America at War

World War II (1945)

January 1 - Army troops are landed by a naval task unit on Fais Island in the Carolines, to capture and destroy a Japanese radio station. The submarine USS Stingray (SS-186) lands supplies at Tawi Tawi in the Philippines. German forces withdraw from the Ardennes.
January 2 - The oiler USS Cowanesque (AO-79) is damaged by a suicide plane in the Luzon area. Japanese coast defense vessel No. 138 is sunk by Army aircraft in the Philippines.
January 3 - Aircraft from a fast carrier task force under Vice Admiral McCain commence a 2-day strike on Japanese shipping and aircraft in the Ryukyu Islands and Formosa. The escort carrier USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83), destroyer escort USS Robert F. Keller (DE-419) and minelayer USS Monadnock (CM-9) are damagd by collision in the Philippines. The escort carrier USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79) is damaged by a suicide plane and sunk by US forces in the Luzon area. Japanese submarine chaser No. 10 is sunk by Army aircraft in the Philippines.
January 4 - The destroyer USS Ball (DD-587) is damaged by collision in the Luzon area. The oiler USS Pecos (AO-65) is damaged by a horizontal bomber in the Luzon area. Japanese submarine chaser No. 210 is sunk by aircraft in Formosa Strait.
January 5 - A cruiser and destroyer task group under Rear Admiral A.E. Smith bombards, and Army aircraft bomb, Japanese shipping and installations on Chichi Jima and Haha Jima in the Bonins. A cruiser and destroyer task force, under Rear Admiral McCrea, bombards Japanese installations at Suribachi Wan, Paramushiro in the Kuriles. The escort carriers USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) and USS Savo Island (CVE-78); the heavy cruiser USS Louisville (CA-28), the destroyer USS Helm (DD-388), the destroyer escort USS Stafford (DE-411), seaplane tender (small) USS Orca (AVP-49) and ocean tug USS Apache (ATF-67) are damaged by suicide planes in the Luzon area. The destroyer USS David W. Taylor (DD-551) is damaged by a mine in the Bonins. The destroyer escort USS Edwin A. Howard (DE-346) is damaged in a collision with the destroyer escort USS Leland E. Thomas (DE-420) in the Philippines.
January 6 - Aircraft from a fast carrier task force, under Vice Admiral McCain commence a 1-day attack on Japanese aircraft and airfield facilities in the Luzon area. The high-speed minesweeper USS Hovey (DMS-11) is sunk by an aircraft torpedo in the Luzon area. The high-speed minesweeper USS Long (DMS-12) is sunk by suicide plane in the Philippines. The battleships USS New Mexico (BB-40) and USS California (BB-44), the heavy cruisers USS Louisville (CA-28) and USS Minneapolis (CA-36), the light cruiser USS Columbia (C-56), the destroyers USS Newcomb (DD-586), USS Richard P. Leary (DD-664), USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692), USS Walke (DD-723), USS O'Brien (DD-725) and USS Lowry (DD-770), high-speed minesweeper USS Southard (DMS-10) and high-speed transport USS Brooks (APD-10) are damaged by suicide plane in the Luzon area (DD-586 and DD-770 also damaged by accidental US naval gunfire.)
January 7 - A battleship, cruiser and destroyer force, under Vice Admiral Oldendorf, and aircraft from an escort carrier group under Rear Admiral C.T. Durgin, open a two-day bombardment and bombing of the beach area in Lingayen Gulg, Luzon. The high-speed minesweeper USS Palmer (DMS-5) is sunk by a horizontal bomber in the Luzon area. The attack transport USS Callaway (APA-35) and LST-912 are damaged by suicide plane in the Luzon area.
January 8 - The escort carriers USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) and USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76) are damaged by a suicide plane in the Luzon area.
January 9 - Army forces land in the Lingayen Gulf area of Luzon, under the cover of naval gunfire and cba. General Douglas MacArthur is in overall command of the operation. Vice Admiral Kinkaid commands the naval forces and Lt. General Krueger is the ground force commander. In support of the landings, aircraft from a fast carrier task force, under Vice Admiral McCain, bomb Japanese airfields and shipping in the Formosa, Ryukyus and Pescadores Islands area. The battleship USS Mississippi (BB-41), light cruiser USS Colombia (CL-56), and destroyer escort USS Hodges (DE-231) are damaged by suicide plane in the Philippines. The transport USS Warhawk (AP-168) is damaged by suicide boat, the battleship USS Colorado (BB-45) is accidentally damaged by US naval gunfire, the oiler USS Guadalupe (AO-32) is damaged by collision and LST 925 and LST 1028 are damaged by depth charges, all in the Philippines. Japanese submarine chasers No.s 61 and 90 and coast defense vessel No. 3 are sunk by carrier-based aircraft in the Formosa area.
January 10 - The destroyer USS Wicker (DD-578) is damaged by horizontal bomber; the high-speed transport USS Clemson (APD-31), attack transport USS Latimer (APA-152) and LST 507 are damaged by collision; the destroyer escort USS Leray Wilson (DE-414) and attack transport USS Dupage (APA-41) are damaged by suicide plane; and LST 610 is damaged by suicide boat, all in the Philippines. Japanese coast defense vessel No. 45 is sunk by the submarine USS Puffer (SS-268), off the Ryukyu Islands.
January 11 - The motor minesweeper YMS-14 is sunk by collision in Boston Harbor. The high-speed transport USS Belknap (APD-34) is damaged by suicide plane; LST 270 and LST 918 are damaged by coastal defense guns and LST 700 is accidentally damaged by US naval gunfire, all in the Philippines.
January 12 - Aircraft from a fast carrier task force under Vice Admiral McCain operating in the South China Sea, hit Japanese shipping, airfields, and other shore installations in southeast French Indochina. The destroyer escorts USS Richard W. Suesens (DE-342) and USS Gilligan (DE-508), attack transport USS Zeilin (APA-3) and LST 700 are damaged by suicide plane and LST 710 and LST 778 are accidentally damaged by US naval gunfire, all in the Philippines. The Japanese training cruiser Kashii, frigate Chiburi, submarine chasers No.s 31 and 43, minesweeper No. 101, transport No. 140, patrolboat No. 103 and coast defense vessels No.s 17, 19, 23, 35, 43 and 51 are sunk by carrier-based aircraft in the South China Sea.
January 13 - The escort carrier USS Salamaua (CVE-96) is damaged by a suicide plane in the Philippines.
January 14 - PT-73 is grounded, beached and abandoned in the Philippines. The Japanese minelayer Yurishima is sunk by the submarine USS Cobia (SS-145) off of Sumatra.
January 15 - Aircraft from a fast carrier task force, under Vice Admiral McCain, attack Japanese shipping and aircraft in the Formosa and Chinese coast areaa. The escort carrier USS Hoggatt Bay (CVE-75) is damaged by accidental explosion in the Philippines. The Japanese destroyer Hatakze, old destroyer Tsuga and transport No. 14 are sunk by carrier-based aircraft in the Formosa area.
January 16 - Aircraft from a fast carrier task force, under Vice Admiral McCain, strike Japanese shipping and installations at Hong Kong, Hainan Island and along the coast of China. The German submarine U-248 is sunk by the destroyer escorts USS Otter (DE-210), USS Hubbard (DE-211) USS Hayter (DE-212) and USS Varian (DE-798) in the north Atlantic. The German bulge at the Ardennes is eliminated as the US 1st and 3rd Armies join after a month long separation.
January 17 - The escort carrier USS Nehenta Bay (CVE-74) is damaged by a storm in the Philippines. Japanese transport No. 15 is sunk by the submarine USS Tautog (SS-199) off of Kyshu, Japan. Russian forces capture Warsaw.
January 18 - Two Japanese raiding parties land on Peleliu, Palau Islands, in an unsuccessful attempt to damage aircraft on the ground and destroyer ammunition. LST 710 and LST 752 are damaged by collision and LST 219 by grounding, all in the Philippines. The Japanese submarine RO-47 is sunk by the destroyer escort USS Fleming (DE-32) in the central Pacific.
January 20 - The submarine USS Natilus (SS-168) lands supplies on the southern coast of Mindanao. Hungary surrenders to the Allies. The Naval Technical Mission in Europe, under Commodor H.A. Schade, is established with headquarters in Paris. Aircraft from a fast carrier task force, under Vice Admiral McCain, attack Japanese shipping and airfields in Formosa, the Pescadores Islands and Sakashima and Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. Japanese aircraft make concerted counterattacks on the task force ships. The carrier USS Ticonderoga (CV-14), light carrier USS Langley (CVL-27) and destroyer USS Maddox (DD-731) are damaged by suicide plane and the carrier USS Hancock (CV-19) is damaged by accidental explosion. Japanese transports No.s 101 and 102 are sunk by carrier-based aircraft in the Formosa and Philippines areas, respectively.
January 22 - Aircraft from a fast carrier task force, under Vice Admiral McCain, strike Japanese shipping, airfields and other installations in the Ryukyu Islands.
January 23 - The submarine USS Barb (SS-220) enters Namkwan Harbor in China and makes a torpedo attack on Japanese auxiliary shipping. The submarine USS Natilus SS-168)

I-48

USS Corbesier

USS Conklin

USS

Raby

January 24 - A battleship, cruiser and destroyer task group, under Rear Admiral Badger,

USS Extractor

USS Shadwell

Shigure

USS Blackfin

January 26 - Russian troops liberate Auschwithz.
January 27 - Japanese minesweeper No. 102 is sunk by the submarine USS Bergall (SS-320)

January 28 - The carrier USS Antietam (CV-36) is commissioned at Philadelphia.

PT-338

Kume

USS Spadefish

January 29 - Army forces land near San Antonio, northwest of Subic Bay on Luzon. The cargo ship USS Serpens (AK-97) is sunk by an explosion at Guadalcanal. The transport USS Cavalier (APA-37) and repair ship USS Amycus (ARL-2) are damaged in the Philippines, by submarine torpedo and horizontal bomber, respectively.
January 30 - Army troops are landed on Grande Island in Subic Bay, Luzon.
January 31 - Army troops are landed at Masugbu, south of the entrance to Manila Bay, by a naval attack group, under Rear Admiral Fechteler with support by carrier-based aircraft, under Rear Admiral W.D. Sample. The submarine chaser PC-1119 is sunk by a suicide boat in the Philippines. The Japanese destroyer Ume is sunk by Army aircraft off Formosa.

February 1 - PT-77 and PT-79 are accidentally sunk by US naval gunfire in the Philippines. Japanese transport No. 115 is sunk by Army aircraft and submarine RO-115 is sunk by the destroyers USS Jenkins (DD-447), USS O'Bannon (DD-450) and USS Bell (DD-587) and the destroyer escort USS Ulvert M. Moore (DE-442), both in the Philippines.
February 2 - Japanese coast defense vessel No. 144 is sunk by the submarine USS Bergall (SS-321) off the Malay Peninsula. Allied forces capture Trier.
February 4 - The Yalta Conference, between Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin, begins. Allied forces capture Manila.
February 7 - The Japanese submarine RO-55 is sunk by the destroyer escort USS Thomason (DE-203) in the Philippines. Japanese coast defense vessel No. 53 is sunk by the submarine USS Bergall (SS-321) in the South China Sea.
February 9 - The submarine USS Batfish (SS-310) sinks the Japanese submarine I-41 in the Philippines. This is the first of three Japanese submarines sunk in four days by Batfish.
February 11 - The Yalta Conference ends. LST 577 is damaged by a submarine torpedo and sunk by US forces in the Philippines. The ocean tug USS Takelma (ATF-113) is damaged in a collision in the Philippines. The Japanese submarine RO-112 is sunk by the submarine USS Batfish (SS-310) in the Philippines.
February 12 - The Japanese submarine RO-113 is sunk by the submarine USS Batfish (SS-310) in the Philippines.
February 13 - Motor torpedo boats enter Manila Bay for night reconnaissance. These are the first US naval units to enter Manila Bay since May, 1942. Dresden is destroyed by a firestorm after an Allied bombing raid.
February 14 - The motor minesweeper YMS-48 is sunk by coastal defense guns in the Philippines. The destroyers USS Fletcher (DD-445) and USS Hopewell (DD-681) are damaged by coastal defense guns and the destroyers USS Radford (DD-446) and USS Lavallette (DD-448) are damaged by mines, all in the Philippines. Japanese submarine chasers No.s 4 and 14 are sunk by the submarine USS Hawkbill (SS-366) in the Java Sea. Japanese coast defense vessel No. 9 is sunk by the submarine USS Gato (SS-212) in the Yellow Sea.
February 15 - Army forces are landed in the Marivels Harbor area of the Bataan Peninsula of Luzon. The submarine USS Swordfish (SS-193) is reported as presumed lost in the Pacific. The motor minesweeper YMS-46 is damaged by coastal defense guns in the Philippines.
February 16 - Aircraft from a fast carrier task force, under Vice Admiral Mitscher, bomb airfields, aircraft factories and shipping in the Tokyo area. The attack is repeated on the 17th. Fire support vessels and carrier-based aircraft commence a 3-day pre-landing bombardment and bombing of Iwo Jima. A cruiser and destroyer task force, under Rear Admiral McCrea, bombards Japanese shore installations at Kuabu Zake, Paramushiro in the Kuriles. Army forces, preceded by naval bombardment and attack by Army aircraft, land on Corregidor, Luzon. The submarine USS Barbel (SS-316) is reported as presumed lost in the Pacific. The destroyers USS Ingraham (DD-694) and USS Barton (DD-722) are damaged in a collision at Iwo Jima. The submarine chaser PC-1119 is damaged by coastal defense guns in the Luzon area. The Japanese minelayer Nariu is sunk by the submarine USS Sennet (SS-408) off Shikoku, Japan.
February 17 - The battleship USS Tennessee (BB-43), heavy cruiser USS Pensacola (CA-24) and destroyer USS Leutze (DD-481) are damaged by coastal defense guns at Iwo Jima. Also damaged at Iwo Jima are the destroyer USS Dortch (DD-670) by strafing, the destroyer USS Waldron (DD-699) by the intentional ramming of a Japanese picket boat and the tug USS Hidatsa (ATF-102) by mine. Japanese transport No. 114 is sunk by Army aircraft off Formosa and coast defense vessel No. 56 is sunk by the submarine USS Bowfin (SS-287) off Honshu, Japan. Allied forces capture Koblenz.
February 18 - The light minelayer USS Gamble (DM-15) and high-speed transport USS Blessman (APD-48) are damaged by horizontal bomber in the Iwo Jima area.
February 19 - Marines land on Iwo Jima, supported by intensive naval gunfire and air attack. The operation is under the overall command of Admiral Spruance, Fifth Fleet. Vice Admiral R.K. Turner is the Joint Expeditionary Force Commander and Lt. General H.M. Smith, USMC, commands the Expeditionary Troops. Naval gunfire and air bombing continue to support the troops ashore during this difficult campaign. Army troops covered by Marine aircraft are landed on the northwest coast of Samar and on Capul Island in the Philippines to insure control of the San Bernardino Strait. US naval vessels damaged in the Iwo Jima area include the heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27) in a collision with the amphibious force flagship USS Estes (AGC-12), the destroyer USS Bradford (DD-545) and destroyer escort USS Finnegan by collision and the destroyer USS John W. Weeks by coastal defense guns. Japanese forces evacuate Mandalay.
February 20 - Army troops under the cover of Marine aircraft are landed on Biri Island in the Philippines to ensure control of San Bernardino Strait. US naval vessels damaged in the Iwo Jima area include the light cruiser USS Biloxi (CL-80) and hospital ship USS Samaritan (AH-10) by accidental US naval gunfire, attack transports USS Napa (APA-157) and USS Logan (APA-196) in a collision, LST 779 by coastal mortar and the attack cargo ship USS Starr (AKA-67) by collision. The Japanese destroyer Nokaze is sunk by the submarine USS Pargo (SS-264) in the South China Sea. Allied forces capture Saarbrucken.
February 21 - Naval land-based and Army aircraft bomb and strafe Japanese installations at Truk in the Carolines. The escort carrier USS Bismark Sea (CVE-95) is sunk by a suicide plane in the Iwo Jima area. US naval vessels damaged in the Iwo Jima area include the carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3), escort carrier USS Lunga Point (CVE-94), net cargo ship USS Keokuk (AKN-4), LST 477 and LST 809 by suicide plane; the destroyer USS Williamson (DD-244), attack cargo ship USS Yancey (AKA-93) and LST 390 by collision; and the destroyer USS Renshaw (DD-499) by submarine torpedo. Inter-American Conference in Mexico City begins.
February 22 - The destroyer escort USS Melvin R. Nawman (DE-416) is damaged by a collision with LST 807 in the Iwo Jima area.
February 23 - US naval vessels damaged in the Iwo Jima area include the submarine chaser PC-877 by collision; LST 684 and LST 792 by coastal defense guns; and LST 716 by grounding. The Japanese frigate Yaku is sunk by the submarine USS Hammerhead (SS-364) off Indochina and submarine chaser No. 35 is sunk by Army aircraft in the South China Sea. Russian forces capture Posnan.
February 24 - Japanese resistance in Manila, Luzon ceases. The heavy cruiser USS San Fransisco (CA-38) and destroyers USS Colahan (DD-658) and USS Moale (DD-693) are damaged by a storm; the destroyers USS Heywood L. Edwards (DD-663) and USS Bryant (DD-665) and submarine chaser PC-578 are damaged by collision; and LST 792 is damaged by coastal defense guns, all in the Iwo Jima area. The Japanese submarine RO-49 is sunk by the submarine USS Legarto (SS-371) off Kyushu, Japan. The German submarine U-3007 is sunk by Army aircraft at Bremen, Germany.
February 25 - Aircraft from a fast carrier force, under Vice Admiral Mitscher, bomb aircraft factories and airfields near Tokyo. The destroyer USS Harrison (DD-573) is damaged in a storm south of Honshu. The attack transport USS Fayette (APA-43), attack cargo ship USS Muliphen (AKA-61) and LST 918 are damaged by collision and the seaplane tender USS Hamlin (AV-15) is accidentally damaged by US naval gunfire, all in the Iwo Jima area. The motor minesweeper YMS-175 is damaged by a mine in the Carolines.
February 26 - The light cruiser USS Pasadena (CL-65) and destroyer USS Porterfield (DD-682) are damaged by naval gunfire south of Honshu, Japan. The minesweeper USS Saunter (AM-195) is damaged by a mine near Luzon. In the Iwo Jima area, LST 121 is damaged by collision and grounding and LST 760 and LST 884 are damaged by coastal defense guns. The Japanese submarines I-368 and RO-43 are sunk by aircraft (VC-82) form the escort carrier USS Anzio (CVE-57) and I-370 is sunk by the destroyer escort USS Finnegan (DE-307), all in the Volcano Islands. The Japanese frigate Shonan is sunk by the submarine USS Hoe (SS-258) in the South China Sea.
February 27 - The light carrer USS San Jacinto (CVL-30), destroyer USS Colhoun (DD-801), oiler USS Merrimack (AO-37), attack transports USS President Adams (APA-19) and USS Knox (APA-46), attack cargo ship USS Tolland (AKA-64) and LST 779 and LST 809 are damaged in collisions in the Iwo Jima area. The German submarine U-317 is sunk by US naval land-based aircraft and British surface ships in the English Channel.
February 28 - Army troops are landed at Puerto Prince, Palawan Island in the Philippines by a naval attack group under Rear Admiral Fechteler. The landing is preceded by naval bombardment. The destroyer USS Bennet (DD-473) is damaged by aircraft bomb; the destroyer USS Terry (DD-513) is damaged by coastal defense guns; and the submarine chaser PCS-1461, attack cargo ship USS Whitley (AKA-91) and LST 641 and LST 787 are damaged by collision, all in the Iwo Jima area. The German submarine U-869 is sunk by the destroyer escort USS Fowler (DE-222) and a French surface vessel off of Morocco.

March 1 - Aircraft from a fast carrier task force, under Vice Admiral Mitscher, attack Japanese ground installations, aircraft and shipping in the Okinawa area. Army troops, supported by naval gunfire and Army aircraft, land on Lubang Island in the Philippines. The destroyers USS Terry (DD-513) and USS Colhoun (DD-801) are damaged by coastal defense guns and the attack transport USS Berrien (APA-62) is damaged by a collision, all in the Iwo Jima area. The Japanese torpedo boat Manazuru, in the Ryukyu Islands, and minelayer Tsubame, in the Formosa area, are sunk by carrier-based aircraft.
March 2 - A cruiser and destroyer task group, under Rear Admiral Whiting, bombards Japanese positions on Okino Daito Jima in the Ryukyus. Destroyers bombard Japanese on Parece Vela Reef in the Philippine Sea. The attack cargo ship USS Stokes (AKA-68), LST 224 and LST 247, by collision, and LST 642, by grounding, are damaged in the Iwo Jima area.
March 3 - Army troops, supported by naval gunfire and Marine aircraft, land on Masbate, Burias and Ticao Islands in the Philippines. The submarine USS Tuna (SS-203) lands supplies on the northeast coast of Borneo. The attack transport USS Bolivar is damaged by coastal defense guns in the Iwo Jima area. The Japanese oiler Hario is sunk by a mine off French Indochina.
March 5 - LST 641 is damaged by a collision in the Iwo Jima area. Japanese submarine chaser No. 110 is sunk by Army aircraft in the Netherlands East Indies and minesweeper No. 15 is sunk by the submarine USS Tilefish (SS-307) north of the Ryukyus.
March 6 - German forces launch their last offensive of the war to protect the Hungarian oil fields.
March 7 - Allied forces take Cologne and establish a bridge across the Rhine at Remagen.
March 8 - The Inter-American Conference ends. Japanese transport No. 143 is sunk by Army aircraft in the Formosa area.
March 10 - A naval attack group, under Rear Admiral F.B. Royal, lands Army troops near Zamboanga, Mindanao in the Philippines. The landing is supported by naval gunfire and Army aircraft.
March 11 - US naval landing craft ferry Army troops across the Rhine at the Remagen bridgehead in Germany. This operation continues throughout March. The carrier USS Randolph (CV-15) is damaged by a suicide plane at Ulithi in the Carolines. The German submarine U-681 is sunk by naval land-based aircraft (VPB-103) off western France and U-2515 and U-2530 are sunk by Army aircraft at Hamburg, Germany.
March 13 - Japanese coast defense vessel No. 66 is sunk by Army aircraft in the South China Sea.
March 14 - The submarine USS Rock (SS-274) lands supplies on Lombok Island in the Netherlands East Indies.
March 15 - A cruiser and destroyer task force, under A McCrea, bombards Japanese shore installations on Matsuwa in the Kuriles.
March 16 - Iwo Jima is delcared secured. Army forces supported by destroyer gunfire land on Basilan Island, Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines. LST 928 is grounded in the Iwo Jima area. Japanese coast defense vessel No. 69 is sunk by Army aircraft in the South China Sea.
March 17 - The submarine USS Spot (SS-413) is damaged by naval gunfire off Formosa.
March 18 - Aircraft from a fast carrier task force, under Vice Admiral Mitscher, bomb airfields on Kyushu, Japan. Army troops are landed on the southeast coast of Panay in the Philippines by a naval task group, under Rear Admiral Struble, under the cover of cruiser and destroyer gunfire. The carriers USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS Yorktown (CV-10) are damaged by horizontal bomber and USS Intrepid (CV-11) is damaged by a suicide plane and accidental US naval gunfire, all off of Kyushu, Japan. LST 635 is grounded in the Philippines. Japanese transport No. 18 is sunk by the submarine USS Springer (SS-414) south of the Ryukyus. The German submarine U-866 is sunk by the destroyer escorts USS Menges (DE-320), USS Mosley (DE-321), USS Pride (DE-323) and USS Lowe (DE-325) in the northwest Atlantic.
March 19 - Aircraft from a fast carrier task force bomb airfields on Kyushu and shipping at Kure and Kobe, Honshu in Japan. The carrier USS Essex (CV-9) is accidentally damaged by US naval gunfire and USS Wasp (CV-18) by dive bomber off Shikoku, Japan; USS Franklin (CV-13) is damaged by horizontal bomber off Kyushu. Japanese river gunboat Suma is sunk by an Army mine off Shanghai, China.
March 20 - The submarine USS Perch (SS-313) lands personnel on the east coast of Borneo. The carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) is damaged by accidental US naval gunfire off Japan. The destroyer USS Halsey Powell (DD-686) and submarine USS Devilfish (SS-292) are damaged by suicide plane, off Japan and the Volcano Islands, respectively. The Cargo ship USS Hercules (AK-41) is damaged by collision in the Iwo Jima area.
March 21 - Japanese aircraft make the first know operational use of piloted bombs in an unsuccessful attack againt Rear Admiral Mitscher's fast carrier force. Japanese submarine chaser No. 33 and cable layer Tateishi are sunk by Army aircraft in the South China Sea.
March 22 - LST 727 is grounded in the Iwo Jima area.
March 23 - Aircraft of the fast carrier task force, under Vice Admiral Mitscher, commence daily strikes againt the Japanese on Okinawa. The destroyer USS Haggard (DD-555) is damage by the intentional ramming of the Japanese submarine I-371, which is sunk, in the Philippine Sea. The submarine USS Seahorse (SS-304) is damaged by a horizontal bomber in the Ryukyus and the ocean tug USS Zuni (ATF-95) is damaged by grounding in the Iwo Jima area.
March 24 - Okinawa is bombarded by battleships unde Vice Admiral Lee. Japanese coast defense vessel No. 68 and torpedo boat Tomozuru are sunk by carrier-based aircraft in the South China Sea.
March 25 - Battleships, cruisers and destroyers, under Rear Admiral M.L. Deyo, bombard Kerama Retto and the southeast coast of Okinawa. The bombardment of Okinawa continues daily. The destroyer USS Kimberley (DD-521), light minelayer USS Robert H. Smith (DM-23) and high-speed transport USS Gilmer (APD-11) are damaged by suicide plane; the destroyer escort USS Sederstrom (DE-31) by collision; and the high-speed transport USS Knudsen (APD-11) by horizontal bomber, all in the Okinawa area.
March 26 - Army forces are landed on Kerama Retto in the Ryukyu Islands by a naval attack group, under Rear Admiral I.N. Kiland, under cover of naval bombardment and carrier-aircraft attack. A naval attack group under Captain A.T. Sprague lands Army forces at Talisay Point, Cebu in the Philippines, under cover of cruiser and destroyer gunfire and air attack. The destroyer USS Halligan (DD-584) is sunk by a mine in the Okinawa area. The battleship USS Nevada (BB-36); light cruiser USS Biloxi (CL-80); destroyers USS Porterfield (DD-682), USS O'Brien (DD-725) and USS Callaghan (DD-792); the destroyer escort USS Foreman (DE-633); high-speed minesweeper USS Dorsey (DMS-1); and minelayer USS Skirmish (AM-303) are damaged by suicide planes in the Okinawa area. The destroyer USS Murray (DD-576) is damaged by a dive bomber, also in the Okinawa area. The submarine chaser PC-1133 is grounded in the Philippines.
March 27 - Army troops, supported by destroyers, motor torpedo boats and air attack, land on Caballo Island, near Luzon. The carrier USS Essex (CV-9) is damaged by a "aircraft operational casualty", high-speed minesweeper USS Southard (DMS-10) and light minelayer USS Adams (DM-27) by suicide planes, all in the Okinawa area. The submarine USS Trigger (SS-237) sinks the Japanese cable layer Odate in the East China Sea.
March 28 - The minesweeper USS Skylark (AM-63) is sunk by a mine, the attack cargo ship USS Wyandot (AKA-92) is damaged by horizontal bomber and the repair ship USS Agenor is damaged by collision, all in the Okinawa area. Japanese coast defense vessel No. 33 is sunk by carrier-based aircraft off Kyushu, the frigate Mikura is sunk by the submarine USS Threadfin (SS-410) off Kyushu and minesweeper No. 11 and patrol boat No. 108 are sunk by Army aircraft in the Netherlands East Indies.
March 29 - Aircraft from two carrier task groups, under Rear Admirals J.J. Clark and F.C. Sherman, attack airfields and shipping in the Kagoshima Bay area of Kyushu. Japanese submarine chaser No. 192 off Formosa and coast defense vessel No.s 18 and 130 in the SCS are sunk by Army aircraft. The submarine USS Hammerhead (SS-364) sinks Japanese coast defense vessel No. 84 in the South China Sea.
March 30 - The heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35) is damaged by a suicide plane in the Okinawa area and the high-speed transport USS Roper (APD-20) is damaged by a collision in the Philippine Sea. Army aircraft sink the German submarines U-2340, in Hamburg; U-96, U-429 and U-3508 in Wilhelmshaven; and U-72, U-329, U-430, U-870, U-884 and U-886 in Bremen, Germany. Russian forces capture Danzig.
March 31 - The heavy cruiser USS Pensacola (CA-24) and seaplane tender (small) USS Coos Bay (AVP-25) are damaged by collision in the Okinawa and Central Pacific areas, respectively. The light minelayer USS Adams (DM-27), attack transport USS Hinsdale (APA-120) and LST 724 and LST 884 are damaged by suicide planes in the Okinawa area. The destroyers USS Morrison (DD-560) and USS Stockton (DD-646) sink the Japanese submarine I-8 in the Okinawa area. Army aircraft sink the German submarines U-348, U-350 and U-1167 at Hamburg, Germany, sometime in March.

April 1 - Marines and Army forces land on Okinawa, under cover of heavy naval gunfire and air attack. The operation is under the overall command of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Commander Fifth Fleet with Vice Admiral Turner commanding the Joint Expeditionary Force and Lt. General A.B. Buckner commanding the ground troops. Army forces are landed near Legaspi on southern Luzon, under cover Army aircraft and naval gunfire. US naval vessels damaged during the landings include the battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48), attack cargo ships USS Achernar (AKA-53) and USS Tyrrell (AKA-80) and attack transport USS Alpine (APA-92) by suicide plane; the destroyer USS Prichett (DD-561) and minesweeper USS Skirmish (AM-303) by dive bomber; destroyer escort USS Vammen (DE-644) by mine; and attack transport USS Elmore (APA-42) by horizontal bomber. US troops encirle the German forces in Ruhr.
April 2 - Supported by destroyers, Army forces land on Bangao and Sanga Sanga Islands in the Sulu Archipelag in the Philippines. Mines are laid off Cape Kamao, Cochin China by the submarine USS Hardhead (SS-365). The destroyer USS Shaw (DD-373) is grounded in the Leyte area of the Philippines. The destroyers USS Franks (DD-554) and USS Borie (DD-704) are damaged in a collision in the Okinawa area. The attack cargo ship USS Lacerta (AKA-29) is accidentally damaged by US naval gunfire in the Okinawa area. The destroyer USS Pritchett (DD-561) is damaged by horizontal bomber; the destroyer escort USS Foreman (DE-633) by dive bomber; and the attack transports USS Chilton (APA-38), USS Henrico (APA-45), USS Goodhue (APA-107) and USS Telfair (APA-210) and LST 599 are damaged by suicide plane, all in the Okinawa area. Japanese coast defense vessel No. 17 is sunk by carrier-based aircraft in the Yellow Sea.
April 3 - The motor minesweeper YMS-71 is sunk by a mine off Borneo. The destroyer USS Sproston (DD-577) is damaged by a dive bomber; the escort carrier USS Wake Island (CVE-65) and high-speed minesweeper USS Hambleton (DMS-20) by suicide plane; and LST 554 by storm, all in the Okinawa area. The German submarines U-1221, U-2542 and U-3505 are sunk by Army aircraft at Kiel, Germany.
April 4 - The high-speed transport USS Dickerson (APD-21) is damaged by a suicide plane and sunk by US forces in the Okinawa area. The destroyer USS Normal Scott (DD-690) is damaged by collision and LST 70, LST 166, LST 343, LST 399, LST 570, LST 624, LST 675, LST 689, LST 736, LST 756 and LST 781 by grounding in the Okinawa area. Army aircraft sink the German submarines U-237, U-749 and U-3003 at Kiel, Germany.
April 5 - In Japan, the Koiso cabinet resigns; the new Prime Minister is Admiral Suzuki. The US Naval Advanced Air Base at Iwo Jima is established. The battleship USS Nevada (BB-36) is damaged by coastal defense guns; light minelayer USS Harry F. Bauer (DM-26) by aircraft torpedo; seaplane tender (destroyer) USS Thornton (AVD-11), oilers USS Ashtabula (AO-51) and USS Escalante (AO-70) and LST 273, LST 646, LST 698, LST 810, LST 940 and LST 1000 by collision, all in the Okinawa area. The repair ship USS Agenor (ARL-3) is damaged by a collision in the Iwo Jima area. The destroyer USS Hudson (DD-475) sinks the Japanese submarine RO-41.
April 6 - The first heavy attack by Japanese suicide planes is made on US ships at Okinawa. These attacks continue throughout the Okinawa campaign. The destroyers USS Bush (DD-529) and USS Colhoun (DD-801), high-speed minesweeper USS Emmons (DMS-22) and LST 447 are sunk by suicide plane in the Okinawa area. The battleship USS North Carolina (BB-55), light cruiser USS Pasadena (Cl-65), submarine chaser PCS-1390, attack transport USS Barnett (APA-5), attack cargo ship USS Leo (AKA-60) and LST 241 and LST 1000 are damaged by accidental US naval gunfire; high-speed transport USS Daniel T. Griffin (APD-38) by collision; destroyer USS Taussig (DD-746) and high-speed minesweeper USS Harding (DMS-28) by horizontal bomber; and light carrier USS San Jacinto (CVL-30), destroyers USS Morris (DD-417), USS Bennett (DD-473), USS Hutchins (DD-476), USS Leutze (DD-481), USS Mullany (DD-528), USS Harrison (DD-573), USS Newcomb (DD-586), USS Howorth (DD-592), USS Haynesworth (DD-700) and USS Hyman (DD-731), destroyer escorts USS Witter (DE-636) and USS Fieberling (DE-640), high-speed minesweeper USS Rodman (DMS-21), minesweepers USS Facility (AM-133), USS Ransom (AM-283) and USS Devastor (AM-318), and motor minesweepers YMS 311 and YMS 321 by suicide planes. The Japanese destroyer Amatsukaze is sunk by Army aircraft and coast defense vessels No.s 2 and 134 off of China, and minesweeper No. 22 is sunk by the submarine USS Besugo (SS-321) in the Netherlands East Indies
April 7 - Aircraft from the fast carrier task force under Vice Admiral Mitscher attack a Japanese naval force moving through the East China Sea toward Okinawa. The battleship Yamato, light cruiser Yahagi and destroyers Asashimo, Hamakaze, Isokaze and Karumi are sunk. The Japanese light cruiser Isuzu is sunk by the submarines USS Gabilan (SS-252) and USS Charr (SS-328) off Celebes in the Netherlands East Indies. The US motor gunboat PGM-18 is sunk by a mine in the Okinawa area. US naval vessels damaged in the Okinawa area include the carrier USS Hancock (CV-19), battleship USS Maryland (BB-46), destroyer USS Longshaw (DD-559), destroyer escort USS Wesson and motor minesweeper YMS-81 by suicide plane; motor minesweeper YMS-103 by mine; motor minesweeper YMS-427 by coastal defense guns; attack transport USS Audrain (APA-59) by accidental US naval gunfire; LST 698 by grounding and LST 890 by grounding. The destroyer escort USS Gustafson (DE-182) sinks the German submarine U-857 off of Cape Cod, Massachusettes.
April 8 - US naval vessels damaged in the Okinawa area include the destroyer USS Charles J. Badger (DD-657) and attack cargo ship USS Starr (AKA-67) by suicide boat; destroyer USS Gregory (DD-802) by suicide plane; motor minesweeper YMS-92 by mine; LST 939 by collision; and LST 940 by grounding. Japanese submarine chaser No. 101 is sunk by naval gunfire in the Netherlands East Indies.
April 9 - Army troops, supported by destroyer gunfire and airstrikes, land on Jolo in the Sulu Archipelago. US naval vessels damaged in the Okinawa area include the escort carrier USS Chenango (CVE-28) by crash of friendly aircraft, destroyer USS Sterett (DD-407) by suicide plane, destroyer USS Porterfield (DD-682) by accidental US naval gunfire and high-speed transport USS Hopping (APD-51) and LST 557 by coastal defense guns. The destroyers USS Mertze (DD-691) and USS Monssen (DD-798) sink the Japanese submarine RO-46 in the Okinawa area. Japanese minesweeper No. 3 is sunk by the submarine USS Parche (SS-384) off of Japan.
April 10 - Supported by naval bombardment and carrier aircraft, Army troops land on Tsuken Shima, of the east coast of Okinawa. The motor minesweeper YMS-96, by collision; submarine chaser SC-661, by grounding; and LST 449, by coastal defense guns are sunk in the Okinawa area. US naval vessels damaged in the Okinawa area include the battleship USS Missouri (BB-63), carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6), destroyers USS Bullard (DD-660) and USS Kidd (DD-661) and destroyer escort USS Samuel S. Miles by suicide plane; carrier USS Essex (CV-9) and destroyer USS Hale (DD-642) by dive bomber; destroyer USS Trathen (DD-530) and attack cargo ship USS Leo (AKA-60) by accidental US naval gunfire; destroyer USS Hank (DD-702) and destroyer escort USS Manlove (DE-36) by aerial strafing; attack transport USS Berrien (APA-61) by collision; and LST 399 by grounding. Allied forces take Hanover.
April 11 - Yugoslavia signs a treaty with Russia.
April 12 - President Roosevelt dies; Vice President Harry S. Truman becomes President. The destroyer USS Mannert L. Abele (DD-733) is sunk by a piloted-bomb in the Okinawa area and LST 493 is grounded and sunk off Plymouth, England. US naval vessels damaged in the Okinawa area include the battleships USS New Mexico (BB-40), USS Idaho (BB-42) and USS Tennessee (BB-43), destroyers USS Purdy (DD-734), USS Zellars (DD-777) and USS Cassin Young (DD-793), destroyer escorts USS Riddle (DE-185), USS Rall (DE-304), USS Walter G. Wann (DE-412) and USS Whitehurst (DE-634), light minelayer USS Lindsey (DM-32) and minesweeper USS Gladiator (AM-319) by suicide plane; destroyer USS Stanly (DD-478) by piloted bomb; high-speed minesweeper USS Jeffers (DMS-27) by suicide plane and piloted bomb; gasoline tanker USS Wabash (AOG-4) and attack cargo ship USS Wyandot (AKA-92) by collision; and LST 555 by grounding. Allied forces liberate the Bechenwald and Belsen concentration camps.
April 13 - The destroyer escort USS Connolly (DE-305) is damaged by a suicide plane in the Okinawa area. Vienna is captured by the Russians.
April 14 - US naval vessels damaged in the Okinawa area include the battleship USS New York (BB-34), destroyers USS Sigsbee (DD-502), USS Dashiell (DD-659) and USS Hunt (DD-674) by suicide plane; gunboat PGM-11 by grounding; and LST 241 by collision. The submarine USS Tirante (SS-420) sinks the Japanese frigate Nomi and coast defense vessel No. 31 in the East China Sea.
April 15 - Aircraft from a fast carrier task force, under Vice Admiral Mitscher, attack airfields and aircraft on the ground in soutern Kyushu. The strike is repeated on the 16th. Army troops land on Carabao Island at the entrance to Manila Bay, following a naval bombardment and air attack. The submarine USS Charr (SS-328) lays mines off the Malay Peninsula. The destroyers USS Wilson (DD-408) and USS Laffey (DD-724) and the oiler USS Taluga are damaged by suicide plane, and the motor minesweeper YMS-331 is damaged by a suicide boat, all in the Okinawa area. Japanese submarines RO-64 and RO-67 and the frigate Moduto are sunk by mines in Japanese waters. Allied forces capture Arnhem.
April 16 - Army forces, covered by naval gunfire and carrier aircraft, land on Ie Shima in the Ryukyu Islands. The carrier USS Boxer (CV-21) is commissioned at Newport News, Virginia. The destroyer USS Pringle (DD-477) is sunk by a suicide plane in the Okinawa area. The submarine USS Kara (SS-369) is reported as presumed lost in the Pacific. US naval vessels damaged in the Okinawa area include the carrier USS Intrepid (CV-11), battleship USS Missouri (BB-63), destroyer USS Bryant (DD-665), destroyer escort USS Bowers (DE-637) and high-speed minesweepers USS Hobson (DMS-26) and USS Harding (DMS-28) by suicide plane; destroyer USS McDermut (DD-677) by accidental US naval gunfire; and minesweeper USS Champion (AM-314) by horizontal bomber. Japanese coast defense vessel No. 73 is sunk by the submarine USS Sunfish (SS-281) off Honshu. The German submarines U-880 and U-1235 are sunk by the destroyer escorts USS Frost (DE-144) and USS Stanton (DD-247) in the north Atlantic. Russian forces begin their final assault on Berlin. US forces enter Nuremberg.
April 17 - Army forces are landed near Malabang, Parang and Cotabato on Mindanao. The destroyer USS Benham (DD-796) is damaged by a suicide plane and accidental US naval gunfire in the Okinawa area. The submarine USS Sea Owl (SS-405) sinks the Japanese submarine RO-56 in the central Pacific.
April 18 - The light cruiser USS Mobile (CL-63) is damaged by an explosion and the light minelayer USS Tolman (DM-28) by grounding in the Okinawa area. The Japanese submarine I-56 is sunk by aircraft from the light carrier USS Bataan (CVL-29) and the destroyers USS Heerman (DD-532), USS McCord (DD-534), USS Uhlmann (DD-687), USS Mertz (DD-691) and USS Collett (DD-730) in the Okinawa area. German forces in the Ruhr pocket surrender.
April 19 - The German submarine U-879 is sunk by destroyer escorts USS Buckley (DE-51) and USS Rueben James (DE-153) in the north Atlantic.
April 20 - Army troops, supported by naval vessels and Army aircraft, land on Catanduanes Island in the Philippines. The submarine USS Guitarro (SS-363) lays mines off the northeast coast of Sumatra. The battleship USS Colorado (BB-45) is damaged by an explosion, the destroyer USS Ammen (DD-527) by a horizontal bomber and the submarine chaser SC-737 by grounding, all in the Okinawa area. Nuremburg is captured by Allied forces.
April 21 - Russian troops reach Berlin.
April 22 - The minesweeper USS Swallow (AM-65) is sunk by a suicide plane in the Okinawa area and the submarine chaser SC-1019 is grounded and sunk in the Yucatan Channel. The destroyer USS Flusser (DD-368) is damaged by a collision in the Philippines; the destroyers USS Hudson (DD-475), USS Wadsworth (DD-516) and USS Isherwood (DD-520), light minelayer USS Shea (DM-30) and the minesweepers USS Ransom (AM-283) and USS Gladiator (AM-319) are damaged by suicide plane and the oiler USS Winooski (AO-38) by collision in the Okinawa area. The German submarine U-518 is sunk by the destroyer escorts USS Carter (DE-112) and USS Neal A. Scott (DE-769) in the north Atlantic.
April 23 - Russian troops enter Berlin. The gunboat PE-56 is sunk by an explosion off of Portland, Maine. The German submarine U-183 is sunk by the submarine USS Besugo (SS-321) in the Java Sea.
April 24 - The destroyer escort USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) is sunk by a submarine torpedo in the Atlantic. The German submarine U-546 is sunk by the destroyer escorts USS Pillsbury (DE-133), USS Flaherty (DE-135), USS Chatelain (DE-149), USS Neunzer (DE-150), USS Hubbard (DE-211), USS Keith (DE-241), USS Janssen (DE-396) and USS Varian (DE-798) in the north Atlantic.
April 25 - Carrier-based aircraft bomb Japanese installations on Okino Daito Jima in the Ryukyu Islands. The escort carrier USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87) and destroyer USS Hale (DD-642) are damaged by collision in the Okinawa area. The Japanese submarine RO-109 is sunk by the high-speed transport USS Horace A. Bass (APD-124) in the Philippine Sea. The submarine USS Cod (SS-224) sinks Japanese minesweeper No. 41 off China. The German submarine U-1107 is sunk by naval land-based aircraft (VP-103) in the English Channel.
April 26 - The destroyer USS Hutchins (DD-476) is damaged by depth charge in the Okinawa area.
April 27 - The heavy cruiser USS Wichita (CA-45) is damaged by coastal defense guns, the destroyer USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390), destroyer escort USS England (DE-635) and high-speed transport USS Rathorizontal Bomberurne (APD-25) by suicide plane, and the destroyer USS William D. Porter (DD-579) by accidental US naval gunfire.
April 28 - The destroyer USS Lang is damaged by collision, the destroyers USS Wadsworth (DD-516), USS Daly (DD-519), USS Twiggs (DD-591) and USS Bennion (DD-662), high-speed minesweeper USS Butler (DMS-29), hospital ship USS Comfort (AH-6) and hospital transport USS Pinkney (APH-2) by suicide plane and motor minesweeper YMS-329 by a mine, all in the Okinawa area. Japanese submarine chaser No. 17 is sunk by the submarine USS Springer (SS-414), repair ship Hatsushima by the submarine USS Sennet (SS-408) and transport No. 146 by the submarine USS Trepang (SS-412), all off of Honshu, Japan. Mussolini is captured by partisans and executed. Allied forces capture Venice.
April 29 - The destroyers USS Hazelwood (DD-531) and USS Haggard (DD-555) and light minelayers USS Shannon (DM-25) and USS Harry F. Bauer (DM-26) are damaged by suicide plane in the Okinawa area and motor minesweeper YMS-51 by a mine off Tarakan, Borneo. The Japanese submarine I-44 is sunk by aircraft (VC-92) from the escort carrier USS Tulagi (CVE-72) in the Philippine Sea. The US 7th Army liberates Dachau concentration camp.
April 30 - Hitler commits suicide as Russian troops reach the Reichstag. Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz proclaims himself head of the German state by Hitler's appointment. The destroyer USS Jenkins (DD-447) is damaged by a mine off Tarakan, Borneo and the destroyer USS Bennion (DD-662) by suicide plane in the Okinawa area. The German submarine U-548 is sunk by destroyer escorts USS Thomas (DE-102), USS Bostwick (DE-103) and USS Coffman (DE-191) and frigate USS Natchez (PF-2) off Virginia and U-1055 by naval land-based aircraft (VPB-63) west of France. The German submarines U-677, U-906, U-982 and U-3525 are sunk in the Baltic area; U-1131, U-1227 and U-2516 in Kiel, Germany and U-2532 and U-2537 in Hamburg, Germany, sometime in April by US Army and British aircraft.

May 1 - A naval attack force, under Vice Admiral D.E. Barbey, lands Australian troops on Tarakan Island, Borneo. The submarine USS Trigger (SS-237) is reported as presumed lost in the Pacific. The motor minesweeper YMS-481 is sunk by coastal defense guns in the Tarakan area of Borneo.
May 2 - The minesweepers YMS-334 and YMS-364 are damaged by coastal defense guns and minesweeper YMS-363 by a mine, all in the Tarakan area of Borneo. The Japanese Ojika is sunk by the submarine USS Springer (SS-414) in the Yellow Sea. German forces in Italy surrender.
May 3 - Army forces, covered by cruisers and destroyers, land at Santa Cruz, Davao Gulf in the Philippines. The destroyers USS Luce (DD-511), USS Morrison (DD-560) and USS Little (DD-803) are sunk by suicide planes in the Okinawa area. The light cruiser USS Birmingham (CL-62), destroyers USS Bache (DD-470), USS Ingraham (DD-694) and USS Lowry (DD-770), high-speed minesweeper USS Macomb (DMS-23) and light minelayer USS Aaron Ward (DM-34) are damaged by suicide plane, the light minelayer USS Shea (DM-30) by a piloted bomb and the cargo ship USS Carina (AK-74) by a suicide boat, all in the Okinawa area. Japanese coast defense vessel No. 25 is sunk by the submarine USS Springer (SS-414) in the Yellow Sea.
May 4 - German forces in Holland, Denmark and northwest Germany surrender. Japanese aircraft stage a heavy attack on Yontan Airfield on Okinawa and on US naval vessels supporting the Okinawa operation. Coordinated with the airstrike, a minor Japanese counterlanding is attempted and repulsed. Fleet Air Wing 18 at Guam is established for operations in the Forward Area, Central Pacific. The escort carrier USS Sangamon (CVE-26), destroyers USS Hudson (DD-475) and USS Cowell (DD-547), light minelayer USS Gwin (DM-33), motor minesweeper YMS-331 and high-speed minesweeper USS Hopkins (DMS-13) are damaged by suicide planes, minesweeper USS Gayety (AM-239), motor minesweeper YMS-311 by accidental US naval gunfire, motor minesweeper YMS-327 by suicide plane and accident US naval gunfire and motor gunboat PGM-17 by grounding, all in the Okinawa area. Japanese minesweeper No. 20 is sunk by the submarine USS Trepang (SS-412) in Yellow Sea.
May 5 - Cease fire on the Western Front. The seaplane tender USS St. George (AV-15) and surveying ship USS Pathfinder (AGS-1) are damaged by suicide plane in the Okinawa area.
May 6 - A naval landing force evacuates approximately 500 Marshallese from Naluit Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The battleship USS South Dakota (BB-57), is damaged by an accidental explosion and the floating drydock ARD-28 by an horizontal bomber in the Okinawa area. The German submarine U-853 is sunk by the destroyer escort USS Atherton (DE-169) and the frigate USS Moberley (PF-63) near Cape Cod, Massachusettes. U-881 is sunk by the destroyer escort USS Farquhar (DE-139) in the north Atlantic.
May 7 - Germany surrenders unconditionally to the Western Allies and Russia at Reims, France. Japanese minesweeper No. 29 is sunk by a mine in the Sea of Japan.
May 8 - V-E Day is declared. The submarine USS Bream (SS-243) lays mines off the coast of French Indochina.
May 9 - The destroyer escorts USS Oberrender (DE-344) and USS England (DE-635) are damaged by suicide planes in the Okinawa area. Russian troops occupy Prague. Channel Islands are liberated. Hermann Goring is captured by the US 7th Army.
May 10 - Army troops are landed at Macaljalar Bay, Mindanao by a naval attack group under Rear Admiral Struble. The destroyer USS Brown (DD-546) and light minelayer USS Harry F. Bauer (DM-26) are damaged by suicide planes in the Okinawa area.
May 11 - US shipping in the Okinawa area is heavily attacked by Japanese aircraft. The carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) and destroyer USS Evans (DD-551) are damaged by suicide planes and the destroyer USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774) by a piloted bomb in the Okinawa area.
May 12 - Army troops land on Tori Shima in the Ryukyus, supported by destroyers. The battleship USS New Mexico (BB-40) is damaged by a suicide plane and the heavy cruiser USS Wichita by accidental US naval gunfire in the Okinawa area.
May 13 - Aircraft from a fast carrier task force, under Vice Admiral Mitscher, begin a two-day attack on Kyushu airfields. The carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) is damaged by suicide plane and the light carrier USS Bataan (CVL-29) by accidental US naval gunfire off Honshu. The destroyer USS Bache (DD-470) and destroyer escort USS Bright (DE-747) are damaged by suicide plane in the Okinawa area.
May 15 - Commander US Ports and Bases, Germany, under Rear Admiral A.G. Robinson, is established with headquarters at Bremen, Germany. The submarine USS Snook (SS-279) is reported as presumed lost in the Pacific. The escort carrier USS Shipley Bay (CVE-85) is damaged by collision in the Okinawa area. The Japanese minelayer Hatsutaka is sunk by the submarine USS Hawkbill (SS-336) off Malaya.
May 17 - Carrier-based aircraft, under Rear Admiral C.A.F. Sprague, attack Japanese shore installations on Taroa Island, Maloelap Atoll in the Marshalls. The destroyer USS Douglas H. Fox (DD-779) is damaged by a suicide plane in the Okinawa area.
May 18 - The destroyer USS Longshaw (DD-559) is damaged by coastal defense guns and sunk by US forces in the Okinawa area. The high-speed transport USS Sims (APD-50) is damaged by a suicide plane and LST 808 by an aircraft torpedo in the Okinawa area.
May 19 - Japanese installations on Paramushiro in the Kuriles is bombarded by destroyers. The destroyer escort USS Vammen (DE-655) is damaged by collision and the oiler US Cimarron (AO-22) by grounding in the Okinawa area. The motor gunboat PGM-1 is damaged by an explosion at Luzon.
May 20 - The destroyer USS Thatcher (DD-514), destroyer escort USS John C. Butler (DE-339), high-speed transports USS Chase (APD-54) and USS Register (APD-92) and LST 808 are damaged by suicide planes and the high-speed transport USS Tattnall (APD-19) by a horizontal bomber in the Okinawa area.
May 21 - Japanese minesweeper No. 34 is sunk by the submarine USS Chub (SS-329) in the Java Sea.
May 22 - Japanese submarine chasers No.s 37 and 58 and transport No. 173 are sunk by carrier-based aircraft off southeastern Japan.
May 23 - Himmler commits suicide. The German High Command and Provisional Government is imprisoned.
May 24 - Aircraft from a fast carrier task force, under Vice Admiral Mitscher, strike airfields in southern Kyushu. Japanese aircraft make a concentrated strike on US positions and shipping at Okinawa. The attacks continue on the 25th. The submarine USS Legarto (SS-371) is reported as presumed lost in the Pacific. The escort carrier USS Suwannee (CVE-27) is damaged by an explosion; destroyer USS Heywood L. Edwards by accidental US naval gunfire; and destroyer USS Guest (DD-472), destroyer escorts USS O'Neill (DE-188) and USS William C. Cole (DE-641), high-speed minesweeper USS Butler (DMS-29), minesweeper USS Spectacle (AM-305) and high-speed transports USS Barry (APD-29) and USS Sims (APD-50) by suicide planes, all in the Okinawa area.
May 25 - The high-speed transport USS Bates (APD-47) is sunk by a suicide plane in the Okinawa area. The destroyer USS Cowell (DD-547) is damaged by accidental US naval gunfire, and destroyer USS Stormer (DD-780) and high-speed transport USS Roper (APD-20) by suicide planes in the Okinawa area.
May 26 - The destroyers USS Anthony (DD-515) and USS Braine (DD-630), high-speed minesweeper USS Forrest (DMS-24), submarine chaser PC-1603 and surveying ship USS Dutton (AGS-8) are damaged by suicide planes in the Okinawa area. Japanese submarine chaser No. 172 is sunk by a mine off Honshu.
May 27 - The destroyer USS Drexler (DD-741) is sunk by a suicide plane in the Okinawa area. The destroyer escort USS Gilligan (DE-508) is damaged by an aircraft torpedo, minesweeper USS Gayety (AM-239) by horizontal bomber, ocean tug USS Pakana (ATF-108) by naval gunfire and high-speed minesweeper USS Southard (DMS-10), high-speed transports USS Loy (APD-56) and USS Rednour (APD-102), attack transport USS Sandoval (APA-194) and degaussing vehicle YDG-10 are damaged by suicide planes in the Okinawa area. May 28 - The destroyer USS Shubrick (DD-639) is damaged by a suicide plane in the Okinawa area. Japanese coast defense vehicle No. 29 is sunk by a mine off Kyushu, Japan.
May 29 - The high-speed transport USS Tatu (APD-81) is damaged by a suicide plane and motor minesweeper YMS-81 and LST 884 by grounding, all in the Okinawa area.
May 30 - The Japanese submarine I-12 is sunk by aircraft (VC-12) from the escort carrier USS Anzio (CVE-57) in the Philippine Sea.

June 1 - US Naval Air Facility at Peleliu Island in the Palaus is established. US Naval Advance Base is established at Bremerhaven, Germany. The submarine chaser PC-1599 is damaged by grounding in the Okinawa area.
June 2 - Aircraft from the carrier task force under Vice Admiral McCain bomb airfields in southern Kyushu. The attack is repeated on June 3.
June 3 - A naval task group, under Rear Admiral L.F. Reifsnider, lands marines on Iheya Shima in the Ryukyus. The carrier USS Lake Champlain (CV-39) is commissioned at Norfolk, Virginia. The cargo ship USS Allegan (AK-225) is damaged by a suicide plane in the Okinawa area.
June 4 - US Patrol vessel YP-41 is damaged by an "operational casualty" in the Okinawa area. Japanese submarine chaser No. 112 is sunk by Army aircraft in the Java Sea.
June 5 - A typhoon in the Okinawa area heavily damages US naval vessels. Naval vessels damaged by the typhoon include the battlships USS Indiana (BB-58), USS Massachusetts (BB-59), USS Alabama (BB-60) and USS Missouri (BB-63); carriers USS Hornet (CV-12) and USS Bennington (CV-20); light carriers USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) and USS San Jacinto (CVL-30); escort carriers USS Windham Bay (CVE-92), USS Salamaua (CVE-96), USS Bougainville (CVE-100) and USS Attu (CVE-102); heavy cruisers USS Baltimore (CA-68), USS Quincy (CD-71) and USS Pittsburgh (CA-72); light cruisers USS Detroit (CL-8), USS San Juan , USS Duluth (CL-87) and USS Atlanta (CL-104); destroyers USS Schroeder (DD-501), USS John Rodgers (DD-574), USS McKee (DD-575), USS Dashiell (DD-659), USS Stockham (DD-683), USS De Haven (DD-717), USS Maddox (DD-371), USS Blue (DD-744), USS Brush (DD-745), USS Taussig (dd-746) and USS Samuel N. Moore (DD-747); destroyer escorts USS Donaldson (DE-44), USS Conklin (DE-439) and USS Hilbert (DE-742); oilers USS Lackawanna (AO-40) and USS Millicoma (AO-73); and ammunition ship USS Shasta (AE-6). The battleship USS Mississippi (BB-41) and heavy cruiser USS Louisville (CA-28) are damaged by suicide planes and the destroyer USS Dyson (DD-571) by collision in the Okinawa area. The minesweeper USS Scuffle (AM-298) is damaged by grounding at Brunei Bay and the gasoline tanker USS Sheepscot (AOG-24) by grouding in the Iwo Jima area. The Allies divide up Germany and Berlin, taking over the government.
June 6 - US naval vessels damaged in the Okinawa area include the escort carrier USS Natoma Bay (CVE-61) and light minelayers USS Harry F. Bauer (DM-16) and USS J. William Ditter (DM-31) by suicide plane and destroyer USS Beale (DD-471), minesweeper USS Spear (AM-322), and gasoline tanker USS Yahara (AOG-37) by collision. Japanese submarine chaser No. 195 is sunk by a mine off Honshu.
June 7 - The destroyer USS Anthony (DD-515) is damaged by suicide plane and LST 540 by grounding in the Okinawa area. Kanoya Airfield on Kyushu is attacked by aircraft from the fast carrier task force under Vice Admiral McCain. The Japanese in the Brunei Bay area are bombarded by cruisers and destroyers under Rear Admiral Berkey. The bombardment is repeated on the ninth. The minesweeper USS Salute (AM-294) is sunk by a mine in the Borneo Area.
June 9 - A naval task group, under Rear Admiral Reifsnider, lands Marines on Aguni Shima. A task group under Rear Admiral A.W. Radford bombs and bombards Okino Daito Jima in the Ryukyus. The destroyer escort USS Gendreau (DE-639) is damaged by coastal defense guns in the Okinawa area. Japanese coast defense vessel No. 41 is sunk by the submarine USS Sea Owl (SS-405) off southern Korea.
June 10 - Australian troops land at Brunei Bay on Borneo, supported by cruiser and destroyer gunfire and strikes by US Army and Australian aircraft. A naval task group under Rear Admiral J.J. Clark bombs and bombard the Japanese airfield and other installations on Minami Daito in the RyuKyus. The destroyer USS William D. Porter (DD-579) is sunk by suicide plane in the Okinawa area. The submarine USS Skate (SS-305) sinks the Japanese submarine I-122 in the Sea of Japan.
June 11 - Cruisers and destroyers, under Rear Admiral J.H. Brown, bombard Japanese installations on Matsuwa in the Kuriles. The light cruiser USS Vicksburg (CL-86) is damaged by collision and the landing ship dock USS Lindenwald (LSD-6) by accidental US naval gunfire in the Okinawa area. Japanese submarine chaser No. 237 is sunk by naval land-based aircraft in the Sea of Japan.
June 13 - The battleship USS Idaho (BB-42) is damaged by grounding in the Okinawa area.
June 14 - The motor gunboat PGM-24 is damaged by collision in the Okinawa area.
June 15 - The destroyer escort USS O'Flaherty (DE-340) is damaged by collision in the Okinawa area.
June 16 - Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River, Maryland is established. The destroyer USS Twiggs (DD-591) is sunk by aircraft torpedo in the Okinawa area. The escort carrier USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87) is damaged by an "aircraft operational casualty" in the Okinawa area.
June 17 - The gasoline tanker USS Chestatee (AOG-49) is damaged by collision in the Luzon area.
June 18 - Shore installations on Emidj Island, Jaluit Atoll are bombarded by battleships and destroyers. The motor minesweeper YMS-50 is damaged by a mine and sunk by US forces in the Balikpapan, Boreo area. The seaplane tender (small) USS Yakutat (AVP-32) is damaged by a collision in the Okinawa area.
June 19 - The minesweepers USS Device (AM-220) and USS Dour (AM-223) are damaged by collision in the Okinawa area and LST 562, also by collision, in the Brunei Bay area of Borneo.
June 20 - Japanese positions on Wake Island are bombed by aircraft from the carrier task group under Rear Admiral R.E. Jennings. The motor minesweeper YMS-368 is damaged by a mine in the Balikpanan area.
June 21 - Okinawa is declared secure 82 days after the initial landing. The destroyer escort USS Halloran (DE-305) and seaplane tenders USS Curtiss (AV-4) and USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14) are damaged by suicide plane in the Okinawa area and motor minesweeper YMS-335 by coastal defense guns at Balikpapan, Borneo.
June 22 - The high-speed minesweeper USS Ellyson (DMS-19) and LST 534 are damaged by suicide plane in the Okinawa area and motor minesweeper YMS-10 by coastal defense guns at Balikpapan, Borneo.
June 23 - The motor minesweeper YMS-364 is damaged by coastal defense guns at Balikpapan, Borneo. Japanese submarine chasers No.s 412 and 113 and shuttleboat No. 833 are sunk by the submarine USS Hardhead (SS-365) in the Java Sea.
June 24 - The destroyer escort USS Neuendorf (DE-200) is damaged by collision in the Philippines. Motor minesweeper YMS-339 is accidentally damaged by US naval gunfire at Balikpapan, Borneo.
June 26 - Marines land on Kume Shima in the Ryukyus. Motor minesweepers YMS-39 and YMS-365 are sunk by mines in the Balikpapan area of Borneo. The United Nations World Charter of Security is signed in San Fransisco.
June 27 - The seaplane tender (small) USS Suisun (AVP-53) is sunk by a collision in the Okinawa area. The destroyer USS Caldwell (DD-605) is damaged by a mine in the Brunei Bay area of Borneo. The Japanese submarine I-165 is sunk by naval land-based aircraft (VPB-142) in the central Pacific. Japanese submarine chaser No. 2 is sunk by the submarine USS Blueback (SS-326) in the Java Sea.
June 28 - Motor minesweepers YMS-47, by mine, and YMS-49, by coastal defense guns, are damaged in the Balikpapan area of Borneo. The Japanese destroyer Enoki is sunk by a mine in the Sea of Japan.
June 30 - The destroyer USS Smith (DD-378) is damaged by coastal defense guns and minesweeper YMS-314 by mine, in the Balikpapan area of Borneo. The Japanese destroyer Nara is sunk by a mine in the Sea of Japan.

July 1 - Australian troops are landed at Balikpapan, Borneo by a naval attack group under Rear Admiral Noble. The landing is covered by Allied naval gunfire and aircraft attack. Japanese coast defense vessel No. 72 is sunk by the submarine USS Haddo (SS-255) in the Yellow Sea. US, British and French troops move into Berlin.
July 2 - The submarine USS Barb (SS-22) bombards Japanese installations at Kaihyo Island off the east coast of Karafuto. This is the first successful use of rockets against shore positions by a US submarine. Japanese submarine chaser No. 188 is sunk by a mine in the Sea of Japan.
July 3 - Commander, US Naval Forces, Germany, under Vice Admiral Ghormley, establishes headquarters at Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The oiler USS Ashtabula (A0-51) is damaged by collision in the Okinawa area.
July 5 - General of the Army Douglas MacArthur announces the liberation of the Philippines. The destroyer USS Smith (DD-378) is accidentally damaged by a depth charge in the Balikpapan area of Borneo. Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No. 37 is sunk by the submarine USS Lizardfish (SS-373) off of Java.
July 9 - Motor minesweeper YMS-B4 is sunk by a mine in the Balikpapan area of Borneo. Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No. 50 is sunk by the submarine USS Bluefish (SS-121) off Malaya.
July 10 - Aircraft from the fast carrier task force under Vice Admiral McCain attack aifields on the Tokyo plain in Japan. US submarine chaser SC-511 founders and sinks in the Solomons. LST-1107 is damaged by grounding in the Okinawa area. Japanese destroyer Sakura is sunk by a mine in the Sea of Japan and minesweeper No. 27 is sunk by the submarine USS Runner (SS-476) off northern Honshu.
July 12 - US submarine chaser PC-582 is damaged by grounding in the Philippines.
July 12 - Italy declares war on Japan.
July 14 - Aircraft from the fast carrier task force under Vice Admiral McCain bomb shipping, rail facilities and ground installations in northern Honshu and Hoddaido, Japan. The attack is repeated on the 15th. Kamaishi, Honshu is bombarded by battleships, cruisers and destroyers under Rear Admiral J.F. Shafroth. This is the first naval bombardment of the Japanese homeland. LST 684 and LST 816 are damaged by grounding in the Okinawa area. Japanese destroyer Tachibana and coast defense vessels No. 65 and 74 are sunk by naval land-based aircraft off northern Honshu. The Japanese submarine I-351 is sunk by the submarine USS Bluefish (SS-222) off Borneo.
July 15 - Battleships, cruisers and destroyers, under Rear Admiral Badger, bombard the steel and iron works at Muroran on the southern coast of Hokkaido, Japan. The destroyer USS Flusser (DD-368) and light minelayer USS Thomas E. Fraser (DM-24) are damaged by collision, in the Balikpapan and Okinawa areas, respectively. Japanese minesweeper No. 24 and coast defense vessel No. 219 are sunk by carrier-based aircraft off northern Honshu.
July 16 - Fisrt atomic bomb test is held at Alamogordo, New Mexico. Japanese submarine I-13 is sunk by aircraft (VC-13) from the escort carrier USS Anzio (CVE-57) and the destroyer escort USS Lawrence C. Taylor (DE-415), east of Japan. Japanese torpedo boat Kari is sunk by the submarine USS Baya (SS-318) in the Java Sea.
July 17 - Aircraft from the fast carrier task force under Vice Admiral McCain and a British fast carrier task force under Vice Admiral H.B. Rawlings attack airfields in the Tokyo area. The British force continues to operate as part of the US Third Fleet, under Admiral W.F. Halsey, until the end of the war. Battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, under Rear Admiral O.C. Badger, bombard industrialized Mito-Hitachi area of Honshu. Potsdam Conference begins.
July 18 - Aircraft from the fast carrier task forces of the Third Fleet strike Yokosuka Naval Base and airfields in the Tokyo area. Cruisers and destroyers under Rear Admiral C.F. Holden bombard shore installations at Cape Nojima, Honshu. Carrier-based aircraft bomb Wake Island. The transport USS George F. Elliot (AP-105) is damaged by unknown cause in the Okinawa area. Japanese coast defense vessel No. 112 is sunk by the submarine USS Barb (SS-220) off Karafuto, Japan.
July 19 - The destroyer USS Thatcher (DD-514) is damaged by a suicide plane in the Okinawa area.
July 20 - Japanese minesweeper No. 39 is sunk by the submarine USS Threadfin (SS-410) in the Yellow Sea.
July 21 - The attack transport USS Marathon (APA-200) is damaged by a piloted torpedo in the Okinawa area.
July 22 - A cruiser and destroyer task force under Rear Admiral Brown bombards Japanese installations at Suribachi, Paramushiro in the Kuriles.
July 23 - A landing party from the submarine USS Barb (SS-220) blows up a Japanese train on the east coast of Karafuto. Japanese submarine chaser No. 227 is sunk by the submarine USS Hardhead (SS-365) off of Java.
July 24 - Aircraft from the fast carrier task forces of the Third Fleet launch 2-day attack on the Inland Sea area of Japan, striking Kure Naval Base and airfields at Nagoya, Osaka, and Miho. Japanese naval vessels sunk in the Inland Sea area include the battleships Hyuga, Ise, and Haruna, escort carrier Kaiyo, heavy cruiser Aoba, and old heavy cruiser Iwate, by carrier-based aircraft.
July 25 - Cruisers and destroyers under Rear Admiral J.C. Jones bombard the Kushimoto Seaplane Base and airfield near Shiono Misaki, Honshu.
July 26 - Churchill is replace by Atlee as British Prime Minister. The Potsdam Declaration, calling for unconditional surrender, is delivered to Japan. The destroyer USS Lowry (DD-770) is damaged by an explosion in the Philippines.
July 27 - The cargo ship USS Ganymede (AK-104) is damaged by a collision in the Philippines. Japanese transport No. 176 is sunk by Army aircraft off southern Kyushu.
July 28 - Aircraft from the fast carrier task forces of the Third Fleet strike the Inland Sea area, between Nagoya, and Northern Kyushu, Japan. Kure Naval Base is the principal target. Japanese naval vessels sunk in the Inland Sea area include the aircraft carrier Amagi, heavy cruiser Tone, old heavy cruiser Izumo, light cruiser Oyodo, destroyer Nashi and submarine I-372, by carrier-based aircraft. The destroyer USS Callaghan (DD-792) is sunk by a suicide plane. USS Callaghan is the last Allied vessel to be sunk by a suicide plane. The destroyer USS Prichett (DD-561) is damaged by a suicide plane in the Okinawa area.
July 29 - Battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, under Rear Admiral J.F. Shafroth, bombard shops, the aircraft factory and other facilities at Hamamatsu, Honshu. The destroyer USS Cassin Young (DD-793) and high-speed transport USS Horace A. Bass (APD-124) are damaged by suicide plane in the Okinawa area. Japanese submarine chaser No. 207 is sunk by Army aircraft off Kyushu, Japan.
July 30 - Aircraft from the fast carrier task forces of the Third Fleet bomb airfields and industrial targets in central Honshu, Japan. The heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35) is sunk by a submarine torpedo in the Philippine Sea. The submarine USS Bonefish (SS-223) is reported as presumed lost in the Pacific. The Japanese destroyer Hatsushimo is sunk by a mine and frigate Okinawa by carrier-based aircraft in the Sea of Japan.
July 31 - Destroyers bombard railroad yards and industrial areas of Shimuzu, Japan. The destroyer USS Bancroft (DD-598) is damaged by collision in the Luzon area.

August 1 - Carrier aircraft and battleships strike the Japanese on Wake Island. The battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) is damaged by coastal defense guns during the Wake Island raid.
August 2 - Potsdam Conference ends.
August 3 - The destroyer escort USS Earl V. Johnson (DE-70) is damaged by an explosion in the Philippine sea and the attack cargo ship USS Seminole (AKA-104) by collision in the Okinawa area.
August 5 - The destroyer USS Bristol (DD-857) is damaged by collision in the Iwo Jima area.
August 6 - The "Little Boy" atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima, Honshu. Carrier aircraft from a naval task group under Vice Admiral Oldendorf strike Japanese shipping in Tinghai Harbor, China. Carrier aircraft bomb Wake Island.
August 7 - The submarine USS Bullhead (SS-331) is sunk in the Java Sea (presumed date). Japanese submarine chaser No. 66 and coast defense vessel No. 39 are sunk by Army aircraft, near Truk in the Carolines and the Sea of Japan, respectively.
August 8 - The "Fat Man" atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, Kyushu. Aircraft from the fast carrier task forces of the Third Fleet attack airfields and shipping in northern Honshu and Hokkaido. Battleships and cruisers, under Rear Admiral Shafroth, bombard industrial targets at Kamaishi, Honshu. Battleships, cruisers, and destroyers bombard Wake Island. Russia declares war on Japan and invades Manchuria. The destroyers USS John W. Weeks (DD-701) and USS Borie (DD-704) are damaged off Honshu, by accidental US naval gunfire and by suicide plane, respectively. Japanese minesweeper No. 33 and frigates Amakusa and Inagi are sunk by carrier-based aircraft off northern Honshu.
August 10 - Aircraft from the fast carrier task forces of the Third Fleet attack shipping, airfields, and railroads in northern Honshu. Russian forces enter Korea. Japanese minesweeper No. 1 is sunk by carrier-based aircraft off northern Honshu and transport No. 21 by Army aircraft in the Inland Sea.
August 11 - The destroyer USS McDermut (DD-677) is damaged by naval gunfire in the Kuriles.
August 12 - Cruisers and destroyers bombard Japanese installations on Matsuwa and Paramushiro Islands in the Kurile Islands. The battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) is damaged by an aircraft torpedo in the Okinawa area.
August 13 - Aircraft from a fast carrier task force under Vice Admiral J.S. McCain bomb targets in the Tokyo area. The attack transport USS Lagrange (APA-124) is damaged by suicide plane in the Okinawa area. The Japanese submarine I-373 is sunk by the submarine USS Spikefish (SS-404) off China and coast defense vessel No. 6 by the submarine USS Atule (SS-403) off Hokkaido, Japan.
August 14 - Japan accepts the provisions of the Potsdam Declaration and agrees to surrender. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, USA, is named Supreme Allied Commander to receive the Japanese capitulation and conduct the occupation of Japan. Japanese coast defense vessels No.s 13 and 47 are sunk by the submarine USS Torsk (SS-423) in the Sea of Japan.
August 15 - V-J Day declared. Before the announcement of the end of hostilities is received, aircraft from a fast carrier task force under Vice Admiral J.S. McCain raid airfields in the Tokyo area. Heavy airborne opposition is encountered. A naval task group, under Commodore R.W. Simpson, is established to liberate, evacuate, and extend medical care to Allied prisoners of war in Japan.
August 17 - General Prince Higashikuni becomes Prime Minister of Japan and forms a new cabinet.
August 20 - A naval task force, under Rear Admiral Badger, is formed to assume responsibility for the occupation of the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan.
August 21 - Aisiatic Wing, Naval Air Transport Service is established at Oakland, California. Mili Atoll in the Marshalls surrenders. This is the first Japanese garrison to capitulate in the Pacific Ocean Area. Surrender is accepted on board the destroyer USS Levy (DE-162).
August 25 - Aircraft from carrier task groups begin daily flights over Japan to patrol airfields, shipping movements, and to locate and supply prisoner of war camps. This operation continues until September 2.
August 27 - Third Fleet stands into Sagami Bay, the outer bay to Tokyo. Two Japanese submarines surrender to four US destroyers off Honshu.
August 28 - Air Force Technicians land at Atsugi Airdrome, near Tokyo. These are the first United States troops to land in Japan. Administrative and operational control of the Seventh Fleet passes from Commander in Chief Southwest Pacific Area (General of the Army Douglas MacArthur) to Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet (Fleet Adm. C. W. Nimitz).
August 29 - A Japanese submarine surrenders to the submarine USS Segundo (SS-398) off northeast Honshu.
August 30 - Landings by the occupation forces begin in the Tokyo Bay area under cover of guns of the Third Fleet plus Naval and Army aircraft. Yokosuka Naval Base's surrender is accepted by Rear Admirals R.B. Carney and O.C. Badger. Headquarters of Commander Third Fleet is established at Yokosuka Naval Base.
August 31 - Marcus Island's surrender is accepted by Rear Admiral F.E.M. Whiting on board the destroyer USS Bagley (DD-386). Marines land at Tateyama Naval Base, Honshu, and accept its surrender.

September 2 - The Japanese surrender documents are signed on board the battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) at anchor in Tokyo Bay, Japan. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur signs for the Allied Powers, and Fleet Admiral C.W. Nimitz signs for the United States. Army forces are landed at Yokohama, Japan, by a naval task force. Truk in the Caroline Islands, Pagan and Rota Islands in the Marianas Islands, and the Palau Islands surrender to US Naval and Marine officers on board naval vessels.
September 5 - British forces land in Singapore.
September 7 - Japanese forces in Shanghai surrender.
September 9 - Remaind of Japanese forces in China surrender.
September 13 - Japanese troops in Burma surrender.
September 16 - The Japanese surrender Hong Kong.

October 24 - United Nations is officially born.

November 20 - The Nuremburg War Crimes Trials begin.

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