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November 16, 1944

We were awakened this morning by the sound of gunfire a few kilometers from us. We ate our breakfast at 8:00 a.m. consisting of rice cereal and pancakes made from rice flour.

At about 10:00 a.m. we heard planes overhead, and I knew by the sound that they were Japanese. There were 10 of them and they flew towards the direction where the gunfire was coming from. We watched as they began to dive, then we heard bombing. A few minutes later three planes flying very high came out of the western sky and flew towards the Japanese planes and chased them. Soon we did not see anymore Japanese planes, and heard the drone of American planes. There were 13 of them and they flew in the direction of the fighting.

In the afternoon, only Japanese planes (three) flew over us.

Later on today, two Japanese soldiers came to the house and asked for coffee – some like it better than tea.