US NAVY
PACIFIC—TG 32.1 (Rear Admiral William H. P. Blandy) lands
Army 81st Infantry Division (less 323d Infantry and reinforced by miscellaneous
units) on Angaur, Palaus, supported by carrier-based aircraft and naval
gunfire. Airfield facilities on Angaur will be used to support operations
against the Philippines.
Submarine Barb
(SS-220) sinks Japanese escort carrier Un'yo and tanker Asuza
Maru, 220 nautical miles southeast of Hong Kong, 19°08'N, 116°36'E. Barb
and Queenfish (SS-393) pick up an additional 32 British and
Australian POWs, survivors of the sunken Rakuyo Maru (see 12 and 15
September).
Motor
torpedo boat PT-371 is damaged by grounding, N.E.I., 02°05'N, 127°51'E.
USAAF
P-40s sink Japanese fishing vessel Hoyo Maru and damage No.5 Kyoei
Maru off eastern Ceram.
Mine sinks
Japanese merchant cargo ship Shinai Maru off east coast of Celebes.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
EIGHTH AF—UK-USSR-Italy-UK shuttle mission is completed as
72 B-17’s and 59 P-51’s fly without bombs from Italy to UK. 2 B-17’s and a P-51
abort and a P-51 crash-lands SW of Paris. 70 B-17’s and 57 P-51’s land safely
in UK. Over 800 B-17’s escorted by 3 fighter groups bomb 117 flak batteries and
installations and an airfield, all in the Netherlands. 16 fighter groups escort
airplanes of First Allied Airborne Army making parachute and glider drop of
20,000 troops into the Netherlands to secure axis of adv toward Zuider Zee for
British Second Army, as part of MARKET-GARDEN, 17-30 September. Troops dropped
are I Airborne Corps, consisting of British 1st Airborne Division (with Polish
Parachute Brigade) and US 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions. The fighter groups also
bomb and strafe flak positions and other ground targets, encountering intense
flak and about 30 fighters. 16 US fighters are lost. Claims include 8 airplanes
and 107 flak positions destroyed.
NINTH AF—No combat bomber missions are flown. Weather
permits 1 leaflet mission. XIX TAC supports US VIII Corps in Brest area and
flies armed reconnaissance over Trier and Saarbrucken areas. IX TAC flies armed
reconnaissance in the Dusseldorf, Duren, Cologne, and Linz/Rhine areas,
supports US 2d and 5th Armored Divisions and 4th Infantry Division in the
Netherlands, and participates in MARKET-GARDEN.
TWELFTH AF—B-25’s hit troop concentrations in British
Eighth Army battle area in vicinity of Rimini. B-25’s pound rail bridges in W
Po Valley, while fighter bombers operating in the Valley attack rails, roads,
rolling stock, road bridges, motor transport and other targets. In the
mountains S of the Valley US Fifth Army forces break through Gothic Line at Il
Giogo Pass, take Monte Altuzzo and Pratone, finish clearing Monte Veruca, and
gain crest of Monte Monticelli. US Seventh Army’s French 2d Corps makes contact
with US Third Army’s French 2d Armored Division near Bains-lesBains.
FIFTEENTH AF—440-plus heavy bombers, with fighter escort,
attack 2 oil refineries and 4 marshalling yards in Budapest area in an attempt
to hit Germany’s principal remaining oil supply and to aid Soviet and other
friendly forces on S Russian front by pounding the focal rail traffic point in
that area. Some of the escorting fighters strafe targets of opportunity in the
general target area. Bad weather hampers all but 8 of 54 B-24’s flying supplies
to S France. 25 heavy bombers return from Cairo to Italy with Allied airmen
formerly imprisoned in Bulgaria. 2 B-17’s, escorted by 41 P-51’s, evacuate wounded
airmen from Czechoslovakia to Italy.
TENTH AF—8 P-47’s bomb Katha, 8 hit Momauk and Wanling, and
8 others attack Bhamo. 6 B-25’s hit Mangshih while 3 others bomb Indaw. 16
B-24’s haul fuel to Liuchow. Troop carrier aircraft fly over 200 sorties
delivering personnel and supplies to various points in CBI.
FOURTEENTH AF—29 B-24’s bomb Changsha. 27 B-25’s hit
Hwangshapu, Kiyang, and Nanyo. 130-plus P-51’s and P- 40’s on armed reconnaissance
attack town areas, strongpoints, shipping, railway targets, gun positions,
trucks, and other targets of opportunity from NE of Ichang southward through
Hunan province and beyond. Areas hit include Changsha, Kiyang, Lingling,
Chuanhsien, Siangtan, Hengshan, Kweiyang, and Lingkuantien, plus scattered
targets of opportunity elsewhere.
FEAF—B-25’s bomb Buayoan airfield B-24’s, B-25’s, and
P-38’s hit Langoan airfield. B-25’s and P-39’s, fighting bad weather, attack a
variety of targets, including airfields and villages in Amboina-Ceram area.
P-47’s and P- 40’s pound Samate airfield.
SEVENTH AF—A B-24 on a snooper mission from Saipan bombs
Iwo Jima. Armed reconnaissance over Marcus is unsuccessful due to bad weather.
Gilberts based B-25’s pound Nauru.
ELEVENTH AF—2 B-24’s weather abort a mission to Suribachi.
4 B-25’s fly an unsuccessful shipping sweep.
US ARMY
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Canadian First Army’s 2
Corps area, Canadian 3d Division, with strong air and artillery support, begins
6-day battle for Boulogne, making slow progress against strong fortifications. British
I Corps, taking over in Antwerp sector from British Second Army, immediately
starts to clear the Schelde Estuary in order to open port of Antwerp. Canadian 2d
Division, upon relief at Dunkerque by 4th Special Service Brigade, moves to
Antwerp where it relieves 12 Corps of task of clearing dock area N of the city.
49th Division is disposed on right flank of corps. 51st Division has been left behind
at Le Havre so that its transport may be used by other units.
In British
Second Army’s British 1 Airborne Corps area, First Allied Airborne Army drops 1
Airborne Corps, consisting of British 1st Airborne Division (with Polish
Parachute Brigade) and U.S. 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions, in Holland to
secure axis of advance toward Zuider Zee for British Second Army. The airborne
operation (MARKET), undertaken in daylight, H Hour being 1300, with strong air
support and cover, achieves tactical surprise and at first evokes little
opposition. This is the largest Allied airborne operation to be mounted thus
far. Approximately 20,000 troops land from aircraft and gliders. Losses in
transport planes and gliders are only 2.8%. British 1st Airborne Division, with
task of seizing 3 bridges over the Neder Rijn (Lower Rhine) at Arnhem, drops as
planned some 8 miles from the bridges, giving enemy valuable time, however, to move
forward panzer troops already assembled near Arnhem. Small force of less than a
Battalion from the Airborne Division succeeds in taking N end of highway bridge
and is then isolated; Germans destroy the other 2 bridges. U.S. 82d Airborne Division,
charged with seizing bridges and commanding ground in Nijmegen- Grave region,
takes Maas bridge at Grave and Maas-Waal Canal bridge at Heumen, as well as
commanding ground of Nijmegen–Groesbeek ridge; thrusts into Nijmegen, narrowly
missing chance to take the highway bridge there before Germans reinforcements
arrive. To U.S. 101st Airborne Division is assigned task of capturing bridges
at Veghel and Son, N of Eindhoven. Veghel bridges are taken with little
difficulty but enemy blows that at Son just as paratroops are approaching it.
Footbridge is improvised at Son over which paratroops cross to drive toward
Eindhoven. 30 Corps, spearheading assault northward by ground forces (GARDEN),
attacks from Meuse–Escaut Canal bridgehead toward Eindhoven with Cads Armored
Division in the lead during afternoon; despite narrow zone of attack, which is confined
almost to the highway by terrain, reaches Valkenswaard. On flanks of corps, 8
and 12 Corps prepare for further crossings of Meuse–Escaut Canal, 12 Corps
starting across near Lommel, night 17–18.
12th Army
Group: In U.S. Ninth Army’s VIII Corps area, continuing battle for Brest, 29th Division
clears eastward to Penfeld R while 2d Division, to right, gets elements across
old city wall. 8th Division, clearing Crozon Peninsula, reaches town of Crozon.
In U.S.
First Army’s XIX Corps area, 2d Armored Division expands bridgeheads at
Meerssen and Valkenburg, forcing enemy back toward Sittard. 30th Division takes
Heerlen on left and crosses German border E of Simpelveld on R. In VII Corps
area, Germans, having moved up a fresh Division, make determined counterattacks
against corps. 76th Infantry of 1st Division and Combat Command A of 3d Armored
Division, forewarned by heavy artillery barrage, turn enemy back and inflict
heavy losses. Combat Command B of 3d Armored Division takes Weissenberg Hill
before being counterattacked so strongly that it falls back a little; TF Hogan
is sent to its aid. Patrol of 47th Infantry, 9th Division, spots Germans
forming for attack in Gressenich and takes them under fire when they emerge
into the open with devastating results to enemy. Corps activity after this
subsides to limited actions, largely on S flank in zone of 9th Division. In V
Corps area, 4th Division, after further costly efforts to get to E edge of the
Schnee Eifel forest and to take Brandscheid, almost succeeding in each case,
calls off offensive and passes to aggressive defense. 28th Division brings
sharp reaction from enemy while attempting to advance its almost static line. 5th
Armored Division withdraws its Pruem bridgehead at Wettlingen; Combat Command R
holds against determined tankinfantry counterattack aimed at eliminating its
Wallendorf salient.
In U.S.
Third Army’s XX Corps area, Gen Walker issues tentative plan for air-ground
offensive in Metz area, Operation THUNDERBOLT. 90th Division continues limited
attacks W of Metz against increasingly strong resistance. Since the price is
exceedingly high and gains minute, it is decided to halt attacks in this
sector. Germans counterattack between 10th and 11th Regiments of 5th Division in
Arnaville bridgehead but are driven off; Hill 245, E of Marieulles, falls to 2d
Inf. Combat Command A, 7th Armored Division, assisted by elements of Combat
Command B, takes Marieulles; upon relief there by 5th Division is withdrawn to
reserve; Combat Command R and Combat Command B are ordered to continue attack toward
Seille R. XII Corps forms TF under Gen Sebree of 35th Division, consisting of
Combat Command B, 6th Armored Div—which has not yet arrived in corps zone—and 734th
Infantry, to clear Bois de Faulx and Bois de la Rumont in conjunction with 80th
Division. TF Sebree, without awaiting Combat Command B, begins attack to clear
enemy from plateau NE of Nancy late in day. 80th Division is laboriously
clearing bridgehead area and preparing for future offensive. 4th Armored
Division is to regroup for attack NE toward Rhine R and Darmstadt, this city
replacing Mannheim as corps objective. Combat Command B of 4th Armored
Division, attacking toward Nomeny to assist 80th Division in breaking out of
bridgehead, makes such slow progress that it is ordered to halt. On S flank of
corps, enemy is infiltrating into Lunéville, which, however, remains in
American hands. In XV Corps area, cavalry of French 2d Armored Division makes contact
with French 2d Corps of Seventh Army while patrolling near Bains-les-Bains, SW
of Epinal. With arrival of Combat Command B, 6th Armored Division, which
relieves Combat Command D in Chaumont area, XV Corps’ flank protection mission is
limited to region between the Meuse and the Moselle. French 2d Armored
Division, less Combat Command L and cavalry, closes along W bank of the Moselle
to S of 79th Division.
6th Army
Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s VI Corps area, 36th and 3d Divisions are pushing
northward toward the Moselle at Remiremont against delaying opposition. 45th Division
awaits relief by French on right flank of corps.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, IV Corps begins general
advance on W flank of army. TF 45 drives along coast against light opposition. Regimental
Combat Team 6, BEF, tries to keep pace with TF 45. 1st Armored Division pushes
northward, Combat Command A astride the Serchio N of Lucca and Combat Command B
toward M. Liguana from positions N of Pescia. S African 6th Armored Division is
still held to small gains on right flank of corps. II Corps succeeds in
breaking through Gothic Line at II Giogo Pass. 338th Infantry, 85th Division,
at last takes M. Altuzzo, 339th finishes clearing M. Veruca, and 337th takes M.
Pratone. W of Il Giogo Pass, 91st Division drives to crest of M. Monticelli.
Germans begin withdrawal from Gothic Line under cover of darkness, 17–18. 362d
Infantry, 91st Division, retains positions on M. Calvi and near S. Lucia and
attacks with 1st Battalion to outskirts of Marcoiano. 34th Division, on left
flank of corps, is still stalemated in Torricella Hill area, but gains a little
N of M. Frassino. In British 13 Corps area, 1st Division finds M. Giuvigiana
free of enemy. 6th Armored Division continues to battle stubborn enemy on M.
Peschiena. In British Eighth Army’s 5 Corps area, 46th Division begins attack
across the Marano W of Vallecchia, enemy having withdrawn from positions near
Montescudo. 56th Division gains ground W of Cerasolo but is held up all day in
M. Oliva area to SW. On Canadian 1 Corps’ left flank, British 4th Division presses
toward S. Fortunato feature, target for powerful Allied air attacks, but
Canadian 1st Division is still unable to clear S. Martino in M. l’Abate.
BURMA—11 Army Group: In British Fourteenth Army’s 33 Corps
area, Tuitum falls to Indian 5th Division.
MOROTAI—Action of TF TRADEWINDIAN subsides to patrolling in
order to locate small Japanese parties. Islands off SW and W coast are being
outposted by 126th Inf.
PALAUS—Against strong resistance, 1st Marines on Peleliu
begins clearing S end of central ridge system on W arm of island; elements
start up West and East Roads, which skirt the ridges. 5th Marines pushes E to
clear E arm of island, meeting scattered opposition. 7th Marines begins to
clear the small promontories on S tip of island. At Angaur, naval and air
bombardment precede III (Mar) Amphibious Corps’ landing, which takes place
about 0830 on 2 beaches on E coast. Against light, ineffective fire from mortars
and small arms, 322d Infantry of 81st Division, from northern beach, pushes to
positions generally along second phase line from N coast above Lake Aztec
southward along E shore of the lake. 321st secures beachhead from Cape Ngariois
on N to Rocky Pt on S, extending inland some 350 yards to first phase line. Regimental
Combat Team 323 (corps reserve) feints landing off Angaur’s W shore. Enemy
counterattacks at night cause little damage and cost enemy heavily.
US MARINE CORPS
81st Inf Division, as part of III Amphibious Corps, lands
on Angaur.
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