80 Years Ago, Monday, 3 July 1944

USN

USA–Joseph Ellerwald joins SS John Barry as her new Master in New York.

PACIFIC–Submarine Albacore (SS-218) sinks Japanese steamer Taimei Maru, en route from Yap to Palau, 08°10'N, 136°18'E.

            Submarine Sturgeon (SS-187), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks Japanese army transport Tairin Maru north of the Nansei Shoto, 28°58'N, 129°51'E.

            Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) attacks Japanese convoy in the East China Sea, and sinks merchant passenger/cargo ship Kamo Maru and tanker Konzan Maru west of Kyushu, 32°25'N, 128°46'E.

ATLANTIC–Destroyer escorts Frost (DE-144) and Inch (DE-146) sink German submarine U-154 off Madeira, 34°00'N, 19°30'W.

 

AAF

EIGHTH AF–55 B-17’s in Italy on USSR shuttle mission join Fifteenth AF Heavy Bombers in bombing marshalling yards at Arad. 38 P-51’s of VIII FC, also on shuttle run, fly escort on the mission.

NINTH AF–Nearly 275 fighters strafe and bomb strongoints, gun positions, fuel dump, comm lines, bridges, and patrol beach in vicinity of Lessay and Periers, S of US First Army’s adv.

TWELFTH AF–B-26’s and A-20’s pound enemy fuel dumps while B-25’s hit bridges tunnels, and viaducts at Pietrasanta, Canneto sull’Oglio and Saviano, and fuel storage tanks in Pontelagoscuro area. Fighter Bombers blast motor transport and bridges in battle area as US Fifth Army begins drive on Leghorn. Vehicle park, ammo dump, and a barge are also hit.

FIFTEENTH AF–More than 600 B-24’s and B-17’s attack oil storage, oil refinery, and locomotive works at Bucharest, oil storage at Giurgiu, railroad targets at Turnu-Severin, bridge at Piatra, marshalling yards at Arad and Timisoara, bridge at Szeged, and oil storage at Belgrade. Fighters fly over 250 sorties in support of missions.

TENTH AF–20-plus Fighter Bombers support ground forces in Myitkyina area, which also is covered by 10-plane combat patrol.

FOURTEENTH AF–In Tungting Lake area 4 B-24’s bomb Yoyang railroad yards. B-25’s and P-40’s pound river shipping, bridges, gun sites, compounds, and villages at several locations, including Leiyang, Ssutang, Yungfengshih, and Tsungyang. B-25’s drop ammo to Chinese ground forces at Hengyang. P-40’s damage bridge at Phu Lang Thuong and hit nearby targets of opportunity.

FEAF–P-38’s and B-25’s hit personnel and supply areas S of Kamiri and support invading ground forces as they push E along N coast of Noemfoor I. Efman I, Manokwari, and Biak I are attacked by B-24’s, A-20’s, and fighters. Wewak coastal area continues under sustained air attack as Allied airplanes pound targets including forces at Brandi Plantation and supplies and a bridge near But. Heavy Bombers hit airstrips, AA positions, and targets of opportunity in Yap group, at Woleai, and at Peleliu. Larat and Saumlakki are also bombed.

SEVENTH AF–P-47’s continue to hit troops remaining on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. B-24’s, staging through Eniwetok, bomb Truk.

 

USA

FRANCE—Field Marshal Guenther von Kluge relieves Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt as German Commander in Chief West. 21 Army Group: U.S. First Army opens general offensive, to become known as the Battle of the Hedgerows, on W flank. VIII Corps, in driving rain that prevents air support and hampers movement, attacks southward down W coast of Cotentin Peninsula toward La Haye-du-Puits with 79th, 82d A/B, and 90th Divs, from W to E, abreast. Progress is limited by firm opposition in hedgerow country, but 82d A/B Div gains Hill 131, NE of La Hayedu- Puits. USSR—Minsk falls to Third and First White Russian Fronts.

ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, 34th Div begins drive on Leghorn, employing 135th Inf on left, 442d in center, and 168th on right, and meets strong resistance. 3d Bn, 135th Inf, pushes into S edge of Rosignano, beginning bitter battle for this enemy stronghold SE of Leghorn. In zone of CCA, 1st Armd Div, Cos K and L of attached 361st Inf take over attack on Casole d’Elsa but are unable to enter the town. In FEC area, Siena falls to 3d Algerian Div during morning. In Br Eighth Army’s 13 Corps area, 78th Div finds Cortona undefended and is passed through by 6th Armd Div.

CBI—Gen Stilwell, replying to Gen Marshall’s inquiry of 1st, expresses no eagerness for a field assignment in China and comments on situation in China. 11 Army Group: In 33 Corps sector of Br Fourteenth Army area, Ukhrul falls to troops of Ind 7th Div and 23d LRP Brig, but enemy remains near this important communications center.

NEW GUINEA—On Noemfoor, moving E along N coast, 2d and 3d Bns of 158th Inf extend beachhead perimeter some 1,800 yards toward Kornasoren airfield. 1st Bn of 158th Inf patrols S of Kamiri R, eliminating some stragglers. 1st Bn, 503d Para Inf, moving from Hollandia in C–47’s, drops on Kamiri airfield and takes responsibility for central sector of the airfield defenses. Casualties during the airdrop are extremely high, almost 10%, although enemy offers no opposition. On Biak, elements of Co E, 542d Engr Boat & Shore Regt, and Co E of 163d Inf push into East Caves with unexpected ease. Patrolling throughout the caves is continued during next few days. Japanese 18th Army issues plan for attack in force across Driniumor R on the mainland, beginning night 10–11. RCT 124, 31st Div, begins landing at Aitape, final elements going ashore on 6 July.

SAIPAN—VAC pushes quickly toward 0–7 line. On left flank, 2d Mar Div is being pinched out as 27th Div, making main effort, veers NW toward Tanapag Harbor. Attacking with 106th Inf on left, 1st Bn of 105th in center, and 3d Bn of 165th on right, 27th Div gains positions commanding Tanapag, although enemy strongpoint is delaying elements of 106th Inf near boundary of 2d Mar Div. 4th Mar Div encounters heavy fire from Hill 721 and nose jutting S from it, which holds up 3d Bn of 23d Marines on div right. Heavy fire is placed on this position, night 3–4.

VOLCANO-BONIN Is.—TF 58 makes destructive attacks on ground installations and shipping at Iwo Jima in Volcano Is. and Haha Jima and Chichi Jima in Bonin Is., employing naval gunfire as well as carrier aircraft.

 

USMC