XX AIR FORCE REVEALS RESULTS OF ATTACKS
Roundup Staff Article
The full effects of the continuous B-29 raids over Japan were announced this week by XX Air Force and
partially confirmed by Tokyo radio.
U.S. figures stated that up to May 31 that 43 of Nippon's greatest war factories had been hit, with
73.3 square miles of industrial areas laid waste. The Japs declared one in every 18 individuals had been made homeless
by the air raids.
The figures continued to pile up as the 29's made four more raids this week. The Tokyo, Nagoya and Kobe
areas were hit. Unlike previous incendiary night raids, this time the SuperForts came over in the daytime and dropped heavy
bombs. Heavy damage was reported. P-51's flew escort duty.
ON OKINAWA
In the meantime, the Jap garrison on Okinawa had been compressed into two dwindling pockets, containing
15,000 enemy, all that remained of the original garrison of over 82,000. Sixty-seven thousand Nips had been killed.
Both enemy pockets were on the southern tip of the island. The Seventh Army and First Marine Divisions
were attacking the flanks of one pocket, while the First and Sixth Marines were working on the other.
The Japs continued their suicide pilot tactics around Okinawa. Two Navy destroyers, Morrison and
Luce, were sunk. Navy carrier planes hit the suicide bases on Kyushu Island four days running.
In Washington, Vice Adm. Mark Mitscher, commander of famed Task Force 58, said the Jap suicide bombing
was just another word for dive bombing, except that it was more accurate. But he said only one percent of the attackers
were successful, due to improving defenses.
IN PHILIPPINES
In the Philippines, the Japs on Mindinao and Luzon were preparing for last stands. The 37th and 38th U.S.
Divisions on Luzon were heading into the Cagayan Valley, while on Mindinao the 24th and 31st hit up the Talmo Trail.
Earlier, an amphibious landing had sealed of Davao Bay.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur announced landings by the Ninth Australian Division on Labuan, Brookston and Marua
Islands, off West Borneo and 600 miles east of Indo-China. MacArthur columns now stand at the geographic center of
Celebes, Bali, Java, Sumatra, Malaya and Indo-China.
It was also announced from MacArthur's Headquarters that the Far Eastern Air Force has destroyed 80
percent of Formosa's war industries. Since there has been no recent reports of raids on air fields on Formosa, United
Press said this might indicate Jap land-based air power might have been destroyed there.
Meanwhile from besieged Japan came word that the Government had put internal administration on a basis
of preparedness for invasion. Tokyo radio said homes would be converted into miniature fortresses, with instruction
for last ditch defense being issued to all civilians, including women.
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