CINCPOA COMMUNIQUE NUMBER 345

TROOPS OF THE 24TH ARMY CORPS IN SOUTHERN SECTOR OF OKINAWA
MADE GENERAL ADVANCES DURING THE AFTERNOON OF APRIL 26TH.
BY SIX PM ON THAT DAY ELEMENS OF THE 27TH INFANTRY DIVISION
HAD REACHED VICINITY OF MACHINATO AIR FIELD NEAR THE WEST COAST
AFTER BY-PASSING ENEMY STRONG POINTS IN NAKAMA VILLAGE. IN THE
CENTRAL AND EASTERN SEGMENTS OF LINES LOCAL GAINS WERE MADE
AGAINST ENEMY MORTAR AND MACHINE GUN FIRE. GROUND TROOPS WERE
SUPPORTED BY NAVAL GUNFIRE, CARRIER AIRCRAFT AND PLANES OF THE
2ND MARINE AIRCRAFT WING. THE ATTACK WAS RESUMED ON THE MORNING
OF APRIL 27TH. MARINES OF THE 3RD AMPHIBIOUS CORPS CONTINUED TO
PATROL NORTHERN OKINAWA ON APRIL 26TH AND 27TH. FEW ENEMY AIR-
CRAFT APPEARED OVER OUR FORCES DURING EARLY MORNING OF APRIL 27TH
THREE WERE SHOT DOWN BY ON OF OUR MINESWEEPERS.
A ROCKET BOMB GUIDED BY A PILOT WITH A ONE-WAY TICKET IS JAPANS
NEWEST WEAPON HURLED INTO THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA IN A THEIR LATEST
ATTEMPT TO STOP THE AMERICAN MARCH WAS REPORTED BY ADM. NIMITZ
FRIDAY. BUT THE NIPPONESE SACRIFICE OF MEN AND MATERIAL IN THE
NEW WEAPON WHICH THE PROMPTLY CALLED "BAKA BOMBS" FROM THE JAP
WORD MEANING FOOL HAS NOT EFFECTED THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA. DOUGH-
BOYS OF THE 9TH DIVISION STORMED AND CAPTURED A COMMANDING 400
FOOT HILL IN THE CENTER OF THE ENEMIES SECONDARY DEFENSE LINE ON
SOUTHER OKINAWA.