News on this day was all about the War in Europe and its impending end. The country was still in mourning over the loss on April 12th of President Roosevelt, and the White House was getting ready to usher in the new President; Harry Truman.
But the War in Europe was grounds for cautious celebration. Unofficial word from Moscow was the Russian army's final push to Berlin, with over 2 million troops heading to within 27 miles of the Berlin City limits.
Among the bulletins and dispatches was news that the Allied Air Force had destroyed some 633 German planes in one day, effectively knocking out the Luftwaffe from any further involvement in the war. The Air Force also announced that there were virtually no industrial targets left in Germany and that the role of the Air Force would switch in the coming days. General Eisenhower was set to announce plans for VE Day and news that General Patton's Third Army had reached the Czech frontier, effectively cutting Germany in two. News the Allied 7th Army had entered the German city of Nuremberg and that the Allied Armies on all fronts were advancing to Berlin.
Meanwhile, in the Pacific - it was announced by the Air Force that Tokyo's Industrial capacity was believed to have been completely destroyed and there were unconfirmed reports that the fires in Tokyo could be seen 100 miles out to sea.
And that's the way this day went on April 16th, 1945 from NBC's News Of The World.
