Thursday, August 21, 2025

80 Years Ago, Tuesday, 21 August 1945

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Two Chinese junks (Lieutenant Livingston Swentzel Jr., USNR) manned by 7 Americans and 20 Chinese guerrillas are attacked by Japanese junk (with a crew of 83 men) while enroute from Haimen to Shanghai, China. In a 45‑minute action, the Chinese craft, directed by Lieutenant Swentzel, engage the enemy with bazookas, machine guns, and grenades. Upon boarding the Japanese craft, the Allied force finds 45 dead and 35 wounded; the victory has been achieved at the cost of four Chinese killed, and one American and five Chinese wounded. For his heroism above and beyond the call of duty, Lieutenant Swentzel is awarded the Navy Cross in what probably proves to be the last surface action of World War II.

            Japanese escort vessel Miyake is damaged by mine near Moji, Japan, 33°58'N, 131°00'E.

            Tenth Army security patrols on Okinawa by this point have captured 69 Japanese and killed 218 since the island is declared secure.

            Asiatic Wing, Naval Air Transport Service, is established at Oakland California.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

ELEVENTH AF—2 B‑24’s are prevented by cloud cover from taking photos of Soviet occupation of Kurils. 4 others abort a photo mission to Paramushiru and Shimushu due to weather.

 

US ARMY

 

US MARINE CORPS

CinCPac issues warning order to III Amphibious Corps for occupation of North China.

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