U.S. Navy Department (April 9, 1945)
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 327
About half of Motobu Peninsula was brought under U.S. control by Marines of the III Amphibious Corps on Okinawa on April 9 (East Longitude Date). A general advance of 3,000 to 4,000 yards was made during the day against opposition which continued to be scattered and ineffective. Advance elements of the III Corps on Ishikawa Isthmus were reported in the vicinity of Kushibaru Town.
The XXIV Army Corps made small local gains in the southern sector against enemy opposition which continued to be heavy. The volume of enemy small arms and machine-gun fire on the southern front increased during the day of April 9, and mortar and artillery fire continued to be heavy. Heavy gunfire from fleet units was concentrated on enemy installations in southern Okinawa during the day resulting in destruction of guns, emplacements, barracks, and small craft. Carrier aircraft from the Pacific Fleet and both Army and Marine artillery supported the attacking U.S. Army troops. During the evening of April 9, about 10 enemy aircraft attacked our forces in the area of Okinawa. Seven were destroyed.
Army Black Widow night-fighters attacked targets in the Bonins on the nights of April 8 and 9. Army Mustangs of the VII Fighter Command made daylight attacks on enemy installations in the Bonins on the same dates.
Ammunition dumps, storage dumps, buildings and other installations in the Palaus were destroyed on April 8 and 9 by Corsair fighters and Avenger torpedo planes of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.
A single search Privateer of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed installations on Wake Island on the night of April 8.
On the same date, Helldiver bombers of the 4th MarAirWing continued neutralizing attacks on enemy positions in the Marshalls.