January 2nd, 1945 (TUESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Submarine HMS Alcide laid down.
In the air, the USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 777: two B-17 Flying Fortresses and six B-24 Liberators drop leaflets in France and Germany during the night of 2/3 January.
NORTH SEA: Minesweeping trawler HMS Haybourn Wyke (FY 139) torpedoed and sunk by a German Seehund midget submarine off Ostend.
Western Front: US 3rd Army takes Bonnerue, Hubertmont and Remagne. Hitler denies a request from Field Marshall Model to withdraw west of Houffalize.
The USAAF Ninth Air Force's 9th Bombardment Division dispatches 135 A-20 Havocs, A-26 Invaders, and B-26 Marauders to hit rail bridges and communications centres in Belgium and Germany; fighters escort the bombers, fly patrols, sweeps, and armed reconnaissance and support the U.S. III and VIII Corps in the Bastogne, Belgium area and the XII Corps south of the Clerf River, Luxembourg, and west of the Sauer River in Germany. (Jack McKillop
LUXEMBOURG: In the U.S. Third Army's III Corps area, the 26th Infantry Division's 101st Infantry Regiment advances north in the area southwest of Wiltz.
FRANCE: Paris, Toussus-le-Noble: British Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, Commander-in-Chief Allied Naval Expeditionary Force, is killed when his plane taking him to a conference in Brussels, Belgium, crashes on takeoff at Toussus-le-Noble. He is 61. Ramsay had retired from the Royal Navy in 1938 but, on the outbreak of the war, was recalled to duty and given command of the port of Dover. Involved in the Dunkirk evacuation he was knighted and given the rank of admiral. Ramsay was responsible for organizing the Allied landings in Algiers, Algeria, on 8 November 1942 and then commanded the Eastern Naval Task Force for the invasion of Sicily. During the operation Ramsay controlled 795 vessels and 713 landing craft. In December 1943, he was appointed Allied Naval commander in chief for the Normandy landings. This was a tremendous task as it involved 2,730 vessels. After the successful invasion Ramsay took control of ports in northern France. British Vice-Admiral Sir Harold Burrough succeeds him.
The U.S. Seventh Army command post is moved from Saverne to Luneville. In the XV Corps area, German pressure forces the 44th Infantry Division's right flank back past Gros-Rederching and causes the 100th Infantry Division's right flank to fall back farther. In the VI Corps area, the Germans maintain pressure against the reinforced 45th Infantry Division, particularly on its west flank, the former zone of Task Force Hudelson. Fighting occurs at various points along the Bitche salient. Task Force Herren's 276th Infantry Regiment takes up switch positions in the Wingen-Wimmenau-Rosteig area. Combat Command A, 14th Armoured Division, organizes outposts at the Vosges exits around Bouxwiller. The centre and right flank units of the corps begin withdrawal to prepared positions on the Maginot Line. The 79th Infantry Division takes over southern portion of the Rhine River line held by Task Force Linden (42d Infantry Division).
BELGIUM: At 2200 hours local, a German A4 (V2) rocket lands in Antwerp at Vrydagmarkt killing 29, injuring 41 and destroying 53 houses.
In the British Second Army's XXX Corps area, 53d Division assumes responsibility for the Marche-Hotton sector in Belgium, relieving the U.S. 84th Infantry Division; the boundary between XXX Corps and the U.S. VII Corps is adjusted.
In the U.S. Third Army's VIII Corps area, Gerimont falls to the 87th Infantry Division; Mande St Etienne to the 11th Armoured Division; and Senonchamps to Combat Command B, 10th Armoured Division (attached to the 101st Airborne Division), and Combat Command A, 9th Armoured Division. The 4th Armoured Division protects and enlarges the corridor leading into Bastogne from the south and helps III Corps clear the woods near Lutrebois. In the III Corps area, the 6th Armoured Division's Combat Command B enters Oubourcy and Michamps but is driven out of the latter and unsuccessfully attacks Arloncourt; Combat Command A takes Wardin; the division withdraws to high ground west of Michamps-Arloncourt-Wardin for the night. The 35th Infantry Division continues their fight for Lutrebois. The 28th Cavalry Squadron of Task Force Fickett [6th Cavalry Group (Mechanized)] is committed between the 134th and 137th Infantry Regiments, 35th Infantry Division.
GERMANY: Chancellor Adolf Hitler denies a request from Field Marshal Walter Model, Commander in Chief Army Group B, to withdraw west of Houffalize, Belgium.
The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 776: 1,011 bombers and 503 fighters are dispatched to attack communications and tactical targets in western Germany visually and using Gee-H; four bombers and three fighters are lost. The targets are (numbers in parenthesis indicate number of aircraft bombing and number lost, e.g., 97-1):
- Communications centres: Mayen (68-0), Kyllburg (37-0), Bitburg (36-0) and Daun and Prum (34-0)
- Marshalling yards: Gerolstein (74-0), Ehrang at Trier (72-2), Bad Kreuznach (71-1) and St. Wendel (12-0).
- Railroad bridges: Lutzel at Koblenz (66-0), Guls at Koblenz (59-0), Ludendorf at Remagen (56-0), Kronprinz Wilhelm at Engers (45-0) and Kaiserslautern (34-1).
- Railroad junction: Bad Kreuznach (67-0).
- Tactical targets: German tanks at Lebach near the Siegfreid Line (130-0).
During the night of 2/3 January, RAF Bomber Command strikes several targets: 514 Lancasters and seven Mosquitos are dispatched to Nuremberg; 506 bomb the city. Four Lancasters are lost and two crash in France. Nuremberg, scene of so many disappointments for Bomber Command, finally succumbs to this attack. The Pathfinders produce good ground marking in conditions of clear visibility and with the help of a rising full moon. The centre of the city, particularly the eastern half, is destroyed. The castle, the Rathaus, almost all the churches and about 2,000 preserved medieval houses go up in flames. The area of destruction also extends into the more modern northeastern and southern city areas. The industrial area in the south, containing the important MAN and Siemens factories, and the railway areas are also severely damaged. Four hundred fifteen separate industrial buildings are destroyed. It was a near-perfect example of area bombing. In a second raid, 389 aircraft, 351 Halifaxes, 22 Lancasters and 16 Mosquitos, are sent to Ludwigshafen 367 bomb the target. One Halifax which crashes in France is the only loss. The aiming point for this raid is the area of the two I.G. Farben chemical factories. The bombing is accurate, with severe damage to the main IG Farben factory and to the firm's factory at nearby Oppau. Estimated totals of 500 high-explosive bombs and 10,000 incendiaries fall inside the limits of the two factories, causing much damage. Ten large, 30 medium and 200 small fires are recorded at the main factory. Production failure at both plants is complete because of "loss of power." Thirteen other industrial firms and several railway installations are also hit; the train of a railway repair unit is destroyed. Mosquitos are also active: 49 bomb Berlin with the loss of one aircraft, eight hit a benzine refinery at Castrop Rauxel, six bomb Hanau and one attacks Hamburg. .
ITALY: The British Eighth Army begins a series of limited actions to finish clearing the eastern bank of the Senio River. In the Canadian I Corps area, the 5th Armoured Division attacks northward toward the sea, taking Conventelle.
In the air, USAAF"> USAAF Twelfth Air Force fighter-bombers concentrate their effort in the western Po Valley and Brenner area, claiming large number of rail lines cut and many vehicles and trains destroyed and damaged. The Milan marshalling yard is hit hard and good coverage is achieved on support targets in the U.S. Fifth Army battle area. Targets in the Po Valley are subjected to intruder missions during the night of 2/3 January, when pontoon bridges, vehicles, and Ghedi Airfield are hit.
HUNGARY: German counterattacks NW of Budapest, involve 2 divisions of SS Panzers from the Warsaw sector.
CHINA: USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-40s and P-51 Mustangs on armed reconnaissance attack targets of opportunity, mainly railroad traffic, at or near Lohochai, Pengpu, and Sinyang. .
BURMA: In the Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC), the U.S. 475th Infantry Regiment (Long Range Penetration, Special) begins crossing the Shweli River over a makeshift bridge put in by 138th Regiment, Chinese 50th Division, which crossed late in December.
THAILAND: The USAAF Twentieth Air Force's XX Bomber Command flies Mission 24: 49 B-29 Superfortresses, operating from the Calcutta, India, area, are dispatched to attack a railroad bridge at Bangkok; 44 bomb the primary target and two hit an alternate and a target of opportunity; they claim 0-1-1 Japanese aircraft.
In the air, troop concentrations and supplies are attacked at Mabein, Panghka, Mansut, Letpangon, Loi-mun, Panghkai, Namhsan, Thabeikkyin, and in the Lashio area by 66 USAAF"> USAAF Tenth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts and 13 P-38 Lightnings.
Six USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb Kentung and over 30 P-40s and P-51 Mustangs on armed reconnaissance attack targets of opportunity, mainly railroad traffic, at or near Man Pong, Wanling, and Wan Pa-Hsa, Burma on the Burma-China frontier.
EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-24 Liberators bomb Menado Airfield on Celebes Island. On Galela Island, FEAF B-24s bomb the Wasile Bay area while 12 RAAF aircraft dive-bomb the area inland from Wasile Airfield and 36 RAAF Kittyhawks bomb Lolobato Aerodrome and nearby Hate Tabako Aerodrome.
BONIN AND VOLCANO ISLANDS: Twelve USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators based on Guam bomb Haha Jima in the Bonin Islands while 14 others attack Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands. During the night of 2/3 January, ten B-24 Liberators, flying snooper strikes out of Guam, hit Iwo Jima over a seven hour period.
NEW GUINEA: About 35 Japanese attack the perimeter of the, 2/11th Battalion, 19th Brigade, 6th Division, at Matapau, near Niap. Artillery fire disperses the attacks and the Japanese leave six dead.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Convoys of the Luzon Attack Force are assembling in Leyte Gulf. The first echelon, Minesweeping and Hydrographic Group (Task Group 77.6), sails from Leyte Gulf for Luzon and is soon spotted and attacked by Japanese aircraft, including kamikazes. Task Group 77.6 consists of a destroyer, a light minelayer, ten high speed minesweepers, a frigate, a high speed transport, a small seaplane tender, an ocean going tug and a landing craft infantry (gunboat).
On Mindoro Island, a guerrilla patrol is reinforced for an attack on Palauan by Company B, 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, which moves to Mamburao. Work begins on one of two heavy bomber airfields to be constructed. Japanese planes attacking San Jose Airfield on the southwest of Mindoro during the night of 2/3 January, destroy 17 P-38 Lightnings and seven A-20 Havocs on the ground.
In the air, USAAF Far East Air Forces P-38s and A-20s hit shipping in San Fernando harbour on Luzon sinking seven ships while B-24 Liberators bomb Clark Field and B-25 Mitchells hit the city of Batangas. Airfields in the central Philippines area are bombed by B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers while B-24s strike Likanan Aerodrome on Mindanao Island.
MARIANAS ISLANDS, SAIPAN: Japanese aircraft bomb the island.
ADMIRALTY ISLANDS: USN Task Group 77.4, the Carrier Cover Transport Group, sails from Manus Island en route to Luzon, Philippine Islands, for the upcoming invasion. Included in this group are 17 escort aircraft carriers (CVEs), 18 destroyers and 9 destroyer escorts.
U.S.A.: Restrictions preventing resettlement on the West Coast by Japanese-Americans are removed, although many exceptions continue to exist. A few carefully screened Japanese Americans had returned to the coast in late 1944.
The USN establishes 18 Fighter Bomber Squadrons (VBF) within existing Carrier Air Groups to adjust their composition to the needs of changed combat requirements in the Pacific.
Frigate USS Peoria commissioned.
Escort carriers USS Mindoro and Rabaul laid down.
1946 (WEDNESDAY)
ALBANIA: The Communist provisional government under Inver Hoxha deposes King Zog in preparation of the establishment of a people's republic.