USN
PACIFIC–Submarine Skate (SS-305) sinks
Japanese crabbing ship Miho Maru off Cape Shiretoko, northern Karafuto,
Kurils,48°08'N, 148°06'E.
Motor
torpedo boat PT-133 is sunk by Japanese shore battery off eastern New Guinea,
03°28'S, 143°34'E.
AAF
NINTH
AF–Weather cancels most operations but 4 B-26’s (92 others abort) hit L’Aigle
rail bridge during afternoon. 3 Fighter Bombers fly uneventful sweep. Fighters
of IX TAC fly area cover and bomb inf, artillery, marshalling yard, railroad,
and a bridge in Saint-Lo, Argentan, and Falaise areas.
TWELFTH
AF–Medium Bomber campaign against Po R Valley bridges (MALLORY MAJOR) reaches
successful conclusion (though interdiction program against the bridges is
subsequently continued on expanded scale) as most of the rail and road bridges
in target area are destroyed or severely damaged by previous attacks and raids
which struck bridges at Bozzolo, Desenzano de Garda, Cremona, Borgoforte,
Ostiglia, Polesella, Sermide, Ferrara, Aulla, Filattiera, Ficarolo, and
Chiavari and marshalling yard at Villafranca di Verona. Fighter Bombers attack
road bridges N of battleline and hit gun positions, roads, motor transport, and
other targets, while supporting ground forces slowly advancing N along a line
extending E from the coast below Leghorn.
FIFTEENTH
AF–More than 600 B-17’s and B-24’s bomb 4 oil refineries in Ploesti area and
Teleajenul pumping station. P-51’s and P-38’s fly over 300 escort sorties.
TENTH
AF–38 P-40’s continue support of ground forces in Myitkyina area. 60-plus
P-47’s and P-51’s attack bridges at Manla, Henu, and Mawlu, sweep Lashio,
Katha, and Talawgyi areas, and hit motor pool at Kadu and targets of
opportunity around Sangin and Mohnyin. 20 B-25’s attack Myitkyina area and hit
bridges and supply area at Mawhun.
FOURTEENTH
AF–More than 100 B-25’s, P-40’s, and P-51’s blast towns of Sinshih, Chuchou,
Siangtan, Siangsiang, Sungroupai, and Chaling, concentrating on military and
railroad installations and river shipping. Villages, troop concentrations, and
river craft are attacked N and W of Hengyang and from Chaling to Yuhsien. In
Salween area 26 P-40’s support Chinese forces and 12 B-25’s bomb Mangshih and
Lungling. 12 B-25’s and P-40’s bomb railroad yards at Hsuchang, causing
considerable damage.
FEAF–B-24’s
blast Yap, scoring numerous hits in Yap town area and on radio station and
barracks area. B- 24’s, penetrating heavy weather front, bomb airfield at Efman
while B-25’s hit enemy forces along Korrido Anchorage, and A-20’s blast gun
emplacements on island off Manokwari. B-25’s, A-20’s, and Fighter Bombers again
pound troop concentrations over wide area around Wewak.
SEVENTH
AF–P-47’s bomb and strafe Tinian. B-24’s, staging through Eniwetok, hit Truk.
USA
FRANCE—21 Army Group: U.S. First Army halts
offensive W of Taute R while regrouping extensively in preparation for COBRA.
4th Armd Div is temporarily held in reserve. VIII Corps, now holding initial
objectives along Ay R except for town of Lessay, maintains current positions
while regrouping to include 8th, 79th, 90th, 4th, and 83d Divs. VII Corps
continues offensive with 9th Div while regrouping on rest of front to include
30th and 1st Inf Divs and 2d and 3d Armd Divs. Zone is extended E to Vire R
when 30th Div is transferred to corps in place at 2400. 9th Div secures
crossroads at Les Champs-de-Losque. In XIX Corps area, 30th Div, before its
transfer to VII Corps, attacks with 117th Inf to outskirts of Le Mesnil-Durand,
forcing salient into enemy positions. 35th and 29th Divs, with close air and
arty support, continue battle for St Lô. 134th Inf, on left flank of 35th Div,
gains N slopes of Hill 122, where it is within 2,000 yards of St Lô, but rest
of div is held up well to rear in Le Carillon– Pont Hébert area. 29th Div makes
main effort on left f lank of XIX Corps with 116th Inf along Martinville Ridge:
2d Bn of 116th Inf succeeds in breaking through to Bayeux–St Lô highway near La
Madeleine but is isolated there; 175th Inf holds its positions on left flank of
div; 115th, on right flank, makes slow progress SW from La Luzerne. V Corps, upon
regrouping, contains 2d and 5th Divs on inactive left flank of army.
In
Br Second Army area, 12 Corps begins attack toward line Bougy–Evrecy–Maizet,
between the Odon and the Orne, night 15–16, 15th Div moving forward with
illumination from searchlights. USSR—Troops of Second Baltic Front overrun Opochka.
ITALY—Allied air attacks on Po bridges
between Piacenza and the Adriatic (MALLORY MAJOR) are successfully concluded,
but tactical bombers subsequently continue interdiction program on an expanded scale,
hitting bridges W of Piacenza and throughout Po Valley.
AAI:
In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, 135th Inf of 34th Div continues rapidly
toward Leghorn until hit in evening by counterattack on left flank near heights
overlooking the town; enemy is driven off with aid of arty. 442d Inf advances
to left rear of 168th as latter begins attack in right half of 442d’s zone.
168th and 133d Regts push toward Pisa with 100th Bn filling gap between them;
bypassing Lorenzana, 133d gets nearly 2 miles beyond the town. In center of IV
Corps, 91st Div’s 363d Inf takes Bagni di Casciana without opposition, then
withdraws in preparation for assisting attack of 34th Div on Leghorn; 361st Inf
replaces 362d on div right and takes Morrona, NW of Terricciola. 88th Div
continues northward on right flank of corps.
In
FEC area, 8th Moroccan Inf takes Castellina in Chianti while 4th Moroccan mops
up E of Poggibonsi. By nightfall FEC is up against enemy delaying line in
Certaldo–Tavernelle area.
In
Br Eighth Army area, 13 Corps opens attack on Arezzo at 0100 after strong arty
preparation, employing 6th Armd Div on left and NZ 2d on right. Air support
begins at dawn. 6th Armd Div drives salient into center of enemy line, and NZ
2d Div takes M. Lignano. After nightfall, Germans begin general withdrawal.
BURMA—Thus far in the siege of
Myitkyina, Japanese garrison has suffered 790 dead and 1,180 wounded, and its
commander is contemplating withdrawal. No co-ordinated attacks have been
attempted by Myitkyina TF since 12th, but daily attacks on a limited scale have
gradually constricted Japanese positions.
NEW GUINEA—In Aitape area, PERSECUTION
Covering Force is still endangered along the Driniumor by gap, now 1,500 yards
wide, between North and South Forces. 124th Inf, North Force, is ordered to
extend southward to left flank of South Force. Japanese are becoming active in
vicinity of Afua. On Biak, Americans move back into Ibdi Pocket, where Japanese
are continuing to resist. Arty bombardment of the enemy position is resumed.
USMC
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