Good Move, Air Force

THU 7 JUN 1945
Pacific
Phase IV of Operation STARVATION, an intensified blockade of northwestern Honshu and Kyushu, begins as 26 USAAF B-29s mine Shimonoseki Straits and the waters off Fukuoka, Japan.

TG 74.3 (Rear Admiral Russell S. Berkey), comprising three U.S. light cruisers, one Australian light cruiser, and seven destroyers, provides close cover and fire support for minesweepers and underwater demolition teams off Brunei Bay.

Carrier Randolph (CV-15) is damaged when accidentally crashed by stunting USAAF P-38 fighter, Leyte, P.I.

Off Okinawa, kamikazes damage escort carrier Natoma Bay (CVE-62), 24°46'N, 126°37'E, and destroyer Anthony (DD-515), 27°07'N, 127°38'E; operational casualties account for damage to medium landing ship LSM-270 landing craft flotilla flagship LC(FF)-988 and tank landing craft LCT-1054 tank landing ship LST-540 is damaged by grounding, 26°21'N, 127°45'E; destroyer Beale (DD-471) is damaged in collision with gasoline tanker Yahara (AOG-37) at Kerama Retto, 26°10'N, 127°20'E.

Submarine Shad (SS-235) sinks Japanese army transport Azusa Maru and tanker No.22 Nanshin Maru, 50 miles southwest of Yoso-do, Korea, 33°55'N, 126°50'E.

Submarine Tench (SS-417) sinks Japanese guardboat Hanshin Maru in Sea of Japan, 42°41'N, 143°53'E.

Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.43 Hino Maru is sunk by aircraft off Hiradojima, Miyanoura.

Mines sink Japanese auxiliary minelayer Hakun Maru near Hong Kong, merchant cargo ship No.2 Yubari Maru west of the mouth of Kammon Strait, and damage merchant cargo ship Taigen Maru outside Fushiki harbor.