Eighth Air Force. The sole operational employment of napalm
bomb by Eighth Air Force is carried out against German ground
installations pillboxes, gun pits, tank trenches, and heavy
gun emplacements in defensive pocket at Royan by nearly 850
heavy bombers. Results are negligible and Headquarters recommends
its discontinuance against this type of target. A total of
16 defensive installations on Gironde estuary are bombed by
1,280 heavy bombers supporting assault by French ground troops
under 6th Army Group. 2 fighters groups escort Ninth Air Force
medium bombers attacking Ulm marshalling yard.
Ninth Air Force. 268 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-26 Marauder medium bombers and A-26 Invader light bombers
bomb marshalling yards at Gunzburg and Ulrn primary targets
and several other targets including 3 marshalling yards. Fighters
escort 9th Bomber Division, fly patrols and armed reconnaissance,
and support United States 3d Armoured Division near Dessau
and across Mulde River near Torten, 9th Armoured Division
along Mulde River North West of Borna, VIII Corps along Weisse
Elster River between Gera and Plauen, XX Corps astride the
Mulde River Northeast of Chemnitz where 6th Armoured Division
awaits Red Army forces, and 2d Armoured Division on Elbe River
near Magdeburg.
Twelfth Air Force. During
14-15
April 1945, United States Army Air Force (USAAF) light bombers
concentrate on command targets in Po Valley, particularly
the Po crossings. During the day medium bombers and fighter-bombers
concentrate on direct support of United States Fifth and British
Eighth Army drives, hitting troop concentrations, guns, strong
points, and a variety of targets in areas South of Bologna,
around Medicina and Sasso Marconi, and at other points in
battle areas.
Fifteenth Air Force. 830 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers and B-24 Liberator heavy
bombers, in support of United States Fifth Army, blast gun
positions, supply dumps, troop concentrations, maintenance
installations, and Wehrmacht Headquarters along highways leading
from Bologna. 145 P-38 Lightning fighters furnish escort.
Another force of 312 B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers and
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers bomb rail diversion bridges at
Nervesa della Battaglia, Ponte di Piave, and Casarsa della
Delizia, and ammunition factory and stores at Ghedi. 191 P-51
Mustang fighter-bombers provide escort. 36 P-38 Lightning
fighters and 36 P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers strafe rail command
in area bounded by Munich, Salzburg, Linz, Plzen, and Regensburg.
12 of the P-38 Lightning fighters skip bomb rail targets in
Salzburg, Linz area, including Vocklabruck marshalling yard.
8 P-38 Lightning fighters furnish top cover for the strafing
missions. 128 P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers provide uneventful
escort for Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (MATAF)
bombers on 3 missions to North Italy. Other P-38 Lightning
fighters and P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers carry out reconnaissance
and reconnaissance escort operations. Today's effort is the
largest of the Second World War by Fifteenth Air Force most
fighters and terms dispatched and attacking, and largest bomb
tonnage dropped during a 24 hour period. 1,142 heavy bombers
bomb targets.
Tenth Air Force. 62 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) P-38
Lightning fighters and P-47 Thunderbolt fighters attack troop
concentrations and supply areas at Loi-Mwe, Lawksawk Thongdan,
and near Laihka. 312 transport sorties are flown to forward
areas.
Fourteenth Air Force. 3 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers knock out Pa Ching pontoon bridge,
7 pound storage depot at Fang-cheng, 4 bomb Tunganhsien, and
3 hit Paoching. 1 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers bombs Canton
docks. Almost 200 fighter-bombers ranging over all of South
China and up into the North China plain hit numerous targets
including bridges, river shipping, town areas, trucks, railroad
traffic, gun positions, storage areas, and general targets.
Paoching, Hengyang, Yungfengshih, and Hsihhsiassuchi areas
are especially hard hit.
Far East Air Force (FEAF). On Formosa United States Army Air
Force (USAAF) B-24 Liberator heavy bombers bomb Toyohara,
Shinchiku, and Shinshoshi airfields. B-25 Mitchell medium
bombers hit Shoka rail yards. B-24 Liberator heavy bombers
and fighter-bombers bomb island fortifications in Manila Bay,
fighter-bombers hit bivouacs and other targets in North Luzon
and support ground forces East of Manila and on Carabao Island.
Fighter-bombers and B-24 Liberator heavy bombers fly support
missions for ground forces on Negros and Cebu. B-24 Liberator
heavy bombers bomb Davao area and B-25 Mitchell medium bombers
join Marine aircraft in hitting highways and vehicles.
Twentieth Air Force. During 15-
16
April 1945,, 194 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-29
Superfortress heavy bomber's strike Kawasaki urban area while
109 hit urban area of Tokyo.
Eleventh Air Force. A United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers flies weather reconnaissance.
M368
Minesweeper
Sunk 15 April 1945
Go To: 16th
April
Articles:
The Second Great War.
Edited by Sir John Hamilton
The War Illustrated.
Edited by Sir John Hamilton
2194 Days Of War.
ISBN-10: 086136614X
For a complete list of
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