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
8 Dec—Personnel of American Embassy Guard, Peiping, and of Marine Legation Guard, Tientsin, become first Marine POWs in World War II.
10 Dec—Guam surrenders to Japanese landing force.
23 Dec—Wake Island falls to enemy.
1942
6 Feb—U.S. and Great Britain establish Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS).
9 Mar—Java surrenders to Japanese, ending conquest of Netherlands East Indies.
30 Mar—Pacific Ocean divided into Pacific Ocean Areas under Adm Nimitz and Southwest Pacific Area under Gen MacArthur.
9 Apr—Bataan falls to the Japanese.
6 May—Corregidor and Manila Bay forts surrender.
1943
2–6 Dec—At Second SEXTANT Conference in Cairo, Allied leaders agree upon strategic concept for prosecution of Pacific War.
1944
1 Jan—LtGen Alexander A. Vandegrift becomes 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps.
2 Jan—U.S. Army troops land at Saidor, New Guinea.
31 Jan-7 Feb—U.S. forces assault and capture Kwajalein and Majuro
16–17 Feb—Task Force 58 strikes Truk, revealing weakness of that base.
17–22 Feb—U.S. forces assault and capture Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshalls.
20 Feb–28 Mar—U.S. forces assault and capture the main islands of the Admiralties.
6 Mar—1st Marine Division lands near Talasea on New Britain in the Bismarcks.
12 Mar—JCS issue directives to CinCPOA and CinCSWPA regarding future operations in their respective areas.
22 Apr—U.S. Army troops land at Aitape and Hollandia in northern New Guinea, beginning drive up the coast.
6 Jun—Allied forces invade the continent of Europe at Normandy. Joint War Plans Committee issues study establishing 1945 Pacific invasion schedule for planning purposes.
15 Jun-9 Jul—U.S. forces assault and capture Saipan in the Marianas.
19–20 Jun—Battle of the Philippine Sea. Japanese naval air arm suffers decisive defeat.
18 Jul—Premier Hideki Tojo resigns.
21 Jul-10 Aug—U.S. forces assault and capture Guam in the Marianas.
24 Jul-1 Aug—VAC troops assault and capture Tinian in the Marianas.
26–29 Jul—Adm Nimitz and Gen MacArthur meet with President Roosevelt at Pearl Harbor to determine future Pacific strategy.
11–16 Sep—At OCTAGON Conference in Quebec, CCS establish a new schedule of Pacific operations. Kyushu to be invaded in October and Honshu in December 1945.
15 Sep—U.S. Army troops assault and capture Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies.
15–30 Sep—U.S. forces assault and capture Peleliu and Angaur in the Palaus.
23 Sep—U.S. Army troops seize Ulithi Atoll in the Western Carolines.
3 Oct—JCS direct Adm Nimitz to invade Ryukyus (Operation ICEBERG) two months following Iwo Jima operation.
9 Oct—CinCPOA issues warning order for ICEBERG.
10 Oct—First U.S. carrier raid on Okinawa.
14 Oct—VAC directed to prepare plans for Iwo Jima operation.
20 Oct—U.S. Army troops land on Leyte in the Philippines.
21 Oct—Marine Carrier Groups, AirFMFPac, activated at MCAS, Santa Barbara, California.
23–25 Oct—Battle of Leyte Gulf. U.S. naval forces eliminate Japanese surface fleet as a major threat.
25 Oct—CinCPOA issues Joint Staff Study outlining plans for Okinawa operation.
28 Oct—CNO directs the formation of the Marine Air Support Division.
24 Nov—Saipan-based B-29s bomb Tokyo in the first attack on the Japanese capital by land-based planes.
25 Nov—CinCPOA issues operation plan for invasion of Iwo Jima; tentative date is set for 3 Feb 45.
15 Dec—U.S. Army troops invade Mindoro in the Philippines.
25 Dec—Leyte declared secure.
1945
2 Jan—U.S. Army landings on east and west coasts of Mindoro.
3 Jan—ComFifthFlt issues Opln 1–45 for Okinawa operation.
6 Jan—Tenth Army Tentative Opln 1–45 for ICEBERG issued.
9 Jan—Sixth Army lands in Lingayen Gulf area of Luzon.
15–16 Jan—TF 38 carrier aircraft raid Formosa, Hong Kong, Hainan, and Swatow.
24 Jan—Combined air-sea bombardment of Iwo Jima.
25 Jan—First support mission flown by Marine dive bombers in the Philippines.
29 Jan—U.S. Army forces land on Luzon at Subic Bay.
16 Feb—Final operation plan for Okinawa issued by Tenth Army.
16–17 Feb—TF 38 aircraft raid Tokyo area.
17 Feb—Joint Expeditionary Force for Okinawa assembles and begins rehearsals.
19 Feb-16 Mar—VAC assaults and captures Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands.
1 Mar—B-29s and carrier-based planes begin preliminary air bombardments of Okinawa.
10 Mar—U.S. Army troops land on Mindanao.
11 Mar—Gen Buckner places Tenth Army Opln 1–45 into effect by dispatch.
18–19 Mar—TF 58 strikes Kyushu, Kure, and Inland Sea areas.
19 Mar—USS Block Island, first Marine escort carrier commissioned, departs San Diego for war duty in the Pacific with MCVG-1 embarked.
21 Mar—Western Islands Attack Group carrying assault troops of 77th Infantry Division sorties from Leyte Gulf for the opening phase of ICEBERG.
23 Mar—Carrier strikes, intensive surface bombardment, underwater demolition, and minesweeping operations begin preinvasion preparations against Okinawa.
24 Mar—Preassault staging of ICEBERG force begins.
26–31 Mar—77th Infantry Division assaults and captures Kerema Retto and Keise Shima.
26 Mar—TF 57 begins first of 10 attacks between this date and 20 Apr against Sakashima Gunto.
27 Mar—Transport and covering forces of the Joint Expeditionary Force sortie from Leyte Gulf and Ulithi for ICEBERG. Demonstration Group, carrying troops of 2nd Marine Division, leaves Saipan.
1 Apr—Tenth Army, comprised of IIIAC and XXIV Corps makes unopposed landing on Okinawa; Yontan and Kadena airfields secured.
2 Apr—Forward elements of the 7th Infantry Division reach the eastern coast of Okinawa, severing the island.
3 Apr—1st Marine Division troops reach the east coast.
5 Apr—Reconnaissance of the Eastern Islands begins.
6 Apr—XXIV Corps divisions first encounter strong enemy resistance on the southern front.
6–7 Apr—First of ten major Kamikaze attacks mounted on Allied shipping in waters off Okinawa.
7 Apr—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.
8 Apr—Gen Mulcahy, commanding TAF, assumes control of aircraft ashore.
9–10 Apr—3/105 of the 27th Infantry Division assaults and captures Tsugen Shima, the only defended island in the Eastern Islands group.
10 Apr—27th Infantry Division (less 3/105) lands on Okinawa to reinforce XXIV Corps. 2nd Marine Division returns to Saipan.
11 Apr—Heavy Kamikaze attacks mounted against TF 58.
12 Apr—President Roosevelt dies, is succeeded by Vice President Truman.
15–16 Apr—TF 58 aircraft raid Kyushu.
16 Apr—77th Infantry Division invades Ie Shima.
18 Apr—Gen Buckner establishes his CP on Okinawa. 81st Infantry Division released as Area Reserve by CinCPOA.
19 Apr—XXIV Corps begins major assault against outer ring of Shuri defenses.
20 Apr—6th Marine Division troops capture Motobu Peninsula.
22 Apr—Phase II of ICEBERG completed with end of all organized major resistance in northern Okinawa and Ie Shima. Phase I continues.
29 Apr—German and Italian troops in northern Italy surrender to Allied troops.
30 Apr—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.
3–4 May—Attempted Thirty-second Army counterlanding on west coast of Okinawa blunted.
4 May—27th Infantry Division relieves 6th Marine Division in northern Okinawa.
7 May—IIIAC takes over the western zone of the Tenth Army front in southern Okinawa. Nazi Germany surrenders unconditionally.
8 May—First elements of the 6th Marine Div enter IIIAC lines.
11 May—Tenth Army launches coordinated attack across entire front.
12 May—Tori Shima occupied
13–14 May—Task Force 58 strikes launched against Kyushu.
17 May—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-4 Jun—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 1 Nov 45.
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.
2 Jun—VAC reports by dispatch to Sixth Army for purposes of planning for OLYMPIC.
3–4 Jun—RCT-8 secures Iheya Shima.
4 Jun—6th Marine Division assaults Oroku Peninsula.
9 Jun—RCT-8 secures Aguni Shima.
11–12 Jun—Organized resistance ends on Oroku Peninsula.
14 Jun—JCS order commanders in Pacific to prepare plans for immediate occupation of Japan.
18 Jun—Gen Buckner killed in action; Gen Geiger assumes command of Tenth Army.
21 Jun—Organized resistance ends on Okinawa.
22 Jun—Official flag-raising ceremony at Tenth Army headquarters marking capture of Okinawa.
23 Jun—Gen Stilwell assumes command of Tenth Army.
30 Jun—Completion of the mop-up of southern Okinawa. General Rockey relieves Gen Geiger as commander of IIIAC. FMFPac Reconnaissance Battalion secures Kume Shima.
1 Jul—Marine escort carriers support Allied landings on Balikpapan. TF 51 dissolved by CinCPOA: Gen Stilwell assumes responsibility for defense and development of Okinawa Gunto.
3 Jul—Gen Geiger relieves Gen Smith as commander of FMFPac.
5 Jul—Philippines campaign declared ended.
10 Jul—TF 58 aircraft mount strike against Tokyo.
15 Jul—IIIAC detached from Tenth Army and placed under operational control of FMFPac.
16 Jul—Atomic bomb successfully tested at Los Alamos [sic: Alamogordo], New Mexico.
26 Jul—Allies issue Potsdam Declaration.
1 Aug—Heaviest B-29 raid in war on Japan.
4 Aug—27th Infantry Division reaches Hedo Misaki, ending three and a half-month mopping up action in northern Okinawa.
6 Aug—Tinian-based B-29 drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
8 Aug—ComThirdFlt Opln 10–45 for the occupation of Japan is distributed.
9 Aug—Tinian-based B-29 drops atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Russia invades Manchuria.
10 Aug—Japan sues for peace.
14 Aug—4th Marines (Reinforced), comprising the Yokosuka Landing Force, departs Guam for Japan.
15 Aug—Hostilities against Japan officially suspended.
21 Aug—CinCPac issues warning order to IIIAC for occupation of North China.
27 Aug—Ships of the Third Fleet enter Sagami Wan.
28 Aug—Task Force 31 enters Tokyo Bay. First advance units of occupation force land at Atsugi Airfield.
30 Aug—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.
1 Sep—VAC headquarters departs Hawaiian Islands for occupation of Kyushu.
2 Sep—Japanese Empire formally surrenders to Allies in ceremonies on board USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
6 Sep—Disbandment of Fleet Landing Force. Marine component returns to duty as ships’ detachments.
7 Sep—Gen Stilwell accepts the surrender of the Japanese Ryukyus garrisons signifying the beginning of American political hegemony in Okinawa.
19 Sep—Led by Gen Worton, IIIAC advance party departs Guam for North China.
22 Sep—5th Marine Division arrives and lands at Sasebo.
23 Sep—First elements of 2nd Marine Division (2nd and 6th Marines) land at Nagasaki. 6th Marine Division (less 4th Marines) begins loading operations at Guam for deployment to China.
24 Sep—Gen Krueger, commander of the Sixth Army, assumes command of all occupation forces ashore on Kyushu. Gen Worton and his party arrive in Tientsin.
26 Sep—IIIAC, less the 6th Division, departs Okinawa for China.
29 Sep—VAC publishes the operation order for occupation of Fukuoka.
30 Sep—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.
1 Oct—1/7 lands at Chinwangtao.
6 Oct—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.
11 Oct—6th Marine Division begins landing at Tsingtao.
15 Oct—IIIAC Corps Shore Brigade disbanded and its duties taken over by 7th Service Regiment, FMFPac.
22 Oct—First group of Japanese repatriates leave Tientsin for home.
24 Oct—Fukuoka Occupation Force dissolved when it is relieved by 32nd Infantry Division.
25 Oct—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.
19 Nov—Repatriation runs begin from Tsingtao.
20 Nov—4th Marines detached from administrative control of 6th Division and placed directly under FMFPac. MAG-22 redeployed from Japan to the United States.
24 Nov—Control of former 5th Marine Division zone of responsibility in Japan passes to 2nd Marine and 32nd Infantry Divisions as the 5th prepares for redeployment home.
28 Nov—4th Marine Division disbanded at Camp Pendleton.
5 Dec—First ships carrying 5th Division troops leave Japan.
24 Dec—Gen Shepherd relieved by Gen Howard as commander of the 6th Marine Division.
28 Dec—3rd Marine Division (less 1/3 in the Bonins and 2/21 on Truk) disbanded on Guam.
31 Dec—VAC relieved of all occupation duties. Eighth Army assumes command of all occupation troops in Japan. 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing disbanded at Ewa, T.H.
1946
8 Jan—VAC departs Sasebo for San Diego.
21 Jan—2nd Marine Division relieves 32nd Infantry Division of occupation duties on Kyushu.
5 Feb—5th Marine Division disbanded at Camp Pendleton.
11 Feb—2nd 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.
14 Feb—IIIAC issues operation plan for the reduction of its forces to conform to new Marine Corps peacetime tables of organization.
15 Feb—VAC disbanded at San Diego.
11 Mar—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.
1 Apr—3rd Marine Brigade activated at Tsingtao.
15 Apr—1st Marine Division completes redeployment in Hopeh.
17 Apr—Gen Howard relinquishes command of 3rd Brigade to Gen Clement.
10 Jun—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. 3rd Marine Brigade disbanded at Tsingtao. Most of its organic units now comprise 4th Marines (Reinforced) or Marine Forces, Tsingtao, with Gen Clement commanding.
15 Jun—2nd Marine Division relieved of occupation duties in Japan by 24th Infantry Div.
24 Jun—2nd Marine Division headquarters departs Sasebo for its new home at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
15 Jul—With departure of last repatriation ship from Tangku, more than 540,000 Japanese have been repatriated from North China under Marine supervision.
29 Jul—Chinese Communists ambush a Peiping-bound Marine supply convoy at Anping.
3 Sep—4th Marines, less 3/4, embarks for Norfolk to become a component of the 2nd Marine Division. Marine Forces, Tsingtao, disbanded, and 3/4 (Reinforced) comes under operational control of Commander, Naval Facilities, Tsingtao.
18 Sep—Gen Howard relieves Gen Rockey as commander of 1st Marine Division.
30 Sep—Last relief of Marine rail guards by Nationalist troops takes place.
30 Oct—Chinese Communists stage raid on 1st Marine Division ammunition supply point at Hsin Ho.
16 Dec—Activation of FMFLant at Camp Lejeune, with the commander of the 2nd Marine Division assigned additional duties as CG, FMFLant.
1947
5 Jan—7th Marines embarks and sails from Chinwangtao for the United States, reporting to FMFPac for operational and administrative control.
18 Jan—11th Marines, in company with the 1st Tank Battalion (-), sails from Chinwangtao for Guam.
5 Apr—Marine ammunition supply point at Hsin Ho struck again by Chinese Communists in even greater force.
1 May—FMFWesPac activated at Tsingtao with Gen Pfeiffer in command. AirFMFWesPac activated the same date with Col Hart commanding.
12 May—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.
20 May—1st Marines depart Tientsin for Tsingtao.
20 Jun—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.
1 Sep—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.
8 Feb—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.