USN
PACIFIC—Submarine Archerfish (SS-311)
sinks Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.24, 30 miles southwest of Iwo
Jima, 24°25'N,141°20'E, as the enemy warship covers unloading operations by
what are most likely landing ships.
Submarine Pargo (SS-264)
attacks Japanese convoy in Moro Gulf, army cargo ship Yamagiku Maru and
damages Coast Defense Vessel No.10 about 35 miles east of Zamboanga,
06°50'N, 121°30'E.
Submarine Sealion (SS-315),
despite presence of escorts, sinks Japanese collier Sansei Maru in
Tsushima Strait,33°53'N, 129°01'E.
USAAF B-24s (14th Air
Force) attack Japanese convoy MATA 23 southwest of the Pescadores, sinking
transport Ussuri Maru off Formosa, 23°49'N, 119°02'E.
EUROPE—U.S. freighter Charles W. Eliot fouls
two mines about four miles off Juno Beach, Normandy, and breaks in two; there
are no fatalities among the crew (which includes a 31-man Armed Guard).
Survivors are transferred to freighter George W. Woodward and later tank
landing craft LCT-527 for transportation to England. Charles W. Eliot
is subsequently written off as a total loss.
AAF
EIGHTH AF—672
B-17’s and B-24’s bomb airfields at Laon/Couvron, Laon/ Athies, and
Juvincourt-et-Damary; rail bridges at Fismes and Anizy-leChateau; fuel storage
dump at Dugny; marshalling yards at Saarbrucken; and targets of opportunity, including
airfields at Denain/Prouvy, Le Bourget, and Florennes, and railroad chokepoint
near Tergnier. Nearly 300 Heavy Bombers abort because of heavy cloud and dense
contrails at operational level. 566 fighters support the Heavy Bombers,
destroying 2 fighters in aerial combat and suffering no losses. Heavy Bomber
losses total 2. About one-third of the escorting fighters afterward bomb and
strafe transport targets, claiming 3 locomotives and an armored vehicle
destroyed.
NINTH AF—220-plus
fighters, based on Continent, attack railroad facilities, bridges, fuel and
ammo dumps, artillery, troop concentrations, vehicles, and other targets. Bad
weather cancels bomber and fighter operations from UK.
TWELFTH AF—Bad
weather cancels all Light Bomber and Medium Bomber operations. Fighter Bombers
carry out rail-cutting missions N of battleline in NC Italy.
FIFTEENTH
AF—229 B-24’s bomb marshalling yard and 2 oil refineries at Bucharest; 138
others hit Karlovo airfield. 40 fighters carry out sweep over Bucharest area
while other fighters fly more than 230 sorties in escort of Heavy Bombers.
20-plus enemy fighters are claimed shot down, mostly by the fighters during
sweep over Bucharest.
TENTH AF—8
B-24’s fly fuel to Kamaing. Ammo delivery to Imphal is continued by 47 B-25’s.
14 other B-25’s pound Naba-Mawlin railroad.
FOURTEENTH
AF—In Yangtze R Tungting Lake area B-25’s and Fighter Bombers fly more than 160
sorties attacking river shipping at several locations, bombing towns of
Hengshan, Liling, and Pingkiang, and bombing Japanese HQ and gun sites in
Siangsiang area. Also in Hengyang area the Medium Bombers and Fighter Bombers
hit rear supply bases and cavalry and infantry concentrations.
FEAF—Attacks
on Wewak area continue. Japanese HQ and comm in Suain-Karowop Plantation area
and coastal road from Babiang to Nyaparake are hit. airfield and fuel dumps on
Noemfoor I, Japanese positions and occupied areas and buildings on Biak and
Efman Is, village near Babo, and Tor R and Maffin Bay areas are attacked.
B-24’s bomb airfield and town on Yap and comm on Sorol and Woleai. AA guns E of
Tobera area are attacked.
SEVENTH AF—P-47’s
and P-61’s carry out daylight raids and defensive night patrols over Saipan,
Tinian, and Rota.
USA
FRANCE—21
Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s VII Corps area, 79th Div, upon relief in
Cherbourg, moves S to U.S. VIII Corps zone. 9th Div continues preparations for
attack to clear Cap de la Hague. In Br Second Army area, 30 Corps secures
Brettevillette but later loses it to enemy counterattack. 8 Corps expands its
Odon bridgehead near Baron and secures another, near Gavrus; fights to clear
enemy from flanks.
USSR—Soviet
threat to Minsk increases as Second White Russian forces take Mogilev.
ITALY—AAI:
In U.S. Fifth Army area, salvage parties reach Piombino, and the port is made
ready for use by Liberty ships in less than a month. In IV Corps area, 117th
Cav Rcn Sq is withdrawn from line to participate in Operation ANVIL. IV Corps
is pushing steadily northward, with 34th Div on left and 1st Armd Div on right,
toward Highway 68, which Cecina R parallels.
In Br Eighth Army’s 13 Corps area, S African 6th Armd Div
reaches Chianciano without making contact with enemy. In center, 4th Div breaks
through enemy positions on Casamaggiore–Frattevecchia ridge. Elements of 78th
Div move forward on 13 Corps right flank to conform. In 10 Corps area, Ind 10th
Div is relieving Ind 8th Div.
CBI—Vice
President Wallace recommends to President Roosevelt that Gen Stilwell be
replaced or that he be given a presidential representative with considerable
powers as his deputy; suggests that steps be taken to meet Japanese threat in E
China. In NCAC area, 1st Bn of 42d Regt, Ch 14th Div, attacks toward Sitapur in
order to cut off Japanese N of Myitkyina. On Salween front, Japanese planes
make their first appearance, dropping supplies to Sung Shan garrison. In E
China, Japanese begin assault on Heng-yang itself and for the first time in E
China are being firmly opposed by Chinese.
NEW
GUINEA—Amphibian vehicles conduct rehearsal for Noemfoor operation. On Biak,
Gen Eichelberger turns over command of TF HURRICANE to Gen Doe and leaves the island.
It is learned that 34th Inf must serve as ALAMO Force reserve for pending
operation, necessitating regrouping of forces on Biak. 34th Inf continues
mopping up. Japanese begin a second withdrawal (first being on 22d), with orders
to prepare for guerrilla warfare; about this time begin withdrawing from East
Caves. Largescale infantry action against Ibdi Pocket ends, but the position is
kept under fire from ground and air. SAIPAN—2d Mar Div continues clearing
difficult terrain N of Tipo Pale and on crest of Mt. Tapotchau. Maj Gen George
W. Griner takes command of 27th Div, which completes reduction of organized resistance
at Hell’s Pocket on left but makes little headway and suffers heavy casualties
in Death Valley proper and on Purple Heart Ridge. 4th Mar Div maintains and
improves positions on right flank of corps, additional elements reaching 0–6
line; provides fire support for 27th Div.
USMC
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