31 May 1945
  • USS Cassin Young arrived at Okinawa, Japan. ww2dbase [Cassin Young | CPC]
  • USS Segundo sank a four-masted sail ship with two torpedoes. ww2dbase [Segundo | CPC]
  • 12 M26 Pershing heavy tanks departed the United States board a cargo ship for Okinawa, Japan. They would arrive too late to see combat. ww2dbase [M26 Pershing/M46 | CPC]
China
  • Chiang Kaishek stepped down as the head of the Executive Yuan. ww2dbase [Chiang Kaishek | CPC]
Germany
  • Soviet SMERSH captured German intelligence officer Erwin Stolze in Berlin, Germany in civilian clothing. ww2dbase [Berlin | CPC]
Guam
  • USS New Mexico arrived at Guam. ww2dbase [New Mexico | CPC]
Philippines Taiwan
  • 117 B-24 bombers of US 15th Air Force attacked Taihoku (now Taipei), Taiwan between 1000 and 1300 hours nearly without stop, dropping about 3,800 bombs. US air crews reported minimal Japanese fighter defense. Taihoku General Government Building suffered a direct hit, rendering it unusable until after the war. The anti-aircraft position in present day Sanzhong District of New Taipei City, Taihoku General Government building, residence of the Assistant Governor-General, Taihoku Raiway Hotel, Army Headquarters building, Taihoku Imperial University, Taihoku Train Station, Bank of Taiwan, Taihoku High Court, Taihoku Park, Taihoku First Girls' High School, Longshan Temple (main building and left corridor were damaged, destroying many precious artifacts), Penglai Catholic Church (used by civilians as an air raid shelter; it was completely destroyed), Huashan Catholic Church, and many other military, government, and civilian structures were damaged or destroyed. About 3,000 were killed, tens of thousands were made homeless. This was the largest US raid on the city during WW2. ww2dbase [Taihoku General Government Building | Taihoku | CPC]
United States Photo(s) dated 31 May 1945
Lieutenant General Guy Simonds inspecting II Canadian Corps in Meppen, Germany, 31 May 1945American analysis of bombing damage upon Yokohama, Japan, 31 May 1945Japanese anti-aircraft position in Taihoku (now Sanzhong District, New Taipei City), Taiwan under B-24 attack, 31 May 1945Taihoku General Government Building (near bottom of photograph) under aerial attack, Taihoku (now Taipei), Taiwan, 31 May 1945
See all photos dated 31 May 1945

31 May 1945 Interactive Map

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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