1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 550 ] [ 12 JULY–6 AUGUST 1945 ]
12 July
P.I.—In U.S. Eighth Army’s XIV Corps area
on Luzon, Kiangan falls to 6th Div, but Japanese
continue to hold out in the area. Thousands of
gallons of napalm have been dropped on enemy
pocket in Kiangan area during last few days. 32d
Div is advancing along Highway 11 against the
other enemy pocket on N Luzon, in Sierra Madre
Mountains. On Mindanao, in X Corps area, 1st Bn
of 21st Inf, 24th Div (part of Sarangani TF), lands
on north shore of Sarangani Bay against no opposition.
Prov bn from Lake Buluan reaches point
20 miles northwest of bay; Expeditionary Bn of
guerrilla 108th Div reaches point 15 miles northeast
of bay; guerrilla 116th Inf clears additional
areas along bay’s shore.
13 July
MINDANAO—In X Corps area, contact is made
between 1st Bn, 21st Inf, and Prov bn from Lake
Buluan at point 15 miles northwest of Sarangam
Bay.
15 July
MINDANAO—In X Corps area, guerrilla 116th
Inf and Expeditionary Bn, 108th Div, make contact
10 miles northeast of Sarangani Bay, marking
contact between all elements of 24th Div’s Sarangani
TF.
16 July
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES—Terminal Conference
opens at Potsdam, Germany, to draw up
terms for Japanese surrender and discuss military
and political issues connected with the termination
of hostilities. Representatives of the Soviet Union,
Britain, and the United States attend.
U.S.—An atomic bomb is tested successfully at
Los Alamos, New Mexico.
17 July
JAPAN—Units of Br Pacific Fleet join with U.S.
Third Fleet warships in bombarding Japan. Japanese
offer no opposition. This is the first of a series
of combined American-British assaults on Japan.
18 July
GUAM—U.S. Army Strategic Air Forces is
established at Guam under Gen Spaatz.
NEI—Advance elements of Aus 7th Div find
Sambodja oil center on Borneo undefended.
20 July
MINDANAO—In U.S. Eighth Army’s X Corps
area, Co F of 34th Inf, 24th Div, lands on Balut I.
at entrance to Sarangani Bay and searches the island,
finding few Japanese.
23 July
CHINA—Hq, U.S. Tenth Air Force, opens at
Kunming.
25 July
MINDANAO—In X Corps area, last organized
Japanese resistance in Sarangani Bay sector collapses.
Patrols mop up a few more Japanese until 11
August.
26 July
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS—Potsdam ultimatum
is issued, calling for Japan to surrender unconditionally
or face “utter destruction.”
27 July
CHINA—Chinese break into Kweilin and by end
of month clear rear-guard opposition. Other Chinese
forces take Tanchuk airfield.
30 July
JAPAN—Rejects the Potsdam ultimatum. Nevertheless,
Gen Marshall, in behalf of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, directs Gens MacArthur and Wedemeyer
and Adm Nimitz to co-ordinate plans for the surrender.
2 August
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES—TERMINAL Conference
ends at Potsdam.
5 August
CHINA—Ch 13th Army takes town of Tanchuk.
Ch 58th Div recaptures Hsinning.
6 August
JAPAN—B–29 drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
GUAM—Final details for operation against Fort
Bayard are worked out on Guam between representatives
of the China and the Pacific Theaters.