US NAVY
PACIFIC—1st Marine Division (Reinforced) (Major General
William H. Rupertus, USMC) lands on Peleliu, Palaus, in Operation STALEMATE II.
Landing is preceded by several days of intensive carrier-based aircraft bombing
and ship gunfire bombardment (TG 32.5, Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf).
TF 77
(Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey) lands Army 41st Infantry (Reinforced) (Major
General John C. Persons, USA) on Morotai Island, N.E.I., in Operation TRADE
WIND; supported by two heavy cruisers, three light cruisers and ten destroyers
(TG 77.2) (Rear Admiral Russell S. Berkey) and aircraft from six escort
carriers (TG 77.1) (Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague), screened by eight
destroyer escorts. Airfield facilities built on Morotai will be used in
operations to support operations against Japanese positions in the Philippines.
Submarine Guavina
(SS-362) sinks Japanese fast transport T.3 off Pagubas, southern
Mindanao, 05°35'N, 125°24'E.
Submarines
Pampanito (SS-383) and Sealion (SS-315) rescue 73 British and 54
Australian POWs who survived loss of Rakuyo Maru when she was sunk by Sealion
on 12 September, about 300 miles west of Cape Bojeador, Luzon. There had
been some 1,300 men on board Rakuyo Maru when she was attacked.
Submarine Stingray
(SS-186) lands men and stores on Majoe Island, Molucca Sea.
USAAF
B-24s sink small Makassar-bound Japanese cargo vessels Kirishima Maru and
No.6 Keinan Maru off Mongole Island.
RAAF
Beaufighters and USAAF A-20s bomb Japanese shipping off southeast coast of
Ceram, sinking fishing vesselsNo.3 Hoyu Maru and No.4 Bonan Maru.
U.S.
aircraft sink Japanese guard boats Kaiko Maru and No.1 Kaza Maru, Marshalls.
ATLANTIC—Salvage vessel Escape (ARS-6) resumes tow
of damaged U.S. freighter George Ade toward Chesapeake Bay (see
16 September).
US ARMY AIR FORCE
EIGHTH AF—The 3 fighter wings and 15 fighter groups of VIII
, FC are transferred to the 3 bomb divisions.
NINTH AF—Ninth AF main HQ moves from Sunninghill Park to
Chantilly. Bad weather prevents bomber operations. IX TAC supports US First
Army troops and flies armed reconnaissance around Cologne and from Trier to
Rhine R area. XIX TAC supports US Third Army and flies armed reconnaissance in
Nancy-Strasbourg area.
TWELFTH AF—87th Fighter Wing, 47th Bomb Group, 57th Fighter
Group, 86th Fighter Group, and several other units are transferred from XII TAC
to XII FC. XII TAC passes under operational control of Ninth AF. All medium
bomber missions are cancelled or aborted due to weather. Fighter bombers,
though restricted by weather, carry out armed reconnaissance against enemy
communications and defensive positions in Milan-Genoa-Modena-Pistoia areas, as
Allied forces (joined on this date by elements of Brazilian Expeditionary
Force) attempt to penetrate enemy strongholds in the N Apennines.
FIFTEENTH AF—276 B-17’s and B-24’s bomb Tatoi, Eleusis, and
Kalamaki airfields and Salamis submarine base. P-38’s and P-51’s fly escort, target
cover, and sweep target areas. The attacks are aimed at hampering withdrawal of
enemy forces from the area. 53 B-24’s fly supply mission to S France. 24 B-24’s
begin evacuating aircrews formerly imprisoned in Bulgaria from Cairo to Bari.
EAC—Combat Cargo TF is formed as a command of EAC. Gen
Evans is CG. HQ is temporarily located at Hastings AB and later moved to
Comilla. The command is responsible to air deliver supplies to British Fourteenth
Army and other organizations as required, a task it fulfills until its
disbandment on 1 Jun 45.
TENTH AF—8 P-47’s bomb Kutkai, 16 sweep river from Bhamo to
Katha and bomb Naba, Katha, and Mohnyin. Several other P-47’s sweep Burma Road
from Lungling to Muse to Bhamo and strafe boat on river at Myothit. 12 P-51’s
hit Mawhun while 8 B-25’s hit fuel storage and targets of opportunity in
Chefang area. 13 B-24’s fly fuel to Liuchow.
FOURTEENTH AF—19 B-24’s bomb military storage area at
Hengyang. 20 B-25’s hit Chuanhsien and 5 pound ferry crossing and bus station
at Lingling. More than 90 P-40’s and P-51’s on armed reconnaissance attack
river shipping, numerous buildings, troops, and general targets of opportunity
from NE of Ichang to Liuchow Peninsula concentrating on Kiyang and Changsha
areas.
FEAF—B-24’s, A-20’s, and P-47’s bomb Kaoe, Lolobata, and
Hate Tabako. P-39’s bomb Manokwari airfield and town area.
W PACIFIC—US forces land on Morotai and Peleliu.
SEVENTH AF—P-47’s from Saipan hit AA positions on Pagan
with machinegun and rocket fire. A lone B-24 on a snooper mission bombs Iwo
Jima. All other B-24 missions abort.
US ARMY
12th Army Group: In U.S. Ninth Army’s
VIII Corps area, 2d and 29th Divisions continue to make slow progress at Brest.
8th Division launches attack to clear Crozon Peninsula.
In U.S. First Army’s XIX Corps area,
Combat Command B of 2d Armored Division crosses newly constructed bridge over the
Albert S of Maastricht and finds that Combat Command A has finished mopping up
Maastricht island. Combat Command B TF establishes small bridgehead across the
De Geul NW of Meerssen under fire. In VII Corps area, 1st Division, less 16th
Infantry, has almost encircled Aachen; 16th Infantry reaches Eilendorf and,
fanning out from there, clears surrounding heights although enemy retains high
ground near Verlautenheide village. With its left flank secured by 1st Division,
3d Armored Division heads E toward Eschweiler, battling second defense belt of
West Wall, called Schill Line: Combat Command A meets strong AT opposition near
Geisberg Hill, an enemy strongpoint, and loses 6 tanks; with assistance of Battalion
of 16th Infantry, clears most of the West Wall fortifications in this area. TF
Lovelady of Combat Command B crosses the Vicht upon completion of bridge and
with little difficulty achieves complete breakthrough of West Wall
fortifications; driving through Mausbach toward Eschweiler, the force is
stopped and pulls back to Mausbach with heavy losses in armor. TF Mills (Maj
Herbert N. Mills), former TF King, of Combat Command B, advances to vicinity of
Stolberg but falls back behind TF Lovelady upon meeting tank-infantry force.
47th Infantry, 9th Division, pushes through second band of West Wall defenses;
60th Infantry attacks Hoefen– Alzen ridge from two directions, making no
progress from Kalterherberg, but getting foothold on it N of Hoefen with
elements that have driven through Monschau; 39th Infantry battles strong
Scharnhorst Line positions near Lammersdorf without making much headway. In V
Corps area, 8th Infantry goes into action on N flank of 4th Division but is
unable to advance; 12th drives NE along Schnee Eifel highway, taking
strongpoint at crossroads 655; dangerous gap exists between it and 22d Inf;
22d, ordered to take Brandscheid before continuing main drive, undergoes enemy
counterattack near Hontheim and does not advance. 28th Division’s 110th
Infantry, assisted by engineers who blow up roadblock, succeeds in taking key
hill (Hill 553) near Kesfeld; 109th falls back a little under enemy attack and
for the next two days tries in vain to drive through Roscheid. Combat Command
R, 5th Armored Division, drives through West Wall and to edge of Bettingen;
attached Battalion of 112th Infantry clears Biesdorf and moves on to Stockigt
to protect SE flank.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area,
90th Division begins attacks on German fortifications W of Metz, employing
357th Infantry on left and 359th on right: 1st Battalion, 357th, works forward
to position from which to attack Kellermann works (called Fort Amanvillers by
Americans) from N while 2d Battalion, 359th, attacks toward Jeanne d’Arc forts,
gaining some 200 yards. Combat Command B, 7th Armored Division, and 10th
Infantry, 5th Division, Combat Command B on right, expand Arnaville bridgehead in
preparation for northward drive on Metz; Arry, Hill 396 NE of Arry, Lorry,
Mardigny, and Vittonville are cleared. After this action, Combat Command B halts
until relieved by 2d Infantry of 5th Division and reverts to parent Division.
Other elements of 7th Armored Division are concentrating in Arnaville
bridgehead. In XII Corps area, TF Sebree (Gen Sebree, 35th Division ADC),
consisting of troops from 134th Regiment of 35th Division and 319th Regiment of
80th Division, moves into Nancy from Toul without opposition. Germans, having
assembled strong reinforcements, begin determined counterattack against
Dieulouard bridgehead just before dawn after intense bombardment, recovering
Atton and Ste Geneviève and thereby isolating Americans on Mousson Hill. Both
sides suffer heavily during day’s fighting. Advance elements of 317th Infantry,
80th Division, are withdrawn from Mt. Toulon to strengthen bridgehead, and
Combat Command A, 4th Armored Division, is ordered to release 1st Battalion,
318th Infantry, for this purpose also. 35th Division and Combat Command B, 4th Armored
Division, reach positions on or across Marne–Rhine Canal SE of Nancy: enemy
fire prevents 137th Infantry from crossing the Meurthe at St Nicolas du Port,
but 320th crosses Rhine–Marne Canal in Dombasle–Sommerviller area; Combat
Command B forces the canal at Crevic and Maixe, against strong opposition at
latter. Elements of Combat Command A, 4th Armored Division, are sent forward to
attack enemy rear in Maixe area. XV Corps is mopping up W of the Moselle. 1st Battalion
of 314th Infantry, 79th Division, maintains bridgehead E of the river opposite
Charmes. Elements of Combat Command B, French 2d Armored Division, cross at
Châtel, night 15–16.
6th Army Group: Becomes operational
at 0001 and assumes control of the AFHQ forces that are in France. At same
time, operational control of 6th Army Group and its elements passes from AFHQ to
SHAEF, a move previously agreed upon between Gen Eisenhower and Gen Wilson. French
Army B acquires autonomy and is on a par with U.S. Seventh Army. French Army B
regroups during next few days for drive eastward.
ITALY—AAI:
In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, TF 45 occupies Viareggio. Regimental Combat
Team 6, Brazilian Expeditionary Force (BEF), under command of Brig Gen Euclydes
Zenobia da Costa, enters line, relieving 434th AAA Battalion of 5-mile zone
between coastal plain and Serchio valley. These are the first Brazilians to
fight on European soil and the first echelon of Brazilian 1st Infantry Division
to arrive, the rest of the Division coming later. S African 6th Armored
Division continues battle for hills N of Prato, taking M. Moscoso. In II Corps
area, 338th Infantry of 85th Division gains ground on main Altuzzo ridge, as
grinding battle continues, but is unable to break through to summit. 339th, to
right, is still held up by strong opposition on M. Veruca. To left of 85th Division,
91st Division’s 363d and 361st Regiments cannot gain crest of M. Monticelli;
continuing toward Futa Pass, 362d Infantry makes limited progress up Highway 65
to positions near Montecarelli. 34th Division is still stalled near Torricella
Hill on left but on right takes M. Frassino. In British 13 Corps area, 1st Division
completes capture of Poggio Prefetto. Indian 8th Division takes Le Scalette and
M. Stelleto. 6th Armored Division gains hold on slopes of M. Peschiena.
British Eighth Army drives quickly
toward next delaying line, called Rimini Line, which extends from fortified S.
Fortunato, guarding Highway 16 and Rimini, SW to Ceriano ridge. In 5 Corps
area, Indian 4th Division clears left flank of corps as far as the Conca. Montescudo
falls to 46th Division. 1st Armored Division crosses the Marano in Vecciano
area on right flank of corps. Canadian 1 Corps advances steadily toward Rimini
with British 4th Division on left and Canadian 1st Division on right. While British
4th Division clears S. Patrignano ridge, which dominates the Marano, Canadian 1st
Division gets forward elements to S. Martino in M. I’Abate, commanded by S.
Fortunato, where confused and bitter fighting ensues.
CBI—Gen
Stilwell, arriving in Chungking from Kweilin, confers with Chiang Kai-shek, who
proposes to withdraw the Salween forces unless Chinese troops at Myitkyina attack
toward Bhamo within a week. News of this is sent by Gen Stilwell to Gen Marshall,
who is attending OCTAGON Conference, and results in alteration of strategy. 11
Army Group: In British Fourteenth Army’s 33 Corps area, Indian 5th Division,
advancing down Tiddim road, establishes bridgehead across the Manipur near Tuitum.
Crossing is facilitated by advance brig that has crossed earlier at Shuganu and
has moved S.
MOROTAI—In
preparation for landings on Morotai, Fifth Air Force planes from land bases and
naval aircraft from fast and escort carriers of Third and Seventh Fleets
complete program of neutralizing enemy bases within range of target, begun by land-based
planes at beginning of September, with strikes on Halmahera, Batjan I. (S of
Halmahera), and Celebes. Halmahera is also subjected to naval gunfire
bombardment. Adm Barbey of VII Amphibious Force heads naval forces as commander
of attack force (TF 77). After 2 hours of preliminary naval shelling of
Morotai, TF TRADEWINDIAN (Gen Hall, CG XI Corps, ALAMO) begins landing on SW
coast at 0830 without opposition. 155th and 167th Regts, 31st Division, land on
beach at head of Gila Peninsula, while 124th Infantry, 31st Division, lands on
adjacent beach to S at W side of the peninsula. Forces from both beaches push
inland about 2,000 yards to D Day objectives, taking Pitoe Drôme and clearing
Gila Peninsula. Gen Persons, commander of 31st Division and TRADEWINDIAN Assault
Force, establishes CP ashore. Enemy opposition ashore is negligible, but
extremely unfavorable conditions offshore hamper initial phase of landings.
PALAUS—After
preparatory bombardment by Western Fire Support Group and aircraft from
carriers, III (Mar) Amphibious Corps (Gen Geiger) begins landing 1st Marine Division
on SW shore of Peleliu I., about 0830, 1st Marines on left, 5th Marines in
center, and 7th Marines on right. Japanese fire, at first light, increases as
marines move inland and is particularly heavy on flanks. 5th Marines partially
surrounds airfield and drives salient to center of it, well ahead of flanking
forces. By end of day beachhead perimeter measures about 2,800 yards from N to
S but is only 400–700 yards deep, except for salient in center. As a diversion
for Peleliu landings, elements of Angaur Attack Group (Rear Adm William H. P. Blandy),
standing offshore, feint landings at Babelthuap.
U.S.—JCS
decide to invade central rather than S Philippines and advance target date for
invasion of Leyte from 20 December to 20 October. Projected operations against
Yap, Talaud, and Mindanao are canceled.
US MARINE CORPS
JCS decide to invade Central rather than Southern
Philippines and advance target date for invasion of Leyte from 20 Dec to 20 Oct
44.
The 1st
Marine Division, under Major General Rupertus, lands on the southwestern shore
of Peleliu Island. U. S. Army troops land on Morotai, Netherlands East Indies,
and capture airfield on that island.
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