US NAVY
INTERNATIONAL—Second Quebec Conference (OCTAGON) between
President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill and the Combined
Chiefs of Staff commences in Quebec, Canada. The agenda principally concerns
the role the Royal Navy will play in the Pacific War.
PACIFIC—Destroyer Ellet (DD-398) bombards supply
dumps on Aguijan Island, Marianas.
Submarine Albacore
(SS-218) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 165 off
Kyushu, 32°20'N, 131°50'E.
Submarine Finback
(SS-230) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Hassho Maru and merchant
cargo ship No.2 Hakun Maru north of Chichi Jima, 27°45'N, 140°40'E.
Submarine Pargo
(SS-264) sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayer Hinoki Maru in Java Sea, 06°17'S,
116°24'E.
USAAF B-24
aircraft bomb Iwo Jima, damaging Japanese cargo vessel No.8 Saiwai Maru; difficulties
encountered in attempting to tow the damaged craft result in her being
scuttled.
Aircraft
sink Japanese cargo ship No.1 Horai Maru two miles off Palau.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
International Second Quebec conference opens. Roosevelt and
Churchill discuss Pacific war plans and completion of European war.
EIGHTH AF—The Eighth begins another FRANTIC shuttle-bombing
mission, as 75 B-17’s with 64 P-51’s attack armament plant at Chemnitz, and
land at USSR bases. I P-51 is lost. FRANTIC mission lasts until 17 September and
takes the planes from UK to USSR to Italy to UK. Over 850 other heavy bombers,
escorted by 14 fighter groups, bomb 6 synthetic oil plants, an ordnance depot,
an engine works, a marshalling yard, a tire plant, and numerous other scattered
targets of opportunity, along with several German cities. An estimated 525 fighters
attack the formations or are engaged by Eighth AF planes. 52 heavy bombers and
32 fighters are lost. Heavy bombers claim destruction of 17 fighters while the
US fighters claim 116 in the air and 42 on the ground.
NINTH AF—358 medium bombers and light bombers, in support
of US Third Army, hit gun positions and strongpoints in Metz area. Fighters escort
bombers, fly armed reconnaissance over Lissendorf and Duren areas, and support
Third Army ground forces in Metz area. Armored reconnaissance elements of this
Army cross into Germany, the first Allied unit to do so. Fighters also support
ground forces in Brest area.
TWELFTH AF—B-26’s hit defensive positions as US Fifth Army
elements push through N Italian mountain passes toward Gothic Line defenses.
B-25’s bomb railroad bridges at Vigevano and Canneto sull’Oglio and supply
areas. Fighter bombers and fighters attack roads, railroads, guns, supply
areas, bridges, and other targets at Vernio, and in Alessandria, Turin,
Piacenza, and Milan areas.
FIFTEENTH AF—Bad weather limits operations to supply
mission by 54 B-24’s to France.
TENTH AF—12 P-47’s hit roads, towns, and general targets of
opportunity in Tengchung, Lungling, and Bhamo areas. 23 B-24’s fly fuel to
Kunming. Numerous other transport flights throughout CBI continue.
FOURTEENTH AF—18 B-24’s blast storage area at Manling. 30
B-25’s bomb Tunganhsien and Kiaotow and hit targets of opportunity in Lingling
area. 12 P-40’s blast trucks along Burma Road and around Lungling. 59 P-40’s
and P-51’s hit river shipping, railroad targets, troop concentrations, supply
dumps, and other targets of opportunity in Canton-Tungting, Lake area.
FEAF—B-24’s hit airfields at Galela and Miti. B-25’s bomb
Kairatoe airfield and village and Boela airfield while P-38’s hit airfields at
Namlea and Amahai and oil tanks at Boela. A-20’s and B-25’s hit Kaoe airfield
and scattered targets of opportunity. A-20’s strike Otawiri, Sagan, Nabire, and
Urarom airfields while fighter bombers hit airfields and AA guns at Manokwari
and Ransiki.
SEVENTH AF—Saipan-based B-24’s bomb Iwo Jima and hit
shipping off Chici Jima. P-47’s pound Pagan with strafing attacks and rockets.
ELEVENTH AF—4 B-25’s on a shipping search sink a small
craft off Shimushu. 2 other B-25’s fly search mission for B- 25 (which
force-landed in USSR on 9 September but is still reported as missing).
US ARMY
In British Second Army’s 30 Corps
area, Guards Armored Division strengthens bridgehead over Meuse–Escaut Canal
and patrols across Dutch border to Valkenswaard. 50th Division maintains Gheel
bridgehead against considerable opposition.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army
area, V and VII Corps are ordered to reconnoiter in force to test border
defenses of West Wall and if possible to make limited penetration. XIX Corps
get northern prong of pincers to be clamped about enemy’s Albert Canal line
into action when reconnaissance elements of 2d Armored Division cross
British-held bridge at Beeringen and turn SE into XIX Corps zone N of Hasselt. By
the time the southern prong, 113th Cavalry, has reached positions S of Vise,
30th Division has already started crossing, having discovered weak spot; 120th Infantry
occupies Lanaye (Holland) and seizes locks near there intact. In VII Corps
area, 1st Division assembles forward elements at Aubel and Henri Chapelle. 3d Armored
Division secures Eupen. 9th Division, in reserve, is assembled near Verviers.
4th Cavalry Group screens right flank. In V Corps area, dismounted patrol of 85th
Reconnaissance Squadron, 5th Armored Division, is the first Allied unit to
cross into Germany, moving over frontier at 1805 and reconnoitering
uneventfully to vicinity of Stalzenburg. 28th Division (less Regimental Combat
Team 112, attached to 5th Armored Div) assembles W of Our R and during night
11–12 secures bridge intact.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area,
358th Infantry, 90th Division, clears heights W of Thionville in Volkrange area
and emerges upon plain overlooking the town; 357th takes Florange and reaches
the Moselle at several points S of Thionville. Combat Command R, 7th Armored
Division, joins 2d Infantry, 5th Division, in attacks W of Metz: 2d Infantry continues
frontal assault after undergoing series of counterattacks that gain some ground
and necessitate bitter fighting in effort to straighten lines S of Amanvillers;
Combat Command R, from Roncourt area, attempts without much success to get behind
enemy holding up 2d Inf. 5th Division reinforces Arnaville bridgehead with 3d
Battalion, 11th Infantry, and expands it toward Corny and Arry against severe
counterattacks. XIX TAC assists with strikes on Arry and Corny. In XII Corps
area, Combat Command A of 4th Armored Division prepares to cross the Moselle;
engineers attempt to construct bridge near Pagny-sur-Moselle, night 11–12, but
lack equipment. After preparatory bombardment, during which deceptive site is
hit, 2d and 3d Battalions of 137th Infantry, 35th Division, force the Moselle
at Crevechamps, SE of Flavigny, but are pinned down by enemy fire; 1st Battalion
crosses near Neuviller-sur- Moselle, to S, late in day and pushes to Lorey. Meanwhile,
one column of Combat Command B, 4th Armored Division, crosses at
Bainville-aux-Miroirs and another near Bayon against considerable resistance;
bypassing Bayon, left column seizes hills overlooking Brémoncourt and during
night 11–12 makes contact with 137th Inf; rest of Combat Command B and 2d Battalion
of 320th Infantry cross at Bayon after engineers put in bridge. Enemy force of
2 cos crosses to W bank of the Moselle and attacks fort held by elements of
134th Infantry near Pont St Vincent, breaching walls, but arrival of
reinforcements and well-placed artillery fire eliminate this threat. 80th Division
is ordered to start crossing the Moselle N of Nancy on 12th. To divert enemy
attention from proposed crossing site, air strike is made on Pont à Mousson area.
XV Corps opens offensive to close up to the Moselle between Epinal and Charmes
while continuing to defend S flank of army. With 121st Cavalry Squadron of
106th Cavalry Group screening its advance, 79th Division moves forward by motor
and on foot, 314th Infantry leading: 314th Infantry reaches vicinity of Charmes
too late in day to attack the town; 313th drives quickly toward Mirecourt;
315th reaches positions near Neufchâteau. French 2d Armored Division screens S
flank of army and moves CCL eastward, bypassing Andelot, to vicinity of Vittel.
S
FRANCE—In U.S. Seventh Army’s French 2d Corps area, 1st Armored Division is
driving on Langres. Infantry maintains defensive line. In VI Corps area, 36th
and 3d Divisions are investing Vesoul, where enemy is expected to make a stand
in order to hold this last escape route to Belfort. 45th Division continues drive
on Villersexel, clearing Rougemont. 36th Division makes contact with French 2d
Corps at Pont-sur-Saône.
FRANTIC—U.S.
Eighth Air Force begins the last of its shuttle-bombing missions. 75 B–17’s and
64 P–51’s attack armament plant at Chemnitz, Germany, and proceed to FRANTIC
bases in USSR.
ITALY—AAI:
U.S. Fifth Army continues drive toward Gothic Line assisted by air attacks on
passes through the mountains. In IV Corps area, on Ligurian coast, patrols of
TF 45 reach outskirts of Viareggio. S African 6th Armored Division drives N
with 3 regts, gaining ground steadily and taking Pistoia without opposition. In
II Corps area, 168th Infantry, on right flank of 34th Division, drives toward
M. Frassino, Gothic Line outpost, pushing through Cavallina and Barberino. 91st
Division, advancing along Highways 65 and 6524, approaches M. Calvi and M.
Altuzzo, the latter dominating Il Giogo Pass on E.
SWPA—Elements
of TF TRADEWINDIAN from Aitape rendezvous with Maffin Bay group at Maffin Bay.
US MARINE CORPS
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