SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

8 April 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 9 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

Italy

15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army area, 473d Inf replaces 370th in coastal sector and continues attack up Highway 1 while 370th moves to Serchio Valley positions previously occupied by 473d Inf.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Luzon

In U.S. Sixth Army area, patrols of AT Co, RCT 158, reach Bulan, on W coast of Bicol Peninsula. In I Corps area, Gen Swift orders drive on Baguio hastened.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Okinawa

In U.S. Tenth Army’s III Amphib Corps area, battle for Motobu Peninsula begins as columns of 29th Marines, 6th Mar Div, move forward to fix enemy positions.

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

THOR mission records show at least 51 Allied sorties (13 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1945-04-08, 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 802 Allied sorties (196 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1945-04-08, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force, USAAF 15th Air Force, USAAF 8th 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 53 Allied sorties (11 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1945-04-08, 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.

8 April in other years 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944

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8 April 1945

Entries

15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army area, 473d Inf replaces 370th in coastal sector and continues attack up Highway 1 while 370th moves to Serchio Valley positions previously occupied by 473d Inf.

In U.S. Sixth Army area, patrols of AT Co, RCT 158, reach Bulan, on W coast of Bicol Peninsula. In I Corps area, Gen Swift orders drive on Baguio hastened.

In U.S. Tenth Army’s III Amphib Corps area, battle for Motobu Peninsula begins as columns of 29th Marines, 6th Mar Div, move forward to fix enemy positions.

THOR mission records show at least 51 Allied sorties (13 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1945-04-08, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force, USAAF 14th Air Force, USAAF 5th Air Force.

THOR mission records show at least 802 Allied sorties (196 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1945-04-08, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force, USAAF 15th Air Force, USAAF 8th Air Force.

THOR mission records show at least 53 Allied sorties (11 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1945-04-08, flown by RAF. Targets included UNKNOWN OR NOT INDICATED.

Talk about it