US NAVY
PACIFIC—During Japanese aerial counterattacks in the wake
of TF 38 strikes on Formosa (see 12 October), carrier Franklin (CV‑13)
is damaged when a kamikaze slides across her flight deck and crashes nearby,
22°55'N, 123°12'E; heavy cruiser Canberra (CA‑70), in TG 38.1, is
damaged by aerial torpedo only 85 miles from Formosa, 22°48'N, 123°01'E. While
heavy cruiser Wichita (CA‑45) takes Canberra in tow, Cruiser
Division 13 (three light cruisers under Rear Admiral Laurance T. DuBose), four
destroyers from TG 38.3, and two from TG 38.1 are detached to provide cover.
Fleet tug Munsee (ATF‑107) relieves Wichita of towing Canberra
and the group sets course for Ulithi.
Submarine Bergall
(SS‑320) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Shinshu Maru off Nha Trang,
French Indochian,11°52'N, 109°20'E.
British
submarine HMS Sturdy sinks Japanese merchant coasters Kosei Maru and
Hansei Maru in Gulf of Boni, south of Celebes.
Peleliu
Island, Palaus, is secured.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
NINTH AF—9th Bomb division hits bridges at Saarlouis,
Roermond, Venlo, Euskirchen, and Mayen, plus several targets of opportunity.
Escorting fighters also fly armed reconnaissance over areas of Metz and
extensively over western Germany, attacking railroads and other targets, and
support US First, Third, and Seventh Armies.
TWELFTH AF—Weather cancels all medium bomber operations
except for attacks on 4 targets (bridges and supply dumps) in the battle area south
of Bologna. Fighter bombers support US Fifth Army operations more successfully
in the area, hitting gun emplacements, troop concentrations, supply dumps,
bridges, and vehicles.
FIFTEENTH AF—More than 650 fighter escorted heavy bombers
bomb oil refineries at Blechhammer and Vienna/Floridsdorf, motor works,
locomotive shops, and marshalling yard at Vienna, Graz, Banhida,
Szekesfehervar, Papa, Hranice and Mezirici. Some of the escorting fighters
strafe railroads, roads, and airfield in areas of Balaton and Neusiedler Lakes,
Vienna, and Prostejov. Other fighters strafe roads, railroads, and Danube River
traffic in Vienna-Gyor-Budapest areas.
TENTH AF—38 P‑47’s strike Okkyin, Yebyangale, and Theinlon,
and hit troops in Myothit area. 8 P‑47’s support ground forces in Mohnyin area,
12 attack and considerably damage Wanling bridge and 4 hit targets of
opportunity in the area. Transports fly over 280 sorties hauling troops and
supplies to CBI terminals.
FOURTEENTH AF—138 P‑40’s and P‑51’s on numerous armed
reconnaissance missions throughout southern China and into western Burma attack
troop areas, rivercraft, town areas, bridges, trucks, and other targets of
opportunity. 71 of the fighter bombers hit targets in Kweiping area while the
others attack targets around Chuanhsien, Litou, Shepchung, Tengyun, Lungfukwan,
Kingshan, Mangshih, and Chefang.
FEAF—B‑25’s bomb Menado and surrounding area. P‑38’s hit AA
positions, enemy concentrations, and other targets in northeastern Celebes and
Halmaheras. A‑20’s and fighter bombers attack Boela oil installations and
airfields at Amahai, Kairatoe, and Namlea.
SEVENTH AF—B‑24’s from Saipan bomb Yap. From the Marshalls
B‑24’s pound Truk. Gilberts‑based B‑25’s bomb Nauru.
ELEVENTH AF—4 B‑25’s bomb Kurabu airfield and bomb and
strafe buildings on Tomari Cape, scoring hits on canneries, warehouses, and
barracks. Later, 4 B‑24’s photograph and bomb targets at Kashiwabara.
US ARMY
WESTERN EUROPE—Germans launch first V bomb against Antwerp,
which, next to London, proves to be the primary target for these weapons.
21 Army Group: In British Second Army’s 8 Corps area, 3d Division attacks from Overloon toward Venray, 3 miles distant, against strong opposition.
12th Army Group:
In U.S. First Army’s XIX Corps area, 116th Infantry of 29th Division, having
turned over positions west of the Wurm at Kerkrade to 1104th Combat Engineer Group,
takes over attack to close Aachen gap: reinforced by tanks from 2d Armored
Division, 116th begins frontal assaults against Wuerselen on narrow front that
invites concentrated enemy fire; little progress is made during this and the
next two days. In VII Corps area, 26th Infantry of 1st Division begins all-out
assault on Aachen: while 2d Battalion fights from house to house within the
city, 3d pushes to base of Observatory Hill, one of 3 heights commanding the
city from the north, the others being Salvator Hill and the Lousberg. In
Huertgen Forest, 60th Infantry, 9th Division, gains its objective, Road
Junction 471; 39th seals off enemy penetration and begins drive to recover lost
ground.
In U.S.
Third Army area, XX Corps’ plan for stronger assault on Maizières-lès-Metz is
abandoned as result of Third Army order freezing all artillery ammunition above
3-inch.
6th Army Group:
In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV Corps area, 79th Division, working eastward from
Forêt de Parroy, takes Emberménil.
EASTERN EUROPE—Soviet troops of Second and Third Baltic
Fronts overrun Riga, capital of Latvia and important naval base on Gulf of
Riga. This success, coupled with recent drive to the Baltic in Memel area of
Lithuania, has trapped a large German force in west Latvia. Soviet offensive on
Baltic front is soon suspended.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, 12th Motorized Brigade
of South African 6th Armored Division renews attack on Mont Stanco early in
morning after artillery preparation and, assisted by diversionary thrust to east
of Grizzana, captures objective; Combat Command B, on left flank, takes
Bombiana, on Highway 64. In II Corps area, 34th Division partially outflanks
enemy on Monterumici hill mass from east; 168th Infantry is shifting eastward
to Mont delle Formiche. Enemy hold on Livergnano area is beginning to weaken
under blows of 91st Division and artillery and aerial bombardment. 361st
Infantry of 91st Division gains Hill 603, above Livergnano, and village of
Casalino, northwest of Livergnano; 363d Infantry nears east part of the
plateau. 337th Infantry, 85th Division, at last takes Hill 578 and reduces
opposition on Monterenzio hill mass; during night 13–14, is relieved by 339th
Infantry. 2d Battalion of 350th Infantry, 88th Division, crosses Sillaro River west
of Hill 339, night 13–14, and drives northward through weak spot in enemy
defenses; 351st Infantry thrusts toward Mont Spadura from Gesso ridge until
stopped by counterattack. In British 13 Corps area, 78th Division begins attack
on Mont la Pieve.
In British
Eighth Army’s 5 Corps area, Indian 10th Division takes Sorrivoli but is held up
near Mont delle Vacche. 46th Division seizes Carpineta, night 13–14. In
Canadian 1 Corps area, some elements of New Zealand 2d Division are held up by
strongpoint at south. Angelo, but others patrol to the Rigossa.
GREECE—British commandos (9th Cdo) and Squadron B of Greek
Sacred Regiment land at Piraeus and secure Kalamata airfield in preparation for
main landing on 15th. Rest of 4th Parachute Battalion and Royal Engineer force
are dropped at Megara; after securing the airfield these forces move overland
to Athens and Kalamata without opposition. U.S. 51st Troop Carrier Wing
participates in British occupation of south Greece (Operation MANNA) during
period 13–18 October, taking in personnel and equipment.
CBI—Gen Hurley recommends to President Roosevelt that Gen
Stilwell be relieved and that another U.S. officer be named to command Chinese
Army.
FORMOSA—TF 38 continues air strikes to neutralize Formosa.
Cruiser Canberra is badly damaged by enemy torpedo.
SWPA—VII Amphibious Force, with elements of Leyte invasion
force embarked, sails from Hollandia for target. GHQ issues instructions for
capture of air base in San Jose area of Mindoro, from which further operations
against the Philippines will be supported and small shore-to-shore operations
will be conducted to deceive enemy on Luzon. For this task, Sixth Army forms
Western Visayan Task Force under Brig Gen William C. Dunckel during early
November. The force eventually consists primarily of Regimental Combat Team 19
of 24th Division and 503d Parachute Regimental Combat Team, a separate unit.
21st Infantry of 24th Division, less 3d Battalion, is allocated as the reserve
force; 3d Battalion is to conduct deceptive operations.
MOROTAI—Medium bombers begin operations from the island.
PALAUS—On Peleliu, Regimental Combat Team 321 is alerted to
relieve marines at Umurbrogol Pocket, where some progress is being made against
west side. On Angaur, 322d Infantry begins final push to eliminate enemy pocket
on north Angaur.
US MARINE CORPS
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