SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

23 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.

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

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Entries

Luzon

In U.S. Sixth Army area, Fifth Air Force begins series of attacks on Legaspi area in preparation for amphibious assault there.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
S Philippines

In U.S. Eighth Army area, Co G of 185th Inf returns to Panay from Inampulugan I. On Leyte, RCT 108 of 40th Div completes relief of 164th Inf, Americal Div.

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

21 Army Group: Begins Operation PLUNDER (assault across the Rhine N of the Ruhr) at 2100 after strong air and arty preparation. While Cdn First Army holds Allied left flank from Emmerich W to North Sea, Second Army begins assault crossings.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 116 Allied sorties (27 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1945-03-23, 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 517 Allied sorties (81 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1945-03-23, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, USAAF 13th Air Force, USAAF 7th Air Force, RNZAF, USAAF 20th 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 144 Allied sorties (46 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1945-03-23, flown by RAF, USAAF 12th Air Force. 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.

23 March in other years 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944

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23 March 1945

Entries

In U.S. Sixth Army area, Fifth Air Force begins series of attacks on Legaspi area in preparation for amphibious assault there.

In U.S. Eighth Army area, Co G of 185th Inf returns to Panay from Inampulugan I. On Leyte, RCT 108 of 40th Div completes relief of 164th Inf, Americal Div.

21 Army Group: Begins Operation PLUNDER (assault across the Rhine N of the Ruhr) at 2100 after strong air and arty preparation. While Cdn First Army holds Allied left flank from Emmerich W to North Sea, Second Army begins assault crossings.

THOR mission records show at least 116 Allied sorties (27 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1945-03-23, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force, USAAF 14th Air Force, USAAF 5th Air Force.

THOR mission records show at least 517 Allied sorties (81 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1945-03-23, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, USAAF 13th Air Force, USAAF 7th Air Force, RNZAF, USAAF 20th Air Force.

THOR mission records show at least 144 Allied sorties (46 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1945-03-23, flown by RAF, USAAF 12th Air Force. Targets included UNKNOWN OR NOT INDICATED.

Talk about it