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
