Conference opens at Potsdam to draw up terms for Japanese
surrender and to discuss military and political problems connected
with the ending of hostilities.
The first atomic bomb is successfully exploded at Los Alamos.
Eighth Air Force. Headquarters Eighth Air Force issues its
last movement order in European Theatre of Operations (ETO).
After much reorganisation and redeployment of units, Headquarters
relieves VIII Fighter Command from assignment to Eighth Air
Force and directs Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron to
move from Charleroi back to United Kingdom the unit moves
to High Wycombe the following day,
17
July 1945 where VIII Fighter Command is to assume control
over all Eighth Air Force units remaining in United Kingdom.
Headquarters Eighth Air Force is transferred without personnel,
equipment, or combat elements to Okinawa, where Eighth and
Twentieth Air Forces are to comprise United States Army Strategic
Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF) under command of General
Spuatz. By this date over 90,000 persons (more than 50 per
cent of the Eighth's strength on
30
April 1945) have been redeployed to United States, North
Africa, and various parts of European Theatre of Operations
(ETO).
Army Air Force, India-Burma Theatre. General Hanley assumes
command of Army Air Force, India-Burma Theatre.
Fourteenth Air Force. 5 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers pound enemy truck convoys moving
supplies through Siang Chiang Valley and South of Kweilin.
60 P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers, P-38 Lightning fighters,
and P-47 Thunderbolt fighters continue to hit river, road,
and rail traffic, bridges, troops, supplies, and other targets
at many points in Indochina and South and East China.
Far East Air Force (FEAF). United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers bomb warehouses at Watampone.
P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers and B-25 Mitchell medium bombers
support ground forces in Kiangan Baguio sector and area East
of Manila. P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers on sweep of Formosa
attack command targets, hitting railroad station and locomotive
shed at Byoritsu and scoring direct hit on bridge South West
of Koryu. B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, A-26 Invader light bombers, B-25 Mitchell
medium bombers, P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers and P-47 Thunderbolt
fighters from Okinawa and Ie Shima pound Kyushu. P-51 Mustang
fighter-bombers hit several East coast targets, concentrating
in Kagoshima Bay area. 27 A-26 Invader light bombers, 1 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers,
and 39 P-47 Thunderbolt fighters hit airfields and bridge
at Miyazaki; 33 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers bomb bridges
at Nobeoka; 36 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, a B-24 Liberator
heavy bombers and an A-26 Invader light bombers pound Sadohara bridge; 6 B-24 Liberator
heavy bombers bomb harbour and town of Aburatsu; and 5 P-47
Thunderbolt fighters hit Yanagawa.
Twentieth Air Force. Headquarters is officially moved to Harmon
Field, Guam. XX Bomber Command is inactivated, effective
18
July 1945, and Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron,
XXI Bomber Command is redesignated Headquarters Squadron,
Twentieth Air Force. Thus the Bomber Commands are brought
to an end as actual establishments. Their was pass to direct
control of Headquarters, Twentieth Air Force of which General
LeMay takes command on this date. During 16-
17
July 1945, 466 B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber's drop incendiary
bombs on Numazu, Oita, Kuwana, and Hiratsuka.
VII Fighter Command. United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
fighters based on Iwo Jima fly over 100 effective sorties
against targets (mainly airfields) at Kameyama, Kiyosu, Komaki,
Okazaki, Suzuko, and Akenogahara. 22 air victories are claimed.
Eleventh Air Force. 2 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers fly a negative shipping search
mission to Shimushiru Island. 4 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers
on enemy shipping sweep deck level bomb and strafe enemy freighter.
3 of the bombers then bomb and strafe Torishima Islands (secondary)
.
Go To: 17th
July
Articles:
The Second Great War.
Edited by Sir John Hamilton
The War Illustrated.
Edited by Sir John Hamilton
2194 Days Of War.
ISBN-10: 086136614X
For a complete list of
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