80 Years Ago, Monday, 6 August 1945

80 years ago saw the first use of a nuclear weapon in anger.  It took a second bomb, delivered in rapid succession, to convince Japan to surrender.  While the bombs wrought tremendous death and destruction, in the end, their use spared countless more lives by circumventing the massive casualties on both combatants and Japan’s civil population had the invasion proceeded.  It also prevented famine from ravishing the Japanese home islands in the winter of 45/46 which would have happened with either an invasion or a blockade.  And they also spared the lives of millions of Asians living under the brutal occupation in Southeast Asia, the East Indies and China.  Using the bombs was the least bad of horrific choices of how to end the Asia-Pacific War.

US NAVY

PACIFIC—USAAF B‑29 "Enola Gay" (509th Composite Group) drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Honshu; USN Commander William S. Parsons is the weaponeer on this mission.

            TG 95.3 planes, from escort carriers Lunga Point (CVE‑94), Makin Island (CVE‑93) and Cape Gloucester (CVE‑109) (Vice Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf) strike enemy shipping in Tinghai Harbor, China.

            Carrier Intrepid (CV‑11)'s air group bombs Japanese installations on Wake Island as the ship is en route from Pearl Harbor to join TF 38 in the western Pacific.

            TF 58 planes damage Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.37 and small minelayer/net layer Kyosai east of Nojimazaki,34°52'N, 139°58'E.

            Submarine Bugara (SS‑331) comes across British submarine HMS Sleuth and four Japanese junks. Bugara, in display of Anglo‑American cooperation, assists the British boat by sinking two of the enemy craft by gunfire, 06°51'N,101°44'E.

            Submarine Bullhead (SS‑332) is sunk, probably by Japanese Army aircraft (73d Chutai), off Bali, Java Sea, 08°20'S,115°42'E.

            USAAF B‑25s and P‑51s (Far East Air Force) attack Japanese shipping in Tsushima Strait, sinking merchant cargo ships No.7 Shintai Maru and Kowa Maru five miles east of Tsuno Jima, 34°26'N, 129°16'E.

            USAAF mines sink Japanese merchant cargo ships No.2 Chokai Maru off Fushiki Light, 38°49'N, 137°04'E, Isojima Maru in south channel of Kammon Strait, 33°56'N, 130°56'E, and No.2 Kozan Maru at 33°53'N, 132°00'E.

            Japanese auxiliary minelayer Kinjo Maru and auxiliary net layer Kosei Maru, are damaged by aircraft, near Kujukuruhama.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FOURTEENTH AF—10 P‑51’s and P‑47’s damage 10 locomotives between Tehsien and Suchow and 5 around Anyang, Kaifeng, and Loyang, and lightly damage bridges N of Chihsien and S of Houmachen. “

FEAF—Okinawa‑based aircraft pound target.s on Kyushu. 150‑plus P‑47’s and A‑26’s fight bad weather to hit the primary, Miyakonojo. 170‑plus B‑24’s, B‑25’s, and P‑47’s hit Kagoshima as secondary tat. 60‑plus B‑25’s and P‑51’s attack shipping and ground targets of opportunity in Tsushima Strait area and in N Ryukyus. P‑51’s operating in area between Kyushu and Korea bomb airfield and strafe numerous targets of opportunity on Saishu Island. P‑47’s bomb Anjo on Tanega Island. Other aircraft, operating individually or in pairs, hit various targets of opportunity on S Korea coast, in Inland Sea, S Honshu, W Shikoku Island, throughout the N Ryukyus, and in Shanghai area. B‑24’s pound resistance pockets on Negros Island.

TWENTIETH AF—The world’s first atomic attack takes place. At 0245 Col Paul W Tibbets pilots the B‑29 Enola Gay off the runway at North Field, Tinian. At 2‑min intervals, 2 observation B‑29’s follow Maj Charles W Sweeney’s Great Artiste and Capt George W Marquardt’s No 91. At 0915 (0816 Japan time) the atomic bomb is released over Hiroshima from 31,600 ft. It explodes 50 secs later. More than 80 per cent of the city’s buildings are destroyed and over 71,000 people (Japanese figures; US figures say from 70,000 to 80,000) are killed. The Enola Gay lands on Tinian at 1458, followed within the hour by the 2 observation planes.

VII FC—Almost 100 fighters from Iwo Jima attack airfields and military installations at 6 locations throughout general area around Tokyo.

 

US ARMY

JAPAN—B–29 drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

GUAM—Final details for operation against Fort Bayard are worked out on Guam between representatives of the China and the Pacific Theaters.

 

US MARINE CORPS

Tinian-based B-29 drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

 

80 Years Ago, Sunday, 5 August 1945

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Twenty eight USAAF B 29s mine the waters off Najin, Korea, and Geijitsu, Tsuruga, Oura and Hagi, Japan.

            Near miss and explosion of kaiten fired by submarine I 53 damages destroyer escort Earl V. Johnson (DE 702), Philippine Sea, 20°17'N, 128°07'E.

            Destroyer Bristol (DD 857) is damaged in collision with oiler Ashtabula (AO 51) off Iwo Jima, 29°00'N, 142°00'E.

            Submarine Aspro (SS 309) rescues USAAF P 51 pilot deep in Sagami Wan, covered by PB4Ys that splash 4 of 12Japanese planes that try to interfere with the extraction.

            Submarine Billfish (SS 286), attacking Japanese convoy in the Yellow Sea, sinks merchant cargo ship Kori Maru off the Kwantung Peninsula, 38°51'N, 121°59'E.

            Submarine Pogy (SS 266) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Kotohirasan Maru in the Japan Sea about 30 miles west of Akita, Honshu, 39°52'N, 138°52'E.

            Mines damage Japanese fast transport T.20 four miles off Koiwai Jima, Japan, and damage merchant cargo ship Nissho Maru in vicinity of Nanao and Oguchi, and merchant tanker No.32 Yoshitomo Maru, 5.5 kilometers off Genkai Jima.

            Japanese merchant cargo ship Iki Maru is damaged by aircraft off Hamada Island.

            RAAF Liberator sinks Japanese ship No.15 Eigyo Maru off western Flores Island.

            Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.25 Hino Maru sinks after running aground in Bungo Suido off Hinomisaki Light.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FOURTEENTH AF— 20 P‑51’s knock out bridge NW of Anyang and damage another NE of Kiehsiu, attack railroad targets during sweeps from Taiynan to Suchow and Tehsien to Pengroupu, and strafe rivercraft between Ichang and Lokehang.

FEAF—330‑plus B‑24’s, B‑25’s, A‑26’s, P‑47’s, and P‑51’s pound Tarumizu town, industrial area on Kyushu and many targets of opportunity on Kyushu and in the Ryukyus. P‑38’s support ground forces on Luzon, hitting Japanese concentrations ENE of Naguilian, near Mount Data, and at other points. B‑24’s pound Japanese positions S of Fabrica. Other B‑24’s bomb supply and personnel areas and AA positions in Makassar area. B‑24’s also bomb Miti.

TWENTIETH AF—During 5/6 Aug, 470‑plus B‑29’s fly incendiary raids against cities of Saga, Mae Bashi, Imabari, and Nishinomiya‑Mikage, 106 bomb coal liquefaction company at Ube, and 27 mine waters of Sakai, Yonago, Nakaumi Lagoon, Miyazu, Maizuru, Tsuruga, Obama, Najin and Geijitsu area.

VII FC—VII FC is officially assigned to Twentieth AF. 100‑plus P‑51’s strike airfields and military installations in large area around Tokyo, scoring especially effective hits at Katori airfield.

 

 US ARMY

CHINA—Chinese 13th Army takes town of Tanchuk. Chinese 58th Division recaptures Hsinning.

US MARINE CORPS

 

80 Years Ago, Saturday, 4 August 1945

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Mine sinks Japanese merchant tanker Koshin Maru in Osaka harbor, 34°37'N, 135°18'E. Mines also damage army cargo ship Tensho Maru outside Najin harbor, and merchant tanker No.4 Nanko Maru near Hesaki harbor light.

                Navy PBMs sink Japanese vessel No.1 Hanshin Maru off China coast, 32°57'N, 117°26'E.

                ADRIATIC—Mine sinks U.S. freighter William J. Palmer five miles out of Trieste, Italy, 45°34'15"N, 13°36'15"E.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

NINTH AF—Gen Kepner takes command of Ninth AF.

FOURTEENTH AF—Bad weather hampers operations. However, 4 B‑25’s damage Sincheng railroad bridge, 4 B‑25’s and 2 P‑51’s bomb Pailochi airfield and hit trucks in the area, and 7 P‑51’s damage 12 locomotives between Taiyuan and Tsinan, destroy or damage several trucks near Shihkiachwang, and bomb bridge near Chihsien.

FEAF—B‑25’s over Kyushu hit industrial area near Takanabe, bombing warehouses, factories, railroad bridge, and marshalling yard. B‑25’s and P‑38’s support ground forces on Luzon, hitting Japanese forces near Santa Ines, in Butitio area, and near Mount Obudan. B‑24’s support ground action S of Fabrica. B‑24’s bomb Miti airfield. P‑38’s on sweep over Singapore claim 2 Japanese planes downed.

 

US ARMY

 

US MARINE CORPS

27th Infantry Division reaches Hedo Misaki, ending three and a half-month mopping up action in northern Okinawa

 

80 Years Ago, Friday, 3 August 1945

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Mines laid by USAAF B‑29s (20th Air Force) sink Japanese merchant cargo ships No.3 Kamikage Maru outside Najin harbor and Tairetsu Maru in Kobe harbor, 34°39'N, 135°12'E; and transport Aga Maru off Takatakao Light; and damage army ship Osho Maru off Tsuruga, 35°40'N, 136°04'E; and merchant cargo ships Kokuyo Maru east of Hesaki and Shotai Maru in Fushiki harbor.

                Cargo ship Taii Maru is damaged, agent unspecified, 5.6 kilometers off Karasu Jima.

                British submarines HMS Trump and HMS Tiptoe attack Japanese Batavia‑to‑Singapore convoy escorted by Patrol Boat No. 109, sinking army cargo vessel Tencho Maru, 05°07'S, 106°05'E.

                Navy Petroleum Reserve 4 Expedition, formed around cargo ship Spica (AK‑16) and U.S. freighters Jonathan Harrington and Enos A. Mills, anchors off Icy Cape, Alaska. There it will remain until ice conditions improve at Point Barrow, its ultimate destination (see 8, 10, 22, 24 and 25 August).

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTEENTH AF—Gen Lee takes command of Fifteenth AF.

FOURTEENTH AF—16 B‑25’s pound various railroad targets in East China. 50‑plus Fighter Bombers attack bridges, railroad yards, storage areas, enemy troops, river and rail traffic, and various other targets as the campaign to disrupt Japanese retreat from South and East China continues in spite of considerable bad weather.

FEAF—P‑38’s and B‑25’s support ground forces on North Luzon, hitting buildings in Apunan area and Japanese positions at various locations including ridges South West of Kiangan and West of Banaue. B‑24’s bomb airstrips at Tanamon and Sidate and bomb seaplane base at Kangean Island.

VII FC—Fighters from Iwo Jima fly nearly 100 effective sorties throughout Tokyo area, hitting airfields, rail installations, and trains.

 

US ARMY

 

US MARINE CORPS

 

80 Years Ago, Thursday, 2 August 1945

 US NAVY

EUROPE—Potsdam (TERMINAL) Conference attended by President Truman, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee (who had replaced Churchill as prime minister in the July general elections in Britain), and Russian Premier Stalin, ends.

PACIFIC—PV (FAW‑18), flown by a relief crew from VPB‑28, en route from Saipan to Jinamoc, Philippine Islands, makes initial sighting of survivors from sunken heavy cruiser Indianapolis (CA‑35) around 11°32'N, 133°34'E.25

                Destroyers Conner (DD‑582) and Charrette (DD‑581) intercept and search Japanese hospital ship Tachibana Maru, which is found to be carrying arms and ammunition in boxes marked with red crosses; the destroyers place prize crew of 80 marines and sailors on board. Tachibana Maru is then taken to Morotai for examination.

                Submarine Bugara (SS‑331) operating against Japanese coastal shipping off the Malay peninsula, sinks schooner with gunfire and takes on board crew. One lifeboat, however, sinks and fouls the submarine's port screw, damaging it,06°40'N, 101°51'E. Later, Bugara happens across Malay pirates attacking Chinese‑manned Japanese schooner enroute to Singapore, 06°21'N, 102°15'E. The brigands flee upon Bugara's approach. After taking off the Chinese crew (who are grateful for the submarine's timely arrival, the Malayan cutthroats having already killed two crewmen) and sinking the schooner, Bugara then pursues the pirates and destroys them. Later, Bugara's divers, working in the dark, repair the screw damaged earlier in the day.

                Army tender TP 122 grounds off East Cape, Amchitka, near Irakin Point; rescue tug ATR‑32 is sent to the scene to assist.

                USAAF mines sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Santo Maru off Niigata, Japan, 37°57'N, 139°04'E, and damage minesweeper W.17 south of Chinhae, Korea, 36°06'N, 128°40'E.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FOURTEENTH AF—10 B‑25’s, escorted by 2 P‑47’s, knock out bridge at Sinyang and severely damage bridge at Lohochai. 7 B‑25’s bomb town of Sinning, and hit several truck convoys between Siangtan and Changsha and in Siang‑Chiang Valley. 31 P‑51’s also bomb town of Sinning. 40‑plus P‑47’s and P‑51’s knock out at least 3 bridges and damage others and attack shipping, fuel dumps, gun positions, trucks, railroad yards and general targets of opportunity around Sichuang, Shangkao, Yoyang, Hankow, Mingkiang, Sincheng, Yutze, Houmachen, Yuncheng, Anyang, and Kaoyi.

FEAF—Bad weather cancels all FEAF missions from Okinawa. Thirteenth AF P‑38’s support ground forces on N Luzon, hitting pockets of resistance W of Kiangan and blasting enemy occupied caves on ridge NW of Bontoc.

TWENTIETH AF—Gen Twining be comes CG Twentieth AF. Gen LeMay is assigned to USASTAF as Chief of Staff.

ELEVENTH AF—6 B‑24’s radar‑bomb Kokutan Cape and visually bomb Kataoka.

 

US ARMY

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES—TERMINAL Conference ends at Potsdam.

 

US MARINE CORPS

 

80 Years Ago, Wednesday, 1 August 1945

US NAVY

PACIFIC—TG 12.3 attacks Wake Island. Planes from light carrier Cabot (CVL‑28) bomb installations. Battleship Pennsylvania (BB‑38) bombards the atoll but is damaged by shore battery, 19°20'N, 166°30'E.

                TG 95.2 (Rear Admiral Francis S. Low), a fast striking group consisting of large cruisers Alaska (CB‑1) and Guam (CB‑2), four light cruisers and nine destroyers, departs Okinawa and proceeds into the East China Sea to conduct anti‑shipping sweeps off Shanghai, China.

                TG 95.3 (Vice Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf), consisting of three battleships, a heavy cruiser, a light cruiser, three escort carriers, six destroyers and three destroyer escorts, accompanies TG 95.2 to furnish covering support.

                Heaviest USAAF B‑29 raid to date: 774 planes drop 6,632 tons of bombs on five different targets in Japan. Additionally, in what will be the largest operation of its kind, 42 USAAF B‑29s mine Shimonoseki Straits and the waters off Najin and Chongjin, Korea, and Hamada, Japan. Japanese escort vessel Ikura is damaged by mine in Oguchi Channel.

                USAAF B‑24s (Far East Air Force) bomb Nagasaki dockyard area, damaging motor torpedo boat Gyoraitei No.102; USAAF B‑25s and fighter‑bomber aircraft (Far East Air Force) bomb Japanese shipping in Nagasaki harbor, damaging merchant cargo ship Kinko Maru and tanker Tada Maru. Other USAAF (Fifth Air Force) planes sink merchant cargo ship Hayabusa Maru near Eboshi light, 33°41'N, 129°59'E.

                Japanese merchant tanker Chokai Maru is damaged by marine casualty, 34°38'N, 134°56'E.

                British submarines HMS Thorough and HMS Taciturn attack Japanese shipping in Bulelong Roads; while Taciturn engages shore batteries, Thorough sinks cargo vessels Hino Maru and Shoei Maru and shells warehouses.

                Submarine chaser PC‑784 collides with Army tug LT 666 in a dense fog off entrance to Amchitka, Alaska, harbor; both vessels suffer damage but there are no injuries to either crew.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TENTH AF—Gen Hegenberger becomes CG Tenth AF. Tenth AF moves from Piardoba to Kunming. (HQ at Kunming was officially opened on 23 Jul). The scheduled role of the Tenth AF in China is almost identical with its completed Burma mission to act as the tactical AF giving direct support and providing air supply to Chinese ground forces operating S of 27th parallel N.

FOURTEENTH AF—Bad weather severely curtails operations. P‑61’s effectively sweep rivers in Wuchou, Canton, and Tsingyun areas, sinking several large junks and sampans.

FEAF—B‑24’s bomb shipyards at Pontianak. Other Heavy Bombers hit barracks and AA guns along Makassar Strait. P‑38’s strafe locomotives in Soerabaja area. Other P‑38’s support ground forces ENE and SE of Mankayan and, along with USMC aircraft, pound enemy positions and concentrations in Upian area. B‑24’s bomb Tourane marshalling yard while escorting P‑51’s strafe boxcars at Quang Nam. Other B‑24’s strike Takao military stores. About 50 B‑24’s bomb targets in Nagasaki dock and harbor area. B‑25’s and Fighter Bombers in Nagasaki area hit docks, railroad yards, and shipping. Other B‑24’s bomb Koniya airfield and hit Kakeroma I. 80‑plus P‑47’s hit railroad bridges and other railroad targets at Sendai. Also P‑47’s fly their first combat mission from Iwo Jima, joining VII FC P‑51’s in sweep over S Honshu. Rolling stock and airfields are attacked in Okazaki, Itami, and Nagoya areas.

TWENTIETH AF—627 B‑29’s, on night of 1/2 Aug, carry out fire‑bomb raids on Japanese cities of Hachioji, Toyama, Nagaoka, and Mito; 120 others bomb Kawasaki petroleum facilities; and 37 drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait, in Nakaumi Lagoon, at Hamada, Sakai, Yonago, Najin, and Seishin. The total of 784 B‑29’s (of 836 dispatched) bombing targets is the largest Twentieth AF single‑day effort of World War II.

VII FC—30‑plus Iwo Jima‑based P‑51’s hit airfields and other targets in Osaka‑Nagoya area. Bad weather prevents numerous other fighters from reaching targets.

 

US ARMY

 

US MARINE CORPS