U.S. Navy Department (April 28, 1945)
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 346
Troops of the XXIV Army Corps moved slowly forward in the Southern sector of Okinawa on April 27 (East Longitude Date) destroying pillboxes, caves and strong points. Heavy artillery was employed to break up troop concentrations in the enemy’s rear areas and planes of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing joined with carrier aircraft of the Pacific Fleet to give close support to the troops. Naval gunfire continued to be effective in destroying enemy fortified positions.
During the night of April 27‑28, two groups of enemy aircraft attacked U.S. shipping off Okinawa beaches causing some damage and sinking one auxiliary surface unit. Twenty-five enemy aircraft were shot down and two were probably destroyed. Enemy small craft activity increased during the night and a number of small boats were destroyed by our forces.
On April 28, combat air patrols from fast carriers shot down 32 enemy planes in the areas around Okinawa, Kikai and Yaku Islands in the Ryukyus.
Search aircraft of Fleet Air Wing One sank three small cargo ships, forced another to beach and damaged several other small ships in the area around Kyushu on April 28.
Aircraft from escort carriers of the Pacific Fleet continued to bomb and strafe airfields on islands of the Sakishimas on April 27.
Liberators of the 7th Army Air Force bombed installations at Truk in the central Carolines on April 26. A search Privateer of FlAirWing One sank a small ship and several fishing boats in Truk Harbor on April 28.