Death From Above

THU 21 SEP 1944
Pacific
TF 38 (Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) begins strikes on Japanese shipping in Manila and Subic Bays, Clark and Nichols Fields near Manila, and the Cavite Navy Yard. At Manila, planes from TG 38.1, TG 38.2, and TG 38.3 sink destroyer Satsuki, fleet tanker Kyokuto Maru, oilers Sunosaki and Okikawa Maru, tanker No.2 Horai Maru, army cargo ships Norway Maru, Yozan Maru, China Maru and Tsukubusan Maru, merchant tanker Niyo Maru, cargo ships Hioki Maru, Risshun Maru, and Rozan Maru, 14°35'N, 120°55'E; army cargo ships Nansei Maru and Yamabuki Maru, 14°45'N, 120°12'E; army cargo ships Toyofuko Maru, Wakashiro Maru, Eikyu Maru, and Fukuei Maru, cargo ships Amahi Maru, Soerabaja Maru and Yamakaze Maru. Navy carrier-based aircraft also sink Coast Defense Vessel No.5, passenger-cargo ship Hofuku Maru, tanker No.1 Ogura Maru, army cargo ships Surakaruta Maru and Yuki Maru, merchant tanker Shichiyo Maru and cargo vessel Nansei Maru north of Masinloc, 15°25'N, 119°50'E; destroyer Hibiki is damaged by strafing and by collision while attempting to save No.1 Ogura Maru. Planes also damage army cargo vessels Yuki Maru, Tsukubasan Maru, and tankers Horai Maru and No.1 Ogura Maru.

Japanese army cargo ships Nansei Maru, 15°06'N, 119°05'E, and Soerakarta Maru, 15°23'N, 119°50'E, are sunk by aircraft.

Submarine Haddo (SS-255), while lifeguarding for TF 38, sinks Japanese surveying ship Katsuriki 80 miles southwest of Manila, 13°35'N, 119°06'E.

Off north coast of Luzon, Picuda (SS-382) sinks Japanese transport Awaji Maru, 18°43'N, 120°53'E; and Redfish (SS-395) sinks transport Mizuho Maru, 18°37'N, 120°43'E.

Submarine Searaven (SS-196) sinks Kurils-bound Japanesearmy transport Rizan Maru, 49°13'N, 145°30'E.

Submarine Shad (SS-235) sinks Japanese auxiliary minesweeper No.2 Fumi Maru east of Shinto, 34°45'N, 139°40'E.

TU 33.13.1 (Captain Robley W. Clark), consisting initially of light minelayers Montgomery (DM-17) (flagship) and Preble (DM-20), four minesweepers and seven motor minesweepers (YMS), begins minesweeping operations in Ulithi lagoon. These operations will continue daily until 13 October, after which operations will be conducted on the 17th, 27th and 28th.