US NAVY
PACIFIC—TF 38 (Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) hurls heavy
air strikes against Japanese shipping, aerodromes, and industrial plants on
Formosa, regarded as the strongest and best-developed base south of the
homeland proper, and on northern Luzon. Strikes draw heavy Japanese aerial
counterattacks off Formosa during which destroyer Prichett (DD‑561) is
damaged by friendly fire, 22°08'N, 123°19'E. TF 38 planes sink transport Asaka
Maru, cargo ship Shirotai Maru, army cargo ship Mitsuki Maru, and
merchant tankers No.6 Horai Maru, No.23 Nanshin Maru, and No.26
Nanshin Maru off the Pescadores, 23°30'N, 119°34'E; and transports Bujo
Maru and Joshu Maru, army cargo ship Yamahagi Maru, merchant
cargo ships Gyoun Maru, Hakko Maru, No.11 Tenjin Maru, and No.1
Takatomi Maru, and merchant tankers No.5 Nanshin Maru, No.11 Nanshin
Maru and No.20 Nanshin Maru, dredge Niitaka Maru, and damage
tanker Eiho Maru and army cargo ship Shinto Maru off Takao,
22°37'N, 119°34'E. Also damaged at Takao is German ship Havenstein, Japanese
cargo vessels Taisho Maru, Taihoku Maru, and, at Keelung, Hakozaki
Maru.
TF 38
planes also sink merchant cargo ship Shinan Maru in Putai harbor,
23°22'N, 120°10'E. Destruction of Japanese air power on Formosa paves way for
USAAF B-29 bomber strikes on aircraft plant and airfield facilities on the
island on 14 and 16 October 1944. Air strikes on the Formosa area sink Japanese
transport Josho Maru, and army cargo ship Yamahagi Maru, off
Takao; army ship Mitsuki Maru and merchant tanker No.6 Horai Maru, off
Mako; Japanese cargo ship Shirotai Maru is sunk by mine off Mako.
Motor
torpedo boat PT‑368, damaged by grounding, western New Guinea, 01°59'N,
127°57'E, is scuttled by demolition charges.
Submarine Ray
(SS‑271) sinks Japanese transport Toko Maru near Cape Cavalite, Mindoro,
13°32'N, 120°21'E, and survives counterattack by Hiyodosi and Coast
Defense Vessel No.2.
Submarine Trepang
(SS‑412) damages Japanese destroyer Fuyuzuki off Omaesuki, 33°56'N,
138°09'E.
British
submarine HMS Strongbow sinks Japanese cargo ship Manryo Maru in
Strait of Malacca, 02°50'N, 100°50'E.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
EIGHTH AF—Over 500 heavy bombers attack marshalling yard at
Osnabruck, aircraft industries at Bremen, and targets of opportunity including Diepholz
airfield. 11 fighter groups escort heavy bombers, claiming 18 fighters downed.
NINTH AF—Ninth AF is delegated administrative (in addition
to operational) control over XII Tactical Air Command hitherto assumed by
USSTAF. Advanced HQ XIX Tactical Air Command arrives at Nancy, following the advance
of US Third Army. Almost 250 medium bombers and light bombers bomb Camp‑de‑Bitche
military camp, rail bridges at Grevenbroich and Ahrweiler, city areas of
Langerwehe, Aldenhoven, and Venraij, and various targets of opportunity.
Escorting fighters fly also armed reconnaissance and rail cutting in
Dusseldorf, Aachen, and Belfort areas, and support VIII, XII, XV, and XX Corps
in eastern France and western Germany.
TWELFTH AF—Medium bombers, supporting US Fifth Army, attack
communications, supply dumps, and bivouac and barracks areas south of Bologna.
Fighter bombers and XII Fighter Command fighters, mainly in support of US Fifth
Army, blast supply dumps, gun positions, troop concentrations, and communications
in the high country south of Bologna (while Desert AF gives similar support to
British Eighth Army in Rimini area).
FIFTEENTH AF—Around 700 heavy bombers, with fighter
support, pound ammo and fuel dumps and depots, bivouac area, barracks, vehicle
repair shop, munitions factory and targets of opportunity in Bologna area
(Operation PANCAKE) supporting US Fifth Army offensive in that sector. 160 P‑51’s
strafe mainline railroad and Danube River traffic in Vienna-Gyor-Budapest areas
and strafe Seregelyes airfield, disrupting traffic and destroying many enemy
airplanes.
TENTH AF—18 P‑47’s bomb railroad targets in the Naba-Mawlu
rail corridor damaging a bridge approach, and strike troops and stores near
Nayakaung. 12 other P‑47’s hit various targets at Pintha and Nyaunggon. 4 B‑26’s
knock out a bridge just north of Lashio. 3 others knock out bridge at Kawlin
and damage tracks near Man Pwe bridge.
FOURTEENTH AF—3 B‑25’s and 12 P‑40’s hit Chefang storage
area and bridge and general targets of opportunity in Mangshih area. 40‑plus P‑40’s
and P‑51’s on armed reconnaissance covering wide areas of southern China and
extending into western Burma attack troop concentrations, river traffic,
storage areas, and buildings in areas around Taochuan, Kweiping, Hsinganhsien,
Yuncheng, Tanchuk, and Hsenwi.
FEAF—B‑24’s bomb Ambesia, Langoan, Mapanget, and Sidate
airfields. B‑25’s, A‑20’s, and P‑47’s again pound airfields at Liang, Laha,
Namlea, Kairatoe and Haroekoe, and town of Boela. P‑38’s hit numerous targets
of opportunity on Halmahera Island. Fighter bombers hit Manokwari and Urarom
and A‑20’s bomb pillboxes in Sarmi area.
TWENTIETH AF—First B‑29 (Joltin’ Josie, the Pacific
Pioneer) arrives at Saipan, piloted by Gen Hansell, CG XXI Bomber Command, for
whom temporary HQ are set up on Saipan. Also the regular air echelon of 73d
Bomb wing arrives at Saipan on this date, followed during Oct and first week in
Nov by 4 bomb groups and 4 air service groups. (313th Bomb wing will be
established in the theater in Dec 44, 314th in Jan 45, 58th in Mar, and 315th
in Apr. In Mar 45 VII Fighter Command will be established at Iwo Jima from where
some of its units escort B‑29 missions).
SEVENTH AF—B‑24’s from Saipan bomb harbor and shipping at
Chichi Jima, shipping south of Haha Jima, AA positions on Marcus, and airfield
area on Pagan. P‑47’s hit Pagan airfield area with bombs and rockets. B‑24’s
from Kwajalein bomb Wake during 12/13 Oct.
ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑24’s hit airfield and shipping targets in
the Matsuwa-Onnekotan area.
US ARMY
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In British Second Army’s 8
Corps area, 3d Division attacks southward against Peel Marshes salient,
clearing Overloon. U.S. 7th Armored Division provides diversionary
demonstration along Deurne–Venray road.
12th Army Group:
In U.S. First Army’s XIX Corps area, 30th Division with objective of taking
Wuerselen and closing Aachen gap, is prevented from doing this by series of
enemy counterattacks aimed at widening the Aachen corridor and forcing corps
back to line Bardenberg–Euchen. Germans are thrown back at Birk, southeast of
Bardenberg, and at North Wuerselen with aid of aircraft and artillery, but new
panzer units are identified, indicating major reinforcement of the region.
Corps regroups to meet this threat. In VII Corps area, in preparation for main
assault on Aachen, 3d Battalion of 26th Infantry, 1st Division, nears factory
district between Aachen and Haaren. Air and artillery bombardment of Aachen
continues.
In
Huertgen Forest, German counterattack severs main supply route of 39th Infantry, 9th
Division, on east–west trail leading into Germeter. Forward elements north of
Vossenack, although not under attack, are recalled to help restore situation.
In V Corps area, Combat Command A of 5th Armored Division leaves for XIX Corps
sector, where it will be held in army reserve.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, 3d Battalion of 357th Infantry, 90th Division, moves into Maizières-lès-Metz to bolster weary 2d Battalion. Last elements of 5th Division withdraw from Forêt Driant, night 12–13. In XII Corps area, 26th Division relieves 4th Armored Division on right flank of corps.
EASTERN EUROPE—Troops of Second Ukrainian Front take Oradea
(Transylvania), continue battle for Debrecen (Hungary), and cut
Belgrade–Budapest RR at Subotica (Yugoslavia).
ITALY—AAI: In U.S Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, TF 92 pushes
to crest of Mont Cauala but is again forced to retire. Efforts to take Mont Cauala
are suspended for next few days. In II Corps area, 135th Infantry of 34th
Division extends eastward as it continues, in conjunction with Combat Command A
of 1st Armored Division, to attack Monterumici hill mass. 91st Division get
additional elements up Livergnano escarpment but is unable to clear it. 3d
Battalion of 338th Infantry, 85th Division, attacks north through 2d Battalion
on crest of Mont delle Formiche; Germans defend Hill 578 against attacks of
337th Infantry. 88th Division continues to attack Mont delle Tombe and clears
Gesso ridge. In British 13 Corps area, Indian 8th Division is assigned
positions southwest of Mont Ceco to ease strain on 1st Division. British Eighth
Army is ordered to release Indian 4th Division and Greek 3d Mountain Brigade
for service outside Italy.
In 5 Corps
area, corps presses from the Rubicone toward the Savio and Cesena. Indian 10th
Division advances its left flank to Mont dell’Erta, east of the Savio; elements
crossing the Rubicone to north are held up in Sorrivoli. Attacking across the
Rubicone on right flank of corps, 46th Division takes Casale.
CORFU‑ALBANIA—British commando force from Land Forces,
Adriatic, lands on Corfu and in Sarande area of south Albania.
GREECE—Advance detachment of British 4th Parachute
Battalion and Royal Engineer s is dropped in Megara area to secure and repair
airfield. Piraeus and Kalamata are found to be clear of enemy.
FORMOSA—In preparation for invasion of Leyte, TF 38, Third
Fleet, begins series of powerful carrier aircraft strikes against Formosa to
neutralize enemy air and naval power, evoking strong opposition.
SWPA—Gen MacArthur issues orders for invasion of Luzon, to
be undertaken by U.S. Sixth Army’s Island Corps (6th and 43d Divisions,
reinforced) and XIV Corps (37th and 40th Divisions, reinforced). 25th Infantry
and 11th Airborne Divisions, Regimental Combat Team 158, 6th Ranger Battalion,
and 13th Armored Group constitute reserve and follow-up forces. Various service
units are assigned as army and corps troops.
PALAUS—On Peleliu, Gen Geiger opens III Amphibious Corps CP
ashore and declares assault and occupation phase at an end. 1st Marine Division
is now responsible only for the Umurbrogol Pocket. 321st Infantry takes
responsibility for eastern arm of the island and begins relieving Marine units.
Island Garrison Force takes over region south of the Umurbrogol Pocket.
US MARINE CORPS
Peleliu becomes a Marine island command similar to Guam and Tinian.
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