80 Years Ago, Thursday, 26 October 1944

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Battle for Leyte Gulf concludes as Navy carrier-based and USAAF land-based planes attack retiring Japanese ships that have survived the previous days' action. TF 38 planes sink light cruiser Kinu southwest of Masbate, 11°46'N, 123°11'E; destroyer Hayashimo 40 miles south of Mindoro, 12°05'N, 121°50'E. Aircraft from carriers Hornet (CV‑12) and Wasp (CV‑18) sink light cruiser Noshiro south of Mindoro, 11°35'N, 121°45'E; planes from carrier Hancock (CV‑19) sink landing ship T.102 in the Guimaras Straits, 11°00'N, 123°00'E; TF 38 planes damage heavy cruiser Kumano; destroyer Okinami in Sibuyan Sea. Planes from TU 77.4.2 sink destroyer Uranami 70 miles north-northeast of Iloilo, Panay, 11°50'N, 123°00'E. USAAF B-24s sink light cruiser Abukuma southwest of Negros Island, 09°20'N, 122°30'E; battleship Haruna is damaged by near-misses. In related action, U.S. cruisers and destroyers sink destroyer Nowaki 65miles south-southeast of Legaspi, Luzon, 13°00'N, 124°54'E.

            Motor torpedo boat PT‑132 is damaged by dive bomber, 09°00'N, 125°00'E.

            U.S. freighter Benjamin Ide Wheeler is attacked by Japanese plane off Leyte, and damaged by near-miss of bomb that wounds three of the ship's embarked troops.

            Submarines Drum (SS‑228) and Icefish (SS‑367) attack Japanese convoy MOMA 05 off northwest coast of Luzon, P.I.  Drum sinks, and merchant passenger/cargo ship Taishu Maru and cargo ship Taihaku Maru 19°21'N, 120°50'E and damages transports Aoki Maru and Tatsura Maru, 19°07'N, 120°42'E. Icefish sinks freighter Taiyo Maru west of Luzon Strait, 19°04'N,120°36'E, but is damaged by depth charges and is forced to terminate her patrol.

            Submarine Rock (SS‑274) sinks Japanese merchant tanker No.7 Takasago Maru near Balabac Strait, 10°18'N,117°47'E.

            British submarine HMS Tantivy damages Japanese ship No.2 Katsuma Maru.

            U.S. Navy carrier-based aircraft sink merchant tanker No.31 Nanshin Maru west of Balabac Strait, 08°22'N, 116°55'E.

            Special Air Task Force (STAG 1) operations in the southwest Pacific conclude as four TDRs are flown against lighthouse on Cape St. George, New Ireland. One of the four hits squarely and demolishes the structure.

            USAAF aircraft sink merchant cargo ships Kaiko Maru and Doei Maru off South China coast, 20°50'N, 111°50'E.

            Other Japanese casualties include merchant cargo ship Seito Maru sunk by Australian mine off Sumatra, 03°12'S,116°15'E; and merchant cargo ship Kompira Maru sunk by aircraft, Shimushuri Island.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Over 1,100 heavy bombers attack synthetic oil plant at Bottrop, ordnance and storage depot at Bielefeld, aircraft repair works and marshalling yard at Munster, military vehicle plant near Hannover, aqueduct and Mittelland Canal at Minden, and other targets including city of Hannover. 14 fighter groups provide escort.

NINTH AF—No bomber operations as bad weather prevails. Fighters sweep areas of Eastern France and Western Germany from Metz to Cologne, attacking rail and road traffic, rail bridges, and marshalling yards.

TWELFTH AF—Weather suspends all Twelfth AF operations.

FIFTEENTH AF—Weather curtails operations. 7 B‑17’s bomb marshalling yard at Innsbruck.

FOURTEENTH AF—B‑24’s and B‑25’s attack shipping off Eastern Luichow Peninsula. B‑25’s also hit river shipping from Dosing to Takhing and Yellow River bridge. Fighters attack town of Menghsu, hit targets of opportunity around Menghsu and Kweiping, and make armed reconnaissance attack on Hongay. B‑25’s and fighters bomb railroad yards at Hsuchang.

FEAF—B‑24’s attack naval force of 2 battleships, 5 carriers, and 5 destroyers West of Panay Island. P‑38’s hit vehicles in Davao area and B‑25’s bomb Iligan. Hits are claimed on a battleship and 2 carriers. P‑40’s attack targets of opportunity in Dodinga‑Kaoe Bay area, Djailolo, supply area South of Galela, and guns South of Doro. A‑20’s and B‑25’s bomb Urarom.

SEVENTH AF—8 Saipan‑based P‑47’s bomb and strafe Pagan. 15 B‑25’s based in the Gilberts, bomb airfield area on Nauru.

ELEVENTH AF—Of 6 B‑24’s which abort a naval TF cover mission after failing to find the ships, 2 bomb installations on Onnekotan Island.

 

US ARMY

WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Canadian First Army’s 2 Corps area, brigade of 52d Division makes amphibious assault on Beveland from Terneuzen landing on South coast near Baarland and establishing bridgehead. Canadian 2d Division continues to push West along Beveland Isthmus. Canadian 3d Division is steadily reducing Breskens Pocket. In British 1 Corps area, U.S. 104th Division gets into position for attack on Zundert.

            In British Second Army’s 12 Corps area, 53 Division overruns ‘s Hertogenbosch.

            12th Army Group: In U.S. Ninth Army’s XIX Corps area, troops of 102d Division enter combat for first time, 406th Infantry attached to 30th Division, 405th to 2d Armored, and 407th to 29th Division.

            In U.S. First Army’s V Corps area, 28th Division takes responsibility for zone previously held by 39th and 60th Regiments of 9th Division. 9th Division ( — ) goes back to Camp Elsenborn. 5th Armored Division, to which Combat Command A reverts from attachment to XIX Corps, moves to rear of 4th Division.

            In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, action at Maizières-lès-Metz centers about strongly held Hôtel de Ville. Company K of 357th Infantry, 90th Division, reaches the hotel but is driven back.

            6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s VI Corps area, 3d Division continues toward St Dié under exceptionally heavy artillery fire, 7th Infantry, in center, overrunning Les Rouges Eaux. On left flank of corps, 45th Division is clearing Forêt d’Housseras and working toward Raon-l’Etape. 36th Division, on South flank, is relieving its isolated 141st Infantry force, which begins drive to West in effort to break out.

HUNGARY—Soviet forces of Fourth and Second Ukrainian Fronts link up near Mukacevo in East Hungary.

ITALY—AAI: Heavy rains and flooding slow operations all along line.

            In U.S. Fifth Army area, South African 6th Division halts efforts to take Mont Sole; elements on Hill 501 are virtually isolated. In II Corps area, flash flood prevents commitment of 362d Infantry across the Sillaro as planned. 88th and 85th Divisions are given verbal orders to break off offensive and organize defensive positions on more tenable ground. In British 13 Corps area, 17th Brigade of Indian 8th Division pushes to Lutirano and Tredozio. 61st Brigade, 6th Armored Division, after repelling attack against Orsara and making another futile attempt to take Mont Taverna, confines its activities to patrolling.

            In British Eighth Army’s Polish 2 Corps area, 5th Kresowa Division, having cleared Mont Mirabello–M. Colombo ridge, sends elements into Predappio Nuovo, on Rabbi R, but is forced back. In 5 Corps area, Indian 10th Division consolidates bridgeheads across the Ronco, but 4th Division is unable to hold on without tank support and suffers heavy losses while withdrawing. Since the river is now in flood, corps operations temporarily come to a standstill. Canadian 1 Corps makes little progress because of flooding.

BURMA—In NCAC area, Chinese 22d Division, attacking in center of NCAC front, reaches old Chindit airstrip, BROADWAY, 27 miles South East of Hopin, where it remains for a few days to recover from arduous march over hills.

BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF—Battle ends as Japanese Fleet retires with the following losses: 3 BB’s, 1 large and 3 light carriers, 6 heavy and 4 light cruisers, and 9 DD’s. U.S. losses are 1 light carrier (Princeton), 2 escort carriers, 2 DD’s, and 1 DE.

LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area, 24th Division, having cleared northern approaches to Leyte Valley, attacks inland. 2d Battalion, 34th Infantry, drives steadily along Highway 2 to Santa Fe. From Castilla, 3d Battalion of 19th continues to outskirts of Pastrana, where entrance into the town is barred by a strong fortress. In XXIV Corps area, 382d Infantry of 96th Division attempts to take Tabontabon, Japanese supply center, but after reaching edge of the barrio is forced back to Guinarona River. Division artillery shells the barrio through night 26–27. 383d Infantry’s Company E conducts reconnaissance in force against San Vicente Hill, North tip of Catmon Hill, but is forced to withdraw. Japanese withdraw main body of troops from Catmon Hill. 3d Battalion, 381st Infantry, starts North along Highway 1 toward Tanauan to secure North flank of beachhead along road Tanauan–Dagami. 32d Infantry, 7th Division, continues battle for Buri airfield with 2d and 1st Battalions, moving through fortifications to positions around edge of the field. 17th Infantry, leaving 2d Battalion of 184th Infantry behind to contain enemy on ridge and moving its 3d Battalion forward by truck from Dao, attacks with 1st, 2d, and 3d Battalions toward Dagami, reaching positions about 600 yards South of Guinarona.

PALAUS—On Peleliu, Regimental Combat Team 323 takes control of operations against Umurbrogol Pocket. 321st Infantry has lost 146 killed and 469 wounded on Peleliu. Umurbrogol Pocket now averages about 600 yards from North to South; although about 475 yards wide on North, deep salients have been driven southward into it; Japanese retain a few caves along East side; South part of the pocket is less than 350 yards wide. A period of unfavorable weather conditions begins, during which Regimental Combat Team 323 improves defenses.

 

US MARINE CORPS