CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 349, MAY 1, 1945

 

Troops of the Seventh Infantry Division continued to advance in the eastern sector of the lines on Okinawa on April 30 (East Longitude Date). By mid‑afternoon advance elements of the division had entered the village of Kuhazu. Local gains were made along the remainder of the front. The at­tack of the infantry was supported by heavy naval gunfire, heavy artillery and carrier and land‑based aircraft. A few enemy planes were In the area of Okinawa on April 30. One medium sized ship was damaged.

Aircraft from escort carriers attacked air installations in the Sakishima group on April 30. Reports of the strike on these islands by escort carrier planes on April 29 reveal that ammunition dumps were exploded, radio facili­ties and barracks were hit and several planes were destroyed on the ground.

Search planes of Fleet Air Wing One bombed and strafed radio installa­tions on Kuro and Kuchino Islands in the northern Ryukyus on April 30. An enemy plane was destroyed on the ground at Kuchino. On the following day aircraft of this wing sank a cargo ship and damaged another in the East China Sea; sank a small cargo ship off the southern coast of Shikoku; and destroyed a small cargo ship at Miyake Island, south of Tokyo.

On April 30, Army Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command, escorted heavy bombers of the Twenty‑First Bomber Command over Tokyo, probably shot down one enemy plane and strafed three picket boats off the coast leaving them afire and dead in the water. Iwo based Mustangs on May 1, bombed and strafed military installations on Chichi Jima in the Bonins.

Mitchells of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing damaged a large cargo ship with rockets north of the Bonins on April 30. Corsair and Hellcat fighters end Avenger torpedo planes of this wing bombed enemy islands in the Palaus on May 1.

Army Thunderbolt fighters of the Seventh Air Force shot down a four engine seaplane over Truk in the Carolines on April 30 and swept the sea­plane base and harbor with rocket fire sinking one small craft and damaging

 

408

 

two others. Army Liberators of the same force followed the attack with heavy bombing of the airfields on Moen and Param Islands. Marcus Island was bombed by Seventh Air Force Liberators on the same date.

Eleventh Army Air Force Liberators bombed Kataoka naval base on Shimushu on April 30. On the same date, installations on Kokutan Cape on the same island, were attacked by search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four.

 

 

N. D.  COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 594, MAY 2, 1945

Far Eastern Waters.

 

1. U. S. submarines have reported the sinking of 21 enemy vessels, includ­ing two combatant ships‑a destroyer and an escort vessel‑in operations against the enemy in these waters, as follows:

 

1 destroyer

1 escort vessel

1 destroyer transport

2 medium cargo transports

2 small cargo vessels

12 medium cargo vessels

1 large tanker

1 medium tanker

 

2. These actions have not been announced in any pervious Navy Depart­ment communiqué.

 

 

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 350, MAY 2, 1945

 

The Seventh Infantry Division which captured Kuhazu Village during the late afternoon of April 30 continued to advance southward on Okinawa on May 1 (East Longitude Dates). No substantial change was made in other sectors of the lines where our troops were under enemy artillery, mortar and small arms fire. On May 2, ships' guns destroyed a number of enemy emplace­ments, strong points, and boat pens and carrier and land based aircraft bombed enemy defenses. The Infantry resumed the attack during the hours of dark­ness on the morning of May 2 and elements of the Seventh Division moved 1,400 yards forward to the vicinity of Gaja Hill, approximately one mile north of the town of Yonabaru. Tanks and flame throwers were being em­ployed to develop this salient. The Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division and the First Marine Division launched an attack in the center and on the right flank and were moving forward during the morning of May 2.

Targets on Kume Island, west of Okinawa and in the Sakishima Group In the Southern Ryukyus, were attacked by aircraft of the U. S. Pacific Fleet on May 2.

Search Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One sank a medium transport south of Korea on May 1. On the following day, planes of this Wing sank two small cargo ships off the coast of Central Honshu and one oft the coast of Kyushu. Two small cargo ships were damaged near Honshu and a number of fishing and small craft were struck off Kyushu on the same date.

Army Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command bombed and strafed radio installations and other targets in the Bonins on May 2.

 

409

 

Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed Param Airfield at Truk and the airstrip and air facilities at Marcus Island on May 1 and 2.

Corsair and Hellcat fighters and Avenger torpedo planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed targets in the Palaus and on Yap in the West­ern Carolines on May 2.

Neutralizing attacks were made on enemy bases in the Marshalls by Search Planes of Fleet Air Wing Two on May 1.

 

 

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 351, MAY 3, 1945

 

The Tenth Army resumed the attack in Southern Okinawa on May 3, (East Longitude Date), meeting artillery, mortar and small arms fire from the enemy's fortified line. The First Marine Division made a limited advance in its zone of action while other sectors remained stable. The attack was supported by ships' guns and aircraft.

In the early evening hours of May 3, four small groups of enemy aircraft attacked our shipping off the coast of Okinawa inflicting some damage on our forces and sinking two light units. Seventeen enemy aircraft were destroyed.

Planes from escort carriers of the U. S. Pacific Fleet continued neutraliz­ing attacks on airfields and air installations in the Sakishima group on May 2.

As of May 2, according to the most recent reports available, 1,131 officers and men of the U. S. Pacific Fleet had been killed in action in the Okinawa operation and associated operations against Japan. A total of 2,816 were wounded and 1,604 were missing. All figures are preliminary and incomplete.

Search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing One destroyed three twin‑engine planes on the ground, damaged locomotive and set numerous fires in a low level attack on Kanoya Airfield, Kyushu, during the early evening of May 3. Planes of the same wing probably sank a small cargo ship off the coast of Central Honshu on the same date.

Planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed targets in the Palaus and strafed installations on Sonsoral Island, southwest of the Palaus on May 3. On the same date dive-bombers of this wing struck the airstrip at Yap. Neutralizing attacks were carried out on enemy bases in the Marshalls by Marine aircraft on the previous day.

A search Privateer of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed barracks and shops on Wake Island on May 2.

 

 

CINCPOA PRESS RELEASE NO. 89, MAY 3, 1945

 

Among the ships of the British Pacific Fleet which engaged in operations against the islands of the Sakishima Group during the period March 26 to April 20 were the following fleet aircraft carriers

 

HMS Indomitable

HMS Indefatigable

HMS Victorious

 

 

N. D.  COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 595, MAY 4, 1945

 

1. The submarine USS Swordfish is overdue from patrol and presumed lost. Next of kin of officers and crew have been informed.

 

410

 

 

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 352, MAY 4, 1945

 

During the night of May 3‑4 (East Longitude Dates) about 600 Japanese soldiers using landing craft attempted to attack behind our lines at three points along the West Coast and at one point on the East Coast of Okinawa. By daylight the landing effort on the East Coast had been repulsed and enemy groups on the West Coast were pocketed and being destroyed. During early morning darkness a number of enemy aircraft attacked Yontan Airstrip, caus­ing some damage. In the same period, ships offshore destroyed 15 suicide boats one of which caused minor damage to a light surface unit.

There was virtually no change in the position of the lines of the Tenth Army in Southern Okinawa on May 4.

Between the hours of 0745 and 0915, on May 4, a substantial number of enemy aircraft attacked our forces afloat in the area of Okinawa, sinking five surface units and damaging a number of others. Preliminary reports indicate that 54 enemy planes were shot down over our forces by ships' guns and combat air patrols. One of our destroyers shot down a Baka bomb during the attack.

Aircraft from fast carrier task forces of the U. S. Pacific Fleet sweeping the Islands of the Northern Ryukyus shot down one plane, destroyed one and damaged 19 others on the ground at Tokuno, Kikai and Tanega Islands on May 3. On the following day, aircraft from fast carriers shot 96 aircraft out of the air over Okinawa and the Amami Group.

Search Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One shot down two enemy planes and damaged two others on May 4.

Escort carrier aircraft of the U. S. Pacific Fleet continued neutralizing raids on airfields in the Sakishima Group on May 3.

Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed air and harbor Installa­tions at Truk on May 3, leaving a small cargo ship burning and another listing after being hit by bombs. A single Navy search Plane exploded an ammuni­tion dump at Truk on the following day. On May 4, Seventh Army Air Force planes bombed runways and dispersal areas on Marcus Island.

Planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed targets in the Palaus and Marshalls on May 4.

Mopping up operations on Two Island and the Islands of the Marianas continued during April 22 and 28 inclusive. A total of 108 of the enemy were killed and 156 were taken prisoner.

 

 

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 353, MAY 5, 1945

 

Following and in conjunction with the attempted landings of Japanese troops behind the Tenth Army lines on Okinawa on the night of May 3‑4 (East Longitude Dates) and in coordination with his heavy air attacks of May 3 and 4, the enemy on May 4, launched a general counterattack. Its greatest weight was against the positions of the Seventh and Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Divisions. This attack was supported by tanks and was preceded by intense artillery fire. Our troops supported by a heavy barrage from Army and Marine artillery and low level strafing by carrier and Marine air­craft broke up the enemy attacks. Taking advantage of the disorganized state of the enemy's lines after his failure in these operations, Army and Marine infantry men resumed the offensive on the morning of May 5 and were advancing at midmorning when elements of the First Marine Division began

 

411

 

an assault on Hill 187, east of the Asa River Mouth. A total of 3,000 of the enemy were killed during the attacks on May 3‑4, including troops which made landings on our beaches. Five enemy tanks were destroyed.

During the air attacks of May 4, our forces shot down 168 planes over the Okinawa Area including 45 by the Second Marine Aircraft Wing and 67 by Fast Carrier Forces Patrols. Early in the morning of May 5, a small group of enemy planes approached our forces and bombed the Yontan Airstrip causing no damage.

From the beginning of the Okinawa operation to May 5, the enemy lost 33,462 killed and 700 prisoners of war including 297 labor troops.

The Tenth Army up to May 3, lost 2,337 soldiers and Marines killed. A total of 11,432 were wounded and 514 were missing.

Search Planes of Fleet Air Wing One sank two large tankers in Fusan Harbor, Korea, and damaged a cargo ship south of Fusan on May 4.

Aircraft from escort carriers of the U. S. Pacific Fleet continued to neutralize airfields in the Sakishima Group on May 4.

Corsairs and Avengers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and Libera­tors of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed installations in the Palaus on May 5.

 

 

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 354, MAY 6, 1945

 

Heavy units of the U. S. Pacific Fleet in attacks coordinated with those of carrier and land‑based aircraft bombarded enemy positions on Okinawa on May 5 (East Longitude Date). During the early morning and early evening of that day a number of enemy aircraft approached our forces without causing damage. On the morning of May 6 a small number of enemy air attacks were made on ships off Okinawa. One light unit suffered minor damage and four enemy aircraft were shot down.

Search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One based in the Okinawa area swept Tsushima and Korea Straits and the coastal waters of Western Korea on May 5 and inflicted the following damage on the enemy by low level bombing and strafing:

 

Sunk:

Two large oilers

One medium freighter

One small cargo ship

 

Damaged:

One large fleet oiler left dead in water and sinking

One cargo ship exploded and left sinking.

One small freighter left abandoned and sinking

One large cargo ship left burning

One freighter left listing and burning

One medium oiler left burning

Nine small cargo ships damaged

One lugger damaged

 

In addition, search planes shot down three enemy aircraft. On the foll­owing day aircraft of this wing probably sank a picket boat and destroyed numerous fishing craft.

On May 4 heavy units of the British Pacific Fleet including battleships

 

412

 

and cruisers bombarded enemy airfields at Hirara and Nobara on Miyako Island in the Sakishima group causing considerable damage. Aircraft from carriers of the force attacked enemy airfields in the island group on May 4 and 5 destroying 15 aircraft in the air, three on the ground and damaging four others on the ground. A major unit of the task force suffered some damage during an air attack but has resumed operations.

Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed installations in the Palaus through intense antiaircraft fire on May 6.

Thunderbolt fighters of the Seventh Army Air Force strafed shipping and air installations at Truk on May 6 sinking one tug and damaging two other craft in the harbor.

 

 

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 355, MAY 7, 1945

 

Enemy positions in the Southern Sector of Okinawa were brought under fire by heavy forces of the United States Pacific Fleet on May 6 (East Longi­tude Date) and numerous blockhouses, pillboxes and other structures were destroyed. Carrier aircraft of the Fleet and planes of the Tactical Air Force gave close support to the ground troops. On the same day, U. S. carrier air­craft made neutralizing attacks on airfields of the Sakishima Group.

On May 7, troops of the Tenth Army advanced in the Southern sector. The First Marine Division drove southward to the edge of Dakeshi Village while the Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division, led by flame‑throwing tanks, made gains in the center, and the Seventh Infantry Division moved forward on the left flank.

From the beginning of the Okinawa operation through May 7, the enemy lost 36,535 killed in all areas of the land fighting.

A small number of enemy aircraft were over our forces in the Okinawa Area early on May 7. No damage was reported.

Search Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One attacking at masthead height with bombs and machine guns inflicted the following damage on enemy ship­ping in the waters around Korea on May 6:

 

Sunk:

One large cargo ship.

One medium cargo ship.

One medium oiler.

One large fleet tanker.

 

Damaged:

Two small freighters damaged.

One large cargo ship exploded.

 

Planes of Fleet Air Wing Eighteen in searches of Japanese waters sank three coastal cargo ships south of Honshu and probably destroyed a seagoing tug on May 7.

Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command bombed and strafed barracks, and small craft at Chichi Jima in the Bonins on May 7.

Planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing made neutralizing attacks on the Marshalls on May 6. On the following day, Corsairs, Hellcats and Avengers of the same Wing and Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force attacked targets in the Palau Islands.

 

413

 

 

MAY 8, 1945

 

A PROCLAMATION

 

The Allied armies, through sacrifice and devotion and with God's help, have wrung from Germany a final and unconditional surrender. The western world has been freed of the evil forces which for five years and longer have imprisoned the bodies and broken the lives of millions upon millions of free­born men. They have violated their churches, destroyed their homes, corrupted their children, and murdered their loved ones. Our Armies of Liberation have restored freedom to these suffering peoples, whose spirit and will the oppressors could never enslave.

Much remains to be done. The victory won in the West must now be won in the East. The whole world must be cleansed of the evil from which half the world has been freed. United, the peace‑loving nations have demon­strated in the West that their arms are stronger by far than the might of dictators or the tyranny of military cliques that once called us soft and weak. The power of our peoples to defend themselves against all enemies will be proved in the Pacific war as it has been proved in Europe.

For the triumph of spirit and of arms which we have won, and for its promise to peoples everywhere who join us in the love of freedom, it is fitting that we, as a nation, give thanks to Almighty God, who has strengthened us and given us the victory.

Now, THEREFORE, I, HARRY S. TRUMAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby appoint Sunday, May 13, 1945, to be a day of prayer.

I call upon the people of the United States, whatever their faith, to unit in offering joyful thanks to God for the victory we have won and to pray that He will support us to the end of our present struggle and guide us into the way of peace.

I also call upon my countrymen to dedicate this day of prayer to the memory of those who have given their lives to make possible our victory.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

DONE at the City of Washington this eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty‑five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and sixty‑ninth.

      By the President

 

[SEAL]                       

HARRY S. TRUMAN.

 

JOSEPH C. GREW,

Acting Secretary of State.

 

 

MAY 8, 1945

 

STATEMENT TO THE MEN OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND ARMY BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

 

You and your Allies have won a great victory. The price was high; it has been won by determination, sacrifice and blood. With this victory you have won something more: the admiration and gratitude of America and the world.

The task has now been half accomplished. Another powerful enemy remains. It will require all our resolution and fortitude to destroy him. Only by so doing can we keep faith with those who have fallen. Let us now go forward to speedy and complete victory in the Pacific.

 

414

 

 

MAY 8, 1945

 

MEMORANDUM TO THE PRESS

 

The following are casualty figures for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard sustained in the Atlantic‑Mediterranean theaters, including the Euro­pean theater. Data for the Navy are through April 26; those for the Marine Corps are through April 10 ; those for the Coast Guard are through May 5. The Coast Guard keeps no breakdown by theaters for casualties other than dead. Totals include combatant as well as non‑combatant casualties. Navy totals for the combined Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters include casualties which might have been sustained on the continents of Europe and Africa. The Coast Guard totals for the "Atlantic" theater cover all operations against the European enemy.

 

 

 

Dead

Missing

Wounded or Injured

Prisoners of War

Total

Navy

 

 

 

 

 

Atlantic

6,415

594

3,612

29

10,650

Mediterranean

1,930

78

1,689

0

3,697

Total

8,346

672

5,301

29

14,347

Marine Corps:

 

 

 

 

 

Atlantic

32

0

1

0

33

Mediterranean

2

0

0

0

2

Eastern Theatre of Operations

0

1

o

3

4

Total

34

1

1

3

39

Coast Guard

508

...

...

....

508

 

 

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 356, MAY 8, 1945

 

Battleships and cruisers of the U. S. Pacific Fleet delivered heavy fire in support of the Marine Third Amphibious Corps and the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps in southern Okinawa on May 7 (East Longitude Date) destroying gun emplacements, some artillery and a number of mortars. During the night of May 7‑8, surface craft fired several hundred rounds of illumination which effectively reduced the enemy's attempts at infiltration into our lines. Adverse weather limited our operations on the island during May 8 and there were no substantial changes in the lines.

No enemy aircraft activity was noted in the Ryukyus during the night and day of May 7‑8. As of that date, summaries of damage to the enemy show that fighters of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing have shot down 209 Japanese aircraft since they commenced operation from captured fields on Okinawa.

Escort carrier aircraft of the U. S. Pacific Fleet continued to neutralize airfields in the Sakishima group on May 7.

Concentrations of shipping in the coastal waters around Korea were at­tacked on May 7 by search planes of Fleet Air Wing One and an estimated 14,000 tons of shipping were sunk and 3,500 tons damaged as follows

 

Sunk:

One small freighter transport

One large fleet oiler

 

415

 

Damaged:

One trawler set afire

One small freight transport set afire and listing

One small freighter left listing and dead in water

 

Planes of Fleet Air Wing Eighteen in attacks on shipping south of the island of Honshu on May 8 inflicted the following damage on the enemy:

 

Sunk:

Two small cargo ships

One large fishing craft

One coastal cargo ship

 

Damaged:

Four small cargo ships

Four large fishing craft

One coastal cargo ship

 

Search planes of this wing shot down a four‑engine flying boat near the Honshu coast on the same date.

Night flying Mitchells of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing damaged a small ship with rockets south of Honshu on May 7.

Thunderbolts of the Seventh Army Air Force strafed and bombed gun positions and radio installations on Truk in the Carolines through intense antiaircraft fire on May 7. On the same date, Liberators of this force bombed the runways on Marcus Island.

 

 

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 357, MAY 9, 1945

 

Carrier‑based aircraft, Marine aircraft based ashore and ships' guns con­tinued to support the troops of the Tenth Army with heavy bombing and gunfire on enemy positions in southern Okinawa on May 8 (East Longitude Date). Adverse weather continued in the Okinawa area through May 8 and no enemy aircraft were active over the Ryukyus on that date. The troops continued to move southward on May 9.

At noon on May 9 every gun ashore and every gun afloat which bore on the enemy on Okinawa fired one round simultaneously in recognition of the victory of the United Nations in Europe.

From the beginning of operations against Okinawa through May 7, the Tenth Army lost 2,107 soldiers and 577 Marines killed in action. A total of 10,402 soldiers and 2,800 Marines were wounded and 501 soldiers and 38 Marines were missing.

Aircraft from carriers of the British Pacific Fleet bombed airfields and defenses on Miyako and‑Ishigaki in the Sakishima group on May 9 destroying two planes on the ground and shooting one out of the air. Two units of the force suffered minor damage during an air attack but remained operational.

A substantial force of Mustang fighters of the Seventh Fighter Command destroyed two aircraft on the ground and probably destroyed five others in low level strafing attacks on Kisarazu airfield and Tateyama Naval Air Station southeast of Tokyo on May 8. In other attacks a small cargo ship and a locomotive were destroyed and a train and a number of small craft damaged.

On the same date, Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed airfields on Marcus Island and at Truk. In low level attacks on Marcus on

 

416

 

May 9, Liberators and search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing Eighteen destroyed five aircraft on the ground and damaged three others. Antiaircraft fire was intense and two of our planes were shot down in the action. Survivors of one were rescued. On the same date, Liberators of the Seventh Air Force again bombed air installations on Truk.

Corsairs and Hellcats of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing attacked in­stallations on enemy‑held islands in the Palaus on May 8 and 9.

 

 

N. D.  COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 596, MAY 10, 1945

Philippine Area.

 

1. The LCS(L)‑26 and the YMS‑71 have been lost in the Philippine area as the result of enemy action.

2. The next of kin of casualties have been notified.

 

 

MAY 10, 1945

 

NAVAL LOSSES AS ANNOUNCED IN NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUÉS NOS. 1 TO

596; NAVY DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASES; AND AT CINCPOA HEADQUARTERS

 

 

 

Sunk

Overdue and Presumed Lost

Destroyed to Prevent Capture

Total

Battleship

1

0

0

1

Aircraft carrier

11

0

0

11

Heavy cruiser

5

1

0

6

Light cruiser

3

0

0

3

Destroyer

54

4

1

59

Destroyer escort

7

0

0

7

Submarine

4

37

2

43

Miscellaneous

163[1]

6

7

176

Total

248

48

10

306

 

[1] Includes one light unit (unidentified) mentioned in CINCPOA Communiqué  No. 340, one light unit (unidentified) mentioned in CINCPOA Communiqué No. 346, two light units (unidentified) mentioned in CINCPOA Communiqué No. 361, and five light units (unidentified) mentioned in CINCPOA Communiqué No. 352.

 

 

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 358, MAY 10, 1945

 

Enemy installations in Southern Okinawa were bombarded by ships of the U. S. Pacific Fleet and carrier and Marine aircraft on May 9 (East Longitude Date). Ships' gunfire broke up a number of troop concentrations in the enemy's rear areas and destroyed pillboxes, emplacements and a motor transport. During the evening of May 9, several groups of enemy aircraft attacked our shipping off the Okinawa coast damaging two auxilia­ries and bombing Yontan Airfield without success. Early the following morning another attack was made on our ships and ground installations but we suffered no damage. Six enemy aircraft were shot down during these actions. A Second Marine Aircraft Wing fighter with guns inoperative de‑

 

417

 

stroyed a Japanese bomber by cutting off its tail assembly with his propeller in three attacks.

Elements of the Sixth Marine Division bridged and crossed the estuary of the Asa River in Southern Okinawa on May 10. Construction of the bridge was delayed temporarily by the enemy's use of two human bombs which caused some damage during the early morning hours. Limited gains were made on the remainder of the Southern front where hand to hand fighting was in progress in some sectors. The enemy on Okinawa lost 38,857 killed through May 9.

The area of Okinawa from the Central sector of the Island near the Hagushi beaches, northward to the extremity of the Island was passed to the control of the Island Commander, Major General F. G. Wallace, U. S. Army on May 4. About 135,000 civilians were under the jurisdiction of the U. S. Military Government on May 8.

Search Aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One damaged two medium freighters and two small cargo ships south of Korea on May 9 by bombing and strafing attacks.

Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed airfields on Truk and Marcus Islands heavily on May 10. On the same date, Mustangs of the Seventh Fighter Command struck at radio installations on Chichi Jima in the Bonins.

Helldiver bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing continued neutralizing raids on the Marshalls on May 9 and struck targets in the Palaus and on Yap on the following day.

During the week of April 29 to May 5, inclusive, 69 Japanese were killed and 57 captured on Iwo Island. Total Japanese casualties on Iwo to May 5 were 23,244 killed and 1,03,8 prisoners of war. In the Marianas during the week of April 29 through May 5, 23 of the enemy were killed and 98 were captured.

On May 6, surface forces under Commander, Marshalls‑Gilberts Area, evacuated 494 Marshallese from Islands of Jaluit Atoll. Japanese garrison troops resisted the operation with light weapons on all islands. Our forces lost one killed and one wounded. The evacuated natives have been placed on Islands in the Marshalls Group under U. S. control.

 

 

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 359, MAY 11, 1945

 

During the evening of May 10 and the morning of May 11 (East Longi­tude Dates) several groups of enemy aircraft attacked our ships and shore installations in the Okinawa area damaging three light Naval units. More than 40 enemy planes were shot down by our combat air patrols and anti­aircraft fire.

During the night of May 10‑11, the Japanese on Okinawa made numer­ous night attacks and attempts at night infiltration into the lines of the Tenth Army. Practically all the attacking Japanese were killed. At 0700 local time on May 11 after large scale preparation by heavy artillery Naval gunfire and aerial bombing the Tenth Army launched a strong attack. The initial assault carried elements of the Marine Third Amphibious Corps on the west and of the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps on the east to the high ground overlooking the enemy stronghold of Shuri. Enemy resistance was heavy along the front. On the west the Sixth Marine Division made a

 

418

 

general advance southward to a line about 800 yards south of the Asa estuary and the First Marine Division, employing tanks, advanced and occupied the village of Dakeshi. In the center of the island, the Seventy-Seventh Infantry Division engaged in hand to hand fighting as it moved forward in rugged terrain. On the east the Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Division was gaining ground slowly against strong resistance.

At the end of May 10, the enemy on Okinawa had lost 39,469 killed in action.

As of May 9, according to most recent reports available, 1,283 officers and men of the U. S. Pacific Fleet had been killed and 2,072 were reported missing in action from the beginning of the Okinawa operation and associated operations against Japan. A total of 3,498 were wounded.

Search planes of Fleet Air Wing One shot down a four‑engine flying boat west of Kyushu and set a small cargo ship afire west of Korea on May 10.

Fleet Air Wing Eighteen planes damaged several fishing craft and set two small cargo ships afire south of Honshu on May 10. In the same area on the following day planes of this wing shot down an enemy plane, exploded a coastal cargo ship, damaged another coastal vessel and caused it to beach, set a small cargo ship afire and damaged a number of landing craft. Search planes of Fleet Air Wing Eighteen destroyed two small cargo ships in Truk Harbor on May 11.

Further information about the action of British carrier aircraft against airfields in the Sakishima group on May 9 shows that two enemy planes were destroyed on the ground and six more were destroyed in the air. One British plane was lost in combat.

Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air Force bombed shipping and instal­lations at Kataoka Naval Base on Shimushu and Kashiwabara on Para­mushiru in the Kuriles on May 10. Meager antiaircraft fire was encountered.

Aircraft of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and Fleet Air Wing Two continued neutralizing raids on the Marshalls on May 10. Marine Corsair and Hellcat fighters destroyed installations in the Palaus on May 11.

 

 

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 360, MAY 12, 1945

 

Cruisers and destroyers of the U. S. Pacific Fleet covered by aircraft from fast carriers, bombarded shore installations on Minami Daito Island, east of the Ryukyus on May 10 (East Longitude Date). On the following day, air groups and ships' guns of the fast carrier task forces destroyed 72 enemy aircraft over the Ryukyus including 40 over Okinawa. Carrier planes made low level attacks on May 11 on airfields and shipping in the Amami group destroying four planes on the ground and damaging warehouse Installations and a number of luggers. One of our major Fleet Units suffered damage during an air attack on that date.

A total of 93 enemy planes were destroyed over our forces around Okinawa on May 11 including 19 planes shot down by one of our destroyers. Several surface ships were damaged during these attacks.

On May 12, the Tenth Army continued the general attack of the preced­ing day supported by heavy gunfire from ships and sustained bombing by carrier planes and by aircraft of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing. Apprecia­ble gains were made on each flank of the Army line.

 

419

 

Elements of the Sixth Marine Division entered the suburbs of Naha on the west coast of Okinawa. Progress of the center of the line against the positions of the enemy in the hilly central portions of the Island was slow. The Seventy‑Seventh and Ninety‑Sixth Infantry Divisions captured important enemy strong points and made local advances against stiff resistance in their respective zones of action.

Tori Island, approximately 55 miles west of Okinawa, was occupied by Tenth Army Troops without opposition on May 12.

In waters south of Korea on May 11, search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One including Privateers, Coronados and Mariners, inflicted the following damage on the enemy:

 

One coastal cargo ship sunk

Two coastal cargo ships set afire.

One large coastal cargo ship set afire and listing

 

Mitchells and Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air Force sank a small largo ship and damaged two others in Kataoka Harbor on Shimushu in the Northern Kuriles on May 11. A Mitchell was shot down during the attack. On the same date, Eleventh Air Force Mitchells attacked targets at Kashiwabara on Paramushiru and planes of Fleet Air Wing Four made rocket attacks on radar installations on Minami Cape on Shimushu.

Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed Truk in the Carolines and Marcus Island oh May 12.

Planes of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing struck targets in the Palaus and at Yap on the same date.

Search Privateers of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed workshops and air installations on Wake Island on May 11.

 

 

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 361, MAY 13, 1945

 

Heavy fighting continued on Okinawa on May 13 (East Longitude Date) as troops of the Tenth Army continued to attack the approaches to the enemy stronghold of Shuri. Few changes were noted in the western sector A the lines where the Sixth Marine Division was meeting stiff resistance. An attempted enemy landing behind our lines in the area of Machinato air­field was broken up and a number of enemy boats were destroyed by ship and shore gunfire. The First Marine Division was moving at noon south of Dakeshi into the high ground protecting Shuri after beating off an enemy counterattack and killing approximately 100 Japanese. Throughout the morning, these troops were under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire and progress teas difficult. The attack of the Twenty‑Fourth Army Corps carried its lines 300 yards forward on the Corps' right flank and about 800 yards forward on the Corps' left flank. The Seventy‑Seventh Infantry Division, meeting very strong resistance, advanced into high ground northeast of Shuri and the 383rd Infantry Regiment of the Ninety‑Sixth Division was approaching the summit of Conical Hill, a key position which forms a pro­tective barrier for both Shuri and Yonabaru. The ground troops were sup­ported throughout the day by heavy air strikes from carriers and from the Second Marine Aircraft Wing. The guns of heavy units of the U. S. Pacific Fleet continued to bombard enemy areas.

 

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A few enemy planes approached our forces in the Okinawa Area early on the morning of May 13 but caused no damage.

Search seaplanes of Fleet Air Wing One sank a lugger, set a small cargo ship afire and heavily damaged a small oiler in waters around Korea on May 12.

Runways at Marcus Island and Truk were heavily bombed by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force on May 13.

Corsair and Hellcat fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed enemy installations in the Palaus on May 13.

 

 

N. D.  COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 597, MAY 14, 1945

 

1. The YMS‑103 has been lost in the Okinawa area as the result of enemy action. The next of kin of casualties have been informed.

 

 

CINCPOA COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 362, MAY 14, 1945

 

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