shuri Ridge is Shuri Castle, site of the Japanese headquarters. Meanwhile the 77th Inf Div of the XXIV Corps also advances north of Shuri and the 96th Div east of the same village, threatening to surround Shuri. Aware of the danger, the Japanese decide to withdraw from Shuri.
[ | ]Pacific
- The Japanese minesweeper No. 34 is sunk by the US submarine Chub (SS-329) in the Java Sea.
- The Japanese merchant ship Santen Maru (1210t) is sunk by mine off Niihama, Japan.
| ]Philippines
On Luzon the Americans resume their attacks on Woodpecker Ridge. Some patrols reach the area of the Guagua Dam.
On Mindanao the 155th Regiment of the US 31st Division captures Malaybalay, a Japanese supply base.
[ | ]United States, Home Front
Humphrey Bogart marries Lauren Bacall.
[ | ]Images from May 21, 1945
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