Eighth Air Force. 1,251 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
heavy bombers attack 2 rail centres and 2 tank and armament
plants in Berlin area, along with several targets including
2 marshalling yards, 3 town areas, and an industrial area
near Berlin secondary target. 14 P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers
groups fly 645 effective supporting sorties.
Ninth Air Force. 660 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
medium bombers and light bombers hit marshalling yards at
Wetalar, Worms, Kreuztal, and Bad Durkheim, command centre
at Bad Durkheim, and 4 town areas with aim of hampering enemy
movement. Fighters escort 9th Bomber Division, attack assigned
targets, fly patrols, and armed reconnaissance, and co-operate
with United States III Corps of Remagen, with XII Corps as
it begins assault toward Mainz, Worms sector of the Rhine,
and with XX Corps as it moves rapidly eastward through Sankt
Wendel area toward Kaiserslautern.
Twelfth Air Force. During
17-18
March 1945, United States Army Air Force (USAAF) A-20 Havoc
light bombers and A-26 Invader light bombers continue intruder missions in Po
Valley, concentrating on Po River crossings. B-25 Mitchell
medium bombers bomb railroad bridges at Bozzolo, and Palazzuolo
sull' Oglio, railroad fill at Salorno, and causeway at Mantua.
Fighters and fighter-bombers hit dumps and support ground
forces South of Bologna, and attack command targets over wide
areas of Po Valley. The most devastating raid of the day is
flown against Novara marshalling yard where 14 locomotives
are destroyed.
Fifteenth Air Force. Bad weather limits operations to reconnaissance
and supply missions, a fighter-bomber attack by P-38 Lightning
fighters on Varazdin railroad bridge, after which many of
the P-38 Lightning fighters strafe railroad command in Zagreb,
Varazdin, Maribor, and Villach areas, and a strafing mission
against rail command and airfields in Graz, Wiener Neustadt,
Maribor, and Szombathely areas.
Tenth Air Force. 12 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) P-47
Thunderbolt fighters support Chinese ground forces near Hsipaw.
8 others support British 36th Division troops by dropping
napalm Northeast of Mogok. 11 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers
and 20 fighter-bombers hit troop concentrations and supplies
immediately behind the battlefront. Roads South of bomb line
are swept by 16 P-38 Lightning fighters. Transports continue
steady operations.
Fourteenth Air Force. 6 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
B-24 Liberator heavy bombers sweep Gulf of Tonkin and South
China Sea, claiming 1 freighter damaged. 2 P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers
over North Indochina strafe trucks, troops, horse and carts.
Far East Air Force (FEAF). In South Luzon heavy bombers, United
States Army Air Force (USAAF) A-20 Havoc light bombers, and
fighters support ground forces by hitting Ipo area and various
targets in Batangas Province. B-24 Liberator heavy bombers
again bomb Bacolod, hit several targets on Cebu, and bomb
Sepinggang and Jesselton airfields. Airfield at Tainan, seaplane
base at Takao, and emergency field at Koshun are also hit.
Twentieth Air Force. During 18-
19
March 1945, 290 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) XXI Bomber
Command B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber's continue fire raids
on Japanese cities, bombing Nagoya from 4,500 to 9,000 ft
with incendiaries for the second time this month. This mission
ends the March fire raids.
Seventh Air Force. 16 United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers from Iwo Jima dive-bomb radar
and radio installations and barges at Chichi Jima. 14 B-24
Liberator heavy bombers from Guam pound Susaki airfield. 1
other hits Haha Jima. During 18-
19
March 1945, 5 more heavy bombers individually strike Susaki.
Eleventh Air Force. A weather sortie is flown.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit West Ham.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Cranham.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Battlesbridge.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Epping.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Ightham.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Aylesford.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Hutton.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Barking.
V-2 rocket
launched against England, hit Marble Arch.
R227
R-boat
Sunk 18 March 1945
Go To: 19th
March
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
sources