SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

21 February 1945

What happened on this day in the Second World War, from 1939 to 1945, with a source for every entry.

About this page

Each day we list events from the Second World War that happened on that date, from 1939 to 1945. Every entry names its source and links to it, so you can read further. Entries are sourced and machine-screened before they go up, a subset is human-reviewed, and we add more over time.

7 of 10 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

Burma

In Br Fourteenth Army’s 4 Corps area, elements of Ind 17th Div open drive toward Meiktila from Nyaungu bridgehead.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Italy

15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, 10th Mtn Div continues to- ward crest of M. Torraccia against strong opposition.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Western Europe

21 Army Group: In Cdn First Army’s Br 30 Corps area, 51st Div overcomes final resistance in Goch. 12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s III Corps area, RCT 39 reverts to 9th Div from attachment to 2d Div.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
During the Battle of Iwo Jima, Japanese kamikaze planes sink the escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea and damage the USS Saratoga.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 164 Allied sorties (39 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1945-02-21, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force, USAAF 14th Air Force, USAAF 5th Air Force.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Mediterranean Theater

THOR mission records show at least 220 Allied sorties (30 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1945-02-21, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force, USAAF 15th Air Force.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Theater not recorded

THOR mission records show at least 70 Allied sorties (3 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1945-02-21, flown by RAF. Targets included UNKNOWN OR NOT INDICATED.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.

The full list for this date is being cleaned and will return soon.

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21 February in other years 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944

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21 February 1945

Entries

In Br Fourteenth Army’s 4 Corps area, elements of Ind 17th Div open drive toward Meiktila from Nyaungu bridgehead.

15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, 10th Mtn Div continues to- ward crest of M. Torraccia against strong opposition.

21 Army Group: In Cdn First Army’s Br 30 Corps area, 51st Div overcomes final resistance in Goch. 12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s III Corps area, RCT 39 reverts to 9th Div from attachment to 2d Div.

During the Battle of Iwo Jima, Japanese kamikaze planes sink the escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea and damage the USS Saratoga.

THOR mission records show at least 164 Allied sorties (39 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1945-02-21, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force, USAAF 14th Air Force, USAAF 5th Air Force.

THOR mission records show at least 220 Allied sorties (30 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1945-02-21, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force, USAAF 15th Air Force.

THOR mission records show at least 70 Allied sorties (3 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1945-02-21, flown by RAF. Targets included UNKNOWN OR NOT INDICATED.

Talk about it