SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

9 March 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.

8 of 12 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

Join us on Discord (opens external site)

Entries

Iwo Jima

VAC continues efforts to clear rest of Iwo Jima- 3d Mar Div breaks through to coast in corps center, splitting enemy forces remaining on the island; continues reduction of bypassed pockets in div rear.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Japan

XXI BC begins powerful fire raids on Japanese cities, night 9-10. This marks a radical change in previous tactics of precision bombardment attacks against industrial targets.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Luzon

In U.S. Sixth Army’s XIV Corps area, 6th Div and 1st Cav Div continue eastward attacks. 12th Cav of latter reaches slopes of Hill Bench Mark 9. Elements of 187th Inf, 11th A/B Div, begin assault on Hill 660 but are unable to take it.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Allied forces carry out firebombing over Tokyo, destroying most of the capital and killing over 100,000 civilians.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
A coup d'état by Japanese forces in French Indochina removes the French from power.

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

THOR mission records show at least 147 Allied sorties (21 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1945-03-09, 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.
Pacific Theater

THOR mission records show at least 712 Allied sorties (98 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1945-03-09, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, USAAF 20th Air Force, USAAF 7th Air Force, USAAF 13th 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 66 Allied sorties (26 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1945-03-09, 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.

Sources listed with each entry. Spotted an error? Tell us.

9 March in other years 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944

Talk about it

Discuss each day's entries and suggest sources in the Zero Hour community.

Join us on Discord

9 March 1945

Entries

VAC continues efforts to clear rest of Iwo Jima- 3d Mar Div breaks through to coast in corps center, splitting enemy forces remaining on the island; continues reduction of bypassed pockets in div rear.

XXI BC begins powerful fire raids on Japanese cities, night 9-10. This marks a radical change in previous tactics of precision bombardment attacks against industrial targets.

In U.S. Sixth Army’s XIV Corps area, 6th Div and 1st Cav Div continue eastward attacks. 12th Cav of latter reaches slopes of Hill Bench Mark 9. Elements of 187th Inf, 11th A/B Div, begin assault on Hill 660 but are unable to take it.

Allied forces carry out firebombing over Tokyo, destroying most of the capital and killing over 100,000 civilians.

A coup d'état by Japanese forces in French Indochina removes the French from power.

THOR mission records show at least 147 Allied sorties (21 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1945-03-09, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force, USAAF 14th Air Force, USAAF 5th Air Force.

THOR mission records show at least 712 Allied sorties (98 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1945-03-09, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, USAAF 20th Air Force, USAAF 7th Air Force, USAAF 13th Air Force.

THOR mission records show at least 66 Allied sorties (26 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1945-03-09, flown by RAF. Targets included UNKNOWN OR NOT INDICATED.

Talk about it