March 15th, 1945 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM:
Repair ship HMS Dungeness launched.
Zossen: US bombers drop 25,000 incendiary and 6,000 HE bombs on the army general staff HQ.
VOLCANO ISLANDS: The fighting continues on Iwo Jima. The Japanese forces are mostly confined in a small area in the northwest of the island.
KURILE ISLANDS: Matsuwa is bombarded by the US.
Task Force 92 (TF 92) bombards Matsuwa Island in the Kurile Islands. TF 92
consists of the light cruisers USS Concord (CL-10), USS Richmond (CL-9) and
USS Trenton (CL-11) plus Destroyer Squadrons 54 and 57 and Destroyer Escort
Division 14.
During the attack on Matsuwa, 4,500 rounds of 5- and 6-inch (127- and 152.4-mm) shells are fired over a 20-minute period against barracks, warehouses, oil storage, shore defenses and coast guns. An ammunition dump is hit resulting in one tremendous explosion.
One Eleventh Air Force Consolided B-24 Liberator is able to find TF 92 and provide cover.
CANADA: Corvette HMCS Lindsay departed Halifax for refit Saint John, New Brunswick
U.S.A.: The 1944 Academy Awards are presented at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, California. "Going My Way" wins seven Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor (Bing Crosby), Best Supporting Actor (Barry Fitzgerald) and Best Director (Leo McCarey); "Gaslight" takes two Oscars including Best Actress (Ingrid Bergman); and Ether Barrymore wins the Best Supporting Actress Award for "None But the Lonely Heart."
During WW II, the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) produced numerous documents, most commonly known are the Intelligence Bulletins. The Military Intelligence Special Series continues with "Japanese Mortars and Grenade Dischargers." (William L. Howard)
BAHAMAS: The Duke of Windsor resigns as Governor.
1949: U.K.: Clothes rationing ends, nearly 4 years after the end of WW II. (Mike Ballard)
Food rationing will continue until June 1954 in Britain. July 1948 Bread.
December 1948 Jam. October 1952 Tea. February 1953 Sweets. April 1953 Cream. March 1953 Eggs. September 1953 Sugar. May 1954 Butter, cheese, margarine and cooking fats. June 1954 Meat and bacon. (Andy Etherington)