USN
PACIFIC–Aircraft from TF 58 (Vice Adm Marc A.
Mitscher) attack Japanese installations and shipping in the western Carolines, at
Yap, Ulithi, Fais, Ngulu, Sorol, and Palau; strikes continue until 28 July.
F6Fs from small carrier San Jacinto (CVL-30) damage destroyer Samidare
30 miles north of Babelthuap, Palau, 08°15'N, 134°37'E (see 18 and 26
August 1944). F6Fs from carrier Bunker Hill (CV-17) sink guard boat Ryojin
Maru, 07°30'N, 134°30'E.
USAAF
B-25s sink Japanese salvage vessel Hoshin Maru 70 nautical miles east of
Hong Kong, 22°00'N, 115°50'E.
ATLANTIC–Small seaplane tender Matagorda (AVP-22)
rescues all 67 survivors of U.S. freighter William Gaston, sunk on 22
July by German submarine U-861 approximately 150 miles southeast of
Florianapolis, Brazil.
U.S.
freighter Robin Goodfellow is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-862
while en route from Cape Town, South Africa, to New York, at 20°03'S,
14°21'W. All hands (including the 27 Armed Guard sailors and the 41-manmerchant
complement) perish.
EUROPE–U.S. freighter David Starr Jordan is
bombed and strafed while anchored off Utah Beach, Normandy; two of the
500soldiers embarked on board are killed by bomb fragments, while 13 other men
from among the 43-man merchant complement and 26-man Armed Guard are injured.
AAF
EIGHTH
AF–Heavy Bombers support US First Army assault (Operation COBRA) with
saturation bombing in VII Corps area in Marigny-Saint-Gilles region, just W of
Saint-Lo. 1,495 Heavy Bombers attack primary target and 13 bomb alternate
target. Due to personnel error, bombs from 35 Heavy Bombers fall within US
lines. 102 US troops, including Gen McNair, are killed and 380 wounded. 485
fighters execute escort assignments, including protection of Ninth AF Medium
Bombers. Afterward 4 of the 10 groups strafe ground targets, and 2 groups sweep
inland and engage German fighters. 5 Heavy Bombers and 3 fighters are lost to
AA fire. Fighters claim 12 aircraft destroyed in the air and 2 on the ground.
Late in the afternoon 106 Heavy Bombers dispatched to bomb target in Brussels
area are recalled because of heavy cloud formations.
NINTH
AF–During the morning 11 groups of Medium Bombers and Light Bombers attack tac
targets in vicinity of Saint-Lo in support of US First Army. In afternoon 4
groups bomb bridges on the Seine and Loire. 42 Medium Bombers of IX BC,
repeating errors of previous day, short-bomb behind US lines. Casualties again
are concentrated in 30th Inf Div. Fighters strafe and bomb military targets in
Saint-Lo area in support of COBRA, fly area patrol and sweeps S of battle area,
and carry out armed recon against installations in Laval-Ghent-Amiens areas.
TWELFTH
AF–A-20’s hit storage dump and rail lines while Medium Bombers pound bridges in
NW Italy at Borgo San Dalmazzo, Fossano, Albenga, Casale Monferrato, Cervo,
Legnano, Rovigo, and Chivasso. Fighter Bombers continue to attack comm in Po
Valley, hitting numerous targets and completely destroying railroad bridge at
Crema.
FIFTEENTH
AF–420 B-17’s and B-24’s bomb Hermann Goring tank works in Linz while other
Heavy Bombers hit Villach marshalling yard and targets of opportunity in
Austria and Yugoslavia. Fighters provide escort and carry out sweeps. 175-200
enemy fighters oppose the attacks. 21 US aircraft are lost. Heavy Bombers and
fighters claim over 60 fighters shot down. Operating from Russian FRANTIC
bases, 34 P-51’s and 33 P-38’s attack airfield at Mielec and return to Russia.
TENTH
AF–24 P-40’s and P-51’s hit targets around Myitkyina, Kamaing, and Mogaung.
FOURTEENTH
AF–24 B-24’s bomb Yoyang, blasting storage area and railroad yards. 51 P-40’s
and P-51’s attack road and river trafflc, troop compounds and cavalry units at
Chaling, Siangsiang, Changsha, Siangyin, and Sinshih and NW of Hengyang. 27
P-40’s escorting the B-24’s over Yoyang claim 6 interceptors shot down. 11
Fighter Bombers support Chinese ground forces in Salween area.
FEAF–B-24’s
bomb airfield and other targets on Woleai. Bad weather again cancels strikes in
Vogelkop Peninsula, but Troop Carriers complete 48 missions to Biak I despite
the weather. Comm and troop concentration along coast in general area of Wewak
are attacked throughout the day.
SEVENTH
AF–P-47’s continue to hit Tinian and Pagan. B-24’s, based at Kwajalein, bomb
Truk.
USA
SHAEF—Gen Eisenhower directs that U.S.
forces in Normandy be regrouped under a new U.S. army group, 12th. Gen Bradley
will head the new command and set the time of its activation.
FRANCE—21 Army Group: U.S. First Army launches
breakout assault (COBRA) in VII Corps zone as weather conditions improve.
Saturation bombing by Eighth and Ninth Air Forces precedes the ground assault
and stuns enemy. More than 4,000 tons of bombs are concentrated in a small
area, some falling short and inflicting casualties on U.S. forces. Gen McNair,
who has recently replaced Gen Bradley as commander of U.S. 1st Army Group, an organization
confined to paper to deceive enemy, is killed by a bomb while watching the
attack. Gen DeWitt later replaces Gen McNair. VII Corps attacks across
Périers–St Lô road on narrow front at 1100 to force passage through enemy
positions in Marigny–St Gilles region. 9th Div on right, 4th in center, and
30th on left advance steadily and force enemy back about 2 miles to line La
Butte–La Chapelle-en-Juger–Hébécrevon. VIII Corps is reinf by attachment of 6th
Armd Div, now assembled at Le Mesnil. In Br Second Army area, Cdn 2 Corps
attacks at 0330 with 2d Div on right and 3d on left, pushing a short distance
along Falaise road against stubborn opposition and then breaking off attack.
This action helps to divert enemy from COBRA.
FRANTIC—U.S. Fifteenth Air Force
fighter bombers from Soviet bases attack Mielec airdrome (Poland), near Lwow,
with good effect.
EASTERN EUROPE—Troops of Second Baltic
Front cut Dvinsk–Riga road. Lwow is enveloped by forces of First Ukrainian
Front. Four Soviet columns are converging on Brest Litovsk.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, II
Corps takes over sector of 88th Div on right flank of army, previously right
flank of IV Corps. 88th Div finishes clearing its zone below the Arno and
releases TF Ramey.
In
Br Eighth Army area, 13 Corps continues drive on Florence, reaching next
delaying line, extending through S. Casciano, in zones of NZ 2d Inf and S African
6th Armd Divs.
BURMA—In NCAC area, Myitkyina TF is
further strengthened by arrival of 1st Bn, 90th Regt, Ch 30th Div. By now it is
evident that Japanese are preparing to abandon Myitkyina.
NEI—Warships of Br Eastern Fleet
bombard Sabang naval base, off N tip of Sumatra, causing extensive damage.
Carrier-based aircraft attack airdromes near Sabang.
NEW GUINEA—TF TYPHOON conducts
practice landing near Toem in preparation for invasion of the Vogelkop. In
Aitape area, relief of Tr C of 112th Cav is finally accomplished after 4 days
of strenuous efforts as Cos B and E, 127th Inf, make contact and open escape
route. To exploit this success, 1st and 2d Bns, 127th Inf, attack S to
Afua–Palauru trail, but enemy remains in considerable strength in this region.
On Noemfoor, 503d Para Inf loses contact with Japanese, who withdraw from Inasi
area. Kornasoren airfield is ready to accommodate one fighter group.
TINIAN—After repelling determined
Japanese counterattack with heavy losses to enemy, 4th Mar Div continues attack
and, against light opposition, considerably expands beachhead, which now
includes about half of the new airfield. Additional elements of 2d Mar Div
land; rest of 8th Marines is placed under operational control of 4th Mar Div.
GUAM—While 77th Div defends S
beachhead, 3d Mar Div continues attacks against heights commanding N beachhead
and efforts to close the 4-mile gap between it and 77th Div, but progress is
still limited.
USMC
4th Mar Div expands beachhead on Tinian. Japanese
unsuccessfully counterattack III AC positions on Guam.
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