... on the Internet ...

latest update: January 2020 ...

Since the 2005 celebrations, many of the URLs mentionned on the website for that date have been archived by their creators. That is to say that those particular pages are now -- no longer avilable.
Sorry for that ...

16 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.

17 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.

18 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.

19 August 1945 (pg 702)

WESTERN PACIFIC
Two B-25J's of the 345th BG intercept two Japanese "Betty" bombers North of Ie Shima. The Japanese aircraft carry a delegation from Tokyo enroute to Manila to meet General MacArthur's staff to work out details of the surrender. The "Betty's" are painted white with green crosses on the wings, fuselage and vertical tail surface and use the call signs Bataan I and Bataan II. The Japanese land on Ie Shima and transfer to C-54's for the flight to Manila.

20 August 1945 (pg 702)

WESTERN PACIFIC
On the return flight from Ie Shima to Japan, the Betty's run out of fuel and ditch in Tokyo Bay but the delegation is rescued and completes the mission.

21 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.

22 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.

23 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.

24 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.

25 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.

26 August 1945 (pg 702) No actions reported.

27 August 1945 (pg 702)

MARIANAS:

XX AF B-29's begin supplying prisoner-of-war and internee camps in Japan, China, and Korea with medical supplies, food, and clothing. The first supply drop (to Weihsien Camp near Peking, China) is followed by a concentrated effort of 900 sorties in a period of less than a month. 4,470 tons of supplies are dropped to about 63,500 prisoners in 154 camps through the end of September. (Eight B-29's were lost along with 77 crewmen during this operation. In addition, one B-29 was attacked by Soviet fighters while flying over North Korea and was forced to land).

28 August 1945 (pg 702)

JAPAN:
The first Allied occupation units are delayed in reaching Japan by a typhoon.

29 August 1945 (pg 702)

JAPAN:
The occupation of Japan officially begins as an advance party arrives in the Home Islands. When the news of the Japanese proposal for surrender came on 15 Aug, the 68th Army Airways Communications System (AACS) Group, 7th AACS Wing, received orders to fly into Atsugi Airfield near Tokyo and set up the communications equipment necessary to guide in the first contingent of occupation troops. AACSs mission was to provide navigational aids, point-to-point communications with Okinawa, air-to-ground communications for planes in flight, weather data, and air traffic control.

Colonel Gordon Blake quickly assembled a special unit of 5 hand-picked men. Colonel Blake and his AACS men, part of a 150 man task force, flew from Okinawa to Atsugi with 24 C-47 aircraft laden with equipment. In order to carry as much equipment as possible, the load was lightened by carrying only enough fuel to reach Atsugi. Although the Japanese had surrendered unconditionally, Blake and his communicators still did not know whether some might still be hostile.

The sight of hundreds of Japanese Navy guards lined up along the airfield was not encouraging to the occupants of the first aircraft to land, but they were met by a group of courteous, English-speaking Japanese military personnel. The navy guards were in their honor. The AACS-men lost no time in getting operations into full swing, and by 29 Aug, the Atsugi control tower was completed.

The first planes to arrive on 30 Aug were 5 additional C-47s carrying components to set up the first airborne radio station in Air Force history. Within a few hours, the first C-54 aircraft of the official occupation forces landed at Atsugi and by mid-afternoon Blake's AACS crews had directed 340+ takeoffs and landings at the rate of 1 every 2 minutes. On 30 Aug, Atsugi was the busiest airport in the world.

30 August 1945 (pg 702)

JAPAN: The occupation of Japan in force begins when the 11th Airborne Division is flown to Atsugi Airfield and US Marines land at Yokosuka naval base. The 159th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group [attached to 5th Air Liaison Group (Provisional)] moves from Mangaldan, Luzon to Okinawa with UC-64s and L-5s.

Ninety-eight B-29's and 56 P-47's and P-51's fly the first "Display of Force" mission over the Tokyo area.

31 August 1945 (pg 702)

Ninety-nine B-29's and 60 P-51's fly the second "Display of Force" mission over the Tokyo area.