January 1945

Tuesday 2 January 1945
P-38s and A-20s hit shipping in San Fernando harbor on Negros Island; on Luzon Island, B-24s pound Clark Field and B-25s hit Batangas; airfields in the Central Philippine Islands area are bombed by B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers while B-24s strike Likanan on Mindanao Island; Menado on Celebes Island; and the Wasile Bay area on Halmahera Island. Other FEAF aircraft make armed reconnaissance and harassing strikes on targets of opportunity throughout the Central Philippine Islands area and the Netherlands East Indies. The 8th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, moves from Tacloban, Leyte Island to San Jose, Mindoro Island, Philippine Islands, with P-38s.

Wednesday 3 January 1945
B-24s pound Clark Field and the Mabalacat areas on Luzon Island. B-25s hit 5 airfields in the Central Philippine Islands while B-24s bomb 2 on Mindanao Island. B-24s attack the Djailolo supply area on Halmahera Island, while B-25s bomb Namlea Airfield on Buru Island, Moluccas Islands. Numerous other FEAF aircraft on armed reconnaissance, harassing raids, and light strikes attack a vast variety of targets throughout the Netherlands East Indies and Philippine Islands. The 25th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, moves from Dulag, Leyte Island to San Jose, Mindoro Island with F-5s.

Thursday 4 January 1945
B-24s pound Puerto Princesa on Palawan Island; B-25s hit a railroad and highways in the San Pedro area on Luzon Island. B-25s and P-38s hit Tanamon and Sidate on Celebes Island. Other B-24s and B-25s, flying small scale strikes, hit airfields on South Luzon and Mindanao Islands, on Northeast Celebes Island, and in the Central Philippine Islands, and bomb shipyards in North Borneo. The ground echelon of the 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, begins a movement from Tacloban, Leyte Island to Luzon (the air echelon is operating from San Jose, Mindoro Island with P-40s).

Friday 5 January 1945
In major strikes of the day B-25s hit shore installations along Lingayan Gulf, Luzon Island, and bomb Menado on Celebes Island. B-24s attack Miri Airfield in Borneo. Numerous smaller strikes are flown throughout the Philippine Islands and Netherlands East Indies. A-20s and fighter-bombers attack airfields on Luzon, the Central Philippine Islands area and Mindanao Island, fighter-bombers and B-24s hit the Pombelaa and Tondano area, and targets of opportunity on Northeast Celebes Island. Other FEAF aircraft fly scattered strikes at various targets in Borneo, Lesser Sunda Islands, and Tanimbar Island in the Moluccas Islands. The 4th Fighter Squadron (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group, arrives on Leyte Island from the US with P-51s. The detachment of the 68th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, operating from Nadzab, New Guinea with C-47s, returns to base on Biak Island. The 69th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group moves from Nadzab, New Guinea to Biak with C-47s. The 547th Night Fighter Squadron, 86th Fighter Wing [attached to 310th Bombardment Wing (Medium)], moves from Owi, Schouten Island to San Jose, Mindoro Island with P-38s and P-61s.

Saturday 6 January 1945
In the day's major operations, B-24s bomb Clark Field while B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers blast bridges and targets of opportunity at Calumpit and Plaridel and in nearby S Luzon Island areas and B-24s bomb Nichols Field and Nielson Airfield on Luzon. A-20s, with P-38 cover, bomb Carolina Airfield on Negros Island. B-25s and fighter-bombers hit Mapanget Airfield on Celebes Island. FEAF flies numerous smaller strikes against various points throughout the Netherlands East Indies and Philippine Islands.

Sunday 7 January 1945
In major strikes of the day against targets on Luzon Island, large numbers of B-25s and A-20s, supported by P-38s, hit the network of airstrips from Clark Field to Angeles Airfield, B-24s bomb Nielson and Grace Park Airfields and Nichols Field and B-25s and fighter-bombers pound bridges in the Plaridel and Calumpit areas. B-24s raid Padada and Daliao Airfields on Mindanao Island. B-25s and fighter-bombers hit Lembeh Strait and the Langoan areas on Celebes Island. Other FEAF aircraft on small-scale armed reconnaissance missions strike targets of opportunity throughout the Philippine Islands. The 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Tacloban, Leyte Island to San Jose, Mindoro Island with B-25s.

Monday 8 January 1945
In the main strikes during the day on Luzon Island, P-51s and P-40s strafe airfields in the Lingayen Gulf area; A-20s pound railroad yards at Cabanatuan, motor convoys between Cabanatuan and Bongalion and between Bongabon and Mojon, Rosales and San Quintin rail installations, bridges at Cuyapo, Paniqui, and near Santa Rosa; P-47s hit rail yards and a truck convoy in the San Jose area; and B-24s and A-20s attack Nichols Field and Nielson, Lipa, and Calingatan Airfields. B-25s with P-47 cover, bomb Fabrica Airfield on Negros Island, while B-24s bomb Likanan Airfield and oil storage at Matina on Mindanano Island. P-38s attack Manggar and Sepinggang Airfields in Borneo. Numerous small-scale attacks over the Philippine Islands and Netherlands East Indies continue.

Tuesday 9 January 1945
Amphibious forces of the US Sixth Army begin landing on the shores of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon Island at 0930 hours local; in North Luzon, B-24s bomb Mabalacat while B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers destroy several bridges and numerous vehicles and trains throughout Luzon, and bomb several airfields; B-24s also hit Nielson Airfield and Nichols Field. FEAF aircraft make small-scale attacks on barges, airfields, and targets of opportunity on Mindanao and Halmahera Islands, the Ceram Island area, North Borneo, and on Timor Island.

Wednesday 10 January 1945
On Luzon Island, B-24s bomb Grace Park Airfield and warehouse area near Manila, A-20s and fighter-bombers pound trucks, trains, railroad yards, railroads, and highways over wide areas of North and South, and bomb Vigan and Laoag Airfields. About 60 P-40s bomb and strafe the Galela area on Halmahera Island. B-25s and P-38s hit Kendari Airfield on Celebes Island. Other B-25s, A-20s, and fighterbombers, operating in smaller forces, hit numerous shipping and communications targets, airfields, and other targets throughout the Philippine Islands. HQ XIII Fighter Command moves from Sansapor, New Guinea to Leyte Island. The detachment of the 12th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, operating from Morotai Island with P-38s, returns to base at Sansapor, New Guinea.

Thursday 11 January 1945
Large numbers of B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers concentrate on communications targets throughout North Luzon Island and attack airfields, communications, and town areas in South Luzon, the Central Philippine Islands, and on Mindanao Island. B-25s and P-38s attack Kendari Airfield on Celebes Island. HQ 308th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) moves from Leyte Island to Luzon.

Friday 12 January 1945
B-24s bomb the San Jose del Monte area and bivouac areas on North Luzon; other B-24s hit Legaspi, and Batangas Airfields on Luzon, and Matina Airfield on Mindanao Island while B-25s bomb Fabrica warehouses on Negros Island.

Saturday 13 January 1945
On Luzon Island, B-24s hit the Tarlac barracks and storage area, Batangas Airfield, and troop concentrations at San Juan, Del Monte, Muzon, and San Vicente, P-47s fly a sweep from Laguna de Bay to Tarlac, destroying parked aircraft and vehicles and A-20s hit the town of Batangas and nearby railroads and highways, and bomb Lucena and Calingatan Airfields. Also the North Luzon area is hit throughout the day by small raids. HQ 18th Fighter Group and the 12th Fighter Squadron move from Sansapor, New Guinea to Lingayen, Luzon Island with P-38s (the 12th has been operating from Morotai Island since November 1944).

Sunday 14 January 1945
On Luzon Island, B-25s pound Aparri Airfield while supporting P-51s destroy several parked aircraft; A-20s bomb Clark Field destroying numerous parked aircraft, while B-24s hit troop concentrations at Cabanatuan; B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers over wide areas of Luzon hit tanks, trucks, and other vehicles near Norzagaray, Masbate, Tartaro, Bulac, Banglos, and San Felipe; bomb a bridge North of Bocaue; hit airfields at Tuguegarao and Batangas on Luzon, Malabang on Mindanao Island, and Silay on Negros Island; bomb the Cotabato supply area on Mindanao; and attack numerous other targets. B-25s bomb the Goeroea area in the Moluccas Islands. The 408th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Angaur Island, Palau Islands, Caroline Islands, to Samar Island, Philippine Islands with B-24s.

Monday 15 January 1945
B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers attack objectives on Luzon Island, in the Central Philippine Islands, and on Palawan Island, hitting highways, railroads, airfields and numerous targets of opportunity including tanks, trucks, and other vehicles. B-24s also bomb Jesselton Airfields in Borneo. The 318th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group, moves from Nadzab, New Guinea to Leyte Island with C-47s.

Tuesday 16 January 1945
In the day's principal strikes B-24s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers pound Japanese concentrations, trains, trucks, and targets of opportunity on Luzon Island. Other B-24s hit airfields in N Borneo and on Halmahera Island. B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers on small raids, armed reconnaissance, and harassing strikes hit airfields on Negros Island and airfields, communications targets, trains, trucks, and other targets of opportunity throughout Luzon. HQ 86th Fighter Wing moves from Sansapor, New Guinea to Luzon. The 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, moves from Biak Island to Lingayen, Luzon with F-5s. The 70th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, ceases operating from Morotai Island with P-38s and begins a movement to Luzon. The 547th Night Fighter Squadron, 86th Fighter Wing (attached to 308th Bombardment Wing) moves from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Lingayen, Luzon with P-38s and P-61s.)

Wednesday 17 January 1945
In principal strikes of the day on Luzon Island, B-24s bomb railroad yards at Legaspi while B-25s hit roads and railways East of Manila, destroying many railroad cars and troop-laden trucks. Other B-24s pound the Daliao area on Mindanao Island and Talisay Airfield on Negros Island. B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers continue to fly small strikes and armed reconnaissance against bridges, shipping, port areas, airfields, trucks, and other targets of opportunity throughout Luzon and in the Central Philippine Islands. The air echelon of the 82d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Lingayen, Luzon with F-6s and P-40s (ground echelon is enroute from Morotai Island to Lingayen).

Thursday 18 January 1945
B-25s blast the Cotabato area on Mindanao Island. B-24s bomb targets in the Miti area of Halmahera Island, and on Luzon Island, B-25s hit troop concentrations at Bamban, A-20s hit warehouses and highway traffic North of Bataan, and P-38s strafe parked aircraft at Tuguegarao and vehicles at Enrile and Butigui and Calarian on Mindanao. A variety of FEAF aircraft fly small-scale raids and armed reconnaissance missions against road and rail targets, bridges, airfields, and numerous targets of opportunity throughout the Philippine Islands. The 66th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, based on Biak Island, begins operating from Hill Field, Mindoro Island and Dulag, Leyte Island with C-46s and C-47s. The 67th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Biak to Tinauan, Leyte with C-46s and C-47s.

Friday 19 January 1945
In principal missions of the day, B-24s and B-25s bomb La Carlota and Bacolod Airfields on Negros Island. On Luzon Island, A-20s attack shipping at Salomague and Callaguip and B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers attack throughout Luzon, hitting airfields, vehicles, storage areas, highways, and a variety of other targets. HQ 433d Troop Carrier Group moves from Biak Island to Tanauan, Leyte Island. The 70th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, arrives at Lingayen, Luzon from Sansapor, New Guinea with P-38s.

Saturday 20 Friday 1945
B-24s pound Fabrica Airfield on Negros Island and bomb underground storage area at Bamban on Luzon Island. On Luzon, A-20s and B-25s hit railroads and trains near the Bicol River and between Calauag and Legaspi; other A-20s and fighter-bombers hit Aparri-Laoag and Tubang Airfields, hit artillery positions West of Bong Bong and destroy railroad bridge at Aloneros. HQ 35th Fighter Group moves from Morotai Island to Mangaldan, Luzon. The 2d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Angaur Island to Samar Island with B-24s. The 82d and 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, arrive at Lingayen, Luzon from Morotai Island and Dulag, Leyte Island respectively with F-6s and P-40s (82d) and P-40s (110th).

Sunday 21 January 1945
B-24s bomb Marikina Airfield and hit barracks and coastal defense guns at Calabasan. B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers fly sweeps, small strikes, and armed reconnaissance attacks on airfields, road networks, bridges, gun positions, numerous vehicles, and other targets of opportunity throughout Central and South Luzon. HQ 22d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the 33d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) move from Angaur Island to Samar Island with B-24s.

Monday 22 January 1945
B-24s, escorted by P-38s, bomb Heito Airfield in the first major Fifth AF strike on Formosa. On Luzon Island, other B-24s bomb barracks in the Cabaruan Hills and gun positions across Manila Bay and hit Fabrica Airfield. In smaller miscellaneous strikes, FEAF fighters and bombers over Central and South Luzon hit enemy positions, small shipping, and highways at several points, and damage a bridge over the Magata River. HQ Fifth AF, HQ V Bomber Command and HQ V Fighter Command move from Leyte Island to Mindoro Island. The 20th Combat Mapping Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, based at Dulag, Leyte, begins operating from Biak Island with F-7s. The 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, moves from Morotai Island to Mangaldan, Luzon with P-47s. The air echelon of the 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, ceases operating from San Jose, Mindoro and moves to Lingayen, Luzon with P-40s.

Tuesday 23 January 1945
During the night of 22/23 January B-24s again hit Formosa in force, bombing an aluminum factory at Takao. In the day's principal missions against Luzon Island, B-24s bomb Baguio and, along with A-20s, hit Corregidor Island in Manila Bay; other A-20s attack Aparri Airfield while fighter-bombers hit a bridge at Digdig, luggers South of Alcala, guns on Grande Island at the mouth of Subic Bay, a bridge over the Magata River, and the base at Camp John Hay. B-24s hit Silay Airfield on Negros Island.

Wednesday 24 January 1945
On Luzon Island, B-24s pound Corregidor Island, Cavite, the Canacao peninsula seaplane base, and Grande Island at the mouth of Subic Bay. FEAF fighters and bombers on sweeps, armed reconnaissance, and light raids attack a variety of targets all over Luzon including small shipping, airfields, defensive positions, storage and town areas, roads, and vehicles. During the night of 24/25 January B-24s on a snooper mission again hit Takao Airfield on Formosa. The 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, based on Biak Island begins operating from Hill Field, Mindoro Island with C-46s and C-47s.

Thursday 25 January 1945
B-24s, operating in force, again pound Corregidor Island in Manila Bay, Luzon Island; B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers on sweeps, armed reconnaissance, and small-scale strikes hit vehicles, enemy positions, airfields, ammunition and supply dumps, barges, communications, and targets of opportunity in general, over wide areas of Luzon and Palawan Islands, and in the Central Philippine Islands. During the night of 25/26 Jan, B-24s fly a harassing raid on Takao, Formosa. The 20th Combat Mapping Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, based at Dulag, Leyte Island, begins operating from Tacloban, Leyte with F-7s; the 387th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 312th Bombardment Group (Light) moves from Tanauan, Leyte to San Jose, Mindoro Island with A-20s.

Friday 26 January 1945
On Luzon Island, B-24s hit coastal guns on Corregidor Island and in Balete Pass; B-25s bomb the Cabcaben Airfield area and coastal guns on Carabao Island and A-20s attack Grande Island coastal defenses at the mouth of Subic Bay. On Mindanao Island, B-25s bomb Likanan and Sasa and P-38s strafe the same targets and also hit Padada. A-20s and fighter-bombers, along with a few B-24s, continue armed reconnaissance and miscellaneous attacks against airfields, communications, vehicles, coastal guns, town areas, and other targets throughout Luzon and in the Central Philippine Islands. HQ 3d Air Commando Group, the 3d and 4th Fighter Squadrons (Commando) and the 318th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando) move from Leyte Island to Mangaldan, Luzon with P-51s and C-47s. HQ 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the 321st and 400th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) move from Biak Island to San Jose, Mindoro Island with B-24s. The 69th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Biak to Tanauan, Leyte with C-47s. The 386th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 312th Bombardment Group (Light), moves from Tanauan, Leyte to San Jose, Mindoro with A-20s.

Saturday 27 January 1945
On Luzon Island, B-24s pound the Canacao seaplane base, Cavite, and Grande Island at the mouth of Subic Bay while B-25s hit Cabcaben and the airfield at Calingatan. Other FEAF aircraft continue small-scale strikes against numerous other airfields, town areas, gun emplacements, harbors, and communications and transportation targets throughout Luzon. The 19th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Angaur Island to Samar Island with B-24s. Units moving to San Jose, Mindoro Island: 320th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy), from Biak Island with B-24s and 388th and 389th Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 312th Bombardment Group  Light), from Tanauan, Leyte Island with A-20s.

Sunday 28 January 1945
B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and fighter-bombers concentrate attacks on Luzon Island, the heaviest tonnage (from B-24s) falling on Corregidor Island in Manila Bay; Cavite and targets between Manila and Subic Bay, including Laoag Airfield, are also hit; A-20s concentrate on targets in the Aparri-Gattaran area while fighter-bombers and A-20s hit airfields in the Cagayan Valley and troops, trucks, and roads in the San Felipe and Talavera areas. HQ 91st Photographic Wing (Reconnaissance) moves from Leyte Island to Mindoro Island.

Monday 29 January 1945
Heavy B-24 daylight raids concentrate on the Heito airfield area of Formosa and Corregidor Island in Manila Bay while B-25s bomb nearby Cabcaben, Luzon Island. On Luzon, fighter-bombers and A-20s hit targets of opportunity from Aparri to Echague; further South fighters hit gun positions in the Batangas and Verde Islands areas; A-20s support ground forces inland from Lingayen by hitting the Carranglen road network; others hit Talavera and Carabao. HQ 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 822d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), move from Morotai Island to Lingayen, Luzon with B-25s. The 319th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Biak Island to San Jose, Mindoro Island with B-24s.

Tuesday 30 January 1945
Bad weather cancels most of the scheduled strikes over Luzon Island; however, B-24s bomb Cavite while fighter-bombers flying support for ground forces hit artillery and troop concentrations Northeast of Labayug and others attack ammunition dumps North of San Isidro. The 405th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Morotai Island to Lingayen, Luzon with B-25s.

Wednesday 31 January 1945
Brigadier General Earl W. Barnes again assumes command of the XIII Fighter Command. The 157th, 159th and 160th Liaison Squadrons (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group, move from Leyte Island to Calasio, Mangaldan and Calasio, Luzon Island respectively with UC-64s and L-5s (first mission is 17 February and 7 February respectively).