Chronology of World War II

June 1945

Tuesday, June 12th


Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 2 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s, 2 426th Night Fighter Squadron P-61s, and 13 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack various targets.
  • V Bomber Command B-24s attack the port area at Hong Kong.
FRENCH INDOCHINA
  • 44 90th and 380th Heavy Bomb group B-24s attack rail yards at Saigon.
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Air Operations, East Indies

  • Supplementing Royal Australian Air Force efforts, XIII Fighter Command P-38s support Australian Army ground forces in the Brunei Bay area and attack other targets on Borneo.
  • 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s provide on-call support for Australian Army ground forces in the Brunei Bay area.
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Air Operations, Japan

  • 4 28th Composite Bomb Group B-25s attack 4 freighters and 2 barges in the Kurile Islands.
    • 1 B-25 is downed by anti-aircraft fire.
  • Task Unit 32.3 carrier aircraft attempt to attack targets on Kyushu after topping off their fuel tanks at Okinawa's Kadena Field. Finding their targets completely obscured by clouds, the strike aircraft attack alternate targets at Amami O Shima and return to the carriers following a refueling stop at Kadena.
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Air Operations, Philippines

  • 2 386th Bomb Squadron B-32 very heavy bombers attack Batan Island. The attack on Batan Island is the first use of the B-32 very heavy bomber, of which only a very small number will be deployed in the Pacific War, all with the 312th Light Bomb Group’s 386th Bomb Squadron.
  • V Bomber Command B-25s and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack various targets and support US 6th Army ground forces on Luzon.
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Air Operations, Ryukyus

US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft support US 10th Army ground forces on Okinawa and attack airfields in the Sakishima Islands.

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Britain, Home Front

Eisenhower receives the Order of Merit and the Freedom of City of London.

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Europe

Yugoslav forces withdraw from Trieste after urging New Zealand and Indian troops to pull out of the disputed city.

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Okinawa

The Japanese infantry (marines) cut off in the Oroku peninsula, hammered by incessant American fire, show signs of giving way. Some give themselves up and many commit suicide. In a night attack the 1st Marine Div captures the west end of Kunishi Ridge. In the XXIV Corps sector the 96th Div attacks Mount Yuza without success, but gains some positions in the Mount Yaeju sector.

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Pacific

  • The US submarine Sea Dog (SS-401) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ships Shinsen Maru (880t) and Kaiwa Maru off Nishiro, Japan.
  • The US submarine Skate (SS-303) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ships Yozan Maru (1227t), Kenjo Maru (3142t) and Zuiko Maru (887t) in Togi Harbor, northern Honshu.
  • The US submarine Spadefish (SS-411) sinks the Japanese guardboat Daido Maru west of Wakkanai, Hokkaido.
  • The US submarine Tinosa (SS-283) sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Keito Maru (880t) off Donghae, Korea.
  • Japanese submarine chaser CH-57 and passenger ferry No.2 Kuroshio are sunk by British destroyers Tartar, Eskimo and Nubian 20 miles north of Sabang, Sumatra.
  • Mines laid by USAAF B-29s sink Japanese army cargo ship Aizan Maru (2221t) in Hakata Bay, merchant cargo ships Sagami Maru 25 miles off Kaburazaki and Fumitsuki Maru (875t) off Shirasu and liaison ship Shimonoseki Maru (527t) northeast of Pohang, Kora.
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Philippines

On Luzon the US 145th Infantry overcomes Japanese resistance at Orioung Pass, occupies the town of Orioung and advances to some positions overlooking the town of Balite.

All resistance ends in the Visayan Islands. US dead in the campaign is 835 with 2,300 wounded. Japanese losses are estimated at 10,000.

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Images from June 12, 1945

Battalion Area Inspection


Battalion Area Inspection

Canadian Women’s Army Corps


Canadian Women’s Army Corps

Australian Wounded Are Evacuated


Australian Wounded Are Evacuated

Sherman Tank in the Philippines


Sherman Tank in the Philippines

[June 11th - June 13th]