| On the Eastern Front... In East Prussia, the Soviet 3rd Belorussian Front begins its final attacks on Konigsberg after several days of preparatory bombardment and air attacks. To the south, forces of the 3rd Ukrainian Front
enter the suburbs of Vienna. Yugoslavian forces capture Sarajevo.
On the Western Front... American forces enter Hamm.
In the Ryukyu Islands... On Okinawa, the US 3rd Amphibious Corps continues to advance in the north, but the US 24th Corps is held by Japanese forces along the first defenses of the Shuri Line. There are numerous Kamikaze attacks on shipping during the
day, as part of Operation Kikusui. The aircraft carriers USS
Jacinto and HMS Illustrious are hit as well as 25 other ships including 10 small warships.
In Japan... The Japanese battleship Yamato sails from the Inland Sea with a cruiser and 8 destroyers on a Kamikaze mission to Okinawa. The battleship only has enough fuel to reach the island and it is intended to beach the
Yamato off Okinawa and fight any American forces nearby. US submarines sight the
Yamato several times and report its position during the day. |
