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 Home > History > The 5th Air Force in WWII > May 1945



Tuesday, 1 May 1945

On Formosa, B-25s hit the Heito sugar refinery and the town of Kagi. FEAF continues to support ground forces on Luzon and Negros Islands. On Borneo, B-24s support Australian landings on Tarakan Island and bomb Tawau and B-25s attack Jesselton, Tarakan Island, Sandakan, and Kudat, concentrating on airfields. HQ 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group moves from Leyte Island to Clark Field, Luzon. Unit moves during May: HQ 309th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) from San Marcelino to Lingayen, Luzon; 7th Combat Cargo Squadron, 2d Combat Cargo Group from Biak Island, New Guinea to Dulag, Leyte; the detachment of the 160th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group, ceases operating from Mindoro Island with UC-64s and L-5s and returns to base at Mabalacat, Luzon.

Wednesday, 2 May 1945

On Luzon Island, B-24s and P-51s pound troops near Ipo Dam while B-25s, A-20s, and fighters hit Cagayan Valley targets; FEAF strikes in support of ground forces continue on Luzon and on Cebu Island. In Borneo, B-25s continue support for Australian troops on Tarakan Island and, in conjunction with US Navy (USN) aircraft, bomb Kudat Airfield.

Thursday, 3 May 1945

Saigon, French Indochina is bombed by B-24s, which greatly damage a boatyard and oil storage areas. On Luzon Island B-24s and P-51s pound the Ipo area while A-20s and fighters support ground forces. In Borneo, B-25s continue support of ground forces on Tarakan Island and, with B-24s, carry out small raids against numerous targets on Borneo and Celebes, Manggar Airfield is heavily hit by B-24s and P-38s and USN airplanes hit warehouses in the Brunei Bay area. The 63d Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Biak Island, New Guinea to Dulag, Leyte Island with C-47s.

Friday, 4 May 1945

 B-25s bomb the Tuguegarao area on Luzon Island while other B-25s, A-20s, and fighter- bombers, in spite of bad weather, support ground forces in N and S Luzon and on Negros Island. P-38s pound Itu Aba Island, China. B-24s heavily damage oil installations at Saigon, French Indochina. On Borneo, B-25s and P-38s support ground forces on Tarakan Island and B-24s hit Sandakan and Kota Baru and on Celebes Island, bomb Mandai and Masamba Airfields. HQ 18th Fighter Group and 12th and 70th Fighter Squadrons move from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Zamboanga, Mindanao Island with P-38s.

Saturday, 5 May 1945

In the first FEAF strike on the Amoy, China area, B-24s bomb an airfield and oil storage plant. On Formosa, B-24s bomb Shinchiku Airfield while B-25s and fighter-bombers hit the Taito sugar refinery, Shoka railroad yards, and Giran and Matsuyama Airfields. On Luzon Island, A-20s and fighter-bombers continue to hit Cagayan Valley targets and support ground forces at various locations. In Borneo, B-25s and P-38s support Australian forces on Tarakan Island, P-38s hit the Miri waterfront on the W coast and Keningau airfield in the N and B-24s bomb the Kuching waterfront on the W coast.

Sunday, 6 May 1945

In Formosa, B-24s bomb Matsuyama Airfield and secondary nearby targets and later bomb Toshien, Toko, and Kiirun and B-25s pound the town of Mato. A-20s and fighter-bombers fly numerous attack sorties in support of ground forces in N and S Luzon Island and fighter-bombers fly support missions over Panay Island. In Borneo, B-24s bomb Kudat and Keningau Airfields, P-38s hit Ranau and Labuan Island airstrips while B-25s support Australian troops on Tarakan Island. B-24s bomb Limboeng Airfield on Celebes Island. B-25s over French Indochina bomb warehouses at Dong Hoi.

Monday, 7 May 1945

On Luzon Island, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers hit targets in the Cagayan Valley and support ground action in the Cervantes area, Balete Pass and N of Laguna de Bay. In Borneo, P-38s hit Bintula, Kudat, and Ranau while B-25s, and P-38s hit gun positions and HQ on Tarakan Island. B-24s bomb Bingkalapa Airfield, Celebes and the harbor at Soerabaja, Java. In French Indochina, B-25s hit railroad targets between Cap Batangan and Cap Varella. The 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), moves from Morotai Island to Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island with F-5s (a detachment is operating from Dulag, Leyte Island).

Tuesday, 8 May 1945

In Borneo, P-38s hit Jesselton, Sengkawang, and Kudat Airfields while B-25s bomb the Kuching and Labuan Island Airfield areas. B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers continue to pound Cagayan Valley on Luzon Island. On Mindanao Island, B-24s hit Davao while P-38s hit the Labugan Airfield area. Other B-24s bomb Mandai Airfield on Celebes Island. B-25s bomb railway installations between Phan Rang and Binh Dinh, French Indochina.

Wednesday, 9 May 1945

B-24s bomb 2 airfields in the Canton, China area. On Luzon Island, A-20s and fighters fly offensive sweeps over the Cagayan Valley and support ground forces in the Cervantes, Baguio, and Balete Pass area and the Ipo-New Bosoboso-Infanta area. On Mindanao Island, B-24s bomb the area around Dalirig and Maluko preparatory to allied landings in the Macajalar Bay area on 10 May. P-38s over Borneo hit Brooketon, Sarawak and Tarakan Island.

Thursday, 10 May 1945

B-24s bomb an airfield in the Canton, China area. A-20s and fighter-bombers hit Cagayan Valley targets and support ground action in the battle zones throughout Luzon Island. On Mindanao Island, B-24s hit Impasugong, Kalasungay, and Malaybalay and B-25s in support of ground forces attack Kibawe and Tagolaan. B-24s bomb Makassar ship basins and Limboeng Airfield on Celebes Island and shore targets at Balikpapan on Borneo. B-25s, with fighter escort, hit Kari and communications targets of opportunity on Formosa. The 500th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from San Marcelino to Clark Field, Luzon with B-25s.

Friday, 11 May 1945

On Formosa, B-24s bomb Toshien Airfield and the towns of Koshun, Kato, Takao, Toko, and Shajo and B-25s pound Kagi. On Luzon Island, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers continue to support the ground action near Paranum and in the Ipo Dam sector. On Borneo, B-24s bomb Keningau Airfield and B-25s bomb the Brunei Bay area. On Celebes Island, B-24s hit Mandai and Boeloedowang Airfields. Unit moves: 12th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, ceases operating from Palawan Island with P-38s and returns to base at Zamboanga, Mindanao Island; 498th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th Bombardment Group (Medium), from San Marcelino to Clark Field, Luzon with B-25s.

Saturday, 12 May 1945

A-20s and fighter- bombers support ground forces on Luzon and Negros Islands. In French Indochina, B-24s pound several railroad and road bridges at Binh Dinh, Phu My, Bong Son, Lai Ha, Tuy Hoa, and Phu Hiep and attack the railroad yard at An Trach and other railroad targets. In Borneo, B-24s, B-25s, and P-38s hit targets in the Brunei Bay area including Labuan Island, Brooketon, and Jesselton Airfields and troops on Tarakan Island. On Celebes Island, B-24s bomb Makassar shipyards and Limboeng Airfield. HQ 345th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 499th and 501st Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from San Marcelinto to Clark Field, Luzon with B-25s.

Sunday, 13 May 1945

B-24s again pound bridges along the French Indochina coast. Bombers and fighters pound Cagayan Valley targets and continue support of ground forces on Luzon Island. B-24s hit troop concentrations and caves in the Bugnay area. In Borneo, other B-24s bomb Oelin and Tabanio Airfields while B-25s and P-38s bomb Sandakan and support ground forces on Tarakan Island.

Monday, 14 May 1945

B-24s bomb Hozan, the largest military and air supply center on Formosa. A-20s and fighter- bombers support ground forces on Luzon and Negros Islands. In Borneo, B-24s attack Jesselton and Sepinggang Airfields and B-25s hit Jesselton, Kudat, and Bintula Airfields and support ground forces on Tarakan Island. On Celebes Island, B-24s lightly raid Makassar harbor, Sidate Airfield, and Parepare warehouses and bomb Bima Airfield on Soembawa Island, Lesser Sunda Islands.

Tuesday, 15 May 1945

B-24s bomb Shinchiku, Formosa. In Borneo, B-24s and B-25s hit Miri and Kudat Airfields and support ground forces on Tarakan Island. P-38s pound troop concentrations and gun positions on Mount Mandalagan on Negros Island. Unit moves: HQ 2d Combat Cargo Group and 5th Combat Cargo Squadron from Biak Island, New Guinea to Dulag, Leyte, Island with C-46s; HQ 348th Fighter Group and 340th, 342d, 343d and 460th Fighter Squadrons from San Marcelino to Floridablanca, Luzon Island with P-47s.

Wednesday, 16 May 1945

Nearly 100 P-38s pound targets in the Ipo Dam area on Luzon Island with napalm. B-24s hit Balikpapan and Manggar, Borneo, and Tondano on Celebes Island while B-25s and P-38s hit Miri, Brookton, Bintula, Ft Brook, and a flak ship near Labuan Island Borneo; and P-38s also support ground forces on Tarakan. On Formosa, B-24s bomb Taichu and B-25s hit alcohol plants and railroad yards.

Thursday, 17 May 1945

During sweeps over Formosa, B-25s and P-51s cause widespread damage hitting railroad yards, bridges, and alcohol plants and B-24s bomb airfields at Nanseiho and Matsuyama. Fighters fly 130+ sorties against the Ipo Dam area on Luzon Island. B-24s bomb Sepinggang and Manggar, Borneo, and Sidate, Celebes Island airfields. The 20th Combat Mapping Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, moves from Dulag, Letye Island to Clark Field, Luzon with F-7s.

Friday, 18 May 1945

On Formosa, B-24s bomb Taichu and Tainan Airfields; B-25s and fighter-bombers fly sweeps hitting numerous targets. B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers support ground forces on N Luzon Island and pound concentrations in S Luzon. Fighter-bombers also support ground forces on Negros Island. In Borneo, B-24s and B-25s hit Ft Brook and Sarawak while B-24s and P-38s attack defenses on Tarakan Island.

Saturday, 19 May 1945

In Formosa, B-24s pound Kiirun harbor, B-25s sweep the W coast, hitting several targets including Toyohara, Nisui, and along the Ts'eng-Wen River, hitting a railroad yard, storage facilities, and damaging an alcohol plant on the Ts'eng Wen and fighters sweep the Giran, Tainan, and Heito areas. B-25s, A-20s, and fighter- bombers support ground forces throughout Luzon Island, concentrating in the Ipo Dam area. P-38s support ground action on Cebu Island. In Borneo, B-24s bomb Oelin Airfield and, along with P-38s, attack targets on Tarakan Island. The air echelon of the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Group, based at Dulag, Leyte Island with F-5s, begins operating from Clark Field, Luzon.

Sunday, 20 May 1945

Despite bad weather B-25s over Formosa bomb various communications targets and an alcohol plant at Meiji. B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers pound the Cagayan Valley targets on Luzon Island. On Mindanao Island, B-24s bomb Piso Point, and fighter- bombers support ground action in the Bukidnon area. In Borneo, P-38s hit Sandakan, Keningau, and Tarakan Island while B-25s hit shipping at Balikpapan harbor and a nearby barracks area and sawmill. HQ 375th Troop Carrier Group moves from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Porac, Luzon.

Monday, 21 May 1945

On Luzon Island, B-25s blast numerous targets in the Cagayan Valley while A-20s and P-51s support ground forces in NW sectors; P-38s napalm-bomb the Ipo Dam and Marikina River sectors and hit positions throughout Negro Island. In Borneo, B-24s hit Brunei, Melak Airstrip, Samarinda shipyards, and troop concentrations on Tarakan Island. P-38s strafe railroad rolling stock in the Saigon, French Indochina area.

Tuesday, 22 May 1945

On Formosa, B-24s bomb Toshien and Okayama while B-25s hit an oil plant W of Kagi and several targets of opportunity. B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers attack the Santa Fe, Fula, and Casambalangan areas in the N part of Luzon Island and support ground forces in the Ipo Dam and Marikina areas in the S. In Borneo, B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers attack Jesselton, Kudat, Bintula, and Tarakan Island.

Wednesday, 23 May 1945

On Luzon, A-20s and B-25s hit Cagayan Valley and Balete Pass targets, P-51s support ground forces in the Baguio area and P-38s hit the Ipo-Antipolo areas. On Borneo, Tawau, Bintula, Samarinda, and Miri are hit by B-24s, Ft Brook and Weston by B-25s, and Tarakan Island by fighter-bombers.

Thursday, 24 May 1945

On Luzon Island, B-24s pound Cagayan Valley targets including Aparri; B-25s, A-20s, and P-51s hit numerous targets throughout the Valley and in NW and S Luzon, including the Vira, Callang, Santa Cruz, Baguio, Balete Pass, Ipo, and Antipolo areas. Fighter-bombers also support ground forces on Negros Island. In Borneo, B-24s, B-25s, and P-38s attack Ft Brook, Bintula, Tawau, Beaufort, Jesselton, along the Lawas River, and Malinau.

Friday, 25 May 1945

On Luzon Island, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers fly numerous strikes and ground support missions. Fighter-bombers also support ground force on Cebu Island. In Borneo, B-24s bomb Oelin, Ft Brook, and Tarakan Island while B-25s and P-38s hit Kudat and P-38s also support ground action on Tarakan.

Saturday, 26 May 1945

B-25s and P-38s sweep the W part of Formosa causing extensive damage to a variety of communications and industrial targets. A-20s and fighter-bombers pound numerous Luzon Island targets, particularly in the Balete Pass area and B-24s bomb Tuguegarao and Echague. Fighter-bombers also support ground forces on Cebu Island. In Borneo, B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers hit Tarakan Island, Beaufort, Weston, Tenom, Trusan Haji, Sandakan, and Jesselton.

Sunday, 27 May 1945

B-24s pound the railroad yards and rolling stock at Muong Man and Phan Rang, French Indochina. On Formosa, B-25s and fighter-bombers attack targets at Koshun, Shinei, Tairin, Ensui, Kohyo, and Kobi and attack numerous targets of opportunity at many other locations. On Luzon island, B-24s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers hit Cagayan Valley targets while other fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Balete Pass, Baguio, and Ipo Dam sectors. In Borneo, B-24s, B-25s and fighter-bombers attack Tawau, Kudat, Langkon, and Sandakan, and hit targets on Tarakan Island.

Monday, 28 May 1945

In French Indochina, B-24s again bomb the railroad yards E of Saigon at Phan Rang and Muong Man. In Formosa, B-25s and fighter-bombers attack industrial targets of opportunity at Shoka, Taichu, Ujitsu, Byoritsu, and other locations. On Luzon Island, B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers attack Pateng, the Ipo Dam area, Tuguegarao and Ugae airstrips, Anuling, the Baguio area, guns and defenses in the Balete Pass area, and support ground forces at several points. In Borneo, B-24s, B-25s, and fighters hit gun positions and other targets at Balikpapan and P-38s dive-bomb Keningau and Jesselton Airfields. Unit moves: HQ 374th Troop Carrier Group from Biak Island, New Guinea to Nielson Field, Luzon; 550th Night Fighter Squadron, XIII Fighter Command (attached to 85th Fighter Wing), based at Tacloban, Leyte Island with P-38s, P-61s and P-70s, sends a detachment to operate from Sanga Sanga, Sulu Island (another detachment is operating from Zamboanga, Mindanao Island).

Tuesday, 29 May 1945

On Formosa, 100+ B-24s bomb Kiirun and several other towns and B-25s, and fighter-bombers, hit the Tainan alcohol plant and targets of opportunity. On Luzon Island, B-24s, B-25s, and A-20s hit a variety of targets in the N while other fighter- bombers hit the C part of the island including the Cagayan Valley, Baguio, Balete, and Ipo areas. In Borneo, B-24s hit airfields at Oelin, Tabanio, and Ft Brook.

Wednesday, 30 May 1945

On Formosa, 100+ B-24s pound Takao while fighters sweep the coastal areas and B-25s concentrate on the Shinei area. A-20s hit Cagayan Valley targets on Luzon Island. B-24s and fighters hit several targets in Borneo, concentrating on Tawau personnel and supply area and the airstrip at Ranau.

Thursday, 31 May 1945

On Formosa, B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers attack targets, with 90+ B-24s concentrating on Takao while other planes hit Kosbun, Giran warehouses and communications targets, and blast transportation and communications targets over wide areas. On Luzon Island, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers hit targets in the Cagayan Valley, Balete Pass, and Baguio and Ipo areas. Fighter-bombers also hit Negros Island. On Borneo, B-25s and fighter-bombers hit troop concentrations on Tarakan Island and the occupied building area at Belait; fighter-bombers also blast airfields at Kudat, Jesselton, Keningau, and Labuan Island. HQ 433d Troop Carrier Group move from Tanauan, Leyte Island to Clark Field, Luzon.