Appendix E
Chronology

The following listing of events is limited to those coming within the scope of this book, and those events treated in previous volumes applying equally to the matters discussed in this work.

1941    
8Dec   Personnel of American Embassy Guard, Peiping, and of Marine Legation Guard, Tientsin, become first Marine POWs in World War II.
10Dec   Guam surrenders to Japanese landing force.
23Dec   Wake Island falls to enemy.
1942    
6Feb   U.S. and Great Britain establish Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS).
9Mar   Java surrenders to Japanese, ending conquest of Netherlands East Indies.
30Mar   Pacific Ocean divided into Pacific Ocean Areas under Adm Nimitz and Southwest Pacific Area under Gen MacArthur.
9Apr   Bataan falls to the Japanese.
6May   Corregidor and Manila Bay forts surrender.
1943    
2-6Dec   At Second SEXTANT Conference in Cairo, Allied leaders agree upon strategic concept for prosecution of Pacific War.
1944    
1Jan   LtGen Alexander A. Vandegrift becomes 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps.
2Jan   U.S. Army troops land at Saidor, New Guinea.
31Jan-7Feb   U.S. forces assault and capture Kwajalein and Majuro
16-17Feb   Task Force 58 strikes Truk, revealing weakness of that base.
17-22Feb   U.S. forces assault and capture Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshalls.
20Feb-28Mar   U.S. forces assault and capture the main islands of the Admiralties.
6Mar   1st Marine Division lands near Talasea on New Britain in the Bismarcks.
12Mar   JCS issue directives to CinCPOA and CinCSWPA regarding future operations in their respective areas.
22Apr   U.S. Army troops land at Aitape and Hollandia in northern New Guinea, beginning drive up the coast.
6Jun   Allied forces invade the continent of Europe at Normandy.
Joint War Plans Committee issues study establishing 1945 Pacific invasion schedule for planning purposes.
15Jun-9Jul   U.S. forces assault and capture Saipan in the Marianas.
19-20Jun   Battle of the Philippine Sea. Japanese naval air arm suffers decisive defeat.
18Jul   Premier Hideki Tojo resigns.
21Jul-10Aug   U.S. forces assault and capture Guam in the Marianas.
24Jul-1Aug   VAC troops assault and capture Tinian in the Marianas.

--811--

26-29Jul   Adm Nimitz and Gen MacArthur meet with President Roosevelt at Pearl Harbor to determine future Pacific strategy.
11-16Sep   At OCTAGON Conference in Quebec, CCS establish a new schedule of Pacific operations. Kyushu to be invaded in October and Honshu in December 1945.
15Sep   U.S. Army troops assault and capture Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies.
15-30Sep   U.S. forces assault and capture Peleliu and Angaur in the Palaus.
23Sep   U.S. Army troops seize Ulithi Atoll in the Western Carolines.
3Oct   JCS direct Adm Nimitz to invade Ryukyus (Operation ICEBERG) two months following Iwo Jima operation.
9Oct   CinCPOA issues warning order for ICEBERG.
10Oct   First U.S. carrier raid on Okinawa.
14Oct   VAC directed to prepare plans for Iwo Jima operation.
20Oct   U.S. Army troops land on Leyte in the Philippines.
21Oct   Marine Carrier Groups, AirFMFPac, activated at MCAS, Santa Barbara, California.
23-25Oct   Battle of Leyte Gulf. U.S. naval forces eliminate Japanese surface fleet as a major threat.
25Oct   CinCPOA issues Joint Staff Study outlining plans for Okinawa operation.
28Oct   CNO directs the formation of the Marine Air Support Division.
24Nov   Saipan-based B-29s bomb Tokyo in the first attack on the Japanese capital by land-based planes.
25Nov   CinCPOA issues operation plan for invasion of Iwo Jima; tentative date is set for 3Feb45.
15Dec   U.S. Army troops invade Mindoro in the Philippines.
25Dec   Leyte declared secure.
1945    
2Jan   U.S. Army landings on east and west coasts of Mindoro.
3Jan   ComFifthFlt issues Opln 1-45 for Okinawa operation.
6Jan   Tenth Army Tentative Opln 1-45 for ICEBERG issued.
9Jan   Sixth Army lands in Lingayen Gulf area of Luzon.
15-16Jan   TF 38 carrier aircraft raid Formosa, Hong Kong, Hainan, and Swatow.
24Jan   Combined air-sea bombardment of Iwo Jima.
25Jan   First support mission flown by Marine dive bombers in the Philippines.
29 Jan   U.S. Army forces land on Luzon at Subic Bay.
16Feb   Final operation plan for Okinawa issued by Tenth Army.
16-17Feb   TF 38 aircraft raid Tokyo area.
17Feb   Joint Expeditionary Force for Okinawa assembles and begins rehearsals.
19 Feb-16Mar   VAC assaults and captures Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands.
1Mar   B-29s and carrier-based planes begin preliminary air bombardments of Okinawa.
10 Mar   U.S. Army troops land on Mindanao.
11Mar   Gen Buckner places Tenth Army Opln 1-45 into effect by dispatch.

--812--

18-19Mar   TF 58 strikes Kyushu, Kure, and Inland Sea areas.
19Mar   USS Block Island, first Marine escort carrier commissioned, departs San Diego for war duty in the Pacific with MCVG-1 embarked.
21Mar   Western Islands Attack Group carrying assault troops of 77th Infantry Division sorties from Leyte Gulf for the opening phase of ICEBERG.
23Mar   Carrier strikes, intensive surface bombardment, underwater demolition, and minesweeping operations begin preinvasion preparations against Okinawa.
24Mar   Preassault staging of ICEBERG force begins.
26-31Mar   77th Infantry Division assaults and captures Kerema Retto and Keise Shima.
26Mar   TF 57 begins first of 10 attacks between this date and 20Apr against Sakashima Gunto.
27Mar   Transport and covering forces of the Joint Expeditionary Force sortie from Leyte Gulf and Ulithi for ICEBERG.
Demonstration Group, carrying troops of 2d Marine Division, leaves Saipan.
1Apr   Tenth Army, comprised of IIIAC and XXIV Corps makes unopposed landing on Okinawa; Yontan and Kadena airfields secured.
2Apr   Forward elements of the 7th Infantry Division reach the eastern coast of Okinawa, severing the island.
3Apr   1st Marine Division troops reach the east coast.
5Apr   Reconnaissance of the Eastern Islands begins.
6Apr   XXIV Corps divisions first encounter strong enemy resistance on the southern front.
6-7Apr   First of ten major Kamikaze attacks mounted on Allied shipping in waters off Okinawa.
7Apr   TAF aircraft begin operations from Okinawa fields. TF 58 planes sink Yamato, Yahagi, and four Japanese destroyers in the Battle of the East China Sea.
8Apr   Gen Mulcahy, commanding TAF, assumes control of aircraft ashore.
9-10Apr   3/105 of the 27th Infantry Division assaults and captures Tsugen Shima, the only defended island in the Eastern Islands group.
10Apr   27th Infantry Division (less 3/105) lands on Okinawa to reinforce XXIV Corps. 2d Marine Division returns to Saipan.
11Apr   Heavy Kamikaze attacks mounted against TF 58.
12Apr   President Roosevelt dies, is succeeded by Vice President Truman.
15-16Apr   TF 58 aircraft raid Kyushu.
16Apr   77th Infantry Division invades Ie Shima.
18Apr   Gen Buckner establishes his CP on Okinawa. 81st Infantry Division released as Area Reserve by CinCPOA.
19Apr   XXIV Corps begins major assault against outer ring of Shuri defenses.
20Apr   6th Marine Division troops capture Motobu Peninsula.
22Apr   Phase II of ICEBERG completed with end of all organized major resistance in northern Okinawa and Ie Shima. Phase I continues.

--813--

29Apr   German and Italian troops in northern Italy surrender to Allied troops.
30Apr   1st Marine Division begins relief of 27th Infantry Division on right (west) of Tenth Army line.
77th Infantry Division relieves the 96th Infantry Division in XXIV Corps zone.
3-4May   Attempted Thirty-second Army counterlanding on west coast of Okinawa blunted.
4May   27th Infantry Division relieves 6th Marine Division in northern Okinawa.
7May   IIIAC takes over the western zone of the Tenth Army front in southern Okinawa.
Nazi Germany surrenders unconditionally.
8May   First elements of the 6th Marine Div enter IIIAC lines.
11May   Tenth Army launches coordinated attack across entire front.
12May   Tori Shima occupied
13-14May   Task Force 58 strikes launched against Kyushu.
17May   Adm Hill relieves Adm Turner as control of all forces ashore passes to Gen Buckner, who assumes responsibility to ComFifthFlt for defense and development of captured positions.
20 May-4Jun   Bulk of Japanese Thirty-second Army withdraws under cover of rain from the Shuri bastion to new positions in Kiyamu Peninsula.
21 May   7th Infantry Division recommitted on the east coast to encircle Shuri.
24 May   Japanese airborne suicide group lands on Yontan airfield; all enemy destroyed.
24-25 May   6th Marine Division moves to outskirts of Naha. 7th Infantry Division advances on Yonabaru.
25 May   JCS direct the invasion of Japan, Operation OLYMPIC, with a target date of 1Nov45.
26 May   Enemy movement south of Shuri observed by spotter planes.
27 May   Third Fleet relieves Fifth Fleet. Gen Buckner now directly responsible to CinCPOA for operations of the Tenth Army.
30 May   5th Marines captures Shuri Castle.
2Jun   VAC reports by dispatch to Sixth Army for purposes of planning for OLYMPIC.
3-4Jun   RCT-8 secures Iheya Shima.
4Jun   6th Marine Division assaults Oroku Peninsula.
9Jun   RCT-8 secures Aguni Shima.
11-12Jun   Organized resistance ends on Oroku Peninsula.
14Jun   JCS order commanders in Pacific to prepare plans for immediate occupation of Japan.
18Jun   Gen Buckner killed in action; Gen Geiger assumes command of Tenth Army.
21Jun   Organized resistance ends on Okinawa.
22Jun   Official flag-raising ceremony at Tenth Army headquarters marking capture of Okinawa.
23Jun   Gen Stilwell assumes command of Tenth Army.
30Jun   Completion of the mop-up of southern Okinawa. General Rockey relieves Gen Geiger as commander of IIIAC. FMFPac Reconnaissance Battalion secures Kume Shima.

--814--

1Jul   Marine escort carriers support Allied landings on Balikpapan.
TF 51 dissolved by CinCPOA: Gen Stilwell assumes responsibility for defense and development of Okinawa Gunto.
3Jul   Gen Geiger relieves Gen Smith as commander of FMFPac.
5Jul   Philippines campaign declared ended.
10Jul   TF 58 aircraft mount strike against Tokyo.
15Jul   IIIAC detached from Tenth Army and placed under operational control of FMFPac.
16Jul   Atomic bomb successfully tested at Los Alamos [sic: Alamogordo], New Mexico.
26Jul   Allies issue Potsdam Declaration.
1Aug   Heaviest B-29 raid in war on Japan.
4Aug   27th Infantry Division reaches Hedo Misaki, ending three and a half-month mopping up action in northern Okinawa.
6Aug   Tinian-based B-29 drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
8Aug   ComThirdFlt Opln 10-45 for the occupation of Japan is distributed.
9Aug   Tinian-based B-29 drops atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
Russia invades Manchuria.
10Aug   Japan sues for peace.
14Aug   4th Marines (Reinforced), comprising the Yokosuka Landing Force, departs Guam for Japan.
15Aug   Hostilities against Japan officially suspended.
21Aug   CinCPac issues warning order to IIIAC for occupation of North China.
27Aug   Ships of the Third Fleet enter Sagami Wan.
28Aug   Task Force 31 enters Tokyo Bay.
First advance units of occupation force land at Atsugi Airfield.
30Aug   L-Day for the occupation of Yokosuka. Marines of 2/4 land on Futtsu Saki at 0558. General Clement accepts surrender of Yokosuka Naval Base.
Army airborne units land at Atsugi to occupy Yokohama area.
Gen MacArthur lands in Japan.
1Sep   VAC headquarters departs Hawaiian Islands for occupation of Kyushu.
2Sep   Japanese Empire formally surrenders to Allies in ceremonies on board USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
6Sep   Disbandment of Fleet Landing Force. Marine component returns to duty as ships' detachments.
7Sep   Gen Stilwell accepts the surrender of the Japanese Ryukyus garrisons signifying the beginning of American political hegemony in Okinawa.
19Sep   Led by Gen Worton, IIIAC advance party departs Guam for North China.
22Sep   5th Marine Division arrives and lands at Sasebo.
23Sep   First elements of 2d Marine Division (2d and 6th Marines) land at Nagasaki.
6th Marine Division (less 4th Marines) begins loading operations at Guam for deployment to China.
24Sep   Gen Krueger, commander of the Sixth Army, assumes command of all occupation forces ashore on Kyushu.
Gen Worton and his party arrive in Tientsin.

--815--

26Sep   IIIAC, less the 6th Division, departs Okinawa for China.
29Sep   VAC publishes the operation order for occupation of Fukuoka.
30Sep   IIIAC, including the 1st Marine Division and attached units, arrives at Taku Bar and begin unloading for occupation duties.
Leading elements of Fukuoka Occupation Force under command of Gen Robinson arrive in Fukuoka.
1Oct   1/7 lands at Chinwangtao.
6Oct   In Tientsin, Gen Rockey accepts the surrender of the 50,000 Japanese troops in the Tientsin, Tangku, and Chinwangtao areas.
First major armed clash between Marines and Chinese Communists in North China takes place on Tientsin-Peiping road.
1st Marine Aircraft Wing headquarters established at the French Arsenal near the airfield east of Tientsin.
11Oct   6th Marine Division begins landing at Tsingtao.
15Oct   IIIAC Corps Shore Brigade disbanded and its duties taken over by 7th Service Regiment, FMFPac.
22Oct   First group of Japanese repatriates leave Tientsin for home.
24Oct   Fukuoka Occupation Force dissolved when it is relieved by 32d Infantry Division.
25Oct   Gen Shepherd and LtGen Chen Pao-Tsang, CNA, acting for the Nationalist government, accept the formal surrender of the Japanese garrison in Tsingtao and on the Shantung Peninsula.
19Nov   Repatriation runs begin from Tsingtao.
20Nov   4th Marines detached from administrative control of 6th Division and placed directly under FMFPac.
MAG-22 redeployed from Japan to the United States.
24Nov   Control of former 5th Marine Division zone of responsibility in Japan passes to 2d Marine and 32d Infantry Divisions as the 5th prepares for redeployment home.
28Nov   4th Marine Division disbanded at Camp Pendleton.
5Dec   First ships carrying 5th Division troops leave Japan.
24Dec   Gen Shepherd relieved by Gen Howard as commander of the 6th Marine Division.
28Dec   3d Marine Division (less 1/3 in the Bonins and 2/21 on Truk) disbanded on Guam.
31Dec   VAC relieved of all occupation duties. Eighth Army assumes command of all occupation troops in Japan.
3d Marine Aircraft Wing disbanded at Ewa, T.H.
1946  
8Jan   VAC departs Sasebo for San Diego.
21 Jan   2d Marine Division relieves 32d Infantry Division of occupation duties on Kyushu.
5Feb   5th Marine Division disbanded at Camp Pendleton.
11Feb   2d Marine Division reduced to peacetime strength when third battalion of each infantry regiment and last lettered battery of each artillery battalion relieved of occupation duties and sent home for disbandment.
14Feb   IIIAC issues operation plan for the reduction of its forces to conform to new Marine Corps peacetime tables of organization.

--816--

15Feb   VAC disbanded at San Diego.
11Mar   IIIAC directs the formation of six liaison teams for assignment to Executive Headquarters to supervise the truce in China.
26 Mar   6th Marine Division disbanded at Tsingtao.
31 Mar   4th Marine Aircraft Wing disbanded at San Diego.
9th Marine Aircraft Wing disbanded at Cherry Point.
1Apr   3d Marine Brigade activated at Tsingtao.
15Apr   1st Marine Division completes redeployment in Hopeh.
17Apr   Gen Howard relinquishes command of 3d Brigade to Gen Clement.
10Jun   IIIAC Corps Headquarters and Corps Troops disbanded.
Gen Rockey becomes CG, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) and Marine Forces, China, the latter a task force designation for the division and 1st Wing.
3d Marine Brigade disbanded at Tsingtao. Most of its organic units now comprise 4th Marines (Reinforced) or Marine Forces, Tsingtao, with Gen Clement commanding.
15Jun   2d Marine Division relieved of occupation duties in Japan by 24th Infantry Div.
24Jun   2d Marine Division headquarters departs Sasebo for its new home at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
15Jul   With departure of last repatriation ship from Tangku, more than 540,000 Japanese have been repatriated from North China under Marine supervision.
29Jul   Chinese Communists ambush a Peiping-bound Marine supply convoy at Anping.
3Sep   4th Marines, less 3/4, embarks for Norfolk to become a component of the 2d Marine Division.
Marine Forces, Tsingtao, disbanded, and 3/4 (Reinforced) comes under operational control of Commander, Naval Facilities, Tsingtao.
18Sep   Gen Howard relieves Gen Rockey as commander of 1st Marine Division.
30Sep   Last relief of Marine rail guards by Nationalist troops takes place.
30Oct   Chinese Communists stage raid on 1st Marine Division ammunition supply point at Hsin Ho.
16Dec   Activation of FMFLant at Camp Lejeune, with the commander of the 2d Marine Division assigned additional duties as CG, FMFLant.
1947    
5Jan   7th Marines embarks and sails from Chinwangtao for the United States, reporting to FMFPac for operational and administrative control.
18Jan   11th Marines, in company with the 1st Tank Battalion (-), sails from Chinwangtao for Guam.
5Apr   Marine ammunition supply point at Hsin Ho struck again by Chinese Communists in even greater force.
1May   FMFWesPac activated at Tsingtao with Gen Pfeiffer in command. AirFMFWesPac activated the same date with Col Hart commanding.

--817--

12May   Marine activities in Hopeh reduced and center in Tientsin as last motor convoy carrying 5th Marines gear clears Peiping and the regiment sails from China for Guam.
20May   1st Marines depart Tientsin for Tsingtao.
20Jun   1st Marine Division headquarters and detached units depart China for San Diego, leaving behind the division rear echelon, which reports to FMFWesPac for operational control.
1Sep   1st Marine Division rear echelon departs China.
1949    
23 Jan   AirFMFWesPac ceases flight operations at Tsangkou Field, as last shore-based Marine planes fly out of China.
8Feb   Major portion of FMFWesPac departs Tsingtao for United States.
26 May   Last Marines leave China, as elements of Company C, 7th Marines, depart Tsingtao on board USS Manchester.

--818--

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