July 5th, 1945 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Today is election day in Britain. The results of this first postwar election will not be available until July 26 so that the votes of soldiers overseas may be counted.
Britain and US recognize a new Polish Provisional government of National Unity. Mikolajczyk is one of the deputy premiers, was formerly the leader of the London exile government. A foreign office statement welcoming its establishment pointed out that under the Yalta agreement "free and unfettered elections" must be held as soon as possible on the basis of "universal suffrage and secret ballot". Ambassadors will be exchanged shortly. This means that Britain will now withdraw recognition from the Polish government in London.
JAPAN: The US Seventh Air Force dispatches 46 B-24s and 24 B-25 Mitchells, all from Okinawa, bomb Omura Airfield and two towns in the Omura-Nagasaki area and 100 Twentieth Air Force P-51s, based on Iwo Jima, strike airfields in the Tokyo area (Ibaraki, Yatabe, Yawatasaki Cape, and Maruta); they claim 5-11 aircraft on the ground.
BORNEO: Australia lands reinforcements in Balikpapan Bay; they swiftly establish beach-heads and push on to the interior.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: General Douglas MacArthur declares that the Philippine Islands have been completely liberated.
PACIFIC: General Spaatz will command the US Strategic
Air Forces against Japan.
AUSTRALIA: John Curtin, Australia's prime
minister, dies at the age of 60.
U.S.A.: Washington: General Carl "Tooey" Spaatz is appointed to command the US air offensive against Japan.
CANADA: Corvettes HMCS Belleville and Giffard paid off Sorel, Province of Quebec.