Air Operations, CBI

• More than 70 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack various targets.

Air Operations, East Indies

• Supplementing Royal Australian Air Force efforts, FEAF B-24s attack defensive positions at Sepinggang and troops at Balikpapan and near Manggar and Miri.
• 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s support Australian Army ground forces on Labuan Island.

Air Operations, Formosa

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack port facilities at Kiirun.
• V Fighter Command P-51s attack the airfields at Taien and Toyohara.
• P-38s attack Kari.

Air Operations, Japan

US Navy PB4Ys and 6 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s attack targets in the Kurile Islands.

Air Operations, Philippines

V Bomber Command B-25s and A-20s, and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers support US 6th Army ground forces on Luzon.

Air Operations, Ryukyus

• US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft support US 10th Army ground forces on Okinawa and attack airfields in the Sakishima Islands.
• Upon the death in action of the US 10th Army commander, Gen Simon B. Buckner, the III Marine Amphipious Corps commander, Lt-Gen Roy S. Geiger, is elevated to replace him. Geiger is thus the first (and still the only) aviator ever to command an American field army in battle.

Air Operations, Pacific

US bombers begin a series of violent raids against 23 major Japanese towns, all with populations between 100,000 and 350,000.

Dutch East Indies

Australian units reach Tutong in Brunei.

Japan, Home Front

On instructions from Emperor Hirohito, Prime Minister Suzuki tells the Japanese Supreme Council of Emperor Hirohito's intention to seek peace with the Allies as soon as possible.

Occupied Germany

Col-Gen Nikolai Berzarin, outspoken Soviet military commander in Berlin, is killed in a traffic accident. He was 40.

Okinawa

The remains of the Japanese 32nd Army are still putting up a determined resistance to the attacks of the US III Amphibious Corps and XXIV Corps. Gen Simon B. Buckner is killed by an enemy shell while inspecting the lines of the 8th Marines. He is replaced as commander of the US 10th Army by Gen Roy S. Geiger, Commander of the 2nd Marine Div.

The US seaplane tender Yakutat (AVP-32) is damaged in a collision in the Okinawa area.

Pacific

The US motor minesweeper YMS-90 is damaged by a mine in the Balikpapan area of Borneo and later sunk by US forces.

Philippines

On Luzon units of the US 37th Div, with an armored column, continue their advance in the Cagayan valley, taking Ilagan airfield and crossing the Ilagan River.

On Mindanao the Japanese cease all organized resistane. For some time their 35th Army has been fored to live on roots and the bark of trees. However, small units continue to resist for some time.

United States, Home Front

Eisenhower addresses a joint meeting of the US Congress as he begins a series of victory celebrations in his honor.

War Crimes

In London William 'Lord Haw Haw' Joyce goes on trial. He will be found guilty of broadcasting war propaganda from Germany and will be executed.

Images from June 18, 1945

US President Harry Truman decorating General Dwight Eisenhower with the Distinguished Service Medal, Washington DC, United States, 18 Jun 1945.

Eisenhower Receiving Distinguished Service Medal

Tomori Stone Lion, Yaese, Okinawa, Japan

Tomori Stone Lion

The last picture of US Army Lt-Gen Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. (right), taken on 18 June 1945; later in the day he was killed by Japanese artillery.

Last Picture of US Army Lt-Gen Simon Bolivar Buckner

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