Chronology of World War II

June 1945

Saturday, June 16th


Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 2 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 41 14th Air Force P-51s attack various targets.
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Air Operations, East Indies

  • Supplementing Royal Australian Air Force efforts, FEAF B-24s attack Samarinda, Tawau, and artillery positions at Balikpapan.
  • 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Brunei Bay area.
  • XIII Fighter Command P-38s attack airfields and targets of opportunity. Labuan Island is declared secure.
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Air Operations, Formosa

  • More than 90 V Bomber Command B-24s attack Takao and port facilities at Kiirun.
  • 3 386th Bomb Squadron B-32s attack Taito.
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Air Operations, Japan

4 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s and 4 B-25s attack shipping in the Kurile Islands. 2 B-25s with mechanical problems land in the USSR, where they and their crews are interned.

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Air Operations, Philippines

V Bomber Command B-25s and A-20s, 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 aircraft support US 10th Army ground forces on Okinawa and attack airfields in the Sakishima Islands. At 2030 hours, a US picket destroyer is mortally damaged by an aerial torpedo that claims the lives of 152 members of her 340-man crew.

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Belgium, Politics

Belgian Premier Achille van Acker and his cabinet resign in protest against the contemplated return of King Leopold III.

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Okinawa

Fighting continues in the south of the island. The 381st Infantry succeeds in taking the summit of Mount Yuza.

The air offensive against American ships in the waters off Okinawa eases off slightly, but the Japanese still sink the destroyer Twiggs (DD-591) and damage the escort carrier Steamer Bay (CVE-87).

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Images from June 16, 1945

Yuza Peak, under attack by the 382d Infantry, 96th Division. Tanks are working on the caves and tunnel system at base ridge of ridge.

Yuza Peak Under Attack


Yuza Peak, under attack

MOROTAI. 16 JUNE 1945. AUSTRALIAN ARMY NURSING SISTERS OF 2/4 GENERAL HOSPITAL WHO ARE STAGING AT 2/9 GENERAL HOSPITAL. IDENTIFIED PERSONNEL ARE: CAPTAIN M E GRIFFITH, 2 I/C AUSTRALIAN ARMY NURSING SERVICE 2/4 GENERAL HOSPITAL (1); LIEUTENANT D B GLEESON (2); LT N J CARPENTER (3); LIEUTENANT COLONEL M J HANNA, MATRON (4); LT B M CHISHOLM (5); LT E C MATHIESON (6); LT D A BREWIN (7); CAPT A G WHITE (8).

Australian Army Nurses on Morotai


Australian Army Nurses on Morotai

16 June 1945 - Okinawa - Mobile radar repair shops in the signal depot base development yard. (Signal Corps Cohen, 3223 Sig Photo Det)

Mobile Radar Repair Shops


Mobile Radar Repair Shops

At Sea - 16 June 1945. Engine-Room Artificer Barnes (1) working at the master gyro compass and Chief Engine-Room Artificer Thomas (2) closing a low power supply breaker aboard the RAN Cruiser, HMAS Hobart

Engine Room on the Hobart


Engine Room on the <i>Hobart</i>

[June 15th - June 17th]